Cad Bane sat in one of his safehouses, changing into his regular attire while storing the stolen clone armor.
Leaning back in his chair, he adjusted his equipment while communicating with his Sith Lord employer.
"I've delivered what you requested, but this operation encountered unexpected complications—the Avengers. My compensation will need to be adjusted accordingly," Bane stated.
"You will be compensated appropriately, Bane."
Bane nodded and leaned forward. "Since you're contacting me again, I assume you still require my services."
"I need test subjects. Select five children from the list and bring them to Mustafar," Sidious commanded.
"Kidnapping innocent children?" Bane said with apparent distaste. "I may be a bounty hunter, but even I have standards. Honestly, abducting five children seems rather beneath someone of your... stature."
"Among the Jedi's potential recruits, none are truly innocent," Sidious replied coldly. "I can assure you of that."
"Of course," Bane said dismissively, adjusting his hat. "As long as the price is appropriate, it makes no difference to me."
Jedi Temple
At that moment, Anakin, Yoda, Mace Windu, and Plo Koon sat in the meditation chamber. The four Masters positioned themselves cross-legged on meditation pedestals, closed their eyes, and reached out through the Force to sense Bane's next targets.
"A jungle world, I sense. Rodia, it is," Yoda said slowly.
Plo Koon exhaled softly. "I see a mother... and her child."
"There is an ocean world," Mace began. "The homeworld of... the Nautolans."
"I sense... a place I've visited before. Naboo," Anakin added.
"Naboo. A village in the southern sector," Yoda confirmed. "Strong, this vision is."
"To the future, your sight extends, young Skywalker," Yoda observed. "To Naboo, you must go. Find Cad Bane, you will. Take your Padawan with you."
Anakin simply nodded his understanding.
"There's something else," Plo Koon added. "I sense a disturbance originating from... Jedha."
"Jedha?" Anakin asked with confusion—the name seemed familiar.
"Ancient, that world is, to the Jedi," Yoda said mysteriously. "A temple on Jedha, there was. Evacuated our people, we did, at the war's beginning."
"We abandoned a Jedi Temple?" Anakin asked. "Why would we do that? It seems like the most unwise course of action."
"Thrust into war suddenly, we were," Mace replied. "Several temples, temporarily abandoned we did. Fortunately, no Separatist forces have claimed them."
"Should we investigate there immediately?" Anakin asked.
"Guide us, the Force will," Yoda said. "Jedha, our first destination it is not. To Rodia and Naboo, we must go."
"Then I'll head to Rodia," Plo Koon announced, and the group dispersed with Anakin and Plo preparing for immediate departure.
"Still possible it is, that more children Bane could target," Windu said to Yoda.
"Capture Bane and retrieve the holocron, we must," Yoda replied, "and quickly, if stop the dark side's plans, we hope to."
Anakin ran to find Ahsoka and encountered Spider-Man and Pietro along the way.
"Ahsoka," Anakin called to her. "We need to move immediately."
"Master, what's happening?"
"We've determined where Cad Bane will strike next," Anakin explained. "We need to reach Naboo immediately. We have a chance to intercept him there."
"So what's our plan?"
Anakin started at the voice behind him and turned to see Natasha approaching.
"Where did you come from?" Anakin asked with surprise.
"Just returned from my assignment, but it appears you could use assistance."
Anakin wanted to inquire further, but time was critical, and honestly, having his Padawan accompanied by three experienced Avengers seemed like the best chance of capturing Bane if they encountered him.
"Alright, let's move. I'll brief you all during transit."
The Jedi and volunteer Avengers mobilized quickly, but the bounty hunter was already well ahead of them.
Cad Bane had arrived on Rodia long before any Jedi or Republic forces, disguised in Jedi robes.
Bane sat in the modest living area with the mother of a Rodian infant. "Your son is remarkably strong in the Force. He will make an exceptional Jedi Knight."
While the child's mother felt pride, she was also deeply concerned.
"Master Ropal mentioned he would eventually go to the Temple, but he didn't specify it would be so soon," the mother said anxiously.
"Master Ropal doesn't realize the danger your son faces. There's a rogue Jedi impersonator who's been traveling the galaxy, abducting potential Force-sensitive children. To protect your son, I must transport him to the Jedi Temple immediately."
The mother held her son protectively, reluctant to release him, while the disguised bounty hunter extended his hand.
"But he's my only child."
A Jedi starfighter piloted by Master Plo Koon dropped out of hyperspace above Rodia. Plo disengaged from the hyperspace ring and descended rapidly toward the planet's surface.
His astromech droid emitted several worried beeps.
"I sense it too, R7. I hope we're not too late," Plo said gravely.
Landing on the surface, Plo quickly exited his starfighter and rushed forward, recalling the location of the Force-sensitive child from his vision.
Moving past various droids and Rodian citizens, Plo Koon reached his destination and knocked urgently on the door.
"Hello? Is anyone home?" Plo called out.
The door opened to reveal a Rodian woman who regarded Plo suspiciously.
"If you're looking for my son, Jedi, he's no longer here."
This statement filled Plo with dread, and he asked urgently, "What do you mean? Where is he?"
His only response was the door slamming shut.
"Please, I'm only trying to help. Your son is in grave danger."
Receiving no response from within, the Jedi Master reluctantly used the Force to open the door.
Upon entering, he found himself facing a blaster held by the child's mother.
"You'll never learn his location from me."
"I mean you no harm," Plo said, waving his hand to use the Force to calm the Rodian's mind. "Tell me, where did the bounty hunter take your son?"
"Bounty hunter?" the mother asked in confusion. "But he was a Jedi Knight."
Plo used the Force to gently remove the blaster from her grasp, examining the weapon. "Jedi do not carry blasters."
The Rodian mother gasped in horrified realization, covering her face in despair and crying out in anguish, "What have I done?" She began sobbing and collapsed to her knees.
At that moment, Plo heard the sound of engines igniting outside.
He rushed outside to see Cad Bane's jetpack carrying him toward an adjacent building. Moments later, a spacecraft launched toward parts unknown.
Plo struck the nearby wall in frustration, angry at his failure.
"When we meet again, bounty hunter, you won't escape!"