Chapter 21 - Battle of Felucia

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 goes on her first mission as a Jedi. :D

~ Amina Gila

Ahsoka won't deny the nervousness coursing through her as she follows Anakin onto the Dtar Destroyer. She still has yet to get a warm welcome from the Jedi aside from the ones she's closest with, and now she's joining the 501st for her first mission as a Jedi. And she's killed many of them. She can't help but be worried that they're not going to want to work with her. Anakin tried to reassure her half a hundred times so far, but it's doing little to help. It's so hard to be on the formerly opposing side sometimes. She never did completely think through everything it would demand of her and being forced to deal with people constantly confronting her for her actions daily is top on the list. At least Anakin is usually there to get her out.

Finally, the shuttle flies into the hanger and the ramp lowers. "Come on, Snips," Anakin calls, jumping up and heading out of the ship. She takes a deep breath, readying herself for what she's sure is about to happen, then slowly follow him outside.

One of the clones – she thinks it's the commander, because he looks like the same one she'd talked to on Teth, but she could be mistaken since it's been so long – is waiting for them. There is a brief exchange of greetings, then Anakin turns to her. "This is my new padawan," Anakin explains before anyone can ask any questions about the presence of a former assassin.

Rex eyes me for a long moment. "I thought you said you were never going to get a padawan," he says finally.

"Things changed," Anakin responds, "I wasn't going to, but she was rather in need of a master."

"Aren't you the former Sith assassin?" queries Rex, turning to Ahsoka. She resists the urge to squirm under his gaze. Really, there's nothing for her to feel uncomfortable about, she tells herself. She chose a different life, and she's not backing out of it. She'll keep pushing forwards.

"I am," she confirms, "And now I'm a Jedi." She looks at him for a moment, a slightly awkward silence setting over them. "I..." she trails off, almost not wanting to finish. She's never sincerely apologized to anyone in her life, but it needs to be done, and she hardly knows how to go about doing it. Just blurt it out, maybe? Be blunt? It'll sound stupid, but... "I know we fought several times in the past, but I will do my best to end the war as soon as possible. I'm sorry for everything I've done."

"You were simply following orders," Rex states finally. It's obvious his emotions are running far deeper, but he's still being ever the soldier.

"I know, but I still did it," she blurts awkwardly. She doesn't feel like she deserves their trust or loyalty just like that. At all. Nor was she expecting it. They follow Anakin with a blind loyalty, but she's never seen that to mean they would blindly trust his judgement, even about something so personal.

"Don't blame yourself," Anakin interjects, appearing no more comfortable with the direction of the conversation than anyone else. It had to be done. She could hardly be walking around with the clones before apologizing for everything she's done to them, right? That would be wrong.

"I did notice the times... like on Teth... that you seemed to be avoiding more casualties than necessary," Rex comments, seeming to be feeling as awkward as her. Good. At least she's not the only one.

She looks down for a moment before forcing herself to meet his gaze. "I did," she admits finally, "I always hated killing people, even as a Sith." It might've been war, but she could still feel their lives.

"Anyway," Anakin interjects finally, breaking the awkward silence that settled over them as they all reflect on how things used to be only two months ago, "We're heading to Felucia and we need to discuss the mission. Come on." They head up to the conference room to await Plo's arrival. She's honestly glad that both he and Anakin will be there on her first mission. She's still getting used to being a Jedi, and not being alone on a mission for the first time – never mind the part about being on polar opposite sides – is going to take some serious getting used to. For some reason, something is telling her that this mission isn't going to be one of those ones that goes as smoothly as possible. From what she's heard, nothing ever does with Anakin.

She can't deny being the slightest bit concerned about Sidious, though. It's been a while, and she still hasn't worked up the courage to tell Anakin about it. She's afraid she won't until it's already too late. Never mind the fact that they still haven't been able to find any evidence whatsoever. One thing is for certain: that Sith has a good way of covering his tracks. She has to give him credit for it. And besides, she gets the distinct feeling that Sidious will be greatly displeased that she became a Jedi. Ahsoka would not be at all surprised if he decided to try doing something about it.

**w**

Ahsoka's white blades swing furiously, deflecting the red blaster bolts back at the group of battle droids advancing from in between the trees. It still feels so weird to be fighting the droids instead of commanding them, even though it's not exactly wrong. The strangest part is that she's not alone. Anakin is fighting right beside her, like he was on Maridun, against the droids. It's so similar, and so right.

She leaps forwards into the group of the droids, cutting half of them down as she lands. On the bright side, she can use many of the skills she's learned to her advantage. Now she thinks it's probably a good thing that she never usually drew fully on the Dark Side when she fought, because it would make limiting using it much harder now.

Seconds later, this group of droids is down, and she darts forwards through the forest again, her squadron of clones following behind them. Anakin is up ahead of her, moving between the dark trees.

They work their way through the trees, finally coming to a stop at the small ledge overlooking the forest where Master Plo is waiting for them.

