Chapter 46 - Escaping the Citadel
Author's Note: I love the Bad Batch. I will not apologize for that. Also, Animega seems more and more likely now. Lol. They're so cute together. ^-^
Thank you, loldelegate! :)
~ Amina Gila
Fighting their way past the droids to get out of the facility isn't hard, but the droids are still swarming everywhere when they reach the landing platform. They escaped through an empty fuel pipe that Wrecker was most gleeful to blow up, before finally making it out here.
"I thought you said all the droids were rerouted," Obi-Wan complains, as Anakin slashes through yet another droid. More swoop in on speeders, shooting down at them, and he can distantly hear more on the way.
"They were," Tech insists, "However, it appears some were intelligent enough to detect a flaw in command."
"We need to take out the turrets before they use them on the shuttle," warns Rex.
Anakin sprints forwards, jumping onto one of the flying speeders and throwing the droid off, taking control of it to shoot at the others. In the distance, he can hear the sound of barking. Over the ridge, a group of anoobas bounds into view, charging the clones on the ground. Not good.
Crosshair and Omega immediately start shooting them down from their perch, but it's not fast enough. They can't find off those and the droids.
Anakin takes down a few more speeders, when a stray shot strikes the side of his own. He struggles to keep control, but it's sparking dangerously now, and he jumps free of it as it explodes mid-air.
Ahsoka runs for the turrets, except several assassin droids are a few paces head of her already. She yanks one of them back with the Force, slashing through it, then throws another against a wall, except it jumps up undamaged, shooting at her. It's that momentary distraction that lets the last droid climb into position on the turrets, firing on the shuttle.
Echo is already running for the shuttle, to block the blast with one of the assassin droid's fallen shields, but there's no way that's going to be enough to block it. Anakin can't there fast enough to stop him either, panic and desperation flaring through him as he cuts through the droids blocking his way. He might not know Domino Squad that well, but he was the first Jedi they ever met, and they worked together on a very dangerous mission (and Obi-Wan also yelled at him in front of them.) It's hard to forget the time they spent with each other.
Hevy reacts barely in time, tackling Echo out of the way as the blast goes straight over their heads, striking the shuttle. It explodes, debris flying everywhere.
Well. They won't be leaving that way.
"We'll have to keep moving, and contact Master Plo," Obi-Wan says, and they take off again, with the remaining droids and anoobas in hot pursuit.
This place was designed to make it nigh impossible to escape, and it's really showing now. They're going to have a problem with the anoobas on their tail, though. Those creatures will lead the droids straight to them, which is... well, it means, somehow, they need to find a temporarily suitable stronghold and destroy those creatures. Hopefully the Council will be able to return with reinforcements soon, because they definitely need help right about now.
"What are we going to do about those creatures?" Anakin asks finally when no one else does as they sprint across the rocky ground and barren, ominous landscape of Lola Sayu. Lava flows cascade down the rocks around them, and they only have far too narrow – given they need room to fight – strips of solid ground to walk on.
It's difficult, too, with the droid patrols. If they could find a river of lava with something safe on the other side and could get across it, they might be able to lose the scent.
"We'll have to deal with them," Ahsoka replies, "If they've already caught our trail, it'll be hard to throw them off."
Anakin glances around, finally spotting some nearby caves. They'd be good for shelter, but that won't matter if the animals follow them. And... actually, it gives him an idea. "Can we use those caves to surprise attack them?" he inquires, pointing.
"That... might work," Obi-Wan muses, "If they pass by us, we can attack them from behind. But we'll need a distraction."
"I can blow 'em up!" Wrecker offers cheerfully.
"We can't risk starting a lava flood," Hunter warns. Yes, that would be bad. There's enough lava flows around here is as, and if they started blowing up the rocks too much, who knows what that would lead to. Especially when the slightest damage to their breathing masks would be fatal. As it is, he's already itching to get on safer ground. Yes, Anakin is perfectly well accustomed to being in perilous situations, but this is completely different. One wrong move, and they could all die. They're fighting the atmosphere and planet as much as the Separatists here. And they're lucky the anoobas were held up from the chaos in the first place.
"You may have a chance, later," Anakin offers, scanning the rocks ahead. The barking is drawing closer. They need to move.
"We'll attack the droids from behind. You go ahead," Ahsoka advises. Anakin notes again that she's still limping slightly from whatever the droids did to her. She's not in the condition to be moving around so much, but they don't have a choice right now. He tries to suppress his anger at the mere thought of what they did to her. They already knew it happened, but seeing the effects of the torture makes it no easier.
He and Obi-Wan take off ahead, while the others duck into the cave, getting into position.
