Path of the Fallen
Characters: Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi High Council Members, Jedi Knights, Jedi Padawans, to be added
Pairings: Anakin Skywalker/Padmé Amidala, others unknown at this time
Disclaimer:
I do not own Star Wars, I do not own Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and I wish that I did but I don't. Please don't sue me Disney. Otherwise enjoy!
Summary:
This is a what if scenario based on the idea that Ahsoka was still in contact with Anakin and that she was helped by him to continue outside the Order… it will play out this scenario and show one possibility, other than death, for dear Ahsoka Tano. Rated M just in case may change. Thanks to Serpentbane007 my coauthor/beta.
Path of the Fallen
Chapter VI:
Back To It, Kinda
Coruscant Senate Building, Riyo's Office, 19 BBY plus two months and 26 days
Riyo can't help the smile on her face as she glances, for the third time, over at Ahsoka. The Pantoran quickly looks back at her work as Ahsoka's eyes drift around the room again. Riyo was overwhelmed to say the least, all this attention from both her crush and at least four Clone Troopers in full armour was quite a bit. It didn't help that Ahsoka wouldn't leave her side which was working to undermine Riyo's concentration on the documents she was writing up. Raising her eyes from the holoscreen once again Riyo catches Ahsoka as she glances around the room. The golden and pale blue irises meet and Riyo can't help but stay locked with them. Ahsoka looks away first and nervously begins rubbing her arm. Riyo couldn't resist herself and lets her eyes wander over Ahsoka.
The Togrutan's Montrals and Lekkus run down and between her shoulders, on her torso a high collared tight armoured formed top with a small skirt. Two belts form an x around Ahsoka's hips and leggings similar to those she wore in her Jedi outfit. On Ahsoka's hips hang a blaster pistol each and a necklace around her neck holds a crystal. The outfit is a light ice blue accented in a golden yellow, the colours of the Pantoran delegation. All in all Riyo believes that Ahsoka is stunning from the tips of her Montrals to her toes, and Riyo didn't want to look away, not that she had much choice. Ahsoka turned away with a suddenly concentrating look on her face. Riyo became concerned as Ahsoka put a hand on one of her blasters and stepped closer to the door. The door slides open to reveal the Kaminoan Senator who strides in with purpose as she takes a position standing directly before Riyo.
"Senator Burtoni, may I ask why I am pleasured by your visit?" Riyo asks, forcing a smile on her face and bowing her head respectfully.
"Let us not play at politeness Senator Chuchi, you know exactly why I am here. You're most recent works have slandered the Kaminoan practices of Cloning and are turning Public opinion against us, there is even talk in the Senate of choosing to expand Cloning contracts to other facilities should more units be needed. I demand you to recuse yourself of these writings and rescind everything you have said about Kaminoan Cloning practices," Burtoni hisses. To her credit Riyo stands her ground, it helps knowing Ahsoka's there for her too.
"And why should I Senator? I have met and worked with both Jedi and these, Units you call them, and on every occasion I've seen quite easily highlighted that something doesn't fit," Riyo starts.
"How dare you!"
"No. How dare you. I've seen these Clones in action and they are all much more than the Units you portray them to be, they are living breathing men and deserve the rights accorded to all sentient beings, no matter how they were created. So instead of coming around my office and trying to intimidate me before the vote on Cloning Contracts how about you get your own house in order to make certain that you have the strength to pass your bill," Riyo demands as she stands and stares down the still much taller than her Kaminoan. With a huff and indignation Senator Burtoni turns and leaves, she stops at the door though and looks back at Riyo.
"You were warned little one, so don't be surprised when the Akk suddenly bites back," Senator Burtoni hisses before she steps through the doorway and lets it close behind her. Ahsoka is halfway to the door to give that Kaminoan a piece of her mind when Riyo's voice stops her in her tracks.
"There's no point Ahsoka, she's not worth it and she couldn't harm a fly. She was the one duped into nearly taking the fall for the deaths of Senators Onaconda Farr and Deechi. There's honestly no reason to take her seriously. But, if you would mind getting me a drink or something I could use it, she rattled me…"
Ahsoka turns and looks at Riyo with concern, but when she steps forward Riyo waves her off. The elder woman smiling, however weakly, to keep Ahsoka placated. The Togruta turns around steps through the door heading towards the kitchens not too far away. Nearing the doors the Force pulses a warning at Ahsoka, a stabbing sensation that something isn't right, or won't be right for much longer. Ahsoka tries to ignore it, but when it comes again it reveals a vision to her.
