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     A YEAR AGO, Araminta had despised the idea of returning to Coruscant and seeing Mace Windu again in light of his attitude towards her (even if, in hindsight, it was fair). She still remembered the conversation with Anakin as if it were a week ago, the night before where she had almost stabbed him out of instinct and they had been at constant war, children banging heads and fighting at every turn. It was odd to think of the time that had passed and the way everything had changed since the first few months she had spent at Obi-wan's side, which was why she tried not to.

She supposed that infiltrating a ship to rescue Anakin from the grasp of Count Dooku was a similar feeling to that day, only heightened ten times over. She had only come face-to-face with the Separatist leader once, and never had she felt so small, which was saying something given her height, and so prepared to keel over and give up. He had her questioning her ability to survive, something she had always found security in, and had her reconsidering every decision leading up to that moment.

Araminta thought about that moment a lot, when she had stood up to him and everything had changed, when she had gone against what she had thought was her nature despite everything in her screaming to run and survive, which was why the idea of recreating the scene wasn't in her favour. In turn, that meant that her and Obi-wan's current rescue mission might end that way, and it was making her tail stand on end.

After infiltrating the frigate and discarding the restricting space gear with a sneer, the idea that the head Separatist could be onboard was distracting, but she pushed it to the back of her mind as she kept step with Obi-wan. She had long developed the habit of keeping close, rather than leading or bringing up the rear, not trusting anything to happen in that space.

The droids on board were scattered, which was expected since the frigate was completely alone and so far out in the Outer Rim. Maybe it really was an unimportant, lone ship with no chance of the Count on board. Araminta knew that was unusually positive of her.

As such, they experienced little resistance, able to sneak past the droids in an attempt to not set off the alarms if the Count truthfully was on board.

"Easy," Araminta had told Obi-wan when he had told her the plan. Stealth had always been her forte, the one thing she had excelled at amongst Octavian's students. Everyone had had their specialities– Araminta's had been the ability to lodge a knife into someone's without ever being seen.

It gave her a boost of confidence whenever they didn't run into a fight. Araminta simply worked best in the shadows.

The pair finally reached the prison aisle without being spotted, a moment of relief as the door closed behind them and no sounds of detection followed. Araminta sighed as they moved forward, ears keen for trouble as Obi-wan led the way.

"Which one do you think he's in?" Araminta whispered, standing on her tiptoes so the Jedi could hear her. Obi-wan turned to her, furrowing his brows at her innocent expression. He paused for a moment, before smirking and beelining for one door.

"This one," he said, confidently. Araminta shrugged dramatically and held out a hand. Obi-wan hit the button to the cell, which slid open to reveal two ragged looking men sitting inside, who glanced up at the pair in the doorway.

"Huh," Araminta said, pointedly. The prisoners exclaimed something in an unfamiliar language, getting to their feet sharply, their stances noticeably aggressive.

"Don't bother. You're not the prisoner I'm looking for," Obi-wan told them, before closing the door in their face, cutting off any sound inside. Araminta gave him a grin when the Jedi turned away. "What?" he snapped

"Nothing," she said with a shrug, strolling a bit further before gently kicking at another door. "This one."

Obi-wan stepped to her side. "And what's the criteria? An echo?" he asked, snidely.

Araminta sneered at him. "Just open it."

He relented and opened the door, which revealed an empty cell with a single chair. Araminta tensed, hand resting loosely against the knife at her hip as they stepped inside together, her shoulder pressed against Obi-wan's as she covered his back. Araminta let out a sharp breath, hearing something, eyes flicking up to see the shadow above them. Obi-wan brandished his sabre but not before Araminta had thrown her knife as the assailant pounced at them.

"Watch it!" Anakin snapped, stopping the blade with the Force.

Araminta's eyes widened, before her face relaxed. "Oh, it's you," she sighed.

"This is how you thank us for rescuing you? Pounce from the ceiling?" Obi-wan chimed in, deactivating his lightsaber.

Anakin rolled his eyes as he handed the knife back to Araminta, who gladly resheathed it. "Kind of difficult without a... lightsaber," Anakin trailed off as he noticed the extra at Obi-wan's hip. "Thanks," he chirped, accepting the weapon.

"Did you manage to locate Dooku before landing in jail?" Obi-wan asked seriously.

"Well, I know he's on board," Anakin told them as Obi-wan began to exit the cell, forcing the other two to fall into step with him. "Might have been able to do something about it if I'd had my weapon."

"It was important for you to arrive without it so your capture would be convincing," Obi-wan told him firmly.

"Oh, they were convinced all right," Anakin snipped. "But how come I'm the one getting caught all the time? It doesn't look good." Araminta snickered at him as they fell into single file, Obi-wan leading the charge with the assassin in the middle and Anakin trailing behind.

"When you're a Jedi Master, you can make the plan," Obi-wan said without glancing over his shoulder.

"That's just it," Anakin contested, hands on his hips. "How can I become a Jedi Master if I'm always getting caught?"

Obi-wan responded, "At least you're a master– at getting caught."

"Very funny," Anakin deadpanned.

"How was your fake-out?" Araminta asked, referring to the battle Anakin had had to falsify to be captured. The man gave her an annoyed sort of look.

"Embarrassing," he admitted, dramatically. Araminta grinned into her hand, knowing he could only see the back of her head as they walked, but didn't doubt he could predict her reaction after so long.

"Maybe next time Araminta could get caught," Obi-wan proposed.

