Author's Foreword:

Right so you're probably asking, what is this? This is a small fic I've been working on in my spare time. A prequel or jump off point if you will for a possible fic I am considering writing in the future. At the end of this little detour we will have any number of places I could go with things and I look forward to seeing where I should go with it. For now I will tell you this. This is a Star Wars fan fiction, in case that wasn't already obvious, it will keep to canon for the most part up to the end of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. I will warn you that I will depart from accepted canon here and there, dipping into extended universe when it pleases me and even into head canon on occasion. You can't handle that? Well, I guess this it the point at which you bail, fair enough? Otherwise you probably have some questions. I will only answer one of them right now as this is a bit of a touchy subject with fans.

What are you going to do about Midichlorians?

Well, for the most part I will stay away from the stinkin' things. They make more sense when you take into account some of the extended universe content. I'm treating them as the Force's (being a self aware entity all its own) way of enabling an individual with the potential to connect with it. The force then chooses who to connect with (or not, as the case may be). The midichlorians don't generate the force, they channel it from without, and cloning them or otherwise meddling with them will get you the same thing they got Plagueis, the universe bending it's will to your destruction, and an immaculate birth on the far side of the galaxy to balance out your mess….It's complicated, but that's all you'll get from me. Look it up on Wookieepedia if you're curious what I'm talking about.

I will also note that I actually like Star Wars: Rebels so far and look forward to where canon will take us. But here is where we jump off the canon train. Hopefully not breaking our necks as we do so.

Otherwise? Relax, take a load off and enjoy the show.

They say reality and it's interaction with time itself is not unlike a tree, or perhaps a river. That with every event we experience and every chance occurrence, it branches or splits into several separate flows. Factor in the effect of choices made with the direct intention of influencing the flow of history around us, and the possible futures rapidly reaches far into the infinities.

Let's take the simple act of one walking to a speeder platform on coruscant, and hailing a cab as an example. This simple chain of events has multiple points at which the path of the future can be altered forever.

Perhaps the most obvious of these "shatter points" as we shall call them is the choice one makes as to their destination. One could go to the nearest star port from here, or perhaps the galactic senate building just barely visible off in the distance, or the small dinner that can be seen on a rooftop just across the great chasm between this building and the one it perches upon. Or if one was so inclined one could take a different path entirely, such as flinging oneself of the building and plunging to their death? But there are a multitude of less obvious shatter points, a chance slip and fall down the stairs to the platform? A flicker of motion out of the corner of your eye drawing your attention for a time? These tiny occurrences, seemingly insignificant on the grand scale of the universe, can change everything beyond recognition.

But what if you factor in something like the failure of a terminal tasked with calling taxis to the platform in the first place? Suddenly even more potential paths open up, as you are taken away from the platform entirely as well as it's possible destinations. Suddenly not only is your location changed, you are thinking different things, possibly about the incompetence of maintenance workers or the unfairness of the universe? You are in a different mood, and thus you may make an entirely different set of decisions.

Ahsoka Tano, now ex-padawan of the much vaunted and lauded Jedi Order, had just slammed face first into just such a complicated shatter point, and where a thousand-million-trillion versions of her went down one path, this one and many like it went down another, hopefully to a brighter future.

This had to be, bar none, the worst day of Ahsoka Tano's admittedly brief existence of eighteen years. That was saying something as the last few days prior to this had been no picnic either.

She'd flown into a war zone just under a week ago, almost losing her mentor and closest personal friend in the process at Cato Nemoidia. Only to be called back almost immediately to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant to investigate the grizzly deaths of dozens of people in a bombing that had taken place in one of the temple hangars. Only then to be framed for said deaths by an unknown party, and summarily accused, and then abandoned by those she'd considered trusted friends and colleagues.

She'd then spent the next couple of days alternately fleeing for her life, getting the bantha poodu kicked out of her in the lowest reaches of the city, and then being interrogated by a bevy of unsympathetic accusers while incarcerated under Republic authority. Ultimately to then be sentenced to die for crimes she had not committed in the first place. Just in time to get exonerated for said crimes by the timely if somewhat unwilling confession of a friend who had willfully betrayed Ahsoka and framed her for her own acts of treason.

As if this wasn't enough she'd then been faced with the reactions of the Jedi Council in regards to their egregious mistake. This had been the so called final straw for Ahsoka. They had arrogantly and in some cases almost flippantly tried to pass off their error as the will of the force, and her trial into knighthood. She'd had enough, they'd betrayed, abandoned and reviled her, and now they had the gall to expect her to just take their empty platitudes after everything she'd done, everything she'd sacrificed? She'd left, quit, resigned. Metaphorically turning in her badge and blaster and then marching off into the sunset.

Or at least that was what she was trying to do so earnestly at that very moment. She'd been interrupted once already, her former Master had caught up to her among the great pillars arrayed outside the temple's main doors. He'd tried to talk her around, to get her to come back. Anakin, for that was his name and how she should probably start thinking of him. Had been one of the few people who had never really doubted her. He had, no doubt, been confused by her admittedly strange behaviour and general gadding about while trying to prove her innocence. But he'd never doubted that she was indeed innocent.

She respected him, probably more than any other person in the galaxy, and would miss him greatly. But for her own sake, she needed to leave him behind too. She had told him this and to let her go, and he had.

She'd then proceeded to try and reclaim her right to a dignified, and not a little stylish, exit from the world of the pompously self righteous wielders of the force. Sadly this was not to be as she just about broke her nose slamming into a shatter point like the one mentioned earlier.

Where, in a billion trillion realities, the taxi control console had worked perfectly spiriting her away to an equally numerous number of possible futures. This reality's Ahsoka Tano was denied her dignified exit by a circuit burning out deep in the machine's recesses at precisely the wrong moment, resulting in her being stranded on the windswept platform. She was now becoming exceedingly frustrated to say the least.

She jammed her finger into the holographic icon again only to have it bounce once and then flash red as if mocking her. She smacked her palm against the side of the console in frustration. "Come on you little piece of Sithspit." She growled.

"Trouble Ahsoka?" A calm and even voice inquired from behind her. It was a testament to how distracted and frustrated she had become that she hadn't noticed someone approaching her from behind. Between her connection to the force and her species' better than average hearing and echolocation centred in her montrals, she should have noticed his approach. To her surprise however it was not Anakin, her impulsive master. But his Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi.

He was, despite the light rebuke in his voice, giving her a fond smile when she turned around. "Beyond what you've already experienced today I mean?" He asked curiously.

