Counterattack [Pt. 1]

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  Escape from a Separatist prison. Carrying secret routes that lead into the heart of the Republic and Separatist homeworlds, Jedi Master Piell was captured and imprisoned in a fortress known as the Citadel. Leading an elite strike team, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker rescued Master Piell and his officers. Now the Jedi have to split up to evade Separatist forces as they attempt to escape the Citadel.

  Anakin, Rey, and Ahsoka led the clones and the officers through the tunnel as quietly as possible. "Artoo, are you and the battle droids ready for pickup?" Anakin asked. R2-D2 responded in a series of beeps. "All right, get the ship fired up. We'll meet you at the pipeline exit after you picked up Obi-Wan, assuming he's still on schedule," Anakin said into his comm link. Rey snickered as Anakin hung up the comm. "What's so funny, Rey?" Anakin glanced back at her. "Nothing. It's just ironic to hear you, of all people, criticize others for showing up late or not sticking to the plan," Rey chuckled lightheartedly. Anakin simply rolled his eyes and turned away.

  Back at their ship, R2-D2 and his battle droids boarded the shuttle and took off to find Obi-Wan at the landing bay. However, as the droids flew the ship, Artoo was careful to tell them not to fly to high, so that they wouldn't be spotted.

  Inside the Citadel, Obi-Wan and his team were crawling through the air ducts above one of the hallways. Once they heard the guards, that were passing by, walk to the other side of the hallway, they continued to crawl through the shaft until they reached a passage.

  "This passage will get us near the landing pad," Obi-Wan said as he led the group up through the passage. The clones followed the Jedi, however, Master Piell noticed something and and went through the opposite passage. When Obi-Wan finally made it to the top, he turned on his com-link and messaged R2-D2. "Artoo, send the shuttle to the rear landing platform," Obi-Wan said into the com-link. "We've already been given the go-ahead by General Skywalker, sir, assuming you are still on schedule," a battle droid replied. "The trick will be if Anakin arrives on time," Obi-Wan smirked.

  A clone who was climbing up the shaft of the ventilation system was suddenly caught by a small floating probe droid. Jedi Master Piell, who had reappeared at Obi-Wan's side climbed up the shaft to catch up with the probe before it sent word to the other Separatists. He climbed and jumped high above Obi-Wan and the clones and slashed through the probe with his emerald green blade. Piell landed a few levels below him with some of the other troops. "Did you get it?" Obi-Wan asked. The other Jedi nodded up at him in affirmation.

  Then the worst thing imaginable happened. Metal doors started closing in the vent system. "Security doors. Move or you'll be cut in half," Obi-Wan warned. Obi-Wan let go of the rail he was hanging onto and dropped to one of the lower ledges. All around Piell, doors started closing. Security doors were slamming on all sides of the clones and one was stuck in the opening trying to get through before it closed on him. "I can't," he panicked. Then, as one of the doors behind the clones that were trying to save the other who couldn't get through closed behind them, the door closed on the clone trooper that was stuck in the opening.

  Obi-Wan, who was above everyone else, heard the sound of a lightsaber cutting through metal. He looked down and saw that Piell had a whole through the door. "We lost one. Looks like we've got some cutting to do," Piell said, as he poked his head out of the wall.

  Back at central command, the Separatists were checking security holograms, and working to apprehend the intruders. A droid came up to the Separatist commander and said, "Count Dooku insists that you speak with him, Commander." "Well, let's not keep him waiting," the commander replied. "He's already waiting, sir," the droid responded back. The commander sneered. He and the droid turned to walk into a room with a holographic image of Count Dooku. "Count Dooku, my lord, how unexpected," the commander greeted nervously. "You may cease the propriety, Commander Sobeck. I understand there is a problem with the Jedi prisoner," Dooku replied coolly. "An incursion team attempted a rescue, but the situation is taking care of," Sobeck assured the Count. "Are you in possession of the information the prisoner is carrying?" the Count questioned. "Not yet, but we'll soon have it," Sobeck answered. "You are aware that this information will tip the scale of the war to the side that controls it. Perhaps this is a matter that requires my presence," Dooku explained. "No, my lord," Sobeck said. "Find them, Commander. Get the information, then kill them all," Dooku ordered before the holo-com ended.

  The commander whipped around to choke the droid that informed him of the message with Dooku and said, "Don't ever surprise me with a transmission from Count Dooku. I need time to prepare," Sobeck yelled. "Yes, Commander," the droid replied.

