"Oh shit, this is gonna suck."

That was, in fact, an enormous understatement.

As each Tokep leaped forth from the edge of the jungle, it was only when Ventress herself dismounted that the four spies realized just how screwed they actually were. What they once believed would get rid of their Twaran problems had by some ungodly stroke of misfortune decided to join them instead. How exactly, none of them had a clue, but if the witchcraft incident with the slug creature from earlier was any indication then there was no other way the Tokep could've been coerced into servitude other than dark magic.

"We need to keep their attention if we want the Chitauri to escape-"

"I don't think that's going to be a problem, Commander," The general interrupted when Asemdi dismounted as well, eyes completely black with an oil-like substance dripping from the corners. 

Before the team could move, the colony of Tokep had circled them, surrounded them; all four immediately stood with their backs pressed against one another and their weapons drawn. Not that their weapons were going to be much, if any, help in this situation. There were ten of them in all. Ten Tokep, all of them now under the control of their deadliest enemy.

"If you drop your weapons now, we'll be merciful and kill you quickly," Asemdi hissed through her teeth, spheres of energy forming in her palms as she stood to Ventress' left. The Tokep continued to circle, guttural sounds of impatience spewing from the cavities in the center of their heads and occasionally reaching out towards the Republic soldiers before being yanked back by some invisible force.

Despite all four of them on the verge of soiling themselves, they remained in formation. The 'weapons' Ventress was referring to consisted of metal swords the Chitauri had gifted them, not really anything substantial in regards to defense. Instinctively, both Rex and Axel had taken to either side of Molindi, with Rex's shoulder pressed against hers and Axel's leg ever so slightly in front of her own. 

"I have dibs on the trash-mouth bitch. I can't promise her death with be swift," Ventress snarled, her lightsaber blades thrumming with anticipation. Rex's grip on his weapon tightened and Axel's lip pulled back in a snarl similar to Ventress', mirroring the distaste perfectly. 

"I mean, I understand your anger. I would be jealous of the pretty blonde too if I was balder than the day I was ripped from the womb-" The Tokep shrieked all together another piercing sound so loud their ears ached and the air seemed to vibrate from the frequency. One of their spindly white arms got a little too close this time. It's long fingers tried to wrap around the woman's wrist, the wrist of her sword-wielding arm. She jerked back just as Axel's blade came down hard on the creature, harder and with more intent behind the action than just an act of protecting his commander. It recoiled and a small trail of blood started dripping from its wound; not much but enough for the others in the colony to tread more careful when they inched closer.

It was that gesture that, that protective and possessive emotion that caused Ventress to re-evaluate what she knew about these individuals. Or, to be more specific, how these individuals interacted and what they meant to each other.

"You've failed, Ventress," General Skywalker began. He felt the shift in the air; he could tell that Ventress was catching on to things she shouldn't. "The plans your master was wanting to display to his allies are off-world and in possession of the Republic, you've lost."

"That may be true, but I'm sure he'll forgive me when I bring him Anakin Skywalker's head on a silver platter."

"There will be nothing left to show Dooku when our pets are done with you," Asemdi's cold, dead glare felt like burning ice. "You've taken everything I hold dear. My loving, loyal sister and my precious daughters are now gone because of you and your pompous Republic's meddling in our affairs. All four of you will suffer greatly and without rest until you're nothing more than lifeless, bloodless, empty sacks of skin." She stalked towards the group, each step emphasizing her threats. "And when you believe you're at the brink of death, at the very edge of freedom from your torture, I will be there to restore your body to it's fullest just to tear it apart once more." She stopped in front of Molindi, close enough that she could've grabbed her by the throat and strangled the life out of the soldier if she wanted to.

The commander never shifted her gaze from the black eyes of her enemy; she hadn't backed down from the fight before and she wasn't going to start now, despite the odds not necessarily being in their favor.

"I'll dive deep into the recesses of your very mind and make you relive every single nightmare, every single loss of a loved one and soul-shattering ache you've felt in this life and then some."

Rex went to lift his sword, but General Skywalker grabbed his wrist and subtly shook his head. 

As terrifying as Asemdi's threats sounded, Lindi was only half-paying attention to the interaction. What mattered most now was finding a way out of this impossible situation, some sort of escape or advantage that would solidify their odds of survival. With her thoughts running a thousand miles an hour, she didn't focus too much on what words were coming out of her mouth as long as it was buying them time.

"Sounds super scary. What's even scarier is the fact that your army is almost the size of our group. Care to explain how that happened?"

"Sacrifices were needed..."

As Asemdi continued to drone on; falling for that cheap bait had been way easier than Molindi would've assumed. But she didn't complain. A quick glance to her left showed Lindi exactly what she'd been searching for. She shifted in her stance a bit, the heel of her foot nudging the back of General Skywalker's in the direction of their saving grace.

"I won't hesitate to throw you all..."

