Chapter Twenty Two: Springing the Trap?
The group found a hiding spot quickly, with Spike actually flying up high. Tech disabling the cameras knowing that their presence had already been detected but he wasn’t going to make it easy. Spike glanced down as the clones walked beneath him. They were quiet as they looked around carefully before one said. “Are you sure the Jedi boarded the ship?”
“General Grievous is sure of it.” the other answered as they spread out. “Weird, I’m sure that the reports stated that he was killed by General Kenobi.”
“Don’t think about it, we have a task to complete.” one of the clones spoke up searching carefully. Spike looked around for the hiding places of the others.
“Spike, anything?” Anakin whispered to his Padawan as he snuck around the ship. Spike saw Rainbow Dash moving quickly behind some crates. Spike nodded his head towards the area keeping close to the ceiling. His wings were starting to get rather tired. He was right over a clone trooper who was getting very close to Anakin’s position. Spike closed his eyes focusing on the barrels on the far end, away from anyone hiding. It tipped for a moment before slamming back into place. The clones looked in the direction as Spike held his breath hoping that they fell for it. Anakin held his lightsaber closely while watching silently under some cover.
“Go check it out.” the clone captain ordered as the troops moved in to investigate the noise. “The rest of you keep searching. It could be a trick.”
Spike frowned seeing one of the enemy fighters chasing after one of theirs towards the magnetic shield only for the one being chased pulling up in the nick of time. The clones dove out of the way to make room for the ship crashing into the hanger. Anakin lost his balance, falling backwards into some crates and fell unconscious. Wrecker ran over to him to check on him as he looked back to Spike. “Kid, he’s out cold.”
“Get him somewhere safe.” Spike ordered as he started ushering everyone to the lift seeing the clones starting to climb to their feet. “Now.”
Wrecker nodded as he threw Anakin over his shoulder and took cover, laying him down where he couldn't be seen. Rainbow Dash moved into a new position making sure she was behind Spike who let out a blaze of fire blocking off the hanger from the lift. He knew it would go out, but it would be a bit.
“In the lift hurry.” Spike ordered as Rainbow Dash got onto her hindlegs and pressed the button. The door opened revealing the empty lift.
“Maybe we should dress him up like a clone.” she suggested getting into the lift. “You know, in case we have to leave him around.”
“I suppose we could, Wrecker can you handle it?” Tech asked, pointing to one of the unconscious clones.
Wrecker let out an audible “Ugh” as he moved to the clone, piece by piece putting the armor on Anakin. “Should we just leave him here though? I don’t know if that’s such a good idea…”
“No, we pose him outside the door, now I feel bad leaving the clone here.” Rainbow said looking at the Clone. “We should hide him too.”
“Put him in the other lift.” Spike said knowing that it was a dangerous gambit but it was one that could buy them some time. Wrecker rolled his eyes as he lifted up Anakin and set his back against the wall in the other lift. Rainbow Dash nodded her head saying. “Time to go. Things have changed with Skywalker out for a bit.” Tech and Wrecker nodded as they got into the lift.
The lift door closed as Spike asked. “We’re supposed to sabotage this ship from the inside. Where’s a good place to do that?”
“Tech, any ideas?” Rainbow Dash looked up at Tech.
“We need to find our way to the engine room first, which according to what I saw of the ship it should be to our left as we get out.” Tech answered, looking down at Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash nodded her head waiting for the lift to open up. When the door opened Rainbow and Spike glanced around seeing no clones heading in their direction for the time being.
“Man, all this sneaking around is boring.” Groaned Wrecker, his arms and head slumped down. “I want some action!”
“Knowing our luck, there’s going to be some action.” Rainbow told Wrecker as they began to move and Spike frowned. “This seems too easy.”
“That’s because they know we’re here, and potentially what we’re up to. We can’t let down our guard.” Tech said as he analyzed the area around him. Spike looked around before saying. “Could Grievous be waiting in engineering?”
“It’s possible, or he’s letting his soldiers lie in wait while he cowers away until the very last moment.” Tech said as he stopped looking around and turned his attention to Spike. “However...we might have an advantage he may not be expecting.”
