Chapter Twenty-Seven: Hostages

I was jerked awake by a hard punch to the face, pain blossoming on my cheek. I winced, gritting my teeth and spitting out the blood pouring from the cut forming in my mouth.

"Bitch," I growled lowly, pulling against the bindings that kept my wrists secure behind my back. Aurra knelt down to my level, smirking.

"I'm actually glad you happened to be aboard Windu's ship. You'll fetch a nice price, especially now that you're working for the Republic."

"Like Jabba would let you do that," I spit. "Despite my current status in the war, Jabba still likes me a hell of a lot more than he likes you."

Her jaw shifted as she scowled, hitting me hard across the face again. I felt a cut open up above my left eyebrow, near where one of my scars already resided. Warm blood trickled down my temple and along my jaw.

"Maybe," Aurra allowed. "But Count Dooku would pay well for you."

I clenched my jaw as the sound of speeders approached outside of Slave I. She stood, peering outside with a dark glimmer in her eye.

"Boba," she called into the cockpit. "Get outside. Your trap is set." The young boy emerged, his eyes averted from my bruising form.

"Boba," I tried to get his attention. "Don't do this. I know you're angry, but killing the jedi isn't going to bring your father back!"

Aurra delivered me a harsh kick to the ribs, silencing me as it became difficult to breathe. But, I felt Boba's hesitation before he exited the ship, now clad in an outfit more suited for a bounty hunter. I was glad he decided to follow in his father's footsteps...but I wasn't stoked at how he was going about doing it.

Of all hunters...he had to choose Aurra Sing. The backstabbing, disloyal bitch he'd heard me complain about to Jango all the time. Then again, Jango didn't have any real quarrel with him. But it's not like she was anyone's friend, either.

She'd turn anyone in for a case of good credits.

"I advise you not to try and turn him against me," Aurra said, her pale face leaning close to my own. "He's mine. He listens to me, because I actually care."

"Bullshit," I hissed. "I know you don't give a damn about him. You're just using him."

"Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, I'm doing for him what you've failed to do."

"Corrupting him? Turning him into a criminal? He's just a boy!"

"Giving him justice!"

I'd made her lose her cool. Perfect. I kicked out my foot hard, sending her careening backwards. A swing of my legs got me up to my knees, letting me barrel forward into her, shoulder first. It certainly didn't feel good, especially with my arms tied behind my back, but I doubt it felt good for her either.

I grappled as best I could with her long limbs, but she quickly swung her sniper around her body, beating me in the temple with the butt. I could have sworn I travelled at light speed, the stars in my vision were moving so fast.

She kicked me in the diaphragm, my back hitting the wall as I gasped. Pulling me back upright, her eyes were dark, her nose crinkled in anger. "I can't have you going around and doing that this whole time, can I?" she mused, drawing out a knife from her belt.

I struggled against her to no avail, my mind still spinning from the hit to the head. "What are you doing?" I asked, watching her as she tapped the short knife against the armor plates on my chest.

"Don't worry. I won't kill you. Yet." She slid the blade between the plates of armor and between my ribs. I cried out, feeling the hot burning of blood as she pulled it back free. "Try not to overexert yourself," she advised darkly. "Or talk too much. Too much bleeding and you'll die. Or your lungs could collapse. Depending on the situation. Of course," she muttered as I panted, trying to relax myself. I knew where she'd stabbed me. It was a place commonly used by bounty hunters against unruly humanoid captives. It forced someone to be rather complacent, under the threat of imminent death if the heart rate went to high or one moved too much. "Dooku would likely pay for you dead, too. So I don't really care if you die or not."

She pulled a rag from her pocket, tying it tightly around my head, gagging me. "Now be a good girl and come meet our other guests."

She pulled me up harshly, knowing full well the movement would hurt like hell. I groaned, doing my best not to cry out, and let her drag me outside of Slave I.

We were on Vanqor, the smoking remains of the Endurance looming in the distance. Aurra pushed me down to a sitting position against the ship's side, my head turning to see Admiral Killian, Commander Ponds, and a navigation officer I didn't know. They were all tied and gagged as well.

