The strange being appeared out of nowhere, like a ghost resurrected from the battlefield. His presence was unnoticed, and had it not been for his sudden appearance, Icarus knew he would have gone unnoticed.

Icarus: - Who are you? - He asked suspiciously as he couldn't even see his face because of the metal mask he was wearing.

????: - An ally. - Said with a strong feminine voice while it was given the turn.

The strange silhouette began to run towards an unknown place. The droids did not know that. Wag Too's life hung in the balance, but the sudden and "convenient" appearance of this mysterious individual was too much of a coincidence. The Icarus processor was in complete chaos. I couldn't decide on a proper way to operate in this situation and he wasn't even sure he could save his friend's life. But before he could draw a conclusion, the strange voice caught his attention again.

????: - If you want him to live. You will have to decide. -

Icarus raised his head once more, and his gaze focused on that mysterious being, whose silhouette was almost blurred by pollution and the darkness of the night. The droid was still trying to create a logical plan with the few seconds he had left, but then he knew there was no other choice. She put her computer aside and decided to follow that strange sensation that her core was sending her. Something that organics would classify as instinct.

Icarus: - Delta unit. Go back, search for the droidekas units and wait for my instructions. Alpha with me -

Droids: - Roger. Roger. -

And so, the two droids began to run trying to keep up with that mysterious being that ran at a speed that seemed impossible. If they weren't for the fact that they were droids, they would have thought it was a wraith that disappeared and reappeared occasionally in the dead of night. His flashlights could barely locate the hooded woman, and on several occasions he had to be guided by the different whistles that she made at them.

After several minutes of running at a fast pace, they were able to define the silhouette of a kind of mountainous system, badly marked by the darkness of the night and the sepulchral blue sky. When they got close enough, there he was, with his back to the rocky wall of the place, the strange hooded figure waiting for them.

Without wasting a second, he turned around and ripped off a piece of rock that was clearly superimposed on the wall, revealing a terminal, and as he pressed several buttons, a rumble lightly shook the ground to his pieces, and the stone wall it began to open slowly, revealing the entrance to what looked like an underground shelter.

Immediately, white lights flooded the interior of what seemed to be a small square chamber, into which the hooded being hurriedly entered, followed by the droids. The door behind him closed slowly, and a strange robotic voice announced the start of a decontamination process.

Strange white smoke began to billow from various airlocks, filling the chamber in a few seconds. Strangely, the smoke stuck to the outside of those present and diluted with impressive speed the layer of pollution that stuck to the metallic bodies and the clothes they were wearing.

As she advanced, the hooded stranger approached a strange container that hung on the wall, and from there she took out a kind of assisted breathing mask. It was small, just enough to fit Wag Too's face. Ícaro did not think twice and removed the makeshift mask, then helped the hooded woman put the assisted respirator on her friend. By the time they finished, the decontamination process was complete, and those present were as clean as they hadn't been in a long time.

????: - It will not be enough. We'll have to get him to the ER right away. -

Icarus: - To emergencies? - He asked something surprising.

But when the doors located on the other side of the chamber opened,revealed an image that Icarus found difficult to assimilate.

It was a huge tunnel network buried which stretched for several kilometers under the subsoil. The desert corridors were supported by huge metal columns that supported the structure, and occasionally a soul was seen wandering walking for that area of ​​the shelter.

Without giving him time to ask a question, the woman, who Icarus could now recognize when approaching him, led them inside through one of the passages of the underground city. Those closest to him looked on in astonishment, and even the droid could make out a few smiles on their faces. Afterall, they used to be Separatists, and the simple presence of a super tactical droid was a ray of hope for many, something that even Icarus was not aware of.

????: - Look! look! - Shouted a young girl about fifteen years old as she approached where the woman was.

Mirana:-Stela. Notify the commander. We have to take him to the ER. -

The young woman looked at the superdroid in astonishment, but when she saw the lurmen in his arms she understood theinstant what happened. And without asking any more questions, he turned off the path into the dugout.

Not far away was what looked like a makeshift hospital on what was left of an old grain store. But it was easily recognizable by the huge sign of the cross that day with neon that stood out on its facade.

