Author's Note: How we all feelin'? Are you excited? IT'S THE LAST CHAPTER YES I AM EXCITED EVEN IF YOU AREN'T, I HAVE BEEN SO STOKED TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU GUYS! Sorry, had some big feelings there XD Well, what are you still listening to me for? Get reading! :-D

Trigger Warnings: (Probably) medically inaccurate after-effects of electric shock. PTSD trigger (Ahsoka's triggers) and mental break as a result.

Chapter XVII

Ahsoka's world narrowed to the jolts zinging through her body, and the burning she could feel in her mouth, as it just went on, and on, and on.

Because of course… her Master had taken the remote with him.

So the fact that it stopped with absolutely no warning was almost as shocking as the… well, the shocks themselves. Her muscles, too stressed and exhausted to keep any part of her upright, went limp in the Jedi's arms, and she reveled in the feeling of the cool rain that began to fall on her heated skin. Her eyes shut tight, wanting to block out the world.

Until a familiar voice made them fly open.

"Kenobi, Skywalker. Always a pleasure. I thought you might be interested in some important information I have regarding your pet."

It was Ventress, serenely gliding toward them, not caring at all that she had about forty white-armoured men each pointing a blaster at her.

She raised a hand, and Ahsoka saw the spare remote that Dooku had given her nestled in her palm. She clicked the button, and Ahsoka took a shaky breath in as the gag folded inward, noticing the quick glance "Skywalker" gave her as she did so. Unfortunately, she still couldn't seem to move. Her body was definitely in shock.

But as terrified of him as she was, she had to admit there was something very familiar about the feel of this Jedi's arms.

The Jedi who was currently glaring daggers at the only ally she had left.

"Ventress," she whispered hoarsely. Yep, her mouth was definitely burned to a crisp. "Please. Help me."

She saw both Jedi's heads turn to look at her, clearly shocked and confused by her words. But she only had eyes for Ventress, who was looking at her with the saddest expression she'd ever seen. Not that she had many to compare it too.

"I am," Ventress answered, her tone matching her face perfectly.

Ahsoka's heart quailed as Ventress turned back to the Jedi.

"It's all here." She threw a datacron at Obi-wan, who caught it deftly in the hand not holding his lightsaber. "He kept recordings of everything he did. Hopefully, you can use it to bring her back."

Now Ahsoka was completely lost. Where was she supposed to come back from?

"Why should we trust a word you say?" The Jedi who held her practically spat at Ventress, and she felt his arms tighten around her. "I think it's much more likely that you helped him every step of the way!"

Ventress narrowed her eyes. "I was the one who suggested the mission to that dustball planet, because I knew Jedi had been seen in the area! And I was the one that activated the tracker on our ship as we left orbit, leading you right to us!"

Ahsoka was stunned. She thought she'd seen everything today, but Ventress' confession left her reeling.

Obi-wan was not so inclined. "Why, Ventress? Why help us to locate Ahsoka? And why now, after all this time?"

Ventress' anger at Skywalker's words was replaced with contempt, her lips turning down in a sneer. "Because Dooku went too far this time. I was skeptical of my Master's plan from the beginning, but his mind was made up. I tried to keep watch over her as the days went on, but for the most part, I wasn't even needed. Your pet just wouldn't give in." She threw a look at Ahsoka. "Not even to spare herself." She turned back to the Jedi. "I didn't dare reveal my true intentions to her. My Master would have known in a heartbeat, and then we both would've been strung up." She turned back to Ahsoka, speaking directly to her. "But it was me who caused your wound to become infected so you became delirious and useless to him for more torture. At least until you healed. But before that could happen, I gave him the memory idea." Back to the Jedi. "Unfortunately he was able to give her one more dose while I was off collecting that," she glanced at the datacron. "And these." She threw Obi-wan the remote and a lightsaber.

Ahsoka had had enough. Pushing past the intense pain and stiffness in her limbs, she got carefully to her knees, the Jedi Skywalker helping her the rest of the way up. She ignored the feel of his eyes on her, his face not the one she was currently focused on - a face that had blanched and turned pale at Ventress's talk of "being strung up" and torture. Torture Ahsoka didn't remember.

She shook him off, taking a precarious step towards Ventress. Then another.

"Ahsoka," Ventress said. "I am… sorry, that I couldn't do more."

Ahsoka felt the binders around her wrists loosen and fall to the ground, and she gratefully gave a yank on her collar. From pain, fear. From fear, anger. From anger… strength.

"I'm sorry I couldn't keep you safe from my Master."

Ahsoka exploded. "Your Master? You treacherous snake, you don't deserve him! You know he prizes obedience and respect above all else, and yet you were defying him from the very start! My Master would never take you back, knowing what you have done." Ahsoka could feel all the rage, fear, helplessness she'd been bottling up since she woke up in the infirmary roiling like a waking volcano inside her. And Ventress' admission was the perfect thing to blow up at. "I should kill you myself for defiling our Master's ways like this! I should…! I should…" But she couldn't seem to hold onto the anger. Her body and mind had been through too much to hold onto such strong emotions right now. And there was something about the stunned, horrified silence that emanated from the Jedi behind her…

She made one last attempt to bring back her rage, her fuel. She grabbed her last remaining knife off her belt.

Ventress only laughed, the sound stoking Ahsoka's anger higher. "Oh, honey. What do you think you're going to do with that? Face it, Ahsoka. Somewhere inside of you, you know this isn't right. You are meant to be with the Jedi."

And that enraged Ahsoka enough for one final act. She swiped at Ventress, narrowly missing her gut and Ahsoka blinked -

And Ventress was gone. She'd executed the highest jump Ahsoka had ever seen, landing neatly on the castle roof.

Out of the ever-present fog that wreathed the castle, her voice called out, "It's for your own good, my dear!"

The words were like a knife in Ahsoka's gut, as she flashed back to the only other person who called her that. Who had said those with words with every "apology" for punishing her. It's your own fault. I wish I didn't have to do this, but it's for your own good, my dear.

Her mind broke for an instant, long enough for the seemingly endless memories of the electric gag, the long, long nights in Despair, and the supperless ones in her cell - cold, starving, alone - to flash like reality before her eyes. Desperately, she tried to claw her way back to the surface. From pain… fear. Fr-from fear… pain.

Locked in her own mind, she was completely unaware when her body collapsed to the ground, and a voice whispered, "I'm gonna take you home, Snips."

Familiar arms held her tight, as Ahsoka was lost to what few memories she still possessed.

The End... of Part I

Author's Notes: SURPRISE! There is a Part II coming XD Actually, by the time you're reading this, the first chapter (or two) should be posted of Part II of the "Padawan, Cornered" series! Look, I was mad as all get out too, when I was writing like my life depended on it, racing toward the finish line, so happy to finally be done this story... and I wrote the last word and just *knew* that there needed to be another book. I just about cried XD But it is also completely written (just not completely typed), so it will be the same deal as before. Thank you to everyone who has joined me so far on this fantastic journey! Thank you for all the favourites! Can't wait to see you in Part II3