Chapter 44
Torn Asunder
They found the ship several parsec's away from the battle. It's distress beacon was on and beeping barely an hour after the fleet had managed to escape. Naruto and Rex knew straight away that they had an hour tops before the Empire found the same signal so they moved quick. They commandeered a hyperdrive capable shuttle, hoping, begging to any greater powers that their friends were there.
The Will of Fire was indeed the one sending out the distress signal but when they got there all they saw was the ruins of a ship, destroyed and with no hope of repair. The YT-1300 Light Freighter's dorsal section was riddled with puncture holes and blackened by laser burns. It's communications relay was gone as was the dorsal gun turret. The engines nacelles were gone, broken pieces of wreckage floating not far away from the ruined rear of a ship he had called home for nearly three years.
Still there were no bodies found amongst the wreckage and as far as Naruto was concerned if there were no bodies then there was still a chance, however slim, that those he cared about were still alive. Out there in the deep cold blackness of space he would find them.
Rex stood beside him, surveying the ruins of their ship with a critical eye before shaking his head. "It's too badly damaged to save."
"I know." Naruto replied, eyes scanning the damage to his ship, his home. "She will never fly again."
"Scans are complete," the pilot intoned from his pilot's chair. "There are no signs of life or biomaterial aboard."
Naruto and Rex breathed signs of relief despite the situation. No bio data meant there were no bodies on that ship, which meant that their friends were still out there, with hope and luck. Naruto ascended the steps to the pilot, placing a hand on the man's shoulder to get his attention. "Can you do a scan of the surrounding system. Tell me if there is any sign that they bailed out?"
"Yes sir." the Pilot replied, nodding. "I will see to it."
Rex was beside his friend, watching him as he waited for the results. "We can't leave it out here for the Imps."
"I know." Naruto replied, sighing and reaching up one hand to scratch his head. "There's important information on its databanks. We will need to destroy it in order to secure it. But..."
"But?"
"It's our home, Rex." Naruto looked at him, eyes glassy as he spoke. "It's the one place in the whole galaxy we can call home and they destroyed it as if it was nothing."
"I know," Rex nodded, a hand on Naruto's shoulder to both gain his attention and encourage him as well as granted Rex himself some support. This was his home too. "It was our home, but so long as the people who made it home remain it will not be forgotten. We just need to find them. We need to find Aayla, Celeste and Lowie. Those two Jedi boys too, then we can find a new home."
"Mm," Naruto intoned, looking at the old freighter for a long moment before turning back to the pilot. "When you're done with the scans destroy that ship, aim for the fuel cells and make sure the Imps can take nothing from it."
"Yes sir."
"It's the least we can do," the Shinobi murmured. "To make sure she's given a proper send off."
Rex nodded in agreement, gaze shifting from the remains of the Will of Fire to Naruto's face and back again. It had hurt the boss to say those words, just one look told him everything yet there was also a great strength building within those azure eyes. He would find his crew and exact vengeance on those who dared to hurt them.
"Scans complete." The Pilot intoned, turning back to his two passengers. "I have a signal coming from a nearby planetoid, looks like one of the Jedi aboard your ship sir."
"Well that's the best news I've heard all day." Naruto replied. "Set a course for the signal, and finish up here."
"Yes sir." The Pilot replied before turning back to his control console. The moment he pulled the trigger to the ships complement of proton torpedoes both Naruto and Rex winced. The gunship turned away just as it's payload detonated with the Will of Fire and the following explosions left no doubt that the ship had been destroyed to the point where salvaging any computers would be impossible.
Their home was truly gone.
"Set a course for the signal." Naruto ordered, voice cracking ever so slightly before calming again.
"Yes sir."
It turned out the signal was on Acherin itself. The one habitable planet within the same system as the Jedi Asteroid, now destroyed by the Empires new superweapon. It turned out that even when the rebels fled the Imperials still used the now derelict asteroid as a testing ground. It had been turned to atoms, completely removed from the map. The Empires new weapon heralded a success.
More ships had jumped into the system than last time. The original three had long since departed but their places were taken by six Victory-class Star Destroyers. The pilot moved with perfect precision, turning off all but the most basic systems and slowing his engines to a crawl so as not to be detected.
