Chapter Fourteen: Bane
"Dropping out of hyperspace," Apex announced in the cockpit, my feet up on the dash. I was cleaning my blasters methodically, knowing them inside and out. As the stars stopped speeding by and my ship slowed, I was shocked at the scene before me. My blasters flew to the ground as I gripped my joysticks and yanked them upwards to avoid fire.
A single Republic Star Destroyer was engaging with a small fleet of Separatist ships, my own vessel having emerged right between them.
"Kriff!" I yelled to the empty cockpit as I maneuvered between the blaster fire, my wings practically scraping the edge of the Separatist frigate I dodged. With a fast slap of my hand, my communications opened to the Republic ship. "Opening up the doors would be mighty polite," I called into the open channel.
"Securing the link now," Apex spoke smoothly as he worked his magic.
"Kida." I recognized Skywalker's voice through the comm. "Nice of you to drop in."
I grinned, despite having to dodge another stream of blasts. "Well, you know," I grunted as I yanked the joysticks again. "My invitation got delayed on the HoloNet." The jedi chuckled, which I found rather fascinating. I'd heard about Skywalker's skill in battle, but never actually seen it. I'd lie if I said that the performance of his ship was anything less than impressive. Not to mention that he managed to joke easily-clearly free of any stress-as he faced down a fleet.
"General," another voice chimed in, sounding further from the comm. "We're receiving an urgent transmission from the planet."
"I'll be right there. Kida," Skywalker spoke to me now. "The doors will be open. Come to the bridge when you get in."
"Aye aye," I said, cutting of the comms and focusing on getting out of the firing line and onto the ship. As I raised above the Destroyer, I saw the bay doors opening, as Skywalker had promised. Behind me, another Separatist ship broke apart under fire.
Dozens of clone eyes were cast my way as I landed my dark green shuttle and sauntered out. "Apex," I said under my breath to the comm in my ear. "Shut it down."
"Yes miss." The access ramp lifted immediately as I stepped off it, my shuttle locking down entirely. It wasn't that I thought anyone would take anything. It was more that I knew both Jango and Boba. They were curious souls. And so were the clones.
"Miss Kida," a clone in 501st blue greeted, giving me a salute.
"Kida's fine," I responded. "I'm assuming you're bringing me to the bridge?" He nodded in return, leading me through the varying hallways until I entered through a large door.
"Kida," Skywalker greeted.
"Skywalker. So what's your news on Bane?"
"He's captured Master Ropal already. We're just trying to figure out which ship he's on."
I hummed at his response, the glances from the room not going unnoticed. Ahsoka entered, but she did her best to keep her gaze from mine. I didn't really blame her. I wounded her when I left. For a moment, as my own heart panged, I remembered why I'd left. Still, money was money.
And I wasn't doing this for her or Padme or anyone...I was doing it to protect innocent kids.
I walked to stand behind where Skywalker looked out of the viewports, my eyes scanning the equipment in the room. I cleared my throat as I stepped to a particular monitor to my right, tapping the screen to draw attention to one of the dots that was turning away from the battle zone.
"General," a voice said beside me. "A Separatist command ship is fleeing the battle." The man had a gray uniform, perfectly combed hair, and a brown mustache. An admiral.
"That's Bane," I announced, watching the trooper bring up a visual of the fleeing ship.
"Do you think they have Master Ropal on board as a prisoner?" Ahsoka asked, standing beside me and the approaching Skywalker.
"I'm sure of it," her master said gently to her before turning to the mustached man. "Admiral, intercept them before they can jump to hyperspace. I'll ready the troops for boarding."
The admiral looked shocked. "Boarding? We have no boarding craft."
My eyebrows lifted. "Why not?" I asked the room, but the admiral seemed intent on ignoring me.
"We were prepared to land on the planet. Not to board another ship." Huh. Maybe he didn't mean to answer my question, but he did anyways. "You can't be serious."
