Author's Note: BONUS CHAPTER TIME!😄 This chapter was actually originally a part of chapter 10, but the story just flowed better if I split them up. But that's why they're named so similarly. That, and this was the last chapter that got named, and (since I had used up basically all the rest of the lyrics for titles) this was basically the last possible chapter name😂 Enjoy!
Stepping out into the eerie cavern once more, she paused to let her eyes adjust to the dark–
And just about jumped out of her skin when a hooded figure materialized beside her.
Immediately, she was on guard. "Who are you? What do you want?"
"Oh my!" The being said, jumping back at the ferocity in her voice. They put two hands up. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."
Ahsoka gave them a once-over; shorter than herself by at least a whole head, the figure was at least clearly humanoid. More than that, though, she couldn't tell. The cloak obscured all else. If she had to guess, though, she'd say they were female. Judging by the voice. But there really wasn't a way to tell.
She repeated her question. "What do you want?"
"If I– if I may ask… was that woman with you by any chance an assassin?"
She crossed her arms, slipping on her best glare. "Who wants to know?"
"Oh, a friend! A friend!" They rushed to say. "At least, I think so. If it is the same person." The last they mumbled as if more talking to themselves.
She paused, thinking through her options. If they were a friend, then she much preferred to ask this person for help than to try and find someone back out there in the wild. If they weren't… she pursed her lips, giving them another glace. I could take them. "Yes. Yes, she is."
"Ah!" The being cried softly, their voice amplified eerily by the cavernous room. "Then yes, it is the same one… She is injured, yes?"
"Yes! I was just on my way to try and find supplies to help her. Would you be able to direct me to the nearest medic?"
"Mmm," came the worried reply. "No medics down here, no. You'd be hard-pressed to find even a bandage."
Ahsoka's heart sank, her exhausted underfed body sagging before she could stop it. "There must be something, surely? Anything would be better than nothing!"
The "friend's" body went very still. "Well, there is one possibility. But I… I don't know…"
"Yes? What is it?" She prompted.
"Well…" The hesitation was clear. "There is one person down here who helps us… makes potions when things are really… bad. But they're a little… rough around the edges."
Rough, she could handle. She nodded. "Take me to them."
The figure gave a grave nod of their own and shuffled off, Ahsoka following behind.
They made it to the door without incident.
Ahsoka hadn't been sure she would. She still wasn't quite ready to trust this person, not to mention the hordes of other spicers that were out there; but as she stepped inside the first proper hut she'd seen in ages, the smallest sliver of relief washed over her.
There was a sense of professionalism in the tiny room, and nothing but a gruff can-do attitude flowing from behind the barred countertop. Ahsoka almost considered it odd that the only lit place was the section she and her guide now stood, but then this was an odd Level.
A pair of eyes peered out of the dark behind the wooden bars – that reminded Ahsoka of holoimages she'd seen of old-fashioned cells – and her guide gestured her forward.
She stepped up to the counter. "Hello?"
"Ailment?"
She blinked at the roughness of the voice. "Um, burn-wound… lightsaber wound… across the stomach." Out of the corner of her eye she saw her guide flinch.
The being behind the counter didn't even blink.
The eyes disappeared to be replaced with sounds of clinking glass and dry rustlings. Most likely ingredients being measured. There were several loud thumps and then the eyes were back, this time with a hand. The hand of no species Ahsoka recognized held out a small vial through a gap in the bottom of the bars. It glowed a lurid purple.
"Thank you," she said. And meant it. While she and Ventress had never been on the best terms – for obvious reasons – the acerbic assassin had grown on her. She shouldn't have to die for Ahsoka's mission.
She reached for the bottle– and blinked when it was pulled back. Another hand joined the first, this one held out palm up.
Oh. Payment.
Patting her pockets, she winced. Clearly, Ventress had relieved her of the few credits she'd had. What else of value did she have? She couldn't hand over her lightsaber. Her clothing definitely wasn't worth anything. What else could she possibly–
Her hand closed around the one other thing in her pocket, and she pulled it out. The eyes widened.
"Will these do?" Ahsoka held out her Padawan beads, wishing she didn't have to give them up, but knowing it was the right choice. "These should bring a nice price from the right buyer."
The eyes bobbed up and down in a nod. Before she could even blink, the beads were snatched from her hand, the vial pushed forward, and a clunk sounded as a shutter came down on the bars.
Exchange over, I guess.
She gripped the bottle tightly as they exited the hut, a hot wind smelling of refuse and rusting metal making the door squeal as she pulled it too.
They paused just outside the entrance.
"Thank you," Ahsoka spoke to the hooded figure. She still couldn't tell the being's gender. "My friend would probably die without this. And I wouldn't have even known it was there, if not for you. Will you come and say hello? I'm sure she would love to see a familiar face."
The tiny figure hurriedly backed up. "No, no! I… wouldn't want to intrude. She helped me once, and… I'm just glad I could return the favour."
"Are you sure? You wouldn't be in the way."
"No, no. I…" Two hands left the depths of the cloak to pull self-consciously at the hood. "The truth is, we knew each other before… before I came down here. And I wouldn't want her too… well, see me like this."
Ah. "I see. I can respect that. If you're really sure though…"
They nodded.
"Then I thank you again. May the–" She froze, pulling back her usual words of farewell. Instead, she smiled. "May you find joy and peace in the days ahead."
No evidence came to back up her conclusion, but Ahsoka was sure they were smiling a thanks. They scuttled off into the dark.
When Ahsoka reached the dark shack, she could tell it was almost too late. Ventress had not moved an inch, and her breathing was slow and shallow.
She rushed to her side, the many beads on her lekku tinkling softly as she raised the witch's head slightly with one hand. "Ventress? Ventress, I'm back. And I've brought– well, not medicine exactly. But something that should help." Carefully raising the unstoppered bottle to Ventress' unresponsive lips, she let the liquid slide down her throat.
Ahsoka couldn't stop a gasp as a moment later Ventress cried out, glaring purple light – the same colour as the vial – shone out from her eyes and mouth. "Ventress? Ventress, are you alright? Can you hear me?"
The assassin gave no indication of being able to hear. Her body began to tremble, the light still pouring from her eyes as Ahsoka gripped her tight. Face still contorted in pain, Ventress' body gave a shudder… and went limp in the Jedi's arms.
"Ventress?" She called softly. Oh, what have I done?
Quickly laying the woman back on the bed, she reached for the Force – only to huff a laugh at her own panic when she saw Ventress's brightly burning life force. She may not be awake, but she's obviously on the mend. Looking down, she could clearly see the now-knitted wound on her stomach. The wound that was previously gaping and raw. Could see the unlined brow, smoothed by a peaceful sleep. Could hear the deep, even breaths rather than the previously shallow, ragged ones.
Disaster once again averted! But… Ahsoka couldn't help but wonder… For how long?
Author's Notes: Thank you all for reading! I hope you have an amazing week Don't hesitate to drop me a review, I always love to hear your guys thoughts!