'ello, peoples of the earth!
Thank you to all my reviewers - katierosefun, CaylithTheGolden, rvbmastermind, and Lux's Sister - for reviewing and reassuring me that yes, people are still reading. That makes me feel a lot better. I wish you had an account, Lux's Sister. I'm eager to hear what your theory was. XD
Hope everyone's having a fantastic weekend! Here's Chapter 7 of I Know Places! Hope y'all enjoy!
Back at the Temple, Kira was given the choice to first receive her second (and hopefully last) nanotechnology procedure to get her true face back or report to the Council straight away. Kira opted for the procedure first, fearing that she might have some choice words to say to the Council if her anger about the events surrounding Ahsoka didn't subside.
After the procedure, Kira was told to report to the waiting room outside the Council chambers. Obi-Wan arrived to wait with her even though this was one debriefing she'd have to handle by herself. When Mace commed Kira, Master and Padawan entered the Council chambers together, and Kira stood in the middle of the room like she'd seen Obi-Wan do so many times.
Yoda started the meeting. "Greetings, Padawan Narro," he said. Kira inclined her head in reply. "A successful mission you had, hm?"
Kira shook her head. "Not exactly, Master, but I do believe I made some of the senators use their brains." The latter comment earned a few chuckles.
Plo Koon spoke. "You may not have gotten a definite reply from the Senate, but you were able to sway their opinion. We've heard reports that a few senators have started petitions to send more troops to Humbarine."
"That's good news," Kira said, itching to get out of there. She was desperately hoping the Masters couldn't feel her discomfort.
Yoda must've read her mind, however. "Done well, you have, young Padawan," he said. "Dismiss you and release you from duty the rest of the day, we do. Visit your friends, you may," he added with a knowing look.
Oh, I've got plans to visit my friend, all right. Specifically the one you expelled. Instead of voicing this ugly thought, Kira bowed. "Thank you, Masters," she said before turning to walk out. Obi-Wan gestured for her to wait for him outside as she passed.
Kira didn't have to wait long, but when Obi-Wan exited the Council chambers, he found her rocking on the balls of her feet. He waited until the door shut behind him before he spoke. "I've made arrangements for you to visit Ahsoka," he told her, starting to walk toward the turbolift.
Kira ran a few steps to catch up. "When's her trial?"
"This evening. I think we need to work on helping you keep your mental shields up, young one." Obi-Wan stroked his beard, which meant he was thinking. "I don't think I was the only one who could feel your frustration with the Council."
Kira sighed. "I'm sorry, Master. I do try to keep them up."
"I know you do," Obi-Wan replied. "But remember what Master Yoda says: Do or do not. There is no try."
"Yes, Master. I'll remember."
They reached the turbolift, and Obi-Wan reached to press the button. "Don't worry about Ahsoka too much," he advised Kira. "And spend some time with your other friends. Caleb was asking about you the other day."
Kira perked up at the mention of Caleb's name. "I'll ask him if he wants to spar."
Obi-Wan smiled. "Do that, Kira. It will be good for you."
"Yes, Master. I will."
The prison wasn't terribly far from the Temple, but it was far enough that the silent speeder journey Obi-Wan and Kira took was a little uncomfortable. Kira tried to ignore that and watched the speeder traffic they passed instead.
Kira felt a sense of dread as soon as the sharp, severe building came into view. Perhaps it was her imagination or perhaps the prison was designed that way, but she certainly didn't like the feeling. She stayed close to Obi-Wan as they exited the speeder and approached the prison entrance.
Inside, glass blocked the hall from a room holding three clones, who managed the prison. One stepped up to the window. "Yes?"
Obi-Wan spoke for both himself and Kira. "We're here to see Ahsoka Tano."
"Are you expected?"
"Yes, sir."
The clone turned away, but Kira heard his orders to check visiting records and scan her and Obi-Wan. Remembering her Master's advice, she did her best to keep her mental shields up and hide her trepidation. She wished she had some way to tell if she was doing a good job or not.
A beeping alarm went off inside the glass room, and the clone turned back to Obi-Wan and Kira. "Leave the lightsabers and comlinks here, please," he said. He opened a small drawer under the window.
Kira didn't like this idea but placed her lightsaber and comlink in the drawer. Obi-Wan did the same, and the clone closed the drawer. Then he stepped out into the hall. "This way."
The clone led Kira and Obi-Wan a little ways down the corridor before he stopped and clicked a few buttons on a cell door. "You've got twenty minutes," he told them, gesturing inside the cell.
Kira had to stop herself from running in when she saw Ahsoka inside, sitting on a hard bench. "Ahsoka!" she called softly to attract her friend's attention before throwing her arms around the Togruta.
At her name, Ahsoka looked up. "Hey, Kira," she said, accepting Kira's embrace. She sounded tired. "How are you?"
"How am I? I should be asking you the same question," Kira said, seating herself next to Ahsoka on the bench.
"Been better. Where did you go on your mission?"
Kira glanced at Obi-Wan, who stood just inside the door. At his nod, she told Ahsoka about going undercover as Senator Breemu. Ahsoka listened intently as Kira told her about writing speeches and the intense boredom she'd felt the rest of the time. "I have a feeling it would've been a much more interesting mission if the Council had asked me to impersonate Senator Amidala," Kira finished.
Ahsoka laughed. "Trust me, it would have been. That woman gets into all sorts of trouble."
Kira laughed, too. "I don't know why so many people hate her, though. She's a wonderful person and an amazing senator."
"There's your answer. People hate her because they know they'll never be half the person Senator Amidala is."
"Oh."
The clone returned to the door. "Master Jedi, it's time for you to go," he said.
Ahsoka gave Kira one more hug. "Thanks for coming to see me. Don't worry about me, alright? I know you do."
