The Varactyl Squadron Commander (A Star Wars: The Clone Wars Fan-Fiction)

Chapter Forty-Four

Anakin couldn't clearly recall what events had taken place between the time him and his entourage of spies entered and exited the Twaran palace. He could sort of remember wandering aimlessly throughout the halls, trying to sense which direction would most likely lead them to their goal- the plans for the new battle droids. It was all he was focused on, all he had on his mind and at his attention.

Until it just...wasn't.

It was like a switch had gone off in his brain, one he couldn't fight. It took over his body and possessed his will, taking it captive and shoving it to the side like it was a troublesome child in need of discipline. There was no struggle. Someone just snapped their fingers and Anakin Skywalker was gone, off in another space all together with no way of getting back on his own.

Then almost as soon as the darkness had taken over, it was gone and he could feel his soul return to his body once more. He blinked his eyes, looked around and found Risk and Champs looking right back, both clones practically dragging the general across the ground towards a light at the end of a hallway which he could only presume was the palace's exit.

He wanted to ask where JC was, but the solemn look in the eyes of his men told him all he needed to know. How Molindi would take it, they'd have to wait and see. It was something they weren't looking forward to.

What mattered most was that they got the plans out of the Separatists' hands for the time being, now all they needed to do was regroup with the others and get the hell off this damned planet.

Getting back to their ship wasn't a problem and took much less time than they originally thought. In a matter of minutes, they'd made their way back from the palace to the arena and docked their vehicle where they'd originally dropped off the others. According to their original plan, the four...the three of them now... were to wait at the drop-off til the others made it back. But, if need be, the three of them were to leave the others behind if the mission was put in jeopardy. After all, the droid plans were more important than the lives of a few clones in the eyes of the greater good.

Their worries were set aside when they saw four guards approaching the ship, along with a few young men and an elderly lady. Anakin pressed the proper buttons and deployed the boarding ramp with a familiar sheeee sound of the ship's equipment. Risk and Champs stepped outside to meet them to make sure their identities were still that of their allies and escorted the more-than-happy "treasonous traitors of Twar" onto the safety of their vessel.

"We're going back for the Commanders," Breaks stated the minute their newest charges were safely strapped into the ship's seats. "They need backup. From the size of the monster they're up against, they're screwed if we don't step in."

"You're right. Slides, Dodo, Champs, and Rocket are going to stay here with the civilians and the plans for the CCDs," General Skywalker instructed the group. "Breaks, Risk, and Tyson- you three are coming with me. If we're not back in twenty minutes, you leave without us. Am I clear?" The men exchanged glances of uncertainty.

Leave them behind? Yes, they knew millions of lives were at stake and that they'd ultimately do it in the end if the need arose. But...it still left a rock in the pits of their stomachs and a gross taste in the back of their mouths. The general noticed their uncertainty and put a reassuring hand on Champs' shoulder.

"Don't worry, it's me," He smirked with one of his signature smug little grins. "I'll be back with the others in a few minutes. Just keep the ship running and ready to get us the hell out of here as soon as we're all on board."

With the general in such high spirits on the matter, it eased their discomfort and the members of the 501st watched as they walked away, down the ramp and into the deep end of the arena.

*****

The gorog didn't remain a problem much long after Anakin and the rest of Varactyl Squadron entered the scene. Stealing one of the royal guards' hover-speeders while everyone else was distracted, the men drove out into the light of day and took in the scene before them.

"You guys sweep down and pick up the commanders," Anakin ordered over the sound of the shit-show going on around them, people screaming in the stands and guards rushing around in all directions as if their heads had been cut off. The gorog itself had suddenly become aware of Molindi and Rex's presence and was haphazardly slamming its fists over and over in the sand like a toddler throwing a tantrum. "I'll take care of the giant monster."

A glance up at the royals' platform gave the men a second thought when they recognized the little girls fighting for their lives...along with a familiar man in a guard's uniform aiding them in battle.

"Axel?" Breaks thought out loud. "How the hell did he get up there?"

"No time for questions! Go!" Anakin snapped as the speeder zoomed closer and closer to the enormous beast on the arena floor. With one giant burst of energy, the man lunged up into the air, his body practically flying over to the head of the gorog and he grabbed hold of the creature's skin. Clinging with one hand, Anakin reached for his lightsaber with the other and ignited the weapon. Its blue blade shone brightly against the dull color of the gorog's flesh.

Normally, Anakin did his best not to take pleasure in his violence. After all, it wasn't the jedi way. But with his adrenaline pumping, General Skywalker couldn't fight the surge of excitement as he felt the gorog's anger through the force, its frustration and lust for blood. For the blood of Anakin's men.

Oh, taking down this bastard was going to be fun.

*****

Almost as soon as Molindi got back to her feet, she was getting knocked off them again. Or pulled off them, to be more accurate. The speed of the royal guards' vehicle stirred the sand and left waves of the small grains heading in all directions as it barreled towards the woman. There was no stopping it; she'd have only one chance to catch her ride.

Suddenly remembering that she wasn't alone, her eyes scanned the arena and found Rex a few yards away, just as alert and ready for action as she was.

"Rex!" She shouted for his attention, to which he immediately gave at the sound of her voice, and followed her line of sight to the speeder headed in her direction. With the gorog now occupied by General Skywalker and his antics, that gave the duo enough time for their getaway. Almost instantly, Rex had sprinted over to Molindi's side and gave her a small smile.

"Commander! Jump!"

The two immediately leaped up into the air as high as they could, reaching for Risk and Tyson's outstretched arms and Molindi's men hauled them over the edge of the spacecraft.

"Nice catch," Molindi complimented Risk and gave him a grateful grin. "Thanks for the pick-up."

"Don't thank us yet, Commander," He countered. "We still have to get out of this mess."

"We can't leave the girls! Or Axel!" Molindi suddenly exclaimed with the worried tone of a true sister, of a person genuinely worried for the safety of the triplets they'd met only a few days before as well as a commander desperate not to lose another one of her men. "They'll kill them! We can't let that happen!"

"We won't!" Rex assured her. With a nod of mutual agreement, the group made their way to the royal platform for a rescue mission they'd never forget.