Obi-Wan was one of the few other masters who as near as she could tell, had never really doubted her, but where Sky-Guy Anakin Skywalker had of course charged in head first into trouble to try and help her. Obi-Wan had opted to try and make the council and senate see reason. Sadly to little avail. Anakin was more of a personal mentor or older brother figure to her than Obi-Wan had been. The relatively young Jedi Master had instead adopted the position more akin to that of a father, or perhaps a wise and beloved uncle in her life. Wise and reasonable. Gentle and generally kind, with a legendary talent for negotiating, but also tough like a champion Akk dog in a fight. She respected him immensely for his efforts in her life. So even though he was not her master, and indeed she was not even a member of the Order any more, she bowed her head deferentially in greeting.

"Greetings Master Kenobi," She murmured a touch chagrined, then gestured to the console beside her. "The console is broken. It won't call a cab for me."

He quirked a small smile at her "Ah, hence the cursing and striking of said console?" He chuckled. She just gave him a mildly withering look for his humour at her expense. He considered her for a moment, cocking his head while rubbing a thumb across his jaw. "You know, there is an entire building full of people, and droids, with the kind of expertise necessary to help you solve your problem right over there." He said his idle jerk of the head indicating the temple behind them.

She sighed theatrically, playing along hoping it would ease some of her tension as she paced away from the console. "Yes, but having to return and ask a random astromech or techno service droid to help me fix a busted console?" She squinted her eyes at him sardonically. "Kinda ruins the effect of storming off into the sunset Master Kenobi."

He laughed a bit rolling his eyes theatrically. "I can't argue with that. However I had some thoughts on my way down here to look for you." He shrugged. "I probably wouldn't have caught you had that console not malfunctioned." he noted ironically. She merely watched him expectantly, waiting for him to explain. He nodded shortly, "As impressive and undoubtedly classic as walking off, chin held high, as the sun falls below the horizon is, you have a number of alternatives which you may not have considered. No doubt a bit of Anakin's influence shining through hmmm?" He speculated thoughtfully, a small smile quirking his lips.

She snorted and feigned offence. "I'll have you know I can be stupid, stubborn and ridiculously impulsive all by myself thank you." She noted as she smiled haughtily. "And just what kind of alternatives are we talking about here? Other than giving up and returning to the order like a good little girl?" She asked a touch acerbically.

He waved a hand toward the path up the steps behind him. "Would you walk with me? At the very least if you decide none of the options I present appeal to you, we could walk together to the terminal on the temple's far side?" He suggested. She was reluctant, and paused to kick the terminal one last time, getting a slightly sore toe for her trouble, but nodded her eventual agreement.

"Fine, what are you thinking?" She asked falling into step beside him.

He nodded pensively, "First of all I'd like to apologize to you Ahsoka. I and the others? We clearly failed you horribly. This is my way of trying to make it up to you." He explained.

"Thank you Master, I know you at least did your best though, you have nothing to apologize for." She assured him sadly.

He nodded in thanks but appeared unconvinced and continued regardless. "Of the choices I spoke of…Option one is the obvious path which you have already rejected, so we'll move on. Option two, is to simply try the second terminal and once again get you on your way." He noted sadly. "However it is the third choice which I'm here trying to advocate. It is to come back with me to the temple and spend a night or two."

She shot him a doubtful look. "And why would I want to do that?"

"Because doing so would come with a number of advantages. First of course, and not to be underestimated, is that you will get the benefit of a couple good night sleep and couple of solid meals in you before you leave us." He explained smiling a bit again. She considered that, nodding before he continued. "Second, is getting the chance to say goodbye to the place and people you have in the past called home and family. Third? Is me and Anakin spending the evening shaking down a couple of leads I thought up to help you get your feet under you." He explain cajolingly.

She paused as they once more entered into the shade between the great pillars. "And at the end of all this you'll just let me walk away?"

He nodded soberly. "If that is still what you truly want, then yes."

They walked for a time in silence, skirting around the temple proper while Ahsoka considered her options. Weighing her need for independence and freedom, against the possible benefits practical and otherwise of agreeing to stay a while. The walk through one of the training gardens situated on one of the terraces which dominated the top floor of the lower complex was ultimately what decided it for her. She used to love these gardens, often coming here for quiet moments to herself, just enjoying the sun and breeze. It would be one of the things about the temple she'd miss the most. Surely it couldn't hurt to enjoy it and some of the temples other charms one last time?

"Very well Master Kenobi, I will stay for now," She agreed, and he clapped a hand supportively on her shoulder.

That evening as the sun finally disappeared beneath the horizon. Obi-Wan and Anakin found themselves walking along the balcony of one of the training terraces watching as Ahsoka spent time talking seriously with Master Yoda about something. The two of them pacing slowly over the grass and eventually settling on a bench beneath a tree.

It was good to see Ahsoka wasn't openly antagonistic with the aged Grand Master of the Order. She even appeared to be listening with rapt attention to something the old Jedi was saying. Obi-Wan was cautious with his optimism though, he'd heard troubling things in the short hours she'd been among them. "How has her visit been going thus far?" he asked his arms folded over his chest as he padded contemplative along the walkway.

Anakin sighed tiredly. "Not so well, not everyone has caught up to the fact Barriss was the guilty party yet." He admitted, wincing a bit at the looks she was getting throughout the evening. She'd almost gotten in a fight with a Knight at one point before he had broken it up and set the Knight straight. To the Jedi's credit he had been chagrined to find out he'd been berating an innocent woman, and had apologized.

"And as for saying goodbye to friends? Barriss was the only one currently on planet…Though she insisted on seeing her anyways." he muttered bitterly, as he thought of the young Mirialan. "Obviously she's no comfort right now, not after what she's done. What is the Council planning on doing with the little renegade?"

Obi-Wan rubbed the bridge of his nose in exasperation, closing his eyes. "The Republic Military has ceded responsibility for her. She's to be handed off to the mind healers. They'll spend who knows how long trying to piece her mind, and sense of right and wrong, back together. All in the hopes that they might bring some semblance of her former self back." He said, his tone expressing just what he thought of this plan. Obi-Wan was hardly blood thirsty or merciless, but he had no time for unrepentant traitors. "Once that's done, she'll be turned over to master Unduli who will watch her more carefully for a time. She's going to be on the Republic's watch list for the rest of her life to come though."

Anakin looked like he wanted to throw something, only reining in his anger with visible effort. "I don't understand the council," He snapped angrily. "They were just about ready to have Ahsoka killed, but the actual criminal, who proudly confessed to her crimes? They're falling over themselves in their haste to try and redeem her?"

Obi Wan shot him a reproachful look. "I know, and I pointed this out to them, believe me. They merely questioned why I was so set against trying to redeem someone who has fallen to the Dark Side. Well…aside from Master Tiin who was asking why we hadn't just killed her already…" Anakin made a disgusted sound at that. That response was typical of many members of the council. Master Tiin was a hardliner, but just because he supported executing Barriss didn't mean he was supportive of Ahsoka. He'd been one of her more vehement detractors prior to her exoneration.

