Chapter 4: Hunters to Hunted
You can't deny that those Jedi are quick on the uptake; the moment Bane spoke Skywalker and Ahsoka went for their concealed lightsabers. However they barely had time to move before Bane called out "I wouldn't do that if I were you Jedi, and drop that blaster clone!" There was something in Bane's voice that made the three of them hesitate "Look around you" he crowed, with an evil grin. Seemingly rising from every other table, stepping forth from shadows or throwing back hoods emerged bounty hunter after bounty hunter.
I only recognized a few; Aurra Sing, rising from her chair, her wicked smile and blaster rifle both fixed firmly on Ahsoka. Bossk, his forked tongue flickering between his peg like teeth, directed his Relby-v10 towards the Jedi, a micro grenade launcher that no soldier in their right mind would have considered using in such a confined space as a crowded bar. The only other bounty hunter that I knew by sight was the Rodian Greedo; the little squirt was standing beside Rex, a blaster pistol in his hand and a self satisfied smile plastered across his stupid face. Many of the bars patrons reached for their weapons, but upon realizing that the mercenaries were only after the Republic spies, they relaxed and settled down to watch the show.
Well we were sunk, and I knew it. Somehow the bounty hunters had known we were coming, and now Skywalker, Ahsoka, Rex and most importantly yours truly were going to be murdered in a back alley and dropped into the sewers. "Now" said Bane "drop your weapons, allof them" I was about to throw down my blasters when Bane turned to me and added "Hake, why don't you do the honours and see if any of our guests have forgotten anything".
At first I didn't understand what the damn bounty hunter was talking about before it suddenly dawned on me that he didn't know who I was. How was it possible? My disguise was no better than those of my comrades, well except Rex's. "Err s-sure thing boy" I stuttered "hands up you Republic scum suckers!" I walked across to the trio and gave each a perfunctory search; Skywalker was carrying no other weapon besides his lightsaber, and Ahsoka had already thrown down the blaster at her hip. However I knew that Rex always kept a miniature blaster behind his breast plate and I was near certain that he would have it now. Sure enough, concealed within the folds of his tunic I felt it. Turning back to Bane I announced "ain't nothin' to find that I can see".
Skywalker, restrained by two of the bounty hunters, glared at Bane with an expression of such violent loathing that it was a wonder the Duros mercenary was able to continue to smile sardonically at the Jedi. If Skywalker had been looking at me like that I'd have been running for my life in the opposite direction. "So how did you know we were coming" he growled at last?
Bane's smile broadened "I was informed that you, your youngling, and a clone would be coming here today, and that if I should organize a warm welcome for you, we would be well paid".
Ahsoka's angry glare, both over the bounty hunters trap and over being referred to as youngling, became tinged with confusion "but who tipped you off?"
"Why" said a cool hard voice from the door "I did of course".
Turning I beheld the figure advancing across the bar, but my brain refused to accept what my eyes were telling it. "Master Skouras" gasped the young padawan in shocked amazement?
The grey haired Jedi Master smiled coldly "surprised? Well I suppose I can't blame you for that, after all you and your master are hardly paragons of intelligence. And as for a clone" he added turning to Rex "well need I say more?"
Skywalker's face, which had been a blank mask of shock, suddenly split into a hideous scowl as he roared "traitor!"
Skouras chuckled "traitor? Well I suppose if we are going to be technical I suppose I am a traitor. But under the circumstances I prefer the term turn-coat. And the coat which I am adopting is that of a Separatist. You see" he said walking towards the struggling Jedi "I am a natural survivor, and I have come to see that the Sith and the Separatists are going to triumph in this conflict. I therefore have determined to be on the right side when this war is over and the separatist banner flies over the senate building". Looking back its odd when you think about it, the traitorous scum was half right, the Sith would win, but at the head of the Republic not the clankers. Funny old galaxy isn't?
"However" continued Skouras "you can hardly expect the Separatist high command and the Sith to take my word that I have truly deserted from the Jedi order. I could very easily be a double agent. And so I shall prove my loyalty today".
"By blowing up the Temple" snarled Skywalker?
Skouras actually laughed "blow up the Temple? Hardly. Honestly do you have any idea how difficult it would be to smuggle enough explosives into the Jedi Temple to destroying the building? Any sensible person would have realized that any plot to blow up the Temple could not possibly succeed. But luckily I was able to count on our Order's rising levels of paranoia to guarantee that they would take the bait. I then chose a few individuals that have been causing the Confederacy considerable annoyance in recent months, you Master Skywalker, your padawan and this clone officer known as 'Rex'. It was then a matter of recommending to the Council that you three would be the best choices for the assignment". He leaned forward towards Skywalker, his lined face creased into an unpleasant smirk "it was really too easy".
At last I realized what had happened; Skouras had organized the whole thing, who was going on the mission, where they were going and I'd be prepared to bet had a good idea of what they would wearing as well. However he hadn't been there when Obi-Wan decided to include me at the last minute, I was safe, for now.
"And now" he said straightening up, suddenly businesslike "I'm afraid the time has come to dispose of the three of you".
He'd probably have had the bounty hunters do it right then and there if it hadn't been for the huge barman who scowled and shouted "not in ere, take em' outside!" I'd have expected the bounty hunters and the traitorous Jedi to ignore him, but glancing over my shoulder I saw he had un-slung his blaster cannon and looked ready to use it. Even a lightsaber isn't much use against a shotgun at close range.
