Keep the Faith!

To negotiate a trade agreement for crucial raw materials needed by the Galactic Republic, the Jedi Council has dispatched Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Captain Rex, along with a contingent of clones, to the distant mining planet of Taronda. It appears, however, that the Separatists have different intentions, as both the miners and the Republic forces are now under assault from vulture droids. Skywalker states that the Separatists are willing to do anything to stop the Republic from acquiring the needed resources—even if it necessitates the destruction of the mine and the indigenous miners. Aiming to safeguard the settlement, he instructs Rex to gather the miners and activate a deflector shield to offer protection from the ongoing attacks.

Skywalker, still under enemy fire, cautions Tano to remain close due to the perilous situation. She is in the middle of asserting her self-sufficiency when a blaster bolt strikes the ground nearby, causing a tremor and opening a fissure leading into one of the planet's many mineshafts. Skywalker registers the event, but simultaneously, Rex urgently calls for his attention, informing him of a larger threat—the Separatists have launched an invasion force, with a landing ship deploying a multitude of battle droids and AATs. Considering this, Rex insists that they must first secure the wounded before activating the shield, as survival would otherwise be impossible. Skywalker concedes, telling Tano she must defend herself, as Rex activates the deflector shield.

Rex informs Skywalker that he has already requested reinforcements, to which the Jedi replies that he hopes Tano can endure until their arrival—he senses through the Force that she has been injured. Behind them, Sith assassin Asajj Ventress surprises both him and Rex, having materialized on the other side of the shield and responding that she also senses Ahsoka's pain, and has dispatched some spider droids in pursuit. Skywalker starts to become enraged, shouting a warning at Ventress regarding any harm to Tano, before Rex interrupts him, placing a hand on his shoulder and reminding him that Ventress is simply attempting to bait him outside the shield to eliminate him, and to trust in Tano and the lessons he imparted to her.

In the meantime, Tano begins to rise to a sitting position at the bottom of the mineshaft, feeling the pain from her various injuries, including a sprained ankle. However, she has little time to recuperate, as the spider droids are rapidly closing in on her. She swiftly dispatches the first one that appears, bisecting it with her lightsaber. The second one reaches the bottom only to discover that it is seemingly empty when Ahsoka sits up underneath it from where she had covered herself in dirt to hide herself, slicing it in half. With another, she uses her lightsaber to trigger a rockslide, crushing it.

Ventress tries to provoke Anakin into exiting the shield, labeling him a coward for remaining protected while his Padawan faces imminent death. She challenges him to come out and face her, and when he doesn't take the bait, she declares that she will simply deactivate the shield from her position using the Force. She and Anakin then engage in a contest of wills over the control lever for the deflector shield generator, with her attempting to switch it off and Anakin struggling to maintain its current position. She snarls at him, claiming that she senses their similarities, particularly their shared thirst for battle and vengeance, as her protocol droid tries to get her attention. She snaps at it, telling it that she needs to maintain her concentration to do her task when it delivers the news: the reinforcements Rex requested have arrived, and a Republic star destroyer is swiftly approaching the planet.

Ventress concedes to Anakin, stating that he has won this encounter, and the Separatists retreat from the planet. Consequently, Rex determines that it is finally safe to deactivate the deflector shield. Anakin announces that he will retrieve Ahsoka, but she then emerges from the crevice, informing him that such action is unnecessary. She reminds him that she had asserted her ability to handle herself, although she admits that she could use some medical attention. Anakin instructs her to clean herself up while she is at it. Astonished, she inquires if he wasn't at least slightly concerned, to which he replies that he had no cause for worry—she has an excellent teacher.