Part I
Chapter X
Jedi Vs. Jedi
Neither Anakin nor Ahsoka have been to Tatooine. They've heard the stories about this planet, desolate, full of outlaws and scum from every corner of the galaxy and is home to the infamous Jabba the Hutt. Even so, Anakin has heard that this is the world of which he harbors from. When then, Jedi Force Weaver Tyranus and his Padawan, Qui-Gon discovered him. Anakin himself doesn't remember that encounter, for he was only an infant. At that time, Anakin had become the youngest Force sensitive individual to be brought to the temple. It was a strange time, when the Jedi were still at war with the Sith. A former Force Weaver and Jedi named Darth Maul had turned against the Order, joining league with a Master Sith Lord, Darth Sidious. To this day, neither of the Jedi—including the Lord of Darkness himself know for sure if Darth Maul or Sidious are truly dead. With the resurface of Tyranus, they can infer that the Order of the Sith is still burning strong.
Landing on Tatooine in a two-seater Star Fighter, Anakin and Ahsoka disembark from their craft stepping onto the sandy surface of Tatooine. The desert is cool due to the night, the cover of darkness will be their ally in investigating Tyranus' whereabouts. However, the two Jedi are ignorant to the true identity of the man they seek. Obi-Wan misinformed Anakin by telling him that they are tracking a high value fugitive that escaped the Triple Max Facility on Courscant. In the back of Anakin's mind, he has his doubts that Obi-Wan was telling half-truth, in which his gut feeling will be correct.
"Well, it's sandier than I thought," Ahsoka says kicking a small mound of sand at her feet. "I wonder why this guy traveled to this planet anyway?"
"You can ask him that yourself, once we catch him," Anakin replies removing his hood. In the distant, the two can see the lights glowing on the horizon from Mos Eisley. At that moment, Anakin is flushed with a strange dreadful feeling. He can't place his finger on it, but the feeling swells in his stomach.
Sensing her master's discomfort, Ahsoka questions him, "are you alright?"
Nodding his head, Anakin draws his hood over his face. "Artoo, stay with the ship," he orders the blue and white colored astromech situated in the wing of the fighter. "Any trouble comes up, contact me immediately." The little mech beeps in reply watching the two Jedi trek the short distant across the desert to the spaceport settlement.
Little attention is brought to the two hooded Jedi as they walk the dirt roads of Mos Eisley. It is packed with people, droids and patrolling Stormtroopers. More so than before, the clone trooper count seems to have increased since the breakout on Courscant. They also may have knowledge of the prisoner hiding on this world. "So where do we start?" Ahsoka asks Anakin as the two walk down the main road of the settlement. "There's so many people… anyone of them can be our guy."
Anakin nods his head slightly in agreement. Eyeing every face in range, the Jedi's mind wonders. With the Force in his body still being suppressed by that strange feeling of uneasiness, it'll be hard for him to Force read any of them. His mind isn't in the right place and so his Force fluctuates wildly within him.
"We don't even know what this person even looks like," Ahsoka continues. "It would've really helped if Master Kenobi showed us a picture at least!"
"Patients, my apprentice," Anakin speaks in a monotone. "The Force will tell us who we are looking for." At that moment, Anakin remembers what Obi-Wan told him just before he left for his mission to Mandalore… This fugitive of the Empire is dangerous, I don't expect your apprentice to return…" Coming from the mouth of a Jedi Master, Anakin can only image who this person may be. Instantly, the image of a Sith pops into mind. The Sith he had saw on the security hologram in the Council. "It makes sense…!" He muses out loud stopping in his tracks.
"What does?" Ahsoka asks.
"Obi-Wan was too afraid to admit it… they have us going after a Sith—the same Sith who escaped that prison!"
Ahsoka gives him a skeptical look, "you really think they'll send us to capture a Sith?"
"Yes, I do," Anakin replies confidently. Noticing that they're talking in the middle of the road, Anakin draws his apprentice off to the side away from anyone close by. "Don't you get it?" He leans his head down close to her face speaking in a low intense voice, "this is a sign… a sign that the Jedi have fear—that Lord Yoda has fear!" Ahsoka's face falls into shock, realizing where Anakin is going with this. "Why else would they send us to get him? Why not Master Tiin, or Plo Koon or any of the Council members?" A smile sketches across Anakin's face. "Because they're afraid, afraid of confronting this Sith—and if they have fear… then they have a weakness!"
"Master, please don't tell me what I think you are saying…?" Ahsoka dreads.
Anakin grips her shoulders tightly, "we can do it Ashoka, we can defeat Lord Yoda… we—I can beat him! And then… the Jedi Order will be in my hands!" For a moment, Ahsoka's heart was beating with excitement. Overthrow the Jedi… kill Yoda and take his title as Lord of Darkness and Master of the Jedi Order…? It seems farfetched especially for someone her age. Yoda has centuries of experience and has trained all the Jedi in the temple at one point. Defeating him will be near impossible, if not impossible. That's when the realization hits her quelling her thirst for power.
"Master…" she starts fanning Anakin's hands off her shoulders. "What you are saying is suicide." Anakin's morale dips low. Ahsoka continues, "If you go through with this, Yoda will kill you."
"No Ahsoka, you're wrong," Anakin says bitterly. "It'll be me who kills him! You overestimate him and undermine my power of the Dark Side!" Anakin's eyes flare a deep yellow filling his anger.
"I'm not saying that, master," Ahsoka ensures him calmly. "It's the truth, I mean just look at all the other Jedi who spoke those same words—look what happened to them!" Anakin holds his tongue allowing her to continue, "Master Marek, Paratus… Master Jinn was lucky enough to have been exiled!"