They don't have to wait long. Three anoobas bound into view, jaws snapping, leaping for them. Obi-Wan slashes the first in half mid-flight – the same way he always fights, and Anakin's... grown used to it by now – though the second one knocks him to the ground. Anakin stabs the third cleanly through the head, before running to assist Obi-Wan.
Of course, it's that very moment that more droids on speeders fly into view, and crab droids start climbing up the side of the cliff right below them. He should have known this was only going to get much worse.
**w**
Ahsoka jumps from one crab droid to the next, destroying them as fast as she can, struggling to ignore the exhaustion nagging at her. There's no end in sight to the droids – she must say the facility is very well-designed for holding dangerous prisoners, even if she wouldn't exactly call that... impressive – and they still need to get to the extraction point quickly before they miss their pick up.
She has very little desire to find herself back in the facility again. It's the first time she was captured, aside from by the Geonosians – and that was so brief it hardly counted – and she has no desire to repeat it.
They barely finish cutting and shooting through the last of the droids here when she can distantly hear more motors. "We have more incoming. We need to move," she warns, jumping off another crab droid to the ground, nearly stumbling. They need to get out of here, and fast. Hopefully the Republic will be arriving soon, because she really doesn't know how much longer she'll be able to hold out.
"Are you alright, ma'am?" Rex asks, appearing at her side.
"I... will be. We need to hurry." Being electrocuted leaves far too many unpleasant effects, and her limbs aren't responding quite as quickly as they ought to sometimes.
Which becomes slightly more concerning when they finally reach the next lava bank, to see the extraction point dead ahead... with no way of getting over to it. They'll have to use cables to get across, so hopefully she'll be able to climb fine without her arms randomly spasming.
Else, she'll fall into the lava below and fry to death, so she can hope. Wrecker doesn't seem any happier about trying to make that climb either, at least, so she's not alone. And for that matter, Wrecker and Hevy have – somehow, and unsurprisingly – become best friends. Like they need someone else to assist them in "blowing stuff up."
"Incoming!" Cody yells in warning, only right when she's starting to climb across on the cable.
Looking up, she catches sight of more droids flying in. They never stop coming, do they? The lava below her looks far too close, and it's... decidedly uneasy, even if she doesn't look, and keeps moving. She hates being in such a vulnerable position here when there's a battle going on. The others are covering for them, though.
Ahsoka barely makes it to the other side, clammering up onto the bank with a quiet sigh of relief when one of the droids unleashes a barrage of shots right on the space the others are trying to cross. One of the shots catches a cable and the line snaps. It falls for the lava, along with the clone on it.
"Echo!" Anakin yells, his horror pouring into the Force. Ahsoka senses him reaching out, pulling him safely out of reach of the lava, except... well, Ahsoka doesn't have time to look closely, but he's already been injured. Badly. It's horrifying, but no worse than what she witnesses every time in battle. She's accustomed to gruesome injuries. It's just different to see it on people she knows Anakin is close with – those she knows well herself.
Fives is at his side instantly, along with either Cutup or Droidbait, she doesn't see which as she turns her attention back to the fighting. All she can do is keep fighting, to stop anyone else from getting hurt. Injuries and death are inevitable here, but she'll do what she can to stop them from losing anyone else.
"The rescue ships should be here by now," Obi-Wan scowls, scanning their surroundings.
"So should the rest of the Separatist army," Ahsoka replies flatly.
Which just happens to be the moment that lights illuminate the volcanic gases surrounding them, gunships flying into view. She's never felt so relieved before.
"I believe you've worn out your welcome," Plo calls from the ship, motioning for them to get on board.
"It appears the rest of the 'Separatist army' is already here," Hunter calls in warning, at the sudden sound of clanking.
Spinning around, Ahsoka sees a group of crab droids climbing up the slope off the island they're on. And if they get into a fight here, she already knows what the end result would be. There's no way they'd be able to fight them off in such a small area. So it's a good thing they don't have to. They've lost enough here already.
Everyone sprints for the gunships, and it's not until she's safely inside that she finally lets the exhaustion from everything of the past mission overtake her. This time, she really wouldn't mind maybe a short trip to the medbay or at least letting the present clone medics look her over.
She can't shake the feel of the electricity crackling through her, not that that's a foreign sensation. She remembers it still, from a lifetime ago on Tatooine, even if it hadn't happened often there. It was still a thing, and it's – this is why they have to bring this war to an end, and why she wants a role in whatever rules the galaxy when that's over.
**w**
Ahsoka senses the shift in the mood pretty much the moment they've made the jump to hyperspace. Obi-Wan was... tense and distracted – for once visibly concerned – before, but now, he looks grumpy again. Force knows about what this time. "How did Umbara go?" she asks, and – okay, apparently that's what his attitude is about.
