Chapter 18
Alright, I had a pretty shitty week. The only thing I do that I like that is even remotely social had been cancelled. Now I have nothing to do outside besides work. My car is broken and probably can't be repaided, so now I have to desperately save up money for a new one. I also have a nasty stomach bug.
Blah blah you probably don't care, but why I'm saying this is because it might have affected my writing. If so, I'm sorry. I hope you can enjoy this regardless. I did really do my best.
reviews:
DawnDayrider: I already messaged you, but still. Thank you for pointing that out. I had completely forgotten. I have since fixed it ;)
littlesky33by: Thank you! *smiles bashfully* reviews like this really make me so happy. I hope this lives up to your expectations.
dk1138: Thank you for reviewing. I update every week on Wednesdays, as you can see right now ;)
Two days had passed, and the waiting wasn't doing anyone any good. The Empire hadn't left yet, which was to be expected. Of course, they wouldn't leave before they'd caught all the insurgents. And the Empire had the advantage here. They had all the equipment and manpower they needed at their disposal. They would flush the rebels out before long.
The movements of their troops had been monitored as carefully as possible. And they were getting closer to the secret hideout. Which was why everyone was currently in a meeting.
Again.
"It'll be less than a day before they've found us. We'll be executed if we don't leave," one person said.
"We can't leave. We have everything of importance here! The Empire can't get their hands on our equipment and plans. We must take our stand and fight!" another said.
And that's how every meeting had gone for the past two days. Ahsoka was growing tired of it. She'd recovered from her breakdown – yes, she was confident in calling it a breakdown – the other night and was now back at full strength. She stood with her arms crossed at the side of the HoloTable, viewing the squabbling masses among her. Next to her stood Saw, who was looking at the discussion with the same impression she held: impatience.
They shared a look before Saw spoke up. "Alright. I've heard all of you and we'll take it into consideration. Now, I must ask everyone not of our command to leave the meeting. We'll continue this discussion in a private setting."
Many grumbled but left as instructed, leaving the higher-ups around the table, Ahsoka among them.
"What's the status of the Empire, currently?" Saw asked.
Someone pulled up a map of the environment around the base with the Empire's current position in the search according to the scouts. They were indeed getting awfully close.
"And the status in orbit?" Saw then asked. The map changed to a planetary one.
"There's still only one Star Destroyer up there. We don't know if they've called for more. If they did, the reinforcements haven't arrived yet.
Ahsoka contemplated if she should speak up. Her eyes met Saw's and he nodded, feeling she had something to say. "I think we should leave. Like one of your people just said, they're closing in. We won't last another day. But if we leave now, we can evade the ground troops and get away before they lock down the planet. It would be the best choice we have if we take the lives of your people into consideration."
Everyone stared at her, their expressions saying a lot. Some agreed, but not all.
"And what would that accomplish? We will have lost our place to stay and can't fight for our planet anymore," one said.
"I understand that, but if we stay here and they find us, you'll lose this place regardless. And you'll die. At least, when we leave, you'll have a chance to return later to keep fighting for this planet. Vader has no reason to stay on Onderon if we're all gone, believe me on that. I guarantee you that you can return in a few days. Two weeks at most. It would be the safest solution if you care for all the people you've recruited lately," Ahsoka said.
Many looks were exchanged and people mumbled and whispered to each other with Ahsoka looking at them all. She really felt like an outsider at that moment, but it didn't matter. This was a moment in which she had to assume the role of Jedi and take control of the situation.
Then Saw spoke up. "I agree with her. We're risking everyone here if we stay any longer. We should evacuate. We'll take everyone who wants to come, but we won't force the once who don't. But if we do this, we must move fast. Because we have less than a day to delete everything of importance from our servers and pack up."
Again, everyone exchanged looks but conceded. Saw was their leader. If he thought it was best, it probably was. They called everyone back again and Saw gave the announcement.
"I'll keep this short. We have no time to lose. We're evacuating. Get everything you need. If you don't want to come, then don't. But if you do, get ready now. I want everyone out by the end of the day," Saw spoke with authority. So many voices were heard from the crowd, but the message was clear. Before long everyone moved to get their things. There was barely anyone that wanted to stay.
