Chapter 14 – Just a little while longer

The Resolute hummed quietly beneath her feet.

After Ahsoka had woken Master Koon in the middle of the night, the jedi master had immediately called in an emergency meeting. They had decided to send out the 501st together with the 212th not soon after. The padawan was technically responsible for her masters' squad for now, but thanks to Master Plo, who had volunteered to take over Obi-Wan's unit for the time being, she had someone to ask for help.

It had been about an hour since they had left Coruscant again, Ahsoka had called Padme and Satine in a rush, telling them what was about to happen. Of course, both women were concerned that she was sent into battle again, but the padawan had already made up her mind. She was determined to get both her masters back in one piece.

Ahsoka hadn't slept at all since running from Dooku's' ship. Sitting in the small bunk room, the girl had tried to meditate, but she just couldn't manage to calm down enough. Despite her exhaustion, she wasn't able to rest either. The Force was in turmoil. The training bond with her master had shuddered to life again, yet she could hardly feel him over the distance. But what she felt over the bond disturbed her, worry and fear laced with anger flooded her mind, making her close off the bond in the process as it became to much. At least she knew that he was alive, but agitated about something.

She had tried to stretch out to Master Kenobi as well, which had let to no response. It felt like the man had vanished in the Force. 'Maybe that's why Anakin is so upset', Ahsoka mused, her stomach churning on that thought. The Padawan would never be able to live with it if one of them died because she left them behind.

"You're brooding, padawan." Her mind completely occupied, Ahsoka hadn't heard the door opening and Master Plo silently slipping into the room. The Kel'Dor was crouching in front of her, searching her gaze as she sat on the floor.

"Master!", Ahsoka startled, "I'm sorry, I didn't hear you entering."

The jedi master smiled behind his mask. "It's alright, Ahsoka. I actually came to speak with you", while talking, he sat down opposite to her, "you seemed quite upset. I could feel your emotions over the entire ship."

The padawan lowered her head in shame. "I know that I should be better in controlling myself… It's just that- that I'm afraid, master. And I can't help it", she lifted her head up again, eyes shimmering with tears, "I've never been separated from them this way. And it drives me insane to think about what might happen because I left them to die. Master Skywalker, he- he's so upset and Master Kenobi, I still can't feel him." As she finished, Ahsoka started to sob quietly.

A large, but comforting hand landed on her shoulder. "It's okay to be afraid, Little One. Everyone is at some point. Just don't let it get the better of you. You're strong, padawan. I'm sure your master is proud of you. He trusted you to get help as soon as he knew that they had no way out anymore. You did the right thing. We'll find them, I promise."

Ahsoka nodded slowly and wiped her eyes. "Thanks, master."

Plo removed his hand again and took in a cross-legged position, back straightened. "How about we try to meditate together?"

The Tortuga smiled. The last time she had meditated together with the jedi master was when she had been around ten years old. While playing in the Room of a Thousand Fountains, she had stumbled upon Master Koon, who had tried to meditate beneath a tree. Curiosity had gotten the better of her, which is why he had invited her to join him then.

"I would appreciate that, Master Plo." Resembling his position, both, master and padawan, closed their eyes and dove into the Force.

one hour later

He let out a deep breath and emerged from the Force. The picture in front of him was delightful. Ahsoka had fallen asleep sometime during their meditation and was sitting slightly slumped over, head lolling on her chest. The jedi master chuckled silently and stood up, carefully not to disturb her. Gently he lifted the girl up in his arms and placed her on the bunk bed, pulling the blanket up to her shoulders. Studying Ahsoka's facial features once again, he noticed that the padawan finally had come to rest. Her forehead wasn't creased with worry any more. At least for now.

"Sleep well, padawan." Having said that, he quietly left the room.

As he stepped out on the hallway, Plo nearly bumped into Captain Rex, who was heading this way as well.

"Captain Rex, what can I do for you?"

The clone startled a little, as he hadn't noticed the jedi. He saluted quickly before answering. "General Koon, I wanted to check on the commander. The men are worried about her, she was completely beside herself."

Plo had to smile at that statement. It was well known that Ahsoka had grown dear to the soldiers over the time, as well as their respective generals. He himself got attached to his own unit, the 104th, if he was being honest.

"At ease, Captain. Ahsoka is asleep for now. She really needed the rest."

Rex nodded and sighed in relief. "Thanks, General. For looking out for her. Her master really is a handful at most times. I don't know how she or General Kenobi always manage to put up with him."

The jedi master had to laugh. "Believe me, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Master Kenobi, as well as his master before him, had always been prone to addict trouble. It seems that's a habit passed on through the lineage."

Rex eyes widened and huffed. "I can hardly believe that, sir. But if you say so."

