Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter. Hope you like this one.
So, this one will be covering the events of the Season 3, Episode 7, "Assassin". I decided not to do the third episode of the first Mandalore arc, because I couldn't see enough changes to make that would make it worth it. So, just imagine that the events of that episode went exactly as they did in the episode.
Since I don't know the exact timeline of the various events of the Clone Wars, only the year and chronological order of the episodes, we'll say this episode takes place in August 1992, Earth time.
Let's get to it.
Chapter 29- Assassin
Colonel Peretz smiles a bit to himself as he walks into the High Council Room in the Jedi Temple. It's been a crazy few months since the events on Mandalore. Since then, he has taken part in several engagements throughout the galaxy, and even joined a rescue mission to help save Mace Windu about a month ago.
Now, he, Anakin, and Ahsoka have returned from a mission, and have come to the Temple to report and receive their next mission.
"Welcome, Padawan. In order congratulations are. Shown your courage and strength yet again you have," Yoda says to Ahsoka, who smiles a bit at the praise.
"Job well done, Ahsoka," Plo Koon says through his hologram, as he is still on Terra.
"And now on to more pressing matters," Obi Wan says.
"To Balith you must go, Skywalker," Yoda says.
"There is a large-scale civil war on Balith. They have requested our assistance. Anakin, you will leave immediately to command the Third Legion. You will be joined by Colonel Dennis Rommel and 2,000 men of the German 21st Panzer Brigade," Obi Wan says.
"I've never been to Balith,"Ahsoka says conversationally.
"You will stay here, Padawan. We need your full report," Mace Windu says.
"As you wish," Ahsoka says.
"Do you have orders for me, General Windu?" Peretz asks respectfully.
"Yes, Colonel. You have been ordered back to Terra for a brief time. Your comrade, Colonel Daniel Mofaz, will be arriving in two hours to take your place here. You will return to Terra on the ship that is bringing him here," Mace says.
"Understood, sir," Peretz responds.
(2 hours later)
Peretz, Anakin, and Ahsoka slowly approach a landing pad on the outside of the Temple. Two shuttles are resting on the pad.
A man in Israeli combat fatigues, previously standing in front of one of the shuttles, walks towards them, his lightsaber swinging at his hip. As he gets close, he stops and salutes them. Peretz, Anakin, and Ahoska return the gesture.
"Welcome to Coruscant, Daniel," Peretz says. The members of the ASAT team generally refer to each other by name.
"Thank you, sir. The shuttle is ready to take you back to Terra at once," Mofaz says.
"Understood," Peretz says. He then nods goodbye to Anakin and Ahsoka before boarding the shuttle, which immediately takes off.
As the shuttle flies off, Anakin looks down at Ahsoka and says, "Ahsoka, I sense you're uneasy. What is it?"
"Oh. I…nothing," Ahsoka says.
"It's not nothing, Commander Tano. Even I can see that," Mofaz says.
Ahsoka is quiet for a moment, then says, "Master, let me come with you. If I'm not with you, who else will have your back?"
"Well, Colonel Rommell will be there," Anakin says with a smile. Then, a little more serious, he says, "Stay here, finish your studies, get some rest."
"You've said it yourself. I learn more in the field than I ever do here," Ahsoka says.
"Well, think of this as a chance to prove me wrong," Anakin says. He then hurries off to the shuttle, which quickly takes off and heads up towards a Venator waiting for him.
"Come on, Commander Tano. Let's head inside. I'm hungry," Mofaz says.
Ahsoka smiles a bit. "Terrans and their appetites," she mutters before turning and accompanying Colonel Mofaz back into the Temple.
(Much later that day)
Mofaz twirls his lightsaber and crosses blades again with Mace Windu. Given he didn't have much to do, he had asked Mace for a sparring session, and Mace had obliged.
As they cross lightsaber blades again, Mace smiles a bit and says, "I'm impressed, Mofaz. You have improved greatly since you first began training with me and Skywalker in New York."
