Chapter 19 - Planning
Okay… Halfway done with my tests. Just one more week…
;-
Several days later
General point of view
Marina, Rosette and Lilo were in one of the smaller meeting rooms inside the royal palace along with princess Zaa Vashee. They were discussing a little 'thank you' for Ahsoka. "What should we do for her?" Zaa Vashee asked. "She didn't seem very interested money or jewelry or things like that." Marina nodded. "Yes, I've noticed that too, 'material' items don't really matter too her. Probably because she grew up in the Jedi Temple." She replied. "Maybe we should try something else? Like, I don't know, some kind of party or something?" Lilo said. "Yeah, maybe a banquet?" Zaa replied eagerly. "That sounds like a great idea." Marina said with the same enthusiasm. "What do you think Rose?" she asked her little girl sitting on the table next to her. "Yes, that sounds great!" Rosette replied happily. "It's settled then, we'll organize a banquet. I'm sure Ahsoka will like that." Lilo said as well. "Come on then, let's go see my dad. We've got some planning to do." Zaa replied with a big smile. The other three girls nodded and they left to plan their surprise.
;-
Ahsoka's point of view
It's been a few long and boring days but I've finally been allowed to leave the hospital. Thankfully, my family had spent a lot of time with me there. Princess Zaa Vashee had also stopped by and she had stayed a lot longer than the regular visiting hours allowed. However, no one of the hospital staff had dared to send the princess away. My wounds had healed nicely and the hospital staff had declared that I could leave. I still need to take it easy for a few weeks, my full strength hasn't returned yet. At least I'm out of the hospital.
Right now I'm sitting on the couch in my family's house, just relaxing a bit. Mom and dad went out to get some groceries and Marina, Rosette and Lilo had to attend some kind of meeting with the royal family. I can't help but feel relieved that everything worked out so well. Fighting alongside Barriss, the other Jedi and the clones after the way they hunted me down several weeks before was very trying. Having the same armoured soldiers following me again had made me feel very uncomfortable. But I had managed to pull through despite those feelings.
I sigh and look at Lux' locket lying on the table in front of me. A wave of sadness rolls over me as I recall what Lilo told me yesterday.
;-
Corvala hospital, the day before
Ahsoka was lying in her bed at the hospital when her sister Lilo entered the room. "Hey Ahsoka." She said. Ahsoka looked up and smiled when she saw her sister. "Hey Lilo." She replied. Lilo moved to the side of the bed and sat down in one of the chairs. "Ahsoka, I'm afraid I have a bit of bad news." Lilo told her little sister. Ahsoka's face turned a little worried. "What do you mean?" she asked. Lilo sighed and handed Ahsoka back the broken locket Lux had given her. Ahsoka looked at the locket now in her hands. "I'm sorry Ahsoka, I visited several of the best jewelers in Corvala but they all said the same thing. I'm afraid that it's beyond repair. They can take out the crystal and make a different type of locket, but that's something you'll have to decide yourself." Lilo said. "I see," Ahsoka replied softly, "Thank you for trying Lilo."
;-
Present day, Ahsoka's point of view
"What am I going to do with the locket?" I wonder. "Should I have it remade somehow?" I keep staring at the locket for a while. The gold locket was completely wrecked, but the cyan crystal was still intact. I sigh and get up. After putting the locket in my pocket I make my way to the garden. I sit down in the same spot as before, right next to the flowerbed. I smile spreads across my face. Mom obviously loves nice flowers as much as I do. Closing my eyes, I open myself to the Force and let my mind wander around on its currents.