They landed in a valley of grassy knolls and hills only to find to their dismay that the signal did not lead them to what they wanted. Naruto and a Rex walked a good fifty meters before coming across the bodies of two of their compatriots. The Jedi Knight Jack Antilles and their friend Lowbacca. The Wookie's arm had been cut off and left on his chest. Between the two bodies was a small holo-device, which undoubtedly had a message.
"Lowie," Naruto murmured, eyes full of dismay and sorrow as he knelt beside his friend and placed a hand on his chest. It didn't take the force nor chakra to tell that he was dead. He turned to Rex, who was knelling beside Antilles and checking him for a pulse. All in vein he knew with a shake of his head.
The Shinobi looked between the two bodies before settling his eyes upon the small disc shaped object set between them. He let Rex pick it up and press the button for it to activate. A small holographic image appeared, without colour and flickering. The woman was dressed in a skin tight jumpsuit, a utility belt holding a blaster and lightsaber hilt clasped around her waist. Her skin was a pale white and shaven bald, all except for a trail of hair which was expertly tied in a topknot.
"Hello little rebels." the woman greeted mockingly, bowing her head majestically in way of a greeting. "I suppose I don't need to tell you that we have your friends hostage, try anything and they will meet the same fate as the two we left here for you. Please don't try anything. I would hate to leave another body on an insignificant planet."
The image vanished as quickly as it came and the two men were left alone.
"Do you know her?" Naruto asked, eyes narrowing.
"I know off her," Rex affirmed grimly. "Her name is Aurra Sing, an ex-Jedi turned bounty hunter. She was a continuous thorn in our side during the war."
"Well she's a real thorn in our side now."
"Indeed." Rex allowed, voice grave as he looked upon the bodies of Lowbacca and Jack Antilles. "We can't leave them out here."
"Yeah," Naruto nodded in agreement. "I know enough about the Jedi's last rites, but what about Wookiees? How do they grant last rites to their own?"
"They bury them, and plant a tree over their grave." Rex replied.
"Sounds good to me," Naruto said as he leant over and closed Lowie's eyes. "Let's get some wood together for Jack, and then we'll bury Lowie with a couple of acorns."
They did just that. It took them some time but by the end of it Jack's body was set alit atop a small structure of timber while Lowbacca was buried deep within the earth, a few acorns from the closest tree planted a few inches into the dug up ground they had buried him in. Usually a Wookiee's body was to be repatriated to Kashyyk, to be buried under the care of their closest relatives but Lowie had no living family besides them. Both Naruto and Rex stood between the funeral pyre and the burial, whispering their own prayers and last rites for the departed.
"We're going to hunt Sing down." Naruto said as the two remained still, watching the funeral pyre burn. "We're going to save Aayla, Celeste and Knight Lo'Kriss."
Rex nodded in agreement, "I'll send the word out. We'll find out who was the middle-man who got her into this hunt. If we can hunt him down and squeeze we should be able to find out where she and her friends are."
"Then make her wish she was never born." Naruto growled, a low guttural sound. "No one targets my family. If they think they can survive this they will be deeply disappointed!"
Rex could only nod.
"Let the fleet know that we're hunting a hunter." Uzumaki ordered, suddenly forcing himself into the role of a Commander. "I want everything they got on her. I want to know who she is, who her friends are, who her usual employers are. If she goes to ground I want to know her favourite haunts and who is willing to provide them. We'll take her legs out from under her, and show her what happens when she fucks around with us."
Rex nodded, opening up his comlink and pushing a few buttons. "Got it."
"We're going to need a new ship." Naruto growled.
"We can always take the one owned by those bounty hunters." Rex allowed.
"You mean the two who've been shadowing us since we entered orbit?" The Shinobi asked, a feral grin lighting up his features. "That's a good idea Rex. That's a real good idea."
"I do try."
"Contact the gunship. Tell the pilot we'll find our own way home."
"Got it, so do you want to stretch your muscles or should..." He looked over to see that Naruto was already gone and sighed. "Off course you want to do it."
The Gunship rose in the distance, turning a full hundred and eighty degrees before ascending into the atmosphere.
"I think he knows we're here."
"Really?" Bane eyed his partner sceptically. The two of them were lying on their bellies at the ridge of one of the higher knolls, one which allowed them a good field of view. The Mandalorian continued to look through the scope of his sniper rifle. The Duros hunter put on his goggles, zooming in on the funeral pyre, burning merrily. Sure enough only the clone was standing there, and he was looking right at them. "Where did he go?"
