The remaining Separatist leaders and their entourage of droid defenders fell with ease. Despite having the stronger defensive position, they were no match for two fully trained Force users, especially ones that had fought since the start of the Clone War.
A war that had now come to an end thanks to them.
Ahsoka stood beside Anakin as he worked on the central terminal of what had been the last safe haven for Nute Gunray and his cronies. Her former Master worked with ease, establishing a line of communication with what remained of the droid forces scattered across the galaxy within moments before turning to glance at her.
Removing her helmet and placing it on the terminal before them so she could look him in the eye, she nodded.
Nodding back, Anakin keyed in the shutdown command, and distributed it galaxy wide.
They wouldn't see the effects first hand, but Ahsoka trusted Anakin's work. If all went to plan, every single Confederate battle droid would now be powering down for good.
And if they were lucky, Sidious would now trust them again, and that would give them a fighting chance to exact their own revenge upon him.
"If I ever see another battle droid again, it'll be too soon." Anakin quipped as he shut off the terminal for good, before beginning to move away from it and towards the now opened doorways once again.
Ahsoka would have normally made a move to follow, but decided against it. She knew when he needed to be alone, and this was one of those moments.
Instead, her eyes were drawn to another nearby active terminal, one that housed a holographic image of the facility she was currently standing in.
Approaching it, she saw the hologram possessed a light blue glow around the red images, indicating what she assumed was some sort of heat shield, keeping the facility safe from the lava flows it was suspended above.
On such a planet like Mustafar, heat shields were commonplace. How else was any structure meant to survive such close proximity to the molten lava that covered the planet.
Of course, if said shield was disabled, then the facility wouldn't last long at all in these temperatures. It would collapse into the lava below in moments.
A clever safeguard and effective way of disposing of any classified information, that much was certain. But also dangerous in the wrong hands.
Ahsoka was about to continue her investigations of the hologram when Anakin re-entered the room, glancing over at her.
"I've informed Sidious of our success. He seemed pleased."
Ahsoka laughed humorlessly under her breath. She doubted Sidious was at all pleased, but she didn't care.
She just wanted him dead, and everyone else she cared about alive.
"Guess we better head back to Coruscant then?" Ahsoka inquired as she moved away from the hologram and towards where Anakin was standing. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted the corpse of Gunray, but paid it no mind.
He had gotten what he deserved.
"That's the plan, assuming…"
Anakin's response was interrupted by the sound of his holocomm beeping suddenly, indicating a call coming in from Artoo, one that Anakin answered without hesitation.
"Artoo? Is everything ok?"
Ahsoka heard the astromech beep out several statements in quick succession, but she was only able to pick out a few of the words. If anything it sounded like he was panicking.
And judging by the look on Anakin's face, she was right in her assumption. But she wasn't prepared for how.
"What do you mean Padmé's ship just entered the atmosphere?!"
Ahsoka struggled to keep up with Anakin as he broke into a sprint down the hallways they had entered through previously, jumping over a pair of fallen battle droids in the process.
She understood of course. He was desperate to see the woman he loved. If she had somehow been in his place, she too might have sprinted, but she wasn't.
Instead, all she could do was follow and protect the reunion she was no doubt about to witness. Despite the shutdown command being issued, there was still a chance that someone or something had survived the battle.
Ahead of her, Anakin disappeared round a corner, heading back to the landing pad where they had previously parked their shuttle. Artoo had informed them that Padmé's ship had landed next to theirs, so that was their destination.
Turning the same corner, Ahsoka witnessed Anakin reach the top of a small flight of stairs before he again disappeared from sight, passing through a doorway in the process and out of the building they were in, exposing himself to Mustafar's harsh environment.
Ascending the same set of steps, Ahsoka exited the building herself just in time to see Anakin and Padmé meet one another in the centre of the large landing platform, embracing tightly in a hug.
It occurred to her that this was likely the first time they had seen each other since everything had gone wrong. No matter her personal feelings on the situation, she was at least glad Anakin had someone to help him.
Slowing her pace and retaining a respectable distance from the couple, Ahsoka spotted Artoo, standing beside Threepio, at the base of the ramp leading into Padmé's chrome coloured ship.
They were watching Padmé's back, just as she was watching Anakin's.
Taking a moment to catch her breath, Ahsoka's montrals began to pick up parts of Anakin and Padmé's conversation.
"Oh Ani… I was so worried. I thought…"
"Shhh… it's all ok Padmé. Everything will be fine." Her former Jedi Master whispered softly into his wife's hair.
"No Ani… no it's…I…"
"What's wrong, my love?"
With those words, Padmé left the embrace and took a step back, her eyes momentarily catching Ahsoka's, a look of dread in them.
Ahsoka felt a chill go down her spine. Something was wrong.
"Obi-Wan…he came by the apartment. He knows about us Anakin."
"Obi-Wan's alive?" Ahsoka could pick up the relief in Anakin's tone, an emotion she felt too.
And if Obi-Wan was alive, there was a good chance Caleb was too. Perhaps there was still a chance for everything to work out.
They just had to deal with Sidious first.
"Anakin… he told me things. Horrible things. He said… he said that you attacked the Jedi Temple. That you killed younglings!" Padmé spoke up, her voice trembling.
A rush of anger rose up Ahsoka briefly. How dare Obi-Wan accuse Anakin of murdering younglings! He wouldn't have! He couldn't have!
"Obi-Wan is lying. He… it's hard to explain Padmé."
"Did you lead the attack on the Temple?"
"Padmé… I… it's not what it…"
"You did… didn't you? Oh god you did!" Padmé's tone shifted from suspicion to horror as she took another step back from Anakin. The Force sang with despair around her, even as Anakin tried to take another step closer.
"No… Padmé… please! Let me explain…"
"Explain?! Explain what! How you betrayed the Jedi! Betrayed the Republic! And Ahsoka… you too?!" Padmé very nearly shouted, turning her attention briefly to Ahsoka, who didn't know what to say.
"We didn't have a choice Padmé. It was for your safety. For everyone's safety." Anakin interrupted before Ahsoka could, drawing his wife's attention back to him and away from the Togruta.
"Didn't have a choice?! You always have a choice Anakin! You choose to commit murder! Why?!"
"Padmé! Please! Our hands were forced! We had to!"
Padmé took another step back, shoving Anakin away as he tried to close the gap between them. Ahsoka wanted to move and support, but she didn't know how. There was nothing she could say to justify what had happened, and she knew it.
"I can't believe I'm hearing this. Obi-Wan was right!" Padmé exclaimed, glancing again at Ahsoka briefly before refocusing on Anakin. "I don't know you anymore, Anakin. Maybe I never did!"
"Padmé… Obi-Wan doesn't know the full story. None of you do except for Ahsoka. Please… don't turn against me. I need you. We can make this right, together."
Padmé's expression said it all. Disgust. Despair. Nauseated. All words that Ahsoka would use to describe what she was seeing on the Senator of Naboo's face.
And all of it directed at her and Anakin.
"No… no Obi-Wan was right. You are too dangerous. Someone has to stop you before you harm anyone else. Before you harm Ahsoka!"
