Imagining the short jingle of whenever Samus leaves her ship, the hatch moved downward, revealing my figure. I was donned with my Power Suit, complete with the helmet and all. I don't plan to show my face here too much unless I absolutely have to. Seeing me arrive, I felt a bunch of eyes shift my way. By the way, Master Yoda departed before we arrived in the Bith System, he went back to the Jedi Council back on Coruscant. I'm not sure when I'll see the little green guy again, but he mentioned something about crossing paths again if the force wills it to. We'll see about that. Once I approached Anakin and Ahsoka alongside Obi-Wan, I saw Anakin smile at me, crossing his arms.
"I couldn't have said that better myself. You must be Obi-Wan's new friend. Your profile isn't even in our records, so we're putting a lot of faith in you to accomplish this. Just what part of the galaxy did you sprout from?", Anakin questioned, seeing my armor.
"It's impolite to suddenly ask for the background information of a contracted hunter. Any more will have to cost you extra. I'm just here for what I've been tasked to do.", I replied, grinning beneath my helmet. Yet once my voice escaped from my lips, it didn't sound the way like I normally sound. Adam currently has my voice altered. Anakin raised his eyes hearing this voice.
"A voice modulator eh? Well at least I can see you aren't an amateur. It isn't often for someone to receive praise from Master Yoda for that matter either.", Anakin nodded in acknowledgment.
"That won't cause a problem, will it?", I questioned, just wanting to make sure these guys were fine with my current setup.
"I don't see a reason why not. Do what you've been paid to do, and I'll turn the other way.", Anakin replied, shrugging me off.
"Just like the good old times eh Anakin?", Obi-Wan questioned, also teasing him.
"Yeah, yeah. You ready to leave, Snips?", Anakin asked, looking at Ahsoka
"Not like I have much choice in the matter. One wrong move and I'll have your contract torn to shreds.", Ahsoka retorted. Her eyes remained cold as she said that. Ignoring me outright, Ahsoka simply wandered back into my gunship without glancing back at us. Sheesh, cold much?
"Don't sweat the small details. Ahsoka's still learning. She can somewhat follow orders.", Anakin said, scratching his head as he observed Ahsoka's current behavior.
"What do you mean by somewhat? She won't jeopardize this mission, will she?", I questioned, shifting my eyelids halfway down.
"You'll just have to find that out yourself. Once you two are within range of the destination, she has the power to determine where Master Plo should be. You just need to get close enough without being detected. Simple, right?", Anakin replied, revealing a grin.
"I got it. Hopefully before the day is over, we'll be back with good news.", I answered, nodding my helmet.
"Then I guess this is where we will part ways for now, Samus.", Obi-Wan said.
Great. So we have to rely on the Force to locate Master Plo and his fleet, according to Anakin. Well, not on my watch. Adam has scanners, it shouldn't be that hard.
"Now hold on for a moment, General Skywalker. May I suggest one thing before we let this bounty hunter head out to do the job they were given?", Admiral Wullf suddenly asked, drawing our eyes to him. It looks like he has something else to add in. With growing curiosity, Anakin shifted his head and asked.
"And what would that be, Admiral?", Anakin questioned, also curious.
"We don't know anything about this mystery weapon the Separatists developed. If you're as good as you acclaim to be, why not go the extra mile? We could turn this into a reconnaissance mission. We have the funds. Why not use them?", Admiral Wullf asked, dropping the ball on everyone.
"You know that's a risk I'm not willing to take, Admiral. We're already putting more lives in danger by just heading there. But then again, it would potentially allow us to devise some countermeasures knowing what we're up against. You accepted this job even while knowing the danger that lurks over there, didn't you?", Anakin asked me.
"I did. But if you want to turn this into full blown reconnaissance, you know it doesn't come cheap. We're talking about getting up close and personal.", I replied, remaining serious. I wasn't against this, more pay, more stability. More wiggle room for haggling with the black markets inside the Hutt Space. The more I can close that gap, the better. I don't recall how much document forgery goes. But there's an increased price to how you can normally get identification papers. I'll need Adam to do some research. He was able to hack into the HoloNet once to download a super small star map, and I haven't allowed Adam a chance to do so again. It was to head to Rugosa, and well, I received a much bigger star map of the entire galaxy, courtesy of the Toydarian King.