"I paid attention to your teaching, Master Windu," Mofaz says before forcing Mace's blade down and striking again. Mace easily blocks it, and the two exchange a flurry of slashes and parries before taking a step back.
"Excellent work. I am impressed how quickly you and the other 11 have picked up lightsaber combat," Mace says.
"We have a good cause to fight for, Master Windu. I think that's enough motivation," Mofaz says.
Mace nods in approval. All of a sudden, the doors to the training room open, and Ahsoka walks in.
"Colonel Mofaz. May I speak to you in private?" she asks.
"Of course, Commander Tano," Mofaz says. He then turns to Mace and says, "Pardon me, Master." Mace just nods.
Mofaz walks out of the training room with Ahsoka. As the door closes, Mofaz asks, "What can I do for you?"
"I've been having these visions. Incredibly realistic ones. Master Yoda said they were premonitions. Visions of the future. Or, at least possible future," she says.
"Okay. Not the weirdest thing I've heard Jedi can do. What are these visions about?" Mofaz asks.
"In the visions, Aurra Sing kills Senator Padme Admidala," Ahsoka says simply.
Mofaz stands there for a few moments, then says, "Okay, not what I was expecting."
"I need your help, Colonel. I went to talk to Senator Amidala, but she told me she's going to a conference about refugees on Alderaan tomorrow, and she won't abandon it. She thinks it's too important. I don't know if my visions are premontions of the future, but I can't afford to take the risk. I felt you would be the person who could help me," she says.
Mofaz is quiet for a moment, then nods. "I'm guessing you're planning to go with her. In that case, I'll go with you. And, I have some people who might be able to help us out," Mofaz says.
"Thank you, Colonel," Ahsoka says before walking off.
Mofaz heads back to his guest quarters. There, he activates a commlink, contacting an old friend.
A moment later, a hologram of an old friend of his, Efraim Halevy, comes up before him.
"Colonel Mofaz. To what do I owe this pleasure?" Halevy asks.
"Efraim, I need a favor. A Jedi friend of me has had premonitions of Senator Padme Amidala being assassinated. She believes the attempts will be made at a conference on the world of Alderaan that the Senator will be travelling to tomorrow. I am calling to request a detachment of Mossad agents look into this and attempt to locate the assassin," Mofaz says.
"Understood. We have a small team of field agents currently on Coruscant that are assigned to the Death Watch case. I will send them to Alderaan immediately," Halevy says.
"Thank you, sir," Mofaz says.
(The next morning)
Ahsoka is waiting nervously on the platform. She had sent a message to Colonel Mofaz to let him know she would be waiting for him on the platform.
Finally, Mofaz exits the Temple and walks towards Ahsoka and the gunship ready to take them to the landing pod where Padme's ship is.
"There you are. What took you so long?" Ahsoka asks.
"I was conferring with a friend of mine in the Mossad. A handful of Mossad agents that were here on Corsucant were dispatched to Alderaan, and arrived on the planet just an hour ago. They've begun searching for any unusual activity and any signs of the assassin. They'll also be assisting us once we get to the planet," Mofaz says.
"Oh, that's good to hear. Now, come on. If we don't hurry, the Senator is going to leave without us," Ahsoka says.
"Calm down. You need to learn patience, Commander Tano," Mofaz says with a smirk. He then boards the gunship, with Ahsoka following close behind. Once they're on board, the gunship sets off for the landing platform.
It doesn't take them long to reach the landing platform. As the gunship comes down on the landing platform, Mofaz and Ahsoka leap out and hurry to catch up to Padme and her guards.
"Senator Amidala!" Mofaz calls. Padme and her guars to face them.
"Senator, Colonel Daniel Mofaz of the Anti-Sith Assault Team. Padawan Tano and I would like to request to accompany you to Alderaan as additional security. We have reason to believe your life is in danger, and would like to accompany you to ensure your safety and satisfy our consciousness'," Mofaz says.
