Thought about doing the Duchess of Mandalore Arc but decided to hold off on it, trust me it'll be worth it in the end. To be fair this is one of the best episodes as it pays homage to the SEVEN SAMURAI from the incredibly acclaimed talented Akira Kurosawa, though it will Seven plus one one more with our boy Leo and Hondo will have something interesting to say.

Chapter 22

Bounty Hunters

JEDI TEMPLE

Training Grounds

Leo and Ahsoka's lightsabers crashed against one another like a mighty wave on rock, Ahsoka's reverse grip made her dance around Leo who wasn't pushed back by her strikes instead engaging her in hacking and slashes that pushed her back when he actually was able to make a connection. Up on the training ground walls Anakin and Pong both watched intently "Work on your counters Ahsoka."

"Padawan do not let up, press the advantage." Pong ordered him.

Anakin could sense a bit of arrogance in Pong's voice "With respect Master, this is just a friendly sparring duel." Anakin said to him.

"And if it were a real duel, my Padawan would have won three times over." Pong said confidently and with a bit of smugness.

Anakin felt a stab at his pride as a teacher "Ahsoka, take off the kid gloves."

The padawan heard Anakin's request and smiled at Leo who sighed "Great."

Ahsoka ran up at Leo and started to flip and twirl around the air before she swung up at him and turned her lightsaber off and tossed it in the air as she moved under his next swing. She stuck her leg out tripping Leo catching her lightsaber and pointed it at Leo as he fell to the ground defeated.

"Ha." Anakin said to Pong who frowned "I mean, Leo fought well."

"Hardly… PADAWAN!" Pong yelled, marching down from the wall into the training ground as Leo was helped up by Ahsoka "Good luck." Ahsoka whispered to him as she started to head over to her own master.

Leo could feel a scolding coming on but stood his ground "What was that, you could have easily taken her five moves before she used that trick?" Pong berated hands, all four on his hips.

"I didn't want to hurt her?" Leo said shrugging "Hurt her, how She is the Padawan of Anakin Skywalker one of the greatest swordsmen in our order, how could someone as pathetic as you hurt her?"

"Pathetic?" Leo asked his face turning from meek shame to an angered scowl "I killed two Sith Acolytes, I was able to fight Master Windu, how am I pathetic?" Leo snapped up at Pong. Their raised voices caught the attention of Anakin who was congratulating Ahsoka on her win "This doesn't look good." Anakin said as Obi-Wan walked into the training grounds.

Pong's face turned bright red like a red lightsaber. "I am your Master and you are my apprentice, if you can call it that with how you fight?"

"If my fighting skills are lacking it's because I had a poor teacher." Leo barked.

Obi-Wan walked up next to Anakin "I'd say it's good to see Master Krell taking his duties as a master seriously however Pong's pride is not something he takes likely."

"I mean we bickered a bit didn't we?" Anakin asked Obi-Wan "True, in the meantime we've been ordered to rendezvous with a medical station over Felucia."

Back over with pong and Leo "Then perhaps you are in need of another teacher, one who you think you deserve." Pong said, looking over at Skywalker and Kenobi starting to leave.

"Skywalker, Kenobi off to another mission?" Pong asked, looking away from Leo to them.

Obi-Wan turned around slowly "Indeed to the Felucia system to a medical station?"

"Good, take Padawan Rock perhaps reminding him what true Jedi do in obeying their Masters will remind him why he suffered so needlessly at Windu's sword." Pong said walking away from Leo abandoning him again "Um sure sounds fine?" Anakin said before Obi-Wan glared at him, unhappy with accepting Pong volunteering Leo's aid.

Leo watched his master Leave before Anakin approached him "Come on Rusty, back to the grind." Anakin said before LEo looked up at him "Yes General."

He followed them out of the training grounds and into the hanger, as Obi-Wan looked back at the disappointed Leo, then up to Anakin like he'd done something wrong. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Anakin asked in a hushed tone as they approached the jedi transport.

"Need I remind you Ahsoka is your Padawan learner, not Leo, you know the bond between a Master and Padawan is strong, if the Council decreed that Leo was to be Pongs student then he should be with Pong." Obi-Wan lectured.

Anakin shrugged "Oh come on it's great having him along, besides if your so worried about Leo why don't you take a turn looking after him this time it'll be like having me."

Obi-Wan shivered "Please don't remind me…"

They all started to board the ship before Leo stopped at the ramp and looked over his shoulder to see Pong standing in the hanger doorway, glaring at Leo before turning away and leaving him behind, again.

Ahsoka noticed Leo's head and shoulders slump "Come on Rusty, galaxy isn't going to save itself." She urged for him to board the ship T-6.

"On it Snips… on it." He said following her aboard the shuttles, meanwhile outside the hanger Pong walked down the hallways before he found himself confronted by Masters Yoda, Plo and Sinube.

Pong gave a polite bow, "Masters." Before he started to walk around them "A moment of your time 'Genera'." Plo said, getting him to stop "We need to speak to you about your Padawan."

FELUCIA

After jumping into hyperspace for trip to the Felucia System, everyone settled in for the short ride as Ahsoka was Anakin's copilot and Obi-Wan was sitting next to Leo who was looking out at the blue vortex of hyperspace longingly "Are you all right?" Obi-Wan asked him.

"Fine General Kenobi- I mean Master Kenobi." Leo replied looking over at him "Yout thoughts dwell on your Master, on why he sent you away?" Obi-Wan asked him.

Anakin snickered from the driver seat "No use hiding it Leo, I couldn't hide anything from my old Master." Anakin said.

"No need to worry General Skywalker, this won't affect the mission I promise." Leo said, Obi-Wan scratched his beard deciding to drop it for another time.

Later the shuttle came out of hyperspace near Felucia, when they came out of the jump the planet was before them a bright ball of colorful terrain and sky's "That's Felucia, dead ahead." Anakin said as they got closer.

"But where's the medical station, don't see anything on my scanners." Ahsoka said before it started beeping, Leo got up and looked between their chairs "Are they on the other side of the planet maybe?" He asked

"No, I'm not picking up any signals- wait there's something, vulture droids." she said all four Jedi saw a Vulture Droid holding a container in orbit around Felucia open and send its birds out for their latest victim.