Bossk glanced at me, but said nothing. We'd done some jobs before. I didn't have anything against the Trandoshan...until now, of course. Bastard didn't seem to mind at all that I was going to be sold off.

I wished Embo or Sugi were on this team. They'd have helped me.

Then again, I was glad they weren't helping Boba behind my back. Silver linings...silver linings.

A loud, rumbling explosion echoed from the Endurance, making all of us look up. The bridge was a ball of smoke, the end of it hanging lower than usual, practically ready to tear away from the rest. Bossk climbed up the mass of rocks to stand beside Aurra, Boba, and a Klatooinian I didn't know the name of. I recognized him, but had never actually worked with him before.

"Mace is dead," Aurra announced darkly to Boba, who was watching the bridge with electrobinoculars. "Are you happy now?"

"I want to make sure he's dead," Boba growled, walking back towards us.

Aurra seemed annoyed, hopping down from the rocks. "There's nothing left of Windu to find, Boba." I glanced sideways at Killian, knowing we were both putting the pieces together in our heads. They'd laid a trap for Windu on the wreckage of the Endurance...it seemed he sprung it.

"I want to get off this planet now," the Klantooinian declared, his voice gravelly. "This place is crawling with gundarks and besides, we have these hostages to drag along with us now."

Aurra stopped as the four bounty hunters watched us. "This extra baggage will fetch us a hefty sum from the Separatists."

"Well, it's a lot of trouble for not enough payout if you ask me." I watched the unnamed hunter closely. I could feel his flakiness through the force. He was the one most likely to cause infighting. Maybe that was the way out of this mess.

Boba threw down his binoculars angrily. "You haven't even done anything!" he yelled. "I've taken all the risks."

The Klantooinian grabbed Boba by the neck, raising his clawed hand to strike. My heartrate escalated in fear for my little brother, despite said little brother being a huge piece of osik right now. "Quiet, runt!"

Aurra immediately drew her pistol aiming it at the bounty hunter, making him groan in exasperation. "I wouldn't do that." The Klantooinian released the young boy. I made a mental note to kick his ass for laying a grimy finger on my brother.

Of course, I'd likely also kick Boba's ass, but that was different.

"Count Dooku will pay us well, if we bring back the jedi's head," Boba insisted. He had a point, but I could tell that his insistence had nothing to do with money. He wanted to be sure. Realistically, one explosion had failed to kill Windu. It was likely the skilled jedi could escape another.

Still, I felt distress in the force. Something was wrong, but I couldn't tell what. Not yet. Maybe if I had a moment of quiet, I could concentrate enough without overexerting myself. Bleeding out on this damned planet wouldn't be a good thing, after all.

"Dooku might pay us for killing Windu," Aurra mused, thinking over Boba's words. "Then we're looking at a profit. The Klantooinian groaned again. "Now relax. Boba is right. To get paid, we need proof of Windu's death. And if we killed Skywalker, we can ask for double."

"Double?" the disgruntled bounty hunter repeated eagerly.

"Yes, but we need proof. Bossk," Aurra commanded. "Take care of our guests while we're gone."

The three hunters sped away, leaving Bossk's towering form looming over us. I watched him warily for a moment before closing my eyes slowly, leaning back against Slave I's hull. I wasn't sure if what I was going to attempt was even possible. If it was, I didn't know if I was powerful enough, or knowledgeable enough in the force to do it.

I wanted to break loose. Break the bindings like I had on Grievous' ship. But then I'd have to face Bossk. For the record, Trandoshans are not easy targets to take down. And I, for one, had a rather serious stab wound that would both slow me down and likely kill me should I engage in any long-term fighting.

So for now, I searched in the force to try and find Skywalker and Windu. After a moment, I found them. Injured. Aboard the Endurance. Skywalker was awake, but weak. Windu wasn't even conscious.

