(Hey everyone, sorry this took longer than expected by I really got distracted with things recently so I beg your forgiveness, and I have some replies to some reviewers who brought up some good points.
Shadow the Jedi: I know it may appear weak but look at it this way. At least everyone now knows what Padme discovered during her time on her home planet, and finding out that a Separatist Scientist and a Decepticon chemical specialist had found a way to make the Blue Shadow Virus even more deadly and what they planned to do with it if Oil-Slick got his hands on it.
Game-Watch: Yeah I know it was a bit quick but they are in need of securing their alliance, especially when one bot can take down an army of droids. But I never really explained HOW they got those droids to be improved, did I? Well here's some more examples of other Droid-icons and hopefully it will make sense.
Disclaimer, I do not own anything relating to any of the Transformers or Star Wars, they are the properties of their respective owners.
Now please Read, Review, and Enjoy.)
After gotten the news and orders from Kup and Yoda, the needed bots and Jedi got on the transport and hurried to Naboo. Outside of the Naboo palace was a republic gunship followed by an Autobot dropship. As the gunship entered the hanger the dropship hovered by the entrance and opened its door where five mechs walked out. The one leading them was a biggest bot leading the group, He was broad shoulder bulky mech with icy blue color with a plain blue face.
Following behind his leader was the compassionate red and white medic of the team, Frist-Aid with his medical vehicle armor.
Behind him was the smallest of their group, a Blue and white mech who had a pleasant look on his yellow face, his name would be Groove, the most easy going Autobot in the team and by the looks of his armor he can transform into a swoop or speeder bike of some kind.
The mech behind him was slightly taller, slightly shorter compared to his leader and First-Aid, he had a look on his face that made people think he was confident, He is Streetwise the savvy member of the group.
Behind him was the only flier of the Protectobots the resident bad boy who has a cocky attitude as he looked around, they don't call him Blades for nothing.
Approaching them was captain Typho and following was the female Gungan that Padme and Jar-jar had met. The captain spoke to them, "General Kenobi, Anakin. We're so-"
"Where's Senator Amidala?" Anakin asked, interrupting the captain.
"She went to look for the lab." The captain told them.
Anakin was scared, as he asked, "And you let her go!?"
C3P-0 walked up to his creator and said, "Senator Padme can be very hard to stop once she made up her mind."
Anakin sighed, "Good point. I know what you mean."
That earned some knowing snickers between three of the Protectobots. As the Captain ignored and introduced the pink female Gungan near him, "This is Peppi Bow. She was the last person to see them. Padme sent her here to safety."
"Theysa looken for the sick-maker." The pink Gungan told them.
This caught Obi-wan's attention, "'they'?"
Approaching First-Aid spoke up, "I thought only Senator Amidala was missing. Who else is missing?"
"Representative Binks was with her." Typho reported.
R2 gave a worried, whirling sound. Streetwise looked to the astro-mech droid, "I know how you feel, Artoo."
Looking to his padawan, Anakin ordered, "Go with the Gungan; see if you can find them."
"You got it master." Ahsoka replied with a nod as she made her way to Pepi and left.
Hotspot turn to the team flier and ordered, "Blades, go with them."
"Fine, but maybe I should pick up a vehicle mode as long as I'm here." Blades commented as he eyed the Naboo Starfighter, then scanned it before transforming into it.
He was now a red Naboo Starfighter with an Autobot symbol on stem of its bowl, but Obi-wan asked, "Are you sure that is wise, Blades? Chances are that they will be on the lookout for more especially a red Nabooian Starfighter with an Autobot symbol."
"Good point, Kenobi…" Hotspot added as he looked to his team, "Streetwise, Groove, hold Blades down so I can give him a new coat of paint."
"You got it, Blue bot." Streetwise said grabbing one of Blades' wings.
Groove, then pointed out, pleasantly, "A new coat of paint will do you some good Blades, might give you a new outlook at things with a sunny disposition."
'I'll show you a Sunny Disposition when I get out of this…" Blades muttered as he struggled to get out of their grip.
Hotspot transformed into his alt mode and turning his water supply into yellow paint as he hovered to the struggling trio.
"Hotspot…don't you dare do this…I mean it! This joke's gone on long enough! Let! Go!"
The leader of the Protectobots stopped some meters away and aimed the water cannons at the flier, "This'll hurt me more than you pal, believe me…"
He then dispatched the tubs and changed back into robot mode as he got a paint sprayer and proceeded to paint the flier.
In all the "chaos", Anakin approached the eyepatch captain and asked, "Why didn't you send someone to look for them?"
"Considering latest developments we thought it was best to wait for you." The captain answered. Getting a concerned look from both Autobot medic and the Jedi master.
"What latest developments?" Obi-wan asked.
"See for yourself…" Captain Typho said indicating them to follow but stopped and looked at the Autobot medic who had begun following them, saying, "Sorry, uh…First-Aid, but I am not sure how you can…"
"Don't worry about it I have a way." The Pacifist Autobot said as he proceeded to transform and began projecting his lights ahead of him.
"Beginning holographic projection…" He said as a three-dimensional image began to form in the epicenter of the lights.
"Attuning features and modeling to personality and core consciousness parameters."
The hologram began to take on detail and layers as well as coloring.
"Transferring Core Consciousness now." First-Aid announced as he fell silent until the lights went out. The holographic creation began stirring before he opened his eyes and stood up in full height. To the three humans he looked almost identical to Anakin except for the fact his hair was more kempt than the Jedi and his eyes were electric blue. He was wearing a white and red republican medical uniform with an Autobot symbol on the front over his heart and on his back.
"Transfer complete." First-Aid's voice came from the hologram. Obi-wan studied the hologram, Anakin and Captain Typho however were surprised at this.
"First-Aid?" Anakin asked, not believing his eyes.
