Ancestry of Nightmares
Author's Note: I've hardly seen anyone talk about how traumatizing Mortis must have been for everyone, especially since Ahsoka literally died there, and Anakin Fell, and there's no way either of those events didn't have a serious impact on everything that happened later. So, I decided to write an aftermath of that myself. :D
~ Tirana Sorki
Also, this is a gift for ChiaretasWriting on ao3, and this is for the Disaster Trio May 4th Gift Exchange.
May the Fourth be with you all! :D
PS. This is one of four things I'm releasing in honor of May 4th. :)
~ Amina Gila
"General Skywalker, come in!" Rex's voice breaks through the haze of Anakin's mind, and he blinks, slowly pushing himself up off the control panels. Because somehow, they just appeared back in the ship?! In literally the exact same positions they were in right before they blacked out and then woke up on Mortis?
"We read you, Rex," Anakin replies, reaching over to answer the call, "Can you hear me?"
"Yes sir, standing by," the captain confirms, "We were worried. You were off the scopes there for a moment."
Just a moment? Seriously? Apparently, things can still get stranger, not as if that's a surprise at this point. This whole thing screams of a million kinds of weird, and for a moment, Anakin can't help but wonder if he didn't imagine it all. "A moment?" he repeats, "We've been gone more than a moment, Rex."
He frowns. "Sir, I don't understand. You'll need to explain."
Anakin glances over his shoulder, sharing a look with Obi-Wan and Ahsoka. The looks they both give him banish any momentary doubts in his mind that this might have only been a vision of some kind that he saw. Yes, they were definitely there too. Somehow. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you. We're coming in now."
He's just going to blame the Force, because this entire incident hardly even makes sense. And speaking of the Force, it feels so different now it's jarring. While he was on Mortis, he could feel it so strongly, more intensely that anything he realized he was capable of feeling. It was almost as though he'd disappear into the Force itself if he let his guard down for even a moment.
Now, everything is back to normal again, and the abrupt change is... jarring. He could practically feel everything back on Mortis, and now he can still feel a lot but it's very different. "This planet is the Force," Obi-Wan had said, and Anakin almost has to wonder if that's true more literally than he realized.
"Did that... really happen?" Ahsoka is the first to break the silence.
"I was about to ask the same question," Obi-Wan states dryly.
Anakin has to wonder, but... he can't deny that he did feel the Force that strongly, that he saw Ahsoka die in front of him and then he brought her back – although that part almost makes him wonder if it was a vision – and that the Son and Daughter died and what the Father had said about it. A chill runs through him again, as he remembers those words. "As the balance in this world crumbles, so shall war escalate in your galaxy. As my son has descended into the Dark Side, so have the Sith gained strength.'
"Do you think what the Father said is really true?" Anakin speaks up, "About how the war is going to get worse and the Sith are going to gain strength?"
"It was a warning, at the very least. We must speak about this to the Council," Obi-Wan answers grimly, which really answers absolutely nothing. Not that he could give an answer anyway. But from the look on his face, Anakin is pretty sure he's worried about it, too.
"At least we were able to stop the Son, in the end," Ahsoka offers. Which apparently restored balance to the world and the galaxy. He doesn't really want to think about it. It reminds him all over again about this 'Chosen One' business. About how he saw Qui-Gon who was telling him the same thing.
He tries not to think about it, because destinies like that don't make sense. It's like saying someone has no choice or control over their own actions. And it's another blatant reminder of how he's different, how, in the end, the Council only agreed to train him because of his abilities, because of how powerful he was. He doesn't want to be different. He doesn't want to be some... freak of nature.
But, after everything that happened on Mortis, well... He doesn't really know what to say or think about it, so not thinking about it seems the easiest for now.
"What even happened, when you went to the Well of the Dark Side?" Ahsoka wonders.
Right. That. "I don't know. I don't remember any of it. The next thing I knew I was waking up at the monastery," Anakin replies with a grimace, "How did you know to come there?"