Padme smiles and says, "I suppose it wouldn't hurt. Plus, I enjoy Ahsoka's company, and it would be a good chance to get to know you, Colonel. Of course you can join me, as extra security." She puts her hand around Ahsoka's shoulder and leads her onto the ship, Mofaz following close behind.
As the ship takes off and begins its journey to Alderaan, Mofaz breaks out a chess set he carries with him on trips. Padme is very interested, and Mofaz teaches her the basics of the game. The two then start a very tense chess match.
As Padme moves her bishop to take one of Mofaz' pawns, Mofaz glances over at Ahsoka and sees she's kind of staring off into space. "Tano, what's up? Something on your mind?"
Padme looks over at Ahsoka too. Ahsoka looks back at both of them, then says, "I've been mostly unsure about my abilities on my own. Usually Master Skywalker is there to guide me."
"When I was queen, I felt the same insecurities as I do now. I had my advisors, but it was ultimately up to me to run the entire Naboo system. And I was very afraid at times," Padme says.
"Really? You felt unsure?" Ahsoka asks, surprised that Padme could ever have felt like that.
"It happens to everyone, Tano. I remember one of my first missions as a Sayeret Matkal. We were going off a group of terrorists. Me and a man who was like my mentor were ordered to take a certain path into their hideout. The rest of the team was waiting on us, and as we were going in, my mentor was shot and killed, leaving me alone to finish the job and get the rest of our team in there. That may have been the most fear I ever felt," Mofaz says.
"Really?" Ahsoka asks, even more shocked that someone like Mofaz could feel fear like that.
"Yeah, but I got through it. And the reason was I trusted my training, and I knew I couldn't let my team down. I knew there would come a day where I could only rely on myself to get the job done. It came sooner than I expected, but it was there, and I had to deal with it. And I knew, if I failed, countless people could die. In the end, I accomplished my job, and my team completed our mission. Every one of those men felt scared. But there's two kinds of fear that we feel on our missions. Fear of dying is not something we really struggle with too much, and that always comes after the mission is done and we're on our way home. From the start of the mission until that point, our only fear is blowing the mission. You try to let that be your only fear, and you let that fear drive you to succeed."
Both Ahsoka and Padme just like at Mofaz for a moment. Then, Mofaz moves his queen and says, "Checkmate."
Padme looks at the board, then smiles. "Well, you beat me this time, but I'll beat you next time," she says.
"It's on, Senator," Mofaz says.
"Alright. I'm next," Ahsoka says.
"Very well, Tano," Mofaz says as he resets the chess board, and they start their game.
(That night)
Mofaz pivots around, marching back down the corridor. He's been patrolling the hallway outside the various bedchambers for the past 30 minutes, just for something to do.
Suddenly, the door to Ahsoka's room flies open, and Ahsoka runs out.
"The assassin's inside!" Ahsoka cries as she hurries towards Padme's room and runs in, igniting her lightsaber.
Padme wakes up, alarmed. "Ahsoka, what is it?" she asks.
"Stay down!" Ahsoka cries, looking around the room, holding her lightsaber aloft.
Mofaz sighs. "Commander Tano, it's alright. The assassin isn't here. I think your dreams just spooked you a little. Come on," he says, gesturing for her to come out of Padme's bedchamber.
As Ahsoka walks out, looking a little ashamed, Mofaz says, "Don't be embarrassed, Ahsoka. Stuff like this can happen to the best of people. Sometimes, you can get so excited and anxious that something's going to happen that your brain will tell you its happening when its really not."
Ahsoka doesn't respond, but does feel a little better.
(Alderaan)
After a short trip through hyperspace, Padme's ship finally arrives at Alderaan. It flies down to the capital city and touches down at the palace.
Bail Organa, Mon Mothma, and some attendants are waiting as Padme and two guards walk out of the ship. Mofaz, Ahsoka, and Captain Typho are right behind them.
