A/N: As a reminder, I designed a larger story that would trickle out small subplots that will slowly grow. So I'll circle back the unresolved subplots with Anakin/Padmé, Ahsoka/Lux, and even Retep. (Isn't he a great character to take care of Naboo when Anakin is away?) I haven't forgotten about them at all. Everything is intentional. I'm probably going to have to recap the subplots, huh? I think I'm going to design the third book differently…
Also, for those who are following Defying Destiny, I went back and completely revamped Chapter 3: Darth Vader. It's a critical chapter and I felt the need to update it to fit my current writing style. It ended up being 3x as long as the original chapter! (This chapter is one of my longest too!)
I'm not completely happy with this chapter but I felt like I need to move on.
Chapter 17
Savareen
The heat of the day's sun quickly gave way to the chilly night's breeze. All warmth held by the rocks and sand quickly lifted away under the vast darkness, without a tree to rescue them. The quiet night was cool and crisp with the clear night sky unblemished by a single cloud. High overhead, the nearly full moon drifted over Savareen spilling its soft light and casting a luminous delicate white glow over the sands below.
Three dark silhouettes' shadows danced softly against the backdrop of the the rolling sand dunes and rocky cliff edges. Padding carefully with precise and soundless footsteps, they quickly crossed the slightly tilted roof unnoticed. The leader balled his hand, raising it up by his side up, signaling the two shadows lurking behind him. Reaching their destination, near the east edge of the building, the leader took a moment to do a brief scan of their surroundings to shake off his unease. Even though they had used the Force, somehow, he thought getting to this very spot would have taken more time. There was a sorely lacking amount of security holocams to guard from above.
The leader's eyebrows furrowed together in displeasure, a deep frown creasing the beard he stroked absentmindedly. He knelt in front of a square opening, a window, that the three had decided would make the best entry point back into the factory. Unmoving, he stared at it, haphazardly waiting for it to somehow spring to life with flashing sirens and blinking red beams announcing their arrival. When this never happened, he slightly tilted his head and whispered softly behind him. "The security for this factory is remarkably light."
Heading the tense caution in the man's words, the togruta padded softly next to him. Sharing the same sentiment, she had the same thought earlier when they had delivered the spice and was glad that he agreed with her assessment. "Strange, isn't it? I mean, the security holocams on the ground are decent enough even if they don't have actual personal walking the boundaries but the roof is surprisingly even less guarded."
Moving just as softly as the other two, yet somehow the Force echoed more loudly around this person as he knelt next to them. He found his colleagues' trepidation more amusing than anything else but then again, he was in a sore mood. At the moment, he missed his wife and children terribly and couldn't wait to be off this awful planet. Not loud enough to alert any nearby person, as if there would be any, he huffed in annoyance. "Well, with all this sand. Who would want to come here anyways." He stated dryly.
Obi Wan couldn't help but calmly chuckle at his former Padawan's exasperations. Though a little misguided, Anakin did have a point. Tucked in a far corner of the galaxy, Savareen was deep in Crimson Dawn territory. Although an odd methodology, it was possible they dedicated most of their security to patrolling their air space above. With such heavy frontline reinforcements, it would make sense why they wouldn't need as many reserves on a ground level. Still, it didn't seem to sit well with Obi Wan.
Anakin couldn't miss the pensive look on Obi Wan's face as he sensed his deep unease through the Force. Reluctantly, he pulled himself out of his miserable mood as the old man stood frozen in front of him, and not for the first time. Despite the situation, a part of Anakin was touched by nostalgia with the familiarity of the situation. Obi Wan was always the cautious one, wanting to wait and pull back to get a better picture. It usually laid on Anakin's shoulders to give him a nudge, sometimes not so gently, forward into action. A dynamic that was as authentic as it was reliable. Famous among the clone troopers, Kenobi and Skywalker's mutualism was an expected routine and maybe even a tiring M.O. Anakin sighed at the thought; some people never change and others do. In this case, Anakin didn't think mulling over the quietness would do them any good, so he decided to step forward.
With a swift flick of his wrist, he opened a pocket in his belt and fished out a small Nubian device. As a tall tale sign of Nubian artistry, it held the same reverence the Nubians had for sleek, beautifully designed creations with its curvy rectangular shape including delicate and rounded edges and a polished chrome shine. At first glance, Anakin noted the window's stark blandness, particularly the lack of electric impulses and transmission signals surrounding it in its immediate vicinity. Seemingly innocent, the window was locked from the inside using a simple sliding deadbolt, which could promptly be taken care of with a gentle suggestion in the Force.
