Threads of Destiny
Chapter 37: Kidnapped
A planet of peace!
The artisan colony of the planet Kiros created a society without weapons.
Instead of war, they pursued art and beauty.
But in the Clone Wars, even peace-loving worlds are seemingly forced to change sides.
In Kiros...
The Togrutan governor of Kiros was talking with Yoda via hologram.
"The simple truth is there is not a warrior among us, Master Yoda."He said. "An armed conflict will destroy us, we will negotiate with Count Dooku if we are able."
"Trust Dooku, you cannot."Yoda stated. "Send help, I will."
"I'm afraid it is too late."the Governor of Kiros replied. "The Separatists have already arrived."
Then the Separatist Ship landed as Count Dooku came out.
"Count Dooku, we have chosen to remain neutral in this war, why have you launched this invasion against us?"the Governor of Kiros asked.
"Think of our presence as a peaceful occupation for your protection as well as ours."Count Dooku replied.
"I have heard the tragic stories of worlds caught between your droids and their clones. "What of my people?"
"While I am helpless to prevent the fighting, I can offer your people sanctuary."Count Dooku answered. "A safe haven until the conflict has ended."
"Thank you, Count, yours is a kind offer, but..."the Governor of Kiros said.
"I insist."Count Dooku replied.
Then the two walked away.
"Round up the citizens."Darts D'Nar ordered. "All of them."
"Roger roger."the Battle Droid answered.
Then the army of Battle Droids began to take the Togrutas away.
In a Star Cruiser...
"All clear, sir."A Clone Trooper reported. "There are no Separatist craft in the system."
"It's been 10 rotations since Master Yoda's transmission."Anakin said. "I just hope we're not too late."
"Rex."Obi-Wan ordered. "Take us down."
"Yes, sir."Rex replied.
Afterwards...
The Republic forces land on the surface of Kiros.
Anakin, Ahsoka, Obi-Wan, Nadia and Rex were on speeders.
They began to explore the colony with the clone troopers.
Ahsoka notice no one was around.
"Anybody else think it's too quiet?"She asked. "I haven't seen any colonists."
"They're probably hiding."Anakin replied.
"Let's hope they stay hidden."Obi-Wan suggested. "It makes our job easier if we don't have to worry about them in battle."
"You got that right, master."Nadia commented.
"I don't like it."Rex stated. "The clankers have never been shy about using civvies as living shields."
"I'm sure they're here somewhere."Anakin said. "Let's make for the city center."
The group spotted biker droids in front of them.
"Biker droids dead ahead!"Ahsoka reported.
"Squad, tighten up!"Anakin ordered. "Form on me!"
The four jedi began to use their lightsabers to take down the biker droids, while the clone troopers used their blasters.
Up ahead, they saw battle droids with two tanks.
Rex managed to destroy one with his rocket launcher while Ahsoka and Nadia went off their speeder bikes to destroy the other tank with explosives before landing safely back on their masters bikes.
Ahsoka and Nadia smiled at their accomplishment.
"We're all clear, Master."Nadia said with a smirk.
"Captain, have your men secure the area."Obi-Wan ordered.
The group then checked around the area, while Nadia stood closely next to her master.
"How are we doing, Boil?"Obi-Wan asked.
"We're still mopping up clankers here and there, sir."Boil replied. "We've established a perimeter around the Governor's Tower, no one gets out without a fight."
"Good work."Obi-Wan stated.
The two jedi walked up to Cody.
"Cody, any word from the Separatist commander?"Nadia asked.
"He's barricaded inside, his name is Darts D'Nar."Cody replied and looked at Obi-Wan. "He sent you a message, sir."
He then took out a holopad showing Darts D'Nar.
"Master Kenobi come to the tower."Dart said."We will negotiate terms for surrender."
"Well, that was easy."Obi-Wan said.
"No kidding."Nadia mumbled.
Suddenly the pad went to Anakin's hand and crushing it.
"Zygerrian scum."Anakin said darkly. "I'll handle that slaver."
"Anakin, he asked for me."Obi-Wan reminded. "I need you to locate the missing Togruta colonists."
"Fine."Anakin replied. "I'll have Admiral Yularen initiate a planetary bio-scan."
He then walked away.
Artoo beeped as he went between Nadia and Ahsoka.
"Why is he so upset?"Ahsoka asked.