"We were going to ask the Father what to do, since when I showed up you were... Fallen," Obi-Wan answers slowly.
Anakin freezes. "What?"
"I guess the Son possessed both of us. Don't worry, Skyguy," Ahsoka offers, reaching over to pat his arm.
Possessed? No, he wasn't possessed, not from what the Father said. The Father said he had shown him what couldn't be seen, whatever that meant. The Son obviously showed him something... maybe from the future? He has no idea. But why would that have made him Fall?! It doesn't make any sense! And if they're comparing it to when Ahsoka Fell, then what did he do –
"I – what did I do?" Anakin asks, faintly.
The image of Ahsoka with yellow eyes swims through his mind again, how it felt when she was attacking them, and he had no idea what to do or how to make her stop, and he was afraid of hurting her by accident while trying to stop her. Did he do that to them?
"Not much," Obi-Wan replies, "I showed up, you threw my speeder in the lava and took off with the Son. Ahsoka came to pick me up." He sounds decidedly grumpy about that part.
Anakin winces anyway. "Sorry."
"Hey, it wasn't your fault," Ahsoka reminds, "Not if the Son was controlling you."
"Was he?" Anakin asks, almost rhetorically. It isn't really a question any of them can answer.
"You lost your memory right afterwards. The signs were mostly the same," Obi-Wan offers.
So maybe he was being mind-controlled? That still doesn't ring right, because it doesn't explain what the Father was saying. He doesn't want to bring it up right now, though, and neither do they have time, because the shuttle docks in the cruiser, and it's time for them to get back to the boys.
**w**
"You should get checked in the medbay," Anakin informs Ahsoka as they walk through the halls of the cruiser. Obi-Wan already went separate ways with them.
"Why?" she objects, frowning, "I feel fine." Well, mostly.
She feels... exposed in a way she hates, knowing that someone was literally inside her mind, and making her do things she had no control over. She doesn't really remember it – her mind is pretty much blank starting from when that creature bit her until she woke up next to the dead Daughter – but she doesn't know if that makes it better or worse.
She's tired, yes, but it's nothing going to the medbay would be able to help with.
"Ahsoka, you... you died. I – I just want to make sure... everything is okay."
She blinks. Huh? "What?"
"After the Son broke the mind control on you," Anakin explains, and now she's really beginning to think this was just a vision, because that doesn't make an ounce of sense. "I... somehow the Father helped me to pull you back, using the rest of the Daughter's life, after the Son stabbed her."
"But that's not even possible!" Ahsoka protests, more confused than ever. "How could you do that?" That is literally not how the Force works, as far as she knows.
"I don't know," Anakin replies, "Maybe Obi-Wan is right. Maybe it was just a vision. But..."
"I can still go get checked up, if you think I should," she finally concedes, "If nothing else it might give us a better idea if that was even real."
Or at least she can hope.
In the end, it doesn't.
Kix doesn't see anything abnormal, which she's beyond relieved about. Because she'd really rather not find some sort of proof that she apparently "died" and got brought back to life. That's too bizarre to keep thinking about.
Exhaustion is nagging at her, though, and it's going to be some hours before they get back to Coruscant to talk to the Council. It would be a good time to rest. The entire ordeal completely wore her out, and if she literally died, that's hardly a surprise.
It's strange how when she was on Mortis she could feel the Force so strongly. Now it's like practically nothing, in comparison with that. She has to wonder if maybe it's also from using the Force that much that she's so worn out.
She's asleep almost the moment she lays down.
The room is dark, and it looks just like the same room she was in before, when the Son kidnapped her. No, she can't be back here again! They just left Mortis! Ahsoka jerks forwards instinctively, or tries to, because for some reason her body doesn't respond to her.
Dread pools inside of her. No. This can't be happening again!
She feels herself walk forwards against her will, just as the Son steps out of the shadows. "They're here," he says smugly, the dark note in his voice sending a shiver down her spine, "Kill them."
