Across the Battlefield
Chapter Three
The First Month
"GET DOWN!" A soldier screamed before tackling Ahsoka onto the ground, right before a torpedo flew over their heads and destroyed the dropship behind them. Before even knowing what really happened the soldier stood up and was once again running into battle only to be shot in the head just mere seconds later. Ahsoka picked herself up only to slam back into the ground as another torpedo shot her way. Using the force Ahsoka rolled out of the view of the tank and stood up once again, igniting her lightsaber at the same time.
The landscape around her was absolute chaos. Even worse than the battle on Teth. There were three giant tanks in front of her, torpedos shooting out of them every few seconds. When they hit the ground columns of dirt shot up into the air then settled into a thick dust cloud making it hard to see anything. Looking around Ahsoka couldn't spot her Master or Captain Rex anywhere. Blocking a blaster bolt that was aimed towards her head, Ahsoka shot off running. She needed to get out this spot. It was quickly becoming a kill box and she was apparently the main target. Looking up Ahsoka barely spotted white armor. A sniper. And the only sniper she knew that was in this area according to the battle plan was Longshot.
Seeing an opening, using the force to help her run and jump Ahsoka was near Longshot's position in less than a minute. She slid in next to him, startling the sniper. "What the ever-loving Kriff!" Longshot shouted in surprise. "What the hell are you doing here Commander!"
"I got separated from my Master and Captain Rex. To make matters worse my comm got destroyed at some point. Probably when I had to hit the ground to avoid one of the torpedos that were aimed right at me. I can't get past them to catch up."
Longshot kept firing with one hand giving the men as much cover as he could while he reached for his Comm with the other.
"What is it!" Rex shouted trying to be heard over the battle.
"Sir, informing you that I got the Commander with me. Her Comm is dead."
"Understood. I'll let the General know." Rex barked before the comm went silent.
From the view on the ledge, Ahsoka has a better understanding of what was happening on the ground. "What can I do to help?"
Longshot looked around quickly before pointing. "See those boulders over there to the right. Think you can do your Jedi force thingy and drop them on the kriffin clankers."
Ahsoka rolled her eyes slightly. "Yeah, I can use my Jedi force thingy." She said half sarcastically before closing her eyes and reaching out.
Longshot stopped shooting and watched in complete and utter awe. He had never been so close to a Jedi before while they used the force and he would swear until his dying moment that he felt the space and air around him move somehow. It was indescribable. Still in something like a trance Longshot slowly stopped watching his Commander and watched as the boulders he pointed out started to shake slightly before slowly rising up off the ground. They wobbled slightly while floating in the air before gravity took over. Each of the boulders fell on top of the tanks crushing them.
"Did that help," Ahsoka panted heavily. She had never used the force to such an extent before and it defiantly took its toll on her.
Longshot flashed her a broad grin even though she couldn't see it through his helmet. "Yeah, it helped Commander. You not only saved hundreds of lives right now but have easily changed the course of this whole battle."
"Good."
"Longshot is my padawan with you?" Skywalkers voice raged. Without speaking, Longshot took the comm off his arm and passed it to Ahsoka.
Ahsoka winced, "Here master."
"Ahsoka what the hell were you thinking! I told you to stay close to me. But did you! NO!"
"It's not my fault master that I had to slam into the ground almost immediately after getting out of the dropship because a torpedo was aimed right at me! You were too busy running along to notice. By the time I got up, you were gone and I had three tanks aimed at me!" Ahsoka shouted back to her master.
Anakin cussed violently in huttese before saying "This is why I told you to always keep aware of your surroundings. If you did you would be up here with me at the Command center and not back there," the Comm was silent for a brief second before Anakin spoke again. This time in a quiet disappointed type of anger. "Do you know never mind. We'll have this conversation some other time. Rex and I will handle the rest of the mission ourselves. Just be somewhat useful where you are and don't die." With those parting words, the comm went dead.
Ahsoka shoved the comm back into Longshot's hand. "Be aware of your surroundings," She mimicked sarcastically, "he told me that right before we entered atmo! I haven't seen him in a week, he barely talked to me before the mission, and now this!"
Longshot patted Ahsokas arm in comfort and understanding. "The General is always this angry and tense during a battle Commander. It's because he worries too much and just wants to protect his troops. Trust me when I say you are even more important to him than us. That's why he was so pissed off. He's worried about you."
"If you say so Longshot," Ahsoka grumbled. Silence overtook the two as Longshot started to shoot down the enemies once again. Ahsoka surveyed the battlefield. Trying to take everything in. "Teach me" She spoke suddenly startling the sniper next to her.
"What?"
"Teach me," Ahsoka repeated. "As a sniper, you have to be aware of your surroundings. So teach me. Teach me to see what I should be aware of. I need to know this. Not just as a Jedi but as a soldier."
"Now isn't exactly the best time for a lesson Commander."
Shaking her head in disagreement "Now is actually the perfect time. I'm going to need to know what to do in situations like this most of all."