"Then who would save your ass?" Araminta said pointedly, before slowing down abruptly, Anakin almost running into her, foot scuffing at her heel. She shoved him back a bit, before Obi-wan realised they had stopped, turning around curiously.

"What's wrong?" Anakin asked, blue eyes focused on her.

"It's silent," Araminta murmured. "No droids, no voices."

"He must be close by then," Obi-wan concluded. "Let's go." He headed off again, unshaken, as Araminta blinked at the floor.

"You look scared," Anakin remarked. Not derogatory or judgemental as he once would have spoken to her, just a statement.

"It's nothing," Araminta relented, firmly, hardening her gaze. She didn't feel like dredging up old blood with Anakin right before the mission potentially paid off.

The way Anakin looked at her said he didn't believe her, but they didn't have time to continue, as she skipped to catch up with Obi-wan. Anakin followed, but Araminta was vividly aware of his eyes on the back of her head.

The silence continued as they reached a door close to the helm of the ship, and with it came the notable pressure of an individual strong with the Force, familiar from all those years ago. Araminta chewed on her lip, slightly moving her hip to reassure herself she still had her weapons, as the doors slid open at their presence, revealing the Count himself sitting in the centre of the room by a window, meditating.

"Surprise, surprise," Anakin announced. He and Obi-wan wasted no time in igniting their sabres, as Araminta raised her blaster, hand surprisingly steady.

"Obi-wan Kenobi," Dooku said, not opening his eyes, as calm as the last time. "I thought I sensed an unpleasant disturbance in the Force." Araminta would have snickered in any other situation. "I see you've freed young Skywalker. Where might he be if you weren't always around to rescue him?"

Araminta frowned at not being acknowledged despite their last meeting, tail twitching, but her eyes not leaving the Separatist leader for a second, even to exchange a look with Anakin, whose eyes she could feel on her. He was watching for a reaction from her, something he could pin to her apparent "scaredness." If Octavian had taught her anything it was to push through and remain in control– she had done it before and survived the man in front of her.

But that wasn't what was plaguing her. Rather a reminder that the last time she had seen him she had been prepared to abandon her charge and flee to save her own skin, to do what was necessary, but now she looked at him and could only imagine in the back of her mind throwing her now-friends in front of her. The very appearance of Dooku challenged Araminta to acknowledge she was growing further and further from the security of Octavian's ideals, wading into new territory of someone who didn't represent him.

The ship shook abruptly, signalling the arrival of Jedi reinforcements, jarring Araminta from her minor existential crisis. She remained unswayed by the movement, as Dooku's eyes finally opened, icy and unwavering, briefly scanning them up and down. Araminta was ready to fire, but couldn't act so rashly without Obi-wan's command first, though the blood rushing in her ears might have blocked out any directions.

"Your ship is surrounded, Count," Anakin told him. "Republic troops are boarding as we speak." Araminta highly doubted the man in front of them would be so easy to capture, but remained resolute and silent.

"Jedi fools," Dooku said, before disappearing beneath a hatch in the floor.

"Should have seen that coming," Obi-wan hissed, as Anakin sprinted forward with Araminta in tow, peering down the hatch that he had disappeared down, which revealed a winding tunnel that weaved out of sight. Anakin teetered on the edge, Araminta holstering her blaster warily. "What are you doing?" Obi-wan demanded.

"Following him," Anakin said matter-of-factly, turning to Obi-wan in confusion at the tone.

"Not that way. We need to cut him off," he told the younger Jedi firmly. Anakin hesitated, exchanging a look with Araminta, who gave him a disapproving look.

"You cut him off," Anakin said over his shoulder as he deactivated his lightsaber. "I'll follow him and meet you at the hangar," he shouted, voice fading as he disappeared down the hatch.

Araminta sighed in exasperation as Obi-wan called out, "Araminta, with me!" The assassin didn't hesitate in turning away and following her charge out the door, knowing Anakin could handle himself if he needed to. And he wasn't her responsibility, ultimately. "We'll head to the hangar and intercept him before he can leave," Obi-wan told her.

"Right," she agreed.

The ship continued to shudder from the onslaught as they fended off the scattered droids that got in their way, Araminta a step ahead of her charge the entire time. Her senses were overwhelmed by the attack on the frigate, but she stayed steadfast, hands forward and eyes constantly keeping Obi-wan in her view.

They broke into the hangar, which was so chaotic they were able to slip in as if unseen, taking a moment to scan the expansive room. A distinct ship was leaving, the window letting the pair see Dooku clear as day as he disappeared into space, accompanied by a small fleet of guardships.

Araminta watched Obi-wan's eyes lock onto a shuttle waiting to board before they were running again, Araminta having to bound to keep up with the much longer strides. By the time any of the droids had noticed them, Obi-wan had already slashed the guards away and Araminta had shot at the ones by the door.

Obi-wan clambered into the pilot's seat as Araminta gripped her blaster and defended the opening as they began to lift into the air, pausing when she saw Anakin appear at the back of the hangar, blue lightsaber glaring.

"Guess who," Araminta shouted over her shoulder, hearing a faint scoff from Obi-wan. Anakin cleared the way and sprinted for the opening, nimbly jumping to her side as she covered his back with her blaster.

"Don't look at me like that," Anakin chided, looking down at her. "Aren't you happy to see me?"

"You're an idiot," she said matter-of-factly as the doors closed and the blasts became faint echoes against the shuttle.

"Thought I was brilliant," Anakin mused. Araminta rolled her eyes as they headed into the cockpit where Obi-wan was flying them out of the hangar, taking their respective seats.

"And I thought you were following Dooku," Obi-wan chimed in.

