After learning had a murder charge over her head, Anakin had stormed over to speak with Ahsoka directly. He hadn't appreciated being stopped by troopers overseeing the holding cells
"My Padawan is in there. Now step aside." anger clearly overtaking any attempt of approaching this situation with any caution
"Admiral Tarkin has ordered no one be allowed in there." the clone firm on his orders as Anakin was done with talking through the glass between them
"I don't care what she's been accused of let me in" each word laced with venom as he considered resorting to violence to get his point across
Once surrounded with guard troopers, the single clone behind the partition "Sorry Sir. This is now a military operation. The Admiral's orders stand."
Anakin's frustration hadn't ended as he considered what he could do to prove Ahsoka's innocence
Padme hadn't believed the report either and of course would want to defend one of her closest friend
"She must think I turned my back on her. That I betrayed her." His mind was racing
"They can't really put Ahsoka on trial right? The claim makes no sense." Anakin's pacing and ranting as Padme attempted to talk him down
"I can't believe it either. It's unlike Ahsoka to take lives."
"So you agree she's innocent?"
"Of course I do." Padme assured "It's considered a treasonous act and she's going to trial. If we work on her defense we can sway the Council toward reconsidering their piece of the story"
"So she's just going to sit in a cell until what? They think they can piece together what happened with Letta?"
Padme watched Anakin's pacing, unsure of what to say
Ahsoka hated the hum of the ray shield in her cell, catching the gleam of a key card she smirked "Master, I knew you wouldn't let me down."
The Force on her side, she easily opened her cell and dashed down the hallway "I wonder what you have planned."
The fallen clones at her feet stopped her in her tracks, how reckless had he become to help her escape "Oh no..."
Blaster fire set her on her feet again, running and evading as the clones remaining attempted to shut her in
Her lightsabers had been left near the entrance, taking the second to retrieve them between pop shots she kept running
Commotion of course alerted Anakin from Padme's as he rushed off to help Ahsoka, the holding prison nearly shut down as he kept close to Rex
"Commander Tano would never do this." he assured, as Anakin could still sense her presence as he attempted to talk her out of running
"Someone's setting me up." Ahsoka was certain of it as she caught her breath, Anakin's voice a comfort
"I believe you, Ahsoka."
Ahsoka sure she wasn't safe "But no one else will." she wouldn't let her guard down
Anakin couldn't let his emotions take over "Keep searching until we find her." he ordered, Rex his right hand as they continued the search
As if a large target were on her back, Ahsoka evaded attempts to be taken down, losing a lightsaber in the process as the troopers hunted her relentlessly
Anakin ensured she wouldn't be shot to kill, he wanted her alive of course
She figured she could lose them in the irrigation tunnels, Anakin still on her trail
A fork in the tunnel let her hide in the shadow of night, troopers heading down another path as she kept quiet
Once she felt it was safe, she continued obvious she was being followed
She'd nearly slid off the edge of the tunnel end, unsure of where to go now
"Ahsoka...What are you doing?"
If he cared for her like he said, why hadn't he tried harder she wondered "You didn't even try to come and help me."
"They wouldn't let me in to talk to you." he argued, stunned by the accusation
"You could have if you tried."
Does she know what he did to ensure she wasn't killed this evening?
"How would that look Ahsoka? Forcing my way in would've made you look even more guilty."
"I'm not guilty!" she screamed at him, watching him consider what to do
"We have to prove your innocent. The only way we can do that is by going back."
No sooner would she go with him she would be back in the cell "No, I'm not going to take the fall for something I didn't do."
"Listen, I would never let anyone hurt you Ahsoka.. never. but you need to come back make your case to the Council."
As much as she loved him, she couldn't believe him this time there was no guarantee he could keep her safe this time
"Trust me."
"I do trust you..but you know as well as I do that no one else will believe me." her voice broke as if she'd cry, considering her options
"Anakin, you have to trust me now."
Anakin reacted immediately, stepping closer "Ahsoka, I do trust you."
"I know you do. Wish me luck." she asked, the clones rushing footsteps set forth her decision to jump
Out on her own, she figured she'd lay low
Now dressed in a poncho to cover her face she tried keeping aloof among Coruscant citizens in a transit bus, of course authorities no sooner attempting to capture her she made her escape
She was certain she wasn't alone as something felt familiar, a presence she hadn't seen since..
The familiar glow of two red lightsabers at her throat, that hairless harpy
"Ventress you were behind this weren't you? You framed me."
Letting her up to her feet "I don't know what your talking about." she promised, shoving Ahsoka to walk ahead of her.
"So what are you now a bounty hunter?" Ahsoka sneered
"I'll get my money whether your dead or alive."
"Help me and I'll speak to the Council on your behalf. Get you a full pardon of your crimes."
"You have my attention."
Ahsoka figured she could consult Barriss as a late resort, successfully creating a communication path based on one of Anakin's tinkering tricks
"Where are you?" she'd asked as Ahsoka was quick to dismiss her "I don't have much time."
Barriss adamant in her information got the location of her friend with enough pleading "Fine, i'm on level 1312."
She'd informed of an abandoned warehouse that manufactured nano-droids, solidifying Letta's involvement in the bombing
"Thank you Barriss."
Figuring this would be the answer, Ahsoka ventured in alone
No sooner had she made it into the factory, she was attacked and stuck defending herself against Ventress
"I see you had a change of heart!" she'd called out as she felt cornered, tossed around similar to a training dummy
One good knockabout left her at the lowest level of the warehouse, picking herself up as her ribs ached from sustaining injuries from the fight
"Nano-droids?" she realized Barriss had been correct, her time running out as clones finally found her
"No Wolfe let me explain-" one shot from his weapon left her stunned
Anakin rushing in behind the clones,his thumb running along her hand comfortingly as an *your okay I was so worried about you* crossed his mind
Ahsoka would have to be on trial for multiple charges, the ride on the ship back to the Temple was a quiet one
Anakin's eyes seeming unable to look away from Ahsoka, that sinking feeling in his gut
This was what his night terror had been, what his meditations had been showing him they were warnings