"Hold out your hands."

Despite being aware that she wouldn't see it, Vader watched Ahsoka turn on the auto-pilot with a lifted brow. "Why?"

"I need to cuff you before we get to the base," she grabbed the abandoned pair of restraints they stole from the flagship, extending a hand expectantly.

He looked at her lamely. "I take it your team isn't very fond of me?"

"A bit of an understatement," she mumbled before a look of remembrance crossed her features. "Oh, and I'll need your weapons too."

"All of them?"

Ahsoka narrowed her eyes. "Yes, all of them."

Vader sighed as he unhooked his lightsaber from the side of his belt. After that, he reached into his left boot, pulling out a small blaster. He went from head-to-toe, emptying the weapons into her arms as he went—unloading blasters and blades from places Ahsoka didn't even know could hold them.

After his fifth knife, it seemed the well had finally run dry, and she let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you."

"Not finished," he muttered as he detached blades from the sides of each glove before handing them to her. The cycle went on for an unnatural amount of time, but eventually—thank Force—he removed all of them.

"Why do you have all of these?" She spilled the pile of weaponry into an open storage pod with a soft grunt, careful not to let the sharp pieces touch her skin. "Don't you use a lightsaber?"

He gave what looked to be a shrug. "Personal reasons."

"Hands, please."

He grumbled something that the mask didn't quite relay but cooperated, offering his hands to her. She clasped the cuffs over his wrists, a dim blue light appearing when they activated.

"There," she gave him an apologetic smile. "Good to go."

Vader bit back the urge to ask if him being in cuffs was truly necessary, knowing he was already treading on thin ice, and the last thing he needed was to provoke the only person that would defend him when things inevitably go wrong. He returned to the chair beside Ahsoka with a low huff, the restraints already digging into his gloved wrists uncomfortably.

She moved to disengage the auto-pilot, flipping a few other switches before taking control of the steering. They had just entered the dry atmosphere of Atollon, a secluded planet located in the Lothal sector, but that was all he recognized.

He tried to lean back, wincing when he felt a blunt object jab into his spine. Ah. Her lightsaber. He dimly remembered taking it with him when he grabbed his holoprojector, not quite willing to leave it behind. The weapon had narrowly avoided detection during her search.

His gaze drifted to the togruta beside him as he tried to get comfortable. Despite the tension in his shoulders, he couldn't help but unwind at the calming energy emitting from her.

A small tug of his mind brought him back to the nights they spent hiding the common area of the Temple past curfew.

Ahsoka got nightmares quite often—especially at the beginning of the war, or the evenings following a particularly gruesome battle. She would comm him on their private channel to ask if he felt rested enough to talk for a while, and regardless of how exhausted he really was, he remembered never having the heart to turn her down.

Most of the time, he didn't even know what she was talking about—he just knew that if she needed someone, he was more than willing to risk a few hours of sleep and a scolding from one of the Masters to stay with her. Those were the times they ignored official titles and talked to one another like family. They discussed the things they planned to do after the war with excitement, ignoring the looming possibility that they might not even make it that far.

That was the horrible thing about war. It didn't matter if they were a child, or if they were a seasoned warrior—it took whomever it could wrap its cold, bloodstained fingers around. That was a taunting thought for him to bare—knowing that someone as young and innocent as Ahsoka could have been slaughtered the next time she charged into battle.

His hands involuntarily rolled into a tight fist, his stomach twisting as images of the young Padawans he killed flashed in his mind.

He was no better than the cruelty of war.

Vader forced the thought down.

At the end of the day, Ahsoka was thrown onto the front lines of a war she knew little about. She was given a weapon and told to swing with no knowledge of the true objective. She fought their battles for the Jedi Council—came back bruised and beaten, sometimes barely breathing—while they watched from a distance, safe and secure, out of harm's reach. It was a grim, unjust system.

Deep down, even as a Jedi, he never blamed her for leaving.

He had still grieved her absence. He had still gone to the place they declared as their spot whenever he needed to think or meditate. He recalled countless times he needed to remind himself that he couldn't call on her for backup during a battle.

But he never blamed her.

He supposed there was a reason Jedi were not supposed to get attached to anyone. It didn't make their shallow requirements right, but it would have made things easier. They were a team—losing Ahsoka felt like losing a limb.

Losing a limb was easier, a voice in the back of his mind said, at least a limb could be replaced.

Vader snapped out of his thoughts when Ahsoka veered to get around a tree coral. He blinked a few times, forcing himself to concentrate and nearly forgetting about the cuffs on his wrists until he tried to move again.

"These restraints don't work on me," Vader decided to break the silence with a huff. He watched her, narrowing his eyes when she didn't react to his statement. "And you seem to know that. Yet, I don't feel any anxiety in the Force around you."

Ahsoka glanced over to him hesitantly at the tacit skepticism in his voice.

"The Force flows darker around those planning to kill," she explained, her grip on the wheel tightening just enough for him to notice. "I haven't felt that around you yet."

