Chapter 11 - Visions on Serenno

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 and Anakin both have unsettling visions of a possible future... ;)

~ Amina Gila

Ahsoka is sitting in her fighter, the cracks along the viewports, and sparks flying out of the control panels showing how obviously damaged it is. Fear courses through her as she dials Dooku's frequency into the ship's communicator. If she doesn't get assistance, she will lose this battle.

Dooku's hologram finally flickers to life. Something about the way he's looking at her feels... off. Ahsoka shakes away the thought, focusing on what she called him for. "Master, I need your help. I'm surrounded –"

"You have already lost the battle, child," he cuts her off, "I've ordered your reinforcements to return." What?! Rising panic coils inside of her. No, this cannot be happening. There's no way for her to get out now without his help. She's completely surrounded.

"No!" Ahsoka protests frantically, "I will destroy the Jedi. I'll show you!"

His expression doesn't change. "You have failed me for the last time. You are no longer my apprentice and now you shall die."

Horror floods through her as the Sith disconnects the call. She's served him loyally for years, despite that it meant sacrificing her own freedom, everything, and he threw her aside when the time came that she needed him most. He left her here, alone. To die.

Ahsoka jolts awake, heart pounding. Her eyes dart around the darkened room, and she lets out a sigh of relief to see the familiar walls of her bedroom in Dooku's castle on Serenno. She's fine – for now. Still, that hardly provides any relief. She's far too shaken up from the dream. Vision?

The question is, how likely is it that something like that would happen? Ahsoka doesn't even bother trying to suppress the bitterness rising within her. The truth is, she's just a tool to him as much as she was to the Zygerrians, even if she never wants to think about it. He didn't save her from them because he cared about her. It was how because of strong she is in the Force.

He saved Ahsoka's life back then when they first met, but sometimes, she can't help but wonder if it was really worth it. He's taken care of her since then, but only for his own purposes. She does care about him – as much as a Sith could possibly care about their master, that is – but Ahsoka hates this life. More and more, she'd been finding herself wondering what it would have been like if she never got captured all those years ago and stayed as a Jedi.

What would things be like for now? For years after she was taken by the Zygerrians, she'd held the secret hope that the Jedi would find her. She'd hoped for years and years, but the time never came. In the end, it was Dooku who rescued Ahsoka. If he hadn't intervened, she would have ended up dead one way or another.

Ahsoka's grip tightens around the hilt of the concealed knife below the object she's carrying. She's careful to keep her gaze focused the door at the end of the elegant hall of the Zygerrian palace, hoping not to attract any unnecessary attention to herself. None of the guards walking about in the hall pay any attention to her, as usual.

Ahsoka hopes that Queen Miraj is pretty much alone out there on the balcony. If she is, Ahsoka could kill her easily and hopefully run for it. She finally steps out onto the balcony, eyes darting around to take everything in as inconspicuously as possible.

Miraj and her guest – whoever that white-haired man is – are standing on the balcony. A guard stands off to the side, facing his back her direction as he stares over the railing at the view.

Ahsoka gulps. This is not the most ideal situation, but she's already made it this far. She can't back down now, or she'll never have the courage to try it again. She has to do this, for everyone. Two years of being a slave are enough to force back most of her selflessness, but she's still willing to risk her life if it will save hundreds. Ahsoka approaches the Queen, stopping a few feet behind her. Her and the guest finally take the glasses of the platter she's carrying.

Now, all Ahsoka has to do is wait until everyone is perfectly distracted... The moment their attention turns back to the scenery, and they continue whatever conversation they were having before, she raises the knife, swinging it at Miraj. But it never reaches its target.

In a flash, the man grabs Ahsoka's wrist with the knife only an inch away from the queen's back. Miraj whirls around, her expression going from shocked to furious.

"You dare raise a hand against your master?" the queen shouts, "Clearly you require further processing."

"You're not my master," Ahsoka yells back, glaring furiously at her. She struggles to break free from the grip on her wrist but freezes when her eyes fall on something. He's carrying a lightsaber. Is he a Jedi? No, that's impossible. She can feel his presence. It's too dark. Ahsoka wrenches away from his grasp, nearly falling over as she scrambles away from everyone present.

"Guard!" orders the queen, "Take her away."

The guard who was standing by the railing strides over to Ahsoka. Panic overwhelms her, awakening something deep inside her, something she hasn't dared to touch for years. Hardly even registering it, Ahsoka throws her hand outwards. The guard is flung backwards as if an invisible force hit him, falling over the railing out of sight. Oh no. What did she just do? Did she just use the Force and give herself away?! It was supposed to be a secret, one she dared not let anyone know of.

The Queen lets out an incoherent scream of rage. "You shall be executed for this outrage!" Of course, she would do that. She always does, if her so-called 'slaves' get too out of hand.

