Chapter 3 - Front Runners
Author's Note: In which the Onderon arc ends. :')
~ Amina Gila
"I think they're ready to give the 501st some competition," Anakin remarks with a smirk as he, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, and Rex walk down the street together. They spent the day constantly on the move, observing as the rebels attacked the droids throughout the city. They gathered briefly to discuss the situation, determining that they need to hit something bigger before heading out again. And now it's time for Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Rex to return to Coruscant.
"Let's not get carried away, General, though these rebels have impressed me," Rex replies dryly.
"We will share the developments with the Jedi Council," Obi-Wan decides, "Ahsoka will remain here as an advisor. Monitor them and report back with their progress."
"Are you up for it, Snips?" Anakin asks, resting a hand on her shoulder. "Or would you like to return to Coruscant?"
He's pretty sure she'd rather be here, but he has to be certain. He has to make sure she'll be alright. Yes, she's perfectly competent on the battlefield, but this is a completely different situation, and she's not fighting side by side with clones either. And he's not sure what's going to happen between Ahsoka and Lux. He knows they have feelings for each other, but he's not sure if Ahsoka wants their relationship to go that far right now. It would at least help if someone else was with her to guide her.
"No, Master, I want to stay," Ahsoka decides almost immediately.
"Good," he says. As long as she's sure she'll be alright here, he won't concern himself too much. He'll worry for her, of course, as it's his duty, but he'll let her stay without argument. "You will be... alright?"
Ahsoka looks up, meeting his eyes for a moment, and he knows she can tell that he knows what's going on with them. "I'll be fine, Master," she promises.
"Alright." He squeezes her shoulder lightly in comfort, before stepping away. For a moment, this almost reminds him of when he was sent off with Padme while Obi-Wan went to Kamino. And he can't help but wonder if this is going to have similar results. Ahsoka is young to be making decisions like that, though. She has her whole life ahead of her, and he knows she... may not be thinking all that clearly, the same way he wasn't when he pursued things with Padme.
He's not against Ahsoka pursuing... a family, but it means she'll never be a Jedi. Anakin has never been a good one and he knows it – the guilt of having broken the Code so deeply and irreparably bothers him frequently, even if he knows if not for his marriage and having something like that to look forward to, he wouldn't be able to keep going so long like he has – but this is a decision she will have to make herself.
He trusts her ability to make decisions, though. They can talk about it when the mission is over. He'd address it now, but Obi-Wan is right here, and...
"We should continue to provide supplies and credits, but they must learn to operate on their own. Their survival depends on it," Obi-Wan asserts.
"Yes, Master," Ahsoka acknowledges.
"Remember your purpose," reminds Anakin. He knows she will; he has faith in her, but she needs to remember not to let her feelings distract her. Ahsoka nods before he turns to head off with Obi-Wan and Rex, hoping this is the right decision.
**w**
The next day went surprisingly well. They took out the power generator to make a point to both the people of Onderon and the Separatist puppets in control that the planet belongs to the people. Ahsoka hopes they'll be able to handle any potential backlash, while continuing to build momentum. While the group was discussing the situation, everyone voted in Steela as their new official leader.
"Hey Ahsoka, can I talk to you?" Lux inquires finally, breaking the awkward silence hanging in the room after Saw stormed only minutes ago upon hearing that everyone wanted Steela as a leader instead of him. Steela has already gone out to find him after telling Ahsoka that he is her brother. Their interactions vaguely reminds her of herself and Anakin in a way.
"Sure," the Togruta agrees immediately, and the two of them slip out of the main room to find a private space to talk in peace.
"How have you been?" Lux queries.
"Oh, same," she shrugs. "Fighting a war."
"That's quite a thing for a sixteen-year-old to be doing all the time."
Ahsoka scoffs. "Look who's talking. You're literally leading a rebel movement."
"Well, maybe we're just getting more similar," he replies, smiling softly.
"Maybe," she agrees, smiling back. When they first met back on Raxus about a year ago, she would never have expected they'd end up becoming as close as they are now. "How have you been?" she asks finally.
