Author's Note: For those of you who don't know, the Mandalorian Season 2 has officially cast Rosario Dawson... as Ahsoka Tano! I guess this means Season 2 is going to be spectacular, thought it remains to be seen if she'll show up for just one episode or more. Either way, get excited!
-Chapter 94: Back to Basics-
Location: Charros IV
"If you have not learned something new in a day, then that day has been wasted."
The Battle of Charros IV had not gone as planned.
A squadron of newly-minted Vulture fighters attacked Plo Koon's forces with unrelenting strafing runs, forcing the Republic to fall back as the droid army arrived in force to fortify their holding. The 104th Battlaion had no choice but to retreat, failing to hold their position against the combined might of The Wraith and his feminine partner.
Appearing via hologram, Master Koon attended a meeting with the Jedi Council in order to give his unfortunate report.
"Charros Four has now become a permanent hotbed of Separatist activity. They have clearly placed much value on Haor Chall's production facility and are determined to defend it."
"All the more reason to take it down." Mace sternly declared. "But that is not the only one, and it seems Haor Chall has the Confederacy's favor enough to summon a defending army."
"With the losses sustained today, Master Windu, we cannot take this world ourselves." The Kel Dor gravely responded.
"We will divert Master Tapal and the Thirteenth Battalion towards you, hopefully his reinforcements should give you the edge you need." Mace promised. Plo nodded as Windu turned to Yoda, the Grand Master not focused on the conversation with a distant look in his eyes.
"Master Yoda?" He politely inquired. His words stirred Yoda back to the present and the Grand Master turned to his friend. "Something on your mind?" Mace inquired. Yoda pondered speaking his quandary aloud, deciding after a moment that information is best deciphered when in the company of others.
"Felt I have, a presence in the Force." He revealed. "From out of nowhere, it came."
"What kind of presence?" Obi-Wan asked, leaning forward in his chair.
"Something... new, Master Kenobi. Potential it has, yet weak is it." Yoda explained.
"But for it to be revealed to you in such a way... surely there is more to it than just potential." Mace suggested.
"No, Master Windu. A gravity this presence has, drawn towards it I was. Of great importance it may be, not great power." Yoda responded, his wisdom and insight revealing more than the Jedi could comprehend in the moment.
"But for something like that to suddenly appear out of nowhere... it just doesn't sound probable." Mace replied, brow furrowed in focused thought.
"Strange occurrences, happen in growing numbers they seem to be." Yoda replied. "Meditate on this, I will. Forgive my interruption, Master Koon." He apologized. Koon pardoned with a raised hand.
"It is quite alright, Master Yoda." He forgave him. "The potential presence of a notable Force-sensitive should be explored, as such a mysterious occurrence ought to be made known to the Council."
"Hopefully there's not much more we don't know about." Mace quietly agreed.
But the Jedi Council was in the dark about many things. Wraith and Ahsoka's relationship for one.
With Master Plo in a different part of the ship, Ahsoka sat alone in her quarters, taking a moment to meditate and regain her strength after the taxing fight for Charros. Deep in the Force, Ahsoka drew on its power to cleanse her mind and replenish her spirit. It felt calm and relaxing, like floating on a still pool. But being so deep in the Force enhanced her senses, making her far more susceptible to sudden sensory inputs from the sole presence of individuals. So she sensed the heat sooner than she sensed his presence and smiled a little as his every emotion filled her mind. Surprise, happiness, thankfulness, admiration.
"You awake?" His deep, manly voice inquired. She chuckled, ignoring the pleasurable shiver that rolled down her spine at the sound of his voice, her eyes opening with a brief flutter of her lashes as Wraith came into view.
"Obviously." She playfully replied, seeing him out of armor and sitting on his bed. "Not on Charros anymore?" She asked.
"I'm off-duty while the army takes over defensive duties." Wraith told her. "But I'm on-call in case you and your army tries anything." He added with a slight smirk.
"I'll try to delay everything so you can get some rest." She teasingly replied. "So... how are you holding up with... the new 'stuff'? Ahsoka wondered after a moment. Wraith laughed nervously as he understood her euphemism.
"It's funny really." He softly replied, running a hand through his hair.
"What is?"
"I can run a mile in under a minute, I can lift over a thousand pounds on a regular basis, I know the ins and outs of virtually every single piece of machinery available to both the Separatists and the Republic... and yet I don't have the slightest clue about what to do about this." He quietly mused, looking over his hands. "I... I think I need a... a teacher. I need someone who can show me how to handle this stuff." He admitted. having given this a lot of thought in the moments between fighting battles, Wraith had decided that he simply didn't know enough to move forward. "Since you're the only Force-sensitive person to ever know about this, and to know about me... do you think you could teach me a few things?" He asked. Ahsoka thought there was something really sweet about the way he asked her, in spite of his insecurities and worries. Something about the way he admitted he did not have what it took, or the strength or the power to adjust to his new reality.
