Disclaimer: Disney owns Star Wars, not me. All the characters and places (except for my OC Analise) belong to them. General trigger warning is in effect (this one might be a little darker so slightly higher general trigger warning).
"aaaa"-talking out loud. "aaaa" (bold and italics)-talking through a holo or com. 'aaaaa'-inner thoughts. "aaaaa"-talking through a Bond or talking during a Force Vision. aaaa-Force Vision. "aaaa" (bold)-talking in another language. ("aaa") (bold, italics, and parenthesis)-talking through a holo or com in another language.
AN: I was suppose to start a new job this week, but with how crazy and uncertain everything is, I opted to step back and not take the job. Thankfully my family supported me in my choice and it was a seasonal job I was planning on leaving in August anyway. With Michigan still under Stay-At-Home until April 13th and social distancing still in place til April 30th, I will have plenty of time to work on Crossing Battlefields and play SWTOR and watch movies LOL.
In fact I went through and updated my posting schedule to reflect that I am posting once a week currently. If I stick to that I will have Crossing Battlefields finished in June and not September like originally planned! I might be able to finish the entire series this year!
I am so glad that it looks like everyone liked No Safe Place! As odd as it sounds this arc is one of my favorites and I also feel like it is one of the most strongest arcs of the series (so far LOL). Thank you to BanzEye, Guest(1), GeneralYeet-Wan, sasuhina gal, Jake, Guest(2), and Carrot52 for the reviews:)
-Hopefully for the "slow" episodes you guys are reading closely to catch some hints here or there;)
-Things are going to be different, but that's all I can say.
-I really did want to show Barriss drifting to that darkness within her whenever she did pop up in Crossing Battlefields. I feel like that's one thing that Clone Wars didn't really do well because Barriss was never shown moving in that direction and then all of a sudden she was a bad guy.
-For the most part I try to follow the episodes I am rewriting closely because I don't want to lose what made them such great episodes in the first place. But there have been a few times where I have had to veer away from the episodes (my version of the Umbara arc I think is a good example of that) so that I can stay true to my ideas for the story. I hope that makes sense.
-In the actual Clone Wars series, Palpatine doesn't seem too concerned about Ahsoka at all and the pair never really had any interactions besides just being in the same place at the same time. So that means (at least from my point of view) that Palpatine never viewed Ahsoka as a threat and was happy to ignore her until he could use her as a way to hurt Anakin and bring him over to the Dark Side. And it worked because the Council not standing by Ahsoka forcing her to leave did play a somewhat big role in Anakin's eventual fall. That's what I am going with here. Palpatine doesn't actually know how powerful Ahsoka is. His main focus has been on finding some way to get past the twins' guards so that he can kill Analise and seduce Anakin. Ahsoka was just the annoying kid sister. Now though he's realized that by going after Ahsoka, who he sees as weak, he could do just that. Again I hope that makes sense.
Who else loved that (spoiler!) moment between Anakin and Ahsoka in Clone Wars: Deal No Deal last week?
On this week's episode, the mystery of who bombed the Temple has been solved. But things are far from over as outside forces plot on how to push the public more against the Jedi...
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~Courage begins by trusting oneself~ The Jedi Who Knew Too Much, Clone Wars Season Five
Chapter Seventy-Three: The Finger Pointed
"So we are to sit here and let those fools in that Temple take charge of this case? We should let them question the criminal? They'll ignore all the charges against the GAR. She'll walk away with a slap on the wrist."
Palpatine watched with pleased eyes as Tarkin ranted in his office. The man paced back and forth, his hands closing into fists and then opening them again. Having the man promoted to Admiral had been a good choice. Tarkin hated the Jedi, hated aliens, and only tolerated women when they showed some level of intelligence.
He was exactly the type of man he needed in his future Empire.
"Never fear Admiral," Palpatine interrupted the man as he began to rant about alien females and their lack of purpose in military service. "I still have the power to order a transfer of a prisoner and I have. As we speak Letta Turmond is being transferred to a military prisoner. The Jedi really have no need to be involved any longer. The vast majority of those killed were Clones and civilians. As the criminal was not a Jedi and very few Jedi died, then the matter is not a Jedi matter."
"Do they know?"
"Not yet." Palpatine rose. "Now as I understand the Jedi are going to have a funeral for those Jedi lost in the attack in just a couple hours. I would like you to attend as part of my party and let them know of the criminal's change in address."
And push the buttons of one Jedi just a little.
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There had never been a need for funerals or memorial services like this when she had been younger. All Jedi were honored when they passed, but the services had been small, private, and very rarely had there been more than one. But the Jedi acted as though they knew better now. Had allowed themselves to become embroiled in war and politics.
So now the funerals and memorial services had grown. Now it wasn't uncommon for two or three or more to be honored at the same time depending on what had happened. Now the service area would be packed with not just Jedi. There were Clones sometimes and military officers and politicians among their number to pay their respects.
It made Barriss feel twisted and sick. No outsiders should be allowed to attend sacred Jedi rituals.
"One with the Force our fellow warriors are," Yoda intoned as he walked past the stone platforms upon which the bodies of the Jedi killed in the attack rested. Clothes with the symbol of the Order had been lovingly draped over them as they waited to be lowered into the fires below and the bodies turned to ash. "Here now a job we have. To remember in time that pass on we all will. For luminous beings are we and our bodies temporary vessels they are. Come a day there will when come here we all will. A moment of silence I ask for now. Remember we shall and move on."
Ahsoka leaned as lightly as she dared into Anakin's side. On his other side Analise stood, fingers entwined with Obi-Wan's and she wished very much that Rex stood with her. But the Clones rarely came to the Temple for the services, knowing how the rites had already been invaded and they wanted their Jetii to have some amount of privacy. They would all mourn together later.
From her left came a slight sniff and she turned to gaze at her old friend Barriss. The Knight's shoulders were hunched as though she was trying to curl in onto herself. Ahsoka had never seen Barriss so sad. "Were you close to one of the fallen?" Ahsoka asked in a whisper.
Barriss barely nodded. "Tutso Mara and I trained together. He was the one who taught me how to hold my lightsaber properly." It wasn't a total lie. She and Tutso Mara had worked together when they had been younger, but they had never been close as Barriss had known such attachments had been forbidden as had been right. No...she was mourning the loss of Ahsoka, the only being that she had dared allowed closer than was proper for a Jedi.
