CHAPTER 2: HIDDEN SECRETS

Meanwhile…

Anakin delivered Car Affa to Master Windu and Master Kenobi for interrogation. Master Luminara and Master Mundi took custody of the weapons dealer and bid Skywalker their thanks. Despite his relatively stoic external demeanor, inside he felt his anger boiling. Ahsoka was definitely hiding something from him, and he was determined to find out what it was.

"Greetings Obi-Wan, Master Windu. I picked up your sleemo for you." He said in a short tone.

Obi-Wan noticed that something was bothering his former padawan. Whatever it was, it went past the annoyance of capturing the weapons dealer.

"Indeed. I take it he wasn't much trouble?" Obi-Wan stated carefully.

Not paying attention to the obvious baited question, Anakin responded with his emotions and not his brain.

"I didn't have any trouble with him…though I did have trouble with my padawan."

Obi-Wan knew that when Anakin referred to Ahsoka by her title and not her name, something was amiss between the two. The fact that she had not tagged along as she normally did was also a grim sign. Whatever was going on between them was definitely a bigger issue than he had anticipated.

"Trouble with your padawan? What exactly do you mean?" Mace Windu asked. When Windu could tell something was off, it was really off.

"Ahsoka left her lightsaber here in the Temple. She didn't stop to check if she had it with her before we went on our mission."

Obi-Wan shook his head in displeasure. He remembered the same conversation he had with Anakin almost a year earlier. After he had dropped his lightsaber while trying to apprehend Zam Wesell, Obi-Wan had been sure to reiterate the point that his weapon was his life.

"What would make her so oblivious to forget it here?" Kenobi asked.

"My padawan apparently got herself caught up in our mission briefing to capture Car Affa. I just don't understand how she could forget it. She's always been responsible in this regard. Why the sudden change of priorities is baffling me."

Mace folded his hands behind his back and redirected his attention to Anakin. He had been weary of whether or not Skywalker was ready for an apprentice in the first place. As far as he was concerned, it had been too early for Master Yoda to assign Tano to the young Knight.

"That is a poor excuse. It would seem your padawan is inattentive to protocol. As her mentor it is your job to ensure that she is fully versed in Jedi teachings and her basic responsibilities." Windu remarked seriously.

Anakin ducked his head away from the clear criticism Mace was directing at him. Obi-Wan looked on at his former apprentice with a hint of sympathy. It was painfully clear that Master Windu was right in his observation of Ahsoka's shortcomings stemming from Anakin. Though to be fair, he had only been Ahsoka's master for a few months. Plus the fact that he was given her to teach in the middle of a war didn't help at all. Kenobi decided in that moment that he would offer his advice to the younger man.

"Master Windu, may I speak to Anakin privately?"

Windu glanced at Obi-Wan. He was all too aware that Kenobi was the main driving force behind Skywalker receiving an apprentice. If anyone could get through to the unorthodox Jedi before him, it would be his old master. Mace nodded silently and moved to leave the room. Before he left however, the Jedi Master place a hand on Anakin's shoulder.

"Be mindful of your actions Skywalker. You're certainly a capable Jedi, but you must learn to lead by example better."

Anakin closed his eyes and remained silent. He agreed with Windu and knew that in order for this to not happen again, he would have to be stricter with Ahsoka in the future. Mace departed shortly thereafter leaving them to speak alone.

"What happened?" Obi-Wan asked.

Anakin sighed deeply as he turned to face his friend. This was a conversation he hoped wouldn't be necessary. But being that Obi-Wan was a wise man, it was good to have some advice. With any luck he'd have a better idea of what to do.

"After our briefing with the Council, Ahsoka and I made our way to the Slums, section G17. We arrived at the location and I had her wait outside just in case he tried to escape with the crowd. Once I caught Affa, I made my way back out of the bar to the spot where I left her."

Obi-Wan stroked his beard as he concentrated on the younger man's account of what had occurred.

"The odd thing was that when I got there, she was just running back up to me. I asked where she went and she said she was checking out a suspect. Apparently it was a false alarm so I called a gunship and we made our way back to the Temple. While we were en route, I sensed her looking into my thoughts, like she was afraid of something. I casually winked at her to key her in that I was aware of what she was doing."

Something told the older Jedi Knight that the reason for this whole mess was about to make itself clear. But he knew it would be better to wait until he heard the whole story.

"When she smiled back, I noticed she was afraid. Something was freaking her out and I was starting to think it had something to do with me. I looked at her body language, she was shaking and her hands were knotting. I looked down expecting to see her legs to buckle when I noticed it. Her lightsaber was gone! Or at least it wasn't there. I immediately questioned her as to why she didn't have it. She told me she left it here and that she was sorry. I was livid, I mean how do you honestly forget something as important as your lightsaber?!"

