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The Slave Queens New Interest	By : Revelnit Category: +S through Z > Star Wars: The Clone Wars Views: 58619 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Clone Wars, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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As she had brought the queens yacht down from the outer atmosphere and skimmed the surface of Kadavo Ahsoka wondered at what mining processes a society has to employ in order to turn the landscape of a planet into the garden of craters she saw before her. Perhaps it wasn't Zyggerian mining operations that had rendered the surface of Kadavo a bland, grey slag. Perhaps it had always been that way and the Zyggerians were just making the most out of a planet that would never be a vacation spot of the galaxy.
   As the facilty that held her friends came into sight she could see that it fit it's environs rather well. What the Queen had termed the 'processing hub' was perched over one of the larger volcanic craters. It consisted of a cluster of tall, grey structures that seemed anchored to the surrounding edges of the crater by struts that attached to the crater rim, like giant spokes to a wheel. Several smokestacks near the central structure spewed black smoke up into an already smoky sky. Grimly she noticed the many turbo laser turrets decorating the buildings and their environs. Nervously she set the ship down as their gun barrels tracked with her ship. The queens transport no less! It would seem, in a slaveholding facility, security came first.
   Ahsoka set down the royal yacht on one of the wider, flater portions of a strut connecting the facility to the crater. Soon the Queen, Ahsoka and a newly rejuvenated R2D2 were walking down the gangway of the royal yacht onto the landing pad of the processing hub, both taking in the expansive view around them. Ahsoka found the contrast between with the luxurious environs of the yacht and the grey smoggy atmosphere of Kadavo to be jarring.
   Across from them, emerging from one of the buildings Ahsoka noted the arrival of welcoming committee. Between fifteen and twenty armed Zyggerian guards marched their way and didn't stop until they were less than ten feet away. One of the guards, clearly wearing an officers uniform, stepped forward with a look that could best be described as 'grouchy'.
   “You!” The officer shot his finger straight at Ahsoka. “Step away from the queen at ONCE!” The front three soldiers that accompanied him kneeled and brought the butts of their rifles up to their shoulders in unison. Their aim left no doubt that they were no fans of Ahsoka's
   Before there could much of a reaction could come from Ahsoka, Queen Miraj took a single step forward and held out her arm, palm pointed towards the officer. “There is no need for such action Captain. This woman is with me.”
   The Captain looked over to Ahsoka and then back to the Queen. “Your majesty are you sure that...”
   “Yes Captain, you're wondering if I'm being held or threatened in some way. I am telling you right now that I am safe. Have your men lower their weapons.”
   The Captains face changed slowly from a scowl to the trace of a smile. He gestured behind him at the guards under his command. They all raised the barrels of their rifles to the 'ready' position. “My apologies, you majesty. You must understand that your safety is my first priority.”
   “Have no fear Captain, You need not worry about your actions...Or your career.” One needed a quick eye to notice the look of relief upon the Captains face, but it was there. “Tell me Captain, I was under the impression that outposts such as these were administered by civillians. Where is the Keeper of this establishment? Why is he not here to receive me?”
   Ahsoka was impressed at the way things had turned in just a few seconds from a tense situation to one where the Queen had smoothly assumed the dominant position. The Captain drew a communicator from his belt and muttered into it. The words probably would not have been detectible by normal hearing but Ahsoka's superior jedi hearing clearly heard the Captain say 'Area secure' into the com link.
   The same door that the guards had come through opened yet again. From them emerged a Zyggerian male seated in what appeared to be an ornate high backed hoverchair of some kind. As the chair floated closer, Ahsoka took in the males rotund form, expensive jewelry and loud, tasteless clothing choices. The pinched, gaunt face he wore under his felinoid ears gave Ahsoka the instant impression of untrustability. She knew that a good person judged someone by the way they acted not by how they appeared, but her instincts set off all forms of alarm bells with regards to the individual closing in on her and the Queen.
   Stopping his chair in front of the Queen the man straightened his spine against the high backed chair. It was clear from the hesitance and sloppiness with which he gathered himself that he hadn't had to worry about presenting himself to someone who outranked him for a while. Briefly pushing the joystick controller forward, the chair dipped briefly in an imitation of a bow.
   The Captain gestured towards the hoverchair floating several feet above them all. “Your majesty allow me to introduce the administrator of this facility, Keeper Agruss.”
