A/N: Thank you all for the support. In advance, please let me know if the story is in any way confusing? I don't mean the twist and turns, but if something is really out there. Like wacky, I guess. Maybe it's just me.
Thank you CajunBear73, Bobtrumpet, and cc14ca! I really appreciate it.
I hope you enjoy this next chapter!
Chapter 22
I.
Wade typed into the terminal in front of him, sitting alone on the captured Separatist battleship. A skeletal platoon of clones guarded him. So far, all remained quiet.
He cracked the firewall that surrounded the Confederacy's databanks, gaining access to secrets not for Republic eyes. Only one thing disturbed Wade. Ron's name nor his last hid anywhere in the separatist files. No reference existed.
He searched for hours and hours while Kim and the others fought on in the war elsewhere. It frustrated him as he hung his head. If I were a Separatist, how would I label Ron as a prisoner?
How? A significant question indeed. No prisoner, detainee, or criminal warrant matched Ron's description. Hacking deeper into far-out systems only loosely aligned with the Separatists, and not a single person questioned by a single battle droid came close.
So where and what was Ron doing?
A Separatist general signs off on Ron's capture, arrest, and imprisonment. Though his name existed, no record of what happened, when, how, and where. His identity absent along with any record of his face.
He rubbed the wrinkled, flustered skin between his brows. Could Ron still be on Ord Canfre somewhere being tormented by Dementor? Had the mad scientist killed him? Had another faction captured him? Another rival species? Alone? Starving? Space pirates? Hutts? Slave? Infinite possibilities stormed his brain.
"How's the search coming along from your friend, sir?" a clone asked, bringing him a cup of water.
"Not well..." Wade rubbed his temple, his head still hung in a sea of questions.
"Maybe the refreshment will help clear your mind a bit," the trooper pushed the cup into Wade's hands.
"Thanks..." Wade nodded, clutching at the metallic cup. If he couldn't find Ron, who could? It was weighing him down.
"You know, for a kid, I'm surprised. I haven't seen many kids assimilate to war as fast as you, except for Jedi, of course," the clone quipped.
Wade almost dropped his cup. He plowed his face into his hand in blissful frustration. Perspective slapped him across the face. The separatists capturing Ron might not contain the whole truth. Instead, assimilation fell into the realm of possibilities.
He downed the cup of water and set it aside. He backtracked out of the current server and into the Confederacy's military network.
Maybe they released Ron into the Separatist populace, or worse, joined the ranks of the Separatists. He typed in code after code, delving deeper into the Confederacy's military data and their personnel. He paid no mind to the terminal beeping next to him.
Sweat dripped from his brow onto his hands, which worked to bring up Ron's whereabouts in the galaxy. The computer next to him continued to beep, the interval in between growing shorter.
He entered the Confederacy's military data network.
He typed in Ron's name as it would appear in galactic standard. The system searched… and searched. Seconds felt like hours. Results populated. Ron's identity wasn't Ron. Confused, Wade sifted through the data further, trying to tie down a connection.
"Ron is— "
The ships' sirens blared, the bridge doused in dark crimson. Wade looked up, finding a separatist cruiser and its escorts filling the view ports.
"Providence cruiser class, this isn't good," Wade whispered. "Sergeant! We're in trouble! It's a good thing I hacked the ship's weapons system before I started my investigation." Wade rushed in commands to the targeting computer and ordered all the battleship's weapons to open fire.
"Access Denied."
The message threw fear into a tense situation.
"They already locked me out! Not good. Better forward Kim all the information I found." Wade switched his hands back to the terminal with Ron's data, his fingers ready to hit send when a crimson blade routed him, scathing his fingers.
He gulped, turning his head, finding a Mandalorian holding the blade separating him from life and death. Five commando droids surrounded him, aiming blasters at his head.
"I wouldn't make another move."
II.
Admiral Norith watched over her crew as they began setting a trap for the Jedi per Beta's instruction. New faces, or rather, new battle droids, guarded entry to the bridge. Their structure and makeup were identical to older combat droids, but much more potent.
The bridge's guard comprised four upgraded battle droids and two upgraded super battle droids. Around the entire cruiser, in the space of a quarter rotation, they replaced the entire marine force aboard the ship two-fold with superior droids. The older models relegated to reserve.
