Destruction of the Innocent (Anakin Skywalker)

The Rescue

       "Now, that's better", Obi Wan rolls his eyes as Anakin and I drop down behind him. He turns to us, his saber ignited but relaxes as we stand.

"Oh! It's only you two. Thank God", he jokes, putting his hand over his heart. His lightsaber's blade phases out.

"Are you alright, Commander?", Echo asks as I lean on the wall next to him.

"Been better", I admit. "But I'm alright."

 Anakin turns his glare from me to his Master.




 "What was that about?", he growls, nodding his head to Obi's transmitter.

"Well, R2 has been through a lot, and-"

"Hey, hey-", Anakin cuts him off. "No loose wire jokes."

"Did I say anything?", Obi-Wan retorts as Anakin rolls his shoulders.

"He's trying", he defends his droid.

"Did I say anything?", Obi-Wan waves his hands to Echo and I.



I shake my head at them both, dropping my empty magazine to the elevator floor with a clatter. Slamming another in, I tuck it into my boot and stand.

"Look sharp, we're there", Echo adds on, looking wearily through the hole in the ceiling.

 I push myself off the wall and set my stance as they others prepared themselves behind me.

The elevator stops, the doors open and were greeted by a quiet, undisturbed room. A quick visual scan, and I'm the first to step out. 
 


Followed by the others, we cleared the room and made our way to the front.

My eyebrows scrunch at the only chair in the room, sitting up front. front.  My head cocked in question, I inch my way towards it, my hand lowering to my side with my saber in hand.

 Then I watched it turn to reveal a tied-up Chanceller, and my eyes narrow as the smell of sulfur.

The others seem to notice as well and took a couple steps back, but I sent a questioning look to him.
He didn't seem all that hurt, or hardly,  at all . Which raised an eyebrow with me
.

"Chanceller! Let's get you out of here!", Anakin says, rushing towards him. My eyes never leave him.

"Don't touch him", I began, holding my arm out and he stopped beside me.

"Why not?", he asked like I was insane.

Turning over my shoulder, I send him a glare before observing the room again. Nothing but air ducts and panels of wall seems to be the only thing staring back at me. I could practically see the waft of sulfur coming from them.

"Because he's watching", I answered, turning to him and Obi Wan. "Can't you see? This is what he wants. It's a trap. He's obviously waiting for us."

Anakin sighs, exasperated. "Well, I don't  have all damn night."



    He walks around me and towards the Chanceller.

"I would'nt",  I shook my head.

"I'm not one to order around, Princess", he spits over his shoulder, then continues up the stairs.

Right before he reaches him, a panel in the wall clatters to the floor, and a couple dozen ID-75 heavy droids dropped down into the room. Followed by some XM-G3 battle droids. They surround us on all sides, their weapons release a synchronized whir as they power up.

I growl in frustration over my shoulder and turn to death glare Anakin. He turns to me, alarm and shock written in his eyes as I shake my head.

Throwing a hand up towards them, I shrug," Happy?"





"Friends!"

My head snaps around the room, looking for the source of the voice.

 "Leaving so soon already? What's the rush?"

My head turns over my shoulder to him, then my body follows- feet inching apart for a fight with every breath.

I took another breath in to find the channel.



"Echo?", I call inward. My voice echos around my own head , eyebrow raised as I turn to him. He hears me, and furrows his brows as he turns back.
"Commander?", he answers in my head.
"Protect the Chanceller until I find what's going on",  I answer, watching from under my brow.
"Yes, Commander", he replies, a subtle nod.

We turn back as the smug smirk of Count Dooku made it's way to the front line of droids. "And here I was worried you wouldn't make it to this gathering."

It's my turn to furrow my brow as this was the last thing I expected.


"This time we do it, together", Obi Wan mutters to Anakin.

"Together", he agrees back.