After opening the window, he slipped his thumb into the crease of the device in his hand and flipped it open as the view screen raised up and came to life. Pulling out a round ball attached at the end, the holocam sprung to life and floated down into the crack in the window. He controlled the ball's movement from the device in his hand while observing its findings using the view screen.
The curious whiff of salt and sweat saturated Anakin's nose as his companions leaned in closer, both fascinated by the device and also its data. Tempted to hold his breath, Anakin wrinkled his nose but held his tongue on commenting while focusing on the task. Without a doubt, that refresher was going to be working overtime once this is over. Continuing his surveillance with the device, he directed the holocam around in a tight circle under the window, then smiled after a couple minutes. With a gentle click of a button, he called the ball back to the device when he was satisfied with his findings.
As he turned off the device and put it away, he leaned back slightly, breathing a little easier when the other two took the hint and gave him some much appreciated space. "The window is completely unguarded," Anakin concluded. "There's no security holocam at this level. So we can drop in completely unnoticed." Anakin stated, reassuring them as he noticed the excited glint in their eyes and held back a grin.
At this point, Ahsoka was still enthralled as she pointed and mouthed her desires for one of those devices while Obi Wan returned to his earlier brooding. Not wholly convinced, Obi Wan didn't trust in technology as much as the other two did. He ignored the silent exchanging before him as he tugged at a curly strand in his beard before he spoke. "I still don't like this."
The Head of NRSF turned his attention back to his former Master, who's skittishness was still palpable in the Force, hoping to comfort the aging Jedi's concern. Anakin placed an understanding hand on the old Jedi and kindly spoke, "Hey." Understanding his friend's troubles as he knew that Obi Wan preferred to use the Force. "What's the Force telling you? Nothing serious, right? I don't sense anything more than the usual criminals in the Force. Neither does Ahsoka." He turned quickly to a smiling Ahsoka, who returned a confident nod. He continued, "Let's count our good fortune where we can, huh? There's plenty for you to worry about once we're inside."
Begrudgingly, Obi Wan conceded as there was no point in standing here any longer. Any answers he hoped to find would be inside the factory. He replied softly, "Very well."
Grinning broadly, in a cavalier way only Anakin could, pleased with Obi Wan's consent, he moved forward. Calling behind him, he stated, "I'll go first." Anakin wouldn't ask Obi Wan to lead the way and it only seemed right for him to go first and prove that it was safe. Besides, he rather be the one to draw in any unexpected surprises.
Obi Wan watched, with weary eyes, as Anakin descended into the window. That hesitation made him pause as he wondered if he'll ever stop worrying about the person in front of him. To his relief, Anakin demonstrated caution and diligence by scanning the area, something Obi Wan had frequently lectured him about in the past. A part of him that was his big brother would always worry, and in the past, that worry came in the form of lectures and reminders of lessons that a grown up Anakin had to remind him several times to restrain. An old vice he found to be remarkably difficult to control. They were equals now, both adults and one married with children, so he's had to find another way to express his brotherly regard, which most of the time involved him holding his tongue.
Obi Wan caught himself shaking his head at the thought as his relationship with Anakin was never easy; nevertheless, he still cherished it. As he followed Anakin, he felt a hand on his back and, a little startled by the contact, he turned around.
Ahsoka had a firm, confident smile on her face. "I'll watch your back, Obi Wan," she said, as she took up the rear.
Obi Wan couldn't help giving her an appreciative nod at her thoughtful gesture. She was proof of Anakin's maturity as he successfully trained his own Padawan into the confident young woman Ahsoka turned out to be. On the other hand, he did wish they didn't share such a love of bending the rules and mischief in general. The idea bothered him, and he couldn't help but wonder. Was I ever that bad to Master Jinn?
Once inside, they had a better view of the factory as they dropped onto the durasteel beams that lined the roof—the nosy clanking of machinery echoing loudly off the walls and deafening in their ears. Hot and rancid, their noses stung with the reminder of the unpleasant smell of processed spice. Glancing down, below was the dizzying five floors of the structure. The machinery processing the spice stood a good three stories tall and the rest of the way up were littered with catwalks dotted with an occasion security guard.
