Chapter 10

Three Months Later

"Today is a day that will forever be marked in the annals of history. Today is the day we tell the world…" The president pauses for dramatic effect, the small crowd holding their breath.

"That we are not alone. One year ago, an object entered our atmosphere over Antarctica. On that object two people were found, a man and a woman. The woman was on the brink of death." The president continues, the small crowd of reporters murmuring.

Ahsoka holds her breath, James, Rex, and Major Parker to either side of her.

"We do not have the technology to return them to their home, so I ask you, the American people, to accept them into our society as you would our own. They have nothing, only themselves. I present to you, Ahsoka Tano and Rex!" The president finishes, stepping to the side.

James and Rex help Ahsoka out of her wheelchair and onto the stage. The reporters in the press conference gasp at the sight of Ahsoka's lekku and montrals.

Ahsoka's skin crawls from the initial feelings of adversity quickly changing to curiosity. She leans against James for support, eyeing the crowd warily.

After several seconds of shock, the room suddenly fills with the sound of camera shutters snapping. Then a hand goes up, many more following.

Ahsoka calls on the first one.

"What are you? Why do you have head tails and horns?" The woman asks.

Ahsoka sighs, she knew it was inevitable. "I am a Togruta. The head tails are called lekku, the horns are called montrals. The montrals allow me to hear."

The next reporter raises their hand, "Is Rex a human?"

Rex steps up to the microphone, "Just as human as you."

Major Parker speaks, "Last question."

Ahsoka calls on one more, "How did you get here?" They ask.

Ahsoka and Rex wince, "We crash landed here, we were rescued by the United States. Beyond that, we ourselves don't know how we got here." Ahsoka answers, tiptoeing around the lines of classified material.

James and Rex help Ahsoka backward, Major Parker taking the podium, "That'll be all for now. You may release this information as soon as you wish. Thank you."

"Well, that went better than expected." James states.

"Yes, it did." Parker adds, joining them backstage, "Now we'll have to wait and see how the rest of the public will react."

"Easy, one step at a time. There you go, see? You're getting it." The physical therapist says, helping Ahsoka bend her legs as James pulls the walker across the room.

Ahsoka can't help but beam with happiness, Rex and several others clapping from the side of the room. It was her first time 'walking' since the bomb went off.

Rex raises up his index finger, Ahsoka looking back confused.

About a minute later she hears his voice as he rounds the corner of the hall, candles burning on a cake, "Happy birthday to you…" Rex starts.

Ahsoka snaps her eyes over to James, trying her best to kill him with a single glare. They finally finish the dreaded song, Rex cutting into the cake.

Tears well up in Ahsoka's eyes, grateful to have friends that care about her.

"Before we serve the cake, a gift is in order." Rex says, pulling out a small, wrapped box.

Ahsoka, more confused than ever, takes the box. The moment she touches it the Force stirs, "What is it, Rex?" She asks.

"Just open it." He states.

She slowly unwraps it, the crinkled paper drifting to the floor in pieces. The box now exposed, she slides it open, turning it upside down, letting the object within fall into her open palm, gasping.

Her padawan braid. But that was impossible, Anakin should have had it.

Ahsoka is left speechless, "H-How?" She finally gets out.

"It was on the Resolute when Order 66 went through. We searched General Skywalker's quarters for anything of use, I found it and kept it. When we crashed here the government confiscated it, they finally returned it about a week ago. I had honestly forgotten that I grabbed it. Then James mentioned your birthday was coming up."

Ahsoka leans over and pulls Rex into a tight hug, crying into his shoulder.

"Thank you." She whispers to him, composing herself.

"Now, let's eat." Ahsoka says, determined again.

Standing outside in the night, alone, about to get in their car, Ahsoka tells James, "As much as I hate you for telling Rex my birthday, thank you. It really means a lot to me."

James nods, "Well, I knew it would go one of two ways, either you would have a good time, or I'd learn what those sabers feel like. The risk was worth it." He states, helping her into the passenger seat.

"Rex didn't really say much about what that thing is. I can tell it means a lot to you." James asks, driving home.

Her unfocused eyes staring out the window, "You know I was once a Jedi. When a master or knight chooses us as a padawan, any species with hair has it tied into a braid, in my case I didn't have any hair, so I was given those beads to wear. When we become knights, the braid is cut off by way of a lightsaber." Ahsoka explains.

"But yours isn't burnt?" James asks. Ahsoka looks forward again, several seconds of silence passing.

"I-I was framed. I was expelled from the order and turned over to the Republic courts. Moments from sentencing me to execution for sedition against the Republic, Anakin found the traitor. When I was expelled, my beads were yanked off. After my name was cleared, I was asked back into the order. I left. I didn't know that Anakin had kept my beads all this time." Ahsoka speaks, feeling a lump in her throat, running her thumb over the smooth surface of the beads.

James helps her out of the car and into their apartment, simply carrying her. Ahsoka can't help but feel safe and comforted within James strong arms, his eyes forward. Finally, inside, he glances down at her, his eyes locking with her sapphire orbs, a smile tracing her lips. He sets her on the couch, leaving to get her wheelchair from the car.

For a moment Ahsoka's mind slips, wandering to James. She closes her eyes, sensing his life force outside, bright and strong.

Seeing her smiling with her eyes closed, James asks, "What are you smiling about, Tano?"

Her eyes snap open, "Nothing, just meditating."

James raises an eyebrow, "Oh really? What were you meditating on?" He asks, sitting next to her.

"Just watching your life force." Ahsoka says.

"You can do that?" James asks, shocked. If she could do that, could she read his recent thoughts about a certain orange-skinned veteran?

"Yeah. You're a bright blue. The color of a guardian." Ahsoka states.

"Thank you, James. For everything that you do for me." Ahsoka adds, locking eyes with him again.

Author's Note 6-29-2021:

As Donkey once said, now we're getting somewhere. Thank you to all of those who read, review, follow, and favorite. It really helps to motivate when you know that someone is waiting to read what you write. Also, don't worry, fight scenes aren't gone, nor are physical conflicts. Ahsoka is just going to have to do it without the use of her legs for now. 12,000 words without author's notes and all that jazz. I did make another picture of Ahsoka's current physical state. I post them on Tumblr because why not. User sir-michael-ii. I post other stuff there too, original memes, puns, 'discovered' memes, engineering memes, etc. (Remove the #s):

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

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