Anakin had been on edge ever since learning about Padmé's mission to the laboratory. The knowledge that they might have to destroy all life on the planet—including his wife and their allies—to prevent a galactic plague weighed heavily on his mind.
During this assault, he and Luminara needed to locate Dr. Vindi while Obi-Wan dealt with the virus bombs.
He understood the stakes better than anyone.
Standing in a corridor junction, Luminara and Anakin surveyed both directions as clone troopers took defensive positions behind them.
"It's unusually quiet here," Anakin observed.
"It appears our Padawans' distraction is working," Luminara noted with satisfaction.
"Let's not waste the opportunity."
They advanced with Barriss and Ahsoka, quickly deflecting blaster fire from battle droids emerging from the opposite corridor.
"Push forward! Move, move!" Rex shouted to his men.
The order came too late, however, as droidekas had rolled in from a side passage and deployed their deflector shields, creating a deadly bottleneck.
"Fall back!" Barriss commanded.
Reaching the main laboratory chamber, the two Jedi Masters drove their lightsabers into the sealed blast door. Working together, they carved through the reinforced metal, creating an entrance for themselves and the clone troopers. Moments later, the severed door crashed to the ground, and Republic forces quickly stormed the main lab.
"Padmé!" Anakin called out, relief flooding through him as he spotted his wife restrained with the others.
"Hey, don't forget about us!" Peter shouted from his position.
"Ah, Jedi," Prosset Dibs ignited his crimson lightsaber and pressed it dangerously close to Steve's throat, while Bil Valen did the same to Padmé. "One more step, and your friends die."
Luminara's eyes widened in shock and recognition. "Master Dibs?"
The fallen Jedi looked at the Mirialan with cold disdain. "Ah, yes, Master Unduli. I trust you are well."
The battle droids in the chamber raised their blasters while the clone troopers did the same. They had reached a deadly stalemate.
Anakin's gaze moved between his wife and the captured Avengers, pausing on Steve, who gave him a meaningful sideways glance toward Peter at the back of the group.
The subtle communication passed between them—a look that conveyed understanding and shared tactical thinking.
Anakin made his decision.
"Do as he says," Anakin told his forces, momentarily surprising his allies as he began to lower his lightsaber.
At that moment, Peter roared in pain as he strained against the electrified restraints, his enhanced strength overloading the energy bonds until they shattered with sparks and smoke.
Both dark side acolytes were startled by this unexpected display of power, caught off guard just long enough for Peter to spring into action, delivering flying kicks that sent both men sprawling.
Anakin and Luminara immediately used the Force to hurl the battle droids against the walls, while the clone troopers seized the opportunity to open fire on the scattered enemies.
Peter moved quickly despite the lingering electrical burns from his restraints, managing to free Steve, Natasha, and Padmé in rapid succession—until his spider-sense screamed a warning.
He dove protectively over Padmé as a crimson blade slashed through the air where his head had been moments before.
Peter looked up to see the imposing figure of Rodry being intercepted by Anakin's swift advance.
Their lightsabers clashed in a shower of sparks as they entered into a vicious duel.
After eliminating several droids, Luminara engaged Prosset Dibs in lightsaber combat, while Steve and Natasha quickly joined the clones in mopping up the remaining battle droids.
The fallen Jedi Master assessed the deteriorating situation and used a powerful Force push to send Luminara crashing into Anakin, causing both Jedi to collide with Steve.
Both dark side acolytes immediately fled the chamber, leaving chaos in their wake.
"Ow," Natasha groaned, rolling her bruised shoulder. "What took you guys so long?"
"Why didn't you break out sooner?" Anakin shot back, moving to Padmé's side as she gratefully took his hand.
"We were completely surrounded," Steve explained. "But we need to keep moving. Brock Rumlow is here with two other dark side acolytes. They have Dr. Vindi with them."
"They mentioned something about an antidote for the virus," Natasha added.
"And they stole Cap's shield," Peter said indignantly.
Meanwhile, the two Padawans had eliminated numerous battle droids but found themselves facing fresh reinforcements.
They were slowly being pushed back, losing two clone troopers in the firefight.
"I can't hold them much longer," Ahsoka said through gritted teeth, continuing to deflect enemy fire alongside Barriss.
