Hi guys! How are you doing? I'm sorry it's taking me forever to update this story, but I'm at the end of my university semester, so I can't screw it up. My last exam is on Tuesday evening though. But, after those exams, I'll be preparing for my master's degree admission exam, so I won't be able to update sooner until end of May. But, in June, I'll have nothing more to do than write, like literally, so this story should be updated quicker in June, probably July and August too. And I'm so happy the sun is back and that the snow has almost entirely melted. Yay!

EvanTGD:Thank you very much. Glad to know you're still following this story.

Starwarshobbitfics:Thanks! I don't think you'll be disappointed! I have a small arc planned with the Youngling next, then the date with Lux and then you'll see :)

Lux's Sister: Thanks! Yeah, first official date for Ahsoka and Lux. That'll be fun to write. Good luck with your studies. I'm just mine are closing to an end (well, degree speaking). I can't wait to be on vacation and go back to see my family after a year abroad!

SuperSaiyanJedi14:OMG I love the way you started your review! That's so true! And I could totally see a Galactic rodeo happening at some point in this story. You just gave me an excellent idea! Thanks. I'm actually thinking about writing a small sequel to the book I already published (the title's "The Golden Griffin" if you want to check it out – it's one of the first results when you type it in Google's search bar and this way you can learn my real name, the site it is published on is called Lulu). And I'm almost done with my exams, yay! Oh and I finished this literature essay I had to write (13 bloody pages) and I'm so proud of it. Sorry, had to brag. I hope you'll succeed with yours too! May the Force be with you as well.

Starlight:Good luck if you start learning French, it's not an easy language xD Thanks, I hope you have an awesome day! Well for me, it's sunny outside, I finished studying for my politics exam tomorrow (ugh politics, my least favorite subject I had to take this year, hope I'll never have to learn that again) and the squirrels and seagulls are back, I'm so happy!

Johnt12345:I know you didn't mean it in a sexual way, but when I read "They make a good foursome" I laughed so hard. I'm sorry, that's just my over imaginative and creative mind taking over. I don't have a button off (unfortunately). Anyway, thanks for pointing the comparison with Steela's death, I didn't realize! But it's actually perfect, because saving this Reek from a certain death is kind of like Ahsoka's way of redeeming herself for not being able to save Steela. OMG, thank you so much for pointing that out, you just gave this scene so much more depth. I hope you'll feel better soon, I hate being sick myself. Take care.

So I've got a question for you guys. I'm technically (well it's almost certain, but you never know) going to have my first car by the end of this summer. YAYYYYY. And I wanted to christen it by buying something completely cheesy and geeky and stupid (like me), either a Hula dancer or a Bobble head (I have no idea if that's what those cliché dogs that nod all the time are called). So I was wondering if you guys know any good sites where I could find one kind of cool? Or if you have any suggestions (even though you don't know what I like, so that one will be hard). Anyway, I hope you guys will enjoy this story. I'm going to say something really cheesy right now, because someone told it to me this morning and I want to spread the love: Smile to those who are crying, ignore those who criticize you and spend time with your loved ones. We only have one life and it's too damn short!

TS

19 years before the Battle of Yavin / a year, 5 months and 3 weeks after leaving the Jedi Order / a year, 2 months and 3 weeks on Nar Shaddaa / 9 months and 3 weeks after Order 66 (Year +11,3)

Ahsoka was running through narrow streets. The walls were made of bright stone but were so tall that the sun barely lit them. She was wearing a purple dress and too many jewels. Some of them seemed to be missing: her left lek was bare, whereas her right lek was nested in a silver band. Her feet were covered in dust and sweat was shining on her dark orange skin. She had been running for a long time but didn't seem to be slowing down in the slightest.

Blaster shots followed her and shouts echoed in the alleys. People of all races were in the streets but stayed next to the walls, clearly not wanting to have anything to do with the pursuit. Most of them looked scared out of their minds. The ones that tried to stop her had blasters or whips that she managed to dodge.

