Hello everyone. Thank you for all the reviews tips and hints. I am still new to writing so I am glad for them. Anyway, here's chapter 10. What does Ahsoka have to say to Barriss? What does Luminara Unduli make of it?
The Order Redeems: Chapter 10 – Barriss Redeems?
It was the day after the council agreed to allow attachments. The council had been debating whether to allow Ahsoka the chance to try and redeem Barriss Offee, the true perpetrator of the temple bombing for most of the day. Finally they decided to allow her the chance providing she was accompanied by a current Jedi. After Master Plo Koon had spoken to her, Master Luminara Unduli demanded to be the accompanying Jedi. Barriss Offee had been her Padawan after all and she felt partly responsible for the torture that Ahsoka had been through and therefore Ahsoka leaving the Order.
Luminara and Ahsoka therefore, were flying in a Jedi speeder heading towards the military prison. If she was being honest, it wasn't a place Ahsoka really wanted to go, the memories of her incarceration and rape still fixed in her mind, but she knew she had to if there was any chance of saving Barriss. Ahsoka couldn't hide the slight fear she had as she saw the prison in the distance; her memories were still too fresh, too raw for her to feel anything else. The other problem for Ahsoka was the healers; they had only allowed her to be out for a couple of hours as she was still physically week.
Sensing Ahsoka's slight fear Luminara spoke "Ahsoka, why are you doing this? Barriss made her choice; she knew it would cost her life."
As Luminara said that, Ahsoka's mind began to race. Thoughts and memories flooded through her of times she had been with Barriss; crawling under that droid factory under Geonosis, being trapped under that same factory after they blew the reactor with the tank, fighting Barriss after she had been taken over by Geonosian worms, the times they had spent talking in the temple and that trip to Dex's Diner just before this all happened. It was too much; tears began to escape Ahsoka's eyes as she finally answered "I have to do this Master Unduli. She was my best friend and I know the Barriss that did that bombing wasn't the same Barriss I knew or that you knew. I have to get the old Barriss back; I have nothing else left. My soul will die if I don't try."
Sadness washed over Master Unduli; she couldn't help but feel sorry for Ahsoka as she realised that Ahsoka spoke the truth. Ahsoka didn't have anything; it made Luminara mad. To her, it just didn't seem fair. Luminara wanted Barriss back also and finally with the change of code, she could admit it "You know Ahsoka, I viewed Barriss like a daughter. I know at the time it was against the code. I think it was because of this that I kept the relationship distant. Why didn't I see she had problems? To think, I had the gall to criticise Skywalker for being too attached to you. Well I'm the fool now aren't I? Barriss is my failure; if you redeem her Ahsoka, you redeem me as well."
Ahsoka didn't know how to respond to that; she could tell the difference the change in the Jedi code was having already. When Ahsoka first met her, Master Unduli would never have admitted something like that, now she could sense Luminara's feelings far more easily; she could now tell how close Luminara wanted to be to her apprentice "You really loved her like a daughter didn't you Master?"
"Yes I did Ahsoka and it was that blasted code that made me blind to her problems." Trying to release some of her built up anger Luminara shook her head almost in desperation "At least now, with the attachment rule gone, we can admit to caring for people. Again I've got Skywalker and you to thank for that."
On hearing that, Ahsoka reached into the Force and gained a new determination "I'll bring her back Master Unduli. I know how; I'm sure of it."
Luminara was amazed; she couldn't work out where Ahsoka's strength was coming from. Luminara reasoned that if what happened to Ahsoka had happened to her, she would be in pieces round about now. "I hope you do Ahsoka, there has been enough death now." Secretly however, Luminara doubted whether Barriss could be redeemed, but she had to hope.
"Yes there has. At least I'll see no more of it I hope" Although Ahsoka said it, she felt a stab though her heart as she said it for some reason.
Ahsoka's statement raised a question in Luminara's mind she had to ask "Ahsoka, when your treatment is finished, what will you do?"
