She had been waiting for hours. She could still see light streaming through the open window of the house she watched. The night air was bitter and she pulled the cloak around her tightly as she scowled in the direction of the house. Crouched behind the tree at the forest's edge, La Tranz continued to wait, like a wolf ready to pounce.

La Tranz had first heard rumors of a force sensitive child on Shili weeks ago. They were rare finds (and goldmine prizes for any bounty hunter). Those kids were worth a fortune and there were always buyers for them. Plenty of filthy rich sleemos wanted to own their own personal force sensitive slave. After all, they were not only impossibly rare but the powers they held were well worth the price. Normally, those kids were picked up by the blasted Jedi, but the rumors that she had heard were proven true. Some trader, who often did business with different tribes on Shili, had claimed to have overheard a conversation that there was a force sensitive kid in a nearby tribe. La Tranz had then overheard the trader sharing that information with his friend when she was at a bar in some backwater planet. At first, she dismissed the info. But bounty that such a find could bring would leave her set for life. She couldn't pass up the opportunity. She was a bounty hunter after all.

Weeks of searching and planning were about to pay off. But the blasted Togrutan man had refused to hand the child over like she had planned. Ugh the fool! She had counted on the village's ridiculous value of honor to help convince him to release the girls to her. If honor was so highly prized, having one of their own being given the chance to become a 'Jedi' was like catnip. Unfortunately the girl's father had remained strong in his refusal. Well no one was standing in her way! She was not going to miss out on her fortune.

Finally, La Tranz saw the light within the house diminished. It wouldn't be much longer now. She only needed to wait a bit more to ensure the occupants were all fast asleep. Then, she could slip in, grab the girl, and escape in her ship. Really, she should have just done this in the first place. Originally, she had expected it to be easier to simply disguise herself as a Jedi. Doing so should have allowed her to walk out with the girl with the blessing of the villagers.

Another half hour wait and the bounty hunter figured it was time. Stretching out her frozen limbs, she silently made her way to the house.

/

Ahsoka awoke with a small gasp. She'd had a bad dream. In it, she had seen the scary lady again. With a shiver, Ahsoka pulled her blanket more tightly around herself. Snuggling Tali closer, she debated going to her daddy. He always let her sleep with him when she had a bad dream. But she was a big girl now… Maybe she should be brave like the rest of her family. Brave girls could handle bad dreams on their own.

Ahsoka was still deciding on what to do when she felt it. It was the same warning-like feeling she had earlier. There was something bad. And it was coming. She felt her heart beat fasten. Whatever the bad thing was, it was in the house, and it was coming closer.

Ahsoka was fighting hysteria now. Should she wake her brothers? What if the bad thing hurt one of them? Should she hide? Ahsoka ducked under the blankets and pulled them tightly around herself. She could hear footsteps and the slight swoosh of the bedroom curtain being drawn back.

More footsteps followed. It was by her bed. Holding back a sob, Ahsoka kept as still as she could. Suddenly, she felt the world around her shift. In one swift motion, the bad thing had scooped her up, knap-sacking her in the blankets.

On instinct, Ahsoka lashed out. A small shriek of terror escaped and her doll was dropped in the process. The bad thing's hold on her was readjusted and tightened. A cold hand was clamped firmly over her mouth and everything around her turned to a blur as she was carted away. As the night air hit the small girl, she realized in horror that the bad thing was the scary lady from before.

/

Ty slowly opened his eyes. Sitting up, he rubbed them for a few moments in order to see. "Is okay, Soka… just a bad dream," he uttered groggily. He had heard Ahsoka shriek and a small thump. Ty figured she must have had a bad dream, which happened from time to time.

Finally, he turned his head to the bed across the room. The bed where his baby sister should have been. But the bed was empty.

Frowning, he walked over. The blankets were missing and the doorway curtain was open. Had she left for their father's room? She usually did when she had nightmare, but she never took the blankets with her.

Ty turned behind him to see the window still closed. He turned back again to see Ahsoka's doll discarded on the floor. She never went anywhere without that thing…

Walking to bedroom doorway, he saw that the other curtain to the house entrance was also open, at the same time the day's events came flooding back to him. His heart froze in horror as the awful realization hit him. No no no no! "DDAAAADDD!"

/

Ahsoka whimpered and continued to struggle against her captor. Unfortunately, all of her attempts did nothing as the hold on her was to tight and she too small. The bounty hunter was running fast through the forest and told her again to shut up and stop squirming.

Although the blankets that she was currently stuck in further hindered any escape attempts, Ahsoka was somewhat grateful for them as the night air was freezing. She had no idea why the scary lady had taken her, but she knew she wasn't a Jedi like her father had said.

Ahsoka continued her futile attempts as the woman carried her further and further away from her home. From her family. She just wanted to go home. To return to her father and brothers and to be safe with them. Despite her attempts, the young girl felt tears pool into her eyes and sniffled. "Please let me go!"

"Shut it kid!"

"I want my daddy!"

