Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars: The Clone Wars, only the OC.
With the Gungan, Mon Cala and Republic forces successfully routed, all save for Prince Lee Char and Ahsoka, Jayden and Tamson believed the battle was nearly won.
All that had to happen was for the Prince to be found.
Tamson wasn't in the greatest mood with Lee Char having escaped. And it showed. While the prisoners from the battle were begin escorted into cells, he was busy scheming... and fuming.
"The Senate, two Jedi Knights and a fumbling amphibian. I would've thought the Prince would be easier to capture than the four of you." He mused, staring with arms crossed as Anakin, Padme and Fisto were escorted past him, Nossor Ri and Jayden.
"It must be part of our plan." Anakin bit back.
"I had the exact same thought." Tamson said, suddenly lunging and viciously grabbing Padme, throwing her to some Quarren guards.
"Don't touch me!" She exclaimed. Anakin protested but was swiftly held back by Quarren guards.
"Rack 'em up!" Tamson ordered. The guards then brought in a series of containment droids, one of which opened and Padme's limbs were tightly clasped by mechanical pincers.
"Tamson! Leave them alone!" Anakin demanded.
"Do not worry, Jedi. There is plenty of suffering to go around." The commander stated, revealing a series of chained snake-like creatures whose bodies pulsed with power.
"Ah, eels. Very dangerous." Kit mused before he and Anakin were shoved forward. Pushed right into the midst of the eels, Kit and Anakin were effectively surrounded as arcs of electricity jumped from creature to creature.
"Now, tell me, where is Prince Lee Char?" Tamson questioned, roaring the last word. Anakin said nothing, glaring daggers at the Separatist commander
"Skywalker is a defiant one, Tamson." Jayden said, having been silent until now. "He is not one to talk or break so easily."
"So be it." Tamson muttered with a grin. He signalled the Quarren guards to provoke the eels, causing them to unleash painful electric shocks that surged through both Anakin and Kit. The Jedi screamed in pain as they were electrocuted.
Behind Jayden and Tamson Nossor Ri winced, further regretting his choices that had led to this moment.
Tamson and Nossor entered the operations hub to see Jayden speaking with a hologram of Count Dooku.
"-Jedi's resistance to pain is considerable but they will not give up the Prince's location." Jayden was saying.
Dooku let out a displeased noise at this as he saw Tamson and Nossor. "Press the interrogation tactics. We cannot allow the Prince to survive, the royal bloodline must be broken."
"Count Dooku, is this necessary?" Nossor asked. "The battle is won! The Prince has no army to rally, now is the time for the Quarren to take the lead and think of rebuilding." He urged.
"Rebuild." Dooku scoffed. "While this battle has been won, there is still a war going on, Senator Ri. A war in which you pledged your allegiance to the Separatist cause."
"Of course, Count. We owe you everything." A cowed Nossor replied, bowing humbly.
"Do not soon forget it." Dooku threatened. With Nossor dealt with, the Sith moved on. "Tamson, have your soldiers arrived?"
"Soldiers?" Nossor sputtered.
"Yes, Count," Tamson affirmed. Behind him, a door opened to reveal more Karkarodons, "we now have the city under our control." Tamson continued as the four entered and swam around the room.
"Good. Continue as planned." Dooku instructed him. "Lord Khan," he said, turning to his Apprentice, "ensure that the Prince is found and that the Mon Cala offer no more resistance."
"Yes, my Master." Jayden bowed.
Back in the prison, the Jedi were periodically electrocuted by the eels until Tamson and the others returned.
"I grow tired of waiting, Jedi. Where is the Prince?" He asked, circling their living cages.
"Even if we knew, we would not say." Kit defiantly replied.
"Unfortunate." Tamson mused before signalling the guards to prod the eels. Once again, Anakin and Kit were harshly electrocuted by high-voltage bio-electricity. They sagged where they were when the barrage finally ended.
"To be honest, it matters little to me. I would torture you either way." Tamson sneered. "Count Dooku requires I capture the Prince... and there is the slight chance you are deceiving me and holding back some information I could use." He mused, swimming over to Padme. Jayden continued to watch with crossed arms, but did have to wonder where Tamson was going with this. "And in my position, I cannot afford to take chances!"
With that said, Tamson suddenly lunged forward and closed his jaws around Padme's helmet. She shrieked in terror, a frightened Anakin looking on as his wife was assaulted. Tamson bit down, his teeth puncturing the glass. He pulled back to cackle, only to be suddenly blasted into the wall by Force Lightning then yanked into the hand of Jayden who gripped his throat tightly.
