Cad Bane leaned against the wall, chewing on his toothpick. Two medical droids shackled the unconscious sorceress to a table, binding her wrists and ankles with durasteel cuffs.

When they finished, the droids cut the sleeves off her shirt. A bruise bloomed on her right cheek where Bane had struck her.

"How much longer, Bane? I want my money and to get the kriff out of here." Cato, hissed, the changeling back in her normal skeletal form. She shifted restlessly as if she sensed the dark atmosphere hanging over the research facility.

The Sith Lord wasn't here but his presence was keenly felt. Bane crossed his ankles and folded his arms across his chest. "Relax, it shouldn't be much longer."

The droids set medical equipment on a floating tray beside the exam table. A third prodded the bend in sorceress' right arm, examining the blue tracery of veins. "Subject is in excellent condition." The droid told its companions.

Cato fidgeted. The fires burning outside the installation reflected in the changeling's eyes. "This job was riskier than I prefer. Killing a bounty is much simpler. She could wake up and attack us again, Bane. We lack the element of surprise now. Ever tangle with Dathomir witches? The sorceress will wipe the floor with us."

Accustomed to Cato's whining, Bane tuned his partner out. He drew the hat lower over his eyes.

Although, the changeling had a point. The Sith Lord could have picked a better location to deliver the bounty to besides Mustafar. The mining world was hotter than hell. Even indoors, the oppressive heat pressed against his skin drenching him in sweat.

A droid inserted a needle into the sorceress' arm.

Whatever the Sith Lord's aim, Bane didn't care what he planned for the woman. The only thing he cared about is getting paid.

Finally, his commlink chimed. Bane tapped his wrist, answering the call. "Bane."

The hologram of the cloaked Sith lord turned to observe the proceedings. "Good, things are proceeding according to plan."

"And my money?" Bane prompted.

"In your account as agreed."

The bounty hunter nodded satisfied.

A thin smile curled the Sith's exposed mouth. "I have one other job for you. Skywalker is on his way to Mustafar. He will arrive there shortly. I need you to provide a distraction until the samples have been collected."

Bane thought it over. Jedi were a pain to deal with, but he did owe Skywalker some payback. "It'll cost you triple my rate."

The Sith waved his hand dismissively. "Money is not an issue. See to it that the task is accomplished. Let me be clear, you are to be a distraction only."

"Understood." The bounty hunter lazily tossed aside his toothpick. "Pleasure doing business with you, my lord."

*********************************************************************************************

The Falcon exited hyperspace with a violent jolt. Anakin slammed back in his seat cursing. His mind spun frantically with fear for Cassandra and what might be happening to her. He wasn't thinking clearly. It was affecting his flying.

Artoo whistled worriedly as he unlinked from the hyperdrive. The astromech rolled over to comfort him.

Anakin reached over and patted the droid. "It's alright, buddy. I was going a bit too fast."

"I'll say, I almost cracked my head open." A familiar voice said behind him.

Anakin whirled around to stare at his stowaway, outraged. "Snips! What are you doing here? You're supposed to be on a mission with Master Plo!"

He did not kriffing need to babysit the Padawan on top of everything else!

The Togruta regarded him blandly from half-lidded eyes and rubbed the back of her head. "Master Obi-Wan thought you might need help and sent me."

Fuming, Anakin glared at the Padawan. "I don't need your help, Ahsoka!"

"Well, Mustafar is just ahead. Unless you want to turn around and take me back to the Temple, I'm a part of the rescue mission now. So...." She trailed off suggestively and propped her hands on her hips.

Why, that little....

Anakin gritted his teeth, suppressing the urge to scream. "Fine! Sit down and strap in!"

Smug, Ahsoka flopped down into the copilot's seat. "I knew, you'd see things my way, Skyguy."

"Don't get cocky." Anakin growled, outraged she had snuck aboard the shuttle. Furious Obi-Wan had sent her along because the other Jedi did not trust him.

The planet glowed like a fireball in the firmament, swirled with spirals of smoke. The shuttle broke through the dense cloud layer.

