Chapter 12.

POV-Anakin Skywalker
I used the force to unlock the door mechanism as I sluggishly dragged my feet inside. I ignored my holo-projector flashing for my attention on my desk, allowing the full weight of my body to collapse backwards onto my bed.

I lay there enjoying the silence for a few minutes closing my eyes, my arms by my sides. I needed this, the slow release of tense muscles unwinding and becoming heavy was a welcome feeling as my mind began to rest. Summoning my holo-pad to my hand I opened my eyes and tapped into my profile and changed it to meditative retreat. A wave of relief washed over me as my holo-projector stopped flashing and everything was at a standstill. I breathed out. I could now focus on myself and getting Ahsoka better.

'The fate of the galaxy is in your hands, Chosen One'

This voice has been singing quietly in the back of my mind for the past day and the weather had grown cloudy with it. Coruscant was a gloomy planet as of late but life still bustled within it, beneath the cloud and haze of pollution.

What am I going to do with you Ahsoka? How am I supposed to heal you? How is this trauma that has been bestowed upon you be healed?

I let out a sigh. This wasn't supposed to become of a Jedi until they were at least finished serving and had a fulfilled their purpose in the will of the Force. Surely that time is not now for Ahsoka. Yes she is temporarily healed but that can't be forever, can it?

I was brought out of my thoughts with a sudden jolt of noise ricocheting through my ears. It sounded like a tumble of books.

I flopped backwards, annoyed that my rest was disturbed, swinging my legs and using the momentum to get up. It came from Ahsoka's room.

"Ouch!" I heard Ahsoka hiss.

I walked in to find her on the floor with a mountain of old boots surrounding her and her body clad in her old attire.

"Are you okay?" I asked without thinking, what is she doing?

"Yeah, I'm okay, was just looking for my aero tools," she replied, beaming cheerfully up at me.

The innocent look in her eyes. It's the same snippy look she had when she first became my padawan back on Christophsis. It was almost as if the Ahsoka that had grown through adversity and had been lost and found her way back home in the midst of the galaxy wasn't there anymore.

I reached my arm out and helped her to her feet.

"I'll lend you my tools. Did you find Artoo?"

She nodded, as Artoo rolled into the room, how did I not notice him before?

"Uh oh," Ahsoka's voice called me back to the small problem at hand, blood thinly coating her fingertips pressed to the side of her head.

"Oh, Ashoka," I sighed pulling her into a hug, tears forming in my eyes.

She stood stock still as I wound my arms around her. I bit into my tongue so I didn't let out a cry I'd been holding in for days. This wasn't the Ahsoka I knew. She wasn't there. Oh Force, I hope Obi wan was able to come to a conclusion. I'm losing her…

"Anakin…" her small voice sang, "I'm going to get blood on you if you hold me any tighter".

I pulled back letting her go and giving her a sympathetic smile as Artoo rolled back through the door with my med-kit.

"Thanks, Artoo," I said, patting his astromech head.

We sat in silence as I cleaned and sealed the wound on the right side of her head, just below her eye marking. I put two strips of plasti-tape to keep the skin together and cleaned up the numerous packaging I had tossed on the floor.

"Thanks," Ahsoka said looking sideways at me, "Are you okay Anakin?"

Her question threw me off as I paused, getting to my feet slowly.

"Yes, why do you ask?" I forced a smile.

"Whatever you say, Skyguy. I'll be here when you need. I should be building my lightsaber. Tools are on the floor in your room right?" she teased.

I couldn't help but feel saddened by her words, my heart dropped further into my stomach, slowly dissolving into the acids within.

I nodded turning on my heel and walking out, calling over my shoulder, "I have a meeting with Obi wan and Yoda, I'll be back later".

I heard a faint okay as I walked out of our dorm and into the long hallways.

Obi wans dorm was quiet when I walked in. He sat cross-legged, hands resting with his palms up and eyes closed.

"Anakin, I'm sorry…" his voice was barely audible as it rang through my head.

I knelt down beside him, closing my eyes, "what do you mean?"

I saw myself and him walking on the temple rooftop. Why he had brought me here through meditation I have no clue.

'Ahsoka…' he sighed, 'she- there's nothing that Luminara can do…'

My eyes shot open pulling me back to reality. My entire body went numb. And then it happened. The dam broke and water rushed through the gap. Everything that's happened and now this. It cannot be. Hopelessness. The tears, hot and salty dripped from my eyes as I clutched my sides.

"No…" I sniffed. I sounded so weak, vulnerable. "Why?!"

I cried. Obi wan wound his arms around me, it didn't help.

I wept as he held me in his brotherly arms for what seemed like a millennia. I pulled back.

"What am I going to do Obi wan? What is there that I can do?!"

He remained silent turning his back, "I- I don't know Anakin. I promise that I will keep looking…"

"What did Yoda have to say when news reached him?" I asked, by now the Masters would know, it does after all involve the future of the Orders knighted, almost lost, framed, hunted, Jedi Knight.

"Nothing as of yet-"

Without another word I left his room, a new storm brewing over Coruscant as I marched my way to the high tower, to Yoda's residing chambers.

How could this be? After everything! No! She will get better. The force even say it to be so. It cannot be this way forever.

I pressed the button and waited silently for his door to open or some sort of reply from the old Master.

"Enter Skywalker".

I walked in and found him sitting upon his usual cushion by the window.

"Conflict in you I see, Skywalker," he looked at me sideways.

"Yes Master, its Ahsoka. Is there really nothing that can be done? Is there really no hope?" I wanted to cry all over again. I tensed my jaws and swallowed the hard lump forming in my throat.

"Lose hope do not, there is always hope even when everything seems dark".

I watched carefully as he hopped off of his cushion and over to his droid, opening a compartment and returning with an ancient looking WACK pilot droid.

"You and Ahsoka, destinies, prophecies. Fulfil as a Jedi you cannot but as a Grey Knight, perhaps".

His words eluded me as I silently considered what he was saying.

"To save Ahsoka, willing to leave the Order are you?"

"Yes of course," hope flared inside me as I listened intently.

"Very well. To my understanding, it is not mine. What happens inside of you and Ahsoka, explain I cannot. Guide you the way, this droid will," he said handing me the droid, "apart of the Order, Ahsoka and you are no more".