She stands in a Senator's office, smoking ruins where the desk had been, and suddenly Riyo's scream of pain is the only thing Ahsoka hears, and then the vision makes sense. Ahsoka takes off running the glass of water shattering on the ground behind her as she channels the Force into her and runs far faster than any normal being could. She twists around the corner and jumps between a pair of aides as she slides through the doors into Riyo's office and scaring the Senator.
"Ahsoka what's going on?" Riyo shouts as she is suddenly lifted by the Force and pulled into Ahsoka's arms as she spins around shielding Riyo from the coming blast. The pair doesn't wait long before and explosion rips through the office and Ahsoka screams in pain as she and Riyo are thrown out the doorway.
Coruscant Senate Building, Main Rooms, 19 BBY plus two months and 26 days
Rex was standing speaking with the other Clones assigned to protect Senator Riyo, they'd been dismissed given that they'd need to prepare to take the Senator and her bodyguard home for the evening. They'd been waiting for the Senate Guards to bring around Riyo's speeder when they heard the explosion. Now Rex, Jesse, Kix, and Crys were all charging towards Riyo's office, the same office Rex had figured out to be the centre of the explosion.
"Rex, you don't think?" Jesse whispers, not wanting to say it aloud, too afraid that it could be real.
"No, the Commander's tougher than nails and she eats Battle Droids for breakfast, like Hell she'd get taken by this… but the Senator, she's good with words not action, that's who I am worried for," Rex explains as they turn the corner and see Senate Guards arrayed around the room. "Out of the way, Kix is a combat medic get him in there!"
The Senate Guards quickly step aside and Kix practically shoves their medic out of the way as he stops and stares at the sight before him. Kix has seen what war can do to the bodies of soldiers, Umbara was bad, somehow though, seeing explosive injuries and burns consistent with a Separatist Firebomb on his former commanding officer was worse, worse by far than anything he'd see on his brothers. Rex comes up behind Kix and stops cold, staring at Ahsoka on top of Riyo, if the pair wasn't unconscious they'd both be writhing in pain. Kix snaps himself out of it and begins to move quickly, trying to stop bleeding, cauterise the wounds, and apply as much bacta as possible.
Rules of triage kicked in and Kix knew exactly what needed to be done. Ahsoka was far more hurt than the Senator, no doubt suggesting she'd done her job and taken the brunt of the blast, but that meant she was in the most danger. The young Togruta's entire left side had burns up and down it, her left arm was hanging on by sinew and muscle tendons, the entire limb mangled by the explosion and resulting shrapnel, the rest wasn't much better; a large hole where Ahsoka's left shoulder should be plus the reopened tank round wound from her fight on Onderron. Add to that the burns, thankfully put out, covering her back and most of her back hanging Lekku, as well as cuts and deep lacerations from shrapnel running the length of her body and Ahsoka was in serious condition.
For Kix, step one was dealing with her arm, he needed to find a way to salvage as much of it as possible and to do that would mean a lot of bacta, a lot of bacta. Kix starts wrapping bandages soaked in the healing liquid all the way up Ahsoka's arms and around her shoulder, he's careful about how he does, he doesn't want to wake the girl up now. Just hold on vod'ika, I'm here for you, Kix thinks to himself as he finally finishes wrapping up her arm and shoulder.
"Rex, Jesse! I need more Bacta soaked bandages and I need them a minute ago!" Kix shouts as he starts pulling out tweezers and pliers from his medical kit. The Senate Guard medic steps back in and grabs the pliers helping to push apart pieces of Ahsoka's skin so Kix can reach the tweezers in and pluck out the shrapnel. Crys stands around, his weapon in hand, as he forces a wide berth around the working pair of medics. Rex and Jesse run up pushing their way to the centre they drop the bandages into Kix's hands and he deftly begins wrapping them tightly around Ahsoka's wounds. "How long until EMTs arrive?"
"You've got to keep them both breathing for two more minutes Kix, we trust you," Rex says, there's no flare in his voice, not even anger, just undying respect for his brother. Kix nods and turns to the other medic.
"Start taking care of the Senator, I've got to flip Commander Tano, Jesse help me flip the Commander will ya'" Kix says as he stands and places his hands carefully on Ahsoka's shoulders. Jesse grabs her legs and with the utmost care they can manage they turn her over, the sight isn't pretty. Ahsoka's shoulder wound isn't better on this side, in fact it might be worse, plus Ahsoka's left eye is gone and some shrapnel has cut across her skin even on her front. Without delay Kix takes to wrapping more bacta bandages around the wounds as Jesse pulls out a Combat IV bag. "Alright when I tell you to I'm going to jab the needle into her right arm, start draining the IV immediately, don't wait and when that one's gone grab another, we can mark her for treatment as soon as I've taken a look at Senator Chuchi."