"I was," Anakin said, firmly. "I followed him here."

Obi-wan rolled his eyes too, as Anakin took over the controls and sped out of the hangar, narrowly escaping through the closing gap and the heavy fire of droids trying to intercept them. Araminta let out a breath as they sped through space, following after Dooku's ship, which was racing ahead.

With his hands now free, Obi-wan spoke into his wrist comm. "Ahsoka, Dooku managed to escape. We're in pursuit but could use reinforcements. Follow us in whatever ships you can round up," he told her.

"We'll get there as soon as we can," Ahsoka responded.

"You wanna do the honours?" Anakin asked, offering Araminta the second set of blaster controls.

"Would I ever."

Araminta took her place at the helm, fingers nimbly grasping the controls as she aimed and fired, eyes set straight ahead on Dooku's ship, ignoring the fighters surrounding him as protection, hitting any in the way as collateral. Anakin worked around her shots, which weren't as rapid as his, but maybe more precise.

After a few direct hits, the ship went up in flames, spinning out of formation and heading downwards. Araminta blinked at how easy it was, as Anakin turned to her and cheered, "That was easy!"

"Lucky for you, Araminta's an excellent shot," Obi-wan said for her.

Araminta ignored the remarks as their shuttle was hit by a blast, then another, the ships surrounding Dooku now turning on them more viciously. "Yeah, well now those fighters are attacking," she pointed out dryly.

"I'm on it," Anakin told her as they continued straight into the small fleet. Araminta didn't miss much, but it was clear she was taking her time to line up a shot opposed to her companion. "That was too close!" Anakin exclaimed, shooting her a glare as she gunned down a fighter that was heading straight for them.

"I hit it, didn't I?" she shot back.

Anakin just refocused on the battle as they continued forward, the firing getting more aggressive as they tried to pursue Dooku's failing ship, before shrapnel slammed into one of their engines. The shuttle immediately tilted downwards, plummeting towards the planet Dooku's ship had been heading for. Araminta gripped the edge of her seat as Anakin fought with the controls.

"Lucky for you guys I'm an excellent pilot," he growled out. Araminta ignored him as they crossed the planet's atmosphere, shuttle alarm blaring. The assassin winced, bracing for impact, before they hit the ground, jolting them all in their seats. Anakin's brow was pinched as he focused, the shuttle rolling roughly along the ground before skidding to a stop.

Araminta let out a breath at the mild crash landing, before pulling away from the controls. "Smooth," she said without thinking.

Anakin whipped around, getting to his feet. "If you'd hit that second fighter–"

"I did," she retorted, jumping to her own feet in retaliation. Anakin scoffed. "You just didn't dodge the shrapnel," Araminta added, looking up at him, unwavering.

For a moment Anakin looked as if he'd viciously retort, but he only sighed and turned away. Araminta watched him like a hawk as he headed for the battered exit, pushing it open with the Force. She had learnt to tolerate him over the past year, and their conversations were kept close to heart, but sometimes she believed nothing had changed.

Araminta followed him with Obi-wan as they descended onto the planet, which was cold and devoid of greenery. "Well, I've had worse landings," Obi-wan said as they scanned the horizon, as if to ease the tension.

Anakin ignored the remark, instead pointing over his shoulder. "Dooku," was all he said.

Araminta's eyes followed his hand, narrowing at the familiar ship metres from theirs. Obi-wan led the way, Araminta assuming her natural position of waiting in his wings, and Anakin bringing up the rear as they cautiously approached the ship, Araminta's knives feeling heavy on her frame. The crushing presence of Dooku's power wasn't present, which became clear as they got closer and could see that the pilot's seat was empty.

Despite this, Araminta didn't relax as she followed a faint beeping sound, ears swivelling and her tail twitching. The other two followed her movements, knowing what it meant, as she moved around the side of the ship to a small, blinking device planted on the side of it.

Araminta pulled away, wearily. "A tracker?"

"No, it looks like a... homing beacon," Obi-wan theorised.

"Which means the distinguished Count is waiting for help. So he can't be far off," Anakin assumed. Obi-wan knelt down, glancing under the ship, Araminta stepping closer to him.

"His engine is damaged," Obi-wan told them, getting back to his feet. He looked down at Araminta with determination. "He's not going anywhere."

"Not without this." Anakin swiftly cut off the beacon with his lightsaber, sparks flying from the contact.

Obi-wan moved off, a few steps from the ship before pausing. Araminta followed his line of sight, which revealed only crags of rock and ash. It was a desolate planet, that was certain, and without high ground their target could be hiding anywhere. All Araminta knew was that the root of their problem was cornered, and maybe helpless, but far from vulnerable. She had to watch Obi-wan's back.

Anakin was to her side, their momentary spat completely forgotten. "This place is depressing," he said.

"Agreed," Araminta replied.

"There," Obi-wan said, ignoring them and pointing into the distance. "Caves are a good start."

Their formation changed to walking in step with each other, Araminta in the middle, as they cleared the small, dusty rise and looked down into the vast cave entrance Obi-wan had been pointing at. The cavern below was shrouded, but the light from the entrance highlighted the winding pathways and cracks splitting away from it. Spikes from the bottom and top sprouted, some connected in the middle, and the surface of the cave glittered with minerals.

Araminta swallowed thickly. "Strange," Anakin remarked, as if reading her thoughts.

"You sense it, too," Obi-wan said. "Many life forms in there."

"And Dooku's one of them," Anakin said, firmly, activating his lightsaber.

"Let's try to get him before something else does," Obi-wan agreed, activating his own.

