Meanwhile, the medical frigate had just dropped out of hyperspace with the Ord Cestus Medical Station coming into view.
Observing the holographic displays from within the medical facility, Kit Fisto immediately recognized the specific vessel now entering their system.
"That's Ahsoka's ship," the Nautolan Jedi Master announced. "It's just exiting hyperspace now. Deploy tractor beam tugs to secure them at a safe distance. Alert all personnel—I don't want anyone boarding that vessel until the parasite threat is completely contained. Sound general quarters and prepare the cryo-containment units."
The medical clone officer nearby nodded and relayed orders to the security teams.
Peter and Ahsoka made their way through the frigid corridors, having successfully completed their desperate mission. All they had to do now was endure the cold long enough for rescue to arrive.
"I really regret leaving my outer robes back at the temple," Ahsoka said, hugging herself and shivering violently.
"Y-yeah," Peter's teeth chattered uncontrollably.
Both teenagers blinked in surprise, watching steam rise from Peter's suit as heating elements began glowing beneath the fabric.
"Oh wow, built-in heater," Peter said with a grateful grin.
"Lucky," Ahsoka said enviously, shaking even more from both cold and jealousy.
"Where are you?"
Peter and Ahsoka spun around at the sound of their friend's unnaturally distorted voice. "You can't abandon me."
"Want to bet?" Peter quipped. Both teens immediately leaped up into the ventilation system above, ignoring the blast of arctic air flowing at maximum force.
The freezing wind caused the possessed Barriss to hesitate, the parasite inside her recognizing that pursuing them into the frozen vents would mean certain death.
Throughout the ship, every infected clone was writhing in agony. They all desperately sought warmth, but found none. It wasn't long before their parasitic masters succumbed to the pain, and their hosts collapsed as the brain worms could no longer maintain control.
Peter and Ahsoka crawled quickly through the vents, with Ahsoka staying as close to Peter as possible to benefit from the heat radiating from his suit.
Finally, they reached their destination.
"Bridge, at last," Ahsoka said through chattering teeth, shuffling to the door's keypad. Once inside, she rushed to the controls and tried desperately to establish communications. "We're approaching too fast! This is Ahsoka Tano. Can anyone hear me? I'm shutting down the engines and attempting to reverse thrust—"
"Ahsoka!"
Ahsoka spun around to see Peter dodging a lightsaber strike from the infected Barriss. The wild swing destroyed several nearby control consoles. When Peter fought back, he managed to knock Barriss's lightsaber away, and the blade severed a coolant line hanging overhead. The damaged pipe swung down and released a stream of super-cooled air directly onto the infected Barriss.
The sounds emanating from her were heartbreaking to witness. The possessed host tried to retaliate, but Peter used the last of his web fluid to restrain her in place. With Barriss secured, Ahsoka grabbed the damaged coolant pipe and directed it at her friend.
"Forgive me, Barriss, but this is for your own good."
As Barriss writhed and screamed in her web restraints, the brain worm began emerging from her mouth, desperately seeking the warmth from the teenagers in front of it. However, its escape failed as Peter grabbed it firmly and pulled it completely from his friend's mouth. Ahsoka immediately swung her ignited lightsaber, bisecting the parasite.
A short time later, Kit Fisto and a squad of armed clone troopers arrived aboard the frozen ship. They remained alert and vigilant, scanning for any remaining infected crew members.
When they reached the bridge, they found the three teenagers huddled together, sharing what little body heat remained despite Peter's suit working overtime to keep them warm.
Ahsoka lifted her head with tremendous effort, attempting to smile.
"W-w-what t-t-took you s-s-so long?" Peter stammered.
"We still need to retrieve those medical supplies," Barriss whispered weakly.
"Don't worry about that now," Fisto said gently as the three teenagers slowly succumbed to exhaustion. "We'll handle everything. You three have earned your rest."
They nodded gratefully, and Barriss and Ahsoka lost consciousness, though Peter managed to stay awake.
"Mr. Parker?" Fisto asked with surprise.
"Internal heating system, Master Fisto," Peter explained, though his exposed head was still freezing. "Don't suppose you have a hat I could borrow? I left my mask back in the barracks."
The next thing Ahsoka knew, she was waking up in the medical bay. Her vision was blurry as she found herself wrapped in several layers of thermal blankets to help restore her core temperature.
