Jenoria sat in Anakin's room for the trip back. Unlike most people, Jenoria found comfort in surrounding herself with the belongings of those she's lost. When her father left, she had spent an entire week curled up in his seat on the Shadow. Now, she sat on her master's bed, fiddling with the last device he tinkered with. It seemed to be the beginnings of a custom blaster. Giving it a closer look, Jenoria thought back to one of her first missions with her master.

...

Three years prior- Lars homestead, Tatooine

"Thank you for letting us make camp here Owen," Anakin embraced his step brother, "I'm so sorry about Cliegg."

"I couldn't say no to family," Owen returned the embrace, "And we should just be glad that he went on his terms and not theirs." The two separated, each having their own point of contempt for the Tuskens. Owen then noticed the little girl behind Anakin, "Is this little Leia?"

"No," Anakin chuckled at the mistake, "this is my new Padawan," Anakin guided Jenoria forward, "Jenoria Minara, this is Owen Lars. He's family."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, little one," Owen offered his hand, but Jenoria simply bowed, her usual greeting when she was too shy to speak, "she's pretty quiet, isn't she?"

"She's... younger than she looks." He gave Jenoria a pat on the back, "Why don't you go help Rex and the others."

Jenoria nodded and left to help the troops while Anakin stayed to discuss the arrangements with Owen. As she approached the camp, bordered by the gunships that dropped them off, Jenoria began to hear Rex discussing the battle plan with Cody, who had, along with the 212th Battalion, come down to assist the 501st in the ground battle.

"With Generals Kenobi and Windu setting up blockades around the planet, the Seperatists only means of going beyond the Outer Rim without engaging is to land on the planet, make their way to Mos Eisley spaceport, and apprehend a ship there." Rex explained, "Unfortunately for them, the only path the Clankers can take without succumbing to the sandstorms is through the rocky terrain of the Jundland Wastes. That's where we set up our barricade."

"Right," Cody nodded, understanding the plan, "but what about the Tusken Raiders? Don't they view the wastes as their territory?"

"General Skywalker said that he's going to enlist the help of the other natives. They have experience fighting Sand People."

"Can I help?" Jenoria announced her presence.

Both Clones looked down to her. Rex thought for a moment.

"Yeah," he nodded, "there're still supplies that need to be unloaded, you can help with that."

"Ok," she nodded and ran towards the loaded gunships, eager to help the Clones.

"This planet is too dangerous for a child," Cody commented as they watched her.

"General Skywalker managed."

,,,

By the time night rolled around, the attack force had begun setting up the barricade, with some help from native settlers, while patrols watched out for the Tuskens. Those that weren't on construction or patrol duty sat around a lamp, as the cool night air was refreshing as compared to the blistering sun. Clones listened as settlers told stories of their encounters with the Tuskens while Jenoria sat to the side, eating some rations. Anakin sat down beside her, having just come back from his patrol shift, and offered her a flask.

"It's Blue Milk," Anakin explained when she gave him a concerned look, "compliments of Beru."

Jenoria took the flask and drank it's contents. She noticed a blaster holster beside Anakin's Lightsaber when she gave the flask back.

"Master?" she asked.

"Hm?"

"What's that?"

"Hm?" Anakin looked where she was staring, "Oh, that. I've just been thinking about incorporating a blaster into my combat. To spice things up."

Jenoria looked back to her rations pack. She had been told that Jedi traditionally used Lightsabers as their primary weapons, though it was natural to want to expand their skill range. Jenoria herself had already convinced Rex to teach her to use his pistols, though it was more because she had heard that her father had adopted a pistol into his arsenal during his last year in the war. The idea that her master would utilize a more standard issue blaster was strange, as they usually required both hands to use, leaving no room for a Lightsaber. Looking back to her master, she noticed him looking off into the distance, his expression telling her that he was lost in a memory. As the cries of Tuskens sounded in the distance, his eyes flickered yellow as his expression grew more stern.

"Master?" Jenoria let her concern show.

"What is it?" Anakin looked at her, his eyes returning to their normal blue color.

Jenoria said nothing. She just stared at his eyes, waiting to see if they would show the other color. After a solid minute, she gave up, it was probably just her eyes playing tricks on her. She decided to retire for the night, as she would need her energy in the morning. She got up and when over to the rock where Rex and some other clones were sitting. Being so young, she still needed physical contact to get comfortable enough to sleep, and Rex's lap proved to be the most comfortable pillow, despite the fact that he wore armor most of the time. The clones had grown so accustomed to this quirk of Jenoria's that they weren't phased at all when she climbed up and layed her head down on Rex's lap.

...

The next chapter will continue the flashback, as I want to finish it before returning to the main story.