Chapter 30
The Wrong Jedi
JEDI COUNCIL CHAMBER
Plo Koon and Anakin had returned to the Council, Ahsoka had been taken to a cell under armed guard. Leo was taken directly to the medical wing of the temple, while both the older Jedi had gone to see the Council. Obi-Wan and many other Masters had returned to the Temple to discuss this in person. Who in turn sent a transmission to the Republic MIlitary and the Senate authorities that Ahsoka had been captured. Like clockwork the only person who responded to them was Admiral Tarkin, his holographic form standing in the middle of the Council Chamber speaking to them "The Senate requests that Ahsoka Tano be indicted for acts of treason against the Republic." The Admiral declared to the Masters.
Master Yoda locked eyes with Tarkin who didn't flinch at the sight of the Jedi Master, nor did Yoda's eyes waiver "A fair trial Padawan Tano will have, in accordance with Jedi tradition." He told Tarkin.
"Ah, yes, Jedi tradition." Tarkin said dismissively "I'm afraid, Master Yoda, that the Senate believes that an internal Jedi trial would seem biased." He said.
"Therefore, the Senate asks that the Council expel Ahsoka Tano from the Jedi Order so that she may be put to a Republic Military tribunal, where she will receive
more impartial judgment." Tarkin refused looking at the Jedi who glared back at his impunity.
"And who would represent Ahsoka, in this tribunal, Admiral?" Obi-Wan asked , squeezing the edges of his chair.
Tarkin gazed at Kenobi like what's speaking to a fly. "That would be up to the Council, General but I would recommend someone outside the Order." Tarkin said.
"Of course." Obi-Wan said, before the transmission was cut. Leaving the Jedi alone "And yet there's evidence that she is indeed, the mastermind behind the attack
on the Temple." Obi-Wan said
"She was found in possession of nanodroid explosives." Master Tinn said across from Obi-Wan
"This alone is enough to convict her." Mundi agreed.
Mace Windu leaned back in his chair "I understand your sentiment Obi-Wan, but if the Council does as you suggest it could be seen as an act of opposition to the Senate."
"I'm afraid we have little choice." Mace Windu added while Obi-Wan looked to the Masters "Master Plo, do you believe Ahsoka is responding to what happened to Leo, I find it impossible to consider she'd try to kill him. The two have been close since they were younglings."
Plo Koon crossed his fingers together with the Council turning to the Master who had brought Ahsoka to the temple when she was but an infant. "To close perhaps… as the clones and I approached the munitions warehouse, I sensed a tremor in the force; from Ahsoka no less I sensed her anger, her fear and a savagery I never thought I would sense from her."
"You think they were fighting?" Obi-Wan asked "I say only what the force showed me, and what I saw with my own eyes." Plo said before continuing "When we arrived Leo was reaching toward me, the force calling to him." Obi-Wan heard him knowing that the Kel Dor was telling what he thought was the truth.
"... And his condition now?" Obi-Wan asked him.
Plo Koon was quiet for a long time. "Our healers and doctors have done what they can, the wound he received was… fatal, it is up to the force now to decide his fate and it is ours to decide Ahsoka's." Plo Koon said conceding to Master Yoda.
"Hmm To the Chamber of Judgment, summon Skywalker and his Padawan and in our decision may the Force guide us." Master Yoda said ending the Council chambers.
Down in the medical wing, Leo was submerged in a bacta tank with a mask on his face, bandages around his waist and nothing else but a pair of shorts. The medical room he was in was round with medical droids and the Temple Jedi Healer monitoring his vitals while Anakin stood there looking at the glass. Anakin bowed his head, shaking it while he knitted his brow.
"Oh Leo, why do you always have to take the hardest hits?" Anakin asked, pressing his hand to the glass.
"How is he?" Anakin asked, looking to the healer.
The green skinned Jedi woman approached him, "Yes… and no?" The Healer said.
Anakin spun toward her "What do you mean yes and no?" He asked angrily, she was holding a datapad looking at it, his vitals were weak but his heart was beating weak.
"Master Skywalker, I've done all I can for him, his wound severely damaged his spine and internal organs, the bacta is keeping him alive and our own healing methods but…" Anakin squeezed the holopad tightly cracking "But what?"
The Healer was patient "Before when he was brought to us, as padawan Rock's rapid recovery led me to research other ways of healing…"
"Other ways, what does that mean?" Anakin asked.
"Master Skywalker are you familiar with the legends of Darth Bane?" She asked him "The Sith Lord who founded the rule of two?" He asked.
The healer nodded "Yes, their is a fable that when he was poisoned by other Sith, Darth Bane used the force to keep himself alive before finding a proper healer, a Jedi in fact, other Sith Lords such as Darth Sion the Lord of Pain was able to recover from terrible wounds with the dark side of the force." She said looking at Leo then at Anakin "You are aware that Rock struggled with the Dark Side as a padawan, I have no doubt it was amplified when he was the Counts apprentice." She said as she elaborated.
"It is possible that when he was younger, and sustains similar wounds his subconscious emotions and connection to the force drove him to heal faster." She said, taking the holopad from Anakin to check the vitals, "What are you saying?" Anakin asked.
"I'm saying that since the darkness is no longer within him, that subconscious link has been severed… it… it doesn't look good." She said before walking away.
Anakin looked at the glass with yearning eyes "First Snips, now you Rusty." Anakin said when he heard the medical rooms door open.
It was Obi-Wan, he came in with a grim look on his face seeing Leo in the tube and Anakin mourning as if he were already dead "Obi-Wan." Anakin said, seeing him.
Kenobi walked in looking at the bacta tube and his more recent apprentice in such a state, "The Council is gathering in the Chamber of Judgment, I've been sent to collect you and Ahsoka." Obi-Wan said, forcing his head to turn away from Leo.
"Don't you want to even know how Leo is?" Anakin asked accusingly as if Obi-Wan didn't care. Obi-Wan shut his eyes for a brief moment to gather himself, Anakin could sense there was something off about him.
"You came here personally just to see him didn't you?" Anakin asked knowing he was right.
Obi-Wan looked back to Leo "Leo went to find Ahsoka of his own free accord, he must have had a reason." Obi-Wan said.
"Do you think Ahsoka is guilty?" Anakin asked "The evidence says so… but I know you don't agree, and I find it harder myself knowing Leo and Ahsoka's relationship."
"Relationship?" Anakin asked.
Obi-Wan gazed back at his former padawan "You can't be serious Anakin, you have to know Ahsoka and Leo have had a special connection since they were children?"
"Of course I do, we all do, the four of us have been through hell and back, which is why we need to stick together, you have to speak to the Council." Anakin begged him to focus on the upcoming trial. Obi-Wan was quiet looking at Leo's unconscious state feeling the force and his life hanging by a thread.
The Master could feel Anakin's anxiety "You should go see Ahsoka, she needs you and Leo… Leo needs time to rest." Obi-Wan said, putting his own hand on the bacta tube. Anakin could see Obi-Wan was barely keeping it together, like him, heeding his advice Anakin headed to the door to find his own padawan.