"Yes, Anakin it's me." The kempt haired double said.
"But how?"
"I was able to transfer my core consciousness into this holographic representation of myself in order to enter in a room that will not permit my actual body to enter for obvious reason…however given the hastiness needed for this I had to take on a template. I hope you do not mind." First-Aid explained as he looked to the Jedi knight.
"N-no…but does that mean we can interact with you?"
"Not in the physical sense, but I am able to see with this body while my true body remains here." First-Aid explained as he stared at his double.
Obi-wan however gave a smile, "Impressive, most impressive."
"Thank you, now may we continue?" The Autobot asked as the captain came out of his shock and led them to a lab were a battle droid's head was resting in the center of the hologram table.
"We did a robo-lobotomy on the battle droids and came up with this piece of memory along with…another…" Captain Typho said pressing a button and the hologram shows a tall, slender humanoid figure, that has a double set of eyelids, light-colored eyes. It has long, humanoid faces with slanted, almond-shaped eyes, a long nose, large ears and a cranial ridge.
"Who is that?" Obi-wan asked, seeing the hologram of the Faust.
"Dr. Nuvo Vindi. The senior medic of the Perma families. He disappeared nearly ten years ago."
"And the other?" Anakin asked, meaning the other piece of memory that they found.
The Naboo security captain brought up an image that made First-Aid gasp in shock. There was a Cybertronian, as detailed as the Autobots, standing next to Dr. Vindi, he had a skull design on one of his shoulders and what seems to be a glass dome over his head. The Jedi can see the Decepticon symbol on his chest.
"First-Aid? First-Aid?" Obi-wan called snapping the medic out of his fearful trance, the holo-form of the pacifist turned to the Jedi master who then asked, "Do you know who that Decepticon is?"
"Y-yess… His name is Oil Slick. He's the Decepticon's chemical weapon specialist…I had seen the end result of the horrors he left in his wake when I was studying medicine under an Autobot by the name of Ratchet. He had bots and cons turned to rust, agony on their faces before some of them dissolved into dust…"
"You mean… This Oil Slick had used his chemical weapon on his own soldiers?" Obi-wan asked, disturbed by this information.
"Yes…though no one was aware…I don't think even Megatron or Obsidian would allow that given our…situation…" The Autobot medic answered looking scared.
They heard a voice with a lisp speaking, "Good news, my soulless automatons friends. We now have enough of the blue shadow virus to start filling the bombs."
"He said bombs…" C3P0 picked up nervously.
"We will only need to send one bomb to each key star system." Vindi announced.
"And when I am given samples of this virus I may be able to create a hybrid that will not only take care of the organic targets, but also the in-organic, particularly their weapons, vehicles, and certain Autobots." Oil Slick added with a smirk.
"Work quickly. I want them ready for delivery by-" The mad doctor ordered, however the bit of memory ended as it didn't fill anyone inside a good feeling.
"If those bombs get delivered. We'll be facing a galaxy wide plague. The war would be the least of our worries." Obi-wan
"There is some good news." He said activating the holo-table again shows many short vertical cylinder connected to each other by a series of tubes, "Senator Amidala was able to find the lab. She sent us the coordinates and we were able to get a Geo-scan of the area."
"It's enormous." Obi-wan commented as he sees the scan of the laboratory.
"Looks like there are three entry points." Captain Typho then pointed at the three highest cylinder which highlighted when he pointed to them.
He then pointed to a small cylinder that was in the middle of the complex, "This appears to be the main lab."
Obi-wan looked to the captain, asking, "And the bombs?"
"There appears to be an above average of radiation in this area." Captain Typho informed the Jedi master as it highlighted itself when it was close to him.
Looking at the plans First-Aid shook his head, "This does not make sense. Oil Slick is too big to be there…yet I was able to detect Decepticon life signs in the complex…"
"That's because the cons and the Separatists have decided to combine technology." Typho told the Autobot. That earned a quizzical from the Autobot medic.
He showed them what was of the remains of the Droid-icon, "This droid had been upgraded with Cybertronian technology-", making them react much quicker and be smarter as you.
"Biology." First-Aid corrected.
Captain Typho was confused by this, "I'm sorry?"
"They figured out a way to combined droid technology with Cybertronian biology."
This made the head of security confused, "I don't follow."
"The circuitry and parts found in this droid are only found in Cybertronians, like how a brain and a heart is found only in all of your biological make up. A mental and vocal processor along with optical nerves show that they have used Cybertronian biology with that of your droids…"
"What is the difference?"
"Things like Cybertronian optical design and nerves along with mental and vocal processors and our T-cogs cannot be found or put together as some parts for your droids. So it's a safe bet that they haven't learns how to make them due to the fact that it would probably take stellar cycles for them to figure out how to get just the optical feed working. They can only be found inside us as would an intestine or a heart inside many of your galaxy's species."
Captain Typho blinked before shaking his head, "It doesn't matter what it is called! They have somehow found a way to make their droids an even more of a dangerous threat!"
"I concur with you captain, but please show some respect for our visitors." Obi-wan said while earning an applicative thanks from the Autobot.
Getting his thoughts back on the situation Obi-wan spoke first, "If Padme alerted them to our presence in anyway."
"If Padme's in there, guns blazing. She could get killed."
"It's a risk we have to take! Dr. Vindi and those bombs must not leave the lab."
"And if they, or we, set off one bomb during the attack?"
"Better to have one planet infected than the entire galaxy." Obi-wan concluded the debate.
First-Aid was horrified, "You mean you would condemn the people of this planet to death?"
"We have no choice, First-Aid." Obi-wan replied sadly.
"You can't just give up. Look, we might be able to keep the planet safe and prevent Dr. Vindi from leaving the lab." First-Aid said, narrowing his eyes at the Jedi for giving up.