She feels herself nod, even as internally she just wants to scream. This can't be happening, it can't be, at least last time she wasn't forced to witness this all, but now –
"It will be done," she hears herself say, except it doesn't sound like her. It's a weird echo of what seems to be the Son talking through her, to himself.
No, no, no –
Ahsoka struggles to fight against, tries to reach out and take control of herself, but nothing changes at all. Instead, she crosses the room, stepping out onto the balcony on the side of the tower and looks down. In the courtyard far below, Anakin and Obi-Wan are approaching.
Horror and desperation pulse through her, and she tries to reach out with the Force, but all that hits her is an icy cold sensation she instantly knows is the Dark Side, and immediately pulls back.
She moves forwards even as she struggles against the movement, igniting her lightsabers, and leaping off the ledge towards them.
Something unseen grabs her arm, and she tries to jerk away, only to abruptly jolt upright in bed. Anakin is standing next to her in the darkness of her quarters on the ship, a worried look on his face. "Are you okay?"
She draws in a breath, trying to shake off the horrible feel of not being in control of herself. Is this anything like how Barriss felt when she was being mind-controlled after the second battle of Geonosis? "I'm fine," she replies, a little shakily. Or she will be. She can't shake the image form her mind, of nearly killing Anakin.
After a moment, her master settles next to her on the bed. Even if she doesn't remember what happened for real, it's still... not easy, knowing that there was literally someone else inside her head. Even if said person is dead now, so she won't have to worry about that happening again.
She scoots a little closer to Anakin, leaning against him, letting his presence ground her. She needs something else to focus on. "Can we... talk about something?" she asks finally, because when she tries to think of anything more sensible to say, all of her thoughts abandon her and the images from her nightmare haunt her eyes again.
"While you were being... controlled," Anakin begins almost hesitantly, "You... said some things that I just wanted to ask you about. I don't know if the Son was completely controlling everything you were saying, or if it's really how you feel."
She frowns. "What?"
"You said that..." he trails off, as though considering how to ask this, "Do I act like I don't trust you or believe in you?"
She blinks. Pardon?
"If... something I'm doing is upsetting you, you can tell me."
Okay, maybe there's times that Anakin is... overprotective to the point it starts to irritate her, but it doesn't really bother her, at the same time. "You're – no, you aren't," she promises. "You're a great master, Skyguy."
The rush of adoration she feels from him makes it worth it. It's true anyway. He smiles softly at her. "And you should know I am proud of you, Snips."
A warmth floods through her, and she twists around, wrapping her arms tightly around him. When she was still a youngling, she'd always wondered what it would be like to have a master, but she never dreamed it would be anything like this. She never thought she even could care for someone as much as she does Anakin.
Anakin slips his arms around her, holding her against him. He doesn't say anything else, but his emotions are clear enough in the Force. He is the best master she could ever have asked for, and nothing will change her mind.
"Are you ready to go back to sleep?" Anakin asks, some moments later.
Ahsoka shakes her head, snuggling closer. "Please, just stay a little longer."
**w**
This is by far the strangest thing Obi-Wan has ever had to explain to the Council and he's hardly sure where to even begin. It would be easier to believe that it was nothing but a vision, because so many things that happened there don't make sense.
Starting with how Ahsoka literally died. He saw it, felt their weak bond break, and then she came back to life. When people die, they become one with the Force. Death can't be reversed. It's ridiculous he's even considering this, but it all felt so real.
And he has to say, seeing Anakin using the Force that strongly was... He's hardly even sure what to think of it, but it's something he can never forget. First, he was able to use to the Force to subdue the Son and the Daughter – the supposed embodies of the two sides of the Force – when Obi-Wan and Ahsoka hadn't even been able to fight one of them off individually. And then, of course, Anakin was literally glowing while he brought Ahsoka back to life.
Even if this all was nothing but a vision, it definitely does prove one thing. That Anakin definitely is the Chosen One. Only he was able to use the Force that deeply, and he killed the Son in the end. Is that supposed to signify destroying the Sith? He assumes it probably does. He doesn't know about the part where the Son killed the Daughter though, or if that was supposed to have significance of any kind.
