Chapter 21
This story has surpassed 100 followers. It may not sound like much to some of you, but to me this is more than I ever thought I would get. I'm so grateful. I want to thank everyone who follows this story. I want to thank everyone who favorited this story as well. You make sure I keep going. Much, much love.
reviews:
MalirBly: Haha, I know right! But you know, that's 13 years from now. People's mindset change constantly. Obi-Wan is in a very different place in life right now. Also, thank you! I continue to be honored and grateful that you like this story so much!
Littlesky33by: Thank you! And yeah. I really want Ahsoka to get him back for us, but I guess we'll just have to see what the story wants ;) And about Obi-Wan, he has a very specific point of view here. He's been in isolation with way to much time to think. That does affect a person's mind quite a bit. And not currently in the positive way. Hey, stick around and you'll figure out how it ends ;)
Ahsoka had been preparing for her departure since last night with the help of R2-D2. The entire day Ahsoka had been working and the sun had already started to set. She had searched for the nearest Imperial communications outpost using Rebel intelligence reports. She knew where to look for that kind of information. That would be her first stop.
Ahsoka hadn't meant to leave right this moment – although she was fully prepared for it. She'd been preparing since leaving Tatooine, after all – but then she got the news from Artoo that Bail would be leaving for Coruscant – no she would not be referring to it as Imperial Center – this evening. She had to ask him for permission for this personal mission first. She didn't necessarily need to but leaving without it would tip them off and they would search for her immediately. It would work better for Ahsoka if they let her be for a few days. At least until Bail and Obi-Wan would receive her Holo messages.
The idea of asking another commander had crossed Ahsoka's mind, but that wouldn't work. Given the fact that Ahsoka would write this off as a Jedi mission, she needed someone to understand what that meant and the importance of it. She also wanted to do it alone and Bail was the only person she was sure of that would let her.
Racing through the hallways, Ahsoka rushed to catch up with Bail before his departure. She caught him in his office, gathering some last few things that he needed on Coruscant. Ahsoka startled him on her way in.
"Oh Ahsoka. I didn't know you would be coming. I don't have much time left, but what can I do for you?" he asked. He was just always so considerate.
"Well Sir, you know I've visited Ben the last few days. I wasn't planning on telling you about this so soon, but I heard you were leaving so I had to. I will spare you the mysterious details, but it's about the Force and the Jedi. Ben asked me to investigate something. And I would like to do that. With your permission of course," Ahsoka said.
Bail stared at her. "A solo mission?" he asked.
Ahsoka nodded. "I would want to take the team, but they wouldn't be of any help and it would only take them away from other important things. Please Bail. I really need to do this," she pleaded. She didn't want to sound desperate, but no one knew the true importance this mission had.
"Of course you can go Ahsoka. Who am I to keep you from anything related to the Jedi. If this is something you have to do, then I won't stop you. Especially if Ben asked this of you. Please do inform your team yourself. I really don't have the time. I wish you good luck and I hope you will be successful in your mission. Goodbye Ahsoka," Bail said as he packed his things up and started to walk out. Ahsoka followed him.
"Thank you, Sir. Goodbye and good luck on Coruscant," she said before turning the other way. She had one last goodbye to say before moving to her team.
=O=
Ahsoka reached the private royal quarters soon enough and chimed the door. After identifying herself Breha opened it.
"Hello Breha. Sorry to just drop by, but I'm leaving for a mission and I wanted to say goodbye to Leia, if that's okay," Ahsoka said formally.
Breha looked at her skeptically. Ahsoka had never made a point of this before, but she wouldn't openly question it. Bail had said something had happened to Ahsoka on her last mission that shocked the Togruta girl greatly. That was probably the reason behind this. The queen stepped aside the let the former Jedi inside.
Ahsoka immediately made her way over to Leia's room. The girl was already getting ready for bed. When Ahsoka entered the room, Leia was oblivious. "Mommy? Time for my story now?" she asked, but when she turned, she saw it wasn't her mother but rather Ahsoka that now stood in the middle of her room. "Ahsoka!" she said excitedly. She hadn't seen her in over a week. Leia was so glad she was back.
"Hi there Leia. Sorry to just barge in, but I wanted to talk to you," Ahsoka said as she crouched down to accept the hug Leia was going to give her. It was probably one of the last she was ever going to get.
Leia picked up on the heavy tone that was evident in Ahsoka's voice. The little girl was perceptive like that. "What's wrong, Ahsoka?" she asked. She sounded almost like an adult.
Ahsoka smiled at Leia. "Nothing's wrong Princess. It's just… I have to leave again, Leia. And I don't know when I'll see you again. You have to promise me you'll be good for your mommy and daddy, okay? And that you'll do your best with keeping others from getting in your head with their powers, alright? Remember how I taught you that with the animals?" she asked.
