—•—
Other than those named characters obviously not being the property of Disney and/or LucasFilm, all named characters are the property of Disney and/or LucasFilm.
Dear Readers: For those who have read Ahsoka, Ahsoka and others may be out of character; if not outright AU. I am sorry about that. I decided not to read it until I can finish this story. Please do not flame me about this.
—•—
"Go With Me."
"Stay With Me."
Chapter 16
—•—
From the previous chapter:
Ahsoka then let Lux begin to carry her. He raised her, but suddenly he tilted off to the left side, almost losing his balance.
"What's wrong?" she said as he recovered.
"Nothing, nothing. You've gotten just a little top-heavy, that's all. I'm good." Ahsoka love-tapped him on his arm as he carried her out of the room.
—•—
—•—
•
Early the next morning.
Everything was quiet on the Plo Koon. Viera liked these days when the ship was safe and quiet.
She was walking in the early morning of the ship towards the stateroom for Master Ahsoka with a tray of fresh coffee specially made by Susie. She liked her charge this time. She was always clean and looking after herself. She was nice with Viera and just last night, in fact, was getting her opinion on dresses and how she looked. She had reason to, the girl smiled to herself, for what happened next.
Viera's worst experience was with a creepy woman from Umbara. She knew that Umbara was under the protection of the Bonteri Fleet, but she couldn't help wondering if that woman wasn't looking over things just to tell the Empire for a certain price. She was about to quit after that experience, but after some talking with the head girl and even the Commodore, she was convinced to stay. (She realized that she shouldn't even be thinking of that Umbara woman and Ahsoka with the same thought.) And happy she was that she made that choice. Now, she could meet someone like Master Ahsoka and, she reminisced over the last few days with a small smile, someone like Ezra.
She got closer to the door. When she arrived, it seemed that it was unusually quiet. Master Ahsoka was usually an early riser.
So she knocked, but without answer. She waited a little more and knocked again with the same result. She didn't even hear any rustling of bedclothes or footsteps. So, she opened the door herself. She was allowed to as it was required of her as a safety precaution, and for such all guests were informed. Still, Viera stood outside the door and quietly called in without looking into the room, "Master Ahsoka." There was no answer. She called again from the same position again with the same result. She then ventured to peek inside; only to see that everything was as it was when she saw it last. Master Ahsoka had made the bed in the Jedi way, Viera supposed, yesterday morning and it didn't look slept in at all. Going inside, Viera left the tray with coffee on a table next to the dresser and then left.
As she was walking back to the galley for her next mission, she was wondering what could have happened. Then, her pace slowed. She then understood. 'Oh,' she thought to herself with a growing smile. She then looked back to Ahsoka's room—and was happy. Not only for Ahsoka, but also for her commander.
Viera had resumed her walk back to the galley when she heard rushing footsteps coming her way. She didn't need the Force to know who it was. Then, just as she expected, Master Ahsoka turned the corner. Viera tried to put on as straight a face as possible.
"Oh," said Ahsoka as she stopped short.
"Good morning, Master Ahsoka," Viera said with a slight bow.
"Ah. Good, good morning. I was just—" Ahsoka didn't finish the sentence and pointed behind her.
"In the command center?"
"Yes, yes. The command center."
"I put out some coffee for you. Susie made it especially for you this morning."
"Thank you."
"Mm. Master Asoka?"
"Yes?"
"The command center is that way," informed Viera as she pointed in the direction opposite Ahsoka had just pointed.
"Oh. I see. Thank you. I'm sure you'll understand." As she ended this statement, Ahsoka started looking in her pouch and was patting herself here and there, as if she were looking for a little tip for Viera, which she was. All this time, Viera, without moving a single muscle in her face, nonchalantly proffered her hand, as if to receive the soon-to-be-coming money. But Ahsoka had to give up after while since she didn't have any money on her. Viera then put her hand back, moving only that hand. Not one change came to her poker-face face.
"That's all right, Master. I know Jedi don't need money. I won't tell anyone."
"Yes, well—"
"Good morning, Master. I hope I can see you in the mess hall."
"Yes. Yes. I am sure you will. I'll be going there in about ten or fifteen minutes."
"See you there, Master Ahsoka. There's a special plate this morning. Something special to people from Shili so I think you'd better hurry."
"Thank you."
As Viera left, Ahsoka couldn't help but wonder who had the upper hand in that conversation just finished. Suddenly, she realized she felt something was missing. She felt her upper body and was frustrated. 'Oh dear. How could I have forgotten that?' She then went into her room, pulled out a dresser drawer, and replaced what she forgot somewhere else that morning.
••
Meanwhile, in the Commodore's quarters, a similar but different scene was playing out. Lux's own cabin boy, the head cabin boy who was an amber Twi'lek, had also knocked twice without answer. Like Viera, he opened the door, but this time, there was a response from the Commodore. His bare feet were planted on the floor and he was partly standing, partly leaning against the tall bed, but he seemed to be wearing nothing under the sheet wrapped around his lower body. He was holding his head in his hand. The boy had never seen his commander like this. He usually wore sleep-clothing.
