I cannot believe what I just saw.
Not only do we have a little more back story on Maria Calavera, but we also got to see one of Jaune's sisters for the first time, and she is a lesbian. I didn't see that coming.
I may not be able to watch them on the official site the day they are released, but it is awesome. I hope I can make it just as good when I get to work on my RWBY Stories.
Anyway, here is my newest chapter. Disclaimers are the same as before. Enjoy.
Chapter 12: To Catch a Jedi
October 8th 2019 20BBY
Coruscant
Jedi Temple
2000 hours
Normal point of view
The council (most of them), Anakin and Barney sat/stood and listened as Tarkin gave his report of the recent break out that occurred a few days ago.
"After further investigation, there can be little doubt that the clone officers murdered in the escape were killed by none other than Ahsoka Tano herself. She used a Jedi mind trick to convince the clone to open the door and then proceed to cut him along with five other clones along the way." Tarkin stated, hiding a smile of delight
"I know Ahsoka well. I do not believe she would have fallen so far, not with Skywalkers teaching." Plo protested, giving Anakin the indication that he was one of the few who believed in Ahsoka's innocence.
"The beliefs of the Jedi council are irrelevant. We deal strictly in facts and evidence. Evidence which clearly points to Padawan Tano being guilty of the attack on the temple and the murder of the Republic officers. This is sedition." Tarkin bluntly remined the council.
"More like someone who is trying to boost his own career." Barney shot at the Admiral who turned to face the ex-Delta Force soldier. "In case you forgot, Ahsoka had no contact with Letta before the bombing even occurred. She was on Cato Nemoidia fighting the separatists. And, need I remind you that she saved your ass from being thrown into a lake of lava. She isn't the bomber. Someone set her up." Barney snarled.
Tarkin just glared before his hologram vanished.
"Skywalker, was there no way for you to stop your Padawan?" Ki-Adi asked.
"No, Master Mundi." Anakin replied.
"The Council, may believe that Ahsoka may be guilty of the crime. Still believe we are wrong, do you?" Yoda asked.
Just by his words, Anakin could tell that Yoda also believed that Ahsoka was innocent. "I don't believe she killed the clones or the woman who used the nano-droids to blow up the temple. Like Barney said, Ahsoka had no contact with Letta prior to the bombing and I can vouch for that as well." Anakin stated confidently. "And that's the reason she is running. She is trying to prove her innocence." He added.
"Now she is in the lower levels. With her skills, she will be hard to find." Mace said.
"Two teams we shall send. Master Skywalker, General Ross and Master Plo Koon, with clones you both will go." Yoda instructed.
Mace however thought it would be best for Anakin to stay at the temple. Since Ahsoka was his Padawan, Obi-Wan stated that if anyone could find Ahsoka, it was Anakin and that was what Mace suggested he stayed behind. It appeared that Mace was firmly believing that Ahsoka was the culprit and if Anakin were to let his guard down, Ahsoka would kill him without a second thought.
"Don't you think you are jumping the gun. You haven't even heard Ahsoka's side of the story. Instead, you are relying on the testament from a guy with a questionable unit with a recording with no sound. Breaker and Blake are working on fixing the recording. The best thing we can do is leave it Ahsoka to find the evidence to prove her innocence and then turn herself in." Barney said pissed. He fought alongside her more than anyone on the council with the exception of Obi-Wan, Plo and Shaak.
"And you seem to be forgetting that your nephew is missing as well. Tarkin is already starting to suspect that he is her accomplice." Saesee Tinn reminded.
"ROBERT ISN'T A TERRORIST! HE'S A GOOD KID WHO ONLY WANTS TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT!" Barney shouted at the Iktotchi Jedi master and then left the council chambers.
Barney was right, for while the council was debating on Ahsoka's loyalty the accused padawan just paced back and forth in the range while Barriss held her daughter, Karin tightly in her hands rocking her to sleep while Boomer sat by her side smiling.
In the three days since Ahsoka's 'escape' the Lone Wolf, Son of Jango Fett, along with Rally, Rako and Erik had searched the lower levels breaking up every illegal arms deals they came across hoping to find any lead as to who was really responsible for the deaths of Letta, her husband, the clones, temple workers and the Jedi at the temple which included Barriss's friend, Tutso Mara.
