"aaaa" - talking through a holocomunicator or comlink. aaaa - inner thoughts and Force Visions. 'aaaa' - talking through a bond.
AN: Since I forgot to say this in my last chapter, I'm going to say it now. RIP Betty White. I watched the Golden Girls when I was a teenager and I loved the show. I have a feeling that all four of them are reunited up in heaven. She was a legend and will be dearly missed.
R2 is still missing! After losing him in battle and not being able to locate him, Anakin was forced to take on a new astromech, R3-S6, who has been causing nothing but problems for him. While the Jedi are now on a new mission, in which they have been tasked with finding a secret enemy listening post, R2 has fallen into the hands of a vile droid smuggler, who is delivering him to Grevious.
Don't forget to leave me a review or even PM me if you are enjoying this story!
Chapter 4: Finding R2-D2
The Trandoshan's ship made its way through space heading towards the planet of Ruusan. Up in the cockpit, the scavenger was speaking to General Grievous.
"I am entering your orbit now General," the male Trandoshan said. "I will be arriving at your station shortly. There is just one more thing that I wish to discuss with you."
"What is this one thing Gha Nachkt?" Grievous asked.
"I would like my reward to be in cash," the Trandoshan said.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Aboard the Twilight, Anakin and Rex were scanning the navigational charts, trying to locate General Grievous' secret listening post. Normally such a mission would have gotten the Knight's blood racing, but not this time. Things were a little tense because this listening post created a huge problem for the Republic since it allowed Grievous to stay one step ahead of them. Things were also tense because R2 was still missing. In his place was a black and gold astromech who seemed to create more problems for their group instead of fixing them like he was supposed to be doing.
Rosella and the astromech, which she had dubbed Goldie, were near the door that led to the medical room and the cargo bay. The black and gold droid seemed like the perfect replacement droid for Anakin, who she could sense was still lamenting the supposed loss of R2, who had been a gift from her adopted mother. The teenager still had hope that her father would come around and learn to get along with the droid, but that hope was starting to diminish as Rosella was beginning to see that R3 just wasn't like R2 in terms of his personality.
For one thing, R2 never needed to be told what to do more than once. The padawan heard what R3 had done to her father and his fighter when they had gone to scout ahead for any sign of Grievous. It was as if R3 didn't want to obey any of Anakin's orders.
Rosella fiddled with a comlink that she was using and then held it up to her ear as she was listening out for any Separatist chatter that would help them find the battle station.
"We've searched their supply grids, sir. There is nothing out there that indicates the presence of an enemy outpost," Rex told Anakin, who was leaning over the back of the chair.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Gha was busy piloting the ship towards the moon where Grievous had hidden his battle station.
In his small holding cell on the bridge of the ship, R2, who had his searchlight on, was busy cutting a hole in the wall. When he was finished, the piece fell to the floor, exposing all the wires that were there, including ones that were made for communicating with others. R2 retracted his buzz saw, opened one of his panels and extended a small claw type arm which he used to mess with the wires and send out a signal.
"Huh?" Gha said as he looked down at his control panel and saw the flashing red light.
The small satellite on top of the ship turned to the left and stayed in that position as it sent out a signal.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Master," Rosella said, causing her father to look at her. The teenager skipped out on calling him by his parental title as this was a serious situation. "I've picked up something strange on one of the channels, some sort of transmission. I'm not sure what it is as there are too many sounds for me to clearly hear anything." She hit a large blue button on the panel beside her, causing the sound to play out over the speakers aboard the ship.
Anakin lifted his head, turned it towards his daughter and R3 and listened.
Rosella lowered the comlink that she was using as she looked down at the black and gold droid who was currently plugged into the socket beside her. "Raise the volume and make it louder, Goldie," she said.
The droid beeped and lowered the volume instead of turning it up.
"No, you're losing it," Anakin said as he darted over to the panel.
Rosella had placed the comlink back up near her ear and her other hand on top of the panel. The teenager lowered the device as her father reached out and smacked a button on the panel, causing the thirteen-year-old to flinch. The volume got louder and R2's whistle came out loud and clear.
"That's R2," Anakin said.
"Master, are you sure?" Rosella asked. "I don't mean to be rude or anything, but that didn't sound like R2." Granted, she hadn't been around the droid as much as her father had, so she didn't know what he sounded like.
"It's him. I could never forget that voice," Anakin said. Then he looked at his clone captain. "Trace it, Rex."
"Yes sir," Rex said and turned back to his navigational controls.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"What is going on here?" Gha asked as he tried everything he could think of to stop the unknown signal that was currently being broadcast from his ship. He slammed his hand down on the panel and turned around. Getting out of his seat, he made his way over to the cell where he had stashed R2. Opening the door, he discovered that it was the droid who had been calling for help. "You sneaky little scrap pile."
Producing a taser, he electrocuted the droid. R2's domed head spun around more than once. The doors to his various compartments popped open and all his arms with their tools swung out. Then he watched as R2's systems partially shut down and the blue and white astromech fell over. "You'd better be worth all this trouble," Gha said.
R2 beeped sadly as he lay on the ground.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Master, I know you want to find R2, but our current orders were to find and destroy that Separatist listening post," Rosella said as she reminded him of their current mission.
"Perhaps R2 is at the listening post," Anakin responded. "Did you consider that possibility?"
Rosella raised her eyebrows in consideration of the idea as it sort of made sense. If the Trandoshan had figured out just how important R2 was just by their visit, then he had probably seen that there was a profit to be made by selling the droid. The Separatists must have offered him a lot of money for a droid like R2, especially since he would be able to provide intel on the Jedi and the GAR.