Ahsoka let out a low whistle as they got their first glimpse of the volcanic world. "It's a wonder anything can survive here." Rivers of lava snaked through the broken landscape, the craggy rock formations clawing at the ash-wreathed sky. "Why would the Techno Union want this dump?"

"Because of its strategic location. Its located close to Naboo and the Ryndellia medical station." Anakin took the shuttle in lower, dodging geysers of flame. "Stay sharp, Snips. There's no telling what we'll find."

Up ahead was a mining installation. Anakin sensed Cassandra within, her mind a quiet ripple in the Force. She was unconscious. He docked at the landing platform, switching off the engine. "Artoo, stay with the ship."

The astromech whistled an affirmative.

Anakin glanced at Ahsoka and ignited his lightsaber. "I sense Cad Bane lurking inside. No doubt the bounty hunter has planned an ambush for us. Don't do anything reckless, Snips. Follow my lead."

Ahsoka sighed and drew her lightsabers. "You're the boss."

Muscles coiled with tension, Anakin exited the Falcon, gaze darting around. In the ravine below, mining droids soared above the bubbling magma hauling drums of slag on levitating platforms.

The air was painfully hot, the weight seemed to sit on his lungs like a ton of bricks. Anakin lowered his head and took shallow breaths as he entered the installation. It was only marginally cooler inside.

"I'm sweating buckets in this tin can." Ahsoka complained.

"Quiet." Anakin ordered, ignoring the sweat pouring down his own back.

Sliding along the wall, he peered around the corner. The corridor was empty. Anakin signaled Ashoka to follow. Bane was still some distance away, hiding in the center of the building with another lifeform.

When they arrived at an intersection with four branching hallways, Anakin halted. It was time to turn the tables on Bane. "Turn on your commlink. This is where we split up. I'll go left, you'll go right. If you encounter Bane contact me. Don't engage him."

With a cocky grin, Ahsoka twirled her lightsaber hilts and ignited the swords. "Understood."

*********************************************************************************************

Cato flexed her hand experimentally. While she could duplicate another's appearance, she could not duplicate their skills. Bane better deliver on her bonus. She hated tangling with Jedi.

"Skywalker is heading your way. Stick to the plan, Cato." Bane's coarse voice barked from her commlink.

She heard heavy footsteps booming down the corridor.

Cato rolled her eyes. This is the last time she worked for the bounty hunter. Combing her fingers through her long dark hair, she took a deep breath and plastered a terrified expression on her face and ran toward the Jedi. "Thank the Force you're here!" She cried.

Blast it! What was his name? She couldn't call him Skywalker, it would be a dead giveaway! Cato came up blank. Oh, well. She'd have to improvise.

Clutching the front of Skywalker's robes Cato shuddered violently, allowing tears to fall. "They did such terrible things to me!"

*********************************************************************************************

Bane was close. Anakin could feel him like an annoying buzzing in his ear. He scanned the ceiling for open panels, the alcoves along the walls. He was definitely here along with someone else.

"Thank the Force you're here!" Cassandra sprinted from the mouth of the corridor, her face twisted in fear. She launched herself into his arms.

Anakin caught her reflexively, too stunned by her sudden appearance to say anything.

Clinging to his robes, she shivered, tears rolling down her cheeks. "They did such terrible things to me!"

Before he could respond, Ahsoka charged from the opposite direction, casting about wildly. "Where's Bane?"

*********************************************************************************************

Cassandra hovered on the edge of consciousness. She couldn't move, something bound her in place. Gradually, a pair of voices filtered into the dark place she dwelt. Their words were an incoherent jumble.

"...samples?"

"...should be enough-"

"...Jedi are-"

"...too risky-"

Cassandra woke slowly, the effort to open her eyes herculean. Her surroundings were blurred at first, but her vision slowly sharpened along with her awareness. Everything came flooding back to her in a rush.

She had been kidnapped by Cad Bane and some alien named Cato. Wherever she was, it couldn't be good. Her head throbbed, a spike of pain shooting through her skull.

Wincing, Cassandra turned her head to the side, discovering her wrist shackled to the table. She wiggled her legs and other arm, finding them similarly bound.