And then there was the part about seeing Qui-Gon. That part for sure was definitely a vision, even if the rest was real. Qui-Gon is long gone. But having seen him again, it reminds Obi-Wan of their final conversation before he died, of his conviction how Anakin was the Chosen One. Obi-Wan never really doubted it, but this whole experience does prove that Qui-Gon was definitely right.
A prickle of unease runs through him, though, as he thinks about what happened when he went to the Well of the Dark Side. He'll never forget showing up there to see Anakin with yellow eyes. Seeing Ahsoka was one thing because it had been so obvious she was being controlled. Her presence had felt strange, and she was literally fighting like she was drunk. (And in the end, this was different too because it was Anakin – the child he raised – as a Sith, who he was facing down.)
He doesn't know what the Son did to him, but... it wasn't the same as whatever he did to Ahsoka. Still, it must have been similar, because there's no reason Anakin would Fall. Or why he would ever think that the Jedi are standing in the way of peace. That's ridiculous.
Anakin wouldn't Fall. He wouldn't. He definitely has problems with balance, and controlling himself, but... he's never let Obi-Wan down before. Not like that. The Son must have been controlling him. It's the only explanation. The image of it is still disturbing, though, even if it wasn't real.
One thing is for certain: it was by the far strangest couple days in his life. Now... time to somehow explain all of this to the Council.
**w**
They'll be leaving on their next mission soon enough, and Anakin knows he should be sleeping right now, but he can't. His mind is whirling with everything that happened on Mortis, and he wants some time to think about it.
Ahsoka literally died in front of him, and every time he closes his eyes the image keeps haunting him. But other times, it almost feels like it didn't even happen because it's so unbelievable. Still, he could never forget how deeply he had used the Force in that moment to bring her back, more strongly than he ever had in his life, to the point he almost thought he was going to end up becoming a part of the Force, too.
He can't help but reach out with the Force again, nudging his bond with her, just to make sure she's okay, even though realistically, he knows she is. They're here at the Temple right now. Of course, she's okay.
Anakin turns his attention back to the repairs on his fighter for a little while, as his mind continues to wander. He's experienced memory loss before, after being electrocuted by Dooku, but it's always jarring, knowing there's things that happened that he doesn't remember, that everyone else does. Normally it doesn't really bother him too much, because it's nothing of significance but this time, it does. He literally Fell. And he doesn't remember any of it.
Obi-Wan and Ahsoka may believe that the Son was possessing him, but he doesn't know if he can say the same. The Father had said the Son showed him 'what cannot be seen', and he doesn't know what else that could mean other than part of the future, or something. And because of that, he Fell, betrayed all the Jedi beliefs and fully embraced the Dark Side. (Yes, he's touched it before like when he killed the Tuskens, but this is different.) What could he have seen that would make him do that? Why would he ever do something like that? It doesn't make sense, and he wishes he could remember.
Besides, why would something in the future would ever make him Fall, if he's really the Chosen One? He's supposed to destroy the Sith, not join them. What if he Falls again? The Jedi always warn that it's something no one can come back from, and... what if he does Fall and completely lose control of himself? Maybe it's better if he doesn't remember what happened so that won't happen, he doesn't even know. He tries to be the best Jedi he can be, but he knows it's still not good enough, even if he doesn't know what else he should be doing that he isn't.
"You're still awake?"
Anakin starts a little, looking up to see Obi-Wan approaching. "I could ask you the same thing," he points out. It is the middle of the night, after all. "Do you... need something?"
"Not in particular."
Well. Okay. It's rather unusual for Obi-Wan to come and find him for no particular reason, not that he minds the company. Obi-Wan seems inclined to watch him for the moment, so he drops the topic, ignoring the oddity of the situation, and turns his attention back to his fighter.
Although now that Obi-Wan is here, it promptly reminds him all over again about what happened on Mortis, with the Well of the Dark Side. His master saw him Fallen, and... He idly turns the wrench over in his hands, not really seeing it. He doesn't understand why any of that would've happened, but he can't forget about it.