She doesn't think of any of them as being worthy of living, and that's why Ahsoka wanted to kill her. She doesn't get to throw them around like they mean nothing. Now she's going to kill Ahsoka too. She doesn't want to die – not yet. She has no one to lose, but she's a fighter. She'll keep fighting for whatever's left, even if it's only herself, which it is. It has been for as long as she can remember now.

Ahsoka wants to get out of here. She knows she'll never get far anyway, but common sense is the last thing on her mind right now. Ahsoka whirls around, bolting for the door, but an invisible force catches her, freezing her in place.

"Your Majesty," the man finally speaks up. "I have a more profitable solution for you."

Ahsoka slides off her bed, stepping over to the window to stare out at the dark sky. The faintest glow of light colors the horizon from far off cities. The scene is only slightly calming. She can't help but worry if the vision will happen. It very easily could, which is what scares her. Would he do it? Not of his own, no. But if Sidious ordered it, would he refuse, or would he choose himself over her? Ahsoka knows the answer better than she cares to admit.

What would it have been like to be raised as a Jedi? Who would her master have been then? Ahsoka tries to shake the thought from mind. There's no point thinking about things that will never happen. The past can't be changed. All that matters is the future.

'If you surrender, maybe the Republic will clear you. You'll have a chance for a different life... if you choose it.' Anakin's words drift through Ahsoka's mind again. It's been months since the incident, but the memory is still as clear as ever.

Could she really risk it? She doesn't know. Sidious wouldn't want it, and he controls everything. Since she's a Sith, Ahsoka is fairly certain she'd technically fall under the jurisdiction of the Jedi – unless the Senate insisted on taking control of the matter. Which they probably would, considering Sidious is the head of it. It probably wouldn't be worth it.

Ahsoka can't deny feeling a bit intrigued by Anakin. He's everything she used to imagine the Jedi as being, not what she's seen or heard from experience. There was something different about him. He somehow seemed to contain far more darkness than any other Jedi Ahsoka has met, but somehow. he still manages to be the brightest light in the Force she's ever seen.

One thing is for certain, though. She'll never be able to forget the time they'd spent together with Obi-Wan on Maridun. That was the lightest point in her life, by far. She will always remember the feeling of working together with them. The bond they formed then was way stronger than anything else she's ever felt, and Ahsoka can't deny wanting to feel it again. She's never had anyone, not really, not since her parents, who she hasn't seen since the day she was taken from Shili. And really, Ahsoka can't remember anything from that point, just a vague impression of what such feelings were like.

She'll never forget the Anakin's expression as he walked towards her back there on the walkway as the flames burned around them. It was almost like he cared. It doesn't make sense. Why would it matter to him what happened to her? She's a Sith. He's a Jedi. The lines should be clear – they should be enemies – but they're not, and she can't begin to understand it.

The determination, the certainty in his voice when he offered Ahsoka the only thing she really cares for – a different life – tugs at something deep within her. The smallest sliver of hope standing out amidst the cloud of darkness. Maybe it isn't too late for her. Ahsoka lifts her gaze again, staring up at the starry night sky, knowing only one thing beyond the shadow of a doubt – however long it may take to happen. One day... the Force itself shall free her.

**w**

The image of sapphire and ruby blades clashing, finally meeting in a saberlock slowly fills Anakin's vision. "You don't have to do this," he hears himself saying.

"I don't have a choice," Ahsoka insists, staring up at him through their crossed blades. He can see the conflict shining clearly in her bright blue eyes. She's fighting with herself over whatever the true purpose of this mission is.

"No," he retorts, "You do. You always have a choice."

She shakes her head in firm denial. "I don't." The saberlock finally breaks and she swings at Anakin again. He parries her blow, and their lightsabers continue clashing. Her right lightsaber meets his again, raising upwards. Ahsoka twists suddenly, kicking him backwards. Anakin lands on the ground several feet away, lightsaber sliding form his grasp and skittering across the floor.

Ahsoka freezes where she's standing, seeming uncertain how to react at the sudden turn of events. There's a flicker of indecision and uncertainty in her gaze, but she doesn't move. Anakin glances up at her, the realization sudden hitting him. She was sent here – wherever here is – to kill him, but she can't bring herself to do it.

Anakin doesn't give the moment any longer to last. No need to tempt fate. He reaches out, calling his lightsaber back to his hand. She jumps forwards the same moment, and the sapphire lightsaber raises in time. There's the faintest flicker of relief mixed with fear before her face fades from sight.

Anakin jolts awake, taking a moment to register that he's at the Temple, not somewhere on the battlefield. Why is he dreaming about Ahsoka now? The last time they saw each other was several months ago, when he was sent to rescue Koth. She looked older in the dream, much like she probably would now. She's been spotted a number of times since then, but never by him or Obi-Wan. It's almost like Dooku is intentionally trying to make sure they don't run into each other again, which would hardly be a surprise. It seems he's been doing the same with Grievous, after all. How much does Dooku know about what happened when they'd crashed a year ago? Hopefully not much. Ahsoka probably never told him the details, but he can't help but wonder if he doesn't know most of it.