A door opened at the end of the terrace as a small swarm of younglings boiled out of the temple and onto the terrace, excitedly running up to Ahsoka. The two older Jedi on the terrace watched them for a time as they spoke happily with Ahsoka for a while before becoming somber. They all crowded in and hugged her, clearly saying goodbye. A small smile played on Anakin's face for a moment. "The younglings never doubted her at least"

"That's a comfort, the young ones usually have a tendency to follow their elders." Obi-Wan observed smiling a touch. It was heartening that some of them at least had seen clearly.

Anakin grunted sobering a bit. "It's the Elders that are the biggest problem though. "She respects you and Master Koon the most out of all of them and you both were reasonably supportive or at least apologetic. Master Koon sought her out today as well…Of the others only Master Yoda has at least apologized to her." He shook his head irritably. "But the others? Who she's come to rely on? Masters Windu, Mundi, Unduli, Koth, Tiin and Ali? They all brushed it off as the forces will. I'm sure Aayla would have apologized had she been able to get through, Shaak Ti might have as well." He shrugged. "That may have hurt the most actually, that they weren't there after it all? She see's Aayla as something of a big sister."

Obi-Wan hummed agreement. "Yes I can see how that would only make her decision to leave easier." As a member of the council he of course was aware why Shaak Ti and Aayla had not been able to offer support. Aayla had found something to occupy her time unwilling to be involved in what she saw as Ahsoka's betrayal by the council and Republic. Shaak Ti had been otherwise occupied with the evaluation of a new batch of Clones on Kamino. Apparently that battalion had passed with higher than average proficiency ratings.

Anakin considered him for a moment, "How goes your plan to help her hit the ground running out there?"

Obi-Wan nodded, indicating they should continue along the terrace, "I've made progress, I could use your help with a couple things though." He admitted. "There is a matter I could use your opinion on. It is complicated…"

The Temple gardens had always had the distinction of being particularly beautiful no matter what time of day you visited them. Beautifully arranged, and carefully tended, they were quiet, tranquil and serene. The tree's blooming with glowing flowers and leaves which cast a pale illumination across the gardens.

Ahsoka had been wandering the garden, merely trying to calm the raging voices in her head, when a voice more real than those within spoke from behind her. "Ahsoka, come to meditate have you? Hmmm?" It was already obvious from the method of speech just who was speaking to her, but turning around confirmed it. There stood the diminutive Grand Master of the Jedi Order, Yoda. He peered up into her face interestedly, while leaning on his cane.

She offered him a slight nod of the head. "Hello Master, may I help you with something?"

He shook his head. "Me I think, who needs help, it is not?" He noted looking up to her questioningly.

She shrugged feigning indifference. "I am sure I will manage Master. Master Obi-Wan convinced me to stay a couple nights. He suggested saying my goodbyes and getting a couple last meals in."

The small green Jedi nodded sagely smiling slightly. "Good to have friends like Master Obi-Wan, it is. Still troubled, I sense you are?" He noted.

She snorted derisively. "What gave it away?"

He took her tone in stride, even tempered as always. "Being ironic, I suspect you are, but you know the answer already do you not? In the force I sensed it. And sought you out I did." he chided gently. "Come, tell me what bothers you. Hm? Help, perhaps I can?"

Perhaps it was the hopeful look on the aged Jedi's face, but she gave in, nodding tiredly. "I don't know what to do with myself." She admitted. "I just feel I no longer belong here." She said waving to the temple around them. "How can I? How can I trust myself, when nobody else has had any faith in me."

Yoda nodded sadly. "For my own mistakes in that regard, I wish to apologize again. Become…Uneasy, slow to trust, I have. A result I fear, of how blind to the force I am." He admitted suddenly looking every one of his near nine hundred years. "So much is unclear. Uncertain." He paused shaking his head, considering her words. "Among the Jedi, decide you belong, only you can. Do well, wherever you are? I feel that you will." he assured her evenly.

She shook her head in frustration. "So much is uncertain if I leave. With the Jedi? I knew my purpose! I was a defender of the light, a protector of the people. Now? I don't know what my place is. Force! I don't even know what will happen to me after I die. Will I still become one with the force?" She wondered suddenly.

The small Master next to her looked startled in the face of her doubts, reaching up and clutching her hand comfortingly. "Of course. Ahsoka, all things return to the force, one way or another. Merely the level of connection to the force and ones willingness to cross over which affects how easy your transition, it is." He explained comfortingly, his eyes pleading with her to believe him in this, to accept his assurances. "As to your place, in this world? Any place you choose, should I think. Be hard for you? It will not be, to become whatever it is you wish. Talented, gifted, you are." he told her soberly. "And say it where, does it? That one must a Jedi be, that defends the light or protects the innocent?" He asked chuckling causing her to blink in surprise at that suggestion.

She was interrupted in her response by the doors of the temple flying open and a small horde of younglings pouring out. They danced about her gleeful at her freedom, but were then saddened by her impending absence, she embraced them each in turn, saying her goodbyes, before letting them leave. She had to wipe tears from her eyes as they disappeared back inside. "I will miss them." She muttered wetly. Yoda nodded sympathetically. "I know Jedi aren't supposed to get attached…Just another bit of proof I didn't really fit in here I guess?" She noted bitterly.

Yoda smiled sadly at her, cocking his head. "A great source of strength, have attachments proven to be for you Ahsoka. Driven you to accomplish amazing things, your affection for your master, your soldiers, and your friends, they have." He noted surprising her. He raised a cautionary finger "That these things can also bring pain, the reason for the Jedi's caution against attachment, it is. These things lead to suffering. For you and on the part of others, grief, pain, jealousy, envy? Through them the dark side beckons. Suffering, leads to anger and hate. Not all, are strong enough to resist it's pull. Also, be a warning sign, these feelings can be, that time to let go it is. Acknowledge your feelings yes, but be swept away by them, you must not. Take care one must." He noted sagely, then considered something for a time, while Ahsoka watched him in interest. He sighed resignedly. "A piece of advice, give you I should. One which suits you well it does, perhaps not so well others who believe the same?" he suggested pointedly.

Ahsoka merely nodded mutely, she'd rarely if ever heard a Jedi not speak of attachments or emotions without condemnation, to hear the Grandmaster do so was fascinating. "Been there many, within the force, even the Jedi, for whom attachment has proven their greatest strength. For whom love has benefited them and others, not being it, a jealous love, hmm?" He explained. "Many, have there been, Jedi, who have married and loved. Look to many such tales we can, If we know where to look." He hummed in thought.