A medical droid removed a needle from the crook of her arm and taped a piece of gauze over the bleeding puncture wound. "The subject is awake."

"Administer another sedative." A second droid commanded.

Like hell, she was going to lay here and let them conduct experiments on her!

Summoning her magic, Cassandra snapped the steel manacles around her wrists and ankles.

Freed, she sat up on the table and looked around. She was in some sort of lab with computers and medical equipment.

The nearest droid buzzed in alarm. "Subject is free! Subdue her!"

Rising, Cassandra lifted her glowing hands. "You're about to be scrap metal!"

The nearest droid took a swipe at her.

Ducking the clawed appendage, Cassandra jumped aside and unleashed her power.

*********************************************************************************************

"Hold on, Snips." Anakin shoved Cassandra away and pointed the lightsaber under her chin. "Who are you?" He snarled at the thing that wore his wife's face. It made him sick to his stomach.

The changeling grinned savagely, the expression contorting the creature's stolen face. "You're smarter than Bane claimed, Jedi."

"You didn't fool me for a minute." The changeling wore no wedding ring, unable to duplicate what Cassandra concealed with a spell-that only they could see through. Anakin backed the creature into the wall. "Now, change back!"

The changeling toyed with a lock of hair. "I rather like this body. The sorceress is comely for a human."

"Change back, now!" Anakin roared, slamming the changeling into the wall. His power exploded out of him buckling the wall around the creature.

Smile dropping, the changeling cringed. Cassandra's form melted away, revealing a wizened green face and sullen green eyes. "Happy, Jedi?"

Ahsoka yelped behind him. "Look out!"

Spinning, Anakin blocked a laser bolt with his lightsaber. Bane emerged from an adjacent room, blaster fixed on him. "Skywalker-"

In the distance Anakin heard an explosion. The floor rumbled under his soles, causing him to lose his balance. The research facility was falling apart.

Bane, sensing a turn in his fortune, ignited his thrusters and fled. The changeling attempted to follow her associate.

Anakin rushed the creature and ran her through from behind.

Shocked, Ahsoka stared. "Skyguy..."

A wet gurgle welled in the changeling's throat, then the creature slumped to the floor dead. Anakin gazed stonily at the body. The changeling could duplicate Cassandra's form. To protect his wife, he had to kill her.

Anakin turned toward the Padawan. "You know what changelings are capable of, Snips. There was no other choice."

The changeling could have disguised herself as Cassandra and committed any number of crimes. The sorceress would have been implicated.

"Yeah, but-"

Anakin cut off her protests with a glare. "Enough, we need to find Cassandra before this junk heap falls into the lava pits."

Ahsoka blew out a breath and pointed down the hall. "I sense something in the direction of the labs."

Right where the explosion occurred. The corner of Anakin's mouth lifted. It appeared Cassandra was taking matters into her own hands.

A tremor rippled through the Force. The roof above them began to buckle. Anakin tore down the hall, Ahsoka quick on his heels. He hesitated to use magic in front of the Padawan, but he'd already exposed his new abilities to Obi-Wan.

His secret was out of the bag. Hopefully, Cassandra wouldn't be too mad at him and banish him to the sofa again.

Anakin drew a portal and leaped through.

*********************************************************************************************

Shit.

Cassandra stared at all the flashing lights and alarms going off on the computer mainframe. Shit. Shit. Shit.

When she blasted the droids across the room, her magic had also destroyed the computer controlling the gravity generator.

The building was collapsing.

The windows cracked underneath the weight of the sagging roof and shattered. Throwing her arms up to shield her face, Cassandra ducked. Pieces of glass rained down everywhere, cutting her exposed arms.

Death by a thousand cuts now had a new meaning.

Cassandra swore, brushing the glass from her hair as she rose. The entire front wall of the room was gone. Before she could get her bearings, the floor tilted underneath her feet, and she went sliding toward the opening.

"Oh shit." Her mind went numb as she tumbled out of the building into thin air.

A deadly lake of lava hovered below waiting to melt her alive. Cassandra twisted and scrabbled in a last desperate attempt to save herself from becoming goo, her right hand wrapping around an exposed iron cable.

