Unfortunately, Roy didn't find anything interesting following that Rodian. Just an extremely humble house, but better than many of the "homes" of the most needy. The young Padawan glanced here and there at any place that caught his attention. But he found nothing but misery and suffering. He cursed the Hutts for their miserable regime, but his cool mind allowed him to take things calmly and not do anything crazy. For now, the best thing would be to return to his teacher. Something not easy, because he had to use his tracking abilities for that, because the Force would not help him sense it.

Pablo, on the other hand, had caught the big fish. Dunkan turned out to be the owner of the imposing mansion in which Tukk and Doss were waiting impatiently, and the coincidences were very opportune.

The Jedi could sense the presence of his comrades inside, and smiled upon learning of his fortune. Now, he just had to figure out a way to sneak in without being discovered.

It did not seem like it was going to be an easy task, since the mansion lacked poorly protected places, and despite its visible luxuries, if you looked closely you could see that it was a highly decorated bunker, with no entrances beyond the main entrance. , and with windows designed to prevent intruders.

Pablo looked everywhere looking for a way to get in, but the idea he had did not please him in the least. Near him, the enormous metal cover that gave entrance to the sewers. Through there he would surely be able to access somewhere in the immense gardens that surrounded the mansion. There had to be some way...unfortunately.

Meanwhile, still inside the ship, Tesla and Hammer were slowly heading to check the source of the noise they heard. They were extremely alert, with their rifles raised aimed where their eyes were placed, but even with their helmets with sensors that improved their detection capabilities they could not find anything.

Tesla: - You're paranoid. He told you that he hadn't heard anything. -

Hammer: - I'm not playing. I'm telling you I heard something. -

Despite Telsa's clear refusal, Hammer continued searching for any sign of movement among the drawers and nooks of the ship, but he was unable to find anything, and had to return to where his companion was somewhat embarrassed.

Tesla: - Well? Did you find the terrible beast that was hiding in the drawers? "He-He said with a rather mocking tone.

Hammer: - Shut up. I thought I heard something. Better safe than sorry. -

Tesla: - Yes, yes. As you say. Come on. We still have more boxes to unload. I'm starting to think you just wanted to take a break. -

Hammer: - Ha. It takes a lot more than that to tire me out. But this helmet is unbearable. -

And what he said was not uncertain. Hammer's helmet was much heavier than the rest, since it belonged to sentry armor, as more armor and weight than any standard cuirass. And being such an old model, it was almost fifty percent heavier than their standard clone armor. And they were still wearing the phase 1 armors.

Still, when he took off his helmet, and his hairless, sweat-filled head managed to capture some freshness, all hell broke loose. Hidden from the gaze of the clones, using all its infiltration and camouflage mechanisms, a murder machine was hiding among the mechanisms and pipes of the freighter. A machine that very few clones were unlucky enough to witness.

Chameleon droids were an extremely rare unit, and their infiltration capabilities made them a formidable enemy. Making use of hundreds of holographic projections, camouflage, and mechanisms that interfered with electric and electromagnetic fields, it was a unit capable of passing by you without even noticing, just as Yoda himself would experience in the frozen wastelands of Ilum.

Removing his helmet, Hammer revealed his identity to the droid who was hiding in plain sight from them, like a shadow stalking his prey. Why he was there was a mystery, but when the droid recognized Hammer as a clone he did not hesitate to launch himself at him in an overwhelming frenzy, attempting to use his sharp metal limbs to slice the clone into pieces.

At that precise moment, Hammer took back all his words and thanked the Force and fate for wearing the heaviest armor on the team, the only one capable of withstanding the sharp limbs of the chameleon droid, which in its desperate attempt to kill him. The life of the clone attacked the metal plates with all its strength.

It didn't take even two seconds for Tesla to raise his rifle once more and begin firing at the droid's back plates, but they were harder than that of an average B1, and the blaster seemed to dissipate on impact. In a desperate attempt to save his clone's brother, Tesla approached the terrifying droid, as there was a slight possibility that if he shot him at point-blank range, the blaster would have enough force to pierce his armor. And she had it.

Two shots managed to melt part of the droid's armor, but before Tesla could savor his triumph, he did not realize how dangerously close he was. The chameleon droid thrashed violently, and Tesla should be grateful with all his might that the droid had struck him with the back of its blunt claws, even though the force of the impact would have sent him flying several meters backwards. until it hits the walls of the cargo hold.

At least this was the window Hammer needed to act. In those few five seconds in which he did not have to protect his face from being pierced by the sharp metal, he managed to reach his rifle, which fortunately had fallen within arm's reach of him.

As soon as Hammer felt the grip of his DC-15S rifle he raised it right in front, and an uncontrollable volley of fire was unleashed with a single squeeze of the trigger. Hammar's weapon shook violently, as he was unable to control the recoil when holding it with just one hand, which, ironically, allowed the clone to unleash a volley of point-blank shots that ripped a warp line of holes across the body. droid's frame from the base to its metal head, destroying hundreds of circuits until opening a huge hole in its head.

