Author's Note: Thank you for reviewing! It really helps me know how the story's going. Hope you enjoy the story!

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars or any of its characters.

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Ahsoka woke to the irritating hum of machinery as she slowly opened her eyes to a dark room, her head throbbing from the stun shots of the Imperial blasters. She desperately wanted to cry out, asking where they had brought her, but she kept silent, hoping to figure out as much as she could before anyone realized she was awake.

The room was a dull gray, made of metal, and gave off empty echoes. It looked like a section off of an Imperial ship. The silence and emptiness of it gave Ahsoka the chills as her eyesight started to adjust. The chamber wasn't empty; there were several benches, used to restrain people on it seemed, some...devices...that looked unfriendly, and other little objects like tools, and even rags, which were covered with a sickening red color.

Ahsoka was observing this all from the corner of the room, where she was trapped in a cell. She had discovered this the hard way, having stretched out her hand to feel around, only to have a current of electricity from the invisible force field jolt her hand and leave it stinging painfully.

Why was she still alive? The Sith would never risk leaving a Jedi alive, even if she had left the Order several years ago. Suddenly a though occurred to her. Ahsoka had remembered studying Jedi history in the Temple, and had read about the Old Republic, and how Dark Jedi would capture Jedi and either kill them or...convert them.

Her breathing started to become heavier as she began to panic. She knew the methods Sith had used, and none of them were pleasant. Raising a hand to her forehead, she began to despair about her future. She didn't want to become a Sith, but she didn't want to die either.

And what about Rex? She quickly remembered, Did they find him? Is he still alive?

Suddenly, Ahsoka didn't care if anyone knew she conscious. Stretching out with the Force, and fully aware he would sense her presence, she searched for Rex, desperately hoping he was safe.

There was nothing. Either he was too far, still on the planet, and she was unable to sense him...or he was dead.

Ahsoka instantly began to sob, choking on her own tears. They were so close to each other, wouldn't she be able to tell if Rex was alive or dead no matter where he was in the galaxy? And Vader wasn't stupid. He would know that Ahsoka and Rex were married, and then if he knew that the former Captain meant something to her, he would either dispose of him immediately, or try and use the situation to his advantage.

Pull yourself together, Ahsoka! She mentally scolded herself, You may not be a Jedi anymore, but you still have the dignity of one!

Calming herself down and returning her breathing to a normal pattern, she tried to think logically. Perhaps Rex had returned home, and when he discovered her gone, had figured out the danger and been able to get to safety. And why would Darth Vader kill him? That wouldn't serve his purposes. As much as Ahsoka didn't like the idea, it would make more sense if he captured Rex and tortured him whenever Ahsoka refused to cooperate. Or, if they were planning to turn her, maybe they had...maybe they had killed Rex so that she might feel like she had nothing left except the Sith.

Ahsoka grimaced as she tried to keep her thoughts on more...optimistic ideas. Her vision had cleared, and now the room was very recognizable. Recognizable as a torture chamber, that is. And there were those interrogation droids hovering in the opposite corner, all facing her direction, as if they were staring at her...

The door hissed open. The heavy and ominous footsteps of Darth Vader entered the room, again flanked by two stormtroopers. Ahsoka was still weak, and could give no resistance when the stormtroopers lowered the shield on her cage, dragging her over to the wall and placing restraints on her wrists and ankles. She hung there limply, waiting, as the metal restraints bit into her skin.

Unexpectedly, Vader sent the troopers out of the room and came to stand in front of her. Silently, he observed her. When Ahsoka had been on Tatooine, she had been terrified of him, having it been the first time she had seen her former Master as the frightening Sith Lord. She had not known what he was planning with her...or Rex, and that was what had scared her. But now, as she slowly lifted her head to make eye contact with him, she felt as though he wasn't as intimidating as other people found him to be. That perhaps there was still a little of Anakin Skywalker still left in him. Or maybe it was simply because she had once known the man behind the mask, and she couldn't let go of that connection.

Her thoughts were abruptly quieted as Vader began to speak.

"You were meant to die at the Temple. It is a mistake of fate that you still live."