Obi-Wan waited till Anakin was gone to look up at his apprentice, "Leo, I wish you could have been by my side at Mandalore, things have become so clouded…" Obi-Wan whispered "If you can hear me, don't give up yet we still need you."
Finished speaking, Obi-Wan made his exit and headed toward the chamber of judgment leaving Leo alone in the bacta tank, suspended there but not asleep. His eyes peeled back halfway and he looked out sensing a presence, a presence he had not felt since.
"Pathetic." A voice echoed, it was familiar.
"After everything you've seen" a different one, but still Leo knew the voice.
"How far you have fallen, thinking yourself a Jedi Knight?" Leo recognized that one without a doubt, as appearing before him from thin air was Pong Krell, and he wasn't alone.
Walking out from the right in all black robes with long brown hair and a goatee was Tol Skorr "Why be a Jedi, why continue this persistent futile fantasy when you already know what you are?" Tol Skorr asked.
Coming in from the left in his red silk garments and bronze armor, was Darth Naboo, the warlord of the Old Republic, the dark skinned and golden eyed Sith Lord who Leo had faced in the crypts on the world he was named for "You tried to save her, what was it for, honor, friendship, love I may vomit?"
Leo suddenly thrashed in the bacta to try and say something but he couldn't he could only listen to the spirits or hallucinations taunt him "You're no savior, no protector, Berserker, you are a destroyer." Tol Skorr said, holding up his hand summoning force lighting. Just then two more spirits joined them, Karoc and Vinoc, the twin assassins sent by Count Dooku to slay Leo on Ryloth, and failed.
"Couldn't even save one girl." Vinoc said smiling his fangs at him "Had to use the dark side to defeat me." Karoc said opening his mouth a hole going straight through his mouth and out the end from where Leo had stabbed him.
"A traitor and a charlatan." Pong Krell whispered into his ear from one side.
He kept trying to drown them out but all Leo could do was listen to "A false knight." Naboo spat.
"You will die from these wounds, you can feel it, your life slipping away to the force…" Tol Skorr summarized "Like me, like all of us and you'll be just another lesson on the dangers of the Dark Side." Skorr reprimanded.
"My vision will come to pass all the same, the Republic will fall and a new power will rise and there is nothing you can do about it, give up now and rest." Pong urged, Leo could still feel the force lighting from Krell, the power had turned his once luscious red hair white forever marking him with the dark side, like these three.
Naboo appeared hovering in front of Leo, his face inches from him cross the glass "You don't have the will anymore, not the hatred or the drive to fight so give up now, be one with the force and just… fade away…" Naboo said, vanishing in front of him into red smoke.
Later, Ahsoka and Anakin waited in the room just outside the Chamber of Judgement for the Council to summon her. "You're not helping." she said softly to her master who paced back and forth in front of the seat she and her husband were sitting on. The older Knight let out a long sigh before sitting down next to him "I'm sorry, Snips." he apologized.
'It's been awhile since he called her that…" Ahsoka said.
"I just... I just don't know what to do." Anakin said, sounding frustrated.
"It's okay I don't either." she admitted softly before a small 'Gong' sound was heard signalling the Council was ready for her. The master and apprentice stood up with two Temple guards flanking them and walked on the platform that would ascend them to the Chamber. The Jedi Masters came out standing over Ahsoka in boxes with lights on monitors illuminating their faces, each giving them a ghostlike look. Master Yoda was in the center with the others Masters surrounding him in their own boxes like their chairs in the Council Chamber.
"Padawan Tano, serious charges have been levied against you." Master Yoda began opening the proceedings "How plead you?" He asked.
"Not guilty, Master I would never take the lives of innocents." Ahsoka said up to the Masters "The values of the Jedi are sacred to me."
Ahsoka looked to the Masters waiting for another to speak, Anakin eyeing Obi-Wan waiting for him to come to Ahsoka's aid. "There is evidence to the contrary, you were alone with Letta Turmond when she died." Windu judged glaring down on her.
"Can you explain this?" He asked.
The padawan spoke up to him with a quick response "Someone used the Force against her."
"Which brings us to Ventress, can you explain your association with her?" Plo Koon asked.
Ahsoka looked to the one who brought her into the Order "We had a mutual understanding, I thought she was helping me." Ahsoka said with a repugnant look on her face thinking of what she had done to Leo. "Then she betrayed us."
"You are referring to Rock?" Windu asked her "I am how- how is he?" She asked.
"Leo Rock's condition is critical after you dealt him a fatal wound." Plo Koon explained.
She snapped her head to him "I didn't do it!" She shouted at them, the sudden outburst caught even Anakin off guard "Ventress attacked us in the warehouse, there was an explosion knocking us off balance, Leo he- he saved me from Ventress."
The Masters looked at one another, unsure what to make of the new information she presented but were more unsure if they should even consider it.
"Did she help you acquire the nanodroid weaponry found when you were apprehended? The same devices used in the bombing of the Temple before?" Koon asked pressing the question on her
"No, I was set up and deceived, as you are being deceived now." Ahsoka said to them.
"The question is, Padawan Tano, who is deceiving us? Ventress, you, or someone else?" Mace Windu asked or more or less accused Ahsoka of the guilt.
Ahsoka turned her head toward the bald Jedi, "I am not deceiving you I would assume Ventress is, but I can't be sure my sense is clouded." She said distressed reaching up to her head and feeling it.
Back in the medical chamber Leo could still feel the dark spirits whispering into him, he tried to focus on something else, he could feel it, through the cloud of death around him. Leo could feel them, his friends, Anakin's anxiety, Obi-Wan's indecision, Ahsoka's fear.
"Clouded by the dark side these things are, Padawan Tano dangerously clouded, but not just surrounding you, surrounding many things in these times." Master Yoda said down to her when Anakin could no longer hold his tongue down below.
"You've already made your decision, haven't you?" He said loudly before outright shouting "This meeting is just a formality!" Ahsoka looked back down at him then gazed skyward to the Masters who were all standing over her sharing the same expressions of conviction on their face.
Leo's head jolted to the side feeling their turmoil, the bacta tank gel starting to ripple around him.
Master Yoda was the one to deliver it "Reached a decision, we have though not in total agreement are we." He said gazing away, unable to look Ahsoka in the eye. So it fell to Master Windu to deliver the verdict "It is the Council's opinion that Padawan Ahsoka Tano has committed sedition against the Republic, and thus, she will be expelled from the Jedi Order."
The bacta tank cracked, as Ahsoka's heart when she heard those words.
"You can't do this!" Anakin shouted at them but his defiance fell on deaf ears.
"Your Padawan status will be stripped from you, and you shall forfeit all rank and privileges within the Grand Army of the Republic." Obi-Wan averted his eyes in his hand, down in the medical room Leo's eyes were open he was banging on the glass, the sudden movement reopening his wound starting to seep through the bandages and dye the blue bacta red.
The Jedi Healer came running in with medical droids, "Stabilize him, administer a sedative." She said As Leo kept thrashing in the tube.
