Outer Rim — En Route to TatooineAboard the Captured Separatist Freighter
The stars outside the viewport stretched endlessly as the damaged freighter drifted past the edges of Teth's gravity well, its patched engines humming under stress. The battle above the monastery now burned in the distance, fading fast.
Inside the cockpit, Anakin Skywalker flicked the last of the soot from the navigation console and leaned toward the display as R2-D2 chirped and worked furiously at the navicomputer.
"We're clear to make the jump to hyperspace." Anakin said, scanning the blinking coordinates.
He glanced at the Huttlet strapped in beside him—Rotta's breathing was faint, his mottled skin now pale and wet with sweat. Ahsoka had wrapped him in thermal cloth, but the infant still looked dangerously ill.
"R2, program the navicomputer."
Ahsoka, standing just behind Anakin's seat, crossed her arms tightly.
"I don't think he's gonna make it, Master."
Anakin didn't respond for a moment, just stared ahead, jaw tight.
"There's gotta be something we can do for him."
He turned back toward the rear compartment. "Take a look in the back.See if you can find some medical supplies."
Jason gave a nod. "I'm on it."
As they moved into the cargo hold, Anakin reached over, resting a hand gently on Rotta's chest.
"Don't die on me now, little guy.Just hang in there."
The ship rumbled as R2 warbled a confirmation from his socket.
"If you've locked the coordinates, R2, let's go."
The stars elongated, and with a sudden lurch, the ship vanished into hyperspace.
Captured Freighter — Rear Storage Compartment
A dull red light flickered from a broken fixture overhead. Crates were stacked in uneven piles, many marked in old Separatist script, half-decayed by time and neglect.
Jason Shan kicked one open with his boot, revealing dusty ration packs and sealed tool kits.
Ahsoka moved to a console at the side wall, brushing off a thick layer of grime.
"Looks like this hasn't been used in a while."
She flipped a few switches. The screen buzzed, then flickered to life with a static-filled blue holo of a medical protocol droid's face, flickering with glitchy clarity.
"Hey, Dr. Droid, can you hear me?" she asked.
The droid's face twitched once, then stabilized.
"Yes. What seems to be the problem?"
Ahsoka turned back to Rotta, then leaned closer.
"Great. I've got a sick Huttlet. You got a remedy?"
The droid's voice was cheerful, even overly chipper.
"Oh, yes. I see."
From a compartment beneath the console, a mechanical tray extended, revealing a small, sealed injector marked for infant Hutt immunotherapy.
"You must dispense one of these medical boosters into the infant's mouth. If you have any problems, please call an actual doctor to assist you."
Jason raised a brow. "Reassuring."
Ahsoka carefully took the injector, turning it in her hands.
"I hope this works." she murmured.
She crouched beside Rotta and gently lifted his head.
"Okay, sweetums. I've got some yum-yum for you. You'll take this and like it!"
The baby Hutt groaned weakly. Ahsoka gently pressed the injector to his lips and released the dose.
"There you go. Good boy."
Rotta blinked once, then nestled quietly into her lap, the faintest sign of color beginning to return to his cheeks.
Hyperspace — Aboard the Captured FreighterHours into Transit, En Route to Tatooine
The stars outside streaked like rain, blue and white lines cascading across the cockpit viewport as the stolen Separatist freighter rocketed through hyperspace.
In the aft maintenance bay, Anakin Skywalker was elbow-deep in the exposed circuitry beneath an access panel. Loose wires sparked occasionally, lighting the darkened chamber as he muttered to himself, a hydrospanner clenched between his teeth.
Beside him, Jason Shan sorted through salvage from the wrecked cargo crates, tossing what was junk and stacking anything still functional. Across the room, Ahsoka sat cradling Rotta, a wrapped bundle now peacefully asleep in her lap.
The tension that had gripped them since Teth had finally loosened.
Ahsoka looked down and smiled softly.
"The medicine, it's working!His fever broke. I think he's gonna live to stink another day."
Anakin chuckled without looking up. "Great. Keeping him alive wasn't as easy as you'd hoped, was it?"
Ahsoka leaned back against a support strut, still holding Rotta.
"Master, if you have taught me one thing...it's that nothing is easy when you are around."
Jason let out a low laugh from the other side of the room. "She's not wrong."
Anakin finally pulled his hands free from the panel, wiping grease onto his glove while Ahsoka continues. "You think Rex and Master Obi-Wan made it out okay?"
Anakin expression turned thoughtful.
"If I know my old master, he has things well in hand. Now help me with this."
She stood and moved to his side, kneeling beside the console.
"I want the primary systems fully repaired by the time we reach Tatooine."
Jason slid in with a grin. "You grew up on Tatooine, right? So, for you, this trip is like going home."
Anakin paused, his face unreadable for a beat.
"Yeah. Home."
The word lingered in the air, quieter than before.
Tatooine — Jabba's Palace, Main Audience Chamber
The vast stone throne room was thick with heat, smoke, and the low rumble of alien voices. Guards stood like statues along the walls, their eyes trained on the dark figure at the center of the chamber.
Count Dooku stood tall beneath the flickering torchlight, his black cloak draping elegantly across the sand-carved floor. The golden hue of Jabba the Hutt's throne glinted behind the smoke, and the great Hutt himself loomed over the court like a bloated god.
The chamber grew silent as a holoprojector ignited beside Dooku. A shimmering blue image of Asajj Ventress materialized in the haze—bowed low, lightsabers at her belt, her expression poised and obedient.
Her voice came through steady, but tainted with defeat.
"The Republic had too many clone troopers, my lord.By the time we were able to find Jabba's son, Skywalker had already... killed him."
Gasps rippled through the room.
Dooku's brow furrowed with practiced concern. "Most unfortunate.This is a very unexpected turn of events.I take it you at least defeated the Jedi?"
Ventress bowed her head slightly. "No, Master.The Jedi escaped and are headed to Tatooine."
Dooku's tone cooled to ice, though his face remained regal.
"I'm sure you did the best you could.We will discuss your failure later."
"Yes, my master." Ventress lowered her head as the holoprojection flickered slightly.
A gravelly voice thundered through the throne room. Jabba the Hutt bellowed a demand, his massive form shifting on the dais. His eyes narrowed with suspicion, and his tail coiled tightly.
The majordomo translated, voice sharp with tension.
"Glorious Jabba demands to know why the Jedi would dare come to Tatooine."
Dooku took a single, ominous step forward. His voice carried like a sermon.
"To kill you, Jabba.The Jedi plot is quite clear now.They only promised to rescue your son to win your trust.Now Skywalker is coming here to finish his true mission...to wipe out the entire Hutt clan."
Murmurs erupted across the throne room. Blasters were suddenly unholstered. Tension turned to fury.
Dooku raised one hand to calm the chaos.
"If it pleases you, mighty Jabba...this time I will deal with Skywalker personally."
He bowed low, eyes gleaming behind the mask of civility as his personal IG-100 MagnaGuard droids appear behind him.