Meet You at the Dark Side

Chapter 7 - Defending the Lurmen

Ahsoka is still annoyed, but she understands the Jedi's concerns. She doesn't want to get captured by the Republic any more than they do by the Separatists. Worse, she wouldn't be able to fight her way out.

Would they seriously try that new weapon on the villagers? Truthfully, she wouldn't entirely put it past them to do it. The extremes the Separatists go to sometimes in an attempt to win are not always things she likes. Not that that makes the Republic righteous or anything, but still. That's beyond awful. Even Sith don't believe in killing people unless it's absolutely necessary, at least that's always how Dooku taught her. And she's found it's rarely ever necessary.

"There's a lifeform approaching," she hears a battle droid saying right before she steps out from between the towering grass.

"She looks like a Jedi," one of the other battle droids squawks suddenly, eyes apparently falling on the lightsabers at her waist. Seriously, those droids are so stupid sometimes.

"First of all, I'm not a Jedi," Ahsoka snaps, "Secondly, take me to your commander." Hopefully, he isn't another dimwitted droid.

They look at each other in confusion but let her past to their general where he sits atop one of the tanks.

"I am General Lok Durd," the Neimoidian announces haughtily, "Who are you?"

"Personal assassin of Count Dooku," she replies, "I crashed here during the recent battle. What are you doing here?"

"We're testing weapons," he responds, "On a planet like this, there's no chance of the Republic figuring out what's going on before we can ensure it works."

"So, you're planning to leave soon?" she queries, "I saw you testing the weapon early."

Lok Durd shakes his head. "Dooku wants to see how effective the weapon will be against living targets." Ahsoka frowns. The Jedi are right, then. They seriously are planning to target the village. She was hoping they'd consider the grass and trees, and the animals in that area. Apparently not. Is he insane?

"And what living targets would those be?"

"The nearby village of course," he waves his hand casually like what he's planning to do has no more importance than squashing a fly.

"Excuse me?" Ahsoka exclaims, "They have nothing to do with the war. They're neutral. You can't hurt them. Wasn't the destruction out there enough?" She simply does not approve of senseless killing, and that's exactly what this is. It would be one thing if they were people who actually posed a threat, but these are harmless citizens who don't care to join either side of the war.

"This weapon must be tested. If you have any complaints, take them to Dooku himself," Lok Durd replies disinterestedly.

Fine. Then as ridiculous as this is, she's going to have to team up with Anakin and Obi-Wan since she has no intention of letting the entire village be pointlessly slaughtered like that. To think that this mission was going to end with her working together with Jedi.

Whatever happens, she'll have to make sure the news of this doesn't reach back to Dooku. If he really ordered this, he's going to be less than pleased that she interfered, even if she does have a very good argument to back up her actions. He might understand... probably.

Ahsoka takes off running through the grass again, to where the others are waiting for her. Before she's even halfway there, she can hear a quiet humming sound behind her. Throwing a glance over her shoulder, she catches sight of a probe droid moving silently through the grass behind her.

What? Why is that thing following her?! They know she's a fellow Separatist and still they don't trust her? Of course not. She was only ever just an assassin. But still, since she's on the same side, shouldn't they at least have the courtesy of giving her a little respect?