Anakin chuckles shaking his head, "I find your lack of faith… disturbing, Ahsoka." He brushes pass her looking to the road. "You will soon see my true potential, and you, and all the other Jedi will bow to me as your new Lord of Darkness." He turns his cheek starting back to the road. Ahsoka numbly follows behind knowing nothing she can say will change Anakin's power hungry thoughts.
Ashoka trails a good distant from her master, Anakin doesn't even bother looking back for he keeps his head held high and forward. Depleting his confidence, an unexpected flex in the Force tingles at his stomach. Not an uneasy feeling as he felt earlier, a warm secure feeling. For a second, it took his hate filled thoughts away, never has he felt such a relief… No! He shouts in his mind canceling out the sensation. Don't go soft! Increasing his steps, balling his fist, he clouds his mind with thoughts of capturing the Sith hiding away on this planet.
He can almost envision it, bringing Tyranus to the temple, all the Jedi eyes watching him—watching Anakin escort the most wanted man in the galaxy to Yoda's throne. Showing that he has conquered the one thing the Jedi Order feared the most, showing that he has no fear. Surly, the Jedi will look to him as their new savior… their new Lord of Darkness.
At the corner of the road, a dozen Stormtroopers stand around a small group of settlement dwellers. Catching Anakin's eye, he goes over to see what's going on.
The Stormtroopers seem to be talking with a local bounty hunter, the Rodian who was temporarily disabled by Tyranus. "…So you are saying that you engaged with the suspect?" The clone Sergeant asks the Rodian who stands along with the two bounty hunters who helped him after the brief scuffle.
"Engaged…?" The Rodian laughs, "He did something to my body! I was like a living statue!"
"What did the suspect look like?" The clone questions further.
"I don't know, he was wearing a hood—a robe, couldn't see his face," the Rodian replies. "He's lucky though… cuz if I had, I would've blasted a new hole in em'!" The other troopers snicker under their headgear. "I'm serious!" The bounty hunter presses angrily.
"Oh no, I didn't doubt you for a second," the Sergeant sarcastically says in a laugh. Approaching from behind, Anakin stops over the Sergeant. Feeling a presence behind him, the Sergeant doesn't bother turning around. "Standing behind a trooper is a galactic offense…" turning around, the trooper jumps back in fright at the sight of a Jedi, "oh, m-my Lord!" He salutes. The other clones immediately fall attentive. "My apologize my Lord, I was just…"
Anakin pushes the clone aside setting his attention on the bounty hunter, "you saw a man wearing a robe?" He asks mechanically. The Rodian glances nervously at the Jedi, "a man with a robe—you've seen him recently?" Anakin asks again with more emphases in his voice.
"Yeah, the other night," the bounty hunter replies. "He was in there," he points to the cantina.
"Do you know where this man went by any chance?" Anakin asks.
The bounty hunter shrugs, "after he paralyzed me… I have no clue."
Paralyzed? Anakin replays in his head.
"I know where he went," another voice calls out from behind the troopers. Everyone's attention falls on another bounty hunter, "he went east, into the desert. He took a speeder." Anakin nods his head thinking for a moment, he then leaves the conversation heading back to Ahsoka who has stopped a few meters away.
The Stormtroopers turn their attention in unison back to the Rodian and the two other bounty hunters, "thank you for your cooperation," the Sergeant thanks nodding his squad to move on.
The Rodian folds his arms shaking his head watching Anakin walk away, "this guy has some serious people after him… including me!"
Laughing at his statement, his fellow bounty hunter friends shake their heads at him. "You never fail to make me laugh, Greedo. You're lucky that man only paralyzed you… next time you may not be so lucky."
Greedo huffs a laugh, "yeah, that'll be the day."
Ahsoka awaits her master to reach her, "he's here," Anakin says narrowly passing her by.
"The Sith?" Ahsoka questions walking after him, "he's really here?"
Anakin doesn't reply for his mind is preoccupied with thinking. He stops walking turning to Ahsoka. "We have to split up," he says. "I need you to stay here in Mos Eisley." Reaching into a pocket on his armor, he tosses a wrist communicator into her hand. "Stay in constant communication, and if you see anyone dressed in robes or even sense something out of place, you contact me immediately." She nimbly nods to her master's word. "Do not underestimate this Sith, Ahsoka. If you see him— do not engage. You contact me, only together… with the Dark Side as our ally, we can defeat him." Again she nods blankly, "don't fail me Ahsoka… I can't do this alone." Ending with that, Anakin whips by her starting down the road.
Ahsoka grips the communicator in her palm turning around watching her departing master, "then where are you heading?" She calls after him.
To her surprise, he actually turns around, "back to the ship," he replies. With that, he continues on his way.
Artoo remains in the wing of the Star Fighter. Using his mono eye camera, he scans the darken silent desert landscape. Coming into his view, the dark silhouette of Anakin appears in his sight. When Anakin gets close enough, Artoo beeps worriedly that Ahsoka isn't with him.
"It's alright Artoo, I ordered her to stay put in the settlement," he tells the worried droid. Artoo beeps questionably this time, "no, we aren't leaving yet." Anakin climbs on top the wing preparing to enter the fuselage. "We're going to do some reconnaissance, I have a feeling our fugitive is close by…"
The astromech begins to power up the ship preparing for takeoff. Anakin sits himself in the pilot seat ready to liftoff into the sky, when he senses something approaching. Strong in the Force too. Getting out the cockpit, he surveys the area seeing nothing in particular. Then, as he looks around him, he sees a trailing dust cloud with a small dot leading in front. "Artoo, power down the ship," he orders. The droid beeps confusingly, "Just do it!" Jumping off the wing, Anakin lands on the ground squinting his eyes at the approaching anomaly. "What is that?"
