Chapter 6 - Significant Decisions

DISCLAIMER: We (unfortunately) do not own Star Wars. :P

Author's Note: This is from the Anakin & Obi-Wan comic series between tPM and AotC. :P

Also, we're hoping to release this twice a month from now on. :D

~ Amina Gila

With one final slash of Ahsoka's lightsaber, the training droid - which she modified to have a double bladed lightsaber - falls to the floor. She's been getting much better at... well, everything. Her lightsaber combat has been progressing exceptionally fast, partly because of how strong she is in the Force and her species. Togruta's have a natural ability more than most.

She steps away from the fallen droid, only for whispers from the other students present to catch her attention. "She may be good with a lightsaber, but that doesn't mean she'll make a good Jedi."

"No. After all, she's just a slave to her emotions. It's obvious."

"Exactly. Just a slave."

Ahsoka's anger flares. Even three years after having been brought to the Temple, she's still extremely touchy about her past. She's never gotten any friends here, because everyone her age acts as those two are. Without even thinking about it, she spins around, using a Force-shove to throw them backwards.

"What are you -?!" one of the students cries.

She yanks their lightsabers away with the Force, activating them mid-flight. "Tell me," she smirks, "What emotion are you feeling right now?"

They both stare back at her looking shocked and almost afraid.

"Ahsoka, enough!" Obi-Wan's voice brings her back to reality. She overdid it, again. She can sense his exasperation through their bond. Somehow, she only ever manages to disappoint him.

"Master, I..." she trails off, deactivating the lightsabers and approaching the Jedi she took them from. "I didn't mean to scare you. You're right. I need better control of my emotions." To Ahsoka, that's about as much an apology she could ever give willingly. During her time at the Temple, Obi-Wan has made her apologize to bullies like these so much that saying 'sorry' is really starting to lose its meaning.

"Of course. Forget it," one of them replies, still looking a bit shaken, as they take their lightsabers back from her.

The day continues as any normal one. Ahsoka is in the middle of trying - and failing - to learn how to use the Force to calm and control animals when Obi-Wan drops a sudden bombshell. "Right now, you have an appointment, and I think it would be inadvisable for you to be late." What?

"An appointment?!" Ahsoka asks dubiously. "Who would want to see me?"

"The Chancellor is requesting to see you," he explains. What?! Of all people, that's the last one she was ever expected to want to see her. Why would he? She's just another Jedi, like all the others, and a Padawan to top it off.

It isn't long before the pair find themselves in the Chancellor's office. She hasn't really seen him since Naboo, three years ago.

"Ah, young Tano," Palpatine acknowledges, rising from his chair, "A true pleasure indeed." He paces over to stand next to the large window behind his desk. "Thank you for finding time to come see me. I know how demanding your Jedi training can be."

"Of - of course Chancellor Palpatine," Ahsoka stammers, still feeling overwhelmed.

"Ahsoka is making exceptional progress, Chancellor," Obi-Wan informs him, "She will make an excellent Jedi one day." Surprise swells up, followed by happiness. She knows that she can be a good Jedi - she wants to be - but hearing her master saying that she will be means a lot. Maybe he's not as disappointed in her as she initially thought. She wishes she could ask him, but she doesn't even know how. Jedi aren't supposed to feel emotions. If only she could stop needing praise and reassurance. It's very unbecoming of her.

"Oh, I have no doubt. No doubt whatsoever," Palpatine replies, turning to face them again. He doesn't even know her, but he's already supporting her. For someone who's hardly had a single friend, it means far more than Ahsoka will admit.

"Is there something you would like us to do for you? Some mission?" Obi-Wan queries.

"Not exactly, Master Kenobi. I have an errand to run of sorts, and I thought Ahsoka might accompany me." He - he wants her to come with him on an errand? Why her of all people?