"You seem distracted," Obi-Wan observers, the words snapping him out of his thoughts.
The... unexpectedness of the statement makes Anakin wonder for a fleeting moment if his former master is here in the first place because hehad too much on his mind to sleep also. "I've been thinking about... things the Father said," Anakin admits, "Do you think he's really right about the war in the galaxy escalating?" He might've already asked Obi-Wan that before, but it's still bothering him. And he's had time to talk to the Council about it this time.
And the Sith gaining strength... he really doesn't like the sound of that. Maybe it's partly that statement that keeps scaring him so much every time he thinks about whatever happened with the Son, that the Father made him forget.
"Only time will tell," he replies, which Anakin takes to mean as the Council having no clearer of an opinion on the matter, at least not one they're willing to share, "But there is certainly no end in sight."
Yes, very comforting. "We just need to take care of Dooku," Anakin offers, finally, trying to think about it optimistically. But he can't shake the sinking feeling that the Father is right.
And if someone like him did Fall, he can't imagine what that would do to the war effort. No, he needs to stop thinking like this. He wouldn't Fall willingly, right? But what he can't remember implies otherwise, and... He wishes he could remember. Maybe.
The questions that have been nagging at him this whole time hit him again, and against his better judgement, he finally asks. "What did I say to you, when you came to the Well of the Dark Side?" Anakin wonders. Maybe thatcould give him some clue on what might have happened? And he's sure he said something to Obi-Wan, because he highly doubts he took off without a word.
Obi-Wan frowns. "You were saying that... the Jedi would stand in the way of peace, and that I wouldn't understand what you needed to do. So, you were making about as much sense as Ahsoka was."
Anakin glances up at him for a moment, before returning his gaze to the tool in his hands. "I just... I wish I remembered what happened."
"If the Son was in your mind, there is likely little for you to remember."
"But was he?" He can't help but voice the fear. He doesn't know and it's beyond frustrating. He wants to believe that, but...
"Anakin," Obi-Wan states seriously, after a heartbeat.
"What?" He twirls the wrench around in his hand aimlessly. At least it gives him something else to look at.
"Are you afraid of Falling?"
The question catches him more than a little off guard. "I – I don't know." Yes he is, but he can't imagine telling Obi-Wan that.
"Why?" he asks, sounding like he genuinely wants an answer, "Why would you be?"
"I don't know what happened. That's what I mean. I don't remember any of it." Frustration fills him again as he thinks about it. He wants to shrug it off as him being mind-controlled but he can't. It just doesn't feellike that's what happened. "And the Father implied that... the Son had shown me something which is what made me do it."
Obi-Wan frowns. "Is there any reason you're afraid you would, other than that?"
"No," he answers, almost immediately. He wouldn't. There's nothing that would make him betray the Jedi beliefs like that. (For a fleeting moment, the image of Ahsoka's dead body swims in front of his eyes. If it came down to it, if he had to save her or Obi-Wan, or maybe even Padme from something, there's almost nothing he wouldn't do for them, but...)
"Then don't concern yourself with it," Obi-Wan replies, "If the Son really showed you something about the future, it was likely nothing real in the first place."
That's... actually a good point. Of course, the Son would be trying to manipulate him. Just because he showed him something that might have been from the future doesn't mean it was anything real. There's a part of him that still can't help but wonder but believing this is... easier. And it makes him feel a lot better about it. "I suppose," Anakin agrees slowly.
"You won't Fall, Anakin. I believe that much."
That – he doesn't know what to say to that. For a moment Anakin almost wonders if his former master is saying that because he truly believes it or if it's because he's trying to convince himself to believe what he finished telling him. Still, their conversation helped. It makes him feel a little more relaxed, even if it's definitely still bothering him.
And it's good to see that Obi-Wan somewhat believes in him, apparently more so than Anakin does himself.
He can only hope that Obi-Wan is right.