   “I humbly welcome you to my facility your majesty. I am pleasantly surprised to see that you are well, following the chaos that I hear has been engulfing Zyggeria. I was worried that you had been lost to us as a result of jedi skullduggery. Allow me to assure you that you are not only safe here, but that this simple processing centers facilities are completely at your disposal.” The administrators eyes fell upon Ahsoka, probably noticing her for the first time. A lascivious sneer briefly crossed his features. “I can have your servant taken to our best guest quarters so that she may prepare them for your arrival. Guard!” One of Agruss' hands fell over one of the armrests and snapped it's fingers.
   One of the soldiers that had initially greeted them stepped forward and approached Ahsoka. Again the Queen imperiously raised her hand. “That will not be necessary my dear Keeper. This woman is not tasked to serve me.” That last sentence provoked a look of mild surprise from the obese hub manager. “In fact, this one has proven of some use to me. For that reason, she is my guest here at this facility. She has her freedom and a great deal more. I have granted her the lives of the two jedi males that I had previously sent here. Instead of taking her to make my bed, your man here can show her to where the jedi are kept. They are to be released to her immediately.”
   If the look on the Keepers face before was surprise his new look was one of shock. “Your majesty, are you certain you wish to release the jedi? Since they were sent here I have been... making it clear to them what their place is in the new order of things.” His eyes darted briefly to over to Ahsoka again. This time with no sense of superiority emanating from them. It would seem that he was recognizing the lightsaber hanging from the young womans belt for the first time. They quickly returned to meet the queens gaze. “Quite enthusiastically, I might add.”
   Ahsoka stepped closer to the keeper, her face rapidly changing to a look of displeasure. “What have you done to them? I assure you if Master Anakin and Master Obi-wan have been harmed at all...” As her hand swept behind her to grasp the handle of her weapon, she felt a hand rest upon her shoulder. Looking up she found the eyes of the Queen. She didn't say a word but the Queen communicated to her lover quite easily. Let me handle this. The look was was clear as daylight.
   “Keeper, I am not used to having my orders questioned, by you or anyone. You will send an escort with the girl, who will help her free the two male jedi. While she is doing that, you and I can tour the facility. While we walk, or float as the case may be, you and I can discuss how often it is wise to question the orders of ones Queen. Also we can discuss the proper protocols for the Keeper of an imperial facility when the royal sovereigns transport arrives. Specifically, where that Keeper should be when the delegation comes out to meet the Queen.”
   Ahsoka for her part quirked up a corner of her mouth. Go your majesty! Go! The Queen had obviously noticed that this Keeper Agruss was cowering in the Hubs interior, while he sent out his guards to make sure things were safe before he actually showed up. Good for her! She noticed a trace of a smile trying to fight it's way to the surface on the Zyggerian Captains face too.
   The Keeper blinked several times in surprise. He began stammering about how useful he was going to be before the Queen cut him off.
   “If however you wish to get to know my friend here better.” Her hand gestured towards Ahsoka. “You could escort her to the jedi and personally help her free them.”
   Keeper Agruss' mouth dropped as he realized what she was suggesting. He imagined himself down in ore processing in close proximity to three jedi warriors. Two of which had probably not been treated well under his stewardship of this place. “I-I-I would be happy to h-h-help you familiarize yourself with the facility your majesty.”
   “That is wonderful Keeper. First I would like to be shown to whatever passes for the command center for this place.” The Queen gently tapped Ahsoka' shoulder as if reminding her. “You may find your friends now my dear.”
   Ahsoka turned to Artoo, still near the bottom of the gangway, she mouthed the words 'Stay here' to the Astrodroid as she made similarly meaning gestures with her hands. He responded with an affirmative set of beeps, before situating himself next to the open hatchway.
   As the Queen and her newly acquired set of guards filed towards the facility, Ahsoka sprinted past them to get to her master. She didn't care whther her escort kept up or not. All she knew was that these so called 'people' had better not have hurt him.

   Deep within the processing facility Ahsoka was shocked at the conditions that she saw while being led to Anakin and Obi-wan. It was mostly dark with bright red patches of molten ore being worked with as one of the few ways to see. The ore made the temperature quite hot as well. She passed several of her own people. Togrutan slaves, with gaunt and defeated faces. They pushed ore carts, shoveled, worked hand cranks and generally seemed to be doing things that would be more efficiently done by droids.
