Bad Batch Episode: Shadows of Tantiss

Mila cried as she once again rubbed her belly, feeling the little miracles of life growing inside her. And no, you didn't misread, Mila was having a multiple birth, at least so she overheard, so she couldn't say for sure how many she was having. It could've been twins, or even triplets like her abuela had. But regardless of the number, she worried greatly for her babies. Not only were they without a father now, but some devil woman was no doubt planning to use them as lab rats in some evil science experiment for God knows what!

Every day and night, Mila would pray with all her heart for a miracle. If there were ever a time she needed one, now was the time for it, she believed. And she wasn't the only one.

Mila looked outside her window to the heavens above, closed her eyes and dug deep inside, hoping it made her prayer stronger and louder to the heavens.

"Please, please bless us with a miracle now. If not for me, for these unborn babies. For mis amigos. For our families." Mila sniffled.

In a time like this, Chika would climb up and lay her head in Mila's lap, but Chika was on Alderaan with Omega's family. Part of it, anyway.

Comedia looked at her stomach, it swelling from the growing foal inside her. As upsetting as it was that she ended up getting pregnant so young, the young alicorn, deep down, vowed that she was going to love this baby. Much better than her own parents did her, that was for sure. Comedia didn't know how Remix felt about fatherhood, but she was not going to let her baby grow up without a loving family.

The baby started to move in Comedia's belly; it felt surprising to the young mare despite movements being pretty regular. At least she knew it meant the foal was healthy and alive.

"You're excited in there, aren't you?" Comedia told her unborn foal. "Well, be glad you don't yet have to see what it's like out here."

Even a silly–corn knew that parenthood was a serious venture. Comedia wasn't sure she'd even go back to high school after the foal came, and that was assuming she ever got out of this prison. But while she couldn't use magic, she could practice meditating whenever she was alone in her cell, which she hoped would allow her to reach any member of the Jedi so they could hopefully find her and free her friends.

Rory held her stomach, thinking how she would raise her baby herself. It wasn't unheard of for there to be single parents in a werewolf pack. Stuff happens when you live out in the wild. Both parents shared responsibilities such as hunting for food, gathering materials to build shelter… but sometimes a parent left and didn't come back. Her own father died when she and Millie were very small, and years ago they learned they had a half-brother who was half-human from a fling her mother had sometime after losing her first husband.

Some of the others, though they didn't have enough time to say it, Rory could tell they were thinking the question: What do you see in Crosshair of all people? To Rory, she was attracted to the fact that he was kind of mysterious, and she took the fact that he seemed to hide his feelings as a sign that deep down he was a sensitive soul with a tough exterior for protection. If anyone should know what that was like, it was a werewolf. They may have fangs and claws, but inside, any werewolf could be as gentle as a domesticated golden retriever.

Rory did wonder though, if she and Crosshair kissed willingly, would he feel the same way she felt for him?

Benni and Omega made out for a little bit as it was their turn to be in the special room. Luckily for them, no one was watching them. So, it meant they could just hug and kiss willingly.

Omega felt a little better kissing her boyfriend; affection was a rarity since she and her friends were imprisoned.

"You have no idea how much I needed this time with you." Benni whispered.

"Me too." Omega sighed, kissing Benni again.

Unfortunately, as sweet as this moment was, it did soon have to end.

Myra, like Comedia, took every chance she could to meditate, hoping through her Force bond with her father, she could get through to him or any other Jedi, and it would help get her and the others home. Unfortunately, luck didn't appear to be on her side either.

Omega sat on her cot again, fingering at her hay doll, when she got the sense someone was coming. And right on cue, Emerie entered.

"Good morning, Omega," said Emerie. She pressed a few things on her datapad. "Come along. There is much to do today."

Omega reluctantly followed Emerie, and it quickly became clear Omega wasn't going to be alone.

Crosshair, as well as several other kidnapped clones were escorted into a special room by doresho troops. But it wasn't just him. All the boys were brought in too. Benni, Vince, and Remix.