Leia nodded gravely, but the words didn't quite reach her yet. Ahsoka was leaving again? But she had promised she would teach her new things! "You can't leave 'Soka! You said would play with me! Teach me! Don't go!" Leia said harder.
It hurt Ahsoka greatly, but she couldn't stay because of Leia. If this all went according to plan she would return to the girl, with a father and a brother to accompany her.
"I can't stay Leia. What I'm about to do will be dangerous. I need you to be a big girl now, Princess. Protect mommy and daddy and yourself. I will do everything I can to come back to you and teach you everything I know about your powers, alright?" Ahsoka said.
Leia didn't take it well. Tears started forming in her eyes. "Why are you leaving?" the six-year-old asked.
"I have to save someone important, but I don't know yet if I can. I'm sorry Leia," Ahsoka said. She pulled back from the little girl and got up. Leia wasn't having it. She started hanging on Ahsoka's legs.
It wouldn't take much more for Ahsoka to be unable to leave because of Leia. Over the last year she had definitely grown attached to her former master's daughter. She went here partially to protect the little girl. She had to tell herself it would help Leia in the long run. She would bring her real father back into her life. It would all be worth it. But she had to leave Leia now.
"Let go, Leia. It will be okay," Ahsoka said, coaxing Leia to let her leave. It was no use. Ahsoka reached out with the Force to undo the little girl's arms and push her back carefully.
Leia started crying harder. Ahsoka knew it wasn't just because of the fact that she was leaving. She knew fully well that she was projecting a sense of finality through the Force which Leia was picking up on. But she couldn't reign it in. Ahsoka was actually really scared of the mission she was about to start. And because of the fact that she couldn't show it on her face, she showed it in the Force.
Ahsoka started walking out of the room, keeping a hysterical Leia back with the Force before the door closed behind her. Outside the princess' room she came face to face with Breha. It was obvious the queen had heard the conversation.
"Will we see you again, Ahsoka?" the queen asked.
Ahsoka couldn't bring herself to lie. "I don't know. I'll do my best. I'm sorry to leave you with a crying Leia," she said before walking off. The feeling of despair was too much for her.
=O=
Ahsoka picked up her things and said goodbye to Artoo. The little droid was saddened to see her leave as well, but he understood her hope in bringing his old master back and hoped along with her.
After that Ahsoka moved to go find Lorey, who conveniently was at the hanger. Would save Ahsoka some time, for sure.
She approached the girl once she reached the hanger. Lorey looked up at hearing Ahsoka approach. She noted the little belongings the Togruta carried only secondly.
"You're leaving," Lorey stated simply. It was a simple observation.
Ahsoka nodded. "I have a mission. It's Jedi related. I will be doing it alone. I came to say goodbye," she said.
Lorey stared at her. "Jedi related. It has nothing to do with the recent revelation you laid on me several days ago?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
Ahsoka shook her head. "I would love to explain it, but I can't. It has something to do with the Force. It's important for me to see this through. And I won't pull any of you into this. I don't know when I'll return. You're going to have to do things without me once again," she said.
Lorey wasn't Force sensitive, but she did pick up on the finality in Ahsoka's voice. The other girl wasn't coming back. At least not anytime soon. It saddened Lorey greatly to have to miss Ahsoka. They'd become quite great friends over the past year.
"I guess I understand. I am sad to see you go, though. Please come back soon. And in one piece preferably," Lorey said.
Ahsoka smiled at that, but it wasn't quite genuine. She didn't even know if she would be able to come back at all. Maybe she would be imprisoned, or tortured. She might even die or… she might even Fall-
No, Ahsoka didn't want to think about that.
"I will do my best; you can count on it. Goodbye Lorey, and good luck on your next missions. I'm sure you'll do great, even if you have to miss your best asset," Ahsoka said as she smirked.
Lorey rolled her eyes, but still smiled. "You too, Ahsoka. May the Force be with you, or whatever you Jedi always say," she said as she stepped forward and took the Togruta in a hug, which Ahsoka returned in kind.
"May the Force be with you too, Lorey. Until we meet again," Ahsoka said as the two friends pulled apart. She gave Lorey one last small smile before turning around and walking away, not looking back. She couldn't. It wasn't that Ahsoka actively tried to read Lorey's mind, but it was obvious that the other girl didn't buy her explanation for a second. Before long Lorey would know what Ahsoka was up to and would hate her. She wasn't looking forward to that day.
