I don't own Star Wars: The Clone Wars or its characters, but I only own Nadia Aomori, her family and other OCs.

Enjoy!

Threads of Destiny

Chapter 45: Friends and Enemies

Fugitives on the run!

Disguised as Jedi killer, Rako Hardeen, Obi-Wan Kenobi works undercover to solve a Separatist plot against Chancellor Palpatine.

Obi-Wan meets the plot's mastermind, Moralo Eval, breaking him out of jail to gain his trust.

But now, Kenobi faces another obstacle, bounty hunter, Cad Bane.

Can Obi-Wan Kenobi overcome Bane's suspicions or will the ruthless criminal see through his disguise and expose the Jedi?

Only time will tell.

At the Jedi Temple…

An irritated scowl escaped from Nadia's mouth upon remembering the recent events that had happened.

First her Master Obi-Wan gets killed by the wretched bounty hunter Rako Hardeen and now had no one to teach her in becoming a Jedi Knight.

She, Anakin and Ahsoka then track down Obi-Wan's assassin to a bar in the underworld and took him to the Republic Judiciary Central Detention Center.

However, the scum later escaped prison with Cad Bane and Moralo Eval in tow.

But what's worse the Jedi Council were letting those three dangerous bounty hunters walk free and told her not to pursue them.

That annoyed her deeply.

Obi-Wan was her master and the Jedi Council were treating his death like it was nothing.

Were they planning to allow Count Dooku and Moralo Eval kidnap Chancellor Palpatine as well?

Nadia was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't realise that she had made her way to a part of the Jedi Temple where no one seemed to be walking by.

The Shrine in the Depths of the Grand Temple.

The one that Chancellor Palpatine talked to her about the other day.

He did say it housed ancient artefacts from many decades ago, but no one was allowed to go in since those items were associated with the Dark Side of the Force.

But still taking a peek wouldn't hurt.

Would it?

She was just going to walk into the shrine a bit to see the multiple different types of dark side artifacts, including amulets, crystals and even glaciers.

After that, she'll leave like she hadn't seen anything.

However, just before Nadia could reach the shrine's doorway, a hand touch her shoulder.

The raven haired girl became startled and turned around to see Kento Marek looking at her with a concerned look on his face.

"Kento."Nadia responded.

"Nadia, what are you doing here?"Kento questioned.

"Sorry."Nadia apologised with a small frown."I was thinking about my master and I got a little carried away."

Kento nodded at Nadia and removed his hand from her shoulder, understanding what she meant.

"I understand."Kento replied."But you don't ever go in there. It's dangerous."

Nadia then began following Kento away from the forbidden shrine and to the Jedi Temple's Veranda; the upper structure of the Tranquility Spire of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant.

Located within the three wings near the pinnacle of the spire, this area housed some of the most potent group meditation chambers in the entire Temple. Along with meditation chambers, the veranda housed sparring chambers used for the instruction of privileged younglings and halls used for special occasions.

A large open space within the winged section of Tranquillity Spire, the veranda was carpeted in blue which covered the golden stone blocks which made up the floor. A large staircase led out into the wings of the spire where light poured through the transparisteel ceiling. The veranda walls were lined with balcony areas with wide sweeping staircases leading to private chambers and rooms used for special occasions or ceremonies. Each staircase was flanked by tall bronzium statues of ancient masters while a doorway between the stairs led into a small chamber in which meditation and lightsaber training was encouraged. These small, windowed rooms were equipped with a map reader, capable of displaying maps of the galaxy.

Nadia spoke to Kento about her problems with the Jedi Council's decision on letting her master's assassin escape and telling her not to pursue him.

"So that's what they decided."Kento commented.

"How could they do this, Kento?"Nadia retorted with a hint of annoyance with her arms folded."They want me to sit by and do absolutely nothing while my master's killer escapes with two of the most wanted bounty hunters in the galaxy. It irritates me that they're not doing anything to stop them."

Kento let out a sigh.

"I don't understand the Council's actions either, Nadia."Kento stated."But I guess you can only do is accept their decision."

"And what? Stand by and do nothing?"Nadia scowled with a hint of anger."Rako Hardeen killed my master and he deserved to rot in prison for the rest of his life. Not be set free like he wasn't some kind of man accused for a crime he didn't commit."

Kento placed his hands on Nadia's shoulders.

"I understand Master Kenobi meant a lot to you and Skywalker, Nadia."Kento answered."But revenge is not worthy of you. If you concentrate on revenge, you will keep those wounds fresh that would otherwise have healed."

Nadia let out a scoff.

"I'm aware of that."Nadia replied as a slight frown appeared on her face."But no matter what I do, it doesn't seem the Jedi Council won't ever trust me to do anything and the way they say 'Jedi are not allowed to form attachments', it is actually the most stupidest thing I have ever heard."