My arms crossed immediately at the admiral's sass. Sure, he was high-ranking. But surely Skywalker had proven his worth enough times in the war by then.
"I am, Admiral," the jedi said smugly, seeming more amused than irked at the man's comments. "Thank you for your opinion. Now target their hyperdrive. We don't want them getting away."
The admiral immediately set about organizing the bridge to obey Skywalker's order, the jedi turning and exiting the bridge.
"Glad I came up only to walk back down," I grumbled.
To my surprise, Skywalker chuckled. "Don't worry about Admiral Yularen, by the way."
I lifted my eyebrow as I fell into step with the two jedi. "Why would I?"
He shrugged. "You seemed miffed at him ignoring you."
"I guess it wasn't polite. But it's not the first time I've been treated that way." Skywalker cast me a questioning look, but I just gesturing to myself. "Tis a symptom of the trade."
We walked in silence for a while, but I could feel their minds reeling. Skywalker's with a plan to board Bane's ship. And Ahsoka's with a confusion on how to act towards me. My own mind turned with my own nagging curiosity. I wanted to ask...but I needed to avoid further attachment. Better to leave the question in my mind than to-
"How's Padme?" Dammit.
Skywalker smiled slightly and I felt the small brush of his affection in the force. How in the force did they hide their romance? "Senator Amidala is doing well."
"No thanks to you," Ahsoka grumbled to herself, but she knew full well we could hear. Skywalker glanced at his padawan with a disapproving look, but I sighed.
"She has a point," I admitted. "Still, I thought as jedi that you would understand a need to not make attachments." Of course, I was talking to two jedi who I openly knew had a lot of attachments.
"I know," Anakin responded. "Besides, I think she was keeping you around for your company more than anything else, by the end."
I allowed myself to chuckle. "Why waste Republic credits, right?" It was silent again for a second before Skywalker spoke again.
"She does miss you, though. Even if she doesn't need you anymore. We all do, actually." The jedi smiled at me. "It's nice to have you around again."
I surprised myself with my own natural smile. "Yeah, well...I missed you guys too. And I won't lie, I'm excited to finally actually see you fight, rather than send in your padawan to do all your work."
Finally, Ahsoka laughed. I grinned at her as she finally met my gaze, giving me a little nod.
"Alright alright," Skywalker calmed us as we reached the hangar. Clones filled the area, but the presence of one in particular made my senses peak.
I fell into step with Ahsoka behind Anakin, giving her a nudge with my shoulder. "I heard you took down Cato Parasitti. That's pretty badass."
Despite herself, she grinned, her montrals darkening slightly as she blushed at my praise. "Well, it wasn't enough to stop Bane."
"Maybe not. But it sent us in the right direction."
She didn't say anything as we approached a group of clones, but I could feel that she appreciated my words. Standing at the front of the group, clad in his blue-painted armor, was Rex. I wanted to keep my gaze away, but I could feel his stare from behind his visor. I looked up, fighting away my own blossoming of emotions as I regarded his tall stance. I wasn't sure what terms we'd parted on. Was he like Padme and sad that I'd left? Did he miss me like she did? Or was he like Ahsoka and frustrated that I'd left when he'd only just started to get to know me? Or was he something else entirely? Was he angry with me for not serving the Republic as he did? For not assessing the apparent feelings that floated between us?
I shook away my thoughts as we approached, the clone captain addressing the jedi.
"I've rounded up three brigades, sir," he said formally, his hands clasped behind his back. "Where are we going?"
"We're going to board a Separatist frigate," Skywalker announced, his lips curling in a smile. "Rescue Master Ropal and recover an archive holocron."
"We have no assault craft, sir," Rex hesitantly responded. "Only a couple of fighters and the Twilight." I cast my eyes to Rex's side quickly, seeing another clone I recognized. Denal. His eyes were on me. I gave him a small nod in greeting, which he returned rather discreetly.