Ahsoka didn't miss the way Anakin's body stiffened suddenly at the mention of her name.
"I would never harm her, Padmé! You know that! Obi-Wan is trying to turn you against me for even suggesting such a thing!"
"I don't believe you anymore!" Padmé spat as she took a step back once again before glancing over at Ahsoka, reaching a single hand forward. "Ahsoka! Please! Come over here! Come with me! I can protect you!"
Ahsoka opened her mouth to reply, unsure of what she was going to say. However, before she could, a familiar signature in the Force hit her, drawing her attention back to the ramp of Padmé's ship.
There, stood on the ramp, robes billowing around him, was Obi-Wan Kenobi, a resolute expression on his face.
Judging by the anger leaking across her bond with Anakin, he too had spotted Obi-Wan's arrival, something that was confirmed seconds later.
"LIAR! YOU'RE WITH HIM! YOU BROUGHT HIM HERE TO KILL US!"
The rage in Anakin's voice made even Ahsoka take a step back. She had never heard him yell that loud, not even in the middle of an exploding battlefield.
For the first time in her life, Ahsoka felt a rush of fear at being in the presence of Anakin Skywalker.
There was no time to tremble like a child however, not as Obi-Wan descended the ramp whilst Padmé stood between them, panicking.
"No! Obi-Wan please! Don't!"
"I'm sorry Padmé, but he's left me no choice!"
Obi-Wan advanced on Anakin, placing himself between him and Padmé.
Despite her fear, Ahsoka moved up to stand beside Anakin, just in case she had to break up a fight.
"Obi-Wan! Don't hurt him!"
"I can't promise that, Padmé." The Jedi Master replied coolly.
"You turned her against me, Obi-Wan! You betrayed me!"
"Betrayed you!? Look at what you've done Anakin! You murdered everyone in the Temple! I saw the footage!" Obi-Wan replied with barely concealed distaste at his former student. "Please tell me you didn't drag Ahsoka into this as well!"
"Ahsoka is the only one who understands, Obi-Wan! She knows how desperate this is, what I have to do!"
Ahsoka wanted to hit Anakin for dropping her in it. He could have at least let her tell Obi-Wan why they had done what they had done. If he would just listen, he would understand, she was sure of it. He wasn't known as the 'Negotiator' for nothing.
"Anakin… There is no excuse for what the two of you have done. You have willingly sided with the very thing you swore to help destroy, and in doing so you have betrayed everything we stood for." Obi-Wan spoke, downtrodden. Ahsoka felt disappointed in herself just at his words alone. He was one hundred percent right.
Anakin however…
"Careful Obi-Wan. We only defended ourselves. It was Windu and the Council that attacked us. They forced our hand. Don't make us defend ourselves against you. We must complete our mission."
Ahsoka desperately wanted to explain everything, but no one was letting her, and she wasn't sure if anyone would.
Anakin and Obi-Wan, as close as they were, were both stubborn to the core. If they were angry with each other, they wouldn't listen to each other at all. Nothing Anakin said would make sense to Obi-Wan, and everything Obi-Wan said would come across as a threat to Anakin.
Behind Obi-Wan, Padmé stood, watching the tense standoff with horror.
Finally, after what felt like hours, Obi-Wan sighed.
"I'm sorry Anakin, but I can't let you or Ahsoka leave this planet."
On instinct, Ahsoka's hand went to her lightsaber. Obi-Wan wouldn't…would he?
"Stand aside Obi-Wan. Don't become my enemy like the rest of the Jedi have."
Anakin's words sent another chill down Ahsoka's spine, but again she didn't have the time to question it, not as Obi-Wan responded, lightsaber flashing into existence beside him in the process.
"Only a Sith deals in absolutes. I will do what I must."
"You will try." Came the response of her former Jedi Master.
And then, all hell broke loose.
Anakin's blade flashed into existence and arched towards Obi-Wan, who deflected the blade with practised ease and began to exchange a series of flurries with his former student.
"No! Obi-Wan! Anakin! Stop!" Padmé's cry of despair was mirrored by the horror Ahsoka felt as she too ignited her golden blade, fully intending on moving between the two men to break up the fight.
They had already lost so much. She wouldn't let either of them kill the other. They needed to stand together.
Anakin and Obi-Wan began to move away from the two ships, moving towards the building where the Separatist Council had made their last stand, all the while trading blows with their sabers with frightening speed.
Taking a step forward, Ahsoka moved to break the fight up before she felt the Force crash into her suddenly, knocking her off her feet.
Grunting as she pushed herself into a roll and back to her feet, Ahsoka pivoted around to see the figure of a young human male, blue lightsaber ignited in his hand, ready.
"Caleb?"
Caleb Dume couldn't believe what he had seen. What he had heard.
Skywalker… he had all but admitted to what he had done. But that wasn't what had upset him.
It was Ahsoka, alive and well, and standing alongside Anakin, fully complacent in the atrocity.
His hero. The Jedi he had hoped to be like when he grew up.
And now here she stood, willingly defending a monster, having no doubt taken part in the same slaughter as her Master had.
She was a traitor, just like Skywalker.
"Caleb?" He heard her voice, shock present in it as she turned fully to face him, extinguishing her blade in the process.
She might have been willing to lower her blade, but he wasn't going to return the favour, not to a monster like her.
"Why! Why have you done this?" Caleb cried, struggling to keep the tears from his eyes.
The look of confusion in her eyes only hurt more, only made him more angry.
"I don't understand? Done what?"
Her response only angered him further. How dare she stand there and act all innocent! It was blindingly obvious that she had taken part in this slaughter, just as her precious Master had!
But if she was going to act all naive and innocent about the whole thing, then Caleb knew what he had to do. He had to expose her!
"I've been back to the Temple, Ahsoka! I saw the footage from the surveillance cameras! I saw you lead the attack!" Caleb lied as best as he could, hoping that the traumatised expression and tone he was using would lure Ahsoka into his trap.
He hadn't seen her take part. He thought her dead.
But here she was…standing beside the man who had murdered hundreds, alive and well.
She had to have been part of it. There was no other explanation. He only needed his suspicions confirmed.
"I have done nothing! I was given no choice!"
The response, whilst not an outright admission, was all the evidence he would ever need of her participation.
Caleb felt sick.
"You always have a choice!" He roared in response, tightening his grip on his lightsaber, fully prepared to strike her down for her crimes.
Caleb felt a dark rush of pleasure run through him at the way Ahsoka's body tensed. She was on edge.
'Good. She deserves to be.' Caleb thought to himself as Ahsoka began to respond to his prior comment about choice.
"Not always! Not when everyone and everything conspires against you! Not when your hand is forced! I had to act or else everyone would be dead!"
He knew he was missing some context to the situation, and in the past he would have asked a hundred and one questions to find out all of the details.
But he no longer cared enough to find out the truth. All he saw before him was a monster who had committed genocide, just like her Master.
All he saw was a Sith.
"I saw you! You marched on the Temple! You led the Clones! You killed them all!" Caleb lied again, part of him desperately hoping that this whole thing was a misunderstanding. He didn't want her to outright admit to it, but he needed to hear her response.