"Yes, of course!" She readily and eagerly responded, sensing his relief almost instantaneously. "What do you want to know?"
"First of all, how to better control myself so that the Force isn't obvious every time I hit something. Remember the tree on Charros? I'd like to avoid doing that again." He replied. That and throwing a Houk off of him. It had come in handy, but he simply couldn't control it.
"Sure. Anything else?"
"Yeah, I'd like to learn how to 'conceal my Force signature'... at least, I think that's the right term..." He added, scratching his head. Having never used the Force until now, let alone not once being immersed in a culture where the Force was so central, Wraith was still figuring out all the proper terminology with what little information available to him. He could do more research when back on the Dominance.
"It is, and yes, I know how to do that." Ahsoka answered. Wraith breathed a sigh of relief, thankful for her assistance. "Let's start with the first one. Controlling the Force is about being calm and having a cool head. You'll lash out a lot less if you're in control." Ahsoka described, swiftly recalling every lesson she'd learned while growing up under the tutelage of seasoned Jedi like Master Yoda. "The Force is in synch with who you are, so if you're struggling or frustrated, it'll act similarly. The goal is to be a smooth, straight line and getting the Force to flow likewise." Wraith furrowed his brow for a moment as he pondered Ahsoka's words. A conversation he'd had a long time ago suddenly came to mind and the clash between what he was hearing with what he was thinking became painfully obvious. What Ahsoka was saying seemed to be the exact opposite of what Momin had told him. The ancient Sith said the Force was not about control but servitude, a matter of submitting to power instead of trying to master it. Unfortunately, with his focus elsewhere, he let down his guard and allowed his emotions to drift, Ahsoka sensing his confusion and conflicted nature. "What's wrong?"
"I've... just... heard something different before." Wraith quickly excused. "I thought the Force was something to be served."
"Uh... not really," Ahsoka slowly replied, "it's... more like an energy field, created by all living things. It's just there for us to use, you know?"
"So what makes Jedi so special?" Wraith wondered.
"It's because we're born with a higher midichlorian count, so we're more sensitive to the Force. You know?" She explained. After a moment of confusion, his befuddlement was obvious to her senses. "You're confused." She pointedly noted.
"When you were little... did you physically use the Force?" Wraith asked, trying to put his quarry into words. Ahsoka nodded.
"I'm told I did. Why?"
"Because I didn't when I was little. So why am I using it now all of a sudden?" Wraith replied.
"That..." Ahsoka started to say before stopping. She legitimately had no idea why and was at a complete loss for answers. Hell, she may never have an answer, effectively sworn to secrecy the instant Wraith had used the Force. "I don't know." She finally admitted. "But, we can figure that out later. Let's focus on what we do know." Wraith slowly nodded, knowing he might have to answer his questions alone. "If there is any other way for you to control the Force, I don't know it. All I can teach you is what I do know, and you did come to me first."
"Yes, I suppose that's what I get for asking my Jedi girlfriend." Wraith mused with a smirk. Ahsoka rolled her eyes, knowing he was being sarcastic.
"We'll start by meditating." She stated, quickly assuming the pose she had once been in. "Here, sit like I am," she instructed. Wraith, seemingly reluctant, obeyed.
"Oh boy..." he sighed, working his larger limbs into formation.
"What?" Ahsoka asked.
"This is the very thing I thought was dumb... and now I have to do it." He replied, momentarily reflecting on the absolute flip in fortunes as now he had to (sort of) act like a Jedi.
"Well, you're a Force-sensitive now, so you're gonna have to learn this stuff." Ahsoka replied in a matter-of-fact voice. "Especially if you don't want anyone else to find out."
"Alright, I'm sitting." He relented, fidgeting a little as he adjusted his position.
"Good. Now close your eyes." Wraith did so. "Now just focus on the Force. Feel it flowing all around you and through you." Exhaling softly, Wraith did his best to follow Ahsoka's introductions. He focused on the the inky blackness before him, trying to keep his mind from wandering. Being a man who had to process troop movements and strategies on the turn of a credit, calculate angles and variables within a spit second, a man who's mind was always at work, this sudden quiet was rather... difficult to adjust to. It was a struggle to maintain his focus on the Force, his mind constantly shifting back and forth to other topics. Truly this was a discipline he would have to work on. "You're not focused." Ahsoka suddenly stated. Clearly his struggle could be sensed.
"I'm trying." He replied, not opening his eyes.
"Don't try so hard. Just... feel." Ahsoka suggested. "There is no emotion, there is peace." She then recited, recalling the first line of the Jedi Code.
