Author's Note: I don't own Star Wars: The Clone Wars or its characters, but I only own Nadia Aomori and my other OCs.
Enjoy!
Threads of Destiny
Chapter 21: Bounty Hunters
The death toll rises!
As the battles' intensify and threaten a growing number of Republic worlds.
Planets are left to survive on their own while the Jedi struggle to fight a war on many fronts.
A series of medical stations have been established as a lifeline for those in need.
But the facilities are easy prey for Separatist attacks.
After losing contact with the medical station orbiting Felucia, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano and Nadia Aomori are sent to investigate.
Nadia let out a small yawn and rubbed her eyes as she followed Obi-Wan to the T-6 shuttle.
"Couldn't we wait a little later to go on the mission?"Nadia yawned.
"You'll have more time to rest once this is over, young one."Obi-Wan said.
"Fine."Nadia muttered.
Obi-Wan and Nadia boarded the T-6 shuttle which was where Anakin and Ahsoka were waiting for them.
A while later the shuttle came out of hyperspace near Felucia.
"That's Felucia."Anakin declared."Dead ahead."
"But where's the medical station?"Ahsoka asked."I don't see anything on my scanners."
"Wait, there's something."Nadia admitted in the screen and then frowned."Vulture droids."
"Hang on!"Anakin instructed.
Anakin made the T-6 Shuttle fly closer to the planet while avoiding being hit by the fire shots.
"I guess we know what happened to the medical station."Obi-Wan commented.
But then T-6 Shuttle got hit and started heading to Felucia's atmosphere.
"That's not good."Obi-Wan murmured.
"They took out the plasma conduit."Ahsoka said.
"I can see that, Soka!"Nadia retorted.
Anakin smirked at Obi-Wan.
"You thinking what I'm thinking?"Anakin asked with a smirk.
"Almost certainly not!"Obi-Wan scowled.
Obi-Wan, Anakin, Ahsoka and Nadia then placed on their breathing masks.
"We're doing this the hard way."Anakin informed as he placed on his mask."Starting ejection sequence."
"How come every time you fly, we crash?"Ahsoka asked.
"It's not my fault."Anakin said. "It's the ship."
"Ha!"Nadia scoffed sarcastically."Keep telling yourself that!"
"Ready to eject."Ahsoka commented.
Anakin, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka and Nadia all grabbed the handles of the right side of their seats.
"Wait...now!"Anakin ordered.
The four Jedi pulled their handles and they were ejected from the cockpit.
Large rubber balls surrounded their seats and they started bouncing off the huge flora before stopping at a clear scene.
Nadia groaned as she stepped out and stretched a bit.
"You always blame the ship."Nadia scoffed.
Anakin brought his attention on Obi-Wan.
"You alright there, Master?"Anakin asked in a smug tone.
"I'm fine, Anakin."Obi-Wan replied.
Anakin, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka and Nadia started walking in the area.
"Where on Felucia do you think we are?"Ahsoka asked.
"I'm not sure."Obi-Wan replied.
The four Jedi suddenly started hearing noises around them.
"I don't like the sound of that."Nadia muttered.
"And I don't like the look of that."Anakin added and pointed ahead.
Two rancors walked across the path whete the four Jedi were and a few feet ahead of them.
"We don't want to scare them."Anakin said quietly.
"We can't just wander around."Obi-Wan reminded."We need a plan."
"You taught me to go on instinct."Anakin declared."My instincts say to go that way."
"That doesn't seem right."Obi-Wan responded."I think we should go this way."
Ahsoka and Nadia smirked at each other as they watched their two Masters arguing with each other.
"Why do you ask for my opinion?"Anakin argued."You never do things my way."
"We crashed the ship your way."Obi-Wan reminded.
"Very funny."Anakin said sarcastically."I see your sense of humour survived the landing."
"It's about the only thing."Obi-Wan admitted.
"If you two are done arguing, I think there's some smoke on the horizon."Ahsoka said.
"Which usually means people."Nadia complemented."And a way off this planet."
The two Padawans then began leading the way followed by their Masters.
As the group walked to their destination, Nadia was surprised to see glowing flowers around the plants.