Longshot looked up 'why me' he asked silently. Teaching the Commander what to do on a battlefield was not his job. Yet, at the same time, he guessed he was the most qualified in a way. Reaching into his tool belt he pulled out an extra scope and handed it to Ahsoka. Let the Lesson begin...
"Is it so hard to do what I say! I told her to keep up but did she..No. Instead, she's still back there!"
Rex listened to his General rage as he paced and threw his hands in the air. Rex couldn't decide if he should speak up for Commander Ahsoka or not. To be fair to her, they did drop in an extremely hot spot.
"You were able to keep up! And you were in a different dropship than us!"
"Jet pack sir," Rex said bluntly while pointing at his back. "I flew over the tanks."
Anakin threw his up in the air again while shouting "That's not the fekking point!" As if all the anger left his body Anakin sat down and wiped his hair back from his face. A clear sign of how stressed he was. "How can I protect her Rex if she isn't here with us." Knowing the General wasn't looking for an answer Rex chose to stay quiet. Keeping his own concern to himself. Mentally he knew Ahsoka would be safe with Longshot; emotionally though he was in the same spot as Skywalker. But he had faith in his Commander and knew everything would end up just fine. "Come on, let's go. We have a mission to finish" Anakin said while standing up.
The two made their way silently through the terrain to the enemy communication tower. Once that was out the battle was essiantly over.
Still positioned on the cliff, Ahsoka spotted something in the distance, behind the platoons lines. Using the scope Longshot had given her she gasped in shock. "Longshot. Look."
Longshot pointed his gun and scope in the direction his Commander was looking. "Kriff! Fekk! Fekking Kriff! Are you Fekking kidding me!" Immediately he was talking to Hardcase and Appo who were on the ground. "Behind you guys, the enemy is approaching from behind!" After ending the transmission he looked at his Commander. "We are so fekking screwed."
Ahsoka's mind was racing at top speed trying to find a way for the troops to get out of the situation. The enemy was too far away for her to use the force on them. Biting her lip in frustration Ahsoka tried to calm her mind. Think back to her training at the temple. Everything she had ever studied about war and battle tactics. Using the brief lesson Longshot had given her just minutes before Ahsoka took in the surroundings before her. Anything, a sign, or a clue on how to get out of the situation. Then like a brilliant becan she saw it. The destroyed drop ships. Five of them in total. "Hardcase is a demolitions expert right?"
"Commander?"
Not wasting any time she motioned for Longshot to give her back the Comm. "Hardcase this is Ahsoka. I need you to rig the broken drop ships to explode. Chain them together if you can and see if you can put a timer on the whole thing. About 10 minutes."
"I'll get right on it Commander." Hardcases voice echoed through.
With the first part of her plan complete and if her calculations were correct on how much fuel was in the dropships and around them she knew what needed to be done next. "Longshot, I need you to tell every man down there to get to high ground. Those with jet packs, try to carry the wounded. Those who can climb...climb fast and climb high. If they have grabbling cables even better." She waited for Longshot to repeat her orders and watched in satisfaction as she saw the men doing as she ordered no questions asked. "Now, you need to get out of here."
"Excuse me, Commander!"
"You heard me Longshot. You need to get out of here, climb high like your brothers."
"I was given orders by General Skywalker to stay by your side! I'm not leaving you, Commander!"
Ahsoka turned to face Longshot, the calculated determination she ad shown through her eyes. "I dont care what my Master told you. I am giving you the order to get out of here and you will follow it. I have a plan!"
"What's this plan of yours that you cant retreat!"
Ahsoka smirked while standing up, her lightsaber flying into her hand. "You'll see. Now get out of here. Now! There's not much time left." With those final words, Ahsoka force pushed Longshot towards the cliffs then used the force to jump down and away...towards the tanks she destroyed earlier. With no time to waste she threw the boulders off of the tank that was least destroyed and hopped in to it. She knew she was going to be in so much trouble. Probably dead. And if she didn't die in this moment then Skywalker and Rex would most definitely kill her afterward when they found out. She pushed past the droid and went under the control panel. She had read about this once, during her studies. Pulling wires she cut some then fused them to others. In less than a minute The tank was roaring back to life. After pressing a few more buttons on the control panel, Ahsoka jumped out of the tank and started running as fast as the force could make her. Behind her the tank started rolling towards the rigged dropships.
She caught to the men, some of who were still on the ground, "Move! Now!" She screamed at them, the urgency in her voice made them climb faster. She started climbing with them. They need to get to the top of the cliffside as fast as possible. Within seconds she was pulling herself onto the cliff and helped those behind her come up too. And not a moment too late. With the force and timing perfect Ahsoka watched the destruction she just caused and smiled. Then she passed out.
Anakin and Rex felt the explosion before they saw it. A rumbling shook the ground, then a cloud of fire and smoke burst into the sky. Both of them were memorized by it then Rex's HUD scanned the location. "Sir, that's coming from"
"Ahsoka's position." Anakin finished.
"Longshot! Do you copy!" Rex roared into his comm. "Longshot!"
Static burst through the speakers than coughing. "I'm here Captain." Longshot's voice was raspy, his statement ending in even more coughing.