Closing in fast, a person—a Jedi encased in a black metallic combat suit complete with a helmet rides on a speeder bike homing in on Anakin. As the Jedi becomes close, Anakin eyes widen in shock. The Jedi doesn't look to be slowing down, even with Anakin standing clear in the open alongside his craft. Seeing that the Jedi has no intentions in stopping, Anakin Force leaps clearing the speeder. Landing back on the surface, he turns around, only to see the Jedi stopping abruptly just feet from where he stands.
Getting off the speeder, the Jedi starts walking towards Anakin. "Are you crazy!" Anakin scoffs meeting the Jedi halfway. "You almost plowed right through me!"
The Jedi chuckles under their headgear, "you moved, like I predicted… so it doesn't matter." The Jedi's voice sounds mechanical due to a voice scrambler installed in the helmet.
"Who are you? Obi-Wan didn't say anything about another Jedi on Tatooine...?" Anakin questions readying his hand to reach for his lightsaber at his waist.
"You always trusted that man," the Jedi replies in a sigh. "Hard to believe his insights haven't gotten you killed… yet." The Jedi reaches for the helmet finally removing it.
Anakin's cautious thoughts are replaced with puzzlement, "Asajj?" He takes his hand away from his lightsaber. "What are you doing on Tatooine?"
"Same as you, I assume?" The bald, grey skinned Dathomirian Jedi replies dryly.
"The fugitive?" Anakin asks narrowly.
Asajj keeps herself from laughing but grows a smirk on her face, "right, the fugitive…" She cradles her helmet in her right arm, "where's your Padawan? Hope she isn't dead… she still owes me a lightsaber."
"Ahsoka's fine," Anakin replies broadly. "She's in Mos Eisley keeping a watchful eye out."
"That's odd for you two… splitting up like that," Asajj says uncaringly. She approaches Anakin glancing up at Artoo who beeps frighteningly at the sight of her, "nice to see you're keeping up with your little droid though."
"Now let me remind you," Anakin begins coldly staring her straight in the eye. "That it was your master that allowed these guys to escape in the first place." He points an accusing finger at her, "why weren't you at his side huh?"
"First off," Asajj slaps his finger away, "I'm not a Padawan anymore, as you can see," she gestures to her armored suit.
"You've been Knighted…" Anakin realizes. "You completed the Trials."
"You almost sound surprised…?" Asajj says scornfully.
"In a way I am," Anakin laughs just a bit, "even after you nearly killed Master Sinbue when we were Younglings cuz you were so clumsy." He laughs coldly, "and they make you a Knight… boy, the Jedi must really be getting desperate."
"You don't say…?" Asajj gravels under her breath. "Maybe that explains why Lord Yoda personally sent me to track his fugitive, alone."
Anakin's smile wipes from his face, "Lord Yoda sent you? But Obi-Wan said—"
"He lied to you, Skywalker, just as he's always has—you're just too big of an imbecile to see it! He knew you were too weak to handle this task alone, which is why they sent me to capture this fugitive. You and the Padawan were just here to feel like you've accomplished something when in reality you contribute to nothing." Asajj turns her back on Anakin, leaving him in conflict with his emotions. "Don't feel bad Skywalker, I'll tell the Lord of Darkness that you did something at least, once I deliver this fugitive to him personally!" She starts for her speeder bike.
Artoo beeps trying to get Anakin's attention. Reflecting on her words, something clicks in Anakin's mind. If she succeeds in capturing the Sith… my path to defeat Yoda will be ruined… "No!" He explodes. The spiking rage in his voice stops Asajj in her tracks. "You won't bring in that Sith… It shall be me!"
Slowly turning on her heels, Asajj faces the enrage Jedi, "so you know?" She smiles.
"I can't let you leave with him, Asajj," he says in a warning voice.
"Or what?" She challenges, "you're gonna kill me?"
Freezing on that statement, Anakin throws his robes off revealing his combat suit. "I don't want to, but if it'll keep you from interfering with my destiny…" he takes his saber into his hand, "then yes, I will kill you."
For a moment, Asajj is actually stunned by Anakin's reply. That was the last thing she'd expect leave his mouth. "Do you hear the words escaping your lips? You do realize that we're on the same side?"
"Please, just stop Ventress—just stop with the reassuring speech!" Anakin shouts flaming with anger. "You think I'm that blind?" He laughs out of nowhere, "I see right through you Asajj—I see the plan you're trying to cover up…"
"What plan Skywalker?"
"Your plan to overthrow Lord Yoda—to take the title of Lord of Darkness and rule over the Jedi!"
"How in the hell am I trying to overthrow Lord Yoda?"
"I just know!" Anakin cries out activating his red lightsaber. "But you won't succeed!" He rushes at her with a cry of anger.
Startled at his rage, Asajj drops her helmet and activates her shorten twin sabers. She crossed them in front blocking Anakin's overhead chop. Parting his saber off to the side, she kicks the Jedi in the gut sending him back. Channeling the Force through her kick, the energy flows through Anakin's armored suit slamming right into his flesh. Even so, the kick did little to slow him down.
Furiously swing his blade like a bat, Anakin stays up on Asajj as she blocks every attack he delivers. With each heavy blow she counters, she herself fights the urge from taking the offensive. Swinging high, Anakin swipes the blade for her head. Asajj ducks clear slashing him across the midsection of his suit. She then channels the Force into the palms of her hands and thrusts the Jedi back throwing a cloud of sand in his face. "Surly you can do better than that!" She taunts.
Gritting his teeth Anakin leaps out the sand cloud, his saber aimed straight at Asajj. She easily dodges his poor attempt of an attack twirling to his side. Before Anakin's eyes could keep up, she delivers an elbow to the side of his head sending him staggering away. "I could've killed you three times already Skywalker," Asajj provokes again. "I'm giving you a chance to quit before you really irk my nerves!"
