Chapter 25
So, this is a bit shorter, but I also had less time to write. I'm putting this in waiting here on Monday 20-7 so you do the math :D
reviews:
MalirBly: Thank you! Yes they do. I know it sounds ooc right? But you have to realise, they don't know Ahsoka like we do. Lorey only knows that Vader was someone who Ahsoka cared for. That same man asks her to come with him and suddenly Ahsoka acts all weird. Lorey thinks that Ahsoka decided to go with someone who she knows longer than she's known her new team. So she jumped to conclusions. And since she's the leader and knew Ahsoka the best the others just followed her opinion. Again, thank you for letting me know you love this so much! You are certainly one of the reasons I keep having great motivation to keep writing :D
littlesky33by: Thank you! I'm glad you liked the way Ahsoka informed Obi-Wan. It was something I thought hard of and rewrote several times to make the feeling better. I'm glad it worked. Thank you for you wishes regarding my vacation. I will :)
It was dark, so very dark. Ahsoka looked around but couldn't see anything. It was like she was standing in a void. How did she even get here? It was also eerily silent. Not even her footsteps made any sound.
Ahsoka kept walking and walking in the dark, hoping to find something. When suddenly a sound broke the silence. Someone was breathing. But it wasn't normal breathing. Ahsoka knew that sound. The sound of a respirator.
She whipped around, and for some reason Ahsoka could suddenly see something within all that dark. She could see him. Even though he was completely dressed in black, she could see him clear as day.
In front of her stood Darth Vader. And right now, he looked every bit as menacing as the stories depicted him.
Ahsoka didn't want to admit it, but she was scared. Or, at least, she thought she was. But in the body she was currently in, nothing of that fear showed.
She said something, but Ahsoka couldn't hear or feel anything. Her mouth moved, but to her, nothing came out. But for some reason he'd heard her. Because she could feel him say something back. Again, she didn't hear it, she just had a feeling. She just knew.
Ahsoka's figure said something back, again. Her entire body went rigid. A lightsaber activated, and the entire space got lit up by a red beam. Ahsoka didn't even know whose lightsaber it was. To her feeling, she was holding it. But her eyes told her a different story.
Ahsoka's body started stalking around Vader – since when had her body gotten a mind of its own? She was in control of herself just a minute ago. Her mouth started saying things again. Vader watched her passively. And then she lunged.
The fight was over within a second – what was happening?! – and it ended brutally. Ahsoka had lashed out with her saber at Vader, intending to end it, only to end up with that same saber suddenly buried inside her abdomen.
Ahsoka gasped and-
=O=
Ahsoka woke up with a scream, startled into a sitting position. Her hand went to her abdomen where the lightsaber had been stabbed through. There was nothing there. It was just a dream.
A dream which had presented itself every time she'd gone to sleep ever since Ahsoka got on board Vader's Star Destroyer. It was the same thing every time. It was always dark. Until Vader arrived. They would talk, but Ahsoka could never hear a thing. And then the lightsaber lit. It was always a different person holding it. Ahsoka could never decipher who. They would fight. And then it would end with one of them dying by the other's hand. And right before the end, one or two sentences would be heard.
Ahsoka could hear herself say one thing. "It is a Sith's nature for the Apprentice to take their Master's place." And then she would end Vader. But it didn't always go that way. Just like today, when Vader ended her. He would always say: "You failed," in reaction to Dream-Ahsoka's earlier statement.
It was a horrible nightmare, and it scared Ahsoka to death. What if this was the Force warning her of the future? But that couldn't be, because she'd been cut off from the Force ever since she got here. It couldn't be that. It had to be just a nightmare. Her unconscious fears and thoughts playing with her mind. Because the Force couldn't give her these visions after being cut off from it for so long, right?
Ahsoka didn't even know how long it had been since she was put in this room-cell-thingy. There were no windows for her to see outside and no chronometer to give her a sense of time. And an officer had come by to give her food and water about 8 times now. But that didn't tell her much either. How many times did they feed their prisoners?
Was she even a prisoner?
