Night had fallen over the upper city, the realm of privilege and power. The gleam of metal and glass gave way to the shimmer and twinkle of the city's lights, a constantly shifting display of advertisements, news broadcasts, and assorted decoration. The Hutt-run casinos especially were a show unto themselves, enticing the foolish and affluent to come inside and spend a fortune. Many who entered these casinos came out destitute. Some never came out at all. Everyone believes in luck until they enter a casino run by the Hutts.

No one believes in it afterwards.

Ahsoka didn't believe in luck either, though she found herself wishing that she possessed some good luck, considering the insane plan she was formulating. Atop a taller tower, leaning against a small metal railing meant more for decoration than for supporting one's self, Ahsoka surveyed the territory. She had an idea of which structure Bib Fortuna was in, having rescued Enuma from the landing pad of one of the massive executive buildings. Getting in to the structure was a dangerous prospect, one she knew would be impossible for anyone not trained in the use of the Force. Unfortunately, the Jedi had never bothered to train her in methods of stealth and obfuscation through the Force, so she would have to rely on her acrobatic skills to get her through the innumerable security systems and veritable legions of thugs that the paranoid Hutts always seemed to have in their employ. She found herself wishing that Darth Vader had had the opportunity to actually train her, for she was certain that Vader could walk leisurely into the Hutt compound and demolish what, or who, he wished to. Some whispers claimed that he didn't even need to walk in, and that he could kill someone even from an orbiting ship. Ahsoka found these rumors chilling, even without needing to fear him. She was fairly sure he wasn't going to hunt her any longer, but for one person to have such power, such godlike power, was disturbing to anyone but the most unbalanced of minds.

At first glance, Ahsoka's plan was simple. Enter the building, evade all the security systems, elude the hordes of droids and hired thugs, and get to the inner sanctum where she would find Jabba's right hand, and then cut him to ribbons as both a punishment for Bib's treatment of Enuma and a message to Jabba himself. Then, once that was done, somehow she would escape unscathed and undetected into the night, where she would disappear from the awareness of the Hutt clans entirely.

Simple. Perfectly simple. Not to mention completely suicidal.

Ahsoka, never the tactical genius despite holding a military rank of commander, tried to come up with a plan that was a little less the work of a madwoman, but there really was no alternative besides perhaps finding an air duct that she could possibly squeeze through and take her chances navigating an unknown ventilation system that could lead to Bib Fortuna. It more likely would lead to an enormous fan, as these things often tended to do. No, the frontal assault was her only real choice.

Calling upon the Force to enhance her strength and agility, she leapt from the top of the building. She flew through the air silently as she rocketed towards the lower landing platform, several hundred meters away. She landed almost as quietly on the landing platform, crouching low as she landed to absorb the shock of the landing. She looked around quickly, and sensing no one nearby, she proceeded to approach the massive door that led into the building.

Ahsoka was surprised to find that Fortuna hadn't posted guards around the platform. Surely he'd determined by now that his pet Gamorreans had met a particularly sticky end, so it made little sense to leave an access point unguarded.

Unless, of course, you're baiting a trap.

Blaster fire erupted from nearby structures that Ahsoka had completely ignored. Several bolts exploded near her feet, but she deftly avoided them. With one smooth motion, she grabbed both lightsabers from her belt, ignited them, and deflected the next volley away from her. She could hear shouting coming from the towers surrounding the area, and she had a feeling that those hordes of thugs were on their way.

It is time, my apprentice. It is time to use your anger as an advantage. The door is mere matter. Tear it away from the wall, and let nothing stand in your righteous path.

Ahsoka looked at the door, puzzled. She had heard tales of powerful Force adepts being able to move things hundreds of times heavier than themselves, but they'd always been old masters that had been training for decades. Master Yoda could likely remove the door, but Ahsoka was unsure of her ability to move little more than a rock.

Your hatred will make you strong. Do not believe the lies of the Jedi, or of your own mind. You are stronger than metal. You are stronger than stone.