Rex turned his head. "General," he said. "I was able to trace the signal and have a lock on the droid's location."
Anakin came over and looked at the screen, then over at the clone who was piloting the Twilight. "Prepare to jump to those coordinates," he said.
The trooper looked back at him. "Yes, sir," he said as he turned back around and pressed one of the six red buttons that were near his set of controls.
Rosella placed her hands on her hips and softly shook her head as her father moved to stand behind the pilot's chair as the trooper pressed some more buttons. "Hold on, R2. We're coming buddy," Anakin said.
The Twilight jumped into hyperspace.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The ship that was carrying R2 arrived in the upper atmosphere of Ruusan. The rolling, storming, unstable atmosphere of the moon made it a very unpopular place. Which meant it was perfect for a Separatist listening post within Republic held space.
The ship headed towards Grievous' listening station.
Gha contacted General Grievous.
"What do you want now Gha Nachkt?" Grievous asked.
"I'm calling to inform you that I have arrived General," the Trandoshan replied. "If you would be so kind as to lower your shields so that I may enter?"
Grievous nodded and a Quara, one that worked for the cyborg, pressed a button that deactivated the shields around the station. Gha guided his ship inside and landed on the ground. Then the Trandoshan grabbed R2 from his little cell and proceeded to make his way through the station until they came to the area that controlled the entire sphere.
As they made their way through, R2's domed head swivelled back and forth as he observed the beings that Grievous had working for him. Then Gha shocked the astromech, who beeped in response and kept moving. "Keep moving," he said.
As they rounded a corner, one of the Quara glared at R2 and put up one of his hands to hide what he was looking at on his flickering screen as he had caught the astromech staring at it. He growled threateningly in his mother tongue at the blue and white droid. R2 knew what it was though. They were blueprints of Republic Cruisers.
R2 rolled forward again, only to stop and whistle in alarm at the large cybernetic being who was standing in front of him.
"Ahhh…" Grievous said.
R2 backed up, but ran into Gha, who said, "This is the droid that those Jedi came looking for, General."
"I wonder what secrets you have hidden inside you my little friend," Grievous said.
The blue and white astromech let out a defiant series of beeps and whistles.
"So defiant," the cyborg said as he laid one of his metal claws on top of R2's domed head. "There is no need for fear as we are all droids here." Then he took his claw off of the droid's head and laughed. "Rip this droid apart! I wish to discover everything that he knows!"
Gha nodded. Then R2 backed up, running right into his foot. The Trandoshan hopped up and down for a few seconds, placing his other hand on top of R2 so he didn't lose his balance. "I will get started right away General," he said and shocked R2, causing the droid to move towards a set of doors.
They slid open to reveal a room that held a table with a large metal device hanging overhead. R2 stopped in the doorway and shook a little. Gha had to shock him again to make him move and the astromech rolled forward, only to bump into the corner of the table.
Then the doors slid closed behind them.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The Twilight came out of hyperspace above a planet that was beige in colour and swirling with dark clouds. Inside the freighter, Rex was still sitting in the navigation chair and Anakin was bent over, staring at the screen in front of him.
"Sir, I managed to pinpoint where that last transmission came from. It came from that moon's upper atmosphere, the one that's directly ahead of us," Rex said as he pointed to the scan of the area on the screen. He tapped the screen and enlarged the blue object.
"That's a Separatist battle sphere Rex," Anakin said.
"I'm picking up a lot of chatter, but it's all encrypted," Rosella said as she stood behind her father. She had the comlink up against her other ear.
"Contact Obi-Wan," Anakin told her. Then he looked at R3. "Stubby, scramble secret code set 1477. I don't want that station to pick this up."
R3 beeped and did what Anakin had told him to do.
A hologram of Obi-Wan appeared on the communication station. Anakin walked over to the small figure. "Anakin?" He asked, his hands on his hips. "What do you have to report?"
"Master, I believe we've found that Separatist listening post that's had us all on edge," Anakin said as he looked down at the hologram.
"That's excellent news. I want you to hold off and wait," Obi-Wan ordered. "Since you didn't bring your fleet with you, I'm going to send two mainline cruisers to help you destroy it."
Rosella came over and stood next to her father. "What about R2?" She quietly asked. "He's the only reason we found the listening post."
"We believe my droid, R2, is on board. If we hadn't been looking for him, while also obeying your orders, we never would have found the station," Anakin told Obi-Wan. "He's the one that led us here."
"Hmmm, this complicates things," Obi-Wan said while stroking his beard. "Alright, I'm going to change things up a bit. I want you to sneak aboard that station and destroy it before they access R2's memory banks. I know you're fond of that droid, but he's fallen into enemy hands and I don't want to risk the Separatists getting their hands on the Republic's top secret information."
"I could rescue R2 first and then destroy the station," Anakin said.
"No, this is not a rescue mission," Obi-Wan said sternly and then ended the transmission.
Anakin looked at the clone who was piloting the freighter. "Keep jamming their scanners," he said. "If they spot us, we're done for."
The Twilight flew towards the moon.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Anakin, Rosella and the men that Rex had brought with him were currently in the cargo hold of the Twilight. Anakin's fully repaired Delta 7-B Aethersprite took up most of the space, leaving not a lot of room to move around. The Captain and his men were wearing jetpacks, while Anakin was checking over the pack of explosives they were bringing with them to blow up the station.
