Chapter 42 – Captured

DISCLAIMER: We do not own Star Wars, even if we wish we did. xD

Author's Note: In which Ahsoka awakens... ;)

~ Amina Gila

The world slowly comes into focus around me. It takes me a moment to realize that I am not, in fact, at Padme's apartment but rather – Right. Oh. Oh no.

My eyes dart around the room, rapidly taking in the situation. I'm in Force restraints in a prison cell with a ray shield blocking the door. I shift into a sitting position, drawing in a deep breath, trying to quell my rising apprehension.

Why is everything I try to do ending in failure? First with Sidious and now with Maul? At least it's only Maul who managed to capture me, but I need to be fighting Sidious and helping Anakin, not sitting here imprisoned by a Sith Lord, especially when I have no idea what he wants with me.

I'm not sure how much time has passed as I mull over my new situation, before everything suddenly jolts like we just went into or came out of hyperspace. So, I'm on a ship? That doesn't sound good. For a reason I can't explain, I suddenly have a very bad feeling about this. It's as if there's something a lot more sinister going on than Maul taking me to some off-planet prison or something. And then I remember the feeling I'd gotten when I saw him the second time. Something happened, something changed. I don't know what and I don't understand it, but I have a very, very bad feeling about it. He hates Sidious – that much is clear – but what if... what if he's still working for Sidious? I doubt it, but there's no way to know.

Before long, I hear footsteps and two guards in Mandalorians armor approach my cell. They lead me out, keeping their blasters trained on me as I follow them through the ship and down the ramp. I could escape if I tried, but I have no idea where I am right now. I'd be running around blindly on the ship. First, I need to figure out where I am. They bring me to a stop in the hanger bay behind Maul.

I freeze as I take in my surroundings. The towering castle peaks... it's a place I've only seen a few occasions on the holonet but I'd recognize it anywhere. Dooku's castle on Serenno. Why is Maul taking me to Serenno? Unless –

An all too familiar figure approaches Maul. Dooku.

"Here she is as Lord Sidious requested," Maul declares. Ice cold fear rushes through me. Sidious. Maul was working for or with Sidious, like I was afraid of. Which means Sidious must have a plan. Either he figured out that I saw the future, or he's going to use me to get Anakin to Fall. Either way, this is a disaster. I need to get out of here. Now. Somehow.

Dooku hands him something that undoubtedly contains money. "The rest of your reward will arrive in due time." For some reason, I really don't like the tone he says that in. Do I even want to know what the rest of Maul's reward is?

"You're both making a mistake," I interrupt. They're never going to listen to me, but I have to give the warning anyway. "I know what Sidious's plans are. He's going to betray both of you in the end anyway."

"He still needs us," Dooku replies, appearing unconcerned.

"Others have said the same," I retort, eyes narrowed.

They don't say anything in response, and moments later, I find myself being accompanied to a prison cell in the lower levels of the castle by four battle droids. I can't risk staying here. I need to get out before Anakin comes looking for me – because of course he will – and now would be a perfect time. Spinning around, I kick over the two droids standing nearest to me. With cries of alarm, they topple backwards to the floor unable to stop their falls.

"Oh no! Don't let her escape!" cries one of the two droids still standing.

"Roger, roger!" replies the other as they both fire at me. I dodge out of the way, swinging my hands to the right angle so one of the bolts rips through the cuffs restraining me. The other bolt hits the wall, blasting a smoking hole into it. They fire again, but this time I'm ready, Force-shoving their weapons aside so the bolts bounce off into the wall. I Force-throw them both hard against the wall and they collapse, continuing to shoot non-stop at nothing at all.

Without wasting another moment, I dash down the hall back the way I came, ignoring the sparks and smoke from the blaster damage. I remember the route well enough to work my way straight to the entrance. A guard droid nearby cries a warning to another, alerting me of its presence. I spin around just in time and Force-shove it to the ground, before ripping off its head.

A group of battle droids walks around the corner, blasters aimed at me. "Surrender Jedi!" the one in front squawks.

"Roger, roger!" chorus the others. This is going to be a little more difficult.

