A/N: This story features a character of whom has existed in my mind for a long time, and I got an idea some time ago to write what would happen if he and Ahsoka met. I hope I got Ahsoka's character right, let me know in the reviews if my Ahsoka is Out Of Character. Enjoy.

Ahsoka Tano walked down the streets of Coruscant, her mind burning with a single thought:

Everyone, her mentor, friends, allies. They abandoned her, accused her of a crime she did not commit, over a lie.

She didn't hate them, she couldn't. But her faith in the jedi had been swayed significantly, so much so she could hardly think of a way to see this on a light point of veiw. She was alone. Again.

To make matters a thousand times worse, rain began to fall, mercilessly drenching any soul unfortunate enough to be caught out in it. Great, just what she needed, a way to be more miserable. She had no credits to get a room for the night or to get any clothes or food. All she had was her lightsabers, and she'd only use those in an absolute emergency. She thought about stealing for about 5 milliseconds before purging the thought from her mind. No, she wouldn't stoop that low. That left only a few options for her future. None of them good.

She sought shelter in a dark covered alley, hoping to wait the storm out. The only issue was that several Duro were in there, and they'd been drinking.

"Well, well, what do we have here? A pretty lady out all alone in the rain?" One of them asked as he drunkenly approached her.

Ahsoka frowned as she stepped back. "None of your business buddy, now I think you should back off and think about what you're doing." She said.

The Duro and his companions laughed. "You couldn't hurt a fly, a skinny little youngling like you." He sneered.

Ahsoka looked at the Duro with increasing anger. Should she risk using her lightsabers? It was possible they could claim she was trying to rob them or that she tried to kill them if she did. But she knew they would try something on her if she didn't. She was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

"Could I?" A new voice rang up from behind her. Ahsoka and the Duro looked at the newcomer.

He was a well dressed Human in his early thirties, with black hair, blue eyes, and white skin. His clothes looked expensive and so did the cane he was leaning on. Ahsoka's first thought of him was Is this guy nuts?

The Duro laughed. "Go back to your hospital room, human. And mind your own business!"

The man gave a smile that was calm and polite. "I am in perfect health, I assure you. Though I appreciate your concern. And my business is getting that young girl away from you. You can either hand her over, or make me get her myself. One of those is easy, the other is hard. Your pick." He stated.

The Duro growled and pulled out a knife.

"Hard way it is." The human said, beckoning the Duro with his finger.

Ahsoka watched the Duro charge and was about to interfere, before she stopped in her tracks when she saw what happened the next few seconds...

...As the man disarmed and slammed the Duro into the wall, pinched an area on his neck, and then watched as the body slumped to the ground, unconscious. He looked at the others.

"Who wants to go next?"

The other aliens charged. Ahsoka watched as the human picked his cane off of the ground, where it's end began sparking with electricity. He placed it on the chest of the first assailant, shocking him with the weapon, before spinning to dodge the attack of another. He then jabbed his cane into that individual's back, giving him a nasty shock too. Both fell to the ground, gasping in pain as their muscles jerked uncontrollably. The man looked at the final member of the ill-fated group.

"Would you like to join your friends, or sober up and allow me to take the girl now, so you can treat your wounded?" He asked.

The alien showed more wisdom than his comrades, he backed away from Ahsoka with his hands up, before dragging his comrades one by one away.

Once the group was gone the man turned to Ahsoka and asked. "Are you alright, my dear?"

"I'm fine. Thanks and all but you didn't have to do that for me. I can take care of my self." She said, crossing & rubbing her arms.

"Then what are you doing out in the rain? Don't you have somewhere to go? Home to your family, perhaps?" The man asked with concern.

Ahsoka looked down. "I don't have a home or family anymore..." She said.

"Well, the family I can't provide, but the home... I can provide, for a time anyway." The man said. "I could use some company on my ship on the way anyhow. What is your name?"

Ahsoka looked up at him. She didn't know who this man was, using her real name was risky, but she didn't want to lie to a person who had shown her such compassion without even knowing her. She decided to tell the truth.

"Ahsoka. Ahsoka Tano." She replied.

"Vice Render, nice to meet you, Miss Tano. Come into the light so I can see you." Vice requested.

Ahsoka hesitated, before walking out. Vice's eyebrow shot up at the sight of her Lightsabers.

"You're a Jedi?" She heard a small hint of surprise in his voice. "Shouldn't you be at the temple?"

She shook her head. "I am not a Jedi anymore, I left. They didn't listen to me or my mentor..." She said

"About what? Come, walk with me." Vice urged as he gestured her to follow. She complied.

"They thought I caused the bombing at the temple, they didn't listen to me or my master when I said I was innocent, and they nearly convicted me until the real culprit was revealed. Who turned out to be my best friend. After that, watching my friends and allies abandoned me... I couldn't stay..." She was carefully avoiding using Anakin's or Barriss' names, as she still didn't fully trust this man. But he offered her a place to stay. More then she'd been offered all day thus far.

"Ah, the bombing. I heard about that... No matter, miss Tano, you're with me now and I assure you, I don't abandon those I look after. That's a promise." Vice said.

"Why are you helping me?" Ahsoka couldn't help but ask.

"Let's just say I have a feeling you are quite charming, and I do miss having charming people with me, most of the people I work with are quite... Shady..." Vice replied.

"What do you do?" Ahsoka asked.

"I am both an Information Broker and a Strategist-For-Hire, my dear." Vice replied.

Great, I've been rescued by a criminal... Ahsoka thought.

"I am no criminal, if that's what your thinking..." Vice said.

Ahsoka stopped in her tracks, suddenly suspicious. "How did you?..." She started.

"Everyone I meet thinks that, you are not the first." Vice stated, pausing to look at her. "As a matter of fact, you are number 28 in that list of individuals." He added.

Ahsoka nodded, still wary but understanding how he might be used to that.

Vice smiled. "Now, let's get to my ship, shall we?" He continued walking.

Ahsoka followed, thinking she was in for a long day...

She was not mistaken...