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Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars: The Clone Wars. I only own the OC Jayden Shan/Darth Khan.
This is one giant clusterkriff. Aurra Sing thought to herself.
It had started out as a simple enough job; help a kid get revenge on the Jedi who killed his father. She assembled a crew of bounty hunters to help, including the Klatoonian Castas and the Trandoshan Bossk, and set about their plan to kill one of the most notorious Jedi…
Master Mace Windu. High Councillor, Master of the Order, and the man who killed Jango Fett… inspiring Boba Fett's quest for revenge.
One plan after another was coming undone and Windu seemed to expertly elude death, much to their collective frustration and concern. Aurra felt like she was losing control of the situation. She needed a new plan.
She was brought out of her thoughts by a frustrated huff from Castas, who never seemed to shut up with his whining. "It's no use! That Jedi will tell the rest of his ilk and soon enough there will be nowhere we can go!"
Bossk shot him a look. "You assume the Republic would put a price on our heads? They are too busy fighting a war to worry about Bounty Hunters, even if we just did destroy a Republic ship and take several hostages. Once they learn of our hostages, things will become... complicated." He looked up at Aurra. "We'll need to fight fire with fire when it comes to Jedi."
"What?" Boba frowned from where he sat, uncrossing his arms and leaning forward. "You mean a Jedi against a Jedi, Bossk?"
"No, Boba," Aurra said in a rather motherly tone. She was thankful Bossk had some brains and could think outside the box. The near-human knew what he was suggesting… and actually liked it. "He means we need someone very capable of killing Jedi… and I know someone who's been all over the HoloNet News lately."
The world of Malastare was located in the Malastare system of the Mid-Rim, situated along the Hydian Way. Its core was home to large reserves of Malastarian fuel, a toxic fuel found only on Malastare. It was the homeworld of the Dug species, though it was represented in the Galactic Senate by the Gran species, who had colonized Malastare. Ainlee Teem, the senator of Malastare, was nominated in the election for Supreme Chancellor during the Invasion of Naboo.
During the Clone Wars, Malastare was the location of a battle between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems over the planet's fuel reserves. The battle awoke a creature known as the Zillo Beast, which the Republic successfully neutralized, leading the Dug Council to sign a treaty with the Republic allowing them access to their fuel reserves.
That is... until Darth Khan led the Separatists in taking the planet under Separatist control.
Now, after ensuring a strong Separatist presence on the planet, Jayden's ship, the Black Scythe, was leaving and beginning preparations to go into Hyperspace. Jayden himself sat in his quarters, meditating, when he heard the doors open.
"This had better be good." Jayden said without opening his eyes, his hood down and mask off.
"Sir, we're being contacted." The pilot droid informed him.
"Oh? Who by?" Jayden asked, slightly curious.
"Bounty Hunters, sir." The droid said. Jayden's eyes snapped open and a frown settled onto his face at this news. Bounty Hunters? Why would Bounty Hunters be contacting them?
A few minutes later, a masked Jayden entered the bridge of the ship and up to one of the controls where a hologram was activated, showing a near-human woman with her hair in a ponytail, an antenna in her head, dressed in an orange tank top and pants, a blaster holstered at her hip. He knew this woman by reputation.
"Aurra Sing."
The bounty hunter smiled faintly. "Darth Khan, is it? Nice to know my reputation precedes me."
"Get to the point, Aurra. I'm a busy man." Jayden rumbled in a low, nearly-emotionless voice. He didn't want to give any sort of indication they were on friendly terms. She had yet to prove herself.
"All business. I can appreciate that." Aurra mused. "I need some help. Your help."
"In case you haven't noticed, I'm not a bounty hunter."
"I don't need a bounty hunter. I need a Jedi-killer." Sing stated. That caught Jayden's attention quite vividly.
"The last time I worked with a Bounty Hunter on a job involving Jedi... I infiltrated the Jedi Temple. And believe me, that job became more complicated by the second." Jayden stated, crossing his arms over his chest. "I take it you have problems with a Jedi?"
"You... might say that." Aurra shrugged slightly. "You see, the Jedi we want dead... is Mace Windu."
Jayden was floored. Mace Windu? Are they kriffing insane? "What did you do to get on his bad side?" He asked.