There really were too many uncertain variables in this situation. Ahsoka didn't like it. She'd tried meditating, but without the Force that just led to sleepiness and sleep led to the nightmare. But there just wasn't much else for her to do.
Suddenly Ahsoka noticed a tray beside her. So, they brought food again. Must've been while she was sleeping. That was nine times now. She would keep counting until she got a sense of time back.
Ahsoka picked up the tray, inspected the food on top of it and picked at it. They hadn't tried to poison her so far, but she could never be too careful. As long as she was in here, she had no idea what they wanted to do with her. She wasn't sure what their motive was for keeping her locked up like this, but they must want something with her.
Admitting defeat – she was hungry after such a vivid dream – she decided to just eat. She'd accounted for her not getting out of this situation alive. Might as well gamble on it.
=O=
Ahsoka ate slowly, and she still wasn't finished when the door opened again. But this time, the officer that stood in front of her wasn't carrying a tray. He didn't have anything. He walked in, and the door closed behind him. All Ahsoka could do was stare at him. What was he here for?
"Ahsoka Tano. I see you've made yourself comfortable," he said.
Wisely keeping her mouth shut, Ahsoka stared at him. If he wanted something from her, he just had to ask. She wouldn't give him anything more than what he wanted. She couldn't risk saying anything that would give too much away of her intentions. She would only make those known to Vader directly.
"I see you're cautious. That's fine. I'll just get right to it then. Why are you here, miss Tano?" he asked.
"I told Lord Vader that himself. He should know better than to second guess me. I have no ulterior motive for being here than just switching sides," Ahsoka stated monotone.
"And what was your reason for 'switching sides' as you so put it?" he asked again. Why was he interrogating her?
Ahsoka faked a sigh. "I was tired of running. And I have no love for the Jedi. So why should I not switch my allegiance. If you still doubt me, ask Lord Vader to come in here. He'll be able to tell if I'm sincere with the Force," she stated harshly.
"You will see Lord Vader again when we arrive at our destination in two days. Up until then, continue to make yourself comfortable. You will not be getting out before that," the officer replied stoically. Well, if that was all he'd wanted, why did he come in here? This situation made no sense.
Ahsoka sighed again. "How long have I been in here already?" she decided to ask.
That question broke the officer's façade. He smirked at her. Ahsoka wanted to wipe it off his face. "four days," he said, before stepping out again.
4 kriffing days. That was too long for her liking. Ahsoka sighed, again. For real this time. Well, two more days to go. Then she would see Vader again and they would arrive at their destination, apparently. Ahsoka wondered what it was.
Well, she had plenty of time to ponder about it.
=O=
Two days past. For Ahsoka those two days were spend trying not to sleep, failing miserably, and having the same nightmare at least two more times. She wondered if this would keep happening when – if – she got the Force back.
Ahsoka knew they had to be arriving soon. If her estimate was correct, it had been two days. That meant she would be free of this room-prison-thingy. Only to maybe be put in another once they reached whatever place they would go to, but that was another problem for another time.
Staying seated on her makeshift bed, Ahsoka waited for something to happen for what felt like hours. Then suddenly the Star Destroyer shuddered. Ahsoka knew that was a sign they had just dropped out of hyperspace. She waited patiently for someone to come get her.
Suddenly the door to her room opened. But no one came in. Ahsoka stood up and peered outside. She looked into a hallway, which was completely empty. Strange. She carefully took a step forward into the hallway, but again nothing happened. Nobody came to reprimand her or collect her.
The entire hallway was closed off, all but one door which stood open. But it didn't appear to be the way out. Throwing caution in the wind, Ahsoka made her way towards the open door and stepped inside. Once she was a few steps in, it became obvious that she'd just stepped inside someone's quarters. Though it was bare, very bare. There was no personal... anything. Was it just a spare?
Before Ahsoka could think further on it, her attention was pulled away towards the viewport. More specifically the planet that lay in front of her. Their destination, she believed. Ahsoka walked closer towards the viewport to study it. You can't blame her. She was curious as to where Vader had brought her.
A dark orange planet sat before her. Ahsoka had only seen it once, but she would recognize it anywhere – partly due to what Obi-Wan had told her of what transpired here.