Scratching the sand out his eyes and getting a grip on his spinning head, Anakin finds his footing hold his saber disorientated. "I won't… let you deny me of my destiny!" He rushes at her again, in which she simply pars his blade and with little effort, moves to the side. Anakin trots to a stop, slightly slumped over clenching his saber with both hands.
"Destiny?" Asajj chortles. "What are you dribbling about a destiny…? You have no destiny Skywalker, you're just a Jedi doing your Lord of Darkness's bidding, like the rest of us!"
"And soon, you'll be doing my bidding!" Anakin runs at her again. This time, the tip of his saber streaks across her cheek, leaving a stinging blacken burn mark.
Letting out a cry in pain, Asajj stumbles away gripping her cheek. The saber seared the top layer of her skin drawing blood. She narrows her eyes on Anakin with pure hatred, "now you've given me visible proof as to why I'll be sending your headless corpse back to Courscant!" Gripping both sabers, Asajj runs at Anakin, holding nothing back.
Anakin's eyes widen feeling the sudden increase in her Force energy. Rising his blade, he blocks her first attack, though her second attack comes low, scraping his shins smoldering the armor. The molten armor cooks Anakin's leg from the inside. Fighting the pain, he continues blocking Asajj's rage induce attacks.
She attacks like a blur, switching her styles every given chance she can get to confuse Anakin further more. Force to step back as Asajj continues to hammer against his defenses, Anakin's aching legs begin to weaken his stance. Seek to exploit this, Asajj delivers a Force kick right into his wounded knee. His left shin snaps like a twig under her foot. Somehow, Anakin keeps himself from screaming out, the pain surges inside him like a boiling volcano.
On one leg, literally, Anakin withdraws holding his saber limply. Desperately trying to fend off Asajj's constant swaying attacks.
From the safety of the craft, Artoo watches the two Jedi fighting to the death right before his eye. Beeping franticly, he pleads that they stop. Neither of the Jedi can hear him, for their deadlocked in a deathmatch.
Asajj swings in for a strike, holding her blades parallel to one another. She slams right into Anakin's saber flinching him back. At that moment, she unleashes a violent wave of Force Lighting surging into his body. The shock strains and stiffens his muscles to tearing point. The tears behind his eyes jumble like pinballs readying his eyes to explode out his skull. For an instant he muses randomly, so this is what it feels like… Even with his brain sizzling in his head and his blood stinging like fire, he manages to lift his hand and send a Force pulse at Asajj.
The invisible energy smacks her like a physical fist knocking her flat on her back. Her concentration disrupted, Anakin drops to the ground struggling to keep his stamina. Zero ounces of energy resign in his muscles. The Force and rage of the Dark Side is the only thing keeping him conscious.
Asajj recovers off the ground and looks to Anakin. Heat streams rise from his armored suit, he struggles to get back on his feet. The hum of Asajj's lightsabers brings his head up. The grey skinned Jedi calmly approaches him holding a tensed face. Grabbing his lightsaber hilt out of the sand, Anakin holds it out in his hand. Before he could activate it, Asajj swoops down severing his hand from his body.
"Arghhh!" Anakin falls on his back into the sand. His severed hand lands nearby still gripping the hilt of his lightsaber. Screaming at the top of his lungs holding his handless arm close to his chest, he glares up at Asajj through the trim of hair that has partially covered his eyes. "What are you waiting for!?" He shouts flinging spit from his mouth. "Do it!" Hovering one of her blades at Anakin's neck, he keeps his vein popping yellow eyes on her face. "Stop toying around, Ventress! Kill me or I swear on the Force I will come back to haunt you!"
"Shut up!" Asajj shouts still hovering her blade over his throat. "If I wanted you dead, I've would've aimed for your head rather your hand! Your technique is sloppy Skywalker… channeling your hatred is different from allowing it to control you!" She extinguishes her sabers, "you're a disgrace to the Jedi Order! You let your rage control you instead of embracing it!" She shakes her head at Anakin who remains grunting and wheezing in pain. Turning her back to him, she picks his robes up off the ground fanning the sand off. She puts the robe on and starts for her speeder. Anakin's suffering noise halts her for a moment. Burying her emotions, she forces herself not to look back at his broken body.
"You can't do this!" Anakin shouts cracking his voice. "You can't… you can't take what's mine!" Asajj ignores him getting back on her speeder. "Asajj! Asajj wait—don't leave me here!"
Sighing dramatically, she finally looks to him, "you brought this upon yourself, Skywalker. Now you'll suffer for it!" Kicking off the bike, she zips off heading for Mos Eisley.
"Asajj!" Anakin screams after her. "Asajj…!" He drops his head back into the sand looking up at the star filled sky. His vision begins to fade into blackness, when Artoo's frantic beeps gains his attention. Shifting his dry eyes to the astormech, Anakin opens his mouth,"Ar…Artoo… contact… contact Ahsoka… tell her… that Asajj…" He falls unconscious in midsentence.
Beeping hysterically, Artoo propels himself out the wing and rolls towards Anakin. His sensors show that he's still breathing, shallowly. Swiveling his head to Anakin's detached writs, he looks at the com-link still attached to it.
Lingering in Mos Eisley, Ahsoka sits outside on a bench scanning every face that comes into view. Her gaze falls on a hooded figure gliding slowly through the sea of people. Almost too conspicuous, even so, Ahsoka rises from the bench and pursues after, completely forgetting everything her master told her.
Trialing the cloaked figure, which dips into a narrow alley away from any wondering eyes, Ahsoka takes her lightsaber into hand. Creeping a distance from her target, Ahsoka feels the com-link on her wrist vibrating, indicating that someone is trying to reach her. Ignoring the call, she continues following after the hooded individual.
