It felt good to see Miara again. Although she was growing quickly, Ahsoka couldn't help but see her as an extension of herself, a younger sister that both her and Kaeden had raised. Along the way, the two of them chatted a bit more, catching up on general rebel business and trading anecdotes about Kaeden.
"I asked her why she trusted you so much even though we barely knew you," Miara mumbled from the cockpit. "She said you were the prettiest person she'd ever seen, so she knew you had to have a good heart."
Ahsoka rolled her eyes. "That's got to be a bluff," she huffed, although the tips of her ears did redden slightly.
"She also complained to me that she's going to turn thirty before you two get married," Miara added.
Ahsoka frowned. Were teenagers all this nosy? She tried to remember what she was like at Miara's age, and whether she had her nose this far up other people's business.
"That's for her and I to discuss," Ahsoka replied solemnly.
"Okay but just so you know, if you like it, you better put a torus on it," Miara clicked her tongue.
Ahsoka laughed.
"I'm serious! When you pick a maid of honor it has to be me, alright?"
Ahsoka rolled her eyes. "No promises."
Miara pouted. "You're no fun!" she said childishly, making Ahsoka laugh. She grinned and reached over, patting Miara's head as if she was a child all over again.
"When the time comes, I will let you know," Ahsoka smiled gently. "Understood?"
"O-kay," Miara replied, pleased.
"Are those braids new?" Ahsoka asked, admiring Miara's hair.
Miara beamed. "Yes, I found a human salon that specializes in them!"
"That's good," Ahsoka observed. "I like the beads."
Miara giggled. "Thank you! I do too."
Ahsoka smiled and leaned back in her seat. She really is growing up, she thought to herself bittersweetly. Although she was happy to see Miara thriving, sometimes she couldn't help but wish things would stay the way they were. Back when I was younger, and less burdened by responsibilities...still convinced I had time to fix everything, she sighed. Still convinced I could fix everything.
"Oh, looks like we're almost there!"
Ahsoka peered out of the window closest to her head, marveling at the sight before them.
Daiyu was bright and vibrant, illuminated with a million electric lights and skyscrapers that rose so high that some of them peeked into the atmosphere. Several moons (both natural and artificial) orbited around it. The larger ones were all covered in glass atmospheric domes and seemed to contain artificial environments with completely controlled weather.
Some of them were also covered in solar panels upon which holographic billboards could be projected. Right now, however, there were no advertisements being broadcast. All of them were instead flashing the same image of the same man; a thin, worn-down man who looked as if he had seen better days.
Master Kenobi, Ahsoka realized with a jolt.
If she had not been paying attention, she might have mistaken him for a nameless vagabond. His overgrown hair, downtrodden look, and the wrinkles underneath his eyes made him almost unrecognizable.
But not completely.
Ahsoka exhaled slowly, tried to calm herself down.
The Empire wouldn't still be broadcasting his image as a wanted fugitive if they had already killed him, she reminded herself. There's still time.
"And here we are at Ko Lon Wo," Miara announced.
The moon they were approaching looked much less eye-catching in comparison. It was mostly covered in freighters and ground transporters. As a mostly automated trade planet, it seemed like the only other life forms she would encounter were other pilots, or possibly transport droids. The only recognizable features that stood out to her were the amount of machines, and the lack of a glass biodome.
"Ko Lon Wo is the sort of place where everything comes and goes," Miara explained. "They never bothered to implement an artificial atmosphere here. So, you won't find any Inquisitors patrolling the place. Just make sure to wear this," she handed her a portable oxygen mask with the tank attached.
Ahsoka nodded, relieved. She could hold her breath if need be.
Miara ended up depositing her at a small trade port. They hugged each other briefly, then Ahsoka ran to the trade freighter and boarded it as quickly as possible. Thankfully, there were only a few droids patrolling the area, which were easy enough to hide from.
After stowing away in the freighter and landing at an inspection port, it was time to dispose of her oxygen mask and finally enter the neon city of a Daiyu.
As she walked through the main entrance, she looked around herself, marveling slightly at everything. There were holographic billboards everywhere, included ones being projected by flying drones. A bunch of scammer droids solicited whoever they could find, preying on others' sympathy and asking them to sign petitions (as a way of obtaining their signature, which could later be forged and used for illegal activities). Others simply walked in circles, offering different services (cleaning, assassination, protection from assassination, etc). However, most everyone ignored them, knowing better than to pay them any attention.
