On the planet Naboo, an LAAT gunship flew swiftly through the atmosphere toward a landing platform. After touching down, the hatch opened to reveal a five-person team consisting of Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Peter Parker, Natasha Romanoff, and Pietro Maximoff.
They were greeted by Captain Typho of the Naboo Security Forces and a Gungan warrior.
"General Skywalker," Typho greeted formally. "We received word of your arrival."
"Has the Gungan family been warned?" Anakin asked directly.
"Yes, Captain Tarpals is coordinating security there," Typho said, gesturing to the Gungan beside him. "He'll escort you to Otoh Gunga."
"We need to move quickly," Natasha observed. "I haven't worked with Bane extensively, but he's exceptionally cunning. If we can't intercept him here, we may never get another opportunity."
"So what's our approach?" Ahsoka asked.
"It's straightforward," Natasha explained. "Operators like Bane must be neutralized swiftly. We can't give him time to adapt or strategize. When he's on assignment, he always prepares multiple escape routes."
"Then let me take point, Ms. Romanoff," Ahsoka said determinedly. "I have unfinished business with Bane."
"Just don't do anything reckless," Anakin cautioned.
Anakin signaled for them to follow the Gungan warrior toward Otoh Gunga.
Ahsoka and the Avengers departed quickly, leaving Anakin for a brief consultation with Captain Typho.
Meanwhile, the bounty hunter had arrived on Naboo and flew toward the coordinates provided by the holocron. Cad Bane activated his jamming equipment and signal dampeners to maximum power, allowing him to approach undetected as he descended toward the planet's surface, spotting his target location in the center of a lake with waterfalls cascading behind it.
Bane navigated through shadows and narrow passages throughout the underwater city until he reached his designated target.
Bane entered stealthily through a rooftop access and observed a Gungan mother humming softly in what was clearly a nursery as she gently placed a swaddled infant in a crib. She remained there for several moments, rocking the cradle back and forth, apparently waiting until the child fell asleep before departing the room.
Once she left, Bane knew his time was limited—the Jedi would arrive soon. Entering the chamber, Bane moved carefully toward the crib and frowned upon seeing the bundle of blankets within. Bane narrowed his eyes and lifted the covering to discover only a small stuffed toy.
"It appears I've been outmaneuvered," Bane thought to himself.
The distinctive hum of an igniting lightsaber from behind confirmed Bane's assessment of the situation.
"Don't move, bounty hunter," Ahsoka Tano announced, her lightsaber illuminating the room.
"You're not the child I expected to find," Bane scoffed.
"Obviously not."
"Very clever—"
"You're outnumbered. I suggest you surrender."
Bane's gaze snapped to the ceiling above where he spotted Spider-Man perched comfortably.
Behind the crib, his former accomplice Black Widow emerged with her Widow's Bite gauntlets aimed at his head.
After a blur of motion passed him, Bane turned to see Quicksilver standing beside Ahsoka with his arms crossed.
Bane gritted his teeth and slowly raised his arms in apparent surrender, his right hand positioned to deploy a smoke grenade that erupted around him.
Pietro didn't hesitate, circling the room twice at super-speed to clear the smoke. Spider-Man, who had been positioned on the ceiling, saw Bane escaping through an opening in the roof.
Spider-Man gave chase and fired webbing at Bane's boot thrusters.
Bane crashed to the ground but reacted quickly, drawing both blasters and firing at Spider-Man, who nimbly dodged every bolt.
Bane groaned and looked up to see five individuals staring down at him with satisfaction.
"Looks like I win this round," Ahsoka announced, while Bane simply glared.
Bane was quickly restrained with energy shackles, and before being led away, Ahsoka deliberately retrieved her Padawan braid silka beads from his belt.
"I believe these belong to me," she said angrily, reattaching them to her head-tail.
Bane watched silently as Anakin and Natasha pushed him forward.
Ahsoka looked toward the Gungan mother holding her child safely in her arms. Spider-Man stood beside them, observing the young infant with obvious curiosity.
"Wow," he murmured quietly, smiling broadly as the Gungan child grasped his finger and cooed at him. "She's adorable."
The Gungan mother smiled warmly.
"Your daughter is safe now," Ahsoka said as she gently touched the baby, causing her to smile happily.
"Do you truly believe that?" Bane shouted, startling the child.
He suddenly found his mouth covered by Pietro's hand. He struggled but was rendered speechless, glaring at Quicksilver with fury.
Cad Bane could only grunt and growl in frustration.
A short time later, they were aboard the Republic fleet, with Cad Bane seated in a detention cell on the Resolute, his hands secured to an interrogation table. Surrounding him were Plo Koon, Mace Windu, and Natasha Romanoff.
Bane kept his head down, with only a single overhead light illuminating his position.
"As of now, we know you've abducted two children," Plo Koon said, his normally calm tone edged with anger. "Where have you taken them?"
"Somewhere beyond your reach," Bane replied coolly.
"Who hired you?" Windu demanded.
"I work for myself."
"Bane, we both know that's a lie," Natasha said from the corner of the room. "I don't know what this holocron contains, but you stole it from the Jedi Temple. That's arguably one of the last places you'd want to rob."
Bane snarled at her. "Don't think I've forgotten about your deception on Coruscant."
"Oh, I'm heartbroken to lose such a reliable partner," Natasha replied sarcastically.
"You must realize your obstinacy is pointless," Plo continued. "We will eventually recover the holocron you stole. Why subject yourself to this?"
"And what will you do, Jedi?" Bane taunted. "Torture me?"
"They might not," Natasha said, electricity crackling from her Widow's Bite gauntlets, "but I certainly will."
Bane simply glared as the Avenger stepped forward.
"Romanoff," Windu said sharply, silently commanding her to stand down in a manner reminiscent of Nick Fury.
However, this wasn't Nick Fury. This certainly wasn't S.H.I.E.L.D.
Natasha struck the bounty hunter across the face, delivering a powerful electrical shock that made Bane cry out in pain.
"Hey!" Windu pulled her back. "That's not the Jedi way."
"I'm not a Jedi, remember?" Natasha shot back defiantly. "You're trying to save two kidnapped infants, aren't you? You know he needs to talk, or this is all meaningless."
"That's enough," Plo Koon interrupted. "This isn't the time for internal conflict. We have more urgent matters to address."
The Avenger and Jedi stared at each other, then Windu turned to observe Bane, who sat with his arms crossed and a mocking smile.
Windu studied him intently, pacing around the bounty hunter.
"You're a strong-willed individual, Bane," Windu observed, "but your thoughts betray you. I sense you remain silent because your fear of your employer exceeds your fear of us."
Bane's smile faded to a frown as he leaned back into the shadows.
Narrowing his eyes, Windu shook his head and exited the detention cell, where he encountered Anakin and his Padawan, along with the other two Avengers who had participated in this mission.