   Arriving at the place where the Zyggerian slavers worked the two captured jedi warriors made Ahsoka's stomach lurch. They were both dirty and fatigue was set deeply into their eyes, more so than would be called for from their short time here. The only good thing that she could see was that they were both alive.
   “Ahsoka!” The word was cried simulataneously by both men upon seeing her. Anakin and Obi-wan looked at each other and smiled over their feat of simultaneity.
   “Master!” Ahsoka ran to her master and grasped his arms in her hands. As close to a symbol affection she thought they were both comfortable with.
   Before either her master of Obi-wan could speak a single one of the many questions they were thinking Ahsoka looked back at her Zyggerian escort. “Free them!” The guard took out a small device on his belt and fiddled with it indecisively for a few seconds. After a short time Ahsoka let out a sigh of exasperation and drew her lightsaber. The bright green blade came to life.“Stand still masters.” The blade swept through the air with the incredible amount of grace a jedi was able to muster. With two quick, clean strokes the mens slave collars fell to the ground before emitting their punishing electrical shocks.
   Master Obi-wan was the first to speak after getting over the novelty of his freshly restored freedom. “Ahsoka, what is going on!?! Are you free to act? How did you get here?”
   Those were all good questions. After some thought Ahsoka realized that she could tell most of her story without getting into details regarding her relationship with the queen. “The Queen and I both came here as refugees. Count Dooku has managed to engineer a coup against her government back on Zyggeria. We both fought our way out of the palace. We managed to grab her royal yacht and make it here. She has agreed to free the both of you. I've convinced her that it was the thing that would most disconcert Count Dooku.”
   Obi-wan went to his trademark move when thinking about things. He tucked one hand under his armpit and with the other slowly stroked his beard. “Hmmm, interesting. No doubt she may be looking for the twin benefits of repairing relations with the Republic, as well as gaining new backers, now that relations with the separatists have crumbled to dust.” He turned to Anakin with the trace of a smile on his face. “We'll just have to make it clear to her that it's not quite that easy.”
   Anakin smiled back at his mentor. “Not likely.” Returning his attention to his padawan and liberator , his serious demeanor returned. “Ahsoka, did the Queen say that all of the Togrutan slaves were to be freed?”
   “Unfortunately, no master. Just you and master Obi-wan is all she said.” Looking around her she could see several of her own people working away. Some had understandably stopped and were gawking at the sudden freeing of two of their number. Their plight was one of misery. She couldn't imagine leaving them behind. The problem was that she couldn't see Obi-wan, Anakin and herself freeing them either. Not in their present condition.
   “I see. Well, could you show us to this yacht the two of you arrived in?”
   “Master, but what about...” Ahsoka's eyes darted to the right and the left, clearly indicating the Togrutan slaves still toiling away. The question while unspoken couldn't have been clearer. Master you're not thinking of leaving these poor people behind, are you?
   General Skywalker held up a hand in the 'stop' position.“Ahsoka trust me, I haven't forgotten about anything.”
   It was obvious that her master had more to say and more importantly more to do. He wasn't going to say what here though. Not in front of a staring, and listening, Zyggerian guard. Ahsoka bowed her head with understanding. “As you wish master.”
   Anakins upheld hand changed poition so that most of it's fingers curled up against his palm leaving only his index finger still pointed up. “First, I plan to liberate Rex. I know for a fact he's only a few compartments away. We can stop over and take him with us. I'm sure his exclusion was just a minor oversight on the part of the Queens. Even if it wasn't, he's coming with us.” His last words were said while looking straight at their guard. It was obvious he was challenging him to object or resist in some way. From the look in his eye Ahsoka got the feeling he almost wanted the guard to try something.
   When the guard made the wise choice not to object, Anakin, followed by Obi-wan and Ahsoka made for a door that led further into the facility. Ahsoka noticed that as they moved further away that the guard hadn't even made a move to follow them. Ahsoka had to admit to herself he was smarter than he looked.

   The four newly reunited members of the erstwhile hostage rescue team emerged from the landing pad level hatch. Rex, who was now with them, looked warily about for threats even though he was unarmed. On the way up from the interior master Anakin had made Ahsoka's skin crawl with stories of their ordeal here on the processing hub. The retelling of the mass execution of Togrutan slaves by Keeper Agruss when Anakin and Obi-wan first arrived was particularly enraging.