Spike and Rainbow Dash shared a confused look before looking back to Tech. Tech smiled as he continued to say. "I analyzed a route leading through the air vents to engineering. If you follow my instructions exactly, we may be able to get the jump on them. You both are small enough to fit, yet due to RD's robotic limbs she will create too much noise."
“Guilty, but that could be an advantage too… we could mislead them.” Rainbow Dash commented looking down at her limbs. “Couldn’t get up there though without a little boost.”
Tech put his hand to his chin as he got an idea. "Before I say anything, are you both feeling brave enough?"
“Yeah.” Spike and Rainbow Dash spoke at the exact same time. Spike knew he had to step up while Anakin was out.
Tech nodded as he continued. "There's another pathway leading straight to the bridge...if you make enough noise up there, it could very well divert some attention. Oh and don't worry, Wrecker won't be far in case something happens." Tech smiled as Wrecker muttered under his breath some excitement. "As for you Spike, I will stay in close proximity with you."
“What about the rest of you guys?” Rainbow asked as Spike flew up to access the vent.
"We need people staying close to Anakin in case something were to happen." Tech answered, looking down at Rainbow Dash.
"Leave it to us." Hunter added, placing a hand on Tech's shoulder. Spike nodded his head before moving to help Rainbow Dash in. Once both were in Spike made sure to make it look like nothing had been moved. He climbed towards the engineering while Rainbow Dash made her way towards the bridge. Spike was hoping that this would work, he didn’t want this plan to land Rainbow Dash in hot water for nothing. Tech’s voice came in through Spike’s earpiece as he said. “You’re probably worried, but I’m certain Wrecker will keep her out of harms way.”
“Being worried is probably natural to me at the moment.” Spike joked quietly as he moved towards engineering. “I’m just hoping that this works out.”
“How’s the lighting up there?” Tech asked through both Spike and Rainbow Dash’s earpieces.
“Dim.” Rainbow Dash replied over the earpiece as she tried to make it just noisy enough to catch attention but not to give away her position all the time. Spike let out a sound of agreement, it was dim but he could see a little bit.
“I’m getting close to engineering.” Spike whispered looking through one of the grates. “Should I hold position?”
“What’s your status Rainbow Dash?” Tech asked, making sure everything was lined up right.
“Getting close to the bridge.” Rainbow said climbing into another ventilation shaft moving along. “I don’t know how many I’ve got following me.”
“Spike, can you see engineering below you yet?” Tech asked once more. He took cover next to the door leading to engineering, waiting Spike’s response. Spike got into a more comfortable position as he said. “Yeah.”
“Alright, there should be some troopers guarding a structure that looks similar to the engine back on our ship, do you see it?” Tech questioned, keeping still and quiet.
Spike glanced around for a moment before spotting what Tech was talking about saying. “Yeah.”
“Get ready then, we’re about to start. Rainbow Dash, start making extra noise and Wrecker, do your thing. Once the troopers leave the room, I will take care of them while you hop down and disable the generator Spike.” Tech instructed, his blaster at the ready.
Rainbow Dash took a deep breath before slamming her hooves against the vent’s surface. She moved forward quickly making sure to make as much noise as possible. She was going to make sure that she could get out of there.
Grievous was standing on the bridge as he took notice of the noise. “So they’re choosing to fight us immediately then? The fools don’t know that I expected this. Engineering, head towards the Bridge at once and we will pincer them!” He commanded the troopers as he stood ready for the intruders. Rainbow Dash tried not to snicker as she grinned moving around a bit getting comfortable.
Spike waited for the go ahead as he watched the Clones leave Engineering. He moved the vent grate silently to the side in preparation. The Clones exited the room as Tech gunned them down. “Now Spike!”
Spike flew in towards his destination as quickly as he could. He knew that it was only a matter of time before they realized that this was a trick.
“Spike, there should be a console in front of the engine. It’ll take too long to try and disengage it, but frying it...that should do the trick.” Tech told Spike as he hid the bodies in a nearby storage room.
Spike nodded his head, he was about to let out the stream of fire when Rainbow Dash whispered. “What about finding out where Hallow Glow is or what’s going on with Equestria?”
