Ahsoka was relieved in the first instant to receive the transmission on her wrist comm which turned to trepidation when the coded distress was revealed. Angling the bike to a more direct path to Mos Eisley she cared little how the more rugged terrain may damage the vehicle if she were to miss a crevasse, escarpment, or large boulder but more than compensated for it with her heightened senses. What she hadn’t accounted for were the large numbers of nocturnal insects forcibly sacrificing themselves onto any exposed body parts she couldn’t tuck into the confines of the bikes frame or contain under the wrappings of her cloak, her head taking the worst of it. Large beetle-like winged carnivores leaving welts on her face, Lek’ku and Montrals as they burst open with considerable force. Cursing the little beasts, she began slight force pushes to keep the way clear as much as possible, but the encumbrance of the act left her unable to keep the throttle open all the way. Sacrificing comfort for speed she tucked her head down as much as possible, re-gripped both handles with authority and gunned the bike to its capacity.
✦
Kowani, contemplating the wisdom of latching on to the Togruta in the first place, was going to be overtaken by the Iktochi giving chase any moment now. ‘Damn it Ahsoka, where are you?’ She thought as her chest began to tighten from the increasingly heavy breathing she had to employ. One more glance forward to judge distance and her mind made up to end this madness here and now, she stopped in her tracks and in one swift motion unholstered her blaster and came to bear on her…’huh’...he wasn't there. ‘Not good’ she told herself.
“I was hoping we could discuss a few things, and here, you want to get violent right away?” Kowani heard but couldn't place. She spun in all directions looking for its source, finding nothing but street trash, food vendors and intoxicated townsfolk. “The chill overtakes the murderer’s soul; she does not see what is right in front of her.” Her hand still outstretched with blaster in tow, spinning madly to source the voice that sounded from all directions, daring not to pull the trigger for fear of hitting an unintended target. Panic was beginning to set in next, ‘which gives way to fear’ she mouthed the words. Closing herself off to that thought completely she immediately withdrew her weapon in an act of standing down but channeled all her energy into locating the force flows and remembering how they were manipulated by the Iktochi earlier, looked for the damning of that flow.
The Iktochi knew he was compromised instantly as he could not pull in nor release the force energy without giving up his position to this Mirialan. A low chuckle came from her right and she slowly brought the blaster up to eye level as the Iktochi manifested out of, seemingly, thin air.
“Wise Mirialan, remind me never to sit across from the Dejarik table from you, but sabac on the other hand, I’ll match you any day.” The Iktochi said with a hint of sarcasm.
“I will either pull this trigger now and add one more to the headcount today, or you can tell me what you want and then I pull the trigger anyway.” Kowani said smoothly and calmly.
“Again, with the violence, I mean only to inquire as to your interest in my bounty.”
“My business.” She said and fired at the same time, catching the Iktochi in the shoulder although it should have been between his eyes. “I wasn’t exaggerating.” She finalized.
Raising a hand to his shoulder, he pressed hard, and it began to mend itself from the inside out. What little confidence she had left upon seeing that was exaggerated greatly by the stoicism she would not relent in her steely gaze.
“I see that Mirialan.” The hole in his cloak remained but the light brown skin underneath was whole again. Taking his time to sweep the long cloak from his body, he revealed a tanned black synthleather jerkin and matching leggings, the saber hilt at his hip was most concerning, however.
A shrill sound, like a child in full tantrum, took them both from their offensive objectives as it echoed through the street, its source clearly coming their way. A massive cloud of dust and sand in its wake creating the illusion of an approaching storm.
Catching her friend in the headlight, Ahsoka lept from the seat as the bike skidded to an unheroic, momentum filled carom into parked speeders a few meters away. She landed within striking range of the Iktochi and took her time repositioning herself. Both Kowani and the Iktochi weren’t quite sure what just happened or what this creature was in their midst. The looks of befuddlement and confusion caused Ahsoka to pause and give herself a once over. Arms and legs caked in broken insect bodies with green slime oozing from every inch of her, she could only imagine what the parts of her she couldn't see looked like as she spit out the thorax and abdomen of her latest winged victim with an audible gag.
“Ahsoka?” Kowani managed.
“The Togruta?” The Iktochi wondered, hoping he had the species right.
“Present.” She tried to convey with a hearty belch and one final spit to get the bits of wing out of her teeth. The Iktochi made for his saber without a second thought, ignited it and brought it forward defensively. Ahsoka taken aback at first as she had only seen a purple blade once before. Sensing a force user but more interested in the lightsaber, she studied it intently and as notions of personal appearance evaporated, she knew it was one and the same from memory. The intricacy with which Master Windu had crafted his lightsaber was iconic. The gold and silver woven together with the black ribbed hilt.
