DISCLAIMERS

1. This is a fan fiction based on characters owned by Disney/Lucasfilm. I DO NOT OWN THEM. This is just for fun.

2. This is a quite different version of the final Clone Wars episodes, "Shattered" and "Victory and Death".


PART 4

"Please, you have to let us in!" Ahsoka's words were desperate. In stark contrast, her wife could only whimper.

The medical centre secretary appeared nonplussed. "Listen, ma'am, it's late. I've just closed up." Indeed, Ahsoka and Barriss arrived at the building just as the secretary secured the lock for the night. It was not a hospital, more a general surgery. But it was the closest medical centre - even then, three blocks from the alley Barriss' labour pains started - and the two former Jedi did not have time to search for a 24-hour service.

"How can you turn us away?!" shrieked the Togruta. "This woman is in labour - what kind of practice is this?!"

"One with opening hours," came the snarky reply. "All the doctors have gone home, and the droids have powered down. Look, there's a hospital five blocks from here."

Ahsoka could not believe what she was hearing. She visited the undercity before and knew just how downtrodden much of it was, but the sheer disinterest from this person - whose species Ahsoka could not even ascertain - was appalling.

"Please… " Barriss breathed. She was being held next to Ahsoka, who carried her arms over shoulders all this way. "You have to… help u… " She stopped and let out a pained choke, which broke Ahsoka's heart. "I… I can't… "

The secretary seemed to almost wilt, but still did not make a move. "Besides, I saw the news. How do I know you're not Jedi?"

"You can't be serious," Ahsoka blurted. "Would… would a Jedi be blasted pregnant?"

"Well, I guess not, but… " The secretary was interrupted when Barriss suddenly screamed in agony. More than one person turned at the sound.

Ahsoka had enough. She raised and waved her free hand infront of the secretary. "You'll let us in and help us."

There was a slight pause, then a simple response. "I'll let you in and help you." With that, the secretary turned and unlocked the door to the surgery. The three hurried in and soon found an adequate room.

The place was hardly a Jedi Hall of Healing; in fact, for a medical room, it was downright shoddy. There were crude instruments, the lighting was poor, and the bedsheets were not even clean. The medical droid the secretary was currently reactivating seemed at least two models out of date. Ahsoka truly realised there was a huge discrepancy between the undercity - even in a place of medicine - and the opulence of Galactic City.

Once the droid was up and running - after showing significant confusion at the late hour - they got to work. Barriss was placed on the bed, sans the dirty sheets, and Ahsoka sat at her side with their hands held together tight. She peppered the Mirialan's already-sweatsoaked forehead with kisses. "It'll be alright, my love," she soothed - and hoped.

Barriss was breathing heavy, while the droid got her legs into position. At that point, the secretary made a hasty retreat out the room, clearly without the stomach for what was about to transpire. "Now, ma'am," the droid said, "I need all your details if I am to perform this properly."

With Barriss unable to speak, Ahsoka filled in the gaps. "Mirialan mother at eight months." She decided not to mention the means of conception: that might just confuse the droid.

"Name and age?"

"You don't need to know that," insisted the Togruta, cursing the fact droids were immune to mind tricks.

A mechanical head tilted as it looked up from between Barriss' legs. "But it will help if… " The words were cut off as the mother-to-be let out a bloodchilling scream. The hand in Ahsoka's tightened and Barriss' eyes were clenched shut. The droid further tilted its head. "Ma'am, my audio receptors cannot take too much of… "

"Quiet!" Ahsoka snapped, before turning to her wife. "Baby, are you OK? Is there anything I can do?"

"Don't… don't leave me… " came the small reply.

"Never," Ahsoka said emphatically. "I'm with you all the way: we'll do this together." For nearly an hour, the room was filled with the grunts, groans and screams of a woman trying to bring a new and very unique life into the galaxy… a galaxy that in one night changed beyond recognition. Every agonising sound coming from Barriss' core tore through Ahsoka; she would have done anything to spare her beloved such pain. But all she could do was offer continued words of support and encouragement. She was also worried about the outside world: what if Barriss' screams attracted unwanted attention? What if the authorities found them?

Eventually the droid spoke up. "I can see the head… oh my. Are those montrals? Is this child half-Togruta? How is that possible?!" Indeed, Togrutas were not capable of crossbreeding - usually. "No wonder you are in such pain." Ahsoka felt a stab of guilt at those words. "Alright, ma'am - one or two more pushes should do it."

The look on Barriss' face broke Ahsoka's heart. "I can't do this… it hurts so much… "

"Yes, you can," said Ahsoka. "You're so strong, darling. You're the strongest person I've ever met, and I love you and I know you can do this. I know it with all my heart. May the Force - and my love - help you."

Barriss stiffened her jaw and pushed one final time. She gave an almighty roar, as if to demand the Force finally grant them their child.

And then guttural screaming gave way to high-pitched wailing, and a teary-eyed Ahsoka saw the droid lift an olive green baby into view…

TO BE CONCLUDED