Ahsoka summoned up the strength to scowl at him. "Then why am I still alive?" She angrily lashed out, the weight of her body yanking against the restraints.

Vader paused for a moment. "Good. Your anger is power. But it will take time for you to refine that power into a weapon."

Ahsoka mentally kicked herself, and feeling ashamed, leaned her body back against the wall and tried to feign a look of indifference upon her face.

"You are alive," He continued, "because while fate made a mistake, I have not. Your life can still have purpose. You can still be of usefulness to us."

"You mean a deceiver and a traitor? Those aren't qualities of strength. In fact, it only shows your weakness even more since you couldn't stay loyal to one side. You had to defect to whichever side you thought was going to win. A traitor."

For a second, Ahsoka though Vader might kill her right there and then, as she sensed a powerful anger boil up within him, his body tensing as he tried to gain control of his emotions.

"I have never been a traitor. Anakin Skywalker was always a Jedi, and I have always been Sith. I killed Anakin Skywalker."

Ahsoka was starting to lose hope, and she cried out in desperation. "But why? Why give up everything you had lived for? What you believed in, what your friends and family believed in...What would Padmé think if she could see you no—"

Suddenly Vader's hand was clenched around her throat. Ahsoka tried to gasp for breath, her throat gurgling as her voice was cut off mid-sentence. His grip tightened, and her eyesight started to fade as spots danced across her vision. She could hear the forced cough of her throat as the pain increased. Just when she didn't think she could hold on any longer, he released his grip on the choke.

Ahsoka gasped for breath. Hit a sore subject with you, huh? She wanted to retaliate, but she kept her mouth shut.

"When I had nothing left...that is when I found everything. There is power here. Respect for those of us who deserve it. The Jedi were arrogant fools, ready to give their life for a being who would not honor their death or be grateful for their assistance. Why should we give to a galaxy that gives nothing in return?" The breathing from his mask filled the room, killing all silence. "No, there is nothing for the Jedi. Those who want, must take."

Having regained steady control over herself, Ahsoka kept still, waiting for him to continue.

"I know your skill. I know that you can be a formidable opponent. And I know that if you were to join our Empire, you would never have to hide from danger. We even have the capability to cure your...Captain of his accelerating growth."

Ahsoka's eyes sparked at the mention of her husband. She was unaware if a cure was even in existence, but she could guess that the Empire certainly would be able to create one. It had been something that kept her up at night, and sometimes she had even silently cried. She didn't want to lose him, and then in the same instance, she didn't want to spend the rest of their time together worrying and crying over something that was inevitable. If she wasn't going to join the Empire for herself, should she join them for another? Wasn't the life of a Jedi made of sacrifice?

I can't believe you're even thinking that! Ahsoka thought. Vader must be using some sort of Force persuasion or something. She remembered Aayla Secura telling her once that you shouldn't lose a thousand lives just to save one. And if she joined the Empire, how many people would she have to kill, to save Rex?

No, she decided, There has to be another way to help Rex. The Empire is too dangerous.

Although the prospect of being able to roam free throughout the galaxy was tempting, Ahsoka was fully aware that she would have to do terrible things to whoever was deemed an enemy of the Emperor. Things that were worse than death. And she knew how Sith treated one another. One mistake, and they were "disciplined".

"Yes." Ahsoka said sarcastically, "I could join your Empire. Fight all your enemies. And then I would never have a real life, since the only life you offer is one of deception and slavery. And I seriously doubt you'd let my Captain live, since he'd just be a interference in my servitude to the Emperor."

Vader was silent. He turned and walked towards the door, his cape flowing behind him. At the exit, he slowly turned to face her.

"I had wished to make this easier. I offered to let you join willingly, a rare act of mercy. But since you have rejected my proposition, you will have to be forced into submission." He waved towards the interrogation droids who swiftly floated towards Ahsoka's pinned-down form. "When you are finally broken, you will then serve the Emperor as he wills."

The door once again hissed as it shut behind Darth Vader, leaving Ahsoka alone to the mercy of the interrogation droids. As they drew closer, raising their instruments, there was once thought running through her head:

I will not turn to the Dark Side. I will not turn. I will not turn. I will not turn...