"Mustafar?" Ahsoka questioned to herself quietly.
"You assume correct," came a booming mechanical voice from behind her. Ahsoka visibly startled as she turned around, instantly regretting her reaction and cursing the fact that the Force was currently lost to her to warn her. How had she even missed his approach? His entire being wasn't exactly quiet. Or had he already been here? Were these his quarters? That would explain a lot.
Ahsoka immediately slammed her mental shields down tight. She didn't have the Force to keep Vader out of her mind, and she did not want to project the fact that she knew what had happened here between him, Padmé and Obi-Wan. He would know the only person she could've gotten that information from was Obi-Wan. And she did not want him to know that she had been in contact with him.
"Vader," Ahsoka said, collecting herself. "Why are we headed to Mustafar? I wasn't aware there was anything here."
"You weren't supposed to be," was his answer. Ahsoka wanted to roll her eyes at it but refrained from doing so. "But it's significance will be known to you in time. We will head down to the surface, now." And with that Vader turned around and started walking away.
Ahsoka had the feeling she was supposed to follow him, so she did. He led her towards a shuttle. They boarded and were flown towards the surface. Once they sat down, Vader lowered the ramp with a flick of his hand and strode down. Ahsoka followed him but faltered once she'd reached the bottom.
Ahsoka stood on a landing pad, with in front of her a large black structure. She couldn't help but stare up at it. It was impressive, she had to admit. But also scary. For the first time since it had been locked around her neck, Ahsoka was glad for the Force-suppressant collar. Because she was sure this place reeked of the Dark Side.
Since when was this here? Obi-Wan hadn't told her that he'd encountered this structure – castle, really – and she hadn't seen it either when she was here with Anakin during the Clone Wars. She was sure she would've felt a place like this in the Force.
When her awe had subsided, she looked back ahead, only to find that no one was there. Vader had just headed inside and left her standing here. Ahsoka sighed. She should've followed. She started walking and made her way inside the castle, but it felt like a maze. She would never find her way in here, let alone find him.
"Miss Tano, I was ordered to receive you," a voice said from behind her. Ahsoka turned around to face the one that had addressed her. In front of her stood a man dressed in a cloak. "Who are you?" she asked.
"My name is Vaneé. I serve in Lord Vader's Castle. He ordered me to show you where you will be staying," Vaneé said.
Vader's Castle? This was his? Why was she even surprised? It certainly had his flair to it. She wondered with what purpose he had it here, of all places. Was it personal torment? As reaction to his words, Ahsoka only nodded. She would never find the way around here herself. Better to let this man show her.
Vaneé started walking, so Ahsoka followed. She was led towards a chamber. Apparently hers from the way Vaneé led her inside.
"This is where you will be staying for the unforeseeable future. Food will be taken care off. I will escort you for whatever Lord Vader askes of me, or you. Please refrain from any exploring." And with that Vaneé left.
Ahsoka had the feeling he said that last part on Vader's orders. He still knew her quite well, it appeared. She did want to go exploring, given the fact that she was apparently not locked up. Vader ordering her not to would not stop her.
But Ahsoka stopped to think twice about that idea. Maybe she really shouldn't. She had no idea what Vader wanted with her, especially in a place like this. And she still had the collar. It would be wiser to try and stay on Vader's good side and only go exploring once she got the Force back.
Once again Ahsoka was confined to a room. At least this time she wasn't locked in. And she had a window. She walked towards it. Below her, Mustafar's lava rivers flowed. Ahsoka wondered where the duel between Obi-Wan and Anakin had taken place. She wondered where he'd strangled Padmé, and where he'd been burned.
She also wondered if he still thought about that day. Did he use it to fuel the Dark Side within him to commit the atrocities he had?
Well, guess she would find out soon enough. Ahsoka settled on her bed and waited once again for an unknown time. Wondering about an unknown future.
Yeah, this was a little bit all over the place. But I had to cross the barrier between the Destroyer and Mustafar and I couldn't figure out how to do it differently so eventually I just thought fuck it. Yeah!