"Ahsoka is advanced for her age, Chancellor, but she still has much to learn," Obi-Wan objects, "Perhaps I should join you instead? In a real sense, the Jedi are responsible for your safety, and -"

"Nonsense," Palpatine interrupts, "I am very capable of handling myself and in any case, there will be no danger. Don't worry, I'll have her back at the Temple before you know it. Safe and sound. I realize she needs to study. As you said, Master Kenobi, she still has much to learn."

The last thing Ahsoka was expecting was to be accompanying the Chancellor down into the underworld of Coruscant. She's been down there a few times before when she snuck out of the Temple in the middle of the night simply because she couldn't stand to be cooped up there any longer, but she's definitely never been to this area. And isn't it a little risky for the Chancellor to be here all alone? Well, technically it's also dangerous for a young Togruta girl to be in the underworld alone like she has been, but still, at least she's a Jedi.

"Why are we here, Chancellor?" Ahsoka pipes up as she follows after him, careful to keep her hood up, covering much of her face. "I've always heard it isn't safe this far down."

"Ah, you have heard. But have you been this far down, Ahsoka?" Palpatine responds.

"No," she admits. She hasn't ever come this far down before. "I like exploring places, but I'm not really allowed to. Padawans aren't supposed to be out of the Temple unsupervised much."

"Of course," murmurs the Chancellor. His hood is up as well to conceal his face. "Well, I visit the lowers levels often. I feel that it is my duty. As rare as it is for a padawan to come down here, I believe it is even more unusual for one of these people to make it to the surface. Do you know what the rarest resource on Coruscant is, my girl?"

"I'm not sure," Ahsoka frowns as she scans the crowds of people bustling about. Some of them don't even look like they belong in an environment like this, such as the Gungan and Quarren conversing a short distance away.

"Sky!" Palpatine explains, "Down here, the sun is a myth." Oh. She hadn't even thought about that before. She can't imagine a life without being able to stare up at the sky and watch the stars, though her times to do that have become far more limited now that she's come to the Temple. And of course there's the fact that far fewer stars are visible on Coruscant due to the city's brightness, even at night.

"My predecessor, the hapless Valorem, was happy to pretend these depths did not exist. But I cannot," the Chancellor continues, "It is the darkness that requires the light most. When my duty permits, I come to places like these. I disguise myself, and then anonymously, I try to do some good."

They take a final turn in the streets below before Palpatine leads Ahsoka into a club. "Keep your hood up, Ahsoka," he warns, "It would not due for either of us to be recognized in a place like this."

She nods obediently. "Of course, Chance -" Wait, she can't call him that here. "I mean, of course, sir."

Ahsoka follows Palpatine over to a table where they both take seats. "Thank you for taking the time to accompany me today, Ahsoka," the Chancellor says, "I know your Jedi training keeps you very busy. I must say, in some ways, I envy you padawans. Training in the Temple as you do, your entire life decided forever at such a young age. If you must simplify things, you have no troubling choices to make like me. My entire life has been difficult decisions."

"It's the best thing that happened to me," Ahsoka murmurs. As much as she still misses her mother and the problems she's always encountering fitting in at the Temple, she's still glad she made the choice she did.

"Just look at this place. Anything can be procured here, absolutely anything. Lives are bought and sold in the club every single day. It's revolting." Memories of Tatooine instantly start flickering through her mind. In many ways, it's the same down here as it was back there. "Oh, I am so sorry," he hastily amends, "I should never have mentioned... that is to say, I know where you come from, Ahsoka, and I hope I did not raise old wounds by mentioning slavery."

"It's - it's fine Chancellor," Ahsoka insists, trying to quell the rising surge of emotions, "I don't think about it much anymore."

"Now, you and I both know that isn't true," he objects.

"I don't understand," she grumbles, frustration leaking into her voice, "This place is awful. Why does the Senate do nothing about it?"

