Chapter Seventy-Three: Kidnapped

I had barely returned to Coruscant before we were shipped out again. The briefing of the 501st had finally ended while I battled Pre Vizsla, freeing the clones to enter yet another battlefield. I guess I got what was coming to me, trying to take a vacation amongst everything happening.

I'd barely gotten a moment with Rex before I was stolen away for my own briefing. Most of it was through Anakin and Obi-wan, but Ahsoka managed to get me alone after. She grilled me about Lux, her emotions shifting rather wildly…especially for a Jedi that wasn't allowed to have attachments. Still, I only teased her gently about it and assured her that Bonteri was just fine.

Stupid, but fine.

Now we were entering the atmosphere of a planet called Kiros, where the inhabitants seemed to be in danger. Supposedly the Torgrutas who had migrated there for a pacifist lifestyle were making a deal with Dooku for continued peace. Apparently Master Yoda was concerned that their deal would not be in their favor.

As the troop transport rocked gently, as we were met with no resistance, I wondered if the Jedi really knew that these people were in danger. Sure, I would never put it past Dooku to be a jagyc'kovid, but surely the Separatist leaders wouldn't allow it.

Then again, Dooku had managed to fool them into thinking he's a good man, rather than a torturer who was corrupted by the darkness.

Still, did the Togrutas even ask for our involvement?

We were only bringing the war to peaceful folk.

I shifted uncomfortably on my speeder bike, which the boys had painted with 501st blue accents for me. The gunship came to rest inside the barren city street, the back hissing open to let me out. Ahsoka was gunning for Anakin, her turret decorated with an enraged rancor face. It was a good choice, as I'd seen an angry rancor in action on Tatooine, and that wasn't something people hoped they'd face down one day.

On my other side, Obi-wan navigated his speeder out of another gunship, Rex at his side on the turret. Behind us, groups of solo speeders like me and clones on AT-RTs formed up, ready to face the droids that surely awaited us ahead.

As we moved through the city at a steady pace, the hair on the back of my neck began to raise. Something….familiar was here. There was a dark, foreboding feeling in the air, making my skin rise in goosebumps.

"Anybody else think it's too quiet?" Ahsoka asked, seeming to sense how the place felt...off. "I haven't seen any colonists."

"They're probably hiding," Anakin dismissed as Obi-wan sped up to match our speeds.

"Let's hope they stay hidden," he called over Rex. "It makes our job easier if we don't have to worry about them in battle.

A spark of worry formed in Rex's mind. "I don't like it," he admitted, his gaze casting to mine briefly. "The clankers have never been shy about using civvies as living shields." I felt his heartache beneath his controlled demeanor.

"I'm sure they're here somewhere," Anakin assured." Let's make for the city center." He pushed his speeder a bit faster, leading our group through the twisting turns of the artistic city. It was beautiful, really, the structures filled with long arches and striking colors. We were getting close to the tower that marked the city's center when we were met with commandos on speeders of their own.

"Biker droids!" Ahsoka announced, "Dead ahead!"

Anakin responded immediately. "Squad, tighten up! Form on me." The droids opened fire, blowing a clone's speeder to shreds.

I clipped my bike around the edge, nearly tearing the gas line off. Ahsoka's dual sabers ignited before me as I stayed in formation behind them, the young Jedi shielding her troops as best as she could. I ducked out from behind briefly to fire my own turrets, nailing a droid's bike head on. It exploded in a spectacular flame, sending debris into the droids around him.

In a flash, we were passing by each other, the droids weaving between us easily. A few were caught in the path of lightsabers, but some made it through our group. I heard a soldier scream, followed by a crash. Whipping my head around, I saw the droids had turned around after passing us, and had slammed one of our men from his speeder.

"Behind us!" I called in a warning as the commandos gained on me. I let the Force guide me, drifting my bike sideways to avoid fire while I blasted back with my pistol. Everyone turned, Ahsoka spinning her turret to fire back and protect he men.

"Kida!" her voice cried as I was turning back to aim with my pistol. The Force whispered urgently in my mind.

I turned my gaze back to the road before me….just in time to see the burning remains of a speeder directly in my path. My bike slammed into it at full force, propelling me into the air. I twisted as Obi-wan maneuvered his speeder under me, letting me land deftly. Rex had turned his turret around towards the, firing at Obi-wan's side to blow one of my pursuers to pieces.