"Busy with working on trying to free Onderon. I haven't really had much time for anything else, and I won't until this is over," Lux replies, then brightens, "But hey, with each planet that gets out of this war, the closer we'll be to peace in the galaxy. And then maybe we can see each other more often."
"I hope so," she agrees. She really, really does. He offers her a sense of calm that no one else has ever been able to give, at least not since Hardeen shattered her entire view of... everything she believed in. She aches to stay here with him, except nothing is that simple. She's not going to leave Anakin like that. Or the Order, even if there are frequently moments where she wishes she didn't have to stay.
"Is something wrong?" Lux asks suddenly, studying her quietly. She didn't think it would be so easy for him to tell.
"Well... yes," she admits.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"Sometimes... I've thought about leaving the Order."
"Really? Why?" He seems slightly startled by the admission, for which she isn't surprised. She'd told him before that she never would.
This... it's never something easy for her to think about, to question everything she was raised believing. But it's certainly easier to talk about this to someone who isn't a Jedi. She knows he won't judge her for it. "They aren't what they're supposed to be," Ahsoka confesses at last, "I mean we've been fighting for over two years, and it doesn't seem like we're any closer to winning the war than when we started. Why can't we work out a more peaceful solution?"
"That's what I've been wondering this whole time," he agrees.
"And now it often seems they're listening far more to the Senate than doing what's right." Like with the case of Hardeen. Yes, protecting Palpatine is important, but why did it have to be like that? There were many other methods they could have used aside from that one. For that matter, why did they have to pick Obi-Wan for the mission at all?
"Well, if you want, you can always stay on Onderon," Lux offers, "We'd all be happy to have a Jedi here permanently." He's speaking for himself, too, she knows.
"I'd love that, but that's not really an option at the moment," she sighs frustratedly. As much as she'd like to stay and not go back to the Order, she'll never leave Anakin like that. If it's a choice between him and Lux, there's not even a question on who she'd choose. Besides, she's doesn't even know anything about life outside the Order anyway.
"If you ever change your mind, we'll always be happy to have you."
She smiles, emotion surging in her, the urge to just be with him. She leans closer instinctively, wrapping her arms around him. Anakin's hugged her before on occasion, but it's not really a thing Jedi do. Not when they get older. Anakin's always been a little different in that way.
Lux returns the gesture without a problem, though.
No words are needed between them, not now. She can sense his contentment, which she feels herself. It's an odd thing to feel being as she's always been a warrior. She's never felt so peaceful before, and it's something she's grateful to experience. The only sound is that of their almost inaudible breathing and Lux's heartbeat, something she can only hear because of her enhanced senses. She never wants this moment to end.
**w**
Lux can hardly believe the progress of their little rebellion. Not only were they able to free the old king from the Separatists, but also, they stopped his execution in front of crowds of people. And the majority of the people seemed to be in support of them. With the former king Dendup on their side, along with the General of the Army, things are definitely taking a turn in their favor.
"With your rule, our numbers will grow," Lux says.
The king rests a hand on his shoulder. "Thanks child. Your mother would be proud."
He gives him a small smile. "Thank you, my lord." It means a lot, coming from the king. It was all he wanted, really. This has been his sole thought back when he allied himself with the Death Watch, even if he regretted it after the fact. But it led him to Ahsoka, so what does he have to complain about?
"We must first win the will of the people. That is the only way," Dendup asserts, standing up and pacing back and forth, "The Separatists will assemble their forces. Count Dooku will want me dead more than ever."
"Then we'll have to teach them another lesson. Together," Saw smirks. Cheers go through the assembled crowd.
With the meeting over, Lux makes his way around everyone to where Ahsoka is watching. "I knew you couldn't resist a good fight," he comments. She finally intervened in the rescue of the king. They would never have succeeded without her, not without others dying.
"Am I becoming that predictable?"
"Only to me."
They slip through the door, out into the cool night air. Ahsoka reaches over, holding his hand while they walk, lacing their fingers together. They haven't really spoken much about what their relationship will be, or even what they are to one another right now, but Lux knows that he still loves her, and that she still loves him in turn. Talking about it will mean accepting that the chances for anything between them is still low, so he doesn't want to do that. Instead, he'll enjoy these quiet, peaceful moments while they last, cherishing them in the future when she's gone.