In those days, Barriss and Erik had opted to stay at the Range for a few days after Barriss was discharged from the hospital, since their place was being renovated. In that time, Barriss had become good friends with Kasumi and the others. Just by looking at them, it was made clear to the two new parents that Robert placed more concern about his friends and family than fighting and becoming a high-ranking officer.
As for Erik, he helped Robert develop a new weapon, an assault rifle/grenade launcher shifting weapon with sharp bayonets capable of slicing an enemy in half of leaving them with a punctured chest cavity and bleeding to death if they were living.
While Robert may not know a lot about raising a family, he gave Barriss and Erik one piece of advice, always be there for your child, raise them to be the person they see their child to be and support their child no matter what comes their way. It's what Barney said to his dad when Robert was born.
No matter how much time Ahsoka spent with her best friend and daughter, Ahsoka was still on edge. Because she was a wanted 'criminal' she had to change out of her standard attire and switched into a white outfit with white gloves and blue stripes on the vest and pants to throw off the police and anyone else looking for her. (A/N think the outfit the cheerleaders from Yugioh 5Ds without the pompoms.)
"You should relax Ahsoka." Barriss said to her friend.
"How can I relax? Tarkin has all but called me a terrorist and even had his own men try to kill me. He wants me dead. If I don't prove my innocence, I'll live the rest of my life looking over my shoulder as if someone is trying to take a potshot at me." Ahsoka snapped. This woke Karin up and she began to cry. Thankfully, Boomer started singing and Karin soon stopped crying.
"Dogs always know how to calm someone down." Kasumi praised, scratching the dog behind the ears just as Erik, Robert, Boba, Rally and Rako returned for their investigation of a black-market dealer. "Anything?" Ahsoka asked hopefully.
"We got into a firefight with the goons this dealer hired, gunned them all down, left more survivors then dead bodies and all we found was bunch of stolen clone blaster rifles. No nano-droids." Robert sighed placing his twin Desert Eagle Mk 1's on the table.
"Hey, I said it was a possible lead." Erik reminded.
"I know, at least we can be grateful we shut down the operation. But it doesn't bring us any closer to the real culprit." Robert reminded Erik.
"So, we're back to square one. Great, just great." Ahsoka sighed.
"Kind of hard to shake down black-market dealers when most of them either escape or end up dead. Not much we can do about that." Rally added pulling back the slide of her CZ-75s and began to clean the pistols. "It was never this hard for me back home." She added.
"Unless one of us is Frank Castle, the only way there gonna talk is after they are interrogated with the threat of being dumped into a car crusher and killed." Honoka, who had returned with the rest of Dragoons a day ago stated.
"This isn't a comic or game. This is real." Robert said.
"I think I know a lead." Barriss said getting everyone's attention.
"What do you have?" Robert asked.
"A while ago, before I got married, I was following a rumor about an old warehouse on the thirteen thousand levels being used for some purpose. I don't know which level, I need to recheck the data." Barriss said.
"Well it's a lead. I'll go check it out." Robert said and was about to enter the armory when Ahsoka spoke up. "I'm going with you. I have been cooped up here for days and I need to get out. I need to be the one to clear my name." she remined.
Robert sighed. "I don't think it's a good idea, but if that's what you want to do then let's do it." he admitted and entered the armory.
Minutes later he emerged with two DC-17s holstered underneath his shoulders, a sawn-off Winchester 1887 lever-action shotgun slung over his back and DC-17 ICWS in his hands. Strapped to his waist were his original sabers. "Let's get going." He said to his girlfriend and the two left the Range after each of them put on a cloak to disguise themselves.
Roberts point of view
I told her it was a risky move to leave the Range with the entire city on full alert, but Ahsoka is very determined to prove her innocence. I can't say I blame her. Unlike her, I ran when I was accused of murder. But that was all because I was affected by the darkness inside me and I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The murder weapon and caliber of the weapon pointed that I was a possible suspect, even though I had no purpose for murdering a friend of my mom. Thankfully, my family and friends proved that I wasn't responsible and Tarkins accusation was proven false.