I crouched on the back of the speeder, watching a commando racing closer and closer to us. Without bothering to draw a weapon, I flung myself off the bike and slammed feet-first into the commando. The droid was flung backwards to explode in sparks as I slapped gracelessly onto the speeder it left behind.

A moment of awkward struggling later, I was sitting upright and joining the squad with a new ride. Rex, despite being hidden by his helmet, was smirking at me. I could feel it.

I was thankful for the goggles I wore that at least partially hid my blush.

We came upon a stationary battalion of droids. Tanks and all. Seperatist droids were always stupid, though, and were slow to respond to our attack. We opened fire, mowing down most of the foot soldiers before any of the commandos could even fire back.

"Rex!" I called, pointing to one of the tanks that was finally turning to aim. The captain reacted immediately, drawing a missile launcher from beside his seat, and taking aim rather casually. He took a tank out with one shot, while Obi-wan guided a speeder through a warzone.

I made a mental note to tell him how attractive it was.

When I looked back up, Ahsoka had already handled the other tank. It was over as quickly as it had began. The squadron of clones slowed their speeders to a halt, the Jedi immediately jumping to business.

"Captain," Obi-wan commanded as I hopped from the rather uncomfortable droid speeder...not that Republic speeders were all that much better. "Have your men secure the area."

We were setting up in the town, a massive tower rising above us to mark its center. Some of the clones brought our walkers forward, creating a perimeter as the other squads went about searching the entire city. Ahsoka was inspecting the town for signs of her people. I felt her worry at the silence, despite the fact that she was doing her best to conceal it. She was a Jedi, after all. I stood over her shoulder as she fiddled with a machine, trying to run a bioscan.

"How are we doing, Boil?" Obi-wan asked the soldier on an AT-RT as he approached from his patrol.

"We're still mopping up clankers here and there, sir," Boil responded dutifully. "We've established a perimeter around the Governor's Tower. No one gets out without a fight."

"Good work," Obi-wan sighed gently, turning back to his commander. He cast me a nod, which I returned. He likely felt my unease as much as he felt Ahsoka's. "Cody, any word from the Separatist commander?"

"He's barricaded inside," Cody reported, hitching his thumb over his shoulder to point to the tower. "His name is Darts D'Nar." My back straightened slightly, my blood running cold. Both Ahsoka and Obi-wan seemed to notice.

"You okay?" Ahsoka asked gently from where she knelt.

"He has sent you a message, sir," Cody continued, drawing his holo-communicator. His thumb clicked the side, the familiar face of the Zygerrian. He looked older than when I'd seen him, but I could still feel the ghosts of his clawed fingers digging into my cheeks.

"Master Kenobi," his recording said, his accented voice sending a nervous shiver down my spine. "Come to the tower. We will negotiate terms for surrender."

Obi-wan sighed gently. "Well, that was easy." The Force rippled with darkness, and it wasn't from me.

Before Cody could put the communicator back on his belt, it was ripped from his grasp and flying into Anakin's outstretched hand. He crushed it, the foul image of D'Nar disappearing into sparks. Skywalker threw it away, growling, "Zygerrian scum! I'll handle that slaver."

Ahsoka glanced up beside me, her cerulean eyes dancing between myself and her master. "Anakin, he asked for me," Obi-wan dismissed, but there was understanding in his words. "I need you to locate the missing Togruta colonists."

Skywalker didn't seem happy, but submitted. "Fine. I'll have Admiral Yularen initiate a planetary bio-scan." He walked away, Obi-wan watching him go with worry etched into the lines of his face.

"Why is he so upset?" Ahsoka asked, making me turn my head to her in shock. She didn't know?

"Anakin has never talked about his past, has he?" Obi-wan responded, looking at the young padawan.

Ahsoka gave a small shrug. "Only to tell me he won't talk about it."

"As a child, Anakin and his mother were sold into slavery by the Hutt clans."

"Oh," Ahsoka sighed sadly, looking at the ground. "And these Zygerrians, they're slavers?"

"Infamous ones," I commented, making them turn to me. "They are the ones who sold me to Jaba." They both looked at me sadly, but I brushed it off. "I've met this particular Zygerrian before. He's not to be trusted."

Obi-wan's brow arched with interest. "I would like to hear a bit about him before I go." I nodded curtly as he turned to Ahsoka. "Anakin has struggled to put his past behind him."