"The Republic won," Obi-Wan replies, tersely, "After Tarkin used a life disintegrator on the planet's surface from the Malevolence. When, precisely, was that approved?"
What?
She heard he was working on that, but she never realized it was actually going anywhere. "He used that?" she demands, voice rising. That's – this is why she wanted complete control of the Malevolence. She never trusted Tarkin's intentions in the first place, and she can very clearly see why now.
"You weren't aware of it?" he asks, skeptically.
"I knew he was considering making additions. I was unaware they were completed, and I never approved of it." She is going to be having words with Tarkin afterwards, but she already knows he isn't going to listen. If she plans to do something about it, she'll have to take matters into her own hands. What that means, only time will tell.
Obi-Wan crosses his arms, still looking decidedly unhappy. "There is a reason weapons of mass destruction like the Malevolence should not exist in the first place."
"Had it been under my control, this wouldn't have been a problem," she shoots back.
"If such a weapon exists at all, it's control could never go to one person. You should have realized that from the start," he retaliates.
Why is that he always ends up being so aggravating the moment he's been being... okay for a little while? "If not for the commotion you raised, the Senate wouldn't have taken its control away. Unless you believe I would misuse it," she retorts, before walking out. Continuing the discussion is pointless, especially not when she has a far more important conversation with Tarkin to be preparing for.
Elsewhere in the shuttle, she stumbles onto Anakin talking to the Bad Batch – he had been in the room with them, but somewhere along the way he must have slipped out, unsurprisingly.
"Are you... alright?" Anakin asks.
"I will be," she assures, wondering for a sudden, selfish moment how he manages to be so light. It's something people once said she was, but that... changed. Everyone keeps telling her that, even Kitster. She doesn't know what to do about it, though.
Not when there's still the galaxy she needs to be saved.
**w**
The conversation with Tarkin goes just as expected. He's even more frustrating than anyone, really.
"It is my willingness to see the value of this weapon that I am in control of it," he replies, firmly, "If not for that, countless more would have did on Umbara. I would have thought you could see this strategic advantage, General Tano."
And maybe she can see his point but that doesn't excuse the countless Umabrans who were killed senselessly. They were trying to free the planet, not massacre it's people. "I am well aware that sometimes we must make... difficult decisions if it's needed to win," she replies, "But not like this."
"All the Umbarans present would have died either way. It merely saved the lives of our troops."
"We destroyed their planet," she replies, tersely. The extent of the damage to the surface, even beyond the people killed, was extensive.
"And they can rebuilt. The Republic will give them resources, if they remain loyal."
It does work to their advantage, but she knows where this line of reasoning could take them. It's one thing the Council is right about, and that's why she only intended to use the Malevolence on droids. Once they start using it against people, even if it to their advantage, it becomes the question of where to draw the line.
And... even if she can see his point, that doesn't mean she'll agree to its use in situations like that. There was nothing extreme enough about the battle there that warranted something like this.
Why, why did Tarkin ever have to be the one appointed to take charge of the Malevolence? Palpatine may have spoken highly of him, but Ahsoka has little liking for him, at least not anymore. "Not everyone who died there were fighting us. There would have been civilians in that area, as well."
"Unfortunate, but a cost to war. The Jedi Code often prevents us from going far enough to achieve victory."
She knows the comment is pointedly directed at her, and she crosses her arms, staring him down. "There is no question of that, but there is always a limit. Who are we fighting for, if we kill the people who we're inevitably supposed to be protecting?"
Predictably, Tarkin has another comeback to that. The conversation is pointless, though. Neither of them are going to back down.
Somehow, she needs to deal with Tarkin, and find some way to have herself put back in control of the Malevolence. She doesn't know how yet, but there has to be something. It's hardly something she can speak with Palpatine on either, because in truth, she doesn't really know what he'll say.
He thinks far more highly of Tarkin than she does, but he's a politician. He hasn't fought on the battlefield the way she has. He hasn't seen the destruction this weapon caused, and honestly, even seeing pictures of it in a detached environment will show very little.
It's time that she takes matters into her own hands. It's only a question of how, because it can't backfire on her even more. As usual... or not so like usual, actually, because this is the first time she hasn't taken questions like this to Palpatine, she'll have to figure this out on her own.
**w**
It's relieving when they finally get back to the cruiser, and since Anakin doesn't have any other duties to attend to, he stops by where Echo is being treated to see what his condition is. He was burned very badly when he nearly fell into the lava, and they think he'll have to get prosthetic legs, but at least he's alive.
Not that it makes what happened to him any less awful. Things like this happen so frequently, and often enough, it's to one of the clones Anakin knows well. Maybe that's why Obi-Wan always keeps such a professional distance from them, but Anakin can't bring himself to do that. It feels wrong anyway, when the clones themselves are watching the brothers they grew up with from birth constantly dying around them.
