~Anakin's POV~

"Which one is mine?" Ahsoka asked as they walked through the field of air ships. Even though she had been in the war-zone for a few months, she still gazed at the giant fighters with barely concealed awe. Anakin glanced back at her, what did she mean? "You're with me," he said cheerily, relatively sure that Ahsoka wasn't going to like his idea.

As such, she stopped dead in her tracks, gaping at him with shock and indignance. "You'll be my gunner," he explained quickly turning around.

She put on a strained smile. "Broadside could do that," she reminded him cheekily. "And besides, you have Artoo," she gestured to the small droid at her side pointedly. Artoo whistled in agreement.

"But I so enjoy your company, my padawan," his ploy didn't work. She crossed her arms and glared at him sternly. Uh, oh.

"Just admit it," she sneered threateningly. "You don't like my flying!" She accused. Anakin pretended to be taken aback, hiding the truth. "What?" he gasped. "No! It's… It's not that, it's just that…" he was, thankfully interrupted by Admiral Yularen.

"Ani?" Anakin's eyes, which were only lightly closed due to battle-prone influence, snapped open, disrupting his pleasant (or something like that) dream of the hectic Clone Wars. The good old days.

He sat up, eyes searching the room for enemy…

Oh, it was only Padme, sticking her head inside of the door. Seeing him awake, she glowed. "Anakin!" She breathed, walking fully in. He smiled back, and then noticed a slight buzzing in his head. Nausea trickled up his throat.

"Hay," he said, laying back down. Padme smiled and sat on the edge of the bed. "I've been so worried about you. Are you okay? How do you feel?" She pressed a cool hand against his forehead. "You had a fever earlier," she told him. Anakin scowled, wondering why he had had a fever in the first place. He rarely ever got sick.

Then he remembered.

"Ahsoka!" he gasped out, sitting up again. His head rang with out-rage. Anakin ignored it, where was she? His padawan? At Ahsoka's name, Padme's eyes darkened, and Anakin sensed her anguish.

No.

"Padme," he spoke slowly. "Where is Ahsoka?" he asked. Padme looked down. Anakin felt his heart speed up past normal capacity. Desperation seeped into his mind. "Padme!" he snapped. She jumped and looked up. Anakin grabbed her arm. "Where is she?" He had to know. He had too.

Padme sighed. "I'm so sorry, Ani, but she's gone. The Sith took her," she said. Anakin felt his world shatter.


~Ahsoka's POV~

Ahsoka Tano had lived through eighteen years of war and strict Jedi training. She had learned to never expect or accept things.
Never go looking for danger, but trust that you'll find it anyway.
Never to fear another being, but never be too over-confident that that being isn't something to be feared.
Never show or be shocked at something the universe has thrown at you, but take it with dignity and grace.

That said; she had never been more surprised in her life.

And all dignity and grace out of the question, she sat bolt upright, mouth agape. "What the heck?" Not very majestic, but the first thought that came to her head. Ahsoka gawked at her new environment.

It was a room fit for a kriffing queen. Her scarlet bed was almost as if three beds smashed into one, with dark dressers and couches put nicely in every place. She blinked and felt at her bed spread; it was so soft, and smelt like fresh flowers.

Across the room, white curtains let in light from… Windows? Ahsoka hopped out of bed fluidly, her eyes canning the room.

Then had to examine her new dress. Of course, her old clothes were gone, (leaving Ahsoka to wonder who exactly had taken them off) along with her utility belt, gloves and lightsabers.

Her new get-up was a dark red tube top that showed off her shapely stomach with a long black skirt that tilted at just the correct angel to also show off her long legs and the diamond shaped tattoos running down them. Dark red boots were strapped to her feet and on top of her head was a small crown made of pure diamonds. A pure black cape fluttered behind her.

It was not very modest.

Ahsoka blinked a few times, wondering what had happened and what kind of dream she was having. Slowly, she walked over to the windows. With Obi-wan like hesitance, she opened the curtains.

There were strong black bars stretching cross the windows, and a ray-shield after that, but she could clearly see the millions of skyscrapers and buildings ahead. Through the glass, bars and ray-shield she could still hear the familiar buzzing of hover-vehicles.

She was on Courascant.

"What the heck?" She repeated. Ahsoka blinked a few times and grabbed at her head. What happened? She wondered. The events of the last time she had been awake flashed before her eyes.

Alright; I was captured by a Sith. What am I doing in a room like this? If anything, she had expected to wake up in a torture chamber. The fact that she was not actually in said chamber made her more nervous.

Suddenly, there was a knock at her door. Ahsoka dove behind the bed, watching the door with predatory blue eyes. There was nothing inside of the room that could be used as a dangerous weapon, but she could turn something un-dangerous into such.

She heard the tapping of keys, obviously it was locked from the outside, and the doors slid open before closing again. Ahsoka heard the metallic click of them being locked again, and instead of a Sith; a young woman walked in a few years older than Ahsoka.