Anakin immediately took evasive maneuvers as Leo jumped back into his seat "Hang on!" Anakin said as he started flying closer to the planet, trying to avoid their fire.

"I guess we know what happened to the medical station." Obi-Wan mused before the thruster was suddenly blown out, the ship started to give an emergency beeping as it descended towards the planet.

"That's not good!" Obi-Wan said next to Leo as Anakin and Ahsoka tried stabilizing the ship. "They took out the plasma conduit!" Ahsoka exclaimed as the shuttle entered the planet's atmosphere, blowing through clouds and flocks of Felucia fauna. Panic started to creep into them all as they were only a few hundred feet away from the surface heading straight for one of Felucia large fungus like towers. "You thinking what i'm thinking?" Anakin asked with a smirk.

Leo looked to see absolute dread on the famed Masters face "Almost certainly not." Obi-Wan disagreed before they slipped on breath masks. "Looks like we're doing this the hard way." Anakin said, slipping on his own mask, "Leo under your seat." Obi-Wan said to him Leo quickly reached out underneath his seat and pulled a mask with a tube on it over his face.

"Starting ejection sequence!" he said before pressing a few buttons as they got closer to a huge cliff. "How come every time you fly we crash?" Ahsoka wondered with an irritated tone as they got closer to the ground Leo seeing the vulture droids following close behind.

"It's not my fault! It's the ship!" he shot back, as they were now dangerously close to the cliff. "Ready to eject." Ahsoka said as they grabbed the handles on the right side of their seats. "Wait!" Anakin said as they kept getting closer.

"Now!" he exclaimed as they all pulled their handles and were ejected from the cockpit. Four large rubber balls surrounded their seats as they started bouncing off Felucia a huge flora tower, as the vulture droids followed the shuttle into a fiery explosion

The four ejected pods bounced between the trees and fungus of Felucia with different reactions inside "He always- Blaems - the ship." Ahsoka complained between each bounce.

"She always- blames- me." Anakin grumbled.

Leo's was more of a "Why- do- we always- CRASH!" Leo screamed as in Obi-Wans ejected pod he was just sighing arms crossed before it came to as top "Another happy landing." The four pods exploded with air coming out of them as the three jedi came out of the pods unscathed.

"You alright there, Master?" Anakin asked Obi-Wan with a smirk, Leo tore his mask back into the round rubber pod before making his way to Ahsoka as she stepped out of hers. "I'm fine, Anakin." Obi-Wan said as he and the Knight made their way to the padawans.

"Where on Felucia do you think we are?" Ahsoka asked Leo them after tossing her mask back inside the pod when the four then started walking away from the pods.

Obi-Wan looked around at the environment seeing they were in a dense thickly treed forest of fungus "I'm not sure." Obi-Wan answered.

A few minutes later they heard a growl. "I don't like the sound of that." Ahsoka said, uneasiness in her tone as they stopped walking. "And I don't like the look of that." Anakin said, pointing ahead.

Two gigantic purple spiked rancors walked across the path they were on, a few feet ahead of them. "We don't wanna scare 'em." Anakin warned quietly as the second rancor disappeared behind some of the planet's huge flora. "We can't just wander around aimlessly we need a plan." Obi-Wan pointed out.

"You always taught me to go on instinct and my instincts tell me to go that way." Anakin smirked, pointing towards the rancors. Obi-Wan held his chin. "No, that doesn't seem right I think we should go this way." he said pointing in the direction the rancors came from, meanwhile the two padawans smirked at each other while listening to the men bickered, Leo and Ahsoka then spotted pillars of smoke in the distance as the two men continued to argue.

"Why do you even ask for my opinion, you never do things my way." Anakin said to him. "We crashed the ship your way." Obi-Wan countered, Ahsoka shook her head at them, smirk still in place. "Very funny. I see your sense of humour survived the landing." Anakin said sarcastically.

Rolling his eyes at the man who was still much child in his eyes "It's about the only thing." Obi-Wan grumbled. Ahsoka held out her hand for Leo to bring up the smoke they spotted but Leo waved his hand and gave an over the top bow for her to have the honor.

"If you two are done arguing, I think there's some smoke on the horizon." Ahsoka cut in, pointing to the plume of smoke rising ahead in the distance. "Which means people and a way off this planet." she pointed out before her, she walked between them with Leo following her "That was well worth the trip." Leo whispered to her.

"Well worth the crash." She said as the other jedi joined them.

After trudging through the forest for a while when they felt the ground shake like before, "That's not good." Anakin said as out of the jungle came one of the rancor's that must have caught their scent, it tore the trees out of the ground with its massive claws roaring and baying for blood. Anakin, Ahsoka and Leo tore out their lightsabers ready for anything but Obi-Wan raised his hand "Wait don't- it thinks we're a territorial threat."

"We're the threat?" Leo asked in shock looking at the snarling rancor's massive jaws.

"Lower your weapons now." Obi-Wan ordered them walking forward raising his hand to the beast.

The rancor roared down at him "What is he doing?" Ahsoka said frantically, Anakin only smirked, lowering his lightsaber "Oh you're in for a treat."

The padawans watched in awe as Obi-Wan raised his hand and the Rancor growls started to die down, it bent its head forward as Obi-Wan reached out with the force to the beast. The rancor sniffed the jedi its large nose sucking in air like a leaf blower before Obi-Wan rested his palm on its snout, the Rancor let out a loud yet soft moan like a big dog would before closing its eyes.

It rose then turned around and started to walk off when out of the brush came three rancor much smaller than the bull but twice as tall as Obi-Wan and Anakin, "What just happened?" Leo asked, amazed.

"It thought we were after its young, most animals won't attack unless threatened. I made sure it knew we weren't a threat." Obi-Wan said before continuing on, the three of them following.

"A jedi versus a Rancor, I'd pay good credits to see that?" Ahsoka said.

Leo nodded "Me too."

