(Florrum)
The Twilight flew down to the surface of the planet, it's crew intent on finding what they were looking for. Landing on the surface of the rocky, desert planet they fanned out, looking for any sign of wreckage what so ever.
"See anything?" said Obi-Wan.
"None Master," said Taran. He was using electrobinoculars and he scanned the terrain for signs out of the ordinary. As the group, consisting of Rex, Anakin, Ahsoka, Obi-Wan, and Cody, searched along the ground the sound of approaching speeders caught their attention.
"Must be the pirates Ahsoka told us about," said Anakin. The four Jedi and three clones readied their weapons. A dozen speeders appeared. From off of them came two dozen men holding blasters. By the looks of them they were all Weequayan pirates. Their leader wore a Desevrar Infantry Helmet, a long flowing red jacket trimmed with some kind of gray material, a white undershirt and green goggles. Unfortunately, they all knew who it was.
"Ah, Kenobi, Skywaker, and the Padawans, how pleasant it is to see you again," he said.
"Oh great, not you again," said Taran. He had a run-in with the pirate on a mission by himself to Ansion when the pirate was trying to smuggle spice from the planet. He stopped him though.
"Hondo, this is a pleasant surprise," said Obi-Wan, the same reaction as Taran's playing inside his head.
"It is Kenobi. What brings you to my planet?" said Hondo.
"Unfortunately we had to come back here to find any sign of Aurra Sing. Perhaps you know her?" said Anakin.
"Yes, as-a-matter-of-fact I do. She and Jango's son came to the planet not too far back. I think that's where the Togruta girl and that other Jedi came in and captured him, but she crashed," said Hondo.
"Do you know where she crashed?" said Obi-Wan.
"Somewhere out on the plateau over there," said Hondo, pointing down a small canyon.
"Thank you. But please tell me why you're not trying to hold us for ransom again?" said Obi-Wan.
"Because Kenobi, when it comes to messing with you guys I'm always on, how do you say it, the wrong end of the lightsaber. This time I will do nothing," he said. Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow, but instead nodded to him.
"Thank you Hondo," said Obi-Wan.
"Anytime Kenobi. Also, your Padawan owes me some spice," said Hondo.
"May I remind you that that spice was stolen?" said Taran.
"Depends on your definition of stolen," said Hondo.
"Yours must be out of date," Taran muttered. Hondo and his pirate band headed back to their speeders and took off back in the direction they went. Even though Hondo had given his word that he would do nothing, none of them were buying into it totally.
"Cody, you and Rex stay here and guard the ship," said Obi-Wan.
"Yes sir," said Cody and Rex.
"You three, let's go into the canyon," said Obi-Wan. Following Obi-Wan, Anakin and their two Padawans went down the canyon. The canyon was pretty shallow, only twenty feet high and ten feet in width. It wasn't along until the canyon began to slope up until they were staring out at the many canyons and buttes out in the landscape atop of a high part of a canyon wall. Around it they saw the wreckage that looked like a ship had crashed here. The only thing missing was a ship.
"I could have sworn that the ship crashed here," said Ahsoka.
"If it's not here, then she must still be alive," said Taran.
"Which means she's still at large," said Anakin. Obi-Wan's comlink went off from the Twilight.
"Yes Cody?" said Obi-Wan.
"General Kenobi, we have an incoming message from Coruscant," said Cody.
"Pass it on," said Obi-Wan. The comlink bleeped out and a hologram appeared from his wrist gauntlet to show the small, aged figure of Yoda.
"Master Obi-Wan, grave news we have for you," said Yoda.
"What is it Master Yoda?" said Obi-Wan.
"It appears that young Boba Fett, along with the other bounty hunter, have escaped, they have," said Yoda.
"How?" said Obi-Wan. Then it dawned on him. Aurra Sing had gotten him and Bossk out.
"And also, Cad Bane has escaped as well," said Yoda. Tarans' eyes widened from this shocking news. Ahsoka could sense something else inside of him that he never felt when Bane was brought into the picture: fear. Anakin could sense it too.
"What do you need us to do Master?" said Obi-Wan.
"Find the bounty hunters you must," said Yoda. The hologram faded out.
"So what do we do Master?" said Taran.
"Let's get back to the ship and rendezvous with some of our other ships. We need to search for them in as many places as possible. We'll need some people to go to the black market districts in the Underworld to find out any information. Bounty hunters usually keep profiles on one another," said Obi-Wan.
"I think I can do that," said Taran.
"Ahsoka can help you if you will let her, though I think I know what your answer will be," said Obi-Wan.
"Most definitely," said Taran.
(Coruscant)
The Underworld of Coruscant, a dark, secluded, and dangerous place to be for anyone, whether they be government officials to the lowest slime in the galaxy. The only light came from the many holographic signs lining the walls and buildings down alleys and streets. Buildings dating back to the prehistory of the planet stared out towards any onlookers in the streets.
The streets were virtually unoccupied, everyone taking to the buildings to have fun, gamble, or other things that cannot be said in this story. However, two hooded figures were walking down the streets of the Underworld.
"This place wreaks of death, booze, and everything else that's nasty in the galaxy. Put a casino in here and I'll come back later," said Taran.
"Taran, focus, we need to find a cantina somewhere," said Ahsoka.
"Can't be too hard. How about there?" said Taran, pointing to a bar that a said "Bounty Hunter Cartel."
"That was easy," said Ahsoka. He and Taran inched cautiously to the door. From outside they could hear loud, blaring exotic music and saw the silhouettes of dancing girls. They could also hear the voices of many species yelling, chatting, and the sound of fist fighting in the back.
"Remember, we need to be subtle and act like we're not hiding anything," said Taran.
