Anabeth: New Beginnings

Chapter 14 - Intruder Arrested

Half an hour later, Ana, Ventress and Boba stood in front of an abandoned looking warehouse. They were sneaking around the premises, following Boba all the to a back door that seemed to be unlocked.
"He's in the second room on the right," the boy revealed. "There's no security system, and he should be in there alone."

"Thank you, Boba," Ana expressed her gratitude.
"Just don't mention I was the one that lead you here," he begged.
"We won't. Now run along. And best of luck on your journey. I hope we might meet again under better circumstances one day," Ana bid him goodbye.
"Thank you, Master Jedi," Boba quickly thanked her before hurrying out into the night.

"You're aware this might turn out to be a very stupid move?" Ventress asked once he was out of hearing range.
"Yep," Ana swiftly replied.
"And you know he'll probably go right back to doing the shady stuff that almost landed him in your custody to day?"

"Perhaps. But sometimes people surprise you. And sometimes a little bit of kindness can go a long way," Ana pointed out. "Now come one, we still have a job to finish here."

They entered the building through the door. Ana reached into the pocket of her jacket and pulled out her lightsaber as they snuck up to the door Boba had directed them to. When they were both ready, they stormed into the room while activating their lightsabers.

Indeed, Bane was inside the room. He was sitting in a chair, facing away from them and focused on something on his desk, but swiftly got to his feet and turned around when he heard them enter. He put up a bit of a fight, shooting at them and trying to get them tangled up using his grappling hook. But the combined power of two force wielders with three lightsabers was still too much for him.

They took him into custody, tying him to his chair much like they had previously done to Boba. Ana went to take a look at what was on his desk, only to find a data pad that had been destroyed by a few blaster shots. She assumed Bane had done it himself when they stormed into the room.

"It's useless. But maybe Anakin can get something off it back at the Temple," Ana informed Ventress as she stuffed the device into her pocket.
"Good luck with that," Bane said sarcastically.
Ana sighed deeply. She had already had enough dealing with stubborn bounty hunters for the day.

"So, are you going to ask me something, or am I just here for your entertainment?" Bane finally asked when he realized that his provocation was getting him nowhere.
"And waste my time when we both know you're not going to talk? No thanks. We're going straight back to Coruscant where I might have some leverage and backup," Ana told him.
"Smart move on your end, have to give you that," Bane admitted as Ana and Ventress went aside to talk.

"I'm guessing you didn't have our ride home planned out yet?" Ana asked.
"Yes, I was focused more on getting here unrecognized," Ventress admitted.
"Well, I'll call us a ride then," Ana decided, already pulling out her commlink.
"Who?" Ventress asked skeptically.
"Anakin," Ana informed her "He's the only one I trust to come by at this hour without ripping me a new one about running off with you."
„Smart choice."

Indeed, Anakin was unproblematic and didn't question a thing. He simply asked for coordinates to pick them up at before going on his way. Sometimes, Ana wished her own Master would be more like that, but having Anakin to help her out in situations like this was already a real blessing.

It wasn't even an hour later when Anakin landed outside of the building. Ana went out to greet him while Ventress waited inside to guard Bane.
"What are you wearing?" Anakin chuckled slightly when he saw Ana.
"Ventress got it for me to blend in," Ana explained. "I have to admit, I like her sense of style."

"I suppose those clothes do suit you rather well. And the thing that you did with your hair makes you look a lot scarier too," Anakin complimented her.
"I like it a surprising amount too. But I think I'll still switch back to my usual look or Mace is going to have a heart attack," Ana laughed.

"I brought you a little present for Bane by the way," Anakin held out some handcuffs.
"Thanks, that's just what we needed. Let's get him cuffed and loaded and go home. Interrogation work is about to begin."

Before long, they were all on board Anakin's ship and back in hyperspace, heading towards Coruscant. While Anakin began working on Bane's broke datapad, Ana and Ventress remained in the cockpit.

"We make a pretty good team," Ana thought out loud.
"It appears we do. And you handled yourself quiet well today considering the environment. In a way I wouldn't have expected of a Jedi," Ventress pointed out. Ana only hummed in reply.

"So, are you going to tell me that story about how you learned to pickpocket before you became a Jedi now?" Ventress took the more direct approach.
Ana sighed deeply. "Up until a year and a half ago, I lived on Gandri on my own. Pickpocketing was among the skills I taught myself in order to survive."

"Very interesting," Ventress commented. "Though I have a feeling there's more to it."
"Yeah, but that's a story for next time," Ana replied.
"Alright. Next time then."