"What the hell happened soldier! Where is my padawan!" Skywalker raged.
"I'm still trying to get the location of Commander Tano, as for what happened. She saved us, sir. She saved all of us."
"What do you mean locate her position! She was supposed to be with you!"Anakin screamed.
"She.."
"Don't tell me. We're coming back."
"Yes sir"
Anakin turned around and started running towards his padawans location. In order to keep up with the General, Rex flew overhead using his Jet Pack. The closer they got, their fear intensified. Destruction was all around them. Flames, droid parts. The smoke was thick and heavy in the air, making it hard to breathe and see.
"Sir, on top of the cliffs"
Looking up to where Rex pointed Anakin used the force was jumping up the cliffside as fast he could. Rex was not far behind him. When they got to the top they were shocked by what they saw. Almost the whole platoon was up there. More or less safe.
"What happened here!" Rex barked out
At the same time "Where is my padawan!"
Jesse jogged up to his General and Captain. "General, Captain. The enemy was coming towards us from behind. We were almost boxed in. Then the Commander gave the order for us to retreat, climb up to the top of the cliffs as fast as possible. She had Hardcase rigg the four broken dropships together into a giant bomb. Then...I can barely describe what happened. Just minutes before they were to explode she ran into one of the tanks she destroyed earlier and got it to move in front of the dropships. When she reached us up here, the explosion happened and...I guess she used the force or maybe it was where the tank was positioned. But as the explosion started the tank was thrown into the air and towards the enemy line. Those in the front got melted by the explosion itself. Those farther behind got hit by a flying tank that then exploded itself. She obliterated them."
Rex and Anakin looked at the battlefield in silent shock. As the smoke cleared they saw the evidence for themselves. "Where is she now?" Anakin whispered.
"She passed out right as the explosion started. She is with Coric at the moment. Over there." Jesse pointed in the general direction where the Commander was.
Anakin immediately started to jog towards the direction he was given. "Continuing organizing the troops Jesse" Rex ordered before he followed the General.
They got to the tent right as Ahsoka was waking up. She groaned and rolled over just in time to throw up on the ground next to her stretcher. Right next to Anakin's shoes. It was after she was done throwing up and dry heaving that she looked up. She winced underneath the looks the two men were giving her. She opened her mouth to speak but Anakin held up his hand. Her mouth snapped closed with an audible click.
"Don't just.." Before even he knew what he was doing Anakin crushed his padawan into his chest in a brief but tight hug. Before grabbing her shoulders and shaking her. "What the hell were you thinking! You could have died from pulling a stunt like that!"
Ahsoka ripped herself out of her master's grip and stood up. "I was thinking all the men were going to die and I needed to do something to save them!"
"The explosion could have saved them. The whole thing with the tank! What the fekk were you thinking!"
"I was thinking the explosion wouldn't have been enough. And it wouldn't have. If I didn't use that tank the way I did half of that droid army would still be down there shooting at us!"
"You almost killed yourself!"
"Well, I didn't! Did I!"
"Barely!" Anakin and Ahsoka stood toe to toe. Anakin was red in the face while Ahsoka was a dark almost burnt orange her facial markings taking a flat grayish appearance. Both of them were breathing heavily. "I'm still beyond pissed off at you. But I'm proud. You saved all those men, snips. You did good."
Ahsoka smiled shakily. "Thank you Skyguy."
Shaking his head at his nickname Anakin led Ahsoka out of the med tent. "Come on let's get off this rock."
Rex moved from where he stood, forgotten in the corner, following the two Jedi silently. He was surprised he was still standing himself. In the past half-hour he had so many heart attacks and panic attacks it wasn't funny. And all of them were caused by his crazy Commander and crazier General. They were most certainly going to be the death of him.
Ahsoka ran the track on the resolute, sweat dripping down her forehead and into her eyes. Next to her was Anakin who looked like he just barely started working out. The day after they got back to the Resolute and Kix said Ahsoka was good to go Anakin had been training her mercilessly. He made her go through the obstcale course again and again and again. And he would stand in the corner throwing stuff at her with the force, or moving an obstacle from where it was previously to block her and make her think fast on what to do. His punishment for what she did on the planet was training her until she dropped. Making sure she knew what it meant to be aware of her surroundings.
They had been doing this for three days now and each day was harder than the last. "Stop" Anakin ordered after they completed several more laps around the gym. Ahsoka gladly did, falling to her knees as she did so. Breathing heavily. "Obi Wan is going to be here shortly. The enemy has a new mystery weapon and we are combining fleets until we find it. So take a shower and get ready to meet him in the hanger."
"Understood master" Ahsoka panted struggling to her feet as her Master walked away. Sweat blurred her vision and she swayed a few steps before a helping arm fell across her shoulders. Looking up she saw Rex was the one holding her up. "Hey Rexster" She gave the Captain a shaky smile as he helped her walk out of the gym.
"Hey lil'un, you okay here?"
Ahsoka rolled her eyes. "I think he is trying to kill me."
