𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐋𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐘

𝟎𝟏𝟑. 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡

013. TROUBLE DOWN SOUTH

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PLO KOON CAUTIOUSLY STEPPED AROUND THE CORNER AND MOTIONED FOR THE OTHERS TO FOLLOW. Tripp Kelrune did not display as much patience as he briefly scanned the area and ran out ahead. The captain of his personal clone squadron sighed and shook his head; meanwhile, the other five troops sprinted after their leader.

Commander Wolffe tilted his head and looked over at Krayt, who simply shook his head and said, "Don't get me started."

Plo Koon made an attempt to call Tripp back. "We've surpassed the two-hour mark, perhaps we should turn back."

"And report what?" Tripp asked, barely glancing over his shoulder. "We haven't found anything yet. I mean what kind of droid factory doesn't make droids."

"Not a very good one," Snake Eyes agreed as he pushed aside a strewn droid head with his blaster.

"I thought we'd been promised some clankers?" Clawe asked, and then added, "From the looks of it, nothing's been made here in ages."

"Or maybe that's just what they want us to believe," Captain Krayt suggested.

"You want to explain that, Krayt?" Commander Tox asked, probably raising an eyebrow beneath his helmet.

"Perhaps they caught wind that we were coming." Krayt shrugged.

"Again," Plo Koon called for their attention, "perhaps we should rejoin the others back aboard the cruiser."

"Just a few minutes longer?" Zeraphina asked, tilting her head. "I feel as if I've already learned so much from this experience."

Plo Koon's brow furrowed in confusion at his padawan's statement, but clarity was provided as she jogged to catch up with Tripp. The other jedi freely swung his blade, quickly losing interest in his surroundings until the kid popped up beside him.

"Ready for another lesson?" Tripp asked with a grin.

Zeraphina eagerly nodded her head.

"I call this move 'The Roundtripp'." Tripp winked before igniting his blade.

However, he froze as another voice wheezed from the shadows. The voice was gravelly as it made a suggestion, "It seems you're in need of an opponent for your demonstration."

Plo Koon quickly stepped up beside his padawan as General Grievous revealed himself. "I believe it is time to go."

Grievous coughed as he retorted, "I was looking forward to adding your blades to my collection." He then unveiled the silver hilts tucked away within his cloak. He ignited a pair and spun the glowing sabers, challenging those before him.

Tripp, although originally startled, laughed and shook his head. "Looks to me like you're a bit outnumbered."

"Perhaps I should even the odds," Grievous replied.

Commander Wolffe cleared his throat and gestured to the droids that had suddenly appeared on the conveyor belts around them.

"So that's where the clankers have been hiding," Clawe said as if preparing to take them all on by himself.

"Is this satisfactory, Master Jedi?" Grievous asked, now toying with them.

Tripp gulped. "That'll do it..."

Grievous flipped his blades again and lunged as the droids closed in on the group. Tripp was forced backward, hardly capable of blocking the oncoming attack. Recognizing this, Plo Koon quickly stepped in to provide aid, leaving Zeraphina to help the troops defend themselves from the blaster fire.

Zeraphina glanced over her shoulder and quickly realized that even though the two Jedi outnumbered the general, they were quickly losing ground. Her eyes darted back and forth as she tried to think of something that might help them get out of their current mess. Only once she had made a decision did she stretch out her hand and force the droid charging toward her to levitate in the air.

"Hey!" the droid called out in confusion. "What's going on?"

There wasn't time for an answer as the padawan flicked her wrists and sent the droid flying in to General Grievous. Grievous was knocked aside to the ground, and immediately disoriented. Plo Koon and Tripp looked at one another in confusion as they tried to figure out what had happened.

"I think we should go!" Zeraphina called for the jedi as she sliced down another droid.

"Agreed." Plo Koon nodded and began to lead the group back toward the exit. "I can only assume that if our presence was detected, the others cannot be faring much better. Hopefully, we are not too late."

From behind them, General Grievous roared, "Get up, you idiot! You're letting them get away!" However, he instantly burst into a fit of coughs that prevented him from following after them. By the time he cleared his throat, the Jedi and the clones were gone.