"Revan and Bastila. The Exile and her love. Satele, her Jace and her son Theron? The Outlander… Danger, there is, great peril, for those not prepared, in hearing these tales, yes. For those who search for the wrong answers to the wrong questions. But also potentially great strength, for those who search for the right ones?" He noted, then gestured to the bench under the tree. "Some time has it been, since told you a story, it has been little Ahsoka. Perhaps time I do so again hmm?" They made their way to the meditation circle and sat, he paused to ponder a time before nodding. "The tale of Revan, most instructive in this matter it is. Think I do, that I shall tell it to you. But first, a caution, against sharing it with others." He said sternly, and she nodded ready agreement. "Then begin I shall. With the Mandalorian Wars…"

The young woman's former Masters watched the pair from a distance as they sat talking under the palely glowing tree a time later, leaves and blossoms occasionally drifting down around them. Obi-Wan was considering what Anakin had suggested. "Are you certain that is a good idea Anakin? There are doubtless other ways." He noted.

Anakin nodded sharply. "Yes, who knows how long it will take her to find her way other wise. All that time she isn't prepared she'll be a target, who knows how long she'll be a target even after leaving us… We owe her too much to not help her if we can."

Obi-Wan conceded the point nodding. "Indeed, but she won't be able to handle all that alone and unarmed."

Anakin just waved that off. "I've already spoken to the Quartermasters and the Temple Guards. I secured a pair of droids and her old lightsabers. Not that it was easy, you know what Knight Durga is like, made me jump through all sorts of hoops just to get anything released from the stores."

Obi-Wan nodded wry agreement, "Good, if any outsider can be trusted with lightsabers it's Ahsoka…But perhaps, someone to watch her back? Someone she can trust?" He suggested.

Anakin nodded agreement. "Have any ideas?"

"Some, if I push it and call in a bunch of favours I might be able to get someone perfect for the job." Obi-Wan explained. "I've already got another possibility lined up as well…"

"Do it then," the younger man decided, and they walked for a time in silence while they considered how to handle what they were contemplating.

"How soon can you have everything ready on your end?" Obi-Wan asked.

Anakin smirked. "It's ready now, but I need to get clearance from the council to do what I propose. We can get that in the morning."

"There should be several guilty consciences on the council we can approach to get clearance." Obi-Wan agreed, then gestured to Yoda below in the garden who was parting from Ahsoka. "Yoda at the very least will support us I think."

"We could talk with him right now?" Anakin suggested.

Obi-Wan grinned. "No time like the present as they say."

The next morning arrived with Obi-Wan gently shaking Ahsoka awake. "Good morning Miss Tano, we've got a busy day ahead of us, it would be best to get some breakfast in you. Anakin has prepared it for you."

Ahsoka for her part yawned and blinked blearily at the gentlemanly master before nodding and sitting upright. She had been sleeping on the same couch she always did when at the temple while still in her thoroughly worn clothing which she'd had on for most of the week. Still, it was far better than sleeping in, and waking up in a cell. "Guess it's that day huh?" She noted with a touch of melancholy. She knew she needed to leave, for her own sake as much as anyone else's.

Anakin piped up from the small apartments kitchen. "If you want, but we've got a couple last things to do before we boot you out the door." He said clearly trying to ease the tension with a bit of humour. He only partially succeeded, getting a rueful snort from the former Padawan.

She shuffled into the kitchen a couple minutes later, having run through the refresher and sat at the table with the two older Jedi. At least things were looking up a bit. The breakfast before her was one of her favourites. Nerf Bacon and Bantha Sausages. Of course being the the only kind the Temple had in it's stores, the sausages had a bit of greenery ground into them, but thankfully her species carnivorous physiology wasn't such that it couldn't handle a few odd greens here and there.

She dutifully tucked in, savouring it and for once having a second serving knowing she had no idea when the next time she might eat so well was.

Obi-Wan spoke up as they finished eating, being of the mind that discussion at the table should be limited, being good for digestion and for the soul. "We have one last thing to do before you leave us," He held up a hand to forestall potential objections. "It will require us taking a little trip, but I think you'll like what we have prepared."

Ahsoka was uncertain, she didn't desire to raise any trouble from the temple's less pleasant inhabitants who might think she should have left never to return. Anakin cleared his throat leaning forward slightly. "Don't worry Snips, the council cleared it early this morning, besides nobody is eager to force you the door. They did after all try to offer you reinstatement."

She nodded silently, comforted somewhat that at least her absence wouldn't go entirely unnoticed at least.

The prisoner, a young woman with pale green skin, and black tattoos across her face, sat cross legged, meditating on a cushion positioned in the centre of her new lodgings. It was better to think of the room she was in as such, and not as the prison cell it actually was.

Barriss Offee, traitor and terrorist, sat motionless on a circular padded platform, in the middle of a circular room, in the deep heart of the temple catacombs, which had a single exit. The door of said cell was two inches of solid cortosis plating sitting behind a humming forcefield. This was a cell intended to hold a Jedi, or a Sith. She was neither anymore, technically. The room was also currently inhabited by her jailers. A pair of Temple Guards, in their white, gold and brown robes with their featureless white masks, and double bladed lightsabers at their belts. And a quartet of Temple War Droids, also forged of cortosis. All of them arrayed silently against the walls of the room.

It was not a helpful state of affairs for one contemplating the consequences of their actions, though it was an understandable one given what she'd done. Though it could always be worse, she could be imprisoned in the Asylum.

What she'd done was—complex. She'd turned her back on her oaths as a Jedi, convinced that she was doing the right thing, that the Order was a corrupt and broken institution which perpetuated war… But now? Under the watchful but accusing eyes of her jailers, after facing the disappointment of those she'd once revered and trusted. And after seeing the betrayal in the eyes of so many, especially Ahsoka whom she'd called a friend until recently. She could not help but wonder if she'd been wrong, if she'd truly fallen into darkness like they said.

Ahsoka, it was her fault the Togruta was no longer among the Jedi. She, the supposedly good and trustworthy apprentice, had set things up in such a way that the blame would fall on the shoulders of a slightly roguish, but beloved colleague. Ahsoka's reputation as aggressive and ambitious allowed aspirations to all too readily be cast upon her character. She had been effectively abandoned by all except Masters Obi Wan and Skywalker. Proof the Jedi were broken to Barriss' mind, but more so proof that Barriss herself had ventured down a path that at one time she would never have believed herself capable of taking. Ahsoka could not handle being so scorned by those she'd trusted, she'd abandoned the order. Even now Barriss felt the girl's presence within the temple fade as a craft carrying her left.

The feelings of rapidly swelling guilt and regret, were interrupted by a chime at the door and one of the guards moved to open it. Carefully drawing the hilt of her lightsaber from her belt and thumbing open the outer door, but leaving the forcefield in place from the sound of it's continued hum. There was a murmuring that Barriss could not quite catch, and then that faded out too, to be replaced by the soft pad of foot steps. Barriss opened her eyes as she felt a presence in front of her.