Rex chuckled slightly. "If he was trying to kill you, he would be training you even harder." The two moved to the lift and Ahsoka was steady enough to where she didn't need to lean on the Captain so much.
"Anakin yelled at me for hours then started training me until I drop. You haven't said anything."
Rex looked at his Commander, appraised her as a soldier. The General was being ruthless with her. Training her until she dropped. But he knew it also a competition in a way. A dare. Ahsoka would never say she had enough. She would struggle through, prove herself that she could handle anything that was thrown at her. His two Jedi were the same in that way. Both of them were going overboard. Hopefully, General Kenobi would help balance them out. Before Ahsoka officially dropped from pushing herself too hard. "Remember when I said I would save yelling at you for another day. That still applies."
"So you're not that mad at me."
"Oh, I'm beyond furious with you; but I'm also grateful. If it wasn't for your actions we would have lost that whole platoon. There were good men there that you saved."
Ahsoka shook her head slightly. "There is a whole battalion of good men here. Not just on the ground."
Rex placed a hand on Ahsoka's shoulder. "That's true. But my men were down there. Yes, We are in Command of the whole battalion but my own official company was down there. The brothers I'm closest to. Torrent Crew. You saved Torrent Crew and for that I'm grateful.
Ahsoka's eyes went wide for a second. "I knew Torrent crew was down there most of my friends are in it, but I didn't know you were the leader of it."
Rolling his eyes Rex leaned against the wall of the lift. "Yes, they are my men. Why do you think you don't get in trouble whenever I find you with them in the barracks. It's because I trust them above everybody else."
The lift doors as Ahsoka said 'oh' she said as they started walking out, "Wait. This isn't the way to my quarters."
Once again putting a helping arm on her shoulder Rex led Ahsoka to the med bay. "You need to see Kix."
"What! No, I dont."
"Ok, prove it. If you can walk from here to the end of the corridor without falling, or even swaying I won't take you to Kix. If you cant, You're seeing him."
Rolling her eyes and gritting her teeth Ahsoka shrugged off Rex's arm. She made three steps before she started swaying. Rex was quickly right their holding her up. She said nothing as he walked her to the med bay.
Kix was busy fixing a clone's arm when they came. He saw his two commanding officers out of the corner of his eye was automatically concerned with the state of his Commander. Everybody had either seen or heard how hard the General had been pushing his padawan the past few days. But seeing her swaying on her feet the way she was...Kix motioned for another medic to take over and walked towards Rex and Ahsoka.
"Put her over there," Kix ordered as he gathered some supplies. When Ahsoka was sitting on the gurney he quickly took vitals. He didn't say anything as he walked away again and came back with a couple of syringes, "This," He waved a syringe before sticking it in the little Commanders's arm. "Is a muscle relaxer. It will help for your muscles to not seize up and start spasming. Now this one is a protein booster an enabler. Help get your energy levels up and make you steadier. Now I would prefer to have you on light duty and no PT for a couple of days but I have a feeling that won't happen anytime soon. So, come back here after every training session so I can check on you. Make sure to hydrate as well."
"Thank you Kix" Ahsoka spoke as she got off of the gurney. She could already feel the medication working as she was much steadier on her feet and the universe was longer spinning. As Ahsoka left the Med Bay Rex and Kix watched her with concern in their eyes.
"The General is pushing her hard." Kix commented.
Nodding his head in agreement Rex added, "It's not just him though. She doesn't know how to say stop or that she needs a break. She is pushing herself more than he's pushing her."
"But he isn't stopping her either."
"He has the same problem. You know that."
"So who stops them."
"General Kenobi, who thankfully will be here soon."
Ahsoka decided to take a water shower, letting the hot water pour over her sore muscles. She knew that if she asked for a break her master would give it to her. But she didn't want to. She wanted to prove herself to him. She wanted to prove that she was good enough to handle what he threw at her no matter the cost. That she was good enough to be Anakin Skywalkers padawan.
When Ahsoka first learned that she was finally going to be assigned to a Jedi she hoped with all her might that she would be assigned to Plo Koon. The Jedi Master who found her. Her closest friend. Then Master Yoda told her she was to be assigned to the famous Anakin Skywalker. Every youngling knew his name. The oldest kid to ever be excepted in the order, the youngest to ever become a knight, and apparently the fabled chosen one. Ahsoka was beyond excited. But now. Being his padawan was not what she expected and she felt as if he was seeing her as a big mistake. More than anything she didn't want to be a mistake and to be sent back to the temple. She wanted to be his padawan.
Turning off the water Ahsoka got out of the shower and got dressed. Obi Wan would be on his way, if not already here. Rushing towards the hanger she got there just in time to see Obi Wan's ship land. "Your late snips," Anakin whispered.
"I'm sorry, I took too long in my shower." The conversation between the two of them was cut short as Obi Wan walked towards them.
"Well, I heard you two had an interesting adventure on the planet the other day," Ahsoka winced and bowed her head at Obi Wan's blunt statement. "You must tell me all about it. Later. Right now Anakin and I need to talk to the council."
