Chapter 26
Ahsoka walked into the prison cell aboard the Avalon, still with her handcuffs and ankle shackles. As she entered her cell, she turned back around to face Hera Syndulla, not saying a word. "Ahsoka", Hera began softly, "I just want to tell you, how sorry I am. I have no choice, if it was up to me, I would've turned a blind eye", she told the Togruta. "I'm not the one you should be apologizing to", Ahsoka deadpanned, before walking deeper into the cell. Hera frowned as she ordered the guards to close the doors, before walking away.
Ahsoka sat down on the uncomfortable bed, before breaking down in tears again. She couldn't do anything now, she couldn't use the force, she couldn't call Artoo, and Sabine and Luke were thought dead. For the first time in years, she felt helpless, with no hope whatsoever. It reminded her of the time she was framed for the bombing in the jedi temple. "What am I going to do", Ahsoka questioned herself. "Confused, are you young padawan?", questioned the voice of Master Yoda. "Master Yoda?", Ahsoka shockingly asked, she started to look around the room.
There, in the middle of the room, stood the small green alien jedi, though there was a visible blue glow around him. "Master Yoda, how? I'm disconnected from the force, how can you be here?", Ahsoka immediately asked as she tried to wipe her tears away. "Hehehe, much to learn from the force, you still have", Yoda said to the former jedi learner. "I'm sorry Master Yoda, I failed. I failed in being a jedi, being there for Luke and Leia. And now Luke's dead, because I wasn't there to help him", Ahsoka suddenly said looking down in shame. "Mmm, believe them. Do you?", Yoda simply asked as he walked over to Ahsoka. Ahsoka huffed in defeat, surely Master Yoda didn't understand the severity of the situation.
"Master Yoda, I saw Luke's helmet. There's no way he would've survived that shot, especially if it was a sniper", Ahsoka argued. Yoda just stared at her, taking everything she rambled on to consideration. "Conflicted you are, young Tano", Yoda suddenly told her, "But gravely underestimate Skywalker, you do". Ahsoka growled in frustration as she got up and limped to another corner of her cell, away from Master Yoda.
Ahsoka hugged her knees as she buried her head into them, silently crying. Yoda felt Ahsoka's discomfort and decided it was best to reveal the truth. "Alive, he is. Along with your companion", Yoda said softly. Ahsoka quickly brought her head up, "They're alive?", Ahsoka asked in disbelief. Yoda simply nodded as he sat down next to her. Ahsoka smiled as tears started falling again, "I need to get out of here", she said in revelation, "I need to find them". Ahsoka got up and started banging on the doors. "No", Yoda suddenly said outloud. Ahsoka stopped banging the door to face the small jedi master. "No? Master, they need me. Luke needs me. I need him", Ahsoka yelled at the old master, she felt bad for yelling at him, but her instincts were screaming at her to get out.
"Come to you, they will", Yoda said slowly, "Go, and only trouble will you bring", he warned her. Ahsoka simply sighed at the old master, but reluctantly agreed. "Alright Master, I'll wait for them here", she said turning to her bed. "Good. Patience, you must have", Yoda said before he started fading, "Trust in the force", he finally said as he vanished. Ahsoka was left alone now. She started making a plan to escape, why wait and let Luke and Sabine get captured when they could all flee. Sure Master Yoda was wise, but he was now one with the force, and Ahsoka isn't one to directly obey orders either.
Several hours had passed since the arrest of Ahsoka Tano, and there was still no sign of Luke or Sabine. Two guards were making there way to her cell, carrying several medical equipment and a tray of food. General Syndulla had requested that the prisoner be treated well, until they arrived to Coruscant. "Do you actually think she should be charged with treason?", one guard, a female human, asked her male colleague. The other guard simply shrugged, "I don't know. They say she was the first Fulcrum. But that was twelve years ago, people are known to change", he said as he checked the room.
"She seems to be sleeping", the man said as he started reaching for his keys. "Still, do you really think so?", the woman began again, "I mean look at what we're doing. We're hunting down our own poster boy, Luke Skywalker. Without him, we'd still be fighting the empire, kriff, the rebellion wouldn't have survived the battle of Yavin", the woman argued. "Mhm", the man nonchalantly agreed as he inserted his keys into the key slot. "I'm just saying", the woman continued, "We should be helping Skywalker, not be his enemy". The man turned to confront the woman, "Well I agree with you, but he is the only one of his kind. Who would stop him if he ever turned evil? And don't say he won't just because he gave you a sapling as a wedding gift", the man told her.