"You will be turned over to the Republic courts to await your trail and whatever punishment they will set for you." Mace Windu said as the trial reached it's conclusion.
"Henceforth, you are barred from the Jedi Order." He finished, the platform Ahsoka was on started to lower and the two Sentinels guarding her came up a nod tore her selka bead padawan braid from her head. Ahsoka felt like a part of her should have been torn from her very body, but she didn't show it. Instead Leo could feel it. The medical chamber was shaking, the droids were lifted in the air by the force and the bacta tank cracked, fracturing up and down the room. The Jedi Healer ran to cover before it exploded, spraying the room with shards of broken glass and bacta before Leo landed on his feet. He wobbled forward tearing off the breathing mask heading for the door.
The doctor came out of cover "Wait, wait, you're in no condition to be up." She said grabbing him.
Leo shot his hand out and grabbed her by the neck before the doors to the medical room burst open, two Sentinel guards came in and held up their lightsabers "Cease hostilities." They barked. The Knight got ready to fight letting the healer go but as soon as he focused on the Sentinels he felt his strength waiver, then all right fade falling back onto the floor unconscious, unable to stop them from taking her away from him.
While the Sentinels took Ahsoka away, Anakin and Plo Koon walked with her through the temple halls. He would need her, as it seemed like every Jedi they knew had come to bare witness to her walk of shame. The Masters of the Council watched her be led away; the only one not staying to watch was Obi-Wan who stormed away in disgust, Ahsoka could see both Masters Vos and Secura were standing on one of the higher parts of the halls looking down with regret. She could feel the disappointment in Aayla's eyes knowing how close they had been. It only got worse when she saw the younglings she had protected during the Crucible, she couldn't bear to look them in the eye, their sad faces saying it all next to Master Sinube, leaning on his cane shaking his head. Then came the worst of it all, her friends, Jynx, O-Mer and Barriss.
Barriss Offee her closet and dearest friend behind Leo, the three padawans all looked worse then her. "We have to… we have to do something, this is wrong." Jynx said looking at the floor.
"What can we do?" O-Mer asked.
"We can pray." Barriss said after Ahsoka passed them heading to the landing pad.
Ahsoka looked up at Anakin "Master… is there any way we can go see Leo, so I can… so I can say goodbye?" She asked.
"That is not possible." Plo Koon said eyes forward.
"What, why?" Anakin asked him.
Plo Koon looked at him when they walked out of the landing pad "I received a report that Rock awoke, distressed he shattered the bacta tank and is now in heavy care." Plo Koon said leading them out onto the landing pad, where a Republic Gunship was waiting. In front of it stood Commander Fox a squad of shock troopers and none other than Admiral Tarkin who hid his smile. "Farewell… lil'Soka." Plo Koon said as Ahsoka was taken into custody by the Shocktroopers who slapped force restraints on her wrists.
"Are those necessary?" Anakin hissed.
"Of course, she is a dangerous criminal General, she's already escaped you once we don't want that happening again do we?" Tarkin asked smugly, smiling at him while the clones took her away onto the gunship with Tarkin joining them. Anakin watched helplessly as the gunship flew off taking away Ahsoka to be put on trial. "Come Skywalker."
"No." Anakin said back to the Kel dor.
Plo Koon stopped "The Evidence is clear."
"The evidence is wrong, Ahsoka is being set up and I'm not going to rest until I prove it." Anakin said walking away from Plo Koon.
Back in the Temple, Leo had been moved to a private medical room that Obi-Wan had gone to, when he came in he saw Leo was already trying to get out of bed. Two Sentinels and the Jedi healer trying to hold him down "Oh not again." Obi-Wan said running in and pushing him back on the bed "Master, Ahsoka- Ahsoka's in trouble we need to-" "Leo!" Obi-Wan snapped pushing him down "Ahsoka has been…"
"Has what, tell me!?" Leo demanded grabbing his Masters forearm.
He waited for Leo to let him go and calm down, but Leo's eyes were adamant "Ahsoka has been expelled from the Order."
"NO!" Leo said, pushing him off "It wasn't her- it wasn't her!" He shouted at them "It was Ventress, don't you see that Ventress betrayed us, she bombed the temple she-she…"in the sudden burst of emotions Leo hadn't noticed the Jedi Healer stabbing a needle into his other arm, he could feel the sedative enter his blood stream taking over his body forcing him into a deep sleep. The sentinels quickly strapped down restraints over the bed fighting them to the point of cutting off circulation.
Getting out a sigh of relief Obi-Wan looked to the healer "If it is alright with you, I'd like to stay with him Doctor?"
"Of course, having a Jedi Master here would be a nice change of pace." She said holding up the needle looking at the empty vial. Obi-Wan gazed at the Sentinels who were licking their wounds, Leo being a handful "You're dismissed." Obi-Wan ordered. The rest of the Jedi filed out of the medical suite leaving Leo and Obi-Wan alone, the Jedi Master ever so gently reached over to grab Leo's blanket pulling them over and tucking him in before he pulled up a chair and sat down across from the young knight.
Meanwhile, Anakin was already flying to the one person he trusted more in the entire Galaxy then Obi-Wan or Ahsoka, his wife. He landed his speeder out in front of her apartment and got out running inside past Artoo and C3PO "Ah Master Anakin so-" "Padme! Padme!" Anakin shouted in a frantic state.
"Annie?" Padme asked, coming out from another room, her brown hair down around her neck. When Anakin saw her he practically tackled her into a hug squeezing her tight "Anakin, what's wrong with your shaking?"
"Ahsoka she's… she's been expelled from the Jedi, the Council refused to listen to her, they just threw her out without a second hesitation." He said as his wife took him over to the sofa to sit down.
Padme was just as shocked as he was "I tried to convince the Senate that the Jedi should hold her accountable, Tarkin's vendetta against the Jedi has won him many supporters."
"Tarkin, he's going to be the one to try and convince the courts of her guilt isn't he?" Anakin asked.
Padme nodded "Most likely, have the Jedi come up with someone to defend her?" She asked.
Her husband turned to her "You came here to ask me?" She saw it written all over her face "You know Ahsoka almost as much as me, and there are few Senators as respected and beloved as you so-" Padme leaned in kissing Anakin to silence his rambling before she parted lips.
"Of course I will." She replied.
JEDI TEMPLE
Leo was lying in the medical suite hooked up to different machines monitoring, Obi-Wan was sitting beside him when the door to the suite opened with Master Yoda walking in "Master Yoda?" Obi-Wan said getting up when he walked in "Peace Kenobi, come to bring you to the Senate Trial I have." Yoda told him.
"Of course." Kenobi said heading to the door "Stay you may, no need to leave your former padawans." Yoda suggested.
Obi-Wan looked down at him "No, Master I should go I won't be any use sitting around here waiting for him to wake up."
"Hmm indeed, go shall we?" Master Yoda asked.
The two Masters walked out and Leo laid their eyes closed, but not entirely asleep the nightmares returned. The shadows from the room started to take the forms of Tol Skorr, Pong Krell and Darth Naboo towering over him but they started to change and morph their eyes were white and teeth turned into fangs "He's abandoned you, they've all abandoned you…" Tol Skorr said a forked tongue slithering between his jaws.
