Chapter 29

To Catch a Jedi

JEDI COUNCIL CHAMBER

The rain had poured the entire way back to the Council and to when the two Knights returned to the Temple informing the Master Of the event that transpired at the base Tarkin soon contacted them, dark storm clouds of rain and lighting outside the windows. "After further investigation there can be little doubt that the clone officers murdered in the escape were killed by none other than Ahsoka Tano herself. She used a Jedi Mind Trick to convince the clone to open the door and then proceeded to cut him down along with five other clones along the way." Tarkin explained as Anakin glared at him. Both Anakin and Leo were by the entrance standing hands behind their backs looking at the hologram of Tarkin and the Shock troopers.

The Masters listened to them, Plo Koon and Obi-Wan leaning forward with concern hearing the unthinkable "I... do not believe that Ahsoka could have fallen so far." Plo said, trying not to believe it.

"The beliefs of the Jedi Council are irrelevant ,we deal strictly in facts and evidence, and the evidence points to Padawan Tano being guilty of the attack on the Temple and the murder of the Republic Officers. This is sedition." the admiral replied, sounding insulted before abruptly cutting off the transmission.

"Skywalker, was there no way to stop your Padawan before she escaped?" Ki-Adi asked him. Anakin looked at Leo for a split second remembering how Leo had cut him off to give Ahsoka the head start that gave her the chance to escape.

"No... Master Mundi." he replied, walking to the center of the room.

"The Council believes that Ahsoka may be guilty of the crime, still believe they are wrong, do you, hmm?" Yoda asked him.

"I believe she didn't kill the clone troopers or the woman who used the nano-droids to blow up the Temple that's why she's running. To prove her innocence." Anakin explained to the Council.

Windu leaned back in his chair speaking "Now she's in the lower depths with her skills, she will be hard to find." Windu replied to them.

Master Yoda agreed humming to himself "Two teams we will send. Master Skywalker and Master Plo Koon, with clones you will go." Yoda told them as Plo stood and walked over to Anakin.

"I think it would be best if Skywalker stayed here having you involved may actually make things worse.

Anakin didn't hide his disagreement, speaking quickly to object "Master Windu, with all due respect, she is my Padawan." Anakin said.

"The reason for you not to go." the Master replied.

The hologram of Obi-Wan spoke up next "I think we're being foolish if we take Anakin off this mission who knows her better than him." Obi-Wan said as Leo walked towards Anakin and Plo.

Windu frowned when his fellow Council Member Anakin was allowed to go. "He's emotionally tied to her, probably too emotional to do what needs to be done." Windu said.

"I'd rather capture Ahsoka and find out the truth then let her run because of a lie." Anakin starkly argued. "You must prove to us that you will stay focused. Can you?" Yoda asked them, as Leo nodded.

"I've already alerted security on the lower levels to be on the lookout for Ahsoka." Anakin assured with some regrett having to do it. "Go swiftly then, Skywalker, and bring back this lost child before it is too late." the Grand Master implored. "Yes, Master." the older Knight replied, as the three nodded to him before leaving as thunder boomed outside.

Leo followed Anakin and Plo Koon down into the elevator that quickly started to lower itself "This is… troubling Skywalker, how could we be so blind."

"Blind, you don't actually consider Ahsoka guilty?" Anakin asked.

Leo kept his mouth closed, wanting to join Anakin in defending Ahsoka's honor "We failed to see the fall of Count Dooku and Pong Krell, who's to say Ahsoka hasn't fallen as well?"

Leo felt his hand curl into a fist behind his back, he may have been able to hide it there but he couldn't hide the anger seething from him in the force "You disagree?" Plo Koon asked eyes forward.

"When Ahsoka and I were kidnapped by the trandoshan hunters, along with Padawans Jynx and O-mer it was Ahsoka who refused to have her anger, her fear consume here there's no way she would turn out of nowhere." Leo said.

"When you… fell?" Plo Koon asked, turning around while the elevator continued to lower "What drove you to embrace Count Dooku as your Master?"

Leo could tell Plo Koon was asking it to try and understand his own theory, Anakin turned back "I was afraid, I overheard Master Windu and my Master speaking about doing what was necessary, that fear drove me to choose the lesser of two demons just to survive." Leo told him.

Plo Koon nodded "Then we must show Ahsoka she has nothing to fear, I will summon my Arc Trooper Commander Wolffe, you should do the same Skywalker familiar faces would ease her mind."

"I've already contacted Captain Rex, he's gathered up some of the Coruscant Guards best shock troopers." Anakin said.

"Will you come with us too? Rock you and her are close after all?" Plo Koon asked him.

Leo looked to Anakin then to Plo Koon, "I doubt Master Windu would agree, it's best I stay here and let you know as the situation develops."