Later when they started to get closer to the smoke, they saw a large village ahead of them "Look there's a village." Ahsoka said after about half an hour of walking.

"Maybe they have a ship we can borrow." Anakin said as they walked into the village, the village was comprised of over a dozen houses knitted together between fields of crops with a large barn in the center with its door closed.

"They're growing healing herbs." she noticed "Nysillin I believe, one of the most valuable crops in the galaxy." Obi-Wan pointed out.

Leo reached for his lightsaber seeing nobody around just empty houses and tools laying around "This place looks deserted." Ahsoka said as they stopped walking while Anakin folded his arms.

"I don't believe it is. The crops are ready to be harvested, tools lying about. No, somethings amiss." Obi-Wan said. "Well, there's one thing I learned where I grew up. If you wanna know what a farmer's up to, look their barn." Anakin said as they walked up to the huge building.

He pressed the button on the side and the door went up inside there was an SS-54 assault ship, with green painted stripes going down its bow and wings "This is an odd ship for farmers perhaps someones here to pick up the nysillin?" Obi-Wan guessed.

"I still don't get it, where is everyone?" Ahsoka wondered, frowning the four Jedi then left the barn to check the village, Anakin and Ahsoka unclipped their sabers and checked out one of the huts.

"Leo, come with me." Obi-Wan ordered, Leo nodded "Yes Master."

Obi-Wan and Leo started to look through some abandoned homes when they found nothing they quickly left "You worry Master Krell doesn't care for you as a Padawan?" Obi-Wan asked him.

"I never said that." Leo suddenly snapped.

"No need to, it was written over your face when we left the Temple." Obi-Wan said smugly, Leo sighed knowing he couldn't hide his emotions that easily.

Leo then spoke "The way everyone talks about Master Krell about how he's a great warrior makes me think I'm blessed to have him as a Masters, but the way he talks I feel like such a burden on him."

"It is the duty of the Masters to train the next generation, but this is different for Pong as you are his first and only Padawan."

"I- I am?" Leo asked him "Of course, didn't he ever tell you?" Obi-Wan asked him his turn to be confused, Leo shook his head.

Obi-Wan calmed himself "Anakin was my first padawan, though I was not the Master who was going to train him I took the duty serious and I'm sure Pong does too, he may not show it though."

"Did you know Master Krell, when you were my age?" Leo asked him "Indeed, he was much like you, dedicated to the order, brave in combat and a bit more prideful though."

Across from them Anakin and Ahsoka searched the small upper room when Anakin noticed a trap door, lowering to one knee he signalled them to be quiet before using the Force to open it. Inside there were two scared Felucian farmers with a child they were shielding from view fearful of what the two strangers might do. "Mystery solved." Anakin said.

Ahsoka knelt down "They're terrified, It's okay, we won't hurt you." she assured with a kind smile before the sound of blasters were cocked.

"Kindly drop your weapons, Jedi." a Zabrak female ordered appearing from out of nowhere it seemed, pointing her rifle at Anakin as he stood up and faced her with her came a Frenk woman pointed her rifle at the back of Ahsoka's head wearing a hooded hunters vestments, while a Kyuzo male stood beside the Knight with his rifle casually slung over his shoulder wearing brown and orange tunics with a metal shield hat on his head and an armoured humanoid being stood between him and the Zabrak maybe a droid.

Neither jedi moved when their ambushes walked in "Take it easy, Snips." Anakin said, trying to keep her from doing anything rash.

"We don't want any trouble." he said to the Zabrak woman, whe Kyuzo said something in his language that Ahsoka couldn't understand but Anakin did.

"It's not always about the numbers." Anakin replied "Four on one is hardly a fair fight, even for a Jedi." the Frenk woman hissed, keeping her blaster pointed at Ahsoka's head.

"Wait a minute four on one, you mean four on three." Ahsoka corrected with a smirk while standing up. The armoured man or droid took a few steps towards the padawans. "We don't count you, knee-high."

Also suddenly a lightsaber was activated behind the mercenaries and Obi-Wan followed by Leo walked up beside the Zabrak while looking at the armoured man. "Do you count me?" he asked with a smirk.

The man faced him and activated a saw on his arm before the other three Jedi activated their sabers, ready to attack. "Stop! Don't harm them!" A Felucian man said running up to the bounty hunters, walking into the home and standing between the Zabrak and Obi-Wan. "Can't you see these are Jedi, we are saved!" he declared to them happily.

"Saved?" Ahsoka asked in a confused tone. "Need I remind you Casiss you already made a deal with us." The Zabrak said to him while lowering her weapon from Anakin.

The man who could only be the village elder named Casiss spoke "But with the Jedi's help-" he started before Ahsoka cut him off, "Excuse me, but help you with what?" she asked him, he lowered Zabrak's blaster with his hand and replied, "Pirates."

The Jedi lowered their weapons hearing it "Pirates what Pirates?" Leo asked.

"More on that later, for now eat rest and we will tell you why we so desperately need your help." the village elder said before he started shouting orders to other villagers coming out of there homes to see what all the commotion was about and since they weren't fighting they assumed it was safe.

The bounty hunters holstered their weapons "I believe introductions are in order Jedi?" the zabrak and apparent leader of the hunters said.

"I'm Captain Sugi, this is Embo, that sharpshooters is Frenk and our big metal friend here is named Seripas." The Zabrak named Sugi suit said introducing everyone, the Kyuzo was Embo, Rumi was the Frenk and the armoured one was Seripas.

Obi-Wan and the others edi clipped their lightsabers to there belts before Obi-Wan introduced "I am General Obi-Wan Kenobi, my companions are General Anakin Skywalker Jedi Knight and his Padawan Ahsoka Tano, this young man is Padawan Leo Rock." he said as Sugi looked at him eyeing the boy.

"Good now that we haven't killed each other we can let the elder get back and tell you why you should kill us." Sugi said.

By the time the rest of the villagers were notified there was currently no danger and they were now having something to eat at night had fallen. "Simply stated, if we don't give the pirates a portion of our crop, they will destroy our homes with us in them." Casiss said as he, Obi-Wan, the two padawans and the bounty hunters, minus the armoured one were sitting at the table while Anakin leaned against the wall and the armoured man stood at the corner of the table.

