I am really sorry for the ludicrously long wait. I was held up by a variety of issues from school work, actual work, writer's block, stress, and self-doubts about the story. Not to mention the fact other personal issues got in the way (read: school and work). Not to mention, I made an error when trying to create this into another chapter after originally setting it to docx. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter! Also, special thanks to my beta reader Darth Sith'ari for looking over this chapter.
"Anakin get the huttlet out of here." Obi-Wan ordered. Despite the urgency of the situation, he seemed calmer than Anakin thought he would be in this current situation. "We are on our way, I will be there to assist you as quickly as possible." He said.
"Yes, master." Anakin said before cutting off the transmission.
Anakin dashed towards the monastery, once again thoughts regarding his mother and Tatooine clouded his mind. Only this time these thoughts were more hopeful and optimistic.
"Stop it." The more rational part of him scolded. "We can think more about that later, now we'll just have to survive." It continued.
"We'll hold them off for as long as possible, sir." Sergeant Coric informed Anakin.
"Thank you. Everyone, back into the monastery." Anakin ordered before igniting his lightsaber to deflect the enemies' fire. "Ahsoka, go!"
Ahsoka hesitated, her master would need help, but Rotta still needed medical attention.
"Yes, master." She relented as she headed inside the monastery. All while dodging any incoming blaster bolts.
The clones and Artoo followed her inside as well. They waited not far from the entrance now willing to keep their distance from Anakin.
Anakin slowly began to back up while deflecting the droids' fire. Making sure not a single bolt hit him or anyone that was still behind him. He ordered the clones to shut monastery doors, which they did without protest. They've known him long enough to know that he would get inside in no time, which once again Anakin proved as he entered before the doors shut.
"We should be able to hold out here." Anakin said.
"Master the huttlet still needs medical attention." Ahsoka brought up. "You heard Master Kenobi, we need to get him out of here." She said.
"That's going to be a problem. We can't go out the front." Anakin said. "Do you have a plan?" Anakin asked.
Ahsoka entered deep thought and looked around the room. She glanced at Artoo and an idea popped into her head.
"I've got an idea, if Artoo's willing of course." Ahsoka said.
"No doubt he is." Anakin told her all while grinning.
Artoo happily chirped in agreement.
"Rex, stay here and hold our position. I'm leaving you in charge until we get back." Anakin told the Clone captain.
"Yes sir." Rex replied with a salute. Rex began to order the clones to his troops while Ahsoka, Anakin, and Artoo made their way deeper into the monastery. The Clone Captain's voice growing less and less audible the further they traveled down the chasm.
"What's your plan?" Anakin asked Ahsoka.
"I was thinking about what you said about the monks, and wondered if it was possible that the monks could escape here somehow," Ahsoka said.
"It's likely." Anakin acknowledged. "Although we'd need a console of sorts unless you're willing to just keep looking for an escape route blindly." He added.
"What are the chances of that happening?" Ahsoka asked.
Upon hearing Ahsoka's question, Anakin let out a small amused grin. Recently, Padmé has been telling him that Threepio had been pestering her with constant statistics while trying to advise her. While Padmé was grateful that C3-P0 was trying to help her even she had her limits. Of course, that didn't mean she hated the protocol droid and thought of him as being useless, on the contrary, she found him to be a great help when it came to translations and recording Senate debates.
"Don't know, but I'd argue fairly low." He said.
As they ventured through the corridors, Anakin noticed a throne and began to examine it. If Anakin was willing to bet, he'd figure that chair might have a computer built into it. He guided Ahsoka and Artoo inside and found what looked like to be a console.
"You found something?" Ahsoka asked.
"I might have." Anakin said. "Artoo plug into here." He told the droid.
Artoo chirped and obeyed the Jedi's command enthusiastically.
As Artoo plugged himself into, Anakin approached Ahsoka.
"Why don't you sit down and relax." Anakin suggested. "You've earned it." He told her.
"I'm alright," Ahsoka defended herself swiftly. Though her eyes were widened telling Anakin all he needed to know.
Anakin sighed and memories of Obi-Wan's words to him on Christophsis came rushing back to him.
"Try to understand her more, and then you'll know."
Anakin sighed as he sat down on the bench next to the computer interface.
"Alright, I don't know why you won't listen to me though." He said.
If Ahsoka and he were so similar then perhaps it would be best for her to explain her problems to him.
"I do listen to you, master. It's just that…" Ahsoka said before she paused.
