Synopsis: Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano are dispatched to rescue Jabba's son.

Mine and Obi-Wan's starfighters came out of hyperspace to the planet of Tatooine. "That's a lot of sand," I commented.

"Yes, and a lot of filth, too," Obi-Wan replied.

Obi-Wan's astromech beeped.

"Don't worry," Obi-Wan reassured the droid. "I'm sure Jabba's in a good mood."

"And if he's not?" I asked.

"Then we'll get to that."

We descended into the atmosphere and landed on a rock just outside the entryway of Jabba's fortress. The door opened and a protocol droid came out, along with several sentients.

"We should not keep the wise and powerful Jabba waiting," the droid said.

"I wouldn't dream of it," Obi-Wan replied and, after exchanging a look with me, followed them into the fortress.

"Mighty Jabba, one of our most powerful Jedi is on his way to rescue your son," my master told the slug-like Hutt. "We will not let you down."

The Hutt said something in his language. "The most gracious Jabba has one more small condition," the droid translated. "He demands you bring back the slime who kidnapped his little punky muffin."

I raised an eyebrow. Punky muffin?

"Punky?" Obi-Wan asked amusedly.

Jabba talked some more. "Dead or alive," the droid told us. I exchanged a look with Obi-Wan.

Jabba said something else. "If you do not succeed, Count Dooku and his droid army will."

An hour later, we stood outside the fortress, addressing Anakin and Ahsoka. "All right, Anakin, here's the story: Jabba has given us one planetary rotation to get his son back home to Tatooine safe and sound."

"Won't take us that long, Master," Anakin told him.

"Be careful," I told him. "We don't know who we're dealing with, for all we know it could be the Separatists themselves."

"Nothing we haven't handled before," Anakin said winningly.

"They know how detrimental to the war this is, Anakin. If they are behind this, they're going to be guarding the huttlet with astronomical forces."

"When we've finished negotiations with Jabba, we'll come in to help you," Obi-Wan said, and we shut the hologram off.

We climbed into our star fighters. Obi-Wan's droid beeped.

"I know, R4. I want to get out of here too," Obi-Wan told the droid, and we took off.

We flew into the hangar of the Resolute. "Commander, tell Admiral Yularen to get underway," Obi-Wan told Cody. "We need to reinforce Anakin."

"Right away, sir," Cody replied.

"Vaessa, contact them," Obi-Wan ordered.

"Right away, Master," I replied, pulling up a hologram of Anakin and Ahsoka.

"Hello, Vaessa. Obi-Wan," Anakin greeted.

"Anakin, did you locate Jabba's son?" Obi-Wan asked.

"We have him, but it looks like the separatists are behind his abduction," Anakin informed us. "This smells like Count Dooku to me."

"I think it's little Stinky you smell," Ahsoka corrected. I bit back a laugh.

"I'll bet Dooku is using Jabba to join the Separatists," Obi-Wan said, stroking his beard.

"Master Kenobi, we have another problem," Ahsoka said gravely. "This huttlet is very sick."

"I'm not sure we can get him back to Tatooine alive, Master," Anakin told us. "This whole rescue may backfire on us. I still don't think dealing with the Hutts is a good idea."

"Anakin, you know they control shipping routes in the outer rim," my master said. "Jabba's co-operation is crucial to the war effort. If you let anything happen to his son, our chances of a treaty with him will disappear."

Ahsoka looked up. The blue on her montrals paled, which I've learnt from Emeryx means she's frightened. "Master? We've got trouble!"

"Defensive positions!" a clone - probably Rex - shouted.

"Anakin?" my master asked.

"I'll have to call you back, master!" Anakin said with his voice raised. "We're under attack. We could use a little help here if you have the time!"

"We'll get there as soon as we can. Protect the Hutt, Anakin!" And the hologram shut off.

"Do you think they'll be okay?" I asked.

"Anakin's gotten out of worse situations," Obi-Wan replied, but he looked worried.

We flew through the crossfire on Teth. It wasn't easy, even for Jedi. I held the vulture droids off Obi-Wan as he contacted Anakin. "Anything?" I asked.

"No. I contacted him, but it was just a lot of static. They're jamming our transmissions. I hope him and Ahsoka are having an easier time than we are."

"It looks like there's a battle on the east side of the planet," Obi-Wan informed me.

"I see it, Master," I replied.