Obi Wan walked away, Anakin following him, leaving Ahsoka standing in the hanger by herself. Without really realizing what she was doing Ahsoka walked through corridors until she found herself in the rec room. Nobody was in it and she took the opportunity to fall onto the couch that was there and flip through channels on the holo screen. Nothing good was on except some sports game. She left it on that and fell asleep, listing to the announcers talking through the play by play.
Once again Rex was searching for Ahsoka. When he saw she wasn't with the Generals he thought that maybe she was smart and went to go get some food in her. He had a feeling she hadn't eaten all day. But she wasn't in the mess hall. Or his office, the gym, the barracks. So now he was wandering the ship looking for her.
"Oh and look at that shot. With a single pass, 22 just took his team into the lead"
Rex heard the sound of the bollo ball game and went to go check it out. Even though it wasn't his team playing he could still look at the score real fast before he continued on the hunt for Ahsoka. When he got into the rec room he saw that the few men in there were silent. Normally they would be shouting at the holoscreen, telling the players what to do. But they were quiet.
"What's happ..."
"Shh," Rex was hushed quickly by Appo who then pointed towards the couch. Curled up in a ball was Ahsoka, asleep.
"We came in to watch the game but saw that the little Commander was asleep. We decided to try and wake her, helping her to her quarters. Or at least Torrent Crews barracks but the second we tried she started thrashing around like she was in a nightmare. We thought it was best if we left her here, watch over her." Appo explained in a whisper.
"And the game being on?"
Appo shrugged. "It was on when we got here. I guess she turned on before falling asleep."
Rex contemplated the situation before sighing and pulling up a seat. "Give me the play-by-play, what's happening."
As Appo explained what was happening in the game Rex watched out of the corner of his eye as Longshot came in with a blanket and carefully draped it over the sleeping girl. Almost everyone in the rec room was torrent crew and all of them were there to keep an eye on their little Commander. Ever since she personally saved all of them at the cliffs his men had unspokenly decided to be her personal protectors. Rex knew Ahsoka was already special to them, but now it was different. They started truly seeing her as vod.
For the first time in his life, Rex watched an intense game of Bollo Ball in complete silence. Everyone who entered the Rec room was quickly silenced with a quick gesture to the sleeping Commander on the couch. Torrent Crew or not, they all understood, and in silence they all supported her.
"Rex come in." Rex's comm went off. Rex quickly left the Rec room and stood in the hall as he answered the General. "Obi Wan and I are leaving for a few days, heading to Coruscant in order to discuss what is happening with this new mystery weapon with the council in person. Watch Ahsoka while I'm gone."
"Understood sir," Rex answered. He shook his head in exasperation before going back into the rec room. Jesse tilted his head towards Rex, questioning what was happening. "The General is leaving again for a few days. He's leaving the Commander with us." Even though his voice was a whisper all the men heard him.
"At least she'll get a break from all that training she has been doing the past few days. We weren't even pushed that hard on Kamino." Longshot whispered as he watched Ahsoka with concern.
Rex nodded his head in agreement and turned back to watch the game.
Ahsoka was lost. In a swirl of darkness. She was falling. Or was she flying? She didn't know. All she knew was she was alone and the darkness was empty. Still. She couldn't tell if it was a welcoming embrace or an angry predator. The darkness was inky, murky. She didn't like it and wanted out. Yet the harder she tried to get out of it, the more it clung to her. In the back of her mind, Ahsoka knew she was dreaming. That she needed to wake up, but she couldn't. She couldn't find a way out.
"Lil'un, come on wake up." A voice called to her from a distance. Ahsoka struggled through the darkness towards the voice. Slowly she became aware of reality, of her surroundings. She remembered falling asleep in the rec room with the holoscreen on. Yet she had no clue how she became wrapped up in a blanket. Blinking she saw Rex's concerned face looking at her.
"Hey," her voice was groggy full of sleep. Her limbs were heavy, she struggled to sit up. "How long have I been asleep?"
"Long enough for the bollo ball game to end. They normally take a couple of hours and I came in long before half time."
"Oh," Ahsoka watched the holoscreen behind Rex, it was going through the highlights of the game. "Whats bollo ball?"
Rex's eyes widened with shock. Her words would make any clone look at her like she was crazy. "Whats Bollo Ball," He sputtered. "Just the best game ever invented."
Ahsoka, now more awake watched Rex's reaction with shock. She had only seen him so serious about something when it came to the battalion. She heard him mumble under his breath about her not knowing bollo ball and the men going crazy. He also said something about Hardcase never finding out. Ahsoka grew more amused and intrigued by the minute. She definitely wanted to know this game now if had such a strong reaction from Rex, and she expected other clones too. "What do they teach in that Jedi temple if you don't know Bollo Ball."
"Do you even want me to answer that?" Ahsoka shot back at Rex sarcastically. He gave her a look that clearly said NO. "Can you teach me? What the game is."
Holding his hand out, Ahsoka took it and he pulled her off of the couch. "Trust me, Commander. By the end of the week, the men and I will make sure you're a pro."