Looking back to Skywalker, I saw him cross his arms and glare at Rex. "Waiting for orders, sir," the captain said quickly, straightening up. My eyebrow lifted. I'd rarely seen Rex like that.
"And the plan is?" Ahsoka asked finally, unafraid to defy her master. Anakin gave her the same look, but it didn't work on her. "Just curious," she followed defensively.
I watched as Skywalker looked around the hangar, the wheels in his mind turning. So the answer was that he was still working on a plan. I followed his line of sight, spying walkers. Hmmm…
"I came down to see if I could be of any help, General Skywalker," Admiral Yularen spoke as he walked towards our group.
"Actually, you can," Anakin grinned. "Activate those walkers, Admiral." I let out an audible huff of laughter, shaking my head. It was crazy...but pretty damned smart, too.
"You are not thinking of using those to transport the clones to that frigate," Yularen said, his voice almost tired.
"Well they are pressurized," Ahsoka mused.
"And," Rex jumped in. "They're equipped with magnetic feet." He hummed in approval. "Good call."
"Master," Ahsoka smiled. "You're a genius."
"Those walkers are designed for terrain, not space," the admiral argued.
"Well," I breathed, activating my mask and goggles, my voice becoming automated through the filters. "Now they're for space."
"Rex, load 'em up." Anakin took off towards the walkers, calling over his shoulder to his padawan. "Let's go, Snips." Ahsoka chased after her master immediately, while Rex turned to his men and shouted orders.
"Execute Battalion, take AT-AT 300. Carnivore Battalion, walker 773. Let's go!" The clones took off after their captain, a nudge hitting my elbow.
I turned to see Denal. "Nice to see you again, Kida," he voiced. "Are you joining for the mission?"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world." I ran beside him, watching as he made his way into one of the walkers.
"You coming?" he asked, looking at me over his shoulder as the walkers activated.
"I don't like being in machines I'm not driving," I grinned at him, climbing my way to the top beside a few other clones. To my right, the jedi were also on top of their walker. On my left, Rex and a few of his men mirrored them.
The walkers were moved into place above the hatch, a mechanical arm latching to the top next to where I stood. The jedi donned space walk gear, steadying themselves on their walkers.
"You sure you want to be out for this part?" Skywalker called, partially concerned and partially teasing.
"And let you show off without me?" I called back, hands resting on my blasters. "Dream on."
Ray shields rose around us to protect the hangar as the hatch opened, depressurizing the room.
"Depressurization detected," Apex sounded.
"I noticed," I returned. "Activate temporary oxygen supply."
"Alright men," Skywalker called to the brigades. "Your helmets won't hold for long out here so let's make this a quick one." He received a wave of approving yells before the latches disengaged, the three walkers falling slowly through space towards the disabled Separatist ship.
I braced myself as the magnetic feet pulled us down, the walkers jostling slightly as they made contact. Immediately, they were firing with their cannons, the droids taking only moments to respond. I opened fire with my pistols, picking off smaller droids while the cannons handled the coming vulture droids.
Beside me, the jedi leapt from their walker, soaring through the air before taking out a series of vulture droids. Their sabers sliced through the metal like Nabooian pears.
"I need to get one of those," I mumbled, earning an unexpected chuckle from the clones beside me. I gave them all a nod before leading them off the walker and into a closer fight. It didn't take long for our forces to overwhelm the droids. For a moment, I wondered why the Republic was losing the war, considering how easy this was.
But then, one had to consider that while the droids were certainly stupid...there was an outrageous number of them.
"R2," Skywalker called, the astromech immediately drifting over to an access port. It took him only a few turns before the hatch opened easily.
Smart droid. I understood Skywalker's apparent attachment to him now. A chuckled lowly to myself as I followed the jedi into the ship. Skywalker was one hell of a jedi...but he certainly broke their rules a lot.
