Newsreel:
Fugitives on the run! Disguised as the Jedi killer Rako Hardeen, Obi-Wan Kenobi works undercover to solve a Separatist plot against Chancellor Palpatine. Obi-Wan meets the plot's mastermind, Moralo Eval, breaking him out of jail to gain his trust. But now Kenobi faces another obstacle: bounty hunter Cad Bane. Can Obi-Wan Kenobi overcome Bane's suspicions? Or will the ruthless criminal see through his disguise and expose the Jedi? Only time will tell....
- Well, not as long as Obi-wan doesn’t puke out that voice robot thingy.
Main Episode
The episode starts with the Trandoshan ship plummeting thorough the thick atmosphere of Nal Hutta, Bane remarks that Hardeen (*cough* Obi-wan) is going to crash the ship, but that’s exactly what he is planning on doing. Moralo agrees that hiding their trail will be their best course of action as the ship crashes in the swamps.
The three fugitives emerge from the sinking wreckage of their ship – now they need a new one. Rako suggests buying one at the Bilbousa Bazaar, but Cad Bane says they'll first require new outfits – the prison overalls are a bit too conspicuous and they also don’t have any gear or weapons. Bane leads the trio to Pablo's pawnshop. There, the criminals pick up armour and various bounty hunter equipment – and of course Bane needs a new hat.
Pablo’s shop doesn’t have the quality of weapons that Bane needs, the merchant unwisely remarks that they shouldn’t be too picky being on the run, so Cad simply stabs the little Rodian with a toothpick and walks off. Disgusted with Bane’s arrogance Hardeen pays before leaving and warns the Duros Bounty Hunter to keep a low profile. Bane intends to split up: Rako gets a new ship while Cad and Eval go to buy some blasters as Bane simply wants to ditch Hardeen.
- I see how Obi-wan is a Jedi, a fair and just person, but BH scum don’t pay.
- Moralo asks Bane “Is it business or personal” when he wants to dump Kenobi to the Hutts, and Bane says “Both actually.” So, why is it personal? Does Bane suspect? Or is he just jealous that Hardeen killed Kenobi who had previously crossed paths with Bane?
Kenobi haggles with a Bith starship dealer attempting to purchase a rust bucket. While inspecting the freighter, the undercover Jedi plants a homing beacon on the ventral hull. Eval and Bane show up to pay for their ship and Bane tells Hardeen that their partnership is over. He sprays the Jedi with knockout gas and leaves him to the Gamorrean and Nikto guards.
Rako comes to upside down in a cell. The Nikto guard guy threatens him with torture if he doesn’t disclose the whereabouts of Bane and Eval. Seeing his chance Obi-wan strikes a deal and relents the frequency of the tracker.
Aboard the freighter, Eval is chatting to Count Dooku about his delay, the Count orders Moralo to rendezvous with him on Serenno. Bane wants his cash, but because he had to pay for the ship and weapons Eval is short on funds. The ship shudders as Hutt starfighters fire at it. Bane figures that Rako has double-crossed him back. As the engines are hit, Cad and Moralo must return to the surface.
- The Hutt starfighters are the HH-87 Starhoppers from the episode “Escape from Kadavo”
After his deal goes sour, Kenobi uses the Force to get free and take out the guard. Making contact with Yoda and Mace, Obi-wan updates them on the mission and requests that the bounty hunters after them be called off. He also requires enough credits to buy a new ship, and that the Jedi don’t contact him in any way as that would blow his cover while he has nearly gained Eval’s trust.
- Kenobi uses the force to get free, granted that’s his only option, but he only knocked out the guard, this could blow his cover.
In the Chancellor’s Office, Palpatine is discussing with Mace the reason for the Jedi calling off the bounty hunters, Windu explains that if the criminals are free, they could lead to their superiors. Palps doesn’t like this idea, and neither does Anakin. In fact he is furious that he can’t just go and find his master’s killer. Palpatine reassures him that he can and leaks a rumour from “reliable sources” that the fugitives are on Nal Hutta. Anakin leaves the office saying “You won’t regret this Chancellor” and Palpatine replies “No… I won’t.”
- Obviously when Palps says “No… I won’t” he means that because Anakin will kill Hardeen in anger he will fall further to the Dark Side, so of course he won’t regret it.
Outside a saloon at the Bilbousa Bazaar, Hardeen waits smugly as Bane and Eval return. Cad is pissed, but Kenobi calmly explains that he's got another ship, acquired by calling in a favor from the Hutts. Obi-wan’s condition is that they make him a full partner in all of their schemes. Moralo, growing tired of Nal Hutta, agrees.
Just as our criminals take off, a Jedi Shuttle arrives. Anakin and Ahsoka make their way into the saloon where Anakin tosses around the patrons and questions the bartender using a force-choke. The gasping Ithorian says that he saw the trio of fugetives and that he heard one of the say they had just bought a ship.
- Anakin publicly uses a force-choke in the presence of another Jedi, I wonder what Ahsoka is thinking.
As it turns out, the ship that Rako had bought only had enough fuel to reach the refuelling station on Orondia, owned by the brother of the ship dealer from whom they bought it. Anakin gathers this information from the merchant and heads to the station. On location they are just in time to see the bounty hunters’ ship lift off but Ahsoka spots Bane by his signature hat.
Skywalker chases the ship across the barren surface of Orondia, dodging through abandoned mining facilities and pipelines. Intent on stopping Rako, Anakin hands control over to Ahsoka while he boards the other vessel and hacks at its engines with his lightsaber.
Bane emerges from the yacht, and aided by his gadgets, distracts Anakin while Hardeen tries to shake the pair off. Ahsoka pursues relentlessly but doesn’t keep her distance. She slams into the other ship and brings both of them down.
Trying to warn Anakin, Obi-wan heads outside into the mists. Kenobi mustn’t blow his cover, and that includes not using the Force. So when Anakin jumps on him, he has to fight back hand-to-hand. Just as Skywalker decides he had enough and is about it bisect “Rako Hardeen” Bane interferes.
Rako deprives Cad of his kill by tackling Anakin and fighting with him. Hardeen locks Skywalker into a sleeper hold. As Anakin’s conscious drifts away, Obi-Wan whispers to him, "Anakin, don't follow me." As Cad is about to finish off the unconscious Jedi , Ahsoka jumps down and defends her fallen Master.
Our scum flee aboard their yacht, leaving behind the Jedi. When Anakin comes to, he mentions his suspicions to Ahsoka: he thinks that Obi-wan is alive, and he is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery.
Thanks for reading, and Remember, the Force, and Commander Nikitikin will be with you, always (As long as you read the blog that is...)
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