Chapter two – The Return

The second chapter for this story. Ahsoka returns after disappearing. Just what has happened to her?

Enjoy.

;-

Anakin Skywalker entered the hangar of the Resolute. His troops had just finished recovering both Barriss and her ship. Barriss had pushed herself to her limits while trying to find Ahsoka. To his great surprise, Barriss walked down the ramp of the ship he sent to find her.

"I'm sorry Master Skywalker, but I haven't found any trace of Ahsoka yet." Barriss said when she reached him. It wasn't difficult for him to notice that she was trying to mask her tiredness. "Don't worry Barriss. We'll just keep looking for her." He replied. Barriss nodded and tried to turn around to head back to her ship. "Barriss, wait." He told her. "Yes Master?" she asked. "Go and get some rest." He half-suggested, half-ordered her. Barriss looked a little taken aback. "But… I have to…" she tried to complain, but Anakin interrupted her. "It won't do Ahsoka any good if you pass out from exhaustion and crash into a star or something like that. Get some rest and continue looking tomorrow." He told her. Barriss looked as if she wanted to say something, but exhaustion made her change her mind. "Alright, I will." She replied as she began to walk out of the hangar.

Anakin went back to the bridge to give his troops a couple of orders before he went to get some rest as well.

;-

The next day

Anakin stood on the bridge again, overseeing the search for his missing padawan. He felt a presence he knew quite well approaching. Anakin took a deep breath and prepared himself for what was about to come.

"General Kenobi." He heard several troops behind him salute as the doors to the bridge opened. "At ease men." Obi-Wan replied as he walked up to Anakin. "Hello Anakin." Obi-Wan said plainly. "Master." Anakin replied. "I suppose you know why I'm here?" Obi-Wan asked. Anakin nodded, he had a pretty good idea. A few hours ago he had cut the connection on a call with the Jedi Council when they tried to send him on a different mission and have someone else look for Ahsoka. He hadn't want to hear it so he had simply ended the transmission, apparently much to the Council's chagrin. "I don't care what the Council says Obi-Wan. I'm not going to abandon Ahsoka." He stated. "I know Anakin. But you guessed wrong about my being here." Obi-Wan replied in a somewhat amused voice. Anakin turned to his former master. "What?" he asked. "I discussed it with the Council. Someone else has already been found for that mission. I've come here to help you look for Ahsoka, not to lecture you." Obi-Wan explained. For the first time since Ahsoka's disappearance, Anakin felt slightly relieved. "Thank you Master." Anakin replied. "So, where are we at?" Obi-Wan asked. Anakin led him to a nearby holodisplayer and quickly brought the older Jedi up to speed.

About an hour later they were continuing the search. Anakin was still on the bridge overseeing the transmissions between the searching ships. Obi-Wan was now leading his own searching squad. Barriss was still in her bed. Anakin had checked up on her earlier, but she was still asleep. Her fatigue was even greater than he had initially thought. For now, he was just going to let her sleep.

"Come in, Resolute." Anakin heard Obi-Wan's voice say over one of the intercoms. "I hear you Obi-Wan. Anything to report?" Anakin asked. "Nothing yet I'm afraid. We've just finished searching our current sector and are moving onto the next one." Obi-Wan replied. Anakin sighed. "Understood Obi-Wan." Anakin said as the transmission ended. He moved to the starmap next to him and observed it for a moment. "Obi-Wan's troops just finished this area and are now moving here." He thought to himself as he looked at the different areas on the map. "Don't worry Ahsoka, we will find you." He silently promised her again. Anakin then moved to another console to check the reports from a different squad.

;-

"General Skywalker, we're reading some strange disturbance in the area where Commander Tano disappeared." One of the clone troopers reported. Anakin quickly made his way to the workstation the clone was sitting behind. "What kind of disturbance?" he asked. "I'm not sure, but the energy readings are the same as the one when she disappeared." The trooper replied. "The same energy? What does that mean?" Anakin wondered. "Can you get a visual or something?" Anakin asked the clone. "I'm not sure sir, it's just outside the cruiser's visual scanners. I'll try to pull something up." The clone replied. After that he pushed in numerous commands and a screen activated displaying a part of the galaxy. In the distance some strange colour effects could be seen. "What is that trooper?" Anakin asked as he pointed at the screen. "I don't know sir." He replied. "Ahsoka mentioned strange lights when she disappeared. Analyze whatever that is soldier." Anakin ordered. "Yes sir." The trooper replied as he began to prepare the scanning modules.

"General, we're receiving a transmission on the secure channel!" Rex called out to him from the transmission booth on the other side of the bridge. Anakin's head snapped up and he sped towards the clone captain.

"…ing….On…ur…ubli….cha…der….a…no….ea…req…immi…ass… ." A distorted voice sounded over the intercom. "R2, amplify the signal. Try to clear it up." Anakin told his trustful astromech. R2-D2 rolled up from his spot at the mapdisplay and plugged in the booth. The transmission still sounded a little blurred, but they could make out some more words now. R2 made a few irritated sounding bleeps and continued to work. A few moments later the transmission came through loud and clear.

