Kaeden Larte sat in the bridge of her ship, monitoring the course of the cargo ship. After their failure to recruit Vos at Kashyyyk, Ahsoka had immediately set to work in attempting to recruit her other candidate, Saw Gerrerra. Kaeden didn't know much about him, only that he had a reputation of being somewhat of an extremist, and that he had some kind of history with Ahsoka.
Kaeden had to wonder what said history was about. From the way Ahsoka described Saw, it sounded like they hadn't exactly parted ways on the best of terms.
Still, they needed help, and according to Ahsoka, Saw would be a valuable asset.
If they could find him that was.
They were currently on route to Saw's last known location, a place called Jedha. Again, Kaeden had never heard of it, and apparently Ahsoka knew little about it either. But from what rumours they had discovered, as well as imperial reports that had been hacked into by Kallus, Saw and his loyalists were up to something on Jedha.
So that's where they would start looking.
Sighing, Kaeden looked around the bridge of the ship. She was currently alone, allowing herself to think. Ahsoka had gone to get some rest before hunting for Saw. The Togruta woman clearly needed it, as she was under a lot of stress.
If Kaeden didn't know any better, she could have sworn that she saw bags under Ahsoka's eyes… presuming that Togruta could get bags that was.
Kaeden had always admired Ahsoka, admittedly in more ways than one. Despite her sister's teasing, as well as the lack of any real responses from Ahsoka, Kaeden continued to admire her to this day.
But recently, their dynamic had changed. She and Ahsoka had gotten closer, without getting closer. Ahsoka seemed to open up to her more, both offering and accepting comfort from the human woman.
And she had allowed Kaeden to accompany her on this mission, and even showed her how Ahsoka saw things.
That was mind boggling for Kaeden. She might not be force sensitive, but even the brief brush she had experienced thanks to Ahsoka had thrown her.
How Ahsoka dealt with that everyday day was beyond Kaeden.
Still, that was why she was who she was.
And Kaeden still had a role to play, despite not being a former Jedi.
Resting her mind, Kaeden closed her eyes. Perhaps some rest for herself wouldn't be too bad.
A few moments of silence passed by for Kaeden, and she felt herself dozing off.
That was until, a harsh scream echoed throughout the hallways of the ship.
"NOOOOOOOOOO!"
Kaeden was awake in an instant, clambering to her feet.
Her head spun to the doorway out of the bridge, panic settling in her mind.
"Ahsoka?" Kaeden whispered in worry, before sprinting off down the hall towards the room her friend was resting in.
Once again, Ahsoka found herself in some sort of dream like vision.
The area she was in was archaic, with tall pillars, and stone walls, stretching on via long winding corridors, with large windows overlooking a cityscape below.
In fact, it looked almost like…
"The Jedi Temple?" Ahsoka questioned to herself. No one replied to her, and she knew what had become of the temple after the rise of the empire.
Sidious had turned it into his own private palace.
And it had been in these halls that her old master had murdered hundreds. Murdered children.
Despite being in a dream or vision, Ahsoka had yet to figure out which, she felt sick to her stomach.
Looking around the open area she was in, Ahsoka suddenly heard a familiar voice from behind her.
"You have done well my apprentice. But now is the time for your final challenge."
Ahsoka span, her eyes immediately seeking the visage of Darth Sidious.
However, unlike before it appeared he was not addressing her.
Before her were five shapes, five people. Four of them appeared to be clouded in darkness, their identity concealed. The force around the people assembled was full of fear, anger and despair.
Three of the shadows were kneeling, as if defeated, not showing reverence to the Sith Lord.
The fourth shadow stood beside Sidious as he spoke, listening to every word that came from the Sith Lord's mouth.
"Now my apprentice, do as I command. Choke him!" Sidious snarled to the shadow beside him.
Ahsoka watched in horror as the shadow that stood beside Sidious moved towards those that kneeled.
It was then that the first shadow's identity was revealed to Ahsoka.
Ahsoka gasped in horror as the figure was revealed to be a badly beaten and bloody Ezra Bridger. His eyes were full of despair and fear, watching the shadow that Ahsoka now assumed to be Sidious' apprentice approach.
The shadow lifted their hand outwards, moving into a claw shape.
Ahsoka felt the rush of the force as it tightened around Ezra's throat. She was forced to watch as the young Jedi was lifted off the ground by an invisible force, clutching at his neck as he struggled to breath.