Vader hummed, tilting his helmet to the side slightly so he could look out the window. "It doesn't bother you that I could kill you," he said, his words sounding more like an observation than anything else. "You don't even care."

She shrugged, her posture relentlessly relaxed. "If you wanted to kill me, I'd be dead by now."

Vader paused, deciding to shift the conversation when he noticed a herd of spider-like creatures gathering below the ship as they flew closer to the ground. "This is where the medical facility is?"

"No," she said simply, and he shot her a cynical glare, feeling uneasy at her words.

"Then what are we doing here?"

"We have to pick someone up before we go." He opened his mouth to say something, but she cut him off, "And don't worry. You can trust him."

"Telling me not to worry does not make me less anxious," he grumbled, leaning into his seat and ignoring the uncomfortable pressure the idle lightsaber put on his back. "For your sake, I do hope this isn't a trap."

Ahsoka let out a sigh. "You can feel when I'm lying just as I can with you. If I had bad intentions, you would know."

"Regardless," he started, despising the vulnerability he felt at her words because surely he wasn't such an open book. "The more we dawdle, the closer the Empire could be to finding us."

They flew around a few more plated tree corals. The natural structures towered over the ship, nearly engulfing them in shadows.

"It won't take long," she paused before grimacing slightly. "Hopefully."

"Your confidence is reassuring."

Vader couldn't tell if she was ignoring him or if she just didn't hear him because she gave no reaction. She took a smooth left turn at a cave, flying roughly ten more klicks before a landing dock came into view.

She gave him a small smile. "We're here."

A tinge of anxiety ran up his spine and he shifted, arms beginning to ache from the confining position they were stuck in. Ahsoka activated the landing gear as they hovered above the platform, slowly rotating the ship to face forward. The ground below his feet shuddered for a moment before they touched down.

"Oh, joy."

She flicked a switch on her right, causing a light to turn green in the middle of the control panel. He heard the bay door open behind them slowly.

"Look, if you're on the run from the Empire, you're going to want some allies," she said as they both stood, "so for your sake and mine, please be on your best behavior."

He narrowed his eyes but kept his mouth shut, allowing her to grip his arm as they walked through the lowered hatch.

Only as they descended the metal ramp did he notice the small group of people gathered at the base of the ship. Some had curious looks on their faces, but the majority of them were scowling. He felt his skin start to burn under the weight of their sharp stares, strongly wishing to take the cuffs around his wrists off.

He felt Ahsoka's grip tighten.

There was an uncomfortable moment of silence before an older man made his way to the front. He glanced between the two of them, a small smile crossing his face as he extended a hand to Ahsoka, and if he didn't know any better, he might have said the man looked like-

"Glad to see you back in one piece, Commander."

Rex.

Vader's breath hitched, a pang hitting him in the middle of his chest. His eyes darted to Ahsoka, unable to keep his panic from projecting into the Force.

How is he alive?

She seemed to notice, offering a quick, soothing glance as she shook the clone's hand that did absolutely nothing to steady his own trembling fingers. Vader curled his hands into a fist, stubbornly willing his hands to still.

The togruta returned the smile. "Thank you, Rex."

"Of course," The man nodded, and Vader swore he got whiplash at the sound of his voice. Despite desperately wanting to avert his gaze, he forced himself to face forward and look at him.

Rex had aged since the last time they saw each other. Knowing the clones were bred for battle, he doubted the Kaminoans cared enough to slow their accelerated growth once they passed their fighting age. He had a white beard now, wearing tarnished bits of armor over some torn blacks with a white tool belt around his waist.

The former captain cleared his throat, seeming uneasy when he noticed that Vader was studying him. "Oh, uh, as you can see, the team noticed your absence."

Ahsoka nodded and turned to the Twi'Lek hidden within in the group. "We have a lot to talk about."

"I agree," The woman with a green complexion spoke, finally tearing her eyes away from Vader. "I think it's best if we go inside."

Ahsoka opened her mouth to speak again before a scrawny teenager cut her off. "Not him." The boy glared at him. "He stays out here."

Vader narrowed his eyes behind his mask, biting his tongue to keep himself silent. Ahsoka gave him an apologetic look before turning to the group.

"Fair enough," she replied. "Zeb, Sabine, please stay out here with him while we discuss our course of action."

A Lasat glowered as a girl wearing Mandalorian armor moved to stand beside him. "Gladly."

Vader resisted the urge to sigh.

It was going to be a long day.

»»««

The group entered one of the Quonset huts located on the base, the air amid them weighed down with tension.

Once they got inside, Hera sealed the door shut to give them privacy—but not before Rex caught a glimpse of Skywalker looking deeply annoyed. He wasn't even sure how someone could express emotion with a mask covering their face, but he painted a clear picture.

Ezra leaned on a table, crossing his arms over his chest. "What were you thinking?" he hissed. "Bringing him here, jeopardizing our team? He could turn on us any second!"