"They remind of the decorations for the Moon Festival back home."Nadia thought in awe.
"Look, there's a village."Ahsoka remarked.
"Maybe they have a ship we can borrow."Anakin suggested.
The small group walked into the village.
"They're growing healing herbs."Nadia added."There must be farmers living here."
"Sillum, I believe."Obi-Wan commented."One of the most valuable crops in the galaxy."
The four Jedi stopped walking into the village, but saw no one in sight.
"This place looks deserted."Ahsoka responded.
Anakin folded his arms.
"I don't believe it is."Anakin stated.
"The crops are ready to be harvested."Obi-Wan said."Tools are lying about, something's amiss."
"Well, there's one thing I learned where I grew up."Anakin declared."You want to know what a farmer is up to? Look in their barn."
Anakin pressed the button on the side and the door went up.
Inside the barn was a SS-54 assault ship.
"This is an odd ship for farmers."Nadia admitted.
"Perhaps someone is here to pick up the Sillum."Obi-Wan clarified.
"I still don't get it."Ahsoka commented."Where is everyone?"
The four Jedi Knights then left the barn to check the village.
Anakin, Ahsoka and Nadia unclipped their lightsabers and checked out one of the huts while Obi-Wan checked out another.
The trio searched the small upper room.
Anakin noticed a trap door before lowering to one knee and signalling the two Padawans to be quiet, so that he can use the Force to open it.
Inside the trap door, there were two scared Felucian farmers with a child.
"Mystery solved."Anakin remarked.
"They're terrified."Nadia sighed sadly."Poor them."
"It's okay."Ahsoka assured with a kind smile."We won't hurt you."
The sound of blasters activating were heard.
Anakin, Ahsoka and Nadia were then surrounded by four heavily armed bounty hunters named Sugi, Embo, Rumi Paramita and Seripas.
"Kindly drop your weapons, Jedi."Sugi ordered.
Sugi pointed her rifle at Anakin as he stood up and faced her.
Rumi pointed her rifle at the back of Ahsoka's head while Embo stood beside Nadia with his rifle casually slung over her shoulder.
The armoured humanoid being known as Seripas stood between Nadia and Embo.
Nadia stood her ground and held her hand on her lightsaber.
"Take it easy, Snips and Kitty."Anakin instructed and looked at the farmers."We don't want any trouble."
Then Embo said something in his language.
"It's not always about the numbers."Anakin declared.
"Four on one is hardly a fair fight, even for a Jedi."Rumi said.
"Wait a minute."Ahsoka instructed with a smirk as she stood up."Four on one? You mean four on three?"
"Exactly."Nadia sneered.
Seripas took a few steps towards the Ahsoka and Nadia.
"We don't count you, knee highs."Seripas retorted.
A lightsaber being activated was heard as Obi-Wan walked up beside Sugi while looking at Seripas.
"Do you count me?"Obi-Wan asked with a smirk.
Anakin, Ahsoka and Nadia then activated their lightsabers, ready to fight the bounty hunters.
Then a Felucian man named Cassis rushed into the hut.
"Stop!"Cassis demanded."Don't harm them!"
The Felucian man into the home and standing between the Zabrak and Obi-Wan.
"Can't you see these are Jedi?"Cassis asked happily."We are saved!"
"Saved?"Ahsoka said in confusion.
"Need I remind you, Cassis, you already made a deal, with us."Sugi informed while lowering her weapon from Anakin."But with the Jedi's help-"
Nadia looked at Cassis.
"Excuse me, sir."Nadia interrupted."But what do you need help with?"
Cassis lowered Sugi's blaster with his hand.
"Pirates."Cassis admitted.
Later that Night...
The four Jedi were having dinner with the villagers.
Casiss, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, Nadia and the bounty hunters, minus the armoured one, sat at the table.
Anakin leaned against the wall and the armoured man stood at the corner of the table.
"Simply stated, if we don't give the pirates a portion of our crop, they will destroy our homes with us in them."Casiss explained.
"Hmm, I see your dilemma."Obi-Wan responded.
"Sillum farming is a meagre trade."Cassis admitted."Without our herbs to sell we will have no money for food, fuel or equipment."
