A/N: Okay, so I'd really like to make a mention here. I see a LOT of viewers, but this story only has 6 reviews. I thank AlienvsPredator5 and Onny-Nonny for their reviews, but I'd like for everyone who reads this to review at least one chapter. It encourages me to write, I've been losing my inspiration lately, try giving me some, aight?

Episode 4: A Much Needed Trip Home

Ahsoka was in hysterics. The last week had her turned into an evil slave, attacked by her own master, and to top it all off, her closest friend just confessed to her. A Jedi, telling another Jedi he loves her! She couldn't decide between killing Jason for embarrassing her like that, or listen to that small part of her mind that said to be happy about it. It's a compliment, Ahsoka! No, no! We're both Jedi, we can't have attachments! But if Jedi didn't love, he wouldn't be here... And I wouldn't be going crazy right now! You don't mean that, Ahsoka. Just admit it, he is cute. And she couldn't deny it, she did like the way he looked. It wasn't just that, either. She loved his sarcastic comments, the way he pretended not to care while he carefully analysed everything, the way he wasn't afraid to speak his mind. She couldn't deny she liked him, but she liked him as a brother. He was exactly that to her, a surrogate sibling, someone she could always trust. A trust he just betrayed.

So, she did what she always did to blow off steam: Went to rant to Rex.

Ahsoka's 'headache' just happened to be in the barracks she was stomping her way across the ship to. Honestly, ambushing her is only half the reason he was there. The other half was that he wanted to visit the clone troopers he'd conversed with on the shuttle that brought them to the ship. Currently, he was exchanging embarrassing stories with them about their friends. "So, let me get this straight Commander Hedan'e: You used a Jedi Mind Trick to make your friend walk through the entire Jedi Temple in nothing but his skimpies?" Happy asked between laughs. Jason merely smiled and nodded. "One of my better pranks, no?"

Happy's 'Twin', Grunt, barely stopped his laughter long enough to comment. "Remind me not to get on your bad side, Commander." The rest of Hellion Squad nodded affirmations to that, making the young Jedi grin like the Cheshire Cat. He loved talking to the Clones. They said that they were all the same, but in truth, they weren't. He realized this now more than ever. For some reason, Mortis had heightened his affinity with the Force, and now he could see what Master Yoda was talking about: Each of the Clones had a unique feel to them within the Force. And now that he talked to them, he noticed that each had their own personality, their own habits and nuances. They weren't disposable items; they were people, a gigantic family born from the same father and raised in the same womb.

Then Ahsoka's presence caught his attention, and he bid the Clones a formal farewell before jumping up into the upper raftings. The Barracks aboard the Resolute was unique. It held an overhead rafter system that allowed each Clone to personalize their area of living, a request that General Skywalker had put in personally. Few clones used them, but some took full advantage: Like Rex, for instance. His rafters had several devices that could fold down; a hologram projector for entertainment and communication, a gravity bag for working out, and other assorted items.

Jason was hiding up behind the Gravity Bag when Ahsoka walked into Rex's quarters, startling the Clone Captain, who was in his 'night attire'. Aka his undies. "Co-Commander Tano! What brings you to my quarters?" The Togrutan girl glared at Rex for a second before sighing. "I don't know! I just need someone to talk to, and you know how my Master is about listening." Rex chuckled at the as he put on some more appropriate attire. "What's on your mind, Ahsoka?" Formalities dropped the moment the door shut, and Ahsoka welcomed it. She was tired of being called 'Commander Tano' by every clone she talked to.

"It's Jason. Have you heard about our latest adventure?" Rex nodded. "Still don't believe it though, Ahsoka." The Togrutan girl smiled at that. "I don't blame you. I barely believe it happened, myself. Anyways, did you know that Jason confessed to me right then and there as we woke up afterwards? The nerve!" Jason moved so he hung upside down from one of the rafter bars, appearing behind Ahsoka as she continued the rant. "I mean, we're both Jedi! We aren't supposed to develop attachments, and here he goes, admitting to having the biggest attachment possible! To me! And..." Ahsoka caught the look on Rex's face, sighing to herself. "He's standing right behind me, isn't he?"

"Hanging, actually." Jason laughed with the biggest grin on his face. When Ahsoka turned and aimed a heavy fisted punch at his face, he placed on hand on her fist, using the momentum to move his body backwards as he released the rafter bar from his knees, resulting in him doing a half flip and gracefully landing on the ground. Rex smiled. "Ten point landing, Commander Hedan'e." Jason turned and flashed that Cheshire grin at Rex as Ahsoka screamed loudly, facepalming at their antics.