The last clone was just climbing down the ladder as Anakin stood up and slung the pack over his back. Rex, who had finished speaking to one of his men, walked over to Rosella who was kneeling on the floor preparing R3 for his next mission.
"Commander, not to be rude or anything, but do we have to bring the droid along?" Rex asked.
Rosella looked up at him. "We're going to need R3 to open secured hatches and access the station's computer for us," she said as she stood up. A small grin appeared on her face. "Oh, and Rex…you get to carry him." Then she turned around and walked away to finish getting ready.
Rex looked at R3 who beeped at him. "Ah, that's just great," he said.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The Twilight flew through the upper atmosphere. As one of the clones, who had been left behind to pilot the freighter, maneuvered the ship into position, the rear door opened. Anakin, Rosella, Rex - who had R3 strapped to him - and the other troopers were standing inside of the hanger in a line as they looked out at the mess of swirling clouds before them.
Once the freighter was in position, the pilot tried to keep it as steady as he could, even though it was rocking back and forth due to being battered from all sides by currents of unstable air, the group stepped forward so they were now standing on the other side of the energy shield. They were getting ready to jump as that was the only way to get to the station undetected.
"Follow me, boys!" Rosella happily called as she ran forward.
Anakin reached out to grasp her shoulder, but he missed and watched as his daughter leapt off of the Twilight and began to free fall towards the station. He, Rex and the clones all gathered at the edge and looked down at her rapidly shrinking body. Anakin looked to his right and then his left and jumped. One by one, the rest of the group followed him.
Well, Rex just fell, letting gravity and the weight of the droid do the rest.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The wind whistled through her blonde hair and whipped at her clothes as Rosella fell through the air. The teenager made sure to clamp her mouth shut as she felt her father's Force signature as he caught up to her and spread out his hands to better control his fall. Instead of looking at him, she turned her gaze downwards towards the station below her.
The station was large and round. From what she could see, there were at least three satellites on top, plus a structure that looked like the wings of a fighter on the right side.
'Ella. Come on. We have to make it to that station.' Anakin placed his hands near his sides and used the Force to help him descend a little faster.
'Right behind you Dad.' Rosella nodded and did the same thing.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Inside the station, four battle droids stood together in a small group. "Take this box upstairs," one of the droids said as it handed a box to another droid. "Make sure you don't drop it!"
The droid who had taken the box nodded, turned around, tripped over its own two feet and promptly fell to the ground, the box slipping free from its grasp. The box fell back into the droid's hands and it managed to get back to its feet.
The droid who had handed off the box sighed and said, "Those 631s are not the brightest lights on the ship."
None of them noticed Anakin, Rosella, and a group of clones falling through the air outside the station.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
As they neared the station, Anakin and Rosella used the Force to make sure they landed quietly on top.
The clones, Rex included, activated their jetpacks and used them to help with their landing.
As the Captain's feet touched the metal surface, the weight of R3, - who was still strapped to his chest - made him stumble a little. He then looked at his fellow brothers and pointed at them as he said, "Next time, one of you boys will be lugging this astromech around."
The four troopers laughed, but their laughter soon stopped as Anakin stepped forward. Rosella watched as he took his lightsaber off his belt, ignited it and cut a hole in the ceiling. As it fell, the Knight caught it with the Force, brought it up into the air and flung it over the side, letting it fall to the ground, if there even was any, that was far below them.
After deactivating and clipping his lightsaber back onto his belt, Anakin went through the hole first. Then the clones followed him and Rosella came through last.
Rex couldn't wait to get the back and gold astromech droid off his chest.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Inside the station, two battle droids were guarding an open entrance.
"All this moisture is horrible," the first droid said as he smacked his metal head twice. "My servo-motors are so corroded that I can't think straight."
"Go up to level eight and get your head adjusted. It feels great," the other droid told his companion.
"That'll feel gr-" the first droid never got to finish his sentence before his head was torn off by one of the clones.
The other droid turned to see what had happened to his companion and cried out, "What the…?" The question was never finished before the droid was silenced by a shot from one of Captain Rex's DC-17 blaster pistols.
Anakin had his hand up in a clenched fist. The clone who was holding the droid's head looked at it. The Knight glanced at Rex, nodded and dropped his hand. The trooper tossed the head over his shoulder and joined the rest of the group as they made their way down the hallway until they came upon a terminal.
Anakin looked at R3. "All right, stubby," he said. "Get to work and let us know what you find."
R3 beeped, plugged in and found the layout for the listening station. He turned his domed head and projected the plans for the group to see.
"We are here. The reactors are 30 levels below us, there," Rex told the others as he pointed to two different spots on the hologram.
"Alright. Here's the plan," Anakin said as he slid the pack off his back. "Rosella, I want you to take the squad and go blow up those reactors. Gravity will do the rest." Once he had the strap in his hand, he handed the pack to her. "Once you're done, we'll meet up in the landing bay."
"Where are you going?" Rosella asked as she took the pack from her father and slid it onto her back.
"I'm just going to have a little look around," Anakin said.
Rosella finished adjusting the pack that was already on her back. "I hope you find R2 in one piece," she said.
R3 rolled up to her.
Then the Padawan, Rex and the other troopers turned around and took off.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Gha tasered R2 over and over again until the astromech couldn't take it anymore and projected all the information that Anakin had never erased from his memory. The Trandoshan had completely torn the droid apart in order to get access to the information that would hopefully earn him a better fee than what he had gotten the last time he had been hired by Grievous.
