Obi-Wan immediately raised his wrist communicator as he and Matt began pursuing the traitor through the ship's corridors.
"Tal Merrik is a Separatist traitor, and he's taken Satine hostage," Kenobi reported urgently to Anakin as he and Matt ran through the elegant hallways.
"This way—toward the bridge," Matt directed, using his enhanced senses to track their quarry through the ship's layout.
"Copy that, Master, but I've got serious problems of my own down here," Anakin replied with obvious strain, the sound of his lightsaber cutting through another swarm of smaller assassin droids audible over the comm.
Behind him in the lower decks, Natasha and Steve were systematically dealing with what seemed like an endless army of mechanical threats.
"Cody, Rex, what's your status?" Anakin called into his wrist communicator while continuing to fight.
"All quiet in our sector, sir," Commander Cody reported as he and Rex cautiously rounded a corner in their sweep pattern. Just as he was about to signal the all-clear, the clone commander spotted a familiar helmet lying abandoned on the deck. "Wait... something's not right here."
Cody carefully lifted the helmet to examine it more closely and discovered a small mini-droid concealed inside that immediately leaped at his face. Several more mini-droids suddenly emerged from hidden positions and swarmed toward the two senior clone officers in a coordinated attack.
Fortunately, Anakin appeared around the corner with R2-D2, and he quickly slashed through the attacking mini-droids with precise lightsaber strikes, eliminating the immediate threat to Rex and Cody.
"Much appreciated, sir," Captain Rex said with obvious relief.
R2-D2 chirped proudly in acknowledgment of their successful teamwork, and both clone officers regained their footing.
"Well, we found the offspring," Skywalker observed grimly. "Now where's the parent unit?"
"Haven't encountered it yet, sir," Cody replied.
Suddenly, a menacing metallic screech echoed from behind them. When they turned to investigate, they were too late to react as the massive mother droid lunged from the shadows and seized Captain Rex, carrying him to a more open area of the corridor. It reared up on its hind legs and raised its two razor-sharp front appendages, preparing to deliver a killing blow.
Rex desperately grabbed the two deadly legs that were about to pierce through him and managed to kick the mechanical creature away from his body. The assassin droid immediately began climbing up the wall when Steve's vibranium shield struck its legs with perfect precision, severing them completely. The shield ricocheted back to its owner, giving the clone captain the opening he needed.
Rex leaped onto the damaged droid and aimed his blaster directly at the mini-droid deployment port, firing a sustained barrage of energy bolts into its central processor. The assassin droid sparked violently before its optical systems went dark permanently.
Looking back toward his allies with satisfaction, Rex received approving nods from the others.
"Excellent work, Captain," Steve said with professional approval.
Meanwhile, on the bridge of the Coronet, a crew of Republic naval personnel were stationed throughout the command center, monitoring their hyperspace flight controls and maintaining their course toward Coruscant. Everything had been proceeding normally, despite the earlier alert status due to the assassin droids discovered elsewhere on the ship.
When the bridge doors suddenly opened, the crew initially assumed it was security guards or other authorized personnel. However, to their shock and alarm, Senator Tal Merrik entered with Duchess Satine held firmly as a hostage.
Several of the bridge guards began reaching for their weapons to respond appropriately, but with Merrik's blaster already drawn and aimed, they were caught completely off guard. He fired with deadly accuracy at the security personnel before turning his weapon toward the unarmed ship's captain.
"No, please, I'm begging you—" the captain began desperately.
The man was silenced by a precise shot to the head.
"You monster! You're an absolute monster!" Satine cried out in horror at witnessing the cold-blooded murder of innocent crew members.
"You'd better get accustomed to it," Merrik growled menacingly. He moved to the center of the command bridge and activated the long-range communication system.
"Death Watch Command, this is Agent Merrik," he announced.
Pre Vizsla's image appeared via hologram, addressing both the Duchess and the Senator with obvious satisfaction.
"Report, Senator Merrik."
"Mission accomplished, sir. I have secured the Duchess, but I require immediate extraction assistance," Merrik explained. "The Coronet carries two Jedi Masters and three Avengers. That represents a significant tactical problem."
"Do not concern yourself, Merrik—reinforcements are already en route," Pre Vizsla's tone carried ominous promise. "Our esteemed Separatist allies have generously provided support specifically designed to counter both Jedi and Avengers. Prepare to drop out of hyperspace so they can rendezvous with your position."
As the transmission ended, Merrik held the Duchess closer while he manipulated the ship's controls to force the Coronet to exit hyperspace prematurely. From there, he transmitted coordinates to the Separatist fleet so they could intercept and board the diplomatic vessel.
Back in the ship's corridors, Obi-Wan and Matt encountered Anakin and Natasha running toward them through the same hallway.
"Did you locate them?" Kenobi asked immediately.
"Negative, but I have clone troopers stationed at every escape pod and shuttle bay," Anakin reported efficiently. "Steve is coordinating with them to ensure no one can escape the ship."
"Merrik will attempt to signal his Separatist allies for extraction. We must locate him immediately," Kenobi said as they entered the corridor's turbolift.
"He's already transmitted the signal," Matt informed them, his enhanced hearing having detected the conversation between Merrik and Pre Vizsla. "The moment we drop out of hyperspace, enemy forces will move to intercept us."
Everyone present fell into grim silence as the elevator carried them toward their destination.
Anakin eventually broke the uncomfortable quiet. "This might not be the ideal time to ask, but you and Satine... is there something—"
"I fail to see how that has any relevance to our current tactical situation," Obi-Wan replied in an obviously defensive manner. Anakin exchanged a knowing look with Natasha, both of them smiling with obvious amusement at their friend's reaction.
The moment they exited the turbolift, they felt the Coronet shudder violently, followed immediately by blaring alarms that signaled to everyone aboard that they were under attack. Clone troopers rushed to their battle stations throughout the ship's corridors, preparing to repel the incoming assault.
"Looks like our uninvited guests have arrived," Natasha observed with grim humor.
"We'll handle the boarding party, Obi-Wan. You go rescue your girlfriend," Anakin said with a mischievous grin as he ran off with Matt and Natasha toward the sounds of combat.
"She's not my... there's no..." Obi-Wan realized the futility of his protests and rushed off to find Satine before it was too late.
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