"I swear you will be the death of me, Jason!" She moved in to hit him again, but he caught the strike and spun her around so he held her close to him, his breath lightly grazing her Lekku. The sensation was pleasant for Ahsoka to say the least, but her resolve wouldn't waver. "Let go of me!" Jason merely pulled her closer as she struggled, overpowering her with his unseen strength. "I can sense the conflict in you, Ahsoka. You still cannot decide what I am to you, can you?"

Jason let her go as her body stopped struggling, the accuracy of what he said striking her dumb. "How did you..." Jason just smiled at her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I've known you since we were knee high to Master Windu. You can't hide things from me, 'Soka. I'll give you the time you need to decide. But here's a little incentive." He leaned in quickly and gave her a quick peck on the cheek, then turned and ran out of the room, gaining as much of a head start before... "Jason! Get back here so I can rip you to shreds!" Yep, he definitely hit a button there.

"Are you sure of this, Masters?" Anakin asked the hologram of the Jedi Council. The mission they'd just been assigned was odd, considering the current galactic situation. "Sure, we are, young Skywalker. Stirred rebellion, someone has, upon Shili. Behind it, we believe the Sith are." Anakin grimaced a bit before looking at Obi-Wan, an unspoken conversation passing between them. "Who to take, is your choice, Master Skywalker." Just then, Jason ran into the command room, jumping high with the Force and sitting upon the upper ledges of the room, looking down with a smile as Ahsoka ran in behind him, fuming. The Council all rose from their holographic chairs as the excitement happened. "What is happening, Master Kenobi?" Mace Windu asked, unable to see the full of the commotion.

"Just the usual, Master Windu. Our Padawans are having another argument." Master Plo-Koon sighed. "Argument? It sounds like Little 'Soka is trying to kill your Padawan, Master Kenobi." Just then, Jason appeared in the view of the Hologram for a short period of time, before leaping to the side to avoid Ahsoka's kick. The two Padawans vanished from sight once more, and Anakin sighed. "We must cut this communication short, Masters. I need to stop Ahsoka before she kills Jason." Obi-Wan nodded in agreement. "And I must talk with my student."

The Jedi all exchanged farewells before the hologram shut down, and instantly, Anakin reached a hand out to catch Ahsoka's arm, stopping her lunge at Jason short. "What's the problem this time, Snips?" Ahsoka growled wordless promises to Jason before turning to her Master. "The problem, Skyguy, is that this little Osik kissed me out of the blue." A smirk appeared on Anakin's face as he turned to Jason and raised an eyebrow. "That true, Padawan Hedan'e?" Jason smiled back at Anakin. "Yes, Master Skywalker."

"Jason, you mustn't do things like that." Obi-Wan stated, placing his hands on Jason's shoulders. "While I believe Love is a truly good thing, it is something we Jedi cannot act upon." Jason actually scoffed at that comment, making his master frown. Turning on the spot, the young Padawan looked his master in the eyes before speaking. "You don't believe that anymore than my Father did, Master." Anakin, sensing the rising emotions in all of the Jedi, decided to interrupt this exchange. "It's a good thing you two came in here, anyways. I want both of you ready for a mission."

"You're taking Jason as well, Anakin?" Obi-Wan inquired from his old Padawan. "Yes, Master. Jason's diplomatic abilities may prove useful."

"What's the mission, Skyguy?" Ahsoka asked, bringing a smile to the Jedi's face. "We're going to Shili, Snips." Her instant perk up made him laugh. But now he had to break the news. "There's talk of rebellion there, and there is a possibility of Sith influence in it." Ahsoka frowned. Dark Siders on her home planet... that troubled her. But, on the other hand, there would be a chance they'd run into her family. The one she didn't even know. "What are we waiting for? We've got rebel butt to kick!" Ahsoka jumped away from her Master's grip and dashed off to her quarters to prepare for the mission. "I'll go get ready, myself. Is this a formal visit, Master Skywalker?" Anakin shook his head at the question. "No, it's an informal visit. But don't go hiding your saber or anything." Jason nodded, and then walked off behind Ahsoka.

