Author's Notes: Happy Easter everybody! Hope you all have a fantastic weekend, even with everything going on. Stay safe and remember: even in the chaos, God is in control.
Now, a few of you have raised some questions about the previous chapter. I'll lay out the facts right now: Deiven is not a main plotline in my story and was a simple crossover I wrote about a year ago with Baraqel, who reached out to me first. I doubt you'll see him again.
Now, with that said and done, happy reading!
-Chapter 104: Padawan's Fury-
Location: Dennaskar
"Hell has no fury like a woman incensed."
While the alternate Ahsoka had thought her little 'prank' on Palpatine was hilarious, the Sith Lord did not.
Dooku had no idea what had even happened until Darth Sidious called him... and promptly choked him with the Force. Sidious berated his apprentice for the entire event, sparing his life only because he had kept his cool and found out the truth. Something had seemed off with the Ahsoka since she first arrived. Her presence certainly was not like the Padawan he knew and therefore chose to wait before reacting.
Given her knowledge about the truth behind everything, he swiftly deemed her a terrible threat.
"You forgot to inform me about your new allies, Darth Tyranus." Sidious growled, referring to how the Ahsoka had detailed snippets of her plans which he had managed to piece together. He dropped Dooku to the ground, his apprentice coughing and gasping for air.
"Master... it was... never my intention to... keep secrets," Dooku earnestly responded, "but they... provided a means-"
"I do not care what those means are! If their claims are true then they are more dangerous than anything that exists in this galaxy! They alone threaten to upend everything we've worked for!" Sidious thundered. "Should they return, you are to kill them immediately. The same order goes for our super-soldier." He commanded. Dooku nodded, rubbing his neck.
"I... understand... my master." He slowly complied.
The battle for Dennaskar was proving to be a gruelling struggle and not a swift victory like both the Republic and Separatists had hoped for. Both sides were hellbent on conquering the strategically valuable world along the Manda Merchant Route and were bringing their all against one another. A combined 501st and 212th force went up against the numerically superior droid army who had The Wraith and Banshee for support, the two factions clashing like lightsabers over several days of prolonged struggle. The fighting was so evenly matched both sides had no choice but to call a temporary ceasefire until proper reinforcements could arrive.
Taking advantage of this lull in the fighting, Wraith and Ahsoka were walking and talking, enjoying a pleasant stroll through the woods of the arboreal planet. Her hands folded behind her back while his were shoved into the pockets of his duster, they acted very calm and very casual for individuals who were supposed to be enemies.
While that might be the impression they gave off on the battlefield, they were much closer and much friendlier in reality. They were lovers after all...
"I trust you managed to sort everything out with the Council?" Wraith asked, recalling their most recent misadventure featuring the reality-hopping Deiven Virlo.
"Once I showed them everything and explained my side of things, they were pretty forgiving... albeit overly bewildered." Ahsoka replied, leaving out the part about her duplicate's datapad with all the droid factories on it. She also left out the brief conversation she'd had with Chancellor Palpatine, who questioned her about some outrageous things her duplicate had accused him of. He did not elaborate, but there was no need as Ahsoka assured him that was not her. "I would've hated it if they doubted me... I can only imagine what would've happened then."
"Fortunately, that was not an outcome you had to face. You're still a full-time Jedi with the Council's trust." Wraith responded, always one to look at the positive side of things.
"Thanks again for the recording of Deiven and his Ahsoka. I doubt I'd have their trust without it." The Togruta added, genuinely thankful.
"You are welcome." Wraith replied with a nod. They fell silent for a moment, basking in the freshness of the air and the tranquility of nature's scent without the intrusion of battlefields and technology to hinder it, before Ahsoka asked a question that she'd been sitting on ever since that strange day.
"Do you... Do you really think I'll get expelled from the Jedi?" She wondered, the thought constantly plaguing her quiet moments.
"I wouldn't trust his words entirely." Wraith replied, referring to Deiven. "Just because it happened to his Ahsoka doesn't mean you're included on that list." He still couldn't shake off the notion of a 'main timeline', a concept that seemed to be completely ludicrous and utterly beyond him. "Besides, there's other things to dwell on." He continued.
"Like what?" Ahsoka wondered.
"Remember what he said about us? After that, I haven't been able to think about anything else." Wraith admitted, removing his helmet. "I honestly think he's right. I believe you and I can change the galaxy together." The notion seemed so impressively enormous it passed beyond Ahsoka's understanding of believeable.
"Wraith... I don't know. I mean, he's from a different universe. How could anything he say possibly be applicable to us?" She hesitantly replied. In reality, Ahsoka felt like a very small Jedi faced with something infinitely larger than her.
"Because he was using terms that were applicable to us." Wraith replied, taking her hand in his. "If you stop and think about it, his reality is possible when certain things happen in a certain way. So the way he was talking about us could be something he might've seen before. We could change the galaxy if we follow his suggestions." To him, it seemed entirely plausible. It might take some doing, but if it meant both he and Ahsoka came out on top in the end, he was willing to try.
"Maybe..." Ahsoka hesitantly surmised, "I guess some of what he says makes sense. His whole spiel about emotions and the Force... that... I want to say that sounds right, but I don't know."
"We are talking to a Force-sensitive who, in his reality, knows it's right." Wraith proffered. "Maybe the Force is a multiversal concept and whatever rules apply to one reality apply to all." He suggested.
"I just can't remember ever hearing the Force described in such a way." Ahsoka replied. "His reality must be drastically different from ours." Wraith nodded, even trivial things like his faction and the changed state of his Anakin, Padme and Ahsoka aside, surely Deiven's reality simply had to be polar opposite to theirs.
