Chapter 4

When Penny, Bolt and their escort entered the hanger, it was engulfed in flame, Fire battle droids were swarming around them, blasting the raging fires with their hoses. Penny had little time to look as she was constantly bustled along by the two guards, escorting her to the shuttle. Suddenly, there was a loud crash, they looked up to see a flaming support beam falling towards them. Penny screamed and pulled away from the droids just in time, the beam crushed the droids, freeing Penny. She stared at the smoldering remains of the guards, then turned to Bolt. "Okay boy," she panted. "Now what?"

Then she saw the shuttle she was being taken to. She hesitated for a moment. It's just gonna take me to more of them, she thought. But it's the only way off this bucket. May as well. Just then, Bolt growled, Penny looked to see two droids looking out the back and spotting her. "Hey, you!" one of them shouted.

Bolt crouched and prepared for an attack. "Bolt wait…" Penny cautioned Just then it hit her. Why don't I just get Bolt to take out the droids and overrun the shuttle. Penny cursed herself for not thinking of it sooner. It was a stretch, but it was her only chance. "Okay Bolt," Penny said to her dog. "Stare!"

Bolt obeyed the command and glared at one of the droids, who exploded instantly. "What the…?" the other droid said in shock. Then Bolt charged the other, tackled him, and hurled him through the hanger shield into the vacuum of space, where he was blown to pieces by a V-19.

"Good boy," Penny said, stroking her companion. Then she ran up the ramp of the shuttle. As she approached the bridge, she saw two more droids, apparently the pilots. Bolt emitted another low growl. "Wait Bolt!" Penny shouted louder than she intended. The two pilots turned around and stared at her for a moment.

"Is that her?" one whispered.

"I think so," the other responded.

Bolt prepared to pounce, Penny quickly ran in front of him. "No Bolt, we need them to pilot us off here," Penny reminded him. Then she turned to the pilots. "Well, what are you waiting for? Go!" Penny snapped at them.

"Oh…uh, right," the pilot finally said and got on his comlink. "General, we have the hostages on board, are you sure we should leave in this battle?"

"Yes!" Grievous shouted from the other end of the comlink. "Don't worry, the Republic will not take any chances with their precious agent. But just to be safe, I am launching the TV-94 at the same time as a decoy. If they catch him we still have the agent. Now go!"

"Rodger Rodger," the pilot responded as he took the controls and lifted the shuttle out of the inferno of a hanger. Penny went back to the passenger cabin and strapped herself in. They would take out the pilots, not now, but soon.

"General, sir?" TV-94 inquired. "According to my calculations, the Republic will be boarding soon. I advise immediate evacuation."

Grievous agreed, not crazy about the idea of retreat. But it was his only chance of escape. Skywalker had him boxed in. Fleeing in his fighter or a shuttle was the only choice he had. "Very well," Grievous replied. "Take the information on the main computer, and flee on a shuttle as a decoy for the Republic. Should you escape, rendezvous with our forces at Sector 4."

"Yes my lord," the droid responded, nodded and left with a battle droid escort.

Grievous stared into the battle in front of him. "You may think you can catch me Skywalker, but your faith in your strategies will be your downfall," the General said to himself. Then he turned to his droids. "Is my fighter ready for launch?" he asked. The droid nodded. "Good. Launch all remaining ships to confuse them, and cover the retreat." Grievous looked back out into space. Though he wanted to stay and fight, if the Jedi boarded the ship, all chances of escape would be lost. The CIS couldn't afford to have him be captured. "Another time Skywalker," Grievous said, and turned to leave.