She would mourn now for her old friend and would become as stone.
"Live for the living Jedi, we all must. For live through us forever they will." Ahsoka leaned closer to Anakin who wrapped an arm around his baby sister as Yoda tapped the floor with his gimer stick. In silence the crowd watched as the small stone platforms were lowered into the floor one by one. The floor closed and then bright orange beams rose from round holes cut into the trapdoors bringing with them heat, heartbreak, and sadness.
The fallen warriors were home.
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Had she made the right choice?
Letta had been thinking a lot about the path she had decided to walk down. Only now she wrapped her arms around herself and sat upon a hard cot with an equally hard pillow and scratchy blanket. Her cell at the Temple had still been a cell, but it had been warmer with a soft blanket and pillow on a firm, not hard cot.
The Jedi...
They were the reason she was here. They and their damn war. Yet the guards at her Temple cell had seemed unhappy to release her into the hands of the GAR. Even though she had killed Jedi, her jailers had been fair and did not seem to hate her.
Letta unwrapped her arms from her body and clenched her fists on her lap. Now she had traded fair jailers for one who wore masks and gave nothing away. They were not like the Clones that Jackar had talked about with affection.
She wondered if her message, her plea had even been passed along...
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The excuse that he had business to discuss with her twin was a flimsy and poor one.
Analise had no idea why Tarkin had really opted to walk with her siblings and Barriss. The Admiral had made no secret of his dislike for certain non-humans and females serving in military positions. He had talked often of his very high standards and that there were few non-human species and females that met it. Ahsoka was not one of them.
Ahsoka glanced up and back to Anakin as she walked slightly ahead of the group. Tarkin never failed to make her skin crawl. "What is going to happen to Letta now?" Tarkin sniffed in disdain at her question.
"She is a criminal girl and you should address her as such. As to her future, the bomber has been moved."
"She's been moved? Where?" Analise looked at Anakin. She could read her brother well and knew that behind the stone face he always wore when around Tarkin, he was just as shocked and surprised as his sisters. "Why did she have to be moved?"
"Because by direction of the Chancellor himself, the bomber has been taken into custody of the Republic military." Tarkin finally turned his cold ice blue eyes onto the Padawan who shivered under the gaze. "He does still have that much authority," he nearly snapped.
"But..." Ahsoka shook her head, utterly confused as to the sudden change in Letta's address. "But the attack was on the Temple. I thought that because of that it was a Jedi matter."
"Togrutas really aren't bright are they?" Analise latched onto Anakin, pouring calm into both him and Ahsoka before he could lash out at the man. "There were Clones killed in that attack girl and they were the property of the Grand Army of the Republic. That makes the terrorist attack a military matter. It is no longer a Jedi one." Tarkin talked slowly as though he was talking to a very slow being who struggled with understanding concepts. "Further more the Jedi are servants of the Senate. Therefore any attack on the Jedi is an attack on the Senate itself." All the Jedi bristled at that.
'We won't be your slaves for long,' Anakin thought as Analise squeezed on his arm. "Admiral Tarkin is somewhat correct," the words were bitter in his mouth as he played his part. "Letta isn't a member of the Order. As Jedi we have no right to be both judge and jury over someone who is only a citizen of the Republic."
"But she hurts us!" Ahsoka protested as she came to a stop. "If Letta is guilty, then she's guilty and should be dealt with. Case closed."
Mind your temper Star Anakin gently scolded Ahsoka. "You must remember Ahsoka that we are Jedi and revenge is not our way."
"Besides the evidence has all been very clear to this point Ahsoka," Barriss spoke up for the first time. "And all it shows is that nothing will ever change..."
"And the Chancellor agrees," Tarkin cut in as he walked ahead a few feet. "He is already hoping that soon the Jedi will be removed from as many military matters as soon as possible. In time he hopes to remove the Jedi from the GAR completely. With enough support I am sure a new bill will be passed that will allow it." He turned and jabbed a finger at the Jedi. "Yourselves have said it many times in the past. You are peacekeepers and not warriors. So you should be happy to return to your tower and remain there."
The teenager crossed her arms and glared at the Admiral, looking very much like her older siblings. "Well than I just hope that Chancellor Palpatine knows exactly what he's doing."
Tarkin snorted. "Again you prove had ignorant your people can be girl. You should know that the Chancellor rarely does anything without a very good strategy." They had reached the lifts and Tarkin stepped into one as the doors opened.
"Please excuse me Masters, but I have many things that I must attend to. Good day." Barriss bowed to Anakin and Analise before glancing at her old friend. "Bye Ahsoka."
The Skywalker siblings watched Barriss walk away, head held high. Analise nudged Ahsoka. Go spend time with your friend Star. She looks like she needs you. We'll call you if we need you back before dinner. Anakin nodded and with a sad smile, Ahsoka bounced off to catch up with the older girl.
"She's still so young in so many ways," the male Knight sighed as the twins joined Tarkin in the lift. Analise smiled.
And worst she's just like us at that age.
Only we never toppled governments...much.
"She may still be young," Tarkin interrupted the twins' silent conversation. "But youth is no excuse for ignorance nor rebellion. But she is a Togruta. If you don't take a firm hand and tame them, they are far too wild for polite society."
Once again Analise wrapped a hand around Anakin's arm. Yes Tarkin was a disgusting pig of a man. A strutting fool, but he would get his.
Not now Sun. But you'll be able to punch him soon.
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"Hey Barriss!" Ahsoka smiled at the Knight. "Would you like some company?" The Knight paused then nodded. After all this would probably be the last time that she and Ahsoka would be together like this as friends. Ahsoka at least deserved that.
"Sure, I would like that Ahsoka."
"Every time I think about this attack, I feel so conflicted about it. It's hard to not allow my feelings, the anger and pain affect my judgement and actions."
"But that is what we are suppose to do as Jedi. We have to ignore our emotions at all times."
"No we don't," Ahsoka glanced at Barriss. "We can embrace our emotions so long as they don't cloud our judgement or actions and we let go of the negative ones."
