Chapter 24 – Hutt Territory

DISCLAIMER: We do not own Star Wars or any of the characters in it, though we wish we did. xD

Author's Note: In which Ahsoka goes on her second mission, and the Teth arc begins. :P

If there's anything you would like to see such as relationships or moments between the characters, just let me know! I'll take everything you say into consideration, promise! :) My best ideas come from you, the readers!

~ Amina Gila

Ahsoka is thoroughly and utterly exhausted. After Anakin successfully turned Barriss to the Dark Side, he'd returned to Serenno and put her and Obi-Wan through a grueling training regimen. Well, Dooku helped too. Apparently, the hand-to-hand combat which Anakin ingrained into them was something he'd learned from Jango. And that doesn't even begin to get into the lightsaber training. Anakin, unsurprisingly, is also a master of Makashi, and they'd been forced to learn the form as well. He'd also taken time to teach Ahsoka how to better wield two lightsabers, something which she had been struggling with.

Ever since his success with Barriss, Anakin has become extremely determined to push them to their limits, probably, in part, because he fears she will betray them. Honestly, Ahsoka wouldn't be surprised if she did, though why she would turn against them for Sidious is beyond her.

Anyways, that aside, as much as she enjoyed spending so much time with Anakin over the past month, she's glad it's finally over. Even though it means she has another mission. Although, all things considered, it could be worse. While she doesn't know the full effects the kidnapping of Jabba's son will have on the galaxy, she bears no fondness for Hutts. Jabba deserves whatever fate Anakin likely has in store for him.

"Approaching the convoy," Rex reports from the pilot's seat as Ahsoka balances on the lowered ramp. He's flying the Twilight, an armed shuttle which Anakin had apparently modified. Her mission is easy. Once Jesse, the copilot, destroys the two speeders accompanying Rotta, Jabba's son, he'll disable the engine of the third speeder. Then, she'll jump down there, the hood concealing her features, and use her lightsabers to cut Rotta free. They'll take him and leave Tatooine. All in all, it's a simple, straightforward plan.

"Jesse, take your shot," Ahsoka calls through the comm, shifting so she's not blown away by the wind. She hates the rough fabric of the dark gray cloak which is snugly fit around her skin. Anakin was insistent that no one suspect she's a Togruta. The only things which need to be displayed prominently are her lightsabers.

"Aye, Commander," he replies, a teasing note in his vote. The shuttle jerks beneath her feet as the cannons fire twice in quick succession, scoring a hit on the two speeders accompanying Rotta's. She leans forward, looking through the smoke and flames to see the target in question speeding through the debris. Jesse fires again, clipping the back of it, and it screeches to a halt.

"You're clear!" Rex informs her. "Go for it. I'll come back around to pick you up." She inhales, before leaping to the ground, right next to the damaged speeder. She uses the Force to catch herself. It opens, and a guard emerges. He seems startled to see her and immediately whips out a blaster. Before he's even fired once, Ahsoka's lightsabers are ignited. She deflects the bolts, finally Force shoving him backwards into the wreckage behind him.

She turns in time to see the second guard aiming at her with his own blaster. She yanks it out of his hands, throwing it onto the sand a distance away, before reaching out with the Force and pulling a screaming Rotta to her.

"Hush," she soothes as the shuttle circles back towards her again. Sending a calming wave to Rotta through the Force, Ahsoka leaps onto the ramp holding him tightly against her.

"We're clear to go," she declares, hitting the button to close the ramp and walking to the cockpit. Rotta shifts uncomfortably in her arms, blinking up at her crossly with his big eyes.

"Next stop: Teth," Rex tells them, as he guides the Twilight away from Tatooine. "How was the mission?"

"It was fine," Ahsoka shrugs. "He doesn't seem very happy though, which isn't surprising. The sooner this is over, the better."

"Sidious better be pleased with the risks we took for him," grumbles Jesse, crossing his arms as he tilts his head to study their newest companion.