Omega sat on an examination table when she noticed several troopers. And she wasn't the only one. Comedia was on another table, being checked by some droids, who were scanning her, and Rory and Myra were also being scanned, but both of them had restraints, which wasn't surprising considering Myra had given one doctor a black eye, knocked a trooper unconscious, gave another doctor a bloody nose, and knocked one more doctor's two front teeth out. And that was just last week. Frankly, the doctors and troops weren't sure if they were more afraid of her or Mariverde.

"Something's different. Why are there so many troopers around?"

"I'm not certain." Emerie replied.

"You don't know?"

Omega couldn't believe that.

"The doctor will inform me if it's necessary."

"And it's not necessary to tell us why we had to get pregnant?" Comedia snorted.

"I'm choosing to believe that's your hormones talking." Emerie dismissed.

And then, Emerie took a blood sample from Omega's hand.

Rory was tempted to tear Emerie to shreds right then and there, but then Dr. Hemlock walked in with Nala Se.

"Emerie, a word?" said Hemlock.

Emerie placed a test tube with Omega's blood onto a tray.

"An unexpected guest is arriving shortly. Nala Se and I will be indisposed until he departs. Oversee the lab in her absence."

All the while, Nala Se eyed the blood sample Emerie had taken.

"As you wish, Doctor." said Emerie. "I will begin testing the latest samples."

"That is unnecessary." Nala Se said. "I will see to them when I return."

"Dr. Karr's quite capable of handling such matters." Hemlock said. He looked at Emerie again. "See it done."

"Sir," called a trooper.

"Is everything in order?" asked Hemlock.

"Affirmative."

While the doresho commando spoke with Hemlock, Nala Se kept her eyes on the blood sample tray, which Emerie picked up.

Nala Se carefully made her way over to Omega's table to speak to her.

"Omega…listen carefully… If Emerie tests your sample, you and your friends will be in danger. You must all flee this facility before it is too late."

Suddenly, Omega realized something.

"Wait. Is that why you've been destroying our samples?"

"Yes.. Operation-"

But before Nala Se could explain any further information on Operation: Metamorphosis (at least, that was what Omega assumed she was going to say), Hemlock called her to leave with him. Before she left however, Nala Se gave Omega specific instructions.

"Go to the lab, retrieve my datapad and use it to escape. Sneak aboard a shuttle and flee."

Hemlock called Nala Se again, and the Kaminoan finally began to leave.

"You must go."

That was the last thing Nala Se said before she left. Omega looked at her friends; she knew she had to get them out quickly. Mila was six months pregnant, Comedia was five months, and Rory was three months along. It started to click in Omega's head. Maybe part of why Mariverde forced all the girls to get pregnant was so it would be near impossible for them to escape. I mean, have you ever tried to escape a high-security prison while pregnant?

Omega walked through the halls until she arrived at the lab. Getting in was easy, and so was finding the cubicle where Nala Se's datapad was. Except… Emerie was in there with the blood samples, and even if Omega did have Lamenta's power to become invisible, magic was useless here.

"Did you need something, Omega?" Emerie asked.

"I… Hemlock said there's a guest arriving." Omega chuckled nervously. "Who is it?"

"It's best not to ask questions." Emerie said. "See to your tasks for the day."

Omega started to think. What would her family do in a situation like this? Omega started to think, and then she thought about that time she really didn't want to be in gym class at school. So, she started holding her stomach and wincing like she was in pain.

"Are you feeling okay?" Emerie asked.

"I… I don't think so… must be… that time." Omega pretended to be in pain.

Emerie may have been working for crazy people, but she knew all too well what this was a sign of.

"Forget your assignments and get some rest." Emerie said.

"Okay." Omega said, and started to walk off.

She was about to grab the datapad, when Emerie stopped her.

"I can handle things around here, Omega. Go. I'll check on you later."

Quickly, while Emerie wasn't looking, Omega grabbed the datapad and hid it under her clothes so no one would see her with it, and she rushed off as quickly as she could. But she didn't know that her blood sample was getting closer and closer to being tested.

Meanwhile, out in the galaxy, a ship flew into the atmosphere of Tantiss.

Out from the ship appeared a familiar figure in green and black. Unlike the troops, you could clearly see that this one had wings and clearly appeared female, her hood concealing her face. Thunder rumbled as she exited her ship with her two guards.