"What do your gut instincts tell you about this?" He asked Ahsoka after a moment. Having thought about this beforehand, the Togruta had an answer at the ready.
"That I'm already doing some of what Deiven suggested." She'd already opened herself up to emotions and discovered just how much boundless potential there was when they were guided and focused, usually in pursuit of the man she loved. But she had been giving Deiven's suggestion some thought and had considered some new aspects regarding them.
"Ever vented your emotions before?" Wraith queried with a grin, recalling one of the Firrerreo's suggestions.
"Think you could teach me a few 'dark' things?" She retorted with with a teasing wink. Wraith chuckled.
"With pleasure." He replied in a deep voice, gloved hands cupping Ahsoka's face. The lightheartedness gave way to a moment of seriousness. "I don't mean to push you in the direction of 'changing the universe', that's never been my intention." Wraith told her. "So long as I have you, that's all I'll ever need." He whispered as a promise. "I love you, Ahsoka Tano." Ahsoka smiled,
"I love you too, Wraith." She quietly replied and continued to smile as Wraith kissed her. She reciprocated, savouring his touch and appreciative of his gentleness. He tasted of a vaguely minty flavour, making her wonder if he used mouthwash as well as cologne. When they parted, Ahsoka pulled him down onto a log so they were sitting beside one another and kissed him again with a fistful of his collar in her hand. Wraith could sense her added energy... and found it particularly appealing.
"Someone's excited." He mused with a smirk, once her lips had pulled away from his.
"Guess you just light that fire within me." She replied with a low, smouldering look.
"Just remember we're out in the open and that your forces, your master included might I add, aren't all that far away." Wraith prompted, knowing things could not escalate. Not now, at least.
"I know." Ahsoka plainly replied before kissing him again.
Later that day...
The plan was simple and straightforward, devise to ensure both parties received maximum value for their end of the operation. Wraith ventured ahead, while Banshee mustered the droid army, to proceed with acts of sabotage to draw the attention of at least part of the Republic's forces on a merry chase through the woods and away from their point of operations. His hope was to lure Anakin and his 501st away from Obi-Wan so that Banshee might descend with her droids and enact vengeance upon the Jedi who'd caused her people so much grief. So far, all was going according to plan.
But dividing and conquering also worked the other way around.
With Wraith singled out and without additional aid, the super-soldier was subject to an onslaught of heavy attacks by the Republic. And with his more powerful body armor on the fritz, his armored duster was a downgrade compared to the advanced weapons the Republic was carrying, all of them tailored to plague a set of armor far stronger than this one. And so, on the run and without backup, Wraith was desperately working to avoid getting killed by the Republic's newest handheld rail guns.
Or as the Clones affectionately named them, "Wraith-Killers".
A single hypersonic slug pierced a nearby tree and blew it to splinters, chips of wood and bark flying in every direction as Wraith darted past. Another hit the ground right next to his feet, a cloud of dirt and debris flying into his face as Wraith powered ahead, desperate to outrun his pursuers. Consisting of Anakin, Ahsoka, Rex, Tempest Company and a handful of other 501st Clones, Wraith had certainly gotten his wish when it came to who's attention he'd captured. What he wasn't anticipating was for half of Tempest Company to be carrying Wraith-killer railguns, giving him a serious problem.
Behind him, Clones were shouting and scrambling after him, attempting to coordinate their fire while on the run. They seemed bound and determined to nab him, Wraith observed, possibly a direction dictated by their General. Otherwise, they would've doubled back to assist in the defence of their base. He knew from experience Anakin wouldn't hesitate to try and capitalize on an opportunity to capture him, even if it meant eschewing other goals for a moment. To that end, Wraith was determined to frustrate him and leave Skywalker empty-handed.
His thoughts were interrupted by the whizzing of a shot just past his head, too close for his liking. Wraith quickly vaulted a log and somersaulted across some rocks in an effort to use the terrain to throw off his opponents. It didn't work nearly as well as he'd hoped and the Clones used the shift in terrain to fire off a few blaster salvos. He felt rounds ping off his back just before ducking behind a rock. Their aim was accurate, they must have a good bead on him. Wraith paused and chose to quit running. The best way to get some distance between himself and the Clones, he supposed, was to kill off his closest pursuers.
Forming a battle plan in the span of a few seconds, Wraith bounded for a nearby tree and used it to turn himself into a pendulum, swinging around and launching himself towards a Clone like a missile. His boots collided with the Clone's helmet, the impact snapping his head to the side with an audible crack from his neck. His body pitching away, Wraith sprung into action as he attacked his squadmates. A blaster pistol drawn, Wraith shot two as his fist slammed into the head of another, coming back around to backhand him before a crimson bolt scorched his chest and dropped him flat. Three more Clones rushed from the rear of the group, firing their blasters as they did. Obviously the railgun troopers were lagging behind, as were the Jedi. Wraith was not complaining, though, especially since it allowed him to really cut loose and enjoy the snap of bone as his boot crushed a Clone's knee followed by a crack as bits of shattered plastoid flew through the air, flying off the Clone's helmet. Grabbing his head, Wraith planted the muzzle of his pistol beneath the Clone's chin and pulled the trigger. The black visor flashed red for a brief moment as the Clone went limp in his hold, Wraith tossing him aside and blitzing another trooper with pistol fire. He dropped him at the knees and then filled his chest with scorch marks before a final blast square in the visor put him down for good.