Kenobi could already tell that it wasn't a matter of forgetfulness. Rather it was more like deceptiveness on Ahsoka's part. But seeing that Anakin was either oblivious to it or couldn't bring himself to believe it, Kenobi chose to ask the million credit question.

"I see. Tell me Anakin, did it ever occur to you that she may not have left it at here? Because from what you've just described to me, it sounds like she lost it. I think she might have lied to you."

Ahsoka? Lie to him? Impossible. He never taught her to be a liar. Why would she lie to him in the first place? They always leveled with each other when it came to mission related situations. Despite their arguments and screaming matches, they always made up. So what would make her feel she had to hide this from him?

"But that doesn't make any sense. We always talk to each other. Why would she want to lie to my face? Granted I was upset at the moment, but I still would have listened to her."

Obi-Wan looked his former apprentice in the eye. He knew exactly why Ahsoka wouldn't want to tell him. Pride. And more importantly, making sure that Anakin wouldn't be disappointed in her.

"Because like you she was afraid of disappointing her master. Like you, she wants you to be proud of her and most importantly not fail her mentor. She takes after you more than you realize."

Anakin regarded his words carefully. Obi-Wan was right, she is like him. Always trying to prove herself to him and make him proud of her accomplishments. And he was proud of her every time, even when he wasn't happy about it. But he still felt that she wouldn't lie to him.

"I understand Master, but I still don't think she's lying. In all honesty I think she's just embarrassed by the fact that I caught her. Now all that's left to do is give her a lecture on being attentive what her lightsaber means and be done with it."

Obi-Wan shook his head. It's one thing for Anakin to defend his padawan, but to just drop the subject and walk away was not the method for dealing with this. He had a hunch that he was right and that Ahsoka was lying. If it were up to him, he would've put her across his knee the second he knew she was lying and lectured her at the same time. But since Anakin was a rather laid back mentor, he figured it would be more effective to have him try this method this time.

"And if she did lie to you?"

Anakin felt his stomach knot at the thought. He did not like where this was going. A question like that meant he would have to be the disciplinarian he loathed being.

"Then I'll ground her. I'll have her look for it and once she's found it, have her restricted to Temple duties. I'll reprimand her for being careless and lecture her all day about the Code's rules on lightsabers."

This was what he was expecting to hear. Another round of lecturing and reprimands. Letting her off with verbal warnings would only go so far before Ahsoka would start to ignore them.

"Anakin, what she needs is to learn responsibility and to accept the consequences of her actions. But reprimanding and lecturing alone are not going to cut it this time. You're going to have to be direct."

At that point Obi-Wan didn't have to spell it out for him. In essence he was telling him that if Ahsoka was truly lying to him, he was going to have do what he did during the Ryloth campaign when Ahsoka not only disobeyed him, but copped an attitude with him and raised her voice. This was not something he wanted to repeat.

"I understand Obi-Wan. I just wish that I won't have to. I trust Ahsoka and I believe her."

Kenobi nodded in agreement and stood next to Anakin. Moments like these were tough for a teacher. He remembered his fair share of difficulties when he took on 9 year-old Anakin Skywalker as his padawan. Despite the hardships they faced, he had turned into a remarkable Jedi. A cunning warrior and a good friend. For him to have to teach an apprentice in the middle of this war wouldn't be easy. But it would definitely help Anakin with his attachment issues. Something that still seemed to haunt him.

"So what are you going to do? I assume she's waiting for you to return."

The young Knight exhaled deeply and looked straight ahead of him. This was not gonna be easy, but he had to do it. He could only hope for Ahsoka to be telling the truth.

"I'm going to ask her where her lightsaber was. I f she has it, then I'll just reprimand her and give her a nice long lecture about being responsible. If she doesn't have it…well then I guess I'll have to cross that bridge when I get there." He said with a defeated tone.

Sensing that everything needed to be said had been spoken, Obi-Wan dismissed himself. It was now up to his friend to deal with his padawan. He could only wait and see whether or not the young man would heed his advice and not spare the rod this time.

"I'm sure you'll make the right decision. Just don't allow it to weigh on you." Kenobi said as he exited the room.

Steeling his will, Anakin made his way out and began his trek through the Temple towards the shared quarters. He walked there in silence for the most part. His focus was set on properly chastising Ahsoka as his Master had suggested. While he was still unconvinced about his padawan's possible deception, Anakin was still upset that she didn't have her weapon with her. No matter what she was in trouble, but as far as he was concerned it was simply due to her not paying attention to where she left her lightsaber. But if he were being honest with himself, he couldn't help but feel that this going to end with a certain teen across his knees.