Hemlock was more than happy to greet the woman and kiss her gloved hand.

"Miss Mariverde. Your presence is an honor." Hemlock greeted, kissing her hand again, only to get smacked from his nose up. "Ouch!"

"Flattery won't do any good if you haven't made progress, Doctor." Mariverde said.

Hemlock rubbed his hurt nose and made a "right this way" motion for the moth queen, the troops all kneeling as she walked by.

Mariverde walked through the halls as Hemlock explained the progress to her.

"We have quadrupled our objectives in record time." said Hemlock. "The exotic matter facilities have expanded, providing alteration and testing of much larger assets."

"I have need of such grand designs," said Mariverde. "However, that is not the reason why I am here today."

"Of course." Hemlock said. "Operation: Metamorphosis."

Hemlock placed an access card in to gain entry into the vault.

Omega discreetly got the datapad out, acting natural so no one would think she stole the datapad until she got to a door, where she placed the datapad into a slot and pressed some buttons. She quickly kicked a mouse droid away before it could enter the doors she entered.

There were at least a couple of doresho troops in the area, whom Omega was careful to avoid. She had a lot of people to find and rescue; getting everyone out was not going to be easy.

Omega snuck through the halls until she came to Crosshair's cell. He was asleep.

"Crosshair." Omega whisper-yelled.

"What are you doing here?" said Crosshair, apparently not asleep.

"Escaping. And you're coming with us. All of us."

Crosshair sat up.

"You found a weak point?"

"Not exactly. I'm kinda improvising." Omega blushed slightly.

"Is that some kind of joke? Isn't that Comedy Mare's thing?" Crosshair said.

"I'll explain later. Just get the guards' attention."

"That's not a plan." Crosshair sighed.

Omega scoffed; she didn't have time or the patience for this.

"Just distract them."

Crosshair wasn't sure exactly how to distract doresho guards. Now he had to improvise.

"Guards!" Crosshair shouted.

The guards directed their attention to the clone. Crosshair tried to think of what to say next.

"Where is Rory?"

"What did you say?"

"The girl who is carrying my child. Where is she? I want to see her now!"

Crosshair didn't really know why that was the first thing that came to mind, but he'd seen Carmine behave protectively when Caroline was expecting Charlotte.

"The dog girl? Suddenly you're interested?" said the guard.

"She's a werewolf, and yes I'm interested."

While Crosshair distracted the guards, Omega snuck down the halls and placed the datapad onto another slot, pressing some buttons.

"If you don't let me see her now, I'll show you what damage I can do."

The guards just laughed at Crosshair… until the door slid open, and soon Crosshair was beating up the guards. They weren't so powerful without the use of their magic, but Crosshair was outnumbered… but not for long.

One guard found himself tackled by someone very big and strong, and another was kicked in the stomach and bonked heads with another who was kicked by a strong pair of legs, rendering both of them unconscious. It was Vince, Maybelle, and Myra!

"Yeehaw!" Maybelle whooped. "Now that's what I call rough and tumble."

"Nice work." Omega said.

"Didn't have much choice." Crosshair said.

"You're out of the cell, aren't you?" Omega said.

"I've been wanting to do that forever." Myra crossed her arms.

Vince felt so much adrenaline running through him.

"Haven't had to tackle someone so hard since my last football game." Vince breathed.

And it wasn't just them Omega freed. Comedia, Benni, Remix, Rory, and Mila all were free to exit their cells. But with three of these prisoners pregnant, getting out was another story.

Crosshair picked up a blaster, so did Benni, Vince, and Myra.

Vince helped Mila get onto Maybelle's back so she could get around easier. Remix, on the other hoof, couldn't believe it when he saw Comedia again and saw that she was pregnant.

"Do you know if it's a boy or girl?" Remix asked.

Comedia shook her head, looking surprised.

"You're not mad?"

"Not at you. Mariverde's going down when we get outta here, but this little one… I don't know much about parenting, but I do know stuff about guarding."

"Maybe save the chit-chat for later, everyone?" Myra said.

Everyone began moving forward. Crosshair figured with Comedia being the most pregnant between herself and Rory, she should be in the middle so she wouldn't be the weakest link.

