Chapter 33 – Escape
DISCLAIMER: We do not own Star Wars or any of the characters in it, though we wish we did. xD
Author's Note: In which phase one of the plan ends... ;)
~ Amina Gila
The battle droids are leading another group of clones to the detention level when Obi-Wan finishes closing the door of Plo's cell. He waits until they've split the prisoners into cells – two per cell – before going to the one which he knows contains the commander. He can't help but wonder what Plo thinks of him now that he's offered his assistance to allow them to escape. One such act won't be nearly enough to make the Jedi trust him, but they will have doubts. That will have to be enough until he can prove himself more effectively in the future.
The clone commander tenses when Obi-Wan enters the prison cell. Only his armor is left intact. All weapons were stripped upon their capture. Being as he's of a higher rank, he's being held separate from his brothers. "I'm not here to interrogate you," Obi-Wan tells him calmly, facing his back to the camera, wishing he could see the man's expression, though it's probably better that he can't. He wants to make this as short as he can. "I'm only here to give you instructions. I will request that a droid be sent to interrogate you, and you will have a few second window of opportunity to take it and the guard droids out without an alarm being sounded."
"You should be able to free your brothers and Master Plo before escaping. I will attempt to keep the others distracted," Obi-Wan finishes, still sensing wariness and incredulity through the Force.
"Why would you tell me this?" the commander demands. "Why would you help us?"
"Dooku is planning to use this weapon against Naboo unless it joins the Separatist Alliance," Obi-Wan explains in a level tone. He doesn't need to share too much information with a clone. The ones who are supposed to trust him are the Jedi. "I know Senator Amidala, and she will never agree. The Malevolence will devastate the planet, and even if I do not entirely agree with the Republic and Jedi, I will never condone so much suffering."
The clone nods. "Very well," he concedes. "I will do my best, but if you're double-crossing us, if you kill the General, the Republic will never stop hunting for you."
Obi-Wan smiles humorlessly. "Believe me. I know." He turns and leaves the prison cell, making his way back to the bridge after confirming that all the pods were either retrieved or destroyed. He mourns the loss of these men, bred and born to die for the Republic, but he can only help them by working to end the war. It will be a delicate and slow game, though it's one that he is willing to pay, especially seeing as the end results are more than worth the investment.
**w**
This is far from the first time that Plo has been captured, though it is the first time that he's been held prisoner by the Separatists. The Clone Wars have been raging for almost three months with no signs of ending, except maybe the Republic now has an advantage. Maybe. Even if it means sacrificing his life, Plo knows that the datachip must be returned to the Council, so they can destroy the Malevolence. Perhaps it was carelessness on Obi-Wan's part – he doubts it; now, he thinks it was deliberate – but he now knows what the Separatists are planning with this monstrosity, and he cannot and will not allow that to occur.
It would be best for him to escape and return to the Republic, though it may not be an option. If he cannot escape from the ship, then he will destroy it and himself along with it. It would be a worthy sacrifice if it means protecting Naboo and taking out this mammoth weapon. Of course, the Separatists could simply build another, which is why he'd prefer delivering the plans to the Council in person. The only other one he would trust with such a mission is his clone commander, Wolffe. One of them must make it off the Malevolence alive.
There's nothing he can do now but wait and hope that Wolffe is able to escape like Obi-Wan said he would. Is it a trap, or is Obi-Wan sincere? Plo doesn't know. He finds his mind drifting to the younger man, wondering if he was speaking the truth. While the Force is dampened, he did not sense the Dark Side in him, not now and not earlier in the hanger bay. Obi-Wan is still very much a steady, flickering flame of light, untainted by the darkness around him. And in the few minutes Plo had to look at the former Jedi through the Force, he'd sensed how tempered the anger in him has been.
After Anakin was adopted by the Chancellor, Plo had honestly begun to fear for Obi-Wan's future, hoping that he wouldn't let his bitterness against the Council drive him into the darkness. He was light, but there was always an underlying darkness to him, a darkness which has all but vanished as if he's finally found his purpose in the galaxy. It's disturbing to an extent because it contradicts everything which the Jedi have taught. By all logic, Obi-Wan's friendship with Anakin should have tainted and darkened him, but on the contrary, it seems to have stabilized him, brought him the peace and clarity that he's been lacking for years.
That Obi-Wan is still light in the Force makes Plo inclined to believe that he is sincere about offering his assistance, and that he is willing to help stop the Separatists, or more important, bring an end to the war. Of course, he and the rest of the Council must be cautious because this may be an elaborate ruse to draw them in, but the Force doesn't lie. It wasn't lying when it told him that Obi-Wan is still firmly entrenched in the Light, unlike Anakin, who though not actively drawing on the Dark Side at that point, still glows with a darkness potent enough to unnerve even the most serene of Jedi Masters.
