Chapter 12: a poison of love.

I have to do this right, I can't afford to lose.

Angel got dressed, and took off he bandages that was on her head, her lightsabers on her side, and a necklace around her neck, with the little metal tag that was on Ash, she walked out of her room and meet up with her brothers, and Runt, all of them wore a serious expression on their faces, their helmets to their side.

"And where are you going?" Anakin asked.

"to save my master, a large group has only delayed this more, and now that I know where the creep is, I'll bring Master Soo home myself, and don't tell me that I can't, its either your with me, or you stay out of my way," she said then walked past him.

"That's no way to talk to your superior," Anakin spat following her.

"As of right now, we are of equal rank."

Angel was walking down the hanger, getting ready to leave in a fighter, along with Lucky , Spaz, and Doc, Runt wasn't allowed to follow, since he took his orders from General Skywalker, and the others in the 501st. he hated that, the fact that all he could do was watch as Angel goes to what was surely another trap.

"Wait, Angel, don't go," Ahsoka called out as she ran out to the group with Rex close behind.

"You're not going to stop me," Angel started.

"I know, that's why we are coming with you," she said with a smile.

"Count us in as well," Obi Wan said, with Cody behind him.

"Don't leave me behind!" Runt yelled standing between the two groups. "I'm not going to be left behind, I can fight too!" he sounded like he was begging to fight alongside them.

They looked at him, the boy that was probably no older then what was normal for regular recruitment, so fixed to fight. Rex put a hand on his head and smiled. "General let's take the boy, he'll be useful, there is a reason why he got into the 501st."

"Alright then, it's settled, is that alright with you general Sada?" Anakin asked with a smirk smile on his face.

Angel smiled. "It's like I said, its either you join me, or stay out of my way."

"Then let's take a ship with a little bit more room," Obi wan smiled pointing to another ship.

Angel shrugged, and followed as she was led to a larger ship for the mission.

I'm coming for you Lance, prepare yourself

Lance landed on the planet below, which he had designated as the meeting place, this time, he was ready for anything, he kept his part of the deal, and none of the droids he deployed were going to shoot them down, or attack at all, unless given the order. And if things went as plan, only after he leaves will he have them killed.

"Soon," he whispered, as he saw the ship land, and ten people came out, he shook his head, he was only expecting four at most. He turned to face Soo, who was still bound. "Looks like little Angel has more friends than I expected." He growled, and then walked past the Jedi, waving his hand in the air signaling the droids to follow along with Soo.

The two groups met on the middle level of the large building, he had one of the most efficient droids in the separatist army, and he had them waiting by his side, Master Soo was forced to stand, and he looked at his padawan, and the others and a deep groan escaped his lips.

"Don't look so glum, Soo, they came isn't that what matters?" Lance asked then stepped forward.

Angel was about to step forward, but Anakin and Obi Wan beat her to it. She shook her head, and waited, Runt put a hand on her shoulder and smiled, and this made her smile as well, they will be successful.

"Alright, we are here, I bet you want Angel like last time," Obi Wan asked, lightsaber in hand.

"That was part of the deal, if it wasn't for her arrival today, I would have just gotten rid of this dead weight," he said throwing a thump at Soo.

"We will take master Soo back," Anakin said glaring at Lance.

"Not unless Angel comes with me."

Lance was determined to get her, and she could feel such an intense swirl of multiple different emotions, that she couldn't truly tell which was which. But excited was one of them for sure. She stepped forward and passes the two Jedi. She smiled and turned her head to them.

"This is my fight, get my master and leave," she said calmly, with a bright smile on her face.

Master Soo was the one who spoke first against this, screaming no as he thrashing himself against one of his captors then making a run for it to Angel, Angel ran after him and so did Lance, he pulled his right hand from behind his back, with weird claw like object attached to his wrist and index finger. Angel felt him lunge to attack her master, and she just groaned as her predictions were coming true, she used the force to push her master out of the way, and hugging Lance instead, because she used only her fingers to move Soo. A sharp little pinch was felt in her back, and she felt Lances shock and depression build up inside of him. The sharp point of the claw ripped easily though the thin fabric tied around her face and the force of impact caused her to open her different colored eyes.