“I’ll look into that, in the meanwhile I’m gonna go check on Hunter and Anakin and rendezvous with Rainbow Dash and Wrecker. Spike, after you disable the engine get yourself out of there as quickly as you can back through the air vent.” Tech answered as he started moving back to Hunter’s position.
Spike let loose a stream of fire towards the machine making sure that it was damaged to the point that it could be repaired it would just take time. Once he was sure of that Spike flapped his wings ready to head back into the ventilation shaft. A pale light began to glow behind him causing Spike to turn around, when his eyes landed upon the source they widened. “You.”
Without a word, the figure shrouded in light pointed in a direction for Spike to follow. Spike glanced in the direction unsure if he should go. Looking back he decided to figure out what it was trying to communicate to him. He moved cautiously keeping an eye out for any Clones. The figure stood there motionless, ever pointing for Spike to go to an area in engineering. Spike looked at the area before moving in the direction. There he found a box, like a jewelry box, simple but he felt like something important lay within. He opened it finding what seemed to be strands of beads, he reached out curiously and touched one with his claws.
The figure became less shrouded and more visible, revealing Spike’s suspicions to be correct as before him stood the Emperor. Spike frowned as he backed away trying to keep his emotions under control. “What do you want?”
“Dear child, why do you continue to serve the Master who has already proven to be a failure?” The Emperor asked with a concerned look. Spike kept a growl back as he spoke. “He already explained some of it to me, that he had made mistakes with Ahsoka. That he wouldn’t make those same mistakes.”
“And you believe him?” Palpatine continued to question acting as if concerned. Spike looked away as he thought about it. He looked at Palpatine saying. “Yeah, I do. Everyone makes mistakes, but trust begins with me. He never meant for anyone to get hurt and he takes a lot on himself. What makes you so trustworthy?”
“Do you know who those beads belong to?” Palpatine asked, avoiding the question. Spike shook his head as he looked at the beads.
“They belonged to his dear Padawan, my apprentice Ahsoka Tano. Can you feel the sorrow, the anger she felt through those beads?” Palpatine asked with a growl. “The hate?”
Spike looked at the beads as he rubbed one of his claws over them before saying. “Lonineless, hurt, she felt abandoned, lost, anger, and memories.”
Spike smiled a bit as he felt the memories of the beads. “They’re a bit jumbled, but there was a point where she was happy. Happy to be Anakin’s Padawan, to be in the Jedi Order, she seemed to have lost her faith in them.”
“Indeed, and then they turned their backs on her, the ones that she thought she believed in. It wasn’t only her master that failed her...it was the Jedi. The Jedi that turned her into what she is now, but now she has grown more powerful and has something to believe in once more. Come and join me young one, and leave Skywalker.” Palptaine insisted as he stretched both his arms out as if to offer him in as one of his own. Spike looked at the beads before remembering one thing. “You’re not any better. You never planned on making peace with Equestria or following the rules. Even if we hadn’t met Anakin and the clones that escape, Celestia still would have questioned your intentions. You still would have attacked. The only difference would have been that none of us would have been prepared.”
“Much is done in war...your friends harbored criminals and were dealt with as such. As for you, I can offer you a place at my side or forever live in failure’s shadow, being hunted down as a criminal alongside them all.” Palpatine growled, putting his arms back down to his side. Spike took a step back before shaking his head. “No, I’m not betraying my friends, I don’t care if we are hunted. No matter what a dragon doesn’t back down, a noble heart will never waver, and a good person won’t choose the easy road if it means betraying everyone that they care for.”
“Very well...how unfortunate it is then that you will meet your end here. As we speak, the General has captured your friends. Oh you thought your little plan would work? I have been watching you all this time...waiting to spring the trap. Go ahead, try contacting them if you don’t believe me.” Cackled Palpatine as he faded away. Spike frowned before flying up into the vents moving through towards the bridge. He didn’t know what he was going to do, but he wasn’t going to contact them. But instead he turned the earpiece on in order to see if anyone had their communicator on.
“Well well well, the little Jedi whelp finally responds.” A familiar sinister voice came through.