Norith didn't mind the new space infantry aboard her ship. She supported it. If any truth existed in the droid's superiority to previous models, then even the Jedi would find boarding difficult.
Professor Dementor, the small runt of a scientist, added himself to the crew, bothering the admiral. He walked about the bridge as if he were the Supreme Commander himself, observing her staff and the OOM droids as if trying to find an inefficiency.
"Professor… or should I call you by your rank of captain?" Norith asked.
Dementor paused his observation, straightening himself over one of the Hapans at her station. "You know, admiral, I am here on the general's orders. So you shouldn't get so cocky. I still command the new combat droids I've brought to the ship."
"Actually, they all fall under my command, as do you. Only the boarding parties remain under your control. The rest fall under myself and my subordinate Hapan officers."
Dementor turned, "You really think so?"
"I know so." Norith turned to Dementor's super battle droids guarding the door. "Guards, escort the captain out of the bridge and to his assigned staging area. If he attempts to give you any orders, contact me immediately. If he attempts to escape, incapacitate him."
Dementor's creations didn't say a word and stepped toward the scientist.
"No need to get so hasty. I vill be compliant," Dementor sweat, putting his hands in front of him to show his submission. He hastened past the supers before they could apprehend him and saw himself out the door.
Norith didn't let her eyes off the scientist, making sure he obeyed. The thudding of the super battle droids' feet fell silent behind the closing doors.
Norith turned to the two battle droids still standing guard. "Get an additional squad to the bridge, and squad twelve with their droidekas. Don't let that scientist aboard by bridge again without my express permission."
"Yes, ma'am," the closest of Dementor's upgraded battle droids answered before relaying the command through its own internal network.
Norith mused as Dementor's new toys carried out their orders without sound and with simple nods. Dementor achieved a milestone that the Confederacy's scientists and Separatist Council weren't willing to try. Create intelligent battle droids.
Perhaps Beta's plans needn't question with such haste. With the new combat droids now aboard the ship, Norith remained confident that the next operation would conclude rather fast.
"Are the new armaments operational?" She turned to Captain Ginn.
"Yes, ma'am. Once the professor arrives hangar-side, everyone will be in position." The Captain twisted herself in her chair. "I hope the Republic didn't heed the general's warning and bring over one ship. It would be disappointing if we didn't get to use our new weapons."
"If they're just warships, I'm okay with that."
"If there are any refugees, they've fled coreward. Stop having a guilty conscious, it's not like you're innocent of any war crimes."
"The battle at the gateway doesn't count—"
"No disrespect, ma'am. But I wasn't referring to your past service with the Hapan Navy. If the Republic were to capture you today, they would imprison you as a military traitor."
Norith's eyes glowered. "I never in my life served under that wretched banner."
"Wouldn't matter," Ginn sighed, turning around, staring out into the void. "They would make up some charge."
Klaxon's rang throughout the room, cutting off any response. The staff came to life as pilot droids and Hapan officers attuned to their sensors and weaponry as would a lion laying in wait for prey.
"They tripped the first set of shadow mines. Three enemy ships inbound to our location. ETA, twenty minutes!" a Hapan officer sounded.
"Forward shields up at maximum."
"Order the assault teams to load their ships. Have all other onboard personnel get to their stations. Make sure company three and squad epsilon rally around the general!"
Norith stalked down the steps toward the forward section, keeping her sight on the empty, dark void ahead. To the rear, the recaptured battleship was preparing for hyperspace to jump back into Separatist Space.
The Republic tripped the first mine, bringing them out of hyperspace. If she and Beta timed everything right, based that Generals Kenobi and Skywalker commanded the helm, then their task force would arrive at the second mine in eight minutes, which left sixteen minutes before they arrived in their sector.
She knew why they were hightailing it to their position. Beta's small telegram to the enemy lit a fire in their will and it wouldn't be long until they arrived in force. It was what the general wanted.
In the upcoming battle, Beta and Norith hoped to accomplish three goals. The first, to lure the enemy into a trap where they could destroy them. Second, test new weaponry and see the Lucid Voice solo in action.
The most important goal, to regain Kushro, the Neimoidian advisor to the general himself. Norith knew from the tracker that one cruiser en route to their position carried the political adviser.
Far too great an asset, Kushro needed rescuing. Besides that, no one knew how long Kushro would hold up against Jedi interrogation. And to ensure the Jedi didn't pursue them when they retrieved him, they needed to return the young boy Beta captured. A prisoner exchange without the other side's knowledge.
