Sympathy for the Blue Devil

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars, Clone Wars, Cad Bane (regrettably, though he would be very unhappy being tied in my closet every day until my mother goes to sleep at night...) Obi-wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, etc. I'm making absolutely no profit off my writing what so ever, so please don't sue me, Oh-Might-Flanneled-One. technically in truth, you make more off me buying your action figures and books than you'd get out of me with all the law suits in the galaxy. I know, Clone wars Fans, this first chapter seems very familiar and mundane to you, scripted as it is from "Children of the Force" to begin with, but it takes a dramatic twist in my warped imagination as you will see. The next chapter will be considerably longer. Much Banesoka goodness to follow. What can I say, Bane loves his lollis almost as much as Anakin...

"Kidnapping innocent children...seem like a small time crime for the likes of you."

"Among the Jedi, there are no innocents..."

"Sure sure, as long as I get paid, makes no difference to me..."

~Cad Bane and Darth Sidious

***

"We know you've taken at least two children already. Where are they?" the blond Jedi general demanded, leaning in over the table as Bane studiously admired his stun cuffs. SC-302s, adjustable, made of thick durasteel. There was a complicated set of twists that would dislodge them but he still had a Venator-class Star Destroyer full of clone troopers and four Jedi to deal with.

"Beyond your reach..." The Duros replied disdainfully.

"Who are you working for?" Mace Windu asked. To some, he supposed the Jedi Council Member would have seemed imposing, but in truth he was just another Human. Arrogant and unimpressive. He found his thoughts wandering, musing that that dark bald head looked shiny enough to bounce a credit coin off.

Though the more common looking of the two, the pale Human Jedi had earned more of his grudging respect before even Kenobi's temper had started to fray after several long hours and his silver tongue had lost some of its luster. He might just have to cut that out in the future for his own amusement. That would make quite the interesting conversation piece, wouldn't it? If he lived, the Jedi would most definitely have to change his nickname from "The Negotiator."

"I work alone."

"It is only a matter of time before we locate the holocron. Make it easier on yourself." He felt the prickle intrusion within his mind. Kenobi was really starting to annoy him. He toyed with the tongue idea in more detail, hoping the Jedi could actually read that particular thought.

"What are you going to do, Jedi? Torture me?" he asked in a patronizing tone, knowing full well this went strictly against their beliefs but half curious if he could tempt them into breaking them own high and mighty moral code.

"I think," the older Jedi master replied ominously, his back to them, "The fear of whoever you work for outweighs your fear of us."

Bane's red gaze slid away from Obi-wan's piercing blue eyes as he sat back into the shadows of the interrogation cell, "This conversation is over." He caught a glimpse of Skywalker approaching with his supple little padawan as the doors slid shut, overhearing the younger Jedi's complaints.

"We tore the ship apart. There's no sign of the holocron...or the kids," Anakin reported, dishearted.

"Did you check the navigation records?"

"They're wiped clean before he landed on Naboo." Ahsoka sighed

"We'll have to use the Force to make him talk.." Anakin stated with dark relish of the notion. It was times like this Obi-wan thought he caught a glimpse of something in his former apprentice that made him a little uneasy.

Kenobi rubbed his chin, "Mmm...I don't think Bane is that weak-minded..."

"Maybe if we all concentrated on his mind together, "Ahsoka ventured thoughtfully, eager to be of help.

"Using the Force to compel a strong mind to cooperate is...risky," Obi-wan frowned.

"There is a risk that his mind could be completely destroyed in the process, "Mace added.

"Well, do we have another choice?' Anakin looked utterly unconcerned.

Bane sat studying is cuffs, mulling over the predicament as the tips of his long blue fingers tapped together idly. He glanced up as the Jedi reentered as a unit, his ruby eyes darting from one serious face to the next, feeling a trickle of trepidation which heightened as Skywalker closed his eyes and held out one hand, focusing.

"You WILL take us to the holocron."

"Jedi mind tricks don't work on me," he stated, brushing away the lingering sense of disquiet, or attempting to. It only grew stronger when Kenobi copied his former apprentice's posture, intoning in unison with Skywalker.

"You WILL take us to the holocron..."

"Forget it," he snarled, flinching back. The air in the small room had with out warning grown stale and seemed to filter through the breathing apparatus screwed into his cheekbones more sluggishly, heavy and viscous. Now all three of the blasted mystics were set on unhinging his will.

"I won't..."

"And you will take us NOW!"

"I...I will take you...NO!" He recoiled, gritting his sharp, yellowed fangs in defiance."GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!"

Even young Ahsoka looked concerned. And suddenly he had a plan. He writhe and thrashed in his seat. It didn't take much acting skill to seem in excruciating pain...it felt as if something with long, curved claws had pierced his skull and was digging into his brain. Using every ounce of willpower and talents worthy of a Mon Calamari ballet performer during a recital at the Galaxies Opera House, he forced his mind to go entirely blank. His gaze became vacant as every muscle tensed; his thin cerulean lips pulling back in snarl of agony then went lax as he slumped forward against the table.

The Jedi ceased their mental invasion, exchanging uncertain looks. Skywalker hesitantly leaned forward and snapped his fingers below the slope of flesh that accounted for Bane's nose without so much as a blink in reaction. The young Jedi licked his lips nervously, glancing at Obi-wan.

"That's certainly not good," Obi-wan, the master of dry understatement pronounced, rubbing his beard habitually.

"What did you DO??" Ahsoka choked out in a mix of horror stricken awe and nauseated guilt. After all, this had been her ill fated idea. She loathed the bounty hunter as much as she ever had any other being in the known universe but seeing him reduced to a drooling lump of non-sentient flesh incapable of even moving under his own power was a notion she never would have wished on Ventress herself.

She crossed the room in a few swift steps and grasp Bane's head firmly but gently in her hands, lifting it off the table. It lulled forward almost lifelessly without support. "Fix him!!" she shot Anakin desperate look.

"I'm not sensing any conscious thought from him at all," Anakin stated, looking at Master Windu whom only nodded, dismissing the incident so callously Ahsoka's mouth dropped open. She looked to Obi-wan pleadingly, the responsibility weighing heavily on her conscience. He reached out and squeezed her shoulder comfortingly.

"But..."

With lightning fast reflexes, Bane sat up and looped the connecting bar of his binders over the Padawan's head, jerking them tight against her throat and cutting off her airway, his mouth close enough to her one of her montrals that his hot breath washed over the side of her face as he whispered, "Thanks for the living shield, youngling. I was almost starting to worry..." He lewdly stroked one of her immature lekku, then tightened his grip painfully on it, aware in her species, like Twi'leks, his forceful grip could cause her the long lasting brain damage he'd just barely avoided. It also served to incapacitate the young Togrunta, whom had no time to fight back. He knew from past experience that she was a formidable opponent. Right now he needed a passive hostage, not another invigorating sparing session as he still had the Human Jedi to deal with.