Nadia was surprised that Ahsoka didn't know the answer.
"Anakin has never talked about his past, has he?"Obi-Wan said.
"Only to tell me he won't talk about it."Ahsoka replied.
"As a child, Anakin and his mother were sold into slavery by the Hutt clans."Obi-Wan admitted.
"Oh..."Ahsoka said quietly. "And these Zygerrians, they're slavers?"
"Anakin has struggled to put his past behind him."Obi-Wan admitted.
"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on him."Ahsoka replied.
"Yes, make sure you do."Obi-Wan reminded.
Nadia looked at Ahsoka feeling something not right when she said her sentence.
"Why does it feel like its a lie?"She thought.
The raven haired girl then turned to her attention to her master.
"Master shouldn't I come with you?"Nadia asked. "You know as your back up?"
"Young one, you'll remain here, I'll deal with Darts D'Nar myself."Obi-Wan replied.
"Okay."Nadia answered.
Obi-Wan then walked away and headed to the Governor's Tower.
Inside the Governor's Tower...
Darts was listening to Count Dooku and Atai Molec via hologram.
"The last shipment has been received, D'Nar."Atai Molec said. "I understand the Jedi have attacked, why are you still there?"
"I'm going to make the Jedi pay for their arrogance."Dars replied. "I have them right where I want them."
Then Obi-Wan came up into the room.
"Do tell."He said with a small smirk.
The droids pointed their guns at him making him put his hands up.
"Gentlemen, meet Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Knight."Count Dooku said bitterly.
Atai Molec growled at Obi-Wan.
"D'Nar, bring him to me on his knees."Count Dooku ordered.
"With pleasure."Dars answered as he put off the holograms.
"We were going to discuss surrender?"Obi-Wan reminded as he took a few steps forward.
"Yes, you will surrender."Dars admitted.
"We obviously have a misunderstanding, my friend."Obi-Wan commented as he secretly placed on his comlink.
Anakin listened to the conversation with Ahsoka, Nadia and Cody.
"No, you are wrong, Jedi."Dars replied.
"Am I?"Obi-Wan asked. "You are no doubt aware your droid forces have been destroyed and you are surrounded..."
In the Governor's Tower...
"Do the honorable thing and give up now, D'Nar."Obi-Wan said. "I promise you will receive fair treatment."
"You've broken through my defenses, you think you've won?"Dars questioned. "Think again, I have planted bombs all over the city, no one will survive, now, surrender."
"If you're not bluffing, then I must concede."Obi-Wan commented. "But you'll have to make considerations, first, you release the colonists."
"Here is my counter-offer."Dars admitted.
He looks at a droid, who pressed a switch.
Anakin, Ahsoka, Nadia and the clone troopers put their heads down as a building exploded in front of them.
In the Governor's Tower...
Obi-Wan heard the bombing and looked outside to see one of the houses got destroyed.
"There were no colonists in that structure, but there could have been."Dars stated. "Now, bow down and surrender to me, you Jedi filth."
Outside...
Anakin and the two girls checked the wounded clones.
"I need a medic over here!"Anakin stated. "Artoo, where are you?"
Artoo beeped as he rolled by.
"Watch yourself, buddy."Anakin warned. "This is still a war zone, Cody! We don't have time for the planetary scan, hook Artoo up and he'll locate the bombs."
"Right away, sir!"Cody replied.
"Ahsoka, Nadia, let's go."Anakin said.
"Where are we going?"Ahsoka asked.
"To disarm the bombs while Obi-Wan negotiates."Anakin replied.
"I hope he can buy us some time."Nadia admitted worriedly.
The three climbed on their own AT-RT and took off.
In the Governor's Tower...
Obi-Wan placed his lightsaber on the table.
"Very well, I surrender."He said.
"Long before this war, you Jedi destroyed the great Zygerrian Slave Empire."Dars stated coldly as he stood up. "I would kill you now, but Dooku would prefer you alive."
"I understand your frustration."Obi-Wan admitted. "It is unfortunate you and I cannot resolve our differences as you do in the Zygerrian tradition."
The Convor in Dars arm flew back on its cage.
Dars let out a laugh."With no weapons, you would fight me?"
"For good reason."Obi-Wan replied. "Say, if I win, you reveal the location of the colonists and the bombs."
Dars smirked. "And if I win, I deliver you to Dooku in a cage like one of these filthy creatures."
