Star Wars - Series Fan Fiction ❯ A Sight Through Diffrent Eyes ❯ The Search Continues (Part 1) ( Chapter 3 )

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Chapter 3- The Search Continues

 

Mos Eisley, Tatooine

 

It had been three weeks. Three weeks of searching and still The Mistress shot through space. Aayla had searched through most of the major planets inquiring with space port officials for the ship that had taken Bane. Now she had come to Tatooine to search and inquire with the outlaws who avoided the Empire officials.

 

She had hid her identity through all her searching. The Jedi had become a by-word for Imperial trouble and no one wanted to bring down the wrath of the Empire. It had practically halted the search. Which brought her to Mos Eisley and its harbor of criminals.

 

She lowered her glass and looked at the man sitting before her. He wore worn blast armor. The sides of his head were shaven and the center was one large braid. He sat lazily swirling his glass with a lopsided grin on his face.

 

“How much you willing to pay to know where the Praetor is?”

 

She kept her features blank. This was a huge lead. “As much as is necessary.”

 

The man Kodo smiled. “I may have seen it. Perhaps five thousand credits will help my memory.”

 

She nodded and pushed a chip with the money across the table.

 

He looked into his glass. “You want to head to the space station Beaoti.” He threw down what was left in his glass. “That's where I saw it last. Nice ship, owners are slightly touchy. But with a ship like that, it aint a surprise.”

 

She tapped the table. “I was already there.”

 

He grinned eyeing the gorgeous Twi'lek female. “Sorry sweetness you want more, you have to pay.”

 

“I have no more.” She did not like the way he was staring at her.

 

He yawned. “Then I'll be taking my fare and leaving.” He stood and began to walk away.

 

“Wait.” She needed to know the location of the Sith craft. She had to find Bane. “I must know where it is.”

 

He leered at her. “You don't have any more.” He licked his lips. “Unless of course you want to pay in some other way.” He snickered.

 

Aayla was insulted at what he suggested but she saw no other choice. She looked at the human and let out a dejected sigh. “If you will tell me where the ship is then you may do what you will to me.”

 

Kodo sat back down with a guttural laugh. “Now you're talking my language!” He leaned forward. “I did a job for the Hutts a while back. I helped load the ship and met those three. The owners of the Praetor I mean. Well, the person who may know where that ship is would be Jabba the Hutt.” He looked her up and down. “That's all I know. Now you're going to make good on your payment.” He grinned.

 

She wasn't going to sleep with the mercenary. She had the information she needed and an alien gangster to meet. Aayla waved her hand in front of her the Force flowing from her. “You will not receive any form of payment.” Kodo nodded still smiling and handed her back the credit chip. “You will forget you ever saw me.” With that she stood, pulled on the dark hood, and strode out of the cantina.

 

Kodo blinked. Scratching his head he realized he didn't know why he had been talking to that woman. Who ever she was. He ordered another drink stewed over his situation. He needed some work.

 

Mean while on Dathos Secundus

 

“You must concentrate.” Yoda said.

 

The training dummy didn't move. Bane focused all his will and mind on the dummy, which was hard seeing as he was only nine. He was sweating. The dummy began to slowly lift along with several storage boxes.

 

“Good. Good.” Yoda praised quietly.

 

A sudden chill caused his concentration to break. Everything dropped with heavy thumps. Bane opened his eyes and sighed irritably.

 

“Master it is too hard!”

 

Yoda sat in a chair behind Bane. He shook his head. “You must concentrate.” He motioned and all the boxes lifted. “You must clear your head of all other thoughts.”

 

Bane whined. “But, Master…!”

 

Yoda motioned him to silence. “Your skills in the Force must be honed young Bane.” He closed his eyes. “The Force is the single power that connects every being in the galaxy. As a Jedi you must honor this.” He opened his eyes. “You must concentrate.”

 

Bane awoke in his cell. It was a plane box with metal alloy bars keeping him within. Perhaps his memories could aid him in finding his friends. He sat up as he heard the door to the cell open. It must have been his meal.

 

One of Darth Veaok's weaknesses was his extreme lust to dominate others. He and his to disciples had to the best of Bane's limited knowledge, basically owned the entire settlement on Dathos.

 

A man walked through the door and Bane automatically could tell that he was one of the guards that made up Veaok's personal army. He was clothed in a black robe with dark blast armor with Veaok's sigil on the chest in red, over his torso. He wore blast armor shoulder pads and his boots were covered by shin guards.