"Calling on the secure Republic channels. This is Commander Ahsoka Tano onboard the Silent Eagle. Requesting immediate assistance. I repeat…" Ahsoka's voice sounded over the intercom. Anakin sighed with relief when he heard her voice and he could feel a similar sense of relief from the troopers on the bridge. He leaned in and activated the transmission from his side. "Ahsoka, this is Anakin. Can you hear me?" He asked hopefully. He heard a gasp coming from the intercom. "Anakin? Is it really you?" Ahsoka asked. "Yes, it's me Snips." He replied with great relief in his voice. "R2, try to activate the image." He told the astromech. R2 nodded and worked on the transmission. A short moment later, the screen activated and Ahsoka's face appeared.

As the screen appeared, he could see a wide smile spread across Ahsoka's face. "I'm glad to see you Snips." Anakin said. "It's so good to see you again Skyguy." Ahsoka replied softly as a tear ran down her cheek. Anakin was a bit surprised by her reaction. "Ahsoka, what happened? One moment we are talking to each other and the next moment you disappeared for a week." He asked her. "Well, I… wait what?" She asked shocked. "What did you just say?" She asked with an unreadable expression. "What do you mean Ahsoka? You've been gone for little over a week." Anakin replied confused. Ahsoka shook her head softly with a stunned expression on her face. "Anakin…" she said softly. "I've been gone for over five years…"

Anakin looked in shock at the screen. "Five years? Ahsoka, that's impossible. Only a week has passed. What are you talking about?" he asked confused. "A week? That's insane! It's been five years! Look at me!" Ahsoka replied shocked. Anakin frowned in confusion. "You don't look any different to me Snips." He said, not quite understanding what she meant. "Have you seen me?! I…" Ahsoka said as she threw her hands up. She stopped when she saw her hands. "What…" She looked shocked at her hands for a moment. She then used the Force to grab a mirror from somewhere in the cockpit of her ship. She stared in shock at her reflection. She moved her hand across her face and lekku, the confusion obvious in her face. "What…happened…?" she asked silently. "Ahsoka? What's going on?" Anakin asked. "I…" Ahsoka said softly. Suddenly her face turned to a horrified expression. "Ahsoka?" Anakin asked worried. "I-I have to check something." Ahsoka replied quickly as she dashed away from the screen and out of the cockpit.

"Ahsoka? Ahsoka, are you there?" Anakin asked. The transmission was still active but Ahsoka had been already been gone for several minutes now. R2 sounded a few worried bleeps. "I don't know buddy." Anakin said to the astromech. Another short moment passed before Anakin saw that Ahsoka had entered the cockpit again. She sat down again in front of the screen and took a deep breath. Anakin could tell that she was incredibly relieved about something. "Ahsoka, just what is going on?" He asked with concern in his voices. Ahsoka rubbed her forehead slowly and sighed. "I…I don't know any more Skyguy…" She replied softly. She touched a couple of buttons on the controls in front of her. "I've just send you my coordinates, can you please come and pick me up? My ship is completely out of fuel." Ahsoka asked him. The interface in front of Anakin bleeped, he checked the message and the coordinates Ahsoka had just send. "Alright Snips, we're not too far away from you. We'll be there shortly." He replied. Ahsoka nodded. "Thanks Skyguy." She said as the transmission ended.

"Alright men, we have new coordinates. I want to get there now, not later." Anakin said as he began issuing orders to the troops. "Sir, yes sir." The clones replied and they began racing to carry out their orders. He heard the door behind him open. He turned around and saw Barriss enter the bridge. "What is going on?" she asked when she saw the troops run around. "Ahsoka just contacted us. We know where she is and we're going to pick her up now." Anakin explained quickly. Barriss' face turned to surprise. "Really?" she asked. Anakin nodded as a response. "Thank the Force." Barriss said as she sighed in relief. "Is she alright?" she asked. "I don't know. She said some strange things." Anakin replied. "What kind of strange things?" Barriss asked with a hint of concern in her voice. "She said that she has been gone for five years." Anakin said. "What?" Barriss asked slowly, unsure if she had heard him correctly. "I don't know what happened exactly, but right now I'd like you to go down to the hangar to prepare the troops to pull Ahsoka's ship in. She's out of fuel so we'll have to pull her in." Anakin replied. "Alright, I'll go there now." Barriss said as she turned to leave the bridge. "Sir, we have a transmission from General Kenobi. His squad is almost back here to refuel." A trooper told him after the doors closed behind Barriss. "Tell him to hurry up and board. We need to get to Commander Tano." He told the clone. "Yes sir." The trooper replied as he went back to his console.

;-

About thirty minutes later

Anakin, Obi-Wan and Barriss stood in the hangar of the Resolute. An area of the hangar had been cleared so they had a safe place to land Ahsoka's ship. Right now the hangar troops were guiding the ship in with the assistance of the cruiser's tractor beams.

