Author's Note: This is the beginning of The End, folks. Don't buckle up just yet though, nothing too exciting happens here (that's next chapter). But one of my character tags finally comes into play here *cry-laughing emoji* I also commissioned some art for this chapter, which, if you copy/paste this link https*:/www.*dropbox*.com*/s/wcvd7hhh7slgg0w/Ahsoka%*26Dooku_*Light*-1*.png*?dl=0 into your browser of choice, and VERY IMPORTANT remove the * asterisks, you should have no trouble viewing! So, please, enjoy!
P.S. Go follow the amazing artist, arishatistic, on Instagram!
Trigger Warnings: More abusive partner/parent tactics, in the form of keeping lists of your mistakes, and being denied food. Short instance of medical abuse.
Chapter XIV
The days fell into a nightmarish pattern. Be led to her room, eat breakfast, use the sonic, then her Master came. Weapons training - also known as what the Count called "humility training" - then odd chores. Sometimes the kitchen, sometimes cleaning the armoury, sometimes fixing various mechanical breakdowns. All the while, she racked up mistakes. All the while, being followed by dead-eyed guard droids.
At the end of the day, her Master would decide what her mistakes would cost her.
Frequently, she went without supper, spending the nights either in "her" cell - with or without the gag - or she was sent to Despair. Her nights there were… horrible. She liked that place least of all.
The few times she'd been good enough to stay in her own bedroom she had nightmares about ocean waves and burning whips.
And every night before she fell asleep, a medical droid would come and give her her daily injection.
The pattern was grueling, but the Count was no liar. Her back was constantly on fire, and her frame grew ever thinner, the dark shadows under her eyes growing ever deeper… but she was becoming a better fighter. She could see it in the way her muscles grew from the constant hard labour - which stood out all the more due to the lack of proper food, forcing her body to take a leaner shape - and the way her footwork and blocking was no longer such a struggle.
And to her own surprise, she found she had a growing - if not grudging - respect for her Master. One, he was an impressive fighter. Two, he always made absolutely sure that she knew he didn't like to punish her. He especially made sure to tell her when she was working and said something snarky, or questioned him unnecessarily and he had to use the gag. It was really her fault every time. She couldn't blame him. He was only trying to prepare her for the outside world. Any doubts she had - like when she wondered if a student-teacher relationship was really supposed to be like this, if life was really supposed to be like this - the red light was always sure to come and sand such thoughts away.
She was pretty sure the light was growing stronger, as she had started noticing a soft red glow with her actual eyes any time she noticed it in her head. The headaches it left behind were also growing worse.
Maybe it was a side effect of her medicine. She didn't dare ask her Master about it though. She always had plenty of infractions at the end of the day as it was.
Her back didn't seem to be getting better either. In fact, it seemed to be getting worse. Some of the pink and yellow areas had an angry red to match the majority of her back, and even just the act of wearing clothes was now excruciatingly painful. But she refused to add more mistakes to her end-of-day tally. She could never be sure what would be a large enough offence to send her to Despair.
Every day the routine was the same. And every day became harder to distinguish from the ones before it, or the ones after it. The flow of time had ceased to exist.
Until one day, that routine was broken.
They had just stepped onto the practice field and Ahsoka was heading to pick up her weapon - they always started with polearms, the weapon she liked best due to how naturally its use came to her - when her Master put a hand on her shoulder to stop her.
"Today will be a little different, my dear Padawan. There is someone I would like you to meet."
A pale humanoid woman appeared through the doorway at the opposite end of the field, walking towards them on long legs covered by a full skirt. She had piercing blue eyes that seemed to take apart Ahsoka's very soul, and full red lips that were set in a hard line. Or maybe they just looked that way due to the black markings that trailed out from the corners of her mouth down to her chin.
She walked with purpose, and yet there was a feline grace about her that belied the true strength of her muscles underneath. How Ahsoka knew the woman possessed such a strength, she couldn't have said, but she was sure of it. And there wasn't very much she was sure of these days.
The woman came to a stop in front of them, giving a deep bow to Dooku before straightening up. Flicking her eyes towards Ahsoka, she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Ahsoka Tano," Dooku began. "I would like to introduce you to my other student." He gestured at the pale woman, who raised her chin slightly. "Asajj Ventress."
"Ahsoka Tano," the woman said, her arms still crossed over her chest. "A pleasure to meet you."
Ahsoka could not figure out the woman's tone. Was it full of scorn? Contempt? Intrigue? Bluster and bravado? Possibly all at once. Ahsoka couldn't be sure. Ventress seemed to give the appearance of friendliness - of a sort - while her body language said…? Not exactly the opposite. But almost. Ugh, I just can't tell, she thought, worry spiking through her mind. If she couldn't learn to read this woman, who knew how many extra mistakes she might have to add to her tally?
Unconsciously, she started tugging on her collar, digging further into the scabs and bruising that had formed on her neck after so long with the habit.
Ventress's eyes flicked to the movement, narrowed, and then turned back to her - their Master's face.
Ahsoka felt Dooku's grip on her shoulder tighten warningly and she realized she'd been staring too long. She quickly gave Asajj Ventress a small bow. "The pleasure is mine."
"Today you will be accompanying Ventress on a mission I have found for the two of you."
Ahsoka was startled. She was going to leave the compound? She turned her head, her eyes following the path of her Master's arm until she was looking into his eyes. "Master?"
"Yes, Ahsoka. I believe your training has progressed far enough to try another mission. You will follow Ventress's orders just as you would mine. Understood?"
Ahsoka nodded fervently. Here was her chance to prove herself. "Yes, Master."
"And - " He took his hand off her shoulder to reach into his cloak and pull out a small device. He held it out to Ventress, who quickly pocketed it. "I am giving Ventress the spare remote to your mouthpiece. Just in case you get ideas about stepping out of line." He gave her a meaningful look. "But I am sure that you will give no trouble."
She nodded again. "Yes, Master."
Ahsoka noticed Asajj Ventress watching her and Dooku's exchange like a jai'galaar. She seemed unusually interested in their dynamic. Ahsoka couldn't tell if she liked what she saw… or not.
"I'm sure she'll be just fine." Ventress purred, turning to go back across the practice field. "Let us be on our way."
"Take your weapons, Padawan," Dooku called to Ahsoka as she started after Ventress.
Ahsoka flinched, knowing that would go on her tally later. She quickly attached her two knives to her belt, pushing aside the feeling that something else was supposed to go there instead. Picking up her polearm, she turned and bowed to the Count. "I will not fail you, Master."
He nodded solemnly. "See that you don't."
She turned and started toward her new partner, nothing but steely resolve left in her mind.
Author's Note: Yeah okay, so I took artistic license with the art and didn't add the gag. The artist did do a sketch up with them, but I really didn't like how it looked, so y'all can keep on imagining what the gag looks like *cry-laugh emoji* But isn't it stunning? It came out just how I pictured the scene in my head! I'm so happy with it, and I've been waiting so long to show you guys!
