Bat Squadron: Season 5

Episode 4

1BBY
Dandoran

The three walkers open fire on the origin of the shots ripping up the ground behind TK-8751 and Dim.

"Did we get 'em?" One of the drivers in an AT-ST asks.

"Don't let up!" A Commander in the AT-AT barks.

"Yes sir!" An AT-AT pilot yells as they continue walking forward toward the point they were shooting at.

"Guns are starting to overheat!" An AT-ST driver yells.

"Switching to secondary." He co-pilot says and they maintain their fire.

They hear a loud thud on the roof of the walker and look at each other.

"What was that?" One asks.

"Don't know." The co-pilot says.

He stands up and walks toward the hatch. He reaches up but it opens on his own.

"What the-AGHHHHHH!" He screams as he's grabbed by an invisible hand and pulled up.

"What the hell?!" The other driver screams and unholsters his pistol and looks back.

He watches the headless body of his co-pilot drop down and land in the back of the walker as blood floods out of his neck. He watches the hatch close on its own and watches as a large foot steps in the blood of his comrade. He gulps and aims at what he thinks is in front of him but before he can pull the trigger is he skewered by a large pike. He gargles in his own blood as he grabs his chest where he is impaled before the pike is ripped out.

"Walker 334! Why have you stopped firing?" Derik asks.

"Walker 334? Do you copy?" Derik asks.

The hatch flies open again and the other AT-ST turns and opens fire on it. It explodes and topples over. TK-8751 and Dim were running into the rest of the troops and were welcomed back.

"You don't understand Lieutenant...." TK-8751 says out of breath.

"I don't understand what?" Derik asks.

"That thing...." TK-8751 starts again.

He's interrupted not only by his shortness of breath but by an explosion inside the AT-AT.

"What the hell?" Derik asks as he watches the Walker topple over onto its side, crushing the AT-ST beside it.

"It is hunting us...it's smart....too smart...." TK-8751 says.

"Marik!" Derik yells.

"Yes sir?" Marik yells running over.

"Get the prisoners to their feet and let's get moving! We're going into the woods. Maybe we can lose him in the marshes and swamps." Derik says.

"We can't let this thing win." TK-8751 tells Derik, grabbing him by the collar.

"I assure you. This one thing cannot stand up to the might of the galactic empire." Derik says.

"Do you really believe that?" Dim asks.

"Yes. I do." Derik tells them.

"We should go. Before it's too late." Marik says.

He watches as blue flash comes out of nowhere and a large ball of energy rips through the ground, tearing apart five troopers where they stood.