Here's a quick update. Do enjoy!


Lux's POV

I grabbed some of Terry's clothes to change into rather than my conspicuous armor. It included a white sun shirt with a yellow embroidery around my neck, tan kakhi shorts with a little oil stain (not exactly the sort of tuxedo I have been hoping for), and some brown weather-stained sneakers... After I was done and looked in the mirror, I could hardly recognize myself.

But then I realized how much of an obvious presence I still sustained. My hair stayed the same length and my voice could make me easily stand out.

"Ahsoka, do you think I should change my voice while we are on this excursion?"

Ahsoka was behind a dressing curtain, but the sun hit it at such an angle that her silhouette appeared as she was dressing... I never did tell her that I could somewhat see her behind the veil. What good would that do? It would just break us apart again.

"Ummm," She hesitated. I couldn't tell then, but looking back I understood that one side of her was trying not to insult me while the other side is thinking of why the question was necessary to be asked. "You sound fine, Lux... Don't change your voice because you can... I-I sometimes like hearing it."

"But people may recognize me in the streets, especially after yesterday's string of attacks. My voice may be a dead ringer to them."

"Who? Lux, you sound fine...! And even if you had friends here in Iziz, you been away for..., how long? Two years. Three. By that time, anyone who knew will hardly recognize you with your newly grown hair-"

"You like it?" I interrupted.

"Let me finish. You look and sound fine, Lux. You'll blend in perfectly well. It is me you need to worry about. The attacker is after me and although he will recognize you from last night, will be looking out for me first... I'm the one who will stick out to him, not you..."

And so she stepped out, causing me to wildly gasp, my mouth dropped into a comical O as I gazed, no ogled, at her disguise... She (and I could not tell if that was a good or bad thing) appeared as an average day teenage girl. My 'Soka was wearing a periwinkle shirt and skirt that didn't flow since it was a tight fit. In fact, the shirt was too small that I could see a small triangular opening around her waist whenever she took a step. Ahsoka was also wearing a silver wrist bands that sparkled a bit in the strong sunlight and big go-go boots that almost reached halfway up her calves. And her shorts were not too small, but they still were a bit spunky since they revealed a majority of her thigh. Although there was no back or front cutout like her normal Jedi clothing, her shirt had a cutout on her shoulders, giving more free movement if she were pull out her lightsaber to fight. Which reminds me of that 'accessory'.

"Are you bringing your lightsaber?"

"Yes. Why do you ask?" She asked calmly.

I looked around at the clothing, that carried not one trace of pockets and surely nothing big enough to store her lightsaber in.

"Just curious." I pressed onward.

She sighed in nothing short of...- I could not tell. I could not tell if it was annoyance or enthusiasm... "If you must know, I have my one main lightsaber with me... I learned from you."

I was about to ask exactly what she meant, but then it hit me... After that, my blush was so evident that Ahsoka was able to point that out by looking at my mortified face.


"What's our plan of action?" I asked.

We were in the middle of Malgan Square, but we weren't afraid of being overheard. There was many people strolling around and talking that it seemed impossible to hear what my loved one was saying.

"Look around the generator. It's the best we can look for."

"Should we use fake names?" In case we are somehow overheard.

"No, Lux. That's unneccessary. Unless we're pulled over, our names shall remain the same."

"And what if we are?"

"Then we'll be the same people as we pretended to be yesterday. I'll be Zaa Vashee and you'll be Lars Quell. They are perfectly safe names... We're too far away from Zygerria or even Shili for someone to recognize them."

"Zygerria. What happened there?"

"It's a long story."

I scoffed unintentionally. "I have time."

"Well, I don't. I need to focus on my surroundings and so should you." It was then that I remained silent.

The King's proclamations were everywhere. On every wall, every door, every street corner, every shopping booth... Luckily, there were no wanted pictures with any of the Rebel's faces; just notifications to report suspicious activity. Some of the citizens were getting skittish with the signs.

"Those villains should learn to respect us and our home."

"But haven't you ever thought that maybe they have a point in what they're doing."

"My children can't read at night. And my Granddaddy... p-passed away in the hospital for losing all the power. Something has to be done about these monsters!"

"They're people. They are only doing this support us against those ghastly droids that police so unreasonably."

"They bombed the King's family. Was that 'reasonable'?! And not only that, they are destroying our defense lines. They want us to be invaded by who-knows-what!"

I let out a slight snarl at the lying crowd, which caused Ahsoka to casually grab my hand. "Move on. Move on." Her hand was sweating in the sun causing me to, well, calm immediately. I was walking perfectly then..., almost bizarrely perfect. I looked at her back headtail, as it swayed up and down, up and down. And it kept doing that.

So on a strange instinct, I reached up and grabbed the tip of it; wiggling it between my thumb and index finger. Ahsoka was silent with all this.

When she suddenly stopped, I bumped into her. "Whoops, sorry Lux. I should have given you a warning." I ignored her and placed my free hand on her bare shoulder, slightly wet with a layer of sweat. But almost immediately, I was brought back to reality. "This is the site where we were attacked."