"Now that the Separatists know Jedi are involved, this is really going to escalate," Ahsoka comments.
"That's what you prepared us for, isn't it?" Lux replies, a bit teasingly.
"Yes, but I hope that we can handle it," she answers quietly, squeezing his hand. "We're still few in number, and a sizable force of droids could still overrun us."
"I'm sure we'll manage," Lux assures her. "We have no choice. The people are counting on us." He hesitates a moment before continuing. "Do you think the Republic will be able to send any more reinforcements?"
"I don't know." She shakes her head slowly, blue eyes betraying her worry when she looks at him. "I can ask my master when I talk to him later tonight."
"That would be great," he murmurs, relieved.
"Don't worry if they can't," she says at last, her inner confidence shining forth once more. "We'll manage with what we have, and we'll win. You're right. We have no choice."
He only smiles, knowing that there's nothing more for him to say.
**w**
The battle has taken the turn for the worse. They led the droids to the outskirts of the city and were doing fine, until the Separatists brought in new gunships with ray shields that nothing can penetrate. And the Republic is refusing to send help. Ahsoka just doesn't understand Obi-Wan's reasoning. She's not going to abandon Lux and his people. It can't possibly be right. How can anyone expect her to do something like that? At least Anakin understands.
"The highlands may slow down the droids, but they won't stop the gunships," Saw points out.
"We have to move," Steela asserts.
"Any word from Master Skywalker?" Lux asks, turning to Ahsoka.
She sighs, shaking her head. "Not yet." She knows Anakin will do whatever he can to help, but they're almost out of time, and once the droids reach them, everything will be pretty much over. Even if she gets involved in actually fighting, there's nothing they can do against those flying ships at this point. Sometimes, laws seriously irk her.
"We're not giving up yet!" Steela declares determinedly, stepping forwards to giveout orders on what to do with their remaining defenses. Everyone else gathered immediately hurries off to do as instructed. Saw heads out after a few moments later.
Lux turns to Ahsoka. "You have to help us," he tells her.
Really, that's all she wants to do. But she can't, because the Jedi forbid it. "I'll do all I can to protect you," she promises, "But I can't fight this war for you."
"We wouldn't have made it this far without you," Steela replies.
"I wish I could do more," she says quietly. She really, really does. Standing back and giving advice when she could be helping fight is driving her insane.
Something catches her attention suddenly, and she turns to see a ship approaching. This doesn't look good. "Wait, looks like we have company. We better go see what they want." They hurry outside as the ship lands and of all people in the world, Hondo Ohnaka and a group of other pirates begin getting off the ship. The rebels all point their weapons at them.
"Hondo, what are you doing here?" Ahsoka demands, stepping forwards.
"You should thank me, child," he retorts, "I have brought you a gift from Skywalker and Kenobi." It takes her only a moment to realize what he's bringing. Rocket launchers. Anakin figured something out, after all.
Blaster shots suddenly ring out, and she whirls around to see three assassin droids jumping over the edge of the hill, lunging towards them. Hondo immediately decides he needs to be elsewhere the moment the fight breaks out and takes off. Of course, he does. Steela takes out the first droid before one of the creatures they're using for transport flies overhead, carrying away the other two droids in its claws.
"They must have seen Hondo's ship," Steela points out.
"It was only a patrol," Ahsoka replies, glancing around. She doesn't see or sense anything else. "We have to get these down to the others."
They quickly load up the rocket launchers, before getting on the waiting animals. Ahsoka slides onto one behind Lux and they fly away together, back to where the battle has already begun again. They've only just finished disturbing the rocket launchers – which fortunately can shoot down those rey-shielded ships – when Steela promptly gets a call that the Separatists are attacking their home base, after the king.
"She sure leads by example," Ahsoka observes as the girl promptly takes off again.
"What good will that do us if she gets herself killed?" Lux points out with a sigh.
