Chapter Text
It was supposed to be a simple mission. It was her first solo assignment without her master or any other jedi. The Council needed someone who could pass as a fifteen-year-old and Katherine, at her seventeen was ideal candidate. At the request of senator Lurol Lubis of planet Takobo, she was supposed to infiltrate local spice gang in Takobo City and find out, who was the mastermind behind it.
Takobo was small planet in outer rim. Home to numerous of emigrated species, especially to Ithorians. It was neutral and the reason The Republic has decided to grant this request, was in the hopes that Takobo will decide to join them in the near future.
The reason Katherine was chosen for this mission was because their spice dealers were mostly teens, so she would fit in more easily, and no one should suspect her.
For the mission Katherine had to get rid of her padawan braid and for the better effect shave even her hair. Katherine didn't want to do it at first, after all her copper blonde hair are part of who she is. The perfect contrast to her ocean-blue eyes and freckled face. But her Master reminded her that she is a jedi, therefore she shouldn't be attached to her hair. She could not argue against that, so she just went along with it, but with a heavy heart.
Her Master is Sha Rhita, a middle-aged Pantoran. Very wise and immensely kind woman, who is always ready to help those in need. She couldn't have asked for a better master. Katherine was over the moon, when her master chose her as her padawan learner. She was twelve and scared, that she wouldn't be chosen by any master, because of her attachment to Obi, just as he nearly was. Luckly, the force kept them together and they've become very close, even though they're eight years apart from each other. And the best part is that no one seems to care. Even the council turns a blind eye to their obvious attachment. When she casually asked her master about it once, she told her that master Yoda apparently had some vision and said ‘the will of the force, this is’ and since then, they let it just be. It seems, that they were really born under a lucky star, although Obi-Wan would say that there's no such thing as luck.
Her Master and Obi-Wan came to say goodbye, before she left on the transport. She was a little bit nervous, playing with her fingers under her robe. Anxiety but also excitement were bubbling inside of her. This was her chance to prove that she was capable jedi, one step closer to knighthood.
“Are you ready, padawan mine?” said Master Sha, when she finally reached her with Obi, who was right on her heels. Who was also trying to hold back his laughter at the sight of her hair, well no hair now and obviously wasn't very good at it.
“Yes, Master,” said Katherine, piercing her brother with her gaze as she did so. Obi-Wan returned her gaze with raised eyebrows and playful smirk. That asshole, she will get back at him, when she returns from her mission. She may even ask Vos for a little help, because as annoying as he is, Quin is brilliant with his pranks and never misses a chance to make fun of Obi-Wan or her in that matter.
“Are you two quite done staring at each other? Because it's time for you to go,” their staring contest was cut short by Katherine´s Master.
Ou, Katherine let herself to get a little bit carried away. That would be the stress of her first solo assignment. Definitely. “Sorry Master, you are right, I should go,” Katherine looks back at her Master and reaches to her hips to pull two identical lightsabers. This was hard to separate from, after all it's her weapons, her life. But it is important to leave them here, because they could easily blow her cover. “Keep them safe for me Master, would you?”
“Of course Kate, I will,” said her Master, when she took the lightsabers from her.
“Well, then may the force be with you,” Katherine smiled and turned to board the ship.
“And with you,” said both Obi-Wan and Master Sha.
“And Obi-Wan?” Katherine called, just as the ship's ramp began to rise. “Don't get yourself into any trouble while I'm gone.”
“Me? You're the one you should be worried about!” shouted playfully Obi-Wan at her. She didn't have time to answer him to that, because the ship's ramp had just closed. As if, she wasn't the one who was part of disaster lineage and whose Master was Qui-Gon Jinn.
The mission went smoothly at first. Katherine went by the name of Julia Granger, a 15-year-old just orphaned girl, who was looking around for a job and trying to survive as best as she could. She fit right in.
