Chapter 7: A cry for help

Ahsoka bribed the driver of the shuttle to smuggle her onto Mandalore, the shuttle she boarded was a correlian freighter, importing supplies and goods into Mandalore. For the majority of the journey, she had to hide inside an empty crate, whilst the Coruscant inspection crew 'checked' the ship, before allowing free clearance and take off. The journey took around 3 standard hours, which gave her enough time to formulate a responsible plan. If caught, she would appear a refugee as she was wearing clothes that can easily be ditched and inexpensively replaced.

She knew that the supply docks are regularly patrolled, so she would rely on stealth for the first half of the plan, her newfound profession in bounty hunting has expanded her skills in subtlety and stealth, something that Anakin would never have taught her correctly - but then again, she has learned to train herself rather successfully. Considering the circumstances of success and failure being a vital difference between life and death, there can't be room for mistakes and there was no such thing as overanalysing her situations, which is partly why she has become so successful so quickly.

She ran the plan over in her head, she had bribed the pilot to misdirect any patrol into the ship for inspection, so she could catch them off guard and steal their armour in order to blend in, hiding the body in this crate. There was only one setback that she hadn't thought too deeply about, which was how she would fit a helmet that was specifically NOT designed for Togrutas, or any humanoid species that beared a lekku and montrals. However her stealth mask would suffice for the meanwhile, she would only really run into problems if she encountered a large patrol without a helmet on. However, another thought quickly crossed her mind: she could use some tools on board this ship to carve and forge a helmet that looked equally convincing and practical. She considered both plans and mentally sighed, I think i'll play it safe, Ill forge the helmet on the ship. She climbed out the crate, now that the freighter was in hyperspace, she scanned around for anything that she could use to alter the shape of the helmet, and she saw a vibroblade, which she could use to melt the roof of the helmet, to make room for her montrals.

The shuttle landed safely in the Sundari supply docks, and she climbed back into the crate, keeping her breathing steady and calm, whilst silently covering herself with the lid. As the ramp lowered, she could hear a female patrol trooper and the pilot conversing, "We must inspect your cargo, then you will be free to unload." she heard the patrol say. "I will show you all the crates, for you to assess their condition" the pilot replied. She could hear footsteps getting louder, until she was positive that they both had their eyes on her crate. She heard the footsteps draw themselves closer, and she silently unclipped her blaster, aiming it at the roof of the container. Ahsoka could feel the crate roof being lifted, and then sliding, she held in a breath, and as the light came through she sat up, and blasted the guard several times in the neck, fatally killing her.

She stood up and thanked the pilot, where they both dragged the body into the cockpit, Ahsoka pulled a 1000 credit chip and handed it to the pilot, as a 'tip' for his efforts. The pilot waited outside and started preparing to unload, whilst Ahsoka put on the Mandalorian armour, she didn't expect it to be red at all, but then she remembered the contract details mentioning the change in leadership, who was still unknown to her. She adjusted the arm pads and boots, fitting the jetpack onto her back and wrapping her holster back around her waist, she transferred the contents of her belt into the armour's and sheathed her blaster. All she needed was the helmet to fit her, so she strolled out of the cockpit with her helmet tucked under her left arm. She found the vibroblade and started to melt the top part of the helmet over the empty crate, making the molten metal drip into the container. When she was satisfied, she turned the blade off and placed it back onto the workbench which she had found it, allowing the metal in the helmet to cool down for a moment.

She checked to see if she still had the contract proof on her, and her bounty hunter clearance ID, which had been successfully published 3 days prior. Transferring them from her old utility pouch into this armour's one.

When the helmet had cooled, she couldn't help but smirk, she felt comfortable in this armour and it would serve its purpose well. She stuffed the patrol's corpse and her refugee disguise into the empty crate, sealing the container shut. She looked up to the pilot one last time and asked a half sarcastic "How do I look?", earning her a very flat you-can-leave-me-alone-now tone "Convincing.".

Ahsoka walked out the ship and looked around, she saw many guards stationed all over the place, all with their respective red Mandalorian armour. She noted their poses, they stood straight and proud, with their hands held behind their backs, so she mimicked their actions, to try and fit in. This place was shrouded with a decent amount of the darkside, causing her to tense slightly.

She walked towards a speeder, looked around, checking for unwanted attention.

She mounted the speeder, speeding off to a civilian traffic lane, heading for the rendezvous point provided by the contract.

As she speeded through the empty lanes, she took in her surroundings, Mandalore was a very interesting place, the buildings had an obscure design, boasting small details such as engravings, and a variety of shades of grey and blue. Some appeared to defy gravity, by hanging from the level above. The architecture here was unique, Ahsoka couldn't deny that.