I debated trying to speak to Skywalker, but he didn't know anything about my past. But Windu wasn't awake… would that even work?

"Windu," I tried, pushing the thought towards him through the force. I felt his mind stir, even though his body didn't. "Mace, can you hear me?"

"I hear you," his thoughts echoed back. "Kida?"

"Thank the force, you're alive," I breathed in our minds, already feeling the exhaustion from using the force in this way. "I need to be quick. This isn't easy and I'm injured."

"There was...an explosion." He was confused, still not seeing the situation he was in.

"Yes. Boba's trap."

"So it is Boba Fett?"

"He was hiding amongst the clone cadets, yes. I should have noticed sooner. I knew something was wrong. He is coming for you. With Aurra Sing and another hunter I don't know. They want your head."

"You need to send help," he said more firmly, his body beginning to awaken, making it harder for our connection to last.

"I wish I could," I sighed. "But I, along with Admiral Killian, Ponds, and another soldier are all prisoners of Aurra and her gang. I can't help you. You guys need to get out of there. Quickly. And, when you can," I added, feeling our connection fading. "Send someone to come get us. I'd rather not bleed out as a prisoner on my father's ship."

His response was warbled by us losing connection as he awoke. Well, he certainly knew that I was in touch with my force abilities now. I panted hard, opening my eyes, becoming aware of the sweat covering my face and stinging the cut above my brow with the salt. My side was aching, the shirt beneath my armor warm and sticky with my blood.

Bossk had moved back to the cliffside to watch over the Endurance from afar, leaving us prisoners alone. Still, escape wasn't really in the book of plays, right now. That was impossibly frustrating.

"Kida," an accented whisper called quietly. I turned my head to see that Killian had wiggled his gag free. "Are you alright?" I nodded, breathing heavily. It probably wasn't very convincing, considering the worried look they all gave me. Still, Killian let it slide, sighing lowly. "They executed the crew," he lamented, his thoughts shifting between anger and sadness. "And now the generals are likely dead as well."

I shook my head, casting a glance towards Bossk's back to make sure we were still having a private conversation.

Killian lifted his brow. "I appreciate your optimism, but-"

I shook my head again, grunting into the rag. I wished I could pull my down as well, but Aurra had tied it excessively tight. I grunted again, trying to communicate that I knew Windu was alive.

"How can you be sure?" Somehow, Killian understood me.

I mumbled, "I'm sure," through the rag as best I could.

"Hey," the hissing voice of the Trandoshan made me jump, a low groan pouring from my mouth at the movement. "No talking," Bossk commanded, pulling Killian's gag back into place roughly. "Back on board!"

He stooped, pulling the three crew members together and dragging them around the side of the ship to the gangway. He left them there in a heap, pulling me cruelly to my feet. I groaned, tears threatening to spill from my eyes as my body complained, my side aflame with hot pain. He forced me to walk up the gangway-more limp and drag myself, than anything else-while he pulled the other captors up.

"Bossk," Aurra's voice came through the comms harshly. "Fire up Slave I. We're going to blast what's left of this ship to pieces."

Bossk stopped, pulling his comms from his waist, his back to me. "I'll be ready when you arrive."

Despite my better judgement, I turned, barreling myself into Bossk's back. He tripped over the other captives, rolling into the dusty ground of Vanqor. I knelt as best I could, trying to help Ponds to his feet. We managed it, but Bossk was far too strong and too fast.

He threw Ponds sideways off the gangway, the clone commander hitting the ground hard. His taloned hand swiped at me, glancing off my Mandalorian armor. On his second try, Bossk clamped down over my shoulder, his razor sharp nails digging into my skin.

I cried out, kicking weakly, but we both knew he'd beaten me as he lifted me off the ground by my shoulder. He walked forward, tossing me inside, before collecting the rest. I panted hard against the wall, aware of more blood now finding new ways to leave my body.

"A valiant effort," Killian mumbled, his gag half-off again. Bossk walked by us, shoving us against the wall as the scanner of the ship beeped.