"We know it might appear incompetent of us to suddenly add more terms to the contract you made with the Republic, Samus. But Admiral Wullf does make a good point. We do not lack funds. It sounds like you need quite a bit. We won't question what for since that will breach your contract with us. If you're willing, we could double your pay.", Obi-Wan said, gaining my attention. My ears perked up hearing that. So let's say my current contract is one hundred thousand credits, I'd get two hundred thousand, just like that?
"Consider it done. In fact, I'll even do you one better and procure you a recording of whatever the Separatists hold.", I replied.
"Now hold on Master, can't we at least discuss the new terms?", Anakin asked, frowning.
"We could spend all day on discussing it, but we're running against the clock Anakin. You don't want to keep your Padawan waiting now, do we?", Obi-Wan retorted.
"Fair point. Since you're so confident in seeing this mission through, I'll leave the paperwork to you.", Anakin replied, grinning. He walked up to Obi-Wan, and tapped his shoulder.
"I had a feeling you'd say that, so I didn't bother suggesting it in the first place. You're all set, right Samus?", Obi-Wan asked me.
"Of course. You'll remain in this system for some rotations right?", I asked. After all, let's say I completed this mission, and they happened to turn around and leave. Obi-Wan did leave me one of his commlinks, but that would cause some delay. I'd rather have this be instant, and get it over with.
"We will.", Obi-Wan answered, nodding his head.
"Good. Then wait for the good news.", I replied, and turned around. Doing the classic Samus wave, I waved my right hand at the Jedi, and headed back inside the gunship. Obi-Wan just stared on, seeing my departing figure.
"Bounty hunter or not, may the force be with you.", Obi-Wan stated. Hearing that, Anakin turned silent for a moment, before shifting his eyes to look at Obi-Wan.
"Just what the hell happened down on that moon, Master? Let alone the cloaking tech. That weapon of theirs isn't normal.", Anakin questioned.
"Can't say, I'm afraid. That was also specified in that contract of theirs. Confidentiality and all of that. But the result was clear as day. They possess a powerful enough weapon to take out an entire droid battalion with some assistance in a single day.", Obi-Wan stated.
"That's quite a feat. You think they could put a good dent in the Separatists' divisions like the likes of what Admiral Trench once served?", Anakin asked, wondering how powerful Samus could fare against the droid army.
"That I do not know. They do not seem interested in continuing working with the Republic once this contract is over, so we'll need to leave the door open to them, should they express desire for more work.", Obi-Wan responded, shaking his head.
"A real shame.", Anakin simply responded, shaking his head too.
The two Jedi just stared on, seeing the gunship uncloak itself during takeoff. With a single thrust of its engines, it engaged hyperdrive, vanishing in a blink of an eye!
Back inside my gunship. The hum of my engines were ignited, creating a dampened hum while Adam triggered FTL, allowing us to fly through hyperspace. The gunship was bathed in a blue-white light. There was no reason to have the cloaking engaged during hyper space, so I had turned it off for a brief period of time.
"You sure took your sweet time.", Ahsoka said, calling out to me. Followed by a hiss of a door, the cockpit opened, and I saw her leisurely sitting in my chair no less, spun around to look at me. "Still, a completely AI-driven model type, huh? Color me impressed. I thought I'd be greeted by an astromech or a droid, but you're really operating solo here.", Ahsoka said. Her initial cold demeanor was gone, replaced by earnest interest.
"Had some new terms to discuss with those Jedi of yours. Our mission scope increased. It isn't just search and rescue anymore.", I replied. "And get off the seat will you? That's reserved for captains only. And I'm the only captain of my ship.", I declared.
"Fine. We can have it your way.", Ahsoka replied, shrugging her shoulders, and proceeded to get off my chair, brushing by me.