Of course, he wasn't heading to his quarters first. She tried to hide it, but he knew that Ahsoka was bothered by this mission. His face displayed a mix of concern and mischief, as he walked down to Ahsoka's quarters near the Med Bay. He cleared his throat at the end of the hall, and then walked to her doorhatch, knocking twice in a militant fashion. Then, altering his voice, he spoke, sounding just like Rex. "Commander, can I speak with you?" A bit of shuffling was heard before Ahsoka responded. "Be right there, Rex." Jason jumped up and clung to the ceiling grooves as Ahsoka's door opened, and she peered out to see an empty hallway. "Rex? What's going on?" She stepped a little ways into the hallway cautiously, and Jason took that opportunity to flip himself into her room, landing on the left side of the doorframe.

"Probably one of the clones. Stupid trooper rituals..." She sighed before moving back into the chaos of her room, recently a victim of her emotional flare. Her bedding was strewn across the floor, the Akul tooth headdress that her mother had given her resting lightly upon a pillow amongst them. Her meditation herbs were strewn across the back of her now overturned dresser. Jason walked up to the headdress, picked it up, and placed it upon Ahsoka's head from behind her, causing her to jump. "It's just me, 'Soka!" He said as she rounded on him, stopping her strike mid motion. "What do you want, Jason?"

"I'm here because I wanted to apologize. What I did was... uncalled for. I'm sorry; however, I want you to know I mean what I said. I'll wait until you're ready to decide what you want. Just promise me you will at least give it a chance." Ahsoka looked to be in deep thought for a moment before nodding, bringing a smile to Jason's face. "Until you decide, and even after, if you decide to reject me, we'll be friends, nothing more. I'm here for you, you know that."

"Jason... I'm nervous. What if we meet my family? What if there really is Sith on Shili?" Jason pulled her head onto his shoulder, causing her to freeze up. "Just relax, 'Soka. The only thing you can do is take things on step at a time."

Ahsoka's heart was calmed then, for Jason had agreed with what she was thinking. That worried her. Is Jason that important to me? I promised him I'd give it a chance, for Force's sakes! I know I shouldn't, but I know he only wants what is best for me. He's been my friend for so long, I'd almost forgotten that. "Whatever happens, Jason, promise me one thing."

"What do you need, 'Soka?" Ahsoka turned to him and placed her headdress into his hands. "Make sure my mom gets this."

The shuttle descended through the clouds and at once Ahsoka stared out the window of the ship to see the turu grass. "I'm home..." She whispered to herself as Anakin finished off a communication with Obi-Wan. "We'll be in the system until further orders arrive, Anakin. If you need anything, just let me know." Anakin smiled as he piloted the shuttle gracefully into the shuttleport near Corvala, the capital of Shili. "I'll let you know if anything interesting happens, Master." And with that, he cut the comm. He then turned to the two padawans, smiling still. "Well, let's got check in with the person who contacted the Order. He said he'd be waiting at the 'Raging Akul'."

The group left the ship and presented their identification cards to the port authorities, before walking out into the hot, open streets of Corvala. Togrutan architecture was known throughout the Galaxy, both for its rarity, and for its beauty. The way the balconies above each door seemed to just... flow out of the wall, and how each window was flush to the wall it was set in, it took Jason's breathe away. "You're people make as beautiful of houses as they do children, Ahsoka." Such a corny line, but he was serious. Ahsoka knew he was, and that made her blush. "J-Jason! Stop saying things like that!"

Soon they reached the bar they were looking for, a rather ornate looking building, whose doorway was surrounded by a masonry Akul's jaw, wide open as if to eat you. On the sign which hung off the jaw, it said 'Only the Bravest Drink Here!' and it was blocked by a large Togrutan male with scars across his face. He took one look at Ahsoka and waved them in, leaving the two guys stunned for a bit. Anakin, once he'd recovered, took control of the operations. "The two of you, go find some seats, make sure you can observe both the entrance and me between the two of you. Make it look like you're a young couple." Seeing Ahsoka's defiant look, he stopped her argument before it started. "It's the best cover considering the situation, Snips. We don't want to attract attention." Ahsoka sighed and looked at Jason for help. He took her hand in his, causing both of them to blush, and began dragging her through the crowds to the upper level of the bar. They took a seat near the edge of the balcony, and Ahsoka gave Anakin the 'all-clear' signal.

Jason slides his chair beside Ahsoka's and leans into her, giving her pause. "Jason!" She whispered into his ear, but he merely continued to nuzzle her. "It's just cover, Ahsoka. I won't try anything, promise." The sensual way he said it said otherwise, but Ahsoka trusted Jason to keep his head. She leaned back into him, cuddling into his side like a young girl would her lover. When the waitress walked up to them, a young Twi'lek about the same age as them, they both smiled up at her and ordered a non-alcoholic drink.

