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

Chapter Thirteen

Meanwhile, on Elysio-6, Darth Vader was staring out the viewport of the main control center of the Citadel. He was there just for intimidation effects, and was not really paying attention to anything going on around him. He was thinking about the Jedi he had encountered two weeks previously. Who was he? Where had he been hiding? What was he doing on Alderaan?

He had so many questions, but none of them had answers. He had to find out or it would drive him to insanity. He turned to one of the officers sitting at the many datascreens around the control center. "Captain Coros," he said in his deep voice, "What happened to the Jedi that was here three weeks ago?"

Coros remembered the incident well. "He was sold to a bounty hunter by the name of Boba Fett," he answered, hoping his answer would please his superior.

"Where did the bounty hunter take him?" he asked Coros.

"To Rykkoria, I believe, Lord Vader," Coros replied, "Into slavery," he added as an afterthought.

Vader processed this. "And we still don't know his name?"

"No, sir."

"Find out," he ordered. "Search the records for the list of slaves sold to Rykkorians over the past three weeks. I have to know who he was."

"Yes, sir," Coros said. "I will do it right away."

"Good," the dark lord of the Sith said. "Bring your findings to me as soon as you have them. I will be in my quarters." Vader stormed off the bridge, everyone letting out a sigh of relief when he was gone. They felt more secure when he wasn't around.

Fifteen minutes later, there was a buzz at the door of his private quarters, and Vader opened it. The door slid open and Coros strolled in and saluted.

"The records, Lord Vader." He handed the list to Darth Vader and waited while he scanned the page for a name that might mean something.

There were many names on the page, but two of them registered with memories of his past. Alex Rider and Ahsoka Tano. "Find out the status of these two," he told the officer. He told him the names and the officer exited, leaving him to think. He remembered Ahsoka well, and had often wondered what had happened to her when she left the Jedi Order. And Alex Rider, he remembered the name, but could not quite place it. He searched his memories and after minutes of thinking, his mind flew back to an incident when he was a small boy of about twelve.

He and his master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, were sitting in the Jedi Gardens, a beautiful place filled with splashing waterfalls and blooming flowers. The smell here was divine. Obi-Wan had just told him that he would be leaving soon to go on another mission to Earth, a far-away planet in another galaxy that Anakin had never heard of.

"How long will it be before you stop going there?" Anakin had asked his master.

"I don't know," Obi-Wan replied. "Not too long. You will be old enough to go on missions with me soon, and I will be glad to be able to take you, but right now, Alex needs me very badly. His parents were just killed, and now he is all alone."

"So, you have to take care of him?"

"Yes," Obi-Wan answered his padawan.

"I will miss you," Anakin said sadly.

"I will miss you, too," his master said. "But in just a short while, I will be able to be with you more. I have to go now. Listen to the masters and let them teach you," he instructed his young apprentice. "I will be back soon."

The boy they had been talking about was named Alex Rider. He was Obi-Wan Kenobi's nephew. But what was he doing here, in this galaxy? Didn't he have his own galaxy where he lived? It didn't matter now, but he had to get Alex back, for with him, he could lure Obi-Wan into his clutches and he would watch the final bits of his past die with his former master.

Coros entered again. "I have prepared a report on the instances with the two slaves," he announced, handing them to Vader.

The report stated that one of the slaves had been bought by three bounty hunters. That was Ahsoka. The other had been forcefully taken from his master by the same three bounty hunters. No doubt it was Obi-Wan and some of his friends. But who were they? Vader had to find out. If he found Alex, he would find Obi-Wan not far away.

"Captain," he said. "Prepare my shuttle."

"Right away, Lord Vader," Coros saluted.

_______________________________________________________

Alex woke up hours later, well rested and feeling safe, which was a luxury he had not since three weeks prior.  He threw off the blanket covering him, and strolled into the outer area between the cockpit and the hold. Everyone was there: Obi-Wan, Ferus, Damar, and his new friend Ahsoka. They were sitting around a small table, all talking quietly, probably so they would not disturb his slumber.

"What are you all talking about?" he asked, leaning in the doorway, supporting himself.

All eyes turned on him and he smiled weakly. "Look who's finally awake," Damar said, standing up. She walked over to where he was. He put his arm around her, and she helped him to a seat at a table, so he could join everyone else.

"How are you feeling?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Better, thank you," he answered.

"We're glad to have you back," Ferus said, handing him a plate of food.

Alex accepted it gladly. He had not realized how hungry he had been. He ate it greedily. "Where are we going?" he asked through a mouthful of food.

"Alderaan," Ferus answered.

"Why?"

"To check on Leia and to drop me off," he replied. "Senator Organa is probably wondering what happened with the whole mission.  We have not contacted him in weeks, but we will be there soon."

"Maybe I can pick up some better clothes," Alex said, gesturing at the ones he was wearing with disgust. They were torn and dirty, and they reminded him of the awful ordeal he had barely escaped.

"Me too," Ahsoka said. "These smell weird."

Damar laughed. "That's hardly a reason to get new clothes," she said, smiling.

"And I hate them," she said, matter-of-factly. "I would rather be wearing my normal tunic."

"Same here," Alex added. "These are hardly my style."

Everyone laughed. They were all somewhat tense, trying hard not to shower Alex and Ahsoka with sympathy. Neither of them would appreciate it.

An hour later, they landed on Alderaan. A free planet was very welcome to Alex's eyes. No one here was an unwilling servant to another, and he was glad. He purposed that if he ever saw a slave again, and there was anything he could do to free them, he would.

They were greeted by the senator, who looked relieved to see Alex with them, and surprised to see everyone else, except for Obi-Wan, of course. He noticed how terrible Alex looked, but did not say anything. "I am pleased that you are back," he welcomed them. "I think I know everyone here, but her," he said, pointing to Ahsoka.

"You must remember her, Senator," Obi-Wan said. "This is Ahsoka Tano."

"Of course!" He could have slapped himself, but senators do not do that in public. "I cannot say that I ever expected to see you again, after that incident with the..."

"And I you," Ahsoka said, wishing to avoid any awkward confrontation. "It is good to make your acquaintance again."

The senator led the happy troupe inside.