"What do you mean?" Anakin asked.

"Tarkin clearly wants the Jedi out of the Military, if he makes anymore demands of the Council I'll let you know." Leo told Anakin.

Skywalker nodded "Indeed, the Admiral has made his views on the Jedi well known. He will use Ahsoka as his scapegoat to urge the Senate to abandon the Jedi as the army's leaders?" Plo Koon pointed out.

"Which is why we need to find Ahsoka first before she does anything dangerous." Anakin said with the elevator reaching the temple floor. The Knights exited it behind Plo Koon "Come Skywalker we must hurry for Lil'Soka's sake."

Leo followed them to a hallway that would lead to the hanger "May the force be with you Masters." Leo said.

"And with you." Plo Koon said before they walked off, Leo waved them away before he turned the other way and walked down the temple halls till he reached an older section of the temple. He walked down it looking over his shoulder to check if there were any unwanted eyes or ears, holding out his hand he whistled and suddenly Jynx, O-Mer and Barriss appeared, from the shadows. They gathered close and Leo took a deep breath.

O-Mer smirked "That bad huh?"

Leo nodded "Oh yeah." Leo replied "I don't believe it, Ahsoka would never do such a thing." Barriss said firmly "How can you be so sure?" Jynx asked.

"Can you not for one bloody day be such a pessimist?" Leo snapped at Jynx "Ahsoka is in danger, the Senate has put a bounty on her head, now Masters Skywalker and Plo Koon are after her."

"But isn't that a good thing if the Jedi find her, I'm sure they only want to help her?" O-Mer asked.

"How long are you going to believe that O-Mer?" Leo asked his friend, Barriss's blue eyes grew wide "What do your mean?"

Leo took a deep breath "I mean to say…. They've all but abandoned her." Leo said.

"How can you be so sure?" O-Mer asked.

"I was in the room, they believe Tarkin's evidence despite no audio, and why would Letta call for Ahsoka to have her kill her?" Leo asked, Barriss scratched her chin "There must be someone else behind this, a force wielder for sure?" Leo thought back to his vision of the Jedi King.

Leo's face could tell he was thinking of someone "Any ideas?" Barriss asked, but Leo didn't answer "Leo what is it?" O-Mer asked.

"I've had… visions lately, they're connected I know it but nothing in them leads me to believe that who or what I see in the vision is part of this conspiracy?" Leo told them.

He paced back and forth "Maybe we should contact Ahsoka and let her know what's coming for her." Leo said as a Temple guard walked by them.

The Padawans and Leo looked to the Temple guard who gazed their way before walking on "We shouldn't talk about this stuff in the open, please follow me." Barriss asked, leading them to her room.

UNDERCITY

Far away from the temple, under the many levels of Coruscant urban design, Ahsoka was walking through the city streets trying to keep a low profile. She felt many unwanted eyes on her while she kept her head bowed. So many people in the under city had rarely seen a torgurtan, let alone one wearing such nice clothing. Behind her she could see Undercity police in their dark green and yellow uniforms walking the streets looking for her. There was even a wanted poster showing the credits for her capture. She needed a way to blend in, she needed a plan holding up her comlink she started to signal the temple.

"Barriss?" Ahsoka asked in the comlink "It's Ahsoka?" Far from her back in the temple Leo and the three others had made their way into Barris's private quarters to speak.

"It's Ahsoka." Barriss said, answering it "Ahsoka, I'm so glad you're alright, Leo, Jynx and O-Mer are with me."

Before Barriss could sasy another word Leo practically tore her arm off taking her comlink "Ahsoka, are you alright, are you safe where are you?" He asked

"Better if I don't tell you, but someone is definitely trying to frame me." Ahsoka said while back in the temple the Padawan's listened "This is bad, could someone trace her call?" O-mer said.

Barriss nodded "Ahsoka, it's not safe to contact us on a Jedi comlink you should find another way to contact us."

"Good thinking." Ahsoka said when she saw a drunken gotal wave at a woman walking past him but instead she just hissed at him "In the meantime we'll try to look up any clues." Barriss suggested cutting the think.

"Wait." Leo said holding out his hand to Barriss, she looked at him puzzled "Barriss, please." Leo asked her.

She slowly handed the comlink to him "Ahsoka, are you still there?" He asked.

"I am?" She asked.

"The Council is sending Anakin and Master Plo after you, I'm not sure how long until the undercity but you need to keep moving, once we know more I'll come find you, and we'll figure this out together." Leo said.

The padawans all looked at him amazed at how he was talking "Sure thing Rusty, see you soon."

"You too Snips." Leo said smiling before they both cut the comlink. The padawans looked to Leo still dumbfounded "What was that?" Jynx asked.

"What was what?" Leo asked him.