"Padme!" Bail greets his friend.
"Bail, it's so good to see you. Thank you so much for hosting this conference. Deaing with the refugees of this war needs to be our number one priority," Padme says in response.
"Absolutely. Your presence here is greatly appreciated. Come. Senator Mothma and I will take you to your quarters," Bail says as he and his entourage escort Padme towards the palace.
As the group enters the palace, a man in a suit walks up to Mofaz. Mofaz excuses himself and steps away with the man, a Mossad agent that Mofaz has worked with before.
"Have you found anything in the course of your investigation?" Mofaz asks the agent.
"Not yet. Our first thought was to check any arrivals on the planet, but unfortunately, the locals don't track any ship that comes into the atmosphere. This bounty hunter could have landed anywhere on the planet with little chance of detection. So, we've resorted to other means to try and locate her, as well as possible options for her to use to attack the Senator. We have nothing concrete yet. We will keep you updated as the investigation continues," the Mossad agent responds.
"Understood," Mofaz says. He then dismisses himself and heads off down the hallway to catch up with the group.
As he comes around the corner, he sees Ahsoka sitting on the ground in front of a door, meditating. As he walks up to her, her eyes suddenly shoot open.
"Come with me," she says to Mofaz, and she walks into the room in front of her. Curious, Mofaz follows her, along with Captain Typho.
"Senator, might I have a word with you in private?" Ahsoka asks Padme.
"Of course, Padawan Tano," Padme says. She stands up and says to Bail and Mon Mothma, "If you'll excuse me."
She walks around to Ahsoka, who says, "I know I made a mistake last night. But that doesn't mean the threat to you is any less."
"I haven't lost faith in you, Ahsoka," Padme says.
"I know. And I appreciate that," Ahsoka says.
"I don't mean to interject, but now is not the time for this. Senator Amidala must prepare for her summit," Captain Typho says.
"But I believe the attempt on your life is going to happen tonight," Ahsoka says.
"Why tonight?" Padme asks.
"I had another vision, and it was much clearer. I could see more than usual, even a location. It was a large room. You were giving a speech," Ahsoka says.
"Do you think you could ID the room if you saw it in real life?" Mofaz asks.
"Yes, I think I could," Ahsoka says.
"I think we'd better check out the place the summit is being held," Mofaz says. Captain Typho nods, and the group of four heads out of the room.
Not long after, they come to a large assembly hall. As they walk in, Captain Typho says, "So, does anything look familiar?"
"Yes, this is it. This is the place I saw in my vision," Ahsoka says.
"Where would the assassin be?" Typho asks.
"That's the part I'm not sure of," Ahsoka says.
"We are taking all the necessary precautions, right Captain?" Padme asks Typho.
"Correct milady," Typho says.
"Not sure that'll be enough. If this Aurra Sing is as good as I hear, she's going to find out a way to sneak through your defenses. No defense is impregnable, and if she really wants to get this done, she'll find a way," Mofaz says.
Padme looks at Ahsoka. "Ahsoka, in your vision, does Aurra succeed?"
"I…I can't tell," Ahsoka says, in a tone that is convincing enough for Padme and Typho, but not for Mofaz, who can tell she is lying.
"Well, then, at least we have a fighting chance," Padme says.
(That afternoon)
Mofaz makes his way to the assembly hall. The conference on the refugee situation is about the begin.
"Colonel!"
Mofaz turns his head in the direction of the voice, and sees one of the Mossad agents approaching him.
"Yes?" Mofaz asks.
"Colonel. We found a camera on a nobleman's house that managed to catch an image of Aurra Sing. We know for a fact she's in the city, but we don't have a current location on her. I have agents continuing to search for her," the man says.
"Understood. Keep up the search. And keep some of your agents around the assembly hall. If Sing is gonna try to kill the Senator, this is gonna be her best chance to do it," Mofaz says.
"Understood, sir," the agent says before hurrying off.