He needed to know if his hero was really dead.
"Not everyone! I made sure those that wanted to live were able to!"
Caleb felt all sense of hope leave his body. She had been there. She had led the attack alongside Skywalker.
She had willingly followed the commands of a Sith Lord to wipe out the Jedi, and from the sounds of it, she was trying to delude herself into thinking she had done the right thing.
In the distance, Caleb could hear the clash of blades between Skywalker and Kenobi, as well as the sobbing from Senator Amidala, who had collapsed onto the floor beside him in tears.
Through the Force he could feel despair, loathing, hatred and loss. He wasn't sure who each emotion came from, or if any were his own, but his senses were overwhelmed.
He wouldn't let that distract him, however. He had a job to do, just like Master Kenobi.
"I'd rather die than live like a slave!" Caleb called out, trying to make Ahsoka understand. If she had really saved anyone like she claimed, all she had really done was force them into a life of slavery under the Sith.
"It's not slavery! All I have done, I have done for the greater good! My goal is to protect you… all of you! That's all it's ever been!" Ahsoka continued, her words further showing how far she had fallen.
"But at what cost? You've destroyed everything we've ever worked towards!"
"No! It can be rebuilt… it will be. I'll ensure it!" Ahsoka cried in a panicked tone, one that held a slight wobble to it, as if she doubted her own words.
Part of him wanted to try and push her further. To get her to see the error of her ways.
But he knew that deep down, she would always be loyal to Anakin Skywalker first and foremost. She would never see him as the monster he had become, or perhaps the monster he had always been.
In the end, no matter what Caleb wanted for her, he knew what he had to do.
Masters Billaba and Kenobi had taught him well. He would do what he had always done.
He would be a Jedi. And one of the roles of the Jedi was to protect the galaxy from those who would do it harm.
"I admired you! I wanted to be like you! But now… now I wish I had never met you!" Caleb spoke softly, speaking the truth this time. He had wanted to be like her. Lots of Padawan's had. Ahsoka Tano had been a hero to them the same way Anakin Skywalker was.
She was the model student.
And like her Master, she had fallen. He supposed in a way, it was rather poetic.
Caleb had always hated poetry.
"Please… don't do this. We don't have to be enemies." Ahsoka pleaded, trying to appeal to him.
It wouldn't work. He had made up his mind. He had to stop her.
"We became enemies the second you sided with them! But unlike you, I'm not so weak as to give in, and if that means I have to stop you myself, I will." Caleb replied, forcing a stern expression on his face in response. He wouldn't let her see his fear.
Judging by the way her face flinched, he could tell an array of emotions was flowing through her.
Part of him hoped guilt was one of them.
"Please… don't… you know you don't stand a chance!" Ahsoka spoke in a suddenly harsh manner, clearly trying to intimidate him.
He knew she was speaking the truth. She was ten times the fighter he ever would be. Her lightsaber skills were easily those of a Jedi Knight. If she had stayed, no doubt one day she would have ascended to the rank of Master, and perhaps even Council Member.
Compared to her, his skills, despite having improved significantly over the Clone War, were not a match for hers.
That said, all he needed to do was get lucky just once.
So yes, he was afraid, but he wouldn't let that stop him.
He was a Jedi after all, and Jedi feared nothing.
"Maybe not… but as I said, I'd rather die with honor than live like a coward. We all have a choice, and I have chosen my path just as you have chosen yours!" Caleb replied as he twirled his lightsaber once in his hands before dropping into a ready position that he was comfortable with.
Ahsoka's shoulders sagged as she ignited her own golden blade, falling into a ready position as well.
A series of sad beeps came from behind Caleb, reminding him of the others present.
"Artoo, right? You and your friend get Senator Amidala into the ship. If you don't hear from me or Master Kenobi in the next fifteen minutes, get her someplace safe."
Artoo beeped several times in succession, something that Caleb hoped meant compliance, before he broke out of his ready position and charged at Ahsoka, hoping to catch her off guard.
Bringing his saber forward with a lunge, Caleb found his blue blade batted away by her golden blade. In the past, such a counter would have caused him to stumble and lose his footing, but not anymore.
Caleb corrected his assault instantly, swinging his saber in a horizontal slash, forcing Ahsoka to take a step back to avoid being cut in two before she brought her own blade across in the similar fashion, something that Caleb was ready for, deflecting her blade and entering into a series of clashes with the fallen Togruta.
Caleb pressed the assault, forcing Ahsoka on the defensive. Her form and style of combat was mostly offensive. If he could keep her on the defensive, it would neutralise her greatest strength, if only for a short time.
Each swing towards her body forced Ahsoka back, her own saber trying to launch her own offensive, but failing under the style of Caleb's unorthodox assault.
Before he knew it, he had Ahsoka backed up into the building she and Skywalker had emerged from, forcing them both into much tighter quarters.
Blue and gold blades clashed against each other once again, entering into a saber lock as both combatants pushed against one another. Ahsoka was physically stronger than him, and he could feel it as she pushed against him, slowly breaking his hold.
Reaching into the Force, Caleb removed one hand from his hilt and thrust it towards Ahsoka's armoured torso, shoving her with the Force and forcing her to break the saber lock before she broke through.
She didn't stumble from the impact of the Force, but instead took a second to catch her breath, swapping her saber into the reverse grip she was known for.
Caleb had never mastered the style himself, despite her trying to teach it to him once or twice. He knew he was in serious danger.
He just hoped that she still had enough sympathy for him to not outright strike him down. If he could fool her into lowering her guard, even just for a second, then he could end this.
Taking a second to catch his breath as well, Caleb lowered into his own ready position once more.
"Stand down Caleb, please!" Ahsoka tried to reason with him, her tone distraught, with an edge of anger to it.
"You know I can't do that." He replied before reengaging.
Artoo-Detoo could not believe this was all happening.
How had this all happened? How had everything gone so very wrong?
One moment, everything had been peaceful on Coruscant. He had been simply making some adjustments to a fighter Anakin had been tuning up.
And then suddenly, all hell had broken loose, the Jedi had been wiped out, and his Master and his student were suddenly serving the Sith?!
And now his Master's Master was trying to kill him… and Padawan Dume was…
Artoo nearly friend a processor trying to contemplate it. Trying to understand any of it.
Sometimes, his organic friends could be just as convoluted and confusing as Threepio!
If he had the option, he'd sooner have spent an afternoon with Representative Binks than be in the situation he found himself in.
"Oh Mistress Padmé… please calm down and stay seated!" The distressed cry of the aforementioned protocol droid echoed around Senator Amidala's ship as she was directed to one of the seats in the cockpit, her whole body shivering, but not in a way that indicated she was cold.
They were on Mustafar after all.
The sobs of Senator Amidala echoed around the cockpit as she sat, curling up as best as she could in the chair, her hands coming up to cover her face.
"I just…I…I can't believe it. Ani wouldn't…he…"
Artoo beeped sadly and rolled towards her, gently nudging her legs as if he was some sort of fluffy house pet trying to get his owner's attention. He knew it wouldn't have the same effect, but hopefully the gesture would at least be appreciated.