Kira sighed. "Guilty as charged."
Ahsoka smiled sadly. "Say hi to Caleb and Cadena for me, okay?"
"I will." Kira turned to wave at Ahsoka as she backed out of the cell.
The clone led Obi-Wan and Kira back to the glass room, went inside, and opened the drawer for them to take their lightsabers and comlinks. "Good day to you both," he said before they left.
Kira was quiet on the walk back to the speeder. Obi-Wan was the one to break the silence. "Anakin's working to find the true culprit," he told his Padawan. "And I'm sure you've heard from Ahsoka that he won't stop until the job gets done."
Kira nodded. "She admires him in that way."
"That she does, and I believe his determination has rubbed off on her, along with his tardiness and recklessness." Obi-Wan made the latter two observations with a cheeky grin, letting Kira know he was teasing...a little.
Kira forced out some dry laughter, knowing her Master was trying to reassure her, then went quiet again.
They reached the speeder and climbed in. Obi-Wan turned to face Kira before he started the engines. "Anakin will find the culprit and clear Ahsoka's name, Kira. You need to have faith in him."
Because he's Ahsoka's last hope. The unspoken words hung in the air between Master and Padawan. Kira nodded anyway. "Yes, Master."
With that, Obi-Wan started the speeder.
The ride back to the Temple was silent, but Kira wasn't staring into space this time. Maybe, just maybe, Anakin wasn't Ahsoka's last hope after all. Kira had gotten an idea, one that just might help save Ahsoka. The execution of this idea, however, would test Kira's self-confidence and persuasion skills, two traits she'd had to develop quickly as a senator. It wasn't the best idea, but Kira wouldn't know exactly how good this idea would be until she tried it.
Do or do not, Kira repeated to herself. There is no try.
A few times, the transmitter in Senator Breemu's apartment had beeped with a waiting call. Kira hadn't answered any calls, believing they should be saved for Senator Breemu's eyes and ears only. However, the senator had not recorded an answering message in the event she was not available to receive a transmission, so a prerecorded voice recited the channel number. Kira had memorized the numbers in case the Council needed to contact the senator for some odd reason in the future.
Now, Kira willed herself to remember those numbers as she typed the channel into her own transmitter. She sat on her bed, eyes shut as she called the numbers to memory. Slowly, she completed the string of numbers. Then she waited for Senator Breemu to answer the call.
After a few seconds passed by, the image of Senator Breemu appeared. She looked a little disoriented, probably because an unknown channel had called. "Who is this?" she asked, peering forward to look closer at her own transmitter. "Oh, Padawan Narro! What can I do for you?"
Kira took a deep breath. "I hate to impose, Senator Breemu," she said. "but I do have one small favor to ask. Small for you, really, but incredibly large to-" She stopped. Rambling would not help.
However, Senator Breemu appeared to be listening intently. "What is this favor, child?"
Kira didn't like that form of address but nevertheless continued. "I'm told that one of our own Jedi has been turned over to the Senate to be tried this evening. This particular Jedi is a good friend of mine, and I don't want to see her put in chains for the rest of her life." Or dead.
"What is she being tried for?"
"Sedition against the Order and the Republic."
The senator looked alarmed. "What exactly did this Jedi do?"
"Nothing, Senator," Kira replied. "The Senate is going to be trying the wrong Jedi. My friend - Ahsoka is her name - has done nothing wrong."
"You know this for certain?"
"Yes, Senator."
Senator Breemu looked thoughtful. "What is it you want me to do?"
At least the senator hadn't disconnected yet. "I want you to vote on Ahsoka's behalf. I would also like you to speak on her behalf and try to sway other senators to vote on her behalf, too. I understand that I am asking much of you, Senator, and I understand if you refuse my request."
The senator thought for a moment, an agonizingly long moment during which Kira held her breath. Finally she spoke. "I do not know all the details," she said. "I doubt they have told you all the details, either. But I see that you have the utmost trust in your friend, a loyalty to be admired." Kira inclined her head in thanks. "I will vote for your friend. However, I will not speak. I do have a reputation to uphold, something I'm sure you understand."
"I do, Senator. It's more than enough that you are even voting in Ahsoka's favor. Thank you."
"My pleasure, young one. Take care."
"You as well, Senator. Thank you for your time."
When the call disconnected, Kira fell back on her bed, clutching the transmitter. She hadn't expected Senator Breemu to agree to vote for Ahsoka, but it was quite the pleasant surprise. Two requests was a bit of a stretch, so Kira wasn't upset that her other request had been refused. She'd still gotten one vote for Ahsoka.
One vote could make all the difference.
What's going to happen? Nobody knows!
Kira: *rolls eyes* You just had to make that reference, didn't you?
Me: Well, yeah. It was calling my name.
Ahsoka: Wrong time.
Kira: Yeah, that really wasn't appropriate.
Me: -_- Obi-Wan! Come help me out with these two morons!
Ahsoka: Hey, I thought you liked me!
Me: Well, you're not being nice. Obi-Wan!
Obi-Wan: *walks in* Yes, Amy?
Me: Tell these two to control their insolence. I don't appreciate it.
Obi-Wan: Amy.
Me: What?
Kira and Ahsoka: *shifty eyes*
Obi-Wan: *sigh* Kira, Ahsoka, control your insolence. Amy doesn't appreciate it.
Me: Thank you. You just got a reprieve from doing the review notice.
Obi-Wan: Oh. Alright.
Me: Ahsoka can do it today!
Ahsoka: What!?
Me: You heard me.
Ahsoka: Ugh. Review if you liked it, hated it, or wanted to light it up and watch it burn.
Kira: Glad I didn't have to do it.
Me: No worries. You're doing it next time.
Kira: *facepalm*
Me: :D Thanks for clicking in, everyone! May the Force be with you all!