From this angle, Obi Wan could clearly visualize his surroundings, which surprisingly did ease his concerns considerably. Sure enough, Anakin was right. The sight was well appreciated, with the roof utterly unguarded. Not a living creature in sight except for the three Force wielders that stood effortlessly amongst the ceiling beams. Shaking his head, he clicked his tongue in disappointment. What an atrocity of a security design! Well, maybe he should be grateful, as Anakin mentioned. It would seem that not all crime syndicates were highly sophisticated.
The appreciative moment passed as Anakin motioned them to the northeast corner. With a quick nod, Ahsoka and Obi Wan followed him gingerly to the edge. As they moved, the Force's energy was much lighter between the trio now that they were safely inside, as they enjoyed the brief moment. Obi Wan even caught Anakin and Ahsoka smiling and sharing a private joke between them as they traveled. This caused even the ever hesitant Obi Wan to relax his posture and, dare even, smile a little.
A catwalk opened up right below them from the northeast corner as they tentatively dropped down. Thankfully, from here, one of the building's foundational beams obscured them from view. From this vantage point, the entire factory opened up to their eager eyes. Boldly, Anakin walked over to the edge of the catwalk, leaning against the much appreciated but rarely utilized railing, as he studied the layout for their next move.
Obi Wan silently and swiftly came to the right side of Anakin landing softly. A metal clink lightly resonated between them, startling the old man. Both wore their lightsabers on their left side, like most right handed Jedi did, and, last time he checked, Anakin hadn't switched to a left hand dominant style. So that couldn't be the perpetrator as he looked down, puzzled. His eyes halted at the sight. A part of him was surprised he didn't notice this earlier, usually so observant; perhaps his mind didn't want to register the presence until this moment. Unbeknownst to himself, a disagreeable frown crossed the old Jedi's face. Anakin's right hip proudly hung an updated version of the S-5 heavy blaster pistol, the wooden handle replaced with a smooth metal grip, usually reserved for Nubian security. Even as stunning as all Nubian's creations tended to be, Obi Wan couldn't help the disappointment at the sight of the blaster.
He hated all blasters.
Unfortunately, this little action was not missed by Anakin, as he sensed the shift in his former Master's mood and slightly turned his head with a curiously raised eyebrow. Taking only a brief moment to assess the situation, a wry grin emerged. He wasn't the slightest bit disarmed by Obi Wan's judgmental look and actually was waiting for him to say something a little surprised it took the old man so long. He must be losing his touch.
Obi Wan realized his error as he averted his eyes with his face slightly flushed.
But Anakin wasn't about to let this go as it was something important to him and wanted his brother to understand this.
Anakin turned to face him with his voice gentle and respectful, he explained. "My team carries a S-5 and so do I." He watched and waited for Obi Wan's response with tentative eyes.
With his feelings torn, a part of Obi Wan wanted to scoff at the notion, as he thought he taught Anakin better, and partly because he, himself, would not use such barbaric devices unless absolutely necessary. It was a rigidly held belief he and many of the Jedi shared. Which made this very difficult because he wanted to embrace Anakin's new life. He really did. Even if he never understood Anakin's ongoing interest in such weaponry. So this left him with his arms crossed, standing with open distress concerning the topic, as he shook his head a little too eagerly while attempting a smile that came across a bit too fake.
"Sure," Obi Wan managed to blurted out between his teeth.
Oh, the look on his face. Anakin thought.
So incredibly enticing, the moment was too irresistible to Anakin. A side of him wanted to let the old man be, knowing he was trying terribly hard to be encouraging and, as a mature adult, he should respect that. But if it wasn't for the fact that he was trying so utterly hard! Oh, that just egged a piece of Anakin that rarely got to see Obi Wan like this and wanted to completely indulge at the moment.
Sure enough, that side won out as Anakin found himself with crossed arms mirroring Obi Wan in a mocking gesture with a roguish twinkle in his eye. With an edge in his voice, he let Obi Wan know he wasn't fooling anyone as he stated, "Really?"
This time Obi Wan scoffed, inhibited. His former Padawan really knew how to get under his skin. Something about the teasing manner really irked him and made Obi Wan let go of the restraint he was holding.
Pointing at the blaster as if it was a decaying womp rat, he spat out, "It's just…" He waggled his finger dramatically as he hesitantly finished his thought, "so uncivilized." He finished exasperatedly and then sighed heavily. There. He said it. Anakin got want he wanted, so maybe they can move on now.