**w**
Blaster shots ring out all around them, as Anakin and Ahsoka fight their way through the seemingly endless lines of droids. Things are not going the greatest on this front, and it worries him. He doesn't know if this is a fight they'll actually be able to win, unless they can get reinforcements through. Which doesn't look like it will be happening any time soon.
It would be easier, Anakin thinks grimly, if there weren't so many collapsing buildings surrounding them on all sides. It gives a good place for the clones to find cover, but the droids are taking advantage of the situation, too.
The Force suddenly screams in warning, and through the half-collapsed ceiling Anakin can see the explosive headed straight for them. He throws up a hand, trying to deflect off course, but it doesn't divert quite far enough.
It slams into the ground, a deafening explosion ringing out as pieces of the building come crashing down all around him, smoke and flames filling his eyes. He tries to shield both of them as much as he can with the Force, but the next thing he knows he's falling. The pieces of debris are hitting him hard, as he falls, finally hitting the ground. He frantically tries to shield himself, but a bunch of the debris lands on him anyway. He's going to have some serious bruises from this, though he doesn't think that anything is broken, even if he hurts everywhere.
Ahsoka. A blinding panic hits him and he frantically reaches out with the Force, feeling for her. Her presence is muted, but it's still there. For now. He doesn't dare let out a sigh of relief, even at the realization. He just lost her. She just died. He saw her dead body on Mortis. He can't let anything happen to her again. He's failed his padawan enough times. She could be seriously injured or nearly dead,for all he knows. He needs to find her immediately.
Forcing himself upright, Anakin looks around the smoky interior of the building. Most of it is collapsed now, so they're somewhere below ground level, and it looks very much like any moment the rest of the structure could collapse and bury them alive. If Ahsoka isn't down here too, he won't have any way of getting to her.
"Ahsoka?" Anakin calls frantically, ignoring the pain lancing through his head as he stumbles over the debris filling the room. "Ahsoka!"
He hears a muffled noise in response, coming from somewhere on the other side of the area. Anakin reaches out desperately with the Force, following it to where he can feel her. He picks his way across the room, doing his best to avoid any of the debris. Finally, he spots her, partly buried under the debris. Raising a hand, he lifts the pieces off her with the Force. It's not quite as bad as he was afraid of, and a quiet sigh of relief escapes him at that.
Ignoring the pain lancing through his side, Anakin kneels next to Ahsoka, looking over her condition. It doesn't look like it's anything that serious – beyond some serious bruising – except that she might have a concussion from getting her head slammed so hard. And one of her ankles is definitely badly twisted, if not broken. He carefully slips his arms under her, lifting her into his arms.
Ahsoka shifts a little, eyes blinking open in the darkness. "Mast'r?" she slurs.
"I'm here," he promises, shifting so he's leaning against the wall behind him. Now that he's holding still again, the pain he himself is in hits him full force. None of their injuries are life-threatening or anything, but they'll need to be treated. And they couldn't very well keep fighting like this either.
She's alright for now, but his heart is still pounding. If he had moved a second slower, Ahsoka could've taken the full brunt of that explosion and she could've – The sight of her body swims in front of his eyes again, and he tightens his grip ever so slightly on her.
Up above them, Anakin can hear what sounds like droids marching, and no, this is not good. The droids have obviously swarmed through the whole area, and they're trapped down here, unable to help the clones. And if they're found by the droids, they'd hardly even able to fight. They could be captured, and...
Ahsoka coughs. "We should... go back out."
"You can't go anywhere right now," Anakin tells her flatly. The boys need their help, but they're both injured now, and as much as he hates it, there's nothing they can do.
"You don't look much better yourself," she retorts.
"We don't have a way of getting out of here anyway," Anakin adds, ignoring the comment. They are quite buried, and he won't risk attracting attention when he can hear so many droids close by.
"Buried again?" she asks.
"Yes, so hopefully you're... comfortable."
She snuggles a little closer in response. "You already know you make a perfect pillow," Ahsoka smirks, "I think the question is if you find this position comfortable."