   Approaching the Queens yacht was quite easy. It didn't appear there were any Zyggerian guards tasked to guard it. Upon entering they found Artoo, beeping for attention.
   Anakin put his hand gently on the astrodroids dome. Almost like he was tousling the hair of an eager child. “What is it Artoo?” Artoo beeping in what seemed a concerned tone rolled to the nearest I/O port and flipped up his interface tool. After plugging in, a schematic of the Zyggerian yacht came up. Anakin bent over the nearest visual interface and watched as a specific part of the yachts bridge came up. To be more accurate Artoo was showing him a specific part, that was no longer there.
   “No! It's gone!” Anakin slapped the palm of his hand down on the console nearest the screen he was observing.
   Ahsoka placed her hand on her masters back. “Master what is it? Whats wrong?”
   “The Hyperspace communicator, it's down. It would seem the queen has removed a part that enables functionality. Without it we can't talk to a soul outside the Kadavos system.”
   “The Queen, sabotaged her own ship? That sounds weird. Why would she do that?” A sudden sickening feeling appeared in the pit of Ahsoka's stomach. She wants me to stay. Oh the living force, she wants me to stay and keep what we have going. She's willing to keep even Anakin and Obi-wan here and the dangers that that entails. All so that she can keep me. “Well, this is an expensive ship master. The Queen may have sabotaged it, to make sure we don't take this ship in particular. Perhaps we could find another more operational ship...”
   “You don't understand Ahsoka, the ships engines and spaceworthyness are fine. It's just the communicator thats disabled. We can leave any time.”
   The brow on Ahsoka's forehead furrowed in confusion. “I don't understand master, why would she disable the ships communicator but still leave it able to move? Doesn't she understand we can leave anytime we want? In her ship? We could probably even take a few dozen slaves with us, if we doubled back into the facility and broke them out.”
   Anakin let out a small sampling of bitter laughter. “Understand it? Ahsoka, she's counting on it. With no means of communication, we have to actually leave to speak with anyone. So we take the ship, thinking we're oh so clever for our little theft.” Anakin held his right hand out with it's fingers locked together and straight. Briefly, he had the hand make rolling motions in the air to simulate a spacecraft in flight. “We fly away. Since we don't get shot down on the way out, we assume we caught them by surprise. Meanwhile she's gotten rid of the jedi expedition that was supposed to free your people. Without us here on the station to worry about, she can turn her full attention back to regaining the throne of Zyggeria. She's luring us to take the easy way out. As a bonus, she gets to keep all or at least most of your people here as slaves. Essentially, it's a win for her.”
   “Master, all this may be a set up by her, but with interstellar communication down, leaving seems like our only option from where I stand. I mean I hate it but, what else can we do? Besides, what good would a hyperspace communicator be anyway? It's not like they could send us relief from Coruscant.” Ahsoka moved next to her master and put one hand on the young mans shoulder. “Also, not to sound too disrespectful master, but I believe reporting to the jedi council we've failed in our mission could wait until we've returned to Coruscant.”
   That last observation brought a smile up on Skywalkers face. “I don't think we've failed quite yet snips. I think that it's time that I told you about some contingency planning I've made. I sort of figured we were somewhat out on a limb here, so I arranged for a small fleet to hide within Zyggerian space.”
   A look of joy and deliverance crossed Ahsoka's face. Before she could continue, Skywalker held up a hand. “The fleets only a short hyperjump away. If we could summon it here, our ships could put pressure on the processing hub from above. Then the three of us could engage the Queen from right here on the hub. The fleet might even be able to provide lightsabers for Obi-wan and I. With three armed jedi here on the processing hub and armed warships above her the Queen would have no choice but to give us our people back. Most likely without us having to fire a shot or swing a saber. Except...” Anakin trailed off, but not for lack or words. His train of thought almost completed itself.
   Ahsoka however, felt the need to finish for him anyway. “Except, with no hyperspace communicator we have no way to coordinate an attack like that. Or even let the fleet know we need their help.” Her master unhappily nodded his confirmation of her assessment.