"Mistress Padmé, please do not despair. We do not know the full details. Perhaps Master Ani is…"
"No. No Threepio. I….god…I can't believe it… but…"
Artoo beeped sadly again, even as Padmé gently rested a hand atop his dome, gently patting it in comfort.
"Masters Skywalker and Kenobi will not harm one another. They are like Artoo and myself. We argue at times, but we would never harm one another."
Part of Artoo wanted to laugh at Threepio's comparison, but he knew it was mostly true. No matter how much Threepio got on his nerves, he would never harm him. They were friends.
He would have said the same for Skywalker and Kenobi too, but after seeing and hearing what he had outside…
Artoo didn't know what to believe anymore.
If the accusations against Anakin and Ahsoka were true… if they really had led the assault on the Jedi Temple and murdered dozens of Jedi… then he didn't know them anymore.
Perhaps he hadn't even known them in the first place.
"Mistress Padmé…I recommend you take slow deep breaths. Do not upset the unborn child."
"I know Threepio… I just…we can't let this happen!" Padmé exclaiming, moving her face away from her hands to face the golden protocol droid, a look of deep conflicted despair on her face.
Just seeing the expression hurt Artoo. Padmé was such a kind woman. To see her break like this…
It was just as wrong as the entire situation they found themselves in.
In that moment, Artoo made his decision. He wouldn't stand idly by as those he had once deemed his friends tried to kill each other.
He wouldn't let any harm come to Senator Amidala or her child.
And he wouldn't let Masters Skywalker and Tano do anymore harm, to themselves or others.
Beeping once again, he moved away from Padmé, directing his binary towards Threepio.
"What do you mean stay here?! Where are you going Artoo?!"
Turning to face the bridge exit, Artoo began to move forward, knowing what he needed to do.
As he rolled towards the exit, he beeped one more time, answering Threepio's inquiry.
'To stop this madness before anyone else gets hurt!'
The ferocity with which Caleb assaulted her surprised Ahsoka. She knew he was a capable fighter. A rising star within the Jedi Order.
And whilst she had been on the receiving end of his skills during the occasional sparring match between them, she had never encountered him being so ferocious before.
He was actively trying to bypass her defences with a fully powered lightsaber. He fully intended on harming her… or worse.
And then there was Obi-Wan… and Anakin. They were somewhere, fighting for their lives against one another, just as she and Caleb were.
Pivoting her blade to counter another series of strikes from Caleb, Ahsoka continued to back up, trying to put distance between herself and the Jedi Padawan as he continued to push the offensive.
He knew that he'd exhaust himself eventually, and then she would be able to easily disarm him. Caleb was good, but he didn't have the stamina she did.
All Ahsoka could do for now was defend herself as her mind wandered.
She and Anakin had had a plan. But Obi-Wan had refused to listen. Padmé had refused to listen. Caleb had refused to listen!
And now…
Twirling her blade, Ahsoka pushed Caleb back a step to give herself time to back up, passing through the threshold of a doorway behind her. Ahsoka felt the sole of her boot come into contact with the remains of a battledroid, allowing her to realise where she was.
Caleb had forced her back into the command centre where the Separatist leadership had made their final stand. No longer were they in tight corridors. Now they both had room to move, and that was good news for Ahsoka, who preferred to fight in open spaces.
Reaching into the Force, Ahsoka vaulted back several feet, putting some distance between herself and Caleb, who followed her into the room, his eyes widening in what she assumed was shock as they came to rest on the corpse of Nute Gunray.
"What did you do!?" Caleb cried out as he brought his blade up into a ready position.
Ahsoka wanted to claim it wasn't her. She wanted to deny it, to try to alleviate the conflict between them.
But right now she was too angry. If they had just listened to her and Anakin, this could have all been avoided.
Instead, Ahsoka replied with a forceful tone of darkness in her voice.
"I ended the Clone War."
And then, with a sharp flick of her free hand, Ahsoka grasped hold of the broken remains of a destroyer droid and threw it towards Caleb's unprotected back.
"AH!" Caleb cried in alarm as he sensed the unexpected attack, attempting to evade the heavy debris as best as he could, but unable to escape from the assault entirely.
Part of the Droideka hit Caleb in the leg, causing him to stumble briefly in pain before Ahsoka launched her own counter offensive.
Caleb barely had time to rise back to his feet before he found himself in a blade lock with the Togruta, who stood towering above him. Ahsoka had to resist the urge to snarl. She didn't want to hurt Caleb if she didn't have to, and she certainly didn't want him dead.
But he was going to keep attacking her until she could stop him, so that meant she had to fight back.
Pulling out of the blade lock, Ahsoka twirled her blade once before moving to slash at Caleb, who countered her saber with his own.
Gold and blue danced around one another, sparks emitting from each saber clash as the duo continued to fight, trying to find a way around each other's defences.
After a few moments of swordplay, the two clashed again into a saber lock, gold and blue pushing against one another.
"Don't do this Caleb. There are things you don't understand! Stand down and I'll explain everything."
"I'm done listening to anything you have to say!"
Ahsoka sighed at Caleb's response as he pulled back and tried to strike out at her before she could reorganize her defences.
His attempt failed and Ahsoka countered the strike perfectly, causing the Padawan to stumble briefly, a sign of his growing exhaustion. It wouldn't be long now before she could easily disarm him.
Her brief victory however was overshadowed seconds later by the sounds of two lightsabers clashing from behind her.
Turning her head, Ahsoka spotted Anakin and Obi-Wan, entering the central room from a side chamber, blades dancing faster than her's and Caleb's had been.
Both parties were fighting to the death, she could see that. And she couldn't allow it.
"Masters!" Ahsoka called out, trying to get their attention away from one another. They didn't need to fight. If she and Anakin could get Obi-Wan and Caleb to see…
The Force screamed a warning to her suddenly, forcing Ahsoka to turn round and face Caleb, who had regained his footing and was charging at her. Ahsoka barely brought her blade up in time before Caleb's crashed into hers, making her stumble backwards and trip over her own feet in the process.
"Oof." Ahsoka grunted as her back crashed to the floor, momentarily stunning her before she glanced up at Caleb, who was charging towards her, lightsaber poised to strike.
Grasping hold of her own saber, Ahsoka began to bring it up to defend her body when Caleb was suddenly sent careening across the room and into a terminal in the back of the room.
Pushing herself to her feet, Ahsoka turned to see Anakin standing with his palm facing towards where Caleb had been, before he turned his attention back to Obi-Wan.
The momentary distraction however had allowed Obi-Wan to break through Anakin's defences, forcing Anakin to stumble backwards away from Obi-Wan's blue blade or risk losing another limb.
The stumble allowed Obi-Wan to counter with his own Force push, knocking Anakin onto his own back in the process.
Taking the opportunity to return the favour of him saving her, Ahsoka moved to place herself between Anakin and Obi-Wan, defending her former Master, even if she shouldn't need to.
"Move out of the way, Ahsoka." Obi-Wan spoke with a hardened tone, his willingness to compromise borderline non-existent.