"If you have a way to make this possible, I'm all ears."
"Silverbolt and his Aerialbots are not the only ones to be able to combine."
"How is another giant Cybertronian warrior going to do his? Blast it with his guns?" Anakin asked, feeling that it wouldn't be able to save the senator any better than going in guns blazing.
"He doesn't usually use his guns. As Defensor we are able to create a powerful force field to keep the virus in until we reach a good altitude far from any planets." First-Aid revealed to his friends, making them look surprised.
"I doubt with Blades he can fly."
"No that's why we'll need to have Silverbolt and his team to come and fly us out the planet's atmosphere."
"A daring plan. But how do we know that their rockets will not cause your barrier to give let alone if Superion will be able to fly you." Obi-wan asked still doubtful of how another giant might save them.
"He will…" First-Aid assured them as he returned his attention to lab's layouts.
In the swamp, Peppy Bow and Ahsoka arrived at the spot where Padme and Jar-jar disappeared from. Peppi pointed as she and the Padawan rode on one of her animals, "This the ship belonging to them.
Looking at it Ahsoka asked, "So where are they?"
"Beats me." Blades said over the comm. link as he began flying, "I'm gonna take another look around before I transform."
Speaking into hers, Ahsoka reminded, "Remember, Sunny, keep a low profile, we don't want to be spotted before we can get the chance to rescue the Senator and Representative Binks."
"Yeah, yeah, I hear yea…" The (now) yellow, bad boy Protectobot said, in an uncaring tone as he took off before flying higher.
The Gungan and the Togura Padawan got off the beast and began looking around. Ahsoka looked on and spotted their tracks and said, when no more could be found, "Their tracks end here."
A mechanical buzzing was heard, causing Ahsoka to looked and see that Peppi was rising into the air. Both looked down to see a scope, using a rock as cover, raised high enough before beginning to spin around, scanning the area. The padawan looked and began to move several steps ahead of it, keeping out of sight as she said, softly, "Peppi! It's a scope. Don't let them see you."
Peppi could do nothing else but to try and keep her balance while the scope spun around slowly. Just as it was getting closer to the beast Ahsoka leapt up high and tackled Peppi behind a very large, exposed tree root. The scope wouldn't be able to see them as the camera focused on the Nabooian animal. The two poked out to see the camera jerk a bit before lowering itself back underground.
Peppi and Ahsoka shared a glance, they both knew that they need to tell the Togura's mentor and Master Kenobi what they had discovered.
The sound of an engine was heard as they looked to see Blades coming back, hovering some feet to them as he asked, "Yo, found their base yet?"
Ahsoka and Peppi shared a smile as they found a way to get back to the Palace quick enough. The Padawan then said, "as a matter of fact, we did."
Using The Force to jump onto the haul of the Starfighter, Ahsoka said, "Let me in so we can tell my master and your commander."
"Fine." Blades spoke, annoyed as he opened his cockpit, "You better buckle in, kid. Because I'm bolting!"
And just as Ahsoka set herself down and placed the fastens on her seat, the Autobot rocketed back to the Naboo Palace fast enough to avoid being spotted, should the scope come back up again.
Anakin has been pacing since the sun was beginning to set. As soon as the dusk came and Anakin's patience went as he asked, impatiently, "Where are they?"
Obi-wan who was sitting nearby on some crates watched him and said to his former apprentice, "Patience. They'll be here in a moment."
Glancing down at the Jedi General, Groove observed, "You seem a bit on edge."
"There's a good chance we're about to destroy all life on this planet, including ours and the Senator's, so yes, I'm a bit on edge! Why aren't any of you?" Anakin snapped at the Autobot.
"Chill Ana-kong, I'm sure Blades and your apprentice are on their way back as quick as a laser bolt." Streetwise assured, having his hands slide slowly along, showing how to cool down.
"Yeah, Blades may act tough but I know he cares more than he lets on. He'll get her back here with a report ASAP." First-Aid added, feeling for his friend.
Anakin looked over to Obi-wan, who said, casually, "I'm better at hiding it."
"I have faith in my team." Hotspot said as he waited, patiently.
Soon roar of the engines were heard as the yellow Naboo Starfighter entering only for the cockpit to open, and out came Anakin's Padawan. Blades however had made a one-eighty degree turn, as he transformed and caught Ahsoka in his hands before the Padawan jumped down to the floor.
"Master, we have news." Ahsoka said, when she got close to the two Jedi.
"Did you find her?" Anakin asked, trying to keep calm.
Ahsoka shook her head, "Negative, I'm sure she's inside the lab."
Looking to the group the Toruga padawan spoke, "The whole area was wired with pressure sensors. There's no way to get in without being detected."
Seeing the worry growing in the faces of the two Jedi she suggested, "If you want, Blades will be more than happy to…"
"Do not attempt to get inside." Obi-wan ordered.
Hotspot turned to the red flier and said, "You hear that Blades? No go on blasting the way in…"
Blades let out a mute sneer as he continued to wash the paint off his armor. Obi-wan pulled out hand held communicator and activated the hologram of the lab, "I need you to detonate a bunker bomb at the south end of the facility.
The Padawan saw the south end being highlighted as the bearded Jedi spoke, "It should cause a nice distraction and seal off the bomb area, while we come in through the hatches."
Nodding Ahsoka began walking to the flier, "You can count on me."
Anakin spoke, "Rex, his men, and the Autobots, will be right behind you, Snips."
Looking to his flier teammate, Hotspot ordered, "You need to keep things by their books, no blasting until we arrive to keep the Droids or the bombs from escaping. One blast from us might accidently cause the bombs could go off."
Stretching, Blades muttered, "Yea I hear ya."
Hotspot nodded, before telling Ahsoka, "Don't worry kid, we got your back."