Jynx moved forward "That, the way you talked to her you… are you and her…. oh you mynock brain." Jynx said, slapping his forehead.

"What?" O-mer asked, Barriss stopped Jynx from answering him "Leo are you and Ahsoka…. together?" She asked him. Leo handed her back her comlink and looked at the three of them taking a breath "Ahsoka is… precious to me, beyond words please will you help us?" Leo asked.

O-mer's jaw hit the floor next to Jynx, Barris's blue eyes got so wide Leo thought they'd pop out from her hood "Leo I'm, I'm happy for you but you know if the Masters find out this will only make things worse for Ahsoka and for you, you could be implicated in her guilt." Barriss pointed out.

"She is not guilty." Leo said firmly "And we're going to help prove it."

UNDERCITY

Back in the undercity, Ahsoka had traded some rations in her belt for the gotals cloak, it was a green one with holes in the old so her lekku horns could poke through. It went down to her knees covering her from the unwanted citizens. Later Ahsoka had made her way to a subway station and climbed aboard the subway as it drove off. She grabbed onto one of the poles her back to everyone when she heard "Tickets please?" Ahsoka looked over her shoulder to see two Undercity policemen checking the passengers tickets.

If they caught her she'd be done for, keeping her head bowed under the hood she started to move up the train car to the door waiting for it to come to a stop. The cops checked everyone's tickets almost to her when finally the train stopped and the runaway padawan tried to get out but when the door opened she saw a full squad of Undercity police cutting her off.

"That's her, the Rogue Jedi!" One cop shouted reaching for his blaster but Ahsoka force pushed him out of the train as the rest chased her through the train until one passenger grabbed Ahsoka by the arm "I got her." He shouted.

Ahsoka managed to break free, twisting the man's arm behind his back and throwing him back into the cops and continued running to the end of the train, she forced open one of the doors with her own force leaping out onto the next platform as the train zoomed off. She got to her feet thinking she was in the clear. Unfortunately she was spotted by more guards as they ran inside an elevator bit the guards shot the control planet.

"Not good!" Ahsoka said the elevator shot down then they saw a twi'lek child next to her.

"Don't worry little guy we'll get us out of this!" Ahsoka said as she jumped to the roof.

"Maybe I could cut a hole in the ceiling?" She said jumping up to the ceiling cutting through it with the lightsaber.

The twi'lek child kept shouting at her in his native tongue, but she said "I know, I know I almost there." Just then the elevator stopped as Ahsoka fell and hit the ground noticing the child pushed the emergency stop button.

"Huh guess I'm little out of my element kid." Ahsoka said standing up "I owe you one." She said cutting the elevator window out. Ahsoka jumped out of the elevator while she was holding the child in her arms. When she landed on the ground, the child ran to his mother who hugged his mother while Ahsoka looked on with a happy as she put up her hood unaware a shadow from her past was following her.

JEDI TEMPLE

Leo and the padawans were gathered in the library looking at holopads, "So what are we looking for?" O-Mer asked at a table with Jynx, Leo was holding two holopads at once while Barriss came in with another "Anything, everything you think would be useful."

"And useful is?" Jynx asked.

"Who all was in the temple the day of the attack, what the shipments were, where they were going, The people who knew Letta and Jackar, who they spoke to?" Leo said looking through the holopads.

The padawans all looked at the data trying to find a way to help Ahsoka, while they did Jynx looked to O-mer, who looked to Barriss, and she to the two boys an elephant in the room no one was speaking "So Leo?" Barriss asked.

"You found something?" Leo asked.

"What- no I just wanted to ask, how long?" She asked him.

"How long what?" He asked looking through the list of maintenance crew workers.

Barriss looked at the boys and Jynx leaned his head to make her ask again "How long have you and Ahsoka been, you know?" She asked.

The knights cheeks flushed "It's uh… relatively new, what does that matter?" He asked.

"Have you two…" Jynx leaned back in his chair and held up his hands while everyone watched, Jynx fumbled with his own hands before he pointed them like blasters at Leo clicking his teeth. Barriss turned a different shade of green while Leo's face turned red like Yavin. Leo set the holotable down "We just kissed."

O-Mer looked well content hearing that "Pay up." He said holding his hand to Jynx.

The twi'lek grumbled in huttese handing O-Mer some credits "Your gamblin on my love life, while Ahsoka is being hunted by the entire Republic, oh what great allies I've chosen." Leo said.

"Oh come on Leo, I'm happy for you." O-Mer said counting the credits "You are?" Barriss asked.

The cerean shrugged "Why not, you two deserve to be happy right, you are happy?" O-Mer asked behind the desk.

Leo was about to answer him but he stopped "I…. I don't know, I think so?" Leo said.