"I can't do that Master Kenobi. You need to listen to us. We have a plan to take down Sidious."
"Already plotting against your new Master? Spoken like a true Sith." Obi-Wan countered as he suddenly launched an assault against her, his blade meeting Ahsoka's.
Unlike with Caleb, Ahsoka knew she was outmatched in this duel, but she didn't care. Obi-Wan wouldn't harm her…would he?
"Master Kenobi! Please! Just listen to us! We didn't want this to happen!" Ahsoka cried out as she desperately tried to defend herself against Obi-Wan's aggression. For someone who was so renowned for his defensive fighting style, his full on aggression took her by surprise, and likely would others who fought against him.
But then she supposed he had been Anakin's Master.
"Didn't want this to happen? And what exactly did you think would happen if you willingly served a Sith?! That everything would be fine?"
She knew his words were right. What had she expected?
But then, what choice had she been given. Every alternative had been taken out of her reach. Alone she stood no chance against Sidious. The Jedi had decided that she was a threat, so she couldn't turn to them. The Separatists would never accept her help or a plan to kill their leader, and the vast majority of the Clones were either too loyal to the Republic or under Sidious' control.
She had no other alternative but to work with Sidious, at least long enough to grant her an opening to destroy him for good.
"Patience, Master. We need you to be patient." Ahsoka replied as her blade entered a lock with Obi-Wan's, the Jedi Master pushing down against her with considerable force. She wouldn't last against him much longer.
"Neither you nor Anakin have ever been good with patience, Ahsoka. And we do not have the time for it."
Ahsoka wanted to scream in annoyance at Obi-Wan's dismissive response. She understood. From his perspective, she and Anakin had betrayed everyone. In his shoes, she would probably have the same reaction.
But she knew more than he did. She just needed him to listen.
Gritting her teeth, Ahsoka broke the saber lock and dived forward, rolling past Obi-Wan's legs and evading his downward swipe by the skin of her teeth.
As she pushed herself back to her feet, she suddenly found herself side by side with Anakin, who had regained his own footing in the process, likewise evading Obi-Wan's blow, which had instead ended up bisecting a terminal that had been behind them.
Ahsoka watched as Obi-Wan turned to face them both, dropping his saber into a defensive position, as if expecting them both to attack him at once.
Beside her, she could feel Anakin poised to strike, but instead she stopped him, holding out her free hand to block his advance.
"Ok, I think we've done enough sparring practice for today. Now, how about we all put aside our weapons and talk and explain everything like adults?" Ahsoka quipped, hoping, praying that she could defuse the tension and conflict present between the three of them.
For a brief moment she saw Obi-Wan's posture relax ever so slightly. That was progress.
Progress that was instantly undone.
"We are beyond talking!" Came a cry of rage from behind Ahsoka as she span to see Caleb, vaulting through the air towards her, lightsaber held above his head.
"CALEB NO!"
Time seemed to slow for Ahsoka as Obi-Wan cried out, beginning to move forward as Anakin turned, his own blade swinging through the air behind him, preparing to bisect the incoming Jedi Padawan.
Ahsoka barely had time to react, so she did the first thing she thought of.
She used the Force.
Throwing a palm forward, she sent Caleb flying backwards once again, away from Anakin's attempted lethal strike.
The act saved Caleb's life as he landed back where he had launched himself from, a bewildered look on his face as he tried to contemplate what had just happened.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Anakin shoot her a brief dirty look, one that she ignored but filed away for later.
There was no way he was getting away with trying to do that to Caleb. Even if she had to cut his cybernetic arm off herself with a rusty utensil as punishment to teach him a lesson, she would.
But later. Right now they had more pressing concerns.
Such as the ominous siren that was blaring throughout the room, emanating from the terminal Obi-Wan had gutted by mistake. Glancing behind him at the terminal, Ahsoka realised what the alarm was for.
"Oh no."
The heat shield controls for the entire facility had been destroyed, and likely powered down in the process. In a matter of moments, the heat from the lava outside would compromise the structural integrity of the entire building, and it would quite literally sink into the lava flow below.
They had to get out, and fast!
"We need to go, now!" Ahsoka spoke aloud, hoping someone would listen to her.
"He's not going anywhere." Anakin snarled as he glared at Obi-Wan, beginning to slowly advance towards his former Master.
She didn't know what had overcome Anakin, but killing Obi-Wan wasn't part of the plan. It never had been!
And if it had been, or suddenly was, then she wanted no part in it.
She hadn't wanted anyone to die, much less those she cared for.
But again, now was not the time to sort this all out. They had to escape.
The facility itself might have been compromised, but she was willing to bet that the landing pads were safe, at least for a while longer. They weren't built directly above a lava flow. They had solid rock beneath them. That would be their best bet.
However, as she opened her mouth to suggest the plan, a series of familiar high pitched beeps echoed across the room, calling out for Obi-Wan and Caleb. Ahsoka barely caught a glimpse of Artoo by the exit that would lead them to the landing pad before she found herself flung to the floor, Anakin crashing down upon her as he too was pushed aside by Obi-Wan, who went sprinting by.
Summoning what strength she had left, she pushed Anakin off of her and rose to her knees in time to see Obi-Wan and Caleb dart out of the room. Artoo however remained by the doorway, plugged into a terminal on the other side of the threshold of the door.
A sick feeling entered her stomach. Surely Artoo wasn't going to do what she thought he was?!
The astromech beeped twice.
'Forgive me.'
And then the door slammed shut, blocking their escape.
Ahsoka was at a loss for words. Artoo. The ever loyal astromech who had saved their lives more times than she could count had just left them for dead.
Ahsoka didn't know whether or not she should be angry, or if she should cry.
Had things really gotten so bad that Artoo of all people had felt the need to turn against them?
She and Anakin needed to dispose of Sidious as soon as they could, if only so things could return to normal. Artoo would understand why they had done what they had done. He had to!
"ARTOO YOU TRAITOR!"
Clearly Anakin felt much differently about Artoo's actions, and she could understand his anger, to an extent.
"We can cut through." Ahsoka called out as she darted towards the door, joined by Anakin as both plunged their sabers into opposite sides of the door, beginning to cut it open.
A few tense moments later and they both retracted their sabers, a freshly cut hole appearing in the door as the metal collapsed.
Artoo was nowhere in sight, clearly having retreated back with Obi-Wan and Caleb after sealing the door. A sigh of relief escaped her at that thought. The last thing she needed right now was Anakin trying to take revenge on Artoo!
"To the landing pad. Double time." Anakin commanded as he stepped through the hole first, before breaking into a sprint.
Ahsoka hesitated briefly before stepping through as well.
She didn't like how Anakin was acting. Once they were away from this godforsaken molten rock, and everyone was safe and sound, then she was going to have a serious talk with him.
Hearing the distant rumble and creaking of the structure beginning to give way to the heat, Ahsoka too broke into a sprint, heading for the landing pads where their ships were waiting.
There was still time to salvage this situation, for everyone's sake.
No one else had to die!