"You remembered how we protect our young in packs," smiled Rory.

Quickly, the group began to move.

Rory used her keen senses of smell and hearing to sniff ahead for any guards. She sniffed around one corner and gave the all clear for everyone to keep going.

Omega placed the datapad into another slot to gain access to the door.

"Well? Start talking." Crosshair said.

"I told you. We're escaping." Omega answered.

"Why now? What's changed?"

"Nala Se said I had to. And I wasn't gonna leave anyone behind."

Crosshair, however, thought Omega was crazy, so did the other guys, but most of the girls testified that they overheard Nala Se's conversation with Omega earlier.

"She told me to use her datapad to access the base and find a shuttle. We just need to get to a hangar."

"Or maybe we could just get outside?" Vince suggested. "Don't all the horses still have their shoes?"

"We do," said Maybelle. "Except, we have to run really fast to make them work, and I'm not so sure Comedia can run fast enough while she's halfway through her pregnancy."

Everyone moved as discreetly as they could to avoid guards, but at one point, they overheard two of them talking about how patrols were being doubled until Mariverde departed.

"Mariverde's here?!" Crosshair said, sounding scared.

"What? I didn't know." Omega said.

"Relax. If we can't use magic in here," said Maybelle. "And the guards can't use magic… neither can she."

"But she is a psycho. Who knows what she might do!" Myra said.

Crosshair sighed and said, "Another reason why this was not the day to wing an escape."

"Well, should we have waited until the babies were born?" Mila said.

"Thanks for the reminder, Crosshair, but Mila's right." Omega said. "We have to get everyone out now and back to their families."

Omega noticed Crosshair's hand shaking. It'd been doing that for as long as Crosshair had been imprisoned. It was likely a side effect from another experiment.

"Your hand's getting worse, isn't it?"

Crosshair scoffed and dismissed it as fine. But everyone was thinking the same thing. It wasn't fine.

Omega hit some buttons on the datapad.

"Uh-oh." Omega said.

"Uh-oh? What do you mean 'uh-oh'?" Benni said.

"I don't like the sound of that." Comedia worried out loud.

"All shuttles have been grounded, except Mariverde's."

Everyone groaned in frustration; Mariverde was a smart woman. She would've been smart enough to have all ships grounded if anything like this happened.

"We'll have to steal it."

"Impossible." Crosshair said. "It'll be too well-guarded, even for me."
"Then it's a good thing we have an expert on stealing ships." Omega looked at Benni; so did the others.

"Are you ever gonna let me live that down?" Benni asked. "Even I couldn't steal a ship that heavily guarded."

Omega thought, and then she had an idea.

"I know a shuttle we can use. It crash-landed outside the perimeter back when I first came here."

"I'm not an expert on ships, but how's a crashed one supposed to help us?" Vince asked.

"If the comms are still functioning, we can call for help."

"And how do we get outside?" Crosshair asked.

"Follow me."

So, with no other options, everyone followed Omega's lead.

Meanwhile, Mariverde was escorted by Hemlock into a dark room with red lights.

"As you can see, the specimens are well-guarded to ensure they remain viable for testing." Hemlock said. "However, with more time, and additional resources, I am confident that we will have a successful M-count replication."

Mariverde looked into the room, and although no one could see her face, her tone indicated she was…. Impressed.

"There is nothing of greater importance to secure the future of my empire." said Mariverde. "Whatever is required to accomplish this goal, you shall have it. But first… tell me… what of the specially designed templates I ordered?"

"Only three are in the making to our knowledge, Your Majesty."

"Hmm. That will do for now. Whichever has not yet conceived, check them to be sure they can do so. If not, you may resort to other means."

Emerie soon came to Omega's cell, only to find she wasn't there.

Emerie just sighed and left.

In the Batcher shelter, it was as noisy as a dog pound in there. A droid was doing some checking, when a large group of people burst in, and the droid was destroyed by blaster fire.

Rory and Vince especially were appalled by the conditions of this place.

"This place smells worse than the dog cages at the shelter when they aren't cleaned." Vince whined, holding his nose.

"You get used to it." Omega said.