"And yet you can afford to pay mercenaries."Obi-Wan commented."These bounty hunters drive a more reasonable bargain than pirates."
"Why not just fight them yourselves?"Anakin suggested with a smirk.
"Easy for you perhaps, but look at us."Casiss insisted and pointed at himself before gesturing to the other Felucians."We are farmers, not warriors. Even with the bounty hunters help, I had feared the worst, but now there are eight of you."
Sugi looked at Obi-Wan.
"What do you want, Jedi?"Sugi questioned.
"We need a ship."Obi-Wan said."Ours is beyond repair."
"The one in the barn."Anakin spoke up."That'll do. That's our ride."
"It doesn't go anywhere without us and right now we are busy."Sugi admitted.
"Busy extorting farmers?"Obi-Wan asked.
"I don't hear you offering to help."Sugi retorted.
"Unfortunately, we couldn't help even if we wanted to."Obi-Wan declared.
"What?"Ahsoka asked in shock.
Nadia frowned."Why not?"
The four Jedi then exited the house in order to discuss what to do next.
Obi-Wan had his hands clasped behind his back as Nadia spoke to him.
"Master, these farmers are in trouble."Nadia reminded."Why can't we help them?"
"Believe me, young one, I would like nothing more."Obi-Wan said strictly."However, we need to report that a medical station has been destroyed, if we stay too long, the Separatists will show up here."
"Oh, so our needs are more important instead of theirs."Nadia muttered while folding her arms."I thought as peacekeepers, we'll always help others in need."
"Better they get robbed by pirates since they'll still be alive than attract the interest of General Grievous and his horde because he'll kill them if he finds out they're playing host to us."Obi-Wan admitted firmly."And I know you well enough that you don't want him to end anymore innocent lives just as much as me, Anakin and Ahsoka."
Nadia frowned at her Master's words since she hates it when he's right as Ahsoka placed her hand on her best friend's shoulder.
Then a Felucian child started yelling as she ran towards the four Jedi.
"Pirates! Pirates, pirates!"the child shouted."The pirates are back!"
The bounty hunters along with Casiss exited the hut and walked up to the four Jedi before they all turned their attention to the approaching speeder bikes.
Five pirate bikes stopped in front of the small campfire between them and the others.
"That's far enough."Sugi demanded with a glare."I speak for the people of this village."
The pirates turned off their bikes.
"State your name and business."Sugi retorted.
"My name is my own business and my business is taking whats ours!"One of the pirates cackled threateningly.
"There is nothing here that's yours!"Sugi stated."Unless you're here to buy it."
Hondo laughed as he and his pet, Pikk Mukmuk, got off his speeder bike.
"Buy it?"Hondo asked.
The Captain of the Ohnaka Gang took a few steps forward with his Kowakian monkey-lizard following beside him, only for him to notice Obi-Wan, Anakin and Nadia.
"Kenobi! Skywalker! Aomori!"Hondo chuckled."I can't believe you came all this way to see me!"
Nadia, Obi-Wan and Anakin looked at each other awkwardly.
"Hondo."Nadia, Obi-Wan and Anakin muttered in unison.
Four men part of Hondo's gang got off their speeders and stood beside their leader as Hondo clasped his hands behind him.
Sugi looked at Nadia, Obi-Wan and Anakin.
"You know each other?"Sugi asked.
"Of course we do."Hondo remarked and looked at the three Jedi that he knew."Tell them how far back we go."
"Too far, I'm afraid."Nadia said bitterly.
"And I thought we were friends."Hondo chuckled.
Obi-Wan frowned at Hondo.
"If you're truly interested in friendship, Hondo, might I suggest you stop threatening these farmers?"Obi-Wan suggested.
"Threatening them?"Hondo repeated in a fake offended tone."Oh, please tell me you have not been listening to these bounty-hunting scum."
"Scum?"Sugi asked rhetorically as she clasped her hands behind her."We're just here to help them protect what's theirs."
Sugi looked at a farmer and her child standing in front of the window of their hut.
"Oh, come, come, my dear."Hondo asked with a smirk."How much are they paying you?"