Her body jerked as she caught herself. Fire raced through her shoulder joint so painful she almost lost her hold. Gritting her teeth, she clung to the cable with every ounce of strength she possessed.

The frayed cable groaned under the weight of a human body. Cassandra sank several inches, her pulse beating wildly in her throat. Oh, God. She was going to die! Just like Gollum when he fell into Mount Doom with the ring!

She tightened her grip, the ragged cable shredding her palm. Cassandra was now too terrified to feel the damage.

Okay, think. Think. By some miracle she still had her sling ring. The problem? It was on the hand currently keeping her from plummeting to her death. Cassandra had no way to draw a portal.

Anakin's face swam to the forefront of her mind. Her Jedi. No doubt he was on his way to save her.

A powerful yearning rose inside her like a cataclysmic wave drowning out everything else.

Out of the blue, Cassandra could feel him. The world ground to a halt, the only sound her shaky breathing. 'Anakin?'

She felt his surprise, then he reached out tentatively. 'Cassandra?'

'I...can feel you.' For a moment, wonder replaced her terror. Cassandra could actually feel him in her mind. It was such a peculiar sensation.

'I'm on my way, Cass. Just hold on.'

A gentle ripple of reassurance wrapped around her like one of Anakin's hugs. Cassandra calmed. He was here.

Everything was going to be okay. Anakin was here.

A hot gust of air blew her hair back, a grim reminder of what awaited below.

*********************************************************************************************

On the threshold Anakin blocked Ahsoka with his arm, keeping the Padawan from charging into the lab. "Change of plans, Ahsoka. Meet Artoo at the Falcon and get the ship ready. I'll rescue Master Pierce." He ordered brusquely.

Snips knew better to argue when he took that tone. The Padawan nodded sternly and headed back the way they came. The mining facility was a death trap, but he was confident Ahsoka could navigate her way safely to the shuttle.

Sections of the floor had buckled under fallen beams or vanished entirely. Anakin placed his feet carefully, navigating the debris. A metal tile wobbled under his boot. He froze for a second. When it held, he continued weaving through the lab to where the outer wall had fallen away.

A small pale hand covered in blood wrapped around an iron cable. Cassandra's face crumpled in relief when she saw him. "Thank God."

Scalding heat slapped his face. Anakin bent his knees, centering his balance. "I'm going to pull you up with the Force. Let go."

Cassandra met his gaze with determination and released the cable. She dropped. Catching her with the Force, Anakin lifted her to safety.

A second later, the cable she'd been holding snapped free and spiraled into the pit below.

He held her gaze for a second then turned away. Their reunion would have to wait.

"Come on." Anakin wrapped his hand around hers and led her through the room. They raced through the facility. Another explosion roared in the distance. "What happened?"

"I accidentally blew up the building." She confessed.

He smirked. "That's my girl."

Cassandra flushed from Anakin's compliment.

Summoning a portal, they raced into the Falcon's cargo hold. The landing platform dipped alarmingly underneath the ship. "Snips! Get us out of here!" Anakin shouted.

"On it, Skyguy!"

Just as the Falcon lifted off, the platform fell away from the cliff into the lava pit below.

Cassandra sank to the floor, utterly exhausted by the toll of her abduction. Every part of her body ached and throbbed, but she survived. That's what counted.

Anakin knelt beside her, drawing her into the circle of his arms. "Cass?"

She leaned against his shoulder wearily. "Thanks for rescuing me."

"Always, my love." He whispered against her sweaty hair so Ahsoka wouldn't hear.

Cassandra smiled at the endearment.

Anakin drew back, cupping her face between his hands. "Tell me what happened at the Temple, Cass."

There wasn't much to tell. Bane set a trap, and she fell for it to protect Porggy. Cassandra barely had any recollection of what the droids were doing to her in the lab other than taking blood samples. Who had hired Bane? What knowledge did they hope to gain from her blood?

It would take time to unravel the confusing tangle, if they ever did.

A/N: The chapter is finished! I thought this was a good spot to end. I hope you enjoyed it, as always thanks for the support it means the world!