"And if there's a battle, Anakin's probably in the middle of it," Obi-Wan explained. "We'll start looking for him there. All ships, follow me."

We zoomed towards the sound of gunfire. "Commander Cody, prepare the gunships for ground assault!" my master ordered.

"Yes, sir," Cody replied.

We zoomed towards a fire fight, taking out the droids before jumping out of our fighters to join the battle on the ground.

"Where's Anakin?" I asked Captain Rex.

"Best guess is he's still in the castle, sir!" Rex replied.

"Vaessa, Rex, keep the droids occupied!" Obi-Wan ordered. "I'll go find him!" And he ran off.

Captain Rex pressed a hand to ear. "Er... I'll pass you to the Commander, General," he said, and my comlink started beeping.

"Vaessa?" Anakin's startled voice said.

"Anakin?" I asked. "Where are you?"

"Leaving the planet. I'm sorry, but we're not going to be able to help you -"

"What?" I asked. "Why?"

"Me and Ahsoka have to get the huttlet to a Medbay."

"You and Ahsoka?" I asked, shocked. "Where's Obi-Wan?"

"I thought he'd already gotten out," Anakin said, panicked.

"He went inside to look for you!" I said angrily.

"What?!" Anakin sounded really worried now.

"Urgh," I groaned. "I'll go get him."

I ran into the fortress to find Obi-Wan and Ventress locked in combat. I ducked behind a pillar, waiting so I could achieve the element of surprise.

"You'll have to do better than that, my darling," Obi-Wan taunted. If it wouldn't have given away my position, I would have thrown up.

The two continued to battle until Ventress had Obi-Wan against a pillar, without a lightsaber, hers pointed at his throat. I force summoned his and threw it at him.

"Huh?" Ventress said, looking in my direction, but I had already hidden. It gave Obi-Wan the surprise he needed for the upper hand, though, and they continued duelling.

They jumped up to a platform. Just as Obi-Wan was about to fall, I jumped up and blocked Ventress' lightsabers.

"Vaessa Orin," Ventress said in surprise. "Count Dooku's told me about you."

"Glad he thinks I'm that important," I snarled, and the three of us continued duelling.

Eventually, despite being outnumbered, Ventress had the upper hand. Me and Obi-Wan leapt out a nearby window. Ventress followed us out.

She looked up, shocked. "I sense it too," Obi-Wan told her. "Anakin is gone. You've failed, Ventress!"

She attacked again, this time with great amounts of anger. "Your master will not be pleased," Obi-Wan taunted. I knew what he was trying to do, but he was playing a dangerous game.

We disarmed Ventress of one of her lightsabers. "Jedi scum," she snarled.

"The Hutt is safe," Obi-Wan told her. "There's no point in fighting any longer. We've won. Lay down your weapon."

All of a sudden, droid came and picked her up.

"Are we going to follow her, master?" I asked.

He shook his head. "No. This battle is won, she just refuses to admit it."

"Captain! I understand General Skywalker escaped?" my master asked Rex.

"Yes, sir! On some beat up droid freighter! I'll be surprised if he even makes it to Tatooine on that Junker!"

"If anyone can fly a bucket of bolts through hyperspace, he can!" Obi-Wan replied.

"He's probably gonna keep it," I informed Rex. "He likes fixing up pieces of junk."

"Vaessa, contact Master Yoda!" Obi-Wan ordered.

"Will do," I replied, finding shelter. A hologram of Master Yoda appeared on my comlink. "Master!"

"Padawan Orin, victory have you found?" he asked.

"Anakin has reached Tatooine with the Huttlet, Master, but he's still in grave danger," I answered. "Separatist troops are desperate to intercept him. I think this whole plot was engineered by Dooku to convince Jabba we kidnapped his son."

"If believe this, the Hutts do, then end our chances of a treaty with them, this will," Yoda replied. "Join Dooku and the separatists, Jabba will, yes."

"That would be a disaster," the Chancellor stated. "We must have this alliance with the Hutts to win the war in the Outer Rim."

"In Skywalker is the Republic's only hope," Yoda said gravely. "Return Jabba's son, he must."

"Anakin's experience with the Hutts should help," Obi-Wan said from beside me. "He'll come through." And the hologram shut off.

"Master, what do you mean by experience?" I asked.

Obi-Wan sighed. "That's not for me to tell."

I nodded. I wasn't going to ask anyone for someone else's backstory without permission. I knew more than anyone that somethings are just meant to stay secret.