"But is it right? Is it right to even embrace them even as we must not allow them to control us?"
"That's the challenge and if Anakin were here he would say that it's one of our struggles as a Jedi that we must overcome."
"When you say it like that it sounds so easy." Ahsoka giggled.
"Not really because it isn't easy at all Barriss, but it is possible. Anakin and Analise struggle just as much as me, but I've seen Obi-Wan and Uncle Qui and Papa Plo do it. Even Senator Amidala can do it and she's not a Jedi." Barriss' body tensed. "How about this...remember on Geonosis when we were stuck in the tank? It was really hard not to let our fear take over. But we were both able to push past it. And if we can get past that then I'm sure we'll be able to get past this."
That made Barriss smile a little. "You've always been able to see things so clearly Ahsoka." That made Ahsoka laugh.
"Then I've fooled you just like I've fooled everyone else." Her com began to beep and with a smile of apology, Ahsoka lifted it to her face. "This is Ahsoka. What's up Master?"
"We're needed in the war room. Reports have indicated that the Separatists have mounted yet another attack. Meet us there."
"I'll be right there!" Ahsoka started to jog away, but came to a stop and turned to Barriss. "I know one thing for sure Barriss. That one thing is that I believe, I have to believe that by one way or another, Lett's going to pay for what she did to us."
"I know Ahsoka. Now get going. You don't want to keep Master Skywalker waiting."
Ahsoka flashed Barriss a smile before she took off running down the halls of the Temple.
She watched her go.
Barriss knew one thing for sure. She would get past this. But Ahsoka never would.
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"We have indeed discovered a Separatist plan of attack. To combat the attack, it has been decided that we shall travel here to the Anoit system and then we shall move across to Saleucami."
"Why do we need to move so far out of our way?"
"For the time being we must avoid using any routes that takes us through the local neutral systems. Duchess Satine and Senator Amidala are attempting to come up with an agreement that would allow us some freedom of movement..."
"But their current focus is on the passage of the Clone Citizen Act and as well as the New Home treaty and a possible peace treaty," Analise interrupted her husband. Ahsoka ducked her head to hide her smile. She was so proud of her big sisters for the work they were doing on three very different projects. Two of which hinged greatly on the third. She could feel Anakin's pride just as strongly.
"Please pardon the interruption Master Jedi," Tarkin's holo appeared next to Obi-Wan's. His face made it clear that he didn't care whether or not he was interrupting anything. Still Mace waved a hand slightly to indicate that he didn't mind.
"It's fine Admiral Tarkin. What can we do for you?"
"I have word for Commander Tano-Skywalker." Ahsoka's body tensed as the cold eyes fell on her. He spoke her name and rank as though it were something foul. "The bomber Letta Turmond has requested your presence."
"Huh?" she gawked for a moment. "But she bombed the Temple and..."
"And why would she want to see Ahsoka?" Anakin asked as he rested a heavy hand on her shoulder. Across the terminal Analise eyed her siblings with worry.
Tarkin shrugged. "We're not exactly sure as to the bomber's reasons. Only that she has made it clear that she will speak only to the Padawan. No one else. To honor that, it is also requested that she travel to the prison without any other Jedi or Clone with her."
She didn't like this and from what she was reading over her Bonds with the twins, they didn't like it either. "I'll be fine. I'll go talk with Letta and report back with any new information I learn."
Just be careful.
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The Republic Center for Military Operations was a massive, sprawling complex. The maze of offices, cells, interrogation chambers, and barracks were a dark and intimidating mark on the Coruscant skyline. It was made even more intimidating by the large number of Ventors and other cruisers thanks to the nearby staging area. It wasn't a place to visit unless there was business to be done.
And the Clones...
The Clones that manned the center weren't the fun-loving, loose reg-following Clones that the Jedi usually worked with and that Ahsoka adored. No the Clones in the center all wore the white armor with red marks of the Coruscant Guard sometimes called the Senate Clones. Fives and Jesse had a less flattering name for them, Palp's Puppets. For the Coruscant Guard was Palpatine's personal Clone force that while operating under the GAR served only the whim of the Senate and Chancellor. Vod'e that Ahsoka knew gave the Senate Clones a wide berth, didn't exactly welcome them to hang in the downtime when there was any. The Senate Clones very rarely, if ever left Coruscant.
There was just something off about them.
"Can I help?" the Clone in the prison's command center questioned Ahsoka through the glass. She recognized him as CC-1010 or Commander Fox.
"I'm Commander Tano-Skywalker. My presence has been requested by the prisoner Letta Turmond." Fox leaned so far forward as he studied her that Ahsoka thought he might press his face against the pane.
"A few men died in that attack of her's," he finally said as though deciding that Ahsoka was the real deal. "Did some good work catching her." His tone was a mix of grudging respect and slight awe. Like he had doubted in the abilities of the Jedi which wouldn't have surprised her. Senate Clones usually did their best to stay away from the Jedi. "Go ahead and scan her!"
Ahsoka held as still as she could as her body was scanned. Finally Fox huffed as though disappointed that her scan had returned as normal. He jabbed a finger at the metal drop tray in front of her. "You'll have to leave both sabers and comlink here. You can get them on your way out." Even though the Force seemed to roll over in nerves and push her to back away, the Padawan removed both saber and shoto, dropping them into the tray before adding her com. The tray was pulled into the circular room as the door slid open.
It felt like Fox was glaring at her under his helmet even though he had thanked her for the Jedi capturing Letta. Two other Clones followed him with long rifles in their hands. "Follow me Commander," he ordered and Ahsoka slipped in between Fox and the blaster toting pair.
With each echoing footstep, each dropped ray shield...it felt like something was wrong.
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"Alright Letta I'm here," Ahsoka announced as she stepped down into the cell. Letta was curled up on the hard metal bench that doubled as a bed. The woman had pulled her knees into her chest and wrapped her arms tightly around them. Ahsoka didn't blame her. It was somewhat cold in the cell. "What is it you want?"
"I was told that if I ever got into trouble and needed help, you were the one Jedi I should contact." Letta raised the brim of her hat a little bit, eyes darting to the Clones standing behind the Togruta. Fox had remained on the top step, focused on the woman.