A voice, low and dangerous answered them from behind. "Here."
Both men shot to their feet. Skirata aiming his sniper rifle while Bane pulled out a pair of blaster pistols. There, standing a few meters behind them was their quarry. His longcoat billowing in the breeze, arms folded and eyes completely focused on them, studying, assessing, like a predator eyeing prey.
How the hell did he sneak up on them so quickly. There had been a full kilometre of space between them. It seemed that the rumours surrounding this man and his abilities were not completely without merit after all. "Quite impressive. Not even a Jedi can move so quickly and quietly."
"I get that a lot." Their quarry replied. One look told the two hunters that he was in no mood for negotiations or even small talk. "We're taking your ship."
Bane couldn't help the chuckle which escaped his throat, "My, it seems your sense of humour is right on the mark as well. Tell me. Why should I let you take the ship."
"Because you don't have a choice in the matter." The blond replied, uncrossing his arms and bringing them down to his sides. A small blade glinted off the sunlight as it shot into his hand. "I take it, whether over your dead bodies or not is entirely up to you."
The two bounty hunters shared a look, and although it was impossible to tell what the Mandalorian thought with his helm Bane's opinion was made clear by the smirk on his face. "Alright, show us what you got boy."
Narutos eyes flickered and flashed from azure to crimson, incisors slowly elongating. "Oh I intend too."
"But I don't." Skirata responded, rifle dropping to the ground as he drew a holdout blaster with speed and fired a trio of bolts into Bane's chest. Stun bolts Naruto realised. The hunter barely knew what hit him before he fell to the ground in a boneless heap. The Mandalorian turned his attention back to him, dropped the pistol and raised his hands in the air. "May I ask that you don't take my ship?"
"That is entirely up to you." Naruto allowed, frowning. "Aren't you two supposed to be friends?"
"More acquaintances than friends. Bounty hunting isn't something I do regularly. It was necessary to achieve my goals."
"And what were those goals?"
"An audience with you." The Mandalorian replied, using his raised thumb to point to his helmet. "If I may?"
"Go ahead." Naruto allowed.
"Thank you." He pulled of his helmet, revealing the facial features of the long dead Jango Fett, but with a long scar running across his face. Naruto's brow rose a little at that, though he shouldn't really be surprised. If Rex and the ARC troopers were able to fight off the conditioning why not others. "The war has made me not much of a fan on helmets. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Atin Skirata, formerly of Zero Five Commando, Arca Company, Omega squad. I will take you wherever you want to go on a few conditions."
"Do I look in the mood to listen to conditions?" Naruto asked, chakra flaring.
"They are more than reasonable. I will help you get your crewmates back. I have learned much about the bounty on your heads and those hunting you." Skirata explained. "And once we complete the mission I would ask for an audience to be granted between you and my father."
"Your father?" Naruto asked, surprised despite his dark mood. "Jango Fett still lives."
A chuckle from the Commando, "Hardly, that man is long dead. My father is a man called Kal Skirata, patriarch of the Skirata clan of Mandalore."
Naruto's brow rose. "And why would your father wish an audience with me?"
"To join the good fight against the Empire off course."
"How do I know that this is genuine?" He asked at last, kunai disappearing into his coat sleeve. "I'm going to need a little proof."
"And I have it," Skirata replied. "A little titbit of information which should save you a few precious hours. Aurra Sing's employer is the Huttese crime lord Jabba the Hutt. The fat slug is currently residing in his holiday retreat on Tatooine and gave strict instructions to all of his hunters that once they got the marks to bring them there for inspection before he hands them over to the Empire."
"Inspection?" Naruto asked, danger in his voice.
"Jabba has a very undignified habit of keeping humanoid slave girls chained to his throne. Usually as entertainment for an audience of clients and sycophants." Atin explained, lips curling slightly in disgust. "His favourite species to parade around include Zeltrons, Humans and Twi'leks. I have little doubt he plans to do that to your friends before he hands them over."
For a moment, just a single moment, Narutos eyes flashed red.
Aayla awoke in a Force Cage. That on its own was not a sign of good news. The fact that their kidnappers even had a Force Cage to begin with showed them the depths of their level of preparedness when dealing with Jedi. The energy field surrounded her in the shape of a tube, with a base and cap and a spine, all made of pure durasteel. It was a cramped space, just wide enough for her to lie down but even then only in a foetal position.