Giving back the boy went against Norith's wishes. A boy that could hack their networks and shadowfeed all within the course of one battle and Beta desired his freedom. The admiral thought it utter insanity. In the end, she wasn't in charge.
"Second charge hit ma'am," a pilot droid shouted.
A Hapan of short stature turned to the Admiral, "Eight minutes and counting."
"Battle stations everyone. Launch a screen of vulture droids and send out tri-droid interceptors! Prepare the assault team!"
Eight minutes. Soon the enemy would be off their prow, starboard side at two o'clock. It wouldn't be long before the next battle began.
III.
"You have less than one rotation to decide the boy's fate. If you do not confront my forces in the Cathar System, then I will be forced to execute the boy as a spy. Make a wise decision, Jedi. A boy's life rests on you. Not that blood isn't already on your hands…"
"We can't just let Wade…" Kim couldn't muster the words.
A gentle hand grasped her shoulder as General Beta's holo-message repeated itself from the beginning, "Calm yourself, my padawan. Anger is not the Jedi way."
At that moment, Kim cared less about the Jedi code or morality. For the briefest of a second, her heart went dark. She turned to her mentor and shouted, "And what do you know? Anger is a completely normal emotion in this type of situation. My friend" — Kim pointed at the hologram, where a broken Wade knelt at Beta's boots — "is being threatened with death!"
"We know," her mentor spoke with understanding. "We know."
That happened an hour ago, while Republic forces regrouped near the Harleon System. The news came in as remnant Republic forces, scattered by Beta's blitz throughout the New Territories, gathered in the system.
Beta's successful offensive dwarfed Wade's capture, cutting off both choke points out of the system along the Hydian Way, with Botajef and Bandomeer, now conquered.
Her heart void as space itself, encompassed what she felt. The stars outside the only flitter of hope. First Ron, now Wade. Who was next in this nightmare? How could she change the fate of those close to her if she couldn't even defeat the one who threatened them?
The walls around her mocked her blank, distant gaze, just like her new nemesis.
"Possible-san?" Yori's voice broke the silence, light pouring into the room from the hall. Her subtle footsteps rounded her bedside.
Kim took in a deep breath, hanging her head. "What is it, Yori?"
A brief pause from her acquaintance, as if something stopped her. "Our teachers have agreed to let you take part in the operation, however…"
Heat rose in Kim's cheeks, "However?"
"You will stay in the rear and defend in the event the enemy boards. You will not participate in the assault on Beta's ship."
"What?"
Yori befuddled her exasperation, not caring. "And this is exactly why our teachers want us in the rear."
Kim looked up, "And please explain to me the 'Why?'"
"It isn't obvious? The answer is seething out of your lips, Possible-san. Fear and anger are not Jedi ways."
"I'm not a Jedi, Yori. I didn't go out and join them to fight their battles. My main goal is to find Ron. It has been and always will be."
Yori sighed, "And the Jedi will help us find—"
"Joining the Jedi has got us nowhere. In fact, it's made the sitch worse. Now Wade's captured, by a psychopath, no less."
"If it weren't for the Jedi, we wouldn't have made it this far, Possible-san. From them, we've learned to awaken powers we never knew that we had. If they never rescued us, then we might all be suffering a worse fate."
"You think I don't know that?" Kim said pointedly. "In fact, someone could have already killed Ron. Especially if they treated him like they're treating Wade. Did you ever think of that?"
Yori grabbed her arm. "I think of it every night I fall asleep. Any time I see clankers, visions of Stoppable-san hurt or worse, assault my mind."
"Exactly!" Kim snapped her head to look at Yori, "So you of all people should understand how I feel."
"More than you know," Yori's face flushed with heat.
Kim blushed at Yori's implication. Yori liked Ron more than just a friend, and now it displayed in neon red. "Right…" Kim said. While she played checkers with the butterflies in her heart, Yori's heart already checkmated itself.
When the moment presented itself, she didn't doubt that Yori would confess to Ron. Kim recognized that even if she found Ron, she could fumble that talk before it happened. Not if Yori took her chance to confess.
And now, with Wade captured, Kim bombarded herself for her callousness toward her friends. Maybe the Jedi were right. Maybe they were wrong. One certainty clung to her. This war might cost her more than her mind, but all she held dear to.