"He's our target." Aurra clarified. "We don't want him dead because he's after us. We want him dead because that's who we're after." Jayden glowered beneath his mask. Taking on someone as deadly as Mace Windu was no joke, not to mention extremely risky. He recalled the battlefield reports from Dantooine and how the man had single-handedly destroyed the might CIS seismic tank.
"So… you're in over your head." He muttered. Aurra frowned.
"I didn't say that. I just want someone who has a record for killing Jedi on hand. I don't have anyone like that on my crew." She stated.
Jayden was silent as he contemplated. Mace WIndu... these Bounty Hunters had to be either incredibly stupid to go after a High-ranking Jedi, a member of the Jedi Council at that. But the chance to kill him... and these Bounty Hunters had come to him for aid in doing so. Windu was a serious threat, taking him out would be a blow to the Jedi and Republic just as much as killing Obi-Wan Kenobi or Anakin Skywalker, or even Master Yoda.
I better not regret this. Jayden sighed internally before he nodded. "Very well, you've got my attention. I will send you my coordinates and you will arrive in the hanger of my ship. Is there anything else about this hunt of yours?
"Other than us having three Republic hostages? Not much." Aurra smirked. "See you soon."
With that, the contact ended on her end, leaving Jayden to stare at the controls and he resisted the urge to rub his forehead, remembering that he had his mask on.
Knowing Bounty Hunters, this will either go as it did when he worked with Cad Bane... or worse.
Coming from the neighbouring Vanqor system, it didn't take the bounty hunters long to arrive aboard the Firespray-class patrol boat, Slave 1. Jayden stood in the hangar when they arrived, watching the sizeable ship tilt on its axis to make landfall with engines down.
The boarding ramp lowered, and Aurra was first down, smiling slightly. Behind her was the scaly reptilian Bossk, the lumpy Castas, and… a child?
The heck is a child doing with a group of bounty hunters? Jayden thought before shoving it to the back of his mind. He had a feeling he'll find out while he's amongst this motley crew of scumbags. He stood still, his arms crossed, as the bounty hunters approached.
"You know, I've heard quite a lot about you... most of them seem to be true." Aurra mused as she circled Jayden who stood still and stared ahead, even as Aurra placed a hand on his shoulder and ran it along. "Clad in red robes, silver and red mask, two Lightsabers hanging from your belt, give off a cold presence... some members of the Consortium debated putting a price on your head after you slaughtered a whole base of them and their former leader, Albedus Zann."
"And?" Jayden asked, raising an eyebrow though she couldn't see it.
Aurra chuckled. "Lot of mercs and bounty hunters were scared to consider going after you, honey."
Ignoring the... affectionate term she used to address him, he gestured to her crew. "You mind introducing me to who I'm working with and why there is a child amongst you?"
"That 'child' is Boba Fett. The son of Jango Fett." Aurra promptly explained as the young Boba frowned up at the Sith. The pieces started to click for Jayden. Jango Fett had been killed at the onset of the Clone Wars by Mace Windu. While he wasn't entirely sure how Jango managed to have a son, the pursuit of the Jedi Master suddenly made a bit more sense.
This is personal. He's going out of his way to see his father's killer dead.
Aurra continued with her introductions. "The Trandoshan is Bossk. The Klatoonian Castas." Gesturing to the crew as a whole, Aurra looked to Jayden with a twinkle in her eye. "As you can see, a seasoned Jedi-killer would round us out quite nicely."
Looking from one person to the next, his gaze straying on Boba a little while longer, the young Sith Apprentice turned his attention back to Aurra. "Very well. However, gaining the attention of the Jedi will not be so easy considering they are fighting a war. I assume you have a plan to draw Windu to us?"
"That I do, and that's where the hostages come into play." Aurra smirked, turning and gesturing for him to follow. "After all, at the sight of one of their enemies, Windu is bound to take action when he sees you execute one of the hostages."
Once again. Jayden resisted the urge to sigh as he walked passed Bossk, Boba and Castas to follow the near-human onto the ship, the rest of the crew following shortly afterwards.
Once everyone was onboard, though Jayden remained standing along with Aurra, the Slave 1 took off out of the hanger of the Black Scythe. As the Slave 1 flew, Boba took repeated glances up at Jayden before he decided to speak up.
"So, you're what's called a Sith, huh?" He asked, causing Jayden to glance at him. "What makes you different from Jedi?"