There standing not three feet from her was a face she did not expect to see, possibly ever again. It was the weathered and stern face of Jocasta Nu, the Temple Archivist. She considered rebellion, as she so often did these days. But she rebuked herself for the needless aggression, and bowed her head slightly in greeting at the aged Jedi. "Hello Archivist Nu, I did not expect to see you today." She said formally. She shifted slightly and frowned as she felt the tubes from the medical monitor tug slightly at her skin. A constant reminder that at the push of a button she could be sedated or worse.

The older woman's pinched expression darkened a touch as she examined the young Mirialan in front of her. "And you would not have, were it not for the Force's insistence young woman." She rebuked snappishly, the disdain clear in her tone.

Barriss couldn't help but feel a touch hurt that the once beloved, if slightly curmudgeonly old woman now hated her as much as any of the others.

Regardless the woman's statement intrigued her. "The Force asked you to visit me?" She asked, the old woman nodded irritably. "Why?" She asked, thoroughly vexed by this turn of events.

The woman held out a hand and presented a small object, "It seems I am to present you with this. I was doubtful, but I confess it is the clearest vision I have ever experienced, bar none. And when it comes in such a troubled time…" Jocasta noted sourly.

The object now cradled in Barriss' hands was a complex matrix of dark metal and crystalline facets. The object's shape if one were to call it by it's form's name, was that of a small stellated dodecahedron, essentially a perfectly geometric three dimensional starburst. What it was in actuality, was far more intriguing. She looked to Jocasta startled to be holding one of the Temple's most carefully guarded treasures. "A Holocron?"

Archivist Nu nodded sharply. "Yes, I had to get special permission from the council, and made my first venture into the vault that I've made in decades. I am to release it into your care for extended study under supervision, it seems I was not the only one receiving visions."

A Holocron, was—special, was really the only word for it. They could perform any one of a number of tasks, from reading specially encrypted ancient technology, to focusing the force more coherently, to serving as a sort of archive of lost knowledge. Most were simple cubes, a handful, locked in the deeper recesses of the vault were pyramidal in shape she heard. She'd never heard of one shaped such as this. "What does this one contain?" She asked peering at the softly glowing star in wonder.

Jocasta appeared to ignore her question for the moment. "It was not made to typical Jedi standards on such things, though it's construction is quite strong. It's made of Phrik among other materials.

Barriss was relatively learned, even among the Jedi, and so she understood the significance of that. Phrik was not only Lightsaber proof, it was near indestructible period. It was also immensely expensive even in the most minute quantities. That someone had expended the kind of money necessary to forge such an object? Suggested that what it contained was considered valuable or dangerous beyond measure. She glanced up at Jocasta who was pacing. "You still haven't told me what is in it."

Jocasta considered her for a moment, then answered. "Redemption child, or at least a chance at it. I will leave you to your studies now." She said pacing towards the door.

Barriss blinked surprised. "I thought you said I was to be supervised?"

Jocasta smirked disdainfully. "This Holocron does not function like that Barriss, it does not bestow power or focus it. It bestows wisdom, nothing more. Because of it's sturdy construction I imagine you might be able to tunnel out of this cell in a hundred years or so with it. It will not be me supervising you, I have duties elsewhere that require my attention. The Temple Guards will be the ones watching you." And with that she left, and the defences were once again raised behind her.

The almost black metallic sheen of the Phrik frame gleamed at her in the light cast through the wafer thin transparasteel panes. She sat for quite some time staring at it's subtle, but beautifully ornate construction, the faint blue light dancing across her face. As she considered the object she tried to decide how she felt about it. Part of her, which had been all too active lately, rebelled at the idea that she needed the redemption Jocasta had implied she did.

Another, quieter, but none the less powerful part of her, told her that she didn't deserve redemption even if it was offered. But the thing that decided her course was the most powerful aspects of her personality. Her curiosity. She was cuffed with force suppressors, and the drugs in the IV muddled her ability to touch the force for much beyond extending her senses. But she had enough to allow the force to cascade across her skin, triggering the locking mechanism on the device.

It was almost like a flower blooming, the way the device's panels folded back out of the way, or retracted into the heart of the object's incredibly delicate and beautiful interior, exposing a small crystalline holo emitter which dutifully lit up.

And there hovering in the air a foot before her face was a small projection of a man. He was unremarkable in many ways. Tall and wiry, clearly in reasonable shape despite somewhat advanced age. Pale skinned and human, with dark eyes and scars here and there about his face. An implant or two glinting in the light around his eyes. He was dressed in dark robes and bindings, portions of the outfit possibly highlighted by a lighter tone that was hard to discern in the projections blue cascading light. He wore a strange peaked cowl upon his head. But still he smiled benignly at her, an unmistakable twinkle in his eye. Then he spoke.

"Ah, young woman, at last we meet." He greeted gently. "I have been waiting for some time to speak with you, you know?" He continued at her bemused expression. "I foresaw this future many ages ago. I am surprised given the situation featured in my visions, that the elders let you speak with me. Perhaps they are not so blind as could have been believed." He mused. This was strange, even by Barriss' less than ideal standards. She understood what she was seeing, she was of course not really speaking with whomever this was. Holocrons like this housed predictive A.I's, usually modelled after the mental imprint provided by their maker. But that the maker had made this Holocron knowing some day she might open it? That was a unique occurrence.

"You foresaw what would happen to me?" She asked curious at the notion.

He nodded readily, smiling sadly. "Yes, indeed I saw many things about your life up to this point. Not too much beyond though I'm afraid." He noted apologetically. As though it were his fault that he hadn't seen even farther into the future than he had. Such things were always up to the Force and no one else. "I saw your birth, your childhood among the Jedi on Coruscant, I saw the teachings which would so inadequately prepare you for the horrors of war. I saw you make friends, but I saw you suffer as well. I saw you tending to thousands of injured, all with the same face, and saw what having so many precious lives slip through your fingers did to you. I saw you fall young one. Into darkness and despair. I saw you become the monster you hate." He admitted solemnly.

"But I also foresee a future in which you may do much good. And so I will teach you, as I had always intended, to prepare you for the future I saw." He said as though deciding, nodding in satisfaction. "But that is for another time. I wish to leave you with something to consider for today, something to ponder upon hmm?" He said smiling thinly. She nodded in hesitant agreement. One did not turn away a Holocron's wisdom, when it was offered.

"Soon, not so long from now, you will be confronted with a secret knowledge, one which has the potential to shake the galaxy to it's very foundations." He reported soberly, and she listened with rapt attention. "When that day comes, seek out the friend you betrayed. You will know where to find her. Beg her forgiveness but do not expect it, and ask for her aid." He instructed.

Barriss could not help but despair a little. "Ahsoka would never deign to help me, not after what I've done to her." She argued a touch sadly. She may not be convinced of her own wrong doing in many ways, but she still regretted losing her friend.