Of course, it would seem like this wasn't even close to concluding as that smug grin returned to Anakin's face. Obi Wan rolled his eyes, knowing full well what would happen next and really unable to stop it from happening unless he wanted to make a bigger ordeal of this.
Right on cue, Anakin studied him for an achingly slow second before whipping out his blaster and lavishly twirling it expertly on his finger before quickly sliding it back into its holster.
Obi Wan just blinked at him.
He never understood his former Padawan's flair for the dramatics and at the very moment, he didn't find it amusing at all. In the past, Obi Wan rarely touched said weapon, especially the clones' blasters, even when someone like Commander Cody excitedly shared about the newest upgrade. In fact, he rarely discussed such things with the clones entirely. However, Anakin would be another story. So many times, whether it was between battles, on the battlefield, and even when they were safe and decompressing onboard the Negotiator or the Resolute star destroyers, he would actively seek out Rex, Jesse, or others to discuss such things. Even going as far as to suggest possible enhancements too!
Really, this was all too much for the old man.
Anakin loved every second of this! The look on his old Master's face was absolutely priceless. Oh, if only he could frame that and hang it above his office. It honestly baffled him. Anakin knew Obi Wan was more than proficient at handling a blaster and had seen him pull off some fantastic shots in the past, only when needed, of course. It genuinely wasn't that bad in Anakin's mind and he couldn't understand the old man's disgust.
With a frustrated sigh, Anakin stated, in a softer tone this time, "It's not so bad once you get used to it?" As predicted, Obi Wan slid him one last side eye before turning his attention over the handrail. It shouldn't surprise him when Obi Wan wouldn't budge for what seemed like the 100th time Anakin had brought up the issue. Unable to change the old fossil's mind, he heaved his chest in disappointment. But not before he muttered one more quip. "Well, when you have your own security force you can have them all use lightsabers."
Watching from the shadows, Anakin's partner in crime waited patiently for the right moment choosing now to ground herself on Obi Wan's right. Ahsoka's gaze connected with her former Master while Obi Wan stiffened up slightly. A sly smirk teased across her lips as she thought the old man could a little nudge to break up his hardheaded views. She chimed in. "Nubian's take pride in their blasters. Each one is meticulously designed and exceedingly well crafted. You should really keep an open mind, Obi Wan."
Silently groaning, as he was literally boxed in on both sides with arms wielding fanatics. Chiding himself for thinking one glorious second that the issue had been dropped. He twitched stiffly before bracing himself for what he knew was coming next. It really was times like these he wished the two of them weren't so alike.
With renewed fire, Anakin insisted. "Come on, Obi Wan. It's ok to admit not all blasters are an abomination." He grabbed the old man by the shoulders and gently but firmly shook them. "You never know when one of these things might save your life?" Anakin said, an impish edge in his voice.
Just for a second, Obi Wan briefly wondered how badly it would compromise their mission if he threw them off the railing. Grinning to himself, he could probably make due as it would provide a lovely distraction. At this point, Anakin and Ahsoka had the same glint in their eyes, indicating their desire to continue their shenanigans. A chill overtook Obi Wan as dread crawled up his spine.
Ahsoka leaned over with a face so stern it couldn't be taken seriously. "But you know, a Jedi's weapon is a lightsaber."
Obi Wan's eyes widen in recognition before settling into a narrow gaze. Not a second too soon, Obi Wan decided it was time to end this. "Alright! The two of you have made yourself heard...Loud and Clear." He shrugged them off as he took a definitive step back. "So I'm a bit old fashion. I don't see anything wrong with that. You two can enjoy whatever contraptions you fancy while I'll be content here with my lightsaber."
Honestly, Obi Wan couldn't even muster an eye roll at the two. They're lucky no one heard their nonsense from this distance. Or maybe it was unlucky as an interruption would have been preferred. Obi Wan swore the two of them could share a joke in the heat of a battle. Actually, when he thought about it. That did happen often.
A sigh escaped Obi Wan's breath, weighed down by the impetus of youth. "Here, I thought that time would have matured you two. How foolish of me to hope."
Anakin shook his head ruefully as he hoped that someday his former Master would change his mind. Until then, he'll settle on picking on him. With an exaggerated snort, Anakin replied, "Oh come on, Master. You know you enjoy our company."