"A lot of things, kid. For one, Sith don't bury their emotions like Jedi do. We are free to express and feel them as they are naturally born with all lifeforms in the Universe. Yet the Jedi see this as folly, beliving attachments and the like are ways to fall to the Dark Side, that we're the bad guys." Jayden said then scoffed. "The Jedi will do anything to keep to their image of 'good' and 'balance', such as when they stood by and did nothing when a slaughter happened over 3,000 years ago. And before you ask, kid, it's best you do not compare me to a Jedi... the last one who did suffered before he begged me to kill him."
Boba went silent and Jayden turned his gaze ahead. Aurra watched them but said nothing. Boba suddenly got up and went into the back where the hostages, an admiral and two Clones, were tied up, gaining Jayden and Aurra's attention.
The young Fett knelt before Admiral Kilian and slipped his gag off. "This isn't want I wanted." He said softly, offering Kilian a sip of water from his personal canteen.
"You don't have to do this. You're not like them." The Admiral proffered. "I can tell."
"What do you know, old man?" Boba spat.
"I know a good soldier when I see one." Kilian said softly.
"I'm no soldier!" Boba retorted. "I'm no clone, not like these two!" Ponds shot him a sideways glance. "What? What're you looking at?" The boy demanded. The door opening behind him brought an end to his tirade.
"Boba, what's going on?" Aurra questioned.
"Nothing." The young Fett quickly said, turning to see Aura enter with Jayden behind her. He noticed the way the Admiral and two Clones stiffen at the sight of the masked Sith Lord who stared down at them, expressionless thanks to the mask that reminded Boba a little bit of the Mandalorians.
Aurra gave Boba a look that she didn't believe him before turning her attention to the three hostages.
"What are we going to do with them?" Boba asked, looking up at his mentor.
Aurra smirked darkly as she crouched and leaned forward to caress Killian's face. "Oh I think our friends here are finally about to prove useful." She chuckled then proceeded to slap Killian across the face.
Boba looked away as the sounds of the Admiral's grunts, along with punching and slapping filled the room. Jayden simply crossed his arms as he watched Aurra beat the hostages.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the galaxy…
Still recovering from their near-death ordeal aboard the Tranquility wreck on Vanqor, Mace Windu and Anakin Skywalker remained in the Halls of Healing dressed in white medical robes. A few bacta patches clung to various parts of their bodies, working on deeper wounds taking longer to heal. Anakin paced impatiently while Mace reclined and read a datapad.
"So, what are you going to do with this son of Jango Fett?" Anakin asked.
"I'm not planning to do anything." The Master said calmly.
"That kid destroyed an entire cruiser trying to get to you, and you're just gonna let it go?" Anakin stated incredulously.
"Is there something else I should be doing, Skywalker?"
"How about tracking him down?"
"So I should behave as this child does?" Mace questioned. "I should seek revenge."
"No. How is it revenge if you stop this kid and bring him to justice?" Anakin retorted.
"In case you hadn't noticed, we are fighting a war." Mace stated sharply. Glares and silent stares persisted until the access door opened and Plo Koon strode in followed by Ahsoka.
"We have a situation." The Kel Dor stated. "We received a transmission from the bounty hunters. They apparently took hostages."
Mace and Anakin shared a look as Plo went over to a control set-up, pressing a button that lowered the window shutters to darken the room while Mace got off the bed and walked over just as a hologram activated showing several figures. Three were the hostages, including Admiral Killian and Commander Ponds, the two holding the hostages at gunpoint were Aurra Sing and Boba Fett. However, there was another adition no one expected.
Darth Khan.
"Great, they've got him in on this." Anakin grumbled.
"Since when do bounty hunters turn to Sith for aid?" Mace questioned.
"Apparently since they decided to turn you into their prime target." Plo responded.
"Mace Windu." Boba began, getting the Jedi's attention. "You were lucky to escape. Your friend here were not so fortunate."
"Until you face Boba, these men will be killed." Aurra added darkly. kicking Ponds in the back. "One. At. A. Time." She looked down at Ponds and demanded. "What's your name?"
In a wearily tone, the Clone responded. "CT-411."