Kix looks at the other medic who cedes his control to the more experienced soldier instantly. Kix is proud to say Ahsoka did a great job, Riyo will have some permanent scars on her face, and from the looks of it might need a replacement right hand if something can't be worked out to deal with the burns, but in all the Senator is practically fine. Leaving the Chuchi in the other medic's hands Kix begins to use Ahsoka's blood to write out what he's done for treatment on the teenager.
The EMTs show up and get Ahsoka and Riyo onto anti-grav stretchers, pulling the pair back towards their bus, Kix watches them go and can see Riyo snaking her hand out to grasp Ahsoka's slack right arm. Kix can't help and pulls off his helmet crying as he stares at his former Commander, the woman he knew seeming like a lifeless husk the entire time he'd been working. Rex and Jesse lean down to comfort their brother while Crys tries to break up the crowd and give them space, there'd be Jedi here soon, and everyone would have explaining to do.
-Two Hours Later-
Coruscant Senate Building, Crime Scene (Riyo's office), 19 BBY plus two months and 26 days
The three Jedi standing and staring at the remains of Senator Riyo Chuchi's office, the Pantoran representative still under the watch of doctors, were surprised to say the least.
"The attack was late in the day, suggesting that it was planned by someone who knew Riyo's schedule," Jedi Master Rahm Kota growls.
"It was also not a style normally used by politicians, which could indicate a third party, or someone who held a grudge against Senator Chuchi," Seasee Tiin interjects.
"I believe both of you are overlooking another fact, Ahsoka was involved," Plo Koon nearly hisses through his mask filters as he glares at his fellow masters.
"Master Plo, I mean no disrespect, but maybe you are too close to this-" Seasee starts and is abruptly cut off.
"You are right I may be too close to this, but that is what gives me a clear image of what happened here. I can feel Ahsoka's fear as she charged in here to protect young Senator Chuchi, I can see her using the Force to summon the Senator out of her chair and draw her into Ahsoka's embrace… after that my vision clouds, no doubt due to the explosion," Plo Koon says as he stares at the other two.
"So we're looking for someone with a grudge against either Senator Chuchi or against Miss Tano, those aren't exactly short lists," Master Kota groans. He rubs the back of his head, as he walks up to examine the blast site. "Send in the Clones, I want to hear their reports first hand."
"Private Kix, reporting General Kota," Kix states as he stands in the doorway, still staring at the blood pooled on the ground from Ahsoka's grievous wounds.
"Kix… Interesting name, what's your role Clone," Master Kota grunts as he stops and looks over at the 501st Medic.
"I was on special assignment from General Skywalker sir, he had myself and Jesse join Senator Chuchi's detail. We were simply extra security, there was no known threat at the time…" Kix answers.
"And where were you when the bomb went off?"
"I was with my Vode waiting for the Senate Guards to inform us that Senator Chuchi's speeder was ready for its third inspection so we could be on our way back to the Senator's apartment."
"Your reaction when the bomb went off?"
"Battlefield instincts and training kicked in sir. I followed my captain here and upon finding Commander Tano and Senator Chuchi both unconscious and injured I proceeded to fulfill my role as a combat medic… I… I stabilised Commander Tano and looked after Senator Chuchi. After that I don't really know… Though I do think it should be noted that when I examined the wounds they were consistent with that of a Separatist Firebomb sir."
"So you're an EOD Trooper now Private Kix?" Master Kote questions incredulously; Kix bristles in response.
"No. Sir. I'm a Combat Medic and Battlefield Surgeon, I've seen what Seppie Firebombs do to living flesh, and when I was treating Commander Ta-"
"You mean Miss Tano?" Master Kota growls. "She is no longer Jedi and no longer your Commander, so you must be referring to Miss Tano."
"As I was saying, while I was treating Commander Tano, I couldn't help but see her injuries mirroring those of many of my Vode who were struck by Seppie Firebombs."
"How can we trust your testament Clone if you can't even keep straight that Miss Tano isn't-"
"You Jedi may have abandoned our vod'ika, but she will always be our Commander," Kix growls right back at the Jedi Master, and for a second Plo Koon thinks he sees a glimmer of respect in Master Kota's eyes, but it fades quickly.
"Thank you Clone, please be on your way and send in the next soldier," Master Kota states. The rest of the interviews of the Clone soldiers don't really go any differently, each one vehemently defending Soka as their Commander and saying that they don't know what happened exactly. The Senate Guards who were there first don't report anything odd, all of them saying that there weren't any oddities which occurred before they heard the explosion, all in all the three Jedi Masters not only had no leads, but the only two witnesses they knew could tell them anything were both in the Intensive Care Unit at the nearest Coruscant hospital.