The last living Clone in the area stood far less of a chance and Wraith deployed his firesaber in exchange for his pistol. He blocked a few incoming shots with ease before slicing clean through the Clone's weapon. His arm and leg were severed next, dropping him with cries of pained agony. The hapless trooper tried to scurry away with his remaining limbs, desperately clawing at the dirt beneath him. Wraith advanced with Tyth leveled menacingly towards him, fire crackling ominously as the trooper stared wide-eyed at his approaching doom. Wraith drew back his arm to sweep him away with a final cutting blow...
But found himself unable to do it.
Something was fighting against him, something within. It was a foreign feeling he'd only experienced once before on Umbara. Once again, he felt as if he were fighting himself in order to simply try to move his own appendage. His limb shook, Wraith urging his fervent desire to kill this Clone to overpower whatever was holding him back. It wasn't working. Whatever was stopping him pushed back, hard, the struggle intensifying...
It was abruptly ended when a railgun round smashed into his shoulder, pitching Wraith off his feet, through the air, and into a nearby tree. It didn't quite shatter on impact, the oak young and sturdy, but it did give Wraith a sudden stop before dropping him to the ground. The super-soldier growled and caught his breath. It felt like his arm had been dislocated, surely there'd at least be a bruise. He used the tree to brace himself, realizing Tyth had been flung from his grip as he stood. He'd have to find it-
He was interrupted when a second shot hit him in the back and blasted him through the tree, splinters of bark and wood showering the ground as Wraith tumbled across the ground with a chorus of pained growls and grumbles. Grooves left in the forest floor kicked up dark soil as he slid to a halt, dirt finding its way into every section and raised edge of his armor, leaving Wraith looking like quite a mess covered in tree debris. That one definitely left a bruise behind, the stiff soreness in his back indicating as much. Giving his head a shake to clear his vision, his optics picked up multiple Clones approaching him, most of them armed with blaster rifles while a few at the back carried railguns. A few made to help their disabled brother, while those in front peppered him with a mix of blaster and stun rounds, clearly attempting to subdue him. At least his armor could handle those, he surmised. The mighty dents in other pieces of plating told a different tale about the railguns.
Wraith picked himself up, grasping for his holstered weapons. Then another shot rang out and a railgun slug struck his left shin, dropping him as his leg was kicked out from underneath. The first Clone to approach him in this staggered state promptly smashed the butt of his rifle against his helmet, causing Wraith to teeter for a moment and brace himself for support. But another Clone swung and took out his supporting arm, dropping him instantaneously. The rest converged upon him, pumping stunner after stunner into him or beating him down with their weapons. The constant barrage gave Wraith no room to lash out. They were being quick and concise, working to make sure he didn't get even an opportunity to stand, taking out his limbs whenever he tried.
From a distance, Master and Apprentice stood by with Rex as Wraith was subdued.
"Think we got him this time, sir?" The Captain asked.
"Fingers crossed, Rex. But a little trust goes a long way." Anakin replied, confident the dozen Clones on sight could handle this. "Keep a few members of Tempest here, just in case. Send the others back to get a signal through to Obi-Wan, I don't think we'll get anything through his canopy." He instructed, glancing up at the thick, intertwined branches above them. Rex moved to obey, tasking Jolt and Sixshot to stay behind while the rest made for the forest's edge. The two Jedi continued to watch as the Clones beat down Wraith, Anakin with a sense of pride and accomplishment... Ahsoka with remorse and concern. Wraith was truly helpless right now, enough stunners had been pumped into his body that his limbs were slowly locking up, EM energy whittling away at his nervous system and neural reactions. Through their bond she could sense his pain and was moved to try and alleviate it.
"Master," she tentatively asked, clearing her throat to better strengthen her response, "aren't you going to stop them?"
"Why should I? We know it'll take a lot to make sure he stays down." Anakin promptly responded. Of course he wouldn't care.
"B-Because we're supposed to be better than this. The Clones, they're... they're acting like a bunch of bullies." Ahsoka protested. Anakin sighed.
"Remember what the Council said, Ahsoka. You can't treat him like a charity case."
"I'm not! I'm just trying to be a decent being!" Ahsoka emphatically responded. "A-And the Council told you to not let your ego get in the way either!" She quickly added.
"I'm not." Anakin stated, parroting her. "I'm doing what needs to be done." With that, he ventured over to the Clones to check on their progress. Ahsoka waited and watched, more worried than curious.
Her notions were swiftly affirmed when Anakin used the Force to bind Wraith and force him into a kneeling position before signalling to Jolt to take a shot. The lieutenant did, a single railgun slug striking Wraith square in the chest. Ahsoka's lover lurched and sputtered, his reaction enough to make her wince. Waves of pain radiated through their bond and it occurred to her that his armor wasn't capable of handling this.
If his last suit barely survived the first railgun encounter, how much longer did this older one have?
She started to panick, afraid that Anakin might push things too far again. Fortunately he didn't signal for another salvo, simply keeping Wraith in place while the Clones taunted and mocked him, still determined to keep him pinned. Ahsoka felt a wave of nausea as a Clone drove the butt of his rifle into Wraith's gut and she visibly flinched. Her expression was one of hut and anguish. The man who loved her, the man she loved, was getting unfairly beaten by a bunch of Clones acting like Academy bullies. Not only that, but her own master was condoning it. Not only did it pain her but it all irked her, made her feel agitated and cross. A mix of disappointment and resentment flooded her mind, she hated everything about this yet felt powerless to act knowing Anakin would likely report her actions to the Council.
Little did she realize that her stirred emotions were enough to trigger the initiation of Scipio's secret chemical injection from days prior. The neurotransmitters quickly ignited and began to overtake her mind, encouraging her to grow even more angry.
She was heading for an eruption...
