Chapter 1
The following morning, General Kenobi arrived as Ahsoka was opening the first of Anakin's files about the mission.
"Master Kenobi."
"May I come in, Ahsoka?"
"Of course," she stepped back from the door, looking at him uncertainly. "Is Master Skywalker okay?"
"He's out of the first round of bacta treatments," Obi-Wan assured her, "but he's not out of danger yet. We can't leave him in for longer than twelve hours at a time without risking complications, but I'm assured by the medics he's healing well. I only wish he would be ready by the time you leave tomorrow."
"But he won't be." Obi-Wan shook his head and Ahsoka felt her gut clench. "What is it, Master Kenobi?"
"Cody and I have been called away. The Resolute will be yours until Anakin's healed enough to resume command."
"But I won't be here."
"I need to leave instructions for Admiral Yularen based on your mission parameters; he'll need to know where to find you and how to get a hold of you and Captain Rex if something changes."
"I thought this was a blacklisted mission, Master; no evac, no contact."
"It is; however, if the council recalls you due to a fault found in the intelligence, we must be able to communicate with you."
Ahsoka paced across the room once and then back, knowing she was showing her agitation to the other Jedi, but for once not caring. "Master Kenobi… I know I said this on the bridge, but I don't think we should go through with this mission."
"Republic intelligence needs those codes, young one. They'll save countless lives and, hopefully, bring this war to a swifter conclusion."
"Unless they notice them missing and change them."
"You will simply have to avoid being caught. It should not be too difficult with the Captain Rex at your back."
"Master-" she stopped, her stomach knotting. "Do you have any more information on our assignment; about our assigned roles?"
"Everything you need should be on the datapad I gave the Captain."
"No, I mean, do you have… definitions. Descriptions." The look on his face was surprised but she forged ahead. "We don't understand the terminology and if… if I have to perform these dances, I need to know what they are." She exhaled. "And Rex needs to know what his position is exactly."
"Neither of you know?"
"Er - it's not exactly covered in their field manuals or my training, Master."
Obi-Wan lifted one hand to stroke his beard. "I'm sure there are examples in the ship's database. I will look to see what I can find and download them to this terminal before I leave. Anything else?"
"Rex and I were talking about checking the holonet for information."
"I would prefer if you did not," Obi-Wan told her bluntly, visibly disturbed. "But, seeing as how you will not be able to be convincing should the databanks of the ship not provide the necessary instruction, you may. Be discreet, Ahsoka; search only what you must."
"Yes Master."
"May the Force be with you, Padawan."
"And you, Master Kenobi."
He left, his absence doing nothing to alleviate the on edge feeling which had settled about her; in fact, their discussion had done nothing to decrease the feeling, only enhance it.
Obi-Wan hadn't been thrilled with the idea of providing her research material. More and more she was getting the feeling that this particular assignment wasn't one she was going to enjoy, no matter its necessity. Would Rex enjoy his part of the mission? She wasn't sure.
Jedi tended to be sheltered before being sent about in the Galaxy with a Master, and nothing in her training had prepared her to play a 'burlesque coquette' as described in the mission debrief. Rex, previously Anakin's post, was to play her male counterpart; her Hustler.
Whatever that was.
Obi-Wan had briefly described them as a girl with charms for hire, who danced to showcase her talents, and the man who acted as her protector and sought her clients. The way he'd described it sounded distasteful, sexual, and almost slave like - something Anakin would never have agreed to if he'd known.
It was well beyond her scope of experience, whatever it was, and she hoped a little research would help answer some of her questions.
Turning away from the door with one eye on the chrono, Ahsoka settled at the command console she'd been accessing when Obi-Wan had arrived and began to peruse the first file.
There was little of interest in most of Skyguy's brief and uneventful mission updates; the council hadn't apparently told him what they were going to be doing or what roles they would be playing before his heroic crash. Probably, she reflected ruefully, because if he'd known he was basically acting as my slave master, he'd never have agreed to it.
Nothing helpful there.
Reluctantly, she turned away from the console, deciding it would be better to wait for Rex before delving into the holonet. They'd need to talk about what to research first, and it was better if they did it as a team.
The knock that sounded a moment later drew her from her thoughts and her gaze went to the chrono. Right on time as always Rexster.She raised her voice to be heard through the door. "Come in."