   Looking back and fourth at the crestfallen expressions on both Anakins and Obi-wan's faces Ahsoka sensed that the situation was in need of some serious brainstorming. “We can't quit now! Not this close to rescuing these people. Look, there has to be a hyperspace capable communicator on the Hub. We find it and send the alert to the fleet, simple.”
   Obi-wan took this opportunity to add his thoughts. “Oh yes, quite simple.” Most times Master Obi-wans gentle high Coruscant accent was a beautiful thing, giving off a sense of more refined origins in the jedi knight's past. However another effect it had was to emphasize his sarcasm when he expressed it. Like now for example. “Ahsoka, you do realize it's not as though we were given the slaves complimentary tour of the facility? No doubt there is a hyperspace communicator in the command center. Probably one or two in other areas as well, but we wouldn't know exactly where.”
   Anakin continued his masters train of thought. “Theres also no doubt that a communicator in the command center would be heavily guarded. So that makes decision making simple. We have to see if we can sneak back into the hub and find a communications device that isn't in the command center, thats capable of sending a message to the fleet. Without the Queens forces discovering what we're doing.”
   Drawing her lightsaber Ahsoka hesitantly nodded, knowing the difficulty of the task ahead of her. “Alright, well I'll cover the two of you, while we search for a more out of the way communicator.”
   Rex stepped forward, all the more determined to do damage to the Zyggerians thanks to his stay as a slave on the hub. “I'm with you too sir.”
   “Thank you Rex, I know you are. However I want you to stay here on the yacht. Get ready to spool up her engines if we come out needing to leave in a hurry.” Rex gave a short nod in response.
   Anakin then turned to Ahsoka. “You're not coming with us either.” Before Ahsoka could utter a syllable of her protest Skywalker continued. “I'm sending you and Artoo to the command center.” The look of protest arriving on Ahsoka's face was preempted by one of bafflement. Hadn't her master just said that the command center would be heavily guarded? Anticipating the question from Ahsoka Anakin continued. “Not to fight. Your mission is enter politely and, as much as you can, distract whoevers in charge up there. Keep their attention off of me and Obi-wan.”
   If the explanation was meant to enlighten Ahsoka it didn't do a very good job. “Distract whoever's in charge? How am I supposed to do that?”
   “I don't know Ahsoka, use your initiative. Ask a lot of questions. You and the Queen managed an escape together. Maybe you can go over old times. Maybe say you wanted to tell her goodbye. It doesn't need to be a masterful performance. You don't even really need to be talkative. Just your presence alone up there should get them suspicious and nothing draws attention like suspicion. If they ask about Obi-wan and I, just say we're resting or getting some food in the slave commisary prior to figuring out what we're going to do.”
   “You two are going to be alone and unarmed. Here take this.” Ahsoka held up her lightsaber to her master.
   Skywalker was proud that his padawan cared about the mission so much she was willing to sacrifice her ability to defend herself to help him. He put his hand gently upon the weapon. Then he withdrew it. “Thank you Ahsoka, but I think Obi wan and I will do fine. This is a mission of stealth, not fighting. If necessary I think we can appropriate weapons. Besides, you've been walking around with it all this time. If you suddenly show up somewhere without it, they'll wonder where it went. No, you've got to keep it.”
   Taking Artoo to an isolated corner of the yachts cabin Anakin pressed several buttons on his dome. Ahsoka could hear him talk for a short while to the droid without quite making out what he was saying. Returning to the group with Artoo he reviewed his fellow warriors. “Alright, are we ready?”
   When his compatriots responded with nods he hit the hatch open button and the group without Rex filed out. They walked casually back across the open space of the hubs wide support strut. Hopefully with the big splash made by the arrival of the queen, the hub was in too much turmoil for them to be under tight surveilance.
   Going back to the Queen was going to be a dicey proposition for Ahsoka. Would she know that Ahsoka was trying to deceive her? The Queen was a perceptive woman and had certainlygot to know Ahsoka these past few days. Whatever the complications that came from knowing the Queen, it didn't matter. An entire colony of enslaved Togruta were counting on her to free them. The mission was a noble one and straightforward. So why was she feeling some discomfort at the prospect of deceiving the woman?
   Before she could speculate too much on that question, she decided to pick up the pace as she jogged alongside Anakin and Obi-wan.
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The Slave Queens New Interest