What happened to him, Plo wonders, to have turned that bright light, that star gone supernova, into this twisted dark person he sees before him today? Are the Jedi wrong? Should they try reaching out and offering help to the child they'd failed so badly? If he escapes from this ship, he would like to speak with Anakin's mother, to see what she has to say about her son. Even if she is reticent, her silence alone might help him gain a deeper understanding.
That leads him to Ahsoka. He clearly remembers the day that he found her on her home world of Shili. She was tiny, barely able to walk, and so fascinated with her surroundings. She was a pure bright light, and he'd been immediately drawn to her. He's found many younglings over the years, but he always had a soft spot for Ahsoka. He watched her grow from a tiny, adorable toddler to a more mature child. In her, he could see the ability to become one of the greatest Jedi the Order has ever seen, though perhaps her future does not lie upon that path.
She, as is characteristic of Togrutas, a predatory species, always had a fierce temper and was quick to lash out. Ahsoka also had a softer side, a side that cared deeply about others, and it was in the hopes that she would keep Obi-Wan in the light that the Council gave her to him. It was a calculated move, one which may have backfired in the end, especially if Obi-Wan spoke the truth of her fate. It hurts to think that she might have sacrificed her ideals to follow someone who, though undoubtedly attractive in the Force, is so firmly rooted in the Dark Side. It is not her failing, but theirs, for the Jedi were responsible for her wellbeing, and they failed her.
Plo remembers what she said in the broadcast, how she questioned the Jedi's inability to help the slaves and others who are suffering under crime cartels. She isn't wrong per se, but there aren't nearly enough Jedi to fight crime and protect the Republic from the inevitable backlash. Perhaps now with the clones, the Jedi will be able to do the things they should have done from the start. If they can bring the war to a close, or at least bring both parties to the negotiating table – something they should have done at the beginning; they are meant to be peacekeepers after all – then perhaps at that point, the clones' skills can be put to a better use, helping those whom the Republic has failed for decades.
Suddenly, the door to his cell slides open and Wolffe darts in, a blaster in his hands. "General," he states in curt acknowledgement, hurrying over to shut down the energy field in which Plo is suspended, an energy field which is Force dampening. He finally fires the blaster into the base, and Plo catches himself with the Force as he falls, landing on his feet.
"We must hurry," Wolffe adds as they dash into the hall where the other captured clones are waiting. For the most part, they don't have any weapons, except three blasters among all nineteen of them. Plo doesn't have his lightsaber either, and he doubts he'll get it back. They don't have time to wait, so instead, they hurry towards the entrance of the cell block. He glances around the corner, before gesturing for his men to follow him.
Though he keeps his Force signature muted, he's certain that Obi-Wan – and probably Anakin too – can feel him. It's only a question of if they'll act on their knowledge. He expects that Obi-Wan will not, although he cannot say the same for Anakin. More than likely, he'll be down here as soon as he can be.
A droid patrol passes, and they barely manage to make it around the corner in time to avoid detection. It was close, almost too close, but Plo doesn't let it faze him. He's been in many, worse situations in the past. The Force is his ally, and he's not afraid.
After three close calls, and one instance where they were forced to destroy the droid patrol and confiscate their weapons, they see the row of escape pods up ahead. The Force tells them that they're in the right place, and not a moment too soon. Plo can sense the darkness drawing closer as Anakin gives pursuit.
"Quickly. Into the pods," he orders, motioning to his men. They split in three separate pods, partially in the hopes that the one with the information will escape unscathed, while partially because there isn't enough room for all of them in one pod. Knowing the severity of the situation, Plo slides into the pilot's seat, flying away from the Malevolence as quickly as he can, taking shelter behind debris to avoid detection for as long as possible, while Wolffe programs the navicomputer. As soon as they leave the debris field, they can make the jump to hyperspace.
Laser fire from behind them strikes one of the pods, destroying it, and Plo silently mourns the death of more of his men. Not even a few seconds later, a laser bolt hits a piece of debris right next to them, and he swerves fast enough to prevent any damage to the pod. They reach freedom within a minute, avoiding a hail of laser fire, and they make the jump to hyperspace right as Plo sees the massive weapon lighting up in preparation to fire at them. They escaped. He can only hope that Obi-Wan won't be paying the cost.
**w**
Dooku hears the report of Master Plo's escape along with a few of his surviving clones shortly after it happens from General Grievous. He chides the droid general suitably as would be expected though he's inwardly pleased. He'd expected that Kenobi would be given a mission which might fit with his alignments, and while he is not happy by what it entails, mainly because he knows that the Jedi – or former Jedi? – will be forced to deceive his fellows, he is satisfied that Sidious has deemed Kenobi useful. For now.