La Tranz dropped the blankets that covered Ahsoka and gave her a hard shake. "I said shut up! One more noise out of you and I'll snap your wrists!"

Ahsoka sniffed again but kept her mouth shut. It was cold without the blankets and she was already starting to shiver. She could feel the tears falling down her cheeks and did her best to not allow any sobs to escape. The woman ignored her state and continued to run.

Just then, Ahsoka felt a warning of a danger just ahead. The woman, oblivious, continued to run right for it. Before Ahsoka could do anything, an akul leapt out of the bushes and tackled them both. Ahsoka was knocked out of the bounty hunters hold. Everything was a blur and she heard the woman scream in both fear and anger. Gnashing teeth and the sounds of baster fire followed as she desperately tried to scoot back away from the battle before her and into the cover of a bush. More screams from both the beast and woman followed as the fight went on. The lady's face was bloody, and it was then that Ahsoka realized now was the chance for her to escape. She heard the akul cry out in rage again as it was wounded by the woman's blaster fire.

Knowing she didn't have long before either the lady or the akul would win the fight and then be after her, Ahsoka took off running back into the direction of her home.

She ran fast, careful to avoid the creeping tree roots and vines that were eager to trip her. Her breaths came out in white cloudy puffs. Get home! Get home! She told herself in set determination.

Without warning, something heavy tackled her to the ground and she cried out. "You little whelp! I would kill you now if I didn't need you alive!" La Tranz raised a hand to strike her, and Ahsoka closed her eyes and coward in expectation of the impact.

Suddenly, another figured burst forth from the trees with a glowing stick. Ahsoka rolled away under a small rock formation a few feet off as La Tranz was again tackled to the ground. More blaster fire was heard, along with a strange clanging sound. Scared, Ahsoka curled into the fetal position and plugged her hears, waiting for the fight to end. She had no idea who the newcomer was, and she just wanted to go home.

The scary noises stopped almost as fast as they had started. Cautiously, Ahsoka removed her hands from her head and wiped at the tears on her face. She couldn't hear the fighting anymore, but felt the presence of the newcomer.

In what she knew to be a risky move, Ahsoka slowly crawled out of the little cave. The woman lay some ways away face down in the foliage. Ahsoka couldn't tell if she was dead or alive. A scary looking man of a species she did not know was standing a couple meters away. A dark mask covered most of his face. She gasped at the sight and instantly ducked back into her hideout.

"It's okay little one. I won't hurt you. You're safe now," he said. It was a deep but kind voice. It was the complete opposite of the cold snake-like voice of the lady. Hesitantly, Ahsoka poked her head out again to get a better view of the newcomer. It was still dark, but the start of dawn provided just enough light for her to make out the orange of his skin that was not covered by the mask. He wore a flowing robe like the lady did, but unlike hers which was extravagantly embroidered, his was a simple and humble brown.

Looking back to his face, Ahsoka felt no malice or threat like she did when looking at the bounty hunter, but was filled with a sense of comfort and warmth. This man was good. She could trust him. She just knew.

"What is your name, little one? He asked as he leaned down on to one knee to be closer to her height. He made no move to get closer, knowing that if he did so he might lose what trust he was trying to build.

Before she could answer, there was the sound of running feet and a cry of "Ahsoka!"

A spear came flying through the air. Before she could blink, the man had leapt towards her, shielding her protectively as he simultaneously pulled his glowing stick back out. Standing in a defensive position with the child tucked safely in one arm, he shouted, "Lay your weapons down! I come as a friend!"

"Daddy!" Ahsoka cried in excitement, seemingly oblivious to any danger.

Nearly a dozen armed men, including Ahsoka's father and brothers, surrounded them in an offensive circle, weapons raised and ready to strike.

"Release my daughter, Bounty Hunter!" Khan demanded.

"Bounty hunters do not carry lightsabers," the man spoke in a surprisingly calm voice. Gently, he placed Ahsoka on the ground. She immediately took off running and leapt into Khan's arms, who breathed an enormous sigh of relief as he embraced her.

The others made no move to lower their weapons, instead waiting for further instructions from Sha'an who had his own spear still raised. "Who are you and why did you take my niece?" he demanded with a growl.

The man didn't seem phased. Deactivating his lightsaber, he removed his hood and spoke. "I am Jedi Master Plo Koon. I come to you as a friend."

Sha'an scoffed. "We already had a Jedi here yesterday, and you are most certainly nothing like her. She warned us that you, bounty hunter scum, would be after the girl."

"I assure you, I am no bounty hunter, but a Jedi. I was sent because we believed the youngling to be in danger, of which she was."

Sha'an was about to accuse him of lying when Ahsoka spoke up from where she was still being held by Khan. "He's good! Daddy, he saved me from the scary lady."

She looked imploringly up to her father. "I think..." Khan began uncertainly. "Cousin, I think this man is telling the truth. The woman from yesterday, she was the real bounty hunter."

Sha'an looked back to Plo Koon, as the truth of it all sunk in for each of them.