Ahsoka stood in the middle of her room, arms crossed and bottom lip tucked between her teeth. She had been gnawing on it so much that it had gone raw and started to bleed but she didn't pay it any mind. Pain to her now was just a companion, one that hovered over her shoulder. She had been so sure it was a mental obstacle but over time it seemed to bleed into each of her limbs poisoning her bones and blood and she didn't feel right .

She knew she was still young, but now with war worn at her edges it felt as though she had lived many lifetimes and she was tired. There was always the thought of just stopping, but she knew there would be no rest while the Empire was still the ruling interest of the galaxy. Ahsoka paced, her shoes scuffing along the floor as she debated on what to do. Should she lie low or flee? Running felt cowardly but it didn't feel like she had much of a choice. The Empire wasn't known to come peacefully and with her luck she'd most likely cause a scene. And if she was provoked or had to protect someone, Ahsoka couldn't not fight.

Besides, she was still relatively new so it wasn't like it would be some mystery if she left out of the blue. People weren't depending on her besides drunkards at the bar she worked at and Marta would be fine on her own for a couple of days. Ahsoka had made sure to restock on whatever food she had eaten and cleaned up just so the woman wouldn't have to do too much heavy lifting. With a huff she made up her mind and began packing light. Shoving whatever she thought might be necessary into an old and worn bag.

There was a light knock on the door and she turned to see Marta leaning against the wall. "Going somewhere?"

"For a few days."

"Anywhere in particular?"

Ahsoka shook her head, to put it elegantly she was 'winging' it, but on top of that the less Marta knew the better. "Exploring I guess, I never got the chance to and I figured what better time than now?"

"I know it's to flee the Empire but what you might find out there won't be any better."

Pausing, Ahsoka turned to Marta with a brow raised. "Meaning?" She knew she could handle herself, but admittedly with the lack of her sabers some obstacles might prove to be a bit more difficult now.

"Have you heard of Tusken Raiders?"

Her heart fluttered a bit and it seemed as though the air was ripped from her lungs. Yes, she had heard of them. Her Master had told her the story of how his mother was taken and tortured. How he had wanted to go to her because he knew something was wrong but the Order told him he had to 'let go' because somehow they thought it was so simple.

That spark of hatred flared again, heating her up and her veins boiled and she wanted to scream as it scorched her. How could they expect him to do nothing? Regardless if she was his mother or not, she was in pain and needed help and they refused her. Ahsoka got dizzy with the storm raging inside her mind and she begged for it to be quiet.

It'll be alright, Ahsoka . His voice called out to her through the flames and she took a deep breath. His voice was a lull that sent a comforting blanket of warmth spilling over her like warm water and she took a steadying breath. The past few days Anakin's echoes had been scaring her, making her feel anxious and worried there was some sort of trick involved. But now, with those reassuring words, it truly felt like her Master and it hit her how much she missed him.

She licked her lips and turned back to packing. "I've heard of them, but don't worry about me. I may not look like it but I can handle myself."

Marta tsk-d and waved a hand. "There's fire in your eyes, child. You have rage, I think you'll be just fine. I just wanted you to be prepared."

Ahsoka's back stiffened. She wasn't rageful.

After packing what she could, Ahsoka swung her leg over a speeder and waved goodbye to Marta. She promised she'd be back in a few days and she sent a request to the Force to keep the woman safe and only hoped it hadn't fallen on deaf ears.

Kicking on the power, the heat of the suns beat down on her before everything went blurry as the speeder took off. Wind ripped past her and she lowered her goggles over her eyes to protect them from the sand tearing past her. She wasn't sure when she should stop, but Ahsoka didn't want to be able to see the town behind her but even then that didn't feel enough.

I'm coming for you, Ahsoka.

Despite the wind roaring his voice was clear and crisp, ranging in her head like warning bells and she shivered. Maybe she'd keep going until his voice faded but she knew wherever she went, Anakin might follow.

-

  The Executor-class Star Dreadnought fell out of hyperspace and the sandy planet reared its head in front of the ship like a monster spooking a child.

Anakin clenched his jaw as he observed the planet from the viewing wall on the bridge, his hands clasped behind his back and his metal hand clenched so hard it started to creak from the pressure. He hated this planet and he had hoped he'd never have to see it again after the last time he had left. Part of him wished to blow it up, the satisfaction of just imagining it gave him a thrill. There were too many memories hidden in those sandy dunes, echoes of his past he wanted to forget but knew he never could. His time as a slave and the beatings, the hot sand and searing metal, the hunger and thirst. Then the Jedi whisked him away from his mother to lead a better life but turned a blind eye to the hell they had left her to.

Padme thought the planet was beautiful. She always saw the good in things even when they weren't there and perhaps that was part of what made him love her. Anakin had adored everything about Padme, all the millions of little pieces that came and fit together to form the most perfect woman he had ever had the privilege of knowing.

