"This place should be good. For the time being at least," Anakin remarked, looking around the small apartment. They had just spent the last of their credits on this apartment in the lower levels of Coruscant.
Since they left, they had spent the better part of the past two days surveying Coruscant and evaluating their options. Given that they didn't have many credits to start with and couldn't exactly work with the Order any more, they decided at least for the time being, they would rely on getting intel from Anakin's informants, who got in touch with him on the subspace communications frequency "Fulcrum." It wasn't a military line, so Anakin still had access to it on his holoprojector.
Anakin walked towards one of the two Joben T-85 speeder bikes they'd bought, their first investment since leaving the Order. "Now, we just gotta find some work. I'll look around the top levels, you take the bottom ones?"
As two skilled mechanics, repair shops seemed like the natural choice for their job prospects.
"Sounds good. I could use some fresh air anyway," Ahsoka replied nonchalantly. Anakin grinned before turning and taking off on his speeder bike.
Ahsoka spent the first 10 minutes surveying the different shops. She hadn't realized how much happened in Coruscant's underbelly. Now to find a repair shop that could use an extra hand…
Crack! Ahsoka looked down and saw her speeder had suddenly started smoking. Now I see why this speeder was so cheap. Ahsoka slowed her speeder to a stop, looking down for any indication of a faulty part.
"Oh, great. Well, hopefully it's not too seri–" Ahsoka suddenly felt herself plummeting and she felt a scream escape her. Her speeder's repulsors had completely given out. Oh, no. She was not going out like this.
She yelled in frustration, slamming down on the accelerator. In the speeder's last act of life, it propelled her forward onto the nearest landing platform. She skidded across the full length platform, before she rolled and was left dangling off the edge, hanging onto the speeder. She climbed her way back onto the platform and dragged the speeder towards the platform's center. She muttered, "What a piece of junk."
"Hey, you alright?" A human woman with curly brown hair approached her. "That speeder's trash."
"Yeah, I don't know what I was thinking when I bought it." Ahsoka walked over to examine her bike. "Look at this. The repulsor blew. The compressor is shot."
"Looks like you know a thing or two about engines. I'm Trace," the woman offered her hand.
Ahsoka eyed it suspiciously before taking it. "Ahsoka."
"Lucky for you, you happened to land on one of the best repair shops on 1313." The woman said.
Ahsoka shook her head, "I can fix it. I just need the tools."
The woman replied, "Have it your way, but the tools are still gonna cost you."
Ahsoka replied, "I don't have much in the way of credits."
"Don't worry. Down here, no one does." She opened her garage, revealing a starship.
"That's a Nebula-class freighter." Ahsoka observed. "Or at least, it was."
"Good eye." The woman replied. "I'm turning it into something with a bit more speed – I think. Your space is over there." She gestured to a corner in the garage. "Why don't you get that thing in and settle in?"
"Thank you," Ahsoka was grateful for the woman's help.
"Don't take too long. Time is money," the woman rubbed her fingers, indicating that she expected payment.
Ahsoka paused, considering her kindness. "Hey, why are you helping me?"
"Shouldn't I? It seems like the right thing to do," the woman replied nonchalantly. "You can leave if you want."
"No, it's alright. I'll stay." Ahsoka replied, grateful for her kindness.
"That's good. I really need the money."
Ahsoka had spent the past couple hours working on her bike. Trace was doing work on her ship, when she called out. "Hey! You need any help over there?"
"Not if you're gonna charge me," Ahsoka replied.
"Hey, I don't know where you're from, but down here, everything has a price. You better get used to it."
Ahsoka started to consider, "Well, you might be in luck. This engine won't run without a new sparker. Got one I can buy?"
Trace crossed her arms. "Bad news. The only sparkers I got are up here," knocking on the ship she was working on. "And I ain't got no more."
"That won't do. I need to get out of here."
"Why? You running from something?" Trace teased, hopping down from her work area.
Ahsoka sighed. "Maybe this was a bad idea. I don't know what I'm doing here." She began to walk out of the garage.
"Hey? What did I say? Look you can stay here as long as you like. If you can pay me. What's with you?" Trace asked, confused.
Ahsoka walked out to the edge of the platform, watching as a Republic freighter rose up into the sky. Her old life. She watched it sadly. What was she doing? Her work had managed to distract her from the decisions she had made and the regret she was afraid of having. But now, all she could think about was getting the both her and Anakin off Coruscant and getting back to helping end this war. Not as Jedi, but as…themselves.
When she walked back into the garage, she was surprised to find that Trace had repaired her bike for her. Trace smiled in satisfaction as she revved the engines. She looked up. "No sense in keeping you here if you're gonna be miserable."
"I appreciate the help. What's it gonna cost?"
"It's on the house." Trace said quietly.
Ahsoka leaned on the table. "You know, where I come from, it's very different from here."
"Obviously. So where do you come from anyway?"
Ahsoka had to think quickly. "I…um…used to live in the upper levels of Coruscant."
"Ah, up there where the air is clear. You're probably better off down here."
"Why's that?" Ahsoka was confused. Down here, better?
"I know you probably had your problems up there, what with the Jedi starting wars, policing everything…"
"The Jedi didn't start the war. They're trying to stop it," Ahsoka replied indignantly. Why was she defending them?
"Sure, sure they are. Look, it doesn't really matter anyway. They've forgotten all about us."
"What do you mean?"
"It's just, when you're a kid, you hear stories. I guess they're not what I thought they'd be."
Ahsoka went to say something, but she stopped herself and frowned. Not what I thought they'd be is right.
"It's not safe down here on Coruscant, which is why I've got my ship, so I can make my living in the stars. We'll get away from the Jedi, this war, all of it."
