Chapter 9 - Calling of Light

DISCLAIMER: We do not own Star Wars or any of the characters in it, though we wish we did. xD

Author's Note: In which Ahsoka tries to complete her mission to free Gunray... ;)

~ Amina Gila

"You know, I don't even know how Dooku thinks you're old enough to be an assassin," Anakin remarks. Her lightsabers cross to meet his, momentarily catching in a saberlock.

"Why don't you ask him yourself?" Ahsoka shoots back, clearly insulted by the comment. She struggles to push him back, suddenly kicking him backwards. She jumps over him gracefully and darts down the hall.

"Over here! Open this door, and I'll buy you a planet!" Anakin hears Gunray screaming. Oh yes. Very likely. He probably could, but he'd never 'waste' his money on something like that. It's obvious that none of the Separatists respect Ahsoka even an ounce. They only want to use her.

Grabbing his lightsaber, Anakin scrambles to his feet and lunge after her as she hits the off button for the yellow-orange ray shield Gunray is locked behind. She spins around to block the blow. As the duel continues, Gunray rushes out of the cell. Their blades clash over and over as she attacks him, but he quickly manages to put her on the defensive again. She may have improved in the past couple months, but really, she's still little better than a padawan in terms of skill, and certainly not a match for Anakin. He's a Knight, and already one of the best duelists.

He knows her style well from the times they've fought. Even so, he needs to watch her carefully. Since Ahsoka doesn't have the benefit of having strength physically, she seems to rely more on the Force and her agility and speed. Togrutas have a natural ability as fighters simply because of their species, and that's something Ahsoka shares more than most despite her young age. She's constantly moving, backing up or spinning and jumping around him. It's a very Togrutan style of fighting, using their natural physical abilities to tire their opponent.

In the background, Arguys finally runs up, pushing the protesting Gunray back into his cell. The yellow-orange ray-shield appears back in place, and Anakin lets out a sigh of relief. At least he's contained again, though there's no way to know how long that will be lasting.

As he swings at Ahsoka again, his comm link suddenly beeps. Really? Now is hardly the time for this. "Anakin, what's the status?" Obi-Wan inquires.

"I'm fighting Ahsoka here," he replies, "Only Captain Arguys is still here. You may want to send reinforcements in case the droids get in here."

"I'll be there shortly," Obi-Wan replies before the connection breaks.

Ahsoka's eyes widen the slightest amount at the conversation she obviously overheard. He can sense her fear, but danger suddenly ripples through the Force. Anakin doesn't have a chance to react before a huge explosion shakes the ship, nearly throwing everyone to the floor. Anakin barely manages to regain his balance without face planting, and when he looks up, he sees Ahsoka sprinting off down the hallway back the way she came. He bolts after her.

She runs into the control room and jumps over the Senate guard's heads, Force-ripping the turbolift door open and leaping down. Her red lightsabers stab into the wall, slowly cutting through it as she descends from sight. The two guards in the room try to fire at her, but every shot misses. She's too small and fast for them to get a proper aim. Maybe that's why she was sent. A Togruta is ideal on a stealth mission – even despite her young age and lack of experience – due to their enhanced senses.

She's fourteen. It's completely unfair for her to be forced to learn on the battlefield like this. Anakin wants to be angry at Dooku for it – he is to a point – but the Jedi are no batter in that regard. Obi-Wan only just dropped the whole idea of Anakin taking a padawan – which Anakin is still slightly surprised about. He was getting very persistent, but in a war, he needs to focus, and he doesn't have time for his attention to be split with the reality around him and watching over a child. And the clones are only ten.

Anakin pauses at the edge of the shaft, waiting until the turbolift zooms by before jumping down in pursuit. He climbs out of the shaft at the exit. All the clones nearby are lying motionless on the floor, either dead or unconscious, so he assumes she must have gone down this way. He senses her presence up ahead. Following it leads him straight to the engine room of the ship.

A good place to go, but certainly not an ideal place to be fighting. One wrong move could make the entire ship start blowing itself up from the inside out. Ahsoka must know this, too. She's smart. Why does it always feel like he underestimates her?

He steps into the darkened room, lit only by the golden orange glow of the flames far below. Thick smoke rises off it in waves, making the area hazy. It's full of platforms and narrow walkways with no railings. Anakin walks a few feet down the walkway before pausing. He can feel the heat of the fire as it burns furiously below him. He doesn't see any signs of Ahsoka, but he can sense she's in here. It's not surprising she ran. Obi-Wan was going to come, and she knew she couldn't defeat them both. Maybe this is better anyway. Maybe he can talk sense into her here. Having a conversation like that would hardly work in someone else's earshot, anyway.

"You can't hide from me," Anakin calls, looking around. He reaches out with the Force, trying to sense her. "I know you're in here."

