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My first Patron reward goes to draegwolf
Thank you for being such an understanding test subject. :)
If you love the art, please let Wielder know on the original HERE
And, if you feel so inclined, you can support my Patreon HERE
--
"I do not have time for this," Rush hissed, following the barkeep's nod. Out of the corner of his eye, he could easily pick out the Jedi moving through the crowd. It never seemed hard to spot them, even when they made a show of trying to blend in. They carried themselves differently than most, hyper-alert under the guise of indifference. He couldn't blame the Jedi for it, many people were no great supporters of the Order; some openly, vocally opposed it. Anyone with a half-founded grudge might try their luck against a Jedi's blade. So, in unfamiliar territory they did their best not to draw attention and stay aware of their surroundings just the same as any private investigator. His own garb - a well-worn olive-drab trench coat and brown leggings - along with his striped gray fur made it easy to escape one's notice. Of course, when the Jedi in question was a Togruta any real hope of avoiding attention went out the window.
"She's been glassing the place for the last hour," the elder bull said. "Didn't think anything of it at first."
"What tipped you off?"
"Cami spotted the ‘saber on her belt when she brought her last drink."
Rush furrowed his brow and turned a bit more than discretion would have normally dictated. "She doesn't look old enough to drive, never mind drink."
"Fruit juice," the barkeep almost laughed. "Though I suppose she could be sight-seeing, just here for a visit."
With a sigh, Rush rolled his eyes. "Have you ever known a Jedi to show up here that wasn't on official business?"
The bull's gaze shifted to the door over Rush's shoulder. "Speaking of business, your guy just walked in."
Rush replied with a nod, then returned to his drink as though he didn't have a care in the world. The truth wasn't far off; he'd run this play before. A healthy tip to the bartender kept an untouched drink in front of the seat beside him all night. Anyone bold enough to try for the spot got a stern glare from behind the bar. They soon moved away, and stayed away. Now, with a nod from Rush, the bull cleared away the drink and busied himself with tidying up behind the bar. If his observations were any indication, his mark would make a run straight to that open seat. Sure enough, scant seconds later the brown-cloaked field mouse hopped onto the adjacent stool and caught the bartender's eye. Feigning indifference, the bull took the Jawa's order and shuffled off to refill a pint at the other end of the bar. When the bull returned, mouse and the cat sat in relative silence, in spite of whatever lingering primal apprehension there might have been between them. Once the mouse was well into his drink, Rush spoke without turning toward him.
"Are you taking a break from your work, or trying to forget about it?"
The mouse paused mid-sip and regarded him out of the corner of his eye. "Were you addressing me?"
"Yes, I meant you, and I can understand why you'd want to take a break."
Brown eyes flicked a sidelong glance his way, then snapped back to suddenly fidgeting hands. "I suppose so," the Jawa murmured.
Setting aside his own drink, Rush folded his arms and turned to face his mark. "Care to tell me about it?"
The mouse's ear twitched and the P.I. was afraid he might have prodded too much, but then his mark discretely scanned the room and seemed to have come to the same conclusion as his new friend. A crowded public location meant plenty of witnesses should anything go amiss, but the crowd noise made it almost impossible to hear anyone not sitting right next to you. The venue also meant this most likely wasn't an attempt on his life - the mouse cast a suspicious glance at his near-empty glass - or if it was it had already succeeded. With a shrug, the Jawa finished his drink; then came the expected, resigned sigh. As he looked up, though, the mouse's eyes went wide as they fastened on something just over Rush's shoulder.
"Excuse me," came the unaccustomed silvery voice, "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I need to have a word with your friend." The Togruta Jedi stepped into view beside their stools and smiled, resting a hand on the Jawa's shoulder.
"I'm afraid it will have to wait," Rush replied as calmly as he could manage. "We were just in the middle of a rather important conversation ourselves."
"You're working with Jedi?" the Jawa almost squeaked. "What is this?"