That wasn't all either; the opposite of Ahsoka's room, this room was a mess. The Commodore was usually quite tidy. There were his clothes all around the floor along with a datapad or two. There were some glasses on the table next to a bottle of Tevarki whiskey from the Commodore's own stock. The drinks didn't look very much depleted, however.
"Oh, good morning, good morning," the Commodore said.
"Good morning, sir," the boy replied somewhat concerned. "I'll tidy up for you here."
"Thank you. I'll just be a minute," Lux said as he entered the side room where his dresser was, still wrapped in the sheets. The cabin boy, being part of the navy, was not surprised when the Commodore re-entered the room one minute later. In the meantime, he started to clean up. Suddenly, amongst the clothes, he found something. Something that didn't seem what the Commodore would wear. He pulled it out from under a jacket on the floor just as his commander came back.
"Sir?" he said, "What's this?" holding up what looked like, to him, two triangles somewhat convex, like pouches, held together by straps he could make no sense of. "Is this yours?"
Lux was dumbfounded, but quick enough to grab the item from the boy's hand and deftly hide it inside his jacket. 'Oh. How could Ahsoka have forgotten it?' he thought. He was about to say, 'No—of course not,' but instead asked the boy to keep quiet about it. He then started looking in his pockets, looking for a credit chip to give to the boy. The cabin boy, without moving any other muscle, then held out his hand. He waited a while, and seeing that his Commodore couldn't find anything just then, put his hand back to where it was.
"That's all right, sir. I know commodores don't need to carry around money. I won't tell anyone. Shall I see you in the mess hall, sir?"
"Yes, yes, lad. I will get there about ten or fifteen minutes. See you there."
"Yes, sir. They say that Susie has something special from Shili, but I probably wouldn't like it. Mynock is my favorite."
"Sure. Umm. I'll finish up in here. You can go if you wish."
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."
So the head cabin boy left the Commodore's quarters. As soon as the door closed behind him, the boy could hear some hissing just beyond the door. He looked there to see Viera gesturing to him from around a corner. She seemed to want to talk about something. He went to her. They spent just a minute or two exchanging information. Viera perceptibly rolled her eyes in the boy's ignorance as to what he found. When she told him what it was, he smiled big. He then told Viera where the item was hidden and who to tell. They both knew who would tip very well.
•••
And before Lux and Ahsoka strolled up to the entrance of the mess hall, the entire ship from stem to stern knew everything.
When Knucklehead told his boss Susie with a big Rodian smile on his face, she laughed loud and clear. It took some time before she could recover and tell Zeb, sitting right there in the kitchen, into his ear. He too laughed, but not before swallowing what he was eating. He didn't want to waste a thing.
••••
Although both Ahsoka and Lux arrived at the mess hall from different directions again, they arrived at the same time. When they saw each other, they were gooeyingly sweet to each other. Around them were Kanan and Hera, Saw, Aktay, and Ezra and Viera.
"Why, hello Ahsoka. How are you this morning?" Lux said almost sing-song.
"Why fine, fine," she replied in the same way.
"Did you sleep well?" Lux asked.
"The best. And you?" Ahsoka said with a lilt.
"Great," Lux emphasized with two thumbs up. "Shall we partake of Susie's breakfast?"
"Sure! I'm famished."
"After you."
While the two lovebirds were exchanging this sugar, Saw was rolling his eyes, Kanan and Hera were giving each other googoo eyes, Aktay was sticking his finger down his throat like he was about to choke on all the sugar, Viera was doing a little pixie dance and Ezra was looking a little sick to his stomach. But just as Lux turned around to see the commotion, they all instantly got serious.
"What are you guys up to?" Lux asked no one in particular.
•••••
They then went into the mess hall. (Unnoticed by Lux and Ahsoka, Saw was pointing to inside his jacket to Aktay and Kanan, and then winking.) When they entered, everyone already there looked at them but they didn't stop talking. Lux could see Rex eating with Commandant Sato and the spy they rescued from Onderon. Those two were slated to leave after the meal. Lux went up to the Commandant and apologized for not being up sooner. Commandant Sato understood and told him so.
For their first meal back together, Lux and Ahsoka decided to fix the plate of the other. Susie had made an appearance and when they went to the buffet table, she was ready to help them. Susie had an inkling that they were going to do this so she saved some morsels that she knew were popular. One of these was a small square of meat. Lux looked at it and noticed it was familiar.
"Susie? Is that—?"
"Yes, sir, it is. Fresh Akul meat. Straight from the Outlands."
"Now that's hard to get."
"It usually is. The Togrutas won't eat this unless it's from the Outlands where there are no people and they know it couldn't have attacked a village."
"How did you get it?"
"A present from the Broken Horn Syndicate."
Lux had to laugh at this. "The best thing we got from Vizago, except maybe the whiskey; but it's close." He then requested of Susie a very particular way of cooking and dressing it and she got right to it. After she told her top cook how to finish the meat, she then went to see if she could help Ahsoka.
Ahsoka was doing fine, but Susie noticed that she had selected things that have fallen out of favor with the Commodore or that maybe she didn't know he had come to like since she saw him last. Ahsoka was about to put a brown dressing on the salad, but Susie informed her that Lux liked the white dressing better. She also told her that Lux had on his own cut back on the salt and sugar, for no particular reason.