She was a Pantoran, like Chu-chi, with light blue skin and golden diamonds on her forehead, cheeks and neck. Her hair was a silky faint purple, tied into a dirty bun behind her head. She wore a short yellow robe over her tattered dress.

In her hands was a small tray. Keeping her head down, she walked in, her small dress ruffling softly. Ahsoka craned her neck, who was she? Was she dangerous? The force said no.

The woman walked over to Ahsoka's bed, and seeing her not there, gasped. "What?" She said, looking around feverishly. "She was here an hour ago! Where could she have gone in an hour?" She wondered frantically.

"Behind the bed, maybe," Ahsoka suggested, standing. The woman was only a few inches taller than her. "Ah!" The woman gasped, ducking her head as if to get ready for a blow. Ahsoka recognized the technique. Lux had explained it to her, and she had seen it many times. This woman was a slave.

"It's alright," she said gently, holding out her hand in a sign of peace. "I'm not going to hurt you. I promise." Slowly, the woman peaked out from under her arm.

"Oh," she breathed. "There you are. Sorry, thought you were one of them," she chuckled softly, and shook her head, placing the tray on the table next to Ahsoka's bed.

Ahsoka watched the tray suspiciously. "What is that?" She asked. "Tea, mistress. And some biscuits, in case you're hungry," the slave woman answered. She smoothed down Ahsoka's bed tidily. Ahsoka studied her kindly; at least she had someone to talk too.

"What's your name?" She asked. The slave looked up, surprised. "Mine?" She echoed. Ahsoka grinned. "Yes," she agreed. The slave seemed confused by the question. "Oh… It's Maura, mistress," she answered.

Ahsoka nodded and grabbed her coarse hand in a small handshake. "It's nice to meet you, Maura. I'm Ahsoka," she said. Maura looked down at her hand as if she expected there to be something inside of it.

Ahsoka chuckled. Maura looked at her strangely. "Oh. Um, well, is there anything else you need?" She asked. Ahsoka scowled, that she needed?

"That I need? Maura, where exactly am I?" she asked. Maura seemed relieved that she had asked a simple question this time. "Oh, you're on Courascant, mistress. In the Sith palace," Ahsoka inhaled sharply, the what?

Inside of the Sith palace, the building they had built on top of the demolished Jedi temple? No wonder, the force was strong, and it was strong in the dark side, so much so that she hadn't even noticed that her breathing was labored and a sweat had started on her forehead. She felt like she was choking.

"Okay," she said slowly, grabbing at the cape fluttering behind her top make it stand still, was the dark side making it move so much?

"So I'm at the Sith palace, but why in this room? And…" she cleared her throat, wondering if she truly wanted to know the answer. "Who undressed me and put me in this?" She asked. Maura surprised her by giggling.

"Oh, right, you don't know what's happening. Well, I can tell you that my sisters and I undressed you, worry not. Your old clothes were burned. The rest will be revealed shortly, I'll have master Starkiller come," she said. Ahsoka frowned, who?

Maura put her hands on her hips, less skittish than she had been a moment ago. Lavender eyes studied Ahsoka frankly. "Are you really a Jedi?" she asked.

Ahsoka blinked, so they knew she was a Jedi. "Yes, I am," she stated. "You're so young though," Maura flushed. "If you don't mind me being so bold, mistress," she stuttered.

"Don't call me that," Ahsoka said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Call me Ahsoka. I'm not your master," she told her. Maura cocked her head, and a slow smile took over her mouth. "Huh, I suppose the rumors are right, you Jedi really are nothing like the Sith," she awed. Ahsoka smiled.

"We take pride in that," she agreed. "Well, you should. I think I'm going to have fun, being your maid," Maura exclaimed. Ahsoka nodded. "I think I'm going to have fun being your friend," she agreed. As soon as I find a way out of here, that is, she thought.

The dark side sparked. Ahsoka felt her stomach roll with its fury pressed power. Quickly, she tensed. Maura noticed and took a step back. "What?" she asked; frightened. Before Ahsoka could answer, the same Sith that had engaged her walked in. Maura let out a squeak of fear and bowed.

The Sith ignored her. Ahsoka assumed he was Starkiller, a fitting name. His cold yellow eyes studied Ahsoka intently, she returned his gaze boldly. "Your fighting techniques were impressive," he said at last. Ahsoka only glared. "What do you want?" she demanded.

Maura glanced up, surprised at her bravado. Starkiller crossed his arms and, seeming to notice Maura, nudged her bowing form with his foot. "You may leave," he growled.

Maura nodded and stood. She gave Ahsoka a last glance, in which Ahsoka smiled at her before hurriedly scurrying out. Starkiller sat on Ahsoka's bed, his characteristic scowl still in place while he regarded her curiously.

"Right now I want you to obey me, if you do that, then you will not be harmed," who did he think he was talking too? Ahsoka was a Jedi, she had been trained her entire life against pain. She would rather be in torture than in a room fit for a queen.

Buy your time, she instructed herself, instead of telling him this. "Obey you in what?" she further asked. Something like a crude smile crossed his features.