"Can you give us a minute here please Fox?" Slowly the Clone Commander nodded and stepped out of the cell. "Thanks," Ahsoka murmured as the door slide shut. Alone now she crossed her arms and stared Letta down. "You don't have a whole of time left Letta. So whatever you have to get off your chest, I suggest that you say it now." It wasn't an empty threat. Unless the jury was kind, Letta was heading straight for a death sentence.
"It may not seem like it, but I loved Jackar. We disagreed about the war, about the Jedi and their part in it...but I loved him with all my heart." The woman sighed. "It wasn't my idea to find Jackar the nano-droids." Ahsoka stared at Letta in shock before and a couple steps towards her.
"And why are you chosing to come forward with this now? Why not reveal it before ending up here?"
"Because now my life is in danger. The person who planned all this, who put me up to it will able to get me unless you know the full truth." Letta rose from the bench.
"And what is that truth exactly?"
"The truth is a Jedi." Letta winced at Ahsoka's sharp intake of breath. "A Jedi came to me and showed me how to make the bomb, how to put the nano-droids in."
No...no! It couldn't be. "Can you tell me why a Jedi would even attempt something like this?" Ahsoka's whole body was tense as the Force began to buzz louder and louder.
"I am sure that you know that there are many citizens in the Republic like myself who believe the Jedi Order has fallen off the path. That's it changed from what it used to be. Even when all those changes were made, the Jedi stayed the same in their purpose." Letta stood in front of the Padawan now and jabbed a finger at her before turning away from her. "The Jedi aren't diplomats. They're warmongers. They aren't peacekeepers. Now they are military weapons. Instead of keeping peace, the Order is killing and destroying peace!" Letta spun back around sharply and jabbed her finger into Ahsoka's face again. "A Jedi agreed with us, with our view. That Jedi, one of your own wanted to make a statement. One of you was willing to attack your very Order to make it!" Letta brought her hands close to her chest, balling them into fists before bringing one up to tap her chin.
"Who was the Jedi?" Ahsoka could see that Letta had been torn apart. That she still believed with all her heart in what she had said, but her husband had not and it was her husband who had been the unwitting bomb.
Her husband Jackar whom the Jedi had given a chance after so many others had turned him down.
Letta sat back down on the bench, shivering and wringing her hands together. "Give me some sort of protection and I will tell you everything! Now I see so clearly that I have been set up."
"I can see it too, but Letta the Order can't offer any protection until we know who it is." Ahsoka lightly rested her hand on the woman's shoulder. "So please tell me who it was."
"Alright," Letta nodded and felt hope that she could make it out of the whole mess with her life at very least. "It was..."
Suddenly the Force was screaming and Letta was grasping for air. "Letta? Letta!" Ahsoka yelled as the woman began to panic and claw at her throat where unseen hands were now wrapped. Ahsoka reached out her hands, helpless as Letta now rose into the air.
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"Alert. Alert. Prisoner health critical. Alert in cell 1-7-3. Alert. Alert."
"Commander Fox! There's an issue with the prisoner Letta Turmond!"
"Follow me men!"
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"Letta no!"
She watched from the vent as Ahsoak continued to reach out to the woman, but it was too late. With a slight smile she let go of the Force and Letta's body hit the ground with a sickening thud. Ahsoka knelt down, her hands frantically searching for any sign of life, anything that would help her save Letta.
But Letta was dead.
She watched as the cell door opened and Ahsoka, broken and confused and sad turned to face the Coruscant Guard. "Help me!" She pleaded with the heavily armed fodder. "We were just talking and...and...I don't know what happened..." A few tears streamed down the Padawan's face as one of the men knelt down and checked Letta's pulse.
"The prisoner is dead Commander." Ahsoka shook her head.
"Guess I can't say that I blame you Commander Tano-Skywalker," Fox said as he stepped up close behind her. "But I'm still going to have to place you under arrest."
"What?" Ahsoka slowly raised her hands over her head as she felt the brush of cool metal on the back of her head as Fox came closer. "But...but I didn't do this...I didn't..."
And she watched as a crying Ahsoka was led away.
And she smirked again.
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"What!?" Anakin stared at Qui-Gon in shock. Next to him Analise had one hand covering her mouth and the other digging into the fabric of her tunic. Qui-Gon shook his head, looking so very old and so very tired.
"Tarkin sent word himself. They have a holo showing Ahsoka apparently using the Force to choke Letta. Since it is just a recording and no sound, Tarkin has declared that Ahsoka is guilty. Fox and his men have placed her in a cell and she is to stay there to await her trial date."
"And the charge?" Anakin snarled.
"Treason. Tarkin states that by killing Letta, Ahsoka admitted to being the mastermind behind the bombing..."
"That's insane!" Analise shook her head so hard that her braids nearly slapped her face. "There is no way Ahsoka is the mastermind. She's barely been on Coruscant since after healing from Hondo's attempted robbery and kidnapping. Star's been out in the field for the past month or so. No! There was no way this way her!"
Qui-Gon wrapped his arms around his daughter, letting her snuggle into him in place of her husband. "We will gather what we can to prove it, but Tarkin has said that any evidence we present might not be viewed..."
Anger bubbled around them and Analise let go of Qui-Gon to latch onto Anakin. Her touch soothed him, but not enough.
"I'm going to go..."
"Tarkin has said..."
"I don't care what he said!" the male Knight roared. "I am going to go get her and bring her home!"
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He was pleased as he stepped into the cell where the girl was being held. Finally, finally she would be forced to see that her place as a female and a Togruta lay far beneath him. Tarkin smirked as she watched step down into the cell, her eyes wide with slight fear about her fate as she rose.
He was looking forward to breaking her. That would tell whether or not it would be worth the effort to tame her.
"I don't what happened Admiral Tarkin," Ahsoka placed a hand over her heart and fought to keep her voice from shaking. "All I did was go into the room to talk with Letta. She was nervous so I sent the guard away. She told me she was afraid of a Jedi." She lowered her hand, hoping that just this once Tarkin would listen her to her.
As she stepped closer she saw that Tarkin held Letta's purple hat in his hands.
"There is no need for you to tell any more girl." Tarkin smirked as she stepped back at his sharp tone. There was no need for him to censor himself or be concerned that her siblings might snap at him. He carelessly tossed the flithy hat to one side. She followed the hat's path before turning back to face him.
