"Soph, slow down."

"I need to get out of here," she responded shortly as she kept moving. Echo grabbed her arm gently to stop her. She did and turned. "Echo, please."

"You know you can't run from this," he said carefully. He didn't want to make things worse. "You're going to be around him, but he won't hurt you again."

She laughed humorlessly. "Yes, he will."

"Soph-,"

"He always does," she continued. "I thought I left him in my past, but he always pops back up and brings all of this back up. He rubs salt in the wounds and tries to convince me I'm crazy, but I know what he did. I know he- Echo, he did it. He hurt me, he used me, he had some goal in mind and he used me to get to it. It's a mark on my record, not his. He took everything from me and I'm supposed to just move on like nothing happened. Why the hell am I on the Council if I'm not even safe from a Knight?"

"Breathe," he coached. "Just breathe. He's not here right now. He can't hurt you right now."

"The scariest thing, I think," she said slowly. "The scariest thing is that if he does it again, he could make me do anything. He could make me kill you. Fuck, Echo. I can't do this. I'm fucking terrified of him, and I'm not supposed to give into fear. It feels so much easier to just accept what he tells me and move on."

"He hurt you and he'd hurt you again," he reminded her. "Even if you gave in and believed him."

"It's terrifying," she said quietly. "Being forced to do things I'd never do."

"I know," he said softly. "Shit, Soph, I know. But he's not here and you're safe. We'll die before letting him control you again."

"We're going to get this figured out," Fives promised her. "And in the meantime, you're going nowhere without us."

"Are you in danger?"

Soph squeezed her eyes shut and breathed in. The last thing she needed was to deal with Rex. "Yes."

He looked conflicted. She knew he was probably fighting his deep concern. He looked at Domino. "Keep her safe, men."

"Always will, sir," Droidbait agreed.

He seemed to understand that his presence wasn't helping, so he nodded. "It's nice to see you, Kat. Take care."

"You, too," she said softly. She watched him walk away with no small amount of sadness. Once he was gone, she breathed out sharply. "We're going back to the Twilight now."

The trip to their ship was slow since they had to stop twice to calm her down. She hated the level of vulnerability she was showing, but she couldn't calm herself. Ezio was her first and, arguably, worst trauma she'd experienced. Bringing it all up again was more than a little painful.

She wasted no time taking off and breathed out in relief when they went into hyperspace. She wasn't sure where they were going, but she didn't really care where they ended up.

"I've got a question," Hevy told her. "What happened after General Skywalker was brought in?"

The question made Soph smile a little. "Things were a bit better. I was around Ezio less and less and Anakin caught on pretty quickly to the problem. He's always been very defensive of me because of Ezio. But things calmed."

"At least you got some level of peace," Cutup told her.

"I remember this one day," she began slowly. "We went on a peacekeeping mission on Malastare. Things went bad fast and Obi Wan was nearly killed. He got us out of there, but when we returned to Coruscant, we kind of lost it. We were basically inconsolable at the thought of losing him, both for different reasons.

"He spent a while comforting us and holding us close because it felt like proof that he was okay. We ended up falling asleep on him, and apparently, he fell asleep too because he couldn't bring himself to move us to get up. The next day, Master Vos sent me a holo picture of the three of us sleeping on that horribly uncomfortable couch. I still have that picture today."

Echo snorted. "I'm sure General Kenobi appreciated that."

She laughed. "He was definitely mad at first, but he actually has the picture too, and I know he's still got it somewhere."

"So you guys threw the 'no attachments' rule out the window pretty quickly, huh?" Fives laughed. Soph nodded and shrugged.

"Two trauma ridden kids and one overwhelmed but more than well meaning man is a combination that makes it difficult to not breed attachment. Master Qui Gon was gone, so he couldn't lecture us on it, either."

"Do you have a problem with him?" Cutup wondered. "You don't seem to like him much."

Soph made a face. "He was awful to my Master pretty much always. He made him fight with a child army and left him there to fend for himself, abandoning him as a padawan. Then, as far as I'm aware, he just changed his mind? Like, who does that? I hate him for my Master, who purposely only remembers the good parts of his Master in his grief."

"Nothing ever seems simple with Jedi," Droidbait sighed. "You guys are complicated."

"We're not without flaws, just like everyone else," she shrugged. "I mean, technically, I'd be considered a grey Jedi. I'm on the Council, though, which means I have to be quiet about it."

"That sounds unreasonably complicated," Fives said. "I mean, what's wrong with being a grey Jedi?"

"They basically don't follow many of the rules the Council has set. They view grey Jedi as too close to being Sith. I think Dooku would count as a grey Jedi again."

"Force, that's a lot."

"So, do you think the Commander- Ahsoka will find anything?" Droidbait questioned.

Soph didn't look sure. "I don't really know. My concern is that whoever got to Ezio was there unofficially, which would mean they didn't sign in."

"What're we doing for the next couple of rotations?" Echo asked. "I mean, are we really going to sit here and rest like he said?"

"Haven't decided. On one hand, I'll get bored and fall into that cycle about Ezio again, but on the other, I don't think I'm focused enough for battle right now, and there's no promising there'll be no battles wherever we go. It's a lose-lose situation."