"You don't know, but I thought that when two people carried each other like you do it's happy?" Barriss asked, "Well I'm sorry this is my first relationship like that."

Jynx stood up "Hmm perhaps somewhere in this great archive of knowledge, the Jedi have the secrets of…. dating advice."

Barriss grabbed her mout stifling a laugh, O-Mer held his in and Leo smiled looking down at the holopad when he saw something. "Look at this." Leo said holding it up.

"It's a manifest of a warehouse, the munitions on it were the same used in the attack." Leo said handing it to Barriss "It says it's on level 1315?" Barriss said reading it.

"It's not much but it's a start, I'm going there now to tell Ahsoka to meet me there when she contacts you." Leo said moving away from the table, the younglings watched him go before Barriss ran up behind him "Leo wait." She said.

He twisted back around before Barriss suddenly hugged him "Barriss?" Leo asked.

"I'm so happy Ahsoka has someone like you." Barriss whispered up to him "I know you and I have had our differences but, I think that'll be over soon once you bring Ahsoka back." She said smiling, Leo smiled back when she broke the hug "I'll bring her back or die trying." He said turning around again, running out of the archives.

UNDERCITY

Level 1312

Ahsoka walked into an abandoned alleyway, she could feel a dangerous presence haunting her steps. It wasn't a Jedi, but it wasn't a clone, even so she new shew as in danger and it was getting closer, the padawan then sensed an attack coming and turned and grabbed the attacker by the leg and threw him to the wall. The attack rose up and pounced like a panther knocking Ahsoka on her backside, the assailant ignited two crimson red sabers drawing them across the metal floor crossing them over Ahsoka's neck when she was pinned on the floor by the attack "The senate has put a bounty on your heads" the attacker said as he removed his mask to reveal Ventress "and I've come to collect the bounty." The assassin said smiling.

She was wearing a metal mask to hide her face, in addition she had covered her Dathomiran robes with a brown tunic with an armored pauldron on her right leg with boots.

"Ventress!" Ahsoka growled.

"So it was you wasn't it!?" Ahsoka demanded walking up to her fiancé "You were behind all of this and you framed me!"

"I don't know what you're talking." Ventress said, taking Ahsoka's lightsaber.

"Yes you do!" Ahsoka exclaimed "So what are you now a bounty hunter?"

"Yes and some one who knows how to make easy money" Ventress said as she force Ahsoka to her feet, hands behind her back in Asajj's firm grip. Despite her slender frame Asajj had a grip like iron shackles.

She started to push Ahsoka down the street "You think you're just gonna hand us over?" Ahsoka asked "And then what get a pat on the shoulder? You're a sepritist war criminal and a sith, they have us both in prison before you say your name." Ahsoka pointed out.

"I don't have to hand you over to the Jedi" Ventress said with her mask on "I can hand you over to the bondsman and get paid,I'll get my money whether you're dead or alive." Asajj said whispering the threat into Ahsoka's ear.

Ahsoka didn't shake or crumble beneath the threat "Good luck, despite what you hear I'm still Jedi"

"I'm afraid the other Jedi don't see it that way" Ventress gloated as they walked to the undercity exit.

Ahsoka started to weigh her options, she wasn't sure she could beat Ventress in a one on one fight in her state. She was tired, hungry and a wanted fugitive "I hate to admit it,but you're right" Ahsoka said "That's why I need your help"

Ventress then lifted her visor up laughing before they stopped just short of the exit, standing on the platform. "In what star system you think I would ever help you?" Asajj asked

"The traitor is a Jedi that tried to blow up the temple and has framed me for other killings." Ahsoka explained to her.

"So the Jedi aren't that holy after all" Ventress said in a smug tone, hands on her wide hips.

Ahsoka turned around her serious face. "I know that Dooku tried to kill you" she said, making Ventress' smug face vanish "I know he betrayed you like he did to me what if this is his new apprentice?" She asked.

"I've fallen from my own path just like you did,we are more alike than you think." Ahsoka said to her, trying to appeal to the cruel irony that connected them.

"What can you offer me that's greater than money?" Ventress asked Ahsoka.

Ahsoka saw Asajj take the bait and thought up the best deal she could imagine "If you help us,I'll speak to the council and the senate on your behalf, I can get you a full pardon for your crimes." Ahsoka said, Asajj's silver eyes widened hearing the chance of no longer being a wanted woman in Republic space.

"You have my attention" Ventress said "But i'm going to go where the tide flows" but if you fail me I'll turn you in." Asajj said handing Ahsoka her lightsaber.

"Deal" Ahsoka said taking it.

"I suggest we find somewhere else to discuss this" Ventress said as two republic shuttle shined their light on the rogues. The two teams that pursued Ahsoka consisted of Anakin and Rex on one team with a few shock troopers while the other team was led by Plo and Commander Wolffe. Both teams flew on one of the two LAAT/le police gunships towards the Underworld. "The lower level police claim to have spotted Commander Tano heading to level 1312." Rex informed the two Jedi.