"What was that?" Aurra's voice growled through the comms.

Bossk hissed, his tongue dancing along his teeth. "Scanners picked up an explosion. Near where the jedi landed."

"Jam any communications off this planet!" I could hear Aurra's worry in her voice, even if she tried to hide it with anger. I hoped it was Windu getting out of the wreckage, but I couldn't check. For now, I had to focus on not dying since I took yet another beating and my stab wound wasn't super fond of it.

The four of us against the wall watched Aurra, Boba, and the Klanooinian board, stashing away the speeders before congregating in the cockpit. As we took off, Aurra came back to drag me into the cockpit with them, a jedi starfighter flying before us through the viewport.

"You're a friend of the jedi's aren't you?" she whispered in my ear, shoving me to my knees. "Then watch as we kill him." Boba leapt into the turret seat, trying to shoot down Windu's fighter as Bossk maintained the ship's controls.

They chased the fighter across the side of the massive frigate, blowing new holes into it. Weirdly, despite my depleted energy and ability to use the force, I could tell that there was no living being in the fighter. It occured to me that it was likely R2, trying to send out a distress call.

Smart little droid.

We passed the bridge, Slave I pursuing the fighter up and out of the atmosphere. Anakin and Mace were somewhere down there still. Hurt, but alive...for now.

"Hold it steady," Boba growled, watching the aiming mechanism with determination.

"You've knocked out his communications," Bossk hissed, the side of the starfighter smoking.

"The rings," the unnamed hunter said. "Mark 3-5. They're powering up!"

"If we can take out the rings, he'll be trapped," Aurra surmised, giving me a devious smile.

"Which one?" Boba asked, both rings appearing on his screen. It seemed R2 was approaching between the two. The droid never ceased to amaze me.

"Destroy them both!" Aurra yelled, leaning over my brother's shoulder.

"We can't get in range," Bossk argued. "You get one shot at this, kid." I watched out the viewport warily, seeing R2 vere towards the right. I smirked, knowing no one was watching me. He would go for the left, smart little droid. He, like his master, was rather cunning.

"I've got you, Windu," Boba growled, firing on the right ring. To his credit, he destroyed the ring, but R2 was too clever, swinging back around to connect with the one on the left. "No!" Boba cried out, seeing the jedi starfighter jump away.

"Well, there goes a fortune," the Klanooinian yelled. "Nice work, kid!"

Boba's face was dark, his thoughts ever darker, as Bossk called back from the pilot's seat. "What's our next move?"

"Right. Well this has gone well." The unnamed bounty hunter really was annoying, despite the possibility that he could spell the group's downfall in my favor. "Windu will be back here with a fleet. He'll hunt us down," he worried.

"Don't count on it," Aurra returned, glancing at me again. "The jedi don't carry grudges." She stepped past me, opening the door to reveal the other captives. "But I have ways of...motivating him. We'll make Windu come to us next time. On our terms." I met Killian's worried gaze, sweat beading on my face from keeping myself upright. Man, I really shouldn't have tried to take on Bossk.

Aurra shoved me back into place with the other captives before turning back to her band of hunters. "Now let's get out of here," she commanded. "I want to regroup."

As Bossk engaged the ship's hyperdrive, Boba leaned over his seat, looking back at us. He did his best to keep his expression steely, but I could see the worry when his eyes scanned my face. I wouldn't lie, my worry matched his. I'd had some bad situations, but this one seemed rather ominous. I wouldn't last long without medical help.

If Aurra took too long-or the Republic, for that matter-I'd be delivered to Dooku dead rather than alive.

I leaned back as the door between us and the cockpit closed again, bathing us in a dim red light. Commander Ponds knelt beside me, nudged my shoulder gently. He gave me a small nod, which I did my best to return.

As time passed, however, I became more slumped, pushing myself backwards off of my knees to lean entirely against the metal wall. I was doing my best to stay conscious, Ponds thankfully helping by giving me nudges whenever my eyes would begin to close. He knew as well as I that if I allowed myself to sleep, I may not wake up.