The figure makes a sudden turn dipping down an adjacent narrow passage. Sensing through the Force, Ahsoka steps lightly sliding along the sharp rocky walks. Peeking around the corner, she throws back her hood getting a clear look down the darken alley. Nothing or no one in sight. Ahsoka swears she'd seen the figure stroll down this way. Without even using the Force, she can anticipate an ambush. "Right… I'm not that dumb," she laughs. Even with every fiber in her body screaming 'setup', she still ventures down the alley, keeping her eyes sharp and her intuition sharper.
Every shadow, every darken corner on which someone can spring out and attack, Ahsoka heightens her senses. The atmosphere is heavy of a presence, a lurker presence much like her own. Whoever occupies this narrow alley with her shares an incredible connection to the Force...
Again, her wrist com-link vibrates disrupting her focus. Forcing herself to ignore it, she continues on. But it becomes unavoidable, the strenuous vibration irritates her mind. Just as she was going to press the talk button, a blacken blur springs from out of nowhere, activating a blood red lightsaber.
Startled, Ahsoka springs her saber alive countering the lighting fast attack. Forcing her back, the figure continues to strafe at Ahsoka, given the narrow space, the two keep an equal fight.
From out of nowhere, the cloaked figure springs a second saber. Coming in low, the blade slips through Ashoka's defenses. Before she knew it, the saber missed her wielding arm by centimeters and bares just a half an inch from her chest. "Still a novice…" the figure snickers. "When it comes to swordsmanship."
Unable to move an inch, Ahsoka disables her saber. She clearly recognizes the hazy, slightly disgusted tone of voice, "Asajj?" She speculates.
Through the darken shadows of the alley, Asajj's piercing yellow eyes appear from her grey face. She grits her teeth in a forced smile, "and here I though you wouldn't recognize me…?"
Slightly put at ease, Ahsoka allows herself to settle down, even though Asajj keeps the tip of her lightsaber at her chest. "I never expected to see you here…"
"You weren't," Asajj deactivates her sabers throwing the hood off her head. "I just so happened to be in the neighborhood. I heard Tatooine is quite pleasant this time of year."
Ahsoka nervously laughs at her obvious sardonic statement, "you don't say…?" Her gaze is caught up by a recent burn mark streaking across Asajj's left cheek. "Looks like someone was trying to rearrange your face not too long ago…"
"Yeah…" Asajj glides her hand across the still stinging scar, "I get that a lot lately. Maybe it's because they're jealous of my… marvelous features."
Ahsoka rolls her eyes coldly, "so let me guess…" she sighs folding her arms, "the Council sent you to track the same fugitive my master and I are after, right?" She speculates dryly. "And they chose not to tell us for whatever reason—am I correct?"
"Partially," Asajj replies numbly. "The Lord of Darkness sent me personally. I've been monitoring this… fugitive's activity for two days now." She points her Force Lighting talon sharply in Ahsoka's face making the Padawan lean away, "long before you and Dumbwalker came along," she scoffs bitterly.
"So have you made any attempts in capturing him yet?" Ahsoka challenges moving Asajj's talon out her face. "I thought in those two days, the great Asajj Ventress would've caught em' by now?"
Her lip quivering in anger, Asajj turns her face from Ahsoka looking off the side, "he's more… skilled than I predicted," she admits bluntly. "He's strong in the Force," she glimpse at Ahsoka afraid that she's giving away too much information, for Yoda ordered her to keep this information confidential. Although, Asajj has a feeling that the Padawan may know this already, judging on the cardboard look on her face. Straighten her poster, Asajj gives Ahsoka her full attention, "but together… we may be enough to defeat him."
Taken by surprise at Asajj's doubtless request, Ahsoka unfolds her arms easing the tension in her muscles. "You fought him before, this… the Sith!?" She utters quickly as if the word's a derogative term. Well to the Jedi, it technically is. Asajj blankly nods to the Padawan as a yes. "And you didn't beat him?"
"I went easy on him!" Asajj backlashes, "I wasn't trying to kill him—Lord Yoda wants him alive."
"Yeah…" Ahsoka smirks, "but he still got away."
Asajj grits her teeth at the child's attempt in injecting amusement into this conversation, "would you stop it!" She hisses. "This is serious Youngling, not some joke! This Sith's crafty—his understanding in the Force is beyond anything I've ever seen!"
"I know," Ahsoka agrees, "he took out Commander Wolffe and his entire team all at once during the breakout on Courscant."
"Now I see why the Council fears this Sith. He's beyond anything they've ever found themselves up against…" Just then, a thought invades Asajj's mind. A thought similar to the one Anakin had. The Council has fear… which means he has fear…
"Asajj…?" Ahsoka asks getting her out her deep thought. Locking eyes with Ahsoka, Asajj smiles devilishly, an all too familiar smile for Ahsoka. Oh no… that look…
"If you are willing to aid me," Asajj starts darkly. "Then you'll come with me now." She turns heading away from the Padawan.
"Then I should contact Anakin," Ahsoka suggest walking after her. "He shouldn't be too—" Asajj snatches the com-link from Ahsoka and throws it to the ground. She then proceeds to stomp the communicator till it's nothing but fragments. "Why the heck did you do that!?" Ahsoka asks upsettingly.
"It's too late for him!" Asajj lunges at her. "It's up to us now, child. That is, if you aren't afraid…" Ahsoka frowns at her, "I'll take that as a no, I hope…" Turning away from her, Asajj starts down the alley tempting the Padawan to follow.
[**NF**]
A trial of blood is left in the sand. A severed hand lies vacant on the ground gripping the hilt of a lightsaber. Anakin manages to drag himself back to the Star Fighter by one hand. His left femur is shattered courtesy of Asajj's Force kick. The Jedi is broken physically and mentally. His vision of capturing Tyranus and dragging him through the main corridor in the Jedi Temple, dead or alive is ruined. Now there won't be any leverage that he'll have in showing the Council that he has beaten their mortal enemy.
