Chapter Text
You are Aurora Ordel, and you have made it to the Collective Commerce District with Cad Bane’s droid in tow. He is not happy, but that is the least of all your worries. Currently, you are without shoes, or food. That’s not to mention your lack of spectacles.
But you can only deal with one thing at a time; you are broke, all your money, your credit cards, are back at your penthouse in upper Coruscant. So close, but yet so far. That’s why you would solicit for his help, though Todo 360 was more concerned about disobeying Bane.
“We should have stayed put! Bane will undoubtedly be back soon!” the droid exclaimed.
“I need food,” you protested, your belly grumbling.
You winced, for you had stepped on something. This trip had been slow-going, what with the fact that you were barefoot and could hardly see a thing.
“Surely, a few more minutes would not have killed you,” Todo retorted lamely. You turned on him; the droid reeled back as if expecting to be abused.
“No, but you can stop complaining—or, or just leave,” you griped. People turned their heads to stare. You obviously didn’t care, though the little bot would wring his hands.
“I would love to,” he admitted readily, “but Bane would not approve.” The droid sighed in that human way of his. “Fine.” He employed his most irritated tone. “I will help you.”
“Good!” you offered bitterly—it had been like pulling hair, or teeth, to get him to agree. You kept on walking.
“Ow, ow, ow,” you complained with every step. Todo shook his head, tugging at the edge of your makeshift dress.
“Do you need me to carry you?” Todo asked facetiously.
“Don’t tempt me,” you replied sardonically.
Then, you saw it, just across the way—it was a type of retail outlet, one of those places that offered discounts and that was most likely family owned, tucked away in a corner next to some cheap salon. “There,” you pointed straight ahead. “Make yourself useful; fetch me something I can wear.”
“And how will I do that?” Todo asked. “Are you to pay for it?” he wondered skeptically.
“Do I look like I have money on me?” you snapped saucily.
“Hmph,” Todo harrumphed, “I am not permitted to use Bane’s funds. His credits are his, and he is very protective of them.”
“Then steal them!” you implored, becoming frustrated by this back and forth. “I wear a size seven shoe, if you so please.”
“I am a techo-service droid, not a common thief!”
You rolled your eyes, then threw up both your arms. “You’re useless, is what you are!”
“I am not! I have many useful functions!” Todo defended.
“Then prove it!”
Todo stared you down; you stared at him right back. For a moment, you were not sure what might happen, but he took the bait, making sure you felt rightfully ashamed for asking him to do this before he left.
“I will have you know this is beneath me! I am doing this only so that you will stop with your complaints!”
“Wonderful! Amazing!” you shouted after him, sitting down on the cold, hard ground. You crossed your arms and sighed. You hoped he had a discerning eye for fashion. There was no telling what the droid might bring you, but whatever it was, it would have to do.
---
“Todo…” Bane’s gruff voice echoed throughout his ship. All seemed quiet, which wasn’t a good sign, not in this instance.
He swept through the lower level, his coat trailing him, finding evidence that you had been through his conservator and spoiled his lunch—it was face down on the ground—his eyes narrowed.
“What a waste,” he grumbled, ignoring it for now. The droid would clean it up; he could be sure of that.
He had won this ship in a bet against a pirate, but now it was considered home sweet home. He liked to keep it clean, neat, and tidy—all save for his room. That was where he could revel in his loot, should he choose to do so. Thinking about all his credits sent him scurrying up to the second floor.
If you had gone into his quarters—if a single thing was out of place—If the droid had allowed for it to happen—there would be no one alive who could protect him from his wrath.
“Todo!” Cad Bane shouted, red eyes set into a glare. “Ordel…” he added after the fact, hoping you might answer.
He was met with recurring silence.
It was now obvious that there was no one here; Bane approached the door to his private residence.
There were bolt shaped holes within the door; he knew what had happened at that moment—you were dead on the other side, riddled with blaster shots.
Well, it would serve you right for snooping. The Duros groaned; he had allowed himself to mildly like you. Where Todo was he could not guess, but he would worry about that once he had disposed of your lifeless corpse.
“Just had te be nosy, didn’t ye—” There was no sign of you, nor blood, nor viscera. You had gotten away scot-free, though his alarm system had done its duty.