She looked down at the floor anxiously. The Togrutan clutched herself while trying to ignore his gaze.
"It's alright Ahsoka, you can talk to me." Anakin told her trying to encourage her.
"It's just that I'm trying to prove that I can be a padawan." Ahsoka confessed.
Anakin put one of his hands on her shoulders.
"Ahsoka, a wise Jedi once told me nothing happens by accident." He told her quoting what Qui-Gon Jinn told him all those years ago on Tatooine.
Ahsoka looked at him, but instead of a more positive understanding glance he had hoped for, it was a skeptical frown.
"You can stop pretending, I know about the argument you and Master Kenobi had." Ahsoka told him.
Anakin winced upon hearing that, but only for an instant.
"I figured you did, and in all honesty I don't blame you for feeling this way." Anakin said.
Ahsoka's expression softened. "You do?" She asked.
"Want to know something? Obi-Wan was never supposed to be my master, his master Qui-Gon Jinn wanted to train me. When Qui-Gon died, the council placed me under Obi-Wan's tutelage." He told her. "For years, a part of me had always wondered if Obi-Wan only trained out of obligation rather than sincerity," Anakin confessed.
"Do you still think that?" Ahsoka asked.
"No, I don't." He told her.
Anakin kneeled down and put his hands around her shoulders. "Look, I'm sorry for this, Ahsoka. I know what it's like to feel that you're here because of an obligation, but in the end I was wrong." He said.
"Thank you, master." Ahsoka said bowing.
"No problem." He told her.
Just then, Anakin's comlink beeped notifying him of a messenger, it was Rex who appeared to be perfectly fine. Skywalker would be proven wrong in a second.
"Anakin," Rex said.
This took Anakin aback, not once in the past few months they have known each other did Rex refer to him by his first name. It was always "General" or "Sir", even when off the battlefield.
"Something is definitely wrong." He thought, narrowing his eyes.
Even Ahsoka was surprised, "Anakin?" she asked. She had known Rex for a brief period, but could tell that Rex was someone who would never refer to a superior so formally.
"We have secured the monastery. What is your current position? Repeat, what is your current position?" Rex asked.
Anakin reached out in the force and sensed a disturbance.
"Ventress." He thought to himself.
Dooku's assassin had been a thorn in his side since their duel on Yavin IV. Anakin should have known that the Count would send her.
"Master, who is that?" Ahsoka questioned him having followed his example.
"Ventress, Dooku's assassin." He told her. "She must be here to kill the Huttlet, come on." He ordered.
Anakin dropped his comm when all of a sudden Artoo beeped and whistled, alerting the two he must have found something.
"Did you find something?" Anakin said.
Artoo chirped once more and he projected a holographic map of the monastery, the droid highlighted a specific part of the map red. In what appeared to be their current location, Artoo had highlighted the two Jedi noticed an exterior landing pad at the other side.
"Let's go," Anakin ordered when he noticed something important missing. "Wait! Ahsoka where's the huttlet?" He questioned her.
Ahsoka took off her backpack and noticed that it was empty. Her eyes widened in fear as her breath hitched.
"I saw him a moment ago," She defended herself.
The two Jedi looked around the room until they heard a noise beneath them. Anakin bent down and saw the huttlet was hiding underneath a bench.
"Come here you." He said as he gently pulled the huttlet from underneath the bench. He gently placed Rotta into the backpack once more and handed it to Ahsoka.
"Let's go." He said.
Artoo led the way to the landing pad. However, not long after the trio discovered Ventress had already found them. A spiteful glare targeted towards them with her dual lightsabers already ignited. Anakin's eyes narrowed as he motioned Ahsoka to stay with Artoo.
"Skywalker," Ventress sneered.
"Ventress. I wasn't expecting you to be here." Anakin retorted flippantly.
"Give me the huttlet, Skywalker." She threatened.
Anakin ignited his lightsaber, "I don't think so." He said.
The B2 Droids began to fire at them and Anakin blocked and redirected their fire.
Meanwhile, Artoo beeped as he opened up a trap door they were all standing on top of. Anakin, Ahsoka, Ventress, Artoo, and the B2 droids fell down into the chamber beneath the throne room. Despite this, Anakin wasted no time lunging at Ventress. Ahsoka went over to Artoo and put the huttlet onto the droid.
"Go!" She ordered telling the astromech to keep it safe.
Artoo obliged and went back to where they had just walked out of.