Ahsoka nodded in appreciation, as she hurried to the awaiting Autobot who transformed back into his Starfighter mode. They then rocketed out of the Hanger to do as ordered.
Looking to the others Anakin said, "Come on, we have to hurry."
While the two Jedi went to the approaching Republic Gunships. Hotspot made the communications to Kup and said, "The mission's a go. We'll be keeping anything from getting out of that bunker."
"Right." Kup's voice said before letting out a sigh and spoke, "Hotspot, I know how your team feel about losing lives, but…Senator Almidama might be lost…Just don't risk the mission trying to keep her and everyone safe. Let the Jedi and the soldiers take care of the doctor and the bombs. You need to find Oil-Slick and try and keep him from getting off planet as well."
Groove and First-Aid looked to each other concerned. Streetwise, however was trying his best to not lose his savy demeanor. The Protectobots leader, stopped before, grudgingly muttering, "Yes, sir…"
When the Republic Gunships left, with Anakin in one of them, an Autobot Dropship came and opened for a white and blue colored Autobot, with heavy security vehicle armor, walking out and saluted, "Commander Hotspot, sir! Autobot, designation: Rook, reporting for duty!"
Taking his eyes off the Jedi master, Hotspot nodded and entered the ship with the remainder of his team.
Back at the Northern Swamp, Ahsoka and Blades regrouped with Peppi and made their way to the southern end. Ahsoka concentrated and began to use The Force to push the bomb to the south end, where the hatch would. Blades was still amazed how the Jedi were able to do stuff like this, watched. The detonator slowly floated before the three of them saw a scope rising to scan around.
Ahsoka had to pull the Detonator back, just enough to hide behind a bush until the Scope lowered. Using The Force to trigger it and get it to the south end hatch, has it levitating over the hatch when three scopes raised. Knowing now's not the time to pull back Ahsoka breathed, letting the detonator fall, "Now!"
The three of them took cover as the detonator went off.
Those underground felt the facility shake. Even the droid projecting Oil-Slick's image was shaky as the Decepticon asked, "What was that!?"
Vindi looked up and cursed, "The Republic!"
Going to the consul the made doctor ordered, "We have a breach! All Droids to hatch number one!"
Picking up his mask, Vindi approached the two captured representatives and asked, "Friends of yours I assume?"
"They arrived quicker than anticipated…" Oil-Slick added before looking up at doctor, "Get the virus samples and meet me at the rendezvous coordinates. As long as you have the samples we can start this all over again."
Vindi scoffed, placing his helmet on, "I know what I am doing, Decepticon!"
"Clearly…as you let the enemy onto your doorstep!" The Decepticon shouted back. It was clear to those with a brain, excluding the Droids, that the two doctors of doom were having a relationship breakdown.
"Excuse me sirs?" One of the droid-icons asked approached.
The two looked at the droid-icon with fury, shouting, "WHAT!?/WHAT!?"
"Permission to activate the exterior sentries?" The droid-icon requested.
Vindi looked confused as he asked, "What sentries?"
Oil-Slick smirked inside his head tube as he looked back to Vindi.
Ahsoka, Peppi, and Blades watched as the gunships and a pair of dropships arrived, when they stood up. Peppi said, "Meesa come, too!"
"No! You and Blades need to stay here to make sure no one escapes." Ahsoka said, placing her hands on Peppi, trying to show how their safety is important.
Blades, seeing that the Droid's fire power would do nothing to his armor sighed and said, sitting down, "Fine, we'll play guards for now…just smash one of those Droid-icons for me kid."
Ahsoka nodded before rushing off to begin her distraction.
Peppi exclaimed petulantly, she then said, frustrated, "Okeey-day."
Blades used himself to cover Peppi as Vehicons pulled themselves from the earth below and began firing back at the Autobots and Clone troopers. Both Clone and Bot had to put their cooperation training to the test as they were indeed needing to work together to fight against a giant robot whose armor and weapons are stronger than anything in the galaxy.
The Jedi arrived and began their assault on the hidden laboratory as two gunships arrived, hovering over the other two hatches as bombs lowered, blowing the other two hatches. A cable lowered and allowed the Clone Troopers to begin their attack. Obi-wan, in his gunship, jumped off and landed harmlessly to the floor of the lab. Following his lead, Anakin began his descent at the other destroyed entry way.
When he landed, he ignited his lightsaber, expecting Droids nearby. The nearby Clone Trooper spoke, "It's quiet in here."
Glancing around Anakin nodded, "Looks like Ahsoka's distraction is working."
"You are mistaken, Jedi…" A synthesized voice said as in walked a droid, the clone troopers turned to see a squad of three droids, one Tactical Droid and two Super Battle Droids.
Anakin's eyes narrowed in anger. He can see the Decepticon symbol stamped into the chest plate of the Tactical droid, signifying that it was a Droid-icon as well.
"Droids!" One Trooper shouted as he began firing. However the two Super Battle Droids stood in the way to protect the Tactical one. The droid made a tsk. Tsk. sound with its voice synthesizer and commented, "How very Illogical of you."
Then, with his arms behind his body, it ordered the other two, "Blast them."
"Roger." The two said before they began firing the Clones had to take cover as Anakin used his saber to deflect the laser bolts.
While the two Super Battle Droid's new armor was giving them more durability than the usual kind. One used its arm to protect its weak spot, sending the bolt off to the side. Anakin gritted his teeth as he kept deflecting. His mind however was on the Tactical droid that hasn't moved, other than to avoid stray laser bolts in its direction.
It's blinking eyes must mean something as it suddenly said, "Gunner 01, fire at .015 elevation at 030 in ten kliks."