Ahsoka made her way to her own team. They were already together and planning. She stepped between them. "I assume you heard. We're leaving. Get everything we need. We will stay to help and rendezvous at the chosen location, of which I will inform you when I learn of it myself," she said. The others nodded and all moved out to get their things and prep their shuttle without so much as a word. Everyone was in 'all business' mode.
=O=
It took several hours, but everyone was finally ready to leave. Ahsoka and Saw stood in front of the still closed makeshift blast doors, with all the stolen ships the rebels had gathered over the years behind them. Ahsoka had dispatched her teammates around the base to help with takeoff. They had the fastest shuttle and would leave as one of the last so they could help if something went wrong.
Saw and Ahsoka exchanged a look before nodding at each other. "Open the doors! We're leaving!" Saw commanded. And slowly the doors opened.
Ahsoka reached out with the Force to see if anyone was hiding outside but felt nothing. That sounds like something good, but she felt absolutely nothing, which could also mean something very bad, like every presence was being shielded or something. But Ahsoka had no time to dwell on it. They had to move. If she couldn't find any Stormtroopers, they were cleared to take off.
The Star Destroyer had been tracked so they wouldn't fly in its trajectory. Ahsoka turned back around and gave the all clear signal before closing herself off from the Force entirely. Better not to give herself away to Vader right now when he got too close. And with that the evacuation started. Ship after ship started taking off, taking all kinds of people with them.
Ahsoka moved around the base, checking in with her friends on the comms. They were helping shuttles at the other entrances and they agreed to all check in after a few minutes. And they all did so dutifully.
Ahsoka told them to rendezvous at their own shuttle to get ready to leave as well. Everything was going according to plan and they wouldn't be needed anymore. The ships knew their own take-off plan by now.
She left her post and made her way across the base to their own shuttle. There she met all her friends.
Except Lorey.
"Where's Lorey," Ahsoka asked. But nobody had an answer. "She should've been here first. She was closest by. Why isn't she-" Ahsoka got cut off by a warning from the Force, and then the shooting started.
The base got invaded by stormtroopers. Much more than they had anticipated. Panic overtook them all. But Ahsoka wasn't panicking because of the stormtroopers, she was panicking because of the dark presence that was coming from Lorey's position that suddenly revealed itself.
"Get on that shuttle. Everyone single group is on their own now. We have to leave. I'll get Lorey. Don't wait for us, okay? We'll get out on our own. Just get yourself to safety!" Ahsoka commanded.
She was met with hesitation. "We won't leave the both of you here Ahsoka!" Thea said. "We have to get everyone out!"
"It's too late. Lorey and I can handle ourselves. We'll manage. I promise we'll come back to you, okay. Please leave. I can't have you all dead!" Ahsoka pleaded. And that got them to comply. They rushed into the shuttle, ducking away from the shots. Ahsoka was thankful for the fact that Stormtroopers were terrible shots.
Ahsoka had no time to think about that, though, because she had to save Lorey from Vader. She rushed to her friend's position, which was completely blocked by ruble. The entrance had been blown up. How had she missed that explosion? Was she losing her touch? This mission must really be getting to her.
Ahsoka rushed up the ruble to get over it. The higher she got, the better she could hear Vader. He was talking to someone. Before long she had the two people in her sights. And to her surprise and horror it was Lorey.
"Where is Ahsoka Tano?" Vader demanded. Lorey took a step back from him. "I don't know who you're talking about," she said defiantly. It almost sounded convincing, if only for the fact that her entire body language betrayed the amount of fear she actually held.
"I know you're aware of her. Your mind betrays you. You fear for your Jedi friend," Vader said with much venom. "You would be wise to tell me where she is, and maybe your death will be swift," Vader said.
He apparently had enough after that because he reached out his hand, and suddenly Lorey's hand reached up to her throat. She started sputtering. Vader was Force chocking her!
Ahsoka quickly jumped down. She would not let Lorey die! "Let her go, Vader," Ahsoka said from behind him. Her voice was demanding. She would not back down.