I looked up to see what once stood the power generator, with a sheet of metal that became a quick replacement for the giant door. Many B2 battle droids were marching around the perimeter of the generator as well as the barrack borders, not to protect the scrap that was left, but to guard the firefighter droids that were slowly putting out the flames. "If they think they can rebuild that in time, they're sadly mistaken." Ahsoka muttered.

"I... I don't think they are." I pointed at the right corner of the Wall. There were sounds of scraping and welding coming in that direction, sounds of noisy construction. "They only seem to be putting focus on rebuilding that tower."

"Hmmmm," Ahsoka began to think again. "Perhaps to send a communication signal for reinforcements."

I shook my head. "I might not be as used to war as you are, 'Soka, but a comlink or holographic display operates individually. They can still send messages regardless of the generator's destruction."

"Wow, why didn't I think of that?" Ahsoka muttered in admiration.

"Well," I stuttered, not conformed with her attention, "I-I-I am more relaxed, which makes me see things clearly... I looked at the back of her head again, desperate to see that exquisite face. "Because I'm with you."

She turned to look at me (OH, those eyes were brighter than the sun!). "You always take the chance to compliment, don't you, Lux?"

I tried to look away as I rubbed the nape of my neck in awkwardness, but that did little to calm the exhilaration going through me. "I-I wouldn't say that I'm complimenting you. More like I'm patting myself in the back."

"True..." She mumbled. "But that's not what I meant, is it?"

I gave her the most confused look (quite unintentionally) as my ogle brought me closer to her eyes. "What did you mean?"

"You bow to those you can't get your mind across... Like me... Why do you place your only source of relief in being around me?"

"Because..., because you're... p-perfect..." I felt her hot breath, tickling my nose.

"Am I, Lux? Am I really that flawless...? I got shot and captured last night. I broke my vows as a Jedi. I don't even know if I can accept someone who..., who loves me. That goes against everything I've been taught."

My smile shot more crookedly as her eyes then appeared as three for being so close to her, so close to her soaking lips. "True... But that's not what I meant, is it? You... You're perfect for me."

My eyes closed, expecting a thrush of warmth spread into my mind, tingle my heart and shiver my lungs... But it never came... Instead of tasting that sweet wonder, I felt a pounding bump on my head like a boulder of disappointment. Ahsoka, right before we embraced again, moved back and bonked me playfully on my forehead. "Why do you have to be so hopelessly predictable, Bonteri?" She snided, but it a merry way. A flirtatious way... It made the moment more inviting.

"Because I'm not as perfect as you."

She shook her head. "Lies..." She used two hands to grab the front of my shirt, almost in a jerky flourish of movement. "You're perfect by being yourself."

I expected a smash on the lips. I felt a strong urge to replenish that connecting sensation by doing that... 'Oh, I love her, love her, love her!'

"Hey you two!" Interruption! And not only that, but I recognized the voice... It was who you probably guessed. It was Lando. "Over here!"

"Lando, if you ever intrude on us again, I swear I'll beat you like a bug!" Ahsoka began to snigger.

"I have something to show." He whispered.

"What?! What is more important than-"

"Lars!" Ahsoka shouted in my fake name... I wasn't focusing on my surroundings because people were starting to stare. No attention. We can't have any squandering attention.

And like a mother, Ahsoka grabbed my ear to force me to face her. "Can't you control yourself?" She hissed in a soft mutter.

"But-" Ah, what good reason do I have? None that she would accept as a good reason. 'Ruining the moment' is not exactly the most accepted as 'logical' argument. "Yes, Zaa..."

"What is it, Lando?" Ahsoka then spoke to him in my stead.

He beckoned with the wave of his arm. "Follow me to my booth..."

And so we did and once we got there I realized why he wanted to meet at the shop despite being in the open. It looks like he was merely selling items...

The assassin could be anyone in these streets... I looked around, but all there was were Humans, Twi'leks, and Ithorians. Didn't know his tactics if he was spying on us, whether that would be to mingle in the streets and look natural or hide while spying from afar... Either way, I felt his eyes were on us...

"... Where are you? Aha! There's the little thing." Lando pulled out a vial from one of his compartments to show... Couldn't see what it was because it was mostly empty, but when I looked closer I saw a purple sludge, with a slow-moving dribble like molasses.

"Well, what is it?" I questioned.

He carried the vial like it was worth a million credits. "This is the blood from you," He pointed to Ahsoka. ",that the medical droid took a sample of..." If it wasn't for seriousness of the situation, I would have said, 'My, Ahsoka! You're even beautiful on the inside.' "I did some investigating of where you people were attacked last night., but couldn't find anything else except blaster marks and broken-down droids... Anyways, the medical droid was able to discern this blood sample to contain Ryll."

"Ryll?"

"Yes." Lando said simply.