"Just like me, on Korriban left to rot… the darkness saved me, it will save you…" Tol Skorr said.
Leo shifted in the bed "You're not real…."
The nightmares laughed at him "We are real, real enough to break you." Pong Krell said, grabbing Leo by the neck with one of his four hands. Leo felt it, he could feel Pong Krell holding his neck squeezing the life out of him. Leo's face turned red "Still pathetic, still a weakling you can't even save her or yourself." Pong Krell said letting go the nightmare decided it was better to toy.
Leo coughed looking at the nightmares "Not real… not real." He kept saying to himself.
"Don't be so sure." Naboo said his dark skin mutating and peeling back to reveal a dark red specter with flaming eyes "Death isn't the end, not even for Sith."
"Each of us have left our mark on you." Naboo said Leo looked back at the others, Tol Skorr had a bright red lightsaber hole in his chest from where Anakin had killed him. Pong Krell's arms were missing and red flames were coming out of them as his besalisk form mutated into a monster with horns.
Vinoc and Karoc both appeared similar, their faces covered in sith Markings, skin red as blood eyes of burning ember. "Weak as they were, Vinoc and Karoc took that what you held dear, the first thing you ever loved a twi'lek whore." Leo pulled at the restraints hearing that.
"The scar, a perfect reminder of pain bringing power." Naboo said, dragging a flaming finger across Leo's face, he could feel it as if it were real, Leo screamed like he did when Tol Skorr had cut him on Serenno.
Next Naboo grabbed Leo by his white hair "Ah yes your ascension to the dark side, when you killed you old Master do you remember the peace you felt, that was a lie it wasn't peace it was truth."
"Truth that you can't stop denying, limiting yourself to the Jedi, to your Republic." Naboo let go of his hair.
Leo pulled at the bed but the restraints the Sentinels had strapped him down to hold him there "No souvenir from you?" Leo asked.
Naboo snickered "And yet here I am, my power, my memory still within you a beautiful parasite." Naboo said laughing, the other nightmares laughed too, cackling at Leo, then he smiled, then he laughed and the nightmares were silent.
"What are you doing, why are you laughing?" Tol Skorr asked.
Leo stopped and looked at him "Because, if you're here… so are all the people I've lost…" Leo said as other spirits started to fill the room. The first of them was Kasel the red skinned twi'lek appeared beside Leo's bed on the right, followed by Commander Dallin appearing on the left "I can't forget the people I killed, but I know I'll never forget the people I couldn't save." Leo said using the force to release the restraints on his bed slowly, he started to sit up and as he did the Sith Spirits turned around to see a shorter ghost staring at them. Master Evan Piel still missing an eye wearing white jedi robes was at their flank, holding a lightsaber. Clones who Leo had served with appeared, even the ones from the Citadel, Merai the Mon Cala separatist who died in the battle was also there. Kalifa the padawan was beside him soon the nightmares were outnumbered three to one by them.
"And they don't fear you." Leo said as the final spirit took form in front of Leo "What he means is, we're going to take out the trash." The spirit of Selene appeared in front of Leo's bed holding both her lightsabers.
The nightmares backed up before the other force ghosts started to move "Sick'em." Selene said.
In a rush of ethereal light the sith spirits screamed and howled as the lighter counterparts engulfed them in the white their dark flames doused in a matter of seconds by a blinding light. Then nothing.
Leo looked around the room was empty, except for Selene sitting in the chair that Obi-Wan was sitting in "Hey Leo." She said with a smile.
SENATE PRISON
Across the city, after Ahsoka had been brought to the Senate's custody she was thrown in one of the very cells that Letta had been placed in, a matter of cruel irony but Tarkin no doubt. While she lingered there she sat hunched over in despair, how could so much change so fast.
Just then one shock trooper shut the ray shield down to Ahsoka's cell before Anakin and Senator Amidalla walked in, she was wearing a gray long sleeved gown with a matching scarf, her brown hair held up in a headdress that went up in a U shape behind her head. When they entered the shield went back up after just in case Ahsoka may try to escape again. "Padme has agreed to represent you before the Senate." Anakin said, Ahsoka looked up to the Senator who had nothing but regret written on her face that she was here.
"I will do everything I can to prove your innocence, Ahsoka." Padme assured her.
"I am almost certain that the person behind this is Ventress, and you know I wasn't working for her. She was at the warehouse... in the room. Leo and I fought her, but she got away didn't any of the clones see anything?" Ahsoka asked up not ready to give up on herself.
Anakin's head shook side to side, arms locking in front of him "No, none of the clones reported seeing Ventress at the scene I thought you said Ventress left before you went into the warehouse?" Anakin replied then asked.
"That's what I thought, too, but then she attacked me when I got inside. I'd know her red lightsabers anywhere." Ahsoka told him "She said… she said Leo did things to her personally, I thought she wanted our agreement more but she wanted revenge."
"Well, if that's our only lead, then I know what I have to do." Anakin said as he walked towards the shield, Padme looked at his back shocked he was up and leaving.
"Wait, where are you going? You can't leave now." Padme protested.
Anakin shot back "Yes, I can, I have to find Ventress and get to the bottom of this." he replied before stepping out.
Padme turned to Ahsoka and sat down next to her "Let's prepare your defense, I need you to tell me everything Ahsoka; everything."
The padawan or former padawan looked at the floor "Where to start…?"
"When the trial begins, Tarkin will come at us with everything he has. This supposed evidence will be his weapon but we can use it against him." Padme stated.
Looking at her confused, Ahsoka asked "How do we do that?"
"By looking at the facts, you and Anakin were the one who captured Letta, she ran from you even though Tarkin claims you're the mastermind wouldn't she trust you?" Padme asked.
"You forget they think I killed her- but I didn't." Ahsoka said to her "I know you didn't but we need to convince the jury, the footage of you and Letta had it's audio spliced but you were nowhere near the security terminal but outside the glass, the audio had to be severed by an outside source." Padme said getting up and pacing the floor "Tarkin's next tactic will be to try and use Ventress, who helped?" She said as Ahsoka just looked at the floor.
Padme went on coming up with their defense "And then… then there's Leo." Padme said looking back at Ahsoka, she had burried her face into her hand "Ahsoka?" Padme asked looking down. "I didn't…" Ahsoka looked up at her tears in her eyes "I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye." Padme sat down next to her, putting her arm around her shoulder. When she felt her arm there Ahsoka wrapped her own arms around Padme holding her tight.
After the two Knights reached the Underworld they made their way around for about half an hour before spotting the former assassin and leaping down from the catwalk and landing behind her. "Anakin Skywalker." she said, turning around to face them. "And who's this a new Padawan already?" she mocked.
