'Kriff. Kriff. Kriff. Kriff. Kriff...'
Amara couldn't help but curse in her mind as she splashed through yet another muddy, bug infested creek, nearly tripping and slipping over wet, slimy rocks – all the while with about thirty terrorists on her tail.
Lux ran beside her. His handsome face was streaked with mud and dirt, and his dark hair was tangled with twigs and leaves. "When I catch up to kriffing Kenobi, I'm gonna…"
"It wasn't his fault," Amara reminded him. "Remember? He said that he didn't think any guards would be around, seeing how Kalzin wanted us to play this game. That was the only reason he left us to go scout."
"I'm still gonna kill him," Lux hissed, as he twisted around and shot down one of their pursuers. Amara copied, and shot down two more.
"I think I see Ker and Amber," he said, pointing straight ahead. Their two friends were in a battle of their own against what seemed to be a dozen more soldiers.
Amara groaned. "We're dead. We're so dead."
Suddenly, a flash of blue crossed directly in front of her, causing Amara to fall backwards. Obi-Wan soared over her, and began deflecting the laser bullets while charging. Amara jumped back to her feet, and ran to Lux, who had joined Ker and Amber. Then, almost a hundred clones stormed out of the woods, with Master Aayla Secura in the lead.
"Looks like Obi-Wan brought back up after all," Amara told her fiancé as she kicked an opponent in the face.
Lux growled. "And he couldn't have done that a few minutes ago? Like BEFORE we were ambushed in the middle of this forest of hell?!"
Ker suddenly ran over, scowling. "Quit the whining, guys! If we're gonna rescue General Skywalker, we need to stop bumming out the Jedi. Now." He glared at Lux. "I'm not an happier than you guys with the way this is going, but for Force's sakes, STOP GRIPING!"
For once in his life, Lux Bonteri was speechless.
The finished off the dozen terrorists in silence. Just as Amara finished off the last one with her lightsaber – she was still playing undercover – Obi-Wan ran over. "Alright, Master Secura just showed up, and she'll hold off the guards. And…we've found their main headquarters."
Amara nodded. "Lead the way then, Master Jedi."
Obi-Wan led the four warriors down a thin, overgrown path through the thick forest. Amara could still hear Lux grumbling beneath his blue and silver helmet, but kept from scolding him. They would talk later.
"Everybody, drop," Obi-Wan ordered in a shout/whisper. The entire group fell to the ground as two scouts sped past in speeders, no doubt to assist wiping out Aayla.
"Don't worry. She can handle herself," Obi-Wan told Amara, as if reading her thoughts. "And there is the hideout."
Amara had to admit, she was impressed by the terrorists' fortress. Covered with shrubbery, it was perfectly camouflaged against the forest landscape. But it was no secret that the terrorists had more advanced technology than most of the Republic. She could suddenly spot laser guides and rifles everywhere.
Amber gulped. "That will not be easy to bypass."
"Well, we've gotten this far," Ker said. "We're not gonna bail out now."
Obi-Wan nodded. "We're going to need a sneak attack tactic to get through this one," he said grimly. "And…I'm taking this time to thank you for helping the Jedi on this mission. You are all so young to be fighting like this…"
"We do what needs to be done, just like any noble person would do," Lux said quickly. "We do not need your thanks, General Kenobi."
Obi-Wan sighed. He knew of Lux's anger against the Jedi, and knew in some ways, it was justified. "Just remember that we owe you and the OUCO everything for this." Then, without another word, he jumped to his feet and quickly began running towards a boulder several feet closer to the camp.
Amara followed silently, Lux trailing behind reluctantly. "Lux, you and I are going to try distracting the guards," Obi-Wan said quietly. "Amara, Amber, and Ker will sneak inside, and free Anakin. Go out the back way, and meet with Cody. He's my commander, and he'll be flying our getaway ship. After Anakin's free, Lux, you and I are going to bomb this fortress."