The Super Battle droid on the left halt its assault and aiming carefully, waited a brief moment before it fired. On instinct Anakin deflected the bolt only to find it being deflected to the leg of one of his clone troopers, forcing him on the ground, crying in pain when the bolt hit his leg.
Everyone stared in shock at this development as the Tactical droid laughed, "I have been studying your arm movements in deflecting out firepower. And after seeing the repeating motion I have discovered a chink in your armor, as it were."
Anger began to fill up in Anakin as he ordered his soldiers, "Take cover."
"Sir!" The leading Clone said as he and his fellow went to help the one that got hit in the leg as Anakin charged, Deflecting as he went.
The Droid-icon didn't have time to calculate a good countermeasure as the Lightsaber cut through one droid before impaling another. As the Jedi-General turned to finish the Tactical Droid, he found its metal body close enough to punch the Jedi in the face.
His communicator beeped as the Droid began to beat the Jedi back with some good aimed punches. Obi-wan's voice came from it, "Anakin…where are you?"
Anakin tried to get some air as the Tactical Droid-icon began to squeeze his wind pipe with one hand as the other continued to punch the Jedi in the diaphragm. Obi-wan must have figured out what was happening as he asked, "You met some of the Droid/Decepticon Hybrids as well?"
"What…do you…think!?" Anakin wheezed as he used his prosthetic arm to punch the droid in the face. As it attempt to regain its balance its optic was met with a laser bolt to its processor as it fell, deactivated.
Anakin turned to see the wounded trooper had saved him, by the looks of his rifle's barrel smoking. Anakin nodded his thanks as he used The Force to retrieve his Lightsaber.
Anakin led his men to the laboratory where Vindi and the hologram of the Decepticon were. He thrusted his lightsaber into the door and made a forced opening. When he got through Vindi was near a large lever as the hologram of Oil-Slick stood with a group of battle droids. What he saw next sent fear into his body as both Padme and Jar-jar were tied to the electrical emitter and they were going to be executed if Vindi pulled the switch.
"Take another step and your friends die." Vindi threatened as he flipped the switch to begin electrocuting them slowly.
Oil-Slick's hologram narrowed his optics as he spat, in a sneer "Drop your weapons, Jedi."
The Clone trooper near him was taking aim. Anakin however, not wanting to lose Padme and Jar-jar said, "Wait!"
Seeing that the life was indeed slowly leaving both hostages ordered, in defeat, "Do as they say."
Deactivating his saber, Anakin dropped it while the clones had to lower their rifles. The droids in the room began to surround Anakin's squad as Oil-Slick laughed. Anakin saw that one of the Super Battle Droids had the Decepticon stamp on it as well.
Ahsoka was having trouble when the Droidicas, the spinning security destroyer droids that have an onboard shield generator to absorb laser fire, came rolling in and activated their shields and weapons. They shot their array of rapid fire at the Padawan and her troops. Sensing the soldiers dying around her and having it become steadily more difficult to deflect the accurate firepower of the destroyers, Ahsoka shouted, over the sounds of her lightsaber and the blaster fire, "I can't hold them!"
"Take cover!" A voice called as Blades' arm came through the hole that Ahsoka made and tossed some kind of detonator to the Destroyer's paths. Ahsoka had barely anytime to jump out of the way as the detonator went off, the Destroyers and any nearby droids were deactivated. Ahsoka and the clones looked at the lifeless Droid bodies before looking up at the Autobot's grinning face, "EMP Grenades, don't leave base without them."
Ahsoka smiled back as Obi-wan came through the roof on top of the deactivated droids as he asked, "Need some help?"
He then saw the Autobot's head poking in and remains of the droids as the Jedi master, assumed what occurred, "I guess not."
Ahsoka sighed, "So good to see you, Master Kenobi."
Blades looked down the hole and said, "Told you we got your back, Snips."
"Whatever you say, bad bot." The Padawan shot back teasingly. Rolling his optics Blades pulled his head from the hole to fighting more of the Decepticon forces up on the ground.
Anakin and his squad were still being held by Vindi and the super battle Droid-icon. The doctor, holding a sample of the virus walked over to a triangular case and spoke, "I realize I won't be able to hold you for long, even with the improvements to some of the droids, Jedi."
"Especially with the Autobots backing him up." Oil-Slick added as the droid, projecting the hologram, rolled closer to the doctor, to make sure that the case closed around the Virus samples.
"So we decided to give you a choice." Vindi finished grabbing hold of the case.
Anakin, glaring threatened, "Fine with me. As long as one of the options involves killing you and finding out where your psychopath partner is."
The droids, taking the threat seriously, ready their weapons. The super battle droid with the Decepticon stamp stated to its unit, "Easy, He's just trying to make you do something stupid."
Oil-Slick, chucked as his hologram approached the Jedi, "You're amusing when you're trying to act tough, General. But you're no Prime."
Vindi returned to the switch that he used before as he said, "How about capture us,"
"Or save your friends?" Oil-Slick finished, his hologram disappearing just as Vindi flipped the switch again, and the mad doctor ran out of the lab. Padme and Jar-jar were being electrocuted.
Anakin, fearing for the safety of his friends, rolled passed the line of Droids and hurried to the switch.
The super battle droid-icon ordered, "Keep your optics on them. I'll deal with the Jedi."
With that the super battle droid-icon fired on the Jedi, attempting to keep the human away from the switch. It was surprised as the Jedi did not go to the switch, but instead used the Force to pull his Lightsaber to him and igniting the blade.
"Uh-Oh…" The Droid-icon said as it raised both arms and began firing at the Jedi, trying to keep him away.
While it was fighting the Jedi the other droids were watching, just how much more proficient at fighting it was compared to them. As they were distracted, the Clones took this chance to deal with their former guards.
The Droid-icon's attention turned when it heard the sound of fighting behind it. Anakin took this chance as it ran up, and severing its arms, ran his saber through its body. Then used the Force to throw the droid at the device, shutting it down.