Mirana hurriedly opened the doors, walking past the two citizens waiting there while Icarus and the commando droid followed her. They turned down a corridor, and entered a place where there was a bed that was prepared for emergencies, and a medical droid that was waiting right next to it.

Mirana: - Lay him there. - Icarus ordered.

Medical droid: -That occurred? -

Mirana: - She breathed in the unfiltered outside air. -

Medical Droid: - Understood. -

Without asking any further questions, the medic droid turned around and took various utensils from the shelves and placed them on a table near the bed with Wag Too now lying on it. Using a razor, the droid sliced ​​through the garment covering the lurmen's chest, and took a syringe-like tool and rammed it hard into Wag Too's right lung.

Such an act happened so fast, that Icarus didn't even have time to tell him to stop, but before he could ask that was doing, a strange brownish smoke began to emanate from the lurmen's chest at through from the syringe until it is picked up by a kind of plastic container. It was a terrifying image and think that all that pollution was housed in his little lungs.

Medical droid: - With this your life will no longer be in danger. But I need time to finish cleaning the interior and operate. -

Icarus: - Operate? - He asked, worried. - How to operate? -

Mirana: - The outside air is so toxic that it severely affects the trachea of ​​those affected. -

Medical droid: - We'll remove it and install an artificial one. -

Icarus: - But... Will he survive? -

Mirana: - It's impossible to know. But if you don't, you will surely die. - He said with a dull voice under his metal mask.

Icarus didn't really want to accept it, but his knowledge of medicine was nil, and he couldn't even calculate the probability that Wag Too would recover. He computed that he should have stayed on the Kestrel Nova, and that all this was happening because of his decisions. I should have calculated that risk, I should have paid more attention. And for the second time in the same day, the droid experienced another sensation that he never wanted to feel again: Regret.

But before he could ask any more questions, a second medical droid entered the room, making it clear that the presence of so many in the room would make surgery difficult.

Mirana: - We must wait out. -

Icarus had no choice but to follow the instructions and wait. He had never felt so helpless, and could only watch through the small window in the door as the medical droids arranged things around his friend's body, before strong white smoke billowed into the room and the small window darkened so that couldn't see inside.

Mirana: - Calm down. You are in good hands. -

Icarus: - This is my fault. I should have anticipated it. -

Mirana: - It's not your fault. This usually happens more often than you think. -

Icarus: - No. It's my fault. I don't usually organize plans with organics in my ranks. I compute so that my plans have as few casualties as possible, but I never thought about all the problems organics would have on the battlefield. - He said something crestfallen. - Just compute all the problems for which the Clone Army had to pass, makes me estimate them even more for their value. AfterallThey weren't just machines.replaceable. -

Mirana: - You will be surprised even more than you think. -

Icarus: - What do you mean? - He asked, confused.

Mirana: - Nothing. You'll understand when you talk to the commander. -

A few tense minutes passed when Icarus received a call on a private channel from Delta.

Icarus: - Very good. Come to my position. I'll pass on the coordinates. - He spoke on the comm.

Mirana: - Your other friends? -

Icarus: - Affirmative. They'll be coming up in a few minutes. I would appreciate it if you don't treat them as hostile. -

Mirana: - Hostile? What are you talking about? This forgotten planet in the outer rim was once a great separatist industrial center. Many still remember him fondly. Federation droids are more than welcome here. -

They were barely able to finish the small talk in the corridors of the hospital when heavy footsteps were heard approaching. was the sound characteristic of military boots, boots that Icarus knew very well.

????: - Mirana. What happened? Everything is alright? - Said a male voice behind him.

They both turned around, but both droids were shocked to see the face of whom they called commander. He was a human of medium height, with an unmistakable military bearing. His complexion was somewhat dull, and he looked conspicuous and had an abundant mustache whose cut extended to the chin. Tired brown eyes rested in their sockets, and a standard haircut highlighted his slightly visible receding hairline.

He wore a black synthetic cloth covering his neck, and white armor rested on his chest, shoulders, and forearms. A clone armor with ocher paint markings. This man was, without a doubt, a clone of the Republic Army.