“Where did you get that.” It wasn’t a question. Her eyes lowered and teeth bared. She immediately felt her anger flowing with great ease into every fiber of her being. The level of rage she felt in that moment was staggering and she willed herself to channel it into a means of power without giving into the bloodlust it was directing her towards. She told herself to assess the opponent, over and over, as the rage was directing her towards swift aggression which she knew would be a mistake if she didn’t take the time to identify strengths and weaknesses. Iktochi were almost always force sensitive and had a penchant for premonition. Characteristically aggressive with little analytical prowess. She would have to become unpredictable and lightning fast. He hastened back into a defensive stance, thereby assuring her of motive. Locking his gaze, she moved around him to put herself in between the two as Kowani began to move back. Ahsoka had yet to reveal any of her own lightsabers instead completing the blocking maneuver with her arms outstretched foot over foot.
“Ahsoka Tano, you will come with me. The condition of your retrieval is that your alive only, what form of alive is completely up to you.” The Iktochi stated flatly. Showing no signs of fear, or any emotion for that matter, he had remained unmoving accept to keep his target directly in front of him.
Kowani tensed upon sensing the rush of force energy into the Iktochi knowing that whatever was coming was about to take place. She could sense the flows in and around Ahsoka as well but noted the not-so-subtle differences in the way it presented itself to her. The flow into Ahsoka was deliberate, constant, and unfiltered. She had seen the flows Ahsoka called upon herself, but this was far greater than anything she had witnessed prior. The waves were larger, the currents stronger, she was even diverting energies from the Iktochi’s inflow, to which, he was also realizing. Kowani then studied his reactions, telling her everything she needed to know. He was beginning to realize that he was going to be overwhelmed, the wide eyes betrayed the confidence from earlier. The thin lines appearing at his cheeks gave away the tension he was trying hard to tuck away. The crease in his forehead began to display the faintest speck of fear in that he had underestimated the ease of this endeavor.
Ahsoka, with deliberate intent, was unmoved by the Iktochi’s mannerisms, still fixated on the blade and any associated meaning him being in possession of it might entail. Pulling herself completely into the moment, she armed herself instantly with both her sabers, taking another moment before igniting them. Aware of the surroundings and what detection might bring upon both her and Kowani, she began to back into the alleyway behind her. Kowani, moved to compensate the distance, step for step, with Ahsoka, keeping a vigilant eye on the Iktochi. They both realized something was not right with the encounter at the same time. With a passive swing of her secondary saber, Ahsoka thought to test the defensive stance employed by the Iktochi and felt immediate resolution of her instinct as it passed harmlessly through the form leaving a snaking trail of thick blackish smoke that was quickly dissipating where it had been. Kowani had seen the flow of force energy cease to exist as if watching water quickly soak into dry ground.
“So easily drawn into the open Ms. Tano, I was advised to expect a great deal of difficulty in claiming your capture, but it seems that is not quite the case.” The Iktochi’s voice was instantly everywhere, on the wind as a whisper, in their chests and in their heads. Ahsoka immediately began concentrating on the form, as well as her anatomical insights, to locate the now considerably more formidable opponent.
“Pleasantries abandoned, tsk tsk, where have manners descended, I wonder.” It continued.
“The only question I want answered, I've already asked. Beyond that, let’s get this over with. I have other matters to attend to.” Ahsoka stated with growing rage. She felt the surge of Force energy immediately and somersaulted backward to bring both of her blades crossed in defense of Kowani’s head, stopping the downward strike intended to bring her a quick death with the reemergence of the saber wielding Iktochi. With an arcing boom, all three blades fought for superiority, Kowani dodged out of the way and rolled to a position immediately behind Ahsoka. Ahsoka herself force pushing upward to suspend the strobing purple energy beam in place for a sweeping reverse arc of her primary, again finding no purchase and leaving the deathly black trail behind it.
The Iktochi’s design clearly stated, Kowani quickly reversed her feet to stand back-to-back with her friend and do her best to match the Togruta’s footwork, noting immediately how difficult that task would be in and of itself. Ahsoka understanding the motive without a word reverted to a defensive stance, her objective being Kowani’s protection first and foremost.
“So very quick on her feet, Ahsoka Tano is indeed a treasure.” The voice returned. “It seems a hasty end to this may not be so easy after all.”
“Ahsoka, he’s playing for time.” Kowani stated.
