Padawan Lost ~ AU (1st Installment of the Padawan Series)

Chapter 27

Corvala was an attraction for the lowest levels of scum. It was worse than the underground levels of Coruscant... much worse. Slaves were being traded at small merchant shops. Illegal black market sales happened in the alleyways.

                "Let's find Ahsoka and get out of here. This place gives me the creeps." I suddenly stopped. I felt something. Someone was watching us.

                "What's wrong kid?" Rex asked. I breathed in.

                "Keep walking trooper, someone is following us." I placed my hand on my lightsaber that was under my cloak.

                "Let's go in here." I suggested, nodding to a cantina.

                "Yes, sir. After you sir." Rex said, holding open the curtain that hung over the entrance.

                "Thank you trooper," I said quietly.

                Inside the cantina, people were drinking and a band was playing. Twi'lek women were dressed scandalously and were chained to the floor. They were dancing, my guess, against their will.

                "This is sickening." I commented under my breath. Rex, who was also cloaked, reached for his blaster pistols, careful not to alert any of the smugglers and scum in the cantina.

                "He's here with us." I said. I was no longer focused on finding Ahsoka; instead I used the Force to find this stalker of ours.

                I spun around, tore off my cloak and ignited my lightsaber. A robed figure fell out from the ceiling and their lightsabers met mine. I couldn't see their face, but they possessed two red lightsabers. I had a clue who it was, but I couldn't be sure. Rex drew his twin pistols and started to fire at the mysterious stalker.

                "Jedi," My challenger spat.

                I knew who it was then. That voice, scrappy and low, but sadistic. "Ventress," I threw back.

                She laughed a menacing cackle. "I don't think we've had the pleasure to be acquainted."

                "Believe me, it's no pleasure." I retorted.

                "That's not the Jedi way. Master Kenobi seems to enjoy my company." I pushed my lightsaber off of hers and flipped backwards. I used the Force to throw a table at her. She sliced it in half and came at me. Rex stood there, firing.

                "Rex, go!" I shouted.

                "No can do, kid." He resisted.

                "Those are orders!" I threw back as Ventress and my blades met.

                "Sorry Ventress, I am afraid we will have to formally be introduced another time." I pushed her away with the Force and sent her flying into a table surrounded by bounty hunters. I ran out the entrance and found Rex waiting outside.

                "Run," I simply instructed and he followed. I had left my cloak inside the cantina but that didn't worry me. I slipped through a small alleyway to find a Twi'lek about my age.

                I was out of breath. "Rex, stand watch." I breathed.

                "Hi," The Twi'lek said.

                "Hi," I panted.

                "Do you need a place to stay? Are you running from something?" I finally seemed to catch my breath.

                "I need to find a Togruta. She looks like me and will probably have one of these with her." I said, igniting my lightsaber.

                "Ahsoka?" She said.

                "Yes," I said easily.

                "I know where she is. I can take you there." She said simply.

                "Thank you, can we take a secluded way. There is someone after us." She nodded and started to walk. We followed her through multiple alleyways before we found an exit to one of the alleyways.

                "See that house? She said, pointing to a small hut that seemed to connect to the outer wall of Corvala, but still inside the gates.

                I nodded. "You will find her there. If she isn't there now, wait a while. She lives there when she come to get food for her people."

                "Thank you," I said. "Can I help you with anything?" I asked.

                "No," She said, shaking her head, "I am a slave here. I cannot leave, but I help others whenever I can."

                "You are very kind." I said. She smiled and I motioned Rex forward. She disappeared back into the black alleyway.

                "That's it," I said, pointing.

                "There's no cover." He noted.

                "We'll have to run. Let's hope Ventress lost our trail. Otherwise, we may be in more trouble than I thought."

                "Yes, General. Go, I'll try to cover you." I nodded and ran. It didn't take long to reach the hut but immediately, I felt eyes on me. Rex ran after me and we quickly disappeared into Ahsoka's house.