IV.
Dark and cramped, his wrists and ankles bound in ways that he couldn't maneuver out. He bobbed his head, trying to glimpse anything, a clue to his whereabouts, but to no avail. He couldn't remember how he got into the room.
He tried to wriggle his hands free, only for whatever bound him to give him a minor shock that spread through his arms like sand against paper. His ankles felt the same way when he tried them. The shock didn't warm his skin any either, the cold metal floor pierced even his jeans.
He would have tried to talk and ask if anyone was around, maybe outside a door, but the cloth gag in his mouth prevented him from doing anything but tasting what he could only describe as dirty oil if he imagined its taste.
Then, to his surprise, the room lit up in an eerie blood red, the sounds of metal sliding doors whooshing open. The heavy footfalls of droids reverberated around the room. Lighter footsteps followed, and the door shut.
Combat droids reached their stiff hands under his arms and sat him up on the bench. Wade came face to face with obsidian commando droids laced with silver lines up and down their body.
The one facing him had deep blue markings between its eyes. "Don't move. We're going to undo the bindings."
One of the other commando droids moved in to unlock the electrified cuffs around Wade's wrists. Wade recoiled at the droid's icy hands, sending numbing pain up his forearms.
"I told you not to move." The commando droid's deep vocabulator didn't sound ominous like Wade had expected. "We're not here to hurt you."
The other commando droid deactivated the cuffs and Wade took his wrists back and held them close to his body. "Oh yeah, then why display me like that on the bridge?"
"You refused to comply."
Wade couldn't figure out why he was arguing with a commando droid. He gained nothing from arguing. He continued anyway, "Wouldn't you refuse to comply if I forced you to kneel against your will?"
Wade didn't expect the answer he got from the emotionless commando droid. "You do what you can to survive, kid. Not everyone gets a choice."
Confusion crossed Wade's face. This commando droid had just called him a kid. It recognized that not only was he a child, but the tone and context the combat droid used sounded too human to Wade. Wade thought his own Wade-bot 3000 carried more processing power and intelligence than any battle droid that the Separatists could muster. This one, this one made Wade think differently.
If he had the option, he would have Kim disassemble it and he could find out within a week, but someone behind the commando droids interrupted his thoughts.
"That's enough, OM-1."
An athletic young woman strode into the room with a commanding posture, shoulders kicked back. Her experienced eyes and bunned hair told Wade of her respect and discipline. She cut between the commando droids and looked directly into Wade's eyes. "You don't get to know what OM-1 or the others are. How well do you follow instructions?"
Wade narrowed his eyes. "That depends. Are you going to kick me?"
"No," the lady snorted, "I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here to make sure OM-1 and the others get you to where they need to get you. That's all. Everything will go smoothly if you comply with us."
"And just where are you taking me?"
The woman turned on her heel, her navy blue uniform almost folding as she sat on a bench and strapped herself in. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eyes, her glare daring him to ask another question.
Wade's gut sank as the room dropped. Another lurch pushed him against the wall. He deduced they were on a different ship as it shook.
"I think you've garnered enough information from our ship's databanks, wouldn't you say, spy?"
Cringing at her words, he slowly turned his head away from her daunting gaze, understanding that by 'comply' she meant he needed to shut up and stay quiet the entire ride. But before he could settle, a familiar, almost frightening voice caught his ear.
As he rolled his eyes to their very corner without moving his head, his sight did not betray him. As the woman spoke, he recognized the hologram hovering over her palm as OM-1 took a seat next to her. Her speaking of his name confirmed what he saw.
Professor Dementor.
V.
Kim, Ahsoka, and Yori all stood aboard the bridge. Already hitting the last gravity mine, they were thirty seconds out. Though they brought a surprise.
Kim's ship took part in a three-ship task force meant to overwhelm the general and force his surrender. Anakin believed he was bluffing and the sight of three Republic cruisers would throw him off his game. Obi-wan believed it was a trap and that Beta would have a sizable fleet to confront them. Either way, extra ships would be necessary.
"Ten seconds until we exit hyperspace."
Kim nodded at the clone officer below deck. She turned her sight to the viewport where they would soon confront their enemy. Their task force held the role of distraction, so Anakin and Obi-wan could sneak aboard the enemy ship and grab Wade from their clutches.