As soon as Gha realized what he was looking at, he couldn't believe it. "This is…this is…" he said before looking up at the cyborg, who was standing outside of the room. "General!"
"What is it this time?" Grievous said as he turned and walked into the room.
"It appears this droid's mission memory has never been wiped from its systems," the Trandoshan told him. Grievous came around the table to see the data for himself. "This droid still has every Republic formation and strategy that the Jedi have come up with stored inside it."
Grievous took a few seconds to look over some of the data. "Good work," he said. "You have certainly earned your fee this time."
"More than what I've normally gotten," Gha replied. "This droid is worth more, so I expect to get paid more. I suggest that we…" The Trandoshan never got to finish his sentence as a green lightsaber ran through his chest, killing him instantly. As the blade was retracted, the overweight male reached forward, holding onto the inside of R2's body as he slumped to the floor.
Grievous laughed. "There is your bonus," he said.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
As Rosella and the clones were running down one of the stations' many hallways, searching for the reactor room, R3 stopped, rolled to a hidden area and contacted Grievous.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Grievous was in the middle of a conversation with a Quara when he received an incoming communication. He brought out his image caster and turned it on to reveal R3. "Agent R3, what do you have to report?" He asked.
R3 beeped and whistled, telling Grievous that two Jedi and a group of clones had come to the station.
"The Jedi are here? Delay them until I arrive," Grievous told the astromech.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Rosella, Rex and the others stopped when one of the clones saw that R3 was missing. Rosella told them to wait while she retraced her steps. "R3, where are you?" She asked as she looked for the black and gold astromech.
The droid then ended his communication with the cyborg general and rolled out to meet her.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Grievous looked at the Quara. "Sound the alarm!" He said.
The Quara nodded and went to do what the cyborg had told him to do.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"What are you doing back here?" The teenager asked. "Come on. We need to catch up to the others."
The black and gold astromech rolled past her and she followed, making sure that R3 couldn't wander off again.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Grievous then walked over to R2 and placed one of his claws on his dismantled head. "Now my little friend," he said. "We will be transferring all your secrets to me." R2 let out a flurry of weak beeps, but it came out warbled since the astromech was in pieces. "Do not worry, I won't let anything happen to you."
Then the doors that led into the room opened and four IG-100 MagnaGuards came into the room.
Grievous walked around the table, slamming his right arm into the claw-like device that was attached to the corner, causing it to spin around. "Republic troops have infiltrated this station," he said. "Keep this droid secure." The MagnaGuard in charge said something to him. "I deal with the Jedi myself."
The four MagnaGuards took up their positions around the table as Grievous left the room.
R2 let out another warbled beep.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Rosella and the clones came up to the doors of the reactor room. Rex raised his right arm, which was holding one of his DC-17 blaster pistols and contacted Anakin. "General, we have reached the reactor room," he said.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Anakin hid from a group of battle droids and super battle droids as they marched by while he listened to Rex.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"That alarm triggered another security door. It's ray-shielded," the 501st Captain said.
"This could take us a while to get through," Rosella said into her wrist communicator, as she also had her left arm raised to her mouth.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
In another corridor, Anakin was hiding from a group of battle droids and super battle droids as they marched by.
"Good luck with that," he told his padawan.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Rosella placed the pack of explosives on the ground as she glanced back at R3. So far, the droid hadn't managed to mess up and she still had hope that maybe the droid could be a useful asset to the Republic, although a small bit of doubt was starting to filter through her as she wasn't entirely sure if the droid would be able to handle this kind of task. She jerked her head towards the door and said, "Get to work, Goldie."
The droid rolled up to the terminal.
"Oh, this'll be good," Rex said, causing Rosella to look at him and then back at the droid.
R3 plugged in and slowly began his assigned task of getting the ray shield down. Then the sounds of marching battle droids could be heard heading in their direction.
"Those droids are getting close to our position, Commander," one of the clones said.
Rosella smothered a small wave of fear inside her as her expression changed from mild surprise to a small glare of determination before glancing down at R3.
"Do you think R3 is going to open up that door any time soon?" Rex asked.
The teenager sharply glanced up at the ARC trooper as she replied, "He's working on it. We just need to be patient, Captain." She sensed that a few of the men were moving into a better position so they would be really to fight as soon as the droids showed up.
Another clone, this one had two blue lines painted on his helmet, turned around and said, "I can always hot-wire it if you want, sir."
Rosella turned towards the droid, a now worried expression on her face. "Hurry up, Goldie," she pleaded. R3 turned his domed head around to look at the Padawan before turning back around to focus on his work.
"I think we've run out of time," Rex said to the group.
"Blast'em!" One of the droids said and the others followed suit, opening fire on the group.
Rex and the other troopers started firing back. Rosella unhooked her lightsaber from her belt, flipped it around and ignited the blade, beginning to deflect the laser bolts back at the droids.
While Rex and his men ducked for cover and continued to return fire, Rosella stayed out in the open, drawing a majority of the droids' lasers towards her and sending the red bolts back towards them. Rex ended up beside R3 as he continued to fire one of his DC-17 hand blasters. Another trooper ended up behind one of the walls on the other side. As soon as he was in position, he turned around, stepped out and began to fire at the droids.
Rosella was still standing in the middle of the room, doing everything that she could to protect R3 as well as Rex and his men. As she deflected another laser bolt, she mentally cheered as it struck one of the droids, taking it out.