"They are needed alive, Tamson." Jayden reminded with a growl, his tone commanding.
"You're soft, Khan! You never show your enemies mercy!" Tamson shot back. "Maybe you're not all they say you're cut out to be! Maybe you're as weak as-"
Tamson was suddenly cut off when he was blasted into the wall again by Force Lightning, causing Tamson to scream and twitch in pain as Jayden held one hand up, fingers pointed at the Separatist representative. Usually Jayden would've used Force Choke to shut someone up, but considering Tamson was aquatic and had gills... Jayden doubted the Force Choke could work on him.
Eventually Jayden stopped and used the Force to bring Tamson over to him before grabbing him by the gills and squeezed enough to cut off Tamson's air supply.
"Watch. Your. Words. Tamson." Jayden warned darkly. "If you fail to do as you are ordered, you will find that my Master is not as forgiving as I am. But even I have my limits, and I am very much considering to be very less merciful than I already was. So you would be wise to heed my warning, and keep the Jedi and the Senator alive until they are of no use to us. Fail to follow my order... and you will find yourself removed quickly. Understood?"
Tamson weakly nodded, eager to properly breathe again.
"Understood."
Jayden released him. "Now leave." Tamson grunted and quickly did so, not wanting to suffer even worse at the hands of the Sith. When he was gone, Jayden sighed. "if he wasn't useful or needed..." Grabbing a roll of tape from his belt, he swam over to Padme. "Do you have breathing room?" Ripping off a piece, Wraith sealed the leak in her helmet, the water stopping almost immediately.
"What is that?" Padme asked.
"A water resistant tape. In case the suit ever ripped." Jayden answered as he swam away when Padme spoke again.
"Why? Why did you help me?"
"You're more useful alive than dead, plus I don't really like Tamson, nor any of the Separatist leaders I've met. They are too... idiotic and let their own personal agendas get in the way. Be grateful and thankful I'm merciful enough to not let you drown."
Suddenly, Jayden received a call from one of the aqua droids. "We have located the Prince and have him in custody. He has requested an audience with the leadership."
"Well, that's interesting." Jayden muttered.
Intercepting the transfer en route to the palace, Jayden swam up to Ahsoka and Char as the droids forced them to halt.
"Your highness, we meet again." Jayden greeted with a smirk behind his mask.
"Darth Khan. Running to fetch us like a dog off a leash." Char replied. To his and Ahsoka's surprise, Jayden laughed in genuine amusement.
"You got guts, kid. I like those who have the guts to say such to me. It's a shame fate have us meet as enemies." Jayden said before looking at the droids. "Take him away, I will handle the Jedi." The droids obeyed and moved Char ahead, leaving Jayden with a frowning Ahsoka. "You did your best, Ahsoka. It is unfortunate your efforts were in vain."
"They weren't in vain, you'll see." She responded
"We shall see." Jayden said before he looked her up and down. "I like the suit, by the way."
Ahsoka balled her hands into fists and rushed him, Jayden holding her back by grabbing her hands.
"If I could breathe underwater, I swear-!" She growled. Jayden deemed her ready to bite his head off.
"Force, Ahsoka, calm down. I've been... having a vexing time with Tamson." He replied. "I did not mean to offend you in the slightest." He added in a lower voice. "Think of this as... my appreciation of your natural beauty. I enjoy admiring the finer things in life and you happen to be one of the finest."
"Are you done? Because I am!" Ahsoka retorted.
"What exactly have I done to deserve this aggression from you? You usually blush at my flattering compliments." Jayden frowned.
"Well not anymore! No, I know what you really think of me! I can't believe I was so stupid to think you actually cared." Ahsoka scoffed before looking from me. "Are we going or are you gonna waste time?"
Frowning at her words and what she meant, Jayden said nothing as he shoved her forward. He led her into the palace where she rejoined Lee Char. A pair of Karkarodon guards took over for the droids and forced the two prisoners forward, using blaster spears and far more physical methods. The instant one of them jabbed Ahsoka hard enough to make her cry out, a toothy, sadistic grin on his face, Jayden rounded a punch so hard it shattered a few teeth.
"Back off." Jayden growled, scaring the two Karkarodons away. Ahsoka, slightly appreciative of the gesture, visibly rolled her eyes and shook her head as Jayden took over escort duties.
Leading them into the throne room, Ahsoka and Char were presented to Riff and Nossor, who sat on throne and to his right respectively.