The hatch closed behind me, the jedi removing their space-walk suits. "This way," Skywalker voiced as his men gathered. "To the bridge."
"Bane won't be on the bridge," I called, but no one listened. I rolled my eyes, following them anyways as we wreaked havoc through the ship, drawing a beeline to the bridge. They burst through the doors as I sighed, holstering my pistols and walking in easily.
"Don't shoot!" a frightened battle droid called. "I'm not the commander! He-He's the commander." It pointed to a droid beside him, which a clone quickly took out, to my amusement. I leaned casually against the railing as the clones and jedi cleared the room, regarding the last droid with mirth. "Guess I'm the commander now," it said sadly before being shot by a clone.
I grinned, letting out a low chuckle.
"You were helpful," Anakin grumbled, seeing my stance at the side of the bridge.
I shrugged at him. "Hey, I tried to be helpful when I told you he wouldn't be here, but no one listened. You had the destruction part handled," I joked darkly. "I was just trying to be the thinker here."
Anakin scowled at me. "R2, see if you can find Master Ropal." The droid worked on an access port, but I sighed lowly, my eyes downcast.
"Your friend is dead," I said gently. Ahsoka cast me a look, her brow furrowed.
A hologram appeared above R2 as he accessed the memory banks. "One authentic jedi holocron," Bane's recording voiced. "And the memory crystal I was after."
"Oh no," Ahsoka said. "He has both pieces now."
"Rex, send a squad," Anakin ordered. "Lock down the hangar bay and destroy all the escape pods. No one gets off this ship."
"Yes sir."
"R2," Ahsoka said, her worry rippling off her in waves. "You have to find Master Ropal. Hurry!"
I glanced around the room, eyeing the control panels. "I already told you, Ahsoka," I started, the entire ship rumbling suddenly as an explosion sounded.
"What was that?" Rex asked openly as he and his men stopped at the doorway. The ship continued to rumble, all of us floundering for a foothold.
"General Skywalker," Yularen's voice came through the comms. "One of the engines on that frigate has exploded. I caution you to avoid the aft section."
"How much damage is there?" Anakin asked, glancing around the room, eyeing me as I scanned over all the displays.
"I suggest immediate evacuation," the admiral advised
Skywalker sighed. "Not until we get what we came for."
R2 beeped, Ahsoka smiling as he pulled up a map of the cell block, a red dot blinking where the jedi master was being held.
The group moved to run off, but I called after them. "We need to be careful. Bane isn't someone to underestimate. Everything he's done is on purpose."
"What do you mean?" Skywalker asked, his voice hard. Behind him, I could sense the grim feelings of both Rex and Ahsoka.
"I know Bane. He triggered the self destruct," I said, gesturing to a panel behind me. "But no escape pods have gone off. He's not running for a reason."
"Well at least he's not a coward," Rex growled.
"He is a coward," I argued, his frustration with me clearly rippling through the force. So he wasn't happy with my leaving. Wonderful. "He's not running because he needs something. And I'm willing to bet it's one of you." I pointed to Anakin and Ahsoka.
"He has Master Ropal," Ahsoka responded quickly. "And we need to find him."
"Right," Skywalker said, nodding his head at me. "Walk and talk, kid, let's go." I sighed deeply, but followed the group as we raced to the cell blocks.
"Anakin," I said gently as we stopped, the group searching the area for droids. "Your friend is likely gone. I'm sorry. But Bane is setting a trap for you. He needs you to open the holocron for him, I know it."
"How do you-"
"Master!" Ahsoka's despaired call turned our heads to where she stood down the hall. She had opened a cell door, her face horrified. "I found him."
Skywalker cast me a shocked glance before racing to his padawan's side. He looked sad. "Rex," he said softly. "Have some men take Master Ropal back to the Resolute."
"We might not be able to find the holocron in time, Master," Ahsoka said sadly. "But if it's destroyed with the ship, Nute Gunray won't get it either."