"I know you're behind all of this." Anakin accused. "Prove it." she challenged before Force-jumping onto a higher as Anakin ignited his blade and jumped after her. Ventress was apparently ready for them and kicked Anakin into a wall before tripping him then attempted to punch Anakin, who caught her fist in his left and then started to crush it in his literal iron grip. The bounty hunter cried in pain before pulling her hand free and jumping to a wall to avoid Anakin's slash. Ventress summoned two metal antennas and she broke off a piece of machinery. Holding them like they were her swords, Anakin had cut when he tried to slash her as makeshift weapons. "Leave me alone!" she demanded, swinging at him. Anakin slashed one of them in half before she retreated higher up. The Knight quickly cornered her against a wall on a catwalk before Anakin cut the other antenna in half then slammed her against the wall with the Force.
Skwyalker suddenly grabbed her in a Force Choke and they watched as she desperately grasped at her throat before he suddenly pulled her to him and started choking her with his hand instead. "Tell me what happened!" Anakin snapped.
"When I heard your little brat was on the run, I thought she might bring a large bounty." she managed to explain through the choking before Anakin pushed her to the ground and brought his saber to her neck. "Bounty?" he hissed as she placed her hands on either side of her head in surrender.
"I was going to catch your pet and turn her over to the authorities, collect whatever bounty was due." she struggled to reply before Anakin turned his blade off and released her.
Asajj hit the metal catwalk gasping for air, trying to catch her breath "What stopped you?" he demanded as she coughed for a few seconds.
Climbing to her feet, she felt her sore neck steel reeling from Anakin's merciless attack "At first... I admit... I was just interested in the money and a little bit of revenge, but then I realized your fallen Padawan and I had a lot in common." she explained.
That only pissed Anakin off more than he was "How dare you compare yourself to Ahsoka?" he hissed. "It's true!" she yelled, spinning around to face him.
"My master abandoned me, and that's exactly what you did to her, you and your precious Jedi Order." she growled. Anakin's expression turned guilty when he realized she was right.
Ventress paced past him "And then what do you, you send one of your own into our ranks and Dooku bites at the bait like a starving animal, desperate for an apprentice." She said smirking "The cruel irony of both of you getting what you deserve."
SENATE COURT HOUSE
Ahsoka was led into a large hall with republic jury members on one side, Senators and Jedi masters on the others. Those in attendance were Senators Organa, Chuchi, Mothma and Orn Free Taa, the Masters were Yoda, Obi-Wan and Plo Koon all looking with painted eyes on the padawan. Finally The Supreme Chancellor walked in flanked by his two Crimson Guards. Their robes were long and scarlet with slit visors in their metal helmets each holding shock spikes instead of blasters. Ahsoka stepped onto a hover platform over a large chasm with two walkways on each side of her for the left her prosecution and the right her defense.
"Ahsoka Tano." The Supreme Chancellor said as two black and white screens appeared on each side of the Chancellor "You have been charged with sedition against the Jedi Order and the Republic itself." He started before sitting down with "This court will decide your fate."
When the Chancellor sat everyone else did "Prosecution, you may begin
your arguments." The left side door opened and Admiral Tarkin walked out. Ahsoka looked at him coldly as Padme joined Ahsoka on the right side.
"Former Padawan Tano, I shall prove that you were the mastermind behind the attack on the Jedi Temple and that once your accomplices carried out your orders, you eliminated them one by one." Tarkin stated to her and the rest of the court.
"When you are found guilty, I ask the court that the full extent of the law be brought down upon you, including penalty of death." Tarkin decreed before he turned to the Chancellor and bowed showing he had ended his opening statement.
The Chancellor raised his other hand "Defense your opening statement."
Padme stepped forward and didn't speak "Your excellency, Members of the Senate and Masters of the Jedi Order, I come here not only as legal counsel for the accused but as someone who knows her character." Padme started.
"Ahsoka Tano is not a terrorist, she is not a traitor nor a murderer. " Padme began to say "I see members of the Senate and Jedi who have both witness to her bravery and self sacrifice to the Republic, and I know that if the Republic laws which she and so many other Jedi have laid down their lives to uphold are true she will be found innocent." Padme said bowing to the Chancellor before the court proceedings began.
UNDERCITY
Back in the undercity, Asajj was wrapping up their story "After I left the warehouse, after I left your little Padawan alone, I was walking away, and I thought she came up behind me to talk more. But I was wrong. Someone came out of nowhere and hit me from behind not just anyone can sneak up behind me It had to be another Jedi." Ventress guessed.
But Anakin found it hard to believe anything she would say "I don't believe you." Anakin replied, sounding skeptical. "Believe it whoever you're looking for has my lightsabers that's how you'll know you've found the criminal." she said back to him coldly.
"And whats this she said about you having a personal vendetta against Leo?" Anakin asked him, Asajj squeezed the railing tightly and her teeth barred like fangs "One day I will have my revenge on what that Sith scum did to my sisters."
"What are you talking about?" Anakin asked her not believing it "I didn't tell your padawan she seemed so taken with him." She said dismissively "Your precious Leo, you want to know what he did. He led an invasion force against my homeworld."
Anakin didn't seem fazed "Against a cult of dark side worshiping witches you mean?"
"Call them whatever you like their dead now, he slaughtered every last one of them like they were animals, that's what you and no other Jedi know is that in your order right now… is a monster." She said looking down.
"Well, this leads us to a dead end you're the only one Ahsoka had talked to." he said, leaning against the railing drawing them back to the matter at hand.
"That's not true." she said, thinking for a second. "What do you mean?" Anakin asked as he pushed off the railing and turned to face her. "Your friend contacted the Temple. She spoke to three people named Jynx, O-Mer and Barriss."
Anakin knew the names of Ahsoka's closest friends, Barriss chief among them. "That's why we knew to go to the warehouse in the first place it was this Barriss that told us to go there, the two boys sounded like complete morons." the former assassin told them.
"If you're lying, you're dead." the older Knight hissed threateningly before the Anakin Left her.
THE SENATE COURTS
The proceedings were going on as Anakin made his way back to the temple, Padme continued her iron defense against Tarkin's accusations "Look at the facts, Letta Turmond called Ahsoka to her cell to reveal the name of the true mastermind behind the bombing of the Jedi Temple." She said as everyone listened to her. Letta told Ahsoka she was afraid she told her the mastermind was a Jedi." Padme looked at Tarkin then.
"and before she could reveal the Jedi's name Letta Turmond was strangled to death by way of the Force." She said before adding "Why would Ahsoka kill Letta with a method that would so obviously tie the murder to her?" She asked the courts.
"A Jedi may be responsible for the murder, but that Jedi is not Ahsoka Tano. Members of the court, you are prosecuting the wrong Jedi." She said fishing her argument to the slow clap of Admiral Tarkin walking out to the front so Padme could walk back to Ahsoka.
His applause died when he was in the spotlight again "Well said, Senator Amidala however, if she is innocent, then why was she seen conspiring with a known Separatist terrorist." Tarkin asked, offering new light to the crowd as a hologram of Ahsoka and Ventress appeared overhead for everyone to see.
"Asajj Ventress?" Tarkin asked.
