The Bittersweet Mission

Pickup Day

     "Show me your pass key code, and we can get this over with."

     Anakin carefully reached into a pocket in the front of his robes, trying not to make any sudden movements.

     He pulled out the small device that the Jedi had confiscated from the original couple, then turned on a switch to display the code in the air.

     They were silent for a brief moment, but it was long enough for Padmé to question if they were being conned.

      However, the being lowered their blaster, and held out the bundle, causing Padmé to exhale quietly in relief.

     Anakin slowly reached out, and lifted the bundle into his own arms, and Padmé peered over to see a tiny human face showing signs that they were in a deep sleep.

     "You best get going now, but remember to stay in contact as planned. We'll be watching you."

     Anakin nodded and shared a glance with Padmé, and they began to turn around, retracing their steps on the way in.

     Unfortunately, just as they approached the stairwell, they heard another comlink go off, meaning that their contact had an incoming call.

     Slowing their pace, Anakin handed the baby to Padmé and let her walk ahead of him as he tried to listen in.

      Immediately, he heard a voice he was familiar with: Doll.

     "Have they come for the child yet?" she asked in heightened voice.

     "Yes," their contact answered. "They're on their way out."

     "Stop them!" Doll shouted. "I've just received information from an old friend. They're with the Republic! They're impostors!"

     Anakin inhaled sharply and told Padmé to run, but as they reached the bottom of that flight of stairs, another being was already waiting for them, blaster aimed and ready.

     Anakin realized it was Adder, and he pulled Padmé behind him, only for her to face their contact who had chased them down as well.

     He looked in either direction with a bit of anger. His lightsaber was still with R2, and though he had a blaster hidden on him, he wouldn't be able to do anything without risking Padmé or the baby's safety.

     So, he glanced over at his frightened wife as the being took the baby back from her, and Adder nudged them back up the steps with his blaster.

     With hands raised, Anakin and Padmé reascended each step back towards the third floor... until their contact and Padmé passed through the doorway again, which was when Anakin turned on Adder, knocking the blaster straight out of his hands and punching him in the stomach.

     The man stumbled down a few steps, but came back at him. Only, Anakin was way more experienced in combat and sent him right over the railing, to which he fell to the next flight down.

     Figuring that would give him a minute, Anakin ran back into the room just as he heard a loud noise and the sudden shatter of glass.

     The room was filled with more light, and he was relieved when he caught sight of Padmé still standing there, but her expression was one of great distraught.

     "She got away! Ani, she took the baby!"

      Cursing silently, Anakin looked towards the window, but ran back to the stairwell, only to discover that Adder was gone too.

*****

     Ahsoka and Obi-Wan reached the other side of the building just in time to see the being shooting off in a jetpack while fragments of glass rained down on the street below, causing a few fair-goers to scream. Thankfully, everyone was safely protected by the vendor stall canopies.

     Obi-Wan glanced up at the window, but then followed Ahsoka around to the other side of the building where Anakin and Padmé were making their way outside again.

     When Anakin and Padmé emerged, they spotted the two of them immediately and rushed over to them.

      "Any sign of Adder?"

      "No, he must have made it out a side exit. Did you plant the tracker?" Obi-Wan asked.

      Anakin nodded. "Yes, it's wrapped into the baby blanket, and it's activated. I have to say, that was definitely a good plan you came up with."

     Obi-Wan looked at him. "Just doing my job. Now, we need to get to the ship and have the troops continue tracking them."

     "Is Bonteri ready?"

     "Yes, Master," Ahsoka replied. "He should be ready, as with the Duchess. I alerted them seconds ago."

      "Good, let's get going."

     And the four of them took off towards their ship.