I don't own Star Wars: The Clone Wars or its characters
I only own Nadia Aomori, her family and other OCs that appear in the story
Enjoy:)
Threads of Destiny
Chapter 31: Counter Attack
Escape from a Separatist Prison!
Carrying information about secret routes into the heart of the Republic and Separatist homeworlds, Jedi Master Even Piell was captured and imprisoned in a fortress known as the Citadel.
Leading an elite strike team, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker rescued master Piell and his officers.
Now the Jedi have split up to evade Separatist forces as they attempt to escape the Citadel.
As Anakin and his team edge along a magma-filled chasm in the caverns underneath the Citadel, he contacted Artoo to prepare their ship for departure.
The Jedi Knight contacted Artoo in his comlink.
"Artoo, are you and your battle droids ready to go?"Anakin asked.
Artoo beeped a response.
"Alright, get your ship fired up."Anakin ordered."We'll meet you at the pipeline exit after you picked up Obi-Wan and Nadia, assuming they're still on schedule."
Obi-Wan, Nadia, Master Piell and the rest of their team were sneaking through the Citadel's ventilation shafts.
"It's bad enough that Sobeck send droids to shoot us if they caught us, Master."Nadia stated with a frown."But I really prefer action more than for us sneaking around like some kind of rodents."
"I know, young one."Obi-Wan replied."Though I much prefer all of us escaping the Citadel without drawing too much attention on ourselves."
Nadia shrugged."If you say so."
Obi-Wan helped Nadia up to the next part of the ventilation shaft as Master Piell and the Clone Troopers followed them.
"This passage will get us near the landing pad."Obi-Wan stated.
Obi-Wan, Nadia, Cody and their team started climbing up to the passage that will lead them out of the Citadel.
While Obi-Wan, Cody and the others continued climbing, Nadia paused to contact Artoo on her comlink.
"Artoo, send your shuttle to the rear landing platform."Nadia ordered.
"We've already been given the go-ahead by General Skywalker, Commander Aomori."OOM-10 informed."Assuming you and General Kenobi are still on schedule."
"The trick will be if Anakin and Ahsoka arrive on time."Nadia admitted.
Obi-Wan smirked at Nadia.
"Don't they always, young one?"Obi-Wan sneered.
"A probe!"Cody yelled out.
Obi-Wan and Nadia looked down and saw a probe floating away.
However, Master Piell leapt into action and cuts the probe in half using his lightsaber.
"Did you get it?"Obi-Wan questioned.
Master Piell only stared back in concern, unsure if he destroyed the probe in time.
Nadia's eyes widen in alarm when the security hatches begin shutting off the vents.
"Security doors!"Nadia shouted."Move or you'll be cut in half!"
Obi-Wan and Nadia stood close to each other as the doors of the vent closed between them.
Then Master Piell's lightsaber cuts through beneath the other Jedi Master and his Padawan.
"We lost one."Master Piell informed."Looks like we've got some cutting to do."
Nadia shut her eyes and shook her head at hearing they lost another Clone Trooper.
At the cavern underneath the Citadel, Anakin used his lightsaber to cut a probe droid that was following him and his team.
"I'm beginning to admire the design of this fortress."Captain Tarkin commented."It's rather formidable to evade."
"How can you admire such a horrible place?"Ahsoka asked.
"Ah, you reveal your short-sightedness."Captain Tarkin scoffed."This ordeal only demonstrates how effective facilities like the Citadel are. Pity it ended up in Separatist hands and not ours."
"He has a point."Anakin admitted.
Ahsoka looked at Anakin in disbelief.
"All right, Snips. I need you to lead the group."Anakin said."Keep following the tunnel, I'll catch up."
"Hey, where are you going?"Ahsoka questioned.
"Obi-Wan and Nadia aren't here, so someone has to protect our flank."Anakin stated.
Anakin then walked away causing Ahsoka to smirk in amusement.
"I guess it's a good thing me and Dia came along after all."Ahsoka said with a smile.
Back in the Jedi Temple...
Saesee Tiin, Mace Windu and Plo Koon were looking at a holo-map of the Citadel.
"We received a coded transmission."Plo Koon stated."Apparently, they split up into two groups. The rendezvous points are the landing field behind the tower where Artoo will pick up Obi-Wan Kenobi and Nadia Aomori who have Master Piell and the pipeline exit where they'll get Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano who have Captain Tarkin."
"And what if things don't go according to plan?"Mace Windu asked.
"Then we would have to send an entire fleet to get them out of there."Plo Koon admitted.
Meanwhile...
Ahsoka continued to lead the group in the cavern underneath the Citadel.
"I'm concerned General Skywalker has elected his apprentice to lead the group."Captain Tarkin said in disapproval.
"I've served with her many times and I trust her, Captain Tarkin."Rex assured.
Ahsoka went around the corner and came into a dead end.
