Star Wars: CT-0292 Vaughn

The situation with Typho was still lingering in the back of my mind, even as we flew towards another dangerous mission.

The Clones, were struggling with this war, balancing between opening out about what they've seen, and remaining stoic and cold, especially my unit.

We saw battle after battle after battle, with at most a few days of leave on Coruscant, and even then. Few went to the bars to enjoy themselves, instead focused on training and other matters entirely.

However, as I felt a thud from the ship, I stood up. My new helmet under my arms.

I was wearing Zygerrian Armour, similar to Obi-Wan. But I carried 2 Blaster Pistols on my waist, Zygerrian ones of course.

These one included the stun, and live laser, so I didn't complain. But they were heavier than the standard DC17 Blaster Pistol, but it would work.

"Let's just hope the information our spies gave us about the Queen is accurate." Anakin said, before continuing on.

"Remember, I'll keep the Queen occupied while you locate the missing people of Kiros." Anakin said to Obi-Wan and Rex.

"And what's my play in all of this?" I asked sceptically. Probably not the greatest duty, I'd personally rather go on the prisoner hunt.

"You're my bodyguard." Anakin said and I sighed, well ain't that great.

"So, I suppose I'm a Mercenary?" I asked Anakin, and he nodded.

"A Mandalorian mercenary." He said.

"And how will you keep the Queen occupied again?" Obi-Wan asked.

"With my magnetic charm, of course." He said, and I couldn't help but sigh at that.

Great...

Anakin and Obi-Wan then gave their weapons to R2, while I shared a nodd with Rex, we didn't need much else.

And the same time, Ahsoka walked up to us.

"Remind me why I'm the one playing the slave part?" Ahsoka asked, from under her large rags covering her entire body.

"I tried it once, I wasn't any good at it. And the part of Master, comes easy to me." He said as we made our way towards the city.

The City itself was quite medieval, with tall walls covering it, and guards situated ontop it. And inside; it was even worse.

Common slave sellers were displaying their products at any means necessary, neither men nor female had much clothes at all. The first due to mustcles, and the former another part.

However, Infront of us, a scene was escalating.

A blue coloured male Twi'Lek had fallen to the ground, and his master had taken out the electric whip, intent on punishing or making a spectacle of the slave.

However, before he could even swing the first swing, I saw Ahsoka move forward, utilising the force to appear behind him and stopping his arm, mid swing.

Obi-Wan and Rex had separated from us a few moments ago.

"Ah, you dare touch me. Slave?" The Zygerrian exclaimed, as Anakin stepped up.

"Excuse my slave, friend."

"Friend, You wear Zygerrian armour." The Zygerrian man said with hostility, and at the same time. Prove droids were surrounding us.

And at the same time, 2 Zygerrian Guards walked up behind him, and I responded, doing the same and placing my palms on top of the handles on my guns.

"But you are not one of us. Who are you?" The same Zygerrian spoke.

"I've come for an audience with the queen." Anakin said calmly.

"Then you have an invitation? We can't juste let anyone in, to speak with her majesty." The Zyggerian asked.

"No invitation. But I do bring news, News the Queen will be eager to hear." Anakin explained.

"I doubt that. You're nothing more than a brigand." The Zyggerian said angrily, getting closer.

"I wouldn't say that, Espeacialy when the Queen'll learn, you prevented her from hearing the news about Bruno Denturri." Anakin said, and the Zyggerian was reaching his tipping point, 2 more guards joined him and aimed their weapons at us.

"Halt! Cease all hostilities. This man is to be escorted to the palace by order of the queen." The probe droid said, ending this entire conflict.

And with that, we began walking.

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As we entered the castle; whereas the Queen resided, we were once again stopped. This time, due to me.

"Who is your guard? He is not Zyggerian?" The same Zyggerian as last time, asked, and all guns were aimed at me.

"He's a mercenary, he's served me for some time. He's a Mandalorian and recently lost his armour, so I supplied him with one." Anakin, or Lars said.

After some grumbling, I was allowed through, and we went into the Queens Throne Room, not without disarming me first though.

And with that, I watched as Anakin worked his magic, it was indeed one of a kind.

He switched up the plan mid-talks, the original background was that he killed the killers of Bruno, but after the Queen declared her deep hatred of him, he switched it to killing him.

Additionally, he showed Ahsoka to the Queen, whom was wearing a slave outfit.

The Queen was more impressed by her now, rather than in the original. Perhaps due to Ahsoka being 16 now, and more mature.

In many different sorts of cases…

After he worked his magic, I was given back my weapons again, as we headed outside.

I walked beside Ahsoka as Anakin chatted with the Queen.

"To think a Jedi would ever manage to charm a slave….." I said with a dull expression and Ahsoka chuckled slightly.

"Well, my master is one of a kind." She said and I nodded.

However, at that time. We had reached a balcony, and the Queen stopped with Anakin.

However, suddenly. One of the Twi'Lek slaves behind the Queen, grabbed a knife before slashing it at the Queen, intending to kill her.

Of course, Anakin was a Jedi; and as such he sensed the attempt, and stopped it. First grabbing her arm, and then immobilising the knife.

"Let me go!" She shrieked and Anakin complied, as she felt onto the ground.

"You dare raise a hand against your master, clearly you require more processing." The Queen said, but the slave was slowly backing up towards the balcony.

I had seen the show before, but her intentions was clear as day.

"No! I won't go back there!" She said as she climbed onto the edge.

"Wait! Stop!" Anakin shouted, attempting to get her to stop.

However, I felt bad for this slave, and I knew falling from a building wasn't the cleanest of deaths, so I would give her one.

As she was about to jump, I grabbed the handle of my right pistol; before lifting it and aiming at her head, the brain to be precise.

She had no armor of any sorts, so the laser would pierce and destroy most of her head.

And I released a single shot, which true to my win, hit her head, causing a black burning hole in her head, and she fell back.

All eyes turned to me, as she dissapeared from view.

"Huh, seems like you're not the only competent man here, Lars. Your mercenary seems to understand the order of things." The Queen said, before moving in. Meanwhile, Anakin and Ahsoka was giving me an angry look.

Which I expected, they were Jedi after all.

But I knew this war couldn't be won by honour, and I was confident that the slave would actually prefer the death I gave her, rather than falling to death.

However, they both quickly got out of it, and Anakin continued his act, which ended up with Ahsoka becoming the Queens new servant, and Anakin would spectate the slave auction.

However, as soon as the Queen left us. I was confronted by the two Jedi. They both turned around to me, and Anakin crossed his arms.

"Captain Vaughn, why did you do that." Anakin said angrily, and Ahsoka matched his attitude.

"With all due respect, sir. I did her a favour." I said simply, and Ahsoka was outraged by that.

"A favour!? You shot an innocent person in the head, in cold blood." Ahsoka said, and Anakin nodded.

"General, Commander. Have you ever studied what happens to the body after falling from that height?" I asked, and both of them went silent.

"It sure as hell isn't painless, and the height would have made it possible to survive. And we all know that the Masters would have made an example out of her, by giving her a quick and painless death, it served her better and us better." I said, and both Anakin and Ahsoka went silent, before Anakin sighed.

"You're right Vaughn, you did the right thing. Apologises for acting so harshly, but don't do that again, it may affect your mental health, after all. You just killed someone in cold blood." Anakin said, and I knew he was right. She would come to haunt my dreams, perhaps it wasn't worth it.

All the while, Ahsoka kept silent. Until her anger was replaced by pity, not for the slave. But for me.

I had sacrificed some sleep, for this slave.

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