"Greetings Prince." Tamson chuckled. "We meet again." Ahsoka and Char exchanged unsure looks as Tamson continued. "I must admit, you were more difficult to capture than I anticipated. You have my respect, as a hunter to his prey."
"I do not seek nor do I want your respect." Char responded. "I have come to demand the freedom of my people!" Tamson laughed.
"Your 'people'." He repeated. "You are mistaken, Prince. They are my people and under my rule." Getting up, the commander swam around, butting Ahsoka aside and into Jayden's arms, who gave a short but audible growl, as he got into Char's face. "They, like you, are nothing more than slaves."
"Your rule is not recognized here, Tamson!" The Prince shot back, defying him. "My people are all those who live in these seas. Whether they be Mon Cala or Quarren." He announced. Nossor's head rose at this statement. The two locked eyes as Char gave him a nod.
"Surely you have not come here seeking the aid of Nossor Ri?" Tamson replied. "Do you really think he would trade his position to join you?" He wondered, swimming off and around the throne.
"The Quarren are already slaves! Though they may not see it." Char declared. Then he changed his focus. "Nossor Ri, you knew my father. Whatever differences our people had in the past, surely you must know we can work together to make Mon Cala whole." He implored. "Dooku and Tamson only want to exploit us and leave our cities broken and our resources depleted. What will then be left for the Quarren?"
"Well Nossor Ri? Would you like to join this... pitiful little fish? And his dead father?" Tamson snidely asked. Nossor made no reply, only hanging his head further. "There. You see?" The Karkarodon chuckled, turning back to Char. "What good would their help be to you, Prince? The Quarren are more gutless than your people." He added.
"Boy, do I feel like killing him to not hear his voice." Jayden muttered but Ahsoka heard him and her lips twitched a little.
"As long as I live, I shall give all people of Mon Cala hope to fight another day." Char solemnly promised.
"Hm... hope. We are of the same mind, Prince." Tamson thoughtfully replied. "That is why I have scheduled your public execution." He revealed. "Take them away!" He ordered suddenly. The other two Karkarodons appeared and helped Jayden remove Lee Char, Ahsoka he moved with minimal aid.
"Nossor Ri, there is still time!" Char pleaded as he was pushed out. "Unite and we will defend our home!" As he left, Tamson cackled at his incoming victory, while the Quarren representative shared a few questioning looks with fellow members of his species.
There was much to consider... but not a lot of time to do so.
Lee Char and Ahsoka were separated, the Karkarodons forcing the Prince into a cell of his own while Jayden ushered Ahsoka down a hall.
"So, would you like to explain to me what you meant?" Jayden asked with a frown. "What do you mean when you said I never cared for you? i do care for you."
"Sure you do." Ahsoka rolled her eyes. "Now if we could spend the rest of this escort in silence, I would appreciate that."
Jayden sighed and rolled his eyes before pushing her forwards gently. "Women." He muttered but Ahsoka heard him.
"Men." She spat in retort.
Tamson's chosen ring for execution involved Lee Char surrounded by three of his Karkarodons.
It was supposed to be four, but one of them was missing some teeth.
Ahsoka hands were bound by manacles. Anakin, Kit, Jar Jar Binks and Padme were brought in to watch their failure come to full fruition alongside Tamson, Jayden, Nossor and the dozens of Clone, Gungan and Calamari prisoners.
"Good job protecting the Prince." Anakin sarcastically told Ahsoka.
"It's all part of the plan, Master." She replied.
"I was hoping you were gonna say that." Anakin added. "Anything I can do?"
"Unfortunately, this time it's out of our hands." She told him.
"I'm not sure I like this plan after all." He responded. Tamson started circling the ring, making a grand proclamation.
"For crimes against the Separatist state, I command the execution of former-Prince Lee Char!" He bellowed. Narrowing his blackened eyes at the boy before him, Tamson smiled, unable to resist one final remark. "It's a pity I'm not doing this myself, Prince. I would've loved to have sent both father and son to the grave!" He cackled.
The Quarren and Calamari were taken aback by his bold statement, deliberately accepting the blame for killing King Rolina. They'd liked King Rolina, he had been good to all of them. The blame they'd once tossed back and forth, the source of the division between the two species, was suddenly lifted... and placed at the feet of this Separatist. The Quarren suddenly found a sense of unity with their Calamari neighbours.
A unity against the Separatists.
"Tamson..." Jayden said in warning. he really did not like how tamson was letting power and leadership getting to his head.
"I am merely letting this boy die knowing the truth." Tamson retorted. "Is that so wrong?"