He had been so happy she had been able to meet his mother when he was a boy. He knew right there and then he would marry her and he was joyous at the fact his mother seemed to adore Padme as well. Then they had come back, and the next time Padme saw Shmi Skywalker she was a beaten corpse wrapped in dirty cloth ready to be laid to rest.

Anakin's eyes burned and he turned his gaze down to his shoes, feeling hot tears streak down his face and he felt like screaming. No, he couldn't blow this forsaken planet up. Not while his mothers body lay on its surface. Even if he wanted to take her somewhere else he knew he couldn't. This was the only home Shmi had known and despite her grim death, her last few years on the planet had been happy. She had been free and gotten married, even taken in a step-son.

He had nearly forgotten about his stepbrother and a passing thought of visiting him crossed Anakin's mind but he flicked it away. He couldn't care less if the man was alive and he was sure Owen wouldn't be too pleased at the sight of the Empire on his doorstep.

Tatooine birthed monsters and he was sure he had been the worst to emerge from it yet.

La'vena came to stand beside him, crossing her arms over her chest and her golden eyes flicked across the planet's surface. "Do you think anyone will recognize you?"

He cast her a sideways glance, "perhaps."

"And what will you do when that happens?"

Anakin turned and smiled, "I trust you'll deal with that."

"Making me do all the dirty work?"

"Is that not your job?" He teased and he watched as La'vena's hard surface of an expression crack to give way to a small smile. She was always so serious, which he did appreciate but lightening up now and again would keep him as sane as he could be.

He had found her shortly after the Order and the Republic fell. He had been scouting for Inquisitors when he landed on Naos III, it being a frigid moon in wild space and chaos had greeted him. Finding those who are Force sensitive came easy to him, it was as if he was moving through water getting pulled by a current that would take him where he needed to go.

That current led him to a cave that was a part of the moon's volcanic system and he saw her eyes glowing, reflecting the gleam of the lava and he could feel the Force rolling off of her in waves. She was weary, which he couldn't blame her for. To almost all he was Anakin Skywalker, a Jedi who everyone thought was dead and now there he had stood in front of her.

La'vena had no love for the Jedi, she had made her point clear when she lunged for him. He had side stepped her easily, his hands never unclasping from behind his back and she had let out a scream of aggravation and hurled a large boulder at his head using the Force.

"You lack control." He had said calmly, halting the large rock in mid air and set it down gently. La'vena's face twisted into rage and she came running at him again but Anakin didn't even blink when she suddenly froze. Her entire body being held captive mid run and her eyes were wild.

"Come with me."

"Why would I do that?" she said in her native tongue Twi'leki and it had a sharp sting to it.

Anakin walked up to her slowly, a smile stretching his lips as he did so and he leaned down so they would be at eye level. "You have great potential. Let me train you."

"Train me?"

He nodded and stepped back. "I'm offering you a job. You'll get out of this cave and get to travel the stars. Isn't that what everyone wants?" After eyeing her for a moment, he searched the Force to see if she had any further malevolent intent but all he could feel was her curiosity. So, after another moment, he let her go.

La'vena stumbled and fell to her knees at his feet and she looked up at him. "Are you Jedi?"

Anakin laughed and the sound was rueful. "No." Then he held out his hand, and after a long pause, she took his hand.

Shaking his head, he turned back to the viewing wall. "I'll be staying in the shadows, there's no need to cause a fuss. We're here to get her and then we're leaving."

"Surely you still want to recruit, no? The more troopers the better."

Anakin bit the inside of his cheek. "I don't want anyone from this planet enlisting."

La'vena furrowed her brows but with the look on his face she chose not to question him. Another difference between her and Ahsoka. "What will you do with her when you find her?"

"That," he said and turned to walk away. "Is my business. My orders have been clear, you will not kill her but capture her by any means. And don't doubt her, she's powerful."

La'vena snickered. "How powerful?"

Anakin looked over his shoulder as the bridge door opened. "Well, I did train her."

Her eyes widened and she rushed to his side as they walked down to the hangar where his ship was waiting. "She was your apprentice?"

"When I talk do you fall asleep or am I just that boring?"

La'vena raised a shoulder in a partial shrug. "I don't care for tales of Jedi."

"Ahsoka Tano is no Jedi, so be mindful. She's killed a handful of my Inquisitors already." Despite himself, Anakin couldn't help but smile. He was proud of her, and he always would be. He had taught her to survive and she did, day by day and he hoped she would keep hanging on until he finally found her.

As they boarded his ship and it departed for the planet below, he did wonder how their reunion would go. He could be wishful and think that it would be filled with happy tears and crushing hugs. Much like how he thought his reunion with Padme would have been when he saw her step off her ship on Mustafar. But now he knew better, they didn't always understand and he had no reason to get his hopes up. But with Ahsoka, he knew it would be different because she was different. They had spent almost every waking hour together and had gone through the hell of battle more than a hundred times. They were one and she knew first hand how wretched and outdated the Jedi were. She knew him, and he hoped her care for him had not dwindled in the time they had been apart.

She had walked away from him because he, like the Order, had failed to protect her and he swore it would never happen again. He wouldn't let her down, not this time.