Hyperspace slowed to a crawl and the endless glowing blue tube disappeared as they zoomed in on the yellowish dusty planet of Cathar, the planet they had just liberated not so long ago. The Trade Federation battleship they captured was long gone, replaced by Beta's massive cruiser, standing as the lone guard in front of the planet.
The alarm sounded.
Kim winced at the klaxons blaring. With no turbolaser fire incoming, she didn't understand the fussy alarm.
"Our shields are down! Vulture fighters inbound!"
"So it was a trap. They knew exactly when we'd come out of hyperspace," Ahsoka commented.
Yori nodded. "Yes, but how is our shield already down?"
"Ion torpedoes must have hit us as soon as we exited hyperspace," Ahsoka replied.
Kim looked at both of them. "Question is, why are they not firing at us?"
Yori and Ahsoka pointed outside the ship. "There's your answer. Clankers."
Outside, Kim could see eight ships approaching at high velocity. "What are those?"
"We have droids inbound! Impact in three…"
The ship shuttered as the crude Separatist boarding crafts pierced the tower's structure below them. When the comms officer recovered, he put the chatter on the intercom so Kim and others could hear.
Static. Then, "We have droids on levels twenty and eighteen. I repeat droids on levels twenty and eighteen. We need back-up! I say again, we need argh—"
The three young Jedi looked at each other.
"We need to get down there," Ahsoka said.
Kim crossed her arms pensively. Asking for reinforcements from the other ships could help. Each cruiser unloaded its turbolasers onto the distant Separatist ship.
But before Kim could offer her suggestion, a bright flash lit up the room and the ship rocked. Lowering her arms from the blast, she gazed out the port side view to see the cruiser to the left with a massive gash through its entire midsection. Were the shields down? No, we prepared for this. Our ships shouldn't have lost our shields that fast.
"Heavy damage to cruiser Phindar. Heavy casualties, their life support systems are down and their reactors are exposed!" a clone officer shouted.
"Be prepared to receive as many wounded in the main hangar. I don't want a single trooper left untreated," Ahsoka ordered.
Another clone officer turned around, "They fired two shots exactly."
"Two shots?" Ahsoka stared wide-eyed at the commander. "A new weapon?"
"I'm guessing that can't be good," Yori remarked.
"We detected one ion cannon shot followed by a heavy turbolaser fire from the enemy ship's bow. There was a massive energy reading from their cruiser right before they fired."
"Are we inflicting any damage?" Ahsoka asked.
The clone officer shook his head, "Their shields are holding at over ninety percent and stable."
Kim looked over and out of the starboard side where she could see the Redeemer charging ahead of them, its turbolasers firing for full effect. Then came the barrage from Beta's cruiser, dozens upon dozens of turbolaser blasts per second raining down on their ally, overcoming their shields and bursting open the outer hull in flames of hot vaporized metal.
"We're outgunned," a stunned Ahsoka said, watching the Redeemer veer away from its attack.
"Incoming transmission from the enemy."
"Patch it through," Yori ordered.
A hologram not of General Beta, but a commanding woman, appeared in front of them. She wasted no time. "I am Admiral Norith. When the general said one ship, it wasn't a request."
"Seeing that you already destroyed one of our ships and boarded us with droids, I say we need more," Ahsoka replied.
The admiral smirked. "My ship would outgun an entire flotilla. Try me. You can still adhere to the general's prior arrangement and save precious lives, or you can continue your futile assault until we force your compliance with blood. You decide."
Her image faded away.
"Call reinforcements. Contact—"
"No!" Kim cut off Ahsoka, "Have the Redeemer retreat."
Ahsoka looked at Kim, "Are you crazy? Then they'll blow us away."
"No, Possible-san is right. The enemy has not fired on us, they have only boarded. They want something. Just like Master Skywalker and Master Kenobi are infiltrating their ship to rescue Load-san."
"Darn it, why didn't I think of that? Beta gave us the answer when we were on his ship. We took his officers' prisoners."
Ahsoka crossed her arms. "That's right. The Neimoidians."
"He's playing us. He must know what we're up to."
Kim mentally kicked herself. That's why Beta didn't fight back when they escaped, because he knew Wade was easy prey. He never wanted to escape Bandomeer, he already won there. He raced off to capture Wade so he could force the clock on them.