Ahsoka was caught cold; she only briefly thought about it "I suppose I'll go back to Shili; I've got nowhere else to go. I think I need some lessons in hunting however or a job." Ahsoka let out a dry laugh.
Luminara looked down a shook her head. She didn't like that answer; Ahsoka didn't deserve to live her life alone because of a council mistake "Try to find something to do or someone to be with Ahsoka."
"I'll try" Ahsoka wasn't sure exactly what she'd try however. In fact, she wasn't even sure what she was good at; Jedi training wasn't much use for anything except being a Jedi. Ahsoka shuddered at that thought.
"Well we're here" Luminara stated as she landed the speeder by the prison entrance. She led Ahsoka through the security checks and finally into the prison wing.
Ahsoka felt her apprehension rise as she walked through the prison; she had to keep reminding herself that she was only visiting this time, she could get out, and she wasn't locked in. Ahsoka didn't realise the damage simply being locked in had done to her. Every time Master Unduli led her through secured doors, she flinched as they closed behind them almost as if she wouldn't be able to go back through them. Ahsoka was certainly relieved when they finally reached Barriss's cell.
"Are you sure you want to try this?" Luminara asked even though she knew the answer already.
'Hm, hell of a time to ask that question' Ahsoka thought to herself as she looked through the force field at Barriss "Yes I'm sure."
"I'll be right out here. If anything happens and you're not happy at anything call me understand?" Luminara was concerned about this. She hoped it would work and Ahsoka could redeem Barriss but she also feared the exact opposite outcome; what if Ahsoka fell?
Ahsoka nodded as the force field was released. As she entered Barriss's cell she raised her mental shields, hoping her mental state had recovered enough, and stated "Hello Barriss."
Barriss Offee lifted her head; she had suspected something was up when she was placed in force binders, but she hadn't expected this "You're the last person I expected to see here. Come to gloat have you?"
Ahsoka was taken back; Barriss really has changed. This close, Ahsoka could sense the darkness in Barriss, but to her relief, she could also sense that the dark side hadn't fully consumed Barriss; there was a spark of light. The Force also told Ahsoka the angle to take "I've got nothing to gloat over Barriss, thanks to you."
Now Barriss was taken back "Now you're nice and safe and sound? I'd say you have." Barriss really didn't care about Ahsoka now; her plan to frame her had failed so what was the point in caring?
Ahsoka deliberately showed a hint of anger; she knew Barriss would sense it "Do I look like I was safe and sound Barriss?" Ahsoka still looked thin and slightly drawn so Ahsoka planned to use that to her advantage.
For curiosity's sake, Barriss studied Ahsoka. She stunned at what she saw. Ahsoka looked like she hadn't been eating properly and she could sense Ahsoka's mental distress. Barriss couldn't help but be concerned even though she knew she shouldn't care "What happened? I'd have thought the council would welcome you back."
"They did ask me back Barriss but how could I go back? They clearly didn't trust me so I couldn't trust them or myself." Ahsoka now dropped her anger act "However Barriss things are changing. The Order is changing. Even though I'm not a Jedi anymore, the Jedi healers are helping me."
Barriss was confused. She realised she was starting to care about what Ahsoka had gone through, even though she didn't know why. "Why did you need help though?"
Ahsoka's face fell as she started to tell the story "Barriss, Admiral Tarkin raped me in my cell just before my trial. Add to that the fact that I was tormented by visions of the Sith Lord Darth Sidious and his evil plans."
Barriss started to feel a hint of sorrow; had she really caused Ahsoka to suffer like this? "What? Ahsoka no..T…that's terrible."
Ahsoka began to cry again, this time deliberately, "Barriss, I was so ashamed, when I was cleared and I had left the Order, I ran. I ran all the way to Shili but I couldn't look after myself. Barriss I would have died of starvation if Skyguy hadn't have come and found me." Sniffing away her increasing volume of tears Ahsoka went for the kill "Barriss, you were my best friend. Why did you do this to me? To the Jedi?"