Ahsoka closed her eyes as she felt a sudden surge of hot feelings roll through her body and replace her distress, moreso than normal. As much as she tried to keep them to herself, all she could think about was anger. It felt like a fire, her veins flooded with a searing sensation and her mind overwhelmed as anger transformed into fury. She tried to shake it off, to focus and move past it, but simply looking up at the sight of Wraith beset by Anakin and the Clones only served to make her even more irate. She clutched her head, feeling nothing but rage, her breathing shallow as other vital process were diverted to her biological 'fight' response. Rex, who had rejoined the scene, took note of her odd behaviour.
"Commander? Everything alright?" He worriedly asked, reaching for her. Ahsoka jerked away from his hand, shaking her head furiously as the intense heat of fury overcame her. She growled, unable to focus on anything else. She looked up at the men assaulting Wraith, her pupils dilated and expression curled into a snarl as her veins began to glow red.
"STOP IT!" She screamed, the glowing red quickly consuming all of her visible veins. Throwing her head back, Ahsoka unleashed a feral scream as she was totally consumed by her anger. It was enough to draw the attention of Anakin, the Clones and Wraith, watching with mixed confusion and horror as Ahsoka's demeanor changed before their eyes. Now glaring daggers at the Clones assaulting Wraith, one very noticeable change put them all on edge.
Her eyes had turned yellow.
Breath coming in short, shallow pants as she bared her teeth and gave a menacing growl from the back of her throat, Ahsoka looked like she had completely given in to her primal heritage and then some. Her skin was aglow with the pulsing red of her luminescent veins while her hands balled into fists, completely overtaken by rage as the chemical took control of her body.
"Ahsoka...?" Anakin wondered, more than a little afraid by what had become of her. Ahsoka did not respond, opening her right hand instead and flexing the Force almost automatically, as she summoned a weapon into her grip. Wraith and the others expected it to be one of her own lightsabers.
But instead, it was Tyth that flew across the forest and into her open hand.
Ahsoka closed her hand around the hilt of the firesaber, steam rising as it appeared to burn her like it did before on Wasskah. But then the steam suddenly ceased as the blade was ignited, a column of white flame flashing into existence.
"I've! Had! ENOUGH!" She shrieked. Ahsoka then rushed forward and delivered a Force-powered punch that blew out the innards of the nearest Clone attacking Wraith. She then hacked into him with Tyth, the fiery blade cutting cleanly through his armored body as he screamed in agony. Anakin backed away, startled by whatever had overtaken Ahsoka. The Togruta began to attack the other Clones, leaving her previous victim dead on the ground, using the Force to blow out the back of a Clone before she cleaved him in two. Her rampage continued unhindered, the fire of Tyth obedient to her every command as Clones were incinerated or simply torn to pieces by her raging Force powers. From his position on the ground, Wraith watched her ferocity slack-jawed.
"RGE-Seven!" He gasped, recognizing the effects of the chemical well. "But... how?" He asked himself. Somehow she'd been injected with it... but when? He didn't know, but the sight of Ahsoka lashing out in such a destructive manner worried him greatly. Testing their bond, he felt something so striking it nearly overwhelmed him. Where Ahsoka was usually a soft, luminous presence in the Force, she was now cold and isolated, like a black hole filled with malice and hate. She had changed, and not for the better. Then another worry was placed upon his mind... If the rage compound was capable of tearing apart his body on a molecular level, what might it do to a weaker Force-sensitive?
With his men being cut down before a furious Ahsoka, Anakin was panicking.
"Ahsoka! What's gotten into you?!" He shouted. "You have to stop this! You're killing your own troops!" Ahsoka did not heed him, nor did she care, the Togruta so focused on eradicating those who dared to strike her lover. Her blazing weapon carved through two Clones at once, fire quickly consuming their bodies and reducing them to ash. Through the Force, Anakin could feel overwhelming waves of Dark Side energy, cold and relentless, like it pierced his very soul. Ahsoka's light was completely shrouded by a thick darkness not even he could comprehend. "Ahsoka! Please!" Anakin begged her, very scared now. It was only when the last Clone fell dead that Ahsoka stopped and turned around, splatters of blood staining her clothes and littering her body, the same dark stare in her yellow eyes. She fixed Anakin with a furious look, her brow creased and a livid fury ablaze within her.
"I asked you... I pleaded with you... but you don't listen! You don't EVER listen!" She shouted, her demeanor briefly reminding Anakin of the Son-corrupted Ahsoka he and Obi-Wan faced on Mortis. "I've had it with you and your ego!" Ahsoka spat. "See what happens when you think you know better than your apprentice, you arrogant jerk!" Her fangs bared, Tyth crackling like an inferno, Ahsoka raged towards him, Anakin igniting his saber just in time to block her. Her furious quickly overwhelmed his hasty defence and Ahsoka used the Force to slam him into a tree before lunging ahead to wail on him with her fists. "How do YOU like it when EVERYONE gangs up on YOU?! HUH?!" She screamed, delivering hard blows to his torso and face. Anakin could barely fight back and even when he figured he had an opening, Ahsoka threw him to the ground. Grabbing Tyth with both hands, she raised the blade above her head loosing a primal shriek as she got ready to cleave her master in two,
"Ahsoka," the calm voice suddenly drew her attention away from Anakin and over to where Wraith was standing and reaching out to her. Ahsoka froze, her expression still a contorted look of fury, "listen to my voice... I need you to calm down." Wraith gently begged her. Ahsoka still didn't move, Anakin watching the interaction from below with mixed feelings. Slowly, Ahsoka lowered her arms but maintained her hard and angry gaze. "Look at me. They're not your enemies." Wraith softly told her, gesturing to the Clones. "They're your friends. Your troops. You don't want to hurt them." His gentleness seemed to be having an effect, Ahsoka relaxing despite the coloration of her eyes and her pulsing red veins. "Focus on me." Wraith encouraged, having done this exercise a handful of times before when he needed to abate his rage. "Take a deep breath... calm down. It's okay." He encouraged, slowly approaching her. Ahsoka did not physically react, but her expression did soften. Gradually, the color in her veins died down, the glow subsiding as the Togruta shook her head and groaned slightly. The blade of Tyth vanished almost as quickly as it had been ignited and Ahsoka closed her eyes for a moment. A quick, strained exhale followed and when she opened her eyes, they had returned to their normal blue. Wraith breathed a sigh of relief as the last of her veins vanished, Ahsoka completely restored again.