Aurra scoffed in disgust and addressed the boy beside her. The Jedi noticed how silent Khan was as he stood there, his arms crossed, watching. Aurra's voice drew their attention back to her. "Pathetic. Boba, do it."
The hologram of Boba aimed his blasted at Ponds' head, but he didn't pull the trigger. He was hesitating, the Jedi noticed. He didn't want to pull the trigger. He seemed unwillingly to take a life.
Can he say the same for the thousands of men who died when he crashed the Venator? Anakin scoffed mentally.
"Boba!" Aurra said sternly, indicating the boy follow with her command. However, after a few seconds, Boba lowered his blaster and looked away. Movement from Khan got everypne's attention as he simply walked up behind Ponds, Lightsaber in hand and aimed it at the back of the trooper's head... then activated it.
Anakin closed his eyes before opening them. "That was Ponds." He said mournfully, yet with a silent promise to avenge the trooper, to avenge all the Clones and Jedi Khan had killed.
"One down, two to go, Jedi." Khan spoke darkly.
Aurra smirked and wrapped an arm around his shoulder, an action Khan didn't even glance at her for. "Come and find us, WIndu... we'll be waiting."
With that, the transmission cut out, leaving the Jedi in silence before Mace broke it. "I'll go."
Anakin shot him a surprised look. "I thought you had bigger concerns."
"That was before we know hostages were involved." Mace retorted.
"You are too injured." Plo Koon pointed out. "Khan will easily kill you. And your presence will only aggravate the boy. I shall go and take Padawan Tano with me."
Aurra wasn't necessarily known for keeping her temper together. And Boba was about to find that out in full.
Despite all her efforts to help him, despite even her motherly disposition towards him, the slap he received still hurt like hell. "Next time I tell you to pull the trigger, you do it!" The humanoid woman snarled. With that she made for the control pod of Slave 1, Jayden following her in. He didn't much care for Boba but at the very least he knew when a kid was scared, terrified even.
He had been once.
"It should only be a matter of time until they track us down." Aurra mused to her crewmates. She paused as the snivelling Klatoonian beside her murmured unintelligibly. "Something on your mind, Castas?" She demanded.
"Yeah, I got something to say. We're in over our heads!" He snapped.
"You signed on to kill Jedi. Well, this is how it's done." Aurra retorted.
"It requires no small amount of courage, and daring." Jayden added. "Jedi can be killed. They only appear invincible."
"You said the Separatists would pay well if we killed Windu." Castas continued. "That kid destroyed an entire cruiser, and now we're taking hostages! That was not part of the plan!" He exclaimed.
"I never took you for a coward, Castas." Aurra retorted dismissively. She glanced at the Transdoshan in their midst. "And what about you, Bossk? You feel the same?"
His tongue darted out, hissing before he spoke, "I'm sssstill in. I got a lot riding on thissss kill, and I need the cash."
"Not me. I'm out." Castas stated firmly.
"Well then, you're in luck. I was planning on making a stop." Aurra announced. "You can drag your worthless carcass off of this ship when we land."
"Where are we headed?" Jayden wondered.
"We're going to visit an old friend of mine. Maybe he can replace Castas." Aurra responded. "Set course for Florrum."
Jayden blanked. He knew that planet. And if the friend in question was who he thought it was, this was not going to end well.
Hondo. Of course it had to be Hondo.
The underworld of Coruscant was a place the Jedi did not often go to, nor did anything often direct their attention to go there. But considering they were dealing with Bounty Hunters, especially Aurra Sing, then they'd have to investigate the criminal underworld for 'friends' of Aurra or even Jango Fett, considering his son is among Aurra's crew.
This is why Ahsoka and Plo Koon were in a transport, going far from the main city area. As they flew, Ahsoka couldn't keep her silence any longer, nor her confusion on where they were going.
"Master Plo, I-I don't understand." The young Togruta began, gaining the Jedi Master's attention. "Shouldn't we be heading for the last place we knew Boba Fett was spotted?"
It was a good question, and Plo had an equally good response to it.
"Why go to the one place we know he's not?" He countered lightly.
Reaching the large hole filled with ships, landing pads, docking bays, and junk, Plo had their transport descend down into the darkness, further into the slums of Coruscant. Ahsoka couldn't help but be in awe, having never been this far down in Coruscant, nor has she ever been here. As they descended, Plo decided to get Ahsoka caught up on the situation, especially information of their targets.