"You know what I mean", she said as she started moving the medical cart into position. The doors to the cell opened, the man slowly walked in to check on the prisoner. "Hey, wake up. We brought you food and medicine", the man commented to the body in the bed. There was no stir, the body was still covered in its sheets. "Hey!", the man said in a louder tone, "Wake up!". The guard walked closer to the bed, he reached for the sheets to uncover them when he was met with a fist to the face. "What th-", the man shouted before being knocked unconscious by Ahsoka Tano. Ahsoka quickly moved to the woman, the woman pushed the cart to get in between her and the incoming Togruta. But Ahsoka gracefully jumped over it, even with shackles and bind that prevented her connection to the force, she was still physically in shape.
"Please, don't hurt me", the woman pleaded in tears. Ahsoka narrowed her eyes at the young woman, "Give me one good reason not to", she said in a commanding voice. "I'm pregnant. Three months pregnant, please don't hurt me. I'm a good colleague of Skywalker", the woman said in tears. Ahsoka stopped in her tracks when hearing this, she didn't want to harm someone who was bearing a child. It reminded her...of Padmé. "What's your name?", Ahsoka asked softly. The woman stuttered a bit, "Shara Bey-Dameron", she said quietly.
"Listen Mrs. Dameron, I'll let you go, if you help me", Ahsoka said to the woman on the floor. She gestured her handcuffs and the medical cart, "Free me from these cuffs and shackles, and one dose of pain relief, then I'll be on my way", Ahsoka slowly said. "Why should I help you?", Shara asked her. "We can help each other. But most importantly, we can help Skywalker. If you free me, I'll be able to help him", Ahsoka explained to her. Shara slowly nodded and grabbed the key holder from her unconscious colleague. She then freed Ahsoka and gave her a dose of painkillers. "What's your child's name?", Ahsoka asked her suddenly. "Poe. Poe Dameron", Shara replied.
"Poe. That's a nice name", Ahsoka commented. She then turned away facing her newly found freedom.
Ahsoka sneaked pass several guards on her way to her T-6 shuttle. She boarded her shuttle and started looking for Artoo. Her ship was impounded, so it was no use, but luckily the speeders were still intact. She'd just needs to watch out for any snipers. "Artoo!", Ahsoka silently shouted throughout the shuttle, "Artoo where are you?". Ahsoka opened a small closet door in her room, when a huge amount of white smoke met her in the face. "Artoo! Its me, Ahsoka!", Ahsoka shouted. Artoo came out of the small closet, giving a sincere apology in numerous chirps and whistles.
"Its okay Artoo. Come on, we need to find Luke and Sabine before they do", Ahsoka declared. Artoo slowly swiftly behind Ahsoka as the two got on the speeder. Ahsoka revved the engine as she and Artoo left the shuttle. Several New Republic soldiers started surrounding them. "Don't let her escape. All weapons set on stun", Hera ordered as she and several other guards raised their blasters. "Alright Artoo, work your magic buddy", Ahsoka said as she aimed her speeder to a free space. Artoo let out a huge white puff of smoke, blinding all of the troopers and guards. Ahsoka quickly set the speeder to maximum speed, as she and Artoo left the New Republic in the dust.
"Don't worry Luke, I'm coming", Ahsoka said to herself as they raced to the statue of Tar Vizla.
In the distance, the ghostly forms of Yoda, Obi-wan and Anakin watched the Togruta flee into the horizon. "Listen to me, no one does", Yoda grunted. "Please Master Yoda, she was trained by a jedi who never followed any rules, we shouldn't expect less", Obi-wan stated. "It's true, she learned from the best", Anakin said proudly. "That's not something to be proud of Anakin", Obi-wan stated, "Your lucky Luke didn't turn out like her". Anakin chuckled, "You two wanted my son to kill me. He did disobey you, and ended up saving me, my old masters". Obi-wan simply rolled his eyes, "Touché, Anakin, touché".
