Luke sighed and slumped down on his desk. They had a padawan filling in in Galactic History again because Uncle Obi-Wan was going to rescue Daddy. Mommy had said Luke wasn't allowed to come. He scuffed his boots against the floor. What if Daddy needed him? He'd called out to him and no one else through the Force, and Luke had answered him. And he had a feeling Daddy would need him. He was a Jedi, he was training to help people!
He turned his head. Leia was sitting beside him, poking at her desk, waiting for the padawan to start class. He couldn't even ask her what to do, like he would normally do. She'd either tattle, or, more likely, want to come with him. And that would be dangerous.
Luke turned to his other side and poked his friend Ezra Bridger. "Psst."
Ezra leaned towards him. "What?"
"They're leaving today to go rescue my daddy. I think they'll need me, but my mommy said I couldn't go!" Luke whispered.
"Well, does the Force say you should go?" Ezra asked.
"I think so," Luke said. "Daddy reached out to me in the Force. What if he needs me again? I've got a feeling he will."
"Then you've just got to go! Master Yoda says to always listen to the Force," Ezra said. "Besides, what would Master Skywalker do?"
"He'd go," Luke said confidently. He'd heard the tales from Auntsoka and Uncle Rex. He knew Daddy would go if he were him. "I've gotta leave now or I'll miss the ship."
"Here, I'll help you escape," Ezra said. He turned in his seat and swung his fist into Luke's nose, then popped his hand in the air. "Padawan Katooni, can I take Luke to the healers? His nose is bleeding."
Luke clapped his hand over his throbbing nose. He nodded enthusiastically. "It just started bleeding out of the blue!"
A couple of younglings behind him snickered.
"No, I can take him!" Leia protested.
Luke glared at Leia. "No, you can't," he said through gritted teeth.
"Yes, Initiate Bridger, you may escort Initiate Skywalker to the healers, then return to class," Padawan Katooni said.
"Okay!" Ezra slid out of his chair.
Luke followed him out of the room. Leia tried to follow him.
"Leia, you need to stay here," Padawan Katooni said.
"But…"
Luke slipped out the door. He sniffed and wiped blood away from his nose, then wiped his hand on his shirt.
"Which way to the hangar?" Ezra asked.
"This way!" Luke bolted through the hallways, Ezra hot on his heels.
At least three Jedi tried to stop them and find out which class they were supposed to be in, but every time, Ezra just shouted, "Got to get to the healers, bye!" and they ran off. Finally, they made it to the hangar.
"Which one is your ship?" Ezra asked.
Luke closed his eyes and reached out for Auntsoka. "That one." He pointed to a small shuttle in the middle of the hangar. They must be taking it up to whatever big ship they were taking.
"Is there anyone in it?" Ezra asked.
Luke nodded. "My aunt is. Ahsoka Tano."
"Need me to distract her?" Ezra asked.
Luke nodded again. He pulled his Force signature in tight, as close to him as he could, the same as he did when playing hide-and-seek with Daddy.
Ezra ran up to the ship. "Knight Tano? I got lost and I can't find the rest of my class. Can you help me get back to, uh…Galactic History?"
"Sure!" Auntsoka emerged from the ship. "Are you in Master Kenobi's class?"
Ezra nodded. "My friend Luke, his nose just started bleeding out of nowhere. I think a ghost punched him. He's over here." He grabbed her hand and tugged her the opposite way from where Luke was hiding behind a ship.
"Luke! Luke Skywalker?" Auntsoka walked away with Ezra.
Luke bolted onto the ship. He glanced around for somewhere to hide.
Daddy would sometimes open engine compartments and work on the engines during flight, so that meant touching the engines during flight had to be safe.
He popped open the engine compartment and jumped down inside. He concentrated as hard as he could on the Force and closed the door behind him.
"No, Padmé. You're pregnant. And even if you weren't, it would still probably be a terrible idea for you to come," Obi-Wan said. Honestly, he didn't know what else he was expecting, but he would keep Padmé on Coruscant if it killed him.
"We'll rescue him for you, Mrs. Skywalker," Rex said.
"But…he's my husband!" Padmé protested.
"And what if you get killed on this mission? What if both you and Anakin die? What happens to your children? Don't willingly put yourself in a position where your children could easily be orphaned," Obi-Wan said.
"What if I come on the Republic cruiser with you and don't go down to the surface? Then I could meet Anakin as soon as you rescue him, but I wouldn't be putting the baby in danger." Padmé crossed her arms over her white bodysuit. Obi-Wan got the feeling this was the best he was going to get out of her.
"I suppose so," Obi-Wan said. "We're leaving immediately, so you'll need to make arrangements for the children right away."
"I already have," Padmé said. "They'll be staying with Lux."
"Come on, let's go!" Ahsoka called from the shuttle they would be taking up to the cruiser. Most of the 501st and 212th were already on the Resolute, along with Admiral Yularen, who had volunteered to come along. Ferus Olin, Tru Veld, Ahsoka Tano, Mace, his former padawan Depa, and her padawan Caleb were all waiting on the shuttle to leave.
"Affirmative. Let's hurry up," Rex said. "The sooner we get to Mustafar, the sooner we can save the general."
Obi-Wan nodded. He got on the shuttle. Padmé and Rex followed him onto the ship and the ramp closed behind him.
Obi-Wan curled his hands into fists. "We're coming, Anakin," he whispered.
Obi-Wan knew the lizards would help them capture Palpatine, but being around them was unsettling.
Rex, Jesse, and Appo donned backpacks containing the ysalamiri.
"Are you sure this is going to work?" Rex asked.
Obi-Wan nodded. "I can feel the effects already. It'll work."
Padmé holstered a blaster.
Obi-Wan glared at her. "Senator…"
"Just in case," Padmé said. "I promise, I'm staying here."
"As long as you give your word," Obi-Wan said.
Padmé sighed. "I give my word I'm staying here."
Obi-Wan nodded, satisfied.
Mace sighed. "Our primary objective is to rescue Skywalker, but Depa and I are going after Palpatine. Those of you who are going with us, our objective is to capture or kill. If we can get close enough to him with these lizards, he may not be able to put up much of a fight. However, we cannot assume he will be out of the fight as soon as he's in a Force bubble. Do you understand me?"
The clones gathered in the hangar nodded. "Yes, General," they chorused.
"All those who don't have ysalamiri backpacks will be providing air support," Obi-Wan said. "Depa and Mace are going after Palpatine with Echo, the Bad Batch, and the squad they were assigned."
Echo saluted with his modified arm.
"Ahsoka, Ferus, Tru, and I, along with the rest of you coming down to the surface, will be splitting up to look for Anakin. As a reminder, he may be confused and disoriented, he'll probably be injured, and he may be lacking some of his memory. Caleb, you'll be guarding the ships from any attacks to make sure our escape route stays available." Out of the corner of his eye, Obi-Wan thought he saw a small form dart onto one of the gunships they'd be taking to the surface of Mustafar, but he couldn't be sure.
He shook his head. It was probably nothing. "May the Force be with us all."