The investigator's ears snapped forward and he bared his fangs when he met the mouse's gaze. "Not if my life depended on it."
The Togruta's expression clouded, but her self-sure tone never faltered. "I'm sure it was of vital importance, but you'll have to excuse us. This is Jedi business." A slight wave of her off hand toward the bar. "You'll want to go back to your drink and have a nice night." She said it as though her mere words would be enough to sway him.
"I was having a nice night until a very presumptuous Jedi waltzed into the middle of it," Rush snarled, pushing back from the bar. "Jedi business or not, the Republic is supposed to defer to local authorities."
"Not when the suspect is wanted for questioning by the Jedi Council," Ahsoka snapped back.The Jawa had started to slowly ease out of his chair, but a firm nudge from her kept him in his place. "You stay right there."
Scabs, how could the Jedi get wind of this guy when we've only just heard of him? "What use could the Jedi have for a Jawa?"
The red panda paused for a moment, and he suspected she was about to confess to not knowing, but she opted for the much less convincing, "That's none of your business. Now, if you'll excuse me—"
"You've got a lot of nerve—"
"Hey, you two got a problem?" came a booming shout over the din. Both Ahsoka and Rush turned to see the bartender lumbering their way. "Take your quarrels outside. I won't have ‘em in here."
Turning back, their eyes fell on the empty stool between them. With an accusing glare, they furiously scanned the room. Seeing nothing, they stormed out together.
"Why are you still following me? I told you this is Jedi business."
"This is my payday we're talking about here. As long as it affects my bottom line, it is most definitely my business and I won't hear any arguments to the contrary."
"The Republic will compensate you for any wages lost," she grounded out, not looking back.
Rush's eyes narrowed to slits. Damned Jedi throwing their weight around. "Compensation doesn't mean jack if I lose a client."
When they stepped outside into the relative quiet, cat and panda looked frantically around, but the rocky terrain revealed nothing.
"Great, we've lost him," she fumed.
Unseen, Rush rolled his eyes, peering more closely at their surroundings. "We wouldn't have lost him if you had just minded your own business," he muttered.
With a frustrated huff, she rounded on him. "Just who are you to get all puffed up about this?"
"Rush, private investigator, and like I told you, he's mine," Rush snapped back. Visibly calming himself, he dropped his voice. "Look, Miss…."
"Ahsoka," the red panda replied, putting her hands on her hips.
He pressed on. "Look, Ahsoka, with all due respect, this is my collar."
"With all due respect, Rush, no it isn't." With a snap-hiss, her lightsaber appeared between them, held at low ready. "I can see you're not going to be of any help, but if you keep getting in my way, I'm prepared to take you into custody as well."
Rush felt his neck fur stand on end, but he willed his expression to remain calm. "According to the Galactic Republic's statutes regarding legal jurisdiction, any and all galactic authorities shall be granted jurisdiction in intra-planetary affairs only in cases of capital crimes. The sole exception is if said intra-planetary affair constitutes a clear and present danger to the Republic as a whole." He placed his hands on his hips, unconsciously mirroring her earlier defiant pose. "You have no jurisdiction here."
He didn't really expect it to work, but there was a moment's hesitation when her eyes flicked away from him. It was all the opening he needed. With practiced ease, he yanked his blade from its scabbard and brought it up underhanded just as she drew her second ‘saber. In general, a cat's reflexes are not naturally faster than anyone else's, but the angry buzz of the lightsaber shorting against the cortosis blade still caught Ahsoka by surprise. For one brief moment, she lost her grip on both ‘sabers.
Rush couldn't stop a feral grin crossing his face. "Not today, Jedi!"
