Barriss had never been to Tatooine before, the first thing that registered in her mind and body was the heat. The scorching blistering heat. It was almost unbearable, she could only imagine how Tanuk would have dealt with the heat had he not elected stay with the ship while the others use Brytt's old contacts to aid them in evading the Republic.

While Brytt met up with one of his old followers, the others split up. Barriss and Slick entered Mos Eisley Cantina to catch up on the news over the past couple days. Cayde however, went looking for a new disguise to cover his cybernetic arm. Although he and the others are presumably thought to be dead, a man with a light bronze arm might be a giveaway.

Barriss and Slick gathered around a bounty terminal along with a few of the locals in Mos Eisleys Cantina. Flicking through the available bounties, most of the targets were what you'd expect; convicts, those who owed the Hutts credits, but then the image of Obi Wan Kenobi appeared and the Mirialan girl's eyes widened in shock. Another swipe and this image was of Grand Master Yoda himself, then one of Quenlin Vos, Caleb Dume, Eith Koth, Rahm Kota.

A few dozen Jedi, masters, knights, padawans, even younglings. Barriss was sick to her stomach thinking who would set a bounty on children. "I can't believe it…" She kept scrolling, her mind now hyperactive to process the images at the speed she was swiping. "Please be here, please be here, please be here"

However, Luminara Undili was not on the list. Barriss slumped in her seat, defeated. Would it have been different if she were there with her master? She had no way of knowing. Barriss just closed her eyes, shuddered in a deep breath and held it for a full minute before slowly exhaling.

"Patience" was all she could say to herself. She could not lose hope now, not after her talk with Tanuk. Masters Yoda and Kenobi were still alive, perhaps she could search for them. She had no idea where to start but her mind told her to find them.

'Binks'

No. The force would not allow her to divert from her path now. Another deep breath and her thoughts were now clear. She still had to find Jar Jar Binks. But why him? As far as reputation goes, he was clumsy, aloof, difficult to understand even for a Gungan. Many people in the galaxy already despise him for putting forward the notion to give the Supreme Chancellor emergency powers. What did he have to do with her?

Slick tested his curiosity and started looking at bounties in the same category as Jedi, what he saw at the bottom of the list, he couldn't understand.

CT-1409. Clone Force 99.

Clones. Specifically, a squad of mutated clones nicknamed The Bad Batch. The Sargent had heard rumours of these augmented troopers as early as the battle of Christophsis, even then, the idea sounded farfetched. What could they have done to be put on a wanted list? Were they like him? Did they refuse to be used as pawns in a war they didn't understand? Slick knew they would have answers, he just didn't know the questions.

The pair's silent thoughts were broken when a gunshot caused everyone in the cantina to either duck or to look at the source of the blast. Barriss and Slick's eyes widened in shock.

Brytt was crouching on one knee as a skinny Rhodian took a step towards him and leveled a blaster to his head. Barriss reached out with both hands and force pushed the gunman against the bar. The sound of breaking bones sent shivers down her spine, she was certain she had broken his back. Slick ran towards Brytt and attempted to lift the warrior Houk to his feet, but he struggled greatly.

Surprisingly, Brytt was incredibly calm. "Ahh don't worry yourself about little old me, tank bred. A shot to the knee is nothing, gimme an hour or so and I'll be fine." He then grabbed the bar to hoist himself up. He then looked over at the Rhodian squirming on the floor with his hands on his back, the crippled man didn't even have time to react to the Houk's foot crushing his windpipe.

"This sleemo scum was one of my men during my time as champion. Kriffin tried to take me back to the Neamoidians" He spat, trying to shuffle over to an abandoned drink before necking it down in one gulp.

Barriss ignored him, her biggest worry was the look on patrons faces. They clearly saw her use the force. "We need to leave"

Brytt grabbed a wooden barstool and ripped one of the legs off, using it as a makeshift cane to aid his walking. "C'mon, clone. Gimme a hand"

"Right" Slick said as he brought himself under the large Houk's arm. "See if Tanuk can get the engine started, we'll also need him to contact Cayde.