Biting her lip in frustration, "I don't know about that, not with my training and everything."
"Not a problem. The General left again. He said he would be gone for a few days."
"Oh."
Rex watched Ahsoka's expression fall at the news of Skywalker gone again and mentally slapped himself for bringing it up the way he did.
"Does this mean I can start shadowing people on the roster again?" Ahsoka asked with a fake brightness. Trying to turn her disappointment around.
"Yes, but no morning PT for at least two days. Your following Kix's orders there."
Ahsoka's stomach grumbled and she glared down at it. The two walked out of the rec room towards the mess hall. "I can order Kix to let me go to PT."
"Sorry, lil'un that's not how it works. As medic Kix and Coric outrank everybody when it comes to health."
"But I'm fine" Ahsoka wined as they entered the mess.
Rex shrugged, "If you can convince Kix I'll let you join morning PT again. But that is not something I'm helping with."
"Fine" Ahsoka huffed as she grabbed food and found a place to sit. Rex just shook his head before saying 'see you, tomorrow kid'. Ahsoka watched as the Captain walked out of the mess hall and sighed. Once again her master was gone. Once again she felt like she was Rex's burden, a youngling that he had to babysit. But her mind replayed what he said in the lift. How he thanked her for saving all those men. She didn't know how she felt about it. Kriff, she wasn't even able to meditate on what happened that day yet because of all the training she was doing.
Stabbing her fork into something that was a brownish, greenish color that qualified as food than shoving it into her mouth her thoughts drifted back to the battle. In all honesty, she barely remembered what she did. She remembered force pushing Longshot away so he would be safe, she remembered rigging the tank so if would go into the right position. Her memory turned foggy at the next part, she knew she used the force to make sure the tank vaulted into enemy lines before it too exploded. But she didn't remember the details. It was like hearing a story from someone else.
Ahsoka ate her food automatically, not really thinking about it or tasting it. Trying to recollect details from the battle. Her eyes went wide as her fork fell out of her hand. The soldier that saved her life after she landed. The one who got shot in the head before she could even get off of the ground. Who was he? Would anybody know? Somebody should have known him. But who could she ask? It wasn't like there were holorecorders everywhere on a battlefield. Mechanically Ahsoka stood up and walked out of the mess hall and towards the room she found her first day onboard the resolute. The room with all the names and tally marks. Maybe she could find answers there.
Hardcase watched as the little Commander stood up and walked out of the mess hall as if in a daze. It was unspoken in a way but all of Torrent Crew was worried about her. Even the captain even though he would deny till his dying day. It was unspoken they left while the Captain woke her up after she started screaming in her sleep. She was his charge after all and any brother with eyes could tell the Captain was starting to become protective of her. More like overprotective really. After Ahsoka had saved all of their shebs planetside in a feat of Jedi powers none of them had ever really seen before. Torrent Crew had without any deliberation or talking about it, became her personal protectors. Hardcase, as a protector was worried about her and how she looked while walking out of the mess hall. As if she was haunted. A few seconds after she left he left too and followed her.
Normally Ahsoka would have noticed him within a few seconds but she was so wrapped up in her own world she never did. Hardcase followed Ahsoka all the way to the room they kept to remember the fallen. HE kept as silent as he could while he watched her take in all of the names of the brothers that were lost in the war.
"I don't know his name," Ahsoka said while looking at the wall of names in front of her startling Hardcase.
"Whose name?" Hardcase walked forward and placed a comforting hand on the little Commanders shoulder.
"Right after the dropship landed and the torpedos started firing, a soldier saved me, he pushed me down right as the torpedo went over our heads. Seconds after he got up he was dead. Shot in the head by a kriffin clanker. HE saved my life but I couldn't save his. I don't even know who he was."
"Brothers fall every day, there is little we can do about it. Even though you don't know who he was, you can still honor his memory."
Ahsoka looked up into Hardcases eyes. "How?"
Hardcase smiled. "By surviving, and fighting. By not giving up."
Ahsoka's eyes brightened. "I think I can do that."
Punching her shoulder playfully Hardcase chuckled before leading them out of the room. "Good, and just to make sure you do there is a whole battalion at your back to help you."
"Even Torrent Crew?"
"Specifically Torrent Crew."
Three days later Ahsoka found herself in a precarious situation. She was in the gym surrounded by twenty men. "Guys, seriously it can't be this bad." Ahsoka held up her hands in defeat and walked backward slowly.
"We're sorry Commander but we cannot accept this. You need to fix things now."
"How can I fix things? I don't even know what to do."
"You can fix things by learning."
Ahsoka sighed in defeat. There was no escaping. Her Master was still gone and Captain Rex took one look at the situation at hand and made himself scarce. This was something Ahsoka had to do on her own. "Okay, okay. I give up. Teach me how to play bolo ball."
Ahsoka cringed as the gym was filled with the sound of the men cheering. Ahsoka was going to kill Rex. Just because she accidentally mentioned that she had never heard of bolo ball before during morning PT; didn't mean he had to smile evilly and leave her to face the men. She was so going to get back at him. But first. It was time to learn how to play bolo ball. If for any reason then to get Hardcase to stop 'crying' into Jesse's shoulder about how cruel the Jedi are for not teaching the important things in life.