"I see your dilemma." Obi-Wan said a moment after Casiss finished.

"Sillum farming is a meagre trade without our herbs to trade we will have no money for food, fuel or equipment." the Felucian explained further.

Obi-Wan looked over at the bounty hunters "And yet you can afford to pay mercenaries." Obi-Wan pointed out.

"These bounty hunters drive a far more reasonable bargain than the pirates." Casiss said before Anakin interjected "Why not just fight them yourselves?" Anakin suggested with a smirk.

Casiss turned his attention to him "Easy for you perhaps," the Felucian started, pointing at him before gesturing to the other Felucians. "But look at us we are farmers, not warriors even with the bounty hunters' help, I had feared the worst now that there are eight of you." he finished

Sugi looked at Obi-Wan. "What do you want, Jedi?" she asked him.

"We need a ship. Ours is beyond repair I'm afraid." he answered giving Anakin a glare that Anakin tried to ignore but appeared to blush with embarrassment at the shameful piloting he'd done. "The one in the barn that'll do." Anakin said, looking at her.

Sugi only smiled, shaking her head "That's our ride, it doesn't go anywhere without us and right now we're busy." she replied without looking at him then Obi-Wan leaned forward on the table a bit. "Busy extorting farmers?" he accused.

"I don't hear you offering to help." she countered, Leo looked over at Ahsoka showing he agreed with the bounty hunter. Obi-Wan leaned back in his seat before turning his attention back to Casiss. "Unfortunately we couldn't help even if we wanted to." he said.

"What?" Ahsoka asked in disbelief "I agree, we should do something." Leo said looking at Casiss.

Seeing the two padawans object to Obi-Wans plan made him stand up "Please excuse us." The four Jedi exited the house in order to discuss what to do next. Ahsoka had her back towards the others and Obi-Wan had his hands clasped behind his back, outside a small pale green fire was burning to light the area around the Elders house.

"Master these farmers are in trouble, why can't we help them?" she asked before turning around to face them.

"Believe me Ahsoka, Leo, I would like nothing more however we need to report that the medical station has been destroyed if we stay too long the Separatists will show up looking for us here." he explained to the padawans.

Ahsoka started to protest "But-" "Better they get robbed by pirates than attract the interest of General Grievous and his horde." he rationalized when suddenly a Felucian child started yelling as he ran towards them.

"Pirates! Pirates! Pirates! The pirates are back!" the kid screamed, running past them and into the house as the bounty hunters along with Casiss exited it and walked up to Jedi before they all turned their attention to a band of approaching speeder bikes.

Five pirate bikes stopped in front of the small campfire between them and the others, they were all weequay, holding blasters and other weapons leaning out on heavily modified speeders. Captain Sugi walked out ahead of the Jedi even past Kenobi "That's far enough I speak for the people of this village." Sugi announced as the pirates turned off their bikes.

Sugi continued, "State your name and business." she demanded as one pirate in the front jabbed his daggered pike towards them threateningly. "My name is my own business and my business is taking what's ours!" he snarled.

"There is nothing here that's yours! Unless you're here to buy it." she replied reaching for her pistol holstered on herb ack "Buy it?" a voice asked rhetorically before chuckling as he got off his speeder and took a few steps forward with a Kowakian monkey-lizard following beside him, Anakin and Obi-Wan tensed up as approaching them from the other side of bikes emerging like a demon from shadow was a tall weequay man wearing a bright red coat, with armor on the shoulders a metal at over his leathery head with goggles around his eyes, someone the two Jedi recognized.

"Kenobi, Skywalker; I can't believe you came all this way to see me." he said with a smirk as the monkey-lizard perched itself on his shoulder, the two aforementioned men looked at one another and spoke the same name: "Hondo." Four of his gang got off their speeders and stood beside him as he clasped his hands behind him.

Sugi turned her head to face the two. "You know each other?" she asked Obi-Wan. "Of course we do tell them how far back we go, Kenobi." Hondo said as he walked up to him smiling all friendly like.

"Too far, I'm afraid." the Master replied as Hondo laughed.

"And here I thought we were friends." he said, still smirking as he placed a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder.

The Master shrugged it off before speaking, "If you're truly interested in friendship, Hondo might I suggest you stop threatening these farmers." Obi-Wan suggested gesturing to the farmers around them all hiding in fear behind crates and in their homes.

"Threatening them?" he asked in mock disbelief before throwing his hands up dramatically and taking a few steps away, "Oh please tell me you have not been listening to this bounty hunting scum?" he asked, pretending to sound shocked and a bit insulted..

"Scum?" Sugi asked rhetorically as she clasped her hands behind her walking accusingly towards Hondo "We're just here to help them protect what's theirs." she defended, looking at a farmer and their child standing in front of the window to a house.

Hondo just waved his and dismissively as if this were some annoying appointment he wanted to finish "Oh, come come, my dear. How much are they paying you?" he asked with the smirk back in place as he turned to face her but before she could even reply, he held his hand up as he walked up to her smirking his fangs. "Does not matter whatever it is, I will double it and all you have to do to earn it is uh, step aside." he offered, gesturing with his hand and smirking again.

"We. Don't. Break. Deals." she growled, pushing him a step back to get her point across, Hondo's smirk vanished and his gang aimed their blasters at them.

Captain Sugi crew readied theirs as well when a peacekeeper was needed most "Steady everyone." Obi-Wan said holding a hand towards each group, trying to defuse the situation.

Hondo looked at him curiously "What is your stake anyway, Kenobi?" he asked. "All we want is a ride to the nearest Republic outpost and I'm willing to pay you handsomely for it. twice what you could make selling this crop." the Master offered.

It seemed to pique Hondo's interest as his smirk returned, "Well, now. How do you plan to pay me?" he asked.

"A funds transfer when we arrive." Obi-Wan replied but that seemed to douse the flame of any bargain being struck between them.