Seconds later, Ahsoka heard an audible snap, and the shadow released Ezra, his body crashing to the floor.
"No! Ezra no!" Ahsoka called, trying to rush over to his prone form. Instead, she found herself unable to move, as if something was restraining her.
"Good my apprentice, good. Now the next one!" Sidious snarled to the shadow.
Said shadow moved over to the next kneeling figure.
And once again, the identity of the next kneeling shadow person was revealed to her.
"REX!" Ahsoka yelled in horror. The shadow apprentice reached onto their waist, removing a lightsaber hilt, and igniting the crimson blade, before plunging it deep into the clone captain's chest.
Rex didn't make a sound as he died, his body slumping to the ground like Ezra's, a burning hole through his chest.
Anger built up inside of Ahsoka. Rage, hatred!
She wanted to gut the person who did this.
"Very good my apprentice, now the last one!" Sidious again snarled, his face covered in malice and a sick sense of enjoyment.
Ahsoka watched, tears slowly coming down her face, as the shadow that was Sidious' apprentice moved across to the last kneeling shadow.
Ahsoka watched with despair, anxiously waiting for the final reveal.
The shadow of the kneeling person began to reveal itself.
"No! Please!" Ahsoka whispered to herself as she recognized the last figure.
Sidious cackled in the background.
The shadow apprentice stood unmoving, staring down at the figure of Kaeden Larte, who stared back, both in defiance, and loss.
Ahsoka watched as the shadow raised their hand, pointing towards Kaeden with all fingers.
Seconds later, lightning erupted from the shadows fingertips, engulfing Kaeden, who fell back onto the floor screaming in agony.
Ahsoka tried again and again to run over and help her, to save Kaeden, to take the attack for her. But it was all in vain. Ahsoka couldn't move. Something wouldn't let her.
Ahsoka could only watch, powerless to help.
She tried closing her eyes, but the sounds of Kaeden screaming in pain were still present. If anything they got louder!
"Ahsoka! Please!" Kaeden managed to yell through her screams, desperation in her voice.
"I'm trying Kaeden, I'm trying. I can't move!" Ahsoka yelled back. But clearly Kaeden couldn't hear her.
Kaeden screamed for a few more seconds, as arc after arc of force lightning coursed over her body, until she suddenly fell silent and motionless.
"No!" Ahsoka whispered, dropping to her knees in despair at the sight of Kaeden's lifeless body. "Kaeden."
"Very good my apprentice. Come, stand before me." Sidious spoke, gesturing to the shadow, the only person's identity left unseen to Ahsoka.
Raising her head slightly, Ahsoka watched as the figure approached Sidious, before bowing before him.
"Thank you my master." The shadow spoke in an eerie monotone voice, one that was quite clearly feminine.
Suddenly, the shadows faded around the mystery apprentice, and Ahsoka found herself staring at a familiar sight.
The shadow took the form of a tall female Togruta, one with orange skin and blue and white montrals.
She was taller than Sidious, and clearly powerful too.
Ahsoka realised in horror that the shadow was her, or at least a darker version of herself.
And this version of herself had just murdered three of her closest friends without batting an eyelid.
It occurred to Ahsoka then that Kaeden had not been calling out to her, but to this corrupted version of her, trying in vain to get through to her friend.
"You have cut off the last ties of your old life my friend. Now, we together will bring peace to the galaxy!" Sidious snarled, adding a cackle in at the end.
Ahsoka watched in horror as the dark version of herself nodded before speaking. "Yes my master."
Sidious smirked darkly, before speaking once more.
"A powerful Sith you will become. Henceforth, you shall be known as Darth…"
"NOOOOOOOOOO!" Ahsoka found herself screaming as she awoke from her nightmare vision, flying forwards in her bed from her sleeping position. Her entire body was drenched in sweat, and she found herself shaking violently from what she had seen.
She didn't know if it was some sort of prophetic vision of the future, or another of Sidious' mind games, and she didn't want to find out.
This was exactly why she didn't want anyone to come along on this mission. She couldn't bear to watch her friends die in such a manner, much less at her own hands.
Curling her legs up so her knees were angled upwards, Ahsoka rested her chin on said knees and sighed, trying in vain to calm herself down.
Seconds later the door to her quarters opened, and a figure ran in, making Ahsoka jump in the process.
"Ahsoka! Are you ok? I heard you scream!" Kaeden spoke as she mounted the bed in front of the Togruta, her hand grasping Ahsoka's in comfort.