The droid tried to get up, reaching for them before as its fried circuits cause it to go offline.
After checking that all of the droids were destroyed, Anakin went over to Padme and Jar-jar, asking the human female, "Are you okay?"
Padme smiled before suggested, "Ani, how about the next time you rescue me before killing the battle droids?"
"A little thank you would go a long way." Anakin quipped as he helped the Senator of Naboo up.
Meanwhile with Obi-wan and Ahsoka's groups the Jedi and Padawan hurried through the corridor as the Jedi Master commented, "Things are going well. The lab is secured, and hopefully Anakin had reached Padme by now."
"Think again, Jedi." A metallic voice said as another Super Battle Droid-icon said as it and two Battle droids approached and open fire on the two.
Ahsoka swung her saber as Obi-wan stated, "I'll get the bombs."
"I'll keep the droids occupied!" Ahsoka yelled, over the blaster fire as she deflected the laser bolts away from her and the Bomb squad.
Turning to the Clone Troopers Anakin ordered, "Grab your blasters! We need to find that doctor."
The clones obeyed as Anakin got a comm. from outside and asked, "Obi-wan? Did you find the bombs?"
"Bombs? What are you talking about? You still haven't got Vindi or stopped them?" Hotspot's voice asked from the Jedi's comm. link.
"Commander Hotspot?" Anakin asked, not expecting the Autobot leader of the Protectobots to be calling him.
"The surface's secured. Any con here's been terminated." Hotspot said before heard a metallic shrill, ending the conversation.
"Hotspot! Hotspot!" Anakin cried, not liking the metallic shrilling howl he heard, hoping that the Autobots were alright.
Blades pulled his head from the hole while helping his fellow Autobots dealing with the remaining Decepticons. This was however prior to the appearance of giant metal Insectoid like creatures. One of the clone troopers asked, "What the hell is that thing?!"
"An Insecticon!" An Autobot trooper said as he took fire with a squad of Clone Troopers.
"Insect-what!?" Another asked as the giant metal insect scurried its way at the tree.
The squad and the bot ran as the Groove explained, "Insecticon: a Cybertronian change into an insectoid like creature. They were originally in the deepest depths of Cybertron before it went dark, drawing them to the surface for more Energon. Shockwave seemed to found a use for the swarm and recruited them. Those poor hungry souls…"
The clone trooper, who were focusing on surviving continued firing as they and the Autobots around them were trying to stay alive with their allies. Their teamwork training was really improving their survival rating against these giant insect like creatures. Aiming for their optics and inbetween the armor plating for the interior systems.
Obi-wan and the bomb squad arrived in a room as one of the clones mentioned, seeing so many bombs, making a rhetorical remark, "Well, looks like the bomb room."
"Yes." Obi-wan answered, "And luckily, they appear inactive."
Suddenly all of the bombs began to light up and begin beeping. Seeing this Obi-wan corrected, "I spoke too soon."
Turning to the bomb squad troopers the Jedi Master ordered, "Get these deactivated now!"
He activated his comm. link to Anakin and said, "Anakin, I assume you didn't capture the doctors."
"I'm working on it." Anakin's voice said as it sounded like he was running before asking, "Do you have the bombs?"
"I'm working on it." Obi-wan answered before explaining, seeing a space between two of the bombs which could only bod badly to them, "Dr. Vindi or Oil Slick remotely active the bombs. They're counting down."
"That's great." He heard Anakin answer.
"And on top of that, one of them appears to be missing." Obi-wan said, his voice rising as he knew they need to find it before it went off and spread the virus.
"It's down here somewhere." Anakin assured as he ended the conversation.
Obi-wan looked around the room, silently wondering where that last bomb went. He felt a disturbance in the Force, it was coming from on top of them and where the Autobots and most of the Clone troops were.
"What is going on up there?" Obi-wan asked aloud before returning to his task at hand.
Groove and Streetwise were taking cover behind a fallen tree as they fired at an Insecticon. The behemoth of a con stood there in its robot mode as the shots barely did anything to its heavily strong armor. The Insecticon raised an arm and began firing with its swarm.
"This is so a putting a bad vibe into my engine…" Groove complained as he fired on the Insecticon, but the armor was stronger than their weapons.
"Yea and those bugs are making it worse!" Streetwise shouted over the blaster fire as he fired with his friend on the Insecticon.
The said bug let out a shrill howl before transforming into its insect mode and took off to fire down on them. Causing the two Autobots to jump out of the way before resuming the fight.
At another part of the swamp, Hotspot was doing everything he can to one of the sentries from crushing the injured clone troops as First-Aid transformed to and began to evacuate the injured away as his leader using his strength to push the con back even as it's extra mandibles swipe at his torso.
It would have slashed through had it not been for Blades cutting said mandibles off the con. This sharp intake of pain caused the Insecticon to get off the Protectobots leader. Hotspot nodded his appreciation as he went to help more of the Clone Troopers. The new Autobot called Rook used his armor to withstand the attack of the Insecticons, especially against their blaster power, before dealing with them.
Anakin ran with his soldiers, Padme, and Jar-jar as he used his comm. link to reach his apprentice.
"Ahsoka, we got another situation. Send all of the Clones to search the facility. We got a missing-." Anakin began before hearing his apprentice's voice ask,
"Master?"
He looked up to see Ahsoka and her group meeting with his. Taking this chance Anakin continued, "We got a missing bomb. And two trigger-happy mad doctors on the loose, we have no idea where the Decepticon is though."
"Missing bomb?" Padme asked before telling the Jedi, "I saw Dr. Vindi give a little droid a bomb."
Anakin then knew what to do, telling the group, "You guys split up. Find that Droid."
