Survival: A Star Wars The Clone Wars Story

Chapter 12

Luminara glared daggers up at the battle droid patrol scuttling into her cell. "What is it that you droids want now? I've already given everything."

Her heart almost skipped a beat when one of them spoke with Obi-Wans voice. "We want to rescue you, and take back everything you've given them."

Her relief was cut short by the thought that this was a possible trap, something to lure her into giving more information, or maybe she had been drugged and was imagining this whole scenario. That was until she saw the tell-tale flicker of a holographic disguise matrix. For only a split second, the droid image fell back and their eyes met. She knew in that exact moment that this was real, also recognising the force signatures around her. Instantly Obi-Wan was on the floor, cutting through her hand and leg cuffs. He wasted no time in lifting her carefully off the floor and explaining: "With me is Ahsoka, Kai and Boxer. Anakin and Captain Rex are getting us transport. Are you hurt? Can you move?"

She nodded in greeting to the team. "No and yes," she said, her voice breathy. "Barriss. Where's Barriss? Where is she? Have you seen her?"

"Not yet," Obi-Wan replied gently. "But we will find her. Stand here for just a second, this wont take long." He signalled for one of the clones to place a battle droid on the floor in front of her. Between them, he placed the holographic disguise device, and as if by magic, the droid and Luminara switched places. What a strange thing, to be staring at herself from above, like some kind of higher entity. Obi-Wan handed her a spare lightsabre which she placed at her hip, sure that the weapon would be swallowed by the disguise. "We shall have to act fast because it wont take long before they realise what we've done."

Leaving behind the Luminara doppelgänger, the newly expanded team continued their search for the Jedi's padawan. Luminara knew that it was best not to count your chickens before theyve hatched, but nevertheless she could not stop the huge wave of relief that crashed over her, that this rescue attempt was even happening at all. They had found her; he had found her and that meant there was hope. Not that she hadn't believed there was a chance before. It was such a risk for them all to come here and she would be forever grateful, though she knew it was part of the Jedi way to come to the aid of those who needed it. Having cleared up that thought, the only other thing occupying her mind was finding Barriss.

Every time she had closed her eyes since the torturing, the image of Barriss face contorted in pain had haunted her. That silent scream. What they had done to her was Luminaras fault entirely. She had given over the clone DNA eventually. If she had given it sooner, then Barriss would have been spared from the torture. It wasn't like Luminara had been powerless to stop it either, all she had had to do was say the word. She had let it escalate, thinking she could hold out to the end. That was until she realised the end would mean Barriss dead. The only thing she could do to make it up to Barriss now was to get them out of here. To keep pushing forward until they were all safe.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Where's Barriss? Where is she? Ahsoka knew she was near; she could feel her force signature further down across the hallway. Weak, but it was there. "Quickly, this way." She whispered as they once again crept through the corridor. Obi-Wan repeated his method of opening the door, and they were in.

Barriss was not awake, as Luminara had been. Instead she was curled into a ball on the dank floor, in a foetal-like position, trapped in a restless slumber judging by the anxious expression on her face. Luminara was at her side in a flash, gently nudging her awake, and quickly whispering to her what was going on. All Barriss could do was nod weakly. Ahsoka also had to help her stand causing her concern for her friend to grow. Obi-Wan cut through her restraints, then once again performed the switch of places, transforming the droid on the floor into a ghostly echo of Barriss.