"You wanna piece of me, huh?!" - Jazz

"No, I want two!" - Megatron, Transformers

CHAPTER THIRTYSEVEN

We rushed out of the cantina as the ground shook some more. "What in god's name…"

"There is no god, of any kind!" I muttered out loud. We all looked up past the cantina roof. "That is not good."

"Gee, you think?"

A large transport ship was only a few yards away from the cantina's back entrance. And troopers were being deployed from it. "Come on." I led us into an alleyway. We raced through the small areas, in between buildings. "When is Obi-Wan coming?" Etain asked.

"I don't know." Kate muttered. "Come on guys. Keep up." Kristy said. Suddenly a voice shouted out. "There! I see them!"

"Freeze!"

"Crap."

"Shit."

"Same thing!"

I heard blaster fire behind us. Suddenly Rebecca tripped. And Kate followed her. Then Fordo. I grabbed Rebecca's hand and pulled her up. Kristy, Lara, and Blazer ducked off to the side of a building. "Go. Get to cover." I yelled, helping Etain and Fordo up. We quickly ducked behind a small out door shop stand.

"Alright. Everyone get your blasters out!"

Suddenly there was an explosion in between the building and shop stand. Dust and dirt flew everywhere. "Alright. Now what?!" Blazer shouted. "Uh…" I heard something behind me. I spun around in a crouch to find the same bounty hunter. He held his blaster at me head. I gave Etain and Fordo a shove, and knocked them to the ground and tackled him. We slammed into the wall behind him as another explosion rocked the ground.

Then he slammed his helmeted face into mine. I stumbled backwards. He walked over and dragged me up and shoved me against the wall, one hand around my throat. "Look kid. I get paid to kill people for a living. How ever, your one that I have to bring back alive. So stop. Or I might not get paid but half…"

I couldn't breath. I grabbed at his hand and arm. He was much too strong. "Do you surrender?" I tried to shake my head yes, but his grip was so strong I couldn't move. Another explosion, only a few feet away from Kristy, Blazer and Lara. Kristy. "Ah!" The hunter dropped to the ground. I sucked in air and coughed. "You alright?"

I continued to gasp in air. "Yea. I've been better." I coughed. Suddenly she turned and fired her blaster, killing a trooper. I smirked at her. "Nice shot."

"Thanks. Let's get out of here." She waved at Blazer and Lara. Fordo, Etain and Rebecca ran over too. We turned and ran down yet another alleyway. Blaster fire opened behind us.

(-)

"Is anyone else getting sick of this whole routine? First, we show up, and all hell breaks out!"

"Shut up Kate!"

We ducked around a narrow corner as a rocket exploded behind us. Chunks of dirt, rock, and Durasteel rained down on us. "Keep going!"

"Get some jet troopers in here!" A voice yelled. I groaned. "Go." I urged my friends on. "Run!" We came to a two way ally.

"Left."

"Right."

"Down."

Suddenly I was on my face a rocket exploded, destroying the wall in front of us. "I got an Idea."

Troops ran in behind us. I heard a humming above us. Jet troopers. "Let's go straight!" I help Lara and Fordo to their feet. Kristy pulled on Rebecca and Etain, trying to get them to move faster.

Suddenly a dark, breathing voice yelled out. "Do not kill them. I want them alive."

"Hey, that sounded like…"

"…Darth Vader."

"But it's only the clone wars."

"We're obviously in a stranger time zone. We have Predacons after us, as well as I saw a Banshee when we first arrived on Coruscant."

"Would you both shut up and run!"

The ground shook under our feet. I looked up. "Predacon! Damn!"

A large robotic foot slammed down. Kristy grabbed Etain before it hit her and rolled out of the way. "Going somewhere, fleshy?!"

"Yea! Away from your scrap pile behind!" Etain screamed. Gauntlet laughed as he took out a shock cannon. I looked back at the troopers running up behind us. I looked forward at Kristy and Etain. They were too far ahead. I wasn't going to be able to get to them. Not before that Predacon destroyed them.

He pointed his cannon at the two. I went wide eyed. No…

I rushed forward. Blazer looked at me. "No, Matt!"

"Kristy!" I shouted. There was a flash of blue, then a shockwave, which exploded as Gauntlet fired his cannons. The blast hit next to Kristy and Etain. The shockwave threw me on my back. I forced my self to sit up. But at the same time, I just wanted to lay down and die.

I looked around. Things were happening, but I couldn't hear anything. I looked over at where Kristy and Etain had been. They were laying on the ground, unmoving. I felt my lips move, but I still couldn't hear anything as I cried out, standing up, staring at Kristy's unmoving body. NO…no. no…

I started to run, forcing my legs to move, ignoring Blazer, Rebecca, Lara, Fordo. She can't die. Not now. I dropped down beside her. I pulled her into my arms, hugging her tightly. I heard a slight whoosh. I felt it too. The wind. Then my own voice, muttering. "No. No. No. No." Over and over.

I felt a hand rest on my shoulder. "Son…"

I shook my head. It was all I could do. "Son. You need to come with me. Now, son." I slowly laid Kristy's body down on the ground. I felt the tear roll down my face. "No." I breathed.

"What?"

I slowly stood. "No." I repeated.

"Son, listen to me. Your in great danger."

"You have no idea."

I turned around to see a trooper. I looked at him, my face showing anger, sadness, and emptiness among other emotions. Suddenly the man began to choke. He grabbed at his throat. "Pl… Plea… Don….Don't." he gasped.

I didn't respond. What was happening? He should die, like the rest of them. Yea… Suddenly the trooper's neck snapped. He dropped to the ground. He was dead. I could feel it. I felt another tear roll down my face as I turned back to Kristy's body.

I dropped down to my knees, and again, cradled her in my arms. I touched her face, softly brushing her hair away. I closed my eyes. "Matt…" What…I opened my eyes. Kristy opened her eyes too. "Kristy." I smiled through my tears. "Your… your alive!"

She smiled back. "Of course I am."

I pulled her up into a hug. I laughed softly.

There was a mechanical throat clearing. We looked up. Gauntlet looked down at us. "Perhaps, now, you will show me where the portal is located at."