Three hours later Ahsoka proved once again how quickly she was at learning. Did her team win? Not by any means; but it was still a really close game. In the end Kix's team won by five points. "So do you like the game?" Hardcase asked with giant hopeful eyes. Ahsoka looked around and every single man had the same look.
"Yeah. I like bolo ball."
The gym was filled with cheers once again.
Ahsoka couldn't sleep. She tried everything, from working out, meditating, drinking some calming tea that the Admiral gave her. Nothing was working. Her body was on edge. All of her senses hyper-aware. Tossing and turning she wondered if maybe it was because her Master was back and only spoke to her for a grand total of two minutes before disappearing somewhere else on the ship. Seeing how sleep would not come Ahsoka decided to get up. Maybe a long walk would help her.
Why would Anakin say he would take her on as a padawan if he didn't want to teach her. At least other masters that were too 'busy' left their padawans at the temple. Not on a giant warship by themselves. Turning a corner, Ahsoka was so deep in her thoughts she didn't sense who she ran into until she was on the ground.
"Snips, what are you doing up?" Anakin asked her while helping her off the ground.
Ahsoka rubbed her arms and bit her lip. Seeing him in front of her she knew what she had to do. "I couldn't sleep." Anakin just nodded his head and moved to walk away. Before she lost her courage. Ahsoka reached for his arm. Stopping him in his tracks. "Master, I've been thinking and I understand if you want me to go back to the temple. I just want to know what I did wrong?"
Anakin just stared at her, blinking slowly. "I don't get what you're saying snips. Why would I send you back? You're my padawan."
"Am I though," Ahsoka choked out, "You are never here. Always off on a mission or not available. Just leaving me in the care of Rex and the other soldiers. I feel like a burden. To you and the men. If you don't want me then just say so!" Ahsoka ended her speech almost shouting.
"Are you saying you don't like it here? I know being around clones can be highly uncomfortable to a lot of people and.."
"That's not what I'm saying at all! I love the men, they look out for me, help train me."
Anakin leaned against the wall and folded his arms over his chest while narrowing his eyes slightly. "Do you really? Can even tell them apart or know any of their names besides Rex?"
"Can you!? Jesse, Kix, Longshot, Hardcase, and Appo are my friends!" Ahsoka defended herself and the men. How dare her Master say they were all the same to her. They weren't.
Anakin just smirked. "What about Rex, I didn't hear you call him a friend."
Ahsoka shook her head slightly. "That's because he's not. Rex isn't my friend master, he's more than that. He is my friend. My teacher and I know he thinks of me as a burden but I respect him. If it wasn't for Rex allowing me to join morning PT, and hang around with the men I would have gone insane from loneliness. He is the reason why I even know the men and can call them friends."
Anakin grinned. "You just completed your first lesson/test."
"What?" Ahsoka asked stupidly not knowing what was happening anymore.
"The men are your friends. You know their names, personalities. That was your first lesson."
"I don't understand."
"Jedi are taught to respect life, care for it. Yet we are also taught that attachment is wrong and forbidden. It is because of this that a lot of Jedi fighting in the war consider their soldiers as if they were battle droids. Not real-life men. I purposely disappeared all the time so you could get to know them and make up your mind on what the clones should be. What they are supposed to be. I needed you to understand for yourself that just because they share the same face does not mean they are the same man."
Ahsoka smiled hesitantly, hope filling her voice. "So you do want me after all?"
Anakin smiled and patted her shoulder. "I wouldn't have agreed to be your master if I didn't. Now go to bed snips. Tomorrow I'm teaching you how to properly use that lightsaber of yours. How you passed Master Yoda's class is beyond me."
Ahsoka grinned and with a 'yes master' she ran off.
Anakin chuckled lightly as he watched Ahsoka runoff. "You can come out now."
Rex sheepishly came out from around the corner. The past couple of days he had trouble sleeping and so he took it upon himself to work some of the patrol shifts. He was about to turn the corner before he stopped himself as he heard his two Jedi's voices. At first, he was going to turn around and leave but then he heard the words 'so Rex isn't your friend'.
Rex knew he originally saw his new Commander as a burden but the more he got to know her and saw how she was getting along with the men he began to not only accept her but on his side at least feel like they were growing a friendship. His heart unclenched as he heard Ahsoka explain what he was to her and felt honored that she thought so highly of him.
"So what do you think Rex?"
Ashamed of himself, "I'm sorry General for eavesdropping I know I should have turned and"
Anakin rolled his eyes. "Shut up Rex. I'm actually glad you overheard that conversation. Now, do you think Ahsoka knows the troops? And I'm asking you not just as Captain but also as my friend."
"The men respect Commander Tano. The ones she are closest to are highly protective of her, they consider her vod'ika and would willingly die to protect her. All of Torrent Crew love her, they call her their 'little Commander'. She isn't like normal Jedi, she listens to us, truly listens, and tries to understand everyone for exactly who they are. More often than not if I can't find her all I have to do is listen to the sound of the men laughing and I know that's where she is."