"Maybe," her master breathed. "But I'd rather return it to the library personally."
"Besides," I chimed in as a few clones entered the cell. "Bane won't die on this ship. He's slimy like that." The group seemed skeptical. "Trust me," I pushed. "I've tried to kill him myself before and it's pretty hard to keep me from killing someone."
The ship shook again, the lights going out. I glanced up, my mind racing. What was he planning?
"Come on, R2," Ahsoka said lowly. The droid turned on his flashlight, leading the group. I followed in the darkness, my night vision activating in my goggles.
"How did you know?" Anakin asked softly as we walked. While the conversation was between us, all ears were turned our way.
"It's like I said," I explained tiredly. "I know Bane. He's ruthless."
He hummed gently. "So what else should I know?"
"He needs you to open read the crystal. He's setting a trap." R2 let out a series of beeps as we rounded a corner.
"R2 says we're close," Anakin translated for the group. "Stay sharp."
"Bane is a bit of a control freak and he thinks of everything," I chimed in. "He likely has full control of this ship via his wrist gauntlet."
"Then we'll be careful," Ahsoka mumbled, her teeth teasing her lip nervously.
Behind us, I heard a sharp thunk, followed by a sound I'd only rarely heard. A clone...yelling 'yow.' I turned, my eyebrow raised as I saw Rex turn to his men, standing suspiciously close to a low-hanging pipe.
"Switch to night vision," he ordered. They all obeyed while I let out a small, amused chuckle, despite myself.
R2 was letting out low beeps of nerves. I liked the droid. He reminded me of Apex, in a less aggressive way, of course.
A figure raced across our path, flashing in and out of the droid's flashlight.
"There!" Anakin exclaimed, leading the group racing down the hall. We chased after Bane as he opened a door.
"Careful, Skywalker," I warned as I ran beside him. "He's corralling us to his trap." The jedi understood, but what were we supposed to do other than spring it?
The door opened to a large hangar, cloaked in darkness. The lights flickered back to life, revealing a small army of droids, Bane standing before them. He looked rather smug.
"Welcome, jedi," he announced. "We've been expecting you." His tone was rather business-like. Always to the point… "Kida," he added, glancing at me below his wide-brimmed hat. "You're a welcome surprise."
"I can't say it's mutual," I growled back, aiming my pistols at him as our group stood silently.
Bane cast me a dark grin before drawing his own blaster. "Kill them!" he ordered, the droids immediately opening fire. We returned it, the jedi racing forward as the sharp sounds of Bane's guns echoed off the walls. "Let's make this a bit more interesting," the bounty hunter said with a chuckle, turning to his gauntlet.
I watched him closely from behind the jedi, seeing his heels turn slightly before he said, "Lock down!"
"No gravity!" I yelled in warning a split second before Bane deactivated it. We lifted into the air, the separatist forces still advancing as easily as before.
"Magnetics," Denal said in the air beside me. "You were trained for this!" His words seemed to inspire his men, but it didn't apply to me. Around me, whatever clone could reach a surface was attaching his boots to it.
I shot off a few blasts before aiming my own wrist gauntlet at the ground, a grapple firing from it to attach to the ground. I pulled myself down, hooking the cord to my belt to keep me hovering a few inches off the ground. I wouldn't have much mobility, but I could dodge side to side at least.
"R2," Ahsoka yelled to the astromech as she blocked blaster fire in the air. "Turn the gravity back on!" The little droid rocketed off it try and help.
I kept firing in the fight, my eyes switching between Bane's confident stance and the massive cannon shells that lined the hangar walls. As I thought about the danger of them, a clone magnetized to the ceiling blasted a droid into one of the holding pins, releasing a shell. It floated through the battlefield, Rex spying it, too.
"Check your fire!" he warned to his men. "Hit one of those shells and this fight is over for all of us!"