"Hey, gorgeous! You look like you could use a good time," a pretty Twilek lady giggled at Ahsoka, tugging on her arm and trying to draw her closer. "Wanna join me for the night, cutie?"
Ahsoka eyed the tall Twilek woman. She was carrying a tray of glowing neon beverages, most likely to entice new customers into joining her nightclub. "No, thanks," she declined politely. "I'm afraid my partner wouldn't approve."
The Twilek pouted. "Aw, that's no fun!" But she let her go nonetheless.
Ahsoka also steered clear of the teenagers selling spice and death sticks. If she wanted to remain discreet, the less people she interacted with, the better. She had been to quite a few planets like this before, and if her memory served her right the citizens generally tended to mind their own business. Everyone had a purpose and a place to be. Except for those hired to do so, people rarely asked each other any questions. In order to avoid rousing suspicion, she chose to stick to the larger crowds.
Although she had no idea where Master Kenobi was held, it seemed logical to her to check the main exit. At least, if his captors tried to move him, she would be able to cut them off before they could get off-world. And so, she headed to the main exit of Daiyu, where all traffic was expressly forbidden and various people milled about, waiting sullenly.
Right next to the gates, she could see two imposing people dressed in all-black armor. Together, they walking back and forth, holding ringed sabers that glowed threateningly and cast red light on each of their faces.
Those must be the Inquisitors.
Ahsoka steeled herself and did her best not to make eye contact with them. If need be, she was prepared to fight (possibly all of them at once), but the less attention she drew to herself, the better. Fortunately for her, the Inquisitors seemed a lot less interested in verifying everyone's identity and were deeply absorbed in their own heated conversation.
"Where's the runt?"
"She said she had other business to attend to," the tall female Mirialan with green skin sneered. "Something about going to check in on her prisoner. Lord Vader has asked for proof of his capture."
Prisoner?
Could it be...?
"Well, isn't that grand," the tall humanoid male grunted. "Where did she say she was headed?"
"Wouldn't say." Ahsoka sighed, disappointed. "Either way, seems like she's too good to patrol the main exit with us."
"Can't say I'm surprised. Always caught her sneaking off on missions, letting her responsibilities fall on us...she was only interested in capturing that Jedi Master."
"That's just how she is. Once she gets it in her head that she can skip the hard work and grab the biggest fish, nothing else matters to her. Not her Brother, not her Master, nothing."
Ahsoka froze for a moment, considering her options.
If you get your cover blown, Bail Organa's hard work will be for nothing, the voice in the back of her brain warned.
How else am I going to find out where Master Kenobi is held? Ahsoka frowned.
Yeah, but what if they catch you?
"Hey, you!" The female Mirialan growled loudly and grabbed a child by the hand. "What are you doing here? Trying to escape without an exemption huh?"
Ahsoka's head whipped around immediately. A human woman grabbed onto the child with both arms, trying to pull him back, but the Inquisitor held him firmly by the hand. "I thought I sensed a Force-Sensitive vermin somewhere around me," the female Mirialan sneered. "What's your name, runt? I'll report it to the Grand Inquisitor and have you removed immediately."
"No, no," the mother screamed desperately while the child in her arms began to cry. "We're just ordinary humans! He has done nothing," she sobbed. "Let go of him!"
"Really? Well if he's not a Jedi, then why do I sense a filthy Light User clouding up the Force?" the Inquisitor spat.
"That's enough," Ahsoka called out loudly, and both of the Inquisitor's eyes turned towards her direction. The mother seized the opportunity to grab her boy and run away. "I'm the one you want," she announced, removing the cloak covering her lekku.
The Inquisitors both snarled at her. "Well, well. It appears the Jedi are still allergic to being alive," the green-skinned male remarked. "Tell us the name of whatever Rebel filth led you here, and you will not be executed."
"That is a lie," Ahsoka replied.
"How would you know?" the female Mirialan crooned, faking innocence.
"The Force told me so," Ahsoka replied, drawing her lightsabers. Both Inquisitors huffed scornfully, clearly unimpressed with the bootleg models.
"Well, I hope the Force also told you that today will be your last night," the female Inquisitor snarled, pressing a button. Her ringed double-saber immediately began to spin in a circle, moving so fast that it even blew the air away from her face. Ahsoka did not back down.
"Funny. I could say the same for you," Ahsoka replied.
"Hmph. Seems like we have an arrogant one on our hands," the female Inquisitor smirked. "You know what we do with arrogant Jedi, don't you, Brother?"
"We kill them," the male Inquisitor snarled.
Ahsoka smiled.
"Good thing I'm not one," she replied.