The pair used their sabres for light as they moved forward, while Araminta took her position at Obi-wan flank, removing a small torch from her belt that the clones also owned. The cave remained wide even as they descended the tunnel, echoing loudly and distinctly in Araminta's ears as they moved.

"Do you see anything?" Obi-wan asked cautiously every now and then.

Often, it was a dip in the path or sharp rock, but Araminta narrowed her eyes at two voids. "Y turn coming up," she said, lightly. Their voices were hushed to the point they didn't echo, on edge at the thought of Dooku being in the enclosed space with them.

"Left or right?" Anakin chimed in, swinging his lightsaber in turn.

Araminta glanced at him with a smirk. "Three, two, one–"

"Right."

"–right."

She held up her hands to Obi-wan, who looked annoyed by their antics. "Well, two on one, let's go," she said, matter-of-factly as they took the right way, which was a little tighter.

"This is a squeeze," Obi-wan muttered.

"Just for you two," Araminta said as she put the torch between her teeth and moved through with ease, her small frame advantageous. She waited on the other side for the two men to follow through, before they continued onwards, coming into another cavern, which was far taller and expansive. She swallowed thickly at the scale.

"I think I'm going to have claustrophobia when we get home," Anakin said cheerfully.

"Probably," Araminta responded as they moved into the cave. She paused, hand fluttering over her blaster, ears twitching. Anakin moved closer, swinging his sabre around as if he could see whatever it was she had heard– the faintest sound of rock moving. "What is it?" he asked, leaning forward so his lips were next to her head from their height difference.

"Shut up," she hissed. There was pressure in the rocks, something rippling low. "It's a trap."

Araminta didn't pay attention to whatever they said next, swivelling her head frantically but unable to see anything as she heard the rumbling in the walls deepen around them.

Obi-wan had already shouted "Run!" but Araminta only acted, using the Force to throw Anakin out of the path of the debris, as she leapt in Obi-wan's direction. The rocks that were dislodged by Dooku crushed the ground behind them as Araminta barrelled them against the furthest part of the cavern and out of harm's way.

Araminta sucked in shallow breaths as she crouched beside Obi-wan, plunged into darkness. He had gone still as Araminta stayed alert and listened to the footsteps fade from the cave. Even if she could see him, drawing attention and starting a fight in the now unstable, enclosed space wasn't preferable.

A second tremor rumbled through the cave, dislodging even more around them. Araminta finally pulled away from Obi-wan, looking up anxiously, anticipating anything else collapsing on them. Somewhere deep in her she knew that Dooku had just sealed the entrance to the cave, while simultaneously making it ten times more unstable then it already was.

"Well," Obi-wan finally said when the quiet lingered.

"Fuck," Araminta hissed.

"Seems about right," he agreed.

Araminta winced at the ringing in her ears from the sudden crumbling of rocks now sent back into silence. The minerals and crystals lining the cave walls were surprisingly bioluminescent, allowing the faintest bit of light as Araminta ran her hand along the ground until she found her torch, flicking it on. Luckily, she didn't need her sensitive hearing to detect Anakin, as his voice began to echo throughout the cave insearch of them. Another tremor shook the cave, Araminta swallowing thickly at the reminder of how unstable the ground still was.

She exchanged a glance with Obi-wan, as they headed in the direction of Anakin's voice. "Anakin, when I tell you to run, run," Obi-wan said as they turned around a collection of rubble, dusting himself off.

Anakin wheeled around to them, face filling with relief. "You're alive!" he exclaimed.

"Don't sound so surprised," Araminta responded with a grin, if only to hide her own relief at seeing the boy alive. She had thrown his fate to the wind when she had moved him out of the way of the collapsing cave.

Obi-wan ignored the light moment. "And where's your lightsaber?" he chided, Araminta now taking note that the weapon hilt was missing from Anakin's person again.

Anakin's face hardened. "It got knocked out of my hand," he admitted.

"By a rock?" Obi-wan asked indignantly.

Anakin turned away, grumbling. "Yeah, by a rock."

Araminta scanned the ground. "I don't see it."

"Well, it's gotta be here somewhere," Anakin retorted as he began to search.

Araminta shrugged dramatically as Obi-wan crossed his arms, holding up a finger and joyfully saying, "That is a feeble excuse."

Anakin seemed unamused by the antics as he was now rummaging in the dust on his knees. "You know what would be helpful? A little more light," he snipped.

"Certainly." Obi-wan went to turn his lightsaber on, but the blade flickered a couple times, sending flashes of blue across the cavern, before fizzling out. "Silly thing. It was just working a minute ago," Obi-wan said, unsurely, tapping it against his palm.

"You don't suppose it was hit by a rock, do you?" Anakin took his chance, glancing over his shoulder as he lightly chucked a small stone at Obi-wan's chest. The Jedi master looked unimpressed as Araminta continued to look around anxiously, moving the torchlight away from where Anakin needed. "What's the matter with you?" the younger Jedi asked.

"We should get out of here," she told them. "It could cave in anytime."

"Well if you keep the torch over there, I won't find it," Anakin snipped at her.

Araminta didn't like his tone, but she didn't have a chance to retort, before a shrill cry pierced the rattled air. Araminta clamped her ears back at the noise on her already-sensitive ears, as the group glanced up at the ceiling to see a large shape crawling above them.

She had never seen one before, but Araminta knew it was a gundark as it leapt down, weight reverberating across the cave floor. Araminta kept her foot in front of Obi-wan as the trio backed away from the advancing creature.