Artoo rolls alongside Anakin giving him… beeps of encouragement. The broken Jedi fumbles to his feet gripping the wing of the fighter. He struggles to hoist himself up on top the wing so that he could enter the cockpit. Artoo rolls up behind him acting like a platform for Anakin to stand up on. Using his droid pal as a stepstool, Anakin rolls onto the wing gasping in pain. His sliced hand wound has completely cauterized itself, but it does absolutely nothing in keeping the immense pain at bay.
Managing to get into the cockpit, Anakin seals the clear dome hatch enclosing him in total silence. Floating in an out of darkness, Anakin struggles to stay awake. He doesn't know if closing his eyes will result in them being closed shut forever. Though he is unsure on how long he can survive with so many injuries.
Artoo boosts up onto the wing docking himself into the mainframe compartment. He beeps to Anakin drawing his attention. "No Artoo…" he mumbles allowing his head to rest weakly on the headrest. "We aren't leaving… not until I get my hands on that Sith!" The droid beeps again frantic this time, "I thought you contacted her…? Artoo beeps a quick reply earning a hissing sigh from Anakin. The Jedi closes his eyes for a second then flashes them back open, "well that's just great… Ahsoka always somehow never comes through when you need her the most…" Artoo communicates again in a questioning matter. "No Artoo, we're not contacting other Jedi for help. We haven't failed yet… I haven't failed…" Feeling a rush of determination coursing through his veins, Anakin attempts to move his body when the pain strikes him down back into the seat.
Beeping in concern, Artoo suggests that the Jedi shouldn't move for it is a good chance that he'll force himself into shock. "I don't care Artoo!" Anakin grits painfully. "I need to get back out there!" Popping the hatch open, Anakin fights through the pain forcing himself up. Artoo swivels from side to side almost as if he'll be shaking his head in disbelief. Somehow, Anakin keeps from keeling over form the multiple injuries he's suffered. Artoo continues to shout in beeps trying to persuade Anakin to stop. But the Jedi doesn't listen.
Lifting one foot over the cockpit, Anakin then drags his broken leg over. Standing on his one good foot, Anakin hobbles over to the tip of the wing when a sudden strong gust of wind slams right into his back, sending the Jedi tumbling off the edge landing hard on his side bruising his ribs. Unable to move, Anakin lays half sunken in the sand huffing his breaths. The world sideways to his sight, fading into blackness.
Appearing at the corner of his eye, a blinding light brings Anakin back to life. Shifting his head in the sand, he looks to the intense light that manifested itself out of thin air. The white glowing light stings his eyes, until somehow, it becomes bearable to stare at without squinting. Emerging from the light, a blurry figure comes into view. Anakin can sense the presence, non-threating, warm at heart. It instantly strips away his hatefulness.
The figure's silhouette becomes more distingue. A humanoid shadowy shape, Anakin lifts his head out the sand trying to identify this person or… whatever it is. "Anakin…" the figure speaks elegantly. Blinking the sand from his stinging eyes, Anakin squints his gaze on the figure, making out a seemingly ordinary looking Human woman dressed in a beige gown. She stops just a few feet from him. Looking down at the Jedi, the woman shakes her head, "why do you continue to torment yourself like this...?"
Coughing the dust from his lungs, Anakin opens his mouth to speak, "who… who are you?" He slurs hardly audible.
The woman forms a line of a smile folding her hands in front of her body, "that, I'm sure you already know…" She replies mysteriously.
Confused at the strange woman's reply, Anakin thinks for a moment, but his mind falls blank as to who she is. So he simply asks, "who are you? Tell me."
"I'm your mother, Anakin," the woman answers.
The blood in Anakin's body comes to a halt, my mother…!?
Slowly but surely, sunrise begins to take effect showering the horizon with a deep red glow. Arriving back at their igloo, Jango, Qymaen and Boba exit the hovercraft. In Boba's hand is his father's long range blaster rifle. "You shoot pretty good, for a Youngling," Qymaen complements trying his best to keep it from sounding like he's making fun of the boy.
"You really think so?" Boba asks looking up at the Kaleesh walking beside him.
"Yeah," Qymaen replies with a smile, "I have a feeling one day… you may even surpass your father's marksmanship." Boba smiles widely at that statement.
"I won't be too surprised," Jango interjects following behind carrying the rest of the supplies they brought on their trip. "That is unless he can hit the broadside of a moisture vaporizer from twenty meters away…"
"Please, I can do that blindfolded…" Boba vaunts causing both his father as well as Qymaen to laugh.
"Maybe next time Boba," Jango says. "Maybe next time…"
The three enter the igloo finding it vacant of activity. All the lights are off and nobody seems to have been here since they left. "Where's that other man, Tyranus I think his name is?" Boba questions flicking on the kitchen light and placing the rifle on the table.
"I thought he'll be back by now," Jango says placing the two bags into the closet in the main living space. "Qymaen, has he contact you by any chance while we were out?"
Qymaen shrugs, "nothing. Though I'm pretty sure the Sith can handle his own. Last thing he said to me was that he was checking on things back at the hideout."
"You think he ran into that Jedi again?" Boba asks entering the living room.
That was the last thing they dread, but they all know Tyranus has been in battle with more Jedi than any single person in the galaxy. None haven't been able to defeat him, so why would it happen now. "Did you put my blaster rifle away?" Jango asks his son changing the subject. Boba sighs weakly shaking his head, "then do it, and remember to remove the cartridge, I don't want another misfire." Boba nods his head and falls back into the kitchen where he left the weapon.