"Droid reinforcements have just arrived," observes Plo as he looks through macrobinoculars. He lowers them, turning to look at them through the darkness. "We should break into three groups to divide their defenses. I'll take the left flank. Skywalker, attack the front gate. Ahsoka, you scale the back wall. We'll meet in the middle."

Anakin stands, turning to the clones. "Okay, scouts, find me a way down there. Quiet-like."

"Going through the front gate won't be easy," Ahsoka remarks. She hopes he won't actually be needing her there, but it was good she got this part of the mission. Stealth has never been Anakin's specialty, unlike her. Those are skills she used as an assassin, and it's almost amusing she's using them against her own former forces. The only thing that really won't be pleasant is running into Dooku or any of his other acolytes on the battlefield. She's not ready to confront them yet.

"You have it tougher going over that wall," he retorts.

"I've learned well. I can handle anything," she chirps, striding away towards her waiting group of clones. She's still finding it hard to believe they accepted her like this, though then again, it's not like they could be acting openly hostile towards her in a battle when they're on the same side.

"Don't get cocky," he calls after her.

Before long, Ahsoka finds herself once again sneaking through the trees. They're moving fast and silently, working their way between the glowing plants. Felucia is definitely a strange planet.

But suddenly, a prickle of danger echoes through the Force. "Hold up," she hisses, looking back at them. "I sense something out there."

"A droid?" one of the clones inquires.

"I don't think so," she replies. Whatever it is, it's living. But if it's a threat, she doesn't think it's going to be a problem quite yet. It would be best to get the clones to safety before it does anything. "Probably just an animal," she mutters hopefully, though she's not fully certain of that. "Come on, we've got to get to that wall."

"Stay alert men," calls the clone. "Let's move." She creeps forwards, moving with dead silence as they continue winding their way through the forest.

"Skywalker, Ahsoka, are you in position?" Plo's voice comes from her comm.

"Ready and waiting, Master Plo," she hears Anakin answer.

They dash the rest of the way through the trees and Ahsoka pauses, stepping back against a golden one. She looks up at the wall nearby. "We're in position," she reports. Right on time, too, though she still is faintly picking up that creature. Whatever it is, she thinks it's following them.

All at once, the Republic tanks start firing. Four brilliant blue blasts arc through the air, striking somewhere within the wall with massive explosions. She waits until she can hear the sounds of battle up ahead; Anakin's and Plo's forces have already attacked the droids. Time for her move.

She raises a hand in a signal before bolting forwards into the darkness, stopping below the wall. The clones hastily catch up with her.

"Comet, Sinker, Boost, get up there," she orders, activating her lightsabers as she peers into the trees. She can't shake the nagging feeling that someone very unfriendly is watching her. They immediately begin ascending the wall.

"We're all clear, commander, come on up," one calls back down.

"I'll be right there," Ahsoka responds, pausing for a moment. Whatever is out there is about to show its face. She knows it. Suddenly, a burst of golden light emanates from the trees. It's not the kind that can be deflected with a lightsaber, and she instinctively leaps into the air and flips over the blast. It harmlessly strikes the wall behind her, instead.

She whirls towards the source of the shot. Lizard-like eyes stare at her through the trees, blaster cocked to fire again. Jumping through the air, she slams into the creature – a Trandoshan – sending him flying backwards. She cuts through his blaster with one of her lightsabers as they both tumble to the ground.

Another blaster shot fires through the trees, and she swings her lightsaber to the side, deflecting the bolt into the trees. Her first attacker rolls out from under her, throwing her to the ground and sending the blades falling from her grasp.

Ahsoka Force-kicks him hard and rolls out of the way barely in time to avoid several more shots raining through the trees. The Trandoshan is slowly staggering to his feet a short distance away as she scrambles up, eyes falling on two more figures in the nearby trees, from where the seconds shots were coming from.

A chilling fear twists inside of her. This is no droid ambush lead by some random Separatist leader. They're bounty hunters on a mission. To kill her.

Both of the others – who Ahsoka is pretty sure are also Trandoshans – start shooting at her, and she jumps aside, grabbing her lightsabers to deflect the blasts. White blurs with red as she keeps pace with their shots. It's not easy, but she's faced far worse. Dark Side training is relentless, even if Dooku went easy on her.

The blasterless Trandoshan suddenly hurls an explosive at her. Ahsoka instantly throws out a hand, tossing the object right back at him. An explosion rips through the area, demolishing a few nearby trees and throwing the Trandoshan to the ground where he lays motionless. Either unconscious or dead, but regardless, he's badly injured. One down, two more to go. Ahsoka whirls around as the blasts start coming again.

This has gone on long enough. She'll have to rejoin Anakin, but right now, it's probably more important to see if she can't get out of them who hired them, even though she already has a good idea. At least an answer from them would be actual evidence. Well, if they won't come out for her, Ahsoka will go in for them. Ducking under their laser blasts, she lunges forwards, slicing a few trees in half. They fall to the ground to reveal one of the other Trandoshans.

Ahsoka Force-yanks away his blaster as he fires again, cutting through it mid-air, then spin around to deflect the next assault of shots from the other. She glances over her shoulder to see the first one trying to take off. Not happening. She needs to get an answer. Reaching out, she uses the Force to knock a tree over to block his path.