Meanwhile, Anakin was up at the bar, ordering a much stronger drink than the padawans. The bartender looked him once over. "You looking for someone?" Anakin stared at him with a confused look on his face. "Why are you asking?" The bartender smiled at the jedi. "I can always sense a contact, Jedi. Comes with the job. The man you're looking for is over there." The togrutan bartender pointed over to a human in the corner sitting with a taller, Togrutan female.

"You looking for help?" The jedi knight asked as he walked up to the duo. The togrutan looked up to him. "Depends who is asking. Are you from the Order?" when Anakin nodded, she signalled for him to sit beside her companion, who placed a pistol to his side. "I see you don't trust me at all." Anakin smiled at the two before reaching his hand under the table slowly and using the Force to pull the gun out of the man's hand and passing it to the woman's lap. "Proof enough for you?"

"You are either a Jedi, or a Sith, and you don't look like a Sith. My name is Rehku, my husband asked for your presence here." She placed a hologram projector on the table, showing a map of the planet. "Our land is far from the capital, and for the most part, isolated as well. It's similar to a colony, far within the wilds of Shili. The people we talked about are there, as well, living within the wilds itself. They are Naturalists; Togrutans who believe we should deny technology and return to nature. They rally behind the..." She made an odd sound combined with subtle movements of her lekku. "Sorry, that is there honorific in Togruti. In Basic, it would be close to... 'Siblings who Bear Nature's Mark'."

"We will be going there..." A commotion from the balcony brought their conversation to a halt as Anakin sighed. "So much for not making a scene, Snips."

Ahsoka was losing herself in this. The feeling of Jason's side, his body heat seeping into her through their clothes, his deep, slow breathes. She promised him she'd give it a chance, and she was sure giving it a chance. "Jason... can I sit on your lap?" She whispered to him, both meekly and with a hint of desire. It brought a smile to Jason's face. "Of course, 'Soka." They shuffled a bit as Ahsoka moved to sit on his lap, bringing a content sigh out of her as she felt the full force of his heat, his breathing. It was intoxicating, the physical contact. She couldn't imagine this without the clothes separating... No, don't think about that!

"Well, what do we have here?" A couple of Togrutan males a bit older than the two Padawans walked up to their table with confidence written all over their faces. Judging by their facial markings and jewelry, Ahsoka could tell these boys were likely the sons of Chieftains and minor nobles here in Corvala. Ugh... arrogance of status. "Hello, beautiful, why not ditch this... offworlder... and join us?"

"Racist much, boys?" Jason asked with a wry smile on his face. He nudged Ahsoka, signalling her to move to another seat, and stood up to greet the Togrutan males. He was about an inch taller than the tallest of the boys, although they had an advantage in build. "My girlfriend doesn't like that very much." Ahsoka blushed at being called his 'girlfriend', but nodded in agreement. "I also happen to hate arrogance, so run along and bother some girl who actually likes you."

"But we'd rather play with you. I take sport in breaking up couples like you." The tallest boy lunged at Ahsoka, causing her to dive under him and kick him in the gut. The other two pulled out blasters and pointed them at the pair. "My friends aren't afraid to use those, either. Come along quietly, lovely, and your boyfriend may keep his life." He walked up to Ahsoka and grabbed her wrist.

Jason quickly grabbed that arm and twisted it back, causing the Togrutan male pain. "Shoot him! Argh!" Two blaster shots flew at Jason, but he only smiled as he looked into the eyes of the Togrutan male he held as the first two shots missed and the shooters adjusted their aim. "Pay attention and know who you deal with." Using the Force, he called his saber pike into his spare hand, and ignited the Ray Shielding around the staff and the blade instantly, twisting around and sending two blaster rounds back to hit the blasters out of the Togrutans hands. "A Jedi!" The two that had blasters yelled, running away.

"Now, get out of my sight before I decide to punish you for touching her." Jason motioned towards Ahsoka, making it clear to the Togrutan male what he meant. The boy ran so fast, Jason was sure the headdress on him was a gift, not earned. Then a couple of other blasters started up, and Jason turned just in time to deflect them from the two padawan. "We were told to wait for some Jedi, but I would have thought they'd be... older." A dozen or so mercenaries stood up from tables with blasters aimed at Jason and Ahsoka, and Ahsoka took that as a signal to ignite her sabers as well. "Any ideas, genius?" Ahsoka chided to Jason, but he only kept smiling. "Yeah, run!" Jason Force Jumped backwards off of the balcony, landing gracefully below. Ahsoka followed suit, and when she stood up, she stared right into her master's chest. "Oh... I'm in trouble." Anakin smiled. "Yes you are, Snips. But first, we gotta get out of here."