He did, stepping across the threshold and taking in her room at a glance. She knew what he'd see.
Candles. Incense. Luxuries Jedi were supposed to eschew, but ones she knew Skyguy overlooked because they helped her concentrate. Her bunk was half again the size of Rex's; she knew - she'd seen his cot and felt a touch guilty about it, but Rex had insisted it wasn't an issue. He was used to it; he'd grown up with it.
"How you holding up, kid?"
"Uneasy." She admitted as the door closed behind him, beckoning for him to join her. "Master Kenobi was just here a few minutes ago. He and Cody have been called away."
"Were you able to ask about our mission?"
"He's supposed to be-" the terminal dinged, "-sending me vids from the computer database. Anything we don't find in here, we have permission to search the holonet for." She made no move to turn as he joined her and Ahsoka vacated the seat, motioning for him to sit. "You're taller than me," she explained helpfully when he looked disinclined to take it. "I can lean on your shoulders."
"What're our restrictions with the holonet?"
"As needed," she sighed, placing one hand on the back of the chair and leaning on it as he settled in. "I'm… nervous about opening those files, Rex."
"Any particular reason?"
She grimaced, feeling his gaze on her and trying to ignore the flutter having him alone in her room with her caused in her stomach; the room suddenly seemed smaller, much as it did whenever he was around lately, and this time was no exception. "Master Kenobi was very reluctant to help. I get the feeling this isn't a mission we're going to like."
"We knew that yesterday; that's no surprise." He turned his attention back towards the console. "The only way to find out is to look."
"Yes, but... knowing I'm supposed to be showcasing my..."
"Charms?" Rex sent her an encouraging half smile over his shoulder. "Other than attract the attention of the one Seppie and get close enough to retrieve the information, there's no one else who will touch you. I promise."
His grim, almost solemn vow at the last touched her, making her feel all funny inside. "Thanks Rex."
A short nod and he was looking back at the screen. "Ready?"
Reluctantly, she gave him a nod and the go ahead. Rex turned to the computer and checked the download to the terminal. The file names were like the ones on the datapad they'd examined last night and in alphabetical order. Biting her lip, she watched him open the first one, starting at the top of the list.
Two tabs appeared; one was information, the other a holo display. Rex opened the information first and a brief blurb appeared. This kind of dancing is primarily done as a way to tease an audience and give the illusion the dancer is wearing next to nothing or nothing.
"Next to nothing?" She didn't like the sound of that.
"Only says it appears that way, kid," Rex assured her, selecting the video file, "I'm sure you're not actually, er... unclothed."
Naked.
The word slid into her thoughts unbidden as she found herself suddenly wishing Rex had said it. Glad he wasn't watching her, she focused instead on the information the Master Kenobi had forwarded.
The terminal made a sound as the blue holographic image of a Twi'lek female appeared. She was bare wherever visible; from shoulders to toes, the middle of her covered by the most exotic looking fan, made from some kind of feathers, that Ahsoka had ever seen. They covered her to mid-thigh where she appeared to be naked again.
Ahsoka cocked her head as the dance started, a second fan being revealed and both being used as props to alternately cover and reveal bits of the dancer's body, teasing the viewer with the possibility of a reveal that was never given. The vid wasn't long, a minute or so, before it shut itself off.
"That wasn't so bad," Ahsoka offered, intrigued, missing the look Rex shot her way and the clenching of his jaw. "Kind of like... a peep show."
"Did Master Kenobi confirm you're supposed to be a dancer?"
"You heard him, same as me, yesterday. Besides, everything listed in the profile is dancing," she shrugged, "the logical conclusion is that it's my cover even if he hadn't said so. What's the next one?"
The file, like the one before it, opened with two visible tabs. Rex opened the information first, a brief blurb - this kind of dancing is primarily to excite the target by gyrating and grinding against their pelvic area, typically done female to male - appearing for a moment.
The image that blossomed in Ahsoka's head was suggestive, featuring herself and the clone Captain sitting at her holonet station, catching her off guard before she banished it guiltily.
Rex selected the file, thankfully unaware of her discomfort and momentary lapse, but what appeared before her was nothing like what she'd seen in her imagination.