Ahsoka jumped on a crate of fruit to land on a flat roof. She kept running and only looked down in the alleys to keep track of the people pursuing her. She was slowly losing them and activated the comlink she had in her hand since she wasn't wearing her gloves. "Daisy? Are you there?" The droid beeped in response joyfully. "Yeah, I know, I'm happy to hear you too but you've got to fire up the engines! Why? Because we've got company!" The astromech beeped some more, in frustration this time. "I don't care you don't like emergency departures! Move your circuits, now!"

A red blast hit the edge of the roof next to her, making her look down for a second. An angry Zygerian was shouting at her, his face turning from his chocolate brown to an angry red. She kept running until she arrived at the end of the roof with no other building close by to jump onto. She almost fell off the edge but stepped back as her arms and lekku flailed in the empty space. A square full of life could be seen underneath. People walked in groups, with always one leading them and shouting, sometimes even hitting them. From above, they looked like flocks of sheep led by angry dogs. Some of those people pointed at her, revealing her position. Ahsoka could hear the Zygerian and his allies getting closer. It was a matter of seconds before they'd reach the square and have a clear shot at her.

"Oh, poodoo!" she said before jumping down.

Ahsoka abruptly woke up. She immediately sat in her bed and gripped the sheets, breathing loudly. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she could feel the sweat trickling down her spine, wetting her bra. Because of Nar Shaddaa's climate and the house's poor thermal isolation, she wore light clothes when she slept, usually a bra and shorts. She hated long nightgowns that stuck to her body like a cocoon.

As she tried to regain control of her breathing, she looked around her room. The half-opened sheet metal shutters were behind her and she felt their cold sting when she touched them. Moonlight was pouring through the wide gaps, shedding silver rays on her face, creating at the same time a small horned shadow in front of her.

Ahsoka rose to her knees and approached the window. She could see no one in the streets, not even the usual drunkards that sometimes woke her up in the middle of the night. Everything seemed calm and she couldn't hear anything else than a slight buzzing. It came from the refresher downstairs and she had gotten used to the noise after a week. Once she was certain there was no imminent danger, Ahsoka climbed out of bed and walked down the stairs to the living room.

"It was just a dream. Or was it a vision?" she whispered to herself. The more she thought about it, the more she remembered. Some details had escaped her before, like the few cuts that littered her arms or the struggle she had felt through the Force. The presence she had felt during that dream came back to her, crashing into her mind like a tidal wave. It hit her so hard she missed a step but luckily managed to catch herself on the railing. She stood in the staircase for a minute as realization crept over her. The presence she felt in her dream was the same spark that she had sensed on Zygeria.

Except something was wrong. First, the Youngling was nowhere to be seen in her vision and she'd never leave that child behind. And second, it hadn't been on Zygeria. She remembered the slaver's planet clearly and it hadn't looked like that. Ahsoka doubted it had changed that much in the span of two years. But one thing was certain: that Youngling was in danger. Ahsoka had to figure out how to find them as soon as possible.

She walked down the last remaining steps of the staircase and grabbed a glass of water. As she was leaning against the sink, her gaze fell on Jynna's door. She pressed the button on the opening panel and the metal door slide open. Ahsoka had no idea how Jynna was able to sleep through pretty much everything. She herself had trouble keeping both eyes shut at night, but the reasons of her insomnias were rooted were deep: no matter how hard Ahsoka tried, her Jedi training and the ghosts of her past kept haunting her.

The Togruta looked at the sleeping Twi'lek. Jynna was wrapped in three different blankets and next to her head there was an Ewok plush. Ahsoka knew that Jynna didn't sleep with cuddly toys. It had simply fallen from the shelf above the bed because of how much Jynna moved in her sleep. Ahsoka smiled as she looked at the person she now considered her younger sister. She never thought she'd have someone like that. She never thought she'd have a boyfriend. But she'd never thought she'd someday be on the run either.

After a few seconds, she left the room. Jynna didn't even stir, probably dreaming of colorful birds and beautiful landscapes. Or food, because once she had spent a full hour disturbing Ahsoka while she assembled a droid, telling her about her dream in which she swam in chocolate.