"I don't have to explain?"
"No, you don't. You should know that there are recorders in every single room within the Republic Center for Military Operations. Surely even a Togruta would think of that," he sneered as he removed a caster from his belt and held it in the palm of his hand. A flip of the switch and a holo played.
Ahsoka, arms reached out in desperation towards a choking and dying Letta.
Only from the holo it looked as though Ahsoka was using the Force to harm the woman. That it was Ahsoka who had killed Letta.
"Usually there is sound to go with the recordings, but that function isn't working on this one." The Admiral was nearly chuckling as the recording showed Letta dropping to the ground dead and a tearful Ahsoka searching for any signs of life. "I guess that means the Jedi Letta Turmond was afraid of was you!"
Ahsoka growled, sliver and gold flecks appearing in her eyes as she did her best to push her anger away into the Force. "I did not kill Letta Tarkin."
"Then who did? You were the only one in the room with her! I was the one to inform you that the bomber had been taken into custody by the military and I know how upset the news made you." He got closer and closer into her personal space, forcing Ahsoka to back up as she felt his hot breath on her face.
Ahsoka bent backwards when the back of her knees hit the bench. "My being upset about it means nothing!" Tarkin snorted.
"You Togruta are so wild and bloodthirsty," he reached out to touch one of her lekku. Ahsoka turned her head, jerking away. Tarkin pulled back and stared at his hand as though it was now dirty. "So based on that and the evidence I stand by the fact that you killed the bomber and planned the attack."
"No!" Ahsoka was nearly in angry and panicked tears. "I would never do that! I promise you it was someone else Admiral! Someone that I couldn't, didn't see!" Against her better judgement, Ahsoka ran towards him.
"You really are a fool," he sneered as he turned to face her and stepped into her space again. "I guess along with being wild and bloodthirsty, it is true that Togruta aren't bright. This is a highly secure facility which means we don't have just anyone running about as they please. You can then see I hope why I find your story so hard to believe. Besides you claim to be a Jedi which means you can sense others. So my question then becomes why you did not sense another person was there as you claim."
This time Tarkin reached out and grabbed her chin. He squeezed and turned her head from side to side as though she was an item he was trying to decide was worthy to be purchased or not. The Force hissed and her skin burned, crawled at his touch. Ahsoka sharply jerked her face, breaking his hold on her chin.
With a final pleased smirk, he marched out of the room.
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"I don't care what you say. My Padawan is in here and I will see her!"
"I'm truly sorry General Skywalker, but we have our orders from Admiral Tarkin backed by the Chancellor. No one is allowed to see the prisoner. Her crimes..."
He clenched his fist so tight that he could "I don't care what in the hells she's been accused of. Let me in!" Anakin jabbed his finger into the glass. As soon as it touched the pane, he could hear the crackling hum of electrostaffs as they were powered on. Anakin glanced at the two guards who had crept up to stand on either side of him.
"My apologies General Skywalker. But the Admiral's orders still stand. Under the Chancellor's orders, this case has become a military operation and is under the jurisdiction of Admiral Tarkin. The Jedi have no say in this now."
He glared at Fox. He cursed the role he had to play. But right now he could not fight to get to her. That would only make things worse for Ahsoka.
No matter how much he wanted to tear down the walls to get to her.
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That had been too close for comfort. She should have planned better about Skywalker trying to get in to see Ahsoka. Thankfully Tarkin had planned for that and thankfully the Chancellor had seen that it wasn't wise to play favorites. At least with this.
In her hand she held a key card and she smiled.
Soon everything would be good again.
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'Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. The wisdom to change the things I can. The courage to know the difference. Serenity, wisdom, courage,' Ahsoka chanted the prayer in her head as she shivered on the metal bench. The cell was ice cold and Tarkin had decreed that she be given no blanket or food.
Even with the prayer that had been a part of her since childhood, she could not find rest nor peace. So Ahsoka sat up and stared at the flickering red ray shield that covered the steps. As a Jedi she was such a threat that they didn't bother closing the door to her cell and instead used a ray shield.
She shook her head and stood up. Coughing Ahsoka went to the small sink and hoped that at the very least that there would be hot water. But the water that poured from the faucet was colder than the room. Ahsoka stared at it blankly until her hands began to go numb.
That snapped her back and she shook her head. 'No! I can't give up. I...' Ahsoka glanced back at the ray shield and that's when she saw it. A key card laying innocently at the top of the stairs in the doorway to the cell. Hope bloomed within her chest even as the Force urged caution, that something was not right. 'I knew you would never let me down big brother.'
Thankfully for whatever reason, Tarkin hadn't bothered to put a suppression collar on her which meant she could still use the Force. Ahsoka reached out, lifting the key card and very carefully directed it to float to the lock. It slid easily through and there was a confirmation beep as the shield vanished. Ahsoka stepped up the stairs, taking a moment to savor the slightly warmer air.
But it was only for a moment and she was moving. 'I wonder what Anakin has planned...'
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Their lives were meant to be wasted.
A part of her knew that she should be upset that the Clones were dead, but she didn't care. After all they had been created to be killed so that normal Republic citizens weren't the ones dying by the thousands in the war.
But she hadn't killed them all. After all some of them needed to be alive enough to say who they saw running away from the scene of the crime.
She hoped that Ahsoka liked her gift.
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Ahsoka came sliding to a stop and nearly fell to her knees when she reached the hallway leading into the prison area. There were Clones scattered through the hallway. Some weren't moving. The Padawan covered her mouth as she stared in shock and horror.
How had this happened? It couldn't have been her brother. Anakin wouldn't have done this.
'This isn't good at all.' Some of the Clones began to move and Ahsoka slowly moved through the hallway, dodging the moaning and stirring Clones.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
'What the..?' Ahsoka followed the beeping sound until she discovered her wrist com nestled between her blades. 'What are my lightsabers doing here?' Doubt about Anakin being the one who was saving her began to rise. Anakin wouldn't just leave her sabers laying around on the floor among beaten Clones. Ahsoka bent down, grabbing the com and attaching back onto her cuff before grabbing her sabers. Rising Ahsoka pressed the button on the com. "Hello? Who are you? Why are you calling me? Why are you doing this?"