"This should be interesting," Obi-wan remarked.

It lunged, Araminta shoving Obi-wan with her own bodyweight out of the way, as the gundark went for Anakin instead of them, the torch clattering the ground and spraying light to the ceiling.

Araminta hesitated as the creature's full attention was on him, the boy managing to nimbly dodge the attacks. Obi-wan didn't move, watching his former padawan absentmindedly as he continued to examine his fizzling lightsaber. Araminta scowled at their antics, but didn't interfere, and she refused to leave Obi-wan's side in potential danger.

Anakin was more than capable of outrunning and dodging the attacks, but Araminta did wonder for how long as he shouted, "Jump in anytime!"

"Oh, you're doing fine," Obi-wan called back. "She seems to like you."

"Lucky me!" Anakin grunted back.

Araminta rolled her eyes. "You're a dick sometimes, you know that?" she said to her charge.

"You know, this isn't as much fun as it looks!" Anakin continued, sounding more out of breath. Araminta glanced at Obi-wan, who still didn't move. "I thought gundarks were only found on Vanqor."

"Then this system must be Vanqor," Obi-wan answered simply as he removed a part of his lightsaber.

"Are you gonna help me?" Anakin said, exasperated, as the gundark managed to catch up, knocking him off centre. Araminta's tail twitched, ears flicking back out of instinct.

"Considering it," Obi-wan responded, knocking his lightsaber on a rock casually. He flicked his gaze to Araminta briefly, one finger around the hilt lifting in Anakin's direction.

Araminta didn't hesitate anymore. The rock flew forward in momentum with her hand, crashing into the side of the gundark and forcing it away from Anakin as he scrambled to his feet. Araminta moved forward so the brunette was behind her, knees bent slightly to the side.

"Well, you took your time," Anakin remarked, dusting himself off.

"Don't complain," Araminta snipped, not taking her eyes off the fallen creature.

"Thanks for throwing me, by the way," he added as the gundark got back on its feet. Araminta ignored his thanks as the gundark hissed at them, angered by the attack.

Araminta's ears angled backwards as she threw another rock, which the creature managed to dodge as it charged forward. The assassin planned to skid backwards and pull her companions out of harm's way, but another rock came flying, then another, the gundark unable to dodge the double attack.

Confused, Araminta glanced over her shoulder briefly to see Anakin holding his hands out. Then he winked at her, as if oblivious to the dumbfounded look on her face at him helping her. Araminta turned back to the immediate threat, swallowing back her doubts as a collection of rocks began to pile around the gundark.

They couldn't risk throwing any more and destabilising the cave again, so Araminta dipped into some of her reserves as she gripped at the body of the gundark, stopping it in its charge as it began to hover in the air. Araminta was ignorant to what the other two were saying, as she focused her entire being on the Force, before shifting forward. The gundark slammed into the cave floor with a cry, before silence claimed the cavern again.

Araminta heaved a breath at the effort, as she composed herself, stepping back slightly. The gundark didn't move and Araminta cracked a knuckle at the threat being neutralised. Obi-wan and Anakin brushed past her, stepping up to make sure the creature was out of the picture, as Araminta forced herself to also move forward to be in Obi-wan's blindspot.

"It's a pity, I was just starting to sense a connection," Anakin finally mused.

"Should we leave you two alone?" Obi-wan responded immediately.

Anakin glared at him. "Funny."

Obi-wan smirked, before turning to his bodyguard, unsurprised by her appearing in his blindspot. "Can you find the way back?" he asked her.

Araminta flicked her ears forward, looking back the way they had come. "If there is a way left, then yeah." Anakin scoffed at the reply.

"Doesn't help that we're blind," Obi-wan sighed, holstering his defeated lightsaber.

"There'll be light the closer we get to the entrance," Araminta shrugged, retrieving her torch. "Just follow me."

Araminta began to lead the pair the way they had come, which was surprisingly unmarred, except for a few new jutting pieces of rock that Araminta called out and climbed over. At Anakin's protest that she refused to move them, she had gone quiet except for tapping along the rocks to lead them.

"Ow," Anakin hissed.

"Rock!" Araminta called.

"You don't say," he wheezed back.

Araminta snickered as they neared the entrance, which was leaking faint traces of daylight, as their dependence on the torch faded. She stopped short, gazing up at the pile of crumbled rocks and debris blocking their most obvious exit.

"That's... a lot of rocks," Anakin said, stepping up to her.

"Dooku really wanted to bury us here," Obi-wan said, sounding more annoyed than concerned.

Anakin shrugged enthusiastically. "Well, gotta start somewhere." To match his energy, he lifted a nearby rock and threw it behind them with a crash.

"Be careful where you throw the rocks," Araminta hissed.

Anakin rolled his eyes. "Alright, master." Araminta chucked a small stone at him, lightly hitting him in the shoulder. "Be careful where you throw the rocks," Anakin echoed.

Araminta gave him a withering look. "I'm letting the next gundark eat you."

"I agree," Obi-wan chimed in.

Anakin's protests were masked by the grating of stone, as Obi-wan and his bodyguard worked together to shift away a larger rock they wouldn't have been able to handle individually. Anakin followed their example, albeit a little more carefully after Araminta's scolding.

They worked steadily through the pile of rocks, splitting weights and tag teaming when it was needed, Araminta constantly at attention for the sound of another gundark, all while thinking how she had gotten into the ridiculous situation. She was panting slightly at the exertion, the pile of rocks still daunting, as she looked up at it from where she was positioned.