The tiniest creek, barely a stream, was flowing downwards from the direction of the mountain behind a short wall of reeds. If you blinked you would've missed it, but the reflection from the sun was enough for Lindi to know exactly what it was and how much it would help them in the oncoming fight. Skywalker nudged her with his own shoe, confirming that he got the message, and a moment later the stream had shifted its course through the grass.

"What happens when they get hungry again and the only food left is you?" This time Rex had asked the question having caught on to the little game Lindi was playing. The water continued to flow, barely managing to sneak past the continuously circling Tokep til it reached the ground at their feet.

"-put me through enough pain that-"

"Wow, great plan, I'm definitely convinced that we're fairly screwed," Lindi interrupted the queen and her black eyes flashed open wider, completely livid with the woman's lack of manners. "I think it would be best if we surrender peacefully and put our weapons on the ground." Axel and Rex immediately followed suit when the commander carefully placed the blade in the grass, both men just now noticing the thin layer of water as it coated their metal weapons. 

"Your majesty-" Ventress urged to get the queen's attention, but Asemdi had seen and heard enough.

"You are the most annoying, childish, impolite, and disrespectful person I have ever had the misfortune of knowing!"

"Then killing me should be even more satisfying than you thought," Lindi shrugged.

That was the last straw needed to completely set off the royal witch. With a shrill scream, the surrounding Tokep lunged for the group of four, eager to finally indulge themselves. But their shrills of pleasure changed to cries of pain when the soldiers quickly lifted their now-damp blades and sliced through the Tokeps' outstretched arms like butter. Their removed limbs flopped to the ground and hissed as the water, now increasing in its flow to the point of forming puddles at their feet, dissolved the flesh in an instant.

A couple of the braver- or dumber- ones tried for a second attack but the rising levels of water were too much and had rapidly increased its radius; what remained of the entire colony had to move back a few yards in order not to be liquefied themselves.

"No!" Asemdi bellowed as the Tokep colony recoiled before starting to retreat all together, the one having been her mount wrapping what remained of its limbs around her waist and hoisting her onto its back. "You cowards! I order you to attack! I control you!" But her words were moot as she squirmed and tried to get back to the jungle floor, struggling with the very beasts she'd fed over half her army to in order to gain their loyalty. Her body thudded to the ground with enough effort and, lacking the strength to fight with her any longer, the Tokep grabbed her by her ankle and dragged her into the wall of greenery behind them. 

Ventress' mount tried to reach for her as well but the sith easily dodged the beast. She had one goal and one goal only; she refused to let anything else get in her way. The sith leaped into the air, her lightsabers coming down in a perfect arch as her glowing blades slammed into Molindi's. The remaining water whistled and popped at the sudden heat and the lightsabers began to melt through the woman's sword.

"I'm going to enjoy this-"

The sith gasped in pain and flew backwards as Lindi's boot made contact with her stomach. Her body rolled a few feet and the contact splashed water droplets in every direction. With Molindi's sword now bending into a perfect 'v' at the middle, General Skywalker took this chance to step forward between the commander and their enemy. The glowing blue light glistened across the now ankle-deep level of water around them and he pointed the tip of his lightsaber at their fallen foe.

"Run along now, Ventress," He taunted. "I'm sure that queen of yours needs all the help she can get." As much as she wanted to stay and rip Commander Rino apart just like the Tokep would've, there was no way she'd be able to locate Asemdi in the jungle if she and the Tokep got far enough away. As cowardly as it was, her best option was to retreat and refuse to acknowledge the trend it was becoming throughout this mission.

"This isn't over until her head is on a pike."

She returned her lightsabers to her hips and disappeared from sight.

***

It had been almost a whole hour since the Tokep attack, since the Chitauri had really put their foot to the gas and booked it for the mountain. What should've taken them thirty minutes had taken them ten and the entire herd was within the mountain in a quarter of an hour.

Despite now being safe within the boundaries of the mountain, both Etolga and Yenti found themselves staring out the cave entrance at the path. The sun was beginning to set in the distance and a glowing orange color had coated the treetops, but neither one could focus on the beautiful view when their new friends were still no where to be seen.

Etolga knew what had probably happened, what fate their human comrades had most likely fallen to, but Yenti still had hope. And Etolga knew better than to stomp that out, at least not right now. Yenti had been the first person to find them, to bring them to the village in the first place; her connection to the woman and three men was different than Etolga's or the other villagers. If they didn't show up at some point before darkness took over, it would break the little girl's heart.

As the final sliver of sunlight began to fade, Etolga opened her mouth to announce it was time to join the others when Yenti sprinted as fast as her little legs could carry her. 

"Yenti!" Etolga called after her, but the leader's worry subsided when she saw the four short, slender figures round the corner and wrap the little girl into a ginormous hug. Once again, these strangers had survived the impossible, only this time they had saved her whole village by holding off the enemy. With a satisfied smirk, Etolga quickly made her way inside to inform the others of their heroes' return.