Consequences

Chapter 28 - To the Rescue

We don't even make it out of the hanger before we see the transport being shot at. I suck in a deep breath. Yes, of course. If there were any more doubts in my mind as to what happened, I don't have any more. If the Separatists want him, that means something big is going on.

"We need to get over there and help out," decides Anakin.

Moments later, we find ourselves with Rex and Fives in a shuttle, hastily zooming up towards the transport. All four of us are wearing a suit made to withstand space. We land on the transport, which has been completely wrecked, and enter.

"The restraints have been cut," Rex calls to us from where he stands next to the bed Tup was supposed to be on. Just as I was afraid of. The Separatists got him.

"They must be responsible for whatever is happening," murmurs Fives.

"Perhaps," I reply stiffly. They're not. At least not completely, but that doesn't mean I should say so.

"It's possible," responds Anakin, turning around to face us, "All I know is they went to incredible lengths to capture him, and that means something."

"We have got to get him back," Fives insists.

"Don't worry, we'll find a way," Anakin assures him.

"We'll have to sneak onto the Separatist ship," I warn as we head back for our shuttle and take our seats inside. Anakin pulls off his helmet, setting it down beside him.

"The shuttle will drop us off just short of the main hanger," he states, "We'll spacewalk from there. Are you picking up anything of Tup's location?" Spacewalking. That's rare, but nothing's surprising with Anakin as a master. The last name 'Skywalker' does fit him well.

"I've got a faint signal but it's hard to track. It's moving," responds Fives as the shuttle slowly glides past the Separatist ship. That's bad news. They're probably planning to get him out of here first, just like we were. Which means we need to move. And fast.

"We better hurry," Anakin worries. Our spaceship flies down over the side of the starship and out into space, towards our destination. It plunges past the side of the Separatists ship and turns upside down, landing on the bottom. The second it lands, Anakin pulls his helmet back on and heads for the exit with me right behind. We carefully walk off, stepping out into the vacuum of space, only held to the ship thanks to our magnetized boots.

"I've got a better signal. Tup is heading this way," Fives declares as we walk along towards what I think might be an entrance. Once we reach the right spot, we begin climbing up the wall. I catch onto handholds along the ship, throwing myself upwards between Anakin and Fives. Finally, we reach the edge of the hanger, and the four of us cautiously peak over the edge into the ship.

Two groups of battle droids are marching towards each other not far in front of us. Anakin looks through binoculars, frowning as his gaze darts back and forth.

"Are your scopes Jedi-issue, sir?" teases Fives.

"Stay focused, Fives," Anakin chides, looking through them again. Looking through my own binoculars, I can see a large standing army of battle droids on either side of the hanger bay off in the distance, along with a starfighter. On the far side, a group of other droids are carrying a stretcher with Tup lying on it.

"There must be a hundred droids in the hanger. Not to mention a starfighter. This is stretching it, even for you, Sir," Rex cautions.

"Rex, you're beginning to sound like Obi-Wan," Anakin sighs. "You got a better idea?"

I snort. "I hope walking in there isn't your idea of a plan."

"Look," adds Rex, "I don't doubt you could pull it off, but I'm not sure if we would be around to see it happen."