A/N: Yes, I am evil. I decided not to update for a while because I'd been updating a lot and thought I deserved a break. Also, I just love leaving people hanging. Anyway, please enjoy the next chapter of "The Final Battle."
The Final Battle: Part 25
BOOM! The Separatist's ship shook from the force of a blast. The helmet that had been seconds from being placed upon Tanya's head was thrown to the side, where revolved around and smashed into the wall.
"What was that?" Dooku demanded, straightening up after having been thrown slightly off balance from the explosion.
"Sir, three Republic cruisers have just come out of hyperspace and opened fired on us!" a battle droid exclaimed over the intercom system. Tanya's face lit up and she turned to see Ahsoka and Barriss had similar expressions on their faces.
"Then get us out of here!" Dooku ordered.
"Yes sir," the droid replied, only to be cut off by a second blast. This one was followed by the sound of crashing and further explosions, caused by it. "Uh, sir? We can't go into hyperspace."
"And, why would that be?" Dooku growled, scarcely able to control his rage.
"The Jedi destroyed the hyperdrive. Also, the shields are failing and the weapons systems are offline."
Dooku growled in frustration, before motioning to his MagnaGuards. They released Tanya's bonds but before she could get up they grabbed her and dragged her off of the table. They slapped binders on her wrists and started pushing her, Ahsoka, and Barriss toward the door. They were quickly led to the bridge, stopping only when explosions knocked them off their feet. Once they arrived on the bridge, Dooku grabbed Tanya by her hair and pulled her toward him. Grievous did the same with Barriss, while Ventress took Ahsoka. "Contact Skywalker immediately!" Dooku barked to his droids who jumped and quickly obeyed. Seconds later, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Luminara Unduli were on the screen. "I knew you would come Skywalker. Your attachment to others has always been your greatest weakness," Dooku taunted.
"At least I'm not a cold, heartless piece of slime who would torture a young girl for information," Anakin shot back, glancing at Ahsoka then Tanya, who was struggling to stand on her own.
"That information is rather valuable and once we extracted it from the younglings we would have sent them back to you," Dooku replied smoothly.
"I somehow highly doubt that Dooku," Obi Wan commented.
"Well, you're going to have to rely on my word as it is your only chance of ever seeing your pets again," Dooku told them. "Because if you try to rescue them," Dooku ignited his lightsaber and held it to Tanya's throat, "I can guarantee that you won't being seeing them, ever again."
Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Luminara all looked to each other before nodding and vanishing from the screen. A moment later, a battle droid shouted, "Sir, the Republic Cruisers have ceased fire." Dooku smirked.
"Compassion; the weakness of all Jedi."
"And your lack of it will be your downfall," Tanya muttered, only to have the Sith Lord bring the blade closer to her neck.
"Care to repeat that youngling?" Tanya stayed silent. "I thought so. All units, be on the look out for three Jedi. I trust that they'll be joining us soon." Tanya looked to her friends, unsure of what to do.
"Sir, we've found them! They're in hanger 113," a battle droid yelled a while later.
"Good. Bring up the security footage." A hanger appeared on the monitor, the Twilight sitting there and Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Luminara standing outside it.
"Anakin, Luminara, go find the padawans, I'll blow up the reactors and make sure this ship stays stranded," Obi-Wan said, slinging on a clone trooper pack filled no doubt with explosives.
"Don't need to tell me twice," Anakin told him, running toward the bridge, Luminara following close behind.
"Well, it looks as though we are going to have visitors," Dooku said. "Grievous, why don't you make Master Kenobi welcome?"
"With pleasure, my lord," Grievous responded. He pushed Barriss to Ventress, and stalked off the bridge, cape flowing behind him.
"And now to deal with Skywalker," Dooku said. A while later, Anakin and Luminara burst into the bridge, lightsabers ignited and determination glinting in their eyes.
"You've lost Dooku. You ship is falling apart and you're not getting the information. Give up," Anakin ordered.
"Oh really? If you don't surrender Skywalker then I will not hesitate in separating the younglings' heads from their necks," Dooku warned, bringing his blade so close to Tanya's neck she could feel the heat of it against her skin. Anakin looked from Tanya to Ahsoka and Barriss, who had Ventress' twin blades to their necks as well, to Luminara who nodded. Both Jedi masters then deactivated their sabers, rolled them toward their enemies, and kneeled before the Separatists. "Good. Ventress, take care of them."
"With pleasure, my lord," she purred before throwing Ahsoka and Barriss to the side and raising her sabers to bring them down on the Jedi's necks. Anakin and Luminara barely glanced at each other before springing into action. The lightsabers leapt into their hands and activated, just in time to stop Ventress' descending blades. Dooku cast Tanya away as he went to join Ventress in her duel with the two Jedi. Tanya landed on her side and Ahsoka and Barriss quickly crawled over to her. Tanya looked at Ahsoka before glancing at Dooku and Ventress' belt, trying to explain her intent. Ahsoka nodded to show her understanding before she and Tanya used the Force to whip their lightsabers from the Separatists' belts. The two of them caught their weapons and used them to release them and Barriss' handcuffs.
"Ahsoka, Barriss, Tanya, get out of here!" Anakin yelled at them through his battle with Dooku.
"But Master−" Ahsoka started but stopped herself when Tanya grabbed her arm. Ahsoka barely glimpse into Tanya's eyes but was able to read them clearly.
Ahsoka, I want to help too but I'm really not feeling my best at the moment. Please, we need to go. Ahsoka bit her lip and gave her master a fleeting look before agreeing and turning toward the door.
"Ventress, stop them!" Dooku commanded. Ventress nodded before leaping over Luminara to get at the padawans. She swung her sabers at the trio, grazing Barriss in her side. Tanya and Ahsoka dropped down and pulled Barriss away from Ventress just as Luminara came to continue her fight with her.
"Come on!" Tanya shouted, pulling the wounded Barriss away from the fight. Ahsoka followed but just as they turned to run, Tanya exclaimed, "I forgot something!" She turned around and Force pulled something else out of Dooku's belt. It wasn't until it was in her hands that Ahsoka and Barriss recognized it as Tanya's mother's amulet. "I'll explain later, let's just go!" Tanya told them and she helped Barriss up, Ahsoka joining her in aiding their injured companion and the trio quickly began their trek through the labyrinth of hallways inside the gargantuan Separatist ship.