Ahsoka didn't manage to go back to sleep, so instead, she spent the rest of the night tinkering in the workshop on some long-forgotten projects. She also played Sabacc with Daisy and lost more times than she won. When the sun rose, she prepared breakfast and left for a run around the village. She never did that, but the day appeared to be nice and she needed to clear her head from the night's dream. When she was back, she hopped in the shower. Jynna was up by the time Ahsoka came out of the refresher. But the Togruta didn't waist anytime and after telling the Twi'lek about her dream, she went to see Old Hoody.

Ahsoka wasn't surprised to see the Bothan already awake and getting on about his day. She told him about her doubts as she stayed in his small living room. His house had only the bare necessities, but that was fine with the former Master. He made some tea and offered her eucalyptus flavored biscuits as she sat on the leather worn couch. She wondered when he found the time to bake so many biscuits but didn't ask. She absently nibbled at one, lost in thoughts, remembering the dream. The more time went by, the less she was able to let it go. It's the noise of the boiling water that brought her back to reality.

"You should meditate on those visions," Kai said as he poured the tea. "If what you feel about this Youngling is true, then you are right, you should do something about it." He sighed. "It is supposed to be our duty to watch after the next generations. But now, there is no Order to watch after the children of the Force. No one will be able to protect them." He lifted his head and looked at Ahsoka intently. "So if you manage to save at least one, it would be a great thing."

Ahsoka stayed a while longer, until she could drink her tea without burning herself. Old Hoody gave her a bag full of biscuits. Then she went knocking on Max's door. Or rather she threw stones at his window. Max only reluctantly opened his window after the third stone. He looked upset and hadn't bothered putting a shirt on. Ahsoka didn't know if he was wearing pants because she only saw his torso in the window frame but she didn't linger on that thought.

"What is it?" he asked with a gruff voice.

"Got a job for you. Well, sort of," she replied, crossing her arms on her chest and still holding the bag of warm biscuits in one hand.

"Come in," Max said as he motioned for something behind his back that Ahsoka took for his door. She nodded as he lowered the tilted shutters.

Ahsoka entered Taii's saloon once Max unlocked the door and she joined him in the kitchen. There was a small door under the stairs behind the bar counter and she had never been there before. She had sometimes seen it open during their parties but it was the first time she was actually inside. It seemed that every cooking device possible was crammed in this cupboard-size room. She and Max could both stand up in the small kitchen, but there was no place for a third person. No wonder Taii was the only one who usually got in there, Ahsoka thought.

Max made some coffee. He had put a shirt on and had pants but was barefoot. When he offered her a cup, she politely refused.

"I won't be long," she said as he stifled a yawn and brushed his fingers through his thick dreadlocks. They reached the middle of his shoulders now. "I'm still working on it, but I'll need your help to find this Youngling I've told you about before…" She explained her dream and fears and Max listened only half-awake. He choked on his coffee when she mentioned the Zygerian.

"Are you crazy? You want to go to Zygeria?"

"No. My vision didn't take place on Zygeria. That's one of the reasons why I need your help. I think the place in my vision is somewhere in the Hutt space, the deserted tropical kind of planet. You know this part of the Outer Rim better than anyone here! I need you to help me determine where we have to go."

"You said 'one of the reasons'. There's more?" Max asked, leaning against a very high-tech fridge. Ahsoka nodded again.

"I'll need backup. That wasn't just a walk in the park. What happened in my dream was a full-on fight with the local authorities."

"How can you be sure what you saw will really happen?" She threw him the 'you already know the answer to that question' look and he sighed. "Jedi instincts? Got it."

Ahsoka then thanked him and said she'd be back once she'd have more clues. "Oh and Old Hoody says hi," she told him before putting the bag of biscuits in his hand. She didn't take them back despite his protests and walked out of the kitchen. Taiilyrra was coming down the steps at that time. She was yawning and the shirt she was wearing, which was Max's, was unevenly buttoned. The Chagrian acknowledged Ahsoka's presence with a nod and a gentle squeeze on the shoulder on her way to the kitchen. Since their argument, that was the way they acted around each other. With confidence but still a bit of distrust. It was almost as if one was keeping an eye on the other, for everyone's sake.

It took Ahsoka a couple more days to figure out where her vision would take place. Max found the place thanks to her details and after a week, they came up with a plan.