"All right, let's bring her home." Anakin said, earning a nod from his friends as the transports reached the portal and descended into it. "Shine the light over there!" Anakin ordered the pilot while pointing to a platform with Ahsoka and another woman.

Before they could get closer the former assassin ran over to a panel and activated a ray shield to block the Jedi from chasing her and Ahsoka as they took off again. Ahsoka suddenly stopped and looked back at her master before Ventress placed a hand on her shoulder and the two started running again. "Ventress." Anakin whispered in surprise before turning back towards the gunships. "Send out the probes. I want them found now!" Anakin ordered as the observation probe droids found a way around.

Ahsoka and Ventress fled into the ghettos of 1312, to Ventress's apartment. The streets were abandoned with construction left for the workers to come back tomorrow, graffiti were sprayed on almost all the walls. A public holobooth was in front of the apartment and Ahsoka could smell something from somewhere in the ghetto. "Nice place you have here" Ahsoka said sarcastically

"Not everyone on Coursant has a luxurious temple in the high ups of the surfice." the bounty hunter said.

"It'll have to do" Ahsoka said following her.

"Just make the call" Ventress said as Ahsoka wired the holo booth, Asajj went to the corner to keep a look out "Adding another crime to your record?" Ventress asked

"I'm making sure they don't trace it, now be quiet" Ahsoka said while Ventress growled at him. As Ahsoka finished wiring the phone she contacted Barriss.

"Barriss it's Ahsoka" Ahsoka said as an image of Barriss appeared.

"It's so good to see you Ahsoka, are you ok?" Barriss asked when both Jynx and O-Met popped their heads in "Ahsoka we belive your innocent."

Jynx's hand shoved O-Mer out of the way "What he means to say is you better be innocent or we're all guilty just for talking to you, me personally make sure you deny we were involved in anything," Jynx said holding up a finger.

"Yeah we're ok" Ahsoka said rolling her eyes at Jynx and O-mer being usual goofs, Barriss pushed them out of the camera so she could speak "Unless you count Anakin and a whole bunch of clones chasing us ok" Ahsoka said. While Asajj couldn't help but listen.

"You were almost captured?!" Barriss asked.

"Once or twice, yeah" Ahsoka replied.

"Where are you?" Barriss asked her

Ahsoka looked at Ventress who shook her head "I can't say Barriss" Ahsoka told her.

"I believe we found a clue." Barriss told her, "A clue?" Ahsoka asked as a probe droid flew around one of the buildings spying Ahsoka speak to the holobooth reporting the message to Arc Trooper, Commander Wolffe and two squads of shock troopers. As it reported to him Wolffe signaled his men to start heading to the coordinates.

"How? From where?" Ahsoka asked "We don't have much time Ahsoka,"Three levels up there's an abandoned warehouse where Letta visited when she acquired the nano droids."

"Where did you find this out?" Ahsoka asked.

"I told you i would find some information, Leo is already on his way there." Ahsoka's face lit up hearing that "Oh and by the way Ahsoka, congratulations." Barriss said with a wink.

Ahsoka gapped at her "What do you-" "He told us, don't worry secrets safe with us we owe you that much." O-mer said in the background. Ahsoka smiled at her friends, still helping her even when the rest of the Jedi and Republic were against her.

"Thank you so much Barriss" Ahsoka said "I owe you one"

"Be careful Ahsoka" Barriss said as the hologram, before Ahsokawalked over to Ventress.

"Well?" She asked

"I think we have a lead" Ahsoka said "It doesn't look like you need my help" Ventress said

Ahsoka put her hands on her hip "That's not true, we need to find an abandoned warehouse on level 1315,we'll find some info there and we'll be meeting someone."

Ventress had a strange look on her face as Ahsoka noticed.

"You know what we're talking about don't you?" She asked

"Yes" Ventress replied " I can get you there, who are we meeting?"

Ahsoka new this was coming, "Yeah…" she said scratching her arm when she was nervous "Uh, Leo?" Asajj's face shifted. Her hands turned into fists, she barred her teeth before speaking "I'd heard he'd returned to you Jedi, amazing that they let him back in so easily after everything he's done."

"We've all done things we never thought we would today." Ahsoka said eyeing her with suspicion. Asajj got a bit closer and looked at her before her anger eased. The bounty hunter crossed her arms "You poor foolish girl, you have no idea do you, what he did when he was Count Dooku's apprentice, to me personally."

"And you didn't deserve it?" Ahsoka asked.

