Ahsoka watched Hoth get closer and closer as The Twilight neared its destination. Standing with her Master in the ship's bridge gave her a great view of the planet.

"Why are so many planets just one thing?" she wondered aloud, "Hoth's all tundra, Coruscant's all city and Tatooine's all desert."

"It's best if you don't think about it." Anakin said.

The Jedi and his Padawan had been sent to Hoth to capture the Sith assassin, Asajj Ventress, after a republic scout droid had spotted her at an old Separatist outpost on the planet.

"Once we get down there, it'd be best if we stuck close together." Anakin said, "That'd give us a better chance of defeating her."

"Once we capture her, then what?" Ahsoka asked.

"I suppose that's up to the Council." Anakin said, "But she'll most likely be executed."

"Cheery." Ahsoka shuddered.

"General Skywalker, General Tano." the voice of a Clone Trooper caught the pair's attention. They turned to face the soldier, "We'll be landing soon."

Ahsoka pulled a thick white cloak over her uniform as she stepped out into Hoth's freezing atmosphere. Anakin pulled his robe's hood up.

"Thank you, heated body armour." Captain Rex spoke, following the two Generals, leading a battalion of the 501st. "Alright sir, what's the plan?"

Anakin pulled a holopad out of his robe's pocket. "The map says the Separatist outpost is just North - through that cave." he said, having to raise his voice over the wind, "If you take half of your men through the cave, then Ahsoka and I'll go around with the rest. Or we could go through and you go around, it's up to you."

"I'll take my men through the cave." Rex decided, "If we run into any trouble, I'll activate my distress signal and try to make it back here."

"We'll do the same." Ahsoka said.

"If you run into Ventress then contact us, but retreat first. Your lives are more important than a victory." Anakin ordered.

"Yes sir." Rex saluted, before turning to the other Clone Troopers, "Alright boys, here's the plan..."

"So, what do you think Ventress is doing at a Separatist base?" Ahsoka asked her Master as Rex organised his troops.

"If I had to guess, she's looking for clues as to Dooku's whereabouts. Last I checked, she's not a big fan of the Count." Anakin answered.

"Can't we just let them kill eachother?" Ahsoka groaned.

"Unfortunately... no." Anakin chuckled.

Anakin lead his troops around the cave, passing through a foggy valley. He had ordered the Clones to activate thermal vision, as visibility was severely reduced in the fog.

"General Skywalker!" one Clone stopped him, "We're nearing the Clanker outpost."

"So we are." Anakin checked his map. "Everyone be on guard."

Ahsoka grabbed her lightsabers, ready to activate them at a moment's notice.

The group finally exited the fog, their vision clearing. Before them was the abandoned outpost, but no apparent sign of Ventress. Anakin turned to his battalion, counting them. "Alright, everyone split into groups of five. While Ahsoka and I search the outpost, you split up and look for any trace of her. If she isn't here, she can't have gotten far."

The Clones did as their General asked, each small squad dispersing to search for the assassin. Ahsoka followed her Master into the outpost.

"Oh, I recognise this." Ahsoka looked around, "We've been here before."

"Oh yeah. We approached from the other way last time, right?" Anakin said.

"I'm glad we didn't this time. Climbing up that mountain made my legs hurt for a week." Ahsoka laughed.

"Look. Rex should come out of that cave here." Anakin pointed to a cave entrance.

"If he hasn't gotten-- Woah!" Ahsoka rolled just in time to avoid being crushed by a boulder. Looking up, she spotted a familiar figure standing atop a hillock. She and Anakin ignited their weapons.

Ventress did the same, descending down to meet her adversaries. "I was hoping to be left alone." she spoke.

"Why are you here?" Anakin demanded. Ahsoka noticed how he shifted his weight so that he was leaning closer to her, ready to defend her.

"I'm sure you can guess." Ventress answered. "Can we get this over with?"

"Gladly." Ahsoka answered for Anakin.

Ventress charged at Ahsoka, but Anakin stepped in her way, blocking a strike from her blades.

Then, Anakin side-stepped, opening Ventress up for an attack from Ahsoka. The Padawan swung her shoto lightsaber high, then her other lightsaber low. Her attack forces Ventress to jump backwards, allowing Anakin to catch her off guard.