However, this time there was no weapon and the only 'evidence' was a faulty recording with no sound. However, the dead clones killed by a lightsaber was troubling, Ahsoka would never kill them and would only disarm them like she did on the medical frigate.
Tarkin knew this and yet he is just accused her without a second thought. I knew the guy was ambitious, ruthless, self-confident and an extreme dislike of non-humans, which probably explained why he executed that man of Shili without any provocation. It just reminded me of all those people like Uncle Ray's father and the Nazi's.
Something didn't add up but I couldn't just accuse Tarkin of actually knowing who the real culprit was without any proof.
"I smell a rat." I stated as Ahsoka and I boarded one of the underworlds passenger trains. "Don't act so tense, remember we can't let the police know who I am." Ahsoka said to me, putting her arm underneath mine like most couples do. "Let's just make sure we don't do anything crazy." I added and the two of us took our seats as the train departed.
Just as the train started, several police officers began to ask to the passengers for their identification. With the war going on, it was common and they wanted to keep the people safe while the Jedi attended to the war. Knowing that they might identify her if they saw through her disguise, Ahsoka was about to get up when I pulled her back down. "How's about a kiss?" I asked.
At first, she seemed confused as to why I asked for a kiss, but soon she understood what I meant and kissed me. It wasn't a real kiss, but it was enough to get the police to pass us and leave us to our business. The moment they left the train arrived at the next stop and we were about to exit when we were stopped by a small group of officers who were about to board the train.
"It's her. The Rouge Jedi." One of the officers shouted.
The two of us then engaged in a brief hand-to-hand skirmish before running down the rest of the train avoiding commuters who were just minding their own business. One of them grabbed Ahsoka in an attempt to assist the officers, but she quickly broke free from their grip and ran towards the front of the train, opened the door with the force grabbed me and jumped out of the train onto another station platform the train passed. "Next time, warn me when you do something crazy like that." I reminded her.
However, before she could respond the guards on the platform spotted us and began to chase us. I was tempted to pull out my weapons and fight back, but I couldn't do it. They were just doing their job and providing for their families and I am not a murderer. Battles are different, its either you or the enemy and while most of the enemy is nothing but battle droids, but those commandos on D'Qar were a different story the same goes for Tarkins own forces, except for Brecal and Ahorsha.
Ahsoka was able to lose them by running into an elevator, one of the police officers fired their blaster and hit the controls of the lift sending the lift down fast to the bottom. "Nice shooting idiot. Bet you didn't notice the kid that was on the lift." I spat to the officer.
"Put your hands in the air now." Another officer demanded.
I didn't follow his demand and instead removed my cloaks hood revealing who I was. "I know you guys are just doing your job, but your chasing the wrong person. The 'Rouge Jedi' is under my protection. I know her better than anyone and have seen her in action. She is not terrorist." I proclaimed to the officers who started to ease up.
"I don't want to fight you so please, forget what you saw. If she were the killer she is claimed to be, wouldn't you along with the commuters be dead right now?" I asked, leaving the guards behind and stepping into another lift, going all the way meeting up with Ahsoka who had reunited the child in the elevator back to their mother.
"What took you so long?" Ahsoka asked pulling her hood back over her head which I did the same thing with my own hood. "Oh, just a little talk with police that's all." I joked and followed her away from the lifts before the police of Coruscant guard arrived.
We didn't get very far before Ahsoka noticed the symbol of the Pyke syndicate. "We're in Pykes territory now, we need to get out of here quickly before they find us." She said with concern.
"Trust me, I don't want to stick around here." I agreed, but it was all for nothing. Exiting the buildings were over a dozen Pyke soldiers, each of them armed with a heavy blaster rifle. "We don't want any trouble. We're just passing through and we'll be out of your territory now." I urged, trying to talk some sense into these criminals.
They all just chuckled. "You think we're stupid don't you human. You have been a thorn in our side for days. Those arms deals you and your allies disrupted, they were ours. The boss isn't too happy." One of the goons, a Zabrak said grinning with delight.
