The final chapter of Episode V.
AHSOKA TANO CAPTURED!
WHILE ON THE RUN TO PROVE HER INNOCENCE, PADAWAN TANO TEAMED UP WITH THE DEADLY ASAJJ VENTRESS TO FIND THE ROGUE JEDI WHO FRAMED AHSOKA FOR MURDER.
THE JEDI COUNCIL SENT ANAKIN SKYWALKER, REVAN AND MASTER PLO KOON TO TRACK AHSOKA DOWN AND BRING HER BACK TO THE TEMPLE.
NOW CAPTURED AND IMPRISONED, AHSOKA FACES PUNISHMENT FOR CRIMES SHE DID NOT COMMIT...
Revan, Ahsoka and Anakin waited in the room just outside the Chamber of Judgement for the Council to summon her. "You're not helping." she said softly to her master who paced back and forth in front of the seat she and her husband were sitting on. The older Knight let out a long sigh before Revan moved over a bit to let him sit between he and his wife. "I'm sorry, Snips." he apologized. Revan smiled softly. 'It's been awhile since he called her that...' "I just... I just don't know what to do." Anakin said, sounding frustrated. "It's okay. I don't either." she admitted softly before a small 'Gong' sound was heard signalling the Council was ready for her. The master and and apprentice stood up with two Temple guards flanking them and walked on the platform that would ascend them to the Chamber. As much as he wanted to be there for her, Revan knew there was no way to be in the Chamber with them without breaking the rules. 'I would get in a whole crap load of trouble if I went in there without permission.' And with that thought he decided to meditate until the judging was over.
Revan could sense his wife's pain and Anakin's anger as the platform lowered back into the room and made his way over to her before wrapping her in a comforting hug and reading her mind to find out what happened, the Knight quickly shot a masked glare at the two Temple guards that made a move to separate them and both backed off immediately. After they reluctantly separated the guards resumed escorting her to the turbolift, Revan and Anakin behind them. The two shared a glance and had the same thought: 'We have to find the real traitor before she's executed.'
The two Knights made their way to the Senate and Anakin asked his wife represent Ahsoka in trial. The senator agreed without hesitation and the three made their way to the Republic base. One shock trooper shut the ray shield down to Ahsoka's cell before the Jedi and senator entered and the shield went back up after. "Padme has agreed to represent you before the Senate. "I will do everything I can to prove your innocence, Ahsoka." Padme assured her. "I am almost certain that the person behind this is Ventress, and you know I wasn't working for her. She was at the warehouse... in the room. We fought, but she got away. Didn't any of the clones see anything?" Ahsoka asked. "No, none of the clones reported seeing Ventress at the scene. I thought you said Ventress left before you went into the warehouse." Anakin replied. "That's what I thought, too, but then she attacked me when I got inside. I'd know her red lightsabers anywhere." Ahsoka told him.
"Well, if that's our only lead, then I know what I have to do." Anakin said as he walked towards the shield. "Wait, where are you going? You can't leave now." Padme protested. "Yes, I can. I have to find Ventress and get to the bottom of this." he replied. "I'm coming with you just uh... give us a few seconds." Revan said as sat beside Ahsoka and the other couple gave them some privacy. "Ahsoka, if Padme doesn't win the trial and you're given the..." the Knight swallowed thickly, "death sentence... I want you to reveal your pregnancy, okay? It's the only thing that'll prevent your execution." he said in a whisper as she smiled. "I will. But I don't think it'll be necessary, I know you'll come through for me, for us." she replied, placing a hand on her stomach before giving her a quick hug and following Anakin out of the cell.
After the two Knights reached the Underworld they made their way around for about half an hour before spotting the former assassin and leaping down from the catwalk and landing behind her. "Anakin Skywalker." she said, turning around to face them. "And who's this a new Padawan already?" she mocked. "Not quite, Ventress." Revan replied as her eyes widened upon recognizing his voice. "Revan! You've grown up it seems. More taller... and well built..." she trailed off, staring at him for awhile. The young Knight gagged when he realized she was checking him out. 'Oookay... this just got uncomfortable... and gross.'