A surprised look appeared on Kento's face.

He didn't except to hear Obi-Wan's Padawan despise the Jedi Order's discouragement of romantic relationships.

"Nadia, are you violating the Jedi Code?"Kento asked.

Nadia shook her head.

"I'm sorry. I said something out of place."Nadia answered with a small smile."Thank you for the advice, Kento. I'll try my best to lower my crave of vengeance."

Nadia then walked away from Kento, who looked down in thought for a moment before making his way to another side of the Jedi Temple.

When the Clone Wars began, Kento was eager to pursue the opportunity to prove his skills and abilities in battle. He served as a Jedi officer in the Grand Army of the Republic, along with the rest of the Order's members.

Commanding armies of clone troopers, Kento fought on various battlefields. As a thrill-seeker, he reviled in the fighting and took pride in his accomplishments as a general.

Eventually, Kento's responsibilities as a Jedi General eventually brought him to a Core world of Talus. During that time, he became acquainted with Mallie, a fellow Jedi and self-styled freedom fighter.

Unlike Kento's eagerness for battlefield glory, Mallie felt neither excitement or desire to fight in the Clone Wars. She strongly sympathized with anyone who suffered in one capacity or another due to the effects of the galactic-spanning conflict. Although they possessed different point of views at the time, the two Jedi were able to develop a rapport with each other.

His exposure to Mallie's personal views created a change within him that reshaped his original way of thinking. In losing his youthful desire for fame and recognition over his achievements, Kento came to share Mallie's sympathy towards others. As their relationship grew, Kento actually fell in love with Mallie, despite the Jedi Order's discouragement of romantic relationships. Mallie also violated the Jedi Code by returning his feelings.

However, upon hearing Nadia say she wasn't fond of the Jedi Order's idea of forbidding attachments, Kento secretly became happy to know that he wasn't the only Jedi in a secret romantic relationship.

In Chancellor Palpatine's Office...

Chancellor Palpatine was talking to Mace Windu via hologram.

"Why are you removing the bounty on the three fugitives?"Chancellor Palpatine asked.

"If they're free to move, they could lead us back to Eval's operation."Mace Windu replied.

"Very well, keep me apprised."Chancellor Palpatine stated and puts of the hologram before turning his attention on Anakin."You look troubled, Anakin."

Anakin sat on the opposite of the Chancellor's desk with an irritated look on his face.

"How can they expect us to just sit here and do nothing with Obi-Wan's murderer on the loose?"Anakin questioned angrily.

Anakin stood up from his seat, feeling outraged of the Jedi Council's actions of letting Obi-Wan's killer loose.

"It is possible that they do not trust you to control your feelings."Chancellor Palpatine answered.

"Hardeen killed my master! My best friend!"Anakin said coldly."And now he's escaping with Cad Bane and Moralo Eval, and the Jedi Council won't do anything about it!"

Chancellor Palpatine stood up from where he sat.

"I have it from a reliable source that the fugitives were last headed towards Nal Hutta."Chancellor Palpatine admitted as he walked up to Anakin."You cannot deny your feelings, Anakin. They are what make you special. If you and young Aomori believe you can stop this plot against me, you both have my trust."

"Thank you, Chancellor."Anakin answered with a glare."You won't regret this."

Anakin then left the office, leaving Chancellor Palpatine by himself.

"No...I won't."Chancellor Palpatine said quietly with an evil smirk.

In Nal Hutta...

'Rako Hardeen' was at Bilbousa Bazaar which was a primary marketplace in the city of Bilbousa and enjoying an alcoholic beverage as he was rejoined by Moralo Eval and and a slightly maddened Cad Bane.

"Oh, back so soon? Let me guess?"Rako asked with a smirk while holding his beverage."You missed me?"

But then Cad Bane crushed Rako against the wall.

"Watch it!"Rako warned."Kill me and you won't get off Nal Hutta!"

"Moralo Eval is running out of time and patience."Moralo stated going between them."Let the man talk."

"Look, I've got a ship."Rako answered, clearing his throat."You've got the Hutts on your tail, so you make me a partner in everything."

"Your deal is accepted."Moralo stated simply.

"No."Cad Bane responded."First I wanna know where you got the credits to buy a ship?"

"You thought you left me for dead, but the Hutts owed me a favor."Rako commented.

"So you had them shoot us down?"Cad Bane questioned.

"You would've done the same thing, Bane."Rako replied firmly."The way I see it, we're even now."

"Now that we're all friends, get me off this festering stink-hole!"Moralo demanded angrily.

Then the three fugitives walked away from the bar area as a male Ithorian who was the owner of the bar watched him go.

"Wait, who's going to pay for this mess?"the Bar Owner asked.

The three bounty hunters headed a luxury 3000 space yacht which was their ship to leave Nal Hutta.