When they were done, they both took the trays back to the other. Lux was a little after Ahsoka as he needed to wait for the cooking of the meat. When he did get there, Ahsoka was happily surprised that he remembered what she liked. She was overjoyed at the Akul meat and that it was from the Outlands of Shili.
They then sat next to each other, Lux on Ahsoka's right. They were sitting on a long bench. The others with them also got their meals and soon everyone was together. Interestingly, Aktay was with his wife Cinny. They usually don't eat in the mess hall, but they heard about the Akul meat. They also looked at Lux and Ahsoka expectantly, as if something was going to happen.
Saw sat across from the couple, or, more precisely, directly across from Lux. Lux seemed to be a little disconcerted the way Saw was looking at him and acting strangely. Unfortunately, concentrating on the food and being with Ahsoka, he forgot what he had tucked into his jacket.
Then, Saw stood up and leaned towards Lux's tray, admiring what Ahsoka got for Lux. Then, like a flash, as he directed Lux's attention away, he reached into his friend's jacket and with a laugh while still standing, shouted "What this?!" as he pulled what Lux had hidden in his jacket. Around them, everyone was laughing or embarrassed.
Almost immediately, Ahsoka raised up and grabbed what Saw had, "Hey! That's mine—." She shocked everyone. Saw didn't expect that. Then, as quiet as a mouse, but with big eyes, "Oh," she ended, quietly sitting down and holding her forgotten brassiere, embarrassed so much that her montrals got much, much darker. She was bent down, hiding her face. Everyone was laughing but poor Lux.
Poor Lux. What he did was to quickly put his jacket over Ahsoka to help hide her embarrassment, only to make it worse. Everyone could see his jacket with the arms flailing out over Ahsoka's spread montrals—she still with her head down and her hand over her face. Lux got almost as embarrassed, getting red in the face. While they were still like that, someone started a cheer that turned into a crescendo:
"Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray!" followed by some individual cheering. Lux was so aghast he didn't know what to say or do.
They were like that still when the Quarter Master General, a Ming Po man of some years, sidled up to Lux, with a soft step. "Commodore, I may have something for you," he said, showing a small vial somewhat surreptitiously.
"What is it, Ling-ta?"
"It is something brought down for generations of my family. My very big family, if you know what I mean." Saw was starting to snicker. "For every generation with this, we have had very big families," Ling-ta emphasized with a raising of one eyebrow. There was even more snickering, this time from Hera and Kanan. Ahsoka had recovered enough to look a little to her side towards Lux. It seemed he understood now.
"Ah, yes. Thank you, Ling-ta. We'll be OK."
"If you say so," Ling-ta said as he turned around, but he was holding his hand with the little vial in a certain way. As if on cue, there was a loud sound from the galley as if some pots had fallen. Everyone's attention was turned to it. But when it subsided, Ling-ta had an empty hand, quickly hid (and Susie patting Knucklehead on his shoulder).
•
The commotion over, the crew was given some days of R & R. The more senior personnel were given first dibs, but some didn't want to go just then, so they passed the privilege on to a younger person. They did take some leave later, though. For the officers, there was enough time for some to visit family on different planets. Small shuttles were hired and the big ships were a hive of activity for a few days, the shuttles going in and out of the big ships, like fireflies hovering around a giant tree.
••
Lux and Ahsoka, Saw and Barris and their kids, and Kanan and Hera were able to take some days at the estate of the House Bonteri. The estate was well kempt, looked after by staff who had spent most of their lives there, even from before when Lux's mother came to the House. Everyone dined and relaxed. They were joined by Ezra and Viera for a short time as well and Aktay and Cinny later on at the invitation of Ahsoka. It seemed Ezra knew where Sabine was, but he wasn't telling.
There was a pool in the back with racing lanes on one side and they decided to use it. However, Ahsoka had no suit. She might have tried to borrow a suit from Barriss, but after a few children and watching over them, Barris had become, to use an old-fashioned word, more 'matronly.' So the couple decided to do some shopping for a suit. They went along with Kanan and Hera as Hera needed something as well. They went into this and that shop, not just for suits but just passing the time together. It didn't matter about the time, it seemed. As they were walking, some people recognized them. Some of the Togruta population of Onderon, there were many who were native born there, in fact, saw the lekku band on Ahsoka's left lekku and saw her arm in the crook of Lux's. Some smiled thinking of the progess of the people, but some frowned, thinking Togrutas and non-Togrutas should not mix. There were some looks as well from women a little younger than Lux of the same race as he. However, these looks were directed in their caustic way to Ahsoka.
It didn't help things along with a little joke from Lux. While the four were looking in a shop for Ahsoka's and Hera's suits, Lux was trying to get the details of what Ahsoka wanted. She thought he was trying to help when she told him a one-piece suit. He then went around the corner in a shop. There seemed to be some suits there as well, but Ahsoka was not interested in them.
All of the sudden, he yelled out, "Here's the perfect one-piece!" holding up the suit. The suit was a one-piece, certainly; but the suit he was holding was a bikini—with the top missing. This got some rolling eyes from the girls and a snicker, surprisingly, from the always serious Kanan.