Vader turned around and stared her down, yet he did not release his hold on Lorey. "Ahsoka Tano. I knew you would be here," he said. And Ahsoka felt so scared, for Lorey and for herself. But he was also still her old master. So she would use that to her advantage.
"Hello Skyguy, it's been a while. I see you've changed quite a bit. I can confidently say the Dark Side doesn't suit you," Ahsoka said, using her old nickname for him. She didn't know what it would do to him, or why she even said it in the first place, but it was out there now. She was now just hoping for some kind of recognition. Some way to tell her that her hope might not be misplaced.
Vader's hand flexed and Ahsoka could see Lorey struggle even more. He was applying more pressure! Then he activated his lightsaber with his other hand. The nickname obviously didn't bring back good memories for him, to Ahsoka's disappointment.
"Your snippy attitude won't do you any good right now, Snips. You are greatly outmatched here," Vader said. Well thank the Maker, he at least still knew the nickname he had for her. Though it sounded wrong through the voice modulator. And it was said with so much venom. That wasn't a good thing at all, but it was progress. Ahsoka had to stay positive. She had to have hope.
"We don't have to fight. I did promise you we would catch up another time, the last time I saw you. Besides, you once told me you would never let anyone hurt me. Ever. I guess you make a lot of promises you don't intend to keep," Ahsoka said, stone-faced.
Vader remained silent for a second, but his grip on Lorey tightening once again. Ahsoka was sure Lorey would die any second now if she didn't do anything, fast.
"You left, Ahsoka. And only when you needed us again, did you come back. I'm not the one you should look at if you're talking about breaking promises," Vader replied. Again, Ahsoka felt a small form of triumph. He'd referred to something of Anakin's past. That had to be a good thing, right?
But didn't that comment of his just rub Ahsoka the wrong way, regardless of her feelings of triumph. Putting that decision on her like that wasn't fair! "I didn't leave you! If you hadn't been with an Order that betrayed me, then I would've stayed with you. But you decided to stay in the Order, and I couldn't. Not anymore. So, don't you dare blame me. Don't you blame me for leaving and don't blame me for your mistakes. I know you're doing it. I can feel your resentment of me. It needs to stop. Now let her go Vader." Ahsoka activated one of her lightsabers – a lightsaber Anakin had collected after her trial and kept, taken care of, and modified as a sign of his care for her – and pointed it at him.
Again, it stayed silent on the other end, but to Ahsoka's surprise he released Lorey. The girl fell on the ground, coughing heavily and trying desperately to catch her breath. Ahsoka sighed in relief. The moment Lorey had recovered enough, she immediately ran up to Ahsoka.
"Go find a ship. I'll join you in a bit. We have to get ready to get out of here," Ahsoka quickly said to her. Lorey ran away but didn't go to the ship. She went and hid behind some ruble to keep an eye on her friend. She was not leaving Ahsoka alone.
Ahsoka and Vader were caught in a staring match, both with a lightsaber lit and at the ready. Ahsoka was the first one to speak up again.
"When Maul told me back on Mandalore what your fate was going to be, I didn't believe him. I told him that I knew you. You could never do something so stupid as turning to the Dark Side. Yet here you are, ready to kill me." She sighed. "I'm sorry I left and let you become… this," Ahsoka said as she gestured to him.
"If you didn't want to leave back then, this is your chance to make it right, Ahsoka. Join me," Vader said back, completely taking Ahsoka by surprise. Was he asking her to join him? He wanted her by his side, still? The hope she had for him flared brighter, but she couldn't let it show.
But at the same time, behind the ruble, Lorey's eyes widened. What?! She watched as Ahsoka kept staring at Vader, her face barely betraying any emotion, but for a second a reaction was visible. Ahsoka looked pained, yet hopeful. Lorey had no idea what was going through her head at the moment.
"If this offer came from my former master, I would have taken it in a heartbeat," Ahsoka eventually said after an unsufferable minute of silence, "but you're not him. I will never join you," Ahsoka said determined, lighting her other lightsaber, and entering a fighting stance. She couldn't join him, not right now. She had to figure out how do deal with all this first. And she had to talk to some people.
"Then so be it. Your demise will please the Emperor." Vader began to stalk forward.
