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The devastation around me was horrible…you could almost taste the burning, charred flesh from the dead. And the stench was even worse. I could hear laughter coming from the stormtroopers as they kicked and spit on the dead. One even pissed on a dead male.
I could hear someone yelling for the men to come to attention. It was probably a sergeant, although without the uniform markings, it was hard to tell.
I wasn't seeing through my own eyes. I was seeing through the eyes of one of the older troopers, one who was very upset with what he was seeing. I had felt this man a few times in the last few years. I had tried to reach out to him, confused as I tried to determine who he was. For the longest time, I had thought it was Cody, but I wasn't so sure anymore.I could feel a darker person as I moved in front of the man dressed in black.
It had been several months since I had last seen him in my dreams, this tall man dressed in black…a shadow of the man he used to be. He looked around at the destruction before demanding to see the captured Jedi.
My dream began to change as one of the troopers came forward, saluting. "We've found her sir. She's in lock up."
"Take me to her," Vader demanded before being led into the makeshift cage where the troopers stood beside the door, fully armed. As the door opened, I saw myself: bound, broken, and abused.
"I will find you, little one."
"Soka, calm down," a voice soothed, trying to wake me up from the horrible nightmare.
"Let me go," I screeched, falling off the bed, momentarily unsure of where I was or who I was with.
"Ahsoka," the voice whispered patiently as I attempted to fight back. "Cyar'ika, it's me. You're safe."
"Sa-fe." The broken words from Chopper brought me back from my hellish nightmare. Little Bug was screaming across the hall as Penny looked over her crib rails, her eyes wide before she held out her arms, eager for Chopper to hold her.
"Did she fall out of bed?" Kix asked. I couldn't see him, but I could sense his presence as I leaned against the wall, trying to steady myself. Chopper was watching from the bed, trying to swing his leg over the bed but unable to without some support. I could feel his fear for me as Kix spoke to him, attempting to explain what was happening.
"Jump-ed."I could feel Chopper's frustration as he sat in bed, unable to help me.
"That's bad," Kix shook his head, kneeling down beside me. "Are you still with us?" He asked, shining a small flashlight into my eyes. "Was it a nightmare or a vision?" Kix asked softly.
"I don't know," I admitted as Kix wiped my tears away. Feeling confused, he helped me to my feet, hugging me tightly against his chest. The crying in the other bedroom tapered off as Barriss came into the room, carrying little Bug on her hip. With a sad smile, she passed the baby to Chopper before rushing over to my side.
"Did you have a nightmare?" Barriss whispered. "What did you see?"
I noticed that little Penny was still standing up in her crib, waiting for someone to pick her up. I couldn't speak, instead focusing all my attention on Penny. I swallowed thickly, motioning at the baby. Kix walked over to the child and picked her up with a kiss. However, she was now fixated on Chopper, who was busy watching me, unsure of what he could do to help. Little Penny only smiled to me, her eyes bright as she smiled up at me.
"I need some air," I spoke softly.
"Let's get some tea and watch the lightning bugs," Barriss soothed, petting my cheek.
I found myself sitting on the porch swing beside Barriss as she placed a warm cup of tea in my hands.
"Anakin?" Barriss whispered sympathetically, gazing at me as I watched the lightning bugs in front of us.
"I'm not sure," I told her. "It didn't feel like him."After cutting myself off from the Force, I had barely used it unless I was teaching the children or sparring with Barriss. "Maybe it was a night terror," I shook my head, looking out over the lawn. "Mas- Vader. He and his men attacked a village. I don't know where or why. But I saw myself in lock-up."I looked up at Barriss, confused as tears fell onto my cheeks. I quickly wiped them away.
"Is it because of the upcoming trip to Shili?" Barriss asked.
"I don't know," I sighed.
"Should we cancel it?" Barriss suggested, pulled on my lekku to reorient me. I shook my head. I couldn't do that to Neno. "Nara has already done her passage," I said. The younger Mirialan was still excited about her first two small star tattoos. She was now choosing to wear sleeveless clothing to show off the marks on her shoulder. "Neno has been very patient with me, but he wants to hunt for akul."I remembered my own excitement when Master Plo had told me of my own trip.
"Neno could wait a little longer," Barriss assured, threading her fingers through mine and kissing my hand.
"No. Neno needs this," I insisted, shaking my head. "I need it too, or I may never allow him to grow up."
"He needs to grow up," Barriss nodded. Even Aayla was struggling with her attachment to her children.
"Nara has done her passage," I turned to her. "Neno only wants to do the same."
"A Jedi is patient," Barriss smiled.
"It's time to let him grow," I told her, running my hand though her hair, smiling at the realization that it felt like silk.
"Then I guess you're going hunting this weekend," Barriss smirked.
"It would be nice to see another Togruta," I admitted, "and maybe learn about hybrid children…if there are any others."
"It would be nice to know if Penny will go through her heat cycles or not," Barriss agreed.
"That I am not ready for," I growled at Barriss' teasing. She smiled, laying her head down on my shoulder.
"It will be fun," Barriss continued to tease me.