Bane would fold his arms as he surveyed the scene, thinking perhaps the droid had dragged you out, but there weren’t any bright red smears, no scent of death—where the hell had you gotten off to?”
“Todo!” Bane yelled into his comm. “Answer right dhis dag-blamed minute, or Ah’m gonna fly us te Tatooine just te force ye te walk through sand!” Bane threatened, knowing what that would do to his many servos.
Static, followed by the quietest of voices. “One moment, Bane. I am in the middle of something,” the droid returned. Bane was indignant then, his temper soaring.
“What de kriff ye mean ‘one moment?!’ Just where de kark are ye?! Where’s Ordel?”
The little asshole had the nerve to mute his comm; Bane ground his teeth, cursing. “Yer in deep shit,” he growled.
The hunter would activate the tracking device built into his droid. With a single press of a button on his multipurpose gauntlet, Bane had access to his coordinates—the Collective Commerce District. Why Todo was there, it was anybody’s guess, though he would bet a million credits it was all your fault.
“When Ah find him, Ah’m dismemberin’ him limb from limb,” Bane promised.
---
There was a commotion from across the way; Todo 360 was being followed by a humanoid and a busted, beat-up droid. He appeared to be security, but was obviously secondhand, perhaps from auction.
“Get back here!” the old woman yelled; she was hot on Todo’s tail. The droid was faster, regrettably for her. You stood up to your bare feet, though Bane’s confidant had something in his hands—a pair of fuzzy house slippers?!
You gasped, incensed. “Are you kidding me?!”
“Oh, I am sorry. Are these not what you had in mind?” Todo snapped. “So ungrateful! You know, you are starting to remind me of someo—”
Two blaster shots whizzed by Todo’s cranium; the elderly shopkeep was armed, and she was pissed, the droid beside her waving the equivalent of a wooden broomstick.
“They’re fine,” you lied out of necessity, taking up your new footwear from out of Todo’s miniscule excuse for hands. You threw them on then bolted, Bane’s companion hovering along just behind.
“All of this could have been avoided if you had just listened to me!” he said. You suddenly felt ridiculous as the fluffy flats slapped with every step; you nearly tripped as you both rounded a bend—they were too big!
“I would be able to run faster had you stolen me a pair of sneakers; snow boots ... anything but these!”
“You did not specify!” the droid haughtily replied. You dodged a speeder bike; it had nearly clipped you upside your hip.
“I should have known better than to trust your judgment—you are 'friends' with Bane, after all,” you clapped back, almost too naturally.
“Then you are not eager to see him again?” Todo verbally retaliated.
“I—”
Another round of laser bolts cut you off. You dashed into an alley, spotting a dumpster used for refuse. In your haste, it was all you could think to do. Both you and Todo placed yourselves inside, though for you, it had been more difficult.
What comedy for the passerby, if anyone had seen. Your head and torso went in first, then your ass; legs; feet.
Something soft and sticky broke your fall as you tumbled to the bottom.
The droid bristled at his new surroundings. “I never have to hide like this with Bane.”
“Do I look like Bane?” You nearly screeched, overcome with disgust as you deigned to hold your nose.
“Of course, not! And be glad of it! The last person who impersonated him wound up very, very dead.”
“Imperson—?” You heard sounds, not sure where they were coming from. Were they close? Had the old woman found your hideout? “—shh!” you demanded.
“Why don’t you take your own adv—”
“SHHHHH!” you reiterated. Who knew droids were capable of glaring? Todo’s golden photoreceptors narrowed, but he stayed silent, despite wanting to chew you out.
You heard the whirling of gears and motors, the echoing of footsteps. Then, the old woman’s voice. It seemed relatively distant, some few paces away. “Head back to the shop—I’ll keep looking,” the lady said.
“Why do they even care? They’re the ugliest shoes I’ve ever seen,” you spoke aloud, though barely above a whisper. You thought them hideous; they were pink with fake silk ribbons.
Todo shushed you with contempt for earlier; you rolled your eyes and peered outside. It was clear the woman had not given up, but that she felt the alley was all but empty, continuing down some other path. She left you to sigh out your relief; her droid had already retreated.