"Lux! Give it up!" Ahsoka shouted.
"What?! I'd love to see you in this!" Then there were some laughs as Lux went back to replace the top on the hangar. The shopkeeper looked as if she had seen this a hundred times before.
Lux got more serious then, as befitted his age, and helped her find a black, racing one-piece that went from the shoulder to the mid-thigh. He wouldn't let Ahsoka pay for anything and he had handed a lot of money to her to get what she wanted if she saw it.
Suddenly, outside the store, Ahsoka said she remembered she saw something for Barriss in the store and said she was going to make a quick trip back. The other three were looking through the window of a shop across the street. It did seem pretty quick when Ahsoka got back, unknown to them hiding what she bought in the bag with the racing suit and other items. 'Well then, Mr. Bonteri, you'll get your chance,' she thought with a smile. And the night before they left Onderon, when everyone else was asleep and Lux was resting on a long, low chair by the pool-side with a cold drink as Ahsoka came out of the water in just Lux's suggested 'one-piece' and the lekku band, he did—even if she did have to kick the chair to wake him up for the 'chance.'
Before that, though, they were in and out of the pool most of the few days they were there; sometimes drinking cocktails, talking, eating light meals. It was a fun time. Cinny taught Ahsoka some Shili strokes in the water she never knew about. To Lux, Ahsoka looked so pretty in her lekku band and suit. 'What a woman,' he thought.
But all things must come to pass, even if you wished they wouldn't. It was a couple of days later they had to go back to the Plo Koon. Then, back to the Ghost, and then back out into space. Ahsoka was dreading every minute of it, as was Lux. That they would have to part again became to seem unbearable to them. Their last morning on the planet, they all silently took a shuttle back to the Plo Koon.
•••
There was one last night on the Plo Koon. Viera didn't bother to take coffee to Ahsoka and the cabin boy was barred from entry to his Commodore's quarters. The Ghost was scheduled to leave after breakfast. Ahsoka was again getting those feelings when she came back to the Plo Koon. The feelings were unsubstantiated, but real. They did seem stronger now, closer to her leaving.
•
Finally, the time came.
But Lux and Ahsoka were not the only ones going through an emotional ordeal. In another room, Ezra and Viera were saying their goodbyes—or crying them. They had a hold of each other. Viera was in tears.
"Why, why does it hurt so much?" she cried out
"I don't know, but I'm hurting too." They continued to hold one another for a time a bit more. "Maybe it's like the big people say, that we will see each other again, that we have to have hope that we will see each other again. Think of that, and we can make it."
"I don't know— I don't know if I can wait so long."
"It will be soon. It will be soon or my name isn't Ezra Bridger. Please wait for me."
"I will."
There is a knocking sound and a soft call from Kanan, just outside. "Ezra. It's time to go."
As Ezra needed to do so, the girl sobbed a little at the thought. "Come back to me. You must come back to me," she said.
"I will," said Ezra. "Wait for me." Then he released himself from the girl, both sorrowful, but yet ready to do their duty. The girl held her hand to her face as Ezra left, as if to hide her heartache. She shook a little when Ezra had gone. It lasted a little longer.
But, as sentiments are, she was strong. She soon recovered and was ready to see the crew of the Ghost, that wonderful crew that brought Ezra to her, off. As she left she wondered, how much more sorrow must there be?
As Ezra left the room, he could see Kanan waiting for him a ways away, not smiling, but serious and understanding and, to the point, as if he knew exactly what Ezra was going through. Kanan could see the young man wasn't crying outside, but as a guy, he knew he was crying inside—big-time.
••
In another room, a similar scene was taking place. Lux was holding Ahsoka with his hands clasped at the small of her back and she was holding him in the same way at the nape of his neck. Whenever she looked up to meet her eyes with his, Lux could feel the tip of her rear lekku brush softly on his hands. Kisses were frequent, but so were the sighs. They talked of how they could keep in touch with each other, to visit often and to take care. They so wanted to see each other again. Then, with slow step, they left to go to the airlock, where they originally entered this ship from the Ghost those short, few days ago. As they were walking, Lux had his right arm around Ahsoka and with his left, holding her right hand. She had her left arm around him, leaning into him. Together, they made a forlorn picture, one filled with sorrow.
'Would he?' Ahsoka wondered as she walked.
'Would she?' wondered Lux as he walked.
•••
They slowly got closer to the airlock. They didn't notice much of the people that had gathered, the Ghost crew, certainly (Sabine had finally showed up), but also Saw, and Aktay and Cinny, and Susie, who brought Viera along. Everyone became quiet when the sad couple got to them.
Zeb couldn't hold it in any longer. "This is so sad, I wish I had never seen this. Oh, why am I here in this time, in this galaxy, to have to see this?" He was about to cry and Susie came up to him to comfort him.
"I know, Zeb, I know," replied the Commodore. "What I wouldn't give to go back in time to prevent the sorrow happening now." Then Lux paused a bit as if he was thinking of something important. "But I can't. I think many who were born in such times as these have thought the same. To delve on those thoughts would break my heart, though."