Jango pats off his dusty tunic and plants himself in his favorite sofa. Qymaen remains standing looking at him while holding a smirk. Relaxing his body, Jango opens his eyes only to see Qymaen looking back at him smiling. In this awkward silence besides the sound of Boba putting the rifle away in the next room, Jango starts to get a little uncomfortable with Qymaen smiling and staring at him in total silence, "what are you doing man?" Jango laughs nervously. "Why are you staring at me like that?"
Qymaen begins to shake his head playfully, "I don't understand you Fett. The way you're living…" the smile on Jango's face wipes away. Qymaen continues, "now don't take this wrong way but… you're not bad-looking… for a Human…" Jango raises a suspicious eyebrow. "I mean sure you're pretty rough around the edges; have a missing leg, beard looks like it hasn't been cut since the Old Republic…"
"What are you talking about Qymaen?" Jango asks insecurely tugging at his long, untrimmed beard.
"I'm saying that you can have a much better life," Qymaen gets to the point. "Unlike Tyranus and I… you can start over. You're kind of young; you can find a woman… maybe two… I mean why live way the hell out here on Tatooine with a… with a younger version of yourself?" He whispers that last part making sure Boba couldn't overhear him. "Which really isn't a bad idea after all…" Qymaen admits.
"Start over?" Jango recalls bitterly. "I can't just start over, Qymaen—I mean I'm technically in the same boat as you and Tyranus!" Qymaen agrees with that, "a normal life with some pretty woman on my arm and two kids is out the door. I mean Boba's enough already… even though he is me, technically…"
"You're your own headache, literally," Qymaen jokes.
In the kitchen, Boba places the blaster rifle into the case of which it's stored in. Taking the case into his hands, the clone child carries it to a nearby narrow closet. Opening the door, he sets the case upright against the wall right next to his father's once signature blue and grey Mandalorian armored suit and jetpack. Sealing the door, the boy turns around about to head into the living room, when he is caught up by an approaching figure through the small window over the sink. Walking closer to the window, he makes out a speeder bike coming to a halt right in front of their igloo. Two robed figures come off the bike and walk causally towards them.
Boba's heart leaps to his throat once he sees the freighting talons sticking out from the Jedi oval silhouettes. Running into the living room, he interrupts his father and Qymaen's chitchat. "Dad, Jedi are at our door!" He exclaims.
Seeing the pale look on his son's face, Jango's body becomes numb. He puts his gaze on Qymaen, "you gotta hide." He springs up from his chair, "if the Jedi discover you here they'll kill us all!"
Boba takes Qymaen's hand, "I'll hide him father." Jango nods to his son as he leads Qymaen into the kitchen.
"I shouldn't have been here…" Qymaen says guiltily as Boba nudges him into the closest. "I put your lives in jeopardy."
"Don't worry, you'll be safe in here, they won't find you," Boba ensures sealing the door on the Kaleesh. To make these not to noticeable, Boba places the trashcan in front of the door so that it wouldn't draw too much attention. Then again these are Jedi, and they feel through unseen energy called the Force.
Jango in trembling with fear as he climbs the short steps from his igloo meeting the Jedi outside. Two Jedi, both woman, stop right in front of him. "Morning, what brings you to my home at this time?" He asks faking a smile.
The closest Jedi near him throws her hood back glaring deeply in his face, "you can cut the warm welcoming for someone who cares…" the grey skinned Jedi sneers. "I know you're collaborating with him… the Sith?"
Jango keeps a steady grip on his trembling emotions from surfacing. The pit in his stomach grows with each word the Jedi breaths. "I'm just a simple farmer ma'am… I know nothing of what you speak off…"
Knowing Jango is lying between his teeth, Asajj shoves him aside invading his home. The other Jedi, Ahsoka, follows behind. Entering the living room, Asajj glances around slowly, taking in everything she sees. Ahsoka stands put at the doorway, "whatever you're searching for… I'm sure it's not here," Jango tells her brushing pass Ahsoka.
Asajj ignores him still looking around. "You see," Asajj grumbles getting his attention. "I'm finding it hard to believe you…" She turns her gaze on to him, "See when I first encountered this Sith, I managed to attach a beacon onto his robes." She quickly approaches him forcing him to step back, only for his space to be blocked by Ahsoka standing firmly behind. "And this… trashy hut of yours, was the last place where it transmitted." She inches her face to his, "now you are going to tell me, where he went."
Jango is a stun for words, how could Tyranus be so careless to have had a tracking device planted on him and come right back to his place? This is the very reason why Jango didn't like Tyranus coming and going from his igloo, he knew some day, a day like this would come along, and sure enough it does. Worse than he could have ever imagine.
"You're wasting your time," Jango speaks keeping his frighten eyes glued to Asajj. "I live alone, I have no friends. I'm a nobody."
Twitching her brow, Asajj backs off. She turns her head to the side when something odd catches her attention, "then what do you have to say about this…?" She moves over to something on the floor, a pile of bloody bandages sit in a waste-bin tucked behind Jango's recliner chair.
His heart sinks again as Asajj sticks her talons into the bandages lifting them so he can see. "I had an incident…" He quacks out. "I just didn't get the chance to—"
"An incident?" Ahsoka speaks out. "That's a lot of blood for an accident… what did you do, cut yourself with a buzzsaw?" She laughs coldly.
"I'll say he's been caring for someone," Asajj speculates. "A run away perhaps…? Or maybe this fugitive to the Dark Legion Empire?"
Jango can't hide the fear from showing on his face. He's made a critical mistake that he knows good and well he can't lie out of. "Well… you see…" Jango eyes dart off Asajj and land on Boba who stands petrified by the kitchen opening. Asajj turns around to see the boy, who shudders at the sight of her.
"Well, who is this?" The Jedi grins wickedly approaching him.
