CHAPTER 10
Rushing through the neat interiors of the complex, Anakin and Obi-Wan advanced to the wrecking of Sep droids stage with their skillful lightsabers. Time was of the essence, but no matter how good they were, Ventress was always one step ahead. Following the dark presence, they made their way to the hangars just in time to see her ship departing. In the Force, Anakin could also feel Padmé in there.
-No! - He shouted in desperation, giving away his misplaced anger and hidden feelings.
Giving him enough time to recover his breath, Obi-Wan approached with a comforting hand to his shoulder. More than anyone else, Obi-Wan understood Anakin, and took compassion on him.
- We will find her, Anakin. I am sure she will be kept safe until then. She is a Separatist bargaining chip against the Republic now. I can feel your Padawan was not with her, though. We have to find Ahsoka now!
-Ahsoka - murmured Anakin, with his voice trailing off weakly, as if he remembered her all of sudden. Truth was, though, that he never really kept her out of his thoughts. Only now, he simply felt as if he betrayed her. The thought that she could feel like he abandoned her would hurt as a spike clogged to his throat.
- Terminated? Hah - spat Aurra as if the thought of dying didn't scare her to the bit. Ahsoka envied her for that, for a brief moment. What was really intriguing, though, was the bounty huntress' Force presence.
- Were you ever trained as a Jedi? - Ahsoka cut through to the point. Such random assuming, yet cunningly straight to the target boiled Aurra's anger in a way that her weak spot became as obvious as ever. Realizing that herself, the anger rose even more, and her twisted face showed it all.
-Jedi? JEDI? Don't ever give me that trash again, Skywalker's slut! - Aurra's cursing disarmed Ahsoka completely, even though she didn't understand it quite well as she should, at her age. By the time she realized, Aurra was wrapping her long and strong fingers on her throat and facing her in a disturbing close distance.
- Skywalker's what? - Ahsoka let out in confusion while clenching her teeth and struggling to save her own neck, literally this time.
- Slut! They don't teach you these things in the Jedi Temple, do they? Do I look Jedi to you now, slut?
- You are a deplorable sentient, do you know that? - Replied a disgusted Ahsoka just before being released from the grip in a harsh way, making her inhale deeply and noisily in a humiliating way, before sitting back straight again and facing her cellmate with defiance in her young eyes. - And you are strong in the Force.
- Maybe I am a Sith! Have you considered that? - Replied Aurra with a smirk
- Your thoughts are clouded, and your heart is dark, yet you lack discipline to be a Sith. You seem to have no decent bearing, let alone a sense of servitude. No, you could never be a Sith apprentice.
The saying that she could never be a Sith apprentice bothered Aurra more than she thought it would. Not that she ever wanted such a thing, but the feeling of exclusion haunted her. Excluded from the Jedi. Excluded from the Sith. Excluded from the Bounty Hunters' guild. Betrayed by her once loyal side-kick.
- You are too young. You know nothing - Aurra spat as if to defend herself.
- I know more than you think. About you - Ahsoka fought back, looking the bounty huntress in the eyes.
Quickly, Aurra raised her glance to meet Ahsoka's. Not in a threatening way, but an almost defenseless one. No one ever referred to her as directly as this. No one cared. In her early years it was only the selfless Padawan Aurra Sing among a mass of other selfless Padawans. After that there was only the psycho Jedi murderer Aurra Sing. No one dared to look inwards for her reasons. No one tried to get the message on every murder. No one understood her well enough and that is why they never caught her, although they wanted to.
Ahsoka felt that too, and she didn't need to be a Jedi to possess empathy, after all. She was a woman, and she possessed all the empathy she needed to understand Aurra Sing. Noticing the disarmed silence on her opponent, the Togrutta continued:
- I know why you do this. And I believe you are right to want revenge. To show us the Justice we lack.
Still with a fixed gaze on Ahsoka, Aurra opened her eyes even wider. Was the Padawan deceiving her, just telling her what she wanted to hear? That wouldn't make sense at this situation. Did she really believed what she said? Would such a young Padawan be the first and only one among the Jedi to understand? For the first time, she remained in silence to hear what another had to say. It's not like they had anything else to do, anyhow. And if Aurra Sing was going to die, at least it wouldn't be without no one understanding her revenge.
The struggle for the prison blocks was more complicated. There were many battle droids now, and Commander Grunt took his personal safety very seriously. They were well deployed, and both rescuers spent 3 hours just to sneak in through different ways where resistance could be overwhelmed without clone troopers for their support. The valiant Captain Rex and his men would be of great help, they kept reminding.
The command room was finally at hand, and at the sight of the fearsome Jedi, Commander Grunt ordered the blast doors sealed shut, dooming the rest of the battle droids left outside to irreparable destruction. Anakin always liked to take care of that part, and his lightsaber swung back and forth, slashing some of them and then swirling to stick right through into unsuspecting others. Obi-Wan was calmly and patiently penetrating the blast doors with his own. That sadly reminded him of his own master, Qui-Gon Jinn.
Eventually the core of the blast door melted and it opened with ease. Cowardly, Commander Grunt rose his hands as soon as he was spotted by Obi-Wan. Anakin rushed to open the prison door and got ready to engage Aurra Sing as soon as he saw her there so closed to his once beloved apprentice. Ahsoka stopped him
- No, wait! She said she would surrender! As long as under my own responsability until we reach Coruscant. And I have agreed. No more bloodshed - warned a seemingly much more mature Ahsoka.
- Very well - said Anakin reluctantly after long seconds. Secretly then, Ahsoka gazed at Aurra tenderly.