"Uh-oh."Ahsoka muttered.
"Dead end."Rex commented.
Ahsoka frowned and studied the wall.
"Maybe we should try..."Ahsoka started.
"Look out!"A Clone Trooper warned.
Ahsoka activated her lightsabers while the Clone Troopers used their blasters to blast at the battle droids.
Anakin then showed up with his lightsaber activated and destroyed one of the battle droids.
"What happened? Why didn't you blow the wall?"Anakin demanded."That part of the plan was your job."
"I thought it was a dead end."Ahsoka commented as they deflected the blasts.
"If Master Plo really assigned you and Nadia to this mission, he would have briefed you both on the plan."Anakin declared.
Ahsoka ran to the wall to place detonators on it and moved out of the way before the wall in front of them exploded.
When the dust cleared up, the group walked through the destroyed wall.
Obi-Wan, Nadia, Master Piell, Cody and their team arrived to the landing platform where their shuttle was thought still inside the Citadel's ventilation shafts.
However, Artoo wasn't standing near the shuttle.
"The shuttle's there, but there's no sign of Artoo."Cody replied.
"Something might have happened."Obi-Wan suggested."We'll have to make our way around to the other side and get a different view."
"Are you sure, Master?"Nadia questioned in concern."This could be a trap."
"I think it is as well, Nadia."Obi-Wan responded."Be on your guard."
Nadia nodded at the Jedi Master.
Obi-Wan then backs up and shoved the vent cover off the wall with the Force, sending it into the lava below.
Cody handed Obi-Wan the grappling gun for him to hook it onto another vent and pulling to make sure it was secure to use.
Obi-Wan then leapt out of the shaft and down the side of the wall.
Cody looked over to watch Obi-Wan head down and after a few moments, he waved at Nadia, Master Piell and the rest of the group to come forward.
Nadia began leaping away from the shaft while carefully watching her steps before landing next to Obi-Wan.
Master Piell and the rest of the team then later followed the duo.
Obi-Wan and Nadia began walking along the narrow ledge over to a platform while the rest of their team followed behind them.
Nadia stared at her surroundings as Obi-Wan and the rest of their group jumped down next to her.
"Why do I feel that we're unsafe here?"Nadia thought with a suspicious look.
Obi-Wan then got a contact on his comlink.
"Anakin?"Obi-Wan questioned.
"I must commend you on your escape tactics, but in the end it was easy to predict your every move."Sobeck informed evilly.
Then Sobeck's squad of heavily armed battle droids showed up, surrounding Obi-Wan, Nadia and the rest of their group.
The warden of the Citadel let out an evil cackle while Obi-Wan, Nadia and Master Piell glared at their opponents.
Anakin, Ahsoka and their group walked up to a giant fuel pipe.
"This pipe leads to the ridge where Artoo will pick us up and get us out of here."Anakin exclaimed."There's the hatch."
Anakin opened the hatch and an awful smell came out causing them to cover their noses.
"Let's go, everyone in."Anakin ordered and looked at the Clone Troopers."Don't use your lights and make sure your weapons are locked. The slightest electronic pulse could ignite this whole tube."
"I hope somebody tells the droids that."Captain Tarkin admitted.
Anakin and his group then went inside the fuel pipe.
Obi-Wan, Nadia, Master Piell, Cody and the rest of their team were forced to wear handcuffs behind their heads after surrendering their weapons and were being taken to Sobeck's command center as prisoners.
"Welcome back."Sobeck responded.
"I must say, you're not at all what I pictured for someone with such a soft voice."Obi-Wan declared.
"Oh, yes. I agree with you, Master."Nadia agreed smugly."He's far more uglier than we imagined."
Sobeck glared at Obi-Wan and Nadia as he approached them and the rest of their group.
"I want your half of the information."Sobeck clarified sternly."Give it to me now, or I'll start executing your men."
"This is war, Sobeck."Master Piell reminded."We're all prepared to die to protect that intel."
"Really?"Sobeck chuckled with a sinister look.
In an attempt to get the information, Sobeck takes a blaster from a Commando droid and executed one of the Clone Troopers.
Nadia glared at Sobeck in anger as the warden aimed his gun at Cody.
"Sir, we have located the other group, and our droids are closing in on them."K2-B4 reported.
Sobeck throws the blaster back to the unarmed Commando droid as he made his way back to his console.
"Your Jedi resolve only delays the inevitable."Sobeck snarled."Take them to interrogation. Torture them slowly."
The Commando droids then started escorting Obi-Wan, Nadia, Master Piell, Cody and the rest of their team to the direction where the prison cells.
The captured group were then given to a bunch of battle droids that were painted red to take them to the prison cells.
A look of relief appeared on Nadia's face when she saw Artoo with OOM-10 and his battle droid squadron.
"We'll take them from here."OOM-10 informed.