 

The man placed a tray with a thick paste that passed as food on Dathos. Veaok ate well, but he and his disciples were the only ones who did. The guard exited with out a word. Bane could have tried to fool him with the Jedi mind trick but the chances of him getting off Dathos was next to impossible.

 

He sighed and spooned some of the gunk into his mouth. Three weeks of this. I suppose it wouldn't taste horrible if I liked the taste dung. He ate another bite and reminisced on his days training at the recently disposed Jedi Order. He was by Jedi terms a Jedi Guardian. It was the way of a fighter. It was how he had met Aayla. She too was a Guardian. He sighed. He felt a draw to see her every time his eyes opened and he saw the same bland ceiling of his cell instead. It was maddening.

 

He was playing with his food out of boredom when the door opened again. His daily session with Veaok or one of his pawns was about to begin. Ziezsha walked into the cell and closed the door with the Force.

 

She smiled cruelly. “Enjoying your meal?”

 

He smiled back and responded sarcastically. “Yes, Dathos hosts such excellent cuisine.”

 

She sneered at him and grabbed at his arm. “Shut up and get up. Lord Veaok wishes to see you.”

 

Bane complied, he was in no position to disobey. He was lead up a dark metal stairway to a mess of hallways. Veaok had chosen an opportune place to hide himself. Dathos was vague enough that no one would ever think of looking there for the Dark Jedi, yet his base was strategically sound. They came to a large command center in which Veaok himself sat. He turned around as they entered.

 

“Bane Atammar.” The creature smiled. “I have a fair mind to just have you killed.”

 

Bane sniffed. “Do it then.”

 

Veaok stood and laughed. “I won't. That would only please you.” He braced his hands behind his back. “Instead you will be tortured.” He arched a non existent eyebrow.

 

Bane growled. “For what?”

 

Veaok smiled. “To help break your spirit boy. I want to watch you scream.” He motioned to Ziezsha. “Leave him in the cell.”

 

As the woman led him out with a small chuckle Bane began concentrating on Aayla sending a mental distress call to her. It was a small chance that she would feel the call and come rescue him, but he had to try.

 

Mos Eisley

 

“Meet with Jabba the Hutt?!” Hadda said in disbelief.

 

“Yes.” Aayla said as she pulled on a coat. She was dressed in a short black coat over her top revealing her lower back and her perfect stomach; she strapped on a blaster around her thigh and hooked her lightsaber over her belt. She glanced at Hadda. “Why?”

 

Tivia leaned against the wall. “Jabba doesn't like us to much.”

 

Aayla pulled her head band on and began twining the straps around her lekku. “Why?”

 

Tivia shrugged. “Because we stole some gear from him awhile back.”

 

Hadda growled. “He's not going to be happy to see us at all.” He rubbed his head. “We just had to haul off and steal his personal space skiff to hop back into The Mistress.” Tivia let out a snicker. “And then let it crash…”

 

Tivia scratched her blue hair and licked her lips. “Now that I think about it, this is a bad idea.” She looked to Hadda. “I doubt Bane would want us going to that slug anyways.”

 

Aayla picked up her robes, she was not going to argue with the two. “We will be meeting Hutt at his palace in two hours.” She walked to the exit ramp. “You two may want to prepare.”

 

They were met by several of Jabba's thugs. All were armed heavily and directed them to a shuttle that would take them to Jabba. Aayla felt secure enough with her two companions and her weapons at her side. She had heard and seen enough of Jabba's reputation that she wanted protection.

 

The shuttle lifted and the sandy terrain of Tatooine flew by as they flew to Jabba's infamous palace. It had been hard for Aayla to organize a meeting with the famous gangster. But after she had manipulated enough of his thugs and with some mind tricks she had gotten a meeting.

 

She was staring out of the window watching rocky cliffs fly past when she felt presence in the Force. It was Bane. Her heart jumped and she studied his call. He was requesting aid and searching for her. She closed her eyes and entered a meditative state.

 

The Force intertwined between all living things and she began to search for him. Physically she centered her balance in the seat in which she sat and began breathing at an easy pace. She looked for him. His call was fading but once she found it she saw flashed images.

 

Bane sat within a cell meditating or practicing his forms. The mental images flashed and she saw three Sith. A beautiful female with pale skin, light red hair, and a cruel smile toyed with a lightsaber as if taunting the viewer. A muscled human male with a blank look in his black ringed eyes slammed electro-rods into Bane's ribs. Pain came through their connection and Aayla winced. But it was not done. A second male with powder white skin, ruby red lips, and black robes sat at a table and spoke of the glories of the Dark Side. She saw dark armored soldiers patrolling a mining facility.

