Return of a Padawan

Anakin shouldn't have contacted Obi-Wan. Yet, he had no choice, he had had to make sure they were safe. He felt drained as he released his emotions into the Force for the first time since the nightmares began. He had kept the emotions to himself to prevent the Jedi from finding out, now that was too late. He would see Obi-Wan, but only because Obi-Wan could protect himself. He knew the poison was doing its job and it would only be a matter of time before he was completely consumed by it. Should he tell Obi-Wan? He wasn't sure. He didn't want Obi-Wan blaming himself.

"Lord Skywalker?" Rex questioned. "Anakin," he repeated softly.

"Yes, Captain Rex," Anakin replied. Rex noticed a small ghost of a smile on his superior 's face and he relaxed.

"How is the hunt going?" Rex questioned.

"The hunt?"

"The execution of Order Sixty Six. The Emperor is most pleased with the progress."

"The Jedi?" Anakin now remembered order Sixty Six, the Order that all Clones had turned on the Jedi. "Are there any prisoners?" Anakin inquired.

"Yes, sir. One."

"Which One?"

"Commander Tano of the Jedi."

"Ashoka?"

"Affirmative, sir."

Ashoka had been captured. She knew something was not quite right. Shed kept up with her Jedi techniques in her small cell. Some of the Clone Troopers she recognized. Captain Rex had even apologized before leaving her alone. He had come back to stare at and check on her several times but he never said another word to her. She hadn't eaten in two days. But she was a Jedi and she would survive. She would survive and find Master Skywalker and his master, Master Kenobi, then everything would be okay. Everything would be right in the galaxy, she knew. They were heroes. She was a student and one day, hopefully she would be as good as they were. Skyguy was her master after all. Two clones came in with her breakfast as she opened her eyes and smirked.

"I was beginning to think the Empire had run out of rations."

"Let's see how you fare when Lord Vader's done with you," stated one she recognized as Screwball. Thus far, she had only glimpsed at a man who kept his face in the shadows while she was tortured. She ate her rations slowly. The Jedi were all but gone and she was sitting in a cage. Master Windu had died at the hands of the mighty Lord Vader. Masters Yoda and Kenobi were MIA. There were rumors that Master Yoda had been destroyed and Kenobi captured. There was nothing at all on Skyguy. She felt a tremor in the Force and looked up.

"Please, get the lady some wine," she heard. Wine. She raised an eyebrow, a habit she had picked up from Skyguy. The cage was unlocked and in stepped a man in a black Jedi cloak, with his face hidden. "I hope you haven't been treated badly," inquired a voice that she felt she should recognize.

"No, not at all," she quipped, "I'm used to this kind of hospitality from the Dark Side. Tell me, was it Ventress who put you up to this?"

"Tell me, Snips, do you know what happened?"

"The Clones turned on us. Skyguy?" she questioned for he was the only one who ever called her Snips. He lowered his cloak and she threw herself into his arms hugging him for the first time in her life. The emotion of relief and caring burst out of her despite all of her Jedi training. "Master, you are alive! I knew it! I knew the Sith could never destroy you."

"Oh, you'd be surprised, Snips," he stated softly, and Ashoka didn't understand so she ignored that comment.

"We have to find Master Kenobi? Do you think..." she hesitated as she drew back and looked into his blue eyes, she knew how close Skyguy was to Master Kenobi. "He's alive isn't he?"

"Yes, Snips. Obi-Wan is fine. We've got to get you out of here," he said and she had forgotten she was in a cage.

"It's about time you showed up. I could have rotted waiting on you."

"Do you have your lightsaber?" he asked. She looked away.

"No," she answered mentally preparing herself for the standard lecture except it didn't come. She looked up cautiously.

"Then, we better go and get it," he stated. "Wait here."

"Oh, sure, like I have nothing better to do."

"I'm going to retrieve it."

"Fantastic," she remarked.

"Don't move."

"Yeah, Skyguy. There are so many places to go in a locked cell," she watched him walk away. Minutes later he was back with her lightsaber. She itched to ignite the emerald blade, but resisted. Skyguy had a plan, he always had a plan.

"Ready to go, Snips?"

"They're going to just let us walk out of here?"

"Yep. Wouldn't do them any good to try and stop you."

"You aren't coming with me?"

"I can't."

"Master, I don't understand."

"I'm Lord Vader."