Sorry guys, I wanted to upload the next scene earlier but I actually got a problem with my computer yesterday and it literally took me hours to fix it. But it's fine now, so here comes the new one! Hope you're doing fine and that you'll enjoy it as much as you did the last ones!
TS
"Boss? We've got incoming guests."
The pirate looked up at his subordinate with a slightly annoyed expression on his dark brown and somewhat wrinkled face. With his boots on the desk and his hands behind his head, he looked like the stereotype of the bored scum leader. His red coat with intrigued embroidery still remained on his back, he actually rarely took it off even after all these years when it had become dusty. Just as all the golden rings he was wearing on his fingers, it was part of his style and character. After all, the great Hondo Onaka wasn't just any low pirate scum.
"So what? You need me to show you how to deal with them? Just blast them into space and be over with it," Hondo said while waving his subordinate with the back of his hand, his accent staining ever word he spoke. "We've got enough trouble with the Separatists as it is. Just destroy their droids if they get on our territory, that's all. I don't won't trouble with Dooku again, tchhh why does he hold a grudge like nobody's business, but I can't let his minions hinder my own business."
"Well, these aren't droids. A scout reported he saw four clones coming out of the canyons, not very far from our ancient landing base."
"So? I don't have any business currently with the Republic and I don't want to be caught in their battle with Dooku. Even though we'll end up there somehow, unfortunately." He sighed and took his boots off his desk.
He looked through the wide window on his right. The last time he meddled with the Republic, it was actually with the Jedi, with a certain ship full of younglings and crystals. But in the end and for once, Hondo had done what was right and had helped them out even though he had attacked them first. After all, a common enemy had brought them together. But that was so many rotations ago the pirate didn't bother count how many. He was about to sent his subordinate away, when the latter said something very interesting.
"One of the clones was carrying a fifth person. A Togruta Jedi that you know quite well."
A smile spread on Hondo's face and he pushed on the arms of his comfortable chair to help himself up. He grabbed his spear and tossed it to his subordinate that was still waiting by the door.
"You are right, and I will deal with these uninvited guests myself. Half of the men come with me, the rest keep an eye on things here and alert me if any droid dares to show its face. You have permission to shoot any tin can head you see."
And with that, he walked out of his office, his men following, took a large speeder and went to meet the clones. Rex was surprised to see him. Not that he didn't know that the pirates's base was on Florrum, but he didn't expect it to be so close and the pirates to bother come to them. But there he was, Hondo Onaka, with his arms crossed behind his back and a sly smile on his face. His speeder, which was different from the others and much bigger, stopped a few feet from Sinker and the pirate jumped off, ignoring the blaster Sinker was aiming at him. His pirates were also aiming at the clones but Hondo ordered them to lower their weapons with one simple bark.
Hondo then proceeded to round up the survivors, walking around them and simply looking at them, as if to determine what kind of profit he would gain from them. He quickly walked past Sinker and Rex, simply letting out some "Tshhh" and "Pfff" from time to time as if not being happy to see the state they were in and made his way past Trend to see Comet and Ahsoka.
They were both closing the rear and the Commander was unconscious. She was still shivering and sweat shone on her face and bandages. One simple look at her stomach and Hondo knew she was in deep trouble. All the troopers seemed exhausted, hungry and thirsty and looked as if they just clawed their way through the canyons but Ahsoka was in the worst situation. She was on the verge of death and everyone somehow could feel it. Rex thought it was for the best that Ahsoka wasn't conscious at that time, because she would have tried to do something if she knew Hondo was there. The pirate came closer to her than to any other clone and Trend immediately stepped in front of him which only made the pirate smirk. His eyes were telling that he was already planning some scheme but they also showed anxiety and maybe even worry at the sight of the Padawan. But of course, he didn't let it show.
"Looks like my Jedi is back!" He said after stepping back to his speeder, opening his arms wide in a theatrical movement and almost yelling. It only made his men laugh and smirk. He then waved at his men and they jumped off their speeders to make the clones climb up, threatening them if they didn't want to.
"Where are you taking us?" Rex asked after he refused to be pushed onto the speeder just because a blaster was pointed at his back.
"My base." Hondo replied, matter-of-factly, his back to the captain.
"What are you going to do with us?"
"Well, I know some people who would pay handsomely for a Jedi, a female at that, and who don't care whether she's dead or alive… But I find my mood so changeable these days and I get a feeling you didn't just come here to say hi. If my dear old friends Skywalker and Kenobi are also around, then we should discuss the terms of your… release."
He grinned as he said the last part and all the clones climbed on board the speeders when Rex nodded to them. Comet lowered Ahsoka on Hondo's speeder that allowed a dozen men to stand on it and the pirate crouched next to her trembling silhouette.
"My, my, she doesn't look good, does she?"
If Comet's gaze could kill, Hondo would already be buried. Luckily, the trooper had his helmet on. Trend knelt next to them and checked the Commander's pulse.
" We've been attacked by canyon coyotes and since then, she's been fading fast. If you have any medical supplies we could use…" Trend started but Hondo didn't let him finish.
"It's true that they are a bunch of dangerous beasts. Don't worry, it'll cost you extra, but I don't like seeing my Jedi like that." He said that last part very quietly and softly, almost like a whisper, as if he was afraid his men might hear him.
But once both clones looked at each other, not quite believing what they had heard, Hondo stood up and took back his role of pirate leader, yelling things and making very theatrical movements to get as much attention as possible. And it's in this company that they arrived at his base.