Only one question gnawed away at Kim's mind while Ahsoka gave the order for their remaining escort to withdraw. Why did the droids anchor and board sections eighteen through twenty? They held the Neimoidians and other prisoners in detention at the lower levels. Why would droids want to fight so far?
Before Kim could deduce an answer in her own brain, a clone listening into the comms chatter in his battle helmet leaned his head against his fingers as if perplexed. The clone trooper caught Kim's attention.
"What is it, trooper?"
He looked at Kim, and she could tell. He seemed confused beyond the stars. "Our forces have engaged enemy forces on level seven, including a rogue Jedi."
VI.
"Ma'am, the major weapons on the bow are recharging. It will be another five minutes until they're ready to fire again."
Admiral Norith pivoted on her heel and walked up to the top step behind the captain's chair. "It doesn't matter. Their escort is limping away and even if they brought reinforcements, our ship is more than capable of holding its own. Besides, their game is the same as ours. Distraction. I'm sure they've figured that out by now."
"Ma'am?" Captain Ginn glanced back at her.
"The Jedi should board near the aft section of the ship where the detention facilities are located. While they tried to distract us with their ships, we're distracting them with multiple boarding parties on their main cruiser."
Ginn rolled her eyes, "You mean that rogue scientist and his toys, Dementor."
"Dementor is there to let Crous and OM-1's team conduct the prisoner exchange without Jedi interference. The general assured me that Dementor would provide sufficient cover."
"And why is that?"
"I don't know." Admiral Norith placed her hands on her hips, watching the limping Republic cruiser jump to hyperspace while the other drifted beyond repair, leaving the lone cruiser to face off with them. "I would say that was a successful test of our new heavy weapon systems."
"Quite," the captain replied.
"Ma'am." An OOM-droid at a lower terminal sounded, "We have detected two intruders in level three. We're tracking them."
"It's the Jedi. Put all droids on alert and make sure squad thirteen and four supplements as security to the bridge," Norith ordered. She trusted Beta was more than capable of handling the two Jedi. Uncertainty divided her faith in Skywalker and Kenobi staying together. If one of them made their way to her, she wasn't even sure if Dementor's new battle droids would help.
VII.
Wade couldn't believe his eyes after whatever assault ship they were in crashed into what he only knew was a Venator Star Destroyer. The ship crashed and pierced into its hull before prying it apart like a tin can and opening the way for the commando droids.
OM-1 and his team weren't the biggest surprise for him. Crous intrigued him far more. When they exited the ship, she landed in a perfect crouch, like a hunting cat. But her igniting a lightsaber really gained his attention.
When they dropped into the gray corridors, they took the clones by surprise. Here, a supposed Jedi in Separatist uniform with her indigo blade drawn ready for combat. By the time the clones caught their bearings, the Separatist Force user had Force thrown them into the wall, then back onto the floor unconscious.
OM-1's blaster rifle cut any hope the clones escaped death with two shots.
OM-1 turned. "Two and Three, protect the boy with your life until we make contact with the Jedi. Only then do we retreat. Four and Five, on me with Commander Crous."
Lives.
These commando droids not only recognized they were sentient but prized their lives. Even with self-preservation, droids shouldn't act like this. These droids held a higher standard for their lives and others than just mere self-preservation. More like souls inhabited their metal coffins. It all made Wade drift into a coma of science and wonder.
As they moved forward through the halls, they quickly dealt with any clone troopers that were unfortunate enough to take a stand, taking only one shot at a time. The Separatist Jedi only blocked bolts that presented a threat to herself.
She moved the blade with elegance, each stroke and block deflecting with ease. Her display of swordman-ship impressed him. He watched Kim and Yori train with their own sabers, but their talent didn't hold a candle to hers.
"Droids!" the clone screamed before his voice gargled in pain from being shot.
The sound of clones having their lives extinguished so easily brought dread to Wade's mind. Before, Wade calculated that the Separatist Droid Army relied on numbers to best the clones, which meant the Republic kept its fighting chance through quality.
However, if more Force users existed on the Separatist side, and effective droids. Ones that acted as if they were alive themselves. Then an unknown variable in all of his calculations could spell disaster. Disaster for Kim, the team, Jedi, and the Republic.
Disaster for Ron.
If what Beta told him came to pass, then even Earth wasn't safe. But what was Wade to do? He knew secrets worth his life and even mouthing them could be his end.
VIII.