"I have no idea what you are talking about." I lied, "You guys deal in spice, not weapons and if it was me, which it wasn't I have nothing to gain from attacking a bunch of lowlifes like you. So why don't you just let us pass and we can forget all about this?" I urged them once again.
"KILL THEM!" the Zabrak shouted and the Pykes opened fire.
"Boring conversation anyways." I chuckled, pulled out my DC-17 ICWS and returned fire.
Ahsoka was about to ignite her lightsaber when I stopped her. "Bad idea." I reminded, ducking behind a wrecked speeder bike. Last thing I wanted was for this criminal scum to try and go after the bounty that was posted. I didn't want my girl brought in dead or alive for a large amount of credits, guilty of a crime she didn't commit.
The Pykes kept us pinned and prevented us from even moving to another piece of cover. I fired back whenever I could and hopefully take down with a random shot. Sadly, I couldn't get a clear shot and our cover wasn't going to last much longer.
"Maybe we should try the shield and sword technique?" Ahsoka asked me, ducking down as a shot missed her head by a few inches.
"Too risky, I don't want anyone else to come after us. I can't lose you." I reminded her and fired blindly again at the low-lives. This time one of my shots hit one of them, easing up some of the opposition. "STAY HERE!" I shouted and moved to a new piece of cover, an entrance to rundown building complex. I hunkered down and peaked my head out a few inches, only to nearly get a blaster bolt in the brain.
The bastards had us pinned and more them just showed up, firing from the speeder that brought them here. "Need to flank these fuckers." I cursed to myself. I needed to do something and quick. I then remembered that the building I was near was three floors tall, and had a good view of the alley. If I could get inside, I could snipe the bastards from the roof.
Putting down my rifle, I grabbed the rusty door and pulled it open. "FALL BACK!" I shouted to Ahsoka who nodded. Quickly, she ran back from the Pyke goons while I entered the building.
The building creaked eerily. Cleary this may not be a good idea, but with Ahsoka taking fire I didn't care about it being a good idea or a bad one. I double timed it up the stairs to the roof as quick as I could. I made it to the second floor when I heard the sound of several foot steps following me. The Pykes must have sent a few goons after me. Being in close quarters made it the perfect chance for me to use a western classic. Putting my rifle over my shoulder and taking out my shotgun, I turned around and pulled the trigger just as one of the Pyke goons rounded the corner, feeding the goon a barrel full of ten-gauge buckshot.
Cocking the lever, I fired again downing another goon and then ran down the hall to the next set of stairs as the remaining Pyke goons fired their blasters at me trying to get a lucky shot. Turning around and leaping backwards I fired the last three rounds from my shotgun killing the last of them as I hit the floor with a thud. "Gotta thank Uncle Max for giving me those diving lessons." I chuckled and ran up the stairs, reloading my shotgun just in case I needed it again.
Kicking down the door to the roof, I looked over the edge and saw that a lot of the Pyke soldiers had completely focused their efforts on Ahsoka and either completely forgot about me or thought the shotgun firing was the sound of my death. Taking off the blaster barrel for my weapon, I attached the sniper mode and aimed at one of the Pyke goons.
Exhaling, I squeezed the trigger putting a blaster bolt right between the goon's head before shifting my focus to another goon firing again and again at each Pyke soldier that had not followed me into the building. Each target I killed meant the fewer and fewer innocent people they would kill or extort for money.
I had fired my tenth shot and then adjusted my aim targeting another Pyke soldier when they spotted me and began to fire at my position. That's what I wanted, for them to focus on me and leave Ahsoka alone. I continued to snipe the Pyke's when one of them armed with a rocket launcher fired at the building. The explosion was enough to cause the building to start collapsing and sure enough it began to crumble like a house of cards.
Switching my blaster back to rifle mode, I fired at the remaining Pyke's killing them before the building began to kick up a cloud of dust, obscuring my view. Fortunately, I knew where to go and regrouped with Ahsoka. "I didn't do it." I stated before the two of us ran from the scene as the police began to arrive on the scene.
Normal point of view
Meanwhile, Anakin, Barney and Plo along with a few squads of clones were heading towards the underworld. All three generals knew that Ahsoka was innocent and had nothing to gain from bombing the Jedi temple, the place she spent a good portion of her life and someone was setting her up. The question was who would want to frame her.