"Republic credit?" The Weequay gang lord asked rhetorically before taking a few steps towards his crew and tutting, "We've been over this before, Kenobi my associates don't accept that currency."

Obi-Wan took a few steps towards him. "I'm offering a deal that benefits us all, Hondo don't let your greed blind you to that fact." he warned as Hondo fed his pet before turning his head to look at Obi-Wan. "You know, I like you Kenobi. But, um no one leaves this planet until I get my sillum." he said in a low voice.

Sugi spoke up reminding the two men she was in charge "Then I hope you enjoy it here because you'll be staying a long time, parasite!" Sugi insulted. One of his gang members glared at her snickering Hondo took a few steps forward as he spoke,

"You know this crop has not been harvested." He said before he walked over to Casiss before continuing, "You better hurry, old man before things start to, uh- Die on you." he warned ominously.

Leo stepped forward with his lightsaber in hand "Back-off." he growled.

Hondo glanced over at him and something that happened to Captain Honod which rarely ever happened, he was surprised rising slowly Hondo looked over at Kenobi and in a very low voice he said "This just got more interesting Kenobi?" he said smiling at the Jedi Master.

"We'll be back soon for our Sillum." Hondo and his gang then got back on their speeder bikes and took off back the way they came.

"What was that all about?" Ahsoka asked "He looked at you as if he knew Leo?"

Sugi sheathed her blaster "He is the Berserker right?"

Leo winced hearing the name "The Berserker?" Frenk asked "That's right that little boy over there slayed over one hundred Geonosian Warriors by himself." Sugi said walking back into Casiss house "Now come on we need a plan."

"I agree." Obi-Wan said as the group followed her back into the homestead along with the others, but Leo hung back looking out on the horizon he saw the distant shape of Hondo on his speeders like looking back at him before he rode off.

When he went inside with the others they already brought up a holomap of the village, Anakin, Seripas and Embo remained standing while the others sat at a small round table with the map on it.

Obi-Wan explained the plan, "When the attack comes it will come from two fronts. The forest to the south," he gestured with his hand towards the village entrance, "and the ridge to the north." he gestured to the rock area with a wide split in the middle,

"Whatever you do, you must defend both sides."

"But there are only four of them, how can four bounty hunters defend against so many?" a male Felucian named Dilanni asked worriedly.

Embo said something in his native language "The farmers are right these bounty hunters don't stand a chance." Anakin said in a low voice to his Master.

"We've been over this, Anakin." Obi-Wan said matching his volume.

"You seem to lack confidence in our abilities, young Jedi." Sugi said to the Knight.

"I'm sure your good at what you do, but you're way too deep." he replied evenly.

Sugi only smiled at him "Says the peacekeeper who fails to keep the peace." she quipped back with a smirk "The rift in the galaxy is not our fault if more worlds would stand up for themselves against the Separatists this war would've been over long ago." Obi-Wan defended, behind him Leo looked away remembering what he said about Geonosis and how they defend their homes from them.

"That's it we'll just train the villagers to defend themselves." Anakin suggested smiling with at winkle in his eye.

"But we are just simple farmers why are we paying bounty hunters to defend us if we are just going to end up doing it ourselves?" Dilanni questioned.

"Hush Dilanni." Casiss told him gently but Dilanni stormed out "Trust me we'll have you ready for now we should all get some rest we'll be up early." Anakin assured with a smile.

Everyone started to file out and Leo got out quicker then other walking away from everyone to be alone, "Leo?" Ahsoka asked seeing him go "Let me talk to him." Obi-Wan stopped her from going after her friend.

Leo walked out over the nearby fields looking at them closing his arms around himself "Speak your mind Leo."

The boy turned around so caught up in his own thoughts he didn't see Obi-Wan come up behind him "It's better I don't." Leo said.

"If you don't how will you know if the thoughts are good or bad?" Obi-Wan asked him.

Leo took a deep breath "What you said back there, if more people stood up to the Separatists… what about those standing up to us?"

"You mean the Separatists?" Kenobi asked "Yes Master, why are we fighting them?" he asked.

"A complex question with an even more complicated answer, but I will do my best to answer, sit." Obi-Wan said.

Obi-Wan Knelt as Leo crossed his legs instead "Anakin told me of your opinion during the second battle of Geonosis, that we invaded a planet again and how you believed the Geonosians had a right to defend their home."

"Like these farmers?" Leo asked, Obi-Wan patiently nodded "I know how they seem similar, but please try to understand the Geonosians were small players in a larger game. Over the years we Jedi became stretched thin across the Galaxy, the Outer Rim worlds like these became susceptible to pirates like Hondos." Obi-Wan said while the boy listened to him.

"As jedi we did our best to keep the peace in the chaos, but where there is chaos there's opportunity my boy. Count Dooku left the Order and Republic as you know but do you know why?" Obi-Wan asked him.

Leo shook his head "Originally he made claims that the Republic was corrupt and that we as Jedi cared more for politics."

"Do we?" Leo asked him "I'm afraid I can't speak for the entirety of the Order only what I believe and hope you take what you can from it, as a Jedi more of as a man I am loyal to the Republic, to democracy and thoughts we may not always like it democracy takes time it is a slow process but a peaceful one."

"So the Separatists are tired of talking?" Leo asked him "When democracy fails, people will seek war as it is the most direct path to change and the most violent."

Leo thought about what he said "So as Jedi, we are fighting to end the fighting?" he asked.

"In a lame mans term yes, but that is the duty of a peacekeeper to seek out conflict and end it." Obi-Wan said "When I was still a padawan, my Master Qui-Gon Jinn and I went to Naboo to stop the trade federation from blockading the planet, I assume you're familiar with the story" Obi-Wan asked.

Leo nodded "I fear that was the first sign the galaxy was on the road to war, years later before the war began Count Dooku manipulated the galactic corporations into supporting the creation of the Separatists who wanted to break away from the Republic, as we had no army and the Separatists were easily swayed into thinking they could break away peacefully."

"Only we had the clones…?" Leo said "Indeed, another jedi close to Dooku foresaw his plan and made sure the Republic was ready." Obi-Wan said.

