Cuyanir (A Rexsoka SWTCW Fanfic)

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Rex and Obi-Wan were clearly unprepared for what they had to do. The market they were in now seemed like a twisted reflection on the bright and colorful one that Padme had dragged him all over on Naboo. This one was dirty, and he wanted to take a shower from even stepping foot inside there. The entire place reeked of smoked spice and sweat and blood. It was an acrid, foul stench. He and Obi-Wan wandered through various auctions and pretended to be appraising the slaves there while they were really looking for the togruta colonists. After a couple of false trails, they finally managed to find the chieftain of the colony.

"Stand watch. I'll take a closer look." Obi-Wan instructed, and leapt down into the pit before Rex could say a word in edgewise. Rex shook his head and followed orders. And Kenobi wondered where Skywalker got his impulsiveness from.

Rex shuddered as he heard terrified screams from the pit. They quieted after a moment, and Kenobi jumped out of the pit again, with the Governor slung over his shoulders. Rex rushed over. 

"Sir, did you find out where the others are?" He asked in a hurry. He jumped again, and 'commandeered' one of the Zygerrian flying reptiles. Rex sighed. So it was going to be another one of those operations. Of course, it didn't take long for the zygerrians to notice the commotion. 

He heard distant shouts in basic and huttese, but he forced himself to ignore them. He helped the general get the chieftain onto the reptile's back. Obi-Wan held him while Rex grabbed the reins. He gave them a sharp snap and the creature bounded in a magnificent arc. It was a truely majestic creature. He forced himself on the task at hand, or rather, beneath him. There would be plenty of time to ogle at the animals later. He wasn't some silly cadet after all. 

Suddenly a feeling in the pit of his stomach made him lurch slightly. He twisted, and a blasterbolt hit Kenobi in the arm, sending the general and the governor tumbling down to the ground beneath them. If he hadn't moved, it would have gone right though his head and still hit Kenobi. He gritted his teeth and pressed onward, guiding his beast into the air. He urged the beast away, the tug in his stomach turning into a sickening weight as he left the general behind. He swore that he would go back. 

Ahsoka kept her head bowed as she followed the queen and her master. The queen was going on about something or other about slavery being the natural order of things, that the weak should kneel before the strong and blah blah blah. A movement under the tray caught her attention. She couldn't actively use her echolocation, not without blowing her cover and jeopardizing everything, but she focused on the tiny noises and let her environment aid her when she could not. 

The twi'lek had a knife, a kitchen one that wasn't to sharp, but it could kill if the wielder was determined enough. She lunged at Anakin, only for him to grab her by the arm and toss the knife away casually. The queen hissed with fury. 

"You dare raise a hand against your master?" She snarled, then visibly calmed herself to regain her composure. "You obviously need more conditioning." The queen purred. The twi'lek backed away. 

"No, no I won't go back there." She stammered, her hands trembling. She ran at the edge and stood on the low wall. Anakin tried to calm her down, but she wouldn't have it. With a cry, she threw herself onto the ground below. The queen gave a weary sigh and sat on the wall.

"Tsk, tsk. Such a waste." She sulked, "But perhaps she was more trouble than she was worth." She sighed and ran a finger around the rim of her cup, like she was examining it for poison. "But you Lars, you are proving quite resourceful." 

Anakin flashed her that mysterious smile once again, the kind that made most ladies melt at the sight.  The queen nodded at the Ahsoka, who raised her head. "Let us discuss the price for the fine slave you have brought before me. It seems," She gave a bone chilling giggle, "that I am in need of a new servant." 

Anakin's smile widened. "She is a gift, your highness." He swept into a graceful bow. The queen smiled, delight dancing in those terrifying gold and black eyes. 

"You are a man of many surprises, Lars Quell. It pleases me." She gave him a foxy smile. Her teeth were fangs hidden by delicate lips. "I wish you to be my guest of honor at the slave auction tonight." She offered him her hand. "I would like it for you to sit at my side for the event." 

Anakin took her hand and helped her up. "If it pleases my lady, then nothing will stop me from doing so." He replied, smooth as ever. Ahsoka kept her head down as she followed her master. 

Rex was in the stands in view of the royal box. First impression, it was loud. Buyers and slavers all roared at top volume, and the sound reverberated. Poor Ahsoka, and any other togruta. 

"Your highness, zygerrians, guests from a thousand worlds, we start our auction with slaves of unmatched quality and impossible quantity." The announcer boomed. "I give you togruta from the Kiros system."

A door slid open at the other end of the arena and the governor staggered out, holding his ribcage and limping. The stands around Rex erupted in cheers and applause. The announcer kept on talking, but Rex wasn't listening. He moved so that he was in direct line of sight from the royal box. He new Anakin could see him. He tapped his blaster twice to signal he was in position and ready. 

A new voice came over the speakers. It was a cultured but hard feminine voice. Rex's mouth twisted with disgust. 

"I would like to welcome a most special guest here this evening." She proclaimed boldly, "Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi knight of the republic. A door slid open not far from the first, and general Kenobi was herded out into the bright evening light. He looked to be in a bad way, but he was alive at least. Rex could work with alive. The queen kept prattling on about how they should not fear the jedi, and it took every inch on willpower that Rex possesed not to laugh. 

You should always fear the jedi to a degree. Respect them like you would a domestic rancor. They can still bite even when in chains. 

Yet another door slid open, and Anakin strutted out, a blazing electrowhip in his hand. He climbed the dias and snapped it with a display of surprising competence with the weapon. Chants began to swell amidst the uproar of the crowd. 

"Whip the jedi! Whip the jedi!" The bloodlust was sickening. Anakin looked up and made eye contact with Rex. It was time. He raised the electrowhip with a smirk. 

"Well then your majesty, you leave me no choice." He smirked, every camera on him. He raised the whip. 

And with a sudden jerk, he turned on the zygerrian slavers. Two silver objects went flying though the air to land in both of Anakin's hands. Two brilliant blue blades flared to life are he dealt with the slavers in possession of Kenobi with mesmerizing speed and efficiency. He tossed one hilt to Kenobi, and guards around the arena began firing at the jedi. That was Rex's que. He pulled out his blaster and began shooting too. Not at the jedi, but at the other flashes of light from the stands and ground below. A flicker of green from the royal box told him that Ahsoka had claimed her weapons too. 

Rex ran around a corner and came to a skidding halt. Three zygerrian guards had blasters raised at him. He started to get his own weapon to bear when he was tackled from behind, momentum carrying them over the side of the railing that ran along the rows of spectators. As they grappled in the air, Rex knew that falling was going to hurt. As a last-ditch effort to break his fall, he pushed the guard under him and slammed into the ground. He felt his attackers spine break with a sickening crunch, and then Rex was rolling, tumbling away from the body. 

Dizzy and disoriented from the fall and tumble, he had barely managed to get to his knees when an electrowhip caught his left arm. It cut in to the skin and stuck, electricity arcing through that side of his body. The pain was immense. Another whip caught his right arm, and everything went utterly and blissfully black.

A/N ~ Another update because I was bored. Not much to say here, and no second riddle of the day.