"Wr-Wraith?" She wondered in a shaky voice, slowly becoming aware of her surroundings again. "Ah!" She cried, dropping Tyth as the hilt burned her hand. Shaking the pain away, Ahsoka looked around and saw the mutilated bodies of Clones as well as particles of ash drifting through the air. "Wha... W-W-What happened?" She asked aloud. Her memory slowly returned and her eyes grew wide at the horrifying reality of her actions, every image in her mind sickening her. Then Ahsoka looked down and saw the blood of Clones dotting her skin and clothes. "Oh Force... What've I-hulp!" She lost it in that instant and fell to her knees, vomiting as the sick sensation reached its peak. Wraith knew the feeling well after his rage had subsided, only he'd never succumbed to his queasiness. He fell to her side and held back her lekku as Ahsoka emptied the contents of her stomach, which wasn't much to begin with. Her upheaval ended shortly and Ahsoka wiped her mouth on the back of her glove before turning to Wraith with watery eyes. "Wraith..." she whispered in a broken voice, "I-I don't feel good."
"I know. I've experienced this before." Wraith gently replied, soothingly rubbing her back. "Take some deep breaths, you'll be-"
"N-No," Ahsoka interrupted, taking a shuddering breath, "I don't... feel good..." Suddenly losing strength, Ahsoka collapsed against him. Wraith was scared, not knowing what to do. He had no idea how a lesser being would react to the RGE compound, only he had ever been affected by it. And now that his lover was in trouble, he needed to learn and quickly. His gaze turned to an Anakin on his knees. His eyes met his optics and in the moment there was a sense of kinship between them.
"She needs help." He hoarsely whispered.
Obi-Wan had mustered his forces and successfully repulsed the Separatist attack while Anakin was off chasing Wraith, though he'd sustained a few injuries by Banshee's hand. The wild Umbaran super-soldier virtually went ballistic as soon as she laid eyes on him, exploding into a series of hard-hitting attacks the Jedi was barely able to stay atop of. The loss of her troops had forced her to organize a retreat and, knowing that they couldn't do anything more until reinforcements arrived, Obi-Wan was grateful for the reprieve.
So he wasn't entirely optimistic about Anakin desperately needing his attention.
"I trust this has some sort of good news attached to it?" He inquired of his friend as he approached their medical station.
"Sub-optimal at best, but not downright horrible." Anakin agreed with a mirthless smile. He led Obi-Wan inside the boxy structure where the Jedi Master was treated to a real surprise.
Ahsoka lay on a cot, unconscious and wired to various pieces of medicinal machinery, and a helmetless Wraith clad in battle-scarred armor sat beside her.
"My word," he breathed, entering fully. "Wraith?"
"Kenobi." Wraith quietly responded without even looking.
"What's the word?" Anakin asked, his tone serious.
"Your medic, Ransack, an odd designation might I add, has her stabilized. She's alive and safe, for the moment." Wraith replied, sighing and rubbing his temples as he finished. "This is all my fault." He muttered.
"We finally agree on something." Anakin scoffed.
"I really don't care for our grudge match, Skywalker. Not right now." Wraith rumbled in response.
"What exactly happened?" Obi-Wan queried, still in the dark.
"You know that 'berserker rage' thingy Wraith used to do?" Anakin replied. "Well-"
"She has been injected with a special compound designed to hijack neural functions and promote increased ferocity and rage." Wraith interrupted, cutting straight to the point.
"I see," Obi-Wan slowly replied, putting the pieces together, "and she... raged?"
"Not too long ago." Wraith confirmed. Obi-Wan fell silent before moving to sit across from Wraith, leaving Anakin to stand alone with arms crossed.
"What do you mean this is all your fault?" The Master inquired.
"When she was taken to my ship, she must've been injected with it." Wraith explained, cursing the moment he first set eyes on Deiven. Something deep within him determined that he was at fault for starting the chain of events that had led to now.
"You mean, during the swap with her transdimensional double." Obi-Wan interjected, Wraith nodding in affirmation. "So who did it?"
"I have a handful of guesses, but I'll say nothing until I know for certain." Wraith replied. In reality, he knew it had to be Scipio who had done this. He was the only person to be in possession of such chemicals, after all.
"If you could not have prevented this, how is it your fault?" Obi-Wan pried.
"Because maybe I could've seen it coming." Wraith bit back. "If I hadn't been so preoccupied with that damn Firrerreo..." he trailed off with a growl.
"Is he to blame?" Obi-Wan asked, not knowing who he was referring to.
"Maybe to an extent." Wraith admitted. "But he's not my concern."
"What should be of concern is Ahsoka." Anakin stated, earning a nod from Wraith. "Obi-Wan... her eyes turned yellow. It was just like Mortis all over again." His stiffened postured denoted more shock than surprise, but the Jedi Master's expression remained calm, although was now laced with concentrated concern.