Leo didn't say anything after that he only looked at the dirt he was sitting on "Does that answer your question?"

"I think so, as Jedi it's our duty to protect the Republic and democracy but shouldn't we also protect the lives of these farmers and… and the Genosians?" Leo asked.

"We should, perhaps one day when cooler heads prevail this war will end but that is later, right now we must focus our efforts on the time that is present." Leo nodded at Obi-Wan's wise words "Thank you master."

Kenobi stood up followed by Leo, "Come we must prepare for tomorrow, Hondo may be a pirate but he's a dangerous one did you know he once captured Anakin, myself and Count Dooku all at once."

Leo's eyes got wide hearing the tale "R-really?" Leo asked as Obi-Wan chuckled "Indeed."

The next morning the Jedi and bounty hunters started to get the villagers ready for Hondo's attack, they had begun to farm the fields and put them into neatly stacked cubes as Sugi directed the farmers into the barn. "Put it in the barn, every bushel." Sugi told a farmer hauling sillum, some of the farmers harvested the crop and put it in the barn while the rest formed up in front of Anakin.

"Alright everyone, form up." he called out. The farmers remained huddled up not knowing what he meant.

The Knight sighed seeing it would be a struggle "Divide into rows of five." he simplified. Some of the villagers did so while the rest didn't.

Anakin looked at the ground and shook his head. "I told you, we are not soldiers we don't even have weapons!" Dilanni reminded him Anakin walked up to one of the farmers. "May I?" he asked, holding his hand out. The farmer looked confused before handing him the staff. Anakin took a few steps back and inspected it, he tossed it between his hands before placing the bottom end on the groundm, then started twirling it around him before placing the end back on the ground.

"Yep, these'll do." the Knight said.

Back with Sugi, Obi-Wan and Leo were beside her watching the farmers fill up the barn "What happens if you need the farm as a fall back position?" Obi-Wan asked Sugi as Leo followed behind him.

"With all the sillum here it'll be difficult to squeeze the farmers in?" He told Sugi who had one hand on her belt.

"There's room." Sugi said, directing the farmers.

Obi-Wan scowled at her "I think you care more for the sillum than the farmers?"

"You think I care more for my profit than them?" She asked him, smiling "The thought had crossed my mind?" He smirked.

Sugi ignored his accusations easily "So in your mind, I'm just like any other pirate."

"Am I wrong?" He asked.

"Not entirely, but it is easier to protect the Sillum and the farmers if there in the same place." She retorted looking over her shoulder.

Ever the tactician Obi-Wan spoke "Than may I suggest-" "You might suggest anything you like General Kenobi, but I know what I'm doing and I will keep these people safe. My way." She said before Sugi walked off leaving the two Jedi to stand there speechless.

"Interesting woman?" Leo said up to him "Indeed, you'll find you meet a lot of interesting people as a Jedi Leo, now go see if anyone else needs help."

Leo bowed "Yes Master." He said before making his way into the village, he noticed Casiss was watching Anakin train the farmers he too was holding a staff but wasn't training.

"Elder?" He asked as the man turned around "Ah, young Jedi how may I be of service?" He asked.

"N-no I meant… Well I just wanted to say we'll do everything we can to protect your village." Leo reassured him.

The elder nodded "Thank you young one, but it was not always like this there was a time when Pirates came to our village not as enemies but as friends?"

"Really?" Leo asked crossing his arms in disbelief as Casiss nodded sadly "A time when honor meant more than greed, I remember it well the Republic and Jedi couldn't always be here to help so when pirates came with stolen goods we happily traded and paid for them but then… a young and ambitious Captain wanted more, more money, more power and so the pirates made them there King."

Leo's eyes got wide and he resisted the urge to laugh "A pirate… king?" He asked.

"At first they were generous, my people wanted for nothing food, medicine, equipment as good as those in the core and then it all ended, the Captains who had honored the old ways were gone and pirates like this Hondo now rule the stars while you fight your war." Casiss said sitting down.

Elsewhere Ahsoka was teaching a group of younglings how to use a slingshot. He looked over to see Seripas cutting a large fungus down, only for it to fall towards the armored droid. The armoured bounty hunter grabbed it and started to struggle under its weight. Ahsoka noticed this. "Seripas! It's too heavy!" she warned before running over to him and tackling him out of the way.

Once the fungus hit the ground, "Seripas?" she asked worriedly as his armoured head opened up and a small alien head popped out.

"D-Don't look! I'm having a suit malfunction." he said quickly before ducking back into the suit. The armor sat up. Ahsoka gave him a small teasing smirk.

Seripas gave a dejected sigh. "Not very intimidating am I?" he asked.

Ahsoka kneeled in front of him. "You don't have to look tough to be tough." she reassured with a smile, Seripas gave a grateful smile and stood his suit back up before locking the headpiece back into place. "I thank you for your help." he said, back in his mechanical voice before continuing what he was doing.

Later Ahsoka went back to training her group while Anakin was having trouble training the farmers when one accident threw his staff at Anakin, he dodged only for Embo to catch it and say something insulting before throwing it back to the farmer.

Dilanni threw his staff to the ground then. "The bounty hunters are right wvery minute you waste teaching us to twirl stupid poles, is time you could've spent beating those pirates yourself." he complained, kicking the staff as Sugi and Obi-Wan joined them.

"And what good would that do you, another band of brigands would inevitably come along or do you intend to give away part of your crop every harvest season?" Obi-Wan asked him, folding his arms. "If you make us do this, there won't be another harvest season!" Dilanni exclaimed before storming off.

Leo watched him go remembering his battle meditation and how it changed the tide of the battle on Geonosis.

"Alright everyone, get back in position let's continue." Anakin said, trying to get the group focused back on training.

Leo looked at Obi-Wan "M… Master, can I speak with you?" Leo asked him.

"Of course." Obi-Wan and Leo walked a distance away from everyone "What is it?"

"Have you… have you ever encountered a jedi with battle meditation?" Leo asked him.

Obi-Wan stroked his beard curious "No, that ability has not been seen within the Jedi for nigh a millennia, but it would help us why?" He asked.