She sighed gently. "Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on him."

"Yes. Make sure you do." Obi-wan's tone was dark. Ominous. Perhaps he too knew of Anakin's failure to abide by the Jedi Code.

She cast us both a reassuring smile before running after her angry master, who was already speaking with the admiral."You're walking into a trap, you know," I said after watching the padawan leave.

"When am I not?" Kenobi asked, trying to lighten the mood again. "But we have his forces surrounded."

"Dart D'Nar is not to be underestimated," I said lowly. "He will have a backup plan."

The Jedi examined my face closely. "You met him during your time on Zygerria?"

I glanced sideways, crossing my arms over my beskar. "He was with the group who bought me after I was kidnapped from Corellia." I looked up at the tower, knowing he was up there. "He picked who needed….reconditioning."

"Reconditioning?"

"He's a cruel creature. Strong, too. He won't play your word games, Obi-wan," I warned.

Kenobi stroked his beard thoughtfully, eyeing the tower as well. "Well that is my best form of killing time, should the colonists be in danger."

"He could be using them as shields," I wondered, "But if you really need to stall...Zygerrians are a proud species, but cowards deep down, as all slavers are. Challenge his bravery in single combat. He'll milk it."

Obi-wan sighed heavily. "Very well. I suppose I'll be taking a beating today, then." He stopped as he was about to walk to the tower, glancing back at me. "Will you be alright?"

"Capture him, and I will be." He gave me a nod before proceeding to the tower and disappearing into its base.

I felt eyes on me, making me turn to see Rex watching. I moved closer to him, the back of his hand brushing my own. "Are you alright, cyare?" he asked under his breath.

I nodded, giving him a small smile. And then Anakin's commlink chirped, making us all turn to listen.

"No, you are wrong, Jedi," D'Nar's dark voice spoke.

"Am I?" Kenobi responded, sounding equally as garbled by the comms. "You are no doubt aware that your droid forces have been destroyed and you are surrounded. Do the honorable thing and give up now, D'Nar. I promise you will receive fair treatment."

"Honorable?" I asked softly, moving closer to Anakin and Ahsoka. "He realizes he's talking to a slaver, right?" Anakin shook his head, agreeing with my sentiment.

D'Nar didn't sound scared. "You've broken through my defenses. You think you've won? Think again. I have planted bombs all over the city. No one will survive. Now….surrender."

"If you're not bluffing," Obi-wan responded, "Then I must concede, but you'll have to make considerations. First, release the colonists."

"He's not bluffing," I whispered, a chill falling over my skin. Obi-wan was in no position to bargain, either.

"Here is my counteroffer," D'Nar growled.

There was a deafening explosion and a flash of orange. And then black.

I'd heard many stories about travelling the galaxy from the smugglers I would steal from on Corellia. I'd heard about space battles and sneaking past blockades. So much so, that I'd even say that I'd picked up some of their jargon and tricks.

However, they had all failed to mention the main striking things about space. The cold...and the silence.

The cell I'd been thrown into was one of many that lined the cargo hold of the ship. I hadn't even seen the faces of the people who took me from where I'd been huddling with other street kids. We tended to stick together...with the risk of betrayal always being high.

I wondered if one of the kids had betrayed our hiding spot, but as I looked around, I saw each of my companions within their own tiny cells. There were some creatures I'd never seen, but heard stories about.

So Corellia hadn't been the only stop on these kidnappers' list…

I was dazed, my mind covered by a fog. They'd drugged me and I had no idea how long I'd been there. I curled in on myself more, attempting to conserve my heat, my breath making tiny clouds in the freezing air. No one else was calling out, making me believe they were drugged too.

Or maybe it was despair.

The ship rumbled as it thumped loudly into a landing, the mechanisms complaining in their decrepit state. The cargo hold was flooded with blinding light, making everyone shrink back in fear within their cages.

Rough hands dragged us from our enclosures, shoving us into the hot sun into a bustling marketplace. My wrists were bound and a sign hung around my neck with a number. It was incredibly high, and I wondered if that was how many people they'd kidnapped over the years.

As I was dragged into line near a booth in the market, I took in the fabulous colors and smells. At first, it was lovely, especially compared to the wet and foul-smelling underbelly of Corellia. But then I heard the sharp crack of a whip, followed by screaming.

And then I started to notice how many others were bound as I was. I realized with sickened horror that I was in the place the crime lords always warned us about.