"But we're not," said Ahsoka.
"But they don't know that, and I don't think they really care," said Taran.
"You have a point," said Ahsoka.
"And also don't look like you're their to eavesdrop. They hate it when Jedi come in there to do that," said Taran.
"And you know this how?" said Ahsoka.
"Let's just say while I was away from you me and Obi-Wan had a lot of...adventures," said Taran.
"Alright, ladies first," said Ahsoka, motioning with her hands. Taran gave a sarcastic smile to her and went in. When they entered, no one paid them mind. To them they were just some more lowlifes entering for a drink, except they looked a little too young, which they were. Taran came up to the bartender while Ahsoka laid low in the shadows, emptying her thoughts to allow Force to let her listen to any conversations around the cantina.
"What can I do for ya'?" said the bartender, a huge Besalisk, the same species as Dexter Jettster. He was light-brown, and his four arms rippling with muscles, a little pudgy around the belly, and grease stains all over his shirt.
"I need some...information," said Taran. The bartender took another look at Taran.
"Jedi huh? Figures, you always come in here to find out what goes on under your noses. So what kind are you looking for?" he said.
"What do you know about Aurra Sing?" said Taran. The Besalisks' eyes nearly popped out of his skull.
"What do you mean, I don't anything about..."
"Stow it, I know you've heard of her breaking Cad Bane and the other guy out of prison, not what have you heard?" said Taran, making sure to put his hand onto the counter, his lightsaber in hand. The bartender leaned in close to him.
"All I know is that she's planning something somehwere in the Kessel cluster. That's it," he said.
"You sure?" said Taran. "I think you know a little bit more." As Taran was interrogating the bartender, Ahsoka was listening for any leads whatsoever. She heard many things.
"I heard some pirates were smuggling some very expensive death sticks on the Corellian Way."
"I ran into some slavers, but I brushed them off easily."
"I heard that Cad Bane broke out of prison and is plotting his revenge on the Republic." All of these things she heard and still nothing came up about Aurra. They were all talking about the exploits they 'did' or about the recent prison breakout. Nothing was showing up.
"Hey there. You lookin' mighty fine this night girl," said a sinister voice behind her. Ahsoka turned to see a six foot tall Zabrak with blue and green tattoos over his face.
"Thanks, but not interested," said Ahsoka, wanting to leave the guy now.
"No you don't understand. When I take a fancy to a girl she comes with me whether she wants or not," he said, inching closer to her.
"Look, I said no, bottom line," said Ahsoka. She turned to leave, but he grabbed her arm. She kicked him in his stomach and ran for Taran.
"We need to go now," she said.
"Okay, but we still need..."
"Hey, you get over here now!" said the Zabrak. He came up with a drawn blaster and Taran and Ahsoka turned on their lightsabers. The whole bar turned to see two green lightsabers in the middle of the cantina.
"Leave her alone and go about your business," said Taran.
"Not until she comes with me. Give up now Jedi, or I'll have to take her by force," said the Zabrak.
"You and what army?" said Ahsoka.
"The one encircling you and your friend," he said. Taran and Ahsoka used their peripheral vison to see that they were hemmed in by nearly all the men in the room. The dancers, sensing a fight, retreated back into their dressing rooms and the bartender wasn't seen. All the men had their blasters out, ready to shoot when needed.
"What's the plan?" said Ahsoka. Taran brushed his eyebrow.
"No, something more subtle," she whispered back. Taran brushed his nose.
"That'll work."
"On three," he said. They both waited until in her mind Taran shouted "Now!" She ducked under as Taran used his breath of fire. Flames shot towards the circle of criminals, making all of them duck. The flames shot everywhere, but didn't harm anything.
"Let's go," he said to her. They ran out of the cantina into the streets. It took nearly a minute for the men to realize they weren't on fire.
"Blasted Elementians. Find them lads!" he yelled. The men went off looking in the streets in different directions. They went here and their, searching for any sign of them.
"One hundred credits to the first man that finds them," said the Zabrak. A group of the men went down a street past an alley. They didn't look into the shadows of the alley, for if they did they might have found who they were looking for. Taran was shielding Ahsoka into the shadows, hugging her to him as they hugged the wall. When the men had passed they both laughed and got off the wall, Taran still holding her.
"That was fun," he said to her.
"We should do this more often," she said to him. They gave each other a small kiss.
"What did you find out?" she asked.
"Not much, but she's somewhere near the Kessel sector is what the guy told me," he said.
"At least it's something," she said.
"Let's get back before Obi-Wan and Anakin have a heart attack," he said. They both dashed off down the street, making sure to stay near the shadows.
In another part of the same street they were dashing down, two reptilian eyes watched as they left. He pulled out a comlink and talked in Dosh, the Trandoshan language, into it.
(Asteroid off Kessel)
Aurra and her team of bounty hunters were stocking up on weapons and gear. Bane was back into his traditionaly bounty hunter outfit, complete with hat, and looked like he was ready to kill, which he looked like virtually all the time.
Bossk came into the room holding the comlink.
"Cyneran has been spotted in the Underworld. Apparently he has been finding out information about your whereabouts," he said in his cold, reptilian voice.
"That's not a very..good thing, for him," she said.
"Less talk, I say we go after him now!" said Bane, brandishing hid two pistols.
"Patience Bane, we wait for the right time," said Aurra.
"And when will that be?" said Boba.
"In a few hours. Cradossk, have our friend on Coruscant gather his gang together. We're going to draw Cyneran in," said Aurra.
"And where will that be at?" said Durge.
"A planet almost as dear as his homeplanet. Well target the Elementian colony world of Terra," she said, chuckling evilly.