"They've almost finished guiding her in." Obi-Wan said as Ahsoka's ship entered the hangar. Anakin quickly studied the ship. The Silent Eagle had been specially designed for assignments like the one Ahsoka was given. Using strong shields, fast engines and mobility as well as stealth capabilities if necessary, it really lived up to its name. "There doesn't appear to be any damage to the ship's hull." Anakin commented. "So she wasn't attacked?" Barriss asked. "I'm not sure." Anakin replied. "She could have been pulled in a tractor beam and boarded." Obi-Wan said. "That's probably not it Obi-Wan. This ship has new tractor beam disruptor technology. No one should have been able to grab it with a tractor beam." Anakin replied. Obi-Wan rubbed his beard in thought. "Then I have no idea what happened." He said plainly. "I just hope that she's alright." Barriss said next to him. "She seemed to be in a good condition earlier. But what she said didn't make any sense." Anakin replied. "I suppose we'll just have to ask her." Obi-Wan said. Anakin and Barriss both nodded but didn't say anything.

Several loud echoes of metal connecting with metal were heard as Ahsoka's ship landed in the hangar. Anakin immediately moved closer to the ship. As the ramp began to lower, Obi-Wan and Barriss did the same. The ramp was completely lowered and they were anxiously waiting for Ahsoka to come out of the ship.

A short moment later Ahsoka walked out of the ship. She slowly walked off the ramp, but when she saw Anakin she ran towards him. Ahsoka pulled Anakin into a tight hug when she reached him. Anakin was startled and confused but decided to hug her back. Ahsoka pulled back a moment later, her eyes a bit watery. "It's so good to see you again Anakin." She said with a large smile on her face. "Are you sure you're alright Ahsoka?" he asked her. She nodded. "Yes, I'm great." She replied. "Barriss, Master Kenobi." She said when she spotted them. Ahsoka walked up to them and hugged them as well. "It's nice to see you again as well Ahsoka." Barriss said when she and Ahsoka parted. "I am so glad to see all of you again." Ahsoka replied smiling. "It's good to see you this happy Ahsoka, but I don't quite understand. It's only been a week since you disappeared." Obi-Wan said. Ahsoka's face turned to confusion again. "How can that be? Master, it's been over five years for me…" she replied slowly.

A great wave of confusion and silence crept through the hangar. Everyone looked at Ahsoka, not quite understanding the situation. "How is that even possible? Maybe you've just hit your head or something?" Barriss asked. "No, nothing like that happened." Ahsoka replied confused. Anakin looked at Ahsoka. "You said earlier to look at you, but you haven't changed a bit. What did you mean by that?" He asked her. Ahsoka looked down at her body. "I have no idea what happened. I grew up, but now I'm suddenly younger again. I-I have no idea what's going on…" Ahsoka explained, her voice a little shaky. "Don't worry Snips. The important thing is that you're back safe and sound." Anakin replied as he placed his hand on her shoulder. "We've been searching all the time for you. Barriss basically wore herself out while looking for you." He said. Ahsoka smiled a little when she heard this. "Really?" She asked as she looked at Barriss. The Mirialan nodded a little bit nervous. "Yes…I…" she sighed before continuing. "You saved my life Ahsoka, I wanted to help you now." She said. "Thank you Barriss." Ahsoka replied.

"It would seem that you have quite a story to tell." Obi-Wan said. Ahsoka looked at him. "You have no idea Master." She replied. Obi-Wan chuckled a little. Suddenly he felt a small presence. He looked at the ship. There was definitely someone there. He observed the ship a little closer and spotted a pair of blue eyes looking at him from the top of the ramp. "Hello there." He said. The figure hid behind something. The others looked at the ship as well. "Is something wrong Obi-Wan?" Anakin asked. "There's someone onboard the ship." Obi-Wan replied. "What? Who?" Anakin asked in return. "I know who." Ahsoka said amused. They turned to her. "How can anyone else be onboard the ship with you?" Obi-Wan asked. Ahsoka didn't reply as she walked up the ramp. She said something to whoever it was, but they couldn't make out what she said. A moment later she walked back off the ramp.

Another great wave of confusion swept through the hangar as Ahsoka walked off the ramp, hand in hand with a little Togrutan girl. The girl looked about four years old, with orange skin and a blue-white lekku. She wore a small dress the same colour as Ahsoka's Jedi outfit and matching shoes. What really confused Anakin, is the fact that the girl looks just like a miniature version of his padawan. "Ahsoka, who is this?" Anakin asked when the two reached the bottom of the ramp. Ahsoka smiled at him.

"This is Aeris, my daughter."

;-

That's the end of this chapter.

Confused? Good, that's the idea. This story isn't called mysterious ways for nothing. Ahsoka says that she's been gone for five years and she has a little daughter. Just what happened?

The first chapters of this story are meant to cause confusion. As this story progresses, the mysteries will be explained.

About Aeris, there was a question about her in a review for my story idea. I first read the name on DeviantArt. I've found it in multiple places afterwards. I really like this name for Ahsoka's daughter, which is why I'm using it in my stories. I have no idea who originally came up with the name, but he/she gets the credit for it.

The next chapter will be similar to this one, only then from Ahsoka's side of the story. A bit more will be made clear, but definitely not everything.

Until next time.