Asajj's anger spiked and she suddenly grabbed Ahsoka. "I went home, to my people, my family and Count Dooku sent your precious Leo after me and I must say he was a much better Sith than a Jedi."

Ahsoka backed away, swiping Asajj's hand away "I… I know Leo did terrible things, but that was the dark side you know what it does to people."

"Ha the dark side didn't make him a monster, no less it made me one." Asajj said when suddenly they both sensed danger, springing from behind the cover of alleyways Commander Wolffe and two squads of shock troopers appeared.

Commander Wolffe ran up blasters drawn "Commander Tano surrender we're taking you in." Wolffe barked as Ventress held up her fists smiling needing to get some anger out.

"Listen to me!" Ahsoka said "we don't want to fight"

"I do!" Ventress said as he put her mask back on, "We're taking you both in Commander!" Wolffe said again, his clones getting closer.

"That's not gonna happen!" Asajj said, taking out her lightsabers "We are not going to hurt any of you!" Ahsoka said "But you are not taking us in!"

"Commander,we ARE taking you in" Wolffe said. Just then Ventress started swinging her sabers around making the clones back off.

"Ventress no!" Ahsoka shouted while the clone tried to grab her but she kicked him back as she kept punching the troopers knocking them down one by one Asajj kicked and punched two clones before she force pushed a bunch through a glass window. Ahsok felt one of the shocktroopers try to wrap his arms around her but she threw him over her shoulder before roundhouse kicking another down. The two women fought like they had done it a thousand times till all the clones were down, and all of them alive.

"See?" Ventress said "Didn't kill one, It's the new me"

"Guess there's a first for time for everything" Ahsoka said as the two of them ran off.

Later Ventress and Ahsoka were walking through a scrap yard before they saw the warehouse in front of them. The orange glow of melted metal surrounded it giving the building an orange tint. Ahsoka looked over at Asajj who pulled her mask up "There, that's where your source said to find the clue you're looking for" Ventress stated.

"I held up my end of the bargain, you're on your own from here, but don't forget you have to speak on my behalf now" Ventress said handing Ahsoka her lightsaber.

"Yeah,yeah a deal is a deal" Ahsoka said

"Thanks for getting me this far at least" Ahsoka said "I have to admit i never saw us do anything together...ever."

Asajj scowled at her "These are strange times..." Ventress said as she walked away before stopping "And if that murdering traitor is here, you best strike first because if I ever see Leo Rock again I'll kill him." Asajj said before walking away. Ahsoka watched the assassin vanish behind some scrap, Ahsoka couldn't help but feel bad for Asajj Ventress the two of them were betrayed by their order, abandoned by their Masters but Asajj was worsef. If what she said was true about Leo, what did that make Ahsoka willing to care for him the way she did. But she couldn't think of that now she was close to cracking the mystery.

Moving into the warehouse it was dark and abandoned, there were crates of different munitions lining the wall. Machinery was bunched up together making it hard to move around. Suddenly she heard a footsteps reaching for her lightsaber. The sound of scrap being carried through the factory to be made into weapons, mixed with the smell of melted iron in burning pits of magma. She held it up and came up to one of the machines taking cover. She waited, holding her lightsaber up she sprung out when she sensed whoever it was.

Her green lightsaber clashed against Leo's white one "Snips!"

Ahsoka broke the lock "Leo." She said seeing him.

"Told you I'd come." He said turning off the lightsaber. He moved toward her when he noticed blood dripping down from her right hand "Your hurt." Leo said, taking her hand. Ahsoka looked to see part of her glove was torn and there was a deep gash in it.

She must have gotten it in the fight with the clones, "It's fine, I barely feel it." Ahsoka said.

"Let me see." Leo said taking her glove and up clipping it around her slender wrist, he tore off a part of his green robe into a strip wrapping it around her arm "It's no field medic job but it should stop the bleeding." He said as he tied the green robes around her hand.

Ahsoka looked at her hand, one covered in the jedi gauntlet the other wrapped up in Leo's robe soaking up the blood and keeping the wound sealed. "Can I ask you something?" Leo suddenly asked her.

"Huh?" Ahsoka asked.

Leo crossed his arms "Why don't you want Anakin to know- about us?" Leo inquired.

"It's complicated?" She said "So is everything right now, when you jumped Anakin partially lost it blaming me and I know he was just upset but he said you had been off balance." Leo shrugged.

Ahsoka took a deep breath "Maybe it's because we've strayed from the Jedi teachings?" She asked.

"How can we, we serve the Republic, we serve the light, how can what I feel for you be wrong to either?" Leo asked her sitting in the crate next to her. "The Republic fights for freedom, I choose to be free to be with you and the Jedi serve the light. How can what we feel for each other not be light?" He asked.

Ahsoka tilted her head side to side "I don't think that's why Anakin would be upset?"