"I know you're behind all of this." Anakin accused. "Prove it." she challenged before Force-jumping onto a higher as Anakin ignited his blade and jumped after her with Revan right behind him. Ventress was apparently ready for them and kicked Anakin into a wall before tripping Revan than attempted to punch the older Knight, who caught her fist in his left and a squeezed it. The bounty hunter yelped in pain before pulling her hand free and jumping to a wall to avoid Anakin's slash as Revan picked himself up and activated his ice blade. Ventress summoned two metal antenna Anakin had cut when he tried to slash her as makeshift weapons. "Leave me alone!" she demanded, swinging at them. Revan slashed one of them in half before she retreated higher up. The Knights quickly cornered her against a wall on a catwalk before Anakin cut the other antenna in half then slammed her against the wall with the Force as Revan sheathed his saber.
The older Knight suddenly grabbed her in a Force Choke and they watched as she desperately grasped at her throat before he suddenly pulled her to him and started choking her with his hand instead. "Tell me what happened!" Anakin snapped. "When I heard your little brat was on the run, I thought she might bring a large bounty." she managed to explain through the choking before Anakin pushed her to the ground and brought his saber to her neck. "Bounty?" he hissed as she placed her hands on either side of her head in surrender.
"I was going to catch your pet and turn her over to the authorities, collect whatever bounty was due." she struggled to reply before Anakin turned his blade off and released her. "What stopped you?" he demanded as she coughed for a few seconds, trying to catch her breathe. "At first... I admit... I was just interested in the money and a little bit of revenge, but then I realized your fallen Padawan and I had a lot in common." she explained. "How dare you compare yourself to Ahsoka?" he hissed. "It's true!" she yelled spinning around to face him and Revan?
Well he was pissed at both of them because the longer they went at it the sooner Ahsoka was going to be killed, because he wasn't entirely sure being pregnant would save her especially if Tarkin opened his shit-eating mouth about it. "My master abandoned me, and that's exactly what you did to her, you and your precious Jedi Order." she growled. Anakin's expression turned guilty when he realized she was right. Revan silently thought about her words as he looked in the direction of the Republic base.
"After I left the warehouse, after I left your little Padawan alone, I was walking away, and I thought she came up behind me to talk more. But I was wrong. Someone came out of nowhere and hit me from behind. Not just anyone can sneak up behind me. It had to be another Jedi." Ventress explained. "I don't believe you." Anakin replied, sounding skeptical. "Believe it. Whoever you're looking for has my lightsabers. That's how you'll know you've found the criminal." she said. "Well, this leads us to a dead end. You're the only one Ahsoka had talked to." he said, leaning against the railing.
"That's not true." she said, thinking for a second. "What do you mean?" Revan asked as Anakin pushed off the railing and turned to face her. "Your friend contacted the Temple. She spoke to someone named Barriss. That's why we knew to go to the warehouse in the first place. It was this Barriss that told us to go there." the former assassin told them. "If you're lying, you're dead." the older Knight hissed threateningly before the two left her.
Revan suddenly stopped him after they landed on one of the Temple's landing platforms. "Wait. You go see if you can stall the trial, I will speak to Barriss. She may be more willing to talk to me than you." he explained. Anakin was about to protest but suddenly sensed there was something else bothering his friend and decided not to bother him about it before nodding and getting back in the shuttle. Revan watched his friend take off before walking towards the door leading into the Temple. 'Barriss... She couldn't be responsible for all of this, could she...?' he silently dreaded the answer as he walked through the halls...
The Knight pressed a button on the panel outside the door to alert its occupant someone was requesting entrance. "Enter." he heard his first girlfriend's voice call out from the other side of the door and opened it to see her meditating without her hooded robe on. "Barriss, do you mind if we talk?" he asked, entering her room as she stood and faced him. "Revan, how can I help you?" she asked kindly with a smile. Revan felt sick to his stomach at the thought she might be behind everything that's happened the last few days but managed to steel himself so he wouldn't lose focus. "I was told that you spoke with Ahsoka before she was arrested. What did you say to her?" he asked, summoning her saber off the ground to seemingly inspect it.