The blue holo of a scantily clad human female was approaching the male on a nearby chair, with his legs slightly spread, allowing her to step between them. Booted heels boosted her height, making her the perfect level to cradle the man's face within her breasts; she danced around him with deliberate intent. Her actions were anticipatory, her partner obviously waiting.
And then she was straddling and gyrating on the lap of a human man, rubbing her bottom obscenely against him. In slow motion, she slid backwards and forwards across his lap, shifting position even as she never lost contact, stretching her neck to tilt her head back and lie it against the man's shoulder..
A rush of heat swept through Ahsoka's veins, darkening the chevrons on her montrals and the tint of her sienna skin as she wondered what kind of mission required her to... to... grind against men as a way of playing a part? The idea was repulsive and disgusting, she couldn't imagine-
The image she'd banished before sprang to mind, replacing the one before her, of herself dressed as the girl and Rex in the man's position. Her body grew hot as she envisioned grinding herself down onto his lap and having him respond. Swallowing hard, her hand clenched on the back of the chair to steady herself in the wake of the fantasy, the yearning it produced catching her totally off guard.
It appeared the man in the holo was delightfully pained - would Rex look that way? - but his hands held the woman's hips, driving her down into the-
The vid switched off.
"No kriffing way."
She darted a look at him, knowing her embarrassment was plain to see, guilty for having been caught in her fantasy . "Rex, I-"
"You're not," he broke in before she could formulate an apology, "doing that osik for anyone, especially not a Separatist!"
Relieve she hadn't been caught, but embarrassed all the same, she winced before answering, the fantasy disappearing before it had really begun, completely missing what drove his response. "It's part of the mission Rex," her protest was half hearted but intentional; she didn't exactly have a choice. "You read the debrief the same as I did. The only way to get close to the target is likely like this."
"You can't tell me you want to sit on some Seppie's lap and-"
"Of course I don't!" She let go of the chair, striding away, needing to move away from him as the reality of why she might have to do something like that hit her with the shocking effect of a cold shower. "I didn't ask to do this, Rex; I was ordered to. If you don't want to help me..." she faltered, looking back at him, suddenly feeling vulnerable. She needed Rex for this assignment; nobody else would do.
He visibly exhaled. "That," he waved at the terminal, having risen to his feet while her back was turned, but still near the console, "whatever that is, shouldn't need to be. It's debasing; you're better than that. You deserve better than this!"
"And if... if doing that dance can gain me access to the data crystal and save the lives of millions?"
He was silent, watching her with an unfathomable expression.
Swallowing hard, she came back towards him. "Like you said before, according to the mission briefing, I only have to do that... that dance for one person; the target. There's mention of a routine of dances, so maybe I can combine several of the others that aren't as... involved."
His expression was completely closed and it took a long minute of him looking at her with the honey brown eyes that intruded upon her thoughts at the strangest moments before he said anything more. "The fan dance was fine," Rex admitted, settling himself back in the chair.
Ahsoka wished she could read his mind in that moment. He was giving nothing away. "Fine? It needs to be better than fine if this is going to succeed, Rexster."
He visibly tensed and then tilted his head her way enough to catch her eye as she stopped by his shoulder again. "I think you'd master it; you wouldn't even have to change."
Ahsoka blinked, looking down at her tube top, skirt and leggings with her boots over top and arched a brow. "How do you figure that?"
"The fans in that holo covered from here," he lifted one hand to the level of her tube top, "down to here," it dropped to just below her battle skirt. "You'd have to lose the leggings and boots-"
She started to chuckle, seeing the appeal, but couldn't resist teasing him. "Why Rex; don't want to see me in something like that last one?"
The human female's costume had been scanty; barely triangles over her nipples and a wave of fabric down across her privates connected to a heavy belt. She'd been naked without being naked; quite the accomplishment.
A dull flush of color appeared at the base of her Captain's neck, drawing her attention, as it slowly climbed towards his ears and face. He turned back towards the terminal, moving on to another information file without answering her question. Staring at the back of his head, for it was unlike him, it took her a moment to realize why.
Rex was blushing.
Had she ever seen him blush before? The knowledge gave her a warm fuzzy feeling that made her stomach flip flop. She'd made Rex blush! But... how? She'd only asked... Oh Force; did he want to see her in something like the dancer? Surely not her straight shooting Rex - right?