"Well, what's our next move?" Mila asked.

"We'll use the kennel chute. It leads outside, but it's protected by a timed ray shield. We'll have to move fast or we'll be trapped."

"You sure we can all fit through there?" Remix said.

"Maybe if ya'll suck in yer guts a little?" Maybelle suggested.

"Be ready." Omega said.

"Omega," said a familiar voice.

It was Emerie.

Everyone got into attack positions before Omega stopped them from shooting or attacking.

"You should go back to your room. All of you should."

"You mean our cells." Comedia snorted.

"You're not thinking clearly. None of you. Come with me and no one needs to know about this."

"We can't do that." Myra said.

"Omega…"

"I spent most of my life confined on Kamino, and because of the people you're working for, my friends all suffered too. I won't let them suffer the same way I did."

Emerie didn't say anything.

"You're a clone like two of us, Emerie." Omega continued. "Help us."

Crosshair prepared to blast, and Rory looked ready to pounce.

"Escape is not possible, Omega. This is for your own good."

"Get her!" Maybelle exclaimed, and she and the other girls tackled Emerie, Rory scratching Emerie's cheek with her claws when she tried to fight back, and Myra used the Force to throw Emerie into the wall, knocking her unconscious.

"That oughta hold her." Myra dusted her hands off.

Crosshair didn't say it out loud, but he had to admit, Rory had some fierce fighting abilities. But reveling in how attractive Rory was becoming to him would have to wait; Emerie's comm was beeping, and that likely meant trouble wouldn't be far off.

"We have to go."

And go they did.

"It is imperative that this facility remain hidden and secure." Mariverde said. "There are many, potentially even within our own ranks, who may consider much of your work an abomination. But they lack the vision that I possess."

Hemlock and everyone else was silent.

"Your brilliance is a great asset to my cause." Mariverde said. "Perhaps you show more competence than the others."

"If I am appointed the scientific minister," said Hemlock. "I would strive to bring unleashed glory to all divisions of your royal science corps."

Mariverde chuckled and said, "All in due time, dear Hemlock."

Mariverde ruffled the doctor's hair, leaving it sticking up in different places.

"Yes, my queen." Hemlock said, amid his messy hair.

And Mariverde took off in her ship, and that was when one of the doresho troops alerted Hemlock that Omega and all the other prisoners were missing.

"Missing?"

"An alarm was just triggered in the lurca kennels."

Hemlock grunted in frustration. How could an entire army lose nine prisoners at once?

"Seal it off." Hemlock ordered.

The ray shields were called to be activated.

Myra screamed as a ray shield almost hit her and Vince.

"The shields aren't supposed to activate yet." Omega said.

"They knew we're in here." Crosshair said.

"Pick up the pace then!" Rory said.

There was hardly enough time, so Mila did the first thing she thought of and telepathically pushed everyone outside, causing everyone to have a rather rough landing in the dirt, and causing everyone to pile into each other.

"Way to use my head." Mila said.

"Ugh, who's foot's in my face?" Benni said.

"Sorry." Myra said, moving her foot.

"Will someone please get Comedia off me?" Vince heaved as Comedia picked herself up.

"What direction is the crashed shuttle?" Crosshair said, looking around.

"Not sure." Omega said.

Omega tried to use magic again, but her power wasn't working.

"We must still be too close to the adracium. Comedia, can you fly?"

Comedia spread out her wings and tried to take off, but her wings had been out of action for so long, they could barely lift her off the ground.

"Negative. Even if I weren't pregnant, the lack of exercise has weakened the muscles in my wings." Comedia said.

"Oh, great." Crosshair said sarcastically.

That was when everyone heard the sound of engines roaring. It turned out to be Mariverde's ship. If they followed the flight path, they could find the ship. So, everyone began moving as quickly as they could to make their way to wherever the flight path would take them.

Emerie finally came to as Hemlock and some troops arrived.

"What happened?" Hemlock asked.

Emerie groaned and explained that Omega had one of the datapads, which she used to help herself and her friends access the chute.

It was confirmed that everyone made it past the shields.

"Dispatch patrols and release the lurcas," said Hemlock. "But make sure the pregnant ones are unharmed."