"I'll report what little we found to the Jedi Council, as well as take a look at what the Crime Analyst Droids have to say once they're finished. Maybe the two of you can think of something that might lead us somewhere?" Master Kota asks as he looks over at the two Senior Jedi Council Members.
"I'll go to check on our two victims, with any luck I'll be able to talk to Senator Chuchi seeing as she should be finished with her surgeries and resting already," Plo Koon says.
"I'll see if there's someone I can find who might be able to reconstruct what happened for us, if we're lucky Master Vos is around, his abilities as a Kiffar would be invaluable here," Saesee says. With that the three Jedi split up, each going their separate ways, and each with a set of questions to find answers to.
Coruscant Jedi Temple, High Council Chambers, 19 BBY plus two months and 26 days
Rahm Kota stands from his seat as he looks around at the assembled Jedi Masters. Mace Windu, Yoda, Ki-Adi Mundi, Eeth Koth, Agen Kolar, Shaak Ti, Kit Fisto, Oppo Rancisis, Coleman Kcaj, Depa Billiba, and Stass Allie. That accounts for all but the two missing Jedi Masters currently searching for answers, and leaves Rahm free to discuss his real agenda.
"I believe today is just another event in a string of occurrences that could lead to the downfall of the Jedi. Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker, Plo Koon, and Obi-Wan Kenobi are great examples of this. The three Jedi in question, and former Padawan learner are at the heart of what is going on, and I don't like it. The attack on Senator Chuchi, I don't feel was meant for the young Senator, instead I think it was meant for young Miss Tano. Someone has been pulling the strings of this war and something just isn't adding up. Now though I think that someone is trying to turn young Tano against us, to make one of our mistakes quite literally come back to haunt as they did with Barriss Offee. I would be remiss to not see the signs, and frankly I know those present agree with me on some level. Ahsoka was always brash and brave, but she learned from Skywalker to be stubborn and reckless, if we leave her alone we make her, and everyone close to her a target for Separatists eager to exploit her. We found minimal evidence at the scene and the only two present who explain things are recovering or still in surgery. I think it would be best if we brought Ahsoka back into the Fold," Rahm finishes and takes his seat looking around at the holograms and Jedi present.
"It is a drastic step, and one we cannot back down from if we are caught. I do not know if it would be wise, sadly though I do at least agree with Master Kota's analysis of the situation," Master Mundi says as he to looks around the room.
"We must be careful, the Jedi cannot survive another scandal as such what happened the first time we interfered in Miss Tano's life, I think it would be unwise to try and force anything at the moment, the Force works in ways not even we understand and its current is changing," Master Fisto says as he looks at the ground.
"What are you suggesting Master Fisto?" Master Ti questions as she looks at the Nautolan.
"I am suggesting that we keep an eye on Ahsoka, but do not make a move. Things will work out how they are meant to, for everything is as the Force wills," Master Fisto responds.
"But certainly we must take this as a sign?" Master Rancisis growls. "Miss Tano was hired to protect Senator Chuchi, and while she did her job well it is likely she was the one who put Senator Chuchi's life in danger in the first place."
"I concur with Master Rancisis," Rahm grunts. "And even if we are both proven wrong and it is for another reason that Senator Chuchi's office was bombed for another reason than we can simple rescind whatever action we take, but first we must take care to make certain our actions are covert."
"How do you suppose we do that? Also you know what you are asking us to do would go against the wishes of not only one, but two current Council Members, and a former Council Member, the same one whose seat you now sit in Master Kota," Master Ti explains.
"I understand that, but it was Master Kenobi's choice to resign from the Council, not mine, I'm simply trying to do what must be done to protect the Jedi Order, nothing more, nothing less," Rahm answers.
Coruscant Slums, Unnamed Complex Apartment 4B, 19 BBY plus two months and 26 days
Saesee knocks on the door to the apartment, clad not in Jedi Robes, but in simple civilian clothes. The door opens revealing a Clone, a tattoo of two clashing fists on his temple staring directly at Saesee, quickly the Clone pulls the Jedi into the apartment and shuts the door behind him. When Saesee looks up he sees five Clone Commandos ringed around a blue skinned Dathomirian who was typing away furiously at a computer.
"Harai… we have a problem," Saesee says as he looks at the Commandos, each one having moved back to whatever it was they'd originally been doing. One was cleaning their DeeCee, while another was wiping down the heavy duty Katarn armour, two were playing some kind of card game, and the last was standing at Harai's side eyes glued on the holoscreen.