I send a Force-shove at them, knocking the ones in the front into the others, sending most of the rest of them sprawling to the floor. The few still standing on their feet open fire. Ducking out of the way, I leap over their heads and grab one, twisting its blaster so it hits the other two before I take off down the hall. I need to make a hasty escape if this is going to work. Everyone probably heard the disturbance by now.

Just then, I hear more droids approaching. I leap up onto a nearby beam, waiting until they pass by in search of the source of the disturbance before jumping down and running out the now unguarded entrance. I dash up a flight of stairs and slam to an abrupt halt as I see the two Sith Lords standing there, obviously headed down this way because of the disturbance. So much for that.

"Already in such a hurry to leave?" Dooku asks, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

I glare at him. "What would you like me to do? Sit around and watch the galaxy taken over by your deranged Sith Master?" He ignores my comment, again.

"Escort her to her cell," Dooku orders Maul. Moments later, I find myself locked up once again.

I sink to the floor as soon as I know they're gone, resting my head on my arm. I'm stuck down here for the indefinite future, just waiting to find out what Sidious's plans are. Maybe I can try escaping again, but they're going to have more security around in case I try. Besides, how would I ever get past the ray-shield?

My mind drifts to Anakin and the 501st who are still on Mandalore, now left to fight the battle alone. With Anakin there and Maul here, they should be able to win, though. Hopefully. Unless Anakin panicked and ran off in search of me. But even if Maul can still talk to his warriors and help them defeat the 501st, I get the feeling that wasn't his main goal. I don't think he was working for Sidious in the beginning, but that doesn't matter anymore since he is now. Now that he's gone, he'll probably let things take their own path.

I hope Sidious hasn't realized that I know far too much. Maybe I shouldn't have said some of the things I did to Dooku and Maul, but I don't think there was anything too suspicious about them. Still, though, it's possible for Sidious to figure out the truth. I should have waited a few minutes for the Sith to be gone so I could have actually escaped. It's not like it was on Coruscant during my framing or anything. It's out in Separatist territory where I won't have anyone to help me and don't know anything about the planet. As much as I hate to, it seems for now I'll have to wait.

**w**

I find my mind wandering to things that I've tried so hard not to think about. Anakin's Fall. I don't fully understand how it happened, but looking back, nothing was ever easy for him. He only ever wanted to be normal, didn't he? He didn't want to be the Chosen One or anything special. Just someone. Someone who could help. He said it himself, once. That he's tired of how the Jedi treat him, and he wants it to be different but it's not, and there's nothing he can do to change it.

Sidious wanted to take him apart and put him back together as a tool, a weapon. And, I realize with sickening dread, that's exactly what the Jedi did to him. His Fall wasn't of his own accord. There's only so much you can hurt a child. You can't expect him not to break forever, and when he does, it's not his fault; it's yours.

Someone should tell the Jedi that.

Maybe I should be upset with Vader for destroying the Jedi. I probably ought to be, but I can't even blame him. They gave him no choice, did they? And even if he didn't do it, someone else would've. If any of them had lived and Sidious found them... that would have been far worse than death. I've seen firsthand what he can do, and I know it can be a hundred times worse. It was a mercy. When Vader kills, he does it fast, unlike even Obi-Wan – no offense to my grandmaster, but he seriously ought to be a bit more compassionate sometimes.

"Anakin Skywalker was weak. I destroyed him."

It wasn't true. It wasn't Vader who abandoned his little brother – his son – when he needed him the most, just because he... what? Was a disappointment? Vader even came forwards to save me when I needed him, and I didn't even deserve it. Really. I'd put him through so much pain all the time. I was so self-centered when I was young it hurts to look back at. Anakin was – is – a true gift to the galaxy, and he should be treated as such. He saw through his own pain and rage and the suffering he'd endured for years to save me. Even after all that, Anakin never truly changed. Not entirely. He was lost; he was broken, but he was there.