"The second bounty hunter is the hologram is Aurra Sing." He said.
"Another bounty hunter?" Ahsoka frowned before realizing. "Like his father, Jango Fett."
"Hmm." Plo nodded. "Seems this boy found himself in the care of at least one of Jango's... associates."
"And now has a Sith among them." Ahsoka grumbled, thinking back to Khan as he killed that Republic officer. Plo sensed her thoughts drifting off.
"Be mindful of your thoughts, Ahsoka, they betray you." He warned lightly, gaining her attention. "Your rivalry with Khan must not cloud your judgement. Especially while we're down here, in the lower levels; the underworld."
Once theit transport landed, Plo and Ahsoka got out and threw up the hoods of their cloaks and concealed their Lightsabers. They passed through a passport checkpoint with ease, namely thanks to the Force, and went further into the lower levels.
"The data on Jango Fett suggested he frequented this area." Plo informed Ahsoka, then looked at her and cautioned. "We must be cautious."
Ahsoka nodded in understanding. The two approached a smaller transport pod than what they used to take to the lower levels and took off to head in further.
Slave 1 shot out of hyperspace and towards the planet of Florrum, a system Jayden was not too eager to step foot on again, namely in regards to one certain pirate that he and his temporary group of allies were going to see. He kept his silence and his arms crossed as Bossk flew the ship to Hondo's base and landed it.
"Let's go." Aurra said once the ramp was lowered.
Jayden internally sighed and took up the rear as he followed the bounty hunters out of the ship to where Hondo was already approaching them, having been contacted by Aurra to inform him of their arrival.
"Oh, my dear, you never were good at asking for permission to land." Hondo chided playfully, and with a hint of flirting in his words which made Jayden grimace in disgust.
A saucy smile came onto Aurra's face as she caressed Hondo's cheek. "I never ask permission to do anything, my darling." And with that, she pulled him into a rather heated kiss which made Jayden shake his head and look away.
'Bounty hunters. He thought with annoyance.
The kiss soon broke and Hondo cleared his throat. "Yes. Yes. I remember." He then took notice of Boba and gestured to him. "Not mine, I take it?"
Did not need that image in my head. Jayden grimaced behind his mask.
"No." Aurra put her hand on Boba's shoulder. "Part of my crew. He's Jango's son."
"Oh." Hondo expressed a minor level of shock as he crouched to the boy's level. "Yes, yes. Sorry about your father. He was a friend and an honourable man." He then noticed Jayden and stood up in alert, reaching for his blaster. "You brought him?!"
Jayden's hovered over one of his Lightsabers when Aurra stepped in between them. "Khan is a temporary ally. We're in need of his help. I don't care what happened between you two, but keep it between yourselves. So no killing each other until after the job is done."
Jayden looked at the woman then at Hondo before he lowered his hand away from his Lightsaber and Hondo reluctantly holstered his pistol. "Fine. But I'm keeping my eye on him." The Weequay pirate warned. "Last time he was here, he slaughtered several of my men. Good working men are hard to come by these days."
Aurra rolled her eyes at him then gestured to her next crew member. "That's Castas. But he's getting off here."
Hondo was amused as he put an arm around Castas' shoulders. "Couldn't handle her, could you? Well, don't be ashamed, you're not the first man to bail out from under her command."
Aurra's eyes narrowed as a sharp edge entered her voice as they began to follow the pirate into his base. "He's speaking from experience."
Hondo turned and chuckled at her. "You're a dangerous woman." he laughed. "Yes, very dangerous. I can see why someone like Khan would hang around you, though I'm sure he's a bit young for you. Come, come, come! Let us go inside, where we can discuss business over a drink like civilised people."
Jayden, Aurra and Boba followed Hondo and Castas into his base, finding pirates lounging and drinking or playing games. Jayden leaned against the bar and crossed his arms, looking at the pirates in his peripheral vision. His attention shifted to Castas who he noticed was speaking to someone. He also noticed Auyrra watching her former crew member suspiciously. Jayden turned and wordlessly gestured for a drink, which was soon slid into his hand.
He took his mask off and placed it in front of him, bringing the cup to his lips and sipping his drink. As he lowered it, he noticed Aurra looking at him with a raised eyebrow. "What?" He asked, a little annoyed.