Before Sugi could reply, Hondo held his hand up as he walked up to her.
"Does not matter."Hondo answered."Whatever it is, I will double it and all you have to do to earn it is uh, step aside."
"We don't break deals."Sugi growled.
The bounty hunters and the pirates aimed their guns at each other.
Obi-Wan walked forward while holding a hand towards each group, trying to defuse the situation.
"Steady, everyone."Obi-Wan instructed.
Hondo looked at the Jedi Master.
"What is your stake, Kenobi?"Hondo questioned.
"All we want is a ride to the nearest Republic outpost and I'm willing to pay you handsomely for it."Obi-Wan declared."Twice what you could make selling this crop."
Nadia was unfazed by her Master's proposal.
"No wonder people call you 'the Negotiator'."Nadia muttered.
Nadia's murmuring caused Anakin and Ahsoka to smirk at her statement.
"Well, now, how do you plan to pay me?"Hondo asked.
"A funds transfer when we arrive."Obi-Wan offered.
"Republic credits?"Hondo asked rhetorically before taking a few steps towards his crew. "We've been over this before, Kenobi, my associates don't accept that currency."
"I'm offering a deal that benefits us all, Hondo."Obi-Wan admitted."Don't let your greed blind you to that fact."
"You know, I like you and your friends, Kenobi."Hondo commented."But no one leaves this planet until I get my Sillum."
"Then I hope you enjoy it here."Sugi insulted."Because you'll be staying a long time, parasite!"
One of Hondo's gang members glared at Sugi.
"You know, this crop has not been harvested."Hondo said and walked over to Casiss. "You better hurry, old man, before things start to die on you."
Hondo and his gang then got back on their speeder bikes and took off in the dead of night.
The group walked back into Casiss' home and brought up a holo-map of the village.
Anakin, Seripas and Embo remained standing while Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, Nadia and the others sat at a small round table with the map on it.
"When the attack comes, it will come from two fronts."Obi-Wan explained."The forest to the south and the ridge to the north, whatever you do, you must defend both sides."
Then Dilanni, a member of the farming community run by Casiss, spoke up.
"But there are only four of them."Dilanni declared worriedly."How can four bounty hunters defend against so many?"
Embo spoke in agreement.
"The farmers are right."Anakin agreed."These bounty hunters don't stand a chance."
"We've been over this, Anakin."Obi-Wan reminded.
Sugi glanced at Anakin.
"You seem to lack confidence in our abilities, General Skywalker."Sugi complemented.
"I'm sure you're good at what you do."Anakin assumed."But you are in way too deep."
"Said the peacekeeper who failed to keep the peace."Sugi scoffed.
"The rift in the galaxy is not our fault."Obi-Wan said firmly."If more worlds would stand up for themselves against Count Dooku and the Separatists, this war would have been over long ago."
"That's it."Anakin remarked."We'll just train the villagers to defend themselves."
"But we are just simple farmers."Dilanni stated."Why are we paying bounty hunters to defend us if we're just going to end up doing it ourselves?"
"Hush, Dilanni."Casiss instructed gently.
"Trust me."Anakin encouraged."We'll have you ready."
The Next Morning...
The four Jedi and the bounty hunters started to get the villagers ready for Hondo's attack.
"Put it in the barn, every bushel."Sugi instructed.
Some of the farmers harvested the crop and put it in the barn while the rest formed up in front of Anakin.
"Alright, everyone, form up!"Anakin called out.
The farmers remained huddle up, not knowing what he meant.
Anakin sighed. "Divide into rows of five."
Some of the villagers did so while the rest didn't.
"I told you, we are not soldiers!"Dilanni reminded."We do not even have weapons."
Anakin walked up to one of the farmers.
"May I?"Anakin suggested.
The farmer looked confused before handing Anakin the staff he held.
Anakin took a few steps back and inspected it, he tossed it between hands before placing the bottom end on the ground.
The Jedi Knight then started twirling it around him before placing the end back on the ground.
Nadia smirked at the sight while taking a bite on one of the camby berries that she brought as snacks her and Ahsoka to eat.
"Yeah."Anakin admitted."These will do."