"I won't be so easy to get rid of," Ahsoka said, getting ready to deflect Vader's first attack. She wasn't planning on dying by his hand, today.
But before they could lock blades, cannon shots blew them apart. The shuttle belonging to Ahsoka's team flew overhead, shooting at every place currently occupied by stormtroopers, and also Ahsoka and Vader. Ahsoka wanted to be mad at her friends for not listening to her and leaving, but right now she was just thankful.
Ahsoka used the cover of the blasts to make her escape towards an abandoned ship, not looking back at Vader and passing Lorey on her way. She knew Lorey hadn't left to find a ship yet, so she would have to do it herself.
"C'mon, we have to get out of here!" she shouted at the other girl. Ahsoka couldn't quite muster up the care for the fact that Lorey had stayed instead of leaving to find a ship. They'd talk about that later.
They reached an abandoned ship within a few seconds. Rebels lay around it, having been shot on their way in. Ahsoka couldn't pay them any mind right now. It was every man/woman for themselves right now. People died in war, that's just the way things go. She urged Lorey inside before following. She then quickly started the startup sequence and lifted the ship in the air. She flew it out of the base and into orbit as fast as she could. The navicomputer was making the calculations for the jump to the rendezvous point and as soon as it was done, Ahsoka made the jump to lightspeed.
=O=
Only when they were in hyperspace, did both girls dare to breathe again. Lorey turned to stare at her. "You know him," Lorey stated simply. The implication of that statement was clear as day.
"Many people know of Darth Vader, yes. As a former Jedi I believe it's quite my right to know the man who murdered them all," Ahsoka shot back.
"No, not that way. You know him. You have a history there," Lorey stated harshly.
Ahsoka sighed. She could give the excuse again of the Jedi purges, but she knew that wouldn't work. what harm could it do to tell Lorey anyways? "I do," she eventually said as she stared out to the blue swirls of hyperspace around them.
"Explain," Lorey demanded. Ahsoka didn't have to listen to her demand – they were equals – but she started explaining anyway.
"I told you about my master. That was him. That is Anakin Skywalker. Or was, in this aspect. Back then you asked me if I knew what happened to him. Well, he went through a process known as falling. It's when a Jedi, a user of the Light Side of the Force, switches to the Dark Side. I've known Vader was Anakin for almost a year. I learned of his identity a few days before I met you, in fact. I'm sorry I never said anything," Ahsoka said as she hung her head in shame.
They remained silent. Lorey didn't comment on Ahsoka's secret keeping. The other girl had told her about her master and how fond she was of him. Lorey could understand. She almost didn't dare ask.
"He asked you to join him," she said. Again, the implication was clear.
"He did. But I could never join him. Not with his ideals. Not as long as he's on the Dark Side. The only way something like that could ever happen is if there was still part of my master in him, and right now I don't even know if that's true," Ahsoka said with determination, but deep down she knew she was lying. If there were even one small chances of saving him, she would run to him and take it. But she wouldn't tell Lorey that.
Ahsoka turned away, signaling the end of the conversation.
But Lorey wasn't done yet. "Does anyone else know?" she asked.
Ahsoka didn't look back, but she did answer. "Bail Organa does. He knew before I did. He has his reasons as to the how and why. Don't ever talk to him about it, though. It's a touchy subject." Then she turned back to Lorey and looked her right in the eyes. "You can't tell anyone else. Please. I don't want them to think they can't trust me. and it's not our secret to tell. Please, I'm begging you."
Lorey wanted to protest, but she could see the worry in Ahsoka's eyes. She gave in. "Okay. I trust your judgement, but don't make me regret it Ahsoka. This isn't just some throw-away information anyone can forget about."
Ahsoka nodded. "Thank you Lorey. You have no idea how much I appreciate this."
And with that the conversation between the two ended. The rest of the flight towards their rendezvous was spent in a not-quite-comfortable silence. Both girls had a lot on their mind after this revelation, and decisions to make.
I want to thank everyone that followed or favorited this story. You really encourage me to keep writing and giving this story my all.
I want to thank everyone who reviewed. An e-mail saying I have a review can seriously make my whole day, even if it's construtive critisism *many hearts*