Tarkin took another step looking to the senate "And I would also like the Court to know of her brutal and merciless attempt to murder another Jedi who tried to apprehend her, General Leo Rock who I served alongside bravely at the Battle of Rendili."
"Ventress set me up, my master will prove that." Ahsoka said back to Tarkin.
Tarkin looked at her squarely "And where is your master?" He asked.
Ahsoka glared at Tarkin like Leo would "He's trying to find the real murderer." Ahsoka told him.
"Then maybe he should be looking at you?" Tarkin asked.
Ahsoka looked like she was ready to jump out of her box at Tarkin but Padme came over to her "Easy, he's trying to rile you up, I know Anakin will find the real murder."
JEDI TEMPLE
Leo was speechless, looking at Selene's spirit sitting in front of him, she was transparent with an ethereal glow around her body, "How…?" He asked.
"Beats me, probably the same way those sith stooges showed up, you've got so much drugs pumped into you or you're so close to joining the force, that we can talk?" She said leaning back in the chair her legs spread slouching like she was never gone. She had on a dark brown jedi robe over the white ones she wore.
"... Selene, I'm so sorry…" Leo said looking at his friend "If had never been so stupid thinking I could take on Dooku, the dark side you'd still be here." He said, up to her nodding face.
"Probably, but everyone dies Leo, just how things are and if I had to choose between dying of old age or saving you or Ahsoka, I'd still do it." She said leaning forward.
"But you shouldn't have, it was my mistake, my burden, my life, not yours that should have been taken." He said back while he laid there "No argument here, but we messed up Leo. The important thing now is your trying to make up for it." She said standing up from the chair walking away, suddenly a light appeared in front of her before she looked back, a halo of light shining down on her "So stop being sorry for yourself, Ahsoka's waiting for you she always is."
Leo's eyes got wide "You knew?"
Selene laughed before she put up her robe hood "Hahaha It was obvious, all those longing stares and awkward moments, I'm just glad you two finally got together almost everyone on the other side was rooting for it."
"Other side?" He asked "Oh don't even get me started Leo, your head would explode." She said walking toward the light slowly starting to disappear "One more thing Leo, the other side has the best wine." And she was gone. Leo saw the room was empty looking around the room he saw his lightsaber on the table next to him.
Down in the lower parts of the temple both Jynx and O-Mer were sitting in the cafeteria looking at their food "Hungry?" O-Mer asked.
"Of course not." Jynx said shoving it away, O-Mer tossed his fork down "Neither am I." He said getting up, the two boys started to walk toward the exit. As they headed through the doorway Anakin appeared in front of them looking very unhappy.
Both boys practically jumped out of their skin seeing him "Master Skywalker?" O-Mer Gasped.
"Jynx, O-Mer, a word in private?" He asked starting to walk away, they shared a nervous glance "Now." Anakin snapped.
Later after thoroughly interrogating them both outside on a balcony Anakin asked "So only you two, Barriss and Leo contacted Ahsoka?" Anakin asked.
"Just us three, Leo had already gone to meet her at the munitions warehouse, it was strange we had been combing information about the attack all afternoon only Barriss spotted the munitions warehouse manifest?" O-Mer said up to him as Jynx crossed his arms.
Anakin saw Jynx had left something unsaid "Jynx?" He asked.
"I… I saw Barriss leaving the temple late at night, but she was back before you brought the others home. I think she was going to help before she found out they'd been captured but that's all I know, Master." Jynx said holding up his hands to show he wasn't hiding anything.
He could sense they were telling the truth that left only one person, later Anakin had made his way to the Padawan Dormitory, approaching Barriss's room. The Knight pressed a button on the panel outside the door to alert its occupant someone was requesting entrance. "Enter." he heard Barriss say from the other side of the door and opened it to see her meditating without her hooded robe on, her dark hair was held back in a head wrap around her face.
"Barriss, do you mind if we talk?" Anakin asked, entering her room as she stood and faced him. "Master Skywalker, how can I help you?" she asked kindly with a smile.
Anakin felt sick to his stomach at the thought she might be behind everything that's happened the last few days but managed to steel himself so he wouldn't lose focus. "I was told that you spoke with Ahsoka before she was arrested. What did you say to her?" he asked, summoning her saber off the mantra she had in her room, to seemingly inspect it.
The real reason of course was to make sure that if she was guilty and panicked, she would have no choice but to summon Ventress' sabers, proving her guilt. "You know the three of us have been friends for a long time, I was only trying to help her. I hope I'm not in any trouble." Barriss replied to him.
"Not at all. I just need to know what you told her and if you told anyone else." he said, keeping his tone emotionless.
"No, I thought I had a clue for her, but I really couldn't tell her anything who told you I spoke to her?" she asked as he turned to face her. "Ventress, she told me." he replied, watching her carefully.
"Ventress? Isn't she the one Ahsoka says is really behind all this?" she asked Anakin.
"That's what Ahsoka says, but I know she's wrong." he replied knowing that was the truth after reading part of Ventress' mind.
Barriss shook her head aghast "Ventress thinks someone else is involved," he added. "I'm surprised you believe her after she tried to kill both you and Ahsoka more than once. Who else could it be? Surely not Ahsoka." she said, sounding dismissive of the idea her friend was actually responsible.
"I think both Ahsoka and Ventress are telling the truth, but there's only one way to find out." he said darkly before activating her blade and moving to attack. Just as he thought, Barriss summoned the former assassin's sabers from a pot in the corner of the room and blocked the strike with both. "Funny. Those belonged to Ventress." he said while slowly overpowering her with one hand. Barriss broke the saberlock and cartwheeled to the right before locking blades with him again. Anakin's eyes widened at the image of her attack. He blocked her strike, catching them in a cross guard lock "You should've gotten rid of them!" he snarled.
"I think they suit me." she replied with a dark smirk before trying to push him back before breaking the lock. The two traded a few more blows before he kicked her out the door. The Mirialan recovered and quickly took off, Anakinright behind her as he clipped the saber on the back of his belt.
After chasing her for a few minutes he jumped in the air and ignited his ice blade, bringing it down on her. Barriss reactivated the blades and blocked as he landed before trading a few more blows then backhanded her away from him. The fallen Padawan recovered as they stared each other down. "Ahsoka trusted you, and you betrayed her." Anakin snapped.
"I've learned that trust is overrated the only thing the Jedi Council believes in is violence." she shot back.
"Oh, I'll show you violence." he said darkly while activating his own lightsaber in his other and.
Anakin's blows became more fierce as he drove her back and she jumped onto one of the columns elevated base before trying to Force Push him. Anakin deflected it back at her with his lava blade much to the girl's surprise who was knocked to the ground before recovering. He snorted as he watched her pick herself up just then four temple guards came around the corner drawn by the commotion the battle was starting.