Ahsoka didn't need to be told and was ever vigilant of the enormous threat Imperial detection would cause. “Clearly.” She said in return with a hint of sarcasm.
The attack came again from the side in a blinding flash of purple at Ahsoka’s right, meant to glance her own saber to the fore, clearing the space between her and Kowani for a well-aimed thrust through Kowani’s midsection. Ahsoka sensed the distraction as Kowani noted the peculiarities of the current force concentration around the entire scene. She noticed the surge in the flow just before each of the last two strikes but was not near quick enough to evade or even see the lightsaber coming at her either time. Ahsoka grappled with the forced parry and felt a surge of anger driving her right arm to merely deflect the incoming blade behind her, thwarting the Iktochi’s attempt at free passage. She immediately sensed his presence shift and didn't bother with an offensive attack this time.
“She is beginning to learn.” The voice again taunted.
Kowani tapped Ahsoka on her left shoulder and felt what she was seeing. The flows directed to her left side now and she immediately crossed her blades as an overhand strike came sailing down to finish in the sizzling and booming energy arc as the three blades met each other once again. Quickly Ahsoka pulled in her primary and called on the force to push the assailant back into the wall behind him, only to see the thick smoke billow upon the dried mud and whitewash of the structure leaving fractures and dust in its wake. Ahsoka picked up on Kowani’s ability to sense his location through her ability to pinpoint force energy flows and was more confident in her survival as a result. She also knew this needed to end now. She felt behind her for Kowani’s right hand and slipped her ignited secondary into her waiting palm, Kowani realizing exactly what the intention was. For a moment Ahsoka was struck with the weight of a feeling of nostalgia, not remembering the last time she had fought back-to-back with another brandishing a lightsaber. And just as quickly it was over. Kowani saw it coming and Ahsoka sensed it. The purple blade was uppercutting toward the saber in Kowani’s hand, intent on knocking it free of his target. Ahsoka reached behind her in a blinding flash, retrieving her newly built saber and felt Kowani duck. Without hesitation, Ahsoka rolled over Kowani’s back, ignited her red blade and buried it into the Iktochi’s skull. His form fell to the ground as Ahsoka pulled her saber free and switched them both off. Taking a moment to let the events register, she attached her sabers back on her waist and slowly grabbed Kowani’s hand as she retrieved her other saber in the same movement. Kowani said nothing as they both looked back and forth from the crumpled body to the still ignited purple blade.
“We need to be quick about this, I am sure we attracted attention.” Ahsoka not taking the time to confirm the assumption went straight to work deactivating the humming saber and stowing it away into the pouch at her side and began rifling through pockets and pouches as Kowani joined in. Credit chips, small holotranceiver, starship access identity chip and finally his wrist comm. They would debrief themselves in short order but getting out of this alley was their priority. Assured they grabbed anything of note off the Iktochi, Ahsoka pulled the cloaks hood up over the lifeless body and set it against the cracked wall. Pulling out the starship access ID she motioned for Kowani to follow her. Two stormtroopers were coming up the right side of the street. She stepped out of the alley with purpose right in front of the two waving her hand quickly, “Well done private, you've apprehended the murderer. I would assume you’re taking him right back to the garrison under arrest?” Ahsoka said with enthusiasm. Both helmeted troopers tipped their heads in confusion, first at her, then at each other. Feeling the need to clarify to whom the congratulations were given, she chose the one on the right, “You are taking him into custody, right? The garrison provost will commend your heroic act surely!”
The detaining trooper removed the blaster from the detainee’s hands, “you’re under arrest, move you!”
“I am under arrest.” The detainee said with authority.
“I said move trooper!” The private exclaimed, shoving his prisoner forward.
As they moved in the opposite direction, Kowani just shook her head.
“That never gets old.” Ahsoka confirmed what Kowani was thinking.
Back to the starship ID, “The ship is registered as the ‘Deep Seven’ and is on the other end of town near your ship Kowani.” Ahsoka said scanning the area again to ensure there were no other onlookers. “We’ll learn more aboard it.”
“Ahsoka. Being your friend is sure interesting.” Kowani said laughing as they made their way to hangar thirty-five. “Honestly, I don’t think the action stops with you around.”
“That’s been my life, out of the pot and into the fire, time after time. You can see why forming friendships or any relationships for that matter have been difficult.” Ahsoka replied.
“I can understand that and thank you for taking that time with me, by the way, we actually made a hell of a team back there.” Kowani returned.
Ahsoka smiled, “We sure did.” she finished clapping Kowani on the back. “By the way, sorry about the speeder.” They both giggled away at Kowani’s shrug as they headed for the hangar bay.