;-
General point of view
Haymish and Yuae Tano arrived back at their house. "Ahsoka? We're back." Yuae called to her daughter as they stepped inside. There was no response. They moved to the living room and saw that the door to the garden was open. "She's probably in the garden." Haymish said to his wife. She nodded. "You're probably right." She replied. "How about you go and see how she's doing? I'll take care of the bags." Haymish said. "Alright, thanks dear." Yuae replied. She stepped outside of the house and looked around the garden. She quickly spotted her daughter sitting next to the flowerbed. Yuae made her way to the flowerbed and sat down. Ahsoka obviously noticed her presence. She opened her eyes and smiled. "Hi mom." She said. "Hello Ahsoka, I see that you've discovered my little patch of flowers." Her mother replied. Ahsoka nodded. "Yes I did. I've always liked nature and gardens, guess now I know why." She said with a chuckle. Her mother nodded. "Taking care of a garden is a lot of work, but the result is certainly worth it." Yuae said smiling. Ahsoka smiled back. "You would've loved the gardens of the Jedi Temple. They are very beautiful as well." She said. "That was one of the upsides of being a Jedi, I've seen a lot of amazing places." Ahsoka looked up at the sky. "I've been to Ryloth, Naboo, Onderon and even Raxus. All of those planets were quite amazing in their own right, even despite the damages of the war." She said with a big smile. Yuae chuckled a bit as her daughter told of all of the places she had seen. "It's quite amazing how far you've traveled. I don't know if I would be able to do the same." She replied.
"The bad part is that we had to fight a lot of battles." Ahsoka continued as her father came outside carrying several drinks. "But the good part is that we were able to help so many people. And I've made a lot of different friends all over the galaxy." She said as she took one of the drinks her dad offered. "Thanks dad." He smiled and sat down next to his wife. "Sounds like you've had some wild adventures." He said to Ahsoka. "Yeah, no kidding. I've been wounded quite a bit as well." She replied. "Lilo said that padawan Offee mentioned something like that on the ship. You haven't received any permanent damage, have you?" her mother asked concerned. Ahsoka shook her head. "Fortunately not, the healers at the Temple really know what they're doing, so my wounds were always treated well." She replied. "But I have been through quite a few things." "Like what?" Her father asked a bit cautiously. Ahsoka sighed and took a sip of her drink. "Well, I've been shot, cut by flying debris, blown-up, electrocuted, beaten… Heck, I've even contracted the Blue Shadow virus." She said. This caused quite a bit of confusion to her parents. "The Blue Shadow virus? But that's extinct, isn't it?" her mother asked somewhat shocked. Ahsoka nodded. "Yea, it was. Unfortunately, a few crazy Separatists hired an insane scientist to recreate the virus." She explained. "Bad part: he succeeded; even worse part: he also made it airborne. Thankfully, me and my clones, along with Senator Amidala, were able to prevent the virus from being spread. We were all infected with it, but Anakin and Master Kenobi were able to find the cure in time." Her parents looked quite worried when she finished. "The Blue Shadow virus, I still remember the horrifying stories about that. And an airborne variant no less. And here I was thinking that those Separatists couldn't get any more violent." Haymish replied shaking his head. "How come no one knows about this?" he asked Ahsoka. She sighed. "That's because the Jedi Council and other Republic officers thought that it would be better to keep it quiet. They didn't want to strike fear in the public. After all, that's just what the Separatists wanted." She replied. "Unbelievable… I hope that this war can end without any more needless suffering." Yuae said. "Yeah, me too." Ahsoka replied.
Ahsoka and her parents kept talking for a while about the more positive experiences of her travels as a Jedi. Her parents shared some more stories about everything that they went true and other things that had happened on Shili. Then several clouds started to form and cut off the sun's rays. Ahsoka felt a shiver run down her spine. She could tell that her parents felt the same. "It's getting a little chilly, how about we go back inside? I'd better start to get dinner ready." Her mother said as she and her husband got up. "Alright, do you need some help in the kitchen?" Ahsoka asked as she got up as well. "If you want to, then gladly." Yuae replied. Ahsoka nodded and followed her parents inside.
;-
Outside the Royal palace, transport area
General point of view
Marina, Rosette and Lilo stood outside the Royal palace, about to leave and head for home. Princess Zaa Vashee was there as well, smiling widely. "If everything goes well, we'll be able to throw Ahsoka's thank you party in two days." She said excitedly. Marina and Lilo both chuckled. "We'll do our best to make sure that Ahsoka doesn't learn about it in the meantime. It's supposed to be a surprise after all." Lilo said. "I'll be back tomorrow to help with the preparations." Marina said to Zaa Vashee. Zaa nodded. "Alright, I'll be waiting." she replied. Lilo sighed. "I have a meeting on Coruscant a few days after the party so I have to prepare for that." She said a little sadly. "Don't worry sis, we'll take care of things." Marina replied comfortingly. "Goodbye milady." She said as she turned to Zaa. "Goodbye girls, good luck keeping this a secret from Ahsoka." She replied. They all laughed as Marina, Rosette and Lilo got in their transport and left.