"Don't you touch him!" Jango warns in a boisterous voice. Asajj ignores him grabbing the boy tightly by his thin arm. Boba attempts to tug away, but the Jedi yanks him close. She holds the child in front of her so that Jango can see the fear on his face.
"Now we're going to try this one more time!" Asajj says tightening her grip on Boba. "You tell me were the Sith is, and I'll let the brat go."
Jango rolls his head letting out an irritated sigh, "I don't know where he is!" He shouts.
"Well that's too bad," Asajj takes her other hand and presses the sharp tip of her talon under Boba's chin. The child lets out a cry of discomfort.
"What are you doing…?" Jango cries. "What are you doing!?" He tries to move, when Ahsoka uses the Force holding him in place unable to inch a muscle. "Stop! Don't hurt him…!"
From inside the kitchen closet, Qymaen can hear Jango begging the Jedi to spare his son. From the darkness of this cramped closet, Qymaen feels worthless, hiding like a coward while a cripple and a boy take on two Jedi. If his Kaleesh brothers heard that he was hiding rather than fighting, they'll surely kill him for being a coward in the face of danger. But at the same time, if he busts out the closet and tries to fight the Jedi, he'll easily be killed before laying a punch. And even then, he'll get every killed by his sheer presence alone. He's still a top priority on the Jedi's list of wanted fugitives. Letting out a sigh, Qymaen drops his head back against the wall, opening his eyes, he looks down at Jango's Mandalorian armored suit. His helmet sits on top, an idea runs through his mind…
"…I told you already," Jango continues to plead still being anchored down by Ahsoka's Force hold. "I do not know where he is!" Asajj continues to dig her talon into Boba's flesh, drawing blood. Tears begin to gush from his tightly shut eyes. "Please, just stop—if you want to kill someone kill me!" Jango pleads. "Just let him go, please I'm begging you!"
Without looking into the Force, Ahsoka can tell that Jango is telling the truth. Sensing his very strong feelings for the boy, she assumes that he would've told them by now of where Tyranus may be. "I think he's telling the truth," she says to Asajj.
"Don't let his fake tears affect your emotions child!" Asajj sneers keeping her talon pointed in Boba's chin. "Soon as we leave he'll contact that Sith and warn him that we're after him!" She looks to Boba, "that is if he's preoccupied with burring his Youngling…"
Jango falls numb at her calm yet haunting tone. Even Ahsoka loosens up from her morbid threat.
Then, out of nowhere, another person appears at the doorway fully dressed in blue and grey Mandalorian armor. Ahsoka eyes bulge out of her head at the sight of the person, who she didn't sense at all this entire time. "Asajj!" She exclaims releasing Jango from her Force hold.
Unbeknown to the two Jedi, the mysterious man who popped out of nowhere is in fact Qymaen concealing his identity with Jango's bounty hunter suit. He takes aim at the Jedi with the blaster rifle. Asajj shoves Boba at him, in which Qymaen dips to the side, the boy lands on the kitchen floor.
Qymaen opens fire with the rifle at the Jedi. Both deploy their sabers with lighting reflexes deflecting the rounds. Jango hits the floor sliding to safety. He plugs his ears with his fingers from the loud laser bolts snapping loudly against the walls after being ricocheted by the Jedi lightsabers.
Qymaen backs into the kitchen still firing at the Jedi. Asajj grows tired of him and unleashes a Force wave directing all the energy right into his body. He is lifted off his feet and is sent slamming into the cabinet behind him. Boba, already out the igloo looks back at Qymaen recovering off the floor. The Kaleesh looks to the boy staring wide eye back at him. He fans the boy to keep running. He does so taking off.
With the Jedi preoccupied with Qymaen, Jango takes advantage of the moment and dashes outside. He spots Boba running towards him, "dad!" He hugs him briefly, "Qymaen's still in the igloo… with that other man."
"I think that other man is him," Jango replies catching his breath from the hair raising experience. His eye land on the hovercraft nearby, "come on, follow me."
Asajj and Ahsoka enter the kitchen where Qymaen is still struggling off the floor. Jango's armored suit is a custom fit, and with Jango slightly taller, it hugs loosely to his body. The only thing that fits is the helmet, though with the face shield cracked, he can barely see a thing. Reaching out to the rifle nearby, a boot comes down on top his hand shifting the bones under his skin. Qymaen folds his lip and grits his teeth refusing to scream out in pain.
"Pitiful!" Asajj spits digging her heel into Qymaen's hand. Even with the armor cover it, he can feel the sharp numb pain that a few of his fingers are broken. "And for a moment, I thought you had the drop on me…" Lifting one of her sabers, she hovers it over his facemask, the weak point in the armor. Qymaen's eyes cross eyeballing the red saber centimeters from his face. He doesn't say a word waiting for the Jedi to plunge it through his head.
Standing behind Asajj, Ahsoka's attention is directed to the window where she sees a pair of fast approaching headlights. Squinting her eyes, she makes out a hovercraft speeding its way right towards them. "Ventress!" She yelps.
Sensing the incoming danger, Asajj glances up seeing what the Padawan is warning about. Jango is literally speeding right towards them in his hovercraft. Wasting no time, Asajj and Ahsoka dive into the living room as the hovercraft busts through the ceramic igloo walls. Qymaen holds his good hand out blocking the chunks of plaster. Looking up, he sees Jango climb out the craft and assists him inside. Boba helps pulls the Kaleesh in. Putting him in the backseat, Jango jumps back in, shifts the craft into reverse and rockets out the destroyed igloo. Spinning around, he knocks the gear shift into drive and speeds off into the desert.
Running out the igloo, Asajj and Ahsoka watch the trio escape into the sunrise. "They won't get far…" Asajj grumbles to herself. Without looking to Ahsoka she continues with, "get on the speeder Youngling, looks like we'll be hunting our prey the hard way…"