But Vader is gone now. There are times, many times, that I find myself unable to sleep as memories of him dying in front of me replay before my eyes over and over. Reaching into the Force, I search for my master's presence. Nothing can calm me like he does. I try to send a reassurance that I'm safe, I'm alright, even if only for now. And I think... maybe I felt him reach back from half a galaxy away.

**w**

I don't know how long I've been here. I expect it's been a few days, but there's no way of telling time down here. Unless something changes, there's no way for me to escape from here. The worst part is that the room is dampening my ability to access the Force so even the slightest task requires immense concentration.

I sit on the floor, attempting to meditate as a vision suddenly flashes before my eyes. Somehow, just from looking at it, I get the distinct feeling it's happening right now back on Coruscant.

Anakin is standing somewhere – I can't tell where. The background isn't clear, and I suppose it doesn't matter much anyway – glaring at Palpatine who stands facing him.

"If you ever want to see her again, come find me," Sidious gloats.

"What have you done to her?" growls Anakin. If looks could kill, Sidious would be dead.

"She is quite safe if you choose to keep her that way." The Sith Lord chuckles. "Join me and perhaps I will let her go."

"Never," Anakin snarls.

"Then the Senator will be next," threatens Sidious, a cruel smile twisting his face. Then the vision dissipates.

Of course, he would do that. I won't even begin to question where Anakin is that he ended up talking to Palpatine again. But Sidious is going somewhere? That can only mean one thing. He will be coming here. To Serenno. Dread builds inside of me. This cannot be happening. Do I even want to know what will happen when he does get here?

This feels like a repeat of when I was in the future. And Anakin is far more likely to Fall than Luke was under those circumstances, considering how much closer we are. Maybe. All things considered, Luke was far more prone to the dark and much less controlled than Anakin ever was, which is ironic given he had a much more peaceful and calm life.

All I know is that it's only a matter of time before everything comes to a head. Anakin can't Fall. He can't. None of that can happen.

What if I fail? The dark thought forces itself to the front of my mind. Suppose Anakin Falls to save me and Sidious issues Order 66 and then forms his Empire? All thanks to me, he already has a very good excuse to claim the Jedi are plotting against him. Am I doomed to fail again and again, no matter what happens... to bring chaos to the galaxy?

Stop panicking. And stop thinking like that. I mentally scream at myself. The Force sent me to see the future for a reason. If I was really doomed to fail and the galaxy to destruction, the Force would never have intervened like that. I take a deep breath, slowly letting it out as I try to bring myself back under control. I can only trust the Force this will work out.

The hours drag by endlessly. Tenseness settles over me, nearly crushing me. From the lack of any concept of time down here, it could have been twelve hours maybe less, maybe even more like a day. With each passing moment, my fear increases. It's beginning to feel like a new meaning of torture. I have no idea what's going to happen, and I'm too scared to even think rationally right now. It's only going to be a matter of time before Sidious comes here, an encounter I am most definitely not looking forwards to in the least. I can only hope he isn't suspicious of me, or he's going to try to force me to tell him everything.

Far too soon, I hear the droids approaching – at a time when they definitely aren't here to bring me food. Moments later, Maul appears outside my cell, accompanied by a droid escort. Oh great. Just what I've been waiting for. Sidious must be here, and I expect Anakin and possibly Obi-Wan will show up before we know it. And try to take down three Sith Lords and a droid army while avoiding them killing me in the meantime. Anakin may be able to manage a lot of spectacular feats, but this? I'm not sure even they would be able to pull it off.

"You should have joined me when I first asked," Maul says as he leads me out of the cell and snaps Force-restraints on my wrists again. Clearly, they aren't planning to risk another escape attempt.

"I suppose I should also have thrown myself on your lightsaber," I retort.

"You will learn the price of your refusal," he replies darkly.

"The Force itself will decide that," I reply, trying to keep up my flippant attitude in front of him. I won't let him see my fear.

He ignores the comment, leading me into a large room. I freeze on the spot as my eyes fall on the other prisoner inside. No, no, this cannot be happening. How could this have happened? What else happened while I was imprisoned here? Of all things in the world, I would never have expected to see him here also.

Obi-Wan.