Ahsoka's eyes catch movement between the trees – the one still shooting at her – and she leaps over the trees, stabbing him before he has the chance to fire another shot at her. Ahsoka turns around again, picking up the other with the Force and throwing him into a tree. Before he can get up, she sprints over to him, pointing her lightsabers at him. She knows it's rather un-Jedi-like, but she needs answers. She won't hurt him... probably. But from her experience, a little threat can go a long way. She needs answers. These are obviously not some random hunters. They're bounty hunters, and even if not the regular type, they're still quite obviously working for someone.

"Who hired you?" she demands sharply.

"Like I would tell you, Jedi," he scoffs.

Ahsoka raises an eye marking, moving the blade closer. "And do you know who I used to be? An assassin. I was ruthless. And that hasn't changed much. I'll do what I need to get answers from you."

He glares at her for a moment, but quickly begins speaking when she moves the blade a little closer. Nearly close enough to burn. "Dooku," he hisses finally. Dooku? Of course, Sidious would have him do it. Anger burns through her at the realization. He's telling the truth. And even now, Dooku would kill her if he thinks it benefits him. After everything she did for him.

Ahsoka's comm suddenly crackles to life. "Ahsoka?" Anakin calls, "State your location."

"Anakin?" she replies, "I'm still on the other side of the wall. I ran into some bounty hunters from Dooku. Apparently, he didn't like much his former assassin teaming up with his arch nemesis." Speaking thereof, what is up with his serious hatred for Anakin? Yes, Sidious wants him to be his apprentice, but that's like, so unbearably petty it's not even funny.

"Dooku?" Anakin exclaims, and she can feel his anger flaring through their bond. "I'll be there in a moment." She stands there for a moment waiting, tense in case there's another attack.

It doesn't take long before Ahsoka can hear the sound of footsteps approaching through the trees. Anakin and Rex, followed by a few other clones, emerge.

"Take him to the ship," Anakin orders. The clones go over to the Trandoshan, and Ahsoka deactivates her lightsaber and clips them back to her belt. "Are you alright?" Anakin asks her with concern.

"Perfectly fine," she shrugs, though she can't deny her worry. Apparently, Sidious was more than a little upset she became a Jedi if he's really going to extremes as far as this. Maybe he always wanted to but was waiting for her to get off Coruscant where he could do it without being detected. Either way, he's not one to give up. If he wants her dead, she'll have to be much more careful to survive.

She sighs, finally deciding it would be best to tell him everything. "I think Sidious was behind it," Ahsoka tells him. "I doubt Dooku would do it of his own." Though she couldn't say for sure, because it's not as though any of Dooku's acolytes have ever 'betrayed' him and joined the Republic before. Oh, well. She's following his teachings: looking out for herself as the Dark Side requires.

Anakin is quiet for a long moment, though she can practically see his mind whirling. When he speaks again, his question is not what she was expecting. "Who is Sidious?"

Ahsoka mentally facepalms. On second thought, she never should have mentioned it. It'd momentarily slipped her mind that he doesn't know who Sidious is. Not this conversation again. "We've been over this."

"Ahsoka," Anakin says seriously. "I want to know who's trying to kill you. I can't be left in the dark about this. This is your life, Ahsoka!" The frustration in his tone is obvious, and Ahsoka instinctively takes a step back before reminding herself that Anakin's not Dooku. He won't hurt her, even if he is upset. It's almost hard to remember that at times. She's been hurt so many times by so many people, it's an instinctive reflex to protect herself and be on high alert.

Anakin sighs, though the anger still doesn't leave his expression. "I need to know. How long do I have to wait? How bad do you want things to get before you finally decide I can know?"

"I don't know," Ahsoka murmurs finally, lowering her head. She can't deny even now how much his anger frightens her. She always feels the Dark Side start pulsing around him, probably because he's so strong in the Force. It reacts strongly to his every emotion. She keeps feeling like if she's holding this in, she's going to accidently push away one of the only people she considers a friend. No. More than a friend. Ahsoka's mind whirls, trying to find the best word she can think of for how she feels towards him. She always feels safe and protected with him. Brother? She shies away from the thought. The possibility of her having someone she considers family is too strange.

"You're not always going to be able to get out of this," Anakin insists, crossing his arms. Ahsoka still doesn't dare to raise her head to meet his gaze. The anger around him is too painfully familiar. A slight shiver runs through her, and she forces herself not to think about how many times she's upset Dooku. "We should go back to join the battle," he decides finally, clearly having noticed how she's feeling.

"Good idea," Ahsoka mutters. They turn and head back towards the wall, but she still can't shake the uneasy feeling she has. Apparently, Sidious isn't planning to let her go as freely as he claimed he was, and Anakin does have a point. Ahsoka needs to tell him, but she's not really sure when. The longer she waits, though, the more the situation will deteriorate and the closer to the Dark Side he'll get. She's certain Sidious is planning something, and now she has no idea what, but whatever it is, she needs to outsmart him.

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