Thank you for being such an understanding test subject. :)
If you love the art, please let Wielder know on the original HERE
And, if you feel so inclined, you can support my Patreon HERE
--
"I do not have time for this," Rush hissed, following the barkeep's nod. Out of the corner of his eye, he could easily pick out the Jedi moving through the crowd. It never seemed hard to spot them, even when they made a show of trying to blend in. They carried themselves differently than most, hyper-alert under the guise of indifference. He couldn't blame the Jedi for it, many people were no great supporters of the Order; some openly, vocally opposed it. Anyone with a half-founded grudge might try their luck against a Jedi's blade. So, in unfamiliar territory they did their best not to draw attention and stay aware of their surroundings just the same as any private investigator. His own garb - a well-worn olive-drab trench coat and brown leggings - along with his striped gray fur made it easy to escape one's notice. Of course, when the Jedi in question was a Togruta any real hope of avoiding attention went out the window.
"She's been glassing the place for the last hour," the elder bull said. "Didn't think anything of it at first."
"What tipped you off?"
"Cami spotted the ‘saber on her belt when she brought her last drink."
Rush furrowed his brow and turned a bit more than discretion would have normally dictated. "She doesn't look old enough to drive, never mind drink."
"Fruit juice," the barkeep almost laughed. "Though I suppose she could be sight-seeing, just here for a visit."
With a sigh, Rush rolled his eyes. "Have you ever known a Jedi to show up here that wasn't on official business?"
The bull's gaze shifted to the door over Rush's shoulder. "Speaking of business, your guy just walked in."
Rush replied with a nod, then returned to his drink as though he didn't have a care in the world. The truth wasn't far off; he'd run this play before. A healthy tip to the bartender kept an untouched drink in front of the seat beside him all night. Anyone bold enough to try for the spot got a stern glare from behind the bar. They soon moved away, and stayed away. Now, with a nod from Rush, the bull cleared away the drink and busied himself with tidying up behind the bar. If his observations were any indication, his mark would make a run straight to that open seat. Sure enough, scant seconds later the brown-cloaked field mouse hopped onto the adjacent stool and caught the bartender's eye. Feigning indifference, the bull took the Jawa's order and shuffled off to refill a pint at the other end of the bar. When the bull returned, mouse and the cat sat in relative silence, in spite of whatever lingering primal apprehension there might have been between them. Once the mouse was well into his drink, Rush spoke without turning toward him.
"Are you taking a break from your work, or trying to forget about it?"
The mouse paused mid-sip and regarded him out of the corner of his eye. "Were you addressing me?"
"Yes, I meant you, and I can understand why you'd want to take a break."
Brown eyes flicked a sidelong glance his way, then snapped back to suddenly fidgeting hands. "I suppose so," the Jawa murmured.
Setting aside his own drink, Rush folded his arms and turned to face his mark. "Care to tell me about it?"
The mouse's ear twitched and the P.I. was afraid he might have prodded too much, but then his mark discretely scanned the room and seemed to have come to the same conclusion as his new friend. A crowded public location meant plenty of witnesses should anything go amiss, but the crowd noise made it almost impossible to hear anyone not sitting right next to you. The venue also meant this most likely wasn't an attempt on his life - the mouse cast a suspicious glance at his near-empty glass - or if it was it had already succeeded. With a shrug, the Jawa finished his drink; then came the expected, resigned sigh. As he looked up, though, the mouse's eyes went wide as they fastened on something just over Rush's shoulder.
"Excuse me," came the unaccustomed silvery voice, "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I need to have a word with your friend." The Togruta Jedi stepped into view beside their stools and smiled, resting a hand on the Jawa's shoulder.
"I'm afraid it will have to wait," Rush replied as calmly as he could manage. "We were just in the middle of a rather important conversation ourselves."
"You're working with Jedi?" the Jawa almost squeaked. "What is this?"
The investigator's ears snapped forward and he bared his fangs when he met the mouse's gaze. "Not if my life depended on it."
The Togruta's expression clouded, but her self-sure tone never faltered. "I'm sure it was of vital importance, but you'll have to excuse us. This is Jedi business." A slight wave of her off hand toward the bar. "You'll want to go back to your drink and have a nice night." She said it as though her mere words would be enough to sway him.
