Hello, everybody! Just want you to know that this chapter is a little romance-y. I had the itch to write this one, so I did. I'll try not to make too many more romance chapters, but I make no promises.
That's all! Enjoy, and please R&R!
Chapter 19
Hangar of the Resolute, in Orbit Around Ryloth, the Ryloth System
"Thank the Force you're OK!" Aayla Secura exclaimed upon seeing Ahsoka and the others return.
"Are we?" Noc-Ta asked sarcastically. "Are we really OK?"
"We're alive," Ahsoka noted. "That should be enough."
"Sure, my body lives, but what about my soul? Is it still there?"
"What happened to you?" Luminara Unduli asked.
"I have no idea."
The group turned to see the Conqueror blast into hyperspace. Mothra and Rodan were trying to get to it, but they were stopped by the rest of the Separatist fleet. However, unlike everyone else, Noc-Ta wasn't worried.
"Well, there goes that opportunity," Anakin said.
"Not exactly," Noc-Ta returned, holding up the detonator to the bombs. "I turned them on when we left. They'll be exploding before you know it."
"You are a genius!" Ahsoka praised.
"Nah, I just had the foresight to activate the bombs. Well, I'm exhausted. I'm gonna go take a rest."
"Yeah, sounds good." Ahsoka and Noc-Ta walked in opposite directions to their quarters. Obi-Wan and Mace did the same, but Secura and Luminara stopped Anakin before he could go to his quarters.
"Master Skywalker," Secura said, "we need to talk."
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"It's your padawan," Luminara answered. "She's not the same, not since she went with Noc-Ta to the Temple of the Moth."
"Yeah, I noticed," Anakin replied. "What are you implying?"
"If we're correct, you may have been right in having Noc-Ta arrested."
It took Anakin a few seconds to realize what they were saying, then it hit him.
"Oh, no. No, not Ahsoka."
"We don't know for sure," Luminara assured, "but it's worth a look."
Anakin let out a heavy sigh. "Alright, I'll talk to her."
Ahsoka heard a knock at her door. She sighed, since she wanted to get some sleep, but it could be important.
"Come in," she said.
The doors opened to reveal her master. Anakin walked in with an uneasy look on his face.
"Hope I didn't wake you up, Snips," he said.
"I was just getting ready. What's up?"
Anakin sighed as he sat down in a nearby chair. He didn't relax into the cushions, which was a bad sign.
"Master Unduli and Secura are worried about what happened at the Temple of the Moth."
Ahsoka froze. This was the question she was dreading since she and Noc-Ta actually kissed.
"I'm not asking for details, I just want to be sure that nothing bad happened."
Ahsoka swallowed the lump in her throat. She had to speak, so Anakin wouldn't get mad at Noc-Ta.
"Nothing bad happened, master," she said, not even convincing herself.
"Ahsoka?" Anakin asked. "Is everything alright?"
The Togruta sighed as she turned to face her master, her new tattoos fully exposed.
"I kissed him in the Temple. That's it."
Anakin's expression was frozen for a moment, before he covered his mouth with his hands in mild surprise. He looked at her as he spoke.
"Is that all?" he asked.
"Yes. Nothing else happened."
Anakin stood up and walked up to his apprentice. Her eyes were down to the ground.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know. I don't know how to react to it. I want to hate myself for it, but I just can't."
"Ahsoka, you know how me and Padme are together?"
"Yeah."
"Well, everything is going OK with us. Why are you so worried about this?"
"I didn't know why I did it! I feel like it's the same thing you and the Senator have, but I don't want it to be anything other than that!"
"Ahsoka, calm down. You're getting yourself all worked up."
The padawan understood and took deep breaths. She felt her heart beat slower.
"Now," Anakin continued, "does it feel like love?"
"Yes, it does," she replied.
"Then that's what it is. It's your decision from here on out."
Anakin walked back to the door.
"Master," Ahsoka called out, "what are you going to tell them?"
Anakin turned to face her. He gave her a small smile.
"The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."
Ahsoka chuckled as he left. She sat on the edge of her bed, propping herself up with her arms. Anakin's words rang through her mind like the echoes of a bell.
"Does it feel like love? Then that's what it is."
Noc-Ta peeled off his shirt as he walked through the metal interior of the Steadfast. His pale skin almost glittered in the low light, and his muscles flexed with each step.
"Long day today, Killack," he said to the ram-dog as it laid in the cargo bay.
Killack was very familiar with Noc-Ta's routine, and rarely intervened. Only when he sensed his master was in danger would he interrupt his master's routine.
A loud knock at the hangar door was heard. Noc-Ta groaned as he walked to the gangplank. He opened it, revealing the slim figure of Ahsoka Tano.
"Oh, hey Ahsoka," he greeted tiredly. "What's-"
He was cut off as her lips locked onto his, her arms hugging his neck. His shock quickly turned to passion as the feelings he had locked up for so long finally burst free.
His calloused pale hands glided over her smooth orange skin. He pulled away a bit to catch his breath.
"You talk to Skyguy?" he asked.
"Yep," she replied huskily. "He was fine with it."
Noc-Ta grinned as they continued making out. Killack raised his head in concern. His master had been with many 'ladies of the evening' other the course of their lives, but he sensed something different with Ahsoka. He soon realized exactly what it was, and returned to his slumber.