Mofaz makes his way into the hall, going to stand beside Captain Typho. "Captain. My Mossad agents have confirmed that Sing is in the city. They have yet to fix a location, but they are searching for her," Mofaz says.
"Understood. I thank you for your support, Colonel," Typho says.
The last few attendees trickle in, and very soon, the conference begins.
Bail Organa stands up and begins to address the crowd. "As the conflict that divides our galaxy escalates, we cannot lose perspective on the value of life and the price of freedom," he says.
Up in the air ducts above the hall, several guards have been posted. As one is watching Bail speak, Aurra Sing sneaks up behind him and snaps his neck.
"No one knows this more than the distinguished senator Padme Amidala of Naboo," Bail says. Padme stands, and Bail sits down.
"Thank you, Senator Organa. I wanted to first thank you all for coming. This is a cause that is very important to me," Padme says.
As she continues to speak, talking about the blockade of Naboo and its aftermath, Aurra Sing is setting up her rifle in the air duct.
At the same time, in the quarters they're using as their base, two Mossad agents are scanning footage from any camera in the city for signs of Aurra Sing.
Suddenly, one of the agents says, "S***!"
The other agent looks up and hurries over to his colleague. "What is it?" he asks.
"Look!" the agent says, pointing his computer screen. The second agent looks, and sees a still from footage, and can barely see a figure dressed in orange on the edge of the view. While it's not completely clear, it's enough to make the agent suspicious.
"When and where was this?" the second agent asks.
"One of the halls of the palace. Just 10 minutes ago," the first agent says.
Immediately, the second Mossad agent touches his earpiece, connecting to Colonel Mofaz. "Colonel! This is agent Shafir. Aurra Sing is in the palace! Repeat! Aurra Sing is in the palace!"
As Mofaz hears this, his brain immediately shoots to high alert. He glances around the hall, looking for anything out of the ordinary, then sees something poking through a grate overlooking the hall. And it looks just like the end of a rifle, aimed right at Padme.
Mofaz reacts on instinct, whipping out his blaster pistol and firing several shots in the direction of the grate. They don't get through, but they force Aurra Sing back. However, she pulls the trigger out of reflex, and the shot grazes Padme, sending her to the floor.
"Protect the Senator!" Mofaz shouts as he hurries out of the room. As he goes, he touches his earpiece and says, "All Mossad agents! Aurra Sing is in the air ducts surrounding the assembly hall! Converge at once!"
The Mossad agents throughout the palace react immediately. Several head to secure the assembly hall, while others climb into the air ducks, and, with weapons at the ready, head for the assembly hall through the ducts trying to find Sing. Mofaz joins this group, his blaster and lightsaber at the ready. However, after 20 minutes of searching, they fail to locate Sing.
As Mofaz comes out of the ducts, Ahsoka is waiting to meet him. "They took the Senator to her quarters. Come on," she says. She pulls on his hand, and Mofaz follows her to the room.
As they get there, a medical droid walks out of the bedchamber where Padme is. "The Senator is going to be alright. It was just a flesh wound," it says. It then steps aside, allowing Ahsoka and Mofaz to enter.
Padme is lying on her bed, with her arm in a sling. Bail is standing beside her bed.
Ahsoka walks up and says, "Padme, I'm sorry."
"For what, Ahsoka? You did all you could," Padme says.
"Did you find the assassin?" Bail asks.
"We tried. The Mossad agents think they just missed catching her when she fled by a matter of seconds. They're now scouring the palace for any sign of Sing," Mofaz reports.
"Padme, please, I think you should return to Coruscant immediately, for your own safety," Ahsoka says.
"Padme, I agree with the Padawan. It is far too dangerous for you to give your speech tonight," Bail says.
"Not necessarily," Mofaz says thoughtfully, stroking his chin in thought. Padme, Ahsoka, and Bail all look to the Israeli.
"How so?" Bail asks.