He shrugged, but did not seem worried. "She may surprise you yet. People will do that you know? But I fear you are correct that it will not necessarily be that easy." He glanced around. "Now you have more than enough to consider as it is, and I can see your watchers grow concerned at the tone of this conversation. I'm sure they will be reporting to their Masters soon enough hmm? I will depart for now I think, until it is time for us to converse again." He said, bidding her farewell and turning away as though to walk from the room.

"Wait!" She called and he paused, turning back to her. She was apologetic. "I am sorry, but you haven't told me who you are. And how you think I will manage this task you foresee…" She trailed off.

He appeared to consider that. Nodding thoughtfully. "I have been called many things in my life, have held many titles and positions many considered of great import. But the name I went by last before I was killed will serve well enough for our purposes I think." He mused then smiled offering a small deferential nod and she could swear he was actually looking directly into her eyes. "You may call me Kel'eth Ur, and I think we will achieve great things together."

The Republic naval staging area was situated between the Jedi temple and the Senate complexes, attached to what had to be one of Ahsoka's least favourite locations on Coruscant. The main Republic Military Base, the same place she'd so recently been imprisoned within, and where she had been put on trial for crimes she hadn't committed. For a brief moment as she stood in the blood pan of a Republic LAAT gunship, which was carrying them to their destination, with her meagre possessions stuffed into a duffle hung over her shoulder. She couldn't help but worry, for a brief panic stricken moment, that she'd been duped and was being taken back to be executed. But soon enough reason returned and she calmed herself with a deep purging breath.

As they finished passing over the base proper and began to fly over the naval staging area she noticed a number of ships had docked during the night, all of them bearing the familiar symbol of the Open Circle fleet, two red half circles on a field of gold.

She was able to count a full capital ship line, seven Venator class star cruisers, with a complete assault formation docked behind them, fourteen Acclamator class assault ships, and a pair of Evakmar Consolidator Assault Craft.* Also in presence, spread out across the various landing platforms and docking spaces, were more Charger escort frigates and Arquitens class light cruisers than she could count in the short time before the gunship dropped into one of the artificial canyons the Venators were docked in, and they vanished from sight. She turned her eyes to Anakin as the gunship idled waiting for directions to a landing slot on the tarmac. "Open Circle is being deployed? Where are you headed?" She asked, she couldn't help but be curious where the people who had once been under her command were being sent.

Anakin nodded. "Ringo Vinda. The Seperatists have been using it to produce and resupply their ships since the beginning of the war, we figured it was about time we took it off their hands."

Ahsoka nodded, she'd been briefed on Ringo Vinda in the past, the planet was an arid industrial world which supported one of the larger shipyards in Corporate Sector space. It's ring station which went around the entire planet was second only to a handful of other shipyards she knew of. The Kuat Drive Yards of course, the Mon Calamari stations, and the Fondor shipping concerns.

Obi-Wan broke in here, "We'll be linking up with Luminara's battle group, the rest of the 501st, and elements of the 3rd Systems Army, and 9th Assault Corps to take the system back."

Ahsoka couldn't help but whistle in appreciation. That had to be one of the larger military actions she'd ever heard of. "That's a big battle you're planning, no offence, but I hope you aren't intending to pressgang me into joining you for it."

"Now there's a thought." Anakin teased, as the gunship finally settled onto the tarmac and they walked off the small craft.

"No Ahsoka, we are not, though we could certainly use your help I'm sure." Obi-Wan noted dryly. "We know the Separatists have moved three battle groups there in anticipation of our arrival however"

She nodded, that was some serious opposition, that explained the size of the fleet preparing here. "Who's commanding for them?"

Anakin looked irritable for a moment before he quashed it, "Admiral Trench, That bug seriously doesn't want to die." He grumbled. He'd been responsible for the attack which had claimed the Harch and his flagship over Christophsis. Or so they had believed.

As they walked across the artificial canyon's floor to the nearest wall Ahsoka looked over at the the cruiser which loomed in the dock a few hundred meters away. The ship, Anakin's latest Flagship, was the Invincible. She couldn't help but note a touch sardonically to herself that given how hard Anakin was on ships, the ship above them almost certainly wouldn't live up to it's name. Her eyes skated down from the main hull to where what looked to be a full company of clone troopers, and an AT-TE armoured platoon, marched up the ramps into the ship's belly.

Her attention returned to their destination, a personnel door servicing a hangar. They paused long enough to enter the codes necessary for access before stepping inside.

That was when she got her first eyeful of the ship. Now there were admittedly times when a girl, even one as practical as Ahsoka, could get a touch bored of all the ship speak and techno babble from her former Master, but in moments like this it actually payed dividends to listen to him as well as she did. The ship sitting in the maintenance bay depressed into the floor of the Hangar was a Corellian Engineering Corporation VCX-100 Light Freighter. Such ships were roughly diamond shaped, it's four points blunted in various ways. The aft "point" was taken up by a bulky engine block, and the front by an armoured and armed cockpit over the loading ramp. The left and right points were blunted by the docking hard points built into the hull there.

The VCX Series was designed to function as an armed freighter by the Corellians. Which seeing as this was in fact the Corellians they were talking about, likely meant they'd expressly built these ships to function as smuggling rigs.

This particular specimen was unique from others of it's line in a number of ways, it had clearly been modified extensively. Some of the differences were obvious to a practiced observer, but some were more subtle.

CEC was a tad notorious for their laissez faire attitude towards hull plating. CEC preferred to only lightly plate their civilian line of ships, ostensibly to improve ease of access and maintenance for critical components, but it was more or less an open secret that the real reason for doing so was to save trillions on manufacturing costs. What plating they did impart to their otherwise well designed ships, was always lesser than that of other manufacturers, often being at most three millimetres thick in the most heavily armoured sections of the craft.

This ship before her in the bay had fuller armour coverage than CEC provided off the factory line, and all of it was at least a full half centimetre thick.

The engines were another area which had been modified. This ship like it's brothers and sisters had four primary thrust modules, usually only the lower two, which were aligned vertically up the ships centreline, were fully integrated into the hull. However on this beauty the hull and frame had been extended carefully to properly integrate the two exposed pods into the hull, with full plating to boot. All of this and after market baffles of some description had been built into the pods.

The cockpit and nose gun canopy over the primary loading ramp usually was a single pane of space rated reinforced high density glass. This ship's somewhat more angular cockpit and gun canopy where triple-pane transparisteel the likes of which were usually only found on top of the line frontline warships.

Add to that the clear improvements to the ship's armament and Ahsoka was already impressed after stepping only a handful of feet within the door. The nose gun turret and the dorsal gun turret had been upgraded with the somewhat more powerful but proprietary anti-fighter repeaters Kuat Drive Yards mounted onto their own ships.