  Anakin's team was walking through the tunnels and was being led by Rey and Ahsoka. As the last of the clones followed the female Jedi a probe showed up and tried to followed after them. However, it didn't get far, because Anakin sliced it in half. He quickly checked to see if anything else was following them, before joining with the others. At the front of the group, Tarkin was standing by Ahsoka and Rey. "I am beginning to admire the design of this fortress. It's rather formidable to evade," Tarkin said aloud. "How can you admire such a horrible place?" Ahsoka asked. Rey, who was listening to the conversation, intervened.

  "Uh, 'Soka, I think he's talking about the structural foundation and the way it's built. Remember, that this prison was once intended to hold Jedi who turned to the dark side," she explained to Ahsoka. "Exactly. And she revealed her shortsightedness. This ordeal goes to show how effective facilities like the Citadel are. Pity it ended up in Separatist hands and not ours," Tarkin agreed. Tarkin continued walking ahead of the female Jedi, who had stopped walking. Anakin, who had finally caught up to the girls and had been listening to the conversation, said, "He's got a point," Anakin agreed. Ahsoka looked at him in shock. Rey then said, "I agree with Anakin on this subject. I mean, it would've been nice to not have to ship every Separatist prisoner back to Coruscant all the time."

  "All right, Snips, I need you to lead the group. Keep following the tunnel. We'll catch up," Anakin said. "Who is 'we', Anakin?" Rey asked. "You and me, of course," Anakin replied slyly. Rey rolled her eyes and said, "Of course." Anakin and Rey stared at each other for a moment, before Rey looked away and cleared her throat. Then the two started walking the opposite direction the group was headed. "Hey, where are you two going?" Ahsoka asked. "Obi-Wan's not here, someone has to protect our flank," Anakin answered as he began walking away again. Rey followed close behind and said to him, "You're sure that you need for the sake of the mission and not because you want to get a minute alone with me."

  "I'm positive, Rey," Anakin sighed. "Are you certain?" Rey pried. Anakin stopped and around to face her. "Rey, if I wanted to get with you, you would practically be begging," he said smugly. Rey simply chuckled. "Well, now I wonder if you could put your credits where your mouth is." Then she walked passed him. "He looked after her and smirked. "You have no idea," he chuckled.

  On Coruscant, Mace Windu and Plo Koon were in the war room trying to identify a secret transmission. "We've received a coded transmission. Apparently, they've split up into two groups. The rendezvous points are the landing field behind the tower, where Artoo will pick up Obi-Wan Kenobi and the pipeline exit where they'll find Anakin Skywalker," Plo informed. "And what if things don't go according to plan?" Windu asked. "Then we'd have to send an entire fleet to get them out of there," Plo answered.

  Ahsoka was still leading Tarkin and the other clones through the pipeline tunnels of the Citadel. "I am concerned that the Jedi have elected this... child to lead the group," Tarkin said to Rex. "I've served with her many times, and I trust her, Captain," Rex replied. As Ahsoka turned the next corner she saw that it was a dead end. "Uh-oh," she said. "Dead end," she heard Rex say behind her.

  Strip and his unit were flying the shuttle to the landing field behind the tower to meet Obi-Wan and his team. "It looks like there are security guards there," a battle droid said to Artoo pointing in the direction of the landing pad. Artoo beeped something to that droid and the droid replied, "Okay, boss, we'll land and wait for General Kenobi to arrive." The shuttle took a downward plunge towards the landing pad and landed next to some crates. However, when the droids walked out of the ship, they were met by a Separatist droid. "Uh-oh, That doesn't look like General Kenobi," one of the battle droids whispered. "We'll have to improvise," said another.

  "Your arrival is long overdue. Where have you been," the Separatist droid said. Artoo beeped something and the battle droids immediately pointed their guns at Artoo. "Even so, the odds are three to one that you are a traitor. We will take you to interrogation below," the Separatist continued. "Yes, sir," one battle droid saluted. "Move it," another called out. The battle droids then led Artoo into the building. In order to sell it, Artoo beeped something to the battle droids. "Don't talk back to me droid," one of the battle droids said.

  The Separatist droid that caught them turned on his com-link and messaged Commander Sobeck. "We have captured the shuttle that has infiltrated our defenses," the droid spoke. "Good. Guard the shuttle, then we'll lure the Jedi into a trap," said the commander.

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