Chapter 9: To the Rescue
I ran like I'd never done before. I ran - not for my life, but maybe for others'. I ran with tears streaming down my face, among other beings, over debris and sleeping beings (how could anyone sleep during the heavy bombing of the Temple?). I used all the shortcuts and elevators I had found throughout the last weeks. I needed to get back home as soon as I could.
I let my body take over and I think that for a moment my brain short circuited and stoppet working. The image of the tall black clad figure who had been my Master not many weeks ago leading the 501st up towards the Temple would forever be imprinted in my memory. I might have believed that he was going to save his friends from whatever was going on, but in my heart and soul I felt that was not his intention. And while I ran a new wave of despair rolled through the Force and confirmed my suspicions.
Force alone knew what was happening inside those Temple walls now, but for sure, it wasn't good.
I ran faster.
If someone chose to flee down to the Temple's basement I could get them out through the Bendu temple ruins or they could stay down there for a while. We just had to shield heavily.
I opened the entrance, slid down and closed it firmly behind myself before I continued. My quick approach came to a screeching halt when I almost ran into a pile of huge stones which hadn't been there before. It had to be the base of the collapsed south spire. It took me way too long figuring out how to lift away parts of the debris so I could pass. This would be a mess to get by for larger beings than myself, that much was certain.
I ran through the main hall and trough the corridors leading to the central spire base, opened the bolts of the lower door and continued up the stairs while I tried to catch my breath. I had to be quiet and oh so stealthy once I opened the upper door.
I didn't have to worry. As soon as I reached the top of the stairs I felt several beings on the other side, and it seemed to be refugees from whatever was going on. I could feel their anxiety and despair, but no true anger or evil, so I gave it a chance and opened the door carefully.
Outside I could see a small group of initiates, younglings and a few elderly Masters. And Bant. Master Obi-Wan's age mate Bant Eerin. I almost cried by the sight of the familiar face but I managed to compose myself.
"In here. Hurry! All of you," I whispered. "Now!"
"Ahsoka," Bant gasped.
"Later! I don't intend to do any harm. Get in. Now!" I commanded in my most determined commander voice. They were too shellshocked either by what was going on upstairs or by the sight of me to put up an argument so swiftly they began to move downstairs.
"Are there more of you?" I asked when Bant passed by as the last one of the group.
"No. At least I don't think so. I was told to get the small initiates downstairs but the rest remained to fight the intruders."
"Who?" I asked.
"Iā¦could see a couple of clones," she said, "and I felt a terrible dark presence but I don't know who the darksider was. He or she was darker than anything I've felt before in my life."
I just nodded. My fears had just been confirmed. I didn't need her to confirm who the darksider was. I already knew too well.