He and his squad goes down one corridor as Ahsoka turned to Rex and the two surviving Clone troops, "You heard him. Let's move!"
And with that the Padawan's small group went down another corridor. Padme and Jar-jar watched them leave as they wondered where that bomb went.
As Anakin and his group separated into smaller groups, with them going in one direction and the Jedi going in alone, Anakin used the force to help guide him and sure enough, there was Dr. Vindi approaching a separatist shuttle. Thankfully it wasn't a Decepticon in disguise. With the mad doctor were three Battle droids and two Super Battle droids.
Anakin was able to deal with the three battle droids with no worry while the two super battle droids were a bit more complicated to deal with given that they were Droid-icons.
After cutting through the two Droids Anakin Skywalker pointed his lightsaber in Dr. Vindi's direction and asked, "Leaving so soon, Doctor?"
Vindi held up his remote detonator as he shot back, "You are running out of time."
He then held up a vial of the airborne strain of the virus and tossed it high into the air, taunting saying, "Catch!"
Anakin immediately, deactivating his lightsaber, ran after the vial. When he caught it he realized he was outside of the hanger and the thick doors to the hanger were closing. Before he could get back through the closed and locked themselves. Sensing that Vindi had done something, he reignited his lightsaber and shoved the blade into the door, trying to melt through and create an opening.
Thinking quickly Anakin spoke into his comm. "Obi-wan! Hotspot! Dr. Vindi's escaping! He's at the landing platform!"
"All right. I'm on my way!" Anakin heard his former master answer through the comm.s as he kept working on carving an opening.
Back outside, the battle was still intense. With most of the Insecticons destroyed the surviving Clones and Autobots were cleaning up and going to the Evac coordinates. Just as one of the Insecticons were going to surprise attack the group of Clone Troopers and a pair of Autobots, Rook grabbed it by the pincers and wrestled it to the ground using his armor and strength. Blades came in and using his name sake, ran the Insecticon through its head.
"Anyone order an Insect-tar tar?" Blades cracked a joke which made the survivors groan, indicating that it was too soon to joke about it.
After making sure that the Insecticon sentries were permanently offline Hotspot approached the young Autobot with the impressive strength and said, "That was a good job back there… Rook, right?"
"Thank you, sir. But I was just doing my job." The white and blue bot said in a salute. He felt pride in his efforts being recognized by a high ranked officer, but he felt more pride in his ability to protect his comrades and their allies.
Hotspot smiled as he commented, "You showed your metal out there during the battle. You certainly got what it takes to be a Protectobot."
Rook stared in awe as he moved to shake Hotspot's extending hand when. The two Autobots heard Anakin's voice echoing from the commander's comm. link. "Obi-wan! Hotspot! Dr. Vindi's escaping! He's at the landing platform!"
"All right. I'm on my way!" The two heard Obi-wan say before the line went silent Looking to the other members of his group and the Autobot soldiers still wearing to go, Hotspot nodded as he spoke into his comm. "Anakin, my team and I will be there shortly, don't let him break even one of those vials."
"Working on it." The Autobots heard the Jedi say, his voice suggesting he's doing something struggling. The six Protectobots and the surviving, uninjured soldiers hurried to the land platform would be from their studying of the map. Blades had already transformed into his Nabooian Starfighter to reach the place faster. First-Aid was praying to Primus that the Jedi and Clones were able to stop the bombs in time.
Anakin was still working on the door even as Obi-wan and some troopers with him arrived. Sensing their approach, Anakin said, strained, "Almost. Got it."
Anakin was able to cut through as both he and Obi-wan used the force to push the door open as they and the Clones came through the door.
Sensing an immediate danger, both Jedi looked up to see Vindi holding a blaster in his hand and firing at them. The Republic soldiers and officers hurried to scatter and find shelter from the mad doctor's firing. Obi-wan used the force to jump up and reach the doctor's raising platform.
As he saw the Jedi's struggle to get on, Dr, Vindi took this chance to grab three more vials filled with the Blue Shadow Virus and tossed them over the Jedi's head. This was to see if this one was going to catch or risk unleashing the plague upon the planet.
Obi-wan pushed himself off as he fell and let his weight allow him to be ahead of the vials, catching the first two. While falling he saw that Anakin had used the force to be on one of the rising pillars in order to reach the doctor before Vindi could escape in the Separatist shuttle. Obi-wan then saw the last vial falling to him as he reached ground and placing one of the vials in the other hand where one was he grabbed the third long before it could hit the ground.
Getting up Obi-wan watched as everything was up to Anakin, and maybe the Autobots now.
Peppi Bow was standing with her shaak when they felt the ground they were standing on shake and slowly began to open up. The shaak let out surprised cry as it bolted out of there to get away from it and the giant metal men that it saw before the fight broke out.
Peppi, seeing the ground opening rather quickly jumped to the edge in time to see a shuttle, the human Jedi and someone in a white lab coat and a helmet that looked like it was used to keep himself breathing for some reason rising on a platform.
She then saw this strange lifeform dropping his weapon and moved to pick something from his case. She saw him holding a vial of something blue. The same kind of blue that caused her shaak to become sick and what their corpses looked like when she met Padme and the male Gungan after.
Getting up she pushed herself to climb the side of the platform, even as the doctor began laughing madly. Anakin saw as Peppi stood and tackled Vindi to the ground, which caused the vial to be thrown into the air. As Peppi apprehended the doctor, Anakin ran and caught it before it escaped his arm's reach. He turned in time for Vindi to receive the just beating he deserved from the angry Shaak herder. When he approached, Anakin activated his lightsaber and pointed its blue bar of light blade at the insane physician.
"Yes! The bomb's off and we're all going to die!" Dr. Vindi said, even as he continues laughing, Anakin and Peppi saw that there was indeed a second before the bombs did go off.