R3 swivelled his domed head and saw that his new mistress and her troops were in trouble. He sent out a command, thinking that it would bring down the ray shield, but instead, it caused another set of blast doors to close. Rex looked behind him as he heard the noise. Once he saw the doors, he glared at the droid, then looked up at Rosella.
Rosella, who had taken her eyes off of the battle in front of her, glanced back to see what had happened. When she saw the new problem that they were going to be dealing with, her eyes widened. Glancing at Rex for only a moment, she quickly shot the droid a glare for the first time and then refocused on the battle at hand as the Force sent her a warning. She turned her head around and swept her lightsaber to her right side, deflecting another laser right into one of the droids who was kneeling on the floor.
As the teenager continued to deflect the lasers that were coming from the droids in front of her, a quartet of super battle droids came from the opposite end of the corridor. Rosella glanced behind her and then quickly spun around, raising her lightsaber just in time to block another set of laser bolts that came from the new threat. She leapt backwards, avoiding the laser fire that was coming at her from two different directions.
"Rex, droid poppers, now!" Rosella called, knowing that they had to deal with this quickly and then get back to the matter at hand, which was getting into that reactor room.
"Droid poppers!" Rex called. Grabbing one in his hand, he threw it at the super battle droids.
The four droids saw the small metal sphere roll towards them. As soon as it stopped in front of them, they attempted to shoot it. The popper went off, sparking and short-circuiting the super battle droids. The large metal droids all fell to the ground as electricity crackled off of them, rendering them useless.
Rex threw another one to the four remaining battle droids. One of the droids was stupid enough to pick it up. The other three droids gathered around and then collapsed on the ground after they were shocked by the pulse of electricity.
Rosella deactivated her saber, placed it on her belt and met up with Rex and the men under her command.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
One of the MagnaGuards answered its holocaster.
"Take the captured R2 unit back to my ship," Grievous ordered.
The MagnaGuard nodded and soon R2 had been put back together.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Rosella had just finished talking to Rex. As she saw Rex turn to his right, she glanced in the same direction and came face to face with the cyborg General for the first time. Rex raised one of his blasters and she reached for her lightsaber which was on her belt.
"They sent a child to fight me?" Grievous asked as he shrugged off his red and black cloak. Taking out one of his lightsabers, the cyborg ignited it. "What makes you so certain that this station will be destroyed?"
Rosella took her saber off her belt but didn't ignite it. "You must be General Grievous," she said as she heard a few of the men behind her get into a defensive position.
The General began to laugh and laugh…until the laughs became a hacking cough.
"He's just another metal monstrosity, boys," Rosella told the men as she ignited her saber and held it up in the air. "Let's scrap him like the rest." She rushed to face him, knowing that this wasn't part of her mandate from her father. Then she remembered that she wasn't strong enough to be facing off against someone like Grievous, but knew that it was too late to back out now.
Their lightsabers met in a buzzing clash. Rosella broke off, raised her saber in the air and brought it down, only to come into contact with Grievous' blade as he parried the blow. The cyborg used his momentum to send Rosella into a little spin. The teen quickly recovered and tried to lock sabers with Grievous for a third time, but missed her opportunity.
Grievous used his newfound window to lash out at Rosella, catching her off guard as he struck her with his metal hand, the one that was holding his blue lightsaber. The Jedi Padawan cried out as she flew backwards and slammed into a wall, her lightsaber quickly deactivating.
That seemed to anger Rex and his men who immediately started to fire at Grievous. The cyborg deflected a blue laser, taking out one of the men. He then blocked another one, which seemed to anger him as he leapt into the air and landed in front of the men, spinning his blade as he took out two of the men. Then he spun around, using his right leg to launch both Rex and the other remaining trooper away from him.
The trooper who had the blue lines on his helmet flew into the air, smacking into one of the corner walls, after which he fell to the floor, dropping his blaster. He didn't get up.
Grievous walked towards Rex, who had been knocked out and was laying on the floor.
Rosella, who had just gotten up off the floor with her saber in hand, saw Grievous, who was about to kill Rex. She ignited her saber, darted forward and caught the saber in a lock before it could touch the ARC Trooper.
Grievous saw the blue blade and looked up.
"I hate to interrupt your playtime grumpy, but wouldn't you prefer a challenge?" Rosella asked him.
"That wouldn't be you, would it?" Grievous asked. He brought out his second lightsaber, ignited the green blade and attacked.
Rosella twirled her saber around her head and blocked Grievous' blue one as the cyborg had aimed it at her right side. She then moved backward as she spun around, landing on her right knee as she blocked the green blade, before leaping to her right a little as the cyborg thrust his blue lightsaber towards her. The agile teenager backflipped out of the way and then aimed her lightsaber diagonally across her body as she blocked another strike from Grievous. Then she began to move backwards and had to duck and weave, managing to block a strike from his blue blade as he swung it towards her. She leaned back, avoiding a swing to her midsection as the cyborg swung his green lightsaber towards her, before ducking out of the way as Grievous swung both of his sabers over her head.
The Padawan stayed on the ground for a little bit before popping back up to block Grievous' green blade as he angled it towards her feet. She backed out of the way and swung her lightsaber towards Grievous as the cyborg swung his blue saber towards her. They ended up in a quick clash before breaking off, only to clash again as Grievous thrust his green blade in her direction. Rosella quickly backed out of the way before bringing her lightsaber up just in time to block the blue one as it came within inches of her head.