For a moment, he considered the two in front of him suspiciously before settling on an annoyed glare. "I think I would prefer Leia and Luke's company," he mumbled miserably. "At least they don't talk as much."
Ahsoka sensed that things were going too far. She stepped over and rubbed Obi Wan's arm lightly, "You know we're only joking around because we love you." She replied kindly, trying to get Obi Wan to loosen up. He was too serious all the time.
Obi Wan scoffed at that even though he eventually did smile. Her words did lighten his heart despite his resentment. At this, he relented and sighed. "Come on, you two. Let's focus on the task at hand."
They came down to the fifth floor from the catwalk and found it mostly uninteresting, with several storage rooms and crates littered everywhere. However, the view afforded them a great angle to examine the manufacturing floor better. Several long conveyer belts were lined with tired and worn workers on each side.
The sight caused something to tickle the back of Ahsoka's mind as she leaned forward, squinting hard. She wasn't sure why she didn't notice this before. Curiosity overtook her as there was a peculiarity with the workers who processed the spice but she couldn't put her finger on it. Their clothes were desperately worn with severely tattered edges and covered with more filth than one would expect from this line of work. Her eyes shifted as it caught on to something on their right wrist. Peering closer, she noted a small device wrapped tightly around their arm, flashing rhythmically.
Biting her lower lip in thought, she turned to her companions as she leaned over to state her observations. "There's something wrong about the workers here."
"They're slaves," Anakin spat out, his lip curled in disgust.
The truth was evident to him as his eyes flashed dangerously, instantly recognizing their situation. As a former slave, he was more sensitive and acutely aware of such predicaments. Anakin's eyes narrowed further, looking down at the blinking device. Undoubtedly, he deduced that the wrist bands kept track of their movement and were most likely programmed to detonate if they attempted an escape. Without warning, Anakin's flank started to pulsate painfully over the scarred area where his slave tracker used to be. Fighting the urge to rub the area, all the pieces suddenly clicked in his mind. The slaves partially explained the lack of security outside as Crimson Dawn's focus wasn't on keeping people out as much keeping them in. The heat rose to his face making Anakin's blood boil even hotter.
Ahsoka took a sharp intake at Anakin's words as she quickly glimpsed down again, staring at them with horrifying dismay. "Slaves," she quietly whispered, taking in the profound revelation.
Obi Wan's eyes flickered between the two in front of him as they lost themselves in the moment. The three of them couldn't afford any more distractions and that building dread from before seemed to rise again in his gut. "We will address these people's plight once we get what we are looking for." Obi Wan made sure to make eye contact with them for confirmation.
The words didn't sit well with Anakin who's frown dug deep into his face as he rhythmically clenched his hands by his side. Involuntarily, he felt the rising anger at the slaves' condition threatened to overtake him. However, this was not the time to let his anger take control. He needed to think and he couldn't do that if he was upset. Letting out the breath he realized he was holding, he let the anger wash away from him as quickly as it came. He had no intention of letting this go and promised himself that he would help these people before they left, regardless of what Obi Wan thought. Once he had his emotions under better control, he turned and nodded his agreement with Obi Wan, who looked visibly relieved.
Ahsoka chewed her lip as she watched the stiff interactions between them. Never intentional, she was used to being in between the men before her. They were so polarizing that sometimes she felt like she was watching opposite forces clash explosively together and she was stuck somewhere in between. In this case, she agreed that they needed to continue on, for now, then come back for the slaves. She cataloged the increasing number of objectives; get information on Maul, retrieve the spice back for Naboo, and now free the slaves. This mission was getting more and more complicated by the minute but that's what made it exciting, right?
"Ok," Ahsoka stated agreeably, returning Obi Wan's searching look. Turning around, she focused on the factory's layout. "Obi Wan, didn't you mention you saw something on the forth floor earlier?"
"Yes, there's a particularly well guarded area over on the south end." Obi Wan answered as he came up next to her.
When Ahsoka's eyes found what she was looking for, she pointed. "There! Is that what you saw?"
From where they stood, the area was mostly blocked from their vision but a single arm holding a heavy rifle could be seen around the corner.
"Yes, I believe that's the area." Obi Wan confirmed, partially recognizing it, although it was more challenging from this angle.
"Come on. Let's go take a better look." Anakin responded as he quickly made his way across the walkway, trusting they would follow his lead.