The Force jerked her and Ahsoka's head flew up to the operations center where the door had opened and Fox was staring between her and the men on the floor. "What the hells are you doing aruetii?"
"No Fox! Please! This wasn't me! I would never..." But Fox wasn't listening.
The Clone Commander lunged towards one set of controls and slammed his hand down on a large button. An alarm began to blare so loud and shrill that made her montrals ring and ache. Bright red lights flashed and Ahsoka had to blink back spots in her eyes.
Like a frightened animal Ahsoka ran. And as she ran she could hear Fox, his voice booming over the alarm. "Alert! Alert! The Jedi prisoner Ahsoka Tano-Skywalker has escaped! She is armed and dangerous! Force deemed necessary!"
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"Since when do we hold Jedi prisoners?"
Perhaps it is a new measure...wow!"
Ahsoka vaulted over the astromech and ignored the startled scolding of the RA-7 protocol droid. She would have stopped to say sorry, but she couldn't risk that by doing so she might be caught. And if she was caught that was the end. She wouldn't be given any chance to defend herself, prove her innocence.
It would be all over for her.
So Ahsoka pushed herself to keep going...
But came to a sliding stop as three Senate Clones came around the corner. She knew her eyes were wide with fear and she quickly turned, running back the way she had came.
"Wait Commander! Stop!" one of them yelled, but Ahsoka ignored him. She kept running and running, just barely making it through the suddenly closing blast doors.
She wanted her sisters. She wanted her brother. She wanted her Papa Plo and Uncle Qui. She wanted her Captain.
She wanted her freedom.
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"Sir we nearly had her, but she gave us the slip. Currently heading north down the prison corridor. You should be able to cut her off!"
"Copy that!"
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'Hang on ka'rta. We're coming!'
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Ahsoka could feel herself beginning to tire as she ran faster and faster to make it through the doors before they closed. She flipped her way through two and just jumped through another, rolling along the floor until she could stand.
The Force called to her and Ahsoka pushed herself to stand on slightly shaking legs as she glanced back to see Fox standing behind her with guns at the ready. Taking a big gulp of air Ahsoka started to run again...
And came to another sliding stop.
There were more Clones laying on the floor.
Only this time they weren't moving or breathing as smoke rose from her body. "No...oh no!" She started to back away from the bodies in horror, shaking her head back and forth.
A blaster bolt raced past her head and slammed into the wall next to her. Ahsoka took another deep breath and began to run again, ignoring the tears running down her face.
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She wished she could stay and make sure that everything went as planned, but she couldn't. But the news would reach her. There was no way they were going to be able to keep this quiet.
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"This is Commander Fox. The suspect has killed three Clones! Code red! I repeat code red! If you see the target and have a shot, order is shoot to kill!"
"No!" Fox turned as Rex and Anakin came barreling down the corridor at top speed. "Belay that order Commander Fox!" the Knight commanded.
"That girl has killed troopers. My men!" Fox snarled as the pair came to a stop beside him. Rex shook his head.
"You're forgetting that I know Commander Tano-Skywalker. I've served with her since her first day and I can promise you that she would never do anything like this." Rex knew his ka'rta who would kill droids without blinking only to later cry over killing a flesh and blood enemy even when she had no choice. "There's no way that she's the one who killed them."
"Oh yeah? Then can you tell me who did?"
"Both of you quiet!" Anakin barked at the Clones before they could begin to bicker again. He could sense Ahsoka's fear, her sadness and panic. Analise was on her way. She had managed to get footage from the center and had been backing up on the Order's private servers so that no one could access it. "Ahsoka I'm here! It's Anakin!" Come to me Star. Please...
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"Ahsoka you need to stop running!" Anakin's voice echoed clearly through the corridors now that the alarms had stopped. Ahsoka paused, bending over to catch her breath.
"I can't Master!" she shouted back to him. "I'm being framed!" Somebody set me up Sun! I can't stop running until I can prove it wasn't me.
Let us help you! "You know that I believe you Ahsoka! Rex and Analise do too!"
"But no one else will!" I can't let you and everyone I love be brought down!
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She was running again.
Anakin shook his head and ignored Fox. Jurisdiction be damned. Ahsoka was his baby sister, his Padawan, and she was being framed by someone. So he was going to be the one to get her and usher back to the Temple for safety until the real criminal could be found.
"Rex I want you to call security. Tell them that we have to do a full search of the entire base. Now!"
A small part of Rex wanted to punch the General for turning Ahsoka into a fugitive even though he knew it was to keep her safe. But it would only keep her safe so long as they were the ones to find her.
"Attention!" he barked into his com. "This is Captain Rex. An all-points bulletin on Commander Skywalker-Tano has just been issued by General Skywalker. At the moment she is the prime suspect in the death of three Clones. Be aware that she armed and dangerous. Shoot to stun."
Fox snorted as Rex finished the call, bitterness in his mouth. His stomach was rolling so much he thought he might vomit from calling his sweet little Soka a killer. "Should have said shoot to kill."
It took everything Rex had to keep from laying out Fox.
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They thought she was heading for the east wing, but they were wrong.
Ahsoka crept around the side of the massive main doors, following a squadron of Clones. She kept to the shadows, ducking behind massive tanks and statues. The rain gently hit her skin. Thunder rolled, the wind blew cold and the sky lit up with sharp jabs of lightening. In the distance she could make out the shadowy forms of buildings reaching up to touch the angry sky.
She wasn't angry.
She was confused, scared, lost. She didn't understand what was happening, why it was happening, and who was behind it.
'Another Jedi,' a voice that sound like Letta's whispered in her mind. 'Another Jedi did all this.' And Ahsoka's heart sank.
"Here there now Grizzer! What's all the fuss?" The Padawan peeked around the statue she had pressed herself to and muffled a gasp. One of the Clones was a massiff handler and Grizzer had caught her scent. The massiff was snapping, growling, and pulling at the handler's chain in a bid to get his attention. To tell him the prey was there. Just look around...
Ahsoka wasted no time. She leapt as high as she could, the Force for her wings, and scrambled up the statue. She crouched down the stone Clone's head. From her perch she could still hear the handler who sighed. "See? There's nothing there old boy. Now come on Grizzer." Ahsoka watched massiff and handler walk away.