It was at that moment that R3 rolled up to the duelling pair. As he made his way past them, the back and gold astromech swivelled his domed head around and let out a series of beeps, telling Rosella to follow him. The teenager broke her saber lock with the cyborg, rolled out of the way, dodging his next double saber strike and ducked, missing another set of swings as she ran after the droid.
Making their way down the hall, the pair ran through a set of doors that led into a dark room.
Grievous deactivated both of his lightsabers as he watched them escape and then pulled out his holocaster. Turning it on, he contacted a battle droid. "I want all my units to stay on high alert! Tell them to be on the lookout for a second Jedi who is loose in the station," he said.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Anakin ran through the empty corridors on the listening station and reached the room where the MagnaGuards were carrying R2 away to Grievous' ship.
R2 saw him and beeped happily.
"R2!" Anakin said. He ignited his saber and engaged in a fight with three super battle droids, managing to take one down. "Just hang on, buddy! I'm coming!" He dashed down the corridor and came to a stop, deflecting more laser fire as it came his way.
The MagnaGuards made their way out of the room with R2 who whistled since he knew where he was headed.
Seeing an opening, Anakin ran forward and defeated the remaining two super battle droids. Just as he reached the doors, they closed on him.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Grievous walked into the storage room. "Where have you run to youngling?" He asked. "I want that fight that you promised me."
Rosella peeked around the corner of the shelves she had hidden behind. She spotted a box sitting high up on a shelving unit and used the force to knock it down. Grievous heard the noise and went to go investigate, thinking that the padawan had gone in that direction.
Then Rosella's comlink beeped. She used her other hand to muffle the sound and then answered it.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Rosella, it's Rex. There are only two of us left. Should we abort the mission?" Rex asked.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"No, carry on with the mission. Set the charges and rendezvous at the landing bay." Rosella told him.
"But, Commander…" Rex was cut off.
"Rex, I gave you an order. I need you to trust me on this. I'll keep Grievous occupied. Rosella out," she said.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Rex looked at his fellow trooper. "Rosella is keeping Grievous busy," he said. "Come on. We still have a job to finish."
The Captain and the other trooper got up off the ground. Then they both ran forward, with the blue-helmeted trooper grabbing the pack off the ground as they headed back to the reactor room.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Come out from wherever you are hiding, child. I must say that you have failed to make a good impression on me," Grievous said, as he was busy looking for Rosella.
Rosella was creeping around with her lightsaber in hand when she saw R3 roll past her. "R3," she whispered, "over here." She beckoned to the droid with her left hand.
The black and gold astromech backed up and turned on his spotlight, illuminating Rosella and giving her away.
"Goldie, no!" Rosella cried. She gasped as a blue blade was suddenly ignited in front of her. She dodged the blade but lost her wrist communicator in the process. She could hear Rex's voice saying that he and the remaining trooper were now in the reactor room, but the device was soon crushed underneath the cyborg's heel.
"Your friends won't be able to help you. It looks like it's just you and me," Grievous told her.
The Padawan escaped by ducking and rolling between two shelves to the other side and running off.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The MagnaGuards who were carrying R2 managed to make it past another set of doors and were hauling the blue and white astromech away.
A thud came from behind them as Anakin finished cutting a hole through the ceiling, letting the circular piece fall to the ground. He deactivated his lightsaber and dropped through it, landing on the ground. Then he reignited his blue blade. R2 heard it and turned his crooked domed head, letting out a happy whistle upon seeing his owner.
"You have something that belongs to me," Anakin said.
The MagnaGuards dropped R2 on the ground, not caring at all about the damage they could have caused to the astromech's internal systems as they all prepared to fight Anakin. Then, as one of them raced towards the Jedi, R2 opened up all his hatches and began to repair himself.
Anakin ran forward, swinging his saber, managing to clash with the electric staff. As Anakin backed away, he was forced to dodge, duck and weave out of the way as he avoided the MagnaGuards electro staff. He managed to destroy the droid and had to duck out of the way of another MagnaGuard who had launched itself at him.
R2 was able to repair everything except his head. He activated his jets and hauled himself off the ground. As soon as he was upright, he deployed his third strut and looked at the fight that was going on between his owner and the three remaining MagnaGuards.
Anakin managed to avoid two of the electro staffs by using his blade to block them from hitting him. As he shoved one of them away, the other staff touched him, sending a small shock through his body. Anakin glanced up and simply beheaded the guard. Then he took out the last two MagnaGuards as they tried to get the drop on him. As he continued to look around, he didn't notice the last one trying to sneak up on him.
R2 rolled up behind the dismembered Guard and shocked him out of action.
"Thanks, R2," Anakin told his droid as he deactivated his saber and flipped it around, attaching it to his belt.
R2 let out a warbled beep as he was happy to see Anakin again.
"It's great to see you too, buddy. You're looking a little worse for wear. You okay?" Anakin asked as he walked over, knelt down and fixed R2's domed head.
R2 beeped another warbled beep before letting out a normal sounding whistle.
Then Anakin's comlink went off, causing him to glance down and answer it. "Rex? Rex, are you there? R3, is that you?" He asked. "Listen, if that indeed is you, I have R2 with me. I'll meet you back at the landing bay." Then he disconnected the communication and stood up, placing his right hand on the back of R2's domed head as they started to make their way to the aforementioned place.
R2 beeped as he wanted to know who R3 was.
"R3?" Anakin asked, wincing a little. "Oh, I had to get a replacement while I was looking for you. Sorry buddy."
R2 beeped in jealousy.