“Some thief,” you insulted.
“I beg your pardon?” Todo scoffed. “I would like to see you do better!”
“Fine! I will!” you promised as you began your ascent, climbing out of that damnable trash bin. It was as if your shower had been for naught; you felt disgusting from head to toe, though Todo did not seem any worse for wear. It must be nice to be a little metal man who only needed an oil bath from time to time, and not to wash himself.
“Good! I cannot wait to watch you fail,” the robot taunted.
---
Cad Bane had arrived at CoCo Town in record time, following the little blip that blinked on his right wrist gauntlet. It signified the location of his droid, having long ago outfitted him with a homing beacon should the need arise. It was safe to say that the time had come, as Todo dared to ignore his summons. Bane was sure to punish him for his impertinence—if he ever got around to it, that is.
The area itself was dilapidated, industrial, but you could still look up and see the sky. It was home to many businesses, and hard-working laborers spent their after-hours here, not like down in the bowels of the seedy high-crime district.
There were food stalls, outdoor market spaces, and indoor shopping plazas—though most of the exterior had been graffitied—places to buy a plethora of things. He wondered what made Todo think he would get away without some penalty. But Bane had a funny feeling about all of this—it was hard to imagine his loyal service droid would disobey his orders without coercion.
It was then he saw a woman, old, but armed. She was yelling about some perp who had stolen goods—shoes—out from under her. Bane ignored her, instead focusing on the whining of sirens in the distance that belonged to none other than Coruscant Security. The city had its own police force, mostly in the form of droids, in addition to the Empire’s white clad troopers.
Bane had dealt with them on more than one occasion, but he was curious what the ruckus was—the blinking of the tracker on his gauntlet was pulsing faster, stronger.
“’Course it’s dhem,” he groused.
Bane swept back the tail end of his duster; he cleared the way, should he need to pull his blasters. A crowd had gathered, though small. The Duros slipped through the cracks, past arms, and elbows, to push his way up toward the very front.
“Todo… De kark’s goin’ on here?” Bane hissed.
---
**15 minutes earlier**
“There,” you pointed. “I want it, so, so badly,” you exclaimed, gesturing toward a fruit stand. It was laden down with brightly colored, fresh things to eat. An apple had caught your eye though your vision was fuzzy—it was Corellian, from your home planet, and the prettiest red you had ever—barely—seen. “I’m starving.”
“Yes, I know. You have only mentioned it twelve times,” Todo informed you.
“Well, if you want me to keep quiet, then buy it for me!” you snapped. Your attitude was mounting. You still felt weak, your head was killing you, and you did not know how much longer before you might faint.
“I already told you!” Todo sounded exasperated, “I am not permitted to spend Bane’s credits, unless given his express permission.”
“But I am the one who is paying him! It’s my money!”
“It most definitely is not! Once the transaction is complete, the money is his. There are no refunds in this business!”
“Not a refund! A… a loan! I will pay it back! I’m good for it!” you argued. It was so degrading to be this smart, to have as much money as you did, yet not any access to it.
“The answer is no,” Todo huffed, crossing his tiny arms. “Besides, were you not going to show me ‘how it is done?’ since you claim to be the better thief?”
You sighed, pulled your “dress” down, then adjusted the belt that had belonged to some dead Jedi long before your time. You caught a faint whiff of garbage clinging, but you also smelled Bane’s scent—it was embedded in his shirt, the one between you and being naked.
“Fine, we will do this the hard way,” you grated.
“Indeed, we shall."
You sneered despite yourself. “Well, can you at least offer a distraction?”
“Would that not be cheating?” Todo snapped. “I managed to escape—alone.”
“Do you not think Bane would be upset with you should anything happen to me?” you whined.
Todo saw your logic, but he had to decide whether if he should care—though it was Bane that he feared, not you. “It is your fault we are even here!” he scolded, then he sighed again. “And what is it that you want me to do this time?”
“As I browse the seller’s wares, or at least pretend to, just—make something up! Are you not the droid of a galaxy-renown bounty hunter?! Surely you are clever!”
“Are you not a brilliant scientist who works for the Galactic Empire building superweapons?!” Todo shot back.
“I—I cannot think when hungry!”
