Aboard the Crucible after successfully harvesting their lightsaber crystals, the younglings contact Obi-Wan Kenobi, currently on the Negotiator, for help -- their ship is damaged after Hondo's attack, their chaperon Ahsoka Tano has been captured, and they are alone in deep space.

The younglings want to go rescue Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan commends their bravery, but orders them to stay on the Crucible and not get involved.

General Kenobi decides that Commander Cody will head to the Crucible's coordinates -- dangerously close to Florrum, the pirates' home world -- where he will help the younglings and rescue Ahsoka. But a surprise attack from the Separatist army puts these plans on hold.

Meanwhile, the Jedi younglings carry on with their rite of passage begun in The Gathering: building their own lightsabers. They use the Force to gracefully combine their newly-found crystals with the parts given them by Huyang to create their first Jedi weapons. Katooni, however, finds that her laser sword will not power-on, causing her to sheepishly say, "I'll finish mine when I'm ready."

Despite Obi-Wan's warnings, Petro pushes for a rescue mission. Upon learning that the Crucible is damaged and leaking coolant, Petro makes a final decision: they will land on Florrum, let the engines cool, and rescue Ahsoka.

Held captive by Hondo and his greedy band of pirates, Ahsoka appears tired and strained. She implores Hondo that it's in his interests to let her go, but Hondo only taunts her.

Still dealing with the Separatist sneak attack, Obi-Wan and the clones are sustaining heavy damage and loss of life. As the droids prepare a boarding party for the Negotiator, Obi-Wan and Cody head to the main hangar to stop them.

A determined, vicious General Grievous is there waiting and engages Kenobi in lightsaber combat, while clone troopers and droids battle around them.

Back on Florrum, the younglings have landed, and Ahsoka continues to try and reason with Hondo. She tells him the Republic will not pay a ransom, and the Separatists cannot be trusted. Hondo agrees, and informs Ahsoka that he is holding her for a different party: an underworld "businessman" who will pay handsomely for a female Jedi -- dead or alive.

On the Negotiator, Grievous continues his assault, but Kenobi delivers a heavy blow and manages to steal away. Realizing the Negotiator is lost, Obi-Wan orders his crew to abandon ship, but promises to leave Grievous "a parting gift."

Scouting Florrum for signs of the Weequay pirates, Byph spots a ship. But it's not Hondo and his motley crew -- it's a traveling carnival!

The young Jedi decide to approach the giant vessel, standing in front of it until it stops. They ask if the circus is on its way to the pirate stronghold, which is confirmed by the gregarious ringmaster, Preigo.

Petro, seeing an opportunity, claims that he and the younglings are actually acrobats, and would welcome the opportunity to perform in Preigo's carnival act. Using their Jedi abilities, the younglings perform some impressive stunts, and are accepted into the circus.

Grievous, now in control of the Negotiator, heads for the bridge, where he's greeted by a hologram recording of Obi-Wan. The Jedi general admits defeat, but also reveals the nature of his "parting gift": the ship has been set to self-destruct, and he is safely away on an escape pod. Grievous hastily makes his way to a shuttle and manages to escape the blast, but all other droids aboard are destroyed.

On Florrum, the circus performance for Hondo and his pirate horde is about to begin. Hondo, very relaxed, carelessly reveals that he is in possession of Ahsoka's lightsabers, which is noted by Katooni. Meanwhile, Preigo personally introduces his newest performers -- dubbed "The Animal Instincts" -- to the pirate leader.

The younglings appear, all dressed in outlandish costumes that successfully disguise their identities from the pirates -- but Ahsoka knows instantly who they are. They perform high-flying acrobatics and stunts, but then ask for Hondo's participation.

The ruse works. Hondo, distracted and unaware while joining the carnival act, fails to notice when Katooni lifts the lightsabers from his person.

A failed stunt that sends Hondo flying through the air for a crash landing provides the distraction needed for the Jedi to make their move: Katooni uses the lightsabers to free Ahsoka from her shackles, and the Jedi begin their escape.

Realizing they'd been had, the pirates open fire on the younglings, who ignite their lightsabers for battle for the first time. Preigo quickly leaves the premises, fearing what Hondo will do to him.

Able to hold off the pirate attack just long enough, the Jedi commandeer a speeder, which they use to get away. Returning to the recharged Crucible, Petro acknowledges that the younglings disobeyed orders in rescuing Ahsoka, but the Padawan is reassuring. "I've learned from my Master," Ahsoka says, "that sometimes doing the right thing means bending the rules."