Anakin hasn't thought about Ahsoka much for a while. His opinion of her has been – still is – conflicted. He shouldn't be so intent on finding a way for her to turn back, but he is, and he knows Obi-Wan agrees with him. She deserves another chance. He – neither of them – want to leave her in the hands of a Sith. As dark as she may be, she's still a child. She had no choice but to go along with Dooku when he found her and trained her with the Dark Side. She can hardly be at fault for it.

And his dream, even if it was a dream, Anakin can't deny the measure of truth in it. She didn't want to kill him. She could have tried to, and the more he thinks about it the more certain he is that's what she was supposed to do, but for whatever reason she couldn't bring herself to do it. It's not that Dooku wouldn't have wanted him dead. He certainly would have, and Anakin gets the distinct impression it might have been among her orders that time, but she didn't do it. Did Ahsoka take to heart what he'd said about having a different future?

If she did turn back, would the Jedi even accept her? And would she even want to be a Jedi? There are so many questions, yet no way to know the answers to any of them.

Sighing, Anakin stands up and walks over to his bedroom window. The apartment feels too quiet, too lonely. He should really stay with Obi-Wan more often. He doesn't mind, and Anakin doesn't like being alone in his own apartment much. It only brings memories of the war, nothing pleasant. And Anakin is the only one living here since he has no intention whatsoever of getting a padawan. There simply isn't any time for it. He's too busy with the war. Maybe once it's over, once he's actually old enough and experienced enough, he'll take the time to think about it, but not now.

The endless lights covering the Coruscant skyline spill through the window, lighting the otherwise dark room. There isn't anything he can do for Ahsoka, at least not right now. She's probably on Serenno or some other planet fighting a battle for Dooku, and unless the two of them run into each other again by some unlikely occurrence, there won't be anything Anakin can do for her.

He's never been good at waiting, but for now, there's no other choice. Just as Obi-Wan told him back then on the way back from Tatooine when they first talked to each other about it.

**w**

"What is wrong with you, Ahsoka?" Asajj demands exasperatedly. "This is the third time in a row you've lost."

Ahsoka stands up again, picking up her lightsabers. No matter what she does, she can't seem to shake the image of her vision out of mind. It's replaying over and over, haunting her. What if it happens? What if Dooku really does abandon her?

"I just have a lot on my mind," she admits with a sigh.

"Try telling someone that in a real battle," the older assassin huffs, stalking closer. "A Jedi wouldn't hesitate to kill you."

Wouldn't they? Ahsoka doesn't ask, of course, but that doesn't change the question hovering in the back of her mind. Anakin certainly didn't. He could've if he wanted to. Which he obviously didn't. And again, she wonders why. "Should we try again?" she asks instead.

"Not if you'll be daydreaming," Asajj snaps, pointedly clipping her own lightsabers back to her belt.

"I was not daydreaming," Ahsoka grumbles, putting hers away as well.

"Is something wrong?" she asks a bit more mildly, taking a seat on a nearby bench.

"Well..." she hesitates for a long moment. It's not like telling her only sort-of friend would cause any harm, and she would very much like someone to talk to about it. Maybe. "I had a... vision?"

The Zabrak raises an eyebrow at that. "About what?"

"I... I was leading some mission which had gone very badly, and Dooku just... left me there. He said I'd failed him too many times," she says quietly.

"Probably because you worry about that too much," Asajj offers dryly.

Ahsoka glares at her. "Not helping."

"Look, just do your best and you'll be fine. He's not unreasonable," she asserts.

Ahsoka doesn't feel terribly convinced. She already does do her best, but it never seems to be enough. Well, at least she usually does. More and more she's beginning to question if the war is really necessary. She'll always agree with the Separatists, but that doesn't mean fighting a pointless war is good. At least it seems pointless. In something like this, who even could come out as a winner?

It's more like everyone loses all the way around. So many planets are being destroyed that, at this point, it will take many years – if not decades – to bring them back to their former state even if there was a peaceful solution brought soon. Many innocent civilians are dying on both sides, which is something Ahsoka can't accept. As a Sith, she knows death is necessary, but there's a limit. There is always a limit. At this rate, it seems the war is going to continue on until all the planets have been reduced to nothing but dust and ashes. Unless both sides miraculously manage to completely destroy their forces at once. Unlikely.

"I have the best solution," Asajj declares, suddenly standing up, "Start by getting useful and proving that you can still beat me sometimes while sparring." Without further warning or deliberation, she ignites her lightsabers.

"Fine," Ahsoka agrees, activating her own blades as she jumps to her feet. The four red lightsabers clash.