"You're not quite what I was expecting underneath that mask." Aurra commented sincerely. "I mean, someone of your reputation had to at least be older, not a teenager."
Jayden raised an eyebrow at her then he merely gestured to Boba pointedly, looking at her with a 'your point?' look which made Aurra chuckle and pat his cheek in an almost motherly manner which he shrugged off and returned to his drink.
Once their drinks arrived, Hondo took his and Boba was about to reach for the second one but Aurra stopped him and gave him a stern look. "No, Boba." The kid was too young to start drinking that stuff. And unlike Jayden, Boba was under her care.
"I hear there's a downed Republic cruiser on Vanqor." Hondo commented, drawing Aurra's attention as well as Jayden's. "Your handiwork?"
Aurra shook her head. "I wouldn't take credit for that. No." She took a sip of her drink. "We saw it, though, crawling with Republic troops. I wouldn't try and salsaveg it for a while if I were you."
"I appreciate the advice." Hondo remarked, then looked at Boba and Jayden. "So, Boba, Lord Khan, what is it like working with Aurra?"
"First time I have worked with her, second time I've worked with a bounty hunter." Jayden said, finishing his drink and putting the cup down.
"Oh? Taking such a time out of your busy schedule of fighting a war to work with a bounty hunter, eh?" Hondo chuckled. "Anyone I know?"
"Cad Bane." Jayden sighed.
"Ah, yes, Bane." Hondo nodded knowingly. "Well, at least you got your first taste of bounty hunting. I daresay you'd make a fine one yourself if you weren't fighting in a war. What with your abilities and Jedi kill count."
Jayden snorted and turned, making it clear he wad done talking so Hondo turned to speak to Boba. Jayden leaned on his arms, staring ahead with a thoughtful gaze before he sensed Aurra's intention and looked up just as she pulled her blaster out and shot a hole through Castus, killing him instantly.
Jayden shook his head. Bounty hunters...
Back on Coruscant, Plo and Ahsoka arrived at one of the streets in the lower levels, one that was well frequent for its clubs for the worst of the worst to attend. This would be the fifth one they'll be searching, as the other four had turned up with no results.
Once the transport lowered, Ahsoka got off while saying. "Well, I hope we have better luck here. This is the fifth scum-bucket drinking hole we've been to."
"Yes." Plo nodded, then gave her a look. "And this time, try to be more subtle."
Ahsoka stopped and looked at him in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"You've adopted many of your master's ways, including a lack of subtlety." Plo lightly chastised, but it got his point across as Ahsoka's head lowered.
"Sorry, Master Plo." She said softly.
Plo sighed as they stopped at the entrance of one club, looking at the young Togruta. "Just try to blend in. Listen. You may be surprised what people reveal when they have been... drinking." He suggested, then pushed a button that opened the door. Immediately, the two were hit by the loud music. It was definitely a club for scum to hang around in as they drank, or watched the Twi'lek dancers performing their alluring dance.
"Have a look around." Plo told Ahsoka and the two split off, casually walking around. Plo went towards the bar while Ahsoka walked around, passing where two men were watching the Twi'lek dancing, briefly watching her ran her hands across her slender frame in a seductive manner to tempt the eyes of the males in the club. Ahsoka shook her head at the sight and kept looking.
She soon let out a huff of frustration. "I'm not getting anywhere. Okay, try to relax." She exhaled, beginning to tune into her senses with both the Force and her natural senses as a huntress. "Like Master Plo says, listen."
She closed her eyes and listened.
"This war is killing me."
"My whole business has gone under."
"Oh. Give me another round."
"I saw her last night, on the video screen."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!"
"I'm gonna ask her out."
"She'll never go out with you. She's gonna go out with me!"
"Florrum? A buddy of mine was just murdered on Florrum."
Ahsoka's eyes snapped open at that. "Murder?" She whispered to herself, then focused on who spoke that and walked over, though kept her distance to still be close to listen but not give herself away. She saw a male Nautolan speaking to his friend.
"Yeah, yeah, he was working a big job." The Nautolan said. "At least, that is what he said. Even mentioned her bringing in that Darth Khan guy from the Separatists. And then, boom! She shot him. He must've had some good dirt."
"What's her name?" His friend asked, groaning. "I hope it's not who I think it is."