Quickly she checked her surroundings. The room she was in was dark and dank. She could barely see anything beyond a meter from the bright flashing light of the force field. She was unarmed and still dressed in a simple shirt and boxers, and then she felt a weight around her neck, and with probing hands she felt something metallic and smooth and very tight clutched around her throat.
"Aayla, are you alright?" Celeste's voice caught her ears and Aayla turned, straining her eyes through the rippling field to see her friend caught in another Force Cage not far away. She had been on her knees, meditating by the look of it before rising to her feet and getting as near the force field as she dared, even touching it would cause mild electrical burns.
"I think so," She replied, hand still touching the metallic choker.
"Don't touch it!" Her hand stopped at her friends harsh retort. "It's laced with explosives. If you fiddle with it too much you'll find yourself without a head."
She cursed lowly, only now hearing the weakest of beeping from the device. Aayla let go of the bomb, dropping her hands to her sides. "Any idea where we are?"
"Still in the hold of the bounty hunters ship." Celeste replied, voice full of anger and embarrassment. "I awoke when they put me in the cage. Told me to be a good little girl or else boom, the pale woman's exact words. Said I would join my friends if I tried anything."
Images of Jack, Seth and Lowie flashed by Aayla's eyes, of them smiling and laughing, playing Sabaac in the lobby of the Will of Fire. She remembered when they boarded and Naruto decided on the fly that new members of the crew, even temporary ones, had to go through a ritual of a shot of brandy as an initiation. Seth and Jack choked on the taste, mirroring her own experience the first time she had tried hard liquor, while Lowie took one look at the tiny cup and downed the bottle instead. The argument between the Wookiee and Naruto afterwards was quite funny.
A great pain fell upon her chest at the memories as they were replaced by those of Jack impaled in the chest by a lightsaber, of Lowie roaring in defiance only to be cut down like a rapid dog before the blade of a manic Jedi killer. It made her feel ill, numb and very, very angry. It felt like Order 66 all over again, and those old memories only made it worse.
"We have been captured by a bounty hunter named Aurra Sing," she began, knowing that it would be better to tell her friend the horrible truth now instead of waiting for their captors to tell her in mocking later. "She's a former Jedi apprentice who holds a grudge against the Order as a whole. She killed Jack and Lowie right in front of me."
She could barely see Celeste, barely a silhouette to her vision but through the force she felt the same feelings of shock and despair, followed by numbness and the beginnings of anger. "I see, so people like that exist in all timelines."
"I wanted her to suffer," Aayla continued, sitting down and looking at the shimmering force field. Anger and bitterness waged a personal war for domination of her heart, eyes shimmering with emotion. Her eyes glowed gold for a moment before returning to their usual chocolate brown. "I was so angry I broke my bindings and locked her in the worst Genjutsu I could think off. I should have killed her then and there, or maybe I should have used the chance to take out her friends. Either way I failed."
"You were angry Aayla," Celeste replied. "Anger clouds the judgement. Don't blame yourself for that."
"But don't let it control me, right?" She asked.
"Jedi teachings change little don't they?" Celeste quipped, answering a question with a question. Trying to calm the storm of anger and bitterness which raged in Aayla's heart, and it was working.
"Locked in stone." She affirmed, lips quirking in the slightest hint of a smile.
"We will avenge them," Celeste continued, voice solid and resolute. "We just have to be patient and pick our moment. I will make that topknot bitch pay for what she has done. She killed two Jedi that I know off, and also a member of our crew, our family."
Family. Yes, Lowie may not have been a member of the Will of Fire's crew for very long but there was no mistake that he had become family. The idea had seemed foreign to Aayla until she met those she surrounded herself with now. Until that day on Felucia she had considered the Jedi Order her family, a place where she belonged and a place she would always be welcome. That in a way hadn't changed even with her current status. Quinlan Vos, Tholme, T'ra Saa, even Khaleen and little Korto were people she considered family. But over the last few years she had found others, Naruto chief amongst them but also Celeste, Rex, Ahsoka and Lowie.
Aurra Sing had killed a member of her family. She would not let that go.