"We have to help!" urges Ahsoka. The two run for the creatures. "And when we get there, I'm joining the battle."
The animal lands in the middle of the chaos, and Ahsoka leaps off, igniting her lightsabers. She's cutting down droid after droid, Lux beside her, shooting, when danger suddenly flares through the Force. Looking up, she spots one of the ship's which was shot down, spiraling straight towards them. She spins, throwing Lux out of the way and diving to the ground as the ship crashes right behind them. The debris is burning furiously, smoke pouring up from it as she pushes herself up.
"You okay?" she calls urgently.
"Yeah," he confirms, standing up too.
Both of them look past the burning ship to where Steela and the king had been moments before, instantly realizing that Steela is hanging from the edge of the cliff. She pushed Dendup to safety, but if Ahsoka doesn't move fast, it might cost her own.
"Steela!" Lux exclaims in alarm, running forwards.
"Lux wait!" Ahsoka yells, "I'll handle this."
He pauses, and she sprints over to the edge of the cliff. She reaches out with the Force, slowly lifting the girl up over the edge again. She's barely finished pulling her to safety when a blaster shot rings out; she senses the blaster bolt but doesn't have time to react. A burning pain rips through her arm and the Togruta stumbles to the ground, right hand instantly moving to press against the wound. She's been shot before on numerous occasions, but that never seems to make dealing with the pain any easier.
One of the canons on the crashed Separatist ship is still active. Lux lifts his blaster instantly, shooting several times at the gun, rendering it non-functional before he hurries to her side.
"I'm okay," Ahsoka mutters, pushing herself up with a groan. She can still move, though she's going to need her injury tended to, preferably soon.
"Right," Lux retorts in disbelief, glancing over at Steela who stands a distance away. "Well, we should have someone around who can treat your shoulder."
"We can worry about it once the battle is over," Ahsoka insists.
"Only if you can promise me not to get yourself killed in the meantime," he agrees, helping her to her feet and guiding her to a more concealed area to wait out the rest of the fight. Or fight from the side lines as much as possible, anyway.
**w**
Anakin and Obi-Wan have returned to Onderon to take Ahsoka back to Coruscant. Anakin hasn't talked to her yet, but she knows by the looks he keeps giving her that they are going to have a talk about this later. In the meanwhile, the entire planet is celebrating the victory.
"After watching the heroics and selflessness of the Jedi, I do believe the Republic is the right side to be on," Lux remarks. Is he really implying what she thinks he is?
"What do you mean?" Ahsoka inquires.
"Dendup has appointed me the new Senator of Onderon. I will follow in my mother's footsteps, and I will bring us back to the Republic."
For a moment, Ahsoka isn't sure if she heard him right. He's going to join the Republic? And all this time she thought she'd never be able to change his mind on that. That also means that he's going to be coming to Coruscant. They'll be able to see each other whenever she's on a break at the Temple. Even if those times are extremely rare, they still happen occasionally, and she'll be able to see him from time to time. She can hardly believe this is happening. This makes the holiday much more personal, something more between just the two of them.
"Seriously?" she breaths, an indescribable emotion surging through her. All this time she'd been afraid they would have to separate after this, but now they won't. They'll be able to see each other frequently – though she doesn't know if that will make easier or harder in the long run.
"Yeah," he agrees, returning her smile.
The conversation is interrupted as Dendup begins speaking. "Remember this day! The day Onderon became free again!"
Final Notes: If you want to join our Discord to receive updates or just hang out, here's the invite link, and please delete the spaces! :) discord . gg / nqSxuz2
You can find us on tumblr at fanfictasia (which is our more serious blog which does have controversial posts on it; I won't be offended if you choose to block it, promise), and disastertriowriting (which is our fun blog with crack posts or incorrect SW quotes; we also advertise our SW gift exchanges on there)
And! We have a YT channel for tributes! Please delete the spaces in the link. :D youtube channel / UC_g1M5rSCxJUzQCRS29B6pA
Finally, if you're interested, you can submit a SW gift fic request via the following form (delete the spaces): forms . gle / rmXWtRomMMaULuPa6