"Well, I think I should head for the bridge and see if we have a new lead", the Kel'Dor said amused, "care to join me? I've got a few stories that might change your view on Master Kenobi."

"Of course, general. But I think these are stories all the men want to hear. Especially the 212th", the clone answered delighted.

Apparently, they had found Dooku in the hangar. His master still a deadweight in his arms, Anakin ran through the corridors as the alarm began to blare. The sound was almost deafening in his ears, he knew if they were to be found now, it would be both of their ends. Obi-Wan was still bleeding and he didn't know how many bones Dooku managed to break before. He prayed inwardly that the spine was still intact und he just didn't condemn his master to a life confined to a wheelchair. 'If he pulls through at all', he thought gravely. He pressed on further, determined to get them out of this mess. "How many times is it now that I had to save you?", Anakin muttered under his breath. Of course, he knew that Obi-wan had more often than not had laid his head into the sling to save his padawan. He just hoped that it hadn't been pulled taut this time.

Finally, the escape pods came in sight. In a haste Anakin operated the control panel to open the hatch. The pod wasn't big, meant to occupy up to four passengers. He swiftly climbed in and sat Obi-Wan down on one of the seats. Threatening to slump forward, Anakin secured the harness around his friend to prevent him from moving to much or falling out of the seat.

Then he pushed the button to close the hatch again and took the seat in front of the controls. With a soft whirring sound, the escape pod activated and was released from the star destroyer with a snap. "Let's get as far from here as possible", the jedi murmured and began to steer their vehicle away. He didn't dare to set their distress signal just yet; they were still to close to the enemy. Anakin had felt Ahsoka reach out to him about two hours ago, but his mind had been oppressed with worry and anger then. It was still now, as he glanced over to his master who hung lifeless in his seat. If it wasn't for the raise of the man's chest every now and then, one could think that he wasn't alive anymore.

Studying his friend closer, Anakin took in all the changes. It was still weird to see his master with shortened hair, which stuck up on top, considering that he had worn it rather long before. Even though blood obscured his features, the stark scar on the left side of his face was easily visible. It went all the way up to his hairline, standing out between the few millimeters of auburn hair which Obi-Wan sported on the sides. The ear was still missing; Anakin knew that his master hadn't wanted to go back to the hospital, just for a replacement. The beard was the same as he remembered, neatly trimmed and hiding a small scar on his master's chin which he got on one of their earlier adventures.

Until now Anakin hadn't figured out why he had distrusted Obi-Wan this much. The man had been strict with his teachings but he always meant the best for his student even as he had a strange way to show it. It had never been easy to read his master's thoughts, Obi-Wan kept his emotions buried deep within, locked behind a stoic mask. As a boy Anakin had thought that his master didn't care about him and that he was a burden.

It took him over ten years to realize that he was one of the only things that motivated Obi-Wan to keep going on at all. Anakin still couldn't believe that he was chosen over Satine. His master could have had a normal life, without the jedi and later the war, maybe even starting a family. And yet he had stayed with the order. With the boy from Tatooine, his master had entrusted him with as a dying wish and he hardly knew after all.

Anakin bit his lip, there were a lot of things he had to make up for. He hoped he got the chance to do so.

A small beeping noise made him turn towards the controls again. It alerted it him on a ship nearby. He turned their pod a little to see. He couldn't believe his luck. The Resolute. The star destroyer had popped up somewhere in the distance but Anakin would recognize it from everywhere. "We'll getting out of here, master. They found us."

Finally setting their distress signal, he alerted the cruiser of their presence. The few minutes it took the Resolute to draw near felt like an eternity. While they were pulled into the hangar, Anakin already sprung up from his seat. He crouched in front of his master and felt for a pulse again. Slow but steady. "Almost there", he breathed out, while he carefully picked Obi-Wan up again. He knew his time was running out, they needed a medic. Fast.

The pod touched down with a small thud and Anakin wasted no time to open the hatch. Using the Force, he let the metal plate fall from its hinges and stepped out into the hangar, his master's limp form in his arms.

A few clones together with Master Koon were already waiting for them. As the jedi master saw them approaching, he immediately raised his commlink to his mouth to call for a medic team. Anakin still felt disconnected from his surroundings as they took his master from his arms and lowered him on a hover stretcher, starting to take him away. He wanted to follow but hands on his shoulders stopped him. Kix, he now realized, was standing in front of him, brown eyes wide open. He saw the syringe in the man's hand too late. Something pricked the back of his neck and he slowly slumped to his knees. Gentle arms lifted him up by his shoulders and laid him on another stretcher. Before he finally succumbed to the sedative, he heard the medics talk about something about severe burns and possible nerve damage.