Scowling in irritation Skouras nodded towards the door and the bounty hunters began pushing their three captives towards it. I realized that this was the moment to either act or do nothing. If I tried to rescue my comrades I'd be signing my own death warrant. However if I did nothing and word go back to the Jedi Council that I had sat and twiddled my thumbs whilst two members of their order had been murdered, Force it wouldn't matter that I couldn't have helped, that wouldn't save me! It came down to this; would I rather go up against a pack of savage bounty hunters or one day find myself in a dark alley with Masters Yoda, Mace Windu and Plo Koon advancing on me. "Track you down; you knew that we would...". To my Horror I realized that going up against a gang of angry Jedi meant certain death, going up against Bane and company meant almost certain death. Oh Force!
Almost every bounty hunter and Skouras were focusing their attentions on the two Jedi, whilst Rex was guarded only by myself and Bossk. Mentally praying to the Force to save my unworthy hide I took a firm grip on the barrel of one of my blaster pistols and thought 'I wish I had a better plan than this!' "Hey Trandoshan" the reptilian mercenary turned to me "think fast!" So saying I brought the blaster slashing up, the butt smashing into the Trandoshan's flattened nose like a sledgehammer; I heard something break and Bossk bellowed in agony. And if it hadn't been for an incredible stroke of luck Rex, Skywalker, Ahsoka and I would have all been dead in a moment.
However maybe the Force was looking out for me after all because the bounty hunter staggered backwards, crashing into a table at which were seated an elderly Tusken, a couple of humans and a Neimoidian, all of whom seemed to have lost interest in the pantomime playing out behind them and were instead talking amongst themselves. The Tusken was apparently displeased at having his discussion interrupted and relived his feelings by taking an ill-aimed swing at Bossk with his staff, which instead connected with a Wookiee at the next table. The great hairy giant roared in furry, spun around and struck out at the nearest patron, who happened to be a colossal Chevin, who in turn...well as the saying goes, one thing led to another.
In less than ten seconds the entire bar was a maddened free-for-all, and this being the Gamorrean's Tusk, practically every patron was armed to the teeth. Well Hawk, I thought to myself, you've done your bit, time to leave. In attempt to avoid attracting unwanted attention I crawled across the floor, from table to table, which were thankfully bolted down. Suddenly someone grabbed me from behind and roughly flipped me onto my back. I found myself starring into the face of one of the bounty hunters I hadn't recognized, a human dressed in sand coloured robes, whose hands immediately fastened around my throat like steel clamps. Gasping for breath I tried to throw him off but he only tightened his grip, his scared face snarling down at me like a rabid wolf. Just as my vision began to blur my attackers head suddenly burst like an over-ripe watermelon. Coughing I sat up looked around for my deliverer, finally spotting Rex taking cover behind a table which had been ripped from its moorings. He grinned and nodded an acknowledgment, which I returned, before diving for the nearest table myself.
After waiting a moment to get my breath back I started trying to get my bearings and finally worked out in what direction the doors lay. Turning my head I groaned, it seemed as if ever criminal on Coruscant was fighting around the main exit, either pursuing fleeing opponents or themselves trying to escape. No escape that way. It seemed as though the fighting was thinner on my left, and although that wasn't as good as a way out it was decidedly better than nothing. The reason for the fewer brawls in this part of the bar became suddenly obvious. Even before I saw the duelling Jedis I heard them, the furious hissing and crackling of their lightsabers cutting through the sounds of the battle raging around them.
Skywalker and Ahsoka, who had both apparently recovered their weapons, were locked in combat with Master Skouras, his purple blade and their blue and green ones moving so fast that it seemed as if the three of them were fighting in a cobweb of flashing light. Incredibly the old Jedi seemed to be pushing Skywalker and Ahsoka back, his lightsaber striking like a deadly snake, forcing the knight and his padawan onto the defensive. I was watched the duel from under yet another table and once again came to the conclusion that it was high time I was out of here. Glancing about desperately I spotted what I had almost given up hope of seeing, a back door! The barman, shotgun in one hand and cash register under his arm, was slipping out even as I watched. All I had to do was to sprint across the bar, dive through the door and I was home free.
Crouching, I steeled myself to make the break for it "one two th..." I muttered before what felt like an AT-TE came crashing down on me. The tables of the Gamorrean's Tusk, besides being bolted down, had been designed with hard living in mind. Built like bomb shelters they had thus far proved relatively safe areas in which to hide from the battle raging in the bar. However when two brawling patrons, a Herglic the size of a small tank, and a Barabel clutching an unfeasibly large knife, fell heavily against the table it gave up the struggle and collapsed. Pinned agonizingly to the floor, feeling as if every one of my rips was broken, my finger tightened on the trigger of my blaster involuntarily. The blaster bolt narrowly missed a running Gungan, ricochet of the bar's metalic wall and struck Skouras between the shoulder blades.
The traitorous Jedi staggered just as he was about to run Skywalker through. Skouras swayed on the pot, his face showing only a look of mild surprise, before the light of life left his eyes and he toppled full length to the floor. My head was spinning and I felt sure that I was about to lose consciousness; I moaned as my head seemed to fill was a terrible screaming, like demons out of hell, or perhaps a banshee or a...siren! The police had arrived at last. Just before my eyes went dark I spotted Cad Bane, Aurra Sing and Bossk, the latter with green blood gushing liberally from his nose, fleeing through the bars back door. Just before making his escape Bane turned, looked at me and mouthed 'I'll be seeing you again'. Great, I thought as I passed out, a nemesis, just what I need.