The silence was broken when Rex spoke. "The lower level police claim to have spotted Commander Tano and her accomplice heading for level 1312. They also report a firefight broke out with the Pyke group that's on the planet and an old building collapsed from a rocket blast." The captain stated.
"All right, lets bring her home and fast. Remember no one fire their weapons. Let's talk with her before assuming she is guilty." Anakin reminded the troopers.
"I know Ahsoka wouldn't do such a thing, but are you sure its wise to take such actions Skywalker?" Plo asked.
"Trust me master. I know she is innocent but I want her to come back on her own will." Anakin stated, assuring the Kel Dorian Jedi master.
"Then I trust you Anakin. But Tarkin won't. Something is amiss." Plo added as the police gunships began their decent.
Meanwhile, Ahsoka and Robert had finally lost the police and were walking down a dark alley. "That firefight brought a lot of attention to us. I knew we should have taken that left turn at Albuquerque." Robert joked.
"Glad you are having a good laugh. Cause we still aren't close to finding out who set me up." Ahsoka reminded him. "If we can't prove my innocence, I'm as good as dead and the dead can't be in love."
"Don't worry, we'll find a-LOOK OUT!" Robert shouted before a figure lunged at them from the darkness, pushing Robert out of the way and pinning Ahsoka to the ground with a pair of red lightsabers.
"Well, well, I didn't believe it when I first heard it, but I guess its true, the Senate has put a price on your horned little head." The figure said, pushing a button on their mask revealing the figure to be Ventress. "And I'm going to be the one who collects." She added.
"Ventress, it was you, wasn't it? You were behind all of this and you framed me!" Ahsoka spat.
"I don't know what your talking about." Asajj answered. "Well let me jog your memory." Robert stated and charged towards Ventress. Seeing this coming, Ventress reached out with the Force, grabbed Robert and pinned him to the wall.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Ventress said, walking towards Robert. "You know, I would kill you without a second thought if it weren't for Boba and Rako. So, I am going to ask you this once, why are you helping this criminal?" Ventress asked.
"Would you abandon the person you love if they were accused of a crime she didn't commit?" Robert asked back.
Ventress than released Robert. "So, the rumors are true. The Lone Wolf is in love with a Jedi. I just didn't think it would be Skywalkers pet." She said before walking back to Ahsoka, grabbing her arms and forced her to walk ahead of her. "Unfortunately, that won't save her from being turned in." she added.
"Haven't you forgotten already. You may be a bounty hunter, but technically you are still a war criminal and Sith. You hand Ahsoka over to the Republic, they'll throw the both of you in prison. You ain't gonna get a pat on the back." Robert reminded her.
"Then it's a good thing I am going to hand your friend over to the bondsmen. I'm going to get my money whether your lover is dead or alive." She stated.
"Good luck with that. But I think I have a way we can help each other out." Ahsoka stated. This got Ventress's attention. "A traitorous Jedi tried to blow up the temple and framed me for the that and the other killings. I know that Dooku tried to have you killed, I know he betrayed you, what if this is Dark Star or his new apprentice? I've fallen from my path just as you have fallen from yours, we have a lot more in common than you think." Ahsoka added.
"What are you getting at Ahsoka?" Robert thought to himself.
"What can you and your boyfriend offer me more than money?" Ventress asked.
"If you help me, I will speak to the Senate and Council on your behalf. You'll get a full pardon for your crimes." Ahsoka admitted.
"What have you got to lose. With a pardon, you won't be hunted down. It will make your bounty hunting a lot easier. It's a win-win." Robert added.
"You have my attention. But I'm going to go where the tide flows, if the tide is following against you, don't think I'll forget about the bounty on your head." Ventress stated. "Fair enough." Ahsoka agreed, before she noticed a pair of police gunships approaching with Anakin, Plo and Barney inside said gunships. "Time we exit, stage left." Robert said and the newly formed trio quickly left.
Once they were able to put some distance between their pursuers, Ahsoka contacted Barriss who had finally found the clue they needed. Turns out, a gang was using an old munitions warehouse as a weapons storage facility and it was rumored that they had gotten their hands on the Nano-droids that were used to bomb the temple.