"Why? Angel, why? He stole you from me, why save him?" Lance sounded like a hurt little boy.

Angel smiled she was feeling sleepy for some odd reason, and she was pulled away at arms distance, she noticed the tag that was on the chain around his neck, it looked like the one she was wearing. She touched it with weak fingers, then hers, and smiled. "I wonder why you have the same thing," she mumbled and fell back, completely unconscious, Lance had held her up, but when he looked up runt and the others were already running to them, weapons drawn, lance laid angel down gently and ran away, heading back to his ship, the four super battle droids that had accompanied Lance began to fire at them, Anakin and Obi wan took them out quickly, and turned their attention to Angel. Doc had ran to his sister, then looked at master Soo who managed to use his weak legs to carry him over to her, dismay clearly on his face and in the force. Lucky growled, and Runt took one look at the sleeping girl, and made a run for it after Lance, Lucky was thrown off a little and then ran after Runt, Anakin ordered Rex and Ahsoka to stay here, while he Obi wan and Cody followed the other two clones.

That bastard has the antidote, I have to get it, for angel I won't let her die like this! Not ever!

Runt ran as fast as his legs would allow him, and to his surprise, he ran faster than he thought he was capable of.

"Does anyone know what just happened?" Obi wan asked.

"I got word form Doc that it's a poison, he believes we have less than an hour to collect the antidote and get back to them in time to keep her with little medical attention, her organs are going to start shutting down after that one hour mark," Lucky called out after he finished talking to Doc about Angel's condition.

Runt turned his head back to look at Lucky and the others. "then we better catch him as fast as possible," he said, there was no humor in his voice, as he pushed himself harder to catch up with Lance, who by some chance managed to run faster than the five men behind him.

Anakin thought it would be better to split up and try and find a way to cut Lance off, Cody and Obi wan agreed, Lucky and Anakin took the short cut as Obi wan runt and Cody continued on the original rout lance was taking. Twist and turns in the large building seemed to appear more and more as lance progressed through. His lungs burned something fierce and his legs were ready to give up, he turned a sharp corner and leaned against the cold wall. Taking a few quick breaths he wiped the sweat that beaded on his forehead off, and pushed himself off the wall. He reached into the left side pocket on his pants, and pulled out a light blue vile.

"I never meant for this to happen," he said slamming his fist on the wall.

"Why don't you give us the bottle and we'll let you live," Anakin said applying the force in his words.

Lance scoffed. "fool, your Jedi tricks won't work on me, and what makes you think I'll give you the antidote?" he asked smugly, turning around he found himself staring down the barrel of Runts blaster, and two more pointed at him. From both sides, and to add to that, two lightsabers were ignited and ready for action. He was out numbered, and he was too tired to try and kill two Jedi.

"Give it here, and I won't blast your head off," Runt growled pressing the cold metal of the blaster to lance's forehead.

Lance sighed in defeat, and lifted his hands up in surrender, but a quick smile spread on his face, "just because I'll give it to you, doesn't mean you know how to use it, let me go free and I'll tell you," he said with the hint of victory in his voice.

Runt continued to glare at him, and his blaster didn't move from the spot on lances head. "What makes you think I'll believe you?"

"Because I'm the one who made the damn thing, both the poison and the antidote," Lance sneered.

"Tell us how to use it," Anakin barked.

"Now or you'll be losing your head!" Lucky added.

"You're not all that bright are you clone?" Lance asked rolling his eyes.

"Calm down all of you, this is getting us nowhere," Obi wan said as he shut off his lightsaber. "Fine, we will let you leave on the account that you will provide us the information we need."

"There, now that's better, lower your weapon clone or you'll never save your beloved Angel," he smiled again, his cocky tone beginning to return to his voice.

Runt growled pressing the blaster harder against Lance's head.

"Stand down trooper, we need him alive," Anakin broke in, putting his lightsaber down as well.

As soon as everyone let their arms fall, Lance stood up straight, and backed up from everyone, he still had his hands lifted, but then he put them down. "Ne shab'rud'ni (don't mess with me)," he said in perfect mando'a, this shocked most of them, and by the time they raised their weapons, Lance used the force to throw Cody and Runt at the others, then turning around he ran. Runt was helped up by Lucky, as Cody lifted himself up.

