Back in the Felucia's jungle:

Mirana, Boil and Wag Too did everything they could to resist the Imperial advance on their position. The two gossans that were still alive could barely stick their heads out to return fire. The AT-ST's heavy blasters impacted dangerously close to their position, causing small bursts of energy that burned the vegetation around them.

Mirana: - We have to get out of here! -

Boil: - Are you crazy!? - They shouted from their positions. - If you raise your head I'm sure you'll lose it! -

Wag Too: - What should we do!? - The three looked at each other for a second, but the doubt on their faces was visible.

But he didn't have much time to think. The stormtroopers were beginning to flank them, and he had to shoot fast through the brush to avoid coming under crossfire. Boil and Mirana used their blasters to finish off enemies that got too close, while Wag Too used his sniper rifle to keep them at bay. In this way, they managed to keep the Imperials at bay for a while, until everything fell apart when an AT-ST heavy blaster hit just above Boil's cover.

The branch behind him shattered in the violent explosion, sending Boil flying ten feet to the ground. Mirana and Wag Too couldn't do anything but watch in terror as their friend lay motionless on the ground.

Wag Too: - Boil! - He yelled as he jumped to get him out of the enemy fire.

Mirana: -Wag Too! Wait! - I grumble. - Cover us! - He told the gossams.

Mirana hurried to help the Glimmer drag the clone's body to the nearest cover as the gossams did their best to keep the stormtroopers at bay. The blasters passed dangerously close. One shot even pinched Wag Too's right ear and burned his fur, but such was his adrenaline and concentration to save Boil that he didn't even feel it. It was the tensest five seconds for both of them, but luckily they were able to drag the heavy plastoid-armored body into the nearest cover.

Gossan: - Get him out of here! - Shouted one of the refugees.

Mirana: - What?! -

Gossan: - Let's give them cover so they can get to the next row of trees. -

Wag Too: - No! If they stay here they will die! -

Gossan: - Then it will have been worth it. - Mirana and Wag Too looked at the two refugees, who smiled at them despite being under enemy fire. - Thank you for coming to help our people. -

The human and the lurmen knew what they meant. The two refugees were willing to sacrifice themselves so that they would have a chance to escape. It wasn't going to be an easy task, but at least they could buy them a few seconds. Carrying Boil's heavy body across the uneven ground would be quite a challenge, and avoiding getting hit by a blaster could be quite a feat. But they had to try. They didn't have many options.
The gossans had their blasters ready, Mirana carried Boil's torso and Wag Too his legs. At the signal, they would start running while the gossan covered them. The time was now, and you could see the nerves on everyone's faces. They gritted their teeth and gave each other one last look of will and decision, when a strange sound rumbled from the heavens.

https://youtu.be/mpWfpM2ZfHE

It was the Vulture droids! The reinforcements had arrived!

The noise caused by the droids breaking the sound barrier took everyone by surprise. Even the Imperials turned to try to see what was happening above the treetops and the gigantic mushrooms. But the only thing they could see was a few bursts of heavy red blasters sweeping the positions in which they were. One of the AT-STs exploded as the blaster round impacted the hull. The other received a missile impact on one of the legs and fell after losing his balance.

Chaos engulfed the battlefield, and the Imperials didn't know what was happening. As quickly as they arrived, the Vulture starfighters disappeared again, though he could still hear their distinctive sound from a distance. Then another ship joined the fray. It was the Kestrel Nova.

The ship hovered over the battlefield, its port and starboard rotating turrets firing relentlessly at the stormtroopers on the ground. The Imperial soldiers fled for their lives, trying to hide behind the brush as the Kestrel Nova descended as close as the trees would allow.

On the ground, Mirana, Wag Too, and the gossans covered their faces to prevent the dust kicked up by the ships' engines from falling into their eyes, at the same time several ropes fell from the ship's landing ramp. They were the Felucians.

Six of them descended carrying E-5 blasters, and set up a perimeter around the place while three others helped Wag Too and Mirana to hold Boil's body up to the ship. The clone was unconscious, and according to the words of one of the Felucians who identified himself as a doctor, his life was not in danger.

Little by little, the cables pulled the clone towards the ramp, where Titan would receive it to put it in a safe place. Inside the control cabin was Icarus with the rest, waiting for everyone to be safe. Once Boil reached the ship, Mirana, Wag Too, and the gossans hurried to board, but upon reaching the top, they found about twenty armed Felucians ready to descend.

Casiss: - I leave the rest in your hands, Commander. -

Icarus: - Good luck, captain. -

Following this quick exchange, the Felucians quickly descended the ropes and set up a small checkpoint under the Kestrel Nova. They returned the blasters for a few seconds, and then scattered through the forest behind her as the ship slowly lifted well.

Mirana: - What are you doing? - She asked worried.

Icarus: - They are going to look for the scattered gossans. They know the area, and can reach the Village on their own. -

Tova: - How can I help? - He interrupted suddenly.

Icarus: - Tova! What are you doing here? Come back immediately. - I scold her strongly.

Mirana: - How do you think of bringing her into battle? -

Ícaro: - He was already on the ship when we received the news. There was no time to lose. -

However, the crew of the Kestrel Nova were unaware of what was happening on the ground.