The first month on Takobo, Katherine spent getting to know other teens. Especially Raylan or Ray as he preferred to be called. He was a seventeen-year-old boy, the same age as her real age. He had all the other dealers under him and Katherine knew that he frequently went to meetings with the boss, or 'the big cheese' as they called him. Kind of ridiculous if someone asked her. She was hoping that she would become enough friendly with him, that he's gonna take her to one of those meetings or at least that he becomes comfortable enough around her to slip up. But he was seriously testing her patience, because he's a rude moron. Katherine was able to follow him to a couple of those meetings, but to her frustration, they were taking place in a windowless building with only one visible exit, that was guarded by guards. Katherine could theoretically get in, if she wanted to, but that would probably blow away her cover and Katherine didn't want to risk that yet.
Everything was going fine, she was getting closer to Ray and was making serious progress with her investigation, but that was before the Mando's showed up. The Mandalorian's, protective of children as they are, somehow caught wind of children selling spice and they decided to take matters into their own hands, neutral planet or not.
The fact that there are also children, who work here, surprised Katherine at first, because there was nothing in the mission briefing about them, only about older teens. However, there were some children, who were working here. Not many, the youngest one was nine and that was a little bit disturbing. Nevertheless Katherine didn't let that distract her too much. On the contrary, the sooner she fulfils her mission, the sooner the government can find homes for these children. The Mando's clearly don't share her patience. They stormed their base and things got out of hand pretty quickly.
The force warned her just a second before it happened. Katherine dodged behind a bunch of crates the same moment they burst in. The Mandalorians were well organized and had no problem at all to quickly catch the surprised and startled kids. Katherine moved futher back towards more crates, breathing heavily. Panic taking control of all rational thoughts. Her body shaking like a leaf. She wasn't cut out for this. They'll find her and they'll recognize that she is a jedi and then- and they'll kill her and she will never- Stop it! She is a padawan, a jedi! She supposed to be calm and not act like a crècheling. There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no death, there is the force. Deep breaths. She could do this! Katherine carefully peeked out from behind the crate to analyze the situation. Near her was mandalorian in green and yellow armor, who was holding struggling Ray. A little bit away from them was a back exit, where no one was at, for now. If she could get past the mandalorian, she could make a run for it. Maybe she could even distract him enough, for him to let Ray go. Then they could escape together and lose the Mando's in the crowd on the streets, if they decide to pursue them. Yea, that might work. Also, that may gain her enough trust with Ray for him to take her to meet their boss. That way she can accomplish her mission and then warn The Republic about the Mandalorians on this planet. The fact that Mandalorians are interfering in the affairs of their planet, might even encourage the local government to join the Republic. Yep, she can handle this. Katherine got ready. Unless she reveals herself as a force-user and therefore as a jedi, she should be fine. Only she can't visibly use her powers.
Katherine took one last look at her surroundings and dashed out. She lunged at the mandalorian, took the dagger from her boot and stabbed it into his shoulder to a spot that wasn't protected by his armor. The mandalorian shouted and let go of Ray, who didn't hesitate and started running fast towards the exit. Katherine tried to follow him but was grabbed by the same mandalorian she stabbed. Katherine tried to wiggle out, but his grip was firm. She moved to punch him, but he caught her arm and twisted it behind her back. Then she tried to kick him in his leg, only to smack her leg against his armor. Then before Katherine could gather herself, the mandalorian got her in a headlock and put a hypo to her neck. Oh no. Some kind of fluid was injected into her system. Probably some kind of sedative. Fuck. Katherine started to struggle even more.
“Hey, hey udesii ad, you will be safe with us. I promise,” said that mando. Pff, as if! Katherine continued to struggle, but her limbs were getting heavier. She saw Raylan being tackled by another mandalorian. Great, she might have overestimated her abilities here. Mandalorians are great fighters, especially in hand-to-hand combat. Jedi's are also great fighters, but they specialize more in lightsaber combat and have force as their ally, which she obviously couldn't use here. Shit, Obi-Wans lineage shenanigans must have passed on her, Katherine thought as she passed out.