The doors opened, light spilling forth into the dark room. Both Aayla and Celeste were blinded by it, but when it cleared they saw the very last person they wanted to see. Aurra Sing stood at the threshold between their prison and the corridor beyond, a smirk on her face as she surveyed her captives. "Guess what kiddies. We're almost at our destination. I hope your little friend explained what will happen if you decide to get too... difficult."
She held up a small device. A remote detonator, obviously for their explosive chokers, for the two of them to see. Aayla knew right away that she meant business, memories of her friends deaths more than enough evidence of that. They offered nods to confirm they understood, and the smile turned to a scowl on Sing's face.
"How boring." She scoffed, before her smile returned. "Maybe I should kill one of you now. Say that you tried to escape yes?"
Both women tensed in their cells, cursing how defenceless they were.
A hand, encased in Mandalorian iron, gripped onto Sing's hand and Boba Fett was there. He snapped the remote detonator from the former Jedi's grasp. Any emotions he held were concealed by his helm, but Aayla could sense impatience and a little disgust from the bounty hunter. "I will hold onto this from now on."
"Really?" Sing asked, glaring. "You want the Order who murdered your father to live?"
"They're no good to us dead." Fett replied, placing the detonator in one of his utility belts as he met her glare. "And you killing our pay check hasn't helped my opinion either."
"You want to fight, boy!?"
"Try it." Fett challenged, matching her glare. "You think I hunted Jedi this long only to be intimidated by a failed one? You underestimate me Sing and I find that very insulting."
"Who do you think taught you the tricks of the trade, Boba Boy?" Sing asked, smirking. A smirk which was removed when the barrel of a blaster pistol was drawn from its holster, quick as a flash and was now pressed against the bottom of her chin.
"You did, but things have changed since your day, Sing." Boba replied, simple and precise as he pushed the muzzle of his pistol with greater force into Sing's chin. "The era of thrill seekers and avengers in bounty hunting is long gone. The Empire has cracked down on hunters who kill for fun, good for the image you see. Now you capture the target alive, weeds out the weak and the stupid. I pulled some strings and released you from that prison because I thought you might adapt, clearly I was wrong."
"Do you really think you could kill me so easily?" Sing asked, snarling.
"No," Fett allowed. "It would be difficult to kill you, especially in the confines of this ship. But before I release you I would like to tell you something. The one I convinced to sign your release was not some simple politician, Moff or bureaucrat . The one who signed your release is the name on everyone's lips, a Darth Vader."
Her vicious smile fell, and Aayla felt her sudden fear. It was palpable in the force. "A Sith Lord, you have contacts with a Sith lord?"
"What can I say," Fett replied. "I impressed him."
"Hah," Sing chuckled despite the situation. "I find that difficult to believe."
"The only reason you aren't still rotting in some cell deep beneath the earth is because I convinced him you were an asset." Fett replied, unperturbed by her mocking retort. "That I could keep you on a leash until you prove your skills have not ebbed from disuse either mental or physical. He wants Jedi and their allies brought to him alive. No disintegration, he had said. Do you want to make me a liar?"
A click from behind the doorway and another blaster was brought into play, a military grade pistol. It's muzzle pressed against the back of her shaven head. She turned just enough to see what Fett and her two captives could see. That Boba's partner had joined the fray, and it was her blaster aimed point blank for the back of Sing's head. "I would consider Bo's offer if I were you. Because let's face it if his blaster doesn't hit the mark mine will."
Sing's eyes flashed to Fett, then to his partner and then to the two Jedi held in the cage. There was such hatred, such pitch black hatred in her gaze that it felt like they were looking into the very abyss. As suddenly as it came it left and Sing sighed dramatically, raising her hands in mock surrender. "Who am I to challenge the new age of bounty hunters?"
Fett kept his blaster trained on her for a moment more before stepping back and holstering it, nodding to his partner to do the same. He pointed to the detonator kept within one of the pouches of his utility belt. "I will be keeping this."
"You're free to it," Aurra replied dismissively as she turned to leave the prison, flashing a look full of dark intentions at his partner. "Boba boy."
Aayla and Celeste watched as the argument ended. Sing left the chamber, the force coalescing around her in torrential waves of dark anger and hate. Fett and his partner remained for a long moment. The Mandalorian's expressionless helmet turned to regard them before he fished into his belt and raised the detonator. "Her original warning still stands. Try and escape and we will use this."
