Mandalore
After two days in Hyperspace, Ashlyn and Jania came out of the shuttle as they looked around the landing pad in curiosity until they spotted Duchess Satine and her guards approaching them. The two Padawans met the Duchess at the halfway point and then bowed in greeting.
"It's nice to see you Padawans," Satine greeted, "What is the reasons for your visit to Mandalore?"
"We are tracking a Sith around the Galaxy and have followed the trace here my lady," Ashlyn answered her question, "Master Kenobi sends his regards," she added.
Ashlyn hoped that by mentioning Obi-wan it would help the Duchess relax and be more willing to help their investigation.
"So, you are Obi-wan's new Padawan? Except I thought his new Padawan was a boy," Satine said curiously.
Ashlyn blushed, "No, my lady. I am Master Skywalker's Padawan, our friend Daly is searching another planet for the Sith and he is the Padawan of Master Kenobi," she corrected the Duchess.
Satine nodded and then motioned for the two girls to follow her to the awaiting transport behind her. The trip to the Palace took only minutes and then when the transport landed, Satine turned to the two Padawans.
"Make yourselves comfortable and I will make sure you are both assisted in your investigation while you are here," Satine said as she led them through the gardens and into the Palace, "You can stay in our guest quarters."
"Thank you my lady," Jania thanked the Duchess who then dismissed herself from the room.
"I haven't been in a room this lavish since I left home," Jania said.
Ashlyn sighed, "Yeah, it reminds me of the rooms in the Palace of Naboo."
"I wonder how the boys are all doing," Jania thought out loud.
Ashlyn giggled before picking up a pillow and swinging it at Jania who ducked out of the way just in time. Jania then began laughing at Ashlyn who had tripped over the rug with the toe of her boot from losing her balance after missing her target. Ashlyn glared at her for a moment and then started laughing along with her friend as she stood back up and deposited the pillow back onto the bed.
Late that night, Jania and Ashlyn stalked along the landing platform in the shadows when all of a sudden there was a loud clang as if something metal had been dropped.
"Be quiet you idiot!" a voice exclaimed as quietly as it could.
Ashlyn and Jania paused for a moment, looked at each other and nodded before climbing the wall up onto the roof. They crept along the roof in a low crouch until they got to the edge and peered over just enough to see but still remain hidden. The two men below were talking hurriedly in hushed whispers as they continued to carry their load into the warehouse. Ashlyn recognised their armour from somewhere but couldn't quite pinpoint where she had seen it before. Jania reached into one of the pouches on her belt for her holographic recorder so that she could record the two men as they walked away. Then the Padawan pointed at the ship that obviously belonged to the two men. Ashlyn got the message and reached into a pouch on her belt for a tracking device. Then after pressing the button on the tracking device, she threw the object at the ship and used the Force to make sure the device attached to the hull properly. After completing the task they watched the ship fly off before they dropped down to the ground. The two Padawans turned to face the door and then at the same time used the Force to open it without setting off the alarm. Inside the warehouse they found it to be filled with thousands of barrels and crates. Upon closer inspection, they found weapons, bombs and lightsabers. Ashlyn and Jania were shocked beyond belief as Ashlyn picked up one of the many hilts and pressed the activation button to find a red blade. Jania gulped and then proceeded to take pictures of the contents as well as the warehouse number so they could find it again. Then they left after making sure that it looked the same as before so that the people who were behind this would never know that anyone else had been in the building.
The next morning, Ashlyn and Jania had decided to contact the fleet with an update on their findings.
Ashlyn groaned, "Master, I am telling the truth," she pushed.
"It is true Master Skywalker and we have proof of what we found," Jania backed her up and then proceeded to transmit holoimages and recordings to the Jedi Master.
"This makes no sense. Why would these Sith have crates upon crates of lightsabers?" Anakin said in bewilderment and then he paused in shock.
"Master?" Ashlyn asked in concern.
"Ashlyn, I want you both back here now," Anakin ordered firmly.
"What? Why?" the Padawans demanded incredulously.
"Because these two men are a part of Death Watch and they are trained to kill Jedi," Anakin revealed, "I want you both back here now."
Ashlyn sighed in defeat, "Okay, we're on our way."
The call ended and the two Padawans fell onto their beds.
"We have only been here three weeks Ash," Jania said, "We should do more research into these Death Watch people before we go."
"I know but try to telling that to my Master," Ashlyn pointed out.
"Yes but we don't have to, it will take us three days to get back to the fleet," Jania said.
Ashlyn smiled as she realised where her friend was going, "Not bad Jania, not bad at all."
Around noon later that day, Ashlyn and Jania walked up to Duchess Satine and bowed in greeting to the leader of Mandalore.
"What is it that you wanted to talk to me about girls?" Satine asked gracefully.
"My lady, we found a warehouse that the Death Watch have been using to store weapons on Mandalore," Ashlyn informed her.
"What?" she asked in shock, "The Death Watch dissipated after Tor Vizsla was killed," she said.
"Yes but we believe they have reformed and are planning to retake Mandalore and we believe they are in league with the Sith that we trying to hunt down," Jania said.
"My Master has requested us to return to the fleet so if there is nothing else, my lady, we will leave," Ashlyn said.
"Very well girls, thank you for visiting Mandalore and give Masters Kenobi and Skywalker my regards," she farewelled them.
The two Padawans bowed and then left the Palace to head back to their ship which was waiting for them on the landing platform.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Ashlyn Dubreas.