“I am so fortunate not to be organic,” the droid rejoined.
“Just follow my lead!”
Todo shook his head as he watched you approach the stand; there were others to the left and right; many people shopped there. Though you had no use for tools, new clothes, or jewelry, it was food you needed—the apple would have to do for now. If nothing else, it would keep you from passing out.
But you were not an actress. You tried to behave casually, to walk as if nothing ailed you, to pretend you were not wearing a man’s oversized shirt along with fluffy bedroom slippers. People were already gawking at you; it could not be helped. You felt you should be embarrassed for yourself, but your top priority was not in feeling shame, it was to stuff your face.
You had never stolen anything in your entire life; this would be the first time. You figured the droid knew you were a liar, but there was no use in backing out.
How hard could it really be? You needed to eat! Your hunger was overpowering your logic and your sense of decency.
Never in a million years would you think to dress like this, but this was an emergency! Your empty belly made a horrific sound as you doubled over; a Rodian turned to study your behavior. She clutched her youngling a little closer.
What must you look like? No use in worrying about that now. You recovered marginally, then stood upright again.
You swore you could smell the apples’ ripeness; you daydreamed about that first, crisp bite. You would let its juice run down your chin and fill your mouth like some dirty whore imbibing Duros dick, unable to get enough, but first…
There was a human man manning the fruit stand—your specialty. You thought maybe you could either flirt your way through this or have him look the other way, should Todo play his part right.
You leisurely walked forward. For now, his back was turned. Maybe this would be easy after all, though as soon as your fingers found your prize, the asshole pivoted.
“Interested? Fresh off the ship from Corellia. Three credits each,” he said.
Your fingers twitched, but you would not back down. You picked the apple up, pretending to admire its unblemished skin. “How about a sample?” you asked with confidence, “I’ve never had one before. I’m not sure if I will like it.”
“Oh, you’ll like it,” he replied. “No samples, I’m afraid, but it’s worth the price.”
So much for that tactic.
You glanced a little to his left. Todo was hovering somewhere right behind him; he had his little arms folded. He was no doubt watching your performance with disdain, already amused that you were failing.
“And this?” You pointed to a Meiloorun; they were not your favorite.
“Five credits,” the man offered.
“That’s robbery!”
“Plenty of people don’t mind paying it,” he shrugged. His attention was briefly diverted elsewhere.
You began to step slowly away; the man wasn’t as daft as you had hoped that he would be. Before you could even move one inch, his eyes were on you.
“You paying for that?” he questioned, his tone elevated, the apple still held tightly in your hand.
“What?” You attempted to play stupid, “of course I am! Are you insinuating something?”
The man’s brows narrowed in suspicion. “Can never be too careful—lots of riffraff around here.”
How unfortunate you were going to have to resort to Todo’s help.
You tried to signal him, making a motion with your eyes; the droid did not seem to understand. Perhaps he thought you were having some sort of seizure.
You tried again, acting as if you had seen something. “What’s he doing?” you queried. “You, droid!” you called out, in hopes that Todo would hear you and play along.
Todo looked to the left, then right, catching on about as quickly as a slow-moving slug. Was he doing this on purpose?
The man was distracted for about one millisecond before he caught on, moving to snatch the apple right out of your hand. “What are you trying to pull?” he asked heatedly, now angry that he had missed. “Give that here, before I notify the authorities you’re out here thieving.”
“I’m-I’m not!” you stuttered; you were a terrible fibber, as it turned out. About that time, Todo 360 tried to join you at your side.
“I told you this would not work!”
“As if you were any help!”
“Do not blame me! This was your idea!”
“I tried to signal you!”
“Is that what you were doing?”
“Quiet, both of you!” the man who manned the fruit stand yelled. He snatched you by the wrist and tugged, pulling you partway forward.
“Ow, you’re hurting me!” you whined. He did not seem to care. He removed the apple from your grasp, but did not release his steadfast grip.
“You’re staying put, until the Security Force gets here!” the man declared.
“No need for that! I have money, it’s just back at my home—I’ll come back and pay you what it’s worth, I’m just so hungry!” you begged the man.
“Like I haven’t heard that before, you wretch!”
“Please,” you pleaded.