He turned and left the room, his fellow bounty hunter regarding them for a moment before turning to follow her partner, leaving the two women alone in the dark. Aayla glared at the closed blast doors, and for a moment, just a brief moment, her eyes flashed gold.
Shaak Ti sighed deeply, using the force to quell her troubled thoughts before turning her attention back to the communications console. She was not alone. Her two guards, as well as the entire crew of the Uhumele were all present, listening to the conversation. "You are sure."
"I am." Rahm Kota replied, arms folded within the sleeves of his robes as his holographic image flickered. "Admiral Swell and his fleet are getting desperate, as Master Yoda predicted they would. The Separatists are running low on almost everything you can think off. They're rationing their ammunition, fuel, food and their morale is getting dangerously low. A victory is needed, a place for them to regroup and hold while they refuel and repair. They have decided on Dac."
"I understand that," Shaak Ti replied, massaging her temple. She had not managed to get much sleep recently. "But still sending in the entire fleet, it sounds ludicrous?"
"Mm," Kota grunted. "It does, but that is how desperate they have become. With the Jedi and the Clones all we need to do is move from one place to another and trust upon our allies but when we made a deal with the Separatists we didn't take into consideration the strains and problems with maintaining a fleet of warships for any length of time. The Jedi Council have decided to aide them in this operation."
"So it looks like the original plan is out the window," The Jedi Master muttered, despondent. "We fight."
"We fight," Her fellow Master replied. "The plan was made before they came into the fold and became unfeasible the moment we agreed to ally ourselves with Swell and his fleet. We can run, hide and be patient but they can't."
Six months. It had only been six months since the alliance between the Jedi, Clones and Separatists had been finalised and already the Confederates were struggling to keep their military intact. Shaak Ti agreed with the decision. There was no way they could keep to the original plan and keep the Confederate ships intact at the same time, it was either stick to the plan or watch an important ally slowly deteriorate into nothing, and they needed those ships.
"Which is why you have called me?" The Jedi Master asked knowing it to be true as she looked around her at the crew of the ship she was a guest on. "I accept, but not with this crew. I will not put their lives in danger. I will need to gain a small ship with-"
"With respect Master Ti," Schurk-Heren interceded, hand reaching up to stroke his moustache. "We will continue to be your transport, even as far as Dac."
"We are rebels now, the same as you." Crys Taanzer added, memories of her son safe aboard the Refuge entering the pilots mind. She remained close to former Jedi Dass Jennir's side, hands held tightly with her lover as the beginnings of a bump were becoming visible on her stomach. Her condition had made her argue with the Captain and the entire crew for hours that she was the best pilot they could ask for and, pregnant or not, she would be piloting the freighter. "We will not back off now."
"Yeah," Bomo Greenbark nodded. Images of his own daughter, also safe aboard the Refuge placed him firmly in the same mindset as their pregnant pilot. "I can go with that. But at least two of us will be guarding the mother to be at all times, right?"
Ko Valkier nodded, "Agreed."
"Definitely," Jennir nodded, trying to ignore Taanzer's glare with little success. He turned and met her silent challenge. "If you think I'll be leaving you and our child defenceless you have another thing coming."
"Quite right." The towering Mezgraf nodded in affirmative.
"Guys seriously, stop treating me like an invalid." She sighed, knowing that she wasn't going to get anywhere. "I can still be the pilot."
"That's not the point my dear." The Captain lectured. "You're not just looking after yourself anymore. Your looking after two lives and we need to keep you safe."
"I have been pregnant before." She pointed out.
"And did your husband let you out of the house?" Bomo asked, smirking.
"He was terrified I would slip and hurt myself." She admitted, cursing herself that she couldn't find the ability to lie to her crew. Their laughter only made it worse.
"Would you believe me if I said I was the exact same with Mesa before Resa was born?" Bomo barely managed to reply through his peals of laughter. The pain of his wife's loss may never fade but the crew were glad he could speak her name without giving into despair.
Ever since they heard she was pregnant she had been met with knowing grins and smiles. They knew it was Dass immediately. This was followed by almost unbearable over-protectiveness from the entire crew. It hadn't been much of a problem until she started to show then the lot of them had become a bunch of domineering, panicking nannies.