"You're an idiot, Tamson." Jayden growled, really wishing he could pinch the bridge of his nose due to the stress he was feeling.
"You dare to speak to me that way?!" Tamson shot back. "I am your commanding officer!"
"You're too stupid to command me." Jayden growled as he looked ready to blast Tamson with Force Lightning.
Tamson seemed to know this and looked for something to defend himself when something caught his eye and he grinned before he suddenly swam and was behind Ahsoka, holding her hostage.
"Let me go!" She demanded.
"Let. Her. Go. Tamson. Or I promise they'll never find your corpse." Jayden growled darkly as he looked between Tamson and Ahsoka.
"I've been watching you, Khan. You seem particularly fond of this Jedi. Why is that?" Tamson wondered, swimming circles around Jayden with Ahsoka in his grip.
"That is none of your business." Jayden said firmly. "Now let her go."
"You sought to make a fool out of me. Now I will make a fool out of you." The Karkarodon stated.
"Let Ahsoka go, Tamson... or else." Jayden growled as he reached for his Lightsabers.
The Karkarodian paused, thoughtfully considering Jayden's words. "Interesting." He finally said. "You call her by her first name and everyone else by their last. A term of endearment..."
"Stars will bloom and die before I'm done killing you." Jayden growled darkly.
With a sly look in his eyes, Tamson relented. "I doubt that." Releasing Ahsoka from his grip, Jayden breathed a sigh of relief.
But he was a bit too early to do so.
In a sudden move, Tamson ripped off Ahsoka's mask and crushed it between his teeth, leaving her without a source of oxygen and in danger of drowning.
Jayden blasted Tamson back with Force Lightning before he quickly grabbed Ahsoka and used the Force to shoot off towards the surface, knowing it was Ahsoka's only hope.
Ahsoka could barely comprehend what was going on. First she'd had her only source of communication and breathing torn away and now she was in Jayden's arms and ascending at an alarming rate. Things were happening so quickly she was having trouble keeping up.
Her lungs started to burn. Even with her training she could only hold her breath for so long. And the surface was so far away.
Ahsoka tried to cling to consciousness. She really did. But the loss of an oxygen supply was so sudden, she didn't have time to get a proper full breath in. Struggling with what she had, she felt her body grow weaker in Jayden's hold and her vision slowly began to fade.
The seas began to grow brighter, the surface coming into view as they shot past the towering buildings of Mon Cala city.
"Just hold on." She heard Jayden's voice, full of panic and fear, for her. He was desperate to get her to safety. Her vision was starting to fade... then she lost consciousness. "AHSOKA!"
Breaking through the waves at high speed, they shot clean into the air before crashing back down. Jayden thought quickly and held Ahsoka up, ensuring she had optimum access to the air.
But then he saw her eyes closed and how limp her body was.
"No, no, no, no!" Jayden panicked as he held her close, looking for the nearest flat surface to put her on. He spotted an island not too far away and swam for it, using the Force to boost his speed. The swim was too long for him and he quickly pulled them both onto dry land.
Once he put her on her back, he took his mask off and quickly began doing CPR. Placing both hands on her chest, he started pumping. "Come on... Come on, breathe," he pleaded, hair damp and bouncing wildly as he looked up and down her body, looking for some sign of her awakening. She lay still and unmoving even as he finished his fifteenth compression. "Come on!" He desperately cried, continuing on to thirty. Even then she didn't move. Jayden went on to the next phase, tilting her head back, opening her mouth and locking his lips with hers, initiating mouth-to-mouth.
One breath. Nothing.
Two breaths. Nothi-
Ahsoka sputtered and coughed, Jayden retreating quickly as she coughed up seawater. He rolled her onto her side as she continued. The last of the seawater from her lungs, Ahsoka gasped for air, reaching out and clutching Jayden's leg. "Breathe. Just breathe." He instructed her, pulling her close. "I've got you, you're going to be okay." He assured. Ahsoka didn't respond, too busy sucking in more lungfuls of sweet, sweet air. She weakly reached out to him, grabbing his armored arm. "It's okay... take it easy, I'm here."
He had never felt such fear before, nor such panic. never in his life... not since he witnessed the murder of his parents at the hands of the red-skinned Zabrack named Darth Maul. But Ahsoka was nearly dead and that brought that fear and panic back. He couldn't lose her, he didn't know how to live anymore without her in his life.
He held her close, thankful she was alive and safe. Alive and safe...
Jayden's eyes snapped open to reveal the glaring yellow of a angry Sith as Jayden's thoughts turned to the one responsible for nearly killing Ahsoka to get to him. Tamson...