Anakin sat in a chair near her bed. Hearing her stirring, he approached and spoke softly, "Hey, Ahsoka. You're safe now."
She nodded weakly and tried to sit up, but was gently held down by her master. "Where are Barriss and Peter?"
"They're fine," he assured her, gesturing across the room. Ahsoka followed his gaze and saw her friends resting in their own beds nearby. Barriss was bundled in thermal blankets, while Peter lay casually with one arm covering his eyes, snoring softly. "The clones are all recovering as well."
Ahsoka nodded, then asked something that had been nagging at her. "What exactly were those things?"
"I believe I can answer that," came a voice from the doorway as Kit Fisto entered. "We've analyzed the parasites. They're identical to the creatures you encountered on Geonosis, Master Skywalker."
Anakin nodded grimly. "We need to alert the Republic High Command about Geonosis. These parasites might explain how the Separatists managed to retake the planet so quickly the first time. I don't want that happening again."
Kit Fisto nodded in complete agreement, then turned to address the conscious teenager. "You've all been through quite an ordeal. The Republic truly appreciates everything you and your friends accomplished today."
Peter stirred and sat up, noticing that Ahsoka was now awake. He stood slowly and walked over to her bedside, gently placing his hand on her shoulder with a small smile.
"Hey there. Good to see you're okay," Peter said warmly. "I was really worried about you."
"Same here, about you and Barriss."
Anakin and Kit exchanged glances and decided to give the young friends some privacy.
As they stepped outside the medical bay, Ahsoka remembered something that had been bothering her for a while.
"So... Peter..."
"Yeah?"
"Earlier, you mentioned something... What exactly is 'French'?"
Peter looked at her with confusion. "French is a language spoken on Earth."
"Okay, but what does that have to do with kissing?"
Peter froze, his mouth hanging open as he struggled to find an appropriate response for his friend's innocent question.
"Uh... well... you see, that's... not really important for your young, innocent ears right now," Peter said with finality, placing one hand over his heart and raising the other as if taking an oath.
"Come on... tell me."
He shook his head firmly.
"Please~"
"Oh man, since when could she do that puppy dog look?"
Peter had to look away because Ahsoka seemed to have some kind of special gleam in her eyes—a look that was devastating because it appeared so genuinely innocent.
"That expression should be illegal," was the only thought running through his mind as he continued hearing Ahsoka's sweet, innocent pleading.
Anakin stepped out of the medical bay and found Steve leaning against the wall near the entrance.
"How are they doing?" Steve asked with concern.
"They're going to be fine," Anakin assured him. "Nothing that proper rest and recovery time can't fix completely."
Cap nodded with relief. "Glad to hear it. They definitely earned a break after that nightmare."
"Absolutely," Anakin agreed, and the two began walking away from the medical wing.
They remained mostly silent until Steve noticed Anakin glancing around nervously, as if trying to avoid something.
"What's on your mind?"
"Hmm?" Anakin looked at Steve with feigned innocence.
"Something's bothering you."
"What?" Anakin deflected. "Nothing's bothering me. I wasn't thinking about anything specific."
Steve gave him an expectant look, waiting for the truth.
Sighing, Anakin rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably.
"I didn't know you had that in you," Anakin muttered. "The way you interrogated Poggle."
Steve winced slightly at the reminder.
"Yeah," Steve coughed. "That's a method I don't use often... haven't really used it since the war over seventy years ago."
Anakin chuckled humorlessly, then grew more serious. "You know, that kind of brutality isn't the Jedi way. That approach... it doesn't feel right to me."
"You were worried about your friends," Cap said, placing a reassuring hand on the Jedi's shoulder. "I could tell you about some of the things I did during World War II. Things that still don't let me sleep well at night."
Anakin remained silent, processing this.
"How do you cope with it?" he asked after a long pause.
"Just deal with it the best I can," Steve replied honestly. "I remind myself that people are free now, and others don't have to do what my generation had to do."
Skywalker considered Steve's words, then decided to lighten the mood.
"Thanks for the wisdom... old man."
Steve snorted with amusement. "Yeah, an old man who can still kick your ass, Skywalker."
Both men laughed, and Anakin playfully nudged Steve's shoulder as they walked away together, chatting more lightheartedly now that the long ordeal was finally over.