Stormtrooper Captain: - Bring those missile launchers! -

Two soldiers rushed to the front, carrying huge RPS-6 missile launchers. They dropped to their knees, aiming their weapons at the ship.

Stormtrooper Captain: - Fire! -

The two projectiles went out at high speed, straight towards the fuselage of the ship. Given the discussion that Icarus and Mirana were having inside the cabin, they were unable to hear Delta's warning of the approaching missile.

BAM

The impact rocked the ship, and a tragedy occurred. The landing ramp was not yet sealed and Tova, along with a gossam, flew out of the ship. To all who appreciated the scene, their hearts stopped.

Icarus: - TOVA! - He was the only one capable of screaming when he saw the little girl flying more than fifty meters high outside the ship.

Even so, it was not Icarus, nor Mirana, nor Wag Too who were the first to react. Fulfilling his programming to the letter, Titan jumped hard out of the ship, in a perfect trajectory towards the two small organics, catching both in mid-flight.

Gossan: - We are going to die! - He screamed as he fell at high speed.

Tova: - Titan! I am very afraid! Do not let me go! -

The droid, who was looking down, raised its head and in a hoarse voice told her in the most fatherly way it could.

Titan: - Everything will be fine. -

Tova: - What? -

Without warning, the droid threw the two organics away from him, while Tova looked at him in confusion. Why did you do that? It didn't make any sense. But before being able to react, Tova and the gossan fell on the soft cap(*) of a giant blue mushroom. However, Titan did not stop his trajectory until he found the hard floor of the jungle.

Meanwhile, inside the Kestrel Nova.

Icarus: - Tova! Tova! - He screamed in a very unnatural way for a droid. - Turn around! Turn around! We must go back for her! -

However, the Kestrel Nova received another strong jolt.

Delta: - Commander! They're TIE fighters! -

https://youtu.be/ICXUssXNLmM

Out of nowhere, five TIE fighters descended into the atmosphere opening up against the ship. The fuselage shook with each impact, yet the shields held. But they couldn't be there for long.

Icarus: - Where are the Vulture!? -

Delta: - They're turning around, Commander! Two minutes! -

Icarus: - It's not enough. -

Those present were shocked to hear his words. No one could accept reality. They couldn't leave Tova alone there. For the first time in his short life, Icarus did not know what to do.

The droid looked everywhere. Her optical sensors showed her the worried face of Mirana and Wag Too, asking them with teary eyes not to leave her, and at the same time, she could see the TIE fighters flying by the window of the ship. Its acoustic sensors could pick up the sound of shots hitting the shields. His robotic brain told him they couldn't stay. That the most logical option was to leave Tova in order to guarantee the safety of the rest and of himself. That his survival was of vital importance to fulfill his goals, but his core told him the opposite, causing an agonizing short circuit inside him. And in all that chaos, a hand came to rest on his forearm.

Gossan: - Don't worry. - He told her with a conviction in his eyes that he couldn't ignore. - Li Mu is with her. -

Icarus had to hit his own core to calm down. Blank her circuits, and make the toughest decision she'd ever faced.

Icarus: - Maximum Shields! Let's fight! -

Delta: - Roger. Roger. -

Mirana: - What!? - He screamed in shock. - We can't leave her! -

Icarus: - We have no choice. -

Mirana: - You can't leave her alone! In the middle of the bos...! -

Icarus: - Lieutenant! - He shouted angrily, as or more sore than any other present. - To their battle stations. - Even so, Mirana looked at him defiantly and filled with resentment.

Mirana: - Yes... sir. - And withdrew from the cabin.

Meanwhile, on the surface of Felucia.

Tova: - Titan! Titan! - He screamed as he desperately came down from the top of the giant mushroom.

Li Mu: - Girl... Wait! - The gossam yelled at her, but she didn't look back.

Tova's feet touched the ground for the first time but she couldn't care less about that. The girl began to run towards the body of the B2 droid, which lay in pieces a few meters from her position. The astromech's right arm was splayed a few meters away, circuitry scattered across the ground. His right leg was sprained landing on a rock, and his left was in pieces.

Tova: -Titan! Titan! - He was heartbroken. - Don't... don't leave me alone. I am very afraid... -

As surprising as it seemed, the droid had a few last reserves of energy left, enough to be able to function for a few last seconds.

Tova: - Titan! - She exclaimed excited, but still with tears in her eyes.-

Titan: - They... command... you... - He said with a broken robotic voice.

Tova: - I'm sorry... for everything. I... I know you cared about me... I knew... but... but... - His own crying softened his words, until the droid gently raised his hand and supported it gently. on the little girl's face.

Titan: - To... everything will be... fine. It's... it's been... an honor... co... commander. -

The droid said its last words, while a long beep signaled that it had shut down forever. Tova was speechless, and could only stand crying on the metal shell of the B2 droid, while the gossam could do nothing but wait. But his pain had to wait.

Stormtroopers 1: - Are you sure it was here where you saw them fall? -

Stormtroopers 2: - I saw them with my own eyes. They must be around here somewhere. -

Stormtroopers 3: - Very good. sign looking. And inform the commander of anything. -

Stormtroopers 1: - Aware. - The voice of the imperials could be heard too close.

Li Mu: - We have to go. We can't stay here. - He whispered to the little girl.

And so, the two of them headed deep into the Felucian jungle.

(*) Píleo - Cap of the fungi.