Leo gulped "Padawan?" Kenobi asked him.

"Master Krell, he told me not to say… he believes I have that ability and how it explains how I'm able to fight so hard." Leo blurted out quickly, at first Obi-Wan stared at him speechless.

Then scratched his beard thinking as he usually did "Interesting?"

"If it is true, that would mean you would have to meditate away from the coming battle?" He said to Leo who was now confused "But, I'm able to use it in combat?"

"That's the issue, when a Jedi uses battle meditation while fighting, they dance incredibly close to the dark side, the conflict fuels anger and bloodlust that would send all those around you into a frenzy." Obi-Wan said as Leo remembered the clone who had attacked him and nearly killed the surrendered Geonosian.

Obi-Wan saw the anxiety Leo was having "Has Master Krell not told you of this danger?" Obi-Wan asked him, Leo shook his head "He told me to use it while I fought?" Leo said.

Kenobi looked at the boy "... when the battle begins, hide yourself in the bar."

"What?" Leo almost yelled "But Master, I should be fighting you'll need me?"

"If we do I'll signal you, but if your battle meditation is what you say it is we won't need it." Obi-Wan said walking away leaving Leo to obey.

An hour later his training seemed to have started paying off, as the group was now working in almost perfect sync. Obi-Wan walked between two rows and gently took the staff from one of the farmers before correcting with a small demonstration. Sugi watched them as the cliff overlooked the village, a pirate scout was overlooking the village.

"Fixing for a fight are we?" The pirate asked.

Just then his binoculars caught a glint of the sun, she looked up at the small cliff behind them and her eyes widened. "There! A scout!" she exclaimed, pointing at the cliff.

The others turned their heads to where she was pointing as a figure started to flee. "Embo!" she ordered.

The bounty hunter immediately took off in the scouts' direction, the four Jedi plus Sugi caught up to him just as he dropped the dead scout. "Quick work." Anakin complimented Embo turned to face them and said something in his language.

"Yes, but when this scout fails to report to Hondo he'll be coming, soon." Obi-Wan warned, once they made it back to the village it was time to start getting ready. Most of the villagers started getting ready to defend the village while the others ran to the safety of their homes. Leo made his way to the energy fence with his master and Sugi, as Anakin and Embo met them there.

"The farmers are in position, the ones who stuck around anyway." the Knight informed. "Very well, Anakin turn on the fence." Obi-Wan said as he looked over at Leo who ran towards the barn.

Anakin noticed "Wait where's Leo going?" Anakin asked "Don't worry, I have a plan."

Anakin did so and it surrounded most of the village, with only the Jedi, bounty hunters and participating farmers on the outside of it, suddenly the seven warriors spotted the pirates all mounted on their speeder bikes at the top of the hill which led into the villagers valley.

"Battle positions, everyone!" Sugi called out Anakin ignited his saber as the pirates zoomed into the village.

Sugi and Embo ran towards them, with her starting to shoot them Embo kicked the shooter off one and hitched a ride on it. Up in the barn, Leo looked out the window to see the battle had started, taking a deep breath he sat down and rested his heart thinking of his battle meditation.

Taking a deep breath he started to focus, drawing on the force within him and the thing that drove his battle meditation. The one thing he held onto every time he fought not the fear of death, not the desire to fight for a cause something else entirely which only he knew.

Outside the pirates were coming in and out of the village on their bikes, Ahsoka was deflecting shots past the retreating farmers as Seripas turned his saw on and the one farmer beside them readied it's slingshot. Two more of the farmers were in harvesters and one on the cliff signalled them. Ahsoka deflected a few bolts as she and the other three retreated when the two harvesters brought down two large fungus, causing the pirates to crash into them and explode.

Seripas turned his attention to the only pirate that managed to get out of the way in time as the two traded blasts. His armor eventually took too much damage, luckily he managed to get out in time and land on the pirates' head. The padawan and one farmer caught up to him as they noticed the pirate laying on the ground and the bounty hunter dropped onto the ground after letting go of one of the handlebars. The three smiled at his way of dealing with the pirate.

Obi-Wan and Sugi were holding their own against the swoop bikes using his lightsaber to deflect the shots when a pair of pirates on one bike, Leo's battle mediation started to affect the pirates making them lose aim when they could have shot Sugi. Came at them, Obi-Wan used the force to throw them off the bike and into one of the electrical fences. Some of the villagers were even getting affected by the pirates' ground forces, the farmers charged with pitchforks against their blasters using their training to overwhelm them.

Leo could feel the battle starting to turn, the farmers were falling back when suddenly a tank blast knocked Embo away and snapped Leo out of his meditation. "Embo!" Anakin called out in worry when the bounty hunter rolled a bit after hitting the ground. The others rushed over to him. Hondo was on the cliff side in a ground tank wreaking havoc on the village.

"Embo you'll be alright, we'll get you inside." Sugi said showing she cared for her men "Everyone, fall back to the barn, Leo get ready to help us!" Obi-Wan ordered as.

"That tank is going to tear the villagers apart." Sugi said in worry as she helped Embo stand and get to the barn.

Leo came down from the upstairs and ran out just as Sugi spoke, "Ahsoka get the villagers inside, Leo runs around the village trying to out flank Hondo I'll take him head on." Anakin said

Hondo started taking shots towards the Jedi who were running straight for them, Leo was already obeying Anakin's orders running to the back of the village and starting to run through the woods as Anakin used the force to propel himself up onto the cliff. "Die Jedi scum!" The pirate yelled as Anakin quickly dodged the canon fire and jumped onto the tank.