And she reached up to brush her tears away.
"There she is men! Quick now! We can't let her get to the ship!" Ahsoka's head swung around to the entrance of the center. Fox stood there with his best men and a finger pointing right at her.
'But I didn't do it!' she protested in her head as she stood and leapt from the statue to the top of the giant memorial wall that the Republic had put up and dusted their hands off. Their good deed for the Clones had been done. Ahsoka ran as fast as she could, but even with the Force to help she was growing tired, her body slowing down as her muscles protested. The Senate Clones on the ground were easily keeping up with her and she didn't doubt that if she stopped for just a moment to catch her breath, she would be captured.
Captured and stuff so far down into the prison that no one would ever find her and she would never have a chance to prove her innocence.
Then they began to fire.
Ahsoka ducked her head, hissing and wincing when one of the bolts grazed her skin.
She reached the end of the wall and threw herself off it as hard and as far as she could. She flipped through the air and grunted as she hit the hard ground, rolling. Ahsoka tried to shove herself to her feet, but her legs were shaking so much that she stumbled again. Ahsoka gritted her teeth and crawled, pushing the Force through her to give her energy, and finally pushed herself to her feet.
And she ran. She ran and ran. She ignored the gun turrets suddenly firing at her, the shots slamming into the ground behind her and spewing up chunks of pavement that cut through her clothes and skin. She ignored the barking massiffs behind her and the angry yelling of the Clones.
She ran and ran, all her focus on getting to her ship...
KA-BOOM!
Her ship exploded in a fiery burst of bright green and yellow. Ahsoka stared in horror as the explosion sent her flying through the air and over the now destroyed fighter. Her entire body screamed in pain as she slammed into the ground and rolled. The teenager carefully rose to her knees, scrubbing at her face leaving smearing dirt and blood across it.
'Please help me,' she pleaded with the Force and felt a faint warmth spreading through her limbs. As the guards came closer, Ahsoka was up on her feet and running again. She couldn't stop until she was safe.
Ahsoka's feet slipped as she made a wild dash for the stairs, nearly falling down them. Her ship was gone, but there had to be another way.
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"Keep an eye on her and we'll be there soon."
"What's going on men?" Anakin eyed the Jedi and Clone that had come up behind them. He had been waiting for Analise at a secondary entrance since the front had been blocked off. His twin's face was pale even as she stood firm. A hand rested on her saber hilt.
"General Skywalker, Commander Skywalker-Kenobi; we found the prisoner." Anakin gritted his teeth hard to keep from yelling at Fox that Ahsoka wasn't a prisoner, that she was a victim, and had done nothing wrong. "Currently she is heading towards the industrial pipeline."
"I want all weapons set to stun," Analise's voice was hard and cold. "I don't care what Tarkin has ordered. All weapons are to be set on stun and she needs to be taken alive!" Fox glanced at Anakin which made Analise want to scream. Only the Senate Clones seemed to have a problem taking orders from her.
Anakin sharply nodded his head. "Do it Fox!"
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She caught sight of a bight blue bolt racing towards her and Ahsoka slipped around a corner on the walkway. The shot just missed her and she let her shoulders sag just the smallest bit.
It was a stun bolt.
Their weapons were set on stun which gave her some hope. They weren't trying to kill her now. They wanted her to be alive. But she still couldn't let them get her.
So Ahsoka pushed herself harder, pushing herself beyond her limits. The guards had split, chasing her down by using the walkways on either side of hers.
A shot came too close and finally Ahsoka had no choice. She drew her blades. She spun around, just barely blocking their shots. Reaching a staircase Ahsoka leapt onto the railing, sliding down it. Her feet hit the ground and she used the Force to launch into the air, flipping to land halfway up a second set of stairs. She raced to the top, again just barely blocking the guards' shots. She paused for a moment on the walkway, taking a chance to breath even as her aching arms didn't stop weaving through the air to block their shots.
Then the guards stopped. Ahsoka slouched as they seemed to run away.
And then she heard the ships.
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Anakin and Analise raced frantically to the pipes. Even though she was afraid and even though she wanted to screaming in rage, she forced herself to stay calm and was pushing as much of that calm as she could to her hot-headed twin. Anakin was shouting into his com, "Don't shoot to kill! I repeat! Do not shoot to kill!" afraid that the guards wouldn't listen and opt to turn the settings back to kill. "All we need to do is box her in and keep her from escaping. Be my eyes Oddball and tell me what you see."
For a fleeting moment she saw the hazy image of Ahsoka's body, broken and riddled with blaster marks. Analise shook her head, loose hair falling free from her braids.
No!
No!
That would not be her sister's fate.
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She couldn't stop moving.
She had to keep jumping.
She had to keep running.
She had to...
'It's like being hunted again,' Ahsoka thought. Her nearly exhausted mind suddenly painted the faces of the Trandoshan hunters over the Clones.
She gasped for air, stumbling back as she shook her head. The Trandoshans faded back to the Clones as the Force yelped at her. Ahsoka brought her sabers up just in time to block a stun bolt.
Then she was running again.
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"I can see her Sirs. The little Commander is currently heading west along the central viaduct." Oddball ignored the angry huffy from Fox in the back. He didn't care what that dang Senate Clone thought. He answered to General Skywalker. And he knew that the 501st's little Commander wouldn't have done anything close to what they were claiming she had done.
From his cockpit of the latty Oddball could see her running and flipping across and over walkways. Even from the distance he could see that she was tiring, but kept pushing herself harder and harder.
"We've got the prisoner now! Bring it around!" Oddball's heads tightened on the controls as he brought the latty around. He could hear the doors opening and the sounds of guns firing. Oddball silently cheered her on.
"I've got something that will take her down!"
And the walkway exploded and Oddball wanted to scream.
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Ahsoka cried out in pain as flying bits of metal nicked and cut her as she fell off the walkway. Her lightsabers fell from her hands as she grabbed hold of the edge of the walkway. Ahsoka bit her lower lip so that she wouldn't cry out again at the pain in her shoulders as she pulled herself up and into the air.