"Perhaps."Obi-Wan said.
Dars hits Obi-Wan and they began to fight in hand to hand combat, but the jedi does not fight back and he gets thrown into a statue.
The creatures in the cage let out a shriek.
"Careful, you're disturbing my pets."Dars commented. "They fetch a high price."
Outside...
The three jedi were riding on the AT-RTs as they looked around the town.
"General Skywalker!"Cody said. "Your droid is transmitting the bomb coordinates now."
"Copy that, Cody."Anakin replied. "We're approaching the first bomb now, let's go!"
The Jedi Knight used his AT-RT to fire at the battle droids, while Ahsoka and Nadia used their lightsabers to take them down.
The three jedi then turned their attention on the bomb.
"There must be a wire we should cut or something to stop the countdown."Ahsoka said.
"Stand back."Anakin replied.
He activated his lightsaber to slash the bomb and powering it off.
"How did you know that would work?"Nadia asked.
"I trusted my instincts."Anakin answered with a smile.
"You mean you guessed."Ahsoka reminded.
"Yeah, but it was an educated guess."Anakin replied as he went on his AT-RT. "Now, come on, there's plenty more to go."
The two girls rolled their eyes while smirking as they followed him.
In the Governor's Tower...
Obi-Wan was getting badly hit by Dars.
"For thousands of years, Zygerria supplied slave labor to the galaxy, we prospered."Dars said. "Our customers prospered, then the Jedi came."
He strangled Obi-Wan on the table.
"Excuse me, sir."A Battle Droid stated. "We have a problem."
"What problem?"Dars demanded.
"Our spotters are tracking three enemy walkers moving through-"the battle droids said.
Obi-Wan quickly made Dars face crush the small holopad making the Zygerrian growl at him.
Outside...
Anakin, Ahsoka and Nadia arrived to take down the last bombs.
"These are the last of them."Anakin said.
The three jedi went off their AT-RTs and activated their lightsabers to take down the battle droids.
"Defuse the bombs!"Anakin stated. "I'll cover you two!"
Ahsoka and Nadia deactivated their lightsabers to check the bombs while Anakin kept the battle droids busy.
The two best friends notice the bombs were linked together.
"Anakin, I think the bombs are linked."Nadia admitted.
"You two are supposed to disarm them, not activate them!"Anakin reminded.
"Droids on the roof!"Ahsoka warned.
The three jedi used their lightsabers to deflect the lasers of the battle droids.
"If they're connected, we'll have to defuse them at the same time."Anakin answered.
Then Snipers appeared and started shooting at them.
"Snipers!"Nadia growled. "How wonderful!"
The Snipers weren't getting hit by the lasers that the three jedi were deflecting.
"Their shields are too strong!"Ahsoka said.
The three jedi quickly hid themselves as the Snipers continued firing at them.
"We're pinned down!"Nadia admitted.
"Master, we're running out of time!"Ahsoka reminded.
The bombs began to beep more.
"I know."Anakin answered. "We have to do something and quick!"
He then notice the parts of the Snipers were weak.
"Ahsoka, Nadia, they're weak from the side."Anakin stated. "I've got an angle on your droids."
"Okay, we've got a view of yours too."Nadia replied.
"Same time, ready? Go!"Ahsoka stated.
The three jedi went out of their hiding places to deflect the lasers of the Snipers and destroying them.
They then quickly slashed the bombs before they could explode.
"That was a close one."Ahsoka said.
The three jedi deactivated their lightsabers.
Nadia sighed in relief. "No kidding."
"Let's hope Obi-Wan shares our luck."Anakin admitted with a smile.
In the Governor's Tower...
Dars had Obi-Wan badly wounded and grabbed him by the neck.
"Now I'll take revenge for my people, Jedi."He stated with a smirk.
"Sir, you have an urgent transmission."the Tactical Droid said.
Then a hologram of a battle droid appeared.
"Sorry to interrupt, sir, but you weren't responding."the battle droid said.
"What is it?"Dars asked in annoyance.
"Uh...the Jedi have disarmed your bombs."the battle droid replied.
"What?"Dars demanded as he threw Obi-Wan to the ground. "Give me the detonator!"
The Tactical Droid gave him the detonator, but when he pressed the button twice the bombs didn't explode.
"Certainly took him long enough this time."Obi-Wan said as he stood up and used the force to destroy the biker droids.