Bomo had been fetching her warm towels every time she complained about her feet, Valkier had been advising her on the best ways of childbirth... for Bloodcarvers. Mezgrav had made a point of carrying her everywhere after her pregnancy became obvious and Dass had been more affectionate than usual, as in really affectionate and incredibly overprotective and it was really cute because she knew this was his first experience as a father to be and... Force help her. Everyone had recommended that she take it easy and she didn't want too.
"Get used to it my dear," Schurk-Heren added with much amusement. "If there is one thing I've heard about Jedi their word is their bond, and their wisdom is not to be taken lightly even if slightly misplaced. Bomo if you, Meekerdin and Jennir would remain with her on the ship while I, Mezgraf and Valkier accompany Lady Ti and her guards. If you get the signal then disappear."
"Yes Captain." Jennir replied with a nod.
"Force help me Captain," Crys all but whined, five months of babying would do that to the strongest person. "You have kids yourself right? Stop encouraging them!"
"You heard them, Master Kota,"Shaak Ti added, smiling to herself that their entire argument had been captured on the comm. The light-hearted banter had lifted her spirits from the despairing depths she had found herself, such was the bonds shared by this crew. "I don't think I'll need to be worried for protection."
Kota, force bless him, was trying so hard not to burst out laughing. "Understood, Master Ti. I will let the council know you are in good hands."
"If you will, thank you." She allowed, offering a bow which he returned. "Get into contact with our contacts on Dac, and inform them we will arrive within the next few days."
"I will do just that, Kota out."
"That's going to be across the fleet by tomorrow isn't it." Crys asked, face flushed in embarrassment.
"Give us Jedi some credit, Lady Taanzer." Shaak Ti replied, feeling a little mischievous for once. "It will be common knowledge within the next few hours. Us Jedi are notorious gossips."
A groan of despair from the pilot, followed by roaring laughter from everyone else. Even her two guards, recently promoted Jedi Knights Jaina Lancaster and Jhou-Lo Shan couldn't hold back the good-natured smiles. It had been six months of visiting planets, dodging Imperials and meeting potential allies, but Shaak Ti would admit that she had loved her time with this crew of smugglers.
She wished them all the luck in the galaxy.
"Captain, if we can make for Dac with all speed."
"Yes, Lady Jedi."
"You are sure it is them?" Jabba asked, grubby hand fishing out a screaming creature which he threw into his gaping maw with little effort. "I would hate to contact the Empire only to find that we have a few pretenders."
Boba Fett's image flickered as he stood before his employer. The hologram was full sized and it's dim light echoed through the crime lords personal chamber. He spoke to the Hutt in his own language, just as Jabba always did. "I am positive, we have Aayla Secura and Celeste Morne imprisoned. I'm sending images now."
Indeed he did, images of both women flashed into existence and upon studying them the Hutt chuckled, licking his lips. It would be a huge coup for him to get the targets before that degenerate upstart from Black Sun. "Good, good. Bring them back to me unharmed and able to speak. The Imperials will not pay for corpses unless it is the corpse of Naruto Uzumaki himself."
"Understood." Fett replied, nodding his head. "We will arrive in two days."
"Good."
The image of the bounty hunter flickered before cutting out entirely, leaving the Hutt alone in the dark. Jabba was already thumping his throne's control panel with his chubby fingers, and one of his personal guards appeared through the open blast doors. Light spilled into the still dark chamber as the Hutt turned to him. "Contact the Imperial agent. Tell them we have members of Uzumaki's crew."
The Rodian nodded before turning to leave. Half an hour later he was interrupted by a different guard, Trandoshian this time, informing him that an Inquisitor had contacted him and was awaiting his reply. The Hutt opened the comlink and the Imperial agent appeared as a flickering image. His visage half human and the other half mechanical. Jabba had heard of this man, a former apprentice of Darth Vader, perhaps one of the fastest rising stars of the Inquisitorious for his ruthlessness and ability to gain results.
"I hear you have captured a few little birds." Antinnis Tremayne said, forgoing all formalities. Jabba sighed at the man's rudeness, reminiscing at how he missed the Jedi. They were at least respectful if a little sarcastic. "We will be coming to collect them in four days."
"Make sure you bring the reward, Inquisitor." Jabba replied, shutting off the hologram.
"Can we trust him?" Rex asked.
Naruto grit his teeth, "I'm asking myself that question all the time."
"What made you accept his offer?" The Clone asked.