Ahsoka gritted her teeth, and, closing her eyes, opened her mind to the all-pervasive power of the Force. She reached her right hand out in front of her, and began to will the Force to move. Blaster bolts sparked all around her. She could feel the heat as they sizzled past her, but she maintained her focus.

Unleash your rage, Ahsoka! These are the men who hurt your friend! MAKE THEM SUFFER!

Suddenly, the sound of rending metal filled the air. The massive door had started to tear away from its mooring. Ahsoka focused all the anger, hatred and rage she felt for these monsters into one singular act; the destruction of the door. Then, with an unholy shriek, the massive metal door tore away from the wall and flew into the advancing guards, crushing them instantly.

Ahsoka was stunned. She stood, unmoving and silent for several seconds, not believing what she had done. Clarity returned to her quickly, however, and she returned to her task. The fight was just beginning.

Inside the fortified command and control center of the Hutts' executive building, a feeling of controlled panic began to descend upon Bib Fortuna and his bodyguards. Hard facts were hard to come by, and terrified stories of insane Jedi and rampaging monsters were on the lips of every battered minion that managed to fall back to the control center still alive. Most of the stories said that it was one person, a girl no less, but that she possessed power that they'd never seen, even in Jedi. It mattered little to Bib Fortuna who was coming or how many there really were, he had one simple protocol for dealing with cataclysmic situations.

Run like hell.

And he was about to do just that, when he could hear explosions and screams coming from just down the hall from the reinforced room. The room itself was practically a bunker, created to withstand even full-power blasts from capital ship turbolasers. Had he the capacity to trust in the handiwork of even the construction engineers the Hutts trusted enough to build their private sanctums, he would simply sit still and wait out the attack. It certainly was not the first time enemies of the Hutt clan had assaulted one of the command centers, and it surely would not be the last, considering the rather unsavory sort the Hutts tended to attract. However, he was Bib Fortuna, and he hadn't survived working for Jabba this long because of his remarkable combat skills. When an unbeatable danger came to his front door, he slipped out the back.

Only this time, there was only one way out, and that was through the explosions, the screams, and the undoubtedly copious amounts of carnage. He wanted no part of any of that. And so, Bib Fortuna, majordomo to the mightiest crime lord in the galaxy, exercised the only option left to him. He called his boss.

When Jabba appeared in the holoviewer, he certainly looked surprised. He'd seen Bib panicked before, as the Twi'lek was always a bit skittish. Today, though, it was a whole new level of terror he was seeing in the bright red eyes of his lieutenant. Jabba, clearly irritated at the interruption of whatever it was he'd been doing, grumbled an admonition in Huttese at the terrified Twi'lek. Bib, desperate at this point, fell to his knees and begged his employer to find a way to save him.

It was a futile effort, however, as immediately as he'd done so, the thick neuranium door that could withstand the blasts from an Imperial combat cruiser crumpled in on itself and fell away from the massive hinges and armored frame that had been Bib Fortuna's last line of defense. Through a cloud of smoke and noxious fumes, Bib could make out two glowing blades, one yellow and one green, moving into the room from the hallway. Holding the blades was an extremely angry looking Togruta girl, one that Bib Fortuna recognized.

"Ahsoka Tano? Why are you doing this? Do you not realize that even now Great Jabba watches you?" the panicked Twi'lek screeched, trying in vain to intimidate the girl.

It was for naught, however, as Ahsoka abruptly extended her hand out in front of her, towards Bib, and he flew backwards several meters, slamming into a wall and crumpling to the floor. "SHUT UP, MONSTER!" Hatred flowed from Ahsoka like a palpable force, threatening to wash away everything in her path in a tide of blood and chaos. As she loomed over the dazed Twi'lek, she saw the fear in his tiny red eyes, and it felt...good, somehow. He was too terrified to even speak.