The real reason of course was to make sure that if she was guilty and panicked, she would have no choice but to summon Ventress' sabers, proving her guilt. "You know the three of us have been friends for a long time, I was only trying to help her. I hope I'm not in any trouble." she replied. "Not at all. I just need to know what you told her and if you told anyone else." he said, keeping his tone emotionless. "No, I thought I had a clue for her, but I really couldn't tell her anything. Who told you I spoke to her?" she asked as he turned to face her. "Ventress. She told me." he replied, watching her carefully.
"Ventress? Isn't she the one Ahsoka says is really behind all this?" she asked. "That's what Ahsoka says, but I know she's wrong." he replied knowing that was the truth after reading part of Ventress' mind. "Ventress thinks someone else is involved." he added. "I'm surprised you believe her after she tried to kill both you and Ahsoka more than once. Who else could it be? Surely not Ahsoka." she replied, sounding dismissive of the idea her friend was actually responsible. That is when three years of friendship and trust with her suddenly twisted into hatred and betrayal, evident by the sudden ten degree temperature drop in the room.
"I know it wasn't her... traitor." he said darkly before activating her blade and moving to attack. Just as he thought, his ex summoned the former assassin's sabers from a pot in the corner of the room and blocked the strike with both. "Funny. Those belonged to Ventress." he said while slowly overpowering her with one hand. Barriss broke the saberlock and cartwheeled to the right before locking blades with him again. Revan's eyes widened at the image of her attack. 'That attack! It's the same one I saw in my vision on Naboo all those years ago!' "You should've gotten rid of the them!" he snarled, angry at her and himself for not realizing the Force tried to warn him of this betrayal years ago. "I think they suit me." she replied with a dark smirk before trying to push him back before breaking the lock. The two traded a few more blows before he kicked her out the door. The Mirialan recovered and quickly took off, Revan right behind her as he clipped the saber on the back of his belt.
After chasing her for a few minutes he jumped in the air and ignited his ice blade, bringing it down on her. Barriss reactivated the blades and blocked as he landed before trading a few more blows then backhanded her away from him. The fallen Padawan recovered as they stared each other down. "Ahsoka and I trusted you, and you betrayed us." he snapped. "I've learned that trust is overrated. The only thing the Jedi Council believes in is violence." she shot back. "Oh, I'll show you violence." he said darkly while activating his lava blade. Barriss took a step back as she could practically feel the heat and cold radiating off both sabers.
Revan's blows became more fierce as he drove her back and she jumped onto one of the columns elevated base before trying to Force Push him. Revan deflected it back at her with his lava blade much to the girl's surprise who was knocked to the ground before recovering. Revan snorted as he watched her pick herself up. 'Weakling.' "Cease hostilities!" a Temple guard ordered as he and three other blocked off both sides of the all, two on each side. Before anyone else could act, Revan picked her up with the Force and tossed her out the window behind him before jumping out after and landing near her just as she was recovering. Barriss blocked one of his blades and he pushed it to the ground before blocking another slash from his ice blade with her other blade. The Knight drove her back along the ledge just above the yard where the old tree was and where Tera Sinube was training some Younglings that included the group Revan and Ahsoka helped with their Gathering.
Revan spun around before delivering a kick to the side of her head and knocking her off the ledge. The Knight jumped down just as she recovered and stood while Sinube guarded the younglings who watched in awe and surprise at what was happening. "Enough! It's over!" he yelled before getting a snarl in return as she rushed him. This round Revan employed physical attacks along with lightsaber slashes, quickly overpowering as she wasn't expecting him to use the former. The Knight soon stopped using his sabers altogether before grabbing her by the head and kneeing her in the face then tripping the fallen Padawan and pushing her face first into the ground. "You won't prove the corruption in the Order! Not like this!" he growled before picking her up and tossing her into the tree.
Revan and four Temple guards escorted Barriss through the base wherehis wife was being tried. "I hope you've said your prayers." he said coldly with a glare as the doors opened to the room he sensed her in. "Chancellor." he called out, and it would seem just in time as Palpatine had almost fully said the verdict. "I hope you have a reason for bursting into our proceedings, Master Revan." the Chancellor said as the six person group walked onto a catwalk with two shock troopers standing on it. "I'm here with evidence and a confession from the person responsible for all the crimes Ahsoka has been accused of." he announced before standing aside and shoving his ex and former friend forward. "Barriss Offee, member of the Jedi Order and traitor." he said as the guards deactivated their sabers.
