Bounty (Alex Rider/Star Wars Crossover) (BOOK 2)

Chapter Eleven

Obi-Wan, Ferus, and Damar entered the city once more. If they could not free Alex right now, then they would free Ahsoka. They asked around town about who owned the Togruta slave girl, and found out where the city official lived. The person they were looking for lived right in the center of the city, only about a block away. They walked there.

A girl answered the door. She was dressed finely, but she had a binder around her neck, signaling the fact that she was a slave. She let them in so they could talk with her master, the public official they had talked to earlier that day. He looked alarmed to see them in his sitting room.

"What are you doing here?" he asked them, alarmed at seeing three bounty hunters in his house.

Damar took the lead this time. "Do you own a young Togruta slave girl?" she asked, trying to sound rough.

"Why, y-y-y-yes. I do," the official stuttered. "Is there something wrong with that?"

"We believe she is a wanted criminal," Damar said. "There is a bounty out for her."

The official was scared. "What should I do?"

Ferus spoke up. "We are prepared to pay a fair price if you let us take her off your hands."

"Whatever you can do to get her out of here, do it," he said. "I do not want any part of that criminal. As long as I get a little something out of it, of course," he added. "I did pay a very high price for her," he reminded them.

"I will give you a fair price," Ferus assured the man. For a few minutes, Ferus and the official bartered over the amount of his reward, eventually finding one that was agreeable to both parties and paid him.

The official ordered Ahsoka to be brought to him. She recognized Obi-Wan right away, but did not let her face show it. She acted very subdued and sad, her melancholy expression proving it.

The "bounty hunters" led her through the town and to their ship. Once on board, she let go of her sad expression and leapt at Obi-Wan, hugging him fiercely. He hugged her back.

"Master Obi-Wan," she said, "It's so good to see you!" she cried, elated. "I can't even tell you how hoped to see you again, but how did you find me?" she asked, thinking they had been searching for her.

Obi-Wan felt bad. "To tell the truth, Ahsoka," he apologized, "We did not come looking for you. I am very glad that we could help you, and I am pleased to see you."

Ahsoka was not upset that they hadn't been looking for her. "You came for Alex, didn't you?"

"Yes," he replied. "You've met each other?"

Ahsoka nodded. "We were both at the same auction, and were next to each other in line. We talked a little bit," she said, sorrowfully. "Master, I'm worried about him," she said, "I've spotted him a couple times in the market since then, and he looks worse every time I see him. He is not being treated well, and we need to get him out of there," she added.

"We're working on it," Obi-Wan sighed. "Plans aren't going the way we had hoped."

"I'm sure we will get him out," Ahsoka assured him, then turned to the other two "bounty hunters." "Now who are you guys?"

Ferus and Damar took off their Mandalorian helmets. Damar turned to Ahsoka, who in turn squealed in happiness. "Damar!" she cried happily. "I can't believe you're here! I thought I would never see you again!" The two friends reached for each other and embraced, happy to be reunited once again.

"And this is Ferus Olin," Obi-Wan introduced.

Ahsoka looked him over carefully. He was about thirty, with short dark hair and bright blue eyes. "Ferus Olin, huh?" she asked. "I've heard stories about you."