Chopper seemed to have a premonition, so he went up to a terminal port, released his dish antenna, and broadcast out the sounds of what was being said throughout the ship.
In the meantime, Lux and Ahsoka started to release themselves.
Lux continued. "It's like Hera said on the Decimator, to be a part of history." He then looked straight at Zeb. "We cannot choose the time when we are born, the history that made this time. But, Zeb, history chooses us. And history chooses us to make the future." Below decks, in the soldier's quarters, Rex was smiling.
"Right now, from the Inner Core to the Outer Rim, battles are being fought to determine the history of this galaxy for a thousand thousand years. Hera and all of us fight for a free future.
"And what will that future say of us after we are long gone? That we did nothing in the face of tyranny? I hope not." On the flight deck, everyone had turned his or her head to the speaker. The only sound was what their Commander was saying. There was not even a footfall.
"It is up to us to do our best now so that those future generations on worlds yet to be discovered, speaking languages yet to be known or born, tell of our story, our story of how we fought to keep freedom and love alive for them and—" Lux turned to Ahsoka when he said that and she looked up to meet his eyes. In the rec room on the ship far away, some couples were holding hands, listening very quietly, as were Aktay and Cinny close to Lux and Ahsoka. "—And that freedom and love did not die out like a scream fading into the dark of night. We fight to keep those rights which we are born to, freedom, liberty and love, alive for them. We do not know what they will do with them, but they will have our story and our example."
On the Plo Koon, there was no clapping or cheering. They all knew now why they fought and who they were fighting for. And understanding that, they took courage from it.
There was a silence for a time as the Ghost crew was thinking about what they just heard. They were all still taking in the words of the Commodore.
"Well," said Hera quietly after a time, "I guess it's time to go home." The crew entered the space in the airlock beyond the bulkhead of the Plo Koon, between it and the Ghost.
Ahsoka went in as well for a few steps, but suddenly stopped and turned to Lux. The Ghost crew retraced the few steps they took into the airlock. Ahsoka looked at Lux fully, with an open heart, when she said;
"Go with me."
When she said this, Lux felt his leg twitch almost instinctively, as if he would join Ahsoka. He looked to her honestly. There was nothing more he wanted from this life than to be with his woman. Then, he turned his head slightly to the crew there and towards the Plo Koon, looking at the crew there. Then he turned back to Ahsoka;
"Stay with me."
Ahsoka was stunned from his response. Never had she been asked to stay for any reason other than to fight. The fight. The Fight. Her time from the Purge to now passed quickly in her mind. All that she had done. Finding Bail Organa. Setting up rebel cells. Being Fulcrum. Finally, finding out about Anakin, and meeting him. Anakin. Anakin. Then she realized that she had done as much as she could. Anakin was too far gone now to be saved. Poor Anakin.
Then those feelings came back to her; the ones she had when she returned to the Plo Koon after the Decimator. Now those feelings were definite and clear to her. They were just like the feelings she had when she was a Padawan at the Jedi Temple; and every time she came back to it. Something she had never felt since then until this moment. Now those feelings showed themselves. And they said only one word.
Home.
With that realization, Ahsoka took a step back into the Plo Koon and re-crossed the border. Lux was completely stunned and Hera was extremely happy. Ahsoka turned around to talk with the Ghost crew.
"Hera. I am home." The group couldn't hear the cheering going throughout the ship. Chopper was still broadcasting.
"I was hoping you would say that."
Ahsoka smiled and then continued, all the while standing next to her fiancé and her only love in all the galaxy as she put her arm around his waist and then he put his around hers;
"Hera, I have done what I could. There is no more that I can give. Now," she said as she turned her head towards Lux, "I have a new path. Or, perhaps better, an old path that has reopened itself." Then she paused and looked back at Ezra. "Ezra," she said as she turned back to the Ghost crew, "There is no more I can teach you. Follow Kanan and trust in him. He can guide you very well."
Kanan nodded his head. "Good luck to you, Ahsoka. It has been an experience knowing you. Thank you for all you have done."
"Yes, thank you," assured Hera.
"Well, considering where I am, I am pretty sure we will meet again; that there will be some things I can do. But, I am here now. You know where to find me."
"Good luck, Ahsoka," they said all at once. After looking for a time, Hera and Kanan said their goodbyes. They assured themselves that they would meet again as the couple disappeared into the inner sanctum of the Ghost.
Next, with a hug, Zeb and Susie parted. When he was about to leave, Susie gave him a big box and told him to keep it refrigerated. He then entered the ship. Lastly, Ezra was to enter the ship. The group on the Plo Koon parted a little so Viera could get closer.
"I'll see you soon," said Ezra.
"I'll be waiting," was her response. Then Ezra smiled—and turned to enter the Ghost.
While the others then went back to their respective duties, Ahsoka and Lux, now arm-in-arm, went to a large view port. They waited silently and after a time, the Ghost appeared off a short distance. As the ship had turned and just as it was about to enter hyperspace, Hera did a wing wave, to say goodbye. It was only moments later when they disappeared through hyperspace.
"Well, now we have a new path, e'vin," said Lux.