“I bet you’re homeless.”
“I am an Imperial Scientist!”
“Like hell you are!”
“It would be in your best interest to unhand her,” Todo 360 stated. You had almost forgotten that he was here. “I cannot tell you how much you may come to regret your actions should any harm come to Miss Ordel.”
“Ordel, eh?”
“Todo, why would you say my name?!”
“Well, I—”
A crowd had gathered, someone had obviously called the law. You could hear the sirens wailing to your dismay, though at least it wasn’t the Empire on their way to see you, dressed like some… street person.
Just then, a voice—it was like music to your ears.
“Todo… De kark’s goin’ on here?”
It was none other than Cad Bane!
Oh, happy day! You would have gone to him if you were able, yet you felt yourself slipping, falling, disassociating from reality. You had used up all of your remaining energy and felt you would soon pass out; Bane’s droid decided he would speak up on your behalf.
Well, sort of. He was more so a tattletale.
“Thank goodness you are here!” Todo 360 began; Bane glared between him, you, and the man.
“I told Miss Ordel to stay put, but she would not listen! This person has accused her of stealing, and well, he is correct, though I do not think that he—”
“—Let go of her,” Bane seethed, ignoring Todo 360.
Your current captor seemed not to know who this Duros was; he remained serious, and even a little smug. “Not until the authorities get here to arrest her.”
A flash of blue whizzed right past your head, the luminescent circle stunning the no-good fruit stand worker. Truthfully, he had done nothing wrong except perhaps put his hands on you.
His body dropped; you tried to keep from crying. Your belly ached. All you wanted was a scrap of food to eat!
This time, Bane was the one to snatch you up after holstering his blaster; you were moved without your say-so. You whimpered as the hunter dragged you up and brought you to his level. His eyes were as red and bright as the depths of a fiery inferno.
“What de kriff ye wearin’, girl? Ye look like a creditless vagabond,” the gunslinger growled. “Smell like one t’boot—‘sat m’shirt?” he scowled.
“I-I took a shower!”
“Must naht have werked.”
You could no longer contain yourself; you let your tears flow freely. You pouted pitifully as he glowered at you, wanting, hoping for nothing more than some small sort of reprieve.
“Bane, I’m-I’m sorry,” you whispered.
Bane watched as you crumbled in his arms. He caught you so you didn’t fall flat onto the ground. His eyes had widened beneath his wide-brimmed hat, the Duros palming one side of your pretty face.
“What’s wrong wit her now?” Cad asked, a sound of slight concern etched into his voice.
“I believe that she is hungry,” Bane’s droid responded, “and she has been for quite some time—did you know she has not eaten for three whole days? She would not shut up about it, I am afraid.”
Bane frowned, then looked around him; he spied the apples. “Dhis what she was goin’ fer?”
He scooped one up and held it out for you to take. Its scent caused you to enliven and wake back up as if he had used smelling salts. You took it, albeit shakily, from his rough and scaly hand.
Bane shot his droid an angry glance.
“Told ye te look afta her—some guard droid ye turned out te be.”
“It is not my fault that woman never listens to me—or you! What would you have me do?”
“Yer karkin’ job,” Bane shot back nastily. “Shoulda stolen de damn thing.”
If you were not currently so bad off, you would have laughed at Bane’s tiny confidant. You would have gloated right in his metal face, but you felt so weak you could barely hold the apple to your mouth. The Duros steadied your hand with his. You felt you could cry more deeply, for the gesture was endearing after everything you’d been through.
“Thank you,” you said softly, sinking your teeth into its crisp, red skin. It was everything you had hoped for it to be and better; you chewed slowly so as not to choke yourself.
“You have no idea!” Todo interjected. “I tried my best! Do not fall for anything she says!”
Cad Bane felt some kind of way as he tried to help you up to stand. You nibbled as you allowed him to manipulate your person; you almost teetered over. Your legs were trembling; you felt wobbly. Bane let go of you to observe you eat; he ignored all the other people who were staring, thinking he ought to take you someplace safe.
“What’s wit de getup?” Bane asked. Then, it all came flooding back. “Ye were fool enough te let her go messin’ ‘round de ship? Inte my quarters?”