Ahsoka tried to reply, but found she couldn't. She was at a loss for words.
What could she say? That she just saw a vision of herself killing Kaeden!
"Ahsoka you look terrible. What was it? Tell me please! I want to help." Kaeden encouraged, moving from her position in front of Ahsoka to her side, wrapping her in a tight embrace.
Ahsoka accepted the comfort offered, knowing that she was not in the best of shapes right now.
"It's ok Ahsoka. You're safe now. You're always safe with me." Kaeden whispered to her, the dark-skinned woman's hand gripping Ahsoka's tightly.
Ahsoka squeezed in acknowledgement.
The two sat still for a few brief moments, the only sounds in the room being Ahsoka's heavy breathing.
Kaeden couldn't believe what she was seeing. From the looks of it, whatever Ahsoka had been experiencing in her sleep had broken her somehow. Tears ran down her normally stoic face, the look of fear, horror, and worst of all loss, present in the Togruta's blue eyes.
Kaeden wanted nothing more than to wrap the Togruta up warm under her bedsheets and sit by her side as she slept. If that's what it took…
It occurred to Kaeden that Ahsoka was also shaking quite badly. She wasn't cold, that was clear. And the sheer amount of sweat that was emanating from Ahsoka's skin made her shine somewhat.
Most people would think it was disgusting, but in that moment Kaeden couldn't care less.
Right now, Ahsoka's wellbeing was more important.
The two continued to sit in silence for an unspecified amount of time, neither were particularly paying attention.
Then Ahsoka spoke, quieter than Kaeden had ever heard her speak before.
"I'm sorry."
Kaeden pulled the Togruta closer to her, offering all of the comfort she could.
"You have nothing to be sorry for Ahsoka." Kaeden whispered to her.
Ahsoka sniffled once, trying in vain to will the tears away.
"I had a vision, about me, working for the emperor, becoming his new apprentice. He made me kill you, and Ezra and Rex. It was horrible."
Kaeden listened in shock at Ahsoka recounting. She hadn't expected Ahsoka to tell her what had happened. Kaeden was more than happy with just being here to comfort her.
But from the sounds of what Ahsoka had seen in her vision, Kaeden could tell that anyone would be broken by it.
Kaeden knew she would, and right now Ahsoka needed reassurance.
"I'm right here Ahsoka. I'm all right. So are Ezra and Rex. You didn't hurt anyone."
Ahsoka turned her head upwards, locking eyes with Kaeden.
"I know, but it felt so real. I'm scared Kaeden. What if I just saw the future? What if that is who I become?"
Kaeden felt her mouth fall open in surprise. How could Ahsoka think she would ever become something so deplorable? She was Ahsoka Tano!
"Never! You would never do that Ahsoka. You are a good person."
Ahsoka seemed to be listening to what Kaeden had to say, he eyes studying Kaeden's for the truth.
Then Ahsoka lowered her head, breaking off the eye contact and whispered under her breath, only just loud enough for Kaeden to hear. "So was Anakin."
Kaeden felt her heart drop. She didn't know the full details about what had happened to Ahsoka's old master, only that he had been killed by Ahsoka herself.
But it clearly brought despair upon the Togruta still.
Reaching her hand out, Kaeden gently pulled Ahsoka's face back up to eye level.
"You are a good person Ahsoka Tano!" Kaeden spoke forcefully.
Ahsoka's eyes darted from side to side, once again searching Kaeden's for the truth.
"How… how do you know that?" Ahsoka whispered back.
Kaeden allowed a small smile to come to her face, one that she hoped offered comfort and love.
"Because I just do Ahsoka."
It was a cheesy answer, Kaeden knew that, but right now Ahsoka needed cheering up. And if that involved Kaeden making stupid comments and cheesy sayings, then so be it.
"Besides, it was just a dream Ahs…"
Kaeden didn't get the chance to finish what she was saying, because to her surprise, Ahsoka had pushed her lips upon Kaeden's.
Kaeden reeled back in shock, but did not break the kiss.
Surprise! Shock! Concern! All flooded through Kaeden's body as Ahsoka kissed her. This was not like the Togruta at all.
But Kaeden found that she didn't care. She had always harboured feelings for Ahsoka, but had never acted on it, for fear of both rejection, as well as common sense. Surely someone like Ahsoka was well out of her league?
But right now, in that moment, Kaeden chose to seize the opportunity granted before her.
Reaching her hand up to cup Ahsoka's cheek, Kaeden kissed her back.