Revan could sense the surprise and especially the hurt coming from his wife. "Barriss, is that true?" Ahsoka asked, silently hoping it wasn't. "Tell them the truth." Revan demanded as he folded his arms. Barriss looked at him sadly before stepping forward as the screens stopped showing Ahsoka and now showed Barriss. "I did it, because I've come to realize what many of people in the Republic have come to realize, that the Jedi are the ones responsible for this war, that we've so lost our way that we have become villains in this conflict, that we are the ones that should be put on trial, all of us! And my attack on the Temple was an attack on what the Jedi have become, an army fighting for the Dark Side, fallen from the light that we once held so dear. The Republic is failing! It's only a matter of time." she confessed while explaining her motives before Revan pulled her back. "Take her away." Palpatine ordered with a wave of his hand before the Temple guards escorted her out of the room. Revan smiled at his wife before it fell when he sensed something was still wrong.
The Council plus the two Knights and Ahsoka now stood in the Council Chamber. "Ahsoka, I am so sorry about everything." Anakin apologized softly getting a small nod in return. "You have our most humble apologies, little 'Soka. The Council was wrong to accuse you." Plo spoke kindly. "You have shown such great strength and resilience in your struggle to prove your innocence." Saesee Tiin spoke. "This is the true sign of a Jedi Knight." Ki-Adi said. "This was actually your great trial. Now we see that. We understand that the Force works in mysterious ways and because of this trial, you have become a greater Jedi than you would have otherwise." Windu explained. "Back into the Order you may come." Yoda said with a small smile as Anakin stepped in front of her. "They're asking you back, Ahsoka." he said before offering his former Padawan her braid back. "I'm asking you back." he spoke gently, Ahsoka looked at her maskless husband who smiled and nodded before she turned her attention to the braid and hesitantly reached out with both hands.
To everyones surprise she held his hand with one of hers and used the other to close it so that he was holding the braid in his fist. Ahsoka looked at him sadly. "I'm sorry, Master, but I'm not coming back." she said quietly and released his hand. Revan's smile fell as felt his heart break at her words. 'She's... she's leaving...' Ahsoka turned and made her way to the turbolift without looking back. Anakin and Revan stood for a moment before running to turbolift as well.
"Ahsoka, wait!" Revan called out as they neared her. "Ahsoka, I need to talk to you." Anakin called out after she didn't stop when his friend had tried. Ahsoka finally stopped just past the massive stone pillars but didn't turn to face them until they caught up. "Why are you doing this?" Anakin asked, hurt at the thought of her leaving. "The Council didn't trust me, so how can I trust myself?" she replied, looking at the ground sadly. "What about us? We believed in you. We stood by you." Anakin reminded, gesturing to himself and Revan. "I know you both believe in me, and I'm grateful for that. But this isn't about you, either of you. I can't stay here any longer, not now." she replied softly, looking at her former master then her husband.
"The Jedi Order is your life. You can't just throw it away like this. Ahsoka, you are making a mistake." Anakin tried reasoning. "Maybe, but I have to sort this out on my own, without the Council and without you..." she replied sadly, turning away from him. "I understand. More than you realize, I understand wanting to walk away from the Order." Anakin said, understanding her decision. "I know..." she spoke softly before making her way to the steps.
Revan ran and stopped in front of her. "Revan, please... I have to leave..." she said sadly before he pulled her into a gentle hug. "I know..." he murmured against her montrals before pulling and holding her at arms length. "I... I wish I could come, but... after everything that's happened it would probably draw unwanted attention to all three of us if I did." he said quietly while laying a hand on her stomach before she kissed him softly. "This isn't goodbye forever. Once I find a way out, I'll be right there beside you." he assured with a smile. "I know you will. You've never broken a promise to be before and I know you won't start now." she replied, returning the smile before sharing another kiss. Ahsoka reluctantly pulled away from her husband before walking past down the stairs as he watched her leave... 'Until we meet again...'
I guess that's that Episode V is finally done... Now just Episode VI when Disney decides to release it. Speaking of, since it'll probably be quite awhile before it's released not to mention when I'll get a chance to watch it, I've decided to start the Rebels sequel immediately. I should have the first chapter up soon.