"Worst case, we protect you in battle," Hevy shrugged. "Better to keep you safe and occupied than falling into that hole again."

"He's right," Echo agreed. "We'll watch your back if it comes down to it."

"Well, I guess it's decided. We just have to figure out where to go. We've got a whole galaxy to cover, so we're not limited on choices."

"Let's look at the list," Fives said. "Find conflict-free spaces and go there."

"Well, let's get to it, then."

OoOoOoOoOoOo

Ahsoka was picked up early that day. The Resolute had returned to Kamino - they had some more supplies to drop off - so they'd made the trip there, picked her up, and were on their way to Coruscant. It was a bit of a trip that took a couple of days, and Ahsoka was more than happy to learn to play Dejarik with Domino. By the end of the first day, she'd won two games where they weren't holding back.

When they got to the large planet, Soph spoke softly to Ahsoka as they landed. "I need to repeat: do not let yourself be alone with him. I give you full permission to be more than a little insolent if it keeps you safe. Stick to Master Plo if you can - he's aware of the situation now and he said he'd keep an eye on Ezio to make sure he goes nowhere near you."

"You're really worried about this, huh?"

"Very. When he finds out that you're my padawan, you'll be a target, too. You cannot underestimate how dangerous he is. He seems like an incredibly nice person, but…" she shook her head. "Just don't drop your guard around him."

"I just don't understand what he could've done that's so bad."

"And I don't want you to," she told the young girl as they landed once more at the temple. "I'll walk you down there. I have to see Master Yoda, so I'll be by the classrooms. If you see him, come get me or ping my comms if you can't get out. Got it?"

"Yes, Master," Ahsoka agreed. They walked out of the Twilight with Domino positioned defensively around them. The trip to the archives went smoothly, and Soph reluctantly left her there with Master Nu keeping an eye on her.

No one was surprised at all when Ezio found them.

"Leave me alone," Soph said before he could speak. He raised an eyebrow at her.

"I thought you finally understood the truth. It's really unfortunate that you can't leave the past in the past. We could move on from that if you just came back to reality."

Soph smiled, though there was fury in her eyes. "Ezio, do you want to know something about my life recently?"

He tilted his head at her. "I'd love to hear more about how you've been."

"I was kidnapped and tortured recently," she said. She felt Echo shift at her side and knew he was probably feeling guilty once again.

He didn't look surprised in the least. "I'm sorry to hear that. Hopefully you're okay."

"I'm not," she said calmly. "See, while they had us-,"

"Us?"

"One of my men was taken, too," she said, moving on quickly - the last thing she wanted was to tell him who it was. "While I was there, a partially trained Sith invaded my mind. Twice."

He raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"Thing is, Master Yoda found out. He ordered me back here weekly to do mind healing." She felt a trill of satisfaction when she saw a brief moment of fear in his eyes. He hesitated, so she kept going. "I was thinking of asking him to take a look for any old damage. You know, just in case."

Ezio stepped closer and lowered his voice. "I'd consider that carefully. You never know who might decide to… worsen that damage. There's people out there who would love to hurt you - they're just looking for the right reason."

Soph tried to breathe slowly as panic gripped her chest. She looked at Echo and he stared back, nodding once - he was okay, despite the silent fury in his eyes, so she'd be okay, too. "You can't hurt me again. I'm older, wiser, and a better fighter than when we were nine."

"I wouldn't be so sure, Little Soph. You've grown, but so have I. My… techniques have improved. I very much can hurt you, and I'm more than willing to do it if it comes down to it."

"Echo," Soph put her hand up to stop him from moving, the back of her hand hitting his chest as he'd begun to step forward. She looked back at Ezio with as much courage as she could muster. "So, you finally admit it."

"I admit nothing. You're still crazy for thinking I could've done that so young. I'm simply speaking with a Master who is losing her way and warning her that if she attacks me again, I will defend myself."

"I did nothing. You made me attack you to avoid suspicion."

"Do you hear yourself?" he shook his head. "You sound crazy, Soph."

"Sorry to interrupt," Fives said, more than a little glad to interrupt them. "But you're going to be late, boss."

"Keep my words in mind," Ezio said. "I would suggest you listen to my warning. You're going to get yourself in trouble, Little Soph."

The second he walked away, Soph was surrounded by Domino. While four of five split between in front of and behind her to block sight of her, Echo was in the small space between his brothers with her. "Hey, I'm good."

She gave him a small frown. "No, you're not."

"Soph-,"

"You're mad," she shook her head. "Angrier than I think I've ever seen you."

"The Force is annoying," he muttered. Her frown deepened.

"That's not me using the Force, Echo, I can just see it in your eyes. You've never… they've never looked like that. Like anything aside from something steady."

They missed the way Cutup, Droidbait, and Hevy exchanged glances and Fives rolled his eyes.

"You're shaking," he said, more than willing to shift the topic from his anger.

Soph looked down at his hands, which had reached up to touch her arms comfortingly, and was surprised to find that he was right. "I can't go to Master Yoda like this."