When Anakin confronted him, the pirate leader activated his electrostaff and brought one of it's ends down. Anakin Dodged the swipe before pushing the Weequay back a few feet. Hondo stepped back up to him quickly, Anakin blocked two slashes and jumped over a third one. The tank's cannon suddenly moved and blasted the barns' roof, he snarled at Ohnaka before stabbing his saber through the small opening. After hearing a startled cry he quickly brought his saber up to block more slashes. The two kept blocking each other's attacks when the cannon fired that the whole tank started to swivel, both focused on keeping their balance Hondo raised his foot up and attempted to push the Anakin into the tank, luckily he managed to grab onto the sides. Hondo advanced on him but the Knight placed his foot on the middle of the staff and pushed the pirate back. Anakin gripped the sides to flip himself backward and onto his feet as Ohnaka brought one of the staff ends down. The padawan suddenly felt pain in his leg, looking down he saw Hondo's pet monkey-lizard biting him.

Leo was almost there and could see Anakin was starting to struggle as the tank started to fire wildly, when he looked at Hondo he couldn't get the look the Captain had given him.

Hondo looked at it as it flew past him before turning his attention back to his opponent, Anakin ducked a slash before backflipping off the tank and onto the cliff. "Your situation is hopeless Skywalker" the pirate laughed as Ohnaka smirked at him as his pet jumped onto Anakin face, who cried out in surprise. The creature quickly crawled onto his leg and started biting it again when he attempted to get it off his face. The Knight quickly reached down and grabbed it by the neck before tossing it into the air as he attempted to slash it as it came back down, Hondo blocked his blade before using his foot to push him back.

Anakin wasn't able to recover quickly to attack but was able to grab the pirates' staff with his free hand and push back with his saber hilt, he immediately realized something and smirked at the gang lord. When Hondo stabbed at him again, Anakin ducked and rolled out of the way, causing the pirate to lose his balance and tumble forward before sliding over the edge of the cliff. Hondo managed to grab the edge and was now dangling off it as Anakin walked up to him glaring.

Down below the pirates saw Hondo hanging on for dear life "The Captain!" One pirate said before they started to fallback.

"Help me!" the pirate begged, the padawan only glared at him.

"Skywalker, let's call off my men." Ohnaka tried again, holding his hand out for help, Leo came up just as Anakin turned off his lightsaber and took the pirates' hand. Hondo suddenly shoved him back after letting go of his hand before getting out of the way. Anakin turned his head in time to see the cannon shoot at him, he backflipped just as the blast hit the ground and crouched as he landed below the cliff.

Ahsoka and Obi-Wan ran up with Sugi and two Felucians ran up to him as he stood before they all looked up at Hondo standing on the cliffs' edge as Leo hid behind one of the bubble trees. As he saw a massive weequay saucer heading toward them the pirates ship. Hondo walked up to the edge and looked down at the villagers who'd defeated him with the hunters and jedi help.

"This effort is no longer profitable!" Hondo called down over the wind as his saucer appeared behind him before he turned around to see Leo cutting off his exit.

Leo held up his lightsaber drawn to him "How do you know?!" Leo asked over the winds kicked up by the saucers, Hondo saw one of his pirates on a ramp with a blaster pointed at Leo's back but Hondo raised his hand.

"I don't know you but I know who you are." Hondo told him "People keep telling me they know what I am, but I already know I'm a jedi!" Leo barked at him.

Hondo let out a gigantic laugh "Is that what the Jedi told you, why don't you ask them then huh boyo?" Hondo asked him walking up to the boy "Ask them what?"

"I don't see why, they won't tell you anyway but I will." Hondo said reaching behind his back bowing holding out his hand

Leo lowered his lightsaber "Tell me what?"

"That I, the illustrious Captain Hondo Ohnaka… knew your parents." Hondo said, Leo's entire guard dropped "My father?" Hondo ripped out a blaster pistol and pointed it right at Leo and squeezed the trigger at point blank range, Leo managed to get out of the way just in time for it to his shoulder "AAH!" Leo yelled, hitting the dirt.

Hondo laughed maniacally dropping the blaster and walking to his ship "Next time we meet, I'll tell you about him." Hondo said before he boarded his ship.

Leo laid there in the dirt watching the ship fly away having failed to capture Hondo, he got up and shook his head before returning to the village. A while later the Jedi and the bounty hunters, without Rumi who had unfortunately perished from one of Hondo's cannon blasts. - were now standing in front of the barn as Casiss spoke to most of the villagers who fought.

"There are crops to harvest fields to till, hearts to rebuild now let's get to work." As the villagers left he turned around to the Jedi and bounty hunters.

"How can I ever thank you for saving our village?" he asked humbly. "We didn't save your village, Casiss your people did." Anakin said with a kind smirk.

"For the first time in my memory, my people don't need to be afraid we will never forget you." he promised with a grateful bow before walking off to help the villagers.

Sugi stepped in front of the two older Jedi with a soft smile on her face. "I seem to find myself light on company, still need that ride back to the republic outpost?" she asked them.

"If it wouldn't be any inconvenience?" Obi-Wan asked with a lighthearted smirk.

"On the contrary, it would be my pleasure." she replied and gestured towards the ship, the group then made their way onto it. Beside the ship, Leo was having his arm put into a sling by Ahsoka "So do you collect scars, cause this is knew one right?" She asked him, but Leo didn't say anything; he just remembered what Hondo said.

When she was finished "Let's just go home, we have a war to fight." He said following them onto the ship.

After they got up onto the ship Obi-Wan saw something was bothering Leo "You did well today Leo, I believe your theory of your Battle Meditation was correct?"

"Battle Meditation?" Anakin asked "Yes it appears Leo has been keeping secrets from us?" Obi-Wan said playfully in jest.

"Jedi know everything about keeping secrets, don't they master?" Leo said looking at him "Pardon?" Obi-Wan asked him.

Leo smiled then "Just a joke master, it's all just a joke." He said as they took off back to the Republic.

HONDO'S SHIP

Hondo walked into his ship's private quarters letting his pet swing up onto a small apartment in the corner. Hondo sat down on a fine bed and pulled a bottle out from under his pillow and turned on his holocommunicator as he took a drink.

"Hello, old friend I must say I wouldn't be calling you considering everyone we know wants you dead?" Hondo said as he took a sip of his bottle.

"But I ran into someone verrrry interesting and I need to tell you about it." Hondo said, smiling up "For a price."

I think we may go into a few episodes of Season three and end it before Heroes on Both Sides.