Naruto shrugged, "Desperation, Rex."
They were in the cargo hold of their new allies ship, checking their weapons and trying to take their minds off of what had happened, who was dead and who was missing.
Images of Lowie and Jack's bodies haunted him. The Wookiee had sworn a life-debt to him, would protect his family to the death and Naruto knew that was exactly what he did. He had lived up to his oath, but that didn't make losing him any easier. He had promised the big guy the same, that if he were in trouble he would come. Those hunters had made him break that promise, and that made him all the angrier.
Then he thought of Jack and Seth, two young Jedi he had not known for very long but had inducted into his crew all the same. He remembered the three of them playing Sabaac together, laughing, jeering and grinning at each other as they took him for all he was worth. He had sworn to win back the credits they had taken, another promise which would go unfulfilled for Jack at the least. The more he thought of it the angrier he became, not in a long time had he felt this angry.
He would make them pay dearly.
Naruto tried to calm himself just like Aayla had taught him. He really did, but the more he tried the more terrified for Aayla and Celeste he became. Their faces flashed before his eyes, smiling, laughing and then dark thoughts took over, showing them dead on the deck, eyes wide open, lips parted in silent plea and blood pooling around them.
Rex was much the same. The former Commander had taken to brooding over the last few hours, cleaning and prepping his weapons, whispering to them like a father to a newborn. Yes the loss of some crew and the kidnap of others had left him as terrified as Naruto was. The Clone sighed, hand raised to tap his head several times before turning to his Captain. "We're getting them back."
Naruto offered a wan smile, "Even if we have to walk over a mountain of corpses."
"Don't let the Jedi hear you say that." Rex teased, but it was half-hearted and without any of his usual quip.
There was a sudden lurch, and both looked up from their chores. Naruto frowned as he looked at Rex. "We've exited hyperspace."
"Yeah, I know." Naruto replied, taking one last look at his blaster pistols before placing them in their holsters. "Let's go and see why."
The two did indeed go and see why. They entered the bridge of the AEG-77 Vigo, known as the Etain, only to see Skirata flicking switches and turning on all of the ships defensive and offensive weapons. Naruto and Rex frowned at the Clone before stalking up to the main viewports and looking out into the vastness of space, they soon saw what had caught their new allies attention.
A handful of ships were bearing down on them. In the centre of the formation was a Venator-class Star Destroyer. The command ship of the Clones as well as the primary haven for the Jedi. The Refuge. Alongside them were three Consular-class Cruisers, a single heavily modified Lucrehulk-class Cargo Freighter and a ship he would recognise anywhere in the galaxy, the Morning Star. The Taskforce was already releasing a torrent of fighters from their hangers, all coming right at them.
A Clones voice echoed over the crackling comm. "Identify yourselves or be fired upon."
Naruto grabbed the mic before Atin could, taking a breath before roaring into it. "Identification code Alpha-November-Mike-Foxtrot-6-7-4-1-9!"
A moment of silence before the Clones voice responded. "Copy that, welcome back commander."
It took a few tense moments to relay the stand down order to the approaching fighters, who broke away and regrouped into their squadrons before beginning the return journey to their ships. A handful of Delta-7's surrounded them, the Jedi pilots escorting them to one of the Morning Star's several docking bays.
"Just follow them," Naruto advised Atin quietly. "Nice and slow."
"This isn't the first time I've docked with a ship, Commander." Skirata replied, frowning.
"Really?" Naruto asked, smiling with no mirth. "I couldn't tell."
Atin knew better than to return the quip.
Letting you know that the last chapter wasn't a one off, hopefully I'll have another one up by New Years. This is a proper Merry Christmas everyone.
Just watched the new movie on Tuesday night, and I can say with plenty of confidence that I am proud to be a Star Wars fan again. The new generation merging effortlessly with the old, the passing of the torch and a female character taking centre stage (And doing it well. If Rey had taken my hand in the prequels I would have been much happier) have all made me proud to be a fan of the franchise. If you haven't gone to see The Force Unleashed yet then I implore you to do so. It is that damn good.
Thanks to everyone for leaving a review, all 40+ of you. If you like this chapter leave a review. Tell me if I have done something wrong grammar wise, but know that while I mourn Lowie's death I feel it was necessary for the next few steps of the story.
Once again. Merry Christmas.