"Simply stated, if we don't give the pirates a portion of our crop, they will destroy our homes with us in them." The man from earlier explained his problem to us in hopes that we would help. Ahsoka, Obi Wan and I sat beside each other at the table, across from us was the four bounty hunters and at the end of the table was the leader of the village. Anakin stood behind the bounty hunters in the darkness of the hut, sun having just set.

"Hmm, I see your dilemma." My Master nodded in understanding, listening intently.

"Sillim farming is a meager trade. Without our herbs to sell, we will have no money for food, fuel or equipment." The leader continued.

"And yet you can afford to pay mercenaries?" My master asked, directing to the bounty hunters.

"These bounty hunters drive a far more reasonable bargain than the pirates." The little man explained.

"Why not just fight them yourselves?" Anakin proposed the idea simply.

"Easy for you, perhaps. But look at us. We are farmers, not warriors. Even with the bounty hunters' help, I had feared the worst. But now, there are seven of you." Casiss cheered.

"What do you want, Jedi?" Sugi, the female bounty hunter asked us harshly.

"We need a ship. Ours is beyond repair, I'm afraid." Obi Wan subtly glared at Anakin from across the room.

"The one in the barn, that'll do." Anakin suggested calmly.

"That's our ride. It doesn't go anywhere without us. And right now, we're busy." She laughed at his suggestion.

"Busy extorting farmers?" I countered with my view on the situation at hand.

"I don't hear you offering to help." She commented smugly, leaning back on her chair.

"Unfortunately, we couldn't help even if we wanted to." Obi Wan told everyone.

"What?" Ahsoka asked in shock.

"Ahsoka" Anakin tried to warn his Padawan from running her mouth and getting us into more trouble.

"Let's discuss this elsewhere" Kenobi stood to his feet and lead us Jedi outside.

"Master, these farmers are in trouble. Why can't we help them?" Ahsoka questioned with frustration.

"Believe me, Ahsoka, I would like nothing more. However, we need to report that the medical station has been destroyed. If we stay too long, the Separatists will show up looking for us here." Obi Wan explained his reasoning simply.

"But—" she tried again.

"Better they get robbed by pirates than attract the interest of General Grievous and his horde." He finished sternly, letting her know that there was no use in arguing.

"Pirates! Pirates, pirates! The pirates are back!" A small child shouted as they ran towards the house. I watched as the child ran to his father inside while the bounty hunters joined us outside. The sound of speeders rumbled, until a group of pirates stood before us in the dark night.

"That's far enough. I speak for the people of this village. State your name and business." Sugi demanded, taking the lead.

"My name is my own business. And my business is taking what's ours." The pirate stated mockingly.

"There is nothing here that's yours. Unless you're here to buy it." She snapped back at him.

"Buy it?" The leader laughed, stepping forward and into the light. "Kenobi! Skywalker!"

"Master?" I looked up at him, wondering who this pirate was and how he knew our masters.

"I can't believe you came all this way to see me." The pirate commented as Ahsoka and I looked to each other with confusion written all over our faces.

"Hondo." The two masters spoke in sync.

"You know each other?" Sugi asked our Masters defensively.

"Of course we do. Tell them how far back we go, Kenobi." Hondo cheered.

"Too far, I'm afraid." Obi Wan sighed.

"And here I thought we were friends." Hondo laughed shortly, placing a hand on kenobi's shoulder.

"If you're truly interested in friendship, Hondo, might I suggest you stop threatening these farmers?" My master brushed Honda's hand off his shoulder to show he wasn't joking around.

"Threatening them? Oh, please tell me you have not been listening to this bounty-hunting scum." Hondo walks back a bit in fake shock. Ahsoka and I continued to watch the exchange with Anakin from the side.

"Scum? We're just here to help them protect what's theirs." The bounty leader claimed, looking to the scared family inside the house.

"Oh, come, come, my dear. How much are they paying you? Bububub! Does not matter. Whatever it is, I will double it. And all you have to do to earn it is, uh, step aside." Hondo walked towards her with his offer.

"We don't break deals." She pushes him back a bit, earning weapons to be pointed at the duo who are now the Center of attention.

