11 Ghosts of the Pas (1/2)

Rodia

Outer Rim

I stared at the two Togruta females who were first to disembark the lead LAAT gunship. The one I sensed – Ahsoka Tano – led the way. She jumped out and started bouncing around, obviously unable to contain her excitement. What she was doing here without her master I had no idea.

The appearance of the second, who I didn't recognize, halted me in my tracks. She was about my height if you do not count the curved horns, which were crowning her head. Her lekku caught my undivided attention. The were colored in soft blue and white stripes swung in a way which brought painful memories of my wife. I stared at the coloring she had over her eyes and went all up to her temples. It was snow white, with red rectangles over her eyes – which were, black and serene. The older Togruta returned my stare calmly and studied me in return.

The Jedi were followed by disembarking troopers, but I paid them little attention until a clone commander who had his helmet painted green came to me and stood at attention.

”We received your signal. We are at your disposal, sir!” he gave me a crisp salute.

I smirked under my helmet and wondered how many of the Jedi on the Council would have conniptions if they heard about this exchange. I returned the salute and pointed at the sniveling neimoidian.

”You may get this sorry excuse for a sapient being out of my sight, commander. This facility should be reasonably secure but it won't hurt to sweep it for surprises left by the Separatists.” My tone was all business – something I was proud of, considering I just saw someone who for a moment looked damn close to my dead wife.

”Right away, sir! Men, take that scum away!” he ordered a squad of troopers. No one liked poor Gunray. Couldn't have happened to a nicer person.

My attention returned to the Jedi and I absentmindedly twirled my still ignited blade in my hand before deactivating it.

”Delkatar! Is Padme all right? Who were they?” Ahsoka pointed at the remains of the Dark Acolytes while bouncing around.

I wondered if she had overdosed on Caf, ate all the desert or something else in that vein.

”Slow, down kiddo. As far as I know the senator is all right. I left her up at the comm tower.” I pointed at said building. ”She may need a bit of anti-rad treatment. I loaned her one of my personal shields but it was damaged a bit and leaks a small amounts of radiation.”

Hearing that, a team of clone-medics and two squads of infantry rushed acting as escorts rushed for the tower. Good men. Never trust that an AO is secure unless your own men had swept it for enemies, and if you are smart you won't assume it is clear even then.

”As for those idiots they were a couple of Dark Jedi trained by Dooku. Nothing special.” I shrugged.

”Uhuh.” said the younger Togruta, clearly unconvinced.

”Ahsoka, won't you introduce us?” I nodded at the older Jedi, who was observing our interactions carefully. She was guarding her emotions well – the only thing I could sense from her was a hint of amusement at Ahsoka's antics.

”Ah. Yeees. Sorry.” Tano looked a bit sheepish. ”Master Shaak Ti, this is Delkatar Veil. I am not sure as what to introduce him today... Bounty hunter? Dark Jedi? Or something else...” she trailed off.

”Master Ti, under other circumstances I'd say that is a pleasure to meet you. However, I do not believe in coincidences. The Council found records about me from the war, didn't they? That's why they sent you here, isn't it?” I had to give them that – today's Jedi sure were devious bastards. It was almost enough to make me reconsider my stance as far as the Order as a whole was concerned.

The older Togruta gave me a small nod. Ahsoka looked between with confusion.

”And you people claim that the Sith are the manipulative bastards.” I chuckled. Seeing that Ahsoka was confused, I decided to elaborate. ”Ah, I see you've not been briefed yet considering that they sent you too, Ahsoka, you should know.”

”Umm... What's going on here?'' Tano asked in a small voice. It was plain to see that she was not liking where this was going or being in the dark. Understandable.

”Once upon a time I was married to a Jedi. A Togruta woman.” I nodded at Shaak Ti.

Ahsoka's eyes widened with realization. I could see her fighting to restrain her rising anger.

”It just happened that Master Ti was sent to patrol nearby with you in tow just when I had a mission in the area… If you believe that, I have some prime farmland to sell you. On Tatooine.” I snarked.

”It's not the most cunning plan that the Council ever had, is it?” Shaak Ti gave me a rueful smile.

”It's a test at best and a provocation at worst. I'll leave it for you to decide which is the truth.” I nodded at Master Ti.

I was torn between exploding with unrelenting fury and appreciation of the Jedi Master's trilling voice. So much for the idea I had gotten over Ashara's death. Oh, how mistaken I was. At that moment I could understand and almost agree with Sidious plan for permanently dealing with the Jedi. Kriffing Council!

”You are my newly minted minder, are you not? You, Master Ti do not want to hear my thoughts on the Council right now. Trust me about that.” I managed to keep my tone civil.

If I started speaking about the Emperor damned bastards I won't stop cursing for hours. Instead I turned to humor, even if I was sure that the females would not appreciate it.

”Well, at least they didn't sent you to seduce me in order to keep me under control, did they?” I smirked. Not that I would resist too hard to being seduced by Shaak Ti. Even under the unflattering cloak and robes preferred by the Jedi she had a great figure and I hadn't gotten laid in too damn long.

”What!? NO! The Council... They'd never... Arrgh!” Ahsoka spluttered.

To my surprise the Master Jedi had a ghost of a smile on her face.

”Not yet anyway.” she deadpanned. ”Considering your history they thought that I would have better chances to get away in one piece if you went berserk as most of them expect.”

”I find their lack of faith disturbing.” I quoted Vader.

Kriff it, even four thousand years or so later, the Jedi still found a way to be a major pain in my ass.

”The Council will do what they got to do.” was Shaak Ti's neutral response and it explained nothing. Or perhaps everything, depending on how much credit someone was ready to give the Jedi in general.

”What about you, Ahsoka? I thought that Skywalker needed someone with a bit of common sense to keep him out of trouble.”

The younger Togruta shrugged.

”Master Kenobi called him for some kind of mission. Almost at the same time my request to visit my home world and reconnect with my roots was unexpectedly accepted. I was ordered to join Master Ti and head to Shili with her after the patrol was over.”

I really hopped that the old goats on the Council did not expect me to try seducing both females. Ahsoka was a kid damn it – young enough to be my granddaughter. Nevertheless, with me being a Sith they wouldn't have put it beside me… if they thought about that being an issue. And if I did so it could easily be used as a Casus Belli to deal with me – corrupting young and impressionable Jedi and other such nonsense would be a great justification in their eyes. Of course such thing would have most likely destroyed Ahsoka's future but who cares!? Sacrifices must be made for the greater Good of the Order.