"Martez!" A guttural yell came from the garage's entrance. A Yushyn with two towering alien guards approached, as if they were looking for a fight. "Your sister said she was paying me today."
Trace looked back at Ahsoka and said, "I'll take care of this. Don't do anything." Ahsoka nodded hesitantly. I could do a lot.
"Pintu! Rafa said she was coming to see you."
"Well it looks like she's not here, so you'll have to pay me instead." The Yushyn jabbed his finger at Trace and motioned for his henchmen to come forward.
Ahsoka frowned. "I'd back off if I were you." She wasn't about to let these people push Trace around.
"Stay out of this!" Trace and the Yushyn both told her. Ahsoka raised her hands in surrender.
"Now where's my money," the Yushyn asked again.
"Yeah, I've got your money right…" Trace reached for a wrench. Ahsoka rolled her eyes. Oh no. "…here!"
Trace began to attack the two aliens. Ahsoka stayed out of it per her request but the fight was quickly taking a turn for the worst. The two aliens threw her on the table and began taking punches at her.
Trace looked up at Ahsoka, "On second thought, some help would be great."
Trace shoved the alien off of her and threw another punch. The alien shook it off and got ready to punch again. Except his punch went exactly into Ahsoka's hand. Ahsoka got into her fighting stance and went to work.
These two goons didn't pose any challenge. Ahsoka placed a few well-placed punches and kicks and the goons were on the ground, wincing in pain. Trace watched in awe.
"I think you want to leave now," Ahsoka said to Pintu.
Pintu groaned in frustration. "Tell Rafa this is far from over," Pintu said, as his goons limped away.
Ahsoka walked over to help Trace up. "Woah, where did you learn to fight like that?" Trace asked.
"My older brother taught me," Ahsoka said quickly.
"Maybe you can teach me someday." Trace remarked, slowly getting up.
"She'd make a good teacher," a familiar voice said. Ahsoka's eyes widened. She turned and saw Anakin walking towards them.
Trace looked at him. "You know this guy, Ahsoka?"
"Yeah…uh…he's…" Ahsoka's mind was racing for an excuse.
"Her older brother." Anakin answered nonchalantly, smirking.
Trace widened her eyes realizing what Ahsoka had said earlier. "Then you must really be good at fighting."
Anakin smiled, "What can I say? She learned from the best." Ahsoka rolled her eyes, before stopping to consider telling Trace the truth. She glanced at Anakin, who seemed to understand what she wanted to say. He nodded in agreement.
"Trace, thank you for your help." Ahsoka really was grateful. "You deserve the truth. I am from the upper levels of Coruscant, but not in the way you thought. I…I was a Jedi."
Trace's eyes widened. She had a look resembling that of contempt. It did not miss Ahsoka or Anakin's glance. "Jedi? You're a Jedi?"
"Was," Ahsoka quickly corrected. "So was Anakin," she motioned to Anakin. Trace looked embarrassed.
"Oh… sorry about what I said earlier about the Jedi starting the war and stuff. It's just…I…never mind," Trace shook her head and looked distraught, like she was having a bad memory.
Ahsoka knew there was more to Trace's relationship with the Jedi than she let on. But she wouldn't push it.
She nodded, "I understand. We… we left because we realized that the Jedi weren't who we thought they were." Trace's expression seemed to soften at what Ahsoka said.
Anakin placed his right hand on Trace's shoulder. Trace flinched. For some reason, this man radiated power, though he seemed friendly enough. If he had been here, those goons would have melted out of fear right in front of her. Also, was that a metal hand?
Anakin retracted his hand, feeling Trace tense up. "Oh, sorry. Heh, I forget people don't know I have a metal hand." He paused before continuing, "Thank you for helping Ahsoka repair her speeder. I know it's on the house, but… please accept these credits as thanks." He placed what little credits they had left in Trace's hand. "Maybe you can use it to help pay that guy back." He smiled and nodded to Ahsoka before turning to walk away. I'll be waiting outside, he seemed to say.
Ahsoka smiled and nodded back.
Trace stared at the credits Anakin had just given her. "Your 'brother' intimidates the hell out of me. But… he seems quite nice." She gestured finger quotes at the term "brother."
Ahsoka replied, "He's actually quite a softie once you get to know him. And yes, he's one of the kindest people I know." Ahsoka smiled to herself before continuing, "Thank you again, Trace. I…know I was kind of cold to you at first. It's just…these past couple days have been, well let's just say, a jarring change in pace."
Trace laughed awkwardly, "I can only imagine."
Ahsoka paused before continuing, "You reminded me what the Jedi mean to people who need us. And you reminded me what it means to be selfless and help those who need it most."
"I taught a Jedi something new? Look at me," Trace replied, satisfied with herself.
Ahsoka laughed, "Yes, you did. Take care of yourself alright? It's not a good habit to be owing people money." She turned to walk away, before offering, "Maybe we can stay in touch?"
Trace smiled. They weren't like the Jedi she'd seen in the past. They seemed more…compassionate. Like real people. "I'd like that. You take care, too, alright?" Ahsoka nodded, before walking her speeder out to join Anakin, who was gazing at the stars.
"Enough fresh air for you?" Anakin asked, cheekily.
"Oh, hush." Ahsoka smiled. "How long were you watching?" It sounded like Anakin had heard much of their conversation.
"Oh, you know. Long enough." He smiled.
They stood there for a while, staring at the stars lost in thought. It seemed both of them couldn't help but think about the life they had left behind. Ahsoka finally broke the silence.
"Race you back?" Anakin raised an eyebrow.
"You're on."