Barriss opened her comm. "Tanuk, we've been made. Finish refueling and get ready to go when we arrive. Make contact with Cayde and inform him of our situation"

"Meesa tryin! Hissa comm channel no working!"

"Karabast!" Brytt screamed as he put pressure on his shot leg. He ushered for Slick to let go as he leaned against the bar once more. "On second thought, I don't think I'm getting outta here so soon. You two go, I'll make my way home from here, it'll take more than a few thugs to take down a Houk"

Barriss rushed over and knelt down at Brytt's knee before clasping her hands around it.

'Please. Let me save him' She pleaded to the cosmic force.

A few seconds and nothing happened. She closed her eyes and tried to focus again. This time, she felt herself being physically drained a little. This was a good sign, this means her healing powers were working. Sacrificing her own life force to save his. For once, she thought of master Windu and one of his teachings 'A Jedi's life is sacrifice' he would say. There were many examples throughout the war of Jedi sacrificing themselves, even Ashoka and herself destroyed the Genonosian droid factory with no hope of escape. Fortunately, they both survived, it was a lesson in multiple subjects for her. One lesson was that a Jedi's life is sacrifice, the second lesson was how unemotional Jedi should be. Compared to the bond between Ashoka and master Skywalker, she learned that the conventional bond between a master and apprentice isn't normally as close.

More blaster fire disrupted Barriss' concentration, she had only hoped she had done enough. "How do you feel now?"

In one mighty huff, Brytt stood. Still limping a little, he flipped a table and grabbed the former Jedi and soldier away from the firing line and behind the table. "I'm feelin pretty good, kid. There's only a couple of em, lemme draw their fire and I'll meet you at the ship"

The padawan opened her mouth to protest, only to have Brytt's large finger placed upon her lips. "It's okay kid. You helped me, let me do the same"

"We have to go!" Slick urged as he grabbed Barriss by her forearm.

And just like that, they rushed to the exit. The sound of blaster fire was drowned out by the old Houk warrior's menacing laugh followed by the sound of furniture breaking. Barriss owed it to him to not look back, to do so would be an insult to his sacrifice.

The sound of The Sliver Lining's engines warming up was music to Slick's ears as he and Barriss turned into the entrance of hanger B, sprinting for the cargo ramp. Barriss' eyes darted around before running to the cockpit. "Where's Cayde?" she asked Tanuk.

The Gungan closed his eye "Heesa never showed. Meesa try and try and try and hissa comm still offline"

Barriss felt cold. Where could he have gone? Was he captured? Is he dead?

Once again, her thoughts were interrupted by blaster fire for the third time today as a group of five bounty hunters made their way into the hanger and opened fire.

"Clone! Youssa need to use the big boomer Canon!" Tanuk commanded as the cargo bay door slowly closed.

"On it!" Slick obeyed. His training kicking in once again.

Barriss protested "Brytt and Cayde are still out there!" She reached for Tanuk's shoulder only for him to smack her hand away.

"If weesa wait any longer, weesa gonna die! Weesa goin now" He glared before relaxing his eye and placing his hand on her shoulder instead. His voice now softer than usual. "Youssa have to have hope"

Barriss frantically looked all around her, hoping to find a solution to save her new friends.

'Binks' The force reminded her

"Please, not yet."

'Binks' her inner voice said again.

With a deep breath, Barriss relented and sat down in the co-pilot's chair. "Fine." Was all she could mumble almost out of earshot.

As the Silver Lining flew over Mos Eisley, Barriss looked down at the sanded down streets and wondered where Cayde and Brytt could be. She would be back for them, that was a promise. Until then, she had a destination. "Tanuk… I have a suggestion where to go next. Set course for Ohma-D'un"