Nadia made way over to Ahsoka as she was teaching a group how to use a slingshot.
The raven haired girl looked over to see Seripas cutting a large fungus down, only for it to fall town towards her.
Seripas grabbed it and started to struggle under it's weight.
"Seripas!"Ahsoka warned before running over to him and tackling him out of the way."It's too heavy!"
Once the fungus hit the ground, Nadia run over it to check on Ahsoka and Seripas.
"Seripas?"Ahsoka asked worriedly.
Then Seripas's armored head opened up and a small alien head popped out.
"D-Don't look!"the small alien protested before ducking back into the suit."I'm having a suit malfunction!"
The armour of Seripas sat up as Ahsoka and Nadia gave him small teasing smirks.
Seripas gave a dejected sigh, knowing he can no longer hide his true appearance.
"Not very intimidating, am I?"Seripas assumed.
"You don't have to look tough to be tough."Ahsoka said with a smile.
Nadia nodded in agreement.
"That's right."Nadia agreed."No matter what size you are, it doesn't really matter. You can still help us beat those pirates."
Seripas gave a grateful smile to the two girls and made his suit stood back up before locking the headpiece back into its place.
"I thank you both for your help."Seripas thanked.
Nadia went back to check how Anakin was doing, only to find Dilanni complaining at the Jedi Knight.
"The bounty hunter is right."Dilanni commented while throwing his staff on the floor."Every minute you waste teaching us to twirl these stupid poles, is time you could have spent beating those pirates yourself."
Dilanni kicked the staff on the ground as Obi-Wan and Sugi walked up next to Nadia.
"And what good would that do you?"Obi-Wan asked."Another band of brigands would come along or do you intend to give away part of your crop every harvest season?"
"If you make us do this, there won't be another harvest season!"Dilanni growled.
Dilanni then stormed off in anger.
"Eesh, what a downer."Nadia retorted.
Anakin brought his attention to the rest of the farmers.
"Alright, everyone, get back in position."Anakin said."Let's continue."
A while later, the group was now working in almost perfect sync.
Obi-Wan walked between two rows and gently took the staff from one of the farmers before correcting with a small demonstration.
Nadia suddenly felt a strange feeling in her body causing her to narrow her eyes.
"What is it?"Sugi asked.
"I feel like were being watched."Nadia muttered.
The raven haired girl looked up at a small cliff behind them and her eyes widened.
"There!"Nadia yelled out."A scout!"
The others turned their heads to where Nadia was pointing as the male figure started to flee.
"Embo!"Sugi shouted.
Embo immediately took off in the scout's direction.
The four Jedi Knights plus Sugi caught up to the scout just as Embo dropped his lifeless body.
"Quick work."Anakin praised.
Embo turned to face the four Jedi Knights and said something in his language.
"Yes, but when this scout fails to report to Hondo."Obi-Wan said."He'll be coming, soon."
Once the group made it back to the village, it was time to start getting ready.
Most of the villagers started getting ready to defend the village while the others ran to the safety of their homes.
Nadia made her way to the energy fence with Obi-Wan and Sugi as Anakin and Embo met them there.
"The farmers are in position."Anakin informed."Well, the ones who stuck around anyway."
"Very well, Anakin."Obi-Wan replied."Turn on the fence."
Anakin turned on the fence and it surrounded most of the village, with only the Jedi Knights, bounty hunters and participating farmers on the outside of it.
"Battle positions, everyone!"Sugi called out.
Anakin activated his lightsaber as the pirates zoomed into the village.
Sugi ran towards the pirates with Embo before she started to shoot at them.
Embo kicked the shooter off of the pirates and hitched a ride on it.
One of the pirates attempted to run Nadia down with his bike.
However, the raven haired girl flipped out of the way and used her Force Judgement to knock him off the bike.
Three other pirates made their way towards Ahsoka and Nadia.
Ahsoka and Nadia activated their lightsabers as Seripas turned his saw on and the one farmer beside them readied its slingshot.
Two more of the farmers were in harvesters and one on the cliff signaled them.
Ahsoka and Nadia deflected a few bolts as they retreated when the two harvesters brought down two large fungus causing the pirates to crash into them and explode.
