Like Master, Like Padawan

Chapter Four: Heart Beat


Now it was mainly up to Luminara's unit to destroy the factory while Ahsoka and Barriss's unit pressed on, leaving Barriss behind with the medic troopers as Ahsoka led the remainder of her troops, having lost a third of her men to the bomb. She went to join her master to assist him and Obi-wan, but they were pushed back by wave upon wave of droids, losing another fourth of her unit as she yelled for them to fall back. The men dove from shelter to shelter, dodging shot after shot while still managing to fire back at the enemy. A clone got shot in the ankle then in the leg as he fell. Ahsoka immediately leapt to his aid, landing in front of him and deflecting shots with her twin lightsabers as another trooper helped his fallen brother to his feet.

Before too long, Ahsoka and the remainder of her unit had fallen back to where the medics medics had set up a small base that would enable them to take care of and heal her to the best if their abilities which was extremely limited due to their lack of medical equipment though they did have a small amount of medical supples like bacta tanks. Ahsoka stood in front, deflecting shots while the rest of the troopers formed a protective barrier on either side of Ahsoka. Suddenly, some of the droids turned around as the sound of additional fire and lightsabers cutting through metal reached Ahsoka's squad. They all looked up to see Anakin and Obi-wan breaking through the throng of droids with Rex, Cody, and the other troopers behind them.

"Thank the Force..." Ahsoka mumbled as she relaxed and lowered her lightsabers. The last droid fell, and Ahsoka and her unit could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Ahsoka sheathed and clipped her lightsabers to her belt as she went over to where Barriss lay on a stretcher supported on two rocks. Anakin and Obi-wan followed after her as they looked down at Barriss and saw the padawan's wounds themselves.

Rex saw the Jedi gather around a stretcher, and curiously as to who it was got the best of him as he approached. He saw the dark clothing and the limp olive colored hand on the edge of the stretcher, and he instantly knew who it was. Rex turned and took off his helmet as he shouted for Cody. Cody ran up to him with his helmet tucked under his arm as he stopped beside Rex and asked, "What is it, Rex?"

Before Rex could answer, three gunships landed to take the wounded, and the first stretcher picked up was the one Barriss lay on. Cody and Rex both looked at the gunships to see Barriss being loaded onto one, her hand limply falling off the stretcher as a trooper lifted it and placed it back on the stretcher. Both Cody and Rex had been too preoccupied fighting to hear the knows of what happened to Barriss and the rest of her squad. Cody froze when he saw Barriss, burned and bleeding as he looked at Rex and hissed quietly, "What the hell happened?"

Rex only shook his head and replied, "I don't know. Let's ask Ahsoka and Flint." Cody nodded as he and Rex went over to where Ahsoka was with her master and Flint on either side of her. Her eyes were clouded and glazed, and her facial expression betrayed grief and guilt. Rex was conused. Why would she feel guilty? He and Cody saw Anakin place a hand on Ahsoka's shoulder, and as they approached they heard the Jedi knight comment to the young Togruta, "It's not your fault, Ahsoka."

"Yeah, don't beat yourself up," Flint added as he came around so he was standing in front of Ahsoka. "Commander Offee obviously knew you two were too close and there wasn't enough time for either of you to run or jump to safety. She decided to save you instead of both of you possibly dying." Ahsoka still felt guilt gnawing at her as she looked down at her feet and dint reply. Rex and Cody walked up to them, and Ahsoka looked up at the two troopers as Rex looked her over and asked, "You okay, kid?"

Ahsoka sighed and shrugged her shoulders as she replied, "I guess, but is the one you should be worried about..." Ahsoka's eyes glanced over at Cody to see his reaction as she continued, "They're not sure if she'll make it." She saw Cody, whose body was already rigid, stiffen as his back straightened, his shoulders set back, and both his jaw and fists clenched. Rex looked at her in surprise as he looked at Flint and questioned him, not wanting to upset Ahsoka even more by asking her, "What happened?"

Flint sighed as he recalled the details of what happened as he replied, "There were thermal detonators, and we didn't see them until it was too late. Even the commanders were too close to escape safely. Commander Offee-" Ahsoka looked up and cut him off, feeling strong enough to talk about it as she interceded, "Barriss Force pushed back far enough to keep me safe..." She took a ragged breath. "Even though she wasn't safe herself...before any of us could do anything, the bomb went off..."

Cody swore his heart dropped into his stomach, the acid eating at it as his and Ahsoka's eyes met, and she knew what he wanted. He wanted to see her. Ahsoka nodded as she turned to Flint and instructed, "Flint, get another gunship and take Cody and I to the cruiser."

"You got it!"


Ahsoka dismissed the medics and the doctors from the room, saying she'd notify them if something happened. Cody walked into the room, and his heart shattered into a million pieces when he saw Barriss lying unconscious on the hospital bed. He looked warily at Ahsoka, and she smiled reassuringly as she assured, "Don't worry, Cody. I already know how you feel. And if you didn't know, she feels the same." Cody smiled softly as he dipped his head and went over to the chair next to Barriss's bed. He sat down and took her hand as he raised up to his lips and closed his eyes. He let out a sigh as Ahsoka went out into the hallway and stood outside the door to make sure no one disturbed Cody.


Tears welled up in Cody's brown eyes as he kissed the back of Barriss's hand and mumbled, "You better not die out on me, Commander..." He closed his eyes again, and could see her face flash behin his closed lids, a smile carved into her face and her blue eyes lit up with excitement and happiness. He lowered her hand, his thumb gently stroking the back of her hand as his eyes studied the smoothness and the shape of her hand.

Suddenly Barriss stirred as her head turned to side, and she murmured something inaudible. Cody's head shot up to see Barriss looking at him through half open eyes as Cody smiled and whispered, "You're awake." Barriss hummed in response, her throat was burning from flame and smoke inhalation, but her mind caught up with reality as she pulled her hand out of his. Right then, her heart beat sky rocketed, and her eyes rolled back into her head as her head lolled to the side. The alarms on the machines hooked up to her blared as Cody jumped to his feet and grasped her hand again. He called out her name as Ahsoka ran in with doctors behind her and exclaimed, "What happened?!"

Cody only shook his head and replied, "I don't know, Ahsoka. She was awake one moment then the next moment...this!"

Ahsoka placed a reassuring hand on Cody's shoulder when a doctor suddenly yelled out, "Her heart's failing! It's gonna give out if it keeps at this rate!"


AUTHOR'S NOTE: MWUAHAHAHAHAHA! Man! I'm just like my sister! Gotta leave the cliff hangers! It's what keeps y'all reading! Oh, and don't be surprise if I use both Southern and Northern terms like y'all and you guys. I'm both southern and northern so I use both! Sorry if you guys get confuse! Sorry that this chapter was so short but i havent updated in a while, and I thought you'd like a new chapter! Well, until next time on Like Master, Like Padawan. As always, my inspiration is my lil sister AhsokaTano141516! Love ya! Read her stories too! They are da bomb! Lol! Reviews wanted and VERY welcome!