Author's Note: This is starting to become as slight AU, so hope you don't mind. Also, this is technically chapter 2 of "A Lecture for Ahsoka," though for some reason every time I try to add a second chapter, it won't let me access my comp files to upload. Annoying! If anyone has any pointers, I would appreciate. Thanks!
"Don't you dare walk out on me, Ahsoka!"
The Togrutan whirled around to face her Master, too frustrated and tensed with pent-up anger to fully register the barely contained rage in his own voice. Had she been less upset, she would have taken in the enormous yet heavy silence that had settled in the partially full council room.
She would have noticed the irritation in Obi-Wan's face – both from the knowledge of her lie, and then the escalating argument between Anakin and Ahsoka. She would have been heartbroken at the definite disappointment in Plo Koon's body language. She would have shirked from the punitive glare of Mace Windu.
Instead, blinded and fueled by hurt and indignant emotions, she retorted, "Why not? You walk out on me all the time. Like Master, like Padawan."
For a split second, Ahsoka wondered if she had stopped time. Everyone – even R2 – had frozen. A shiver of unease ran down her spine. "No!" she mentally chided herself. "I will not feel guilty about this!"
Not bothering to hear Anakin's– or any other Master's reply to her childish outburst – Ahsoka ran out of the room.
Anakin, quickly recovering from his own stunned silence, was about to chase after her when a strong grip on his shoulder held him back.
"Let her go."
Anakin looked into the face of Plo Koon. The wise and regal air of the Kel Dorian's voice and stance had only become more regal, if such a thing were possible, in his saddened and disappointed disposition.
"Let her go? You've got to be kidding!" Anakin exclaimed. "She lied to us about how she got on the mission, tried to justify her actions, and then disrespected us with that pretty little show. This time, Ahsoka has gone too far. And you want me to let her go?"
The older Jedi merely nodded his head, as Mace Windu spoke up. "As much as I agree with you, Skywalker, Master Koon is correct. Right now, we have more pressing matters to attend than a Padawan with an attitude."
"More pressing matters. How so?" interjected Obi-Wan, ignoring Anakin's scowl.
"We have intercepted a partial transmission between our favorite member of the Trade Commission, Nute Gunray, and an unknown party."
"What did it say?" asked Anakin, fully focused on the mere hint of an opportunity to apprehend the treacherous Viceroy.
"Unfortunately, not as much as we would like. More importantly it's not what he was talking about, but who he was talking to. If we get that, then we'll get a scope on the what. Intelligence has reason to believe they are meeting here, on Coruscant."
"Coming to Coruscant would be a bold and risky move on Gunray's part," mused Obi-Wan. "I doubt he would risk another capture by the Jedi unless the venture were highly worth the Federation's while. Knowing him, he probably is sending an emissary in his stead."
"I agree," said Plo Koon. "Master Windu, does the transmission say when or where on Coruscant?"
"If our intelligence is correct, sometime this evening. As for where, they made mention of a night club – a new Hutt venture – called Moonlight's Day."
"Could the Hutts be partnering with the Trade Federation?" asked Obi-Wan.
Windu scoffed. "Who knows. The Hutts aren't concerned with any other loyalty beyond their own clan. And even then, it's each Hutt for himself," he stated. All the other men nodded in agreement, recalling Ziro the Hutt.
"Well, I guess there's only one way to find out," Anakin said, as he strode out of the room.
"Like Padawan, like Master," quipped Obi-Wan, as he followed his own former Padawan out.
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Plo Kloon was not an impatient man. However, by the fourth attempt of knocking at Ahsoka's door without a reply, even his even temper was starting to fray.
"Little Soka," he said kindly, though sternly, "I am not angry, but we must talk. Please open the door. It is not like you to ignore an old friend."
Nothing. He stilled his breathing and his mind, hoping to hear either the young girl's thoughts or perhaps, given her age and fit of temper, some tears of guilt and frustration. Again, nothing.
A nothing so profound that it went beyond teenage obstinacy and mulish pride. Suspicious, he checked the door handle. It was unlocked, so he cracked it open. The spare, though neatly furnished room was dark. He chuckled, noticing the stuffed doll he had given her as a youngling, resting on its side at the foot of the bed. However, aside from the slightly dampened pillow and the random wrinkles of the bedspread, no other evidence of Ahsoka remained.
His suspicion confirmed, Plo Koon walked out of the living quarters with new purpose. Before alerting her master, he had to be sure she wasn't seeking solace in another area of the temple – like the library or meditation room, perhaps.
Yet if he were being honest with himself, and knowing his Little Soka, the impetuous Torgrutan would not be calmly reading or meditating her frustration away. He sighed, knowing the answer he would receive as he greeted Jocasta Nu.