"That's sounds just a tad absurd." Wraith retorted.
"It may at first. But when you feel it, you'll understand." Ahsoka calmly responded, doing her best to instruct him. Suddenly struck by how juvenile his understanding was and how she was gently trying to coax him along in the very basic lessons, she couldn't help but smile and briefly chuckle.
"What's so funny?" Wraith wondered.
"It's like having my own Padawan." Ahsoka admitted, still smiling at the notion. She heard him sigh and chuckled again.
"Whatever you say Master." Wraith remarked. Ahsoka's chuckle turned into full-on laughter as his comment registered with her. "You are getting an absolute kick out of this, aren't you?" Wraith wondered as her laughter continued.
"Maybe a little." Ahsoka replied between giggles as she calmed down. Opening her eyes, she could see his was grinning and shaking his head in a mildly-amused manner, her antics shredding through the difficulties he had been having. "Here, let's try again. I'll give you some help this time." She suggested. Wraith nodded and closed his eyes, attempting to sink into some sort of state once again.
But Ahsoka promised to help him and did so by sending waves of calming peace through their bond, ensuring Wraith could feel every ebb and flow of the Force as it acted in real-time through their bond.
All of a sudden, he could sense everything Ahsoka had been describing as he focused on their bond. The Force suddenly became a very tangible presence that he could feel with his whole being. Time lost meaning as he delved into the Force, almost losing himself in the flow Ahsoka described as he found his center. For a long time he just basked in the Force, feeding off its presence and the power he felt. It was unlike anything he'd ever experienced before, a situation beyond description.
"Do you feel it?" He heard Ahsoka whisper.
"I do." He breathed, finding his voice after a moment.
"Describe it to me." She softly asked.
"It's... like a calm sea. With dark clouds overhead. I'm on the edge of a storm... the edge of... power." Wraith slowly replied, recounting what he saw in his mind's eye. He could feel it, the flow that was in synch with him. He was aligned with the Force, he could sense his control over it. It was small and weak but manageable. With time and patience his command would likely grow and improve. Suddenly opening his eyes, Wraith breathed deeply as he regarded Ahsoka across from him. "Oh wow! That felt amazing!" He breathed. Ahsoka beamed.
"See? What'd I tell you?"
"So now I can use this to... hold back?" Wraith queried.
"Yeah! Just meditate a little bit every day and you will reach a point where the Force functions as you command it." Ahsoka explained. Wraith nodded, that still seemed to be the opposite of what Momin recommended, but he was more than willing to give it a shot, especially if the results were tangible.
Ahsoka had noticed something while Wraith meditated. In using their bond to bolster his spirit, she had gotten a sense of his connection to the Force. It was weak, far weaker than hers or any other Jedi she'd met before. It seemed likely that the odd push or pull was all he'd be capable of, and she had to wonder if that was a result of his sensitivity kicking in so late in his life. She may never know, but this left her quite stunned and with a few more questions than answers. Like why did she feel so powerful when connected with him on the battlefield, when their focus was united against a common foe? If she could feel that much of a boost, surely there had to be more to him. But his sensitivity was weak and there was no denying that fact.
Strange...
"So I'm guessing it's this sense of control that will allow me to hide my signature?" Ahsoka nodded, proud of her 'student'.
"Yup. That's why I needed to teach you this first. You can't control your signature if you can't control your abilities at all." She replied.
"Right. So how do I do that?"
"It might be a bit complex, but what I do is focus on diminishing my presence in the Force when I'm around other people who are potentially Force-sensitive. I don't have to do it a lot, but I've tried it and it does work." Ahsoka described. She'd only used a couple of times, and was by no means an expert on the subject. But since she was teaching him, she would relay her experience. "So just think really really small."
"Huh... that might work." Wraith supposed, taking a moment to ponder the seemingly simple concept. "I suppose that's something I'll have to work on." Ahsoka agreed, but then had an idea as to how to instruct him further.
"Hey, next time I'm on Coruscant and we meet like this, I'll let you read my Jedi Path book." She promised. Wraith cocked an eyebrow.
"What's that?" He wondered.
"It's basically a text that contains an introduction to the Jedi Order and the Force." Ahsoka described. Keeping it tucked away in her room, the first chapter was meant for younglings but the Togruta figured that an inexperienced individual like Wraith could stand to learn a lot from it. With a snort, super-soldier mimed reading a book.
"Congratulations! You've just discovered you're a Force-sensitive. Here's a manual for how to use all your new amazing and terrifying abilities." He jokingly stated in an over-exaggerated announcer voice. That sent Ahsoka into a fit of giggles.
"Not like that, silly!" She playfully chided. He chuckled in response and they collectively laughed for a moment before settling down. Then Wraith looked up with a slight smile and a rather serious look in his eyes.