“Let is not the word I would use,” Todo bit back, agitated. “She had nothing else to wear after her time in the refresher.”
You ignored that they were speaking about you as if you were not there; you were only on your second bite when a voice you recognized interrupted your ill-gotten meal. “There she is!” an old woman screeched—it was that blasted shopkeep!
Droids were with her, officers, ones that had blaster pistols and binders at the ready.
You dropped the fruit onto the ground as you prepared to run, only your legs would not cooperate; they were too much like jelly. You whined pathetically as you hid behind Bane’s duster; he shielded you like a proper bodyguard, and you were oh, so thankful.
“What’s de meanin’ o’dhis,” the hunter drawled.
The bitter biddy pointed down at what you were sporting on your feet. “Those are my shoes she stole! Her, and that weird looking droid!”
“Who is weird looking?” Todo snapped.
Bane glanced down at the fuzzy pink slippers covering your toes. He wrinkled the middle of his face; he thought them in poor taste, but it wasn’t your fault! Todo had chosen those!
“How much she owe fer dhem hideous monstrosities?” Bane asked.
“No! I am pressing charges!”
“’Fraid we’re gonna have ourselves a problem.”
“Who-who are you?!” the lady snapped.
“De name’s Cad Bane,” the Duros said with a tip of his large hat.
“Cad Bane—” one of the officers cut in, his voice robotic as he spoke through his vocabulator. He paused, as if running some sort of scan: his query came back answered.
“Halt. You are under arrest.”
“’Scuse me?”
“You are a known criminal and are considered to be armed and dangerous.”
The scoundrel smirked, pulling his LL-30s. “Ye got dhat right.”
You cowered as Bane made used of his blaster pistols a second time, putting those two droids straight out of commission, though the sounds of laser fire had drawn more unwanted attention by and large, more police units already descending on your coordinates.
“Are you crazy?!” the shopkeeper yelled, dashing off in the opposite direction. It was clear she no longer wanted any part of this. Perhaps those ugly slippers weren’t worth the trouble after all.
Sirens blared, lights were flashing. The area was becoming overrun by Coruscant Security personnel. You clung desperately to the back of Cad Bane’s coat; the hunter whirled around. You gazed up at him, not knowing what to do.
The Duros sighed. “Why is it trouble just seems te find ye?”
Your lower lip quivered; you could not think of a satisfactory response. Your brain might as well be mush; you had not one coherent thought.
“Feed me,” you implored.
“Ah swear Ah ain’t gettin’ paid enough fer dhis,” Bane complained as he hauled you up.
You scrambled to toss your arms around his neck; you held on like your life depended on it, because it did. Bane’s boots ignited as he carried you aloft, well over the Collective Commerce District of Coruscant.
Todo followed his master’s lead, even as shots began to light up the sky surrounding you, barely missing, scorching the sides of buildings. The gaggle of police below had decided to put on quite the show.
“My hero,” you muttered softly, warmly, in Bane’s ear. You kissed his cheek, then hugged him tightly to yourself.
You would fail to notice the tinge of green coloring Bane’s cheeks, or the sneer that formed to try and cover it, but Todo wouldn’t.
“Stay still before Ah drop ye,” the Duros reprimanded.
The droid would silently judge his friend and colleague as they flew together, dodging plasma bolts, as was often customary, though what wasn’t was having a woman held almost gently in his arms.
Todo stared and stared.
“Just admit you favor her,” the robot mumbled. It was a good thing neither of you had heard him, though Bane turned his head—if Todo had a heart it would have stopped.
“What’s dhat?” Bane asked warily.
“I said you must admit she is a danger to us both!”
Despite him lying, it was the truth.
“Go back te de ship,” Bane commanded in a none too happy tone. “Yer gonna bring de hovercar around when Ah comm ye next—and ye better answer.”
"I swear I meant to!" Todo was indignant, though he knew when to hold his tongue, not that he had one.
Bane bared his teeth.
“Fine, if you insist.”
“Ah do—and clean up dhat mess ye left.”
“I am happy to assist,” the droid replied, though against his will; Bane was tolerant enough to let him be himself. While others of his kind might find themselves restrained, Todo was simply required to be of service.
He supposed things could be worse.