"I think you'd better listen to it, Anakin." Obi-Wan said, a bit shaken. He played the recording.

"So is it all under way?"

"It seems so, Count."

"Good job, Velakina. You have done well. Perhaps you will be a worthy apprentice of mine."

"And then I can murder both of my parents, my foster and biological ones. Master Skywalker's pathetic Padawan is here. She's only a little scrubbed up; life-threatening conditions aren't that bad."

A chilling cackle shook the receptor.

Oh, by the way, I prefer my payment in credits. It'd also be great if you could throw in an good ship or two- if you get my jist. Ahsoka's still in my hands."

An arid laugh echoed in the recording.

"Quit your laughter, youngling. The Padawan must be delivered safely, or I will lop off your head as soon as Force permits."

"My, aren't you jumpy -for someone your age, that is. I sure wouldn't be challenging a strong, young, and agile future apprentice if I were you."

A grin spread across Kina's smug face. She continued proudly:

"Mustn't I warn you that Ahsoka is still mine? I can still return her, no problemo."

A devilish cackle boomed through the speakers.

"I know you aren't that reckless, young one. I can sense that you are being chased. Your plan is being uncovered right now, and you just can't see it."

"A dead Padawan would please you greatly though, Count. I know you can't pass on such good deal. A freighter ship, preferably brand new and A-class, will seal the deal. No more, no less."

"Very well then. Send her here now."

The thought of losing his Padawan was too much for a very salty Anakin. He slammed his fist into the control panel, causing his starfighter to fire. In a stroke of luck, it hit the ship again, causing it to plummet back down to Coruscant's lower levels.

"Great, now we have to navigate them." He groaned.

"She'll be looking for a ship, for sure." Obi-Wan commented. "I'm going to tell the Council to set a planet-wide lockdown. No ship comes in or goes out. She knows vital information about the Jedi, and it would be a crippling blow for those secrets to leak."

"You care more about secrets leaking than Ahsoka being potentially..."

"We cannot prioritize feelings. I'm sorry, but we have to focus on what's at hand first." He set a comforting hand on Anakin's shoulder, feeling pulses of sadness coming from him.

"Well, let's hurry then, Obi-Wan. We need to find her."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Anakin's POV:

I leapt into the deep chasm, containing the lower levels of Coruscant. She'd probably be on the higher areas, because Jedi were usually unwelcome below that.

"I'm intercepting a transmission." Obi-Wan noted."She probably doesn't know that we can tune in to her commlink during emergencies."

I rushed to him. "Any information on where she plans to go?"

"She's going to meet up with an agent of Dooku at a restaurant not far from here. It's called Rœ Cüur. It serves snacks and is a popular site for gamblers. Of course, it gets really rowdy at times, and the owner himself is a violent Trandoshan, often referred to as Vetūssk."

"Let's pay her a visit." I snarled, running to the set of coordinates he sent me. I soon arrived at a rickety building, with wooden boards nailed over its windows. 'Rœ Cüur' was painted roughly, in red, across a rotting plank. Moss draped down the walls.

We placed a hood over our heads, and went inside.