The team breathed deeply back in the building of the inn. Dead bodies of clones adorned the floor all around them. Despite the Rebel band's fresh zeal and determination, it didn't look as if they had been in such scathing situations before, and it showed in their trauma. No one had died from their side. Fortunately.

And for that, they were grateful to the trio. Padme, Ahsoka and Anakin sat down on the floor. Anakin found himself bewildered by the events. Somethings just didn't seem right.

'It's not safe here,' Ahsoka finally said.

Anakin thought downwards, "I... agree."

'Padme you stay back, Ahsoka and I will cover you.'

Padme looked at him, with a surprised 'What about me?'. But Anakin answered by very determinately saying,

'Padme, you will stay here protected up in the the topmost floor with 3PO. Padme, you must do as I say. You have to.'

Padme's natural instinct was to defy the five years younger Anakin… the sweet little boy she met on Tatooine… 'Don't act too big for your boots, Ani.' But she could no longer regard him so. The changed man, who was so minacious and petrifying, and. She couldn't risk their baby. So she walked upstairs.

Anakin turned to another woman. He was no expert at convincing people, but he said, 'Take care of her. Please.'

'What?' Said the woman. 'I want to be part of the fighting. This is my duty. For this city and Eriadu!'

But the half unconscious Jor said, 'Feri, you will get your chance. We will help these - " he now looked at the trio with respect for saving their lives and that of their cause they would pursue, 'brave strangers, leave this planet, soon at any cost. You can rejuvenate and save your energy to truly outshine yourself when, we at the highest breaking point, will end the occupation of the tyrants here!'

She still looked obstinate, but she nodded. Feri walked up the stairs to take care of Padme. She would have to also deal with the paranoid and terrified C-3PO upstairs.

Ahsoka and Anakin had walked with their recently formed team to the lane outside. Presently, it was peaceful; but no one was there.

But the streets were all broken down. The clones in their rush to search had crashed down the public systems – many people had probably been arrested.

Anakin was tired of not using his lightsaber. It was still in the pocket of his new tunic… but he knew he had to use it now - if there were too many Tibanna gas packs of blue laser firing at once upon them. These Rebels could not be trusted, Anakin knew.

Or could they? Ahsoka thought so – despite their naivety, she sensed a goodness within them and their gratitude for the trio who had saved their lives.

So the lanes were empty; possible the people had run, if they had not already been arrested.

But a man saw them. He wore traditional robes. He was old and his face displayed an expression that it had been stomped upon by the extension of the Imperial imposition here.

Anakin looked prepared to attack a possible threat, but the band were more hesitant to fight one of their own. While the younger members seemed scared, on the edge and able to act on misguided instinct, Jor seemed the most calm and understanding. But the man then said,

"Brothers, you must know what… has happened…" in broken phrases.

"What has happened my friend? Other than our city been destroyed and ravaged by the Empire, these tyrants."

"Councillor Voax's daughter has been kidnapped…. By pro-Imperial groups in this city… Voax has made himself a target for the Empire. Their cowardly move is to hold his girl… she wouldn't be older than seven… hostage."

"It's natural, Jor," said the woman, Keisz, if Ahsoka had heard correctly – the one who spoke to Jor in the beginning of their meeting. "The Empire doesn't want to formally infringe onto a respected politician… they will use proxies, to avoid responsibility. And even on Phellar, there have always been radical militant groups that will be pro empire – they justified numerous excesses during the war, which we all condemned."

"The Sons of the Chancellor: they have been informally called," said another rebel of the group.

"We must save the girl! The Councillor has always stood up for us; it's time we help him now." Jor empathically said. Keisz fervently nodded in agreement.

Jor asked Ahsoka and Anakin, "Friends, you helped us so much. We do not know where you come from, but I sense you've been in danger, trying to find your way. Help us find and rescue the Councillor's daughter. And we can provide you transport and even new identities among our allies in different planets."

Ahsoka turned to Anakin, "We have to help them save her, Anakin! She's a little girl!"

"We need to go back to Padme." Anakin said. "We have no position in this conflict. We have our part in the war far away in the centre."

"Anakin..." Ahsoka said. "You've always protected children - and you will have to now - more than ever." It was dangerous probing down Anakin like this - and delving into his intimate sentimentalities - but she braved the effort.

Ahsoka's hint struck Anakin. She appealed to him somewhere he hadn't been noticing of. Padme. That has been his priority. But there something more to them than each other. Something that was going to supplement their family. If they ever could keep a family that was normal in the mess they were in.

He couldn't throw it away.