With the huttlet safe, Ahsoka turned towards the droid and ignited her lightsaber. She ran towards the battle droids blocking all of their fire and slicing any within her range to pieces.
Anakin blocked Ventress' strikes, just like on Yavin she was relentless. It was clear to him that she was not willing to let him get the offensive. Despite her relentless flurry, Ventress was being precise in her movements. Dooku did a good job, he had to give him some credit… even if the very idea of praising Dooku made Anakin want to punch himself in the face with his prosthetic arm as a reminder of what the Count has done.
"Think Skywalker," He thought, whilst blocking her attacks.
He began to feel his arms starting to grow sore and his movements started to slow down.
"Maybe I should have picked up on Soresu, as Obi-Wan has."
Just then a strategy began to form in Anakin's head. Maybe he should borrow something from Obi-Wan's playbook.
He stepped back a bit to get some distance from Ventress.
"You know, Ventress, I never really got the chance to say thank you." Anakin said.
This took Ventress aback, "Excuse me?" She questioned.
"Thank you, without you, I would have never become a Jedi Knight." Anakin said while in a blade lock.
Ventress's teeth clenched as she growled before somewhat managing to regain her composure.
"You only won because your master was there with you." Ventress brought up.
"No, Obi-Wan only helped me regain my focus. I'm still certain that I would have won that fight." Anakin brought up. "And quite frankly I remember you running away… constantly." He added. "Dooku must be even more desperate than I thought if he's getting help from you."
Once again, the assassin lunged at Anakin once more with even more fury practically growling like a wild animal. Anakin managed to block her attack, but was pushed back a bit. His left foot skeeted on the floor for a bit.
Ahsoka ran towards Ventress who used her other lightsaber to block the padawan's attack. Ventress held both of them off and managed to step away. Ventress focused on Ahsoka trying to make both of them walk away. Suddenly, the battle droids began to turn their attention towards Anakin as he did his best to avoid. He was reminded of his duel with Dooku back on Geonosis where the Count prioritized him instead of Obi-Wan. It would seem she has learned the basics from Dooku. Of course, he noted that anyone could teach someone the strategy of "divide and conquer". As well as, plan around that little strategem.
Ventress and Ahsoka were now dueling in the corridor. The two apprentices were now locked in a blade lock both tried to push one another out of it. However, it would seem that Ahsoka was being kept on the defensive most of the time. Ahsoka was used to being the more aggressive duelist most of the time, and this was her first duel to the death. Sparring with your fellow younglings rarely prepped one for the real deal.
Anakin leapt into the fray to keep Ventress focused more on him, trying to keep himself between Ahsoka and Ventress. A red, plasma bolt whizzed past the right side of his head. He pushed at Ventress stopping them momentarily.
"Ahsoka, help keep me covered." He instructed still in a blade lock with Ventress.
"Got it." Ahsoka said as she deflected any blaster fire coming towards Anakin. As Anakin struggled with Ventress, more droids started to march towards them. Only for Clone reinforcements to arrive with Rex leading the charge.
Outside, one of the droids' HMP gunships exploded as more Republic ships started to appear. Anakin let out a smile as any sense of unease disappeared; it looked like Obi-Wan had arrived.
"Looks like the cavalry has arrived." Anakin said sensing his master's presence.
The 212nd had started to appear as they blasted the droids alongside the 501st, followed shortly by Obi-Wan.
"Cody, you and Rex handle the droids while I assist General Skywalker and Commander Tano." Obi-Wan ordered.
"Understood sir!" Cody said as he and his troops began to converge with the 501st.
Obi-Wan walked towards the corridor and stood in front of the doorway. He could hear the duel between Anakin and Ahsoka against Ventress. He calmly got his lightsaber out and ignited it.
The Jedi smiled at Kenobi's sudden arrival, whereas Ventress glared. Despite the immense rage, a sliver of fear was also present in her mind.
"He shouldn't be here..." Ventress thought to herself. "Not now!"
"Sorry for the delay, but I'm back." Obi-Wan having just entered the corridor.
Okay, I am back! Again sorry for the delay, but first I had to work a six-hour job at my local YMCA's summer camp back in 2019. Then, I had to deal with my senior semester of college. Not to mention, I began an internship during the winter semester. That was also affected somewhat by the pandemic back in February. Though I fear that I will remain busy as I accepted a job offer at the same place my father works at. While starting a job, that means I will have a lot of work hours ahead of me. However, at the very least, I will make sure that this story will be completed.