"What do you think of the two rebels that saved our padawans? Don't you think it's highly unlikely of them to intercept Separatist communication channels?"
Obi-wan peeked around the corner of the intersection of two main walkways. Rumblings in the Force bothered him about the rescue of Kim and the others earlier. Their ship came from nowhere and he found it improbable they came from Bandomeer or any other part of Separatist Space.
"I think we should focus on the current mission right now, Master. And that's finding the scum who took our apprentices hostage."
Anakin dashed across with Obi-wan right behind him. Down the hall, two combat droids stared directly at the intersection as they crossed. Instead of raising their blasters, they nodded at each other walked away.
"It just makes little sense. How did… It really concerns me is all," Obi-wan stated, finishing his thoughts on the matter.
Anakin quirked his brow. "Are you still on that subject? Aren't you more concerned with the fact that the droids aren't paying us any attention?"
"We discussed this before we got on the ship." Obi-wan peeked around another corner, and sure enough, another pair of battle droids. He turned back to Anakin. "This is a trap. I'm sure they're funneling us right where they want us to go."
"Then why are we doing it? We need to rescue your padawan's friend."
Obi-wan stared back at him wearily. "Because we're being funneled right toward the detention center. According to your astromech unit," Obi-wan brought out a small holoprojector that displayed the Separatist command ship. Obi-wan's face contorted at the information displayed. "Well, that's strange. He's in the main hangar now."
Anakin furrowed his brow. "They must be trying to move him out of the system," Anakin smirked. "Our students must be putting the pressure on."
"There was a power short when we docked."
"Well" — Anakin pulled out his lightsaber — "I say we get to the hangar and rescue the kid."
Obi-wan smirked, "I agree."
IX.
The ship shuddered. The lights flickered. Power fluctuations surged throughout the ship. None of this compelled Erina or Grayson to get up from their bunks. Instead, they ignored the danger.
"Do you think they bought it?" Erina, the acolyte of Fist's order, asked, staring up at the ceiling.
Grayson sighed, "Why worry about it? If we're compromised, we retreat."
"You say that like it's so simple. What if the clones barge in here and detain us?" Erina asked. Boredom couldn't describe the anguish she was feeling from doing nothing. The assignment was punishment for failing. And now, she found herself under the boot of the most ruthless of any Sith or Salus Dark Lord. Darth Sestra.
Darth Sestra, the daughter and only heir to Darth Vuist, more commonly known as Monkey Fist or Lord Fist. Being sent to serve her struck her stiff until Erina received modifications. Modifications that helped her understand she would be vital to this mission.
Grayson stirred her thoughts. "I've already mapped out our escape. Our ship has A.I. and can maneuver itself out. If not, it can self-destruct with the force of over one hundred megatons."
"Then you'd strand us in space," Erina sat up.
The smirk on the assassin's face drew Erina's guile out. "I thought being adrift in space would be no problem for an Imora. Or… are you afraid of being trapped with a true assassin?"
Erina laughed, "I'm afraid of no such thing."
"Right. Just wait the battle out. Sestra won't let her spy blow the ship up. It was too difficult to get us here."
Laying back down, Erina thought about what Grayson just stated. She shook her head, put her blank mask over her face, whispering, "Then you don't know Darth Sestra."
X.
Dementor stood at the front of a forced entrance of his Droch-assault ship. His battle droids had already cordoned off the conjoining halls on either side, creating a perimeter ninety feet in either direction. He also controlled the hub of lifts that ferried Republic officers and clones from the upper decks and bridge to the lower levels, giving Commander Crous and OM-1 and his team much-needed breathing room.
In short, Dementor controlled not only many parts of the Republic ship's conning tower but also when and where they could move their troops in the area, stopping elevators at will.
"We've sustained eight casualties, two downed droids, across all levels. We have carried those units back to our infiltration ships. Our specialist team is rigging their hyper-drive as we speak." Unit 15 Aurek, the commanding droid of Dementor's force, informed the scientist.
"Good. Ve have total control of our objectives and areas of operation. Order all units to halt any offensive tactics and assume defensive positions. Vhere is OM-1 and his team?"
"They are currently escorting the prisoner to the detention level to perform the exchange. Approximately eight minutes until they arrive at their destination."
Dementor paced toward an embankment where two combat droids and a super battle droid kneeled to keep cover from any pop shots the clones made. Dementor smiled at his own genius. In less than a month, he had turned perhaps one of the most incompetent fighting forces into an intelligent lean machine.
