As soon as she'd left Coruscant, Barriss had discarded her rags for a new ensemble: matching dark brown robes that made her think of her old Master and a black cape, dark as the night and as deep as her sorrows.
Back in the prison, she'd been stripped of all her possessions, including her Jedi robes, and had been forced to wear the same tunic for all her years of imprisonment. She was glad to don something else for a change and took pride in the fact that she'd sewed up the robes all by herself.
Ventress's saber was hung on her belt next to her blaster pistol, hidden by her cape, its pressure on her thigh a reassurance that she was not alone. The crystal is the heart of the blade. The heart is the crystal of the Jedi. The Jedi is the crystal of the Force. The Force is the blade of the heart. All are intertwined. The crystal, the blade, the Jedi. You are one. Her Master had recited that code when she'd made her lightsaber and only now did Barriss truly grasp the meaning behind her words. Her lightsaber was not only an extension of her limbs, but a part of her. In acquiring the weapon once again she had won back a piece of her that was long gone. Unbeknownst to her, it had also awakened her dormant desire for vengeance.
She rode into a desert that extended as far as the eye could see on a stolen speeder, her untied hair flying free in the Tatooine wind. The caress of the breeze was so tender and welcoming to her touch-starved skin that she let herself explore the area all the afternoon. There wasn't much to see out there except for junk piles riddled with broken pieces of outdated droids and abandoned moisture farming facilities, but Barriss didn't mind: she was free and nothing in the world would get her down now.
For the first time in years she felt the suns' rays on her skin. Tiny drops of sweat dripped from her brow down to her cheeks as the twin suns grew closer to their zenith, the increasing humidity clogging up her pores. I feel so...alive. Nothing else mattered to her now except for the blowing wind that swept the sand under her as she roamed the roads of Mos Espa and the grumble of the speeder's engine.
Her connection to the Force was stronger than ever, her senses heightened to an astounding level; she could feel the pulse of the snakes, the heartbeat of the womp rats hiding in their burrows and the living Force of the tiniest insects buzzing about. The intensity of it almost overwhelmed her, blurring her other senses to the point where she had difficulty seeing where she was going. Still, she told herself to keep going - and she did just that, up until she realized she was going around in circles. She was certain she'd been in the exact spot before - and not just once. It must have been the fourth time she passed by that canyon on her left and yet... she could tell something was different. She swore she hadn't seen that golden piece of junk lying down at the bottom of the sand dunes.
Intrigued, she got off her speeder and ran in its direction. The sun reflecting on its golden encasing blinded her for a second and she tripped on the piece of junk's... leg? As she reopened her eyes, it spoke to her in an overenthusiastic voice:
''My name is C-3PO, human-cyborg relations.''
''You're...alive,'' she exclaimed as the droid tried to straighten himself up, but failed. ''I thought you were a piece of junk,'' she added under her breath.
''I heard that,'' he said nonchalantly, sand pouring out of his mouth as he spoke.
''So...How come a droid like you got stuck in a sand pile like that?'' she asked, helping him up to a sitting position.
''It's a long story. R2 and I were strolling about the marketplace when-''
R2... That name sounds familiar. I wonder if it could be...
''Wait a second. When you say R2, do you mean R2-D2, as in Master Skywalker's astromech droid?''
''I do not know of this Master Skywalker you are speaking of, but I am definitely talking about this obtrusive scrap pile of a droid. He has got a tendency to get himself into trouble, that little brat. This time he was stolen by some merchants.''
Suddenly an idea came to her. If she were able to retrieve the astromech droid, she could extract some valuable information from its database assuming it had not been erased like Threepio's.
''I'm going to help you get your friend back, Threepio. You can count on me.''
Ahsoka had introduced her to the R2 unit once, when they had been goofing around in her Master's ship after a particularly exhausting mission. She looked back on those memories very fondly and wished she could have gone back to those times, where the only thing that mattered to her were Ahsoka's happiness and her imminent knighthood.
''There's something I want to show you,'' Ahsoka whispered in Barriss' ear, making her blush at the contact of her lips on her bare skin. She took her by the hand and covered her eyes with Barriss' other one, guiding her towards her Master's ship. She only removed her hand when they were inside the ship and told her to keep her eyes closed. Naturally, she obliged and let herself be immersed by Ahsoka's living Force, synchronizing hers to match her friend's. Barriss bit her lower lip in anticipation, her heartbeat increasing as Ahsoka put her hands to her hips, indicating her to sit on the controlling chair.
''Now,'' Ahsoka said and Barriss opened her eyes, revealing the interior of the ship completely redecorated; everything had been arranged according to the Mirialan culture. The viewports had been draped with black veils upon which diamond patterns were sewn and soft black and brown cushions had been scattered across the ship, whose floor had been draped with the finest Wrodian carpets. At the center of it was a table, upon which were two tea cups and a kettle resting on an elaborately patterned Saava silk doily. That must have cost her an arm and a leg, Barriss thought, slightly embarrassed at the prospect but pleased nonetheless. A blue astromech droid was pouring hot tea in one of the cups, eyeing Barriss with his photoreceptor. When he was done, he came towards Barriss and handed her the cup.