Jayden was going to kill him.
As soon as Ahsoka's breathing evened, Jayden laid her on the ground and collected his mask.
"Where... W-Where are you-...?" She weakly asked. Jayden could've said multiple things in that moment. That he had a job to return to, a situation to resolve, a mess to clean up.
But there was only one thing on his mind.
"I'm going to go make that fucker pay." He swore darkly as he felt the Dark Side flare within him in response to how angry and vengeful he was feeling right now. Jayden put his mask on and dove back into the water.
Laying back on the sandy ground, Ahsoka continued to regain her breath and gather her senses. That whole situation had been a scary one, but it also opened up a new reality to her.
Jayden had just saved her life.
If he truly wanted her only for the bragging rights, as Anakin insinuated, if he didn't really care about her, then why would he save her?
Despite everything she believed in, the logic she'd come to accept, Ahsoka was starting to wonder...
Barrelling back down to the depths, Jayden clenched his hands as he imagined every possible way in which he could kill Tamson, the two common words on his mind being slowly and painfully.
This universe will be dead for the next one to come before Jayden is finished with killing Tamson.
As he neared the city, Jayden could see red and blue blaster fire being exchanged. Clearly something had transpired in his moment away from everything, the logical conclusion being that Tamson had pushed the Quarren too far and they had decided to side with the Republic.
Oh he was going to make that shark pay.
His sonar picked up the tell-tale movements of a Karkarodon, one far from the main battle. Adjusting course to follow the signal, Jayden planned out how he was going to arrive-
And then the sonar signal cut altogether, replaced by a tiny blip indicating an explosion.
Confused and intrigued, Jayden followed his course to the outskirts of the city. Soon he found a small cloud of blood and a living Lee Char. He didn't have to wonder what happened for much longer as he spied the severed, sinking head of a very dead Riff Tamson.
"So he's dead." Jayden stated. "Shame, I would've liked to have seen it or done it myself."
"My hand was forced." Char replied as they watched the head sink until it could not bee seen anymore. "Where is Padawan Tano?"
"Safe and alive. More than I can say for Tamson had I got my hands on him." Jayden growled, fists clenched as his anger was not sated, well it had dimmed a little at hearing Tamson was dead.
"What is she to you? You're a Separatist and she's a Jedi, why did you do that?" Char inquired, swimming towards Jayden.
"I'm no Separatist. I'm a Sith. Jayden corrected as he faced the Prince. "As for Ahsoka, who she is to me... is not your concern. You need not worry, I'm not going to kill you. I know when I have lost. Rule well, kid. You got heart. If fate has us meet again... let' hope it's not as enemies."
Char nodded and watched Jayden swim off out of sight.
"What a strange man." Char muttered.
As the Rogue Shadow left the system, Jayden kneeled before a holographic image of Count Dooku.
"Jayden, report." Dooku ordered.
"Mon Cala... is lost, Master." Jayden said, keeping his head bowed."Tamson let power and leadership go to his head and he became rash... it cost him his life at the hands of the Prince."
"And Prince Lee Char?"
"In the protection of the Jedi... and about to be coronated." Jayden said.
It appears that the Quarren were not worthwhile allies after all." Dooku responded. His words were straight and business-like, but there was a warmth behind them that Jayden could feel. "Perhaps the blame ought to be laid at Tamson's feet. Or perhaps I relied too much on the notions of the Isolationist League and not enough on the opinions of the general populace." The Sith continued. "I am confident you did all you could, Apprentice."
"I did, Master."
"Sometimes we can never do enough, even when others are involved. Especially when others are involved." Dooku stated. "Again, I trust you did everything in your power to right Tamson's wrongs. Return as soon as you can. I will have another assignment for you."
"Yes, my Master." Jayden said and the hologram disappeared and Jayden stood, his mind turning to Ahsoka's attitude with him, how harsh and cold she was with him, the disgust she had in her eyes when looking at him.
She only softened after nearly drowning, she had been near death so that would make anyone soften their attitude.
Something had happened during the month Jayden's been laid out in bed. Something which made Ahsoka change her opinion on him and think he was now her enemy. Perhaps one of the Jedi managed to convince her he never cared for her or something.
Yes, that has to be it.
He needed to speak with Ahsoka face to face and talk this out with her...
And that's it for the Mon Cala arc. Next will be the arc where Jayden and Ahsoka are stranded and things get going, not as in they have sex because that's too soon but... just wait and read when it comes.