"General Skywalker, General Kenobi, take your fleet and join General Grievous in blockading Naboo. Your commanders can meet you in the system," Dooku instructs, looking at Kenobi and Anakin where they stand side-by-side behind Grievous. This will be something of a test-run to see how well they work together and with their commanders, Tano and Ventress. While they have undertaken missions in the past, they were smaller in nature. None of them would have had such long-standing repercussions.
"As you wish, my Lord," Anakin replies, dipping his head in a respectful acknowledgement. After exchanging a look with Kenobi, a wordless communication passing between them, he withdraws his commlink, stepping out of the transmission field as he presumably contacts Tano to relay the news.
"The Republic will learn of our plans, and they will send reinforcements to stop us," Grievous rasps, eyes narrowing.
"Let them," Dooku answers, not even needing to feign the distain in his voice. If the Jedi stopped thinking only of the present and began to look at the overall pattern of events, they would soon realize that they have a traitor in the Senate, in the Chancellor's office. Whether or not they would realize that said traitor is a Sith remains to be seen. They are willfully ignorant, and as a result, they have fallen into Sidious' trap. "We will be ready for them when they arrive."
"Yes, Count. We shall be," Grievous answers.
"General Kenobi, you and Skywalker must protect the Malevolence at all costs," Dooku instructs. "I know the Republic will spare no expense in attempting its destruction, so one of you is to command a squadron of fighters personally to ensure that the ion canon is not damaged."
"I will personally see to it," Kenobi promises. "Anakin is a better pilot than I, so he is the best option to lead the defense."
Dooku regards him with a cool stare – for Grievous' sake – trying to discern if Kenobi understands what his real mission is to be. He is to pretend to protect the Malevolence from Republic fighters, while the true enemy likely will slip past the defenses and infiltrate the ship. The easiest and fastest way to destroy it is by detonating the main reactor. Dooku knows this, but he isn't going to tell Grievous, because it's not as if Dooku "officially" knows that Plo was given the plans for the ship.
"You are correct," Dooku agrees before disconnecting the transmission. He has a call to make to the Nubian queen, and based on what Sidious told him, Senator Amidala is also on the planet, not that Anakin is currently aware. Sometimes, it's better if he doesn't know these things.
He reaches out to the Force, but the future remains clouded. Finally, he places the call after waiting long enough that the Malevolence will be coming out of hyperspace soon with the Death Squadron. He's sitting at his desk with his arms resting on it as he waits for the transmission to connect. It does eventually, and he sees the Nubian queen – he can't remember her name right now – along with a couple advisors and Senator Amidala.
"Your Majesty," he greets her courteously.
She glares at him, expression cold and distant behind the layers of make-up which she's wearing. "Count Dooku," she spits. "To what do I owe this honor?
He smiles genially, taking her attitude in stride. It's not as though he could have expected that she'd be happy to hear from him, especially not when she hears what he wants. "I am extending an offer for you to reconsider your alliance with the Republic," he tells her, getting straight to the point. He doesn't mind playing the villain in this galactic conflict, so long as the galaxy finds peace in the end. "My fleet is traveling to Naboo to enforce our occupation of your system upon your joining with the Confederacy of Independent Systems."
"We are not joining the Separatists, Dooku," the Queen snaps. "You are out of your mind if you think another blockade of our planet will induce us to change our minds. We did not give in to the Trade Federation ten years ago, and we will not give in to you either. You can remove your fleet immediately from our system."
"Oh, I'm afraid that I cannot do that," he replies placidly. "Perhaps you are unable to understand your position. I am telling you that you must join us for your own good. If you do not agree, we will occupy your system by force."
"Don't you have any idea how much damage and destruction that would cause to our people?" Senator Amidala interjects after exchanging a look with the Queen who has presumably given her permission to speak. "That will cause untold levels of devastation!"
Dooku smiles thinly. "Perhaps you are then willing to reconsider?" he queries mildly.
Before the Queen or Senator have a chance to reply, a guard steps into the transmission field and says something to them in a low voice. At the same time, Dooku sees a notification appear on his comm, a text message from Anakin saying that they have arrived and are currently forming a blockade around the planet. The Death Squadron consists of three smaller, droid-manned Star Destroyers which aren't nearly as impressive as the two main flagships. It's an impressive fleet of eight powerful ships, enough to frighten almost anyone.
"We will not reconsider," the Queen declares adamantly, voice more emphatic and emotional than it has been this entire time.
"Then perhaps my fleet will change your mind," Dooku informs her. "You know how to contact me when you're ready." He disconnects the transmission before sending a message to Sidious, informing him that the blockade around Naboo has been put in place. It's now time for phase two of the plan to begin.
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