Silently Ahsoka followed Sky-Guy and Obi-Wan along the walkways and around the rear of the ship. Allowing her to catch a glimpse of an upgraded model of the built in shuttle for which the series was largely famous for. The shuttle was currently docked with it's bow facing outwards between the ships two horizontally aligned primary engines. In this configuration the shuttle's chin guns would act as the armed freighter's tail guns. The normally starfighter-like canopy had been replaced with a more slit like aperture that afforded those within greater protection at the cost of any potential view. The usual single mount dorsal gun had been replaced on the small shuttle with a pair of automated twin-linked repeaters.

But it was really the engines which held her attention, those baffles which had been added to the factory issue engines were stealth models, usually reserved for cloak ships to prevent their heat and energy emissions from showing on sensors. This ship while armed to the teeth was meant to be sneakier than others of it's kind.

They descended down the ramp on the far side of the bay into the maintenance depression so they could more fully come around the ship's bow. The upper hull on either side of the spars protecting the cockpit had a pair of missile tubes subtly integrated into it. While the equally sloped lower hull on either side of the primary loading ramp had a pair of small anti-Infantry turrets, apparently of the same design as those that functioned as the chin guns on of a LAAT gunship.

It was as they came to a stop in front of the practically spotless ships bow and stared up at it, that Anakin finally turned to her. "So what do you think Snips?"

She just shook her head in disbelief. "Are you seriously trying to give me a ship?" She asked incredulously.

He shot her a look. "Hopefully I'm not just trying to." He noted ironically.

There was a pause following that. "Why?" Ahsoka asked shortly.

Anakin shrugged, "Because you're my Padawan…or you were. I was intending us to use this ship like we used the Twilight, but I think you'll get better use out of it than me." He explained easily.

Ahsoka waved that off scrunching her face in concentration. "No…I mean, you had to get the council to sign off on this, what do they want from me?" She asked, a tad bitterly. "They wouldn't just give me this, wouldn't just throw a whole starship and the cost of it's upgrades away on a Padawan who's just left the Order."

Anakin and Obi-Wan shared weary looks. "You'd be surprised Ahsoka, a lot more of them than you might realize are trying to make up for their mistakes, even if their pride won't allow them to put it quite like that. At least a few were willing to go along with us from the get go, when we tried to sell the idea to them this morning. And a few of the others were willing to go along with it when we suggested you might be up to run covert operations and supply runs for the Republic….When you feel like it of course." Obi-Wan rushed to assure her.

"Well it's nice to know some of them feel bad for hanging me out to dry." Ahsoka noted wryly. Then continued. "So you want me to run supplies and such for the Republic?"

Anakin answered this time. "Yes, or at least we'd like you to, though we won't force the issue. We just kinda ran on the assumption that you're leaving the Order, and not the whole Republic." He admitted.

Ahsoka opened her mouth to respond to that when there was a tone from the door on the upper walkway and the door hummed open. A clone strode through, a pack on his back, and a duffle over his shoulder. At least she thought he was a clone, it was hard to tell under some of those bandages and pressers. At first she didn't recognize him, he had to march himself down the closest ramp and almost all the way up to them before it registered that this banged up clone had short bleached blonde stubble on top of his head. "Rex?" She asked incredulously.

It was his crooked smile that really confirmed it to her. "Hello Commander, looking better than the last time I saw you."

"Rex what happened to you? Did you get in a fight?" She asked aghast by the number of bandages and such that covered various portions of skin.

He shook his head. "No, you can thank these two for this, actually" He got quizzical looks all around for that so he explained. "General Kenobi and Commander Skywalker pulled some strings to get me slated for the Skirata treatment and released from official service to the Republic, in the hopes I'd back you up doing black ops and such for the Republic." He explained.

Ahsoka arched an eye brow at the two Jedi. "That certain that I'd agree to your little plan were you?" She asked a touch snarkily.

Rex ignored the byplay and continued. "The Skirata treatment they administered last night and this morning, wasn't gentle, but they had to remove all my implants as well. Didn't realize I had so many," he grumbled good natured rubbing his hand over the stubble on his scalp.

"You've been given the life extending treatments?" She asked surprised. Usually only nulls or ARCs got the treatment, Obi-Wan and Anakin must have raised quite a fuss. Rex just nodded agreement. She shook her head wearily, it seemed she was more and more locked into this course than she realized. She had planned to go her own way for a while. "I'm not a Jedi anymore Rex, I don't know what I plan to do," She admitted.

He considered her. "Would you want to help the Republic occasionally do you think?" He asked eventually, "It wouldn't sit right, just sitting this war out when my brothers are fighting and dying."

She thought about that understanding just what he was asking. "I don't think I could just sit it out either, I don't think I could just leave our friends to fight on their own." She agreed, and he nodded, grinning as if he'd known that would be her answer all along.

He looked up at the ship and nodded in appreciation, it clearly wasn't a warbird, thought someone had done some extensive work to make her function as one. "Nice ship, as I understand it though it's a little much to handle all by your lonesome." He pointed out. "The General, and the Commander seem to think I might do more good with you than with them. What do you think?"

It was hard to be certain, Ahsoka thought, It was hard to imagine how Rex might be more effective as her X.O or crew mate than in his natural place on the battlefield. But if she were to do what Obi-Wan and Anakin suggested and run supplies into combat zones or help on the occasional mission, perhaps he might indeed be helpful. "I think…I don't know what the future will bring, more and more it looks like I'll be helping out with the war, on the sidelines. Maybe most of this will just be supply runs, but maybe it will be more." She explained. "I'd be happy to have you. But would you be happy doing that?" She asked.

"Yes, Commander." He said simply.

"We've also drummed up a couple of droids to help out." Anakin pointed out, indicating a pair of droids in standby mode beside a pile of crates which the dock workers were loading onto the ship.

The first droid, was an R2 Unit, a military unit from the looks of it, it was plain white with black access panels. It was reminiscent of clone trooper gear.

The other was a humanoid combat droid of some kind, pretty angular and trapezoidal in design. A dark ferrocrete grey, with blue eyes and black markings stencilled on his chassis. A chassis which was thick with ad-hoc armoured plates fused to it improving it's already impressively robust design. The average droid these days had armour only a couple millimetres thick. Usually made of Durasteel or a ceramic compound. This bot, despite it's age, was of superior construction, obviously built for heavy action, or by a serious enthusiast. The armour wasn't Durasteel, but that was about all she could say for certain as she bent and dusted him off a bit.

"The first one is R2-K9 a droid which was left at loose ends after the temple bombing, the other is…well honestly nobody knows his official identification, we just call him "Dusty" because he's been sitting on the rack off and on at the temple for as long as anyone can remember only getting woke up for occasional refits. He's been something of a personal project of mine, his design is fun to play with." Anakin admitted.

Ahsoka nodded appreciatively as she examined the droids more closely. "So what do you say we tour your new ship?" Obi-Wan suggested. "Get you two settled in?"

"Sure, let's see this new home of ours." She agreed easily.