"That's not good. The last thing we want to see is that Son-corrupted version of her again. The one that nearly died." He worriedly mused, stroking his beard. The shuffle of the body across from him reminded Kenobi of their oblivious guest. "I'm sorry, Wraith. I know you have no idea what we're talking about-" He made to excuse.
"She appeared to me." Wraith bluntly told them, startling both Jedi. "That... dark version of her has haunted me." It had been a long time since then, but Wraith knew exactly what both Jedi were referring to. "And I too watched her die."
"You saw it happen?" Anakin incredulously asked. Wraith nodded.
"But... that's not our concern. The here and now is." He determined, waving off darker thoughts. "I haven't raged in a long time... to see her do so was... frightening."
"Why haven't you?"
"Because the chemical was purged from my body," Wraith told them, "after my first run-in with your Titans, we discovered that it was slowly destroying me on a molecular level. I was coming undone the longer it remained in me."
"And now that's in her?!" Anakin exclaimed. His emotions suddenly bubbled over, Wraith the only person in this room on which he could place the blame, and quickly drew his lightsaber. The blue blade hummed close to Wraith's head as Anakin leveled it at him.
"Easy! Easy! Let's use words, Skywalker!" Wraith exclaimed, sounding more annoyed than anything. His arms were raised in an expression of passivity, ensuring Anakin alone was the one acting out.
"Anakin! Stand down! Lashing out won't get us anywhere." Obi-Wan chided, springing to his friends side and encouraging him to return his weapon. Sharing a glance with his friend, the Knight did, albeit reluctantly. "Wraith, is there anything we can do with our current resources to neutralize this chemical?" Obi-Wan inquired, controlling the situation. Wraith backed down as well and took some time to ponder Obi-Wan's query. Given the current situation and the likely variables included with such a scenario, there really were only a handful of options. Over the past hour or so, he'd been worried sick about Ahsoka, so much so he hadn't actually considered a way to get this damn chemical out of her. He wondered if taking her back to Scipio and forcing him to undo this was an option, but had a feeling the Jedi would not condone it. Now Wraith was no scientist, but his enhanced thought processes allowed him to combine pieces of available information so that he might project a rather scientific response. His true understanding of everything was crude and he had to make due with what seemed reasonable. And so he suggested to the Jedi the first idea his mind gravitated towards.
"We would need some kind of... enzyme with a high bioelectric reading. Perhaps some kind of heavily ionized compound." He theorized, slowly smoothing out the properties as he went on.
"An ionized enzyme?" Obi-Wan repeated, glancing at a passive Anakin who glanced back.
"Don't look at me. I'm just mildly impressed he's able to figure that out in his head." Anakin replied, the thought having never occurred to him before.
"Once the enzyme attaches to RGE-Seven, we would have to trigger it. The result would be that the enzyme destroys the chemical once it reaches critical mass. The ensuing protein burst that helps sustain the Feral Rage would in turn excite the ionized nature of the enzyme, basically causing the compound to combust while the enzyme is attached." Wraith explained.
"And that will work?" Anakin asked, seemingly very antsy over the prospect of getting his apprentice back to normal. Wraith could only shrug.
"I don't know. I've never done this before." He replied. "All I can do right now is spitball ideas."
"Well... what got it out of your system?" Anakin wondered.
"I was subjected to a gas chromatography procedure that filtered it out of my bloodstream." Wraith told them. "It takes time but it works."
"Then we may have to do just that. I don't think we have the necessary pieces lying around to create an 'ionized enzyme'." Obi-Wan concluded. Seeing as that was their course of action, Wraith offered them what he knew about the procedure.
"You'd need a bacta tank and some proper equipment. Ahsoka will have to return to Coruscant in order to get it done." Obi-Wan nodded in agreement.
"Then maybe we should make preparations for that. We'll contact the Council and see if we can get Ahsoka sent back during our resupply."
"And his involvement?" The Knight asked, pointing to Wraith. The super-soldier cocked his head.
"What do you mean?"
"We have to report this." Anakin responded. If word got out they'd struck an amicable deal over this, it wouldn't go well. Wraith understood the sudden clandestine nature and quickly provided a solution.
"Have your medic be the one to make the suggestion. Say it was something he was reading about recently. That should sate them."
"It's worth a shot." Obi-Wan agreed. "Anakin, let's go find Ransack and get him to clear Ahsoka for transport. Wraith,"
"Stay here. I know the drill." The super-soldier finished. The Jedi left immediately after, leaving Wraith alone with Ahsoka. After everything that had happened, Anakin didn't care if that was the case anymore. He just wanted his apprentice to be well again.
For the first time ever, Wraith could emphasize with him.
Just a few minutes after their departure, Ahsoka woke with a soft groan. Wraith quickly left his seat and got as close to her as possible. Heavy blue eyes turned to him and she managed a smile.
"Hey," she greeted in a tired tone.
"Hey." Wraith replied with a small smile of his own. At least she was awake.
"You're a welcome sight to wake up to." Ahsoka dryly told him.
"If only it were under better circumstances." He quietly replied with a chuckle. "How are you?"
"Sluggish." She replied. "Like I can't do... anything." The exertion probably took a lot out of her, he reasoned. She didn't have enhanced stamina like he did.
"That's understandable." Wraith surmised. "You're gonna be alright." He promised.
"I know. Because you're here." Ahsoka responded with a sleepy smile. Wraith basked in her trust in him, but only for a moment.
"Even when I'm here, the opposite can happen." He sombrely mused. Taking her hand in his, he pressed his lips to the backs of her fingers. "I love you." He whispered. "And I would give my own life if it meant you were safe and secure." Ahsoka was touched by his tenderness and sincerity.