Anakin and Obi-wan were further away together, as Araminta placed another rock to the side, just as a resounding crack broke the relative silence of the cave. Araminta snapped to attention, eyes wide.

"Shit. New problem!" Anakin exclaimed.

Araminta paled at the sound of the gas hissing out of the ground and the sickening odour that was rising in the air. The rock that had cracked the ground was large, and the damage streaked across the stone floor as the cave buckled slightly.

"That's not good," Obi-wan remarked, hands over his mouth. Anakin was doing the same, letting out a dry cough.

"It's just gas," Anakin responded.

"Yes. Probably toxic gas," Obi-wan snipped back.

With our luck, Araminta thought, but kept it to herself. Instead of wasting her breath scolding Anakin, she clamped her mouth shut and slowed her breathing as much as she could, wincing at the gas scratching her throat.

"Good, maybe it'll kill your gundark," Anakin said, lightly.

"Or it'll kill us."

Araminta ignored the pair's words, refocusing on the blockage, which now felt even worse, as she chipped away at the rocks she could lift on her own. Anakin and Obi-wan were doing the same, but had changed to using their hands rather than the Force. Araminta was standing stronger than either of them, still refusing to open her mouth.

Anakin suddenly stopped, hands shaky. "This... isn't gonna work," he murmured. Araminta looked at him in alarm. "I can't breathe." He buckled, reduced to his hands and knees. Araminta ignored the urge to get down and help him, instead throwing another rock behind her.

She did stop when Obi-wan collapsed, sucking in a small sharp breath that pinched at her lungs and caused spots to dance in her vision. "As always, I'm open to sugges–" her charge trailed off, voice strained as he tried to drag himself up the pile of collapsed rocks. Araminta glanced at either side of her where the others were struggling for breath, before back up at the obstacle in front of her.

Not like this, she thought, frantically. She couldn't die without shedding Octavian's skin.

She couldn't die.

She refused to.

Araminta could feel the toxins lightening her mind, her lips feeling loose, lungs screaming for a breath of air, clean or not. Someone reached for her through the Force, a small hand, and Araminta pushed herself to continue. As the two men crumbled, she raised her arms and focused on what little breath she had left, before pulling her arms backwards.

The entrance burst open, rocks flying past them, light blasting in. Araminta shielded her face with her arms, feeling her knees shake. The sudden beaming of daylight blinded her, over stimulating her senses as she angled herself away. She let herself steal a breath of open air.

"Who–?" Anakin's voice was raspy behind her, almost undetectable.

"Master!" Ahsoka Tano cried.

Araminta blinked rapidly until the padawan was a blurry shape in her vision against a background of white. There were other shapes, too– clones. She allowed herself to heave in breaths now, refilling her lungs, getting rid of the shake in her limbs. She glanced back at the two behind her as they hauled themselves to their feet and, finally, left the cave and stepped back outside.

"Are you alright?" Araminta asked Obi-wan immediately. In the open air she was now vividly aware of the coating of dust along her skin and in her hair.

"I'm great, thanks for asking," Anakin responded instead, voice entering from her right.

Araminta sneered in his direction. "When my life relies on yours then you can complain."

"I'm fine," Obi-wan coughed from her left. "In no small part because of you."

The praise sat oddly in Araminta's chest. "Well, the padawan helped," she said, holding out a hand to her.

Ahsoka grinned at the acknowledgement. "You were in very big trouble," she told her master smugly. "Seems I got here just in time."

"Trouble? We were simply searching for Count Dooku," Obi-wan said matter-of-factly.

"Yeah," Anakin agreed through a cough. "We had the situation well under control, my little padawan."

"Oh, I see. So which part of the situation did you have under control?" Ahsoka asked, snidely. "The blocked entrance, the poison gas or that gundark behind you?"

"Gundark?" Anakin scoffed.

"Oh, you mean the one that can't possibly wake up?" Obi-wan chided, in a tone that suggested Araminta had missed a conversation while clearing rocks.

"I didn't–"

The hissing of the creature interrupted Anakin as the group turned to see a dark shape moving towards them.

"Block the entrance!" Ahsoka instructed. The clones accompanying her blasted at the edges of the entrance, which crumbled down a second time before the gundark could lunge at them. Araminta took a step back from the dust cloud.

Anakin stepped up to her, brows pinched. "Are you okay?" he asked, evenly.

"Fine," Araminta responded, defiantly. "We've got bigger problems."

"Right. There's still Dooku to deal with," he said, turning away from the cave that had almost claimed their lives.

"You let him get away?" Ahsoka said in disbelief, chiming in to their conversation.

"No," Anakin denied, before fumbling. "Not... get away, exactly." Ahsoka arched an eyebrow. "Just..." Anakin trailed off weakly, before glancing over his shoulder at Obi-wan and Araminta as if for help as Ahsoka's glare deepened. "Jump in–anytime," he said around his teeth.

"Oh no," Obi-wan mused. "We're enjoying this far too much."

━━━━ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ━━━━

      ARAMINTA was never unarmed by choice. A weapon of some sort always rested against her body, knotted somewhere, twisted into a groove of clothing. At any point in time she was armed to defend herself and felt at ease at the thought she could. She slept with her knife despite the fact it had been years, her shoulders were constantly taught and she had yet to run out of blaster fluid.

Of course, Octavian would argue that she was a weapon herself that he had carved and built up, that anything she wielded was simply sharpening an already loaded weapon. Octavian would argue a lot of things that Araminta didn't agree with anymore.