"More than that, my love, we have a whole new world before us."
The two then held each other, but gently. "Thank you, Ahsoka. Thank you for staying."
"It was for the better. If you had gone with me, that ship is so small and would've been so crowded that I don't think we would have lasted very long and gotten off it anyways. Besides, you would have had to leave again shortly. What's the good of being married if you're always apart?"
They stayed hooked to each other for a time. Then, they unwound themselves from each other; just a little, and walked to the decks.
"First thing, we'll need to get you a better room."
Ahsoka was a little surprised. "You mean we won't—?"
Lux turned back to look at Ahsoka and smiled. "I didn't want to presume."
"Always the gentleman," Ahsoka smiled.
"Well, even if we stay together, and I think we need to do a lot of planning as well, there may be times you wish to have some privacy. You can use the room for that."
Ahsoka smiled at the generosity.
•
And there were to be times Ahsoka would need to use that room. One time was a few weeks later when she wasn't feeling well and didn't want to worry Lux. She chalked it up to all the moving going around back and forth between ships and planets and planets and ships and ships and ships and planets and planets.
She did take this time to find and meet her parents. They were happy that not only was she still alive, but also that she was to marry the Commander of the Bonteri Fleet.
Another time a little later was when she was so mad at Lux that she paced up and down in that room for what seemed like hours. Something about the wedding planning. "Lux can be so hard-headed at times it can be frustrating," she said to herself. Unbeknownst to her, Lux was doing the same thing in his office. They had had their first fight.
But, as it would turn out, they both realized that they would be stronger together. The only way to do that would be to compromise. So they took their first real steps into living with one another for the rest of their lives. They met again and both cried in each other's arms, saying sorry so many times it seemed as if it was the only word they knew. They then talked over their differences and found a way out. They were so happy after that that Ahsoka didn't even go close to her room for many days.
Lux as well learned to know the moods of Ahsoka. A downturned eyemarking or when they were scrunched together worried the man volumes. To him now, the very breath of Ahsoka meant life to him and keeping her happy meant the galaxy to him.
As it turned out, Ahsoka was often on the surface of one of the planets protected by the fleet. She would help with training troops and gathering information. The Empire tried to put a listening outpost on Kiros, but the guerrilla band led by Ahsoka put a stop to it without loss of life. She still didn't trust the Umbarans enough to pay them a visit, however.
••
She even tried something harder than leading guerrilla band; doing stuff a housewife would do. She got a lot of advice from Barriss about washing and ironing and even a little cooking with Susie's guidance.
One morning on the ship about a month and a half after saying, 'Yes,' Lux had put on a jacket that Ahsoka had just ironed. They were both in somewhat of a hurry so they didn't notice the mistake. Ahsoka arrived first at the bridge and Lux had to make a detour, but he arrived a little after her.
Later, on the bridge, where the crew seemed a little embarrassed, Lux was standing with Commodore Acham, asking about the positions of the fleet and the former Captain was responding a little shyly. Ahsoka was looking out the viewport. Suddenly, Quarter Master General Ling-ta appeared and he did not look happy. Not happy at all. In fact, the very opposite of happy. His arms were crossed across his chest and the fingers of the hand showing were impatiently strumming his arm, again and again and again. His granddaughter beside him didn't look any happier.
"Admiral Bonteri. I and my family and those who work for me work and toil, making the crew of this fleet and ship uniforms, and keeping them clean as well as enforcing the dress code for every conceivable species in this galaxy."
"Yes, General. The crew always looks so well-uniformed."
"And I do my best to keep it that way. But Admiral, when you appear like this—. Well, it's about to make me give up and put everyone in rags." Ahsoka had come closer by this time.
"General—"
Ling-ta put up his hand to stop the Admiral's protests. "Admiral, please. Remove your jacket." Lux did so. Ling-ta then handled the jacket expertly and lovingly. He then spread a hand well-knowing of material under the seat of the jacket, showing the outline of an iron in medium brown.
"Yikes!" yelped Ahsoka. Everyone was laughing. Lux was laughing embarrassed.
"'Yikes' indeed, Master Ahsoka," Ling-ta returned with no change in countenance at all. "If you need any instructions on ironing, anyone in the Quarter Master's office would be willing to oblige." Lux had covered his mouth with his hand by now. Poor Ahsoka. "Admiral. I happen to just have finished your new jacket. If you would—" Ling-ta finished as he took the jacket from his still frowning granddaughter and deftly put it on Lux for his Admiral. When Lux turned around, Ling-ta and his granddaughter showed again their kind, smiling faces. "It is a gift from Bonteritown."
"Oh. Thank you very much."
Ahsoka, having recovered from the shock and embarrassment, wanted to know what this 'Bonteritown' was. "Quarter Master General. What is Bonteritown?"
Ling-ta looked to Lux as if to get permission from him. With a nod of the head, Ling-ta told Ahsoka about Bonteritown.