Hammer screamed in terror as the imposing metalics spider fell on him devoid of energy, unable to understand that it was already out of operation. His basic attempts at survival had backfired on him, and now he was gripped by a momentary panic resulting from his near-death just a couple of seconds ago.

Tesla: - Calm down. Don't worry. It's already fried. -His almost breathy voice at least managed to calm the exalted clone.

Hammer: - Damn! What the hell was that thing!? -He shouted exasperatedly as the adrenaline slowly diminished from his body.

Tesla: - It seems it was a reconnaissance droid. I don't know the model. But the design is very peculiar to Arakyd Industries. -

Hammer: - And what the hell does that mean!? -

Tesla: - It means that the Separatists know we are here. -

Still, a strange meeting was taking place in what was supposedly the most luxurious place in the entire city of Motok. After an endless wait, Tukk and Doss had the joy of finally meeting their host. A singular man like no other, who entered the compound alone without any guard to accompany him.

The clones were surprised to see him enter with such serenity, taking into account that each of them still carried his pistol attached to his waist. Could it be that he was an ignorant fool? Or was he so confident in his safety that he feared nothing within that fortress he called home. Whatever the answer, the clones waited patiently for him to approach a small table, pour himself a glass of good liquor, and sit down with all the confidence in the world in his enormous black chair like a lord of the mafia. fifties.

Dunkan: - Well? -He said with total nonchalance.

Tukk:-I suppose you are Mr....-he paused, demonstrating his desire to know the name of the newcomer.

Dunkan: - Dunkan. - This answer is dry. Without title or political position. Just his name.

Tukk: - Mr. Dunkan... As you know... We have a shipment of weapons that we would like to sell. And they told us that you would be the right buyer. -

Dunkan: - Weapons of the Republic. -He said before taking a long sip of his drink. - May I ask... How did you get them? -

Tukk: - That... You see... -

Doss: - That doesn't interest you. - The lieutenant stated with a rather dry tone.

The truth was that Doss had been holding back all this time. Not only did the attitude of that authoritarian man bother him, but the simple fact of thinking that he was responsible for the misfortune of so many innocents was something that made the medical clone's blood boil. And Doss in particular appreciated life more than anything. So someone who looked down on her like that could only earn her reproach.

Dunkan: - Very good... It doesn't matter anyway. -

He responded, ignoring the disrespect that occurred a few moments ago. Dunkan was used to dealing with people like this, and this would just be another idiot who thought he was free in this galaxy. A delusion in his eyes, but his eyes would never be able to see the truth.

Dunkan: - What is its price? - I ask after a long sigh.

Tukk: - Ten thousand credits. For each box. -

The clone's voice was precise and without errors, and no wonder, since he had to memorize a list of black market items to be up to par with that conversation. Dunkan looked at him defiantly. A quick scan to see if he could get a discount, but his helmet prevented him from seeing anything. But the clone's hands were calm, it showed quite admirable patience. Something he told Dunkan that he wouldn't get any benefit from.

Dunkan was about to accept the deal, when suddenly everything went dark, and a gloomy red light began to flood every corner of the room. Everyone was stunned by the surprise, since they did not count on the encounter that Tesla and Hammer had with the chameleon droid. But the Dunkan was already beginning to suspect those two in front of him.

And to confirm his suspicions, Tukk's communicator screeched and flashed white upon receiving a call from Tesla, who wanted to report the situation on the ship, but that was all the gangsters needed to draw conclusions.

In an instinctive act, Doss and Tukk tried with all their might to reach for their pistols, but before they could even do so, Dunkan stood up and with a simple kick sent the enormous fine wooden desk next to the two clones and their weapons flying. two armchairs, for a total of approximately four hundred kilograms. An impossible force for a simple human, but that was how it had happened.

The clones did their best to get out from under the rubble, but it took too long. By the time they realized the whole mess and their bodies were free, Dunkan had disappeared, sneaking through some secret passage they didn't know about. But their attempts to look for him would have to wait, because not even ten seconds had passed when Dunkan's thugs began shooting from the other side of the room, forcing Tukk and Doss to hide behind the same huge desk that almost crushed them for just a few seconds. The situation for them was precarious.

Tukk: - Looks like we'll have to get out of here the hard way! Do you think you can handle it? -The commander shouted at his subordinate, knowing that he would not kill anyone under any circumstances.

But Doss was not a pacifist...he just didn't like blinding lives...There is a slight gap in terms. Pronounced enough that Doss clasped his fingers and slammed his fists together, releasing a small but powerful electrical discharge from the electrodes he had installed on his knuckles. Courtesy of Tesla.

Doss: - This is how it will be done.-