Denal grappled to the ground beside me, joining as we worked to whittle down the onslaught of droids. Anakin and Ahsoka were behind Bane, taking out his forces. I watched as the Duros dodged my fire and repeatedly shot down clones.
"Skywalker!" I yelled, not wanting to let Bane pick off more troops. "Focus on Bane, not the droids!"
The jedi turned and gave me a look, but proceeded to pursue Bane nonetheless. In moments, he was behind the bounty hunter, blocking one of his shots and dealing him a hard kick to the chin.
Finally. He deserved that and more.
The holocron floated from Bane's grasp, Anakin reaching for it, when the gravity reengaged. Everyone fell hard to the floor. I ripped the cable from my belt, seeing the clones, jedi, and bounty hunter all sprawled on the ground. Racing forward, Bane snatched up the holocron, moving to draw his pistol again.
I swept down, kicking out the back of his knees. Of course, he was far from an inexperienced fighter, easily rounding to punch at my face. I blocked him, dealing one back that I'd been longing to do for a long time. Behind him, as I grappled with Bane for the holocron, Anakin found his feet. My eyes flicked to see the jedi rise, Bane taking the moment to pistol whip my cheek.
Thankfully, the mask I still wore took most of the hit, flying off my face under the impact in order to try and brush the strike off. Still...my brain was pretty rattled as I stumbled sideways.
While I struggled to refocus my vision, Bane fired at Skywalker, who easily blocked it, before racing through the clones and back through the door we entered from. On his way, he fired up at the clone still magnetically locked to the ceiling, cracking the metal and sending him pungling down. Anakin caught him with the force as Bane raced out.
"I'll get him, Master," Ahsoka yelled as she rushed past us to pursue the Duros.
I opened my mouth to warn her as I wiped the blood from my split cheek and ran after her, but Anakin beat me to it. "Ahsoka, wait!" he cried, still preoccupied with bringing the clone to the ground safely. "It's a trap!"
He followed me, Bane casting a sly smile over his shoulder to me before pressing a button on his gauntlet.
"Ahsoka wait!" Anakin cried as he gained on me, using the force to push him. The door began to close in front of me. "We'll take him together!"
It was too small of an opening when I reached it, watching the young Togruta round the corner after Bane. Skywalker appeared beside me as it closed, immediately shoving his lightsaber into the door. I turned and watched our backs, taking out droids with the clones.
A battle droid fell, shooting the fallen cannon shell directly. It erupted, sending the clones closest to it hurtling backwards. The ceiling began to cave, crushing the droids.
"Skywalker!" I yelled, making him turn to see the danger. I backed towards the door to be beside him as he raised his hands above his head. The ceiling turned to debris as it fell towards us swiftly, and while the jedi was able to slow it slightly so it didn't crush me immediately, he couldn't stop how much it damned hurt.
We both fell to the ground, debris pushing on our backs as my head took yet another hard hit. As my vision grew fuzzy yet again, I reached out in the force to find both Skywalker and Rex alive. Good.
It was my last thought before I succumbed to the darkness.
Author's Note:
As always, thank you to my readers/reviewers. Your comments are always welcome and appreciated.
Now some answers to some questions from a wonderful reviewer:
"I'd have thought Cody to be a bit more of a stiff no? Or is it because of Kira's history he's easy around her?
And if possible to answer this spoiler-free, what will take a bigger role, Kira's connection to Fett or her Sith ancestry?"
Psst... it's 'Kida!'
I elected to make Cody a bit less stiff around Kida because of how well she interacts with the clones, as well as her connection to Jango. In addition, clones are usually somewhat ignored by a lot of people (electing to focus on the jedi present) so they respect her for offering it to them, too. Finally, net'ra gal (or black ale) is a fan favorite of Mandalorian warriors.
As far as the spoiler-free answer, both Kida's Sith ancestry and connection to Fett will play roles in the story...rather equally actually. She's got a pretty in-depth story to tackle here so let's do this thing.
-Ryder