"Our contact is meeting us at the west gates with a speeder to take us where we need to be, let's get moving." A blaster shot barely missed Anakin's face, and they took that as a cue to leave. They speed through the streets with blaster fire raining behind them for a while before the local police showed up and chased the mercenaries away. It wasn't long after that that they arrived at the western gates. The speeder was already running, a taxi style one with an isolated passenger cab, with the human accomplice sitting in the driver's seat. When Anakin jumped in, the Togrutan female began to speak. "Hurry Master Jedi, we must..." She stopped talking when she caught sight of Ahsoka, and began to cry. "My Little 'Soka..." Ahsoka turned at the mention of that name. "...mom?"

Anakin and Jason both smiled as the Togrutans embraced in a hug only fitting for reunited family.

"To think my daughter would be your padawan, Master Skywalker. The Force truly does work in mysterious ways." Ahsoka sat with her head resting upon Rehku's lap. Rehku was now wearing the Akul Tooth Headdress that Ahsoka had worn before, a heart renching exchange happening when Ahsoka gave it back. "Thank you for taking care of my daughter."

Jason scoffed a bit, bringing all the attention to him. "'Soka can take care of herself. No offense to you, Master Skywalker." Anakin and Rehku both smiled as Ahsoka blushed from Jason's comments. "She definitely can, Jason. Snips is the best student I could hope for." Ahsoka's blush deepened at that comment. "Thanks, Skyguy..."

Suddenly, the speeder rolled over several times, tossing the passengers around like ragdolls. As soon as the rolling stopped, Rehku looked at her map. "We're less than a day's walk from the colony. Which means were in Naturalist territory, it must be their doing." Then a loud, warbling howl was heard, and both the Togrutan froze. They looked to the humans and everyone knew what to do. They climbed out of the speeder cabin, onto the bottom (which was now the top) and had a look across the savanna of orange and white grass. The oddities were obvious; a makeshift fence of dense wood surrounded the area they were in for a good five hundred metres in a semi-circle that was border on the flat side by a steep cliffside. At the edge of the fence, a single Togrutan male could be seen, a bit younger than Jason and Ahsoka. But even from that distance, it was obvious who he was to Rehku. "It's one of the Siblings."

The boy let out a undulating cry, then vanished from sight like a ghost into the darkness, blending in perfectly with the turu grass. "Well, that was... interesting." Anakin remarked with a bit of a smile on his face. The two Togrutan females with him shushed him simultaneously. "The Akul is still in this... pen with us." Rehku clarified. The whole group stood stock still, using either the Force or echolocation to feel for the beast.

The beast's soft fur nulled the sound waves, though, and so Rehku was unaware that the beast was preparing to strike. The three jedi were not much better off, as the child who was just here seemed to have... polluted the Force there. Sifting through the Force felt like wading through concrete. So the roar was all the warning they got, and Jason was the only one to react. He leapt in front of Ahsoka and Rekhu with his still compact weapon hilt in hand, blocking the claw aimed at Rehku.

Unfortunately for him, the beast was a lot stronger than he'd believed, and he was sent flying right into Ahsoka, launching them both several feet away from the speeder. The both landed at the very edge of the cliff, out of sight from the two on the speeder. "Jason, Snips!" Anakin yelled as he activated his lightsaber, taking a ready stance. Unfortunately for him, though, the stealth of a predator in its own turf cannot be beaten by a human on an alien world. Without warning, the Akul lunged back over the speeder, swiping across Anakin's leg.

"Argh!" Anakin's yelled awoke the young man as he steadied his body near the cliff. "'Soka... 'Soka get up." Shaking the shoulder of his padawan friend, Jason stirred the young Togrutan, and the both unsteadily got to their feet.

Anakin watched as the Akul pounced from in front this time, finally getting a chance to counter. Calling on the Force, he slammed the beast out away from the speeder...

...Through the turu grass...

...And right into Jason and Ahsoka before the three beings plummeted off the cliff.

A/N: Yes, I did it. Here's a literal cliffhanger for you guys. Review or I won't update.