=O=
Lorey, meanwhile, stared after her friend. Ahsoka's impression was correct. Lorey did have a suspicion that she was lying. She knew that Ahsoka wasn't going on some Jedi mission. She was going on a personal quest. And she was about 99% sure it had something to do with Vader – who was Anakin Skywalker, hero of the Republic. Wow. The extent of his involvement was unknown to Lorey, but she just hoped her friend would be safe. She could only pray to some unknown force out there that Ahsoka was not in fact stupid enough to take Vader up on his recent offer, which still haunted Lorey every day.
Lorey wanted to believe that Ahsoka would never do such a thing, but deep down she knew that she could never be sure. Ahsoka had lost everything and she had been detached ever since they returned from Onderon. First, the other girl just straight up left to take some personal time – which is fine, but not without any notice of where she would be going and how long she would be gone – and then she keeps herself holed up in her chambers with some droid, only just to suddenly leave after that.
To anyone else it might just look like Ahsoka was dealing with facing the one responsible for the destruction of the Jedi Order, but with the added information Lorey now had she didn't believe it. She had the suspicion that Ahsoka was leaning towards returning to the only thing that she knew from that life, and it scared the hell out of Lorey to think about it.
Sighing, Lorey watched as Ahsoka entered a small fighter without a second glance and took off. She silently returned to her duties. With a little hope, she'd find out soon enough what Ahsoka was up to and that it would be good news…
=O=
Ahsoka seated herself in the small fighter – equipped with a hyperdrive, which was a necessity – and started up the engine. She lifted the fighter in the air and took off. She programmed the navicomputer for her jump to the remote moon housing the communications outpost she was looking for. She was lucky to be having the coordinates because there was no name for the moon that housed her destination, which would've made searching for it almost impossible.
From what little information Ahsoka could find about this particular moon in the Mid-Rim, she knew it was fairly green. Almost all of the surface was covered in one big forest. She already had a plan for getting herself on the surface without raising suspicion. Having the entire moon covered in trees would certainly help with that.
Ahsoka looked down towards Alderaan one last time. A voice in her mind – that sounded way too much like Obi-Wan – told her she could still go back. It wasn't too late for her to steer the ship around and back towards the planet to continue doing what was 'safe' and predictable. But Ahsoka didn't listen to it. She was going through with this. If she didn't, then who would?
Turning her gaze away from the planet beneath her, Ahsoka activated the hyperdrive and jumped to lightspeed, leaving Alderaan and all its people behind for the unforeseeable future. She at least hoped she would be able to come back here someday. Hopefully to tell them she'd succeeded.
=O=
Ahsoka's flight didn't take long. Before long, her navicomputer told her she was at her destination. She gripped the controls tightly, ready to fully engage all thrusters once she exited hyperspace.
You see, Ahsoka plan was to crash her fighter into the moon. Sounds stupid, right? But she had it all thought out. She would guide her fighter to the surface and before it could hit the ground, she would escape the doomed fighter. Ahsoka would then hide within the trees for the reconnaissance party the outpost would certainly send out. They would determine the pilot was dead. Meanwhile, Ahsoka would sneak up to the communications center and get the information needed before stealing one of their shuttles and getting the hell out of there. It was a truly masterful plan.
No, just kidding. Ahsoka knew it was probably terrible, but it was the best she could come up with considering the limited resources she had. Sneaking onto the moon would be impossible in this fighter. It had no cloaking capabilities whatsoever. She would be spotted before she'd even set down on the moon itself. No, crashing it was the better option.
That's how Ahsoka found herself steering her fighter down towards the moon at top speed once it exited hyperspace. The moment it got caught in its gravitational pull, her descent became even faster. She let go of the controls and braced herself to eject.
Ahsoka waited and waited. Any sane person would not still be in the fighter, but Ahsoka used the Force to wait as long as she could. And then, with only a hundred meters to go until the fighter would reach the highest trees, did she force open the canopy and jumped out.
Breaking her fall on a nearby tree branch – and did that strain her muscles quite the wrong way. That was going to be sore later on – Ahsoka looked down at the fighter. Now completely destroyed and in flames. She'd barely been able to stay clear of the erupting fireball once it hit the trees and then the ground. All the fuel still left in the fighter exploding with the flames.
Ahsoka was sure that the outpost's sensors had already picked the crash up on their scanners. Now it was just a question of waiting for the first people to show up.
Ahsoka waited patiently on the branch, hidden within the trees. As stupid as her plan was, she would pull it off.
I just had to let Ahsoka crash a ship on purpose, to honor Anakin. It just felt right.
Btw, quick update: The last two weeks I've had so very little time to write. I've burned through all the chapters I've written so far with this one. I will do everything in my power to get back on track again this week, but I can't promise anything. With that in mind, there might be a chance the update will come later in the week, next week. I will do my best to get it to you on wednesday (and I'm 90% sure I'll make it) but I still want to let you know so you won't be surprised if it does not come on wednesday.