I was in a slave market.

I was trembling in fear by the time we were approached by a group of creatures I didn't recognize. They were cat-like, with hair covering their faces and sharp canines. Their hands sported sharp claws, their ears tall and proud. The most off-putting part was the glint in their eyes.

They were clearly the alpha species here.

And we were nothing but prey to them.

"Quite the haul this time," the leader of them commented to our captors.

Our kidnapper bowed lowly. "Thank you, D'Nar. I think you'll find many to your liking."

The creature called D'Nar began to walk before us, his predator eyes appraising us like trophies to be won. "Any of them slaves before?"

The kidnapper nodded, gesturing to two down-trodden looking Togrutas.

D'Nar stroked his chin with his sharp claws. "They'll do nicely." He waved his hand, the two being taken away immediately. He proceeded down the line, snapping his fingers whenever he saw something he liked.

I hadn't learned how to act the part of a slave yet. So I looked him in the eye as he approached me, my jaw tense with disgust and fear.

"You, girl," D'Nar growled dangerously, a dark smile curling his lips and revealing his sharp canines. "You dare look at me?" He raised his hand and I flinched, for I was no stranger to punishment in the crime rings. He chuckled at my fear, his hand never striking. Instead, his claws dug into my cheeks as he grabbed my face, forcing me closer to him. "We will train that out of you," he assured.

I spit between my puckered lips, the glob landing on his hairy nose. He threw me backwards with incredible strength. I saw stars when my head slammed into the stone walling of the building behind us. The air was shoved from my lungs as he dealt a brutal kick to my abdomen. I curled in with a cry, officially terrified.

D'Nar, standing above me in an angry huff, wiped my spit from his face. He growled, "I will ensure that your reconditioning is a permanent one."

I didn't know what he meant by that at the time, but I would soon enough. And it would plague my nightmares for the rest of my life.

"Kida? Kida, can you hear me?"

I blinked dirt and debris from my eyes, coughing dust from my lungs. Though his image was blurry, I recognized Kix's voice, despite it being muffled under the ringing in my ears. My head was throbbing as his hands gently led me to sit up.

"Kix," I said, my voice hoarse from the dust drying my mouth, "What the kriff just happened?"

"D'Nar set off one of the bombs," the medic explained, looking me over. My body was sore from being thrown sideways, but my beskar had protected me from debris. "There weren't any civilians."

"Good." I moved to stand, but he stopped me. My brow lifted. "He said there were other bombs. We need to find them."

"General Skywalker and Commander Tano have already left to search for them." I turned my head to the firm voice, my vision spinning slightly with the movement. It wasn't hard to make out Rex's shoulder pauldron and kama.

I blinked the blurriness from my eyes again, wiping my hand across my face to try and clear the dirt. "Left already?" I glanced at Kix. "Was I out for long?"

"No, but long enough," he replied with a shrug, digging in his med pack. "I wouldn't have let you go until I got a look at you though."

I glanced at the back of my hand that had wiped my face to see it stained with red. I touched my fingers to my hairline, finding a tender spot, sticky with my blood. "Ouch," I grumbled, still dazed by the blow.

My eyes drifted to watch Rex and Cody attend to their men while Kix set to work on my wound. The clone was silent, but I felt the weariness that was still in his soul. The sadness he harbored there.

I touched his arm gently, making him stop his methodical treatment. "How are you doing?"

Kix didn't need to ask me to clarify. He swallowed thickly beneath his mask. "I'm happy to be working under General Skywalker again." So he was doing horribly, then.

"And your brothers?" I asked, letting it slide for now as he gave me a shot in my neck to help speed my recovery.

"Debriefing was hard on all of us," he admitted softly as he deemed me mended enough to stand. He helped me up slowly, steadying me when I swayed slightly. "Rex, especially." I glanced at him, giving him a nod. He was asking me to look after his captain.

"I'm alright," I assured the medic when I felt stable on my feet. "I'm sure someone else needs you more."

Kix gave me a pointed look, but left my side to attend to his brothers nonetheless. When he left, I scanned for Rex, seeing him standing beside Cody. Making my way over, I stood silently, giving them a nod in greeting.

"How's your head?" Cody asked, gesturing to my wound.

I shrugged. "I've had worse. I'm just sorry I missed out on the fun. I was hoping-" The Force tickled at my brain, my eyes snapping towards the tower.