"Maybe you should," he suggested softly. "If you're asking him to look for that damage-,"

"I can't," she shook her head immediately. He rubbed her arm with his thumb comfortingly.

"Soph, you're never walking through this temple alone again until he's firmly behind bars," he said in a tone that suggested he thought she was crazy for thinking otherwise. "I think you should go to him like this. Show him the physical reaction you have to being around him. Show him your mind, your fear, and ask him to look for that damage. He'll find it, and you'll have a very powerful ally."

"I hate…"

"No one enjoys being vulnerable," he told her gently. "But being vulnerable now may save your life later."

He was right and she knew it. Though anxiety rolled through her at the thought of doing it, she nodded. "Okay. Okay, I'll…"

"Let's move, boys," Echo said after a moment of watching to make sure she would be okay to walk to Yoda. She looked okay - at least, to most people she would, but just as she knew him well, he knew her well, and he knew she was far from okay. He guided her carefully through the halls toward where he remembered the classrooms being. When they got there, she squeezed his hand once before stepping into the room, where Yoda looked at her disapprovingly.

"Late you are, Master Sizre," he shook his head. "Very rude, it is."

"I apologize," she bowed her head. "I was… held up."

"Something to tell me, you have."

She grimaced. "Master…"

"Shaking, you are," he pointed out. "Why?"

"I don't want to…" she shook herself. Echo told her to tell him, so she should tell him. "Master, there's something I want to- need to talk to you about, but I really need you to hear me out before you stop me."

"Wait, I will."

"You see me shaking, you see me upset?"

"Mm?"

"It's because I ran into Ezio again." She watched him closely, trying to gauge his response, but he didn't even blink. "I would like to request that you look through my mind today not to heal it but to find old damage to it. Proof that Obi Wan saw over ten years ago."

Master Yoda hummed. "This day would come, I thought. Look for the damage, I will."

Relief flooded Soph visibly. Master Yoda looked at the hope in her eyes and nodded. She stepped closer and lowered herself so he could touch her shoulder. She felt him slip into her mind and realized that the healing feeling from the last time wasn't there.

Master Yoda jerked back as he slipped carefully out of her mind. She jumped a little in surprise and looked at him with wide eyes. "Master?"

"Damaged, it is," he said, his voice grave. "Lucky to have survived at all, you are. Violent was the intrusion. Right, Obi Wan was."

Soph wasn't able to suppress the tear that slipped down her cheek. The relief of it was overwhelming. "Ezio did it, Master. I know- I know it makes no sense, that he was nine, too, but he did. There was no one else that would've been able to get close enough to me to do that."

"Request to see the memory, I would."

She hesitated. "I don't know if I can…"

"Hurt us, memories do not. The potential of the future does," he reasoned. She hesitated for another moment before agreeing. They once again resumed the earlier position and she felt him slip into her mind and directly into a memory.

Soph was pulling her outer robes on as Ezio leaned against the wall, watching her. Her movements were stiff, and she looked pained.

"Good. Now, listen close, because I'm only saying this once and if you can't listen, I'll kill you and tell them it was self defense. You need to punch me."

Soph turned and, a little too enthusiastically, she punched him in the face with full force. It wasn't much force, considering the fact that they were nine, but it was enough to give him a fat lip and a bruised cheek.

"Force, you idiot, not that hard!" he wiped a drop of blood off his lip. "Force. Okay. Next, you need to copy as much of the archives as you can onto this drive. You'll bring it back to me, and then you'll kill your father and I'll see you freed."

Soph jolted, but she said nothing. She watched him silently, waiting until finally, he nodded.

"Get to it, then. This will all be over soon. I will finally get to get rid of you when we're done."

The memory cut out after that. There were tiny fragments of something more, but she couldn't tell what. When Yoda had removed his hand from her shoulder again, she stumbled back and into a desk, which she used to steady herself. Her eyes were wide as she looked at him. "I've never- I've never remembered that. I've never remembered anything he made me do."

"Sorry, I am, that we did not believe you," he said grimly. "Speak to the Council on your behalf, I will."

"He threatened me not long ago," she told him. "I'm very much worried about retaliation."

"Worry about that, you should not," he answered. "Speak to the Council now, I will."

"I have Ahsoka in the archives looking for proof that someone had Ezio working for them," she admitted. "If anything comes of that, I will let you know."

"Come with me to the Council, you will," he decided. "Go now, we will."

"I'd like to bring at least one of my men," she requested slowly. "I know it's frowned upon to bring an outsider into the Council room, but I'd feel much better with him there."

"Bring Echo, you may."

Soph blinked, startled. "How'd you know-,"

"Strong, your attachment to him is. Careful, you must be."

"Of course, Master," she said, lying through her teeth. Master Yoda hummed and shook his head disapprovingly - he definitely knew she was lying, but he didn't say anything about it. "Thank you. I- I've been waiting over ten years to hear you say you believe me."

"Protected, you will be," he assured her. "Come now, you will."

Soph nodded and hurried to follow him out of the room. She grabbed Echo and told the rest of Domino to stay outside of the Council room. Leaving them there, she walked inside with her advocate and her best friend and prepared herself to, once again, tell her story.

OoOoOoOoOoOo