Obi Wan and Ahsoka fell in step behind him, avoiding the guards patrolling the fifth floor before they stopped behind a couple of crates directly across and above the area of interest. As sparse as the guards were, the closer they were, the better armed the sentries appeared to be. Their keen eyes watching every moment, but even their sharp eyes couldn't follow three objects blurred by the Force.
Once on the floor, they had a better view of the area she mentioned. Floor to ceiling transparisteel lined the south corner, probably to keep a close eye on everything and also indicated the significance of this area. This seemed like the right place as this part of the manufacturing plant appeared better armed with security holocams blocking off the section's corners and two guards carried heavy rifles on their arms, a large vibroblade by their side, and several blaster rounds strapped to their sides while they manned the entrance.
From this angle, they had a clear visual on one of the larger offices just beyond the sliding doors. Initially, they had hoped to find a telecommunications room. Instead, they found a tall humanoid man in the middle of what appeared to be a large office. That in itself wasn't interesting but the way he paced back and forth with such nervous energy caught the trio's attention.
Ahsoka leaned forward a little from where she was crouched behind the metal crates, her eyes having trouble. "I can't tell what that person is doing?" She said with slight frustration.
If Ahsoka's young togruta eye's couldn't pick up the situation's intricacies, they'll need some assistance. Anakin kept his eyes on the pacing human as he reached into his belt, flipping up yet another pocket, and fished out an item. In his right hand, he pulled out a sleek and beautifully polished chrome pair of binoculars, petite yet powerful, it dazzled with a strip of bright yellow across them. Apparently, Nubians didn't believe function and refined aesthetics should ever be separated as the piece looked like it belonged more in a museum.
Out of the corner of Ahsoka's eye, she couldn't help but admire the object, a twinkle in her gaze at the alluring sight. With a small appreciative smile, she couldn't help asking, "Nubian issued?"
Not surprisingly, Anakin knew she had an appreciation for such designs. He turned slightly to give her a wink in acknowledgment and Ahsoka shook her head lightly. "You're getting really spoiled, Anakin."
Without denying it, Anakin smiled as he peered through the binoculars. Now he could appreciate the mysterious humanoid in front of him whose slouched shoulders were tense as he paced quickly, obviously upset about something. Reaching into the Force, Anakin could appreciate his fear laced with anger more vividly. However, it wasn't as forthcoming as it seemed the man had some discipline and control over his emotions. Anakin could tell this wasn't just a low level figure they happened to discover. There was a slipperiness to this person's Force signature they usually encountered in higher ranking criminals. This also meant they were also holding other things back and shouldn't be underestimated.
"Hrm," Anakin said, not revealing anything else. He turned to Obi Wan, his face stern and his eyes knowing.
Without a word, Obi Wan took the binoculars to see for himself what was so fascinating. As he adjusted them to his liking, he peered at the aggravated shadow for several long minutes, unmoving. There was a slight twitch to Obi Wan's shoulders that was so subtle it would only be noticed only by someone that had spent a great deal of time with him. Finally looking up at Anakin, his face reflecting the same rigid look Anakin had previous, he answered with the same weighty reply. "Hrm"
Ahsoka rolled her eyes, growing impatient with the two men's apparent insider's information. If they weren't going to share their findings with her, then she'll figure it out herself. With a frustrated huff, she gritted her teeth, attempting to politely ask with an outstretched hand. "Can I see?"
Obi Wan slowly turned to her, taking a moment to think before handing over the binoculars. "Tell me who you think that is?"
With a curious eyebrow, Ahsoka picked up the binoculars, holding back her eagerness to be in on the little secret the other two wouldn't divulge. Leaning forward on the crates as the two gentlemen kindly gave her space to see. She flicked the knob on the side of the binoculars, as the view adjusted, she focused on the humanoid male's face. His eyebrows pinched together harshly, indicating the amount of frustration and anger he was in, but that wasn't the only thing. Quite a peculiar sight, Ahsoka noticed several vertical striations that went down his face as they seemed to match his mood while they flashed in unison with his anger. Even his eyes seemed to take on a furious shade of red. The face was distinct and very familiar as she shifted through her memories. She remembered him from the report detail given to them by Rex as her eyes widen in recognition.
Suddenly, she understood what Obi Wan and Anakin had been so upset by. Whipping her montrals, she turned to face the two before quickly asking, "Is that Dryden Vos? What's he doing here?"