Instead of standing around like the lumbering oafs, these were far more advanced and able to think for themselves.
"Sir, Platoon Eight and Five are facing an assault on both fronts. They've informed me they will have to fall back and surrender the elevator."
"Vhat?" Dementor couldn't believe it. Platoon Eight composed of over thirty droids and twelve super battle droids. What could give them a hard time? Were all the clones converging on one spot?
"They've encountered Jedi, sir." Unit 15 Aurek answered.
"Impossible," General Beta ensured him he would distract the Jedi away and to the Lucid Voice. Unless… "I vant a live feed, now!"
Unit 15 Aurek seemed perplexed at Dementor's antics, calmly removing a holo-disc attached to his side. Part of what Dementor had installed in his new battle droids was a program he called 'The All-seeing Eye'. He still needed to perform additional work, but the base program allowed the commanding droid, in this case, Unit 15, to use the holo-disc and see any other droids' vision, allowing the droid and in this case, himself a view of whatever the droids under Unit 15 could see.
A hologram popped up of a droid that seemed to hide behind a corner with its new E-5c rapid blaster aimed upright trying to hide. Across from it stood another combat droid and a super battle droid also seeking cover against the wall.
"Order them to fire on the enemy."
Unit 15 nodded in affirmation and silently gave the order through its circuits, relaying it through its internal network.
In a second, the droid unit that they were using as eyes on the situation motioned the others to lean around and attack. The motion was quick and in a split second, the battle droid swung its repeater around the wall, unleashing a torrent of blaster fire together with the super battle droid forcing cautious but advancing clones to huddle into the corners of the walls.
But what surprised Dementor the most, if not shocking him entirely, was the group of young Jedi protecting the clones from his droid's deadly barrage. More specifically, the brazen red-head at the front of the pack. A dark smile grew upon Dementor's face, one that even concerned Unit 15.
"Sir..?"
"How long until they're pushed back to the elevator?"
"I estimate five minutes."
Dementor smirked, "Plenty of time. Get me my Gustav!" He pointed Unit 15 toward the Droch's entrance. With lifted spirits and in his best voice yet, "Today is my lucky day."
XI.
"Darn. These clankers aren't normal, are they, Rex?" Ahsoka stated through gritted teeth, swinging and blocking as many of the droids' blaster bolts as she could.
Rex fired back, trying to keep their steady advance toward the elevator. "I just hope Commander Possible is right about this."
"I know" — Ahsoka bent backward as a missile screeched overhead, slamming into the wall behind them and tossing two other troopers like rag dolls — "she's right. It makes sense. We confirmed a ship anchored in the lower levels."
"This is all a distraction," Kim grunted, pouring sweat blocking the droids' pot-shots. Clones clung to the walls. The padawans lightsabers their only cover.
Rex did his best to pin down the droid with the prattling repeater. "I've never faced clankers this determined before."
"In order to be a good distraction, you have to keep your opponent's eyes off the prize."
"That's not what I mean," Rex replied. "They're being persistent."
The firing stopped for a brief second and Kim and the others used the pause to rush into empty storage rooms opposite of each other, gaining them ground.
Ahsoka took in a breath, "Sounds like you know from experience."
"I do," Kim's eyes dropped. "But I was never really the distraction." Memories flashed and faded before her of all the missions Ron risked his life for her. Even the ones he messed up. If only Ron were here right now...
Only one way to save Wade.
The battle droids they faced forced a choke point. Another Separatist ship docked itself near the detention level far below. Images of Beta's crack commando droids rescuing the Neimoidian she'd captured a rotation before plagued her mind.
If the Separatists secured the Neimoidian, then Beta could flee with Wade. No. Kim couldn't let that happen. Ron's absence weighed too much already. She needed to ensure the Neimoidian stayed in Republic hands.
She straightened her stance, rounding her shoulders. Motioning Yori across the hall for their next move. Ahsoka clued in and tugged on Kim's robe to signal her.
Kim's leg muscles coiled, ready to spring out. She knew her trajectory. Against the opposing wall, over the droids' blaster fire, and behind the hall's intersection to cut them down.
Just as she crouched, her coiled legs froze, blood turning to ice at the sound of a familiar voice. Kim couldn't move.
"Oh, Fraulein Possible. Come out to play."