Suddenly, the door hissed open, revealing Boba. I could feel his conflict without even reaching out in the force. He knelt before Admiral Killian, gently pulling his gag away.

"This isn't what I wanted," my brother admitted softly, looking down at the ground. Killian was silent as Boba gave him some water. My expression softened while I looked at him. Sure, he was being ridiculous right now, but I understood his anger. I held it for a while too. Maybe even still did, on some level.

But no matter what he did, he'd always be that pudgy little boy who ran down the bright halls of the cloning facility to give me one of my first hugs.

"You don't have to do this," Killian said gently. "You're not like them. I can tell."

"What do you know, old man?" Boba asked harshly. I smirked slightly under my gag. Boba was young, but he had certainly learned my disdain for authority.

"I know a good soldier when I see one." Killian kept his voice even.

"I'm no soldier!" Boba was angry now. "I'm no clone! Not like those two! What?" He cried at the navigation officer. "What are you looking at?!"

"Boba," Aurra's voice said, hyper-gentle for someone like her. She stood in the doorway, watching the young hunter. "What's going on?"

"Nothing," Boba spit, yanking Killian's gag back into place. Aurra smirked at the room while Boba backed away from us. "What are we going to do with them?" he asked, his eyes cutting to me only briefly.

"Oh," she said, leaning forward to drag her fingers down Killian's face. "I think our friends here are finally going to prove useful." She pulled back, slapping Killian hard.

I flinched for him as Aurra kept hitting him, the older man letting out pained grunts. I found some strength in my own defiance, pushing myself from the wall to glare at the Palliduvan. I shook my head endlessly, grunting against my gag.

"What?" she asked, turning to me. "Haven't you had enough?" She struck me across the face, sending me falling back into the wall. Yanking down my gag, she put her face close to mine, hissing, "Stop trying to act like you're some hero. You're not!"

I spit in her eye, making her reel back. "I know," I growled. "But at least I'm not a sick shab like you!"

Her long fingers wrapped around my side, her thumb pushing at where she'd stabbed me. I cried out, squirming as blood oozed out over her hand. "Don't act all high and mighty, Kida," she growled. "You're nothing. You let the only father you knew die and you use his name like you deserve it. Even your own brother hates you!" She gestured to Boba, who looked horrified, his eyes wide as he saw the pain in my face.

Aurra dropped her head, her lips beside my ear so no one else could hear. "He's mine, Kida. And there's nothing you can do to change that. You failed." She stood to full height, her hand releasing my wound. I would have sighed in relief if I felt any better. To be honest, she may have removed the knife in my side, but it now felt like a sizeable one was in my chest.

Had I really failed Boba?

"Get them together, Castas," she commanded, finally giving me a name for the Klanooinian. "It's time we sent the jedi a message."

Castas dragged us all into a line, putting me between Ponds and Killian. Boba and Aurra stood behind us, pistols in hand. The comms engaged, the message broadcasting to the Republic. I did my best to look like I wasn't dying. I wasn't sure if it was convincing or not.

"Mace Windu," Boba said behind me as Aurra yanked down Ponds' gag beside me, leaving us the only two who could speak. Still, I had no ability to do so as my side burned enough to nearly topple me over, if it weren't for my shoulder leaning heavily on the admiral. "You were lucky to escape," my kid brother continued, aiming his pistol at the back of Ponds' head. "Your friends here, were not so fortunate."

"Until you face Boba," Aurra jumped in, giving Ponds a kick. "They will be killed. One at a time. What's your name?" she spit. Ponds didn't respond, looking defiantly at the comms unit. "Name!" Aurra gave him another hard kick.

The commander grunted. "CT-411," he growled lowly, not giving them the right to say the name his brothers gave him.

Aurra sighed, giving a grunt of disgust. "Pathetic. Boba, do it." My heart beat hard in my chest, my head turning to make eye contact with Ponds. He was a good man. Why did it have to be him? His deep brown eyes hid his fear well. He knew what was coming. It was almost like he was trying to reassure me, rather than the other way around. "Boba," Aurra hissed when no shot came. I saw the barrel of Boba's blaster shake, before he pulled it away, unable to execute Ponds.

