(What did everyone do for New Years? Just look up the beasts if you wanna see what they look like. I'm lazy. I'm currently at my ski condo so short chapter due to my lack of time. It is very cozy. Enjoying a hard cider next to the fireplace.)
Four gates around the arena opened up like they were in the coliseum witnessing a gladiator's duel. A beast emerged from each gate.
From the leftmost gate, an acklay came out. This amphibious crustacean looked like a praying mantis on steroids. It moved towards Obi Wan.
Next was the reek. This mammal was similar to a rhinoceros but with three horns. It moved towards Anakin.
After that was the nexu. The feline had an appearance similar to a albino tiger, four eyes, and a tail that split in two at the end. It moved towards Padme.
Lastly, there was a mudhorn. This large mammal was quite the beast. It was a massive rhinoceros that towered over any human. It moved towards Tyler.
As they moved, Obi Wan turned to Anakin. "Just relax. Concentrate."
Anakin was confused. "What about Padme?"
Obi Wan nodded towards her. "She seems to be on top of things. As does Draco."
Anakin turned back to see Padme climbing up the pillar, already free of her chains. Meanwhile. Tyler was already on top of the pillar lounging about.
Tyler waved. "Hey, how's the weather down there?" He then closed his eyes and focused on the shackles. They began vibrating slightly. Through the force, he was feeling the mechanism. Suddenly, he raised his hands and the shackles fell off his hands and down towards the ground.
Anakin scrunched his brow. "How did you do that?"
Tyler snickered. "Well, you're a little engineer too, yeah? Figure it out."
A light bulb went off in Anakin's head and his eyes popped open. Within seconds, he was free from his restraints.
Obi Wan sighed. "Can I get some help over here?"
Anakin smirked. "Of course, master."
Now free of their shackles, all four of them were free to move around.
The acklay quickly moved towards Obi Wan. The Jedi Master sidestepped a stab from its front leg and hopped behind the pillar to block line of sight.
The reek charged towards Anakin. As it approached him, he grabbed his shackles before jumping. He soared over the beast that slammed into the pillar and then landed on the back of its neck. He then wrapped the chain around its top horn. The reek whipped its head and snapped the chain off of the pillar. Anakin then proceeded to whip the chain around its neck and began riding it.
The nexu began climbing up the pillar to reach Padme. It quickly made it to the top but Padme whipped it with her chain. It then retaliated by swiping its claws across her back, splashing blood. She screamed in agony due to the pain.
Tyler looked down on the mudhorn as it stared him down. He looked free of concern. Enraged at the lack of fear, the mudhorn charged at the pillar. In one fell swoop, it broke the pillar and sent it toppling over.
Tyler stepped back to the edge of the pillar and rode it down. When it was about to hit the ground, he dove forwards and rolled to soften his landing via the redirection of his momentum.
The mudhorn shook its head since it had just slammed into a stone pillar. It then resumed its charge as it ran towards Tyler. At the last second, Tyler sidestepped the beast and smirked.
Out of his inventory, he retrieved a red cloth. He held it out to the side and shook it a bit. Even more angry, the mudhorn charged at Tyler again. Yet again, at the last second, he sidestepped and swung the cloth. "OLAY!"
Obi Wan saw this out of the corner of his eye. "What in the bloody hell are you doing over there?"
Tyler dodged again. "Let me have my fun, old man."
Obi Wan choked. "I'm not even that old." He jumped towards a geonosian holding a spear and kicked him to the ground. "Thank you for holding that for me." He then turned around and chucked the spear into the acklay's shoulder. He smirked.
The beast screeched before biting onto the spear and pulling it out. It then snapped it between its teeth.
Obi Wan grimaced. "Well, shit." He then ran towards Anakin who had just rode the reek to save Padme from the nexu. He hopped on the back while Tyler was still teasing the mudhorn.
Hearing a screeching sound, Tyler turned around to see the acklay charging towards him. He sighed. "Well, guess it's about time I finish this up."
He raised his hands and reached out through the force. He grabbed hold of the mudhorn and lifted it off the ground before launching it at the approaching crustacean. They crashed into each other, both down for the time being.
Tyler sighed and wiped the sweat off his forehead before plopping down to the ground. "Any second now."
Suddenly, lightsabers ignited throughout the arena stands. Tyler smirked. "There they are. Right on time."
Dozens of Jedi jumped down into the arena from the stands. A few Jedi ran over to the trio of captured Jedi and supplied them with their lightsabers. At the same time, a black Jedi tumbled through the air, falling from the platform that Poggle addressed the crowd from.
As he flew through the air, a trail of flames followed him. His robe was on fire. Presumably, Cad Bane had a flamethrower on his wrist or he used his rocket boots and set the Jedi aflame with a kick.
Tyler sped towards Windu and arrived next to him as he landed. "Master Windu, are you alright?"
Windu scoffed. "That muthafucka burned my robe. I hate bounty hunters."
Tyler laughed. "Cad Bane is going to be the bane of our existence throughout the war if anything I've heard about him is correct."
As they were talking, droids flooded out of the open gates. Hundreds of them began to cover the arena. Unlike Jango Fett in the movies, Cad Bane did not leave the balcony, choosing to remain with the Separatist high command.
The Jedi were in an all out battle against the horde of droids. With each swing of a lightsaber, a blaster bolt was deflected or a droid cut into pieces.
Tyler and Windu were fighting back to back. "Master Windu, will there be reinforcements?"
Windu blocked a blaster bolt before reaching out his hand and pulling in several droids and cutting them down with a swing. "Patience, young knight. The force will guide us."
Tyler nodded as he lifted a super battle droid and skewered it with his lightsaber before using it as a projectile to knock down a squad of droids.
Windu smirked. "You have learned much since your days as a padawan. I remember when that helpless young boy found his way into the temple."
Tyler chuckled as he deflected a barrage of blaster bolts, using them to kill multiple droids. "Thank you for the compliments, master. However, my padawan is an even quicker learner than I am. I dare say he might be even better than master Yoda was at this age."
Windu narrowed his eyes as he cut down three droids after jumping at them. "Unfortunately, the war will force us to delay his trials. He is not the only padawan that is ready."
Tyler raised his brow after deflecting more blaster bolts. "You are talking about Anakin, yes?"
Windu sighed as he cut down another super battle droid. "These are matters of no concern to you. Leave it to the council."
Tyler shrugged. "Whatever. More importantly, this isn't looking too good."
They were both feeling connections to their comrades in the force being cut off. Individually, and even against a group of them, a single Jedi is vastly superior. However, it's a whole nother story when they are being overwhelmed with numbers. A Jedi can only handle so much.
Tyler sighed and yelled out. "Our losses are becoming too much! Group up in the center!"
Windu nodded. "Listen to him! We must consolidate our forces!"
There was no cover in the arena so there was no point in spreading out. It would only leave your back vulnerable and an overwhelming amount of enemies.
Within a minute, Dooku raised his hand. "Master Windu, you have fought gallantly. Worthy of recognition in the archives of the Jedi order. Now, it is finished. Surrender, and your lives will be spared."
Windu scoffed. "We will not be hostages to be bartered, Dooku!"
Dooku sighed. "Then, I'm sorry, old friend."
The droids then raised their weapons, ready to fire.
Suddenly, Padme pointed at the sky. "Look."
Everyone looked up as the reinforcements finally arrived.