Chapter 9: Drastic Measures
NOTE: Also, once again, sorry for the irregular updates, but my lockdown hours are shortening due to the return of school.
The ramp slowly extended down, revealing what appeared to be a human male dressed in a simple cream top and pants, he was wearing a familiar plain mask that looked like... Rako Hardeen.
Wait... she squinted her eyes, not that it would do anything under her mask. She thought to herself, Is that Master Kenobi..? "What in sith hells is he doing alone? Hes going to get himself killed!" she cursed under her breath.
She could see a trooper approach his ship, she knew the man too well to know he was going to pull off the same manoeuvre she did when she first reached Mandalore. She would need to warn him before he did anything that he would later regret. He had walked into this territory half blind.
She observed him casually leaning on the supports of the ramp, and nearly laughed when the floor beneath him jerked, faltering his balance, nearly falling off the ship. The ship was definately due an upgrade.
From her undercover work over the past days, she overheard a conversation between a few troopers, Maul and Savage. They did talk about Kenobi, which means they were expecting him, so he would be walking into a trap and the dutchess must be the bait. What other reason would they have for keeping her alive?
The trooper disappears into the ship; and she knows that if she caught him putting the armour on, he wouldn't hesitate to knock her out too in order to save the mission. She sighs quite loudly, I guess I will just have to play it his way...
Around 10 minutes later, he emerged from the ship in the Shadow Collective armour, Ahsoka had not stopped cloaking her presence ever since before the 1st rescue mission. She could tell it was him because of his height, and the way he was walking.
For a few minutes, she was convinced that he was watching her underneath his helmet, because he kept the visor tilted in her general direction. She tried to look casual, pretending to scan a datapad whilst leaning against large supply crates in the port.
She could try and help him, but that would likely jeopardize any plans they have, or she could leave him be and let him risk getting Satine caught again.
She decided to risk telling him, at least, while they are both alone. He slowly approached the door, and as the doors opened, he was about to step in, but he felt a warm hand make contact with his shoulder.
Nowadays, as a bounty hunter, Ahsoka was no longer a person who was gentle, but a bit of her jedi instincts told her that if she hurt him, the force would send a warning. If he tried to attack her, she would have to catch his hand before it made much impact.
She was definately prepared for what came, because he pivoted on his heels to face her, raising his fist to attack, she spoke "Stand down. I am not your enemy."
Obi Wans POV:
"Stand down. I am not your enemy." that voice..., it sounded like a person I know, mixed with the muffling sound created beneath a helmet.
I wondered why this guard was glancing up at me so often, like they knew my intentions. Like they knew who I am behind the mask.
The force didn't send me a warning when the person stopped me by holding onto my shoulder. Naturally, I did feel my fist start to raise, my muscles tensed. However, the familiarity in the voice caused me to hesitate. I don't know who it is, but I can speculate they have no intention of attacking me.. or at least.. not yet.
One thing that I did find slightly off about this person, is that this guard appeared to be a female togruta, judging by the blue and white montrals protruding from the helmet, from what I can tell she appears to be a young adult, strange. It almost reminds me of Ahsoka. almost.
Anyways, there are billions of togrutas and no doubt millions with a blue and white lekku, infact, it is not rare for more than one person to have a similar accent. If I was to assume it was in fact Ahsoka, I would probably get my hopes up. What would she be doing here anyways?
As my position as a member of the council, I have to believe that she let emotion cloud her judgement when she left, but in reality, the part of me which was practically a friend to the youngling. As much as I hate to admit, the council turned their backs on her in her most desperate hour, the whole world was against her and it does disturb me the fact I was just going to offer little resistance when they were going to send an innocent to their death.
I shift my focus back to here and now, lapses of concentration won't help anyone, even less Satine, who needed to be saved.
The Togruta broke the silence that had formed from my hesitation, she leaned forward towards my ear, practically whispering with the same muffled tone from inside her helmet "They are expecting you. Be. Careful."
There was an extra emphasis on the word careful, probably so i won't dismiss the warning. In the corner of my eye, I can see guards approaching the door, I imitate the pose of the Togruta, standing up straight with her hands behind her back. I hesitate before questioning "Who?"
The two guards gazed at us as they walked past, clearly the Togruta noticed this, as she tried speaking in a more professional, clearly put on tone "Lord Maul is expecting you."
I could have sworn my hands began to shake, Not good Kenobi. Not good at all. Maul is here. I thought to myself. This person knew. This would do no good, it would comprimise the mission, so i reach for my lightsaber which is hidden in the leg holster, but the togruta grabs my hand with enough force that could easily have sprained it.