"Then what?" He asked, "Think about it, Anakin still sees us as those two Younglings rolling around in the dirt when we first met?"

Leo snickered "You got me in the face ten times, and that cheap shot." Leo said winking at it "You were too good, I needed a handicap thankfully boys are easier to take down." She said smugly.

Ahsoka got up then and stepped away from him, turning around her face grim "What is it?" Leo asked.

"What happened on Dathomir?" She asked.

The vision of the Jedi king flashed into Leo's mind but he sensed that wasn't what she was asking about "How do you know about Dathomir?" He asked.

Ahsoka exhaled "I ran into Asajj Ventress."

"Ventress?" Leo asked looking around the warehouse, getting up "But she died I...?" Leo started to say before he trailed off "You what?" She asked. Leo paced around the warehouse looking around to see if Ventress was near "This isn't the best place to talk about that."

"Leo." Ahsoka said "If what you said about your heart, you'll tell me what happened on Dathomir." She asked.

Leo faced her walking up to her "I will, I promise, but we need to clear your name the entire level is crawling with clones." Leo told her, he grabbed her arm "Please."

Ahsoka nodded "Alright, alright later."

Breathing out in relief, Leo looked around the darkened warehouse "So what are we looking for?" She asked.

"This is a munitions warehouse, we should find the same nano droids here somewhere and maybe another clue to whoever else was working with Letta." Leo said walking around the warehouse with Ahsoka. Ahsoka followed him and when he glanced back Ahsoka nearly lost her balance leaning on one of the walls

"Whoa." Leo ran up to her, catching her before she could fall, Ahsoka had been running for her life for hours without any food or rest. He helped her over to a crate "Here." He said, reaching by his robe, taking out a ration stick.

She took a bite into it savoring the flavor "Thanks I gave mine to a bum for his cloak, it stunk so bad."

"Much good it did you, I overheard the cops saying you fought a bunch of them on a train?" Leo asked, Ahsoka snickered, nodding "And destroyed an elevator?"

"Not my best moments." She said sheepishly.

Leo sat down next to her letting her catch her breath "You've gotten this far?" Leo asked "I know you can figure this out." He said, taking her hands. "Leo I— Look out!"Just then a hooded figure came out of nowhere, Ahsoka shoved Leo out of the way and the figure attacked Ahsoka with red lightsabers and had Ventress's Ahsoka block the attack as the two exchanged blows. They were wielding two red lightsabers moving like a viper. Ahsoka parried and tried to counter but they blocked with both their blades before force pushing Ahsoka back.

She fell back landing on her feet and saw the red hue from the lightsaber reveal it was the same mask Asajj was wearing "Ventress!" Ahsoka exclaimed.

Leo got to his feet turning on both ends of his lightsaber "Ventress leave her this is between you and me."

Asajj said nothing and she just turned around to attack Leo, he caught both her blades twirling his lightsaber around the blades crackling against one another. Ahsoka jumped into the fray, Asajj caught her lightsaber holding off both of their attacks. Using their cloak to distract them the assassin kicked Leo in the jaw before attacking Ahsoka, with one lightsaber she struck high the other low, before grabbing a chain with the force and throwing at Ahsoka. She cut it in half but it was a diversion before the assassin tried to cut Ahsoka down. Leo used the force to pull her back toward him "Leave her!" Leo snapped before the assassin turned around to attack him.

The assassin moved like a tornado of red lightsabers smashing them down on Leo's guard "Ventress— Asajj, I'm sorry- I was wrong to do what I did." He said through the fighting.

The assassin broke off running to jump off one of the crates to flip over Leo slashing up at the floor sending sparks against Leo's face. Ahsoka outflanked Asajj, the assassin caught Ahsoka's green lightsaber from behind and spun around to engage her. Ahsoka weakened and fatigued could feel it starting to take its toll, the Assassin was toying with her. Pushing Ahsoka back up against some crates before kicking her back into them. The crates spilled over down into one of the scrap pits causing a massive explosion that shook the whole factory. Outside it the under city cops saw stacks of black smoke start to rise from it signaling everyone of the commotion.

The report from the fire reached the gunship that Rex and Anakin was on going through the Arc Troopers com suddenly went off as an Underworld police officer's voice was heard. "Calling all units. Suspicious activity on level 1315." he said.

"Pilot, take us to level 1315." Leo ordered. "Right away, sir." he replied before making a hard left.

Back inside the factory the fire was starting to spread when the warehouse's fire retardant system activated. The entire warehouse was sprayed in water dousing the flames waking Ahsoka from the blast, the sudden explosion had dropped wreckage all around them and broken part of the floor. She coughed getting up and looked across her to see Leo getting up. "L-Leo." Ahsoka coughed getting up.