The guards' shots missed her as Ahsoka forced herself through the air to land atop of one of the pipes. Crouching down she summoned her saber to her. As soon as the hilt smacked into her hand, the edges making her cuts deeper; Ahsoka leapt from the pipe.
She landed and ran up a set of stairs, but was forced to stop. A latty was there. "You need to stop running Commander," Oddball pleaded with her. "Please!" But Ahsoka shook her head and ran back down the stairs.
But there were guards there with massiffs snarling and snapping. Ahsoka backed up only to turn and see more guards behind her. They surrounded her in a circle, cutting off any way for her to escape. Ahsoka kept turning a circle, her heart pounding and panic rising in her with every breath she took. There were more and more Clones.
Star!
They had come!
Her eyes widened and there was suddenly hope. The twins were standing at the top of one of the set of stairs. Rex was there too, a hand almost outstretched towards her.
And Ahsoka very much wanted to take that hand. She wanted to run to Rex, run to her brother and sister. She wanted to hide in their arms, hold onto them tightly, and let them block out the world, let her hide.
But then she saw the guns. She saw Fox. And she knew. She knew that her family wouldn't be allowed to take her away.
So Ahsoka leapt high into the air to land on top of another pipe. She drove her saber into the pipe, spinning around to form a circle that dropped down into it. Taking a deep breath as she felt Clones coming up behind her, Ahsoka dropped down into the pipe. She glanced up to see a helmet covered head peering down the opening she had made.
And then Ahsoka ran.
She ran.
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They dropped down into the pipe.
Anakin waved Fox on ahead and gave Rex a quick nod. The Captain nodded back. He would stick close to Fox to make sure that he didn't find Ahsoka before the twins did.
Then he grabbed Analise's hand and the twins ran.
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She couldn't seem to stop crying.
Ahsoka tripped and fell face first into the flowing water. She coughed and sputtered as she pushed herself up. Ahsoka could feel the Force almost fluttering around her. She could feel her siblings searching for her.
But she couldn't let them find her. She couldn't let them get caught up in this.
Ahsoka had to keep her family safe.
She listened for a moment before turning and darting down a side pipe.
The Clones ran past the pipe.
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Anakin and Analise paused. Around them the voices of the Senate Clones echoed as they stamped through the water. Together their twins closed their eyes and reached out across the Bonds. They could just feel her spark, dim because of the pain and fear, the call for help that kept getting pulled back.
As one the twins turned down another section of pipe.
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Ahsoka jumped down from a ledge and slipped her way past a couple of fans. Then she ducked down another pipe, pressing herself against the metal side.
Ahsoka panted for air. She could feel every single cut and bruise and ache. Her heart was pounding so hard that it felt like it might burst out of her chest. She scrubbed at her face again, but the tears didn't stop.
Gulping down as much fresh air she could, Ahsoka darted down the pipe.
She was so close.
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They were close.
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She jumped down again, her knees screaming as she landed. Ahsoka tripped, nearly falling before managing to right herself. She slipped through another fan and kept running.
She kept running and running and running...
Then came to a sliding stop. The pipe had ended. It opened up into a giant shift through which ships slowly floated up and down between the levels.
Ahsoka's body heaved with every breath she took as she frantically tried to figure out what to do. She couldn't let them take her. She couldn't...
Star!
She turned. Anakin and Analise were there, running towards her. Love and fear covered their faces even as they poured love through the Bonds. What are you doing Star? What are you thinking?
You weren't there! You didn't try to help me! Anakin shook his head.
We couldn't get to you Ahsoka. Tarkin had orders backed by Palpatine that kept us from seeing you.
But you could have gotten in if you tried! As soon as the words were said, Ahsoka deflated. They were wrong and she knew it. She was just so lost and hurting and confused.
And we all know what that would have looked like. If we had forced our way in Tarkin would have used that to make look more guilty.
But I'm not guilty! Ahsoka sobbed, tears pouring down her face. The twins ran forward and wrapped her up in a hug. The three siblings clung to each other.
"We know...we know you're not guilty Ahsoka," Anakin held his sisters tightly. "But the only way we can prove that is if you go back..."
"But I can't!" she nearly wailed into her brother's chest. "I've been framed...Letta...Letta told me that it was a Jedi who planned the attack and now she's dead." Ahsoka nearly choked on her cries. Warmth flooded through her body and she knew that Analise was healing what she could. "If I go back I'm dead!"
And there it was.
The truth that the twins hadn't wanted to believe. The truth that Ahsoka had to flee because now they didn't know who to trust. Even the Council could be suspect.
And there was another truth. Another one that the twins didn't want to accept. "And none of us, not even Rex can come with you," Analise nearly choked on her own sobs as she gave voice to that truth. Ahsoka nodded and clung tighter to her siblings.
"General Skywalker, Commander Skywalker-Kenobi! Where are you?"
The Clones were coming and the siblings knew their time was running short.
We'll do everything we can to protect you Star. We will never let anyone hurt you. Just stay safe and smart. Trust in us and in the Force.
I will Sun.
We believe in you and love you so much, the trio broke their hug, letting go of each other. Analise run her thumbs over Ahsoka's cheeks, trying to clean up the dirt and blood and tears. The Padawan nodded, her eyes shinning with more tears that she was fighting not to shed.
Looking up she could Rex, Fox, and other Clones running down the pipe to them. I love you both. Please tell Rex I love him and I'll be back soon Moon.
Analise nodded. The twins stopped back and Analise held out an arm to keep Rex from sprinting forward as Ahsoka turned with a sad smile and jumped out of the pipe.
She landed with a thud on the roof of a cargo ship traveling slowly down to the lower levels. Ahsoka looked back up and almost wished she hadn't.
Anakin, Analise, and Rex had gathered at the edge of the pipe. Fox was there too, but he stood apart from her siblings and betrothed. They watched her. Anakin and Analise were nearly clinging to each other. Tears ran down her sister's face as Anakin grimly nodded his head in support and approval. Rex watched her, his fists clenched.
And her heart broke again.
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'Just a little bit more and this will all be over.'
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Translations
aruetii: outsider or traitor; colloquially a "non-Mandalorian"
Jetii: Jedi
ka'rta: heart or soul
vod'e: brothers, sisters, comrades
