Survival: A Star Wars The Clone Wars Story

Chapter 18

Anakin was shocked by Ahsoka's return. Well, not her returning – he'd had no doubts that she and the clones would make it back. No, it was her strained expression and her shaded eyes that surprised him. She looked as if someone had died, and yet they were all accounted for: Kai and Boxer were talking in urgent whispers to Rex and Barriss was slumped against the wall, her eyes unfocused. Something had gone down on their journey to the power generator, and he would find out what. Not now perhaps, but Ahsoka would tell him, in time.

Now they were just waiting for his master and Master Unduli. Hopefully Grievous hadn't given them too much trouble. He and Rex had not seen the cyborg, and Ahsoka's group had no limbs or lightsabers missing, so he could only assume that he had gone after the Jedi masters on their quest to retrieve the clone DNA. Anakin shuddered to think of what the Separatists could do with such a valuable weapon in their hands. They could overturn the entire Grand Army right from its very roots.

He glanced back at the shuttle controls, shaking away those depressing thoughts. Checking over the flight sequence one more time, he satisfied himself that everything was in order for a hasty departure. They had destroyed most of the main aerial defences on this platform, but the Separatists never seemed to run out of droids. They'd be back to square one if Obi-Wan didn't hurry.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Obi-Wan and Luminara were charging up through the Citadel as fast as their legs would carry them. Through the haze of the red emergency lights, he relied more on the force than his sight to guide them back to the others. With the electrified walls and other traps disabled by the power failure, there were only droids left to impede their path.

Frustration burned through Obi-Wan's mind, but he pushed it aside. Although Grievous had slipped through their fingers once again, he should just be thankful that Luminara had been saved. The scene flashed before his eyes once more: Luminara's graceful arc through the air, Grievous forcing her off course, the crushing silence as she vanished into the depths of the cavern. Not even the slightest gasp had escaped her lips as she'd realised her fate. Thank the Force his grip on her force signature had been strong enough to reach her before it had been too late. Before he had nearly lost – no, failed – another of his friends. He shut his eyes. When he opened them again, his focus returned.

To his immense relief, Luminara had somehow kept up with him, as at last they sprinted the final stretch across the open-air landing platform. Anakin and the others were in the nearest... unexploded... shuttle. So, he and Rex had had a spot of trouble with the droids, Obi-Wan thought to himself with amusement. At least the vulture droids across the platform seemed to have been reduced to a pile of rubble.

He spared one last glance out across the bleak landscape that was Lola Sayu, as they sprinted up the ramp. The dusty purple mountains were as jagged and unforgiving as ever. Obi-Wan would not be sorry to never again see those glittering lava rivers and dreary clouds. This planet had caused the Republic enough trouble, and himself enough pain.

~*~*~*~*~*~

A howl of frustration echoed around the empty cavern as Grievous crawled back out of the laboratory and onto the bridge. Jedi filth. That Kenobi always seemed to evade him. Not to mention, he had cost him another hand. Never mind, every limb of his that Kenobi had severed was just another minute Grievous would prolong his agonising death when he finally caught up with the Jedi.

Extensive studies of the Citadel plans had informed Grievous that various vents in the walls of the cylindrical cavern led back up to the main hub of the fortress. If those foolish Jedi thought the chase was over, then they were in for a surprise. He had ordered all possible B1 and B2 units to ambush them at the remaining landing platform, and any escape vehicles should have been destroyed by now. Truly, they made it too easy for him.