"So about your fee from Eval, a 50/50 split sounds fair to me."Rako suggested.

"Over my dead corpse."Cad Bane answered.

"Don't tempt me."Rako muttered.

Afterwards...

A T-6 shuttle landed at the Bilbousa Spaceport and its ramp lowered before Anakin, Ahsoka and Nadia went out.

"What makes you think Obi-Wan's murderer is on Nal Hutta?"Ahsoka asked.

"I got a tip from the Chancellor himself."Anakin answered firmly.

Nadia smirked in approval.

"Good."Nadia praised."At least he has still given us his trust like always."

Ahsoka glanced at Anakin and Nadia.

"How are we gonna find them?"Ahsoka asked.

"Ahsoka, you should know by now."Anakin stated."If you want to find a lowlife You start at the saloon."

The three Jedi went inside a bar and saw no sign of the three wanted bounty hunters.

But then two Gamorrean guards blocked their path causing Anakin to shove them away while Nadia used the Force to throw their axes towards the wall while the crowd cheered in the background.

"The fugitives are already gone."the Bar Owner said.

"All three of them were here?"Anakin asked.

"Two came in, met the third."the Bar Owner responded.

"When did they leave?"Nadia questioned.

"Nothing's free on Nal Hutta, especially information."the Bar Owner commented.

But then Anakin began to choke the Bar Owner by using the Force.

"I don't have time for games."Anakin stated cruelly.

"You just missed them."the Bar Owner answered weakly.

"Keep talking."Anakin stated with a cruel smirk.

"I heard one of them say they just bought a ship."the Bar Owner admitted.

Then Anakin released him and brought his attention on Ahsoka and Nadia.

"Let's go, Snips and Kitty."Anakin ordered in a dark tone.

Anakin, Ahsoka and Nadia walked out as the Bar Owner coughed heavily.

Back in Coruscant...

Rex stood outside Chancellor Palpatine's office and got contacted by Mace Windu, who wanted to know the whereabouts of Anakin and Nadia since neither of them were responding to their calls.

"Captain Rex, I need to speak with General Skywalker and Padawan Aomori."Mace Windu declared."Neither of them are not responding to my calls."

"Sir, General Skywalker and Padawan Aomori aren't unavailable."Rex answered.

"Where are they, Captain?"Mace Windu questioned.

"I can't say, sir."Rex replied simply.

"You can't or you won't?"Mace Windu retorted.

Chancellor Palpatine then walked forward to speak to Mace Windu.

"Anakin and Nadia are on Nal Hutta."Chancellor Palpatine replied.

"Nal Hutta?"Mace Windu said in surprise.

"Protecting me is only postponing the problem, not solving it."Chancellor Palpatine stated.

"With all due respect, Chancellor, the Council has a plan in place."Mace Windu answered.

"Yes, and so does Moralo Eval, who appears to be several steps ahead of you."Chancellor Palpatine admitted."For that reason, I asked both Anakin and Nadia to take action. They are both confident that they can find the fugitives and stop this plot against me. I suggest you have more faith in young Skywalker and Aomori. Captain, if you must escort me home, I'm leaving now."

"Yes, sir."Rex answered with a nod.

At the Jedi Temple Communication Center…

Mace Windu looked at Master Yoda after the hologram of Chancellor Palpatine vanished from their sight.

"This is exactly what Obi-Wan didn't want to happen."Mace Windu commented."If I warn him, it could blow his cover. Get him killed."

"Kill Hardeen, Skywalker and Aomori might or die trying, they may."Master Yoda stated."Warn the three of them, you must. Overdue, the truth is."

At Nal Hutta...

Anakin was talking to a male Bith, who had seen the three bounty hunters.

"How do you know they couldn't have gotten very far?"Anakin questioned.

The male a Bith gave a response.

"So you only gave them enough fuel to reach the nearest filling station on Orondia, which is owned by your brother?"Anakin asked."Well, that's a nice little money-making scam."

Anakin walked up to Ahsoka and Nadia.

"We better get going."Ahsoka suggested."Orondia's pretty deserted."

"Yeah."Nadia agreed."They may steal a ship there to throw us off their trail."

"I like your thinking."Anakin commented with a smile.

Nadia blushed shyly and Ahsoka smiled as the three of them walked away.

In Orondia...

Cad Bane, Moralo and Rako were at the Orondia Refuelling Station.

The filling station was a large refuelling structure on the Orondia plains, featuring several starship berths surrounding the central station.

"Here, take it."Moralo stated as he handed money to a male Bith merchant."I just want to get out of here."

Moralo then walked up to Cad Bane and Rako.

"We're being swindled."Moralo commented."Who sells a ship with only enough fuel to get to this lousy rock?"

"The way I see it, you keep paying off everybody but me."Cad Bane replied.

"Yeah, why is that?"Rako asked

The three bounty hunters headed inside their luxury 3000 space yacht.