"I've done a little research into the history of the Clone Wars and Separatist crisis. From what I know, a bounty hunter named Jango Fett and an associate attempted to assassinate Senator Amidala twice when she arrived on Coruscant shortly before the Battle of Geonosis. I think it's clear in that regard, as well as with subsequent infiltrations, that bounty hunters and assassins are still able to get through to Coruscant. I don't think the Senator will necessarily be any safer on Coruscant than she will here," Mofaz says.
He pauses for a brief moment, then continues, in a much lower voice, "I think we can use Sing's mission to our advantage. We send a droid to the assembly tonight, and keep it hidden beneath a cloak. The Senator speaks through the droid from her quarters. I'll have Mossad agents situated in the air ducts, as well as the entrances to them. If Sing wants to use the air ducts, she'll have to get through the Mossad. The only other way to get to the Senator, or at least who Sing thinks is the Senator, is to come through the main entrance to the hall, which will be heavily guarded."
Padme, Ahsoka, and Bail are quiet for a moment before Padme says, "That might work. Good thinking, Colonel Mofaz."
"I'll make the arrangements immediately," Bail says.
(Later that night)
Colonel Mofaz stands vigilantly just inside the door to the assembly hall as the droid that Padme will be speaking through, hidden beneath a cloak under the pretense of keeping her face and body hidden while she recovers from the attack, stands up, and Padme begins to speak through the droid.
"Area is secure, Colonel. Still no sign of the bounty hunter," one of the Mossad agents calls over their earpiece as they and guards under Typho patrol the air ducts.
As Padme continues speaking, Ahsoka calls over her earpiece to Mofaz, "Colonel, Aurra's not here."
"What do you mean?" Mofaz asks.
"I mean I can't sense her. I sensed her before when she attacked, but I can't sense here anywhere around this room," Ahsoka responds.
Mofaz is quiet, wondering if her near encounter with the Mossad scared off Sing.
Then, one of the agents comes over the earpiece and says, "S***. Colonel, what if we overthought this? What if the first attack was to get us to take measures like this, and put the Senator in a more vulnerable position?"
Mofaz' eyes widen, and he instantly races out of the assembly hall. As he does, he calls loudly into his earpiece, "Aurra Sing is going to try and assassinate the Senator in her quarters! All units, converge! Protect the Senator!"
Instantly, Mossad agents both in and out of the air ducts begin converging on Padme's quarters.
It doesn't take Mofaz long to reach Padme's quarters. Bursting into the room, he lunges forward and tackles Padme right off the edge of the bed where she's been sitting. As he does, a shot from Sing goes right over them.
Mofaz grabs his blaster pistol from his belt and fires wildly up at the grate where Sing just was. She backs away, only to hear footsteps coming from both directions in the duct.
Then, one of the Mossad agents approaching through the ducts makes a brilliant move. Pulling out a small canister of tear gas he carries with him, he puts on a gas mask he also carries with him, orders his fellow agents approaching Sing from the other side to put on a gas mask or stay back, then pulls the pin and tosses the canister down the duct towards Sing.
In moments, tear gas begins flowing out of the canister. Coughing, Sing tries to make her way towards the canister, but the gas is getting so bad she doubles back. The Mossad agents then begin firing their blasters down the duct, knowing they can't hit her, but hoping to keep her from escaping the gas through the duct.
Realizing there's only one way out, Sing kicks out the grate and jumps out. Before she even gets to the ground, Mofaz has switched his blaster to stun and fired, stunning Sing.
Mofaz steps up and walks over to Sing right as Ahsoka, Captain Typho, and two guards enter. "Senator," Typho says in worry.
"Captain, she's stunned," Padme says.
Typho, Ahsoka, and the guards look down at Sing as she begins coming to. Not wanting to give her a chance to escape, the guards quickly cuff her.
"Nice work, Colonel," Padme says gratefully.
(Two days later)
Anakin, Yoda, and several clones watch as Padme's starship descends onto a landing platform outside the Temple.