Seripas turned his attention to the only pirate that managed to get out of the way in time as the two traded blasts.
His armour took too much damage, but luckily he managed to get out in time and land on the pirates head.
The two Padawans and one farmer caught up to Seripas as they noticed the pirate laying on the ground and the tiny bounty hunter drop onto the ground after letting go of one of the handlebars.
"I'm gonna check on the others."Nadia declared.
Ahsoka nodded. "Go ahead, Dia."
Nadia took off on the bike to go back towards the village.
She drove into the village, just as a tank blast knocked Embo away.
"Embo!"Anakin called out.
Embo rolled a bit after hitting the ground and the others rushed over to him.
Nadia stopped the bike beside her Master.
"Everyone, fall back to the barn!"Obi-Wan demanded.
"That tank is going to tear the villagers apart."Sugi said in worry.
Sugi helped Embo stand up from the ground before they and the rest of the group rushed into the barn.
Hondo started taking shots towards the group using the tank.
"Die, Jedi scum!"Hondo yelled out.
"And he said we were friends."Nadia scoffed with an unfazed tone.
Anakin activated his lightsaber as he leaped and landed on the front of Hondo's tank.
Hondo started fighting the Jedi Knight with his staff.
Sugi became shocked when she witnessed Rumi falling to the ground after the tank hit the hut from where she stood.
"No!"Sugi shouted.
"Sugi, watch your flank!"Obi-Wan ordered.
Both Obi-Wan and Nadia used their lightsabers to block the lasers of the pirates' blasters.
"Let's do this together, Master!"Nadia insisted.
"Alright, Nadia!"Obi-Wan answered.
The Master and the Padawan then used the Force together to sent two of the pirates on a speeder to be hit on the electric shield, so that Sugi can shoot them.
Anakin continued duelling Hondo with his lightsaber.
"Your situation is hopeless, Skywalker."Hondo retorted.
Then Pikk Mukmuk went on Anakin's face and the Jedi Knight threw him off.
Anakin sent Hondo to hold on at the end of the cliff.
Dilanni then came up to Obi-Wan and Nadia while holding his staff.
"Welcome back, Dilanni."Obi-Wan remarked.
The remaining pirates notice Hondo was in danger.
"The Captain!"A pirate shouted."Let's go!"
Obi-Wan, Sugi, Nadia and Dialanni watched as the rest of the surviving pirates went out of the farm.
"The day is won!"Casiss announced proudly.
Dilanni and the other Felucians cheered at their victory.
Anakin held his lightsaber out as Hondo struggled to hold onto the end of the cliff.
"Help me!"Hondo begged."Skywalker, let me call off my men."
Anakin deactivated his lightsaber and helped Hondo up.
The Jedi Knight jumped off the cliff to join his companions as the other pirates ran up to Hondo.
"This effort is no longer profitable!"Hondo declared.
Hondo and his men retreated before taking off on his ship and fly away from Felucia.
Afterwards…
It was time for the four Jedi and the bounty hunters to leave the farm.
Nadia and Ahsoka smiled at each other.
"We did pretty good today."Nadia chuckled.
"Yeah, never expected that it would be this fun."Ahsoka said with a smile.
The two girls laughed lightly at each other before Casiss spoke to his fellow farmers.
"There are crops to harvest, fields to till, hearts to rebuild."Casiss declared."Now, let's get to work."
The other Felucians got to work at Casiss' order.
Casiss then brought his attention to the Jedi and the bounty hunters.
"How can I ever thank you for saving our village?"Casiss asked.
"We didn't save your village, Casiss."Anakin said with a smirk."Your people did."
"For the first time in my memory, my people don't have to be afraid."Casiss admitted. "We will never forget you."
Casiss then walked away as Sugi looked at Obi-Wan.
"I seem to find myself light on company."Sugi remarked."Still need that ride back to the Republic outpost?"
"If it wouldn't be any inconvenience."Obi-Wan commented.
"On the contrary, it would be my pleasure."Sugi answered.
The four Jedi and the bounty hunters all headed to the SS-54 assault ship to leave the planet.
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter
See you all in the next one:)