"I know we have a problem Master Saesee, I've seen it all over the news… You failed her once and now you could fail her again, trust me when I say that I won't be so forgiving this time. She's my Vode and while you may never see it Mandalorians and Jedi share too much in common to let us be enemies. She is my family, and like Mandalorians, I'll do anything for my family," Harai growls as he turns to face the Iktotchi.
"We're trying to figure out what's going on, and with Master Vos still on assignment we could use your expertise trying to figure out what happened at the site," Saesee explains. Harai's head falls, but it soon rises and those golden irises were on fire with determination.
"Onslaught, report to Ahsoka, even if she is catatonic or in surgery you were under her orders and that's how it should stay," Harai explains as he stands and walks over to Saesee. "Alright Master Saesee, shall we?"
Coruscant Main Medical Centre, Senate District, 19 BBY plus two months and 26 days
It's late by the time Plo arrives at the medical centre and as he walks over to the desk the droid raises its head to stare directly at him.
"Visiting hours are over, please return tomorrow," the Droid automatically states.
"Jedi Master Override, Clearance Code Alpha-3-7-Akk," Plo responds.
"Which patient are you here to see Master Jedi?"
"Patient name is Tano, Ahsoka. She was brought in earlier today with wounds consistent with explosives."
"Patient Tano, Ahsoka is in the recovery ward and incapable of receiving visitors at this time."
"Patient name Chuchi, Riyo?"
"Room 57, Recovery Ward level 3."
Plo practically runs, he needs to know, and he doesn't care how un-Jedi-like his behaviour is right now, he can't wait too much longer. The door wooshes open and looking at him is a young Pantoran woman, her lavender hair a mess as she looks at him with golden eyes.
"Senator Chuchi, what happened?" Plo asks as he rushes into the room, his eyes searching behind the lenses until they land on the second bed in the room. Just outside Riyo's reach he can see Ahsoka on a ventilator with her entire left arm and shoulder encased in some kind of Bacta tank.
"Ahsoka shielded me from the blast, she saved my life," the Senator chokes out as she stares at Ahsoka's face. "I… I shouldn't have sent her away… this, this is all my fault," Riyo cries as she watches Plo stroke Ahsoka's whole right arm. "I'm so sorry Master Jedi… I'm so sorry…"
"It's not your fault young one, you had no way to know what was going to happen" Plo answers.
"It had to have been Senator Burtoni or one of her allies Master Jedi, please find out who did this… and when you do I'll be certain they pay," Riyo hisses, Plo looks up to see the Senator's golden eyes narrowed at the beeping machine monitoring Ahsoka's life signs. "They'll pay dearly for doing this to her, very dearly indeed."
It was at this moment that Plo realised exactly what these two women meant to each other, even if they didn't both know it, there was a connection between them that would never break. Plo nods to the Senator before sitting down in the chair beside Ahsoka's bedside.
"If you don't mind Senator… I'd like to stay for awhile," Plo says.
"Of course Master Jedi, just don't let them get away, not after what they did here."
"Never Senator… Never."
Coruscant Jedi Temple, High Council Chamber, 19 BBY plus two months and 26 days
"Then decided it is," Grand Master Yoda says.
"We are in agreement," Master Windu begins. "Master Kota will continue his investigation with the help of Masters Tiin and Koon. Masters Ti and Kolar will take after of watching out for Ahsoka, and if capable bring her back home as well as any other wayward Jedi we can. If that is all I believe it is up to Grand Master Yoda to end this emergency meeting of the Jedi High Council."
"Call this meeting adjourned, I do," Grand Master Yoda states. Rahm stands with a proud look on his face as he stares out at Coruscant's night sky. If this works the Jedi will be stronger once more, and maybe we can end this war swiftly… If it fails the Jedi will be the laughing stock of the Republic and never be able to get the trust of the people back again. Rahm heads to his quarters to sleep, tomorrow he would have to meet up with Masters Tiin and Koon, he'd need to be prepared to lie to them lest he give away the Council's plan.
End Chapter VI
A/N:
Alright I'm working on wrapping up Act I, and also if you haven't notice I'm drawing in Mandalorian culture from the Republic Commando novels, as well I'm bringing in some Legends characters like Rahm Kota. I hope you all enjoyed this installment more is on its way and ball is finally rolling. Also Vode is sibling, vod'ika is little sibling and I don't think I used any other Mando'A in this chapter, if I did and you don't know what it means please message or review. Thanks to Arty B. Good for inspiration and letting butcher some of his ideas, Thanks to Serpentbane007 my tireless helper when it comes to bouncing ideas and editing. Thanks for Reading!