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that." She replied, giving his hand a squeeze.
It was nearly twenty minutes later that Anakin and Obi-Wan returned, both of them pleased to see that Ahsoka was awake. Ransack was working on the report to be submitted when their supply ship arrived. Things were going smoothly... until Wraith's holocom beeped.
A stark fear shot through him which he quickly suppressed, donning his helmet and maneuvering away from the Jedi.
"Not a word. From anyone." He ordered, triggering the device. The holoform render of his partner flickered to life. "Banshee."
"Sir, we've regrouped our forces. We have just enough to make another push towards their base." The Umbaran reported. The Jedi stiffened, realizing just how bad this situation could get if the Separatists decided to attack again. But Wraith had a plan.
"I've lead Skywalker far to the east. Cut around the base, we'll see if we can drive a wedge between them. His force is smaller, find and pick them off." He lied, giving Banshee false directions. "And what have I told you about calling me 'sir'?" He added for good measure.
"Understood... Wraith." His partner replied before signing off. The Jedi watched him remove his helmet and store his device with mixed fascination, primarily from Obi-Wan and Anakin.
"You lied to her." Kenobi observed. "Why?"
"Because I have far more important things to deal with than conquering a stupid rock." Wraith replied with a fervent look in his eyes. Anakin had a different question in mind. He was getting weirded out by Wraith's change in behavior and demanded an answer.
"Why are you doing this? Why are you forsaking an opportunity to attack us in order to help her?" He bluntly asked. Wraith fixed his eyes on him next.
"Because unlike you Jedi, I let my emotions run free. I think, I feel, I react accordingly." He stated. "You may never understand this, Skywalker, but I care about her. More than you could ever imagine." Both Jedi accepted his words but held private reservations about them. For Anakin it was the startling point-blank revelation that Wraith may be more human than he gave him credit for. But he was still worried about his apprentice eventually reciprocating Wraith's civil approach to her, wanting Ahsoka to not fail in this area of being a Jedi where so many in the past had.
Obi-Wan's thoughts drifted to many of Yoda's musings about visions concerning these two. For him, a man who clung to the Jedi Code, they were hard to process and even harder to accept. But the stark evidence was before him now. There could be no denying that what Master Yoda said might actually be true. So just what did that mean for the future?
Wraith eventually bade farewell to Ahsoka and connected with Banshee on what had been a fruitless endeavour; Skywalker was nowhere to be found. Wraith suggested that he probably doubled back early and when the droning of a Republic cruiser overhead signalled the arrival of reinforcements, confirming his theory, the Separatists returned to their lines to await fresh droids.
Droids did come, but also with a message. Dooku wanted Wraith back on the Dominance for a turnaround and to be ready for deployment in six hours. Banshee would take responsibility for securing Dennaskar, Wraith had a special assignment to embark on. Knowing Ahsoka was safely away, Wraith left the operation in Banshee's hands and returned to the Dominance... but during the flight, he knew he needed to have a chat with Scipio and planned exactly what he was going to say...
The Pau'an was in his lab, as per usual, when Wraith returned. Still clad in his damaged armor, Wraith carefully approached Scipio while trying to maintain his calm demeanor. Scipio finally took notice of him while puttering around with a datapad.
"Back so soon, my boy? Is Dennaskar already ours?" He curiously inquired. Wraith pulled off his helmet.
"Dooku wants me prepped for a new assignment in six hours. This armor needs some repairs done... railguns." He explained, dropping his helmet onto the nearest counter with a rather heavy thunk.
"Ah, I see... well, set it down and I'll get to work on it." Scipio replied, putting his data aside and moving to collect some tools. Wraith did so, shrugging out of his duster. But as he did, he began to speak again, slowly and with measured words.
"Doc... have you done anything about... RGE-Seven lately?" He asked. He heard Scipio chuckle.
"Funny you should ask that, I have been working on a new variation. I call it, RGE-Eight." He simply responded, not bothering to hide or deny the notion. "I'm still waiting for some results, but I believe it should work." His veiled words were enough to convince Wraith of that which he already knew.
"Oh, it works..." he slowly replied, voice low and on edge. "I just watched Ahsoka Tano go berserk." Scipio seemed to pause for a moment, putting two and two together, before he chuckled to himself and turned back to Wraith with a smile.
"Well! I guess it's a success then!" He jovially announced, setting down his tools and completely oblivious to Wraith's clenching fist and dour expression. With his own words, he had ignited the spark. "Now, tell me, how exactly did a Jedi react to so much rage?" He casually wondered, pulling Wraith's duster to his side of the counter. Across from him, Wraith offered a silent prayer to the Dark Side, and flexed his power ever so slightly. "I'd imagine her Force abilities went rather berserk to some degree, although-" Scipio abruptly stopped speaking as he felt an invisible hand constrict his throat. The Pau'an immediately reached for his neck, desperate to find some means to restore his airway. He turned to Wraith with frightened eyes, the super-soldier unmoved by his plight. "M-My boy... ack!... I think... there's something..." He struggled to say between gasps.
"Yeah. There's something alright." Wraith growled in agreement. "Something we need to talk about!" Suddenly snapping out his hand, Scipio was dragged across the table and into his grip, Wraith's expression curling into one of barely-constrained fury. "Don't you ever do anything like that to her ever again!" He growled, voice subconsciously projected through the Force to sound deeper and more menacing. Scipio could barely comprehend what was going on, but knew enough to be afraid. So afraid that Wraith could sense it.