About as much as he could, given the situation. His side and head are aching badly but holding Ahsoka isn't really going to affect it either way. "I'm fine," he assures her.
Since there's little else they can do except wait, Anakin settles back against the wall, closing his eyes. Exhaustion is nagging at him, and he can sense that the droids are far enough away now that he can rest without worry of being found. They'll have to wait for 501st or for Obi-Wan to show up and find them. Ahsoka is already dozing off in his lap, and he won't be moving anywhere, anyway.
He shifts his position a little until he's leaning back against the wall, and lets his eyes slip closed.
When he wakes up again, it's to a much too brilliant light flooding the ruins. The clones have found them, finally. They're clearing away the rubble, allowing an entrance to where the two of them have been trapped.
"Hey, Master," Anakin coughs, looking up as Obi-Wan approaches them.
Ahsoka shifts, trying with difficulty to push herself into a sitting position, but Anakin nudges her back down. "Hold still," he advises her. She doesn't need to move too much and jar her injuries even more.
"We were looking for you everywhere," Obi-Wan grumbles, though Anakin can hear the underlying note of concern in his voice.
"Everywhere but the right place," Ahsoka snips.
The clones move forwards, lifting her onto a stretcher since she isn't exactly in walking condition at the moment, before carrying her out. Anakin climbs unsteadily to his feet and maybe it's half the fault of Ahsoka being on his legs so long that they were starting to fall asleep, and the pain running through his head, but he nearly faceplants onto the ground again.
Obi-Wan catches him before he can fall. "Are you alright?"
Seriously, what's with people always asking the most obvious questions? "Mostly," he insists. It's not bad, really.
"You look like a building blew up in your face," he informs him flatly.
"That is pretty much what happened."
He climbs out of the rubble, looking around at the destruction. There are pieces of droids everywhere, along with the dead bodies of so many clones. It hurts, seeing how many of them died here, but at least he can take some consolation in the fact that they won this part of the battle.
And Ahsoka is alright. That counts for something.
**w**
"How's Ahsoka?" Anakin queries, pushing himself up in the bed. He went to the medbay on the cruiser as soon as he got back there, even if he would have preferred to go check on his padawan first.
"She's alright, last I heard," Obi-Wan replies.
He hates not being in the same room as her, knowing that she's injured, and he can't go check on her. Not like it would change anything, but still. Mortis awakened a certain protectiveness of her in him, even more so than it was before. He's always known, of course, that he could easily lose Ahsoka out here on the battlefield, but actually seeing her die is completely different.
"The Council just contacted me," Obi-Wan continues, "Master Piell was captured by the Separatists, and from our intelligence, he's being held on Lola Sayu at a fortress called the Citadel."
"Wasn't that formerly owned by the Republic, for containing rogue Jedi?" Anakin asks, frowning.
Obi-Wan nods. "It's going to be a very dangerous mission, and we cannot afford to fail."
"I'll be ready, Master," he promises. He doesn't know much about it, but there's going to be an enormous amount of security. It was intentionally made for Jedi and Sith to be unable to escape, and especially since it's in the middle of Separatist space, it isn't going to be easy.
One thing he does know for certain is that he isn't going to take Ahsoka with him on a mission like this. It's an 'either you do or die' mission. It's not a place for any padawans, and there's no room for mistakes.
He'll do everything he can to keep all the members of his family safe and he can only hope it will be enough, like it wasn't for his mother.
(And perhaps, in the end, this time, it actually is.)
Final Notes: If you want to join our Discord to receive updates or just hang out, here's the invite link, and please delete the spaces! :) discord . gg / nqSxuz2
We also have a tumblr account (and delete the spaces): fanfictasia . tumblr . com
And! We have a YT channel for tributes! Please delete the spaces in the link. :D youtube channel / UC_g1M5rSCxJUzQCRS29B6pA
Finally, if you're interested, you can submit a SW gift fic request via the following form (delete the spaces): forms . gle / rmXWtRomMMaULuPa6