Stepping back out into the heat of Mustafar's climate, Ahsoka saw Anakin, standing mid saber lock with Obi-Wan, who in turn was shielding both Caleb and Artoo from her Master's wrath.
The two former brothers traded blows, both trying to break through the others defences for a few seconds before they again locked blades, pushing against one another.
"I have failed you Anakin! I have failed you both!" Ahsoka heard Obi-Wan exclaim, despair in his voice. Ahsoka couldn't see Anakin's facial expression, but she could imagine it was not a friendly one.
"I should have known you wouldn't have been willing to listen! You've never listened to me, not once!"
"Anakin! Chancellor Palpatine is evil!"
Anakin practically snarled in response as he broke out of the saber lock, pressing his assault against Obi-Wan, who was forced back several steps.
Moving onto the platform herself, Ahsoka gripped her saber hilt in her hand, but didn't ignite it. She didn't want to fight, but she would defend herself if necessary.
As she approached Anakin, she noticed Caleb spot her, his own saber ignited and ready, just in case.
She ignored him. Right now, Caleb Dume wasn't her concern. Anakin was.
However, it seemed as if she wasn't the only one with Anakin's welfare in mind, and for that she couldn't be more grateful.
"Anakin! Stop this madness at once!" The voice of Padmé Amidala commanded as she descended the ramp to her ship, Threepio behind her, looking timid. Artoo beeped a series of words at the protocol droid who responded instantly.
"As if I would ever be able to stop Mistress Padmé doing something reckless, Artoo!"
Ahsoka rolled her eyes at Threepio's comment, even if she agreed with the meaning behind it. Padmé was just as reckless as Anakin sometimes. The very fact that she had participated in the very first battle of the Clone War was proof enough of that.
Despite that however, her words seemed to have an impact on Anakin, who was momentarily distracted from his duel with Obi-Wan, a distraction that allowed Obi-Wan a chance to back off and re-centre himself, his blade being brought up into a defensive position.
"Padmé don't!" Obi-Wan called out, holding his hand out in a gesture to stay back, one that the Senator from Naboo promptly ignored as she reached the bottom of the ramp, staring directed at Anakin, a determined, resolute expression on her face.
"It's ok, Obi-Wan… I need to do this." Padmé responded before she took a step towards Anakin, who had now fully turned to face her.
Ahsoka stood behind Anakin, at a respectful distance. If anyone could calm this situation down, it was Padmé Amidala, and Ahsoka trusted her completely.
"Angel…I…" Anakin began before Padmé held up a hand in a military gesture she knew Anakin recognized as 'fall silent'.
"No… no pet names right now Anakin. I need to hear you explain everything. I didn't want to believe it…but seeing you and Obi-Wan fight…what happened to you Anakin?!"
"Nothing my love… I'm still me…I just needed to do this…I needed to save everyone!"
"How does exterminating the Jedi Order equate to saving everyone! You betrayed and murdered the very Republic you served, not to mention the Jedi!"
"They can be rebuilt. But only if we do this! I know it's extreme, but I need Palpatine to trust me completely so that I can…"
"So that you can do what? Rule diligently by his side as his loyal protector whilst he installs and commands a vicious dictatorship from his throne? I knew you weren't a fan of democracy Anakin after what you told me on Tatooine… but this?!"
Ahsoka didn't know what Padmé was referring to, but she got the gist of it. Anakin had never been fond of the political system, and both she and Rex had agreed that peacetime would not serve him well at all.
Had he really been planning to overthrow democracy since before she knew him?
Ahsoka shrugged off that idea. Right now, Palpatine was the threat they needed to deal with, not Anakin's political ideologies.
"Padmé…I did this to protect you!"
"Protect me?! How is this protecting me, Anakin! You've destroyed everything I've ever worked for!"
"I know… but I had to! It's all part of the plan!"
"What plan?!"
"The plan to stop Palpatine!"
"How does helping Palpatine rise to power stop him!?" Padmé exclaimed, gesturing around her to both Ahsoka and the Jedi. "Look at what you've done to everyone!"
Padmé's words had an unintended side effect, or perhaps it had been intended by her. At her words, Ahsoka saw Obi-Wan lower his head briefly in shame, before extinguishing his saber. Caleb followed suit, but kept his hilt handy.
"Thank you, Obi-Wan." Padmé said, confirming that she had been reaching out to him as well.
"I hope you know what you are doing, Senator." Obi-Wan responded. Despite standing down, Ahsoka knew he was ready to spring into action if something went wrong.
Ahsoka too decided to show Padmé her trust, placing her own hilt back on her belt, freeing her hand.
She didn't need to defend herself from anyone here.
Padmé's words had even worked on Anakin, who had also extinguished his saber, but still held the hilt in his hand, ready, just in case.
At this, Padmé took a step towards him.
"Anakin, I want to try to understand why you did this, but I don't know if I can! This isn't the first time you've taken matters into your own hands like this, is it! Remember…"
"They deserved it, Padmé."
"Did they? Did the Jedi?"
"They tried to assassinate Ahsoka!"
Again, Ahsoka was unsure as to what Anakin and Padmé had discussed, but she knew about the assassination attempt.
Windu and Kolar, charging at her, blades poised to strike, not bothering to talk.
She hadn't wanted them to die of course, but still… they had attacked her. They had betrayed her.
But only because she had been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Did that make her the villain?
"Are you really that deluded Anakin! They didn't try to assassinate her! They were left with no choice with that sham of a trial!"
Padmé's response was not the one she had been expecting, but in hindsight it made sense. Padmé had been unaware of what had transpired in the Chancellor's… no… in Sidious' office. Of course she'd assume Anakin was talking about her trial.
"No Padmé! That's not what I meant! They tried to kill her. They tried to kill me! I've got to protect you from them or…"
"Or what?" Padmé's response was oddly soft for a woman who had been angry mere moments ago. It surprised Ahsoka even more when she took another step towards her husband.
Through the Force Ahsoka felt Anakin's signature calm briefly before it suddenly snapped back into one of deep fear.
In an instant, the Force darkened considerably, and Ahsoka knew why. She had sensed the same feeling in the Jedi Temple when Sidious had come to visit. If she was feeling it now, that meant…
"Padmé! We need to go, now!" The panic on Obi-Wan's tone confirmed Ahsoka's suspicions. Sidious had come to Mustafar personally!
"SHE'S NOT YOURS TO TAKE OBI-WAN!" Anakin boomed suddenly, startling all but Padmé, who stood confident before him.
Part of her wanted to run, to hide, but she knew it would be futile. Sidious would find her, and then she would never have the chance to destroy him once and for all. She needed to stay her course to deceive him, just as he had deceived the galaxy.
It would be the only fitting end for him after all.
Besides, she wasn't willing to leave Anakin alone with him.
Padmé took another step closer, closing the gap between her and Anakin, tilting her head upwards to examine Anakin's expression.
"Ani? Listen to me… you don't need to do this. I know you are a good man really. Just please, come away with me!"
Padmé's plea was heartfelt, and part of her wanted to convince Anakin to go with her.
