Chapter 10: Power Play

"What do you suppose that was all about?" Charlotte asked Ahsoka who was also curious to know, Alex could be strange from time to time. When he entered one of those trances it was like his mind was elsewhere. "You guys have been through a lot." Ahsoka nodded in agreement and that was saying something.

The adventures with Alex had been some of the best memories of her entire life. And yet they had been dangerous, she had lost some friends on those adventures. But she still loved them. "All that time, waiting for him? Was it worth it?"

"It was." Ahsoka smiled. Even though she seemed mad at the time, and she was mad. Ahsoka was glad that Alex actually kept his promise, even if it took 11 months for him to do so. But something about him had changed, it was like he had been filled with anew sense of adventure and purpose. Something that wasn't there the last time she saw him.

"Just for the record." Charlotte smiled, "I'm glad you have someone." She looked away, knowing about what about to happen. "I'm glad things worked out between you two." Slowly Charlotte reached into her pocket, she grabbed a small looking device examined it and quickly hid it before Ahsoka could see.

"What happened between you two?"

"Oh the usual stuff." Charlotte chuckled then she began to think out about the last time she saw Alex, the day of her Father's death. The day she was left alone in the Galaxy. When her closest friend had abandoned her when she needed him the most. "Nothing much to say really."

"From what he told me, things between you didn't end well."

"What was there to say?" Charlotte snapped, she was beginning to get annoyed at Ahsoka's constant persistence. Ahsoka only meant well, but that was just getting plain annoying. "All you need to know is that there was someone in his life before you!" She walked closer to Ahsoka who had to step back. "You'd think I'd be okay with that." She laughed. "But no. In truth? I wasn't." She sighed. "All I can think about was that day in the alleyway."

Ahsoka didn't sense it at first, but she should have done, there was a growing darkness forming in Charlotte's mind. The energy from the old Devourer now known as The Hyper Portal was swirling in a violent shade of red. "The day he was forced to leave you." Ahsoka gasped.

"Is that what he told you?" Charlotte smirked. "I suppose he left out the fact that my Father died that day."

"He failed to mention that."

"I bet he did." Charlotte chuckled. "You know, it was the worse day of my life. I went to that alleyway to tell him." She sighed and continued, "He already knew." She smiled reliving the memory. "He actually apologised for not being there sooner. But then what does he tell me?" She knew what was coming next, Ahsoka sensed her changing personality. "Tells me he's going to leave. Become a Jedi. See the universe! Save the Galaxy!" She laughed "Then he Gives me an idea." She held out what Alex gave her all that time ago. Blueprints for the Hyper Portal and the Hyper Rings.

"But that's great right?" Ahsoka said nervously backing away from Charlotte. She was starting to sense the darkness in the young girls mind now. And a second presence, clever and calculating. It was then Ahsoka caught on to her plans. She flashed back to the sabatoge at the party. She thought she sensed something off then. "It gave you the inspiration." Her voice slowed as she looked over the Hyper Portal, "To.. make.. the Hyper Portal." She did know something was odd about Charlotte. Before the explosion she saw Thrawn smiling whilst Charlotte reached into her pocket and grab what looked like, "A Vortex Manipulator."

Charlotte then began clapping and pulled out the same device from her pocket. The device that started the whole thing. "Who called Alex? Who organised this event?" She smiled "Who was the person you were most anxious to meet?" She began laughing "Me. The other girl who stole the Avatar's heart." She stopped and corrected herself remembering the image that she saw on the TARDIS scanner. "Scratch that. Hearts." She said that last word as if she were sharing a private joke.

"You sabotaged your own event? Your own inventions? But why?"

Charlotte groaned in annoyance, "Because," she said slowly so that Ahsoka would get it. As dull as she was. "That was just a ruse, a trap as you might say. To lure you in." She smiled. "And to drag the Avatar out of his pathetic retirement." She showed Ahsoka the words on the Vortex Manipulator. I'M IN. "Because, dear girl I was rather anxious to meet you as well."

"Why?"

"Anyone who has met the Avatar always gets burnt." In that odd sense of familiarity Ahsoka was drawn back to the words Ashildr had said on the eve of Faith's funeral. "I wanted to see How badly the scars hurt." She then pressed a button on her device and smiled. The Hyper Portal turned back to it's usual shade of green. "Restrain her." She ordered to someone behind her.

"I am not your servant." The cold familiar voice of Thrawn said from behind her. This was the other presence that she had sensed. Thrawn had entered the room and caught Ahsoka off guard in one of the rare occasions. She reached for her Lightsaber but never got the chance. A shockwave of energy pulsates around her body as she was knocked out.

"Now we have the bait." Charlotte smiled as she restrained Ahsoka herself. If you want something done right so it yourself. Thrawn scowled at her and Charlotte had too reassure him as much as herself. "He always comes for her." She placed Ahsoka down next to a scattered array of old prototypes.

"He'd better." Thrawn scowled as he exited the room. "For your sake." On that disturbing note, Charlotte ordered the rest of her employees to continue working as she waited for the moment she had prepared for ever since the Avatar had left. She then gave one look at the Hyper Portal and smiled as she wondered if she was doing the right thing...