"We need backup, anything—"
Barriss was interrupted as the ceiling above the droids suddenly collapsed, crushing the entire squad under tons of debris. Standing atop the wreckage was Obi-Wan Kenobi.
"Need some assistance?"
"Master Kenobi!" Ahsoka exclaimed with relief. "Perfect timing!"
"Your help would be much appreciated," Barriss added with a grateful smile as clone reinforcements rappelled through the newly created opening.
Rhodes dropped down with his repulsors firing, shoulder-mounted weapons spinning to life as the remaining droids in the corridor were quickly reduced to scrap metal.
"Looks like the party's just getting started," Rhodes commented. "Hopefully we're not too late."
Obi-Wan smiled at the colonel's remark as he addressed the Padawans.
"Excellent work. The laboratory is secure. With any luck, Anakin and Luminara have reached Padmé and the others by now."
The group advanced through the corridor toward their next objective. When they reached an intersection, they halted as another wave of battle droids emerged to block their path.
The droids were not alone.
"Jedi scum!" Rodry roared, igniting his crimson lightsaber with a menacing hiss.
"Master Kenobi, go ahead," Barriss said, drawing her lightsaber as Ahsoka did the same. "Find those bombs."
"Are you certain?" Kenobi asked with concern.
"They won't be fighting alone," Rhodes announced, his armor deploying multiple weapon systems.
The gray-skinned acolyte snarled behind his ornate headdress, raising his lightsaber as the two Padawans and the armored Avenger took combat positions.
"Well then, ugly, let's dance."
The acolyte charged forward, and the Padawans met him with crossed blades. As Rhodes prepared to provide fire support, the battle droids opened up with a devastating barrage.
Back with Anakin's team, they had exited the laboratory chamber and were moving through the facility.
"We need to act fast," Natasha advised. "Those acolytes and Rumlow are still with Dr. Vindi. Something about an antidote for the virus."
Padmé added urgently, "The virus was created for the Separatists. There's a strong possibility Count Dooku will want to secure at least one sample."
"Then we'd better find them before they escape."
Led by Kenobi and his squadron of clone troopers, they entered the chamber identified as containing the virus bombs.
"Well, looks like we found the bomb room," one of the clones observed, staring at the dozens of suspended explosive devices.
"Yeah, and they don't appear to be active."
No sooner had he spoken than every bomb in the chamber began glowing ominously.
"I spoke too soon," Obi-Wan muttered before giving his troops an urgent order. "Deactivate them immediately!" As the clones rushed to comply, he contacted his former Padawan. "Anakin, I take it you didn't capture the doctor?"
"Negative," Anakin replied as his team raced through the corridors. "He wasn't with Padmé and the Avengers. Rumlow and Dooku's acolytes took him. Something about a cure for the virus."
"Rumlow is there?" Obi-Wan's expression darkened at the mention of the former HYDRA agent. "Dr. Vindi has remotely activated the bombs. They're counting down."
"Wonderful," Anakin said sarcastically.
"Worse yet, one of the bombs appears to be missing."
"It's somewhere in the facility."
"Ahsoka, we have another situation—"
"Ahsoka is occupied at the moment," Obi-Wan interrupted. "She's engaging one of Dooku's acolytes with Barriss and Rhodes."
"How many of these lunatics are in here?" Anakin demanded.
"Four total," Peter answered.
"It's alright," Steve interjected. "Peter, you know what we're looking for. Find that servant droid Vindi gave the bomb to."
"On it, Cap." Peter fired a web line toward a side passage and swung away at maximum speed.
Elsewhere in the underground complex, Rumlow stood with Dr. Vindi and Kadrian Sey, the mercenary holding up a glass vial containing a clear substance.
"Behold my greatest shame," Vindi said with bitter self-loathing. "The antidote for the Blue Shadow Virus."
Rumlow deftly snatched the vial from the doctor's hands and examined it carefully.
"You'd better not be lying, Doctor," Brock's voice carried lethal intent.
The threat was unmistakably clear, and Vindi couldn't suppress a nervous swallow as he saw the deadly promise in the mercenary's eyes.
"We should leave immediately," Kadrian said urgently.
"Abandoning your fellow acolytes?" Rumlow asked with dark amusement.
"They will escape, fight, or die," Kadrian replied coldly. "Weakness serves no purpose to my master."
Rumlow chuckled approvingly as they departed the antidote storage chamber and headed for their escape route.
The race against time had begun.