But he would argue that stepping unarmed into the camp of pirates that claimed to have captured Dooku was asking for a fight. Because of course that was what Araminta found herself following her charge into. It seemed that after Dooku had tried to bury them and leave, he had been taken advantage of by a group of galactic pirates who had taken him and offered a ransom for him to be handed over.

"Bullshit," Anakin had said in the meeting.

Which may have been the reason they were chosen to be sent in to gauge if it really was the Count or an elaborate hoax. They had asked for them unarmed, but Araminta silently refused, knowing how pirates' minds worked.

The flight to the planet– which was in the same system as the planet they had crashed on– was spent in relative silence, as they burned through the atmosphere and Araminta stared outside the window. She could feel Anakin's eyes on her, for much of the trip, but ignored him. It seemed he didn't like being ignored.

"What?" he finally asked.

Araminta didn't look at him. "I hate pirates."

"What?" He was amused.

"They have no morals," Araminta scoffed. "We can't trust them."

"Look who's talking," Anakin jeered.

Araminta gave him a withering look despite the lighthearted tone, turning away again as they landed in the pirates' camp. They rose to their feet uneasily, Araminta's chest tight before they headed down the ramp and into the thick of it.

"Lovely," Anakin murmured as they were met with a line of pirates, all with blasters raised and armed. Araminta kept her face flat, but her eyes were scanning as much as she could without being seen as nervous. Mostly unarmed, they were at the pirates' mercy if something went wrong, and suddenly the weapon at her sternum felt like deadweight.

After a moment, they moved forward, Araminta adopting the position of being between the two men, grossly aware of the looks she was shot. The line of pirates split to let them pass, but the weapons were still trained on them as one stepped forward with a buzzing scanner. Araminta kept her face impassive despite her pounding chest.

He scanned Anakin first, before moving towards her. Araminta cooperatively lifted her arms, waiting for the scanner to pick up anything or plunge them into chaos. Nothing happened, and he moved onto Obi-wan. Araminta let out a small breath.

"Follow me," the scanner pirate grunted when he was satisfied.

Anakin and Obi-wan exchanged glances over Araminta's head, but she kept her eyes trained ahead of them, aware of the other pirates following them as they headed for the large, dome tent they had set up.

It was dark inside, dimly lit and filled with pirates, many sending them wary or intimidating looks. Araminta's skin was crawling, as they came closer to a large table at the back, surrounded by armed guards with only one pirate sitting at it.

"Gentlemen," he greeted, before fixing his gaze on Araminta between them. "And, lady. Can I offer you something to drink?"

"No, thank you," Obi-wan said politely. The pirate didn't look pleased, and slid a cup across the table to them. "Congratulations on your capture of Count Dooku. Very impressive."

"Yes, it was," the pirate agreed. "Even a Sith Lord is no match for my warriors. But he put up quite a fight. Blasters, cannons–" he made some exaggerated movements with his hands, not caring that his drink was spilling. "–that glowy thing." The leader even imitated the noises of a lightsaber.

"You mean a lightsaber?" Obi-wan chimed in.

"That's it. And I don't need to tell you, those things can do some damage," the leader continued, as a small creature jumped to his shoulder, holding a full bottle to refill the cup. But Araminta suspected her partners were far more interested in the lightsaber hilt it was holding in its other hand. "Carved up some of my best men pretty good before I could get the jump on him."

"And how exactly did you get the jump on him?" Anakin said, passively. "With this?" And the hilt flew to his hand.

Immediately blasters were aimed at them, the pirates that had formerly been calm and relaxed were on their feet and they were surrounded. Araminta sighed loudly, as the creature made sounds of frustration and scrambled to take the hilt back, but the weapons still remained raised.

"This is why you're always the one getting caught," Araminta remarked. She was glad she couldn't see Anakin's face.

"We have no interest in disagreeing with you," Obi-wan told them firmly, staring down the barrel of a blaster. "All we want is to confirm that you are holding Dooku, and we'll go."

"That can be arranged," the leader said, less jovial than moments before. "But only you gentlemen." Anakin had already made to step forward in protest. "I was told only two would be coming. So only two."

"That's–"

Araminta held up a hand, cutting Anakin off. She took a strained breath. Putting up a fight wasn't worth it, and Anakin would not stay behind for Araminta's comfort. She knew that.

"I'll stay on the ship," Araminta announced, firmly. She looked between the two Jedi. "You two go. But be quick."

With a nod from the leader, a small group split off and led them away, Araminta watching them until they were out of sight. She grit her teeth at being separated from her charge, but also at the hopeless situation. She had to swallow it.

The pirates were still watching her keenly but she held her ground. "You're not Jedi, are you?" the leader asked before she could turn away. Araminta looked at him evenly.

"What gave you that idea?" she asked, trying to sound more curious than she was.

The leader rested his head on his hand. "You walked in here like you've been here before," he mused. "Like a pirate."

Worse, Araminta thought, but she only scoffed and headed back to the ship.

━━━━ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ━━━━

      DUSK was approaching when Anakin and Obi-wan returned from the prison ward, thankfully in one piece and untouched. They caught Araminta up, confirming that the pirates did, in fact, have Dooku, before contacting the council and allowing the ransom to be offered. Araminta was barely listening as they named the representatives they would be sending, her eyes trained outside the cockpit window on the camp below them.

Again, she could feel Anakin's eyes on her.

She had spent the time they had been gone weaving her way through the camp, seeing as much as she could without being suspicious or bothered. They had not let her out of their sight, and eventually the prying eyes and smell of alcohol had gotten too much and she had retreated into the ship. That way, she told herself, she could make an escape if something had gone wrong.