"I can't! I've got to save you. The Jedi… the Republic… none of that matters compared to you. I'd burn the whole galaxy down to save you! I'm powerful. I can stop Palpatine. I just need you by my side!"
Padmé closed the gap between them with her left hand, resting it on Anakin's cheek, forcing him to look her in the eyes.
"I never wanted this Anakin. Destroying the galaxy isn't worth saving me! Please…"
"It is! It always is! I won't lose you Padmé!" Anakin replied, his voice resolute once again, his determination almost admirable.
"You can't control life and death, Anakin."
"Yes… I can."
Anakin's words made Ahsoka shiver, but still she stood, waiting, watching. She could feel Sidious' presence in the Force, growing closer and closer.
A brief moment of silence fell over Anakin and Padmé before the Senator spoke again, blinking away the tears that had begun to fall.
"Tell me this then, Anakin Skywalker, and answer honestly. Was it all worth it? Was destroying the Jedi, the Republic, betraying your friends and family, slaughtering younglings and other adolescents. Was it all worth it if it saves one life? My life?"
Anakin responded in an instant, without any hesitation.
"It was."
Ahsoka half expected Padmé to slap him. Part of her wanted to.
But instead, the Senator from Naboo closed her eyes briefly, blinking away the tears and taking a deep breath before she re-opened them, a blank expression dawning on her face.
"Then… you aren't the man I married anymore. And I know what I must do, for the good of everyone."
The Force, despite being clouded by the darkness of Sidious' presence, screamed a warning to Ahsoka.
"I'm sorry Anakin. I love you, but I can't protect you, not anymore."
The Force screamed another warning to Ahsoka as she glanced at something short, silver and sharp emerging from the sleeve of Padmé's outfit, her left hand grasping it tightly.
"No." Ahsoka whispered as time again seemed to slow, but she was too late to stop it.
Padmé pushed the knife forward, impaling Anakin in the chest whilst keeping a stoic expression. Anakin jolted in shock as he realised what had happened, but made no move to step away.
He couldn't. Padmé had her right arm around him, keeping him in position as her left hand, containing the knife retracted from her husband's body, thick red blood beginning to pour from the wound.
Ahsoka heard Obi-Wan, Caleb, and even Artoo and Threepio exclaim in horror at the Senator's actions, but their cries were dwarfed by the scream that Ahsoka herself released.
On instinct, Ahsoka raised both hands, palms being thrust forward as Padmé pushed the blade into Anakin's chest again, causing Anakin to jolt in agony once again.
Padmé didn't get the chance to stab him again, not as Ahsoka delved into the Force and unleashed the strongest Force push she could manage towards the Senator.
Padmé became a blur as the Force crashed into her, sending her careening backwards before she crashed into the landing gear of her own ship before collapsing on the floor.
Free of Padmé's restraint, Anakin too collapsed to the floor of the landing pad, blood pooling around him. Ahsoka moved on instinct, positioning herself above her old Jedi Master, hands trying to slow the blood loss. She didn't care if she was getting covered in blood.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?! ANAKIN! OH FORCE…ANAKIN…HOLD ON!"
Ahsoka's screams went unanswered as Threepio and Artoo assisted Caleb in picking up Padmé, carrying her off inside the Senator's ship. Once the droids were clear, Caleb came charging back.
"Ahsoka… there's nothing you can do. Come with us." Obi-Wan spoke, not moving to help.
Ahsoka felt a rush of hatred she never knew she could feel. How dare Obi-Wan just suggest they leave Anakin to bleed out!
Something in her snapped as Obi-Wan tried to reach out a hand to her shoulder to guide her away.
In a split second her blood coated hands were away from Anakin's convulsing body and onto her saber hilt, igniting the golden blade and swinging for Obi-Wan without restraint.
Her strike was intercepted by Caleb, who crashed his blade into hers with such precision that she was sent stumbling backwards and onto her back.
Sitting up, she glanced at Caleb, who too had a look of anger on his face.
The Force darkened once again, and Obi-Wan spoke, this time directed solely at Caleb.
"Come on, we can't do anything for either of them."
Ahsoka and Caleb stared at each other over Caleb's blue blade for a few seconds before the Padawan extinguished the lightsaber and nodded once.
"Yeah… I know."
With that, the Padawan turned and ran up the ramp into Padmé's ship once again without looking back.
"Ahsoka…" Obi-Wan said again, softly, in a way that reminded her of when she had trained with him during her time as a Padawan.
Ahsoka's response was full of malice that surprised even her, but she no longer cared.
"I'll find you Obi-Wan. I'll make you pay for this."
Obi-Wan lowered his head in despair before he nodded at her.
"I'm sure you will, one day." Obi-Wan spoke one final time, resignation in his voice.
And with that, he followed Caleb's path and disappeared from sight, leaving Ahsoka alone with Anakin.
The Togruta moved again, placing her hands on his wounds once more, trying to control the blood, and delving into the Force to try and heal him.
She had never been very good at Force healing.
His chest hurt. His lungs hurt. His head hurt. His eyes hurt.
Everything hurt.
Anakin's vision was obscured by a red sheen, one that he easily identified as his own blood.
Padmé had stabbed him, and he supposed he deserved it. Perhaps, this was how it should end for him. Alone, cold and bleeding to death. A fitting end for the things he had done.
Perhaps now, he would finally get to see the angels he had dreamed of years ago when he had been a slave on Tatooine. He hoped they all looked like Padmé.
Despite the pain wracking his body, he felt something pushing against it, and then he saw a figure appear above him. Was this an angel, come to collect him?
He couldn't identify the figure. His vision was too blurred from the pain, but he could make out colours that seemed familiar to him.
Blue and white and orange.
They were pleasant colours to bleed out to at the very least… even if it seemed like they were shouting at him in the back of his pain-addled mind.
"Master! Please! Hold on!"
Anakin thought those were funny words for colours to be shouting at him.
And yet, something made him reach out with his remaining flesh hand, trying to grasp hold of the colours, attempting to hold on as they demanded of him.
To his surprise, his hand made contact with the colours before him, smearing blood over the white part on the orange center.
The orange was warm and filled him with a sense of calm and peace. He didn't know what it was, but something about the orange and white, and blue and now red before him made him try to speak.
He uttered only one word. Snips. He wasn't sure what it meant, but it felt right.
And then his vision grew dark, and the orange vanished from sight.
The pain however, remained.
"Master! Anakin! Don't close your eyes! Stay with me!" Ahsoka screamed at him as she tried to contain the flow of blood leaving his body. She could feel his signature in the Force dimming by the second.
She tried to heal him, tried her best to remember her lessons. But she had never been very good at Force healing. That had always been Barriss' area of expertise.
Padmé's ship had left, abandoning her with Anakin. Moving him in this state would only hasten his death, but at the rate he was losing blood, it felt like she was only delaying the enviable. Padmé had done some serious damage to him. Judging from the way he was coughing up blood and struggling to breathe, Ahsoka was sure the knife had pierced a lung, if not both of them.
Why had Padmé resorted to such an act?! Yes, their actions had been less than decent, but to outright attempt to murder Anakin without even being willing to listen to reason?!