"I'm going after him," Anakin stated as he got up and ran after Lance.

Runt broke from Lucky's grasp and followed Anakin. Cody walked to obi wan who was shaking his head. Both men looked over to Lucky who was becoming angrier and more frustrated by the second.

"News captain?" Obi wan asked.

"they are trying to wake her back up, and failing, Doc is doing his best but he's just one medic, Rex and Ahsoka are looking after Soo as Doc try's to figure the poison out, but we are still running out of time," he punched the wall as hard as he could leaving a dent in it. "I'm a di'kut for letting this happen."

"I'm beginning to think that your connection to padawan Sada is more than just commander and captain."

"general, she's my little sister, I'll die for her, I'll do anything to make her smile, so for me this isn't just about Jetii and a rescue mission, this was about finding the man who made her cry, and beating him down, and now, it's about saving her life, I won't fail again," he said his normal joyful tone that he carried all the time, no matter what, was replaced by a more serious down to earth kind of tone. He sounded like the other command clones. Lucky stood up and made a quick bow to Obi Wan. "I can't fail again, if I can make her smile just one more time, it's worth all the rules I keep breaking." And with that he was off.

Obi wan looked at Cody for a long time, a little loss of words.

"What is it general?" he asked.

"Oh, nothing, just wondering what we have gotten into is all," Obi wan said with a slight wave before running to rejoin the group.

"So do I general," Cody sighed, then followed.

Stay strong Angel, please hold on, we are going as fast as we can!

Ahsoka didn't know what to do, it seemed that Doc was getting more flustered about the whole ordeal, and was literally pulling out his hair. Rex was trying his best to help him calm down but even a brother's words weren't going to get through to this man. All the while Ahsoka was working on trying to heal Master Soo. Well, she was helping him heal himself. He was one of the few Jedi knights that had the skills of a consular; he just needed a little help, so she was entwined with the Jedi within the mind.

I'm sorry you should be helping to calm down Doc, the poor boy, Soo thought as he used the aided energy to fix himself

It's alright master, you needed my help, you must have been though a lot these past few days, she smiled, it was like she was being walked through the inside of his body, led by the hand, and then told what to do, it was fun, and far more then what she was used to.

I know, tell me how do you like my padawan? He asked as he finally got some feeling back into his legs.

There was a pause as she thought about it, she hadn't gotten to know Angel all that well, from what Ahsoka could gather, she was fun, blunt, smart, yet naive, and well she was a strange one to be around, the other padawans she was paired with were trying so hard to be the perfect Jedi, to take up and put to use everything that they had learned, but Angel was different, she used what she learned, but wasn't to found of fighting, she hated to see bloodshed, and for the last two days, stopped trying to act strong, she cried, and she cried hard. She had attachments to her brothers, and to Runt, and she didn't care. She is one of a kind, Ahsoka finally answered. A light chuckle rippling thought their connection.

In more ways than one little one, she is the definition of breaking all the rules, I tried to teach her better, but it's hard to teach her the ways of the force, and fulfill a promise, he sighed and the two were on the path back into reality.

What promise? She asked.

There was another long pause, and they seemed to have stopped midway. I promised her father, I'll give her the life she deserved, and I failed him, he said swiftly then finished leading Ahsoka back to reality, letting go of her hand when she was safely back into her own body.

"Come on Angel wake up, you need to wake up!"

"Calm down Doc, you need to think rationally, she isn't going to wake up, find a way to stabilize her until our brother's return with the antidote."

The voices of the two troopers was the first thing she heard when she came back, blinking twice she stood up, wobbled and was about to fall, but Rex had noticed her and like he had been doing this for all his life, he caught Ahsoka before she hit the floor.

"You okay kid?" he asked with a little smile.

"I'm not a kid anymore Rexter, and yeah I'm fine," she smiled back.

Rex's free hand pulled up Ahsoka's and he kissed it, happy that Ahsoka was alright. She tried to look around and see if anyone was looking, but then she relaxed.