"Uh, I think we have a..."the red battle droid leader started.
"We'll handle it."OOM-10 repeated.
"Yes, sir."the red battle droid leader responded.
When the red painted battle droids were out of sight, Artoo beeped at Obi-Wan and Nadia.
"Good to see you, Artoo."Obi-Wan praised."We wondered where you've been."
"You weren't doing anything mischievous, were you, buddy?"Nadia joked.
Artoo beeped as he released Obi-Wan and Nadia from the bindings in their hands.
"Artoo is pleased to see you both as well, General Kenobi and Commander Aomori."OOM-10 stated."But he would like to return to the shuttle as soon as possible."
"Yes, I couldn't agree more."Obi-Wan agreed.
Nadia rubbed her wrists a bit as she and the rest of the team started walking over to the landing platform.
"What about General Skywalker and Commander Tano, sir?"Cody asked.
"Not to worry."Obi-Wan assured."They'll switch to Plan B."
Ahsoka used the Force to help her jump at the top of another pipe while Anakin and the rest of their team were walking on the railing.
"How much longer are we going to wander through this tunnel in the dark?"Captain Tarkin asked.
"Captain Tarkin, haven't you learned to trust me and Commander Tano by now?"Anakin questioned.
"You two and Commander Aomori have earned my trust, General Skywalker, but my faith in your comrades is still lacking."Captain Tarkin informed.
"You lack faith in the Jedi."Anakin assumed with a frown.
"I find their methods ineffective."Captain Tarkin replied."The Jedi Code prevents them from going far enough to achieve victory which is the very reason why peacekeepers should not be leading a war."
Anakin glared at Captain Tarkin.
"Have I offended you?"Captain Tarkin asked.
"No, Commander Aomori, my Padawan and I also found we sometimes fall short of victory because of our methods."Anakin admitted."Even General Olin feels the same as the four of us."
"Well, I see we finally agree on something."Captain Tarkin remarked.
Ahsoka then spotted an entrance in the ceiling before glancing at Anakin and Captain Tarkin.
"I think we found a way out."Ahsoka informed.
Ahsoka opened the hatch a little bit to check the outside view.
"What do you see, Snips?"Anakin questioned.
"The coast is clear."Ahsoka reported.
"Any sign of Obi-Wan, Nadia and the shuttle?"Anakin asked.
"No, I don't see them or Artoo anywhere."Ahsoka admitted with a hint of worry.
Then battle droids appeared and pointed their guns at Ahsoka, but she quickly used her lightsabers to destroy them.
Ahsoka continued deflecting the lasers of the approaching battle droids that were coming their way.
"We've got to go!"Ahsoka warned.
"There could be a whole battalion of droids out there."Captain Tarkin reminded sternly.
"Better than hiding in a fuel line."Anakin replied.
Anakin then climbed out of the hatch and activated his lightsaber to help Ahsoka fight off the battle droids.
The two Jedi and the group quickly went away to hide from the enemy droids' attacks.
"The plan's been compromised."Captain Tarkin stated."Artoo shuttle's not coming."
"Throw me a charge!"Anakin ordered.
Rex gave Anakin a thermal detonator and he threw it to the fuel pipe, making it explode with the rest of the battle droids.
"Let's go."Anakin ordered."Time for Plan B."
"There's a Plan B?"Captain Tarkin questioned.
"There's always a backup plan."Anakin added."We'll meet Artoo at Obi-Wan and Nadia's position."
At the Citadel...
Obi-Wan, Nadia, Master Piell, Cody, Artoo and the rest of their team exit the building and arrived to the landing platform.
Obi-Wan and Nadia notice Commando droids were manning the turrets which all pointed at the shuttle and a small squad of battle droids guarded the shuttle's entrance.
"Hold it."the battle droid instructed."Where are you going with these prisoners?"
"We're transferring them aboard the shuttle from Citadel to Point Tarron."OOM-10 reported.
"Point Tarron?"the battle droid repeated."There's no outpost there."
"Uh, it's new."OOM-10 informed.
Artoo beeped a respond as Obi-Wan, Nadia and Master Piell shared a glance with each other.
"We have orders."OOM-10 complemented."We're coming aboard."
The small squad of battle droids then allowed Obi-Wan, Nadia, Master Piell, Cody, Artoo and the rest of their team to head towards the shuttle.
Then a beeping sound was heard causing the battle droid to get suspicious and make the group stop heading towards their ship.
"Wait!"the battle droid instructed.
"The prisoners are escaping with reprogrammed battle droids."K2-B4 warned."Let no one on board that shuttle."
Obi-Wan then sliced the droid in half with his lightsaber and OOM-10 shot the other battle droid.
Then the turrets and other droids immediately began firing at Obi-Wan, Nadia and their group causing them to scatter from each other.
