Chapter 9

Six Months Later

Ahsoka sips a spoonful of liquid, her eye lighting up.

"Shut up." Ahsoka says, snapping her eyes to James and back to her soup, the sun setting over the mountains.

"See? I told you it was good. Who would've thought, the mighty Ahsoka, afraid of some soup?" James replies, Rex chuckling.

"Afraid, no. Whenever you two actually start working together on something I become… Cautiously optimistic." Ahsoka says, looking at Rex at the last part.

"Sometimes I wonder if he survived Order 66." Ahsoka sadly states, looking up at the darkening sky.

Noticing the tears welling up in her eyes under her hood, Rex says, "Hey, if I know General Kenobi, he could survive anything. Knowing him, he's on a beach somewhere, not in some sandy hellhole like us."

A smile tugs at Ahsoka's lips, "He better not be on a damn beach."

Suddenly, everything goes into slow motion. The Force screams at Ahsoka, a shiver running down her spine.

"Get down!" Ahsoka yells, using the Force to throw Rex and James behind her just as the IED detonates.

"Ahsoka! Ahsoka! Rex, tourniquet!" James yells.

Rex hands him the tourniquet, James looking over Ahsoka for the place bleeding the fastest. Both of her lekku, her arms, her legs, one of her montrals, her chest, it was all gushing blood.

"Rex, call MEDEVAC, we're losing her fast." James orders.

A few minutes later and the chopping sound of a helicopter is heard, Ahsoka's broken body covered in cloth in a last-ditch attempt to stem the bleeding.

They rapidly load her onto the helicopter, the medics doing whatever they can for her alien body, James treating his own bloodied body.

Ahsoka's eyes flutter open, blinding white light pouring in. She tries to sit up, only to realize she's covered in bandages. She turns her head to the left, and bites back a scream as she realizes something. The bottom ten inches of her right lek is missing, a bandaged stump remaining.

She looks down, both of her legs are present, but she's unable to move them. Ahsoka's heart rate skyrockets as her new reality sets in.

"Easy honey. Just breathe." A nurse says, stepping into the room.

"Why-Why can't I move my legs?" Ahsoka asks, stuttering.

"The bomb paralyzed you from the waist down. We think you'll walk again, but it'll take time. Running, however, is unlikely." The nurse answers.

The heart rate monitor starts to beep faster again, the pressure of her new reality crushing.

Ahsoka hears heavy footsteps down the hall, approaching fast.

A few moments later Major Parker steps into the room.

"I heard you were awake. I came as fast as I could. Rex and James are right behind me." He states, almost as if on cue the two men walk in.

She relaxes a little at seeing them, both men flashing her smiles. Rex subtly pats his hip, both of Ahsoka's lightsabers hanging. Ahsoka rests her head back on the bed, closing her eyes.

"Do you remember what happened?" Parker asks.

"I-I remember we were out getting some soup, and then- A bomb. I threw Rex and James behind me, and…" Ahsoka answers.

"After detonation, you took the brunt of the blast. James was hit in the leg, no other major injuries to him or Rex. They called MEDEVAC, the three of you were airlifted out and brought here. You very nearly bled to death, shrapnel has paralyzed you from the waist down, your right head tail was shredded from just above the breast down. We've decided to go with Plan A from when you arrived here. We're sending you stateside and will be making your existence public." Parker finishes.

"What?" Ahsoka asks, focusing on the last part of his statement.

"You're in no condition to be fighting, likely won't be ever again. You're being honorably discharged, you have done our country, our world, a great service." Parker states.

Ahsoka barely nods, pursing her lips, tears welling up in her eyes. She isn't ready to give up, she isn't willing to accept the fact that she has to.

James steps forward, "Major, nurse, Rex, can I have a moment?"

They nod and leave.

James walks up to Ahsoka's bedside, taking her hand in his. He remains quiet for several seconds, trying to phrase his words.

"Ahsoka, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have convinced you to try the soup. This is my fault, I'm sorry. I-I just…" James apologizes.

Ahsoka squeezes his hand, "Hey. This is not your fault. This is no one's fault but the terrorists that set off that bomb. Not mine. Not Rex's. Not Parker's. And certainly not yours." Ahsoka's voice is frail but firm.

"Yeah, I'm fine. The leg's just going to hurt for a while. The shrapnel missed the bone, so it's just a torn muscle." James says.

"Well, if I'm going stateside, what's happening to you?" Ahsoka questions.

"I'm going with you. I'm your security detail, remember?" James replies.

Ahsoka scoffs, "Like I need it."

"Seeing as to how you can't walk or otherwise maneuver, I think you will need it." James responds.

"I can still take care of myself." Ahsoka says, several pens and pencils floating up and aiming at James.

"Thank you." Ahsoka says, her tone serious.

"FYI, they're probably going to ship us out tonight, now that you're awake." James states.

"Wonderful." Ahsoka replies, a knock on the door.

James lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding, grateful that Ahsoka doesn't hate him.

The bearded man watches the video of the explosion and subsequent evacuation of the three victims.

"Is. She. Dead?" He asks.

One of his men look up at him, "Unknown. The blast should've easily killed all three of them. She throws the two men behind her just before detonation, somehow, she knew seconds before. The blast also appears to have split around them, only some of the shrapnel getting through. When we find her, she will pay for her sins."

Author's Note 6-28-2021:

Another one bites the dust. The setup for the story is basically over. Now we can get into what this is about. Also, I was playing around in Photoshop today and threw together Ahsoka's current condition after healing. (Remove the #s):

sir-michael-ii.#tumblr.#c#om/post/655268980077002753/made-some-images-for-a-story

Q: Is it 69 days after 4/20?

A: Yes. It is. Nice.

If you would like to support me and my writing endeavors, I have a T-shirt store (remove the #s):

/ww#w.#designbyhumans.#co#m/shop/t-shirt/men/code-1121-t-shirts/1662545/