The two ships flew towards the mountain range that seemed so far away. The sky continued to darken and Master Sinube took some readings.
"Anakin," he said to the young Jedi, "There is evidence of wind rotation in the cloud cover and the wind speeds are increasing."
"Whoa!!" came a cry over the tranceiver.
"Rex, are you boys okay?" Anakin asked sensing the troopers' fear.
"That was some wicked turbulance," the clone captain answered back, "I don't think the "NIGHTMARE can take much more of this."
"Hold on, we'll be at the mountain range soon."
Ahsoka glanced back at the S'alebacians seeing the fear on their faces. She glanced out the TWILIGHT'S main viewport and gasped.
There directly in front of them was a funnel cloud forming. This one was easily three times larger than the storm that had hit them in the village.
"Master..." she gasped.
Anakin looked up from the controls and saw the storm directly in their flight path.
He jerked the steering controls throwing the TWILIGHT in a sharp starboard dive.
"Rex!" he yelled, "Turn away from the storm!"
"Sir..." was all Anakin heard before the 'NIGHTMARE was engulfed by the strom.
"No!!" Ahsoka sreamed and shut her eyes to keep the tears inside.
Anakin shut his eyes and reached out with the Force to put a barrier around the gunship.
"General!" Rex called out, "I don't know what's happening, but the ship has steadied even though I think we are inside the storm."
Anakin didn't answer. His eyes were still shut. Sweat appeared on his forehead and blood tricked from his nose.
"Master..." Ahsoka whispered and glanced back at Master Sinube who was standing next to Anakin, hands on the young Jedi's shoulders. She knew that Sinube was adding his abilities to Anakin's.
Anakin started to shake and Sinube fell away.
Ahsoka helped the elderly Jedi to his feet and gestured to the co-pilot seat for him to sit. She stood behind Anakin and put her hands on his shoulders to add her Force abilities to his.
Sinube took the ship's controls and guided the small freighter back towards the storm.
"Captain Rex!" he called over the tranceiver, "Can you hear me?"
"Barely, Master Sinube. We have sustained alot of damage but no injuries except for frayed nerves and sick stomachs."
"Hold on, we're coming for you"
"Negative sir," the clone captain said, "Our engines are overheating and nearing critical. The best thing for us to crash land somewhere and get out before we blow up."
"Rex!" Anakin called out as his Force link broke, "No! We will rescue you!"
"General, you of all people, know that the idea of a mid-flight rescue is out of the question!"
"We can piggy-back the gunship on the TWILIGHT," Ahsoka added looking over at Anakin who looked the worst for wear. His normally bright blue eyes were blood-shot. He wiped the blood away from his nose and upper lip.
"That might work!" he said.
"You children are crazy!" Sinube answered, "But it is the only way to save them."
"This will take some precision flying," Anakin said, "So, Rex I want you at the controls."
"Yes sir. Are you sure this will work? Our engines are getting hotter!"
Anakin looked to Master Sinube and Ahsoka for reassurance. The he looked back at the S'alebacians and their sad expressions.
"Yes....It will work!"