AN: Okay, here goes. Please review. I want to (Maybe) put in a section where Ahsoka gets angry at Anakin for his problems with his mother, and not realizing her own mother's fate - or maybe I could do that as a one-shot. Maybe do some time before Christophis, and a review of a troublesome temple life with that as memories. Advice? Please?

"Here you are, dear one." He didn't mean it, words meant nothing, ever! Ahsoka glared at him, her blue eyes flashing vividly in the little light that filled the room - very obviously a store room - an ugly, stupid thing that all Ahsoka wanted to do with it was, well, nothing. Trapped and betrayed, the small girl said nothing, just stared somberly. The man wasn't captivated by an innocent child's stare. He sighed, an angry scowl filling his face, and turned away, muttering, "If you dare even try to escape, I'll have your head."

Better than this, the unhappy Togruta thought, her eyes growing watery and glazed with tears. Her lower lip quivered, and Ahsoka clamped her teeth together to keep from making noise...she didn't need the pirates' evil satisfaction at their wailing prisoner. Still, Ahsoka couldn't hold back the tears. The spilled over her cheeks and dripped off her chin, onto the aluminum floor with small plinks. Ahsoka's small wavering hand went to her mouth, her stomach rolling suspiciously. Her chest ached with sobs that she refused to release, but perhaps she should have. Head throbbing, the quivering child retched, her orange skin paling as her stomach's contents spilled out.

Everything was wrong. Without any hope, without any goals or happiness, Ahsoka's thin arms clasped around her knees and she waited.

For death.

"Cheeky thing, aren't you?" The pirate - his name, or at least the toddler thought, was Gradi - glared at his prisoner, trying not to show any pain at the growing bruise on his leg. Ahsoka frowned up at him, knowing that her kick had hurt. She just wished they would stop pretending that everything was okay, but she could feel their worry. Their fear might become her hope, Ahsoka could gather that much.

Ahsoka had been with these people for five months, long enough to learn that what her fate would be. The pirates tried to hide it, but they apparently didn't know that a Togruta could hear better than a human. She was to be kept until needed, and then, for profit, she would be sold back into slavery. Ahsoka had argued with herself for days at the 'back into slavery' part. As far as she thought, she was a slave. She belonged to these men until they released her. That was slavery.

Still frowning at him, Ahsoka was almost surprised when he picked her up, his rough hands digging into her sides. Swallowing a sharp yelp of pain, the girl stared at him with distaste, but only to wonder why she always got the wrong reaction. He laughed at her, his billowing laugh harsh and cruel, making Ahsoka's ears throb painfully. Cradling the child with a crude hold, he took her above and promptly set her on the floor. Resisting the urge to whimper, Ahsoka's gaze settled on Captain. Captain was a harsh man with a corrupt mind, but his tongue was persuasive. Smiling at his young prisoner, his gaze unsettled, he looked like a king, or an emperor. If Ahsoka said that, wouldn't he love it? But Ahsoka had learned one thing in her captivity; if she could help it, which was not often, she must keep her mouth shut. Or else.

Else wasn't good at all. Sometimes no dinner, sometimes a beating...the beatings were the worst, though. The sharp pain would explode across her already scarred back in fresh nicks of pain. All of them were relentless. They held no care for Ahsoka, so Ahsoka did the one thing she could do. She didn't care about them. Why should she?

A voice - Gradi's - broke her thoughts, "Captain, you were right! Jedi cruiser ahead!" His tone was frantic, but the Captain's walk was even more so. He cursed violently, and mumbled to himself. Gradi spoke again, "What should we do with the prisoner?"

"Fools!" Captain barked, his eyes glowing amber, "Leave her be! The Jedi'll be here soon, it's them you have to worry about!" Scared, but suddenly interested, Ahsoka felt something shift. An unspoken promise, but it meant something. She was going to be all right. This Jedi would help her, she knew it. Pleased, that is, until she saw a blue neon glow close to her cheek, Ahsoka waited.

The man who help the beam of neon light had a mask covering up his face, something that almost frightened Ahsoka. But there was something else, a flickering of goodness despite the mask. The loathsome pirates were grains of dust beneath his shimmering power, and he was a ruler. Would he reach out to a child? Ahsoka lifted a small finger and whispered, "Are you here to rescue me?"

"Perhaps." The man choose his words carefully, "Come with me, child." He lifted Ahsoka, but his grasp was gentler, and oh so much kinder. Reassured, Ahsoka rested her cheek on his shoulder, watching the beam of light dance in the darkness.

Red blaster fire streaked the air, and the man set Ahsoka down as he fought with whoever held the blaster. Nervous, Ahsoka glared into the metal walls. Would this man defeat the pirate? Without realization of her actions, her two small palms shot out and she yanked with the Force, not knowing what she was playing with, just that it was no longer a game, and she pulled. Gasping for air, Ahsoka heard the heavy clatter as the object hit the floor.

She felt the man's - the one who held the light beam - eyes pass over her, and then she was reading her thoughts. She didn't know it, but also her potential.

"Your too old." He whispered, but he picked her up, "But they made an exception for a nine year old. Maybe-" His voice trailed off, low and soothing in the mask, "I'm Jedi Master Plo Koon." Jedi? Jedi must be good...he had saved her. Ahsoka suddenly saw the sun on the distant hills of her home planet rise.

"Ahsoka. Ahsoka Tano." Ahsoka whispered tiredly, her small head falling against his chest, "Can I come with you?" As she fell asleep, she heard his approval. One word, a word that granted her freedom.

Yes.

"Are you...afraid?" Ahsoka frowned irritably. If she were afraid, why would it matter. The tall black man, a Kuron, (Master Plo's helpful input) gazed at her inquiringly, but also sharply. Disapprovingly. Staunchly angry, Ahsoka's chin shot out.

"No." She said adamantly, and though lying, she thought she sounded convincing until the green troll like figure's wide eyes passed over.

"Afraid, you are." He said, "Of what, youngling?" The troll looked wise and old, an elder who had seen many and knew what fates had to be considered. He also looked weary, as though Ahsoka were only a nuisance.

Annoyed, Ahsoka shrugged. Master Plo spoke gently, showing a gentle affection, "Time will cure her. Let her join us."

"Then trained, she will be." The troll said in his mixed up tongue. Ahsoka felt a moment of elation and success, a promise of hope and happiness sprung free. Her miseries felt over. But only if they were.