Chương 8: Gamble
I leaned back against a tree, still catching my breath after the madness we'd just survived. The jungle was quieter now, the sounds of blaster fire and enraged beasts fading into the distance. We had put some ground between us and the droids, but I knew better than to think we were safe.
The nickname "Vine" had stuck quickly. Spark and Lucky had been teasing me about it the whole time we were retreating, and even though I played it off, part of me appreciated the humor. We needed something to break the tension. We were still stranded in hostile territory, still down two brothers, and still had no way of contacting the Republic. But for the first time since the mission began, it felt like we had a chance.
"Alright," I said, pushing myself to my feet and checking my gear. "Let's figure out where the hell we are."
Lucky was already pulling out a small holomap, tapping at the interface with a frown. "We're off the main grid," he muttered. "The interference from the jungle's messing with our signals, but I think we're somewhere near the western ridge."
"The western ridge?" I repeated, stepping closer to get a look at the map. "That's Separatist-controlled territory."
Spark shrugged. "We're already surrounded by clankers. Might as well take a scenic route."
I didn't respond, but the truth weighed heavy on me. We were trapped behind enemy lines, with limited resources and a wounded trooper. The jungle had given us cover, but it wasn't going to protect us forever. We needed a way out. And soon.
"Alright, here's the plan," I said, straightening up and gathering the others around. "We're going to keep moving west. The Separatists have a main supply route running along the ridge. If we can intercept it, we might be able to hijack a transport and get ourselves out of here."
Lucky raised an eyebrow. "Hijack a Separatist transport? You sure about that, Vine?"
I smirked, the nickname coming easier now. "You got a better idea?"
He didn't, and neither did Spark. The plan was dangerous, reckless even, but we didn't have many options left. If we stayed in the jungle, we'd eventually run into more droids. If we tried to go back the way we came, we'd be overrun. Our only shot was to gamble on the Separatist supply lines and hope we could get to them before they got to us.
"Let's move," I ordered, taking the lead as we began to march through the dense foliage once again.
Hours passed as we moved in silence, the jungle growing thicker and more oppressive with every step. The air was heavy, and the trees seemed to close in around us, blocking out the light and leaving us in a perpetual twilight. The only sounds were the rustle of leaves and the distant calls of alien creatures.
Every step was a reminder of how close we were to danger. The droids could be anywhere, hidden among the trees, waiting to ambush us. But I couldn't let fear take hold. I had to stay focused, had to lead.
Lucky and Spark followed close behind, their movements steady despite the weight of exhaustion. Lucky's wound was slowing him down, but he hadn't complained. He knew as well as I did that there was no time for weakness.
We pressed on until we reached the edge of the jungle, where the trees began to thin, and the ground sloped upward toward the ridge. In the distance, through the haze of the humid air, I could see it—the Separatist supply route. Speeders and transports moved along the narrow road, escorted by squads of battle droids.
I signaled for the others to take cover, crouching low in the underbrush as we observed the enemy movements.
"There," I whispered, pointing to a small convoy of droids escorting a transport vehicle. "That's our way out."
Spark narrowed his eyes, studying the convoy. "Looks heavily guarded. We're going to have to hit them hard and fast if we want a shot at taking that transport."
"I know," I said, my mind racing as I calculated the odds. It wasn't just about the number of droids—it was about timing, precision. If we made one wrong move, we'd be pinned down, or worse, captured.
But we had to take the risk. It was the only chance we had.
"We'll split up," I continued. "Spark, you'll take the high ground and cover us. Lucky, you and I will hit them from the front. We disable the lead speeder first to block the road, then take out the droids as quickly as possible. Once the transport is clear, we make a run for it."
Lucky grimaced but nodded. "Got it. Let's hope they don't have more reinforcements waiting in the wings."
"They will," I said, knowing full well what we were up against. "But by the time they get here, we'll be long gone."
We moved into position, staying low as we crept closer to the road. My heart pounded in my chest, the weight of the mission pressing down on me. One mistake could cost us everything, and I wasn't about to let that happen. Not after everything we'd been through.
I signaled Spark to get into position on the ridge, watching as he disappeared into the trees above. Lucky and I took our spots on either side of the road, waiting for the convoy to come into range.
The hum of the transport grew louder as it approached, the droids marching alongside it in perfect formation. I counted at least a dozen B1 battle droids and two B2s—more than we'd faced earlier, but we were ready this time.
As the convoy passed, I gave the signal. Spark opened fire from above, his blaster shots picking off the first few droids in quick succession. The B1s were caught off guard, scrambling to return fire as Lucky and I charged from the underbrush.
I fired at the lead speeder, hitting its engine and causing it to sputter and die in the middle of the road. The droids turned toward us, but we were already on them, cutting through their ranks with precision fire.
The B2s were tougher, their heavy armor deflecting several of our shots. I ducked behind a fallen tree, narrowly avoiding a volley of blaster fire. Lucky took cover beside me, wincing as he clutched his side.
"Could use a little more of that Vine magic right about now," he muttered through gritted teeth.
I grinned, despite the situation. "Working on it."
I peered around the tree, locking onto the B2 that was advancing toward us. Its wrist-mounted blasters were already powering up for another shot. I didn't have time to think—I just acted.
I grabbed a thermal detonator from my belt, primed it, and hurled it toward the droid. The explosion lit up the road, sending the B2 flying backward in a cloud of smoke and fire.
The last few B1s were scrambling now, disoriented and confused. Spark's sharpshooting from the ridge picked off the stragglers, and within moments, the road was clear.
"We're clear!" I shouted. "Get to the transport!"
Lucky and I sprinted toward the transport, its engine still humming as it idled on the side of the road. I climbed into the cockpit, checking the controls and silently thanking the stars that it was still functional. The droids had been careful not to damage their own vehicle, and that was about to work in our favor.
Spark dropped down from the ridge, landing beside us just as Lucky climbed into the transport.
"Let's get out of here," Spark said, his tone laced with both relief and urgency.
I nodded, powering up the transport and steering it onto the road. The engine roared to life, and within moments, we were speeding away from the wreckage of the convoy, leaving the droids and the jungle behind us.
As the transport rumbled forward, I glanced at my brothers—what was left of my squad. Spark, with his sharp eyes and quick reflexes, Lucky, tough as durasteel despite his wounds, and me, Vine, the reckless sergeant who had led them through hell and back.
We weren't done yet. There were more battles to fight, more enemies to face. But for now, we were alive. And as long as we had each other, I knew we'd keep fighting.
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