Time's up! (A Clone Wars Fanfic)

Part 24- The echo

She also turned around and hugged Rex who was close. This mission was hell, she should've listened to Ahsoka.

They were walking for just a little longer before arriving to the pipeline that'll lead them to where Artoo will pick them up. When they opened the hatch of the pipe, an awful stench came out. But hey, this isn't just a normal mission, this pipe will have to do. Anakin told the boys to lock their blasters because a shot could ignite the whole tube. Melian's eyes got wider as he said that because she knew that droids don't care about that, so if they run into them in the pipe... she stopped herself from thinking that way.

After a few minutes of Melian jumping around the pipe, Anakin and Tarkin talking about everything and the boys complaining, Melian saw the exit. She went to check if there are any droids outside.
"Be careful Melian" Anakin warned her. She lifted the hatch just a bit, so her eyes were looking outside. She could see no droids so she started exiting the pipe. She lifted the hatch all way and it fell behind her. Out of the blue some droids were pointing their guns at her. She stopped for a moment, thinking of what to do. Then she ignited both her lightsabers and did a quick spin, cutting of their guns and heads.
"Uhh, master, you better come here" Melian said worried as she started returning the shots. When Anakin came out, he noticed battalions of droids. Anakin and Melian were returning their shots while the others were getting away from the pipeline. When everyone was at a safe distance, Anakin and Melian came too.

"Plan's been compromised! The shuttle's not coming! Rex, throw me a charge!" Anakin said.
"Master you aren't thinking-"
"Oh I am" he threw the charge in the pipeline which exploded, killing all the droids. One of the crab-like ones flew all the way to them

"Lets go, time for plan B" Anakin said while standing up since he was on his knees.
"There's a plan B?" Tarkin questioned.
"There's always a plan B" Melian answered with a sigh.

They were running to where Artoo was supposed to pick up Obi-Wan. As Anakin thought, there they were, Obi-Wan and his team. They finally regrouped.
"Sorry we're late" Anakin said as he ran up to Obi-Wan.
"Oh how nice of you to join us"
"The shuttle is completely surrounded! What're we gonna do?" Melian asked looking at everyone
"I suggest we run and take that vessel!" Tarkin suggested
"We can't do that! They're gonna blow up the shuttle with that gun over there!" Melian pointed to one of the guns.
"Whatever we do, we better do it quickly" Anakin pointed to the sky where you could see droids approaching on STAP's. They all turned their lightsabers on waiting for the droids to come closer.

They started blocking the droid's shots and when they came closer Master Piell jumped over Anakin and destroyed one droid. Anakin also jumped, pushed the droid off of his STAP and continued flying over the battlefield. In a try to destroy the cannon that troubled them the most, Anakin's STAP got shot, but he survived. Melian has moved from one side to another, where Fives and Echo were. That way she was closer to the shuttle and she could help more.

"This is our only chance, we've got to take that shuttle!" Echo said while running out and taking one of the shields the droids had.
"Echo, stop!" Fives tried to stop him. Melian just watched in horror, unable to move, talk or do anything because she knows what'll happen. Echo stood on the entrance of the shuttle, shooting at all of the droids from behind his shield. Then the cannon noticed him and... the shuttle exploded with Echo there. The explosion pushed all the others behind.

For a moment there everything was quiet. All that could be heard were Fives and Melian screaming for Echo, hoping they'll get an answer... but nothing. Echo's name being screamed by Fives and Melian echoed in everyone's ears. The pain in their voices. The misery and agony in their voices. Melian saw his burned helmet as the smoke cleared up. She wanted to scream and cry and destroy everyone on this planet... but she felt numb. Like nothing could bother her now. Yet, it felt like someone was crushing her, it hurt. She could feel the pain, the sadness, but it didn't bother her. She's watched so many awful things in this goddamn war that little things surprise her and leave her startled.

The droids didn't stop shooting at them, so they didn't really have time to mourn him.
"We have to go, now!" Anakin said as he started blocking the shots. Melian couldn't just leave like that, not after all the things Echo's done for her. And for everyone. So she took his helmet. Then they left, continuing their little trip that's slowly, but steadily coming to an end