STAR WARS: CONFLICTED

CHAPTER X - BACKUP ARRIVES

Nathan awoke to the sound of screeching. He sat up instantly, almost as if he had never been out cold. He scanned the dark room around him, trying to figure out what had happened.

He remembered Dooku, and what felt like lightning piercing through his body. After that, nothing. Now, he was stuck in a dark room, with cave-like features surrounding it.

Nathan heard a scuffle in the corner of his cell, which was shrouded in darkness. He tried to move closer to the noise, but he realised his hands and feet were bound together by what must have been a force-resistant restraint. Instead of moving closer, Nathan closed his eyes, and reached out in his mind with the force to identify it. When he opened his eyes, he couldn't believe it.

"Ahsoka." He breathed, ignoring all of the restraints to move closer, and there she was, still unconscious, bound together by the same restraints.

"Ahsoka, wake up." Nathan whispered close to her face, making sure not to alarm anyone who could hear them. Nathan felt the presence of someone watching the two padawans.

When Ahsoka still didn't awaken, Nathan placed a hand on her forehead, sending a force wave of energy through him into her, shocking her and waking her up straight away.
"OW!" Ahsoka yelled, holding a hand to her lekku.
"Sorry, sorry." Nathan stumbled.
"Nathan?" Ahsoka peered, recognising her friend.
"Yeah, it's me." Nathan smiled.
"Where are we?" She asked.
"I couldn't tell you. But I do know this was Dooku's doing. He bested me before he stunned me."
"You fought Dooku?" Ahsoka asked, surprised, more by the fact he had survived the encounter.
"Yeah, but I lost." He admitted.
"I can see that." Ahsoka chuckled, gesturing to his restraints.
Nathan rolled his eyes, before struggling to get to his feet. Looking around for any sign of a way out, he noticed a section of the wall which looked exceptionally weak. He reached for his hilt, then remembered Dooku obviously took his saber.

He tried to force push the wall open, but these restraints were designed to prevent that from being a possibility.

He sat back down, exasperated. It seemed any effort to escape was no use.

"What do you think will happen?" Ahsoka asked.
Nathan remembered the threat Dooku made to him whilst they were fighting.
He froze.
"Ahsoka, Dooku told me if I didn't give up, he would have us executed." Nathan said slowly.
"Well, then we need a way out. Do you have your comlink?" Ahsoka said.
"No, do you?"
"No."
"Great, we're stuck here." Nathan said finally, giving up. He sunk down, laying on the rock hard surface.

Ahsoka closed her eyes. Perhaps she could sense something to help them. She could feel the presence of two B1 droids just outside their confinement. With a whistle, she summoned them both.

"What do you want, prisoner?" One of them demanded, poking their blaster at the Togruta.
"You will remove these restraints, and leave with the door open." She muttered under her breath, staring deeply into the droid's excuse for an eye socket.
"What?" The B1 replied, moving closer to the cell. "Quit your mumbling, Jedi. We are here to-"

That was all she needed. She used her handcuffed arms to elbow the droid in the head, almost taking it clean off. When the droid beside it tried to fire on her, she raised her arms, putting the restraints in the firing line. Her hands were free.

Using the force, she summoned the blaster to her hand, opening fire on the droids, killing them almost instantly. Nathan looked at her, surprised, as she used the force to release the rest of the handcuffs on both her and Nathan.

"That was impressive." Nathan said.
"I'm glad you think so. Now let's get out of here, befo-"

Ahsoka was cut off by the sound of a gunship landing above them. Confused, the padawans shot into cover, peeking round occasionally to see what was going on.

"Move, move, move!" They heard from above, the familiar voices of Jango Fett as the clones scattered, blasting anything in their way. Both droids and clones became locked in battle, down the hallways of this dark place, the only light being emitted from the blaster bolts.

That was, until, Anakin's blue blade ignited into action.

"Anakin!" Ahsoka cried, as Anakin made his way through, to join the other Jedi in cover.

"Ahsoka, I'm so glad you're safe. Are you okay?" Anakin rushed.
"We're fine." Ahsoka replied, smiling. "But I would be better with my sabers."
"Then let's go find them." Anakin said. "They can't be far."

"You're quite right, Skywalker." The sinister voice of Count Dooku said from a distance.
"You." Nathan said, glaring at the Sith Lord.

"I have no need for you, padawan." Dooku said, looking Anakin directly in the eye.
"You've poisoned this world for the last time, Count." Anakin said defiantly, brandishing his lightsaber once more.

"We shall see." The red lightsaber emitted the hallway and beyond.