"The bureaucrats?" Palpatine exclaims, "Please, my young friend, this place is full of Senators. "Colandrus, Senator of the Suntilla system. Powerful. Reprehensible. He treats the Senate as his personal bank. He makes withdrawals from every planet within his influence, trading favors for credits. I know that it happens - many do - but he is so careful. Only small amounts in each transaction. It's difficult to prove. But worst of all, it works. He is one of the most influential members of the Senate and that influence is for sale." Well, that certainly explains why no one has done anything about the slavery on Tatooine. How many people in the Senate actually profit because it exists?

Ahsoka watches the Senator who is busy at one of the tables, rolling chance cubes.

"I wish the chance cubes would turn against him. Colandrus is an addict, a slave to his impulses. He would keep rolling in an effort to make up his loses," Palpatine continues, "And if his losses were large enough, his greed would end him. He would seek ever larger bribes. It would leave a trial. My agents would be able to prove his corruption. We could remove him, return justice to the Senate. But alas, I fear that is just a fancy."

Ahsoka reaches out with the Force, using it to turn the dice in a way that she can only hope doesn't look suspicious. Really, this person needs to be uncovered.

"Come on now, show me something!" urges the Senator desperately, rolling the cubes again and again. She continues to manipulate them with the Force, so he loses every time.

"I'm sorry, Senator, this just wasn't your role," the other person replies.

"No!" he protests, frantically.

Palpatine laughs.

"What exactly do you think is so funny?" snarls the Senator, whirling around. He doesn't respond, but only stares back at them.

"The Senator asked you a question," growls the other person - perhaps a bodyguard? - who's with him, stalking over and grabbing his robe.

Ahsoka jumps to her feat, hands reaching for her lightsabers. "Ahsoka, not here!" warns Palpatine, before turning his attention the fuming pair. "My niece told my a joke, and I laughed. Nothing more," he lies, "Now if you will release me, we are done here, actually. We were just about to leave."

"See that you do," hisses the Senator, clearly still angry.

"May I ask you a question, Ahsoka?" Palpatine inquires as they step outside of the club.

"Of course."

"Your Jedi abilities allow you to move objects through the Force, do they not?"

"Yes, they do," she confirms, "I'm a lot better at it than any of the other padawans my age... and even some of the older ones."

"Could these abilities to be used to perhaps... move a chance cube?" he inquires. Ahsoka realizes that he's aware she was responsible for what happened to the Senator, and she can only hope that he doesn't disapprove of her action. Someone has to deal with the corruption, and what use is the Force if she's not using it to help others?

It isn't long before the two arrive back at Palpatine's office. "That was amazing, Chancellor," Ahsoka exclaims, "You'll be able to take down that corrupt Senator now, right?"

"I will try," he replies, "But Colandrus is only one viper among many. An open attempt to remove him from office could be dangerous for me. Truthfully, I should never have involved you in a Senate matter. It was entirely inappropriate..."

"Can't the Jedi do it for you?" she argues, "I thought they were under your authority."

"Ahsoka, the Jedi are not mine," he points out, "They are under Senatorial authority. Asking them to arrest a Senator would be a serious matter. If they were required to obey my commands in such a way, it would make me no more than a dictator. That is not my wish."

"But if you and the Jedi can't, then who can?"

"That is the question that keeps me awake at nights," he declares, sitting down at his desk, "Just please, do an old man a favor and don't mention any of this to your Jedi Masters. I'm not sure they would approve."

"No, they probably wouldn't," she admits, moving over to stand next to the window. She'll just refrain from telling anyone the details of what Palpatine wanted, and of course, what she did.

"Ahsoka, it's not my place, but can I ask you if you are happy in the Temple?" he queries after a long moment.

"Of course," she confirms instantly, "Training to become a Jedi is all I've ever wanted." She can't exactly say she's happy there, though. The only person she knows is Obi-Wan. They've grown closer over the years, but Ahsoka can't bring herself to completely let go of their past. He didn't want her at first, and there's part of her that's afraid that never changed.