From behind her, though, she heard laughter. It was the all too familiar laugh that was the signature of the infamous Jabba the Hutt. She wasn't sure why the Hutt was laughing, so she turned back to the holoviewer, where a very-amused Hutt looked back at her.

"Ho ho ho...little Ahsoka Tano. You perhaps lack the understanding to know how much of a tragic mistake you've just made. You have intruded on my property, and killed dozens of my men, and clearly are about to kill my own lieutenant. If I wasn't so impressed with your cold-bloodedness, I'd have you eviscerated where you stand."

The Hutt's smugness infuriated Ahsoka even further. "Cold-blooded, Jabba? Please. YOU are the last entity that has the right to call ME cold-blooded. This..." Ahsoka gestured to the room around her, smoking ruin and crumpled bodies lying at her feet. "This is retribution."

"Retribution? Ahsoka, I don't recall you being so stupid. I took you under my protection, at great personal risk, may I add. I kept you from the all-seeing eyes of the Emperor, and how do you repay me? You attack my property. Not very Jedi-like, is it?"

Ahsoka reached her left hand out towards Bib Fortuna, reaching out with the Force to lift the Twi'lek into the air. She displayed Bib like a trophy before his master. "No. It isn't." Bib fell to the floor, clutching his throat as some unseen force threatened to choke the life from him. Ahsoka took hold of the end of one of the old Twi'lek's lekku, and switched on one of her lightsabers with the other hand. "And neither is this."

With a swift movement, Ahsoka sliced off about a foot of the lek she held. Bib Fortuna fell to the ground, screaming in pain. A torrent of dark blue blood gushed from the wound as he collapsed into a fetal position, howling and whimpering. Ahsoka lazily flipped her hand over, dropping the severed lek to the floor next to its former owner.

"Now, Jabba, we're going to negotiate a new deal. The girl that this..." Ahsoka pointed to the quivering Twi'lek on the ground. "...tailless weakling used to possess, she's mine now. I'm going to take her and my things and I'm going to leave this planet, and YOU are going to do nothing about it. If I so much as suspect you've sent ANYONE after me, or after the girl, it won't be a flunky I come for."

Ahsoka leaned close to the holoviewer, her eyes locking on with the projected eyes of the Hutt.

"It will be you. And yes, I know Hutts are immune to Jedi mind tricks. Believe me when I say, I will not need mind tricks to teach YOU a lesson, Jabba. Don't be an idiot. Forget you ever met me."

Jabba looked angrier than Ahsoka could ever remember seeing him. "You really think I'm just going to allow you to walk away after this insult?"

Ahsoka spun her lightsaber in a small circle as a wicked smirk crossed her lips. "No, I don't. Which is why I'll be seeing you soon, Jabba." She brought the blade down hard on the holoviewer, and the image of an enraged Hutt wavered and then vanished.

Ahsoka turned back to the crumpled form of Bib Fortuna, laying on the ground, weakly whimpering in agony. She stared to reach out her hand towards the Twi'lek again, but before she could do so, she caught a quick glimpse of a movement in the corner of her vision. She spun on her heel to face the movement, only to see it was actually just her reflection in a shiny metal surface nearby. She was startled to see that her eyes, usually a bright blue, were a strange, sickly yellow in color. She was puzzled by this, as she'd never heard of such a thing happening before. There was so much she didn't know, that she didn't understand about this strange, new path she was on, but all she knew was that it felt RIGHT. She felt strong, powerful. She'd gotten retribution for her new friend, and was fairly sure she had successfully backed out of her deal with Jabba.

You have done well, Ahsoka. You have brought justice to those who would have gone unpunished if not for you. Your friend is now safe because of your efforts. Be proud in who you are, but remember that the fight is not yet over. You have much more training to do, Ahsoka, but for that, we must meet. Come to Yavin 4. There is an ancient Sith temple there. There, in the presence of the ancient Sith Lords, you shall be trained properly. Go. Now.

