Chapter 17 – Goodbye my friend
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Coruscant, Residence of Padmé Amidala Skywalker
"She didn't want to see me Padmé…" Anakin said with a sad voice. After the Council meeting with Masters Unduli and Secura and hearing from Barriss what had happened to Ahsoka and the things she had said, he had really needed to get out of the Temple for a while. As usual, he found himself in his secret wife's apartment.
"Just give her some time, Ani. She's still hurt from what the Council did to her." His wife said reassuringly. "I miss her too. Just give her time to heal." She said as she sat down next to her husband on the couch. Anakin sighed deeply. "I guess you're right, but…" he replied. "You still miss her." Padmé finished for him. He nodded.
Anakin laid back on the couch. Padmé was right, he did miss Ahsoka. The first day after she'd left he had gone into her room into the morning to wake her up, only to find the bed empty. The memory of her walking down the steps flooded back into his head. No matter how much he wished it to be just a bad dream, it wasn't. She really was gone. He had spent the rest of the sitting on her bed.
He had tried to find her on Coruscant in the following days, but she had left the planet. He had wanted to get out of Coruscant himself, return to the battles and try and get his mind of her absence. The Council, however, had decided otherwise. With him being 'emotionally unstable', he had been temporarily relieved of active duty and was more or less restrained to the Temple. It had driven him rather insane. Everywhere he looked, he still saw Ahsoka. Every time he entered their room, he expected to find her on the couch. He expected to find her, but she really had left.
And now that he knew exactly where she was, she didn't want to see him. He sighed deeply. "The Council really hurt her deeply." Where he had been nine when he came to the Temple, Ahsoka had been there since she was three. His mother had been the most important to him while the key figures in Ahsoka's life had been the members of the Jedi Council and of course, Plo Koon. She had lived in the Temple for years, always being loyal to the Council, always trusting them. But when the time came for the Council to trust her, they seemed to forget everything, all of her loyalty, based on some incomplete 'evidence' some Republic fool had provided. They immediately turned on her, expelled her from the Order, threw her aside like some piece of old thrash and she was almost sentenced to death. Then they had simply invited her back with some lame excuse for their actions, not even an apology. They had hurt her more than any enemy had ever done during the war, she lost trust in them and in herself, and she left.
"Just give her the time Ani, she won't stay away forever." Padmé said reassuringly, trying to get him out of his obviously depressing train of thought. "She's a strong young woman. You should know, you taught her everything. She can take care of herself." Anakin nodded. "Yes, that's true. She's not some weak, frail girl." He replied. "But it's not easy Padmé, I still see her face everywhere." Padmé rested her head on his shoulder. "I know Ani, I still expect her to drop in at any time and tell me about your misadventures." She said. Padmé sighed. "It's a big change, I know. But Ahsoka has grown up a lot and now she needs to make her own decisions and find her own place in the galaxy." Anakin thought about his wife's reply. He sighed. "You're right Padmé, it's just not easy to let her go." He said. Padmé chuckled a bit. "You have a big heart Anakin and unlike a lot of other Jedi you're not afraid to feel emotions. You care greatly about others, but sometimes you worry a little bit too much for your own good." Padmé finished with a smile. Anakin couldn't help but smile a bit at his wife's teasing remark. "Don't force her to come back Ani, let her come to you." Padmé said. Anakin nodded. "You're right Padmé." Anakin looked at her. "Patience never was one of my strong suits. I guess Ahsoka should've taught me a bit more about it." He replied with a tone of amusement in his voice. Both he and Padmé laughed for a moment. After that they got up and went to get some lunch.
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Luminara Unduli's flagship
Ahsoka Tano's point of view
I yawn loudly as I wake up. Before I had gone to sleep I went through a long healing session with Barriss. Seeing as how we'd be parting ways soon, she wanted to make sure I was healed a bit more. Barriss had focused her healing abilities and I had combined my own strength with hers. Thanks to our little combination both my ankle and my arm had recovered a lot more. In about a week I should be able to walk normally again.