"Master" I urged him forward, hoping he could calm down the argument.

"Steady, everyone." Kenobi held his hands out to calm the situation.

"What is your stake, anyway, Kenobi?" Hondo asked, looking to his 'friend'.

"All we want is a ride to the nearest Republic outpost. And I'm willing to pay you handsomely for it. Twice what you could make selling this crop." My Master offered a deal to the pirate.

"That's not what I had in mind" I whispered to Ahsoka.

"He knows what he's doing" Anakin reminded.

"Well, um, how do you plan to pay me?" The pirate questioned.

"A funds transfer when we arrive." My Master elaborated.

"Republic credit?" He clicks his tongue. "We've been over this before, Kenobi.
My associates don't accept that currency."

"I'm offering a deal that benefits us all, Hondo. Don't let your greed blind you to that fact." Kenobi grew stern.

"You know, I like you, Kenobi, but no one leaves this planet until I get my sillim." He states, declining the offer.

"Then I hope you enjoy it here, because you'll be staying a long time, parasite." The female hunter snapped.

"You know, this crop has not been harvested. You better hurry, old man, before things start to die on you." Hondo threatens the small man before walking back to his crew and speeding off into the distance.

~~~

"When the attack comes, it will come from two fronts. The forest to the south, and the ridge to the north. Whatever you do, you must defend both sides." Kenobi explained the battle plan over a holomap of the area. We all gathered around to listen to the plans and prepare the farmers for the incoming attack.

"But there are only four of them. How can four bounty hunters defend against so many?" The village leader questioned with worry laced in his voice. A bounty hunter standing in the back spoke in an alien language next.

"The farmers are right. These bounty hunters don't stand a chance." Anakin crossed his arms as he whispers from behind Kenobi.

"I hate to say it, but I agree with Anakin, Master" I voiced my opinion as well.

"We've been over this, Anakin." Obi Wan muttered.

"You seem to lack confidence in our abilities, young Jedi." The female hunter spoke confidently.

"I'm sure you're good at what you do, but you are in way too deep." Anakin said back sassily.

"Said the peacekeeper who fails to keep the peace." She shrugged.

"The rift in the galaxy is not our fault. If more worlds would stand up for themselves against the Separatists, this war would have been over long ago." Obi Wan debated the topic.

"That's it! We'll just train the villagers to defend themselves." Anakin pointed to Kenobi as he had an idea.

"But we are just simple farmers. Why are we paying bounty hunters to defend us if we are just going to end up doing it ourselves?" One villager asked.

"Hush, Dilanni." Casiss instructed.

"Trust me. We'll have you ready." Anakin promised.

~~~

"Ahsoka, you will train the villagers in the forest to the south. Set up a trap for when the pirates come" Anakin instructed his Padawan.

"Lyra, I am going to prepare the crops and supervise the set up. I expect you to help Anakin train the farmers" My Master told me.

"Yes Master" I nodded, making my way over to where Anakin had gathered a small group of farmers.

"Looks like it's you and me again Ly" Anakin nudged me in the arm.

"Let's get to work" I looked up at him.

"All right, everyone, form up." Anakin shouted out to the group of simple farmers. "Um..." he looked to me with confusion as they didn't move.

"They don't understand" I whispered to him, earning a sigh from the man.

"Divide into rows of five." He suggested, hoping they would understand that. He shook his head as they struggled to do so.

"Anakin, patience" I reminded him.

"I told you, we are not soldiers. We don't even have weapons." One farmer claimed defeat. Anakin stepped forward to face this farmer, attempting to help.

"May I?" He held his hand out for the farmers tool. With a small nod from the farmer he handed over the staff where Anakin then tossed it back and forth to get a feel for it before spinning it and doing a few fighting moves with it. "Yep, these will do." Anakin stated, moving back to stand beside me as we were each given a staff to demonstrate with.

Anakin and I would show the farmers the stances and they would copy after us. A staff was suddenly thrown towards me, catching it just in time I let out a short sigh.

"Patience Lyra" Anakin reminded me this time. Not even a moment later Dilanni fell to the ground as he had tripped doing the forms. I heard a laugh sound out and turned to glare at the bounty hunter who was watching us train them.