He takes a few steps further down the walkway, the smoke obscuring more of the room the further he goes. He can almost feel her emotions clearly. She's itching to attack again, but she's wisely uncertain she should. She doesn't think she'll win. And there's something else... fear? Fear of failure and defeat and... rejection? But mostly of... someone.

"You fear your master," Anakin observes, moving farther forwards towards where he senses the emotions to be coming from. He remembers her look earlier, and how she was so willing to fight side-by-side with him and Obi-Wan that one time. Ahsoka could have chosen something else. She could even have helped the Separatists against them, yet she chose what was right. If she was willing, he knows there's still hope for her yet. He refuses to give up. There's clearly more of a Jedi left in her than he'd initially thought.

She's desperate to prove herself, fearful of not being enough. It makes his heart ache. Those are the exact things he's grown up with, and he knows how hard it is. To be so alone. He won't let her live like this if he can help it. It's wrong.

He can understand it if she doesn't, if she's too afraid to choose a different life, but sometimes the knowledge she can is enough. "Well, you don't have to stay with him. If you surrender, maybe the Republic will clear you. You'll have a chance for a different life... if you chose it." And just like that, it's said. Everything he wanted to tell her. Everything she needed to hear.

**w**

Ahsoka berates herself for letting her shields slide so much. No one should have been able to get such a good look into her mind. Except him, apparently. She doesn't understand it. He's a Jedi; she's a Sith. Why is he offering this to her? Everything she's always wanted, the opportunity she needs but doesn't have. Ahsoka can't go to the Republic. Even if they would normally clear her for what she's done, which she doubts they would, Sidious would never let it happen. She knows who he is, and he wouldn't risk being exposed for anything. Especially not for her. Why would – should – he care what happens to her, as long as he's fine? Sith don't do that.

She wants to get out of this life. She wants to be something more, someone who can actually have choices. Not a slave. She's been a slave her whole life, from the moment she was captured by the Zygerrians up until now. Maybe not in name, but still in principle. At first, she tried to fight, until she realized exactly how fruitless it was. Under those conditions, everyone will submit eventually. Besides, she was afraid. Too afraid to use the Force, too afraid to let them know who she was.

She doesn't mind working for Dooku; she respects him and she owes him... but he's working for Sidious, who doesn't even consider them as living beings.

Finally, she shakes her head as if it will force away her wishes and memories. There's no point dwelling on dreams that don't matter, especially not when there's far more important matters to be attending to. Namely, saving her own life. "You don't understand how deep the Sith's grasp is in everything," she retorts, jumping down from her hiding place, igniting her lightsabers as she falls.

He instantly parries the blow, and Ahsoka slashes at him again, one of her lightsabers cutting through a control panel on the wall. He ducks out of the way, attacking her full force. She moves back along the walkway as it circles around one of the central structures. She dodges and parries his slashes as he pushes her further back along the path.

Ahsoka glances down at the fire burning furiously below them. This is a fight she'll never win unless Arguys can carry out the other part of the plan, but as long as he escapes with Gunray, the mission will still be successful. Dooku will never have to know the details. Besides, he doesn't care how it's done, as long as it's done and no other plans of his or Sidious's are interfered with.

She raises a hand, attempting to Force-throw Anakin backwards. He catches the motion, throwing up a shield in front of himself and tossing the currents back at her. After a moment, they're both thrown across the platform, landing on either ends of it.

She hastily pushes a button on her comm, signaling Arguys to get out of there. Hopefully, Obi-Wan hasn't gotten there already. If he has, she'll be in a lot of trouble. Arguys won't make it out, and –

Anakin Force-jumps back over, swinging his lightsaber at Ahsoka. She parries the blow, dodging backwards to avoid the next one and stepping right off into nothingness. A startled yelp escapes her as she falls. For a moment, she's certain she'll land in the flames far below, but instead slams hard onto a lower level in the room.

Pain flares through her lekku and back where they hit the floor, but at least she's alive. Flames leap up around the ledge, sparks flying dangerous close. The smoke envelopes everything even more thickly, making it hard to breathe. She stumbles back to her feet and coughs as the smoke fills the air, irritating her lungs. She hears and senses the quiet thud of Anakin landing in front of her, the golden-orange glow of the flames cast across him.

"We don't need to fight, you know," he says as Ahsoka glances about in search of her lightsabers. They're a distance down the platform, behind Anakin. She scowls. Perfect.

She wishes things were as simple as he thinks. "Yes," she corrects, stepping back when he moves forwards, "We do." Reaching out, she yanks her lightsabers to her hands and ignites them. She holds them for a moment, shifting into her fighting stance with one blade in front of her and the other behind.

"No," he denies firmly, walking towards the Togruta. "I don't want this, and I know you don't either."