 

A single thought from Bane made it through to her clearly. Aayla, Hurry.

 

With that the connection was broken and she was left meditating in the flows of the Force. She opened her eyes and saw Tivia sitting across from her biting her nails. The red skinned Zeltron looked up at her.

 

“Why the serious look Aayla?” Tivia asked with fake confidence.

 

Aayla was fast becoming a trusted member of the outfit of Bounty Hunters and Smugglers that made up The Mistress crew. Odd, if comical, she thought. She was once a warrior monk who served as an upholder of the law. Now she was running around with those she once arrested. She swallowed visibly. “I have just contacted Bane.”

 

Hadda snapped out of the trance that he had been in since they had boarded the shuttle, and turned to Aayla. “What?”

 

She mentally steadied herself and continued. “Where ever he is we need to hurry. He is being tortured and his mental barriers to his foes grows weaker.” She ran her fingertips over her lightsaber once more. “Let us hope Jabba does not have an overly extensive price that will cut back on our time.”

 

Hadda coughed. “How are we paying for this? We hardly have enough to keep the ship filled.”

 

Tivia rolled her eyes. “Hadda we'll be fine.” She looked at Aayla. “Our Jedi has a good aurora of charisma that Bane emits.” She smiled. “I'm sure we'll be fine.”

 

Aayla looked at the mercenary woman. It was inappropriate to promote her to Bane's status within the ship. It could cause division within the crew. Hadda snorted. “Fine? Are you crazy Tiv?” Hadda pointed at his hand emphasizing his words. “This is Jabba the Hutt! He remembers those who antagonize him. We didn't just steal from him Tiv. We stole and crashed his skiff!”

 

Aayla let the two keep arguing and went back to her meditation. She searched for Bane with all her will. After moments of searching she wanted to mentally slap him in the back of the head. He had just been there. If she didn't know that he was captured and being held prisoner she would have immediately assumed that he was playing with her.

 

The shuttle began its descent and they could fully see Jabba's palace. The massive round buildings were dark grey-brown with windows looking akin to sinister eyes. Jabba was possibly the most successful crime lord in the galaxy. And as the shuttle descended and Aayla could practically smell the anxiety off of her companions. As she pulled the hood of her robes over her head she considered if it was a bad idea going to the Hutt for answers.

 

Within Jabba's Palace

 

Cronies and thugs moved out of her way eyeing with lewd stares and hungry grins. Bounty hunters and slaves watched the three new comers with interest. It wasn't every day you saw someone dumb enough to demand an audience with Jabba the Hutt.

 

Aayla remained cool and collected and nearly sighed when she heard Hadda mutter from behind her. “We are so dead.” Hopefully Jabba would be civil.

 

Jabba sat atop an elevated platform, his soft fleshy mass gleaming slightly. He watched his guests approach with a fascination. A slave girl sat against his bulk lightly rubbing it as she stared at Aayla with glassy eyes.

 

Aayla stopped in front of the throne-like platform and bowed. “Good day mighty Jabba.”

 

Jabba motioned and a droid moved forward spoke mechanically. “Jabba the Hutt welcomes you and wishes to know why you have requested an audience.”

 

Aayla nodded and spoke with the negotiation skills she possessed. “I have requested this audience to find the location of the ship known as the Praetor and her crew.”

 

Jabba studied her and shoved the droid out of the way. “You travel with unsavory thieves Miss…?”

 

Aayla motioned behind her. “I am Aayla Secura, Bounty Hunter.” She had thought her cover story before and it was her best option. She motioned to the other two behind her. “These are my associates in business. I do not know what they may have done to wrong you mighty Jabba.”

 

“We are fucking dead.” Hadda whispered. Tivia muttered back at him to shut up.

 

Jabba motioned and spoke angrily. “Their captain owes me a ship.”

 

Aayla nodded. “If I can pay off the ship within thirty days may I have the information I seek?”

 

Jabba waved away what she said. “That will not be all. I also have another

 

Jabba laughed. “I will tell you what you need to know Bounty Hunter.” Jabba scratched his stomach. “The price for the information you ask is a high one.” Jabba licked his lips. “If you fail I will have every bounty hunter in the galaxy looking for you.”

 

Aayla nodded. “Very well.” Tivia nodded and Hadda began shaking his head. They did not like the deal. None of them did.

 

She turned around to Jabba. “The information first Jabba.”

 

Jabba laughed. “You are bold girl! I am not a fool, if you are even connected to their captain then you know of his reputation for being a trickster. You will receive the information once your job is done.” Jabba licked his lips. “Now Miss Secura. On to your payment for said information.”

