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"How did I end up here?"
Asajj sighed and mumbled into the silence of the street they were trying to hide in. From the Empire of course. If the chasing party was some spice-related gang like the Pykes or the Black Sun, Asajj could deal with them. But unfortunately, it was the great overlords themselves- The Imperials. Asajj could just not believe she let herself end up in this mess.
Despite her rather unruly and prickly behavior and easy acquirement of various enemies, she somehow avoided getting in the way of the Empire. Not anymore though. That ship has already passed away, days ago. And what was the worst and actually made her the angriest at the whole situation is that she didn't even regret it. Not even a bit. Which for her was all around weird. In a lot of different ways. Who knows a Sith without regrets?
Well nowadays she was an ex-Sith more than anything. Getting used to the role of a bounty hunter was much easier than she anticipated so she hadn't found it hard to change her profession. Or better said it was hard. It just didn't take long to get used to the different schedules and the way this line of work functioned.
"You know I have already worked with and for a opposing smaller force against a corrupt goverment. I didn't really like it, so I don't plan on doing it again," Asajj whispered her argument close to Ahsoka's montrals, hoping to scare Ahsoka a bit. Unfortunately she did not seem surprised or particularly angry at Asajj for evading her personal space.
"Yes I have been there the same as you, Asajj. Don't count this as working for the Rebellion, count this as helping a.... sort of a friend. I mean considering how long we know each other I would say we can classify as friends. Or at least reluctant allies in a pinch. Wouldn't you agree?"
Asajj didn't want to agree, but in a way it was true. The Dathomirian just went into the guarded building to liberate some information her client asked for. And it turned out that the supposed rebel Togruta was looking for the same thing. Before they could duke it out and get the data chip from it's supposed place, the Imperials were alerted and they both had to run.
Right now the Togruta had the chip, but Asajj will not let it stay that way. For now she will partner with her past enemy, however after they escape the impending doom of the Imperial forces, she will snatch the data away and earn the bloody money that has kept her alive.
"For now. But I am still winning that data chip away from you soon enough. My client needs it," Asajj said curtly and sharply, also snarling as addition to make her performance as dangerous more effective. Ahsoka only raised her eyebrow in mock fear and asked sounding suddenly immensely curious: "And what do you need?"
"I need money. Plain and simple. Not like you ex-Jedi and Rebel sympathizers."
"How would you know who I work for now? I may be a bounty hunter like you too. Or a debt collector"
"Yeah, sure you are. You look like a spitting image of a debt collector, with your flowing ponchos and twin lighstabers. Don't make me out to be an idiot, you vile Togruta. I can see them winning over your bleeding heart without even trying. And as I said this truce will last until we run away from this planet and get away from Imperial clutches. Now move it, I am so over these smelly streets and dark corners. Let's find somewhere to lay low or a ship to pilfer, before starting a duel yet again."
"Aye, aye Captain," Ahsoka mockingly answers and salutes for added effect. "Shut up you failed apprentice. No one asked for your opinion."
Ahsoka suddenly looks contemplative, while she follows along the path Asajj treads with fast paced steps. "Aren't you also a failed apprentice?'
Asajj stops for a hot second, glares behind her and then continues along without slowing down her pace. "No, I am not. I fulfilled my role as an apprentice."
"Did you though?"
"Yes, I did. Now shut up and follow along in silence"
"You know I seem to remember, you running away and hiding and.."
"SHUT UP! I DID MY DUTY! THE BASTARD IS DEAD!"
Silence descends after that and Asajj continues to wander around trying to sniff out a safe cantina or an abandoned space port.
The Togruta follows along silently, until they finally find somewhere they can hunker down and hide away all at once. When they finally enter their room (and they of course did not have enough money to buy two rooms, so they had to room together. Joy), Asajj instantly chooses a bed and lays down on it, not caring for appearence or safety. She just wants to sleep.
"Asajj..." The ex-Jedi whispers into the moldy room, making Asajj wish the Imperials did catch her and threw her into a cell. At least then she wouldn't have a roomate. The stupid girl didn't even have the decency to call her by her other name, namely Ventress. Oh no, too impersonal for the the possible Rebel, who for some reason thinks they are suddenly friends, just because the same military force is chasing them. Hah, if it were that easy.
"Have you really killed Dooku?"
"Of course not, you idiot. But he is dead nevertheless so I count my duty as a Sith apprentice over and done with. And unlike some I don't act like I am the same as before."
"I don't act that way either," Ahsoka frowns mildly, while Asajj scowls in disbelief.
"Could have fooled me. You still act like a pretentious know-it-all-Jedi, who thinks they are in the right the whole time and always fighting for the right cause. I think you should already accept you lost and lay down your weapon," Ahsoka jerks in shock, like she was stunned by what Asajj has said. And then her expression turns thunderous and her voice starts to rise.
"And let millions of people die for nothing? Die under the tyranical rule of the Empire?"
"Not like your Republic was any better," Asajj shouts back, baring her teeth in answer to Ahsoka's posturing.
"It was! It had Jedi and democracy and..."
"Sure, they really shed a lot of mighty tears while they were excommunicating you from the Order. Those tears sure looked a lot like lasers and bullets to me."
"You do not know what you are talking about," her voice sounds ice cold and makes the goosebumps on Asajj back rise in eager anticipation. Will she finally get a fight she was hoping for?
But the other woman just turns around and lays down on the bed her back turned toward Ventress. She huffs in disappointment and also lays down on her own bed. "You are not better than me Asajj. I may be a hypocrite, but you are one too. Don't preach to me about righteousness. I have done my duty as a Jedi, much better than you did as a Sith, so just shut up."
"I wouldn't agree to that. I may not have killed my Master, but he is still dead. Unlike yours, who still lives," Asajj feels the young Togruta move quickly and she finds herself watching her face turn from anger to astonishment and disbelief.
"What do you mean by that?"
"By what?"
"You know what I mean. By saying my Master still lives? How do you know he is still alive? How do you know he survived Order 66?"
"I have seen Darth Vader. And I have felt him. He may feel much darker and angrier, but it is him nonetheless. The same force signature just slightly altered. There is no mistake there"
"What are you trying to say? You aren't trying to convince me that Darth Vader is.... Is...."
"Yes. Darth Vader is Anakin Skywalker. Or maybe you can even say was, if it makes it easier for you to swallow your guilt. But yes. That is exactly what I am trying to say."
Ahsoka just looks numb after that, and there are no more conversation that night. Or even the morning after, when they are preparing to run to the nearest space port. "Hey you," Asajj tries to get the attention of the spacy rebel with a wave of her hand.
"What?"
"Be alert and prepared for anything. It is action time and I want you head focused in the now. Stop thinking about unnecessary things and concentrate on your survival. We are not out of the danger yet, so can I count on you, or do I leave you be and go alone?"
Ahsoka shakes her head, claps her cheeks hard and then nods in acknowledgment. "I am alright now. Thanks for waking me up Asajj. You gave me a lot to think on yesterday, but you are right. There is no time to contemplate my thought on it. The here and now is more important. So let's go then. I am ready."
Asajj looks over the determined Togruta suspiciously, although in the end she decides it is good enough for her and acknowledges her statement with: "You better be," before going outside and preparing for the worst.