"Thank you. I would've come apart without you." He honestly stated, trying to express the true depth of his gratitude. Though he felt like his words fell short, Ahsoka could sense it through their bond.
"Just because you're a 'one-man army' doesn't mean you won't need help." She replied. "I'm here for you, Wraith. Even if you're not scared anymore-"
"Oh I definitely am." He interjected. Ahsoka smiled at his honestly.
"I'll help you figure this all out, no matter what." She promised. Wraith exhaled lightly, thankful and grateful for her words. Ahsoka could sense it. He wasn't exactly trying to shield his emotions and his thoughts... then again, maybe that was his point.
"Thank you, Ahsoka." He softly thanked her. The Togruta nodded as Wraith relaxed, his body no longer as tense or as taut as it had once been. But then Ahsoka sensed a sudden shift in his nature, relaxation morphing into uncertainty. "Have you... ever thought about... you know, what the... the endgame might look for us?" He asked aloud. Ahsoka tilted her head, not understanding.
"What do you mean?"
"Like... where is this all going? The war won't last forever and one of our sides is going to win. So what happens to us when that goes down?" He wondered. Testing their bond, Ahsoka realized that Wraith was asking out of fear. He loved her and he loved the connection they shared, their relationship very meaningful to him. The Jedi thing would be to tell him to not worry as fear started one down the path to the Dark Side. But Ahsoka would be lying, both to him and herself, if she said she wasn't afraid of losing this as well. So she stood and walked over to him, taking his hands in hers once she drew close enough.
"There's no need to get stressed out about that. Let's just take things one day at a time." She suggested in a soft, gentle voice. "Regardless of what happens, I promise you I'll be by your side. No matter how the war ends." She vowed. She spoke in faith, believing here and now that she would go against everything if it meant maintaining her relationship with Wraith. Despite it being completely contrary to the Jedi Way, something about it felt right, like they were meant to be. Neither of them knew the future, neither of them knew what their destinies would be or how things would unfold.
Neither of them knew that they truly were bound to one another, destined to stand side by side in the face of adversity... right up to the Clone Wars' bitter end.
Rising from his seat, Wraith cupped Ahsoka's cheek with one hand.
"You fill me with such blessed reassurance," he whispered, "keep this up and I'll have to propose." He added, making her laugh once more.
"I'm pretty sure I'm all yours. After all, no other Jedi wants to date a Separatist super-soldier." She teased.
"I dunno, Banshee's single." He quipped. They both laughed at that, suddenly stopping as someone rapped on Ahsoka's door.
"'Soka? We need you up top!" A familiar voice called from the opposite side.
"Coming Master Plo!" Ahsoka quickly responded, suddenly fearful their bond might be discovered. Turning to whisper some parting words, Wraith beat her to it.
"Do your thing. I suspect I'll see you soon." She offered him a parting smile and a quick peck on the lips before calling her lightsabers to her, clipping them to her belt and then departing his sight. In the blink of an eye, Wraith's vision had shifted, leaving him alone once more. He sat down again and pondered everything Ahsoka had taught him and what he'd experienced through meditation. Feeling so in tune with the Force was something almost euphoric in nature, like an addictive rush of pure energy flooding every vein. But there was something that bothered him, something he simply couldn't shake ever since Ahsoka had instructed him.
He'd hidden it well during their continued conversation, but now alone he cloaked his thoughts and feelings and explored them further. The Force just didn't seem like something that should be controlled by others. It was a great power in the universe that deserved reverance and respect, or so it seemed to him. There was something about the words of Momin that just resonated more with his spirit than anything Ahsoka had suggested. She was a Jedi, cut and dry, and she spoke like one. She was reciting what she'd been taught and Wraith could understand that. But he had to wonder if there were other possibilities beyond the limited and narrow-minded view of the Jedi. Momin seemed so certain of it and while his searches in texts and databanks had revealed a little about the ancient Sith, there was nothing about his power or his doings, only that he'd been halted and destroyed by the Jedi.
But as much as Wraith wanted to write him off, there was a sincerity to his words, like Momin had tried and proven his method true. There had to be something about it...
Deciding to give it a try, even though the possibilities were dangerous, Wraith sat calmly and closed his eyes. He focused on the Force, a small pinprick of a presence without Ahsoka to help him. "Everything I do... I do... for the Dark Side." He whispered, speaking the words as the slowly formed in his mind. He felt nothing, just a slight blip in the Force as he finished speaking. He could not sense anything different. Maybe he'd done it wrong?
But then Wraith shivered ever so slightly as he felt a cold embrace latch on to his spirit...
Author's Note: Apologies these past few have been so short. You'll get longer ones in the future. Promise!