"I trust you survived being apart from us," Obi-wan teased her, forcing her to zone back in. She sat straighter, having arced the seat backwards till she was almost lying down for comfort.

"If I survive these creeps," Araminta snipped, gesturing with her head outside.

"Does that mean you won't come to their party tonight?" Anakin asked her, an odd look in his eyes. Araminta furrowed her brows at the question.

"We've been invited to a banquet," Obi-wan told her.

"Fantastic," she said, dryly, unable to imagine anything worse in that moment.

"I don't understand why you don't like pirates so much. They wouldn't risk doing anything with the Jedi," Anakin shrugged. Araminta understood the sentiment was supposed to make her feel better but it didn't.

"You underestimate them," she said, firmly.

Obi-wan blinked at her. "Dooku said the same thing."

"They captured an actual Sith Lord. Are you so arrogant to think they wouldn't stop at weak-minded Jedi?" Araminta pointed out.

"Stop making this about Sith and Jedi," Anakin retorted.

"I don't want to risk my mission anymore than we have to because you guys think you're above them," Araminta explained, surprising even herself with how calm she delivered her point.

"Why are you so sure they'd risk that?" Anakin asked, sounding exasperated.

"Because once I had to think like them."

The words were cold, but Araminta didn't need to raise her voice to silence the ship and thicken the air. Anakin said nothing, looking down at her as if he saw right through her. It had been a while since he had worn that look. Araminta averted her gaze back to the window, resting a hand lightly on her sternum.

Obi-wan cleared his throat to break the tension after a moment. "Shall we?"

Araminta only glanced at him, before bracing to get up. Anakin interjected, "Don't wait up, we'll just be a minute." He held out a hand to Araminta, who paused and stayed seated out of sheer confusion. Obi-wan mirrored her expression, eyeing the pair oddly as he left.

Anakin sighed once they were alone. "For the record, they'd be dead before they even laid a hand on you," he told her as some sort of weird reassurance.

Araminta chuckled. "Well, I'm not that good."

"Not you," he dismissed.

The confusion returned, Araminta further straightening up in her seat. "What's going on, Skywalker?" she asked, directly.

"What happened today?"

"Nothing–"

"Liar," he cut in. Araminta frowned at him. "You've been on edge all day. You can't be this scared of pirates and you practically bit my head off in the cave."

"I actually am that distrusting of people I used to be like," Araminta responded, holding up a finger pointedly. Anakin inclined his head, causing Araminta to sigh. "Seeing Dooku took me back, that's all."

"Took you back?" Anakin asked, softly.

"Don't you remember where everything was at the last time?" she asked him.

"I guess." He shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't need to tell you it doesn't matter anymore, right?"

Araminta looked down. "Right."

Anakin bit his lip, realising he hadn't read as well as he had in the past. "Then what's this about?" She didn't say anything. "What is it?" he pressed, kneeling so he was level with her seat.

"Reminds me of what I used to be," she got out.

"Exactly. Past tense." The response was almost automatic, as if he didn't even have to think about it.

"Just brought everything back," Araminta said lightly, shrugging, not wanting to dig more into old wounds than necessary.

"It shouldn't. You're more than him now, I know that," Anakin told her, firmly. For a second she almost believed he meant it.

"That's not enough," Araminta said.

Anakin frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know who I am without Octavian. I still don't, not really. Everyday I get further from him but... it's not enough," Araminta hissed. "I still feel like I'm floating between different places. I can still put myself in the shoes of thieves and murderers. I switch between wanting to turn and run, and thinking of ways to escape on my own."

"When we were in the cave today, all I could think was that I couldn't die without being more than him. That was what kept me going. Not saving you or Obi-wan," Araminta bit at her lip, drawing blood. "But I don't even know what that means. Seeing Dooku just reminded me of how far away I am from everything I knew but also how close I still am."

Anakin didn't say anything for a few moments, he just gazed at her, and she met it. She felt lighter than she had all day, lighter than she should in an outlaws camp. But that was what Anakin was good at, it seemed. She had just accepted it now, after a year, that tearing herself down in front of him didn't hurt.

She wondered if he ever felt the same. The way he looked at her, how he would seek her out after long missions. He had talked about his mother once or twice, and she had listened all night. Because that was what they did.

Anakin finally responded. "Well, once we win the war, then you can figure it out," he told her, with the standard confidence he had grown into overtime.

Araminta smiled slightly at the response. "Never change, Skywalker," she scoffed at his cockiness.

"Promise I won't," he said with a wink, before pushing himself to his feet. "Now, come on, there's a party." Araminta took his offered hand, letting him pull her out of her seat, her shoulders weighing her down less than they had all day.

"I'm not drinking anything they offer us, by the way," Araminta told him, sharply, tugging on his hand to his attention.

"That's fair," Anakin said, but he sounded distracted, as their hands parted.

Araminta dismissed it and said, "I've missed our little talks."

━━━━ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ━━━━

WHEW this is a long chapter (8.4k) to make up for my absence. much more character work in this one but some complex feelings of araminta being confused and in between worlds so am happy to clarify if anything wasn't clear enough !!

i genuinely have so much fun writing this fic like obikinta are my holy trinity, add on ahsoka when she's older and it's a core four. i cannot wait to get further into the clone wars and raise the chaos and banter but also the stakes and angst and tension.

i will try and have the next chapter up asap since it's a 2 episode arc (1x11 and 1x12) !! i've been battling a bad case of writers block and also just adulting things

anyway thank you all for reading <33 and for over 10k reads!!