Grimly, Obi Wan took up his usual thinking pose, crossing his arms in front of his chest as he stroked his beard. Letting out a weary breath, he finally answered, "That is a good question."
Ahsoka couldn't contain her excitement as her lekkus twitched restlessly. Finally, they got what they wanted. Forget about looking for a communication center. This was way better! They had the man they wanted to interrogate right in front of them, which meant Ahsoka would be that much closer to finding Maul. The thrill raced through her as she hastily insisted as she put the binoculars down, "I think we should go down there and ask him why he's here."
Obi Wan regarded the togruta with steady eyes and a bit of reluctance. Not enough of his boxes were checked off on his mental checklist yet and, true to form, he wanted to wait. Obi Wan answered quietly in a steady voice, "Not so fast. Something doesn't add up. I don't want to walk into there without a better idea of what's going on."
Not in agreement, Ahsoka answered back promptly, "Well, I think we'll get more answered if we ask Dryden himself before our window of opportunity closes." She quipped, making her point.
So they sat there, crouched behind the metal crates, starring at each other in a mental standoff with viable reasons for each option. At the same exact moment, they both realized something amiss. At this point, both of them were well aware of what would and usually happened next and it didn't happen. When there was a dispute with action versus inaction, they always knew where the other person stood on the matter. Instead of sounding in with their usual bravado and persuasion, there was an uncomfortable and foreign silence.
It irked the two of them.
Tentatively, Obi Wan and Ahsoka slowly turned to face the unfamiliar stranger.
Only half listening to his colleagues' arguments, Anakin's eyes were still tightly set on Dryden Vos. The binoculars back in his hands, he watched the crime lord's movements carefully and also scanned the inside of his office for any clues that could help them understand the situation better. When the pressure of their stares became unbearable, he finally turned to face them, slightly annoyed.
"What!? I agree. We should watch and see what else we can learn before heading down there." Anakin reasoned with the simple logic.
Despite everything going on, and he hadn't forgotten about the slaves, he was able to focus. Right now, Anakin's instincts were heightened and he chose to listen to them. Urgently, the Force was telling him to wait for something fundamental to present itself, and in this past year, Anakin had learned to follow that instinct until it became louder and more present in his mind.
Perhaps this was a more dramatic change in him than he initially thought. It seems all that regular meditation he did nowadays helped to calm his torrent of emotions. Though they were still there, he clearly could distinguish when his feelings clouded his judgment versus when the Force, his intuition, spoke. When he first realized this, he was so excited as he finally understood what Obi Wan was preaching all those years. At first, the difference was subtle but the more he calmed himself and meditated, the more he could tell the difference. Anakin wasn't quite sure what was the catalyst for the change as he could never really sit down and meditate well before. Perhaps, it was the peace of mind he had with the life he now lived. No longer a secret to be kept hidden in discrete hallways and in the shadow of the night, he could proudly proclaim his marriage in the open for the galaxy to see. His heart was so full with his two beautiful twins that he missed so terribly at the moment. He finally had a family like he always wanted and that joy translated to a steady, resilient inner peace. Sometimes he forgot that his friends haven't been around him to see this growth. To be fair to his friends, he probably wouldn't have said that in the past. However, it didn't change his annoyance at their next actions.
Anakin cringed internally as Obi-Wan and Ahsoka's eyes somehow became impossibly larger as he had an inkling of what would happen next and not liking to be on the receiving end of it either.
Staring in wonder and disbelief, Ahsoka questioned in a mock serious tone, "Ok, who are you and what have you done with Anakin Skywalker?" The uptick in her voice at the end betraying the appalled manner she had half heartedly meant to convey.
Not wanting to miss out on this rare opportunity, Obi Wan's voice dropping into a teasing and jovial tone with his amusement a little too evident in a way Anakin found he didn't care for. "You must be a changeling because the Anakin I know acts first and thinks later." Obi Wan never thought he would see this day as he grinned wildly.
Unamused, Anakin just rolled his eyes at their antics, lips thinned more in resignation than anger. He had a feeling Obi Wan just sampled some satisfying revenge for Anakin's previous antics. Ironically, he thought about the Jedi's philosophy on revenge and how it wasn't the Jedi's way. Well, that was a load of poodoo wasn't it? "Ok, you had your fun." He pointed out before continuing in almost a pleading tone, "Could we please focus on the mission?" Repeating Obi Wan's previous sentiments.
