Well, it's almost over! And then onto the sequel! That's gonna be totally AU, kinda during the Clone Wars. Just for your info, I probably won't be updating as quickly as I should like, cause I have a lot of writing on my other stories to do.

But, in the sequel, some new mutants will be featured, such as Angel, Magneto, and Callisto!

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

dmitchell: Well, Palps isn't gonna get it in this story, but in the sequel after the sequel, he's gonna get it. Sorry if I'm confusing you!

xXxArwenxXx: Thank you! I'm glad you like my story.

Adame shmi Skywalker Vader: Thank you! The X-Men rock!

Chapter 18

Disclaimer: See chapter one!

"More battalions to the left," Yoda commanded. "Encircle them, we must, then divide."

Gunship #2, the one with Obi-Wan, Padme, and Anakin, skimmed the battlefield, firing down, deflecting answering fire from the droids, while the three of them watched from the open Gunship.

On the battleground below, clone troopers riding speeder bikes advanced toward the battlefield. Trade Federation spider droids fired at the clone troopers and Republic Gunships, and lightsaber-wielding Jedi slashed through battle droids as the battle raged on.

The mutants ran out of the Command Center and ignited their lightsabers, sticking together as they put their powers into action and began fighting furiously.

"Look at that!" Obi-Wan exclaimed, as he saw someone whirling sand around herself, and the droids disappeared in a sudden tornado that came from the now darkened sky. Anakin and Padme moved beside him and watched as a long stream of laser came out from another person's eyes, and then suddenly stopped, only to appear once again.

"It's the mutants," Padme said softly, making Obi-Wan and Anakin glance at her.

Their Gunship flew low toward the Techno Union starships.

"Aim right above the fuel cells," Anakin said suddenly.

Laser fire pelted the base of the Techno Union ship. Rocked with explosions, it began to tilt over and the Gunships split up, flying past.

"Good call," Obi-Wan praised. "Those Federation starships are taking off. Target them quickly."

One Trade Federation starship began to rise from its docking port, but their Gunship fired on the starship, with no apparent damage.

"They're too big, Master," Anakin put in. "The ground troops will have to take them out."

"Or the mutants," Obi-Wan responded.

The Gunship, with Yoda on it, landed at the Command Center, and the Jedi Master disembarked.

"Master Yoda, all forward positions are advancing," the clone commander spoke up.

Yoda nodded. "Very good. Very good," he replied, walking slowly with his cane.

The Gunship continued to fire on the Trade Federation starships, but the starships continued to lift into the sky.

"Concentrate all your fire on the nearest starship," Yoda ordered.

"Yes, sir," the clone replied.

The starship finally began to weaken under the constant fire. It began to fall and then exploded in a fireball.

Serena looked up at the other flying starships. "Storm, Phoenix, look!" she shouted, pointing to the starships.

"Let's take them down!" Storm shouted back, and concentrated on aiming her lightning on one of the starships. Jean used her power to shut down the systems of one of them, and Serena used her ability to throw another one back into the ground.

Obi-Wan, Anakin and Padme were at the open sides of the Gunship. Clones fired down at the droids below. The Gunship slowed, circling over a droid gun-emplacement. It blasted it, but suddenly the Gunship was rocked by a near miss. It lurched violently.

"Look over there..." Obi-Wan said, pointing to the speeder.

Anakin glared. "It's Dooku! Shoot him down!" he shouted to the pilot.

Through the other side of the Gunship, they saw a Geonosian Speeder racing past, and in the open cockpit was the unmistakable figure of Count Dooku.

"We're out of rockets, sir," the clone admitted regretfully.

"Follow him!" Anakin said, exasperated.

Padme was worried. "We're going to need some help!" she cried, thinking about Serena.

Obi-Wan shook his head. "No, there's no time. Anakin and I can handle this."

Padme looked at him, not too sure about that. You need the mutant's help...

Dooku signaled the two fighters flanking his ship. They veered off left and right, looped around, and came up behind our heroes' Gunship. To avoid the beak-wing fire, the Gunship banked up a steep dune but was still hit. The ship lurched on its side, and Padme and a clone officer tumbled out.

"Padmé!" Anakin shrieked. He stared down in horror as Padme hit the ground below. "Put the ship down!" he cried frantically.

"No, she'll be all right!" Obi-Wan argued. "Follow that speeder," he continued to the pilot.

Serena instantly felt Padme's pain as she hit the ground, and knew something was wrong. It was time to help her friends. "Guys, come on, we have to leave!" she shouted, and summoned the ship to them.

"Why?" Pyro shouted, having fun as he threw a fireball at some more droids.

"Because my cousin is in trouble, and my friends are too!" Serena yelled back, and opened the hatch. The mutants quickly ran up into the ship and took off towards Padme.

The Gunship continued its pursuit of Dooku's speeder, followed by the two beak-wing fighters.

"Lower the ship!" Anakin shouted angrily.

Obi-Wan glared at him. "Anakin, I can't take Dooku alone," he protested. "I need you. If we catch him we can end this war right now. We have a job to do."

"I don't care!"

"You shall be expelled from the Jedi Order if you don't obey orders!"

"I can't leave her!" Anakin cried desperately, tears running down his cheeks.

Obi-Wan looked at him sadly. "You have to trust that she'll be all right," he said, "What do you think Padmé would do if she were in your position?"

Anakin sighed. "She would do her duty," he said, resigned. Obi-Wan put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Yoda stood next to the clone commander and sensed something was wrong with Padme and Serena. "Hmmmm..." he said thoughtfully.

The clone turned to him. "The droid army is in full retreat, sir," he informed him.

Yoda nodded. "Well done, Commander. Bring me my ship."

On the ground, a clone trooper approached Padme and knelt beside her. "Are you all right?" he asked anxiously.

Padme groaned. "I think so."

"We better get you back to the Forward Command Center."

Padme stood up quickly. "No, no," she shook her head. "Gather up what troops you can. We've got to get to that hanger. Get a transport. Hurry!"

The clone nodded. "Right away," he replied, and they both began to run. Suddenly the mutant ship flew over them, and Kurt and Serena instantly appeared on the ground in front of them. "Come on, Padme, let's go," she said, and grabbed her hand. Kurt grabbed onto the clone's and they both teleported back onto the ship.

Good thing the mutants are around to help! Don't forget to leave a review, but remember, no flames!