On Hemlock's orders, the lurcas were released. But Emerie was quick to point out the lurcas wouldn't bring anyone back alive.

"They are prisoners who have escaped. The time for half measures is over." Hemlock said.

"Perhaps I could-"

"Return to the lab, Dr. Karr."

Without another word, Emerie left. But Hemlock had some questions for Nala Se.

"I'm curious how your assistant managed to escape this facility, and with eight other prisoners, no less. One must assume she had help."

"I have been right by your side." Nala Se said.

"Secure her in a cell."

The troops arrested Nala Se, and Hemlock ordered a recovery team to be scrambled.

While troops were scattered to find the escapees, Omega and her friends continued to run through the forest.

Omega soon picked something up on the datapad. It had to be the ship, she figured.

"That way." Omega said.

And that was when the sound of snarling filled the air. The horses could sense it, and they got spooked by it.

"Oh, good. The killer hounds." said Crosshair sarcastically.

"Let me handle them." Rory growled. "Go. I'll take care of our friends if they catch up."

So, everyone ran ahead of Rory, who stayed in the back as a guard. But while Omega and Crosshair were leading the way, Omega tripped and fell, dropping the datapad.

"Omega!" Myra exclaimed, rushing to help her friend.

Crosshair recovered the datapad; it was unharmed, fortunately. But then, the group heard some more growling, and it wasn't Rory or the lurca hounds. It was a dryax.

Fortunately, they didn't have to worry about the dryax for long, because the lurcas came along and began fighting with the dryax, giving everyone time to run for their lives.

Eventually, the group came to the ship, where Omega immediately began pressing some more buttons, Myra and Benni jumping in to help, Vince searching for anything useful. The ship powered up; now they just needed to make a call to someone. Anyone who could help

Meanwhile, Emerie returned to the lab, where she continued researching the blood samples.

The girls continued to work on the ship, but so far, nada. Mila tinkered with it, but even she was struggling.

"Anything?" Crosshair asked.

"It's not working!" Omega groaned. "Now I wish I'd taken more tutoring sessions in computer class. The comms are completely dead."

And unfortunately, the guards took everyone's phones when they were kidnapped. Comedia had an idea though. She remembered Vince managed to grab his favorite jacket just before escaping.

"Vince, you didn't happen to be keeping anything in your jacket, did you? Assuming they didn't take anything out?"

Vince patted the sides of his jacket; it felt like there was something in there. But, when he checked inside them, there didn't appear to be anything useful. Just a paper clip, some credits, and…. A jingle bell?

"How'd that get in there?" Vince wondered out loud, placing it back in his pocket.

Suddenly, everyone could hear the sound of ships approaching. They were closing in. Everyone started to hide, but it didn't seem like it would do any good.

"I'm sorry." Omega said. "I thought this would work."

"It could still work." Myra said. "We've been in situations like this before."

"Myra's right. You got us this far." Crosshair said. "And we're not done yet."

Omega felt a little more encouraged.

"Did they teach you Plan 72?"

"Mm-hmm. Tech had me memorize all the plans."

"Of course he did." Crosshair said.

Mila squeaked as she heard her husband's name for the first time in forever. Crosshair could tell his sister-in-law was struggling to keep her composure, and not because of her pregnancy. That was a big reason why Crosshair refused to give up now; he had to free Mila and her unborn baby… for Tech.

The ship was getting closer and closer, all the troopers ready to pounce and find the prisoners. All the troops came down. It was silent for now, until… blast!

Crosshair fired a shot, though not as well as he used to, as his hand was still shaking.

The troops all began firing.

Omega arrived at a cable attached to a ship, and she was about to climb it, when a guard aimed his blaster at her and ordered her to stand down.

"Hello." Omega chuckled nervously.

"I said stand down." the guard repeated.

Suddenly, the guard was attacked by a lurca hound, but this was no ordinary lurca; it was Batcher!

"Stay close." Omega told the hound.

Omega climbed the cable and made her way into the ship where she infiltrated the pilot's seat and used the blasters to attack the rest of the troops, and lower the ramp to allow her friends to jump on board!

Of course, this didn't go unnoticed by the enemy.