I thought for a moment that the man was safe. I should have known better.

Aurra aimed quickly and pulled the trigger, sending the clone sprawling into my lap. "Ponds!" I cried out, my voice scratchy and weak from my wound. He was dead.

"Only three to go, Windu," Aurra threatened, tapping her pistol against my head. I felt Boba's anxiety spike at the mention of Aurra executing me, but he didn't show it on his face. "Come and find us. We'll be waiting."

The comms cut off, Castas pulling Ponds off of me to eject him out of the airlock. We were brought back to the back room, my mouth closed tightly to keep me from saying anything that would get anyone else killed.

I knew Aurra wouldn't kill me. Out of the three of us left, I would fetch the highest price. If Windu showed up, they'd kill him and then bring us both to the Separatists. The jedi likely knew that. Would they come for us? The men beside me knew what war was. They knew the risks. Knew their duties.

But was I ready to make that sacrifice play? I wondered if Killian's thoughts about my moral standings were right or not.

The door hissed open as Boba entered, Aurra immediately lunging for him in the red-lit room. "Next time I tell you to pull the trigger," she growled, shoving him against the closed door. "You do it!"

She said nothing else, stepping away to let him clutch his shoulder. He followed meekly, glancing at us with an attempt at a brave face before they entered the cockpit. The door closed behind them, but I could feel the disgruntled nature of the room.

Boba was afraid. Confused. Angry. But mostly afraid. Sad, even. He didn't want to kill innocent people. Besides, I'm sure it was hard for him to kill people with the same face as his father.

Castas was finally falling into his role, doubting everything. His dedication to the job was gone. I hoped that he could provide us with an opening. Though, as time passed, I doubted if I could take the chance to get out. I was getting weaker by the minute.

But maybe the Admiral and navigation officer could get away.

Speaking of, Killian was mumbling to me behind his gag, trying to get it off his face to no avail. I settled my eyes on the gag, letting my mind go still. I pushed away the pain and worry for both our lives and for Boba, concentrating only on the rag.

A small jerk of my head pulled his gag down his chin. His gray brows shot up in surprise. "How did you-"

"Does it matter?" I asked breathlessly, leaning back against the wall in pain.

"No, I suppose not. How are you doing?"

"As well as one can be with a nice stab wound in my side." I was trying to crack a joke, but I really wasn't doing well. I stared at the door to the cockpit, feeling us shift into hyperspace. "I'm sorry about Ponds."

"So am I," Killian responded softly. "But you can't blame yourself, Kida."

"Can't I? I didn't even recognize my own brother."

"He's a clone, sharing the same face as all the other cadets."

I shook my head sadly, still staring blankly at the door. "I could always tell him apart when we lived on Kamino. I always knew. I think a part of me knew, even on the Endurance. I knew there was something about him, but I kept telling myself it was impossible. That there was no chance it was Boba."

"Perhaps it's a lesson to trust your instincts next time."

I huffed a laugh, wincing immediately. "Right. Next time." Killian's eyes looked over me quickly, examining the blood that was beginning to paint my chest armor before looking at my face again.

"You should rest," he said gently. "I'll be right beside you to make sure you don't stop breathing. But you need to let yourself heal as much as it can." I raised my eyebrow at him. "I won't have you dying on me, soldier," he said, his voice more like the admiral I knew him to be. "That's an order, understand?"

I smiled gently, closing my eyes. "Yes, sir."

MANDO'A

Shab- fuck

Osik- shit

Author's Note:

Im excited for these next moments in the story (since we know they go to Florrum). Yay for interactions with both Boba and Hondo!

In addition, chronologically, ARC TROOPERS takes place shortly after this arc, which I'm incredibly excited to have Kida be a part of.

As always, likes/shares/reviews are welcome!

-Ryder