Nadia took out her lightsabers to deflect the attacks from the enemy droids' blasters before taking cover with Obi-Wan and Master Piell.
"Master, quick question."Nadia spoke up."Was there an ever total possibility that we would've avoided this grand mess?"
Nadia paled and moved a bit more as lasers from one of the turrets hit from where she hid.
"Mostly likely yes, young one."Obi-Wan replied."But unfortunately, Plan A isn't the only one that went wrong."
A Clone Trooper attempts to fire back at the turrets, but was forced to quickly take cover to avoid getting killed.
Then blue lasers began counterattacking the enemy battle droids as Anakin, Ahsoka and the rest of their team showed up.
Anakin, Ahsoka and their team soon joined Obi-Wan, Nadia and their comrades from where they were hiding.
"Sorry I'm late."Anakin apologised.
"How nice of you to join us."Obi-Wan declared.
"It's about time you guys made it."Nadia said smugly."I thought you were occupied by Sobeck's droids."
"Really?"Ahsoka chuckled.
"As if, Kitty."Anakin scoffed.
Ahsoka peeked her head out of the corner to survey the situation as enemy droids started to swarm the platform and quickly ducks back after a shot hits too close.
"Artoo's shuttle is surrounded!"Ahsoka stated.
"We need to launch a full forward assault and take Artoo's vessel."Captain Tarkin requested.
Nadia simply rolled her eyes and frowned at Captain Tarkin's pointless idea.
"We have a bigger problem: those turrets."Obi-Wan reminded."If we don't take them out first, they'll destroy Artoo's shuttle and prevent our escape."
"Which is precisely why we should get aboard Artoo's shuttle and use the weapon systems to decimate those droids."Captain Tarkin argued.
Nadia immediately lost her patience over hearing Captain Tarkin still complaining.
"Hey, Captain Tarkin."Nadia retorted with a glare."With the greatest possible respect, zip your bleeding cakehole. Your plan is just going make us all end up dead."
Captain Tarkin glared at Nadia upon hearing her insult him.
"Whatever we're gonna do, we better do it fast."Anakin requested.
Then battle droids on STAPs started shooting at the crates where the five Jedi and their groups hid behind.
This caused the crates to explode causing all of them to be sent to the ground.
The five Jedi then all stood up to activate their lightsabers to deflect the lasers that thr battle droids fired at them.
Master Piell leaped up to destroy one of the battle droids on the STAPs.
Anakin took down a battle droid and went on its patrol vehicle.
Rex and the rest of the Clone Troopers used thermal detonators to destroy the crab droids.
Nadia used her Force Judgement to destroy few of the battle droids while Ahsoka continued using her lightsabers to take out the enemy machines.
Master Piell went on Anakin's patrol vehicle and used his green lightsaber to deflect the firing battle droid causing it to get hit and go off its own patrol vehicle.
Anakin and Master Piell then went off the patrol vehicle they were riding on and it hit the Commando droid that was on one of the turrets.
However, a commando droid managed to use one of the turrets to destroy Artoo's shuttle and kill Echo who was trying to prevent the blast.
"Echo!"Fives yelled out.
Both Ahsoka and Nadia looked on in silence upon seeing Echo's bravery and sacrifice.
"We have to go now!"Obi-Wan demanded.
The five Jedi and their group made a run from the enemy battle droids, knowing they couldn't handle against them.
Back in the Jedi Temple...
Master Yoda, Saesee Tiin, Mace Windu and Plo Koon received a hologram call from Obi-Wan and Anakin.
"Obi-Wan, Anakin, what has happened now?"Plo Koon asked.
"I'm afraid we had a situation with Artoo's shuttle."Obi-Wan stated.
"By 'situation', he means 'big explosion'."Anakin corrected firmly."We're gonna need a rescue."
"It will be done."Plo Koon assured."I'm sending my fleet now."
Back outside the Citadel...
Master Piell, Obi-Wan, Anakin, Ahsoka, Nadia and the rest of their groups were hiding behind large rocks from the Separatist droids that were looking for them.
While Plo Koon's fleet was on its way, the fugitives had no choice but to hole down within the cave system until help arrived.
"We'll need to hold out until Master Plo arrives."Obi-Wan suggested.
"Not a problem."Master Piell replied."We've beat them once, we'll beat them again."
"This landscape is almost impossible to cross."Rex said sternly."How are we going to meet with General Plo?"
"That is the trap of the Citadel."Obi-Wan stated."It was designed so it would be almost impossible for fugitives to get off the surface. Even if they escaped the tower."
"Oh, lucky we're not just any fugitives."Anakin sneered.
"I hope you're right."Master Piell stated with an unsure look.
Then the group started walking their way to the trap of the Citadel.
Fives threw a last thoughtful look back to his friend Echo's charred helmet before he and the rest of the group departs to find a hiding place.
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter
See you all next time and have a happy new year!