"Wr-Wraith... hrk... please!" He gasped as he was choked, clawing at Wraith's arm as his iron hand sank into the flesh of his neck. "I-I-I... was just-"
"Just what?" Wraith growled back, eyes wide with livid fervor. "Just trying to inject her with an unstable chemical that could tear her apart from the inside out?! Just trying to find a way to slowly KILL HER?!" Scipio could feel the temperature begin to rise as Wraith allowed the Dark Side into him, Force-fire sprouting along his body as Scipio watched a drifting transformation unfold. His pupils grew until they consumed his iris and then the whites of his eyes, Wraith's gaze turning pitch black.
And then, in the blackness, rings of red fire shimmered into being.
"IF SHE DIES, HER DEATH WILL BE ON YOUR HANDS! AND I PROMISE YOU, SCIPIO, THIS WILL PALE IN COMPARISON TO THE WRATH YOU WILL FACE!" Wraith bellowed, overcome with darkness and completely possessed by his dark intentions. His voice sounded otherworldly, like some beast... or demon. "IF SHE SURVIVES AND YOU SO MUCH AS LAY A HAND ON HER AGAIN, I SWEAR, I WILL NOT. SHOW. MERCY. CONSIDER THIS YOUR ONLY WARNING." With that, the fire died and Scipio fell to the ground, gasping and spluttering as fresh air filled his burning lungs. Wraith relaxed a little now that his message had been delivered. His anger abated and his eyes returned to their normal amber hue. He still looked upon Scipio with disgust and decided he'd been here long enough. "I'll be in my room." He curtly muttered, leaving the lab without a second thought to the Pau'an's wellbeing. Scipio watched him leave from ground, realizing that a terrible and dark secret from Project Sunstorm's past had finally returned, even though he'd placed all his hopes that prior actions had banished it.
"How... H-How did..." He asked himself between returning breaths, "I-I thought we had delt with this... why has it returned?" He didn't know and wouldn't for some time.
Alone in his quarters, Wraith had plenty of time to get his gear together and be ready for whatever assignment Dooku had in mind. But until then, he needed a moment to collect his thoughts. Plunking himself down on the bed, Wraith released a sigh and rubbed his face. He didn't feel good, he felt like he'd screwed up. In a way, he had. He blamed himself for not being more attentive to Ahsoka during her stay aboard the Dominance, for having been so insensitive to what she might be going through. An old thought returned: none of this would've happened had Deiven Virlo stayed in his dimension... his corner of the multiverse.
Deiven. That... arrogant fool! Who was he to balance other universes anyway? He was no different than the damned Jedi of his time!
Something dark awoke within him, determined to eviscerate that Forcedamned Firrerreo if he ever appeared in this universe again. He could feel it. Wraith had opened himself to the influence of the Dark Side and now something new had taken root within him. In a sudden and surprising moment of clarity, in spite of his clouded state, Wraith realized this and knew he needed to calm down. He felt close to the brink... whatever it might be. He calmed himself down, closed his eyes and immersed himself in the Force for a moment. His thoughts drifted to Ahsoka and a lingering anger flickered within him, but it was soon replaced with a great longing and an unquenchable desire.
And suddenly, when he opened his eyes, there was a bacta tank in his room.
It was a familiar sight, seeing as he'd been in one before. But this one as different and he stood approach it. The figure inside was smaller than he, their appearance hazy due to the filmy bacta. The closer her drew, however, the sooner he recognized her shape.
Ahsoka hung suspended in the tank, a breath mask over her lower face and a series of tubes connected to her underwear-clothed body. Obviously his advice for gas chromatography had been heeded and accepted and Ahsoka was now undergoing the same operation. He walked right up to the glass until he could see his reflection, his head and shoulders shaping around her floating form. Her expression was a passive one of tranquil nothingness, simply resting as the chemicals circulating through her body cleansed her of RGE-8. Wraith knew it was a good thing and took heart that she would be better. But seeing her behind glass, forced to through this when it could've been prevented, filled him with a distinct sadness.
He felt like he'd put her in there.
A hand reaching up to the tank, Wraith rested his forehead against it as his gaze remained fixed on the stationary Ahsoka. His other hand hovered above the glass, desperate to hold her hand and help her through this. He wanted to hold her, he wanted to kiss her and tell her it would be alright, he even wanted to make love to her, not for his pleasure, but to simply affirm his loyalty to her again. Wraith couldn't do any of those things right now and it weighed on him.
"I'm sorry baby," he whispered to the glass, "I'm sorry I failed you. I swore to protect you... and I didn't." He closed his eyes, trying to contain his rising emotions. He wanted to be close to her so badly. Wraith's eyes opened and he sniffed, trying to hold everything back.
But then, to his surprise, her hand came to rest behind his on her side of the tank. She was still unconscious and he didn't understand. Then, through their bond, he heard four words that almost brought him to tears.
I'm gonna be okay.
Wraith pressed his hand a little harder against the tank, trying to feel Ahsoka's through the divide. He closed his eyes again, a stray tear rolling down his cheek.
Some passing doctors would later recall observing Ahsoka's hand pressed against the glass, as if she were subconsciously reaching out to someone... despite being unconscious and with nobody there.
It would be several days before he saw her again. And in that time, Wraith determined for himself that his loyalty to Ahsoka superseded everything else in his life. His love for her was deep, deeper than anyone could fathom or comprehend. Wraith was bound and determined to ensure that nothing like this would ever happen to her again. Scipio he would let slide with a warning, after all, he was virtually his father. He could get mad at him, but Wraith would never wish him harm.
One thing was for sure though, the next being to even think about doing anything unsavoury to Ahsoka would not live long enough to regret their decisions...
Author's Note: Next chapter might take a while, so I apologize in advance for the wait. For those of you wondering what's on the horizon, I have for you but one word...
Zygerria.