The Jedi Master brought his lightsaber back and activating it.
"Well, shall we discuss your surrender? Again?"Obi-Wan asked with a smirk.
"I still have one bomb left, Jedi."Dars answered.
He pressed the buttons on the tactical droid and threw it at Obi-Wan.
"Sir, how could you?"the Tactical Droid asked.
The Convor went to Dars arm as he made his escape.
Obi-Wan stood and quickly threw the droid out the window as it exploded.
Outside.
Anakin and the two girls heard the explosion, which caused them to rush to their AT-RTs.
"Anakin! Anakin, come in."Obi-Wan said. "D'Nar is making his escape from the tower."
"On our way!"Anakin replied.
"-We'll never catch him in time."Ahsoka said.
"I am not letting that slaver scum get away."Anakin stated angrily.
The three arrived where Obi-Wan was and saw Dars ship taking off.
But then the three jedi got off their AT-RTs and used the force to do a big leap to land at the top of the ship.
Anakin activated his lightsaber to damage one of the engines.
Then the three jedi carefully headed to the other side.
"So, what's your plan?"Ahsoka asked.
"I'm open to ideas."Anakin answered.
"Well that's good to hear!"Nadia responded sarcastically.
Then the back part of the ship opened making them go inside.
However a Blixus was released in front of the three jedi, who were startled.
Then one of the tentacles of the Blixus grabbed Nadia by the waist, while the others grabbed Anakin and Ahsoka.
"Hold on!"Anakin stated.
"Hold on?"Ahsoka demanded. "Do we have a choice?"
"Aw, I rather have my sushi cooked!"Nadia said angrily.
She and Ahsoka activated their lightsabers to slash the tentacles making them get released.
The Blixus tried to hit them with it's other tentacles, but the two girls dodged them.
Ahsoka and Nadia then stabbed the Blixus at the top making it roar and for Anakin to use his lightsaber to get himself released.
"Master!"Ahsoka called out.
"Ahsoka, Dia, you're only making it angry!"Anakin stated as he dodged the tentacles. "I'll handle this, go stabilize the ship."
The two girls quietly went inside the cockpit of the ship and powered off the engines.
Dars went off his seat and took out his whip, while Ahsoka and Nadia activated their lightsabers.
"Young Jedi, you will both learn your place."Dars said with a smirk.
"We're not so young anymore."Nadia replied coldly.
The two girls then managed to take down Dars and point their lightsabers at him.
"Gotcha."Ahsoka stated.
Then Anakin came in while holding his lightsaber.
"Mission accomplished, Anakin."Nadia commented.
"Where are the colonists?"Anakin asked.
"I will tell you nothing."Dars replied.
Then Anakin pointed his deactivated his lightsaber on his neck.
"Where are they?"He demanded angrily.
"Master."Ahsoka whispered.
"Easy there."Nadia reminded.
"My queen is going to bring back the royal slave auction as in the days before the Jedi."Dars admitted firmly. "Zygerria will be rich and powerful again, the Jedi will not stop us this time."
Anakin scoffed. "We'll see about that."
Ahsoka and Nadia glanced at each other in worry.
Later that Night in the Jedi Temple...
The four jedi and Admiral Yularen spoke to the Jedi Council via hologram.
"General Skywalker, I ran the bio-scan twice, but the results were negative."Admiral Yularen stated.
"Are you saying the colonists are not in the city?"Anakin asked.
"I'm saying they're not even on the planet."Admiral Yularen replied. "The entire population appears to have simply vanished."
Obi-Wan rubbed his chin while in deep thought.
"Vanished?"Nadia asked in disbelief.
"That's impossible."Ahsoka answered. "Those are my people."
"Troubling is the return of the Zygerrians."Yoda commented.
"It is likely they mean to use Dooku to rebuild their slaver empire."Plo Koon said.
"We cannot allow that, Master."Anakin stated.
"Agree I do, but first find the colonists you must."Yoda said. "In great danger, they are."
"What is it, Master?"Plo Koon asked.
"Sense I do a darker hand in this mystery."Yoda replied. "Slavery, a great tool it is for the rise of the Sith."
This caused everyone to be quiet and to be in deep thought.
Ooh I wonder what kind of slave dress Nadia will wear in 'Slaves of the Republic';)
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter
Feel free to review what you think so far:)