Anakin swung his lightsaber at Ventress' side - an attack that she was barely able to block. Then, he landed a punch from his robotic hand right in her gut.

Ventress recoiled. Now on the backfoot, she began looking for a way to escape. Anakin was on the offensive, but he was ready to defend against any incoming attacks.

However, Ahsoka had her eyes off of Ventress and on her Master. Taking her opportunity, Ventress dashed to Ahsoka, slashing with her lightsabers.

Ahsoka dodged, but not fast enough. Ventress' attack - while not deep - left a cut across Ahsoka's stomach. Ventress then raised her weapon to strike again, but a shot to her shoulder stopped her from killing the Padawan.

Rex lowered his blaster. "Fire!" he commanded. His men opened fire on Ventress, who managed to block a few bolts before being forced to retreat.

Anakin didn't chase her. Instead, he was trying to comfort his wounded apprentice, who was now laying on the snowy ground.

"Snips? Are you alright?"

Ahsoka couldn't answer. It was taking all she had not to scream, let alone talk. Anakin noticed that Ventress' lightsaber had immediately cauterized Ahsoka's wound, which brought him some relief. Now it was just the internal bleeding he was worried about.

"We'll get you back to the ship." Anakin nodded, pricking his appreciate up bridal-style. "Rex, gather your men up and meet us back there!"

"Of course, sir." Rex nodded, before activating his comm-link.

Anakin had run all the way back to the ship in the freezing cold, carrying his Padawan. He pushed the door to the medical bay open with the Force, before rushing Ahsoka over to a cot.

"What is her ailment?" a medical droid asked.

"Lightsaber wound. Possible internal bleeding." Anakin lowered Ahsoka onto the cot. By now, the Padawan had passed out. "Hurry!"

"There are limited supplies on our current vessel. May I suggest visiting a medical cent--"

"We don't have time for this!" Anakin barked.

"Then I will have to ask you to stand outside."

Anakin waited for what seemed like hours. Rex and the rest of the 501st returned and Anakin ordered for the ship to return to Coruscant.

"What about Ventress, sir?" Rex asked.

"I said lives were more important than a victory and I meant it." Anakin replied.

The Twilight entered hyperspace just as the medical droid exited the medical bay.

"Well?" Anakin asked.

"Minor internal bleeding detected. I have done what I can, but--" the droid replied..

"I get it." Anakin interrupted. The droid headed back to its post.

"How is she?" Rex returned with a flask for Anakin.

"She's... she will be fine." Anakin answered, before taking a drink from the flask.

"You've received a call from General Windu." Rex informed him.

"Oh." Anakin sighed, before heading to the bridge.

"You wanted to talk, Master Windu?" Anakin said, switching on the large hologram-projector on the bridge.

"General Skywalker." Windu greeted. From the looks of it, he was sat in the Council's chamber on Coruscant, "Were you successful in apprehending Asajj Ventress?"

"No, Master." Anakin replied.

Master Windu sighed. "Don't blame yourself, Skywalker. That Ventress has escaped even from our best Knights. I expect a full mission report."

Anakin knew that Windu would change his tune once he heard Anakin's reason for defeat. Gulping, he began, "We located Ventress at the Separatist outpost - the information was correct. She managed to get the drop on me and Ahsoka, but we fought her off. Ventress wounded my Padawan, so I aborted the mission to protect her."

"What you're saying is that you chose to save your apprentice instead of apprehending the target?" Windu summarised, a grim look on his face.

"Would you have done something differently?" Anakin challenged the Master Jedi.

"Sacrifice is an important part of life, Skywalker. Time and time again, you've failed missions due to you refusing to learn this lesson."

"You're asking me to let my Padawan die."

"I'm asking you to listen. We cannot save everybo--"

"But we can try. We should try! When you abandoned Master Plo Koon, was it because you couldn't save him or because you were scared to try?" Anakin's arguing turned to shouting.

Master Windu raised his hand. "We will speak on the matter more once you return to Coruscant."

With that, Master Windu ended the call. Anakin suddenly noticed that Rex was watching his conversation from the doorway into the bridge.

"On Kamino, us Clones are raised to lean on eachother. We're taught that the number one priority is to save lives." Rex spoke, "You and I share those priorities, I suppose. It's why I've come to respect you so much."

"Thanks, Rex." Anakin walked passed him, resting a hand on his shoulder as he went.