The Clone Commandos and Khaleen scrambled for cover, staying as far from the massive beast as possible while the two super soldiers and three Jedi continued their desperate assault.
Aayla carved into Gorog's hide with both lightsabers, the blue and green blades she'd claimed from Kadrian earlier this year, but even her precise strikes barely scratched the creature's thick skin.
Anakin and Voss worked in tandem, hurling boulder-sized chunks of debris with the Force, each impact thundering against Gorog's armored flesh.
T'Challa's suit revealed a new trick the team had never seen, a glowing purple vibranium staff that extended from his gauntlets. He spun it expertly, striking with surgical precision at the beast's joints.
Steve kept his shield flying in a steady rhythm, the vibranium disc bouncing off Gorog's skull again and again. But even with three Avengers and three Jedi working together, the monster just kept coming.
"Oh man, this thing is insane," Scott groaned, clutching his ribs and wincing with each breath. Something was definitely broken in there, every movement sent fire through his chest.
"How the hell are we supposed to take this thing down?"
"Think I can make it back to our ship for the heavy artillery?" Scorch asked, but Boss shook his head grimly.
"Negative. Too much open ground."
Steve hurled his shield upward in a perfect arc, watching it ricochet off Gorog's massive head. But instead of returning to his hand, one of the creature's flailing arms batted it away, sending the shield spinning into the distance.
"Damn it," Steve muttered, sprinting forward to retrieve his weapon. Gorog's massive arm swept across the ground like a living bulldozer, forcing the super soldier to dive backward.
Aayla joined Anakin and Voss, the three Jedi combining their power to launch a barrage of stone projectiles. Each boulder struck with bone-crushing force, but Gorog barely seemed to notice.
A shadow passed overhead, catching Aayla's attention.
Spotting Steve's shield arcing through the air, the Twi'lek Jedi leaped high, using the Force to boost her jump. She knew vibranium could disrupt Force abilities, but she managed to guide the shield into her grasp just as,
Gorog's massive fist came crashing down.
Aayla spun the shield in front of her just in time. The stars and stripes absorbed most of the impact, but the sheer force still sent her flying like a ragdoll.
She hit the ground hard, every bone in her body screaming in protest. A pained whimper escaped her lips as she struggled to move.
At least she could still feel everything, which was both good and terrible. Good because she wasn't paralyzed. Terrible because everything hurt.
Slowly, painfully, she pushed herself to her knees, muscles and bones aching with each movement.
"How does Steve make this look easy?" she gasped through gritted teeth.
The area around her grew dark. Aayla looked up with wide, terrified eyes.
Gorog loomed over her like a living mountain. Too injured to move, all she could do was raise Steve's shield weakly and prepare for the end.
Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around her.
She cried out as she was yanked away, feeling the rush of air as Gorog's massive fist crashed into the ground where she'd been lying.
"I've got you," Steve's voice was steady and reassuring in her ear.
But Gorog was faster than they'd expected. The beast's other hand shot out, massive fingers closing around Steve's ankles like a vice.
"Steve!" Aayla and Sam shouted in unison as the creature lifted the super soldier high into the air.
Sam dove forward at maximum speed, but he was too late, Gorog opened its cavernous maw and dropped Steve straight down its throat.
"NO!"
"Son of a bitch ate Cap!" Scott screamed, his voice cracking with shock.
The assembled allies stood frozen for a heartbeat, horror washing over them. Then rage took over.
"We end this thing NOW!" Anakin snarled, blue lightsaber blazing.
But Gorog's massive arms swept back and forth, keeping them at bay with wild, erratic swings.
Aayla touched her belt with trembling fingers, still clutching Steve's shield. She felt around for her lightsabers and realized with a start,
One was missing. Her first lightsaber, the one she'd built as a Padawan.
"Aayla!" Voss called out, pulling her from her thoughts. "Focus! We need to get Steve out before he reaches that thing's stomach!"
The blue-skinned Twi'lek nodded grimly. There was still hope. There had to be.
Gorog reared up, preparing to crush the remaining fighters beneath its massive bulk.
Suddenly, it roared in agony and staggered forward. The creature began convulsing violently, letting out screams of pain that shook the ground.
"What's happening?" Anakin asked, lightsaber at the ready.
"I... I don't know," Khaleen replied, watching nervously as Gorog continued to spasm.
The massive beast doubled over, clutching its stomach.
Then something began poking through the creature's hide around its midsection.
At first it looked like a trick of the light, but they could all see it clearly, a bright blue glow cutting through gray flesh.
"Wait a minute..." Aayla squinted. "Is that my lightsaber?"
It had to be, Anakin was holding his blue blade, and hers was the only other one missing.
Which could only mean,
The lightsaber began carving through Gorog's abdomen in deliberate, controlled cuts. With a final, powerful thrust, the blue blade pierced completely through the beast's hide. Blood erupted in a crimson fountain, followed by a grotesque spill of internal organs.
From the tide of gore, a figure threw itself clear and hit the ground hard.
Gorog tried desperately to keep its entrails inside, but the damage was too severe. With a final, earth-shaking roar, the beast collapsed and lay still.
The team watched in stunned silence as a blood-soaked figure slowly stood up, a deactivated lightsaber hilt in his hand.
He swayed on his feet, barely able to stand...
"Ugh..."
The lightsaber clattered to the ground as Steve Rogers fell to his knees and promptly vomited everything in his stomach.
"STEVE!"
The relief in everyone's voices was palpable.
"Oh God," Steve gasped, falling forward onto his hands and knees, retching violently. "Sweet mother of..."
"Are you okay?!" Aayla asked, rushing toward him.
"I'm alive," Steve managed between heaves. "That's... that's something."
"Give me strength," T'Challa muttered, his mask reforming over his face to filter out the overwhelming stench. "The smell is unbearable."
Steve coughed and nearly threw up again. His entire body was covered in blood, digestive fluids, and things he didn't want to think about.
"That..." he said slowly, "is definitely going in my top ten worst experiences ever."
Sam wanted to help his best friend, but the smell was making his eyes water.
"Steve, uh..." Anakin cleared his throat. "Everyone might want to step back for a second."
The team looked confused but followed his suggestion, watching as the young Jedi raised his hands and focused on Rogers.
Steve managed to get to his feet, though he immediately dropped back to his knees, looking at Anakin with exhausted gratitude.
"Ani…, "
Before he could finish, Anakin unleashed a concentrated blast of Force energy, powerful enough to strip away layers of blood and gore from the super soldier's body and uniform.
"Ooh," Voss crossed his arms with an approving nod. "Very clever."
"Thank you," Steve said with the first genuine smile he'd managed since the fight began. He still looked rough, but at least he was recognizably human again.
"Let's move," Sam announced.
"Enemy reinforcements incoming?" Scorch asked, scanning the perimeter.
"No," Natasha's voice was dry as desert sand. "Because Steve still smells like the inside of a rancor, and I'd like to get him to a refresher before I lose my lunch."
"Please," Steve said, and there was real desperation in his voice. "I need the longest, hottest shower in galactic history."