"And what if Skywalker isn't even in there? This will just be a waste of…"
"Lux."
The boy turned to see his fiancé staring at him. Her helmet shielded her face, but he didn't need to be a Jedi to sense the anger and pain in her voice. "Sorry, Amara," he mumbled, hanging his head.
Obi-Wan bit his lip. "Well then…this is it."
There was a laugh. Another crack of the whip. Another agonizing scream that sounded more animal like than human.
Kalzin grinned as he watched his men torture the young Jedi before him. Finally, after about ten minutes of non-stop torture, he held up his hand. "Stop."
The three men backed up, leaving Anakin Skywalker lying on the stone ground, shivering, covered with sweat and blood. Kalzin walked over, and knelt by him, sneering. "For the last time, how many Jedi do you think are on this so called 'rescue mission' for you? And where will they attack from?"
Anakin looked up, face stone cold. He didn't answer.
Kalzin growled, and spat in the younger man's face. "You really think you can resist? Do you realize that I could end your life in a split second?!"
Anakin smirked. "Do you really want me to answer that?"
Kalzin stood up and kicked Anakin in the gut, sending the Jedi flying across the floor, which was soaked with his own blood. "You WILL answer everything I ask you!" he roared.
Panting, Anakin finally nodded as he managed to stand on his shaky legs. "Fine."
If Kalzin was taken back by Anakin's sudden cooperation, he didn't show it. "How many Jedi?"
"Too many for you."
Kalzin sneered, and narrowed his eyes. "Where will they attack from?"
"Not from where you're standing right now. Does that narrow down the possibilities?"
"Oh, you stupid boy!" Kalzin ran forward, and hit Anakin in the face. Anakin cried out, slamming his head against the wall as he stumbled backwards. "What will they attack with?"
"Weapons."
"What is their usual strategy?"
"A good one."
"I mean, what's their plan of attack?!"
"Attack."
Kalzin was practically on fire now as he turned around, and brought his fist against the wall, leaving a dent in the steel and blood running down his arm. Suddenly, however, a guard ran in, interrupting the scene. "Sir, we've spotted three OUCO agents entering the building from the back. We've not made known that we have spotted their presence, however."
Kalzin's flushed face eased a little bit, and he chuckled. He turned to Anakin, who was lying sprawled on the ground, glaring at him. "Well, my young friend, we don't need your information after all." He beckoned one of his men. "You can bring out the…substance…now."
The soldier exited the room, but soon returned with Force-binders and a tiny syringe. Kalzin took both, and walked over to Anakin. He clasped the binders onto his wrists, then chained him to the wall. "Well, Jedi, any last words?"
Anakin frowned. "Go to hell."
Kalzin simply laughed, and then held up the syringe. "Know what this is, boy?"
"My allergy shot, how thoughtful."
Kalzin's smile disappeared. "We'll see how good your sense of humor is when I give you so much neurotoxins that you'll be dead in less than an hour. A new kind, of neurotoxin, I may add. A prototype – with one antidote. How's that sound?"
"Just peachy," Anakin spat. "What's your game, Kalzin? You got me; what else could you possibly want?"
"You'll find out soon enough – if you can remain coherent long enough to hear me tell the OUCO of my real plan. Now hold still like a good boy."
Before Anakin could resist, Kalzin plunged the syringe into his left arm, inserting the blue/gray liquid into his bloodstream. Kalzin pulled away, looking pleased. "In five minutes you'll be experiencing so much pain you'll WISH you were dead." He beckoned for his men to leave the room, then he himself headed towards the door. "We're going to let your friends find you, then I'll make my grand entrance." He grinned as he prepared to close and lock the door. "If the agents don't comply to my wishes – well, then – the Jedi can just say a sad, mournful goodbye to their precious Chosen One."
Sorry this is so short. Please R&R! It makes me so happy, while no reviews tend to kill me
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