The Missions Between
Chapter 14: New Rivals
Note: If you have not ready the comic book, Clone Wars Crash Course, I highly recommend it before reading this chapter
Ahsoka sat in between Padme and Lux holding on to a monitor to view the race. It was a very intense race to start.
"Hey look, that Twi'lek is in the lead now!" Lux pointed out.
For some reason, there was something familiar about the Twi'lek to Ahsoka. She didn't even say anything in regards to Lux's comments since she was trying to think of how she recognized the Twi'lek.
"Umm, Ahsoka; are you with us?" Lux asked.
"Hmm? What? Sorry Lux I was just thinking."
"Ahsoka, you are on temporary leave, enjoy the race and your time with Mr. Bonteri." Padme added.
"No, it's not that, I recognize the Twi'lek in the lead." Ahsoka mentioned without Lux hearing.
"Oh, well that's because that's Kidd Kareen, one of the greatest pod racers of your generation." Padme mentioned.
Then it dawned on Ahsoka. "Oh, great!" She exclaimed to herself. She then recalled who he was.
Lux then put his hand on Ahsoka's shoulder. "What's wrong Ahsoka?"
She gave him an embarrassed smile then responded. "Oh nothing, let's just watch and enjoy the race Lux." She said as she sat back with his arm around her. She knew she wasn't supposed to indulge in her feelings for Lux, and she would admit that Padme put her in a tough spot considering the fact that she was finally able to think about other things rather than Lux all the time. But seeing him again was almost too much for Ahsoka, especially after Steela's death.
Kidd was coming around another huge rock bend when he was suddenly approached by another racer. Kidd watched closely as the other racer attempted to slide right up past him but he moved to block the other racer. He took the rock bend sharply and almost hit the side but managed to stabilize his racer. There was still the other racer on his tail but Kidd was not subject to cheating in order to win races. He just made sure that he kept blocking every chance for this other racer to get in front of him.
Ahsoka was watching the race through her fingers at this point. She really didn't want anything bad to happen to Kidd.
"Ahsoka, you seem concerned for that Twi'lek." Lux noticed.
She took her hand off of her face. "Oh, really, I didn't notice. I just don't want to see anyone die." She informed him.
Lux's mind instantly went back to Steela. "I…understand Ahsoka."
Ahsoka could feel Lux's sadness that still remained over Steela's death. She put her arm around him to comfort him.
"And the winner is….Kidd Kareen!" the announcer exclaimed as the crowd went wild.
Ahsoka and Lux and the rest in the senator's box stood up and cheered.
Bail Organa and a few other senators walked out of the grandstand. "We are going to congratulate the winner." Bail said to Padme. "You're more than welcome to go with us."
"Oh, that'd be great! Let's go you two!" Padme said with enthusiasm.
"Umm, no thanks senator, I feel I really should get back to…."
"Come on Ahsoka, it will be fun to see a real live pod race winner." Lux interrupted her.
She gritted her teeth. "If you say so Lux." And they all walked out of the grandstand and over to the winner circle.
Kidd was shaking so many hands, Ahsoka thought if she kept her back to him, he wouldn't recognize her. But their group made it up to the front of the line. Bail Organa shook his hand, then Padme, then, of all people, Lux shook his hand.
Ahsoka still had her back to Kidd although she was next in line, she hadn't really thought this one through very well.
"A….Ahsoka? Is that really you?"
She rolled her eyes, he recognized her anyway even with her new attire. She turned around with a half smile on her face. "Umm, hey Kidd. Long time no see right?" She said with hesitance.
"Sure is! Guys, close off the rest of the line, I have some catching up to do." Kidd said to his pit crew.
"Right away sir."
Kidd put his arm around Ahsoka and began to walk with her. "How are you little lady?"
To say she was uncomfortable was an understatement. She slightly shrugged away from his arm despite his charming manner.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't want to overstep my bounds." Kidd covered.
"So you thought you could just jump in and put your arm around me?" Ahsoka snipped.
"Sorry sorry sorry, let's start over please?"