As I look around the room I try to suppress a laugh. Lilo was sleeping in a chair that stood next to the bed with her head resting on the bed. Using my good arm, I push myself up so that I'm at least sitting upright. Lilo noticed me moving and woke up as well. When she saw me sitting up against the bed she smiled. "Hey Ahsoka, are you feeling any better?" she asked. I opened my mouth to reply, but before I could say anything my head started spinning a bit. "I…I'm a little dizzy." I say. Lilo nods. "One of the medics told us that would probably happen, it's because of the wound on your lekku." She replied. I draw on the Force to ease my dizziness. Fortunately, it helps. "You alright?" Lilo asks concerned. I smile at her. "Yeah, don't worry. I can use the Force to stop the dizziness. It's a little trick I learned a while ago." I tell her. "Huh, that sure is handy." She replies. I nod and move my uninjured arm to my rear lekku. I gently feel my lekku, a large bandage is wrapped around it, covering almost my entire lekku. "That bandage will need to stay on for a while." Lilo says. "I see." I reply and relax against the headrest of the bed. "I can't believe how tired that made me feel. I only sat up and moved my arm…" Lilo notices my expression. "Ahsoka, what's wrong?" she asks concerned. "I was blown up." I reply sarcastically. Lilo scoffs at my answer. "I'm serious Ahsoka." I chuckle a bit. "I know." I reply. "I just can believe how weak I am right now…" I say with a sigh. Lilo nods understandingly. "Well, you did get blown up…" she says with a slightly mocking tone. "Very funny…" I reply slightly annoyed. Lilo chuckles at my reaction.
"Oh yeah, that's right." Lilo says. "Before I entered your room and fell asleep I spoke with the Senator of Kiros. One of her friends is attending the meeting. She learned from her that the meeting is over for today." Lilo took a small holocommunicator from her pocket. "If you want to contact your boyfriend you can do so now." She said as she handed the device to me. I smile. "Thanks Lilo, I'd really like to let him know I'm alright." I reply. She nods. "I'll give you some privacy. I'll be back later." She says as she gets up and leaves the room. I enter the number of Lux' personal communicator and initiate the call.
After waiting a small moment the connection is established and Lux appears in the hologram. "This is Sena…" he stops when he realizes who he's talking to. "Ahsoka!" he says excitedly. "Hi Lux." I reply with a smile. He smiles back, the relief obvious on his face. "How are you feeling?" he asks. "Well, I've been better." I begin. "But I'm still alive and I will recover. I'm alright at the moment. Barriss helped me heal a lot faster and I can use the Force to easy any pain and whatnot." Lux nods. "That's good to hear, I was really worried Ahsoka." He replies. His face turns a bit dark. "I had such a bad nightmare about you. And then when I saw you in that bacta tank…" he sighs deeply, the worry quite visible on his face. "Lux, don't worry. I'm alright." I say reassuringly. He nods. "I'm sorry Ahsoka, I wanted to stay with you until you woke up, but…" he says a bit ashamed. "Don't worry Lux, I understand." I reply. "I could sense you were there with me." Lux smiles and I smile back. "Oh, but Lux… The locket you gave me…" I say sadly. "It's alright Ahsoka. Barriss told me what happened." He replies. "If anything, I'm even more glad that I gave it to you." He says with a smile. "Yeah, me too." I reply. "Don't worry Lux, I'm still keeping it. I might be able to find a way to fix it." He nods. "I hope so." Some bleeping noise from outside the projection catches Lux' attention. "I have another communication coming in. I have to report the outcomes of the meeting to the meeting to the king of Onderon." He says. I nod. "I understand Lux. You have to return to the ever exciting world of politics." I say with a slight tease. He chuckles a bit. "I'll talk to you some other time Ahsoka. I love you." "I love you too, Lux." I reply and the transmission ends.