The ship's interior proved to be different too, with a more firm polish than CEC usually put on their ships, Kuat again if Ahsoka were to venture a guess, some admirals and such preferred comfort to austerity on their command ships and Kuat was more than willing to oblige for the right price. Most of the sleeping arrangements were bunk rooms, sleeper pods set into the walls. But there was also a pair of suites clearly reserved for the Captain and X.O. Ahsoka and Rex claimed their's respectively, dropping their goods in their new quarters. Ahsoka would definitely have to see about livening up hers when she got the chance.

Of more immediate interest to her right then though was that the ship was fully stocked, it's holds full to bursting with medical supplies, the freezers filled with food and drink for the crew. It was once they completed their circuit of the ship that Ahsoka turned to Anakin and crossed her arms. "So, what's with all the cargo?" She asked pointedly.

She just received a smile in return. "Just a way to get you started, the contract for delivery to Ord Mantell is yours. It'll put some money in your pocket and keep you flying, where you go from there is up to you…" He hung his head and shook it ruefully. "I'm just sorry we couldn't do any more for you." He offered apologetically.

She smirked, "This is plenty believe me, I didn't expect to get anything." She noted. "I was pleasantly surprised when I wasn't rounded up by the Temple Guards on my way out the door and shipped off to a farming colony."

They just chuckled in understanding. Obi-Wan stopped her there. "Ahsoka, if you would hear me, I would like to give you one last piece of advice before we part?" He asked looking worried, and hopeful at the same time. Ahsoka nodded promptly. Obi Wan may not have been her master as such, but she respected him, and when he spoke she listened. He nodded at her agreement. "I would advise you to pay attention to the source of your feelings when under duress. You are, in the heat of battle, prone to an aggressive tact, and occasional bouts of overconfidence. You are, otherwise, a kind, talented, and selfless young woman with much to recommend you so do not take these words as harsh criticism."

He hurried to assure her. "The force has given you the gift of being able to wield it. Be sure to use it while listening to your better nature. It has the ability to be tool in your hands, but if you are not careful that tool can become a weapon, one which you may reach all to readily for." He said solemnly. "Now then, enough of the dire warnings, come give me a hug." He instructed and she obeyed. Obi Wan was not the most formal of masters but he wasn't usually so informal as to allow that kind of open affection. But she was still more than happy to take him up on his invitation. He held her for a bit before moving her to arms length to look her in the eye. "Take care of yourself Ahsoka Tano. For my sake as well as your own. And may the Force be with you."

"And with you master." She agreed, blinking back tears as he backed off and walked down the ramp.

"Hang on a sec, I just want to give you something before I forget." Anakin cut in, and pulled out two familiar looking cylinders and pressing them into her hands.

"My Lightsabers?" Ahsoka asked, clearly surprised to see them again after the trial. "But…I'm not a Jedi anymore, I'm not allowed." She protested.

Anakin nodded, "Actually you are, it's just uncommon for those who leave to keep theirs. But I'm willing to bet that you could still use these, the Galaxy's not a safe place right now. And if any renegade could be trusted not to run amok with these, I figure it's you." He said, expressing his faith in her. He seemed to be trying to make up for the lost opportunities he'd be missing in the future to say such things.

"Thank you Master." She paused as she clipped them to her belt.

Anakin placed a hand on her shoulder and gave it a gentle but affectionate shake, "Guess this is goodbye for now Snips. Hope to see you again real soon though." He offered regretfully.

"I hope so too Master." She agreed nodding, and sniffling a little bit.

"Good, then here's my advice, trust your instincts, they're pretty solid. And don't tell him I said this but Obi Wan's advice was good. Follow it and you won't go wrong." He assured her.

"I heard that!" Called a cheerful voice from the bottom of the ramp, causing Anakin to roll his eyes good natured.

"This coming from you Master Skywalker?" The little Togruta murmured, smirking slightly.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I'll try and listen better to him too okay?" He promised as he made his way down the ramp, she called out to him.

"May the Force be with you Master!"

He paused and smiled at her. "And with you." He agreed. Then offered the traditional goodbye among her people. "Smooth flying Ahsoka. May the wind be ever at your back and the stars above Shili warm your face." and with that, he was gone.

Ahsoka spent the next couple minutes collecting herself and stowing her small pile of belongings in her absurdly well furbished cabin, before finally making her way to the cockpit. Rex was already there running pre-flight checks. "Settled in already huh?" She asked rhetorically seating herself in the pilot's chair and powering up the primary drive with the flick of a few switches. She knew Rex's capabilities well enough, he was a capable if cautious pilot, a hopeless engineer, a solid mechanic, and a competent comm officer. But where he truly shined was gunnery control. She'd see about working out a way to have him where he'd do the most good. She considered her control panel rearranging some of the functions to suit her preferences before opening a comm channel to the local tower. "Republic Tower Aurek Cresh six-one-nine, Senate District. This is…Freighter registered as armed transport Cresh eight-seven, requesting permission to undock and enter your exit queue." She said speaking in clipped dutiful tones as she read off the ships registration.

The response was only a moment in coming. "Confirmed armed transport Cresh eight-seven. You may proceed from dock onto the tarmac when clear. Estimated time to take off window is ten minutes, we have a flight of military gunships coming in. Await signal for launch, how copy?" the trooper manning the tower asked formally.

"Hard copy Tower. Cresh eight-seven out." She finished and started their launch procedures, pressing buttons, flicking switches and entering codes to open the hangar and lift the ship out of the maintenance bay and out into the open air. There was a dull thump which reverberated through the hull as the ships landing gear and loading ramp retracted. She shook her head clearing the pressure sickness brought on by the ship's cabin equalizing. She watched with interest out the cockpits canopy as, sure enough, a couple minutes later a flight of gunships flew over and into the still looming Cruisers landing bays.

She only had to wait a moment after that. "Tower to Cresh eight-seven, you are cleared for takeoff, we're transmitting a flight path to your nav computer now. Safe flight."

"Solid copy Tower, thanks for the well wishes. Eight-seven out." She returned, before hovering the ship an additional distance into the air as the holographic display projected the path onto the window in front of her. She eased up the throttle and raised the ship's nose taking them smoothly up over the staging area and into the atmosphere.

"We headed for Ord after all?" Rex asked as they city faded behind them checking the sensors for anyone messing about in their path.

She nodded. "We have a contract there, and it's as good a place to start as any." She noted. "Force knows I didn't have any real plans beyond getting away from the temple," she muttered to herself, before looking up and peering out through the canopy. The entire galaxy stretched before her as the sky faded away to the black of space. A billion possible paths laid out before her, ready for the taking. She didn't know where she would go next, but she knew this time it would be her decision. Freedom beckoned.

Author's Note: The Evakmar Consolidator, is a design by the man over at Fractal Sponge. Seriously you guys should take a look at some of his work. It's fantastic. Also PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE rate, review, comment and make predictions for what the next portion of the story will hold.