"I did what he wanted," she states flatly. Though, in truth, she doesn't know if there's anything that will make Sidious satisfied except immortality and sole, unlimited control over the galaxy. What a miserable life that would be.

"Is Anakin going to be there?" Jesse wants to know.

Rex shakes his head. "We've been ordered to return to Serenno, and Anakin will go to Teth to join Ahsoka in the Twilight. They'll wait for a time before returning Rotta to Jabba and securing the Hutts allegiance to the Separatists."

Jesse purses his lips. "So, you think that the Republic will find Rotta?"

Ahsoka clears her throat, leaning forward. "Dooku suspects that it's likely. He said that Republic will spare no expense to find him, so Anakin wants you on Serenno in case Republic forces show up." She pretends not to see the look of relief on Rex's and Jesse's faces.

Though she doesn't know much about the clones' lives, she knows that they were treated as subhuman by the Kaminoans. While they trust and respect Anakin, it's obvious there's a part of them which still fears that they'll be used against their wills. Anakin had told her that they don't want to fight against their brothers – a sentiment she definitely understands. Anakin's obvious concern for them is slowly making them relax and become more willing to open up to everyone around them. It makes Ahsoka happy to see the clones slowly adjusting to more normal lives. She only wishes that they all had such an opportunity.

**w**

Dooku had sent a small battalion of droids to join them on Teth and help keep Rotta out of Republic hands until he can claim that he successfully "rescued" the Huttlet from the Republic. Anakin paces back and forth inside the antechamber in the monastery while listening to a string of reports from the vulture droid sentries in orbit. It seems that the Republic forces have showed up and based on the information which Anakin has been given, the battalions belong to the 501st and 212th. Anakin can't help but feel a certain fury that his specially trained clones have been given to a useless Jedi.

Apparently, Jedi Master Siri Tachi, who was recently appointed to the Jedi Council, and Jedi Knight Ferus Olin, in control of the 212th and 501st, respectively, had provided support on Christophsis shortly after Anakin and Ahsoka had left with Offee. And now, they're coming here. Well, Anakin will have to show them who is really in control. They're walking right into a trap, and if he can bring the Jedi's heads to his master, maybe he'll be able to rejoin the Republic with Obi-Wan and Ahsoka.

He doubts it, but right now, he desperately wants to get the position which he'd been promised and which he is now being denied. He was to be a general in the Republic army, the only non-Jedi and dark sider to boot. Because of his actions on Geonosis, Sidious seems to have decided that Anakin is no longer worthy of the role he's been preparing for since he was sixteen. Snarling under his breath, he roughly shoves those thoughts aside.

In a few minutes, the Jedi will be landing on the planet. It's still too soon for them to leave – Dooku isn't ready yet – so they'll have to keep them occupied, and maybe Anakin will get to test his skill against these Jedi. But if he does, he has to kill them and all witnesses if he wants to get the role of General in the Republic. Ahsoka and Rotta are deep inside the monastery where it'll be safer. For now. With the Republic here, the place will soon be overrun.

"Sir, Republic forces are attempting to scale the walls," reports the commanding droid. "They have walkers with them which are providing cover fire."

"Eliminate those walkers," orders Anakin. "Send out some of the droids on speeders to shoot down – or at least delay – the incoming troops. I'll be on the roof." He doesn't wait for a reply, turning and sweeping from the room, making his way to the rooftop higher up which allows him to look on the courtyard below. The Jedi are coming, and he'll be waiting for them. He's cloaked in the Force so deeply that even Ahsoka probably can't sense him. They won't even know what hit them when he attacks.

Explosions sound all around as the clones and droids exchange fire. Anakin can feel the lives being snuffed out in the Force, which only serves to increase his anger. His men. He's being forced to kill his men instead of leading them. It doesn't take more than a few minutes before he sees one of the Jedi through the macrobinoculars. The young man leaps from one of the droid's speeders – he must have managed to take it – blue lightsaber swinging as he deflects blaster bolts and rips his way through the remaining droids there.