"What's your problem?" I snapped at the bounty hunter.

"The bounty hunter is right. Every minute you waste teaching us to twirl these stupid poles is time you could have spent beating those pirates yourself." The farmer kicked his staff, pulling my attention back towards him and the others.

"And what good would that do you?" Obi Wan joined us. "Another band of brigands would inevitably come along. Or do you intend to give away part of your crop every harvest season?" Obi Wan stood before the group telling them what would happen.

"If you make us do this, there won't be another harvest season!" The farmer complained, stomping off.

"All right, everyone, get back in position. Let's continue." Anakin ordered them , catching their attention once again. I would demonstrate the movements while Anakin and Obi Wan would correct the farmers and help them to do it properly.

"There! A scout!" Sugi shouted out, pointing to the cliffs. "Embo!" She ordered. He ran off with his gun at the ready, following close behind we watched as blasters sounded off and the pirates neck was snapped at the hands of Embo.

"Oh god!" I gasped at the sight, shying away when we approached.

"Quick work." Anakin commented with a shrug.

"Yes, but when this scout fails to report to Hondo, he'll be coming, soon." Obi Wan noted the inevitable.

"Let's get back to the village and prepare for the incoming attack" Anakin instructed, all of us marching back down the hill.

"The farmers are in position. Well, the ones who stuck around, anyway." Anakin approached Obi Wan and I.

"Very well, Anakin. Turn on the fence." My master instructed. Anakin pressed a button, causing a green laser to create a fence surrounding the village.

"Battle positions, everyone!" Sugi called out as speeders approached from the distance.

"We got incoming Ahsoka, be ready" I warned the girl through comms. Igniting our sabers we stood ready to protect the people to the best of our ability. The hunters ran into the fight, guns blazing until we spotted a tank above the cliff, shooting down at the homes.

"We've got a big problem!" I reported at the sight.

"Embo!" Anakin panicked as the hunter was caught in an exploration.

"Embo, can you hear me?" Sugi ran over to her friend. "You'll be all right. We'll get you inside." She promised him.

"Everyone, fall back to the barn!" Obi Wan shouted out. I deflected blaster bolts as the villagers retreated to the barn.

"That tank is going to tear the villagers apart." Sugi sighed in fear. Another explosion went off as I covered my head to protect myself from the blast. Running over to the blast site I found two villagers, quickly checking their pulse to find them dead.

"I'll handle this" Anakin raced towards the tank to take it down.

"No!" Sugi cried out as another hunter was caught in the blast of an explosion.

"Sugi! Watch your flank!" Kenobi reminded her. I used the force to pull two pirates straight into the fence as Sugi shot another.

I gasped as a pirate fell from behind us, a staff in his back. I looked down at the pirate then up to find Dilanni.

"Welcome back, Dilanni. Are you all right?" I welcomed as he retrieved the staff from the pirate.

"Fine." He nodded, joining the fight.

"The Captain! Let's go!" One pirate shouted as he noticed Hondo holding onto the cliff and Skywalker standing over him. The pirates all sped off as we watched the events from below.

"The day is won!" The villagers cheered at their victory. I watched Anakin help Hondo onto the cliff again, a bad feeling settling in the pit of my stomach.

"What is he doing?" I questioned and soon after an explosion went off, landing Anakin right in front of us. Hondo had escaped with his crew, retreating to another planet in the galaxy.

~~~

"There are crops to harvest, fields to till, huts to rebuild. Now, let's get to work." Casiss instructed his farmers. "How can I ever thank you for saving our village?" He turned to us after the others walked away.

"We didn't save your village, Casiss. Your people did." I told him kindly.

"For the first time in my memory, my people don't have to be afraid. We will never forget you." He bowed to us as we did him.

"I seem to find myself light on company. Still need that ride back to the Republic outpost?" Sugi offers us.

"If it wouldn't be any inconvenience." My Master told her.

"On the contrary, it would be my pleasure." She lead us onto the ship.

.......................................

Question of the day: do you prefer bounty hunters or pirates?

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