I place the transmitter on the nightstand next to the bed and lie down again. "That has really made me tired." I shut my eyes and quiet my mind to meditate for a while and recover my energy.
;-
Sometime later two presences enter my room and I withdraw my mind from the Force. As I open my eyes I can see my sister Marina and princess Zaa Vashee standing in my room. I smile. "Hey Marina, princess." Marina smiles back while the princess looks a bit frustrated. "If there aren't any others around, just call me Zaa." She says. Marina looks a little surprised. I nod. "Alright then Zaa, I will." I reply. She smiled and sits down next to the bed along with Marina. "Here Ahsoka. We've brought you something to eat." Marina says as she places a small tray on my lap. They both laugh as they see me eying the food hungrily. I give a quick nod as a 'thank you' and begin eating. "Alright Ahsoka, our ship has been refueled and all other preparations have been completed." Marina begins. "Also, the medics have declared that you are in a fit enough condition to be moved. That means we'll be leaving in about thirty minutes." Zaa nods. "When we reach Shili another group of medics is standing by to take care of you. We, I, really owe you a great deal." She says. I finish eating and look at them. "I see, thanks guys." I reply with a smile. Zaa smiles and gets up. "I'll leave you two alone for now. I'll be back with the others in about fifteen minutes or so to pick you up." She tells us. Marina nods. "Okay, we'll be waiting." She replies and Zaa leaves the room.
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Luminara Unduli's flagship, hangar
General point of view
The time had come for Ahsoka and the others to leave. Princess Zaa Vashee had to be returned home. She, her brother, prince Zolar Vashee, and Shaden Zadane were currently talking with Masters Unduli and Secura.
Ahsoka was brought into the hangar by one of the medics. They had moved her from the bed onto a stretcher so they could transport her safely. Her sisters were walking along with her. Barriss approached them when they stopped at the boarding ramp of their ship. "Hello everyone. Ahsoka, how are you feeling?" she greeted them. "Hey Barriss, I'm feeling somewhat better thanks to you." Ahsoka replied. "That's good to hear." Barriss said with a smile. "I guess this is goodbye, huh?" Ahsoka asked. Barriss sighed and nodded slowly. "I guess so. Promise me that you'll take the time to recover." She replied. Ahsoka chuckled a bit. "Alright, I promise. Good luck with everything Barriss, I'm sure you'll make a great Knight and healer." She said. Barriss chuckled a bit as well. "I'll do my best. It hasn't been easy lately, but I won't be discouraged that easily." She replied. Ahsoka smiled. "That's good to hear. If one of your assignments ever find you one Shili, feel free to stop by." Ahsoka said with a grin. Barriss nodded. "I certainly will try."
Aurora approached them. "Excuse me, but it's time for us to leave." She informed them. Marina and Lilo nodded. "Thank you Aurora." Lilo replied. The female warrior nodded and went in the ship. Ahsoka looked at Barriss. "Well Barriss, time to go. I hope to see you again soon." She said with a hint of sadness in her voice. Barriss smiled. "It looks that way. If I have the opportunity I'll definitely try to visit. May the Force be with you Ahsoka." She replied. Ahsoka smiled. "May the Force be with you as well Barriss. Goodbye my friend." She said. "Goodbye Ahsoka." Barriss replied.
Ahsoka gave a small wave as a Togrutan medic brought her aboard the ship. Barriss waved back. Everyone else boarded the ship and the ramp closed. Moments later the engines roared to life and they departed from the Republic ship. Barriss continued to look at the ship until it blasted off into hyperspace.
That's the end of this chapter.
I know, it isn't as long as the other chapters. I couldn't think of anything else to add in this chapter. Next chapters will be longer again.
Barriss and Ahsoka have now parted ways again. I have some ideas for both stories, but from now on I will only update one story at a time. I have more things to do for school again, so I'll have less time to write.
…I always think of things to add in these notes, but when I write them I always seem to forget them… Oh well, if I've forgotten anything I'll just have to add it in another chapter.
Until next time