Anakin has the rest of the droid army waiting a distance away. Once the Jedi and clones are inside the monastery, he'll call them in. The first walker arrives just as three destroyers roll up and open fire, nearly killing Olin. One blast is all it takes to demolish them. Master Tachi arrives a few seconds later, her purple lightsaber still activated as she looks around warily. They move into the building, and Anakin waits patiently for them to bring Rotta out, a camera ready to record their interactions. It would be good for him to capture footage as "proof" that the Jedi wish to harm the Hutts.

It isn't long before they reemerge, a squirming Rotta in Olin's arms. "I can't wait to get rid of him," the Knight grumbles, scowling down at the Huttlet as his erstwhile master procures a backpack for them to carry Rotta in.

Tachi laughs softly, or at least Anakin thinks she might, shaking her head. "You and me both," she agrees. "The faster the better before any unwanted company shows up." She helps him push the Huttlet into the backpack.

With a smug grin, Anakin ends the recording and retreats back into the monastery, activating his comm. "Send in the rest," he orders.

"Yes, sir," replies the commanding droid.

Anakin quickly transmits the recording to Dooku, before contacting him. "I obtained a recording which will convince Jabba that the Jedi are plotting to murder his son," he reports in a clipped tone, watching distractedly as the vulture droids fly in low, bombing the courtyard.

"Very good," the Count congratulations. "I am currently on Tatooine with Offee, who Sidious wanted to be here in the off chance that the Jedi manage to follow you when you recapture Rotta and bring him back."

Anakin hums quietly. "And do you know who the Republic will be sending to try and negotiate with the Hutts?"

Dooku hesitates for a moment too long, and Anakin knows that he won't like the answer. "Not specifically, but there is some talk that Senator Amidala may have volunteered."

A chill of fear runs through Anakin at the mention of her name. He hasn't seen her since Geonosis, and he has no doubt that she's put together enough to realize that he might have been lying about not working with Dooku. Regardless, he suddenly had a bad feeling that they'll be meeting again and soon. He'd be excited if nor for the prospect of it being a difficult, tumultuous conversation in which he'll have to try not to tell her the truth while she pries. Delightful.

"I'll keep that in mind," Anakin murmurs, disconnecting the comm with Dooku and opening the channel with Ahsoka. "Snips, are you in position?" he asks quietly.

"Yes." Her voice comes through. She sounds far calmer than he would have thought, maybe because she's not actually been ordered to kill anyone. "I'm right inside the door to the landing platform on the backside."

"Okay," he replies. "I'm going down to the courtyard now. The Jedi should reach you in a few minutes. If they're together, try to distract them, but do not engage until I arrive."

"Roger that," Ahsoka calls back.

Anakin moves back outside and looks down to see the droids outside the door to the monastery which has been closed. Leaping off the roof, he lands in their midst, rising to his feet in a swirl of black robes, hood pulled up to make him look more intimidating. Igniting his red lightsaber, he slices through the lock and pushes the door open with the Force. The clones open fire, and he calmly deflects the blaster bolts back at them, aiming to incapacitate, but not to kill. If he does kill both Jedi, he'll decide how to deal with the clones then. For now, he'll focus on getting past them as quickly as he can.

He's nearly caught blindsided – but not completely, because that's impossible – by the purple lightsaber flashing towards him. He deflects the blow with ease, silently scolding himself for momentarily losing focus as he delves into the Dark Side, blood humming with the thrill of the coming fight. Siri Tachi attacks him with no mercy, no signs of slowing down her assault, especially when he drops his shields to let the darkness spill out around him. Ahsoka is good, and Anakin is convinced that she can hold her own against Olin long enough for him to come help her. If the Jedi wanted to defeat him, they shouldn't have split up.