Ahsoka watches him in silence for a moment. She wishes she could listen to him. She wants to, but she can't. They're both part of something far bigger than either of them could ever understand. She wants to tell herself that he's like all the Jedi, trying to use her like they do to everyone, but deep inside she knows it's not true. There's something different about him. She felt it when they were back on Maridun. It's something that pulls at her, everytime she remembers him. Then she forces herself to remember Dooku and Sidious. There's nothing she can do. This is war, a war her own feelings have no role in.

"Like we have a choice," Ahsoka retorts finally, hands tightening over the blades.

She whirls around, Force-leaping back up to the ledge they were on before. It's time for her to get out of here. The longer she stays here, the more she puts herself at risk. She jumps far up onto a ledge above, ducking around out of sight as she hears him land on the lower one. She knows better than to think she can hide from him again though. She'll have to try something else.

Ahsoka hears a voice from over Anakin's comm link. It's Obi-Wan. "Anakin, Arguys betrayed us and freed Gunray." That's a relief. At least they're escaping now. She was beginning to get worried they'd been stopped, which would mean she'd have to go back there and try to free him again. It's time for her to hightail out of here.

"What?" Anakin hisses, stunned. Ahsoka can feel his shock slowly morphing to anger pouring into the Force. It's frankly surprising how strongly she can feel his emotions at times. Especially if they're strong. It's not like he's not shielding, it's... something else. "I thought you were supposed to get in there!"

"I did, but they were already gone by that point," Obi-Wan explains.

"I'll see what I can do from here," Anakin speaks through the comm, "See if you can try and stop them from getting off the ship." He disconnects the call, turning his attention back to finding Ahsoka.

She watches from above as he walks along the pathway once more in search of her. He pauses in his tracks, and she feels him reaching out through the Force. "I thought we've already been over that you can't hide from me, Snips," he calls out teasingly.

"Well, it's effective in distracting you, Skyguy," Ahsoka retorts, jumping down at him again, igniting her lightsabers mid-fall. Why can't it be easier to distract him? Anakin whirls around, and their blades clash. He shoves her back, unleashing a series of attacks. Ahsoka flips over his head, hitting at him again. She strikes out at him with one lightsaber, then the other. He parries the blows repeatedly, putting her on the defensive again in moments.

She's still fighting, but she's not putting her heart into it. Not anymore. This isn't about revenge anymore. It's not about hating him; it's about saving herself. She doesn't understand the feelings she's getting. It's almost as though the Force is pushing her to accept his offer, but she can't. Unlike all the Jedi she's seen, his emotions seem wild and uncontrolled. She can almost tell what he's feeling by looking at him, and she sees nothing but sincerity and sympathy. She can't make sense of it.

Ahsoka can't get his offer out of her mind, and it's pulling at something inside of her, something she thought she'd buried long ago. Light.

It's confusing, and far too overwhelming for her to deal with right now. She needs to get out. Now. All sense of reason is trying to abandon her, and she can't let that happen. She doesn't have a death wish. Spinning around, she takes off running. Jumping up onto a ledge before leaping down a ventilation shaft, she heads for the escape pods. Arguys should have gotten out of here with Gunray already.

Ahsoka arrives in time to see the ship blasting off into space. A sigh of relief escapes her. At least for once she didn't fail – well technically she did, but the mission succeeded. That's what's important. Maybe Dooku will consider this done well, she doesn't know. She can only hope.

She dashes to the escape pods, throwing the two nearby clones into the wall enough to knock them about before boarding the nearest one. She ejects it from the cruiser, heading towards the rapidly escaping ship. Ahsoka can only hope that at least the cleverness of the plan – it had been Ventress's idea, to be fair – is enough to prove her worth. She docks on the shuttle and hurries into the cockpit.

Arguys is reclining in his chair with his feet on the dashboard. Gunray is in the copilot's seat.

"You see, assassin? Our plan went off without a hitch," he brags as he glances back at her.

"Our plan?" Ahsoka raises an eye marking as she approaches. She was the one who planned most of this out. Not that silly guard. He might be good at fooling people, but he's not the one that's skilled who trained for years with sneak tactics. Not to mention he was stupid to agree to any of this to begin with. Regardless of what he did to help her, he's a traitor to his own. Ahsoka does not tolerate people who are like that. It doesn't matter who or why, but a traitor is a traitor.

"And I will, of course, make sure your contributions are noted in my report to Count Dooku," he replies haughtily as turns back to face the front again. No way. He's going to totally twist up what happened. It's obvious from his oh-so-cocky attitude.

"I'll tell him myself, thank you," Ahsoka snaps, glaring at him. With a flick of her hand, he flies out of the chair and slams into the wall. The Togruta slides into his seat, unable to resist giving him a smug smile. "And I can handle the ship fine. Thanks for the offer."