"Almost a dozen and a half years ago, a beautiful town on Carlacc was destroyed by some barbarians called the Death Watch and they killed Chieftan Pieter's granddaughter Tryla. About a year and a half later, the Admiral appeared offering help. We didn't know why and since we are a poor people, we didn't ask. The Admiral's help, he was a cadet then, was instrumental in rebuilding the town. No expense was refused." Ahsoka was looking to Lux with happiness and pride. He was looking a little embarrassed. "The town was rebuilt and renamed, against the Admiral's wishes, in honor of the man who helped so much. It is a very pretty town and we hope you can visit it some time."
"Certainly, Ling-ta, I and Ahsoka will try." Ahsoka was still looking at Lux, now with deep love. She had made the right choice. To help others who cannot help themselves or to do good is a foundation that makes Ahsoka Tano. Lux could have done nothing better, in her eyes. From then on, if she did have to part from him, she did so with the greatest reluctance.
But be that as it may, Ahsoka was still half on the ship and half on the surface of a planet for the next month and a half. Even then, while she was on the ship, they were able to make plans for the wedding.
•••
Ahsoka had gotten her measurements for the wedding dress early on and had decided on a dress from Shili. In the Quarter Master's shop, it was being sewn only by women. It was a closely guarded secret.
It was hard to make as they needed to get some materials from Shili, but it was finally finished by the day of the rehearsals a week before the ceremony. What was especially pretty was the cloak covering Ahsoka's montrals during the ceremony and the thin web of silver and gold to be traced around her montrals and to her lekku. This ornament had been passed down in her family and Ahsoka's mother retrieved it and offered it. Ahsoka had to sit for a few sessions to mold it around her own montrals as she was somewhat different in shape there than her mother. But, in the end, it looked very nice.
The women making the dress were discussing over their finished product. This was the day of the rehearsal so Ahsoka had just come in for some final measurements. One of the workers noticed something amiss.
"Madam, Master Ahsoka just came in for her final measurements."
"Yes."
"Well, they don't match her original measurements."
"Let me see those first." She was handed the data pad with the measurements. "All right, BMI, eighteen-point-eight. Waist to hips, zero-point-seven-three. Waist to bust, zero-point six-nine. Perfect measurements for a woman. What's the problem?"
"Well, madam, the hip-to-waist and the waist-to-bust ratios have gone up about point-one-zero."
"Mmm. What are the first measurements?"
"Thirty-six, twenty-four, thirty-six."
"Perfect again. Helps to be a Jedi, I suppose. And what are the newest?"
"Thirty-six for the bust."
"Yes."
"Thirty-six for the hips."
"Yes, no change there. What is the waist?"
"Twenty-eight."
"Twenty-eight? She hasn't been eating that much. How could she not gain weight in her hips but gain weight in her—"
Then it dawned on everyone.
"SHE'S PREGNANT!" Everyone then was laughing out suddenly interspersed with jokes.
"Oh, so that's what they've been doing?!" The laughter subsided after a time.
"Well, well. We are going to have a little family now. How wonderful."
"Yes, ma'am."
"We can adjust the bodice and the corset. It will be all right. No word to Master Ahsoka."
"What about the Admiral?"
"Tell him to lay off that little vial Papa gave him. It's obviously done its duty." The laughing burst out in a storm again and continued on and on in the little shop. They did, however, tell the doctor.
••••
Later that day, Ahsoka came again for the final fitting. Ahsoka was so curious as to why the women were so happy. They didn't tell her about the adjustments they needed to make.
Ahsoka told the nice women who made her wedding dress for her that she had to go to the doctor just afterwards. Something about a required physical. They smiled without her seeing it as they were adjusting the dress, but she could sense the happiness of the women.
•
After visiting the doctor, Ahsoka seemed to be walking in a dreamland. She didn't know whether to be happy or worried. Since she and Lux were older now, they could probably handle it better mentally and monetarily. But who would want to bring a baby out into this galaxy? 'No,' she decided, 'That would be selfish. This child will be a blessing. All children are. It may even be strong with the Force.'
Realizing this, she decided to see if she could feel another presence of the Force in her. She found a quiet room and meditated like she was at the Temple. It wasn't long before she could sense the life inside her. She was happy. But now, how to tell Lux—
••
The last thing that day was the rehearsal for the wedding to take place a week later. This rehearsal was on the Plo Koon, but the ceremony was to take place at the Mission on Onderon, and in the village on Shili in the Shili way. Lux knew that Ahsoka would show up in regular clothes, but he worried what she would wear for her montral veil. With Ahsoka's renewed sense of humor, anything could be possible. 'Well. At least I have that jacket on.'
It was good having the Ghost crew around again for the ceremony. Rex was to walk Ahsoka in and Kanan and Saw were to be his best men.
The cleric started the rehearsal and he told who should stand where. After everyone had been placed in position, the music started. Lux came in and took his position between Kanan and Saw. He was getting more and more anxious about Ahsoka.
Then, the time came for Ahsoka's entrance—
And when the doors opened for Ahsoka at the cleric's direction, everyone could see what she was wearing over her montrals and were almost immediately rolling in laughter. Poor Rex, who was supposed to lead her in, could barely walk from the laughter. Lux tried to stand up straight, but he was unsuccessful. Even the cleric was laughing. Ezra and Viera had to hold each other up. Everyone could see what Ahsoka used in place of her montral veil—
Lux's best dinner jacket.