"Don't worry about them, they are a little preoccupied to pay any attention to us," he whispered in that seductive way that made Ahsoka melt in his arms almost instantly.

She blushed deeply, hissing his name softly for using that voice on her, this only caused the captain to smile gaining more in his current victory. He leaned down to kiss her, when his comlink began to blink, then suddenly Lucky's voice was heard.

"Bow chicka bow wow."

Everyone stopped what they were doing, and turned to Rex, who had turned red up to his ears, as he felt the two sets of eyes staring at his back. Doc sighed, and rolled his eyes, as soon as that happened Lucky screamed in pain and whimpered, cursing Doc for smacking him. This caused Ahsoka to go into a fit of laughter, and the whole thing ruined the mood Rex tried to build, even though it was the wrong time, but hey take what you can before it's too late right? Doc sighed again then turned his attention back to Soo. Who was calming down the medic using Jedi teachings, and reasons. Doc calmed down and thanked Master Soo for his help, he then began checking on Angel once again, trying all he can to figure this thing out, and stabilize her with the limited equipment he had with him. As Soo said Doc was a genius and could fix more people than anyone he had ever met, and with this boost to his ego, and confidence he worked hard and worked fast, his eyes darting from the datapad in his hands to Angel, he checked her vitals first and she seemed to be fine, however he didn't know how that will change in the next hour.

"Please let me be wrong, let it be just a deep sleep," he whispered, as he tried to find what it was this poison was made to do.

Live, it's not your time to die….

Lance continued to run, he found an open window, and pulled out a gauntlet he had in his bag, something he had pulled out from another room on the run. He attached it to his arm and was about to shoot a coil out at the edge above him.

"This is the end of the line," Runt said coldly blaster rose.

"And if you kill me I'll go down with your only chance for saving Angel."

"cut the shit, I'm the only one here, you don't have to act, you didn't want to hit her, you were going out of your way to get her, since the beginning, so it doesn't make sense for you to just run while she dies."

Lance balled his hands into tight fists, and glared at him. "Why would you care, were you ordered to? If someone ordered you to kill her you wouldn't hesitate would you?"

"SHUT UP! i would never do something so stupid! I love her that's why I do this, that's why I won't give up!" he yelled, he shook his head as though trying to shake the feeling that Lace was right to a point. He didn't know what would happen if he was given the order, but right now, he wouldn't even try.

"Bullshit, you clones are all the same."

"If you care, then trust me!" he yelled before lance had the chance to finish talking.

There was a pause. "I never wanted her to get hurt, I wanted to give her a life that she deserved, a happy peaceful life, without war, and pain," he whispered as he pulled out the vile. He looked up at Runt and chuckled. "I thought I would be the one to end the family disaster, but I guess I'm just another pawn in our ancestor's game," he sighed, smiling once then tossed the vile, watching runt catch it easily. "I call it TLFK, its suppose to undo the damage that the Jedi's Achilles' heel had done, surly you aren't stupid, so I hope you can figure it out before she dies." He said then jumped out the window.

Runt didn't bother looking to see if he managed to live, he had a feeling that he would be seeing much more of that man, and he had a sudden bitter taste in his mouth as he thought about it. Anakin and the other two managed to meet back up with him.

"Where is Lance?" Obi wan asked.

"Doesn't matter right now, I got the antidote, let's get back to Angel and the others," he said then turned to a lift that would take them back to the middle floor, where the rest of their party was waiting.

"How did he give it to you?" Anakin asked.

"He realized that he didn't want her to die, and gave it to me, but the di'kut forgot to tell me how to make it work,"

"Leave that to Doc, he would know," Lucky smiled, behind the helmet, but Runt could tell that he didn't even know that it would work.

"It's an antidote so don't we just make her drink it, or inject it?" Cody asked.

"it's more complicated than that, he said that the poison was the Jedi's Achilles' heel, I'm not sure what that means, but it's the only clue I got that and it's called TLFK, which isn't a word."

I get one step ahead and I find out I was a two steps behind, angel hang in there please, and how do you know this lance guy! ~runt

I told you it was going to be like a fairy tale, now someone owes me some money, and I don't feel so good, where is everyone? I can't feel anything, and it's so dark…~Angel