The sun of Tatooine burned white through the cockpit canopy, filling every shadow with heat.The small Separatist transport shuddered as it broke atmosphere, its stolen engines whining in protest. Sand whipped across the hull, turning the windows to gold.
Anakin gripped the controls, eyes narrowed against the glare. "Hold together, old girl. We're almost there."
Behind him Ahsoka crouched over Rotta's carrier, fanning the young Hutt with a ration wrapper. "He's burning up again."
Kaelen knelt beside her, checking the readouts on a field med-pack. "He'll make it. The fever's breaking; I can feel it in the Force."
The words were true, yet a chill crawled up his spine. The Force was restless—turbulent. Someone was following them.
He turned toward the viewport just as a sleek solar sailer appeared out of the glare, its translucent wings catching the twin suns.
"Contact!" he shouted.
Anakin's jaw clenched. "Dooku."
The Sith Lord's voice drifted through the comm, smooth and mocking.
"Surrender the Huttlet, Skywalker. There is no escape."
Anakin flicked the channel off. "That's what he thinks."
The sailer's cannons opened fire. Green bolts slashed across the sky. Anakin threw the ship into a dive, skimming the dunes so low that sand streamed over the cockpit glass.
"Strap in!" he barked.
Kaelen and Ahsoka clung to their restraints as the ship weaved through jagged canyon walls. Rocks blurred past only meters away.
"Rex, report!" Anakin called into the comm.
Static answered—then nothing. The clones' escort gunship had been separated in the descent. They were on their own.
Dooku smiled from his sailer, fingers dancing over the controls.
"Let them run. The desert will finish what I began."
He triggered a release switch, and three MagnaGuards launched from the underside of the craft, descending toward the canyon like metal vultures.
In the transport, sensors screamed.
"Multiple hostiles incoming," Kaelen said. "Three—no, four signatures."
Anakin didn't look back. "Get to the rear hatch. When they board, make them regret it."
Kaelen sprang to his feet, purple saber igniting with a crack-hiss. Ahsoka followed, green blade gleaming.
The first MagnaGuard slammed onto the hull, tearing through the hatch with an electrostaff. Kaelen met it head-on, sparks flying as staff met saber. The droid's strength was enormous; its blow sent vibrations up his arms.
He ducked low, swept the staff aside, and drove his knee into its chassis. A second MagnaGuard vaulted through behind it, striking for his back. Ahsoka intercepted, spinning into a tight defensive arc.
"Watch your flank!" she shouted.
"I've got it!"
Kaelen pivoted, cleaving the first droid's arm clean off. Wires sprayed; the machine shrieked and collapsed. He caught its electrostaff mid-fall and hurled it through the second. Both collapsed in sparks.
A third droid landed on the ramp; Ahsoka leapt, flipped over its head, and plunged her blade through its photoreceptor.
"Nice teamwork," Kaelen said, breathless.
She smirked. "Don't get used to it."
Anakin's voice cut through the comm. "Hang on back there—we're crash-landing!"
The ship slammed into the canyon floor, skidding through sand and rock until it finally screeched to a halt. Smoke poured from ruptured vents.
For a moment, only the wind spoke. Then Ahsoka coughed, climbing to her feet. "Everyone still alive?"
"Barely," Kaelen answered, hauling her upright. Rotta whimpered from the carrier but was otherwise unharmed.
Anakin emerged from the cockpit, dust streaking his tunic. "We walk from here. Ahsoka, take the Huttlet and head for Jabba's Palace—north ridge, five klicks. Kaelen, you're with her."
"What about you?" Ahsoka demanded.
Anakin's expression hardened. "Dooku's coming. I'll keep him busy."
Kaelen hesitated. "Master Kenobi said to protect the Huttlet—"
"And that's exactly what you're going to do," Anakin cut in. "Go."
Kaelen met his gaze and nodded. "May the Force be with you."
Anakin's grin was grim. "It usually is."
Ahsoka and Kaelen set off across the dunes, the suns blazing overhead. Heat waves rippled across the horizon; every breath tasted of dust. Rotta whimpered softly in his sling.
"Keep singing," Ahsoka said after a while, almost embarrassed. "That song of yours. It calms him."
Kaelen's throat was dry, but he nodded and began the Mando verse once more—quiet, rhythmic, keeping pace with their footsteps.
"Elek'oya, ad'ika, cuyir solus…"
The melody floated on the wind like a memory of home.
Behind them, lightning flashed across the canyon as Anakin and Dooku clashed. Blue and red blades collided, scattering sand and sparks alike. Dooku fought with elegant precision, Anakin with raw ferocity.
"How predictable, Skywalker. Rushing to save a Huttlet as if it were your own kin. Always the hero, always blinded by attachments. Do you not see? Every step you take, you play my game. A true Jedi would see the futility… but you? You let your emotions chain you. Chains are so easy to break." Dooku taunted
Anakin's blade drove him back step by step. "You talk too much, old man."
The duel raged up the canyon wall, neither giving ground until a sudden tremor shook the cliff. A rockslide thundered down, separating them. Dooku retreated to his sailer, escaping into the blazing sky.
At the same time, Ahsoka and Kaelen reached the shadow of Jabba's Palace. The gates loomed ahead, guarded by Gamorreans and droids.
"Here goes nothing," Ahsoka muttered.
They approached slowly, raising empty hands. The guards growled, leveling weapons.
Kaelen stepped forward, voice firm. "We're Jedi emissaries. We've come to return Jabba's son."
Inside the palace, Jabba's roar echoed—angry, disbelieving.
"Skywalker killed my son!"
The guards advanced.
Before they could strike, a hologram flickered to life beside Jabba's dais—Padmé Amidala's message from Coruscant.
"Ziro conspired with Count Dooku to betray you, mighty Jabba. The Jedi are innocent."
Gasps rippled through the court. Jabba's eyes narrowed, turning to the doors just as Ahsoka entered, carrying the small, cooing Huttlet.
"Rotta!" Jabba's bellow shook the hall.
The little Hutt reached for his father with a sleepy squeak. Jabba rumbled with relief, pulling him close.
"Skywalker lives," Jabba growled finally. "The Jedi have kept their word. The Hutts will honor the Republic."
Outside, the suns dipped low over the dunes. Anakin limped up the ridge, sand clinging to his armor, and found Kaelen waiting at the landing platform.
"Looks like we pulled it off," Anakin said.
Kaelen smiled faintly. "Barely."
Obi-Wan's gunship descended in a swirl of dust, its ramp lowering. He stepped out, robes rustling in the wind. "Anakin, Ahsoka, Kaelen—excellent work. The Council is most pleased."
Ahsoka beamed. "Does that mean we're keeping our assignments?"
Obi-Wan exchanged a knowing glance with Anakin. "It seems you are."
Kaelen bowed formally. "It's an honor, Master."
Obi-Wan's smile was small but genuine. "You've earned it."
The four of them stood for a moment, watching the suns set—two masters, two apprentices, the desert wind carrying the faint sound of laughter from Jabba's palace below.
Somewhere beyond the horizon, the war waited, vast and unending.Kaelen felt its shadow through the Force but also the warmth of his Master's presence beside him. For now, that was enough.