"he was working with Aurra Sing." The Nautolan tutted. "She's bad news."
"Ah, that's her, all right." His friend nodded. "She's the boss' ex. There's always trouble when she shows up. And now she's gone and involved a Separatist into her affairs."
"Yeah, that's the one." The Nautolan said lowly, then he was suddenly out of his chair, grabbing Ahsoka and restraining her as his friend stood and leered at her.
"Find something interesting, kid?" he demanded.
Ahsoka responded by stomping on the Nautolan's foot and got out of his hold, about to reach for her Lightsaber when the Nautolan drew a pair of daggers as his friend drew a blaster.
"What's this? What are you reaching for?" The Nautolan asked with a smirk. Ahsoka then noticed several others had pulled out a blaster and were aiming at her.
Not good. She thought as she gripped her Lightsaber. Suddenly, the sound of a Lightsaber igniting caught everyone's attention as they looked to see Plo with his Lightsaber activated.
"Stand down." He ordered sternly. At the sight of the Lightsaber, some faltered, recognising a Jedi, but not all of them faltered at being face to face with a Jedi as the Nautolan chuckled.
"You can't take us all, Jedi." He remarked.
Plo was barely deterred as he came to Ahsoka's side as she ignited her Lightsaber. "Would you like to try and prove your theory?"
The two Jedi backed up as close to the door as they could get with the patrons beginning to try and corner them. The bartender then called out. "Hey, nobody's shooting up my place today!"
An idea popped into Ahsoka's mind as she fished ceom credits from her pocket. "He's right. Drinks are on the house!" She threw the credits and watched the thugs scramble to get it, allowing her and Plot to slip out and deactivate their Lightsabers.
"Not very subtle." Plo remarked as they walked away.
Ahsoka sighed. "Well, I was being subtle." She quickly amended then moved on. "But, Master, you were right. I heard about a murder. A murder Aurra Sing recently commited, and that Darth Khan was there."
Plo turned to her. "Where?"
"Florrum."
"Well done, little 'Soka." Plo praised and they walked away. "We're off to Florrum."
On Florrum, Aurra, Jayden and Boba were in Hondo's office, with Aurra having explained the situation to the Weequay pirate who sat in her chair, humming as he contemplated everything he had been told.
"Hmm, yes, I can see why you acquired the services of Khan here." Hondo mused. "Well, my dear, you are in an interesting predicament once again. Getting involved with the Jedi is never a good idea. Well, unless you have someone who can take on a Jedi, and who better than the Jedi killer right here before us?"
"Aurra." Bossk's voice came over the commlink. "We've got an incoming ship. Jedi, by the looks of it."
Boba turned at the mention of 'Jedi'. "Windu!"
"Finally." Aurra remarked. "Took them long enough. Move Slave 1 to the outskirts and get the hostages ready."
"Right." Bossk responded before cutting the chatter. Aurra looked at her ex.
"So are you in or not?" She asked. Hondo finished his drink and slammed the cup down on his desk as he looked at her.
"I will not help you." He decided. "But I will not hinder you either. This is your fight, not mine."
Smart man. Jayden thought as Slave 1 took off towards the outskirts of the compound.
Jayden didn't have that much faith in whatever Aurra had planned, but he waited in the shadows of the bar, watching as Aurra waited for the Jedi to arrive. When they did, it wasn't Mace Windu like they wanted, it was Plo Koon. Jayden kept his Force signature low so as to not be sensed just yet, watching the Kel Dor take a seat across from Aurra.
"Bad move, Jedi." Aurra shook her head, sipping her drink. "This will cost you."
From behind, Boba appeared and pointed a blaster at Plo's head though the Jedi didn't look bothered by this as he remained calm. "I wanted Windu. What are you doing here?"
"We can do this the difficult way or the simple way." Plo suggested calmly. "The choice is yours."
Aurra scoffed then held her hand up to her earpiece connected to the antenna in her head. "Bossk, can you hear me?"
2Roger." Came the response.
"Execute the hostages if I give the word." She ordered and smirked at Plo.
"Unwise." Plo stated. "You have already lost and you don't even know it."
Aurra glared at him. "I am prepared to kill you, the hostages, whatever it takes to get what Boba wants."
Plo hummed. "Sounds like what you want."