Barriss began to falter; she really had caused Ahsoka to suffer. She'd caused everyone to suffer "I…I told you; the Republic and the Jedi Order are corrupt; thinking more about war than the people." Barriss gave the reason, but somehow, it didn't sound as convincing to her as when she said it in Ahsoka's trial.
"So that required you to kill innocent people and frame me then?" Ahsoka snapped. She could sense that Barriss was beginning to wobble.
Barriss didn't know what to say "I….I….I had to do something. The Republic was lost in darkness." She knew she wasn't being very convincing now.
"Barriss, Chancellor Palpatine was Darth Sidious. I saw him in the visions I had. He's dead Barriss, the Jedi have killed him." Ahsoka grabbed Barriss's shoulders "Barriss, open your mind. The dark cloud in the Force has gone. Padmé Skywalker is the Chancellor now."
"Padmé Skywalker?" Barriss asked; now she was confused.
Ahsoka smiled "Anakin is married to Padmé Amidala now Padmé Skywalker. He has been since the start of the war. Barriss, the Order have allowed attachments and feelings. I promise you Barriss, the corruption is ending."
Barriss smiled "So they listened to me then."
"No Barriss, they didn't. The fact that you are due to be executed next week is proof of that. Why would they listen to you Barriss? You are a murderer. At least the dark side that is now in you is a murderer. The Barriss I was best friends with just wanted to be a healer. What has happened Barriss? Why has the dark side claimed you?"
Barriss felt a torrent of shame rise up inside her. As much as she tried to push it away it kept coming. With steel like eyes, Barriss began "It started about six months ago. Master Unduli and I were due to invade a plant that the Separatists had subjected. I don't even remember the name of the planet now, Kiola, that's it. It's a small mostly unknown planet in the outer rim." She looked down trying desperately to avoid Ahsoka's eyes "Master Unduli got called away for an emergency and I was ordered to continue alone."
Ahsoka could sense Barriss's shame; she knew she was close and she knew Barriss was close to turning back to the light. Ahsoka decided to risk sitting next to Barriss and put on a concerned expression "Go on Barriss." Ahsoka decided to use similar techniques to those Master Kenobi used to get her to talk on Shili.
"The mission was going as expected" Barriss continued to look down "until the clones and I were caught by surprise by a hail of blaster fire from nearby houses. I ordered a detachment of clones to clear out the houses."
"What's wrong with that?" asked Ahsoka. She was genuinely puzzled.
Barriss was so overcome with shame she started to cry "Ahsoka, after the clones had carried out my orders, I went to see what the attackers were for future reference." Barriss's crying intensified "Ahsoka, they were just ordinary families trying to defend their homes. The worse thing was, the clones….the clones killed the children as well."
"Oh my god. Barriss, why didn't you tell anyone?" Ahsoka didn't know how to respond to that.
"Who could I tell? The clones claimed the kids got caught in the crossfire and the council wouldn't believe me if I said otherwise."
"Barriss, you did nothing wrong there. How were you supposed to know? Barriss listen to me. You were not responsible for the death of those kids." Ahsoka realised why the dark side had got into Barriss; that must have been terrible. "But Barriss, you were responsible for the bombing. Why?"
"I….I….I don't know anymore" Barriss was overcome with grief; she just wanted everything to go back right, but it was too late; she was beyond hope.
Ahsoka could read Barriss's thoughts; she knew she had got her if she pushed right "Barriss, I want my best friend back. Release the fear, the shame and the hate and come back to me Barriss. The fact that you feel grief and shame proves the darkness hasn't consumed you."
"But I'm going to die next week. Why are you interested in me? I'm nothing but a murderer." Barriss couldn't work out why she was so important to Ahsoka after all; she had tried to frame Ahsoka.