Part of Ahsoka, deep deep down, decided she hated Padmé, and Obi-Wan, for this.
They had left Anakin to die. Hadn't even bothered to try and save him.
They had betrayed Anakin, and if she ever saw them again she would make them pay!
"Oh Anakin…. I'm sorry…. I don't know how to save you."
"I can help you." The last voice she wanted to hear hit her montrals.
Keeping her hands on Anakin's wounds, she turned her head to face Sidious, who stood behind her, his face hidden under a dark black cloak.
Ahsoka openly sneered. "Don't you think you've done enough, 'Chancellor'." She spat his former title. At this point she didn't care if he disposed of her.
"On the contrary, my dear, I have only just begun." Sidious responded, speaking in the same tone as he had when he had been disguised as the kind, grandfatherly Supreme Chancellor of the Republic. "I can show you how to save Skywalker's life."
"And how are you going to do that!"
"I am not, Agent Tano. You are, by delving into the Dark Side of the Force."
Ahsoka felt her eyes widen at the suggestion.
"I'll never use the Dark Side!"
"Not even to save Skywalker's life?"
Ahsoka hesitated… doubt entering her mind.
She needed Anakin alive. Both to be able to destroy Sidious, and…
Well… It was Anakin. Her best friend. The only person who had ever fully believed in her. She needed him.
Was that worth using the Dark Side of the Force? How could it even be used to save him?
Sidious began to speak again, answering the question on her mind. Ahsoka couldn't help but wonder if he had read her mind or something.
"The Force can be used to heal, but it can also be used to suspend. Force stasis is a power long forgotten by the Jedi, but not the Sith. Through it, you can temporarily freeze Skywalker in time, ensuring he lives long enough to get him medical attention. But only the Dark Side is strong enough to suspend him long enough. You must delve into your anger, into your hatred. Only then will you have the power to save your Master from certain death!"
"If it's a Dark Side power, why don't you do it! You're the Sith Lord here, and you need him alive as much as I do!" Ahsoka snapped again, continuing to sneer up at him.
"Because I am currently preoccupied with holding this accursed facility together. If I break concentration, we all fall into the lava. Skywalker's fate is down to you and you alone." Sidious replied, subtly gesturing with his hands towards the facility behind him. Ahsoka could hear the creaking of the metal as it slowly succumbed to the heat.
Without the shield in place, Sidious was the only thing keeping everything from falling into the lava.
"But… I'm not a… I don't know how!"
"Channel your rage, your hatred. Focus on those that have wronged you. Imagine your deepest darkest desires and what you wish to do to those in your way. Through that, you will have the power. Picture Skywalker frozen, and the Force will grant your wish."
Ahsoka glanced down at Anakin, his signature fading rapidly. If she was going to save him, she had to act now!
But using the Dark Side… that was wrong. She would be forsaking everything she had ever been taught, everything she had ever fought for!
She would be betraying everything and everyone.
'But they have already betrayed you. Why not return the favour? You owe them nothing anymore!' The voice in her head whispered darkly.
"Make your choice, Ahsoka Tano."
She was out of time, and she knew it.
Closing her eyes, Ahsoka took a deep breath and spoke.
"Force… forgive me."
Turning back to Anakin, she put further pressure on his chest and delved into the Force.
In her mind, she pictured Windu and Kolar, attacking her. She pictured Barriss betraying her. Grievous slaughtering her men. Rex and his men opening fire on her. Obi-Wan being unwilling to listen. Padmé stabbing Anakin.
Palpatine deceiving her.
She ignored the way her stomach twisted in repulsion at her own actions. She had to save Anakin.
She focused, she used her anger, channeled it into the Force and…
A sudden rush of darkness flooded over her. Her own darkness.
The Force twisted, and complied with her demands.
The Dark Side rushed over her again, forcing her to open her eyes.
Anakin lay before her, his body shimming in a dark red hue, one that Ahsoka could only connect with the Force itself.
From behind her, Ahsoka heard Sidious make a pleased noise, one that she took as a confirmation of her success.
She had done it. She had used the Dark Side to save Anakin.
Exhaustion rushed over her suddenly, and she felt her eyes drooping.
Falling to the floor beside Anakin, Ahsoka saw Sidious moving to stand above her, his golden eyes peering down at her from under his hood, a sinister smirk on his face.
Before she passed out, Ahsoka spoke softly to Anakin, unsure if he could still hear her, parroting his words from hours ago.
"What have I done?"
Author's thoughts
So yeah... all of that just happened.
Apologies for the delay getting this chapter out. It took forever to write, and I lost inspiration last month due to personal issues and really didn't feel like writing a single thing. I'll try and get the epilogue out as timely as I can... but don't quote me on that.
Anyways, this chapter is the big climax of the story, and I'm sure some will like it and some won't. Whatever your opinion, I respect it. I just hope it was at least enjoyable.
Cutting down the Mustafar duel to a shorter sharper fight as opposed to the over the top stuff it is in canon was something I wanted to do. I get why people like that fight in ROTS, I do. I just personally don't enjoy it after the control room scene. The fighting over the lava river is a bit too far for me.
As for Padmé's actions in this chapter, I'm sure it'll come as a shock to many, but I also imagine some eagle eyed readers out there know where this idea came from.
And finally, for all the people wondering what and when Ahsoka was going to have her 'fall to the dark side' moment... well... here you go. She's too much like her Master sometimes. The idea for Force stasis came from SWTOR for me. I don't think it's too big of a stretch to say people could be put in stasis via the Force for prolonged periods of time if need be.
Anyways, not much else to say that hasn't already been said. I still hate writing lightsaber duels, but I hope this was enjoyable enough.
Next time round... we finally hit the epilogue, and the final chapter of this story...at long last. You'll all be able to say 'good riddance' soon. :)
Thanks again to my beta reader who was as patient with me as always. 'ArrinSnyders' is the true hero of this story.
As usual, comment and speculate at will... for the last time anyways. Speaking of which:
MistressTori-Bee: Thank you for the kind words. They helped me get my motivation back this month, so I really appreciate it. I only hope you enjoy the finale of the story as much as the rest of it. I'd hate to disappoint now.
Alfredo12StarLegionaire: Heh... why do you think I put that comment in there in the first place. Nicely spotted. :)
Mysterious Guest 1: Grievous? He's off to rendezvous with his buddy General Kalani for some mysterious reason. You won't see him again in this story however. Sorry.
tf330129: Hope you were sufficiently surprised. :)
Ryan1017: Now... first things first before I reply to your prior comment. I know you are a big Anakin fan and might be upset about how this chapter ended, so I want to apologize to your personally if you are upset. I also want to say that you don't need to worry. Anakin has survived this wound, so he's not dead. Just badly hurt for now. I hope that's ok. :)
Now, to your comment. I'm glad you picked up on Caleb's struggles. He is on the edge too like Anakin and Ahsoka, but he has Obi-Wan to support him, hopefully. Unlike Anakin and Ahsoka, he knew in this chapter when to step back and stop.
And yeah, Sidious' arrogance is starting to show slightly. He might have to start reigning that in and playing 4D chess again, just to be safe.