Ahsoka's head spun. The message from Vader was somehow much clearer, more powerful than it had been before. Before, it had been a distant echo in her mind; remote, quiet. This time, it had been like the peal of a monstrous bell charged with the all-consuming power of the Dark Side.

He is near. He must be.

There was no further message, however, and Ahsoka hung her lightsabers back on her belt, and walked calmly out of the Hutt building, knowing that, at least for now, no one would dare attack her. She hoped that the fear she'd sowed would give Enuma protection enough for them to leave Praxigor VI behind forever.

As Ahsoka silently strode through the buildings, she could not help but reflect on what had occurred. She'd fought with ferocity before, but never before had it been like this. She was terrifying to behold, and grown men, thugs hired for their toughness and cruelty, had run for their lives from her. She could not figure out why the Jedi would deny themselves such a boon. Had the Jedi fought against the Sith as she had fought against Jabba's men, the ancient wars would have ended eons ago, and there would have finally been peace.

Of course, as she reminded herself, peace was a lie.

Everything was so new to her, so overwhelming. She just wanted to return to her little home, check on Enuma, and collapse in bed. When she awoke, she'd make arrangements for Enuma and herself to leave this cesspool of a world forever. And then...Yavin 4.

The Yavin system was far from Praxigor, far out of the interests of the Hutts, and the Empire. She knew very little about it, besides that Yavin itself was a gas giant, but that in ancient times, civilizations had arisen on some of Yavin's moons. It was ultimately irrelevant, as nothing remained but ruins. The stories of haunted temples persisted, though, and these intrigued Ahsoka. She wondered what adventures lay ahead for her.

She returned to her small shack late that night. No one was really milling about at this time of night, and she could quietly slip into her little house and get some sleep. As she opened the door, Enuma sat, a look of worry in her eyes being replaced by elation as she realized what Ahsoka's return meant.

"You have returned, Ahsoka! I am so happy!" Enuma's genuine smile warmed Ahsoka's heart. She believed, and quite rightly so, that Enuma's times of genuine happiness had been few, but this was one of them. Enuma leapt up from the small rug she'd sat on, near the hearth that still warmed the drafty old place. With an agile leap, Enuma flew into Ahsoka, her arms clamping down on Ahsoka in a joyous embrace. "Thank you, Ahsoka. No one has ever bothered to take care of me."

Ahsoka smiled, and returned Enuma's embrace. "It's no problem, Enuma. I'm just glad you're alright. But yes, Bib Fortuna won't be bothering you ever again. You're free. Is there anywhere you'd like to go? I'll be leaving Praxigor tomorrow morning, but I'd be happy to take you wherever you'd like to go."

"Wherever Ahsoka goes, I want to go."

Ahsoka slid out of Enuma's arms, a confused look on her face. "What do you mean?"

"I am free, yes? I can go where I want?" Ahsoka nodded her agreement, and Enuma smiled even wider than before. "Then I want to go with you. Not because I owe you, or because I see you as my master now, but because..." Enuma's smile turned quite bashful. "Because Ahsoka is my friend now. I want to help you like you helped me. I am a good cook, and I can sew. I can make you pretty clothes if you like. Please, Ahsoka, let me come with you."

Ahsoka smiled warmly at the determined Twi'lek. "Alright, Enuma. Get some sleep, because tomorrow we have a long trip ahead of us."

Ahsoka laid down on the floor next to the cot, in which she had Enuma sleep. The Twi'lek was quite chatty for a while, wanting to reiterate all of Ahsoka's great qualities, but eventually Enuma fell soundly asleep, possibly for the first time in a great long while. Ahsoka joined her shortly after, finally relaxing after the rush of combat faded away. Her eyes, once more blue, closed happily, ready for new adventures ahead, but still somewhat nervous at the prospect of being near her master once again. She hadn't been anywhere near him since she'd walked away from the Jedi, and wasn't sure if he was even the same person that he'd been before.

She'd find out soon enough, and the soft darkness of sleep claimed her.