Knowing better than to mention it, they read the rest of the information sections in silence. When that didn't quite kill the previous mood, they watched the rest of the dances, also in silence, Ahsoka paying attention to the detail.
The pole dance looked interesting enough to test her agility and balance, not to mention just plain fun, while the table dances struck her as a bad idea, especially since the target was known to frequent a specific cantina. Table dancing at a cantina seemed to be asking for trouble of the being pulled off the table sort.
There were additional notes about other versions of the dances she could look at, along with vid tags from Obi-Wan, and a note of apology he'd not included the instructional footage provided from the temple sooner, but neither touched them. Ahsoka decided she'd look at them later to try and help decide what was best for this dance routine she needed to create.
Once getting a preliminary idea of just what exactly her job as a dancer was going to entail, they were forced to access the holonet for information about Rex's.
"I sure hope you enjoy your assignment more than I do," Ahsoka told him in an aside as they waited for the ship to query the galaxy wide network and correlate the data. "One of us mortified beyond belief will be enough."
He didn't laugh, but he did reach back to grasp the hand she'd moved to his shoulder while discussing the pros and cons of the pole dancing holo. She squeezed even though she knew he wouldn't feel it through his armor, wishing there was fabric and skin beneath her fingertips and knowing it was wrong to do so. Her attraction to Rex wasn't going to help matters; especially when he didn't feel the same way.
The computer dinged as it rang up the search results. What came up for "Hustler" was more than they bargained for.
Apparently the seller of her charms could also partake; meaning they not only had to play the roles of servant and master, but lovers as well. Kind of. Apparently not all burlesque coquettes were willing.
In her case, according to the brief, she was not only willing but cooperative; had they really expected her and Skyguy to be able to act like lovers? Ick! He was like... like her older brother, and the very thought turned her stomach... whereas, with Rex in the role, it did something entirely different to her stomach.
Ahsoka was caught up in a series of mixed feelings and completely missed the surge of alarm Rex exuded before tramping down on it. The idea of having to act like his lover was so appealing it momentarily short circuited her Force senses.
Only after inquiring after her twice, was he able to grab her attention. As she looked at him, Ahsoka brought her mind back to task with a firm, but silent, admonishment. Rex felt nothing for her beyond the respect and loyalty of a subordinate and friend, and she would do well to remember that; no matter what more she might desire. If she could decide on what that was.
The information they garnered after four searches was enough for both of them.
Some hustlers were nice, others rough and yet others abusive, mistreating their girls in the worst kind of ways. Most were charming but that wasn't a necessity, and all were persuasive. Whether at blaster point or for other reasons, all of them had anywhere from one to as many as five women working for them and providing any kind of service they required for their gathered clients.
Rex would 'work' with her exclusively.
Their research proved to be enlightening, adding details and information to their limited resources, Rex adamantly against her giving out any kind of sexual favors the moment they'd discovered that was the secondary nature of 'purchasing favors' - and for that Ahsoka was grateful.
She wasn't big on the idea of having to 'service' men, especially never having done it before, for any kind of mission.
"So I'm really not for sale then," she quipped, relieved, needing to hear him say it again.
"Under no circumstances," he agreed grimly, his jaw tight, an expression she could only read as determined on his face. "If they don't take no for an answer, I'll shoot them."
She couldn't help it; she laughed. "With you watching my back, there's nothing I have to worry about is there?"
Rex hadn't answered, but he hadn't needed to. They were going to be a team and team mates as close as they were didn't need words. Most of the time.
He left her room later that afternoon, promising to meet her in time for their insertion early the next morning; he had to prep Coric as to his absence and turn command over officially in the event something went horribly wrong.
Reminding him to 'wear something appropriate' for the drop, he was gone. Ahsoka stared at the closed door after he'd left for a full minute before shaking herself and turning back to the console, the conflict within her surprisingly fierce.
On one hand, she was being sent on a dangerous mission with just Rex where they'd both have to play parts they weren't particularly thrilled about.
On the other, she was being sent on a dangerous mission alone with Rex.
She shivered and deliberately forced the thought away, knowing that, despite his absence, her research hadn't finished yet. She needed to know as much as she could about the types of activities and dances and behavior she might need to portray and, within the files provided, there was a mine of untapped sources.
Taking a deep breath, for she knew what was coming next wouldn't be easy, she focused on the mission and opened the first file.