"And what do you think of her."
With no hesitation whatsoever, "She is brash, impulsive, doesn't follow a single order and beyond reckless. She's a lot like you General. She has a lot to learn but I can easily see Ahsoka becoming a great Commander in the future, an amazing soldier, and an amazing Jedi. In time.
"Amazing soldier? Really. That is high praise coming from you...Rexster."
"Oh force not you too."
"Don't worry that's Ahsoka's name for you and I'm not taking it away from her."
Rex looked up and prayed to the force to just end this whole thing.
"The second you turned the corner I felt your presence. If Ahsoka wasn't so emotionally she would have felt it too."
"She is strong in the force isn't she," Rex asked rhetorically.
Anakin ran a hand through his hair a clear sign he was stressed. "One of the strongest I've felt in a long time that isn't part of the council. Just don't tell her that. The stunt she pulled with the tank. Very few could pull off, especially without proper guidance. That whole thing could have gone so wrong, deadly wrong." With that grave statement, Anakin left Rex, heading towards his own room to get some sleep. Now he could really start training his padawan...and could finally have Obi Wan stop yelling at him.
There was a literal overnight transformation on the resolute. Anakin and Ahsoka were inseparable. Where one was the other was sure to follow. After Ahsoka passed her 'first lesson' her true training had begun and a new routine was established. She would still join Rex and Torrent Crew for morning PT but once that was done she would stay in the gym, meditate until Anakin came in then start her saber training. After that, it varied on what her master was doing that day. Everything from sitting in on strategy meetings, learning how to fly her starfighter, helping Anakin with his daily tinkering around with all of the mechanics he could get his hands on. And through all of this they talked; Jedi philosophies, deeper meanings, how to listen to the force, and letting it guide you.
While the two Jedi were becoming connected and growing a sibling-like bond was a good thing, it was also a bad thing. Anakin and Ahsoka also fought like siblings. They did every type of arguing there was, from yelling and screaming in each other's faces to petty silences. It became normal to find them laughing hysterically or not talking all within the same five minutes. Rex and Admiral Yoularen just thanked the force that the two Jedi's fights were never about anything serious. So far.
Rex watched as his General and Commander were once again arguing. About what, who knew.
"Well, maybe if you actually listened to me Master, we wouldn't have gotten into that situation in the first place."
"No, you are so not putting the blame on me for this snips, next time I say duck, you should duck."
"Oh like when I told you to run the other day because of the big green monster that was chasing you and you decided it would be fun to try and pet it instead!"
The two walked by Rex without even seeing him, within a second they were both out of sight. Rex just shook his head and went back to what he was doing. Things were getting tense everywhere in the GAR with the mystery weapon wiping out whole battalions. Even though they didn't outwardly show it, Rex knew that the Jedi were especially worried about it, seeing as how four other Jedi had been killed by it so far.
"Captain Rex, you're needed on the bridge." The Admirals voice rang through Rex's comm. Rex acknowledged and made his way towards the bridge. Once there he saw it was absolute chaos. Skywalker was having an argument with Obi Wan over the hollow table and Ahsoka was in a corner both pouting and seething at the same time.
"What is happening Admiral?" Rex asked the same time his General hung up on Obi Wan and nodded his head towards his Padawan. The two Jedi once again leaving the room.
"We have just heard the news that the mystery weapon has made another attack."
The mission was a normal 501st victory. As in everything that could go wrong went wrong but somehow they pulled a miracle out of their asses and saved the day. In other words, one of Skywalkers crazy plans once again proved to not be so crazy in the end. Master Plo Koon and survivors of his battalion were found, they managed to destroy the hyperdrive on Grievous ship leaving the head clanker stranded, and rescued a Senator while they were at it.
Rex was in the middle of taking off his gear for the night when he heard a knock on his door. Before he could even say enter his Commander walked in.
"Hey Rexster, I just wanted to say goodbye real fast. I'm leaving with Master Plo Koon to help escort Senator Amidala back to Coruscant." Ahsoka rushed out, clearly out of breath.
"When do you leave?"
"Now, actually. I've been trying to find you but every time someone said they knew where you were you had already left."
Rex pointed at his arm, "Next time you could just comm me."
"Oh, I kinda forgot that that existed," Ahsoka mumbled while blush spread throughout her face,
Rex walked over to her and patted her head in between her montrals. "Come on kid, it's not that bad. Anyways, I'll see you soon lil'un."
Ahsoka smiled brightly, "I'll see you soon Rexster"
Ahsoka was halfway out the door when Rex spoke up. "Don't give the wolf pack too hard of a time you hear me? Or it will be extra work for you." HE watched as Ahsoka pouted but in the end, she nodded her head. Rex rolled his eyes. He knew damn well that Ahsoka was going to drive the wolf pack insane now. But then again she did say General Koon was one of her closest and oldest friends, so maybe she would behave for him. Only the force knew.