"Hey. It was Obi-Wan's idea, not mine," Anakin said. "Can we talk about this later when we aren't on a Separatist listening station?" He raised his right arm and contacted the Twilight. "Twilight, this is Skywalker."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"I read you loud and clear General," the trooper who was piloting the Twilight said.
"Rendezvous at the south landing bay immediately for evacuation," Anakin's voice said.
"Yes General. I'm on my way," the trooper responded as he pushed a lever and flew towards the station.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Rosella was hiding on top of a shelf when she saw moving lights coming from her left. She peered over, catching sight of Grievous with R3.
"R3, what do you have to report?" The cyborg asked.
R3 let out a series of beeps, reporting that Anakin had gotten R2 back and was trying to escape.
The Padawan glared at the droid as she finally knew the truth. R3 had been working with Grievous all along and had been trying to sabotage them so they wouldn't be able to find this station. "That stubby little backstabber," she murmured.
"So, Skywalker has retrieved his R2 unit. Go and make certain they do not escape as I want that information," Grievous ordered his droid.
Rosella watched as R3 rolled away. She knew that she had to get out of the storage room and fast.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The freighter landed in the landing bay just as Anakin entered with R2 in tow. "Great, there's the Twilight," he said. "Now where is everyone else?"
The boarding ramp lowered and the trooper ran out. He ran up to Anakin and saluted him. "Sir," he said.
Then R3 arrived.
"Hey Stubby, where's Rosella? Aren't you supposed to be with her?" Anakin asked as the droid rolled right past him, R2 and the clone.
The doors opened again and Captain Rex and the remaining squad member ran into the room. Rex looked to his left, spotted Anakin and ran up to him. "General," he said. "The explosives are in place, sir. Objective complete."
"Where is Rosella?" Anakin asked, clearly frustrated that she hadn't shown up yet.
"She engaged General Grievous," Rex told him.
Anakin's eyes went wide with fear at the thought of his daughter facing off against that horrible cyborg monster. "Alone?!" He said, shock evident in his tone.
"She did it to keep him off our tail so we would have time to complete the mission. She ordered us to do it, sir. The droid was with her," Rex said.
"We've got to find her," Anakin said.
"I can take you to her, sir," Rex told him.
As they headed towards the doors, they suddenly closed. Everyone looked at R3 and then looked up as the hangar bay doors were closed as well.
"What is wrong with you?" Anakin asked. "Are you trying to get us killed?"
R3 beeped and responded by activating three vulture droids that were currently deactivated on the ceiling. They all dropped to the ground.
Anakin reached over to his belt, unhooked his lightsaber and held it in his mech hand.
"I've got a bad feeling about this," Rex told him.
Anakin ignited his lightsaber. "That double-crossing no good scrap pile of a droid is a spy," he said, glaring at the droid.
R3 beeped as if he was confirming what Anakin just said.
Behind them, four super battle droids came out of another door and started firing at them. Anakin, R2, Rex and his remaining men ran for cover. Rex began to fire back at the droids while Anakin did his best to protect his men.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Rosella had her lightsaber ignited and was using it to see as she crept around, looking for any sign of General Grievous. When she didn't see anything, she deactivated her saber and stepped out from her hiding place. She then gasped as a metal hand reached out and grabbed her by her throat. Rosella raised her hand that was holding her saber, only for it to be knocked away by the cyborg.
Grievous climbed down from the ceiling and used his free hand to pick up her saber. He activated the blade and held it close to her head. "Another fine lightsaber for my collection," he said. "My spy droid, R3, has trapped your precious master. When I'm finished with you, he'll be next."
"You're wrong," Rosella managed to say as the cyborg had his hand wrapped tightly around her neck. "My Master would never put a mission that would protect the Republic at risk. I'm sure he's long gone by now and pretty soon he's going to blow up your precious spy station."
"Not this time," Grievous told her.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Anakin stood in front of his men, blocking as many blasts from the droids as he could. He turned his head to look at Rex. "Captain," he said. "Set off the explosives."
"But, sir, we're still onboard the station," Rex told him.
"I know! Just let me worry about the details," Anakin said as he continued blocking the blaster bolts that were heading their way.
"Sir, yes, sir," Rex saluted and brought out a small grey cylinder. He pressed the red button on top and all throughout the station, explosions could be heard.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The resulting explosions shook the room that Rosella and Grievous were in. She used the momentary distraction to cut off the cyborg's hand and free herself from his grip. Her saber, along with his hand dropped to the ground.
Rosella then force jumped up on top of some shelves and let gravity tip them over. She leapt off at the last second and escaped into a service tunnel.
Grievous climbed up after her, igniting his blue lightsaber as he held it in his other hand. Rosella appeared and used the force to call her lightsaber to her. Once it was in her hand, she disappeared again.
Rosella heard the roar from Grievous and then gasped as he drove his lightsaber up into the vent as a last ditch attempt to cut her to bits. She managed to dodge the saber as it cut through the tunnel. She leapt over the last-ditch attempt to dice her and made her way to the hangar.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Anakin dove for cover behind a pair of crates.
He looked at R2, who was already there. "R2," he said, "I need you to get the hangar door open so we can leave."
R2 beeped, saying that there weren't any controls on the inside.
"See if you can find any controls on the outer platform," Anakin told him.
R2 beeped in response and rolled away.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Grievous ran into the hanger, vaulted into his ship and escaped from the station.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
R2 found another set of controls at the end of a long walkway. He plugged into the socket and got to work.
Suddenly R3 came up and slammed into him, knocking him away from the panel.