"I see," Palpatine murmurs, rising, "I feel that I owe you, Ahsoka. You helped me when my home planet was under attack. I want you to know that there will always be a place for you with me, once your training is complete, of course. I could make extraordinary use of someone like yourself."

**w**

This is hard, harder than it should be, but she's made a choice. It's one she intends to stay with. She's had a difficult time here, regardless. There's so many others here who will make much better Jedi than her. For a moment her mind wanders to the bright presence in the Force she felt brought to the Temple two years ago. It had tugged at her for a while, but she ignored it knowing that she could hardly start exploring the Temple regardless of this bright Force presence as much as she felt drawn to it. It was like a sun, compared to her, and it made her feel insignificant, but also as if she belonged.

"You wish to step away from your training?" Obi-Wan asks, "Ahsoka, you must realize this is an extremely serious decision. You cannot make it lightly. And at your young age, it is even more significant. The consequences -"

"I understand, Master. I know about significant decisions." Who could know better than she does? "Do you know how I joined the Order? I've never forgotten. My mother asked Qui-Gon if he would take me to become a Jedi. He said yes, and that was all. My entire life, decided right then. I was nine. Qui-Gon said that Jedi training would be difficult, that it would be a hard life. But I saw a magic man with a starship and a light sword. How could I say 'no'?" Ahsoka unclips her lightsabers, holding them out to Obi-Wan.

"I know my training is far from complete," she asserts, "I have more to learn, some from you and some from other Jedi, but not all of it. I can feel the galaxy calling to me, Master. I don't want to wait. This doesn't have to be forever. I can still come back." She now knows there are so many other places she can help even without being a Jedi. It hurts to leave, but she knows this is what she was meant to do, where she won't be held back by the Jedi and the Senate or whatever other rules are in place. She make so many changes to the world for the better without having to wait until she's a Knight to do so.

"Ahsoka..." For a moment, she thinks Obi-Wan is going to argue but after a momentary pause, he takes her lightsabers. "Very well."

**w**

At the next opportunity, Obi-Wan goes to talk to Yoda. He can't believe Ahsoka really intends to leave the Order. He's done everything he can for her that he knows of, tried to be the best master he could be while still dealing with Qui-Gon's death. He's not sure what it is he's doing wrong that's making her want to leave. Maybe this is how Qui-Gon felt when he left the Order for a short while on Melida/Daan. It makes him regret not having apologized properly, but there's nothing he can do about it now.

"To leave the Order, does Ahsoka wish?" Yoda inquires as they stand a window, looking out at the city.

"Possibly, Master Yoda," Obi-Wan answers, "She believes that her path lies elsewhere. She wishes to leave her training behind, at least for now. She says she will return but... I don't know where I failed. I've done my best to teach her." He stares down at his padawan's lightsabers in his hands. "She belongs here. She's not ready; she's too young." Being on her own at this age is dangerous, to say the least. She'd never be able to get by. But if she's gone, the Sith could easily find her. He can't let that happen.

"As you are, Obi-Wan, as you are," Yoda reminds, "Your fault it is not. A child, Ahsoka remains. Her path before coming to us... difficult. Her questions... natural. A call for Jedi aid, received we have. With young Tano investigate it, you will. If after you return, Ahsoka still wishes to leave, released she shall be. Jailers, the Jedi are not. And if away she goes, your vow to Qui-Gon Jinn, break it you will?"

"No," Obi-Wan answers firmly. He promised his master, and he's not going to fail him. "I will complete her training in the Force whether she is here or not. The currents that swirl around her, you've seen them. Qui-Gon saw them too, that's why he asked for my vow. Ahsoka must be guided. If the Dark Side finds her..."

"Disagree with you, I do not. But allow this, the Council will not. For the Jedi Order only, Jedi training is," Yoda reminds, "Understand, do you, Ahsoka's departure? It's consequences?"

"Yes. If Ahsoka leaves the Order, then I must leave as well."