''Thank you,'' she told the droid, who beeped happily as he went on his way towards the ship's entrance door.
''His name is R2-D2 and he belongs to my Master,'' Ahsoka added with a hint of pride in her voice.
They had spent the entire day together on a intergalactic mission alongside their respective Masters and Senator Amidala, whose life had been once again critically endangered by Separatists organizations intent on discrediting her. Ahsoka had saved Barriss' life more than once that day and their mutual fondness for each other had been forever altered by the deep connection that had been forged because of those events, their friendship morphing into something more - Barriss couldn't quite put a word on it, but she knew that Ahsoka and she were more than friends. As much as Barriss felt that she was infringing upon the Jedi code, she didn't want to acknowledge that her relationship with her was akin to the greatest form of attachment, because it would mean losing her. And Barriss couldn't lose Ahsoka. Later that night, Barriss could feel Ahsoka's warm breath on her skin and her rough hands on her shoulders, tracing circles on them to soothe her.
''I want you to promise me something, Barriss,'' she said.
''Anything,'' she heard herself reply automatically.
''You and me - we'll always be together, no matter what.''
''I promise,'' she'd said, looking Ahsoka in the eye as she squeezed her hands between hers.
''But right now, you're coming with me.''
''Where are we going, miss-''
''Offee. Barriss Offee.'' It had been such a long time since she had pronounced her own name that it felt foreign on her tongue. Like it didn't belong there.
XxXx
Leia Organa had been dueling with her Master all afternoon, focusing on the forms she found hardest to master. Despite being exhausted beyond belief, she had begged Ahsoka to continue sparing with her until her father returned to Aldeeran and summoned her in the throne room to discuss the fate of Onderon. Bail Organa valued her input as much as his counsellors' and never made a decision without consulting her first.
''We don't have to go on if you're too tired, Leia,'' Ahsoka pointed out for the upteenth time.
''I... have... to... do... this,'' she panted, baring her teeth as she parried Ahsoka's attack just in time before the Togruta sliced her in two. I am a Jedi and I won't let such a trivial thing as fatigue let me down.
She had specifically asked her Master to include her twin sabers to their practice session, and was quickly regretting her choice. She had to assume a more defensive stance if she wanted to win, since Ahsoka's strength lied in her ability to redirect her opponent's attacks efficiently, but defense was not her forte. Think, Leia. You need to find a way to get rid of one of those sabers. That's the only way you'll get out of this fight alive.
All of a sudden, she took several steps back, effectively confusing her Master, who she was sure had been expecting her to continue blocking off her attacks. She then leaped past her, not waiting for her to turn around as she charged, putting all her strength in that one blow. Come on, I know you can do it, she heard her father's voice whisper in the back of her head. Ahsoka was able to redirect her attack, but Leia noted that she was still surprised by her move and as such, her reflexes weren't as sharp and her own movements lacked their usual gracefulness.
Leia's next blow was even more deadly than the previous one and this time she only missed her target by less than an inch. We're getting there, she told herself. Sooner or later Ahsoka would tire out and her attacks would get more and more predictable with time.
But before the Togruta had the time to retaliate, the practice room's doors burst open and a tall man flanked by a female Twi'lek made his entrance, limping as he came towards Ahsoka. Both appeared to have returned from battle, sporting the same desolate expression on their sunken faces. Leia was familiar enough with wars that she instantly guessed that both had played an important part in one and had suffered great losses during their time spent on the battlefield.
The Twi'lek spoke first, eyeing her companion as she motioned for Ahsoka to come forward.
''We're here to deliver bad news on General Kenobi's behalf. We were hoping to meet with Bail, but we have been informed that he will not arrive until late tonight.''
''That's why we came to you,'' the man finished, wincing as the Twi'lek let go of his weight to greet Ahsoka properly.
''We know you and General Kenobi...ah... go way back,'' he hesitated.
''You could say that,''Ahsoka replied with a smile.
''Why don't we go discuss this matter in another room while my Padawan gets the rest she deserves?''
How dare these strangers not include me in their little meet up? Am I not old enough? Have I not proved my worth as a skilled politician? Father would have let me come if he were here, I'm sure of it. Leia was about to protest, when the Twi'lek piped up:
''Actually, we'd rather she came with us. What we're about to tell you is directly linked to Leia's well-being and safety.''
Ahsoka nodded gravely and turned towards her Padawan.
''Before we go on, though, I'd like my friends to introduce themselves.''
''I'm Kanan,'' the man pointed to his chest, ''and this is Hera, the best pilot you'll ever meet in the entire galaxy,'' he announced proudly while Hera's cheeks were turning pink at the compliment. ''We don't have much time, Ahsoka. That's why Kenobi sent us.''
''Alright then,'' she said. ''Follow me.''
