Ahsoka had a funny feeling deep in her gut.
She knew it wasn't Mina Bonteri's cooking that unsettled her stomach, or Lux's timely glances in her direction that was giving her butterflies.
No, this was something else.
"Are you okay, Ahsoka?" Padmé asked, a serious look on her face as the Padawan helped her out of the speeder. The landing platform was busy with people- too many Force-signatures to keep track of. "You've been quiet since breakfast."
Ahsoka shook her head, gently as to not dislodge her hood. This was the most important part of their trip to Raxus- leaving the planet without being sighted. She couldn't mess this up.
"I'm fine," she lied through her teeth, a trait learnt from her Master. "Just ready to be back in familiar territory."
Padmé's smile was kind, "I owe you one- for getting me out here."
Ahsoka gritted her teeth, "We're not out of Separatist space yet."
Surprisingly, they managed to get onto a ship without being stopped by any patrols. Ahsoka tried to relax as they secured their bags and took their seats, attempting to blend into the mass of other travellers.
Padmé, still noticing her unease, reached out and squeezed her knee. Ahsoka attempted to smile, "My Master's going to be mad."
The Senator smirked, "What Anakin doesn't know can't hurt him."
Ahsoka supposed she was right. She didn't want to be keeping things from her Master, especially something like this. Coming to Raxus was risky- it wasn't something she was eager to try again.
A tall woman in transport police uniform stepped onto the carriage. Ahsoka kept her eyes low as she began stalking through the aisle, asking for tickets.
"Relax," Padmé whispered, but Ahsoka's anxiety failed to settle. Her lightsabers were on her belt, hidden by her robe. Padmé found their tickets in her pocket, placing a perfectly calm expression on her face.
"Tickets," the woman demanded with her hand outstretched.
"Here you are," Padmé said, doing her best to disguise her accent.
Ahsoka kept her head down as the woman checked the tickets, marking them. She was about to exhale in relief when the woman spoke again.
"Remove your hood."
Her hands almost trembled as she slowly lowered the hood, doing her best to not seem suspicious. Her heart was thudding against her ribcage as she glanced up, trying to mirror Padmé's calm expression.
The woman looked between them, "Where are you travelling from?"
"Mandalore," Padmé said effortlessly.
"What was the purpose of your visit to Raxus?"
"Pleasure." The Senator answered again.
"Did you see anyone?"
"No, ma'am."
With every question, Ahsoka grew more and more on edge.
"How do you two know each other?"
"She's my servant." The lie made Ahsoka's skin crawl, but it made enough sense.
"Can I see some ID?"
Shit.
"I'm afraid we don't have any." Padmé said, whilst Ahsoka chewed the inside of her lip. She started to look around the carriage, wondering where the fastest exit was should they have to make a run for it. "We've never been asked to show ID before."
She and Padmé hadn't discussed what the plan was if they got questioned.
"Hey, I recognise them!" Another passenger stood up, pointing. "That's Senator Amidala from the Republic. And that's Commander Tano, Skywalker's Padawan."
The transport officer put a hand on the gun on her belt. Ahsoka stood up, positioning herself protectively in front of Padmé. Her hand reached into her cloak, wrapping around the hilt of her lightsaber.
"Ahsoka," Padmé said quietly, touching her arm in warning, "Stand down."
As much as Ahsoka didn't want to admit it, Padmé was right. There were too many innocents in the carriage, all watching worriedly. Mothers were clutching their children tighter.
Ahsoka forgot that the Separatists saw the Jedi as the enemy. She was the threat.
This woman didn't deserve to die purely for doing her job, and was only going for her own weapon out of caution.
Keeping her expression as neutral as possible, Ahsoka lowered her hands to her sides. She would have to go willingly.
The Jedi Council called an emergency meeting in the early hours of the morning.
By the time Anakin arrived- sleep deprived and anxious as to what was the cause for concern- there was already a crowd of Jedi and Intelligence officers in the briefing room.
Running his fingers through his hair to try to calm the stubborn locks, he sought out his former-Master in the crowd.
"What's this about?" He asked Obi-Wan.
"I don't know," the older Jedi admitted, nervously stroking his beard with one hand. "But I don't have a good feeling about it."
The room quietened, and a projection of a tall Zabrak lit up in the centre of the room. Anakin noticed that his uniform was that of a Separatist.
This was one of their spies, tasked with keeping an eye and ear out in Separatist worlds.
"Thank you for speaking to me at this hour," The man said, "I am a Republic Intelligence Officer based on the Separatist world of Raxus. I have urgent news regarding Senator Padmé Amidala and Jedi Commander Ahsoka Tano."
Anakin's eyes grew wide.
Padmé had told him that she was taking Ahsoka away for a few days to learn about politics. What the hell were they doing on Raxus?
"What do you have to report?" Windu asked, the tension in the room as taught as a string.
"I understand that Senator Amidala travelled to meet Mina Bonteri, a Separatist politician here on Raxus. They travelled via Mandalore, Commander Tano's rank as a Jedi allowing them to move through the neutral system."
Anakin was seething so much that Obi-Wan casted him a glance, feeling his rage right across their bond.
He had never been this angry at Ahsoka before. Frustrated and irritated? Yes, he was familiar with the way his fists would subconsciously clench whenever he had to lecture her about basic procedure or her disobedience, but this was something else.
This was plain reckless.
He knew- deep, deep down- that Padmé had to take some of the blame. She was an adult, a politician. She wasn't supposed to manipulate her husband's Padawan into smuggling her into enemy territory, no less a Padawan who was known for wanting to impress those she held great respect for.