Rex saw Ahsoka's jaw set at his sharp tone, and Hera looked at the togruta sympathetically. "We're trying to understand, Ahsoka, we are," she said, "I just need you to explain."

"I'll explain everything soon, I promise, but-" Ahsoka grabbed an old Republican 'pack from the corner of the room. "For now, we're on a bit of a time crunch."

Rex furrowed his brows. "What do you mean, Commander?"

"His suit is loaded with built-in trackers." She stuffed some items into the white bag. "We escaped undetected, and if all goes well, the Empire won't think to trace us for at least another rotation. When they do, the base's satellite will redirect the location so they don't come near camp."

Hera put a hand over the open 'pack to get her attention with a sigh. "Why do I get the feeling that you're about to suggest something absurd?"

Ahsoka cringed. "I need to take him to Bail to get him out of it."

"Why are you even helping him, Ahsoka?" Ezra pushed off the table, taking a few steps closer to the group. "He's a murderer."

Her eyes narrowed. "He was my friend."

"With all due respect, Ahsoka, are you sure your feelings aren't clouding your judgment?" Hera asked, her voice soft and her eyes cautious.

She sighed. "You don't know Anakin as I do."

"And, likewise, you don't know Darth Vader as we do," Ezra huffed, starting to head for the door. "I understand you knew him at one time, but he doesn't deserve our help. He's caused too much suffering."

"Wouldn't you do the same for Kanan?" she called out, causing him to halt.

"That's different."

"No, it's not," she insisted. "Please. If we can just get him to see the Empire for what it really is, he will become one of our greatest allies."

Hera looked hesitant.

"If you don't want to send the whole team, I understand," Ahsoka said. "Just let me bring Rex. We'll take him to the medical bay on Alderaan ourselves."

"Take who?"

Everyone turned at the voice.

Hera walked to his side, putting a hand on his arm to help him stay steady. "Kanan, what are you doing out of bed?"

He waved her off, his eyes covered in white bandages. "I sense a foreign presence. Who's here?"

They all exchanged looks of uncertainty.

»»««

"He's got cuffs on," Vader recalled one of the two nuisances in front of him saying. "He can't do anything."

If only they knew.

He bit the inside of his cheek hard enough to taste blood, resisting the remarkably strong, tempting desire to snap someone's neck. The only thing that kept him from acting on it was the fact that Ahsoka would likely lose what little faith in him she had.

But oh, he thought about it. He thought about it long and hard.

"And what's with the noises?" The Lasat prodded, leaning in far too close for comfort. "Does that thing ever shut off?"

Sabine gave him a look. "Zeb, don't."

"What's that? I can't hear you over the sound of this guy's breathing."

"It's my respirator," Vader snapped, feeling his very last nerve start to spark. He curled his gloved hands into tight fists. "I need it to breathe, you-"

Suddenly, a door opened, and Vader let out a sigh of relief when he caught sight of Ahsoka.

Not a moment too soon.

"They're vexing me," he complained as she passed him. "Can we go now?"

She ignored him, turning to the pair. "Thank you both for your assistance."

"No problem," Sabine replied, her smile dropping slightly when she noticed the backpack hanging loosely over her shoulders. "Are you leaving again?"

"I'm afraid so," she replied, and the girl's eyes flickered over to Vader for a split second.

"Stay safe, okay?"

Ahsoka gave a small smile, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Thank you."

Rex walked out of the Quonset hut with a backpack of his own, soon followed by three others—two he recognized, one he didn't. The man had gauzes wrapped around his head and over his eyes, leaning onto a cane for support.

Vader saw the four exchange a few words before Rex pulled a helmet over his head and walked over to him. "Let's load up."

"Good riddance."

Vader sucked in a breath and turned to look at the Lasat that stood behind him. "These cuffs don't work."

"Oh yeah?" Zeb said, his voice so smug and irritating-

He wordlessly snapped the cuffs in half, letting them fall to the ground with a soft clank as the color drained from Zeb's face. Vader allowed himself a moment of satisfaction before walking up the ramp.

Rex followed him, narrowing his eyes at the mound of weapons. "What's all this?"

"They're mine," Vader grumbled and collapsed onto one of the four seats in the cockpit. "Don't touch them."

He saw Ahsoka offer some departing words before marching up the ramp herself. She made her way to the pilot position, smiling at Rex as he sat beside her. She unclasped an item Vader couldn't quite make out from her belt, logging in a message.

He leaned forward. "Where are we going?"

"The secret medical facility wouldn't be much of a secret if I told you, would it?" Her teasing smile dropped when he said nothing, the mask staring back at her blankly. "Alright, fine. Alderaan."

Ahsoka logged in the coordinates before closing the bay door. The ship's engine hummed as they rose from the ground, kicking up some loose dirt on the landing dock.

Rex gave her an uncertain look. "Here we go."