Anakin's POV

The Twilight landed with a thud at the Republic base on Nilban. The snowy caps made it hard to land evenly. After turning off the main controls, I saw my young padawan asleep on the co-pilot's chair. I gently shook her awake.

"Snips, come on. We're back." I said, waiting for her reaction.

"Oh." she said sleepily. I knew it had been a long battle, but I never expected her to take such a blow from it.

"Plus, you have patrol tonight. I know you wouldn't want to miss that." I said sarcastically, getting up from the driver's seat.

"Of course not Master. Wouldn't miss it for the world!" she replied yawning. "Can't imagine it being any different from any other shift."

"Good." I replied. Being Ahsoka's master for almost two years now, I could see her true feelings towards patrol. I myself hated patrolling, especially on ice cold planets. Roaming the streets of civilian homes, the occasional person walking across the same desolate road you'd been pacing over for hours.

The base doors slid open with a screech. Ice had been lining the walls of the whole base before we set out for an ambush. That was another negative factor of icy planets.

We got into the turbo lift, and it carried us up to the dorms. I glared down at my padawan, droopy eyes and all.

"I told Rex to assist you on patrol tonight," I said as we entered our chambers. I immediately sank onto my bed. Ahsoka, however, merely stood by the door waiting for the same speech I give every time she goes on patrol. "You never know when you'll cross the occasional creep in the cities slums."

I lied through my teeth. There was never an "occasional creep" lurking at midnight. But I had to keep up my apprentices moral, and make sure she was always ready for everything.

"Ok Master. I'll prep for patrol. Like I always do…" she replied.

"I don't want to hear it Snips. You remember your duties as a Jedi." I snapped back.

She gave me an offensive glare. Her blue eyes felt like they were piercing through my head.

"Of course I do, Anakin." She came down to sit beside me.

"I just think this is frivolous. Nothing ever goes wrong on patrol. I certainly don't think I need a squadron there with me. I'll be fine on my own. Don't you trust me?"

"It's not that I trust you, Snips, It just that I would never forgive myself if you got hurt." That was the truth. Now that she was my padawan, I felt that I was responsible for her well-being.

She glared at me again. She looked impressed by my answer, as she headed for the doors.

"Wow Skyguy, good answer," she said with a smirk. "But I'm going on patrol by myself. I'll tell Rex on my way out." Without another word she left the dorm.

I thought to myself as she left. Is she safe? Should I have really let her do it on her own?" I slumped back on my bed and looked out the window, into the desolate streets of Nilban. What if something does go wrong?