Both droids started fighting.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The battle in the landing bay was raging full blast when Rosella made her way there through the vents. Igniting her lightsaber, she cut an opening for herself then leapt out and landed on one of the vulture droids.
She hung on for dear life as it turned to allow another vulture droid to shoot her off. Just as the vulture droid fired, destroying its companion, Rosella leapt off it and onto the other one, slicing its head off.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
R2 and R3 ran at each other, tasers out and crackling in full force.
Sparks raced across their metal plating and smoke rose as they tried to shock the other into submission. R2 gave it everything he had and was surprised when R3 submitted, his systems appearing to shut down.
The blue and white astromech whistled happily and hustled back to the terminal. He still had a job to do.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Back inside, Rosella hopped off the vulture droid to join her father. "So, what did I miss?" She asked.
"Oh, the usual," Anakin told her while blocking his share of the lasers. "You shouldn't have fought against Grievous on your own. That was an incredibly foolish thing to do my young apprentice."
"Well, you did put me in charge of the mission, and it seemed like a good idea at the time," Rosella said, as she continued blocking the laser bolts that were coming at her.
The clones continued to do all that they could to help Anakin and Rosella with the droids.
"Did he tell you that R3 is a spy and a traitor?" Anakin asked.
"He might have mentioned it," Rosella replied. "Fine, so Grievous made a fool out of all of us."
Anakin glanced at his daughter, only for him to turn his attention back to his task at hand as he blocked another laser bolt that was headed his way.
"General Skywalker, there are a couple of fuel cells over here," Rex called out to him.
"Good idea Rex. Get ready!" Anakin said. After waiting a few minutes, he used the force to lift one of the boxes and throw it in the air.
Rex watched as the box sailed over the Jedi's head and started to fall in the middle of the group of droids. He timed it perfectly and fired, destroying the box and all the droids with it.
Both Anakin and Rosella deactivated their sabers, returning them to their belts.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
R2 managed to open the hangar door.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Inside, everyone smiled as the hangar door opened up.
"R2 did it," Rosella said.
"Of course, he did it. Now let's get out of here," Anakin told her.
Both Jedi raced for the Twilight.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
R2 was happy to have gotten the door open.
The blue and white astromech didn't notice R3 racing up behind him until the droid had slammed into him again.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
It was time to go.
Rosella and the men didn't even stop to think and dashed up the Twilight's ramp. Anakin stood at the bottom, his right arm raised to his mouth as he asked, "R2, where are you?"
Anakin didn't get a response and climbed aboard the Twilight. He didn't make his way to the bridge where he knew that Rosella would be flying the ship to safety as they left the fast imploding and free-falling station.
Instead, he headed to the cargo bay and his fighter.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
R2 had to think fast.
One of the panels on his body opened and a spray attachment popped out. Aiming the opening at R3, - the droid that dared to replace him and was a spy to boot - R2 fired. Oil, slick and black soon covered the front of the traitorous droid.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Commander, the General has gotten into his fighter. Where is he going?" Rex asked.
"He's going after R2," Rosella replied.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Anakin had gotten into his fighter. "I'll be back. Don't wait for me," He said as he took off and flew back towards the falling station.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
R2 rammed into R3 as hard as he could, trying to force the other astromech off the walkway.
R3 rolled backwards, but if he was going to go down, he wasn't going to go alone. He shot out a cable, the end attaching itself to R2. As R3 rolled even further back and towards the edge of the walkway, R2 was dragged with him.
Triggering one of his rocker boosters, R2 used the blue flame and set the oil on fire. As the fire raced towards R3 and distracted him, R2 called upon his trusty saw and cut the cable.
With a loud, shrill squeal of shock, R3 fell off the walkway. A chunk of the station that had broken away slammed into the traitor and broke him into pieces.
However, even though R2 had won the duel between himself and R3, it seemed like he was doomed to go down with the station as he was getting closer to a similar fate. He rolled forward, letting out a somewhat sad whistle that was accompanied by a few beeps.
Anakin appeared in his fighter, hovering as close to the walkway as he could and said, "Hop in, R2."
The droid was fast to comply. He lifted off from the walkway with his rocket-boosters and happily settled into the droid socket that seemed as if it was made just for him.
R2 whistled happily as he and Anakin flew away from the station, which fell a few more meters and exploded.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Aboard the Twilight, Anakin was flying away from the moon and talking to Obi-Wan who had called via hologram. Rex and the remaining clones were in the back, getting some much needed rest.
Rosella was kneeling next to R2, checking him over. She wanted to make doubly sure that the little droid was in tip-top shape.
"So let me see if I can get this straight, Anakin," Obi-Wan said. "You risked the mission, all your men, even your Padawan, who I might add is also my niece, to save a droid."
R2 turned his domed head towards Obi-Wan and beeped at him.
"Obi-Wan, if we hadn't been looking for R2 in the first place, we never would have found the listening post at all and would have lost even more Jedi and troopers. He saved our lives and there was no way I was going to leave him in the hands of the enemy," Anakin told him.
"Oh, Anakin. One day…" Obi-Wan admonished, before ending the call.
"I'm glad we got R2 back, Dad. But Uncle Obi-Wan does have a point," Rosella pointed out as she sat in the co-pilot's seat.
"Rosella, I knew you would complete the mission. Besides, R2 is more than a droid. He's a friend," Anakin told her.
R2 happily beeped and whistled in response.
Then the Twilight took off, heading into hyperspace to rejoin the rest of Anakin's fleet.