The two women's lips stayed locked for a few brief moments, both lost in their own thoughts.
Inside herself, Kaeden was giddy. She would never admit it aloud, but she had dreamt of this moment, fantasised about it even.
And now it was happening!
That was until Ahsoka pulled away abruptly, shame in her eyes.
Kaeden resisted the urge to sigh at the loss of the contact. Right now Ahsoka's wellbeing was a priority.
"Are you ok?" Kaeden asked the Togruta, pulling her hand back from Ahsoka's cheek to rest on her arm.
Trembling slightly, Ahsoka pulled out of Kaeden's embrace, standing suddenly and moving towards the door.
"I'm sorry Kaeden. I shouldn't have done that. Get some rest, I'll go keep watch on the bridge." Ahsoka spoke softly, with what sounded like remorse.
"It's ok Ahsoka. I don't mind." Kaeden stood to follow the Togruta, but the woman stopped her in her tracks, holding out her hand.
"Don't. Please. I just need to be alone."
Kaeden could say nothing more, she could only watch as Ahsoka left the room, the door sliding shut behind her.
This time, Kaeden allowed herself to sigh, before sitting down on the bed, placing her head in her hands, and mulling over recent events.
'What the Kriff just happened?'
Author's thoughts
Well... that was kinda dark wasn't it? :)
No need to worry however. Ezra, Rex and Kaeden are all still alive. It was just a dream/vision... right?
And we also get the a bit of development Kaesoka wise. I hope it's realistic enough and that people like it.
Sorry to those who were expecting some Saw Gerrarra goodness in this chapter as well. I promise, he is coming up, just not yet.
Also, I'm glad that people enjoyed the last chapter. The dogfight was one of my favourite things the write so far, so that you all enjoyed it means the world.
In regards to Vult Skerris. I left his fate ambiguous as I couldn't decide whether or not to kill him off. So I left it up to the audience. If you believe he is dead, then he is dead. :)
So, next time round the perspective shifts back to Ezra, as he, Ryder and Chopper attempt to acquire some explosives for the mission.
Also in next chapter, the identity of the "Least likely person to join a suicide mission out of the kindness of their own heart" will be revealed. If you have any last guesses as to who they are... let me know. :)
As usual, comment and speculate at will.
Speaking of which:
WolveHulk: Hopefully this chapter answers your question. :)
Mysterious Guest number one: I'm glad you liked the chapter, as well as seeing the Ghost in action.
jamese765: Skerris certainly underestimated Hera didn't he. Sucks to be him. Glad you liked the chapter.
LukeDude: Yeah I feel like I imroved when writing the dogfight too. Nice that someone thinks so too. Sorry about the lack of Saw in this chapter, but hey, hopefully the vision suplemented that, even if it was a little dark.
Now your questions... and my answers:
1. Yeah I know what you meant in regards to clone wars tech, I just couldn't resist the joke. You will have to wait and see what they use... if they do.
2. Honestly... 'Iron Squadron' is my least favourite rebels episode, and I personally thought the chracters in that episode sucked. That being said, they will appear at one point.
3. Brom Titus has the worst luck, so I fully intend to keep that trend. He will appear.
4. Krennic involved in combat? You presume he will still be alive when the combat starts. Muahahahahaha. (cryptic I know)
5. Saw will be in the same shape as in season 4, but I will touch on the beginnings of his breathing issue yes.
6. Ysalamir might return... if Thrawn goes up against a force user.
Mogor: Skerris is out of the picture for now. Whether dead or not, he will no longer be involved in this story. That being said, Hera will go up against something much bigger later on in the story. I'm glad you are enjoying this story... more to come.
Travis Middleton: I'm glad you enjoyed the dogfight. It was fun to write. And I hope you liked the appearance of Sidious in this chapter, as well as the vision as a whole.
SLE's face guest: Hera certainly is one hell of a pilot. I daresay she is better than Han (is that heresy?). I'm glad my writing made it easy to picture the fight. It was fun to do.
What's wrong with liking Twi-l... I mean pilots? :D
I also hope you enjoyed this chapter, and that you still feel I'm doing a good job with the slow Kaesoka romance, despite what happens in this chapter.
FossilQueen1984: The dogfight was fun to write, especially the back and forth perspective parts. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
'Underestimated a Syndulla' is probably an epitaph on many TIE pilots grave stones.
If your refering to "Flight of the Defender" then yes. Yes it was.
If not, then the answer is still yes, yes it was. :)