"You," hisses Tachi, blue eyes flashing with anger as she spins her purple blade, trying to find an opening in his defenses. She doesn't find one. Anakin is not Dooku's best student when it comes to Makashi for nothing.

Anakin grins back at her. "Surprised?" he taunts, as their duel carries them further into the monastery. He intentionally leads her away from her – his – men and the droids attacking them, so she can't provide them any aid.

"Actually, yes," she throws back, expression filled with fiery determination. She's a Jedi Master, a Council member, but it's not enough to stop him. He is a force of nature. He is unstoppable. His red lightsaber is a part of him, and he lets the Force guide his movements, keeping him forever a step ahead of her. "How can you do this? You yourself claimed to be a supporter of the Republic! And Obi-Wan… What have you done with him?!"

He senses something in the last question, a desperation that Tachi obviously is trying to hide. She's scared for Obi-Wan, because she's in love with him, even if she'll try to deny it. So, she knows of what he said, and if she escapes, she'll tell everyone about encountering him here. In this moment, Anakin knows that he has two choices. He can stay here and try to kill her, leaving open the possibility of returning to fight with the Republic, or he can follow Olin to obtain Rotta, thus fulfilling his mission, but forever barring himself from taking the position he's craved.

Their lightsabers crash together, neither of them pulling back, and Anakin knows. He won't leave Ahsoka to face possible injury or death on her own. He'll stop Tachi and get to Ahsoka as fast as he can so they can stop Olin and retrieve Rotta. Mind make up, he yanks away from her, spinning his lightsaber once as he swings towards her legs. She blocks him, striking out towards his side. He parries her attack easily.

"I do support the Republic," he finally retorts darkly, "But I do not support the kidnapping of infants. I'm here to bring Rotta back home where he belongs."

Tachi glares at him, completely unimpressed. "Then why did you set up this trap for us with battle droids you could only have gotten from Count Dooku?"

"Because you kidnapped Rotta!" Anakin argues back, pushing her back with a flurry of moves, "And I was rescuing him."

She snorts in response. "You can't expect me to believe that."

His grin is predatory. "Believe whatever you want, darling," he taunts. "The truth will remain unchanged." They've moved into a much larger chamber by now, and Anakin can only hope that he's not moving too far away from Ahsoka and Olin. He casts out quickly with the Force, sensing Ahsoka's determination and apprehension. If she hasn't already engaged him, she will soon. The droids currently outnumber the Republic forces, but they won't for much longer. He must move as expeditiously as possible.

Tachi pushes him back with the Force, and he flips away, landing in a crouch, eyes blazing yellow. "Why do this?" she yells at him, stalking closer, purple blade held defensively. "Tell me where Obi-Wan is!"

"He is safe; he's with me the way he always should have been," Anakin fires back, cold anger and resentment burning away everything within him and leaving him drowning in the smothering darkness. He should have had this, all of this. He would have, if not for the Jedi. They've taken everything from him, leaving him bereft of a family, a home. Had they left him, he might have been a slave, true, but it wouldn't have been like this. He wouldn't have been slowly undone and remake into the perfect apprentice Sidious wants.

"He cared about you and –"

Anakin cuts her off before she can finish the sentence. "He cares," he corrects coldly. "It would be good for you to remember that." He nearly died for Obi-Wan once. He refuses to listen to anyone who would claim he might hurt the other.

He throws her hard into the stone wall using the Force, extending his left hand before she can rise and letting his rage pour out in a searing blast of lightning. He watches impassively as she screams under the assault of cracking white electricity, tinged with a hint of red. Red lightning is the purest embodiment of the Dark Side which any Force user can get, and Anakin is the only one who has succeeded.

With Tachi sufficiently stunned, he leaves her semi-unconscious form for the droids and stalks away deeper into the monastery, intent on finding her wayward former apprentice and dealing with him as well before he can harm Ahsoka.