Not only Lux's best dinner jacket, but the one for diplomatic state dinners in the Ehosiq sector, with the blue trim, that was a present from the King of Shili.
"Well," sighed Lux, "At least the insignia are still attached."
It took a while for everyone to regain their composure. Even Rex needed some time. The only person who didn't laugh was Ahsoka, who looked as if it was the most natural thing to do. With a straight face, she offered her arm to a still laughing Rex and they entered the chapel on the Plo Koon at a slow pace.
"How's the fit?" Lux asked while chuckling when Ahsoka got to him.
"Great! Best one."
"You mean—?"
"Uh-mm. I tried 'em all on."
"Oh, boy."
"Mmm. I don't know yet. The doctor didn't say. It could be a girl."
It took a moment for that to sink in for Lux. Guys can be so dense sometimes. Then, his eyes got big. The cleric was asking other people to do this and that.
"Do you mean—?"
Ahsoka only nodded.
Then, it came time for Lux and Ahsoka to practice exchanging the rings.
"Admiral, it's your turn." Then, "Admiral. Admiral." After a moment. "No, the kiss is later, after you remove the veil. Admiral. Admiral."
When they broke the kiss, Ahsoka turned to everyone and announced, "Everyone! We're gonna have a baby!" All the girls, Hera, Sabine, Viera and any other girl gathered around Ahsoka, congratulating her. The men just there also shook the hand of Lux, offering their congratulations.
"Just think, before you know it, your kid'll be saying, 'Daddy. Give me some money.' And then they disappear for the afternoon."
"Oh, the braces! Don't forget the braces!"
Lux was starting to look worried so Ahsoka came between them and Lux, still in his best dinner jacket, swishing around with every movement of her head. She looked at him seriously. The others gave them some distance.
"Our baby. It will be a blessing."
Lux smiled back to Ahsoka and hugged her; still wearing his dinner jacket atop her montrals.
They then continued the rehearsal, finishing in a quick time.
•••
The wedding was wonderful. When doors swung open, showing Ahsoka in her dress and the real veil, Lux found the reason he had best men. They were there to keep him upright when Ahsoka appeared; as his knees gave way.
"Buckle up, Terry. We can do this."
"Yes, I will. For Ahsoka, everything." So when Ahsoka came up to him as he had on his best jacket—you guessed it, the one she wore on her head at the rehearsals—she just had to smile so big. He was standing upright and strong.
'He is so handsome,' she thought as he took her hand. They then both turned to the cleric as he said the words of love overcoming all.
When it came time for Lux to remove Ahsoka's veil, she bent down slightly towards him. When he took it off, passing it over the back of her montrals and wrapping it around her, there were gasps and breaths taken in, especially by the Togruta present. The silver and gold lace was intricately woven around Ahsoka's montrals and the upper parts of her lekku, forming a constellation of beauty.
Before they knew it, the ceremony was over. There was a small reception and then they made their way to Shili.
There, they had a simple ceremony in the way of Ahsoka's people. It was simple and one with nature. It too, was over soon and they could then go on their honeymoon.
••••
They visited Naboo for a few weeks. They went all around and enjoyed themselves. They talked often of the little baby. When Ahsoka told Lux that the baby was strong with the Force, he looked concerned for a moment, but then he relaxed. He had come to his own decision that he would protect the baby with all he could. When he told Ahsoka what he would do, she cuddled up to him on the sofa. He was at first afraid that he would hurt the baby if he cuddled too much, but she assured him he wouldn't.
"Ahsoka, if it's a boy, please give it a name." She raised herself up a little and looked at him. She knew he was saying something important. "But if it's a girl, could we—"
"Name it Mina?" He just nodded. "You have my word." They then kissed again. They stayed together that night on the sofa, looking at the fire in the fireplace, certain in their happiness.
The time for the honeymoon was over too soon, but a new happiness was soon to join them.
—•—
Thank you for reading this.
This is the last chapter of the story. I would like to write the Epilogue next. It will be short, taking place some years after the Battle of Endor. I was thinking of writing the Epilogue after reading the Ahsoka book. I was going to write what I thought of the book, but it might too presumptuous and might give spoliers for the book, so I might not. (The flashbacks Ahsoka had in the airlock were from some of the blurbs for the book.)
About Lux changing clothes so quickly that morning when his cabin boy was there; my sister, who has lived on boats, takes at most two minutes to shower. I think navy people are quick about such things.
For the idea that Togruta won't eat Akul meat other than that from the 'Outback,' my wife won't eat octopus because she heard that octopus feed on drowned people.
I used some lines from my An Oasis in a Sea of Hate story, specifically from Chapter 9. I tried to not just copy them in but to reword them, since this has the same actors, but a different story. I hope it worked. I don't know which one I like better. Maybe you can tell me your preference.
OK. I know you may not like that Ahsoka may be doing some housewifey stuff. But I thought it would be cute.
I put Ahsoka not laughing at her own joke as the epitomy of the humorist. I read where when Mark Twain would give homorous speeches, he would never smile at his own jokes and quips. That made everyone laugh more.
Take care,
johnt