"Anakin?" a voice asks, and he looks up to see Omega approaching. But for some reason, she looks... upset.
"What's wrong?" he asks, frowning.
"We just got a call from Kamino," she explains, "They're recalling me there immediately, without the others."
What? That's... odd. "Why?"
"They need a fresh source of DNA. I'm the only one there is."
Oh. Because she's an unaltered clone. It's frankly appalling sometimes, to hear the clones being talked about like this. Like they're property.
Because in truth, they are.
Anakin knows what they officially are, no matter how well they're treated. He wishes there was something he could do about it. But there isn't, except try to protect them as much as possible, and bring an end to the war.
"For how long?" Anakin asks.
"I don't know, but I think it might be permanent. They don't want to risk losing me." She looks very unhappy, not to mention – scared of being separated from her brothers for... maybe forever. And she doesn't even have any say in it.
It's awful to see that the Kaminoans are even allowed to do this. It's not fair to her, even if she is young to be fighting on the fronts like this. Especially since she's not a Jedi, and could be killed far more easily than padawans around her age.
"I can talk to my master," Anakin suggests, laying a comforting hand on her shoulder, "Maybe there's something he can do to stop it."
Omega perks up, hope sparking in her eyes. "You think it would work?"
"I don't know, but I can ask. But... I should warn you it might not be that likely, if they think this is important for the war effort." He doesn't want her to get her hopes up senselessly. Assuming Obi-Wan agrees to take the time, but he would, right?
It still hurts when he sees Omega's face fall. "Okay. But thank you."
"It's nothing," he assures, "You shouldn't have to fear being separated from your brothers."
She gives him a small smile, though the pain is obvious in her eyes. "If I go back, I don't know... when I'll see you again either."
Right. He hadn't considered that yet. The concern of her not even seeing her own brothers again is definitely more pressing.
But reaching out with the Force, he does not think this is the last time they'll see each other, even if it will be for a long time. Whether or not that means she's on Kamino, or just on different missions as him, he couldn't say. "We will see each other again. I can... sense that much," Anakin promises.
"Okay," she nods, darting forwards and wrapping her arms around him. He returns it just as tightly. He doesn't really know what their... friendship is, but they're... close. Then again, he's close with so many of the clones.
He can only hope that Obi-Wan will actually be able to do something to keep the Kaminoans from taking her. But somehow, he doesn't truly think it's going to work.
**w**
She can't have to go back to Kamino all alone. She can't. Except now Omega knows that it's inevitable.
Anakin already stopped by to talk to her briefly again, only to say that he did tell his master, who did what he could, but no one was even interested in debating the point. They all said it would be far more useful to have her back on Kamino, especially since there's nothing special about her abilities in the first place that warrant sending her onto the field. They only did before, because Nala Se was dead, and now they need her back there.
So, it's settled then. She's going back to Kamino, and there's nothing she can do about it. Her brothers might be back there sometimes, but she'll hardly be with them anymore.
They've been around each other constantly – except when injured, or such – for a year now, and she doesn't want to be taken away from them. But none of that matters, because it's going to happen anyway.
"We'll come to see you as soon as we're back on Kamino again," Hunter promises, crouching in front of her.
Omega doesn't even bother to blink back the tears forming in her eyes as she throws her arms around him. "You'll hardly be there."
"You can have Lula 'till we get back," Wrecker promises. Which hardly helps, because she wants them, not just a tangible reminder of them, even if it's better than nothing. "And we can tell you all about our missions."
"It is unlikely Omega will find the tactical information of our missions to be helpful to her in our absence," Tech supplies. "However, it is possible we may be able to create a long-distance comm for you, so when we are within a specific radius of systems, you will be able to contact us."
Omega perks up, feeling the first flicker of hope since she heard this – even if it doesn't make much better because she still won't be with them anymore, indefinitely. She never thought she'd have to be afraid of this again, once she first joined them. "Can you?"
Hunter and Tech exchange glances.
"Try it," Hunter advises.
"Don't worry, kid," Wrecker tries to assure, "We'll sneak over to see you every time we're there."
"You can't even be stealthy on the battlefield, Wrecker," Crosshair tells him, flatly. He's been quiet until now, though that's normal. That's just how he is. It doesn't mean he's any less... affected by this.
Omega darts forwards, throwing her arms around Crosshair next. It's the most she can even say – it says more than words can, because really there's nothing to say.
His hand lightly touches her back, she only holds onto him tighter. She doesn't know when she'll be with them again after now.
"Don't get all sappy on me, now," he drawls. "I know I never taught you to be like that."
"I'll find a way to come back here," she promises them all, fiercely, because she has to. Somehow.
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