Chapter 4: Hostage
Boba's POV
I still regret ever lying to Ahsoka. She said herself that she hated bounty hunters. I'm a bounty hunter and she hates me. I could see it in her beautiful blue eyes when she looked at me. Why does she have to be so amazing Why does she have to be so smart and beautiful? Why does she have to be a Jedi? I couldn't help but be in love with her. She was like no girl I've ever met before. She was so unique and talented. I never thought I would fall in love with someone of a different species. I've always known Togrutas to be a very animalistic, but she was different. She was very calm, understanding, and very attractive. There are words upon words to describe my feelings for her. They would never end.
"Boba." Aurra's voice broke my train of thought. "We're here."
Thinking about Ahsoka would have to wait. Right now, I have to be focused on finding Windu's body. Knowing my father's murderer is dead will bring me peace. Aurra, Castas, and I went to the demolished star cruiser. Bossk stayed with the ship. We went to the bridge first. I heard voices.
"Sir, we have no way to contact Generals Skywalker and Windu. Nothing left one the ship works."
"I am certain they will come to see if we are still alive. We should wait for them." Great. Windu's still alive. Why won't he die?
"Windu's alive. The mission failed again. What do we do now?"
"If Windu's coming back, we should set up a trap for him. First, they'll be no survivors." She took out her blaster. I knew where this was going.
Ahsoka's POV
Anakin, Master Windu, and I headed down to the crash sight of the ship. I tried to forget about Lucky – or Boba – and how he betrayed me and his brothers, but it bothered me too much.
"Hey, Snips. Are you okay over there?"
"I'm fine, Master."
"You sound disturbed, Padawan."
"I assure you, I'm fine, Master Windu."
"Well, just make sure you keep a clear head. We're approaching the cruiser." I flew over and turned on my scanners.
"I'm picking up any life forms, Master."
"Land near the cruiser. We'll search on foot."
"Yes, Master." We landed a few feet away from the crash. Anakin had R2 with him, Master Windu had his R8 droid, and I had my new droid R6. My master came to me.
"Do you feel anything, Ahsoka?" I closed my eyes and concentrated on my surroundings. I did feel something. Something big.
"I sense life forms, but they're not human."
"I sense them too. Gundarks. They're indigenous to this planet. We'll have to be careful to avoid them. They're very territorial creatures. Spread out and look for any clues." We all went different ways with our droids. I found a dead clone.
"Masters, over here." They ran over to me and saw the body. Master Windu took a closer look at it.
"This clone did not die in the crash. He was executed." Executed? Who could've… Boba. Maybe he came back to look for Master Windu's body. He would've killed anyone who got in his way. I felt a hand on my shoulder. I almost jumped and looked at Anakin.
"Are you sure you're okay, Ahsoka? You've been out of it since you came back from the escape pod."
"Yeah. I'm okay. I was just thinking." Master Windu stood up.
"Is there something you're keeping from us, Padawan? Did something happen in that escape pod you don't want us to know about?" The event of Boba leaving with those bounty hunters played in my mind. I mentally shook that thought.
"Of course not, Master. I'm fine."
"We'll talk about this later, Snips. Right now, we need to find Admiral Killian and any other survivors."
"Skywalker and I will check the bridge. You and the droids search down here. Maybe whoever killed this clone is still here."
"Yes Master." Master Windu walked off, but Anakin stayed behind.
"Ahsoka, clear your mind of everything. We have to find whoever is still around."
"I know, Master."
"Are you sure nothing's bothering you? You're not usually like this and I'm staring to worry about you."
"I'm sure." He reached out for my lekku. "Please, don't. I hate it when you do that. I don't like you picking through my brain."
"Then tell me what's going on with you. I know you and when you say nothing's wrong, something's always wrong. Whatever it is, you can tell me."
"Skywalker!"
"We'll continue this later." He ran off after that.
"If only you knew, Master. If only you knew."
Boba's POV
"Is the helmet in place, Boba?"
"Yeah. As soon as Windu lifts it, the bomb will go off."
"Good. This time he'll die for sure."
I took out my binoculars and looked around for anyone else. I saw a few astrodroids, but nothing else. I came across a Togruta girl who looked all too familiar. Oh my Force, it's Ahsoka. I gasped when I realized this. Unfortunately, I did a little too loudly. I knew Aurra heard me.
"What is it, Boba?"
"Nothing. Just a gundark." She took my binoculars and looked through them.
"Really, because this 'gundark' looks like Togruta Jedi from the escape pod. One must wonder why you're protecting her."
"She hasn't done anything wrong, Aurra. Just leave her alone."
"We kill Jedi, Boba. We don't let them go. Jedi make good profits." Bossk came out.
"Aurra, I'm intercepting a message from the Jedi." We all went in Slave I to hear the message.
"Master, I found three more dead clones. They were all executed like the first."
"We found Admiral Killian and Commander Ponds. They've both been killed."
"Master, I have a bad feeling about this. I don't think we should stay here any longer."
"We need to find whoever killed these men. They may still be on the planet."
"I think they are."
"How do you know?"
"I can see a ship up on a cliff. I'm going to go check it out."
"Be careful."
"I will, Master. Ahsoka out."
I went out with my binoculars and looked around for her. I saw her making her way up the cliff.
"She's coming."
"We'll surprise her when she gets here." Not this again.
Ahsoka's POV
I walked up to the ship. I touched it. It was slightly warm, meaning it was recently on. I sensed a presence coming closer. I took out my lightsaber and turned around to see a woman coming from behind the ship. I recognized her. She was the came one that took Boba.
"You."
"Hello again, princess. Did you miss me?"
"Not really."
"Well then, I guess I have more of a reason to not regret killing you." She pointed her blaster at me and I activated my lightsaber.
"Aurra, no." Boba came from behind the ship. "Don't kill her."
"Boba, I told you next time she dies."
"What if we took her hostage? The Separatists will pay a lot for a Jedi."
"Hmm. Now you're thinking like a bounty hunter. Bossk, tie her up and put her on the ship." Everything went black after that.
Boba's POV
I sat in the back of Slave I, watching Ahsoka's lithe unconscious body. I wanted to make sure she stayed alive. I heard how sensitive a Togruta's lekku can be. Bossk hit her pretty hard over the head. Aurra came in.
"Boba, the bomb went off. Windu's finally dead."
"I don't think so. He survived the first two attempts. He could've survived this one."
"Well, then let's go find his body. Count Dooku will pay handsomely for a Jedi's head. And if we killed Skywalker, he'll pay twice as much."
"Whatever. As long as Windu's dead." I stood up and started out to follow her. I looked back at Ahsoka. Aurra came back.
"What is it?"
"What do you plan to do with her?"
"I suppose we could sell her to Jabba the Hutt. He's always looking for a young slave girl. Now, come on. The sooner we find Windu's body, the sooner we can leave this planet." I followed her to the speeders. I hopped on the back of Aurra's and Castas had his own.
"Bossk, stay here and watch the prisoner." We sped off to the crash.