"You are not stupid, I see. Obey me in my teachings. You will be trained in the Dark Side of the force," he told her. Ahsoka blinked. Once, and then again. "No," simple as that.

He cocked an eyebrow. "What?" He demanded darkly. "No. I'm not turning to the Dark Side," she said again, never breaking his gaze. "You don't have a choice," he told her. "There's always a choice," she replied, uncowed by his glare. She could almost see Intrepid beside her, cheering her on.

His eyes narrowed. "Not in this instance," he growled. "I make my own instances," she was having fun. If he wanted a verbal spar, then he would get one. She had learned the trick of arguing from Obi-wan and Padme. She could handle him.

"You have no power, child. And soon, you will be a Sith anyway, whether you use the dark side or not," there was something oddly cryptic about the way he said that, and the spark in his eyes did not help Ahsoka either. She stared at him, slamming on her mental shields.

"What are you talking about?" She asked softly. He smiled at her with a hint of animosity. "You're going to be my bride," now, that was one thing-one blasted thing-Ahsoka had never, ever expected to hear from A Sith. Lux, maybe, and even then she would laugh herself to death before telling him absolutely not, but not a Sith.

She found she did not approve. "What?" she demanded, half-indignant and half shocked. "What do you mean your bride? You want to marry me?" She gasped out. "Yes," Starkiller agreed, he looked amused.

Ahsoka took a step back. "Why?" she asked. "I'm a Jedi," she pointed out. "Not for long," he replied. "I won't turn," and that was that. "Well, then, I suppose you will have to either give the Sith Empire new students or new slaves, whichever the force decides," Ahsoka swallowed a lump of anger and dread in her throat. She would be worked like a slave, in the worst way possible.

"So be it," if it kept the Rebels safe, if it kept Anakin and Intrepid and Obi-wan and Nava and Padme and Luke and Leia safe, then she would do it. She might break, but she would do it, if only to keep them safe. If only to be strong for them, even if she never saw them again.

Starkiller stared at her, surprised at her answer. Finally, after what felt like eight lifetimes, he grinned. "You are loyal," he said. She stayed silent, her heart pounding for reasons unknown, he had not done anything yet. She still could not help but think he would.

Never go looking for danger, but trust that you'll find it anyway. Never to fear another being, but never be too over-confident that that being isn't something to be feared.

"You are selfless," well, she tries, not for the sake of being complimented by Sith monsters, but she tries. "You are brave," why was he pointing all this out to her? She already knew it.

"You are intelligent," alright; he was getting on her nerves. "I know," she sighed. "You are audacious," oh, so he knew words with more than one syllable. "You are perfect!" what? What was wrong with him?

Suddenly, in a move, Ahsoka probably should have seen coming, he reached out and grabbed her around the waist, bringing her to him.

Ahsoka inhaled sharply as he buried his face in her stomach. Her entire body stiffened, she clenched her teeth and curled her fists into his pure black hair. He didn't seem to notice, too enveloped in her bare belly.

Had he been someone Ahsoka trusted, the action would have sent her into a fit of giggles. As such, she yanked on his hair. With a growl, his face jerked up to meet her eye. "Don't you ever dare to touch me," she sneered giving him a sharp slap.

He grunted as he recoiled, releasing her. Ahsoka took a few steps back, crossing her arms. She had taken back control, sure, her heart was beating in her chest like a trapped bird, but she had taken back control while it was doing that.

Starkiller gently touched his face, which had turned slightly red with her slap. Ahsoka waited for the attack. He obliged her rather quickly. With a strength that surprised her, he lifted her with the force by the neck.

Ahsoka didn't bother to claw at her neck, she would not give him the pleasure of seeing such a thing, but she did hold at the invisible hand squeezing her throat. His yellow eyes were burning with fury.

"Had you been a regular slave," he hissed with pure venom. "I would kill you. But you're lucky you interest me. You fascinate me," he said as if she were a science experiment.

"So I will let you live, my bride. Yes, I will let you live. Sooner or later, you will have to join me," he nodded, perfectly confident with himself. She only glared at him; her lungs were starting to burn with lack of air.

"And when that day comes, my Queen, we will be invincible," slowly, he lowered her just so her feet were touching the ground, yet he didn't loosen his grip on her neck. "Think of that," he snapped before letting her go.

Ahsoka fell to her knees, gasping for breath. Her head started to ache with this new information. She looked up, only to see the back of Starkiller. He was walking away, with that; he would leave her.

Ahsoka knew she could never love anyone like him.

She wondered if he even loved-or liked himself. Surely he couldn't. With a deep breath, she struggled to her feet, swaying with air-need. Even though he had released her neck, she still felt like she was choking. Drowning in horror.


Okay! Anyone recognize that scene at the start of this chapter? It was from season one of the Clone Wars, when they were hunting the Malevolence. I've always wanted to write about that episode. I won't be able to post again until at the very least Thanksgiving. Maybe it will be my treat to you!

~Queen Yoda