Barriss had filed it in her report months ago, but no one was able to investigate the report with the war going on. She was assured that the police would handle the investigation, but no effort was even made. "Better than nothing, I guess. Hope Karin is crying to much." Robert said before the transmission ended.
The two then turned to Ventress. "You know the place, don't you?" Robert asked the former Sith/Assassin.
"Yes, I can get you there." She answered. However, they were interrupted by Wolfe and a squad shock troopers. Both Ahsoka and Robert assured the troopers they didn't want to hurt any of them. Wolfe believed them, but he had his orders. Ventress on the other hand, activated her lightsabers and rushed forwards, causing a small melee to instigate.
By the time the brawl ended, no trooper was killed and the trio left before the troopers came too. But Robert stayed a little longer and handed Wolfe a data-pad containing the locations of several other weapon deals located around the planet.
Sometime passed and the trio arrived at the factory. With her part done, Ventress left and the two lovers entered the factory.
"Looks like Barriss's intel was solid. These are defiantly weapons crates. DC15's Z-6's and RPX-6's enough arms to outfit two platoons, maybe more." Robert stated, kicking open one of the crates, revealing its contents.
"So, then what are we supposed to be looking for." Ahsoka asked. Before Robert could reply, a crash was heard and appearing before them, helmet covering their face was Ventress. "I see you've had a change of heart." Ahsoka said activating her lightsaber, followed by Robert who activated his own.
'Ventress' said nothing and rushed forwards with her lightsabers. With only one Lightsaber, Ahsoka was having a difficult time in attacking her opponent and blocking the attacks going towards her. "ANSWER ME BITCH! WHY DID YOU STAB US IN THE BACK!?" Robert shouted, slicing an empty crate that was thrown towards him.
A fire soon broke out after 'Ventress' used her saber and cut hole in a fuel line and the fire caused one of the nearby crates of explosives to detonate, forcing the two to take cover behind a fallen roof tile. The blast wave knocked the two for a loop and disoriented Ahsoka. This allowed their attacker to push Ahsoka over the edge of a nearby hole, landing on top of a crate of Nano-droids. Fortunately, Robert was able to recover her lightsaber.
"Looks like we found the nano-droids. Question is who was that bitch who attacked us, cause last time I checked, Ventress doesn't know how to do that." Robert asked.
"I don't know. But-." Ahsoka began before series of shots rang out, each one hitting Ahsoka. "NO!" Robert shouted and turned to the shooter, who was the same person who attacked them earlier armed with a PT92 handgun.
Robert was about to chase after the shooter, when he remembered Ahsoka had been shot. Thankfully, the wounds weren't fatal, but she was bleeding badly. Just then Wolfe entered the warehouse, pistol at the ready but lowered his blaster when he saw Ahsoka bleeding. "MEDIC!" he shouted and following after him were Rex, Anakin, Barney and Plo. "PLEASE SAVE THE GIRL I LOVE!" Robert shouted.
Sometime later, Ahsoka, Robert and the others were onboard one of the police gunships, heading back to the temple. Anakin and Plo had just contacted the council and informed them of the situation.
"We found Ahsoka at the factory Barriss mentioned in her report months ago. She was found near the nano-droids but was wounded by the time we got there. While we don't know Ventress's involvement in this, its clear that there is more to the bond between Robert and Ahsoka." Plo explained.
"Treat her wounds, we must. Ask her what happened we will when she recovers. Plenty of time, to find the truth, the Captain will have." Yoda stated to Robert who looked to the elderly Jedi with tears in his eyes. "Please, just save her. I can't lose her." he begged.
Ahsoka got shot, Barriss and Erik's child is named Karin, and it looks like Yoda is firmly in the belief that Ahsoka is innocent. Question is, does the rest of the council believe it. Tune in next time and find out.
Seriously though, I need dress ideas for Kasumi, Honoka, Marie, Rally and Hitomi and 007 gadgets for a future event in the story. If you have any ideas, please give them to me and I will let you know what I think.
Please read and review and I will see you all next time.