Author's Note: Our first look at what life is like being Dooku's apprentice! Do y'all think Ahsoka is up to challenge?

I received an incredibly lovely comment on this fic over on AO3, and it totally made my day. I decided the best thank you would be posting the next chapter early, and ofc y'all benefit too! (See? Comments do inspire us writers ;-) *heart eyes*)

Trigger Warning: Electric gag, more manipulation. PTSD triggers (for Ahsoka, that is).


Chapter XIII

Turns out "earning her keep" meant quite a lot of things.

It meant training in several different weapons. Polearm and knives, one at a time, sometimes two. They trained outside, on apparently the only flat piece of ground on what she now knew was an island. Right next to a set of cliffs where a droid kept watch over… some sort of cage? She couldn't be certain. Wreaths of mist curled around almost everything.

For some unexplained reason, the sound of the waves made her feel ill.

She quickly discovered that any such thoughts needed to be pushed out of her mind as soon as possible. For it turned out that her Master was an exacting teacher. Footwork, swing, arm reach… all aspects had to be perfect, always. And considering the state she was in - body, brutalized, mind, unbalanced and untrustworthy - it was a shock she was still standing. Needless to say, she made a lot of mistakes.

She felt herself flinch every time she saw his thunderous disapproval from across the grass-covered square. Or up close, during a spar.

It meant aiding in the kitchen. Whatever the chef droid told her, she did it. Filling buckets of water, chopping vegetables, and the like.

She seemed to make a lot of mistakes there too.

The vegetables weren't chopped correctly, she'd spilled water on the floor - it was only three drops - she hadn't carried out that order fast enough.

And the state of her back didn't help anything. Every little move she made sent spasms of pain, large or small, through her whole frame, and her clothing was constantly catching on the wounds, aggravating them further.

She tried to say as much when she was led to the Count's office at the end of the day for what the droids had called her "daily evaluation".

"Master, I found it difficult to complete the tasks you set for me today. The injuries to my back make movement a… painful experience." Unknowingly, her hand slid up to her neck and started tugging on the collar. It seemed to be becoming a nervous habit.

"Ahsoka," Count Dooku said in a disappointed tone. "A warrior does not complain about their circumstances. They need to be able to work through any sort of pain a body may receive; it may be the difference between life and death." He spread his steepled fingers wide in an oh well gesture. "You will have to learn to live with it."

She bowed her head, masking her frustration with supposed acquiescence. "Yes, Master."

"Did you have any other questions before we tally up your errors today?"

She gulped, lifting her head. Tally up? "Yes, Master." Tug, tug. "I was wondering if you knew how to take this collar off, I can't seem to figure…" Oh no, not that look again. What did I do now? For she hadn't even reached the end of her sentence before Dooku's face had turned dark with disapproval.

Ahsoka bowed her head again, now so she didn't have to meet her Master's eyes.

"That collar will not come off, ever. And I don't want to hear you ask again, Padawan."

Ahsoka felt a streak of daring flare up inside her. "But why, Master? It's uncomfortable, and makes it hard to sleep at ni - "

Snick went the gag, and she fell to her knees as the electricity coursed through her. Of course, I had to be snippy with him. She felt a twinge of familiarity at her thought, but it was quickly smoothed from her mind by a flash of red, as well as the distracting influence of the gag.

The Count continued speaking a few seconds later, when he turned the device off and Ahsoka was left struggling for breath on the floor. "As it happens, my dear, that collar is another measure put in place to keep you safe. It makes you virtually undetectable to the monsters that gave you that." He gestured to her back. "If we take the collar off, there is a high chance that they will be able to trace you."

Another snick and her mouth fell open, the muscles of her jaw temporarily lax from the too-high current that had run through them for far too long.

She stood up, breathing hard. "Then, respectfully, sir… if this," tug. "Is what's keeping me safe, then why do I have guards follow me everywhere I go?"

"If you will recall, I said it was another measure. Not the only one. The guards are in case they find a way around the device. The Jedi are extremely resourceful people, Padawan Tano."

Ahsoka's ears pricked at the unintentional slip. Jedi? He hasn't said what they're called before. She filed the information away.

"Now," he continued, sitting up impossibly straighter. "Let's see to your infractions." Words started crawling across the data screen embedded in his desk. "Mm, mm, mm," he tutted disapprovingly. Ahsoka's fingers grasped the collar tightly. Tug. Tug. "There is quite a lot here today, Ahsoka. Since, however, it is your first day, I will go easy on you."

Ahsoka's shoulders relaxed marginally, her hand now falling to her side. If this man considered shocking someone a simple admonishment, she was relieved she wasn't going to see what he considered true punishment.

"You will spend the night in your cell with no supper. Droids, take her away."

It all happened so fast. One second she was standing there in shock - no supper? In a cell? She had been working like a slave all day, and she wasn't going to be allowed to properly rest and refuel her body? - and the next, cold metal hands were dragging her by the arms. Her protestations fell on deaf ears before the Count gave her a glare and the gag clicked into place around her lips.

When they threw her into a cave-like cell with only one grate high in the sky for light, and a hard, uncomfortable, cut-from-the-rock bench for a bed, she curled up as best she could. Praying sleep wasn't as far away as it seemed.

The red light came into her mind again, and unbidden, a thought came to her. I'll just have to do better tomorrow. He only wants to help me. It's my own fault I'm in here. I wasn't good enough.

As she shivered in the dark, she couldn't help but wonder why he'd called it her cell.