Omega whistled for Batcher to get on board. And the ship soon took off. Unfortunately, they weren't quite out of the woods yet.

Shots were fired, causing the ship to shake, scaring Batcher, and causing the horses to almost lose their balance.

"They're locking onto us! I can't shake them!" Omega shouted fearfully. "Systems are failing."

Back in the lab, Hemlock was ordering the ship to be neutralized, when Emerie burst in and told Hemlock to belay that order.

"Don't shoot them down."

"What?" Hemlock retorted.

"The clone's sample supported a positive M-count transfer with no degradation from the specimen."

"CT-9904 was ruled out long ago."

"Not him. It's Omega."

Hemlock took a datapad from Emerie, and the results, clear as day, showed that Omega supported the M-count like Emerie said. So, he ordered the troops to stand down.

"But, sir, they're escaping." said the troop.

"Stand down! We need her alive."

It turned out, ironically, Hemlock's order was all Omega needed to have enough time to launch the shuttle into hyperspace.

Although Hemlock was disgruntled that the prisoners escaped, he wasn't worried.

"I have the full resources of Mariverde at my disposal. We will find her, and the rest of the templates if we have to wait until they're born."

Meanwhile…

Tech lay in a hospital bed with a breathing mask on as he was checked by some medical droids.

Diamond and Tech were on their own for a very long time. Diamond kept recasting and recasting her stabilizer spell as she ran through the forest to search for any sign of civilization. It wasn't until they came to a port where Diamond took the chance to stow away with Tech in the cargo area. Fortunately, someone packed pillows, which Diamond could use to give Tech a safe spot to lay down. And the moment the cargo hold opened again, she rushed out and begged for someone, anyone to get her friend to a hospital.

Diamond gathered as many rocks as she could and turned them into diamonds, which she placed at the desk when she brought Tech in.

"It's all I have." Diamond had panted. "Please! My friend really needs your help. He could die!"

So, the doctor's took Tech in and began treating him, but for a while Tech was in a coma. All the while, Diamond was healing from the injury to her wing. And all the while, she tried to get in contact with the royal family, only to hear from Queen Neeyutnee that they'd fled the palace.

By now, Diamond's wing was fully healed, but she still hadn't managed to get in touch with the royal family.

"How bad is it?" Diamond asked the doctor.

"He was battered up very badly by the fall," said the doctor. "He was very lucky to have arrived here when he did. With time, he should make a full recovery."

Diamond sighed. She got bored waiting for Tech to wake up. He seemed to get better as time went by, but Diamond still worried about the others, wherever they were.

So, Diamond turned on the TV. Not much was on today, and then came the news.

"Still no word on the whereabouts of Princess Omega Skywalker-Jinn or any other missing Mariverde victims." said a familiar voice on the screen. "But rumors suggest that the royal family have begun to take matters into their own hands."

It was then Diamond had an idea. She found a phone and picked up a pencil so she could dial the frequency on the screen.

"You're on the air. Who's calling?"

On Alderaan, Sapphire was laying on the floor, nuzzling Diamond's old stuffed toys. Diamond loved cuddling her toys so much.

Anakin pet Sapphire's muzzle, knowing how badly she missed her niece, and how she blamed herself for not being there to protect her.

Anakin had turned on the news to see if there were any leads as to Mariverde capturing any new victims or if she was closer to launching her ultimate plan.

"Sapphire, you are not to blame for this." Anakin said. "I know a certain filly who always saw you as a real gem of a guard, and an aunt. And her name was-"

"Diamond Crystal," said a familiar voice.

Sapphire froze, so did Anakin.

R2 quickly turned up the volume, and Anakin and Sapphire listened in on the news story.

Diamond was calling on the air on this news story.

"I can't say where I am," said Diamond on the TV. "But if my family or friends are watching, I need them to know I'm alive, and so is our friend Tech. But we both need help and we need it quickly!"

Sapphire got Anakin onto her back, and she began running like her life depended on it.

"Auntie's coming, Diamond!"

How's that for an escape? Next chapter, Omega and her friends aren't quite out of the woods yet. As long as Mariverde doesn't know they've escaped, they should be fine, but for how long though? Please review