Before they had a chance to continue their banter, something caught the corner of Anakin's eye. Snapping his head back immediately, he turned around to the office, peering into the binoculars once again. "Hold on. I see something."
The crime lord had abruptly halted his pacing as he stood tall and rigid as a board. Just as suddenly, his posture changed to one of submission and he cowered over, nodding his head furiously, probably talking to someone of great importance.
Anakin growled in his throat, a darkness in his tone. "Something is wrong about this."
Anakin handed Obi Wan the binoculars. The older man's previously smirk faltered immediately at the sight. "You're right, Anakin. It's odd enough that the very man we were hoping to talk to is here."
Obi Wan frowned, searching the Force with his feelings. Oddly, he couldn't feel anything else in the Force. Like before, he could feel the fear radiating off Dryden, but there was a notable lack of presence that he couldn't sense and surmised this caused Anakin's uneasiness as well. Of course, Dryden could be speaking to a hologram, which would explain the lack of a presence, but that explanation didn't sit right with him. Suddenly, Obi Wan watched as the near human male bowed to the unseen figure. Then, almost carelessly, Dryden stole a quick glance out the window, eyes searching for something before he caught himself and made his way to his large desk in the middle of the room. The Force around him was composed and collected, a stark contrast to the fear and reluctance from before. Though they couldn't see his face, they knew it had morphed into something else as he sat with his hands folded in front of him.
Naturally disturbed, Anakin sneered, "I don't like this."
Something happened to cause Dryden to drastically change his behavior and it would be foolhardy to think it was related to something other than them. The Crimson Dawn crime lord sat at his desk waiting for visitors to arrive and Anakin knew who that was.
"Maybe it's a trap?" Ahsoka asked, feeling the need to state the obvious yet a part of her was hoping she was wrong.
Anakin nodded gravely. The situation was painfully clear. "They've been waiting for us."
Obi Wan was afraid of this. Why was he always so paranoid? Part of him wondered if he created a self fulfilling prophecy with his trepidation. It really was too easy the way they had gotten in. They had lost their element of surprise, although he wondered if they ever had it to begin with. Was this all an elaborate ruse to get them here? He wondered why as he found himself wishing Crimson Dawn was as incompetent as he had previously hoped. Oh well. The past is in the past—nothing we can do about that now. He thought to himself as he prepared for the encounter.
Resigned to the situation they found themselves in, Obi Wan offered, "Well, I suppose there's no point in keeping them waiting?"
Anakin snorted in response, "That's usually my line." As Obi Wan gave him a grim smile.
Ahsoka, Anakin, and Obi Wan faced each other. Their gaze shifting between each other in an unspoken agreement and conviction. The trio silently accepting their fate. A stillness sat heavily between them.
With a heavy sigh, Ahsoka checked her lightsabers at her side before concluded, "So we're doing this?"
There was no turning back now. Anakin clenched his cybernetic hand, the gears whirling in reluctant acknowledgment as he grimaced with steady eyes. "Let's find out what they know."
A/N: So the parallels I hinted at for the last chapter include how Savareen (From Solo movie) briefly mentioned how the locals had been turned into slaves (with their tongues cut off! Yikes!) So I wanted to pay homage to that one line here by having them work the factory. Also, since this planet is a desert planet like Tatooine (much to Anakin's dismay) I played with the idea of Anakin's anger for the slaves here much like he had for the slaves on Tatooine. Who knows, maybe in this story, he'll get to rescue them, unlike canon. In Solo they were refining coaxium and Ahsoka alluded that there's much more going on than what they can see so keep that in mind.
The conversation between Obi Wan, Anakin and Ahsoka involving blasters was set up to be like a generational conversation between like a grandparent with a flip phone and kids trying to convince them to use an iphone.
Also, in this AU, Obi Wan never went to Utapau to fight General Grievous. Plo Koon went in his place. (Book 1: There's Always Hope) So Anakin joking about his life being saved by a blaster was a nod to canon where Obi Wan might have appreciated a blaster more after that. Who knows! A blaster may save his life in this AU too!
Next chapter, they'll meet Dryden Vos. I think his character hasn't really been built up much beyond Solo. (As far as I know) So there's some free range with his character. I imagine him to be unnaturally polite and unnecessarily an ass. No, I don't want you to like him. LOL.
I mentioned that there's guardrails in the Crimson Dawn factory because, unlike the Empire, this crime syndicate does care about safety. I'm a giant dork, I know.