Bo Katan's POV:

We will continue to wait a few more hours, for any bounty hunters that have accepted, so far we are expecting one, we have been informed their name is Perdita Pax. We are about to press on a rescue mission for Satine, Korkie and a few rebels and any defectors of deathwatch are with me currently.

We hear the sound of a speeder nearing our location, i bring a two of our fellow deathwatch defectors trailing behind me, pistols at the ready. We walk towards the landing platform, and as we see the speeder coming to a halt, the figure riding the speeder is dressed in the traitorous red armour of shadow collective, the renamed deathwatch. We also notice this figure is a togruta female, noticing the montrals protruding from the top of the helmet.

As the this mysterious togruta dismounts, we lift our blasters out ready to shoot, but we hesitate when the figure raises her arms in surrender and screams "Dont shoot. Dont shoot!"

I spit out in disgust, "Give me one good reason not to kill you where you stand traitor!", feeling my hands tighten around my blasters as i hear the figure quietly muttering something incoherent. The figure pulls out a piece of paper, and an ID card, cautiously walking towards us "I am not a traitor, I am a bounty hunter, the name is Perdita Pax".

Ahsoka's POV:I near the landing platform, and I can see a 3 people advancing towards the platform, all dressed in deathwatch armour. I see them tense up as they see me, aiming their blasters towards me, then I realise that realise that I will have to hope they dont shoot me, so i have to not appear hostile.

I dismount the speeder, and the 3 people fix their blasters towards me, aimed for my head. Kriff! I think in my head. I slowly raise my arms in surrender. "Dont shoot. Dont shoot!".

The woman, who stood in front of the other two soliders venemously gazed at me, she spat "Give me one good reason not to kill you where you stand, traitor!"

I curse under my breath, "Shit" and fumble around for the ID card in my belt, I pull out the contract too, for safe measures. I carefully approach them, making sure not to be viewed as an immediate threat. I clear my throat and as calmly as i can manage, i say: "I am not a traitor, I am a bounty hunter, the name is Perdita Pax".

I hand the ID and contract to the woman, who inspects it thoroughly. The other 2 soliders' pistols' were trained on me, but I could see the woman relax. "At ease." she said to the two, who immediately lowered their weapons, I release a breath that I didnt even realise i was holding.

She gestures for me to follow, and I obey.

3rd person POV:

Silence followed the small group as they entered the small room, where various rebels, deathwatch defectors and Korkie stood, all intently gazing at the stranger who walked into the room, tensing their muscles slightly.

As if Bo Katan could read their minds, she clarified, "Bounty Hunter", earning a few dismissal nods and muscle relaxing stances in response.

A holotable was set up in the centre of the room, and it flashed up a map of the sundari palace. Bo Katan looked directly at Ahsoka, who slowly lifted the helmet off her face and tucked it under her arm.

Bo Katan pointed at an area on the map, "This.. is the detention facility where the dutchess is being held, and this" the image zoomed in, "is where guards are stationed. They have a patrol going by this route once every 10 minutes." she traced her finger across the map.

Ahsoka placed her helmet on the floor, next to her right foot, and looked back up at Bo, who was now looking at her. "Your job, Pax, seeing as you are wearing their armour, is provide details on guard location and stay as a spy on the inside", Ahsoka crossed her arms, "why don't I rescue the dutchess as the contract says I do?"

"because.." Bo began, "the chances of being chased and recaptured are moderate, so we will need someone of your skills to Bail us out if the need arises, we will request more backup when the time comes, but for the meanwhile you are to stay undetected in aiding our escape." she handed Ahsoka a comlink, which she attached to the armour plate on her wrist.

She bent down to pick her helmet up, but stopped halway, she added "who is their leader by the way..?", bo's voice deepened in anger as she spoke, "Maul and his zabrack brother".

Ahsoka felt her chest tighten at those words, her fear escalated ten fold, she heard about Maul from what Master Kenobi and Skywalker told her, they said that he was the sith Obi wan defeated on Naboo during the invasion, meaning that this ordeal may get the jedi involved too.

She cursed again in her head Great, now the jedi may actually discover me, she knew her presence must be cloaked to avoid detection from any force sensitives, so she subconsciously drew upon the force to hide her presence, just as master Skywalker once taught her.

She released her fear into the force, as dread would only broadcast her whereabouts and she fitted her helmet back on. Her voice came out different from outside the helmet, which could work to her advantage. If a jedi was sent then she would keep her mask on at all time because they may recognise her and start up an awkward conversation with her.

Bo Katan lifted her own helmet back onto her face, drawing her pistols out, "Ready?" she asked, Ahsoka resisted the heavy urge to immaturely add "Race you there" as she always did with skyguy, but instead she just nodded in response, using her jetpack to propel herself towards the palace, so she could act as a scout, giving the go ahead signal for the attack.