"I'm fine, where's Ventress?" Leo asked getting up walking toward her. He coughed wiping the smoke away from them as she took his arms in her own "You okay?" She asked.

When out of the doused smoke flames Ventress appeared behind Ahsoka, the assassin drew their lightsaber shoving it toward Ahsoka but Leo grabbed her pushing her aside taking the lightsaber through his stomach "LEO!" Ahsoka screamed. The assassin pulled out the lightsaber and pushed Leo down a new found hole made in the factory from the explosion, Ahsoka let out a furious yell, but it was more than that. The force exploded out of her shaking what felt like not just the factory but the entire level holding up her arms. 'Asajj' felt the power radiating from her, parts of wreckage and loose tools floated up in the air around her, Ahsoka's eyes were shut tight but when she opened them the assassin took a step back, Ahsoka's eyes turned yellow like on Mortis and her hands coursed with force lighting. The torgurtan raised her hand and what came next sounded like a shockwave around them as the assassin blasted through the walls. The padawan nearly collapsed, catching herself panting almost frothing at the mouth with such power when she saw Leo's green bandage around her arm. Her eyes turned back blue instantly, the darkness leaving her. Ahsoka stood up and ran to the hole that Leo had fallen down jumping down it. When she hit the cold metal floor she crawled up to Leo cradling him in her arms. He was still alive but barely gasping for air.

"Leo- Leo." She said shaking the white haired boy, Ahsoka looked around to see crates filled with munitions, the same kind that Letta had fed to Jackar that caused all this chaos "Leo, hold, just hold on." She looked up to see if the Assassin was about to attack again but they were nowhere to be found.

She looked down at Leo holding the lightsaber wound, groaning through his teeth "I'm fine, I'm fine we need to-aaah." Leo tried to get up but the pain was too much, he could feel his spine was damaged. He fell back down onto the floor with Ahsoka holding his head, he started to lose consciousness. He could feel it, feel the force calling to him "No, no Leo don't leave me." Ahsoka said, feeling it too, Leo looked away from her at a light.

His arm reached for the light, and something, no someone was walking out of it. It was the person from his vision, the one he'd seen leading the army, the Jedi King. It was clearer now…

They were walking toward them with a cape flowing behind their back, a helmet with a slit visor under their arm, it was strange with either horn or wing ornaments he wasn't sure and a lightsaber at their hip, it had a strange ornament of what looked like… beads? Their armor was unlike anything Leo had ever seen, maybe mandolorian- it was metal without color for the most part, but there was an insignia on his belt, a bright red flame bird painted on the shoulder piece. Leo tried to make out the persons face, it was a young man smiling, Leo reached for them and the vision held out their gauntlet to take Leo-

"FREEZE!" Ahsoka looked up from Leo and saw Wolffe and his Shocktroopers had caught up with them. It looked as if Leo was reaching to the clones and Master Plo for help as they came walking in behind them "Master Plo, please, please Leo's wound- I can feel him fading please help, Ventress she's still here you have to find her."

Plo Koon looked at Wolffe who was going through the explosives, Leo had passed out in her arms.

"Explosives these are the same types of nano-droids that were used to blow up the Jedi Temple." Wolffe explained, holding up a hand-sized canister of them as Anakin and Rex came in.

"I can't believe it." Anakin said in disbelief looking at the dying Leo "Seize her, stun only." Plo Koon said as the clones raised their blasters shooting stun rings "No-" the blasts pacified her knocking her out still holding onto Leo.

Anakin looked down at the two padawans, both of them his students, the children he had failed. Falling to his knees Anakin forced himself to say "Rex, get a medic in here now."

Later, both gunships flew back towards the Jedi now with Ahsoka in binders and sitting in the back still unconscious, Leo was laid out on a stretcher with his bandages around his waist with a breathing mask over his face to help him stay alive. While Anakin and Plo Koon bring Yoda and Windu up to speed as they flew over Coruscant. "Captured she has been?" Yoda asked.

"Yes, Master Yoda." Leo replied, keeping his tone emotionless. "Without incident?" the aging Jedi asked. "No, she was subdued by the clones and found in possession of explosive nano-droids and she… has gravely wounded Sir Rock." Plo answered looking at the young knight.

The Kel Dor was holding his lightsaber. "He must have tried to come and apprehend her himself, and paid the price for his faith in her."

"It still doesn't explain Ventress' involvement when we saw her with Ahsoka." Anakin argued looking at Leo then to Ahsoka,

"By Ahsoka or against her?" Windu asked as the hologram changed to him. "That remains to be seen." Plo replied, sounding uncertain. "We're bringing her back to the Temple, prepare our best healers Rocks condition is worsening by the hour." Anakin said.

"Let's just hope we can keep her here and Leo alive." Windu replied before the transmission ended.