They were both in so much trouble the moment they were back on Republic soil.
"They attempted to return yesterday afternoon. They were questioned on the transport, and upon realising who they were, both were arrested by the authorities."
Anakin's chest went tight.
"They've been transferred to a secure prison on Raxus. I don't have the authority to go there, but I know from word of mouth that they are both alive."
"Is Count Dooku aware?" Obi-Wan asked, worry shining through his voice.
"Yes," the spy said, regretfully. "He will be arriving later today. I expect he will try to negotiate a deal with the Council." He looked up, a sound from his end of the call interrupting. "I must go. I've already risked a lot by speaking to you."
The holo fizzled out, and Anakin tried to breathe.
He couldn't help Padmé or Ahsoka if he was too riled up to think straight. The Separatists would have to be stupid to try to harm such a well-known politician, but they could easily justify harming Ahsoka, especially if she began retaliating which he was sure she would do.
She was his Padawan, after all.
"Skywalker," Windu broke the silence in the room, penetrating him with a glare, "Were you aware that your Padawan was in Separatist space?"
There was an accusation hidden in there somewhere.
"No, Master."
Did they think he would let his teenage Padawan go somewhere like Raxus without him?
"Senator Amidala informed me that she would be teaching Ahsoka about politics for a few days. If I had known that this was what she had in mind, I would've put a stop to it."
"I was under the same impression," Obi-Wan backed him up. "I know Ahsoka is headstrong, but I'm certain she wouldn't have gone with the Senator without a strong motive."
"We can investigate the reasons behind this unusual act later." Plo Koon said, his worry for Ahsoka clear in his voice. "What is our next move?"
Windu sighed, "We'll have to organise a rescue mission."
"Hear from Count Dooku, we should," Master Yoda said, "A deal, he will strike, hm."
"But what will his cost be for a Republic Senator and Jedi Padawan?" Shaak Ti asked.
"When he does contact us, the Chancellor should be there." Windu agreed. "I feel very uneasy about this."
They all did.
Ahsoka screamed, her back arching as electricity shocked through her body. The pain lasted longer this time, making her vision go white before the sensation of being fried started to fade. It wouldn't be long until they shocked her again.
This had been going on since they arrested her. They had immediately separated her from Padmé, took her lightsabers and commlink, and shackled her in Force-supressing bonds around her ankles and neck.
Then, they had bound her wrists and ankles, levitating her from the floor to shock her as much as they pleased. What they wanted from her, Ahsoka didn't know. She'd only interacted with droids since entering the prison facility. They hadn't even asked for information- they had just began shocking her.
The B1 droid pulled the lever again, and Ahsoka gritted her teeth, preparing for the onslaught of pain.
She couldn't even hear her own screams anymore.
Padmé balled her fists on her lap, trying and failing to block out the sounds of Ahsoka's screams.
There was a screen above the bench where she was sat. They had been playing a live recording of the torture Ahsoka was going through since they arrived yesterday. They even tortured the girl at night, sending electric shocks through her small body whilst Padmé attempted to sleep.
Hearing the girl's screams, day and night, was terrifying.
Padmé had never felt so guilty.
It was her fault that Ahsoka was in pain. It was her fault that they were captured, for not thinking of organising some fake IDs for their trip to Raxus.
And it was ultimately her fault for convincing Ahsoka to go with her in the first place.
"I'm sorry, Anakin," she whispered, shutting her eyes tightly as Ahsoka's scream broke into a strangled sob. "I'm sorry, Ahsoka."
Ahsoka hung limply from her wrists. The torture had stopped momentarily, the B1 droid leaving her alone in the room to cry in peace.
She hadn't wanted to let them see her emotions, had tried to stay as strong for as long as possible.
Being captured was nothing new, she'd even been beaten in prison cells like this one, but she'd never been without her Master in a situation like this.
He had always been there, cracking a joke or holding her to keep her warm. He would promise that somebody was on their way to rescue them. Now, it was just her. She didn't even know where Padmé was, or if she was experiencing the same torture.
She hadn't sworn to protect the Senator on their trip to Raxus, and now they were here, separated in prison.
Did Anakin know where they were? Did anyone know where they were?
A different B1 droid entered the room, along with a Rodian male who she'd never seen before. Ahsoka tried to perk up, despite her aching limbs and throbbing headache.
"Commander Tano, I presume," the Rodian said, crossing his hands behind his back. "I never thought I'd find a Jedi in my prison."
"You won't be so proud when my Master gets here," she growled back, trying to hide the pain she was feeling.
The Rodian chuckled, his shoulders bouncing up and down, "I'm sure the Jedi Council will come to an agreement with Count Dooku. Until then, I'm sure you're finding the hospitality suitable?"
"Where's the Senator?"
"Oh, she's very safe," the Rodian assured, though Ahsoka didn't believe him. She wouldn't until she saw Padmé with her own eyes. "Practically the safest place a Republic Senator can be on a Separatist planet."
Ahsoka snarled, lifting up her top lip to reveal her fangs- not that she'd have any luck reaching him. "If you hurt her, you're dead."
She would kill him herself- if Anakin didn't beat her to it.
"Jedi," the Rodian smiled, turning around to leave her cell, "So civilised and peaceful."
The door closed behind him, and the B1 reached for the lever. Ahsoka tried to retreat to a happy place in her mind, though it did little to help when the shocks started again.