In Space...

The T-6 shuttle was heading to Orondia.

Anakin piloted the shuttle and was next to Ahsoka while Nadia sat on a seat at the back.

Ahsoka and Nadia spotted Cad Bane following Moralo Eval and Rako into the luxury 3000 space yacht, preparing to leave the Orondia Refuelling Station.

"Look."Ahsoka said."It's Cad Bane."

"And Rako Hardeen."Nadia retorted.

"Are you sure?"Anakin asked.

Ahsoka groaned while Nadia raised an eyebrow at Anakin.

"Ugh, who else wears a hat like that?"Ahsoka questioned.

"And who else is know as the 'Marksman of Concord Dawn'?"Nadia scoffed.

Anakin smirked at Ahsoka and Nadia's responds.

"Good point."Anakin responded.

The T-6 shuttle flew in front of the luxury 3000 space yacht and began to fly after it while bumping into it a little bit.

Anakin then stood up from the pilot's seat.

"Where are you going?"Nadia demanded.

"Take over!"Anakin stated as he went out."I'll bring them down!"

Nadia went to Ahsoka's seat as Ahsoka began piloting the T-6 shuttle.

Anakin went at the top of the luxury 3000 space yacht and used his lightsaber to damage one of the wings.

Then Cad Bane started shooting at Anakin, but the Jedi Knight deflected the lasers with his lightsaber causing one of them to hit Cad's sneaker sending him to the floor.

The Jedi and the bounty hunter began to fight each other.

Then the luxury 3000 space yacht fired a few shots to the destination ahead creating a couple of explosions.

Both Ahsoka and Nadia gasped in shock as the luxury 3000 space yacht slammed at their ship causing both the ships to crush down.

Nadia groaned as she rubbed her head and notice her best friend gaining her consciousness.

"Are you alright, Soka?"Nadia asked.

"I'm fine."Ahsoka answered and notice they crashed in a foggy cliff."Where's Anakin?"

"Must be fighting Hardeen."Nadia suggested."Let's go."

Rako was out of the luxury 3000 space yacht holding a blaster, but then Anakin grabbed him and slammed him into the floor before both of then stood up.

"You're going to pay for what you did!"Anakin growled.

Anakin grab a hold of Rako, who glared at him.

"You shouldn't have gotten involved."Rako stated.

After sending him against the wall, Anakin kicked Rako below the stomach and activated his lightsaber to kill him.

"This is for Obi-Wan."Anakin said coldly.

Anakin raised his blade up, but then Cad Bane used his grappling hook to grab a hold of the Jedi Knight and drag him away from Rako.

"You can thank me later, Hardeen."Cad Bane stated as he dragged Anakin to the ground."You had your chance to kill him. Now it's my turn."

Anakin kicked Cad Bane's face and used his lightsaber to cut the whip before fighting Bane.

Anakin then pinned Rako on the floor and began punching him before grabbing a hold of the Jedi Knight in a head lock.

"Anakin, don't follow me."Rako whispered.

Then Rako released Anakin, who collapsed unconsciously on the ground.

Cad Bane then took out his blaster to kill Anakin.

However, Ahsoka and Nadia showed up with their lightsabers activated before going in front of Anakin to protect him.

Moralo then walked up to Cad Bane and Rako.

"The ship is still operational, I got it working."Moralo stated."Now let's get out of here."

"You're lucky we're in a hurry, little ladies."Cad Bane commented while sneering at Nadia and Ahsoka."We'll have to dance another time."

The two girls glared at the ruthless criminal, who tipped his hat in farewell as he walked away with his partners-in-crime.

After the three bounty hunters were gone, Ahsoka and Nadia checked on Anakin.

"Master."Ahsoka said in concern."Master, are you all right?"

The Jedi Knight groaned as he opened his eyes and the two girls helped him up.

The luxury 3000 space yacht took off as Anakin had a troubled look on his face.

"What is it, Anakin?"Nadia asked.

The three Jedi watched as the fugitive ship took off.

"That's why I felt a connection."Anakin answered while rubbing his wrist."Obi-Wan is still alive."

Both Ahsoka and Nadia's eyes widen in disbelief at the Jedi Knight's reply.

"I don't understand."Ahsoka stated.

"It has to be a trick."Nadia assumed as she shook her head."You two saw Hardeen shoot Obi-Wan directly on the arm."

"I don't understand this either but we're gonna get to the bottom of this."Anakin admitted."Believe me."

The three Jedi then watched the area of the sky where their enemies's yacht took off in silence.

So Kento Marek made an appearance which means 'Force Unleashed' will be in the story's sequel. Anyway, our fellow Jedi learn that Obi-Wan could still be alive. But no doubt Nadia won't take the discovery of her master's secret mission too well.

Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter

See you all later and have a lovely Easter Monday!:)