 

Aayla looked Jabba dead in the eye. “What must I do?”

 

Jabba rubbed his hands greedily. “You will retrieve a new skiff to pay for the two miscreants behind you.” The worm leaned forward his skin shinning with moisture. “And you will smuggle spices at a set price that I decide.”

 

Aayla was willing to do anything, and in comparison to what she had thought Jabba would have asked her, this sounded simple. She bowed to him with a glance from her hazel eyes.

 

“Agreed.”

 

Several hours later aboard The Mistress.

 

“How the hell are we supposed to bring in five hundred thousand credits in one week!?” Hadda yelled as they sat behind the controls of The Mistress.

 

Tivia sat down and shrugged. “At least we aren't dead.”

 

Hadda looked at her incredulously. “He will kill us when we can't bring in the price of the spices, much less the ship we won't be able to find!” He pointed at Aayla. “I hope you have some kind of idea to get us out of this mess.”

 

Aayla nodded. “I met with Jabba's contact in private after our audience with Jabba. There is a way.” She narrowed her eyes. “Don't complain this is only the next step to rescuing Bane.”

 

Hadda snorted. “Bane wouldn't want us even whispering to Jabba the Hutt!”

 

Tivia put her hands on her hips. “Hadda we have no choice. Bane would have done the same for you if you were captured.”

 

Hadda closed his mouth and left the room. Aayla sat down and began powering up The Mistress. “I am glad you trust my judgment Tivia.”

 

Tivia flipped several switches. “I know your trust worthy.” The blue haired Zeltron looked at Aayla. “This is for Bane. I could care less about Jabba.” She motioned over her shoulder to the doorway. “Hadda is just concerned.” She sighed. “Honestly we aren't the best mercenaries. We care for each other.”

 

Aayla nodded. “I understand.”

 

Tivia laughed. “Bane has gotten both me and Hadda out of trouble to many times to count. We owe him.” The ship began to lift. “Now what is this plan you have?”

 

Aayla pushed the smuggling ship forward as fast as she could. “There is an Imperial Moon Base in the Tet'Taro System. It holds the exact amount of spices we need and there is a skiff within as well. All we have to do is load the skiff with the spices and fly it out of the base.”

 

Tivia leaned back as they broke into the emptiness of space. “Sounds impossible.”

 

Aayla turned to the Navigation Computer and typed in coordinates. “Not impossible, just highly improbable rate of success.”

 

Tivia laughed. “I've been apart of the crew for two years. Bane always finds a way out of situations that are highly improbable.” She stretched and headed to the heart of the ship and casually mentioned. “You know Bane talked about you a lot.”

 

Aayla turned around mutely. Tivia smiled. “If I didn't know better I'd say he loves you.” Aayla felt the draw to find him with those words grow ever more urgent. Tivia leaned against the doorway. “I hope the Force that you two use can find him soon.”

 

Aayla remembered the black robed Sith whom had taken Bane. “Who were the Sith that took Bane?”

 

Tivia moved back to her chair. “Three of the most dangerous individuals I've ever tracked.” She raised a finger. “Ziezsha is the female. She is sadistic, cruel, and serves as the right-hand of their master.” A second finger rose. “Second is Narros. Angry and brutal he has a temper and the urge to murder.” A third finger rose. “And finally we come to Darth Veaok.” She clenched her fist. “Bane has tracked him for five years and killed many of his apprentices but Veaok always escapes. Veaok is a terrible creature. Cunning, twisted, and power hungry are the best ways to describe him.”

 

Aayla nodded memorizing the names. “They must be fought if we are to rescue him.” He has to be alright.

 

Tivia walked back to the door. “I'm hitting the sack, wake me when it's my shift to pilot.” With that the door closed and Aayla was left alone within the lightly humming cockpit.

 

She stared into the blackness of space and opened her mind to the Force. She sought him. She might as well have been blind. She could sense him. His signal was faint and she could not open the connection any further. With a frustrated sigh she leaned her head against the back of her chair. The spice mission was the first step in finding Bane. As she stared out of the cockpit into the depths of space she knew they must proceed with haste. Bane was being tortured and mentally attacked from the Dark Side. She pushed forward and shot into hyperspace.

 

Aayla was prepared for what she had to do. She watched the dials on the engines and searched with her mind once more. When she felt nothing she only hoped they would not be too late.

 

+++++++++++++++++

 

Thanks for reading.

 

Chapter 4 is being outlined but I am working on a novel and it could be a while before I post the next chapter. Hopefully not to long so that I can maintain a consistent posting schedule.

 

-BornUndead