"What is it?" Ahsoka asked

"I don't know"

"Well, what did the droid say?"

"The droid cannot tell either." We just cast blank expressions... "Look, I heard you guys got attacked so I went out to see if there was anything left behind by him, but there was nothing. This morning, when you people were talking about the venom origin, I immediately remembered the blood sample. So I asked the droid to study the contents of it... All it found was Togruta blood..., and a certain substance called Ryll... I don't know what it is exactly, but I am pretty sure that this could be the poison you two are trying to narrow down... So, one thing became another, and, well, here I am now..."

Ahsoka gave a blank expression, simply surprised at how quickly this matter was solved and not only that, but was solved for her by a mere boy that we both neglected so far as nothing more than a wannabe gambler and an in-your-face flirter... "Why, Land... I-I..., I'm very thankful for your discovery... I probably wouldn't have been able to find a starting point had it not been for you..." I wanted to say thanks as well, but the idea that a boy was finding answers for Ahsoka rather than me kept me from doing so. Why? Why does this little man have to be both a thorn to the side and a helping hand? "How can I ever repay you?"

Lando had a dreary face..., then he smiled..., then he shook his head... "Nothing really... I mean, this is only a starting point... I-we still don't know where this 'poison' comes from or who sent it..."

Ahsoka still smiled as she grabbed the vial from the boy's hands. "All that matters is that Barriss has starting information in her research..." She gave me the vial... "Pocket it." She whispered... Aye, aye, milady... I placed it inside the pockets of my shorts... "Lando, one more thing." She called back, "Are you sure there isn't anything else left in the sample.

He shook his head. "None that the droid can tell."

My 'Soka gave one last frank sigh. "Well, all that matters is the sample is as good as an answer for this puzzle."


"Ahsoka...?" We were beginning to walk back to Terry's workshop to get Saw and return back to our main base. "I've been thinking."

"Yes?" She asked... I just stared at her back headtail as it continued to bounce.

"When... When..." I was going to say, 'Once this battle is finished, then what happens to us...?' Just wait for the war to end? Does she still accept me, or is everything she say's simply empty words. I didn't come to that... I just asked a completely random question. "When and where do we plan to get some lunch?" Where did that come from?

"What?" She asked awkwardly confused.

"I mean..., you're hungry, aren't you?"

"Well...," She thought for a moment. "Yes... I am... Once we pick up Saw, we can go get some food rations..."

"I have money... Surely- I mean, you know, uh... Don't you want to try some 'real' food than just bland rations..."

"What do you mean?" She wasn't this naïve, I knew it... She was just avoiding the idea that I was inviting her on a date... If only it was nighttime, and it might be easy to agree with, instead of this scorching sun...

"I... I don't know, Lux... It's torrid now... Can't we, like, wait for tonight..."

I felt slightly bummed, but when she said 'tonight', my head lifted high again. "We can eat whenever you like."

"I know what you're asking of me..." And?

"So?"

"I... I..." She hesitated even further, and then decided to move away from her question to ask another... "Is six o'clock all right with you?"

I gasped. I nearly did a jig out of happiness... She accepts me! "Of course..., beautiful... Whenever you'd like."

We did not talk or even face each other all the way back to the Workshop. My mind was buzzing, and even a negative part of me was questioning these quick turn-of-events... Is she sincere? Please say that she wasn't doing that for me... Ah, who am I kidding? She already proves that I annoy her whenever I am too forward with whatever relationship we are in... Romantic, no. Not at all... Just on-and-off... She doesn't love me. She may have feelings for me, but she doesn't love me.


Ahsoka's POV

I didn't know what to say... For most of this war, with all the killing and destruction and hypocrisy, one idea that would always keep nagging me was that 'What would it feel like to have someone, who not only has feelings for me, but loves me as well?' Would it feel like a special comfort or would it be an unwelcome torment?

No, it's not that I wanted to fall in love, or raise a family, or be married... It was more like I wanted to become a woman. Somehow, prove that I am a person by doing things a normal person would do as they grow up... Like..., like..., well, like having a relationship with another man. Love or not, I want to do things that normal women my age does... Like go on 'foreign outings' such as dinner tonight.

But... do they go through all this... Do other girls have to rely on being fair to get a man... What about all the other women who are most talented that never find a man, simply because their not 'girly' enough...? Are men naturally conniving?

No, Lux is so compassionate to me. I was only spiteful with him in the past because I revealed a vulnerable side. A side I was adamant against... A side that went against everything I have been taught... But most importantly, a side that cures the distress on both me and Lux...

The birth of this new mind outlook began years ago... Since the undercover mission to Mon Gazza... Is it a worthy path to take or a foreboding one that will make me forget who I really am and why I am here?


I hope you all loved this chapter. Whether it was cheesy or not, it took me a very long time to finish... A believable romance is very hard to accomplish, and like what Star Wars does to fans many times, I left more questions than answers... There's little clues here that I left very open... But that's all I am going to say for now.

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