Agents of The Clone Wars (Book 1): The Clairvoyant Conspiracy

Here's Hondo

Coulson winced at how poorly Simmons was acting as a daughter with daddy issues. She was speaking in a stilted manner like an actress in a cheap soap opera. Then Coulson realized too late his wincing made it look like he was guilty about Simmons false accusations.

"Prostitutes? As in many of them? I have a type that I specifically like too? Twi'lek's?" Coulson sputtered in shock at how bad Simmons was at undercover roles

The cafe patrons stared at Coulson offended by his distasteful behavior. He excused himself to find a more secluded area where he could monitor Raina and Padme.

Simmons was comforted by a random patron. She thanked them and then walked across to the courtyard. Skye attempted to signal Simmons to stop but Simmons ignored her. Skye panicked as Simmons approached Padme and Raina's table. Then without realizing it a bright flashing light occurs.

May and Rex are undercover with Ahsoka as street performers juggling objects with clown make up. Ahsoka used the Force to redirect the flashing light from the flash grenade before it could reach her, May and Rex at the far end of the courtyard.

"Master!" Ahsoka called out

"We can't do anything for him Ahsoka. Raina dropped a second grenade after the flash grenade. It's a toxic nerve gas."

"Looks like Coulson and Ward were also affected by it." Rex noted

"I'm contacting Fitz, Garrett and Triplett right now. I can't reach them. Ahsoka can you reach Master Plo Koon?" May asked

"No the signal to Plo Koon is jammed. Even R2 can't get through."

"R2 track Padme's comm link. We have to hope Raina and Padme are still together. Be careful because this is clearly a trap." May warned

****

"It's bad enough that we have to be in the same cell, but could you at least spare me the sound of your constant chatter?" Anakin complained

"And while I hold my tongue, the two of you will devise a brilliant strategy for getting out of this dilapidated prison." Count Dooku said

"Of course." Obi Wan and Anakin said at the same time

"Excellent." Dooku replied

****

Ward and Coulson awoke abruptly whirling around in confusion. They were on the bus and there was a message in Coulson's miniaturized data pad. It was from Fitz, Agent Garrett and Triplett. They were pursuing Simmons who had been kidnapped and placed an unconcious Ward and Coulson on the bus to recover. Ward and Coulson tried to use Fitz's holographic imaging table to study all the footage on the security cameras in the Cafe before the explosion. They couldn't find the on switch for the holographic imaging table.

"Where is the on switch for this thing?" Coulson wondered aloud

Ward shrugged as he continued his search for the on switch. He eventually found that it was underneath the holo imager on the opposite side of the room where the table was. Ward smiled as he flicked the switch on and video of the Cafe right before the grenade went off was visible.

"That's good Ward but...how do we rewind and then play the video without Fitz?" Coulson asked

"Fitz would move his hands in a sort of flourish." Ward replied

"A flourish?" Coulson asked staring at Ward in confusion

Ward waved his hands in an odd swirling motion. The video started to rewind but then abruptly stopped. Ward tried it again but it stopped every 10 seconds and Ward groaned in frustration.

"You know I think it's just a flick of the wrist. You know just...just like this..." Coulson suggested reaching over the table

Coulson flicked his wrist while imitating Ward's flourish hand motion. The images in the video enlarged and then shrunk as Coulson moved his hands. Ward sighed and placed his hands on his hips as he watched Coulson struggle to operate the holo table.

"You know what we'll just send the video files to R2." Coulson said after the eleventh attempt failed

Ward nodded, "Excellent idea sir. Now let's go save our people."

****

"This can't be happening. Are you actually going to ransom us back to the highest bidder?" Anakin asked in frustration

"Of course not. I'm going to ransom you to the highest bidder between the United Republic and the Seperatist. Whichever is the highest wins. So theoretically the United Republic could lose the bidding for all three of you and it will be the Seperatist that will make me a rich man." Hondo Ohnaka the leader of the pirates said

Hondo was a weequay an alien species that was vaguely amphibious in his facial features but otherwise had human features. The Clairvoyant was already paying Hondo and his gang to kidnap Dooku but apparently his greed was the reason he wanted to auction them off instead of waiting for the Clairvoyant to take them away.

"This can't be right." Anakin said

"Are you calling me a liar?" Hondo asked with an edge to his voice

"Uh, isn't that kind of what you do for a living?" Anakin asked

"You reject my hospitality, refuse to wait in your cell, and now, you're going to insult me?!" Hondo said offended

"I'm just saying-" Anakin began to say

"Anakin!" Obi Wan interrupted

"What? He is a pirate!" Anakin replied exasperated

Hondo pulled out the electronic pad that was wirelessly connected to their handcuffs. There was a shock button on the pad that would cause Anakin, Obi Wan and Dooku immense pain if Hondo pressed it. His powakian monkey lizard which was a cross between a monkey and a lizard hissed at the three Force users.

"Yes, but this may not be the best time for you to speak at all Anakin!" Obi Wan argued

"You two fools are going to be my downfall but at least you'll be going down with me." Dooku criticized with dry disdain

At that moment the power to Hondo's base went out. Preventing Hondo from using his remote to shock his prisoners.

"What happened to the power? I was about to have fun!" Hondo complained