As soon as the timer went off the three of them instantly noticed nothing was happening. They then heard the sounds of giant feet and the roar of the engines as a red Naboo Starfighter arrived, transformed revealing Blades, and landed nearby with one of his melee weapons pointed at the doctor.
Soon the other Autobots arrived doing the same with their blasters as Streetwise chimed, "Don't make a move, doc. Or we'll have to clean your clock."
Looking utterly confused and worried, Dr. Vindi turned his head to the Jedi and asked, "Oops! What happened?"
"Well if I had to guess." Groove said, smiling at what this could only mean.
In a small room with blue plants growing one of the Bomb squad Clones held the bomb in his hand as he said, "Deactivated."
Turning to the group, comprised of Jar-Jar, Padme, Ahsoka, Rex, and another trooper in the same bomb squad armor, he assured, "And with plenty of time to spare."
Jar-Jar mumbled for a moment before fainting from the tension.
"Ahsoka, are you there?" Anakin asked, from his padawan's comm. link, his voice sounded slightly on edge, which showed his worry.
"I'm here, master. The bomb's been deactivated." Ahsoka reported, relief in her voice before asking, "Did you find Vindi?"
"Deactivated as well." Anakin told her as he then asked, "Have you seen Padme?"
"She's right next to me." Ahsoka answered. Before saying, "I'm okay too. Thanks for asking."
Outside, Anakin smiled, placed his arms behind his back in a military way as all of them were gathered around the captured doctor. As the Autobots began to Whoop and celebrate of their completed mission. Vindi looked away, as he struggled and scowled. The two clones and of course two Autobot troopers. Republic Gunships and Autobot dropships arrived to take Vindi to Coruscant for trial as well as to transport the injured Clone troops and Autobots to recovery or back to the Republic cruisers to refuel and repairs or to give the fallen troops a proper funeral as mandated by the agreement.
Meanwhile deep in outskirts of the Naboo's space. A lone ship remained still as the lights were out and some sort of field was over it, keeping it hidden from any sensors or sight. Inside the laboratory of the ship, was the Decepticon scientist, Oil Slick, testing the final results of his latest concoction, a stronger more potent strain of his species' very version of the Blue Shadow Virus, the Cosmic Rust, as he tested it out on the mechanical beings or vermin, that were inside a very strong container. He watched as the brown and amber like gas particles flew to the nearest of the tiny things before its body began to become rusted and weak. It remained this way until it froze and dissolved into dust particles. Before, the Scraplets used to be his species very dangerous vermin but, with him constantly exposing one of them in his experiments they have become very, very, tamed. Like Mice in a laboratory. The Decepticon scientist remained silent as he watched the effects it had on the most dangerous vermin on his species as more attempted to escape and break out but one by one each of the Scraplets began to show signs of similar corrosion before becoming a pile of rusty dust. Smiling at the results, He flipped the switch and a plate of glass came down and stopped the rust disease from continuing to the rest of his "Guinea pigs".
"Excellent…" He smiled as he then spoke, "Lab report, Alpha-354. Test on the more enhanced strain of Cosmic Rust proves to be twenty-five percent if not forty percent faster than previous variants. Mass production of this disease will begin for future encounters with the Autobots and their organic allies."
He then approached a machine to see cybernetic micro cells vibrating with an increased speed as he said, "Experiments in enhancing time of multiplication and speed of metal infection has proven to be a success which shows that the only way for it to ever be stopped is by sending the host or vessel that they are to be on into a sun or to be placed in a specially designed Corrostop coated container to prevent further and 'unnecessary' infections. Heh, heh."
He was then interrupted as a screen switched on as a Vehicon spoke, "Sorry to disturb you sir. I have news from our spy from Naboo."
"And?" Oil Slick asked, distained in his voice at being interrupted from his work.
"Dr. Vindi's been captured by that Republic and the Autobots. They deactivated all of the bombs too. But our agent has one of the vial before those clones got to it." The Vehicon stated, a bit concerned of what his Superior would do.
Oil Slick sighed before facing the con on the screen, "Tell our spy to begin the B-Vi-0 plan."
The Vehicon nodded, "Yes sir."
The screen went blank. As soon as it did Oil Slick smirked as he turned back to his creation, "Soon the Blue Rust Virus will be born and no one will be safe, not even Megatron, if we find a way out this galaxy."
He began laughing in his laboratory, echoing off the walls. The Scraplets inside their containers were actually afraid of this particular being from the species that they usually fed from. the fear was reflecting from their optics as they watched the tube headed con approached with a syringe.
Back at the lab, the Clone Troops were patrolling the corridors along the base, looking for any surviving battle droids as the passed by a corridor and continued walking until they were out of sight. A door opened and the small LEP servant droid came out, it looked to either side before it let out an uncharacteristic evil laugh as its eyes became red, Decepticon red.
It then hurried as it got a beep and answered, its voice sounded more alive than before, "Yes?"
"Prepare to receive your new orders Oil Slick." A Vehicon's voice said, from an integrated Comm. link from within the droid's circuitry.
The droid remained silent to hear its new orders, before nodding, "Understood."
It rubbed its torso to reveal a Decepticon symbol stamped onto its shell. The little droid was actually a Droid-icon. It let out an even more evil little chuckle before reciting, "Glory to the Decepticons!"
And scurried off, down the halls to complete its new mission. Clutching the virus vial to its chest plate.
(Oh no! Who knew such an adorable little droid could've been converted into a Droid-icon and be a spy for the Decepticons. Find out what will happen in the next exciting chapter of Star Wars: The Transformers. Mystery of a Thousand Moons.
So what did you guys think seeing the Droid-icons in action, let alone the teamwork of the Autobots and Republic forces? Let me know and I'll get back to you asap.)