"I was having a nice night until a very presumptuous Jedi waltzed into the middle of it," Rush snarled, pushing back from the bar. "Jedi business or not, the Republic is supposed to defer to local authorities."
"Not when the suspect is wanted for questioning by the Jedi Council," Ahsoka snapped back.The Jawa had started to slowly ease out of his chair, but a firm nudge from her kept him in his place. "You stay right there."
Scabs, how could the Jedi get wind of this guy when we've only just heard of him? "What use could the Jedi have for a Jawa?"
The red panda paused for a moment, and he suspected she was about to confess to not knowing, but she opted for the much less convincing, "That's none of your business. Now, if you'll excuse me—"
"You've got a lot of nerve—"
"Hey, you two got a problem?" came a booming shout over the din. Both Ahsoka and Rush turned to see the bartender lumbering their way. "Take your quarrels outside. I won't have ‘em in here."
Turning back, their eyes fell on the empty stool between them. With an accusing glare, they furiously scanned the room. Seeing nothing, they stormed out together.
"Why are you still following me? I told you this is Jedi business."
"This is my payday we're talking about here. As long as it affects my bottom line, it is most definitely my business and I won't hear any arguments to the contrary."
"The Republic will compensate you for any wages lost," she grounded out, not looking back.
Rush's eyes narrowed to slits. Damned Jedi throwing their weight around. "Compensation doesn't mean jack if I lose a client."
When they stepped outside into the relative quiet, cat and panda looked frantically around, but the rocky terrain revealed nothing.
"Great, we've lost him," she fumed.
Unseen, Rush rolled his eyes, peering more closely at their surroundings. "We wouldn't have lost him if you had just minded your own business," he muttered.
With a frustrated huff, she rounded on him. "Just who are you to get all puffed up about this?"
"Rush, private investigator, and like I told you, he's mine," Rush snapped back. Visibly calming himself, he dropped his voice. "Look, Miss…."
"Ahsoka," the red panda replied, putting her hands on her hips.
He pressed on. "Look, Ahsoka, with all due respect, this is my collar."
"With all due respect, Rush, no it isn't." With a snap-hiss, her lightsaber appeared between them, held at low ready. "I can see you're not going to be of any help, but if you keep getting in my way, I'm prepared to take you into custody as well."
Rush felt his neck fur stand on end, but he willed his expression to remain calm. "According to the Galactic Republic's statutes regarding legal jurisdiction, any and all galactic authorities shall be granted jurisdiction in intra-planetary affairs only in cases of capital crimes. The sole exception is if said intra-planetary affair constitutes a clear and present danger to the Republic as a whole." He placed his hands on his hips, unconsciously mirroring her earlier defiant pose. "You have no jurisdiction here."
He didn't really expect it to work, but there was a moment's hesitation when her eyes flicked away from him. It was all the opening he needed. With practiced ease, he yanked his blade from its scabbard and brought it up underhanded just as she drew her second ‘saber. In general, a cat's reflexes are not naturally faster than anyone else's, but the angry buzz of the lightsaber shorting against the cortosis blade still caught Ahsoka by surprise. For one brief moment, she lost her grip on both ‘sabers.
Rush couldn't stop a feral grin crossing his face. "Not today, Jedi!"
Category Story / Fanart
Species Housecat
Gender Multiple characters
Size 120 x 90px
Listed in Folders
Once again, love how this came out. Thx again for taking the time to write it for me =3
It was a pleasure writing this piece, draeg. I'm so glad you like it!
Thank you for your patience and willingness to be a test case.
Thank you for your patience and willingness to be a test case.
Very strange. I've updated the submission file with the original RTF but the download isn't working for me either.
Since other submissions and file types are working, it's probably specific to this piece.
I'd be happy to email you the RTF if you want to note me your email. Thanks for your interest!
Since other submissions and file types are working, it's probably specific to this piece.
I'd be happy to email you the RTF if you want to note me your email. Thanks for your interest!
Done and done! I've gone ahead and hid your message in case you don't want your email out and about.
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