Author's Note: So Ahsoka got away... that's gotta mean good times are ahead, right? Since she got what she wanted? Hehehehehe... (what even are these author's notes? Good thing I'm better at writing stories than notes😂)

Trigger Warnings: Stockholm syndrome in full effect, mentally inflicted physical pain (the red Sith crystal makes a reappearance).


Chapter IX

Ahsoka's pod docked to the other ship with a thunk. Taking a deep breath, she idly fiddled with her collar as she waited for the door to open.

She'd thought long and hard on the trip here. She was finally realizing - and accepting - that there were definite gaps and things that didn't add up about what the Count had told her when she woke up in that infirmary. But he and that castle were all she'd ever known, and she couldn't get the look in his eyes out of her mind, those times he'd put his hands on her face, holding her there, unable to look away. She wasn't ready to give up the known for the unknown. Even if the unknown had been warm. And comfortable. And she hadn't been in constant pain.

But that wasn't the way things were supposed to be, and the Jedi were fooling themselves thinking otherwise.

The door slid open and she stepped onto the ship. Well, hobbled more like. She hadn't known how to use any of the supplies in the medpack she'd found, and anyhow, a warrior needed to learn to endure pain. She had to get used to that again.

She looked ahead of her at the corridor lined with battle droids and thought, this is where I belong. No matter what Ventress said. Right?

Actually, she continued as she started down the hallway toward the bridge. Ventress must've been in on it the whole time. Of course! Ventress was part of the test.

Now at least one thing made sense.

Four commando droids fell into line behind her as she finished her walk to the bridge. Stepping inside, she ignored all the screens, droids, and beeping alarms, instead walking purposefully to go down on one knee before her Master.

"Padawan Tano," came Count Dooku's deep, flowing voice. "I did not look to see you again."

She bowed her head, slipping into her Master's preferred formal speech like she'd never left. "I've come back to you, Master, hoping that I've passed your test of loyalty. I endured four days in the company of the Jedi's sweet words and abundance of food… they even healed most of my injuries." She shook her head. "But I see through their deception now. They only wanted to use me and then would've discarded me like trash. I know that you are the only one that cares about me, Master." She bowed her head deeper. "I return to your service, my lord."

The whole bridge was silent for several heartbeats, save for the beeping of the instruments.

Ahsoka resisted the urge to yank on her collar, her anxiety mounting with every second that passed.

Finally, the Count spoke. "You would appear to have done well, my apprentice. I would gladly welcome you back under my tutelage…" He paused, and her heart swelled with relief. "Were it not that I know you to be lying."

Her head whipped up. "What? Master, I swear I did no such thing!"

"I want so badly to believe you, Ahsoka, but the fact remains that you have traveled here on a vessel with an active tracking beacon. The Jedi will be here shortly."

She had what?! Ugh, those blasted Jedi! She had no idea a tracker had been transmitting her location this whole time. Her Master didn't seem to believe her though. "Master, I swear, I had no i- " Her whole being froze as the Count pulled a red crystal from inside his cloak. She could've sworn she'd never set eyes on it before, and yet the sight of it filled her mind with panic.

"It seems you need to be reacquainted with my methods."

Suddenly there was pain in Ahsoka's head like she'd never felt before. Her breath stuttered, and her eyes watered, as she fought her hardest not to show weakness in front of her Master. Her body was frozen in place, and not because of her reaction to the pain. No, she realized through the quickly gathering haze in her mind, it was because of him. He could use this Force the Jedi had told her about, and he was using it against her, now.

Her stuttered breath turned to gasps and then gasps turned to moans as the pain in her mind spread to the rest of her body. The crystal floated closer and closer, and the pain intensified until screams were ripped from her throat.

Ahsoka couldn't think, couldn't breathe. She couldn't even move around to try and alleviate the fire in her bones. Through the fog of agony that covered her mind, she managed to get out two words. "Master… please!"

Abruptly everything stopped. The Force holding her tight disappeared, and she dropped like a stone, gasping for air on the cold floor.

"Oh, Commander Tano," Count Dooku said from above her, and the part of her brain that still vaguely worked noted his use of title with alarm. "It was such a joy breaking you down and turning you into my pet… you served your purpose well. Quite an excellent distraction for Skywalker and Kenobi, in the end. I had high hopes… but you far exceeded them. We won many battles I'm sure would've been lost otherwise."

Ahsoka somehow found the strength to push herself up, and she stared up at the Count in horror. "Master… what are you saying?"

He laughed, a full, deep-throated sound that served to only horrify her further. "My dear, your loyalty is commendable. But your refusal to see the truth shows your naiveté. Which," he looked thoughtful for a moment. "I suppose I am responsible for nurturing in you."

Ahsoka's mind reeled. "So… everything the Jedi told me is true? You lied to me?" Ventress was right. Anakin was right.

He grinned at her. "Undoubtedly."

Ahsoka almost fell over as the awful truth finally sunk in. She had made a huge mistake in coming here.

She pushed herself to semi-standing, greatly favouring her injured leg. There was only one thing left to ask. "What are you going to do with me?"

"What am I going to do with you? My dear Padawan, you don't remember it due to the memory inhibitor I made sure you had every day, but there is hardly anything that I haven't done to you already. But…" He stroked his beard thoughtfully, and Ahsoka gulped. "We do still have some time before your would-be rescuers arrive. I'm sure we can find… something to pass the time."

The gag snicked around her mouth, and Ahsoka's mind was once again taken over with agony as she fought back the hope, no, the fervent wish… to die quickly.