Ahsoka shot out of the shadows and sliced the antenna in half before holding her blade at Aurra's throat as Boba's grip on his weapon tightened. "Don't!" Ahsoka warned him, inching the Lightsaber towards Aurra.
Boba glared. "Let her go!"
"Not a chance." Ahsoka rebuffed.
"She won't do it, Boba." Aurra said confidently. "She's not like you."
"She's right." Ahsoka glared at the boy. "I'm not a murderer."
"I'm not a murderer!" Boba shook his head. "But I want justice!"
"We are justice." Plo said.
Aura locked eyes with Boba. "Don't listen to them."
"No one will be harmed if you come quietly." Plo explained. Boba's grip tightened on his weapon as his resolve faltered a little, looking at the woman who had been somewhat of a mother figure, his mentor.
"I can't let you die!" He implored.
"You won't have to." Aurra said in her motherly voice, and Boba heard the distinct sound of a blade getting ready which made him remember the foot blades Aurra had in her boot and he looked at her, only for her to shoot him a wink.
Enough of this! Jayden thought and shot out of the darkness, red Lightsaber activating and swinging towards Ahsoka who quickly broke her grip on Aurra to block his attack.
"Aurra!" Boba shouted and fired at the two Force-wielders, with the shot being deflected by the red and green blades. Plo slammed his hands onto the table, flipping it just as Aurra shot her foot blades which bounced off the table, one skimming Jayden's exposed left arm while the second struck his skin, causing him to grunt in pain as he quickly backed off from Ahsoka, looking at his bleeding arm.
Aurra drew her duel blasters and fired at Ahsoka who deflected the shots when Plo Force pushed the table between them, causing her shots to reduce it to splinters but the dust that came gave Plo the chance to slash her weapons in half and point his blade at her.
"it's over!" Plo saod as Ahsoka pointed her blade at Jayden. "Surrender! Both of you!"
Boba looked up from the floor and drew a grenade. "Aurra, now!" He threw it in the middle of the group.
"Bomb!" Ahsoka shouted. Aurra smirked and ran past them just as it exploded, sending everyone off their feet. Jayden grunted as he crashed through a wall, groaning in some pain as his vision was blurred momentarily.
Dammit... that hurt. Jayden thought, sitting up and ripping the knife out of his arm, though the blood wasn't stopping. He tapped a button on his wrist device to call in the Rogue Shadow, which he has had trail Slave 1 since departing the Black Scythe.
Taking his chances, Jayden escaped and made for where his ship will land. this was the last time he was going to work with bounty hunters unless he was ordered to do so. They were just too much trouble, even for him.
Bossk had been arrested, as had Boba, and Aurra was presumed dead after Ahsoka sent Slave 1 crashing on Florrum. Now, the Jedi were back on Coruscant to take Bossk and Boba to prison, with a Clone escort accompanying them.
Arriving on Coruscant, they were greeted by Mace Windi and Anakin Skywalker, with Mace walking forward to crouch to Boba's level. To his credit, the boy held Mace's stare.
"I see now that I've done terrible things." Boba admitted, and there was guilt in his tone. However, he shot Mace a glare of hurt and pain. "But you started it when you murdered my father! I'll never forgive you!"
"Hmm." Mace stood and looked at the boy with a blank expression. "Well, you're going to have to. Take them away."
The Clones did so, leaving the Jedi to stand and watch them leave before Plo caught Anakin and Mace's attention when he pulled a vial out, a vial with red liquid inside. "What's that?" Anakin asked, frownoing. "Is that-"
"Blood. Yes." Plo nodded, handing the vial to Mace. "Blood we found on Florrum."
"But not just anyone's blood... Darth Khan's blood." Ahsoka revealed, making Anakin's eyes widened while Mace was surprised.
Mace stared at the vial, which had the answers the Jedi needed to the questions they had about Dooku's new Apprentice. "I think we better get this to the lab, and finally find out just who is underneath that mask. Find out just who Darth Khan really is..."
And that's it for this chapter! Nex tone, the Jedi finally discover who Jayden is, his bloodline and why he is so powerful in the Force. They will find out he is the descendant of Revan, Bastila and Satele Shan. Remember a certain plot point from "Holocron Heist" about Jayden's parents? Well, that's getting revealed.
Also, big thanks to DFM23 for helping me out with this.