Ahsoka gave him a look for the go ahead.
This time Kidd reached to shake Ahsoka's hand. "Ahsoka, it's good to see you again."
Ahsoka smiled and took his hand. "It's good to see you too Kidd."
Kidd took her hand and kissed it gently but this time, Ahsoka blushed at the gesture.
Padme and the other senators had walked in the direction of the shuttle not realizing that Ahsoka had stopped to chat it up with Kidd. Padme then looked behind her along with Lux.
Lux had turned in time to see Ahsoka's hand leave Kidd's lips. He quickly rushed back over to Ahsoka's side. "Hey; sweetheart, are you ready?" Lux said as he then placed his arm around Ahsoka while giving Kidd a glare.
Ahsoka looked up at Lux with a bit of confusion. "Umm, I suppose?" She questioned everything about what was going on.
"Oh, who's this?" Kiss asked with an embarrassed look on his face as he backed away.
Lux then removed his arm from around Ahsoka's neck and reached out to shake Kidd's hand. "Senator Lux Bonteri." He said confidently.
"Ahsoka I thought you couldn't be involved with anyone because of your Jedi ways. Are you not a Jedi anymore?" Kidd asked. He seemed a bit offended.
"Umm, well, I am a Jedi still, it's just that…" she was cut off when Kidd spoke up again.
"Oh, I see, you just didn't want to be with me. I get it." Kidd said a bit abruptly.
Ahsoka punched Lux on the arm and gave him an angry look.
"What? I was trying to keep him off of you."
"Yeah I know you were, but look how sad he is, now I get to go talk to him."
The idea of her talking to Kidd in private began to make Lux's blood boil. To Lux, this almost seemed like this was Ahsoka's way of getting back at him for the whole Steela involvement. But he knew that Ahsoka wasn't that type. He then turned to Padme. "I'll go make sure she's alright."
"Oh, alright Lux!" Padme said. "We are going over to visit with a senator here on Theron, so we will be here a while, take your time Lux!"
"Thank you Senator." And Lux rushed off after Ahsoka and Kidd staying a fair distance behind them. The last thing Lux wanted was to make Ahsoka mad, despite the fact that he had done that plenty of times in the past but he didn't want that this time.
Kidd and Ahsoka found a secluded place under some large rock formations to talk.
"This place is beautiful Kidd!" Ahsoka said breaking the tension.
"Yeah, that's what I used to think about you." He said with a sad face.
"Kidd, don't think for a second that I forgot about our moments on Mon Gaza. You know how I felt about you, its just that I was so much younger then."
"It was only two years ago!"
Ahsoka was a bit embarrassed. "But, understand that I've learned and grown so much. I will tell you, I'm not with Lux technically."
"Technically? But you like him don't you, that's why he was here with you."
"Well, I do like him, but I admit, being here with you again feels so nostalgic, it takes me back to when I first became a padawan, it's crazy to think how much I've learned since then." She said smiling with the reflection of those older days.
"You've learned to feel for another Ahsoka."
"Kidd, I had no idea I'd ever even see you again, and besides, you were a separatist." She halted her speech remembering how she met Lux in the first place. "Kidd, you really did give me a feeling that I had never really felt before."
Lux couldn't take any more of the conversation. So he jumped out from behind the rocks. "Stop Ahsoka, look, I know our past has a lot of history behind it, but I am a part of the Republic and he's a separatist, he's not fit for you!" Lux announced.
"Lux! What are you doing over here?" She stood up and yelled.
"I couldn't let you be around him without knowing what you were saying to him."
Then Kidd stood up. "Well, we were talking Mr. Bonteri, besides, you may be a part of the Republic, but I was her first love, which has more of a lasting impact." Kidd said with confidence mostly trying to taunt Lux.
"Who ever said that?" Lux asked.
"It's just common sense." Kidd retorted.
Ahsoka just stood there watching their exchanges and became rather confused over how to handle it. She then rolled her eyes. "Boys." She said to herself. She knew that even she couldn't stop them at this point.