I grimace under my mask, by spare hand attempts to deliver a punch to the togruta solider, but her reflexes are faster and she stands to the side and grabs my wrist with her free hand. She knees me in the stomach, causing my legs to give way on the floor that. i think, is going to leave a nasty bruise.
"Don't expose yourself just because I know who you are, I am trying to help." she practically hissed. "I don't see how you beating me up is helping" i sarcastically remark back.
"What I am trying to say, is that Maul is using the dutchess as bait, to get to you."
she stands up, offering me a hand back up, which I hesitantly accept.
"Why are you 'trying' to helping me? and who are you?" I inquire. She replies, "It matters not who I am, but what does matter is that you are prepared to face him. In time, if you are discovered, there is nothing I can do about it, if someone asks for the authorisation code, say 2173."
I turn to face the door, taking a few steps away from the togruta, i look back and notice she hasn't moved. "You coming?" I ask, for some reason, i would feel safer with a more authentic guard than myself having my back.
"I can't..." is all she manages for a reply, it sounded like there was a hint of sadness in her tone. Once again, there was no other guards nearby and it was just us. What she said next half stunned me, it caught me slightly off guard. "May the force be with you."
With one final glance backwards, i repeat "May the force be with you too." and head off to the dutchess' cell.
Ahsoka's POV:
Damn it Tano! Out of all things you could have said, you slipped into old habits and said 'may the force be with you' . Now he has probably figured out who you are. Not Good, I scold myself.
I resumed with my 'duties', but was mentally coming up with a good cover story to eliminate Kenobi's suspicions.
Suddenly, my comlink beeped off, Bo Katan had re established connections, I look around in paranoia, checking for eavesdroppers before accepting the call.
3rd person POV:
After a while of catching up, she informed them of 'the jedi' (only she knew of his identity) sent by the council, and his plans for escape, they discussed multiple plan actions, concludong to sending a rescue if things when wrong, which, it turns out it eventually did.
A few hours after the call, she reestablished a connection with Bo Katan, after discovering that Kenobi and the dutchess had been re-captured, and imprisoned.
Ahsoka expressed her concerns after her conclusion of Maul using Satine as bait, so the pair agreed over the comlink that she would stall, whilst the rebels storm the facility. The thought of her fighting two sith and a squad of soliders without a lightsaber would be reckless and risky, so if she was to attack, it would either be when the dutchess was in immediate danger, or if the deathwatch rebels were in range to assist her. 'I dont get paid enough for this' she mused.
Silencing communications once more she informed the resistance group that she was put onto patrol duty with another guard, with direct orders from Maul to bring both the dutchess and Kenobi to the throne room.
Unfortunately, with the jedi weaponless, it would be a wasted effort to try and free them unless the situation grew dire.
Ahsoka entered their cell, Obi wan looked up at her, immediately identifying her as the same solider as earlier. His face appeared mixed with relief, which was quickly replaced by misery when he realised what she said earlier about not being able to save him in a situation similar to the one present.
Ahsoka felt slightly bad for the man, this was the same person she fought alongside in many battles after all, but then again, he wasn't careful enough despite her warnings. Otherwise he would not be in this position. Ironically, she couldn't help but notice how now he was feeling the exact state of helplessness she felt during the temple bombing after being framed, awaiting her fate by some creul leaders.
Forcefully grabbing his wrists, she practically threw him against the railing, imitating the cold behaviour of the guards treatment of prisoners. For now she had to play along, as much as it hurt for her to crush the man's spirit.
Sadly, she knew she would have to keep him in a hopeless spirit, so that Maul wouldn't suspect her betrayal. After her many weeks of bounty hunting, she had grown more adept at force choking, which could prove more useful. She found a method where she could choke the victim subtly, without showing the telltale signs of being the practitioner. Perhaps she could use this to stall for time. Bo Katan should be nearby.
Her guard counterpart had tightly gripped the dutchess by the neck, her skin was reddening in around the affected area, she had also gritted her teeth, so it would be safe to assume the guard was practically digging their fingernails into her neck.
As they entered the throne room, Maul appeared to be lounging on the throne carelessly, like he owned the place. Which, sadly, he currently did. His brute of a brother folded his arms and gave a dark stare at Kenobi, whilst Maul just looked straight up amused. This made her lip curl in anger, which came subconsciously, thank the force she had the helmet on...