;-
Coruscant, room of a thousand fountains
General point of view
Anakin Skywalker sighed in frustration as he sat between the fountains. He'd rather be elsewhere, but he really needed to calm down. He recalled his earlier conversation with Obi-Wan.
;-
"Anakin." Obi-Wan said somewhat concerned. "What is it Master?" he replied a bit irritated. "Anakin, I don't have to be a Jedi to see how stressed out you are. You need to try and relax a bit." The older Jedi told him. Anakin sighed. "I know, it just…" "I'm worried about her as well Anakin. But beating yourself up over it won't change anything." Obi-Wan replied as he placed his hand on Anakin's shoulder. "Why don't you try visiting the Room of a thousand fountains? That place always helps me easy my mind." Anakin shook his head. "I don't know Master." He said. "Just give it a try." Obi-Wan replied. Anakin gave in and made his way to the room of a thousand fountains.
;-
"Perhaps this place just isn't for me…" Anakin thought as he sat between the fountains. "How come Ahsoka found this place relaxing?" he wondered silently. He recalled a few times when he had found Ahsoka meditating between the fountains. She had explained to him that the movement of the water was very soothing. He had been unable to understand it then and he still couldn't find the same sense of peace as she could.
His thoughts were interrupted when he sensed someone approach. He looked up and saw the Togrutan Jedi Master Shaak Ti walk up to him. "Good afternoon Skywalker." She greeted him. He nodded in return. "Master Ti." She sat down on the edge of the fountain next to him. "I could sense your worrying from a distance. What's troubling you?" she asked in her usual calm voice. Anakin sighed. "It's about Ahsoka, isn't it?" she asked. Anakin nodded. "Yes. I know what the Code says about letting go, but I just can't help but being worried about her." He replied. Shaak nodded. "I understand. Luminara mentioned in her report that she was severely injured. However, I don't think that you have to worry about her this much." She said. Anakin looked at her slightly confused. "What do you mean? I don't even know where she is or who she's with, let alone her condition." He replied. Shaak smiled at him. "Do you remember what Aayla told us? About who Ahsoka was with?" she asked him. Anakin looked down for a moment. "Those Togrutan warriors you mean? I forgot the name." he replied. Shaak nodded. "Yes, those warriors are known as the H'Raani M'Kai. They are the royal guards of the Shilian Royal family. They normally only answer to the Royal family." She explained. Anakin kept silent and allowed her to continue. "The fact that they were there with Ahsoka and that she could give them orders means that she has most likely earned the king of Shili's favor. And, seeing as how she saved his daughter, I'm sure that she being treated well by the Royal family." She finished. Anakin looked a little more at ease. "Are you sure about that?" he asked. Shaak nodded and smiled. "Yes, I'm sure. I've met the king of Shili several years ago. He is an honorable man. There's not a doubt in my mind that he will make sure that Ahsoka is alright." She replied. Anakin looked a lot more relieved now. "Thank you Master Ti." He said. "Anytime Skywalker." Shaak replied as she got up and left.
Anakin thought about what the Togrutan Master had just told him. "Perhaps she's right. Ahsoka's strong enough to take care of herself. And she did save the princess of Shili." He sighed deeply. "Still, it'd be better if I really knew more about how she's doing." He looked at the fountains in front of him, staring at the flow of the water. "Stay safe Snips."
;-
That's it for this chapter.
I managed to find a bit of time between my studying. I know, there's not a lot happening in this chapter. The upcoming chapters might be a little slow. On the agenda: Ahsoka's 'thank you' party and Lilo's meeting with a Senator on Coruscant. Who do you think it is?
I wanted to bring Anakin back a bit, so I added the last part. I'd imagine that he'd still be worried about Ahsoka.
They aren't going to meet just yet. I do have a storyline planned and I have a meeting for them in mind. However, it will still be a little while and I have no idea how long it will take to write. I might combine a few things or split them in different chapters, but I need to work this out first. So, patience is required.
Next update will probably be up somewhere at the beginning of July.