"Everyone deserves a second chance Barriss. I know that more than anyone. I was almost executed myself remember. Now Barriss please, release your darkness." Ahsoka was secretly desperate; she couldn't bear to lose anything else.
All of a sudden, Barriss broke down as she realised what she had done and what she had almost done. The very girl she had tried to frame was the one who was trying to save her. Barriss released all her fear, hate and shame as the darkness left her "What have I done? I became the very thing I was trying to stop. I became a Sith now I've ruined everything. I deserve to die."
Sensing the darkness leave Barriss, Ahsoka put an arm around her "No one deserves to die Barriss, especially my best friend." Ahsoka smiled.
"After all that I have done to you and all that's happened to you Ahsoka, you're willing to forgive me?" Barriss was stunned.
"Of course I'm willing to forgive you Barriss. As I said, I want my best friend back." Ahsoka felt her heart leap with glee as she said those words. The first pure joy Ahsoka had experienced in well over a month.
"Oh Ahsoka, how could I have done that to you?" she leaned her head on Ahsoka's shoulder and sobbed "I'm so so sorry."
"It's alright Barris, now let's see if we can get you that second chance" Ahsoka lifted her head and raised her voice a little bit "Master Unduli you can come in now."
Master Unduli lowered the force field and entered the cell. She was astonished to see Barriss crying on Ahsoka's shoulder. She could also sense the sorrow and relief in Barriss; she had come back; it was a miracle.
Barriss looked up "Master, I'm sorry. I've ruined everything; betrayed the Order, betrayed your trust and worst of all, I've betrayed Ahsoka. Can you ever forgive me?"
Luminara threw herself down and wrapped her arms around Barriss "Of course I can forgive you my Padawan. I'm sure we can do something about the death penalty." Luminara raised her head and looked at Ahsoka; crying tears of her own she stated "Ahsoka, you dear sweet child. After all the pain you have gone through, all the hurt, you still have it in your heart, in your spirit to do this; to save the girl that betrayed you. You are a massive loss to the Order Ahsoka and you are twice the Jedi any of us will ever be."
Ahsoka smiled "I'm just happy to help. By the way, Master Unduli, Barriss needs to tell you what happened on a mission; it goes a long way towards explaining her fall."
"Barriss?" question Luminara.
"I'll tell you Master, once I've done some reparations." Barriss just wanted to make it up to everyone now especially Ahsoka; Barriss owes her soul to her.
"Come Barriss; the council have granted me permission to fetch you in front of them if you came back to the light." Luminara and Barriss both stood up "I hope you understand I must leave the binders on you."
"I understand Master. I don't really deserve this slight chance you are giving me."
"As I said" Ahsoka cut in "Everyone deserves a second chance. You made a mistake Barriss; an understandable one from what you told me. Everyone makes mistakes; I'm the queen of them."
Luminara was astounded; was Ahsoka really just a sixteen year old girl? "Left to me Ahsoka, you would be on the council. Now let's get you both back to the temple; you need to be back in the halls of healing Ahsoka and you need to see the council Barriss."
Luminara led Barriss and Ahsoka through the prison to the speeder. The prison guards had been told that Luminara and Ahsoka taking Barriss was a possibility, but one expected it to actually happen. Ahsoka could feel her heart begin to repair itself as the three of them sat in the speeder. Master Unduli's words to her had started off a host of questions in Ahsoka's mind; was her future really on Shili? She wasn't so sure anymore. Some of the words she had said to Barriss had actually had an effect on Ahsoka herself as well; the darkness in the Republic was gone and the darkness in Barriss and Anakin was gone also. Maybe she doesn't have to be alone anymore.
That's chapter 10. I hope you approve of the story I gave Barriss. I had to give her a reason for turning dark; it was so out of character. Oh I just made the planet Kiola up; hope you all don't mind. Next Chapter, the council discuss Barriss, Ahsoka sees a counsellor and Master Unduli reflects on these events with Master Kenobi to interesting effect.