"Cease hostilities!" a Temple guard ordered as he and three other blocked off both sides of the all, two on each side. Before anyone else could act, Barriss leapt at Anakin who was distracted by the temple guard when a white lightsaber appeared. Leo was out of the medical suite and had caught both of Barriss's lightsabers against his own "Traitor!" Leo shouted before Anakin picked her up with the Force and tossed her out the window behind him before jumping out after and landing near her just as she was recovering. Leo watched from up on high, Barriss blocked one of his blades and he pushed it to the ground before blocking another slash from an azure blade with her other blade. The Knight drove her back along the ledge just above the yard where the old tree was and where Tera Sinube was training some Younglings that included the group Ahsoka helped with their Gathering.
Anakin spun around before delivering a kick to the side of her head and knocking her off the ledge. The Knight jumped down just as she recovered and stood while Sinube guarded the younglings who watched in awe and surprise at what was happening. "Enough! It's over!" he yelled before getting a snarl in return as she rushed him. This round Anakin employed physical attacks along with lightsaber slashes, quickly overpowering as she wasn't expecting him to use the former. The Knight soon stopped using his sabers altogether before grabbing her by the head and kneeing her in the face then tripping the fallen Padawan and pushing her face first into the ground, it was over.
Leo had followed the sentinels out leaning one one of them as two others grabbed Barriss and threw her in force restraining handcuffs. "Master Sinube, you should take the younglings away." Anakin told the old Master.
"Quite right." He said leading the younglings away.
Leo walked past them looking at Barriss who struggled against the Sentienls who held her "Barriss?" Leo asked.
She kept struggling before Barriss got off the Sentinels arm and ran up to her grabbing her hand "Barriss!"
"Why?" He asked.
Barriss glared at him, her once sincere azure eyes looked like she was ready to rip his neck out "You know why, you of all people should know why the Jedi are corrupt and they have to be destroyed." She said.
"Take her away, we need to get to the Court House to stop the trial." Anakin said to the Sentinels who started to drag her to the hanger screaming.
He could still hear her screams when she was taken into the temple, "Thanks for the save back there…" Anakin said "Don't thank me, just get to the trail and put an end to this." Leo said limping over to the tree where he had kissed Ahsoka and sat down under it. He was still reeling from learning it was Barriss the whole time, looking at the training ground floor in disbelief "What are you waiting for- GO!" Leo shouted at Anakin.
COURT HOUSE
After hearing both the prosecution and defense, the Chancellor rose "Has the jury reached a decision?" He asked. Across from the Senators and Jedi Masters, the jurors had come to an agreement one of them rising to speak "We have Chancellor, we find the accused-" "Chancellor." Anakin called out bursting in with four Temple guards escorting Barriss through the base where his padawan was tried and it would seem just in time as Palpatine had almost fully said the verdict.
"I hope you have a reason for bursting into our proceedings, Master Skywalker." the Chancellor said as the six person group walked onto a catwalk with two shock troopers standing on it.
"I'm here with evidence and a confession from the person responsible for all the crimes Ahsoka has been accused of." he announced before standing aside and shoving his ex and former friend forward. "Barriss Offee, member of the Jedi Order and traitor." he said as the guards deactivated their sabers.
Anakin could sense the surprise and especially the hurt coming from Ahsoka.
"Tell them the truth." Anakin demanded as he folded his arms. Barriss looked at him sadly before stepping forward as the screens stopped showing Ahsoka and now showed Barriss. "I did it, because I've come to realize what many of people in the Republic have come to realize, that the Jedi are the ones responsible for this war, that we've so lost our way that we have become villains in this conflict, that we are the ones that should be put on trial, all of us! And my attack on the Temple was an attack on what the Jedi have become, an army fighting for the Dark Side, fallen from the light that we once held so dear. The Republic is failing! It's only a matter of time." she confessed while explaining her motives before Anakin pulled her back forcefully.
"Take her away." Palpatine ordered with a wave of his hand before the Temple guards escorted her out of the room. Anakin smiled at his padawan before it fell when he sensed something was still wrong, her face was full of sadness and despair, it wasn't over not yet.
Later, after returning to the Temple, The Council plus Anakinand Ahsoka now stood in the Council Chamber. "Ahsoka, I am so sorry about everything." Anakin apologized softly getting a small nod in return.
Plo Koon also delivered his own apology "You have our most humble apologies, Lil'Soka. The Council was wrong to accuse you." Plo spoke kindly.
Windu nodded in agreement and so did Saesee Tiin "You have shown such great strength and resilience in your struggle to prove your innocence." Saesee Tiin Told her.
"This is the true sign of a Jedi Knight." Ki-Adi added.
"This was actually your great trial, now we see that we understand that the Force works in mysterious ways and because of this trial, you have become a greater Jedi than you would have otherwise." Windu explained.
Master Yoda was about to finish it coming up to her, with a warm proud smile "Back into the Order you may come." Yoda said with a small smile as Anakin stepped in front of her.
"They're asking you back, Ahsoka." he said before offering his former Padawan her braid back. "I'm asking you back." he asked gently, Ahsoka looked at Anakin who nodded assuringly, like he use to when she was a youngling.
To everyone's surprise she held his hand with one of hers and used the other to close it so that he was holding the braid in his fist. Ahsoka looked at him sadly. "I'm sorry, Master, but I'm not coming back." she said quietly and released his hand. Ahsoka turned and made her way to the turbolift without looking back. Anakin and the Masters stood for a moment before Anakin took off running to turbolift as well.
But Ahsoka was already ahead of him, the turbo lift took her down all the way to the bottom where she walked out alone. She passed by some other Jedi all of who bowed to her not knowing what she was doing, sitting on some steps not far from her both Jynx and O-Mer spotted her coming out "Ahsoka!" O-mer practically shouted running up to her.
"We knew you were innocent but we.. we didn't know Barriss- what we mean is we're sorry we led her to you, we thought she was our friend to not a… not a traitor." O-mer said.
Jynx nodded "We should go see Leo, he'll want to see you since… uh you know?" Jynx suggested lowering his hands into his pockets.
Ahsoka smiled at them "Don't worry Ahsoka, we won't tell anyone." O-Mer said while Jynx playfully drew his fingers across his lip like zipping them shut. She reached for them and put her hands on their shoulders and hugged them both "Look after Leo for me." She said.
"What?" O-Mer asked when she broke it off and started walking away "What does she mean?" The cerean asked, Jynx took his arm stopping him from following. O-Mer took one look at Jynx's face before he saw what was happening, she was walking to the exit and she wasn't coming back.
Walking down some larger steps, Ahsoka came to another level where Master Sinube was escorting the younglings down the hallway the other way. Ahsoka hoped they wouldn't see her but heard Katooni shout "Ahsoka!" She rushed toward Ahsoka and threw her arms around your legs "Your back!" Ahsoka felt the child hug her tight before the other younglings came up and Sinube brought up the rear.
"We're so glad you were innocent, none of us believe it was true- none of us." Ganodi said happily.
"Of course it never was." Petro said hands on his hips while Zatt rolled his black eyes Ah-huh."
Sinube came up smiling through his beak "The younglings were all staunchly in support of your innocence from the beginning." Sinube said leaning on his cane when he saw her lightsaber was gone "My dear, you didn't lose your lightsaber again did you?" He asked, eyeing her empty clip.