"What is it?" Rex said immediately.

I was silent for a moment, shuddering at the familiar presence that was pulsating emotion from above us. "D'Nar," I responded. "He's angry. And afraid." I looked back at the brothers. "It would seem Anakin and Ahsoka were successful."

They glanced at each other, but didn't respond, our heads snapping up at the sound of another explosion. It came from the tower, but outside of it. There was a cloud of black in the air, making me think something was thrown from the building.

Our wrist comms beeped. "Anakin. Kida. Come in!" I let out a small breath of relief. Obi-wan was okay. "D'Nar is making his escape from the tower." My brows furrowed, my jaw setting.

"On our way," Anakin responded immediately.

I checked my HUD, seeing his signal coming from the other side of the city. "They won't make it," Cody muttered.

He barely had time to finish his sentence before I was sprinting towards the base of the tower. "Kida!" Rex yelled after me, but I ignored him.

Going through the tower was going to be faster than going around, so I entered the building, to find the lift descending. I waited, hand on the hilt of my lightsaber, only to see familiar white boots.

"Obi-wan," I greeted, taking in his black eye and messed hair. "You look like osik."

"As if you look better," he snarked immediately. Fair enough. "Come on. D'Nar is getting away."

We hurried down the corridor, finding the back access to the landing platform. When we saw the lone ship, Kenobi's lightsaber ignited in brilliant blue, swinging as he ran. D'Nar was already aboard, rushing to the cockpit.

"We won't make it," I panted, knowing he would take off long before we got there. A thought dawned on me. "Obi-wan," I called, skidding to a stop. "Throw me!"

The Jedi seemed shocked for only a moment before stopping as well, his hand reaching out immediately. I felt the invisible grip on my body before I was lifted into the air. It was...weird. And then I was chucked rather unceremoniously across the platform and into the hangar.

I did my best to tumble in gracefully, but rammed into a few cages in the process, sending the entrapped critters screaming. I ignored them, finding my feet as the hangar doors shut and the ship rose in the air.

A particularly frightening looking creature let out a high pitched squeal, making me glad it was trapped behind a ray shield. The ship rocked sideways, throwing me into another pile of cages. With the apparent damage to the ship came the powerful Force signature of Anakin. So he and his padawan had made it, after all.

I felt his anger even from wherever he was outside the ship. This was personal for him.

It was for me, too.

I left the hangar, knowing Anakin and Ahsoka could handle themselves, and made my way to the cockpit. I stayed low and quiet as I entered.

"Hungry, my pet?" I heard D'Nar say as I entered the cockpit silently. "I'll feed you." He hit a button, a terrible roar coming from the hangar. Glancing at the screens, it looked like Anakin and Ahsoka got inside, only to be met with that horrible creature D'Nar had trapped.

It seemed they would have their hands full.

My lightsaber ignited in my hand, making the Zygerrian turn in shock. He hid it quickly standing and brandishing a whip I was all too familiar with. My muscles trembled slightly, but I pushed it down.

"Young Jedi," he greeted with a growl, "You'll learn your place."

I smirked, not replying as he slashed his whip at me. I danced out of the way, deflecting it with my blade before shoving him back with the Force. He slammed into the controls, his weapon flying from his cowardly hand.

"You seem shocked, D'Nar," I commented, pointing the tip of my glowing blade at his throat. "Didn't think you'd lose so fast?" He brandished his fangs at me, but said nothing. "Where are the colonists?" I asked.

"I will tell you nothing!"

I thought for a moment, knowing Anakin and Ahsoka would be here soon. I could try physical intimidation, but he was far bigger than me and a slaver to boot. Despite being cowards, they were prideful.

My mind turned to a Jedi mind trick, though I doubted it would work on him. Perhaps...something a bit more forceful…

I disengaged my saber, taking a step back to reach out with my hand. "What are you-" his words cut off as my eyes closed, my mind surging into his thoughts. It was painful, I could tell.

But I also didn't care.

I forced my way into his thoughts, nearly recoiling from the horrible things he continued to think about. And then the marketplace began to take form within his thoughts, his mind fighting against me with everything he had.

But it was too late now. I was inside.

And I would take the information I wanted.

MANDO'A

Osik- shit

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Sorry for the long wait here guys. I've been having wicked writer's block (as is my nature). As always, likes, shares, and reviews are always welcome!