The ramp slowly opens, and Padme, Bail, Ahsoka, and Mofaz walk out. Following behind them is Aurra Sing, guarded by 4 Sayeret Matkal commandos who had been detached to Alderaan to guard the bounty hunter and escort her back to Coruscant. Two are holding her arms, while the other two are standing behind her with assault blasters aimed at her back.
The Israeli commandos escort Sing past the greeting party and into the Temple, the clones following close behind.
"Are you alright?" Anakin asks Padme.
"Without Ahsoka's foresight and the assistance of Colonel Mofaz and the Mossad, I fear things would have gone quite differently," Padme responds.
"Serve you well, your visions have, young Padawan," Yoda says to Ahsoka.
"Thank you, Master Yoda," Ahsoka responds.
Yoda then looks at Mofaz. "And our thanks to you and the Mossad, Colonel Mofaz," he says.
"You're welcome, Master Yoda. However, our help is not done yet. Some of the agents interrogated Sing, and got some details of her employer and the transaction from her. They then investigated further, and they were able to identify the one who hired Sing," Mofaz says.
"Really?" Padme asks, intrigued that the Mossad was able to figure it out.
"Yes," Mofaz says.
(Republic prison)
Anakin, Ahsoka, and Mofaz wait patiently as the clone guides the hoverplatform down towards the cell. As they come up to the cell, they can see Ziro the Hutt waiting at the back of the cell.
The ray shield deactivates, and the three investigators walk into the cell.
"Ziro," Anakin says venomously.
"Oh. You must be Anakin Skywalker," Ziro responds.
"Have you met my Padawan, Ahsoka Tano?" Anakin asks
"Hmph. Padawan," Ziro scoffs mockingly.
"I think you have a grudge against Senator Amidala," Ahsoka says.
"And what makes you say something so utterly ridiculous, youngling?" Ziro demands.
Suddenly, Mofaz steps forward. He reaches into a backpack he's wearing and pulls out a rope. Then, before Anakin and Ahsoka can react, he leaps around Ziro, fitting the noose in the rope he already tied around Ziro's neck. He then pulls tightly on the rope, tightening it around Ziro's neck.
Ziro cries out in shock, choking a bit. "Who are you?" he gasps out.
Still holding the rope tightly, Mofaz leans in and says venomously in Ziro's ear, "I'm your worst nightmare unless you tell me the truth, Ziro. We investigated the bounty hunter Aurra Sing after she tried to kill Senator Amidala, and we discovered you hired her to do it."
"But I didn't-," Ziro tries to say.
Mofaz cuts him off by tightening the rope a bit and planting his foot firmly on Ziro's tail, making the Hutt cry out in pain.
"Wrong answer, Ziro. Trust me. I can do a whole lot worse. I know ways to make you hurt without killing you. Just confess, and this is all over," Mofaz says angrily.
Ahsoka and Anakin just stare at Mofaz, stunned at the ruthlessness of the man. However, they don't want to get in his way.
After another moment, Ziro chokes out, "Alright! Alright! I did it! She put me in here! She deserves to die, so I hired the bounty hunter!"
At that, Mofaz steps off Ziro's tail and removes the rope from his neck. "Thank you for your cooperation, Ziro," he says before walking out of the cell. Anakin and Ahsoka follow him, and the ray shield reactivates.
As the three leave the prison, Ziro just stares after them, still tyring to recover himself from Mofaz' interrogation, while wondering who the man was.
And, I'll end there. Hope you liked this chapter.
So, unlike the Jedi, the ASAT team are not necessarily bound by the same restrictions. And given the training the Sayeret Matkal go through, I think Mofaz would have no issue with using such extreme interrogation to get answers out of Ziro.
By the way. The Mossad officer I mentioned, Efraim Halevy, is a real person. He actually served as the Director of the Mossad from 1998 to 2002.
Next chapter will be up soon. Until then, leave a review, and stay tuned!