"No Master…" Ahsoka said pulling Katooni arms off her "I didn't." Was all she said before continuing on, unable to bring herself to speak to the younglings on how she was leaving. All she could do was walk away without a single word to them "Where's she going?" Katooni asked.
Sinube put his hand on the girl's shoulder "To find her destiny it would seem, come young ones." He said leading them away. Katooni stood there watching her go "But she didn't do anything wrong?" She asked, suddenly he felt Petro take her hand in his.
"Don't worry Katooni, she'll be okay." He said smiling "Do you think we'll ever see her again?" She asked Petro.
The young Corellian boy watched her go "I think we will." He said, taking her back with the others "What makes you so sure?" She asked.
"I'm not, I just have hope?" He said smiling as she followed him squeezing his hand.
Ahsoka made her way down to the first floor walking through the great hall, "Padawan Tano?" She froze when she saw Aayla Secura approaching her "Where are you going?"
"I… I have to go?" Ahsoka said "Go?" Aayla asked her if she was distressed.
"You were right Master Secura, I let those emotions in and look at what it's done, the Jedi Council betrayed me, Leo almost died and I've never been more confused in my life." Ahsoka said to the twi'lek "I can't do that to Leo, so I'm not coming back to the Order Master."
Aayla took a deep breath "I see Ahsoka, but you should reconsider…." Aayla could sense Ahsoka wasn't in need of another lecture, she'd made up her mind "I hope you find the answers you seek."
"Answers I…" Ahsoka started to ask but she could see Aayla sensed what she was going to do, then walked off leaving Ahsoka the chance to go unabated anymore. Approaching the temple entrance she looked at the large doors passing through the gates of the four masters who built the temple and she started to go through their pillars when she heard a grunt. Looking to her left she saw Leo leaning on one of the pillars, he'd thrown his robes on over his bandages and was clutching his side while he walked toward her.
He looked up at her weakly "There you are." He panted coming out of the shadows.
As he got close Ahsoka started to say "Leo I-" "That's it?" He asked, stopping in front of her, "You're just going to leave without saying goodbye. What about us?"
"Leo, we can't do this, there can never be an us and the Jedi in our lives." Ahsoka said back to him "I'm doing this-for0us." She added putting her hands on his arms.
"And I don't have a say?" He asked, taking her hand while his other hand held his chest. "I already told you, Jedi, Republic it doesn't matter as long as I'm with you." He said stepping toward her.
He looked down into her blue eyes, he reached to kiss her "So I'm coming with you."
"No." She said stopping him "I'm not going to let you throw it all away, the Republic needs you, the Jedi needs you, Obi-Wan and Anakin will need you." She said taking her hand out of his and starting to walk away again "But I need you…" he said, eyes starting to water, Ahsoka stopped tucking in her lip fighting back the tears. Her heart aching for him to come with her. She was about to say yes when she felt him coming.
"Ahsoka, wait!" Anakin called out as he finally caught up to her, he had ran straight from the Council tower all the way down to the main entrance. "Ahsoka, I need to talk to you." Anakin called out after Ahsoka finally turned around just past the massive stone pillars but didn't turn to face them until Anakin caught up.
"Why are you doing this?" Anakin asked, hurt at the thought of her leaving. "The Council didn't trust me, so how can I trust myself?" she replied, looking at the ground sadly. "What about us? We believed in you. We stood by you." Anakin said to her, looking toward Leo.
She wiped her eyes, stopping him from seeing her tears "I know both of you believed in me, and I'm grateful for that but this isn't about you, either of you I can't stay here any longer, not now." she replied softly, looking at her former master then Leo.
Anakin held up her selka beads "The Jedi Order is your life you can't just throw it away like this. Ahsoka, you are making a mistake." Anakin tried reasoning where everyone else had failed.
Ahsoka had her arms crossed unable to look either of them face to face "Maybe, but I have to sort this out on my own, without the Council and without you..." she replied sadly, turning away from him.
"I understand. More than you realize, I understand wanting to walk away from the Order." Anakin said, understanding her decision. "I know..." she spoke softly looking past Anakin to Leo before making her way to the steps walking off into the setting sun. The end of an era of her life and the beginning of a new one about to happen but not yet. Anakin turned around walking up to Leo and said "Come on we better get you back to the medical suite before-"
Leo burst off into a run after Ahsoka, he didn't care if his wounds would reopen and he bled out on the steps. He came to the steps and ran down to them "Ahsoka!" He screamed, running down to the first wide step to catch her "Leo please I can't-" "NO!" He shouted at her "I can't let you do this, I won't let you do this alone because I love you-" Ahsoka shut him up by grabbing his face and kissing him. He kissed her back feeling her tears come down from her eyes sinking into their lips the bitter taste of salt reaching them, as she pushed something into his hand Leo looked down to see it was the crystal orb from Master Huyang from the Crucible.
"Huyangs knowledge crystal?" Leo asked.
"It belongs with the Jedi, but I don't." She said to him, Leo was about to protest but she put her hand on his mouth "I love you too Leo..." She looked into his weeping green eyes one more time "... if you love me, you'll let me go…" She said to him, as she pushed something into his hand "And we'll find our way back to each other one day."
"But until then, may my heart be with you." She said turning away for the last time, Leo didn't stop her he just watched her shrink beneath the final steps. His heart broken, he looked back up at the towering Jedi Temple imposing its will on not just him but everyone. Ahsoka's as walking down into the city alone he could already see protestors approaching the temple again and lost her in the crowd. When he looked to the temple started to walk back toward it, climbing the steps he saw Anakin waiting there with Obi-Wan beside him trying to console Anakin. When they saw that Ahsoka wasn't coming back with Leo, Anakin walked away from Obi-Wan who was waiting for Leo.
The Knight approached his old Master "Come Leo, you should be rest-" Leo suddenly grabbed Obi-Wan by his own robes and slammed him up against one of the pillars "Why didn't you go with Satine!" Leo shouted.
"What?" "Answer me!" Leo roared at his Master "She loved you, you loved her so why didn't you stay by her side?" He said squeezing his tunic in his hands. Obi-Wan grabbed his wrists trying to pull him off but Leo held him against the stone.
Obi-Wan could feel Leo was hurting, he could see a plane on his face, the red eyes saying it all "What kept you from being…. from being happy?" Leo said looking down, he started to cry leaning his head into his Masters robes.
"If you had stayed you could have saved her…" Leo said through his tears.
"Because I knew she could never love me and strive for her people at the same time, I had a duty to the Jedi and the Republic, the same as she did to her people, Leo." Obi-Wan said, peeling Leo's hands off him "Do you understand Leo, love destroys duty, honor means nothing compared to feeling loved by someone you hold dear."
Leo let go of him and started to move away wiping his eyes "It's why we don't love, why we don't marry or have children Leo."
"If we did, it would be too easy for our enemies to destroy us." Obi-Wan said as Leo didn't look at his Master, "They've already destroyed us Obi-Wan…" he looked at him, eyes dried "How can we fight for freedom, if we aren't even free ourselves." Leo said walking back into the temple.
To be Continued
