Chapter 6
Thanks for your poll responses! It seems like the majority wants a little bit of everything, so that's what Ahsoka's going to get. She just won't get it until either Ch. 7 or 8. (Which, I must admit, she rather deserves – though I do like this bad-ass side of her). Nightmare, a little something in here just for you!
Without much further ado...
(P.S. - Per usual, I don't own these characters except for Reln, and am not making a profit from this story).
Copper credits.
That's what Ahsoka tasted in her mouth. She tried asking for water, to rid her mouth of the awful metallic flavor, but found her throat too dry to produce anything beyond a raspy wheeze. Her head ached and for some reason, everything – her arms, her legs, her eyelids – seemed heavy.
What had happened? Did she over-exert herself in training again? Master would probably give her a hard time about being a weakling over breakfast, if she didn't hurry and get out of bed. She'd show him weak!
She tried to lift herself from the pillow, when she felt a strong hand pressing her back down.
"You'll only make yourself sick if you get up, Ahlevhna. Wait a few more minutes," a calm, sad voice said.
Ahsoka noted that sadness – no, more like futile resignation – and it worried her. Why did the voice sound so familiar? Who was Ahlevhna?
Recognition kicked in, her eyes popping open. She struggled to jump out of the bed, kicking and thrashing as Reln now pressed his whole weight on top of her.
"Get off me, you piece of backrocket filth!" she shouted, while using the Force to slam him against the opposite wall. Unfortunately, whatever she was drugged with had inhibited her Force abilities, causing Reln to only stumble off the bed.
His body hit the ground with a hard thud, and he cried out in pain.
She took the break, small as it was, and propelled herself out of the room – his room, she imagined. But like those infuriatingly terrifying nightmares, Ahsoka felt like her running was in suspended-motion. She could see the front door, but couldn't get to it.
All at once she was whirled around to face cold, harsh blue eyes. That's when Ahsoka realized that his eyes contained more than anger or frustration, and she immediately checked her emotions. He was desperate, and a desperate opponent can be the most challenging one of all, for he has both everything and nothing to loose. Or at least that is what Master Plo once told her.
Now she could believe it.
"Is that anyway for a guest to behave?" Reln asked, before tightening his grip.
She could feel his nails biting into her skin, but she refused to flinch. "They'll be looking for me, you know."
While Ahsoka knew this was true, she had no idea when that might be. But this beautiful disaster didn't need to know that. "Whatever it is you're hoping to get from me as your hostage, you won't get it. That's a promise. You're better off letting me go," she stated.
"So you can run back home to your uncles and big brother, the Jedi? Sorry, but that can't happen."
Reln's eyes lit up with a mocking smile at Ahsoka's surprise.
"I didn't know at it first, but I pieced things together throughout the night. And then in your dreams – you aren't a quiet sleeper – well, I'd say that was enough to convince me." He paused, and Ahsoka could feel the resigned sadness filling his thoughts.
"You weren't originally part of the plan," he whispered. For one brief second, Ashoka caught a glimpse of the man she had met in line. Was he apologizing?
Before she could discern it, the sadness in his eyes was replaced by ironic avarice. "But, who am I to argue with the will of the Force?"
He chuckled, and seemed a touch disappointed when she didn't so much as crack a smile.
Reln sobered quickly, taking an intimidating step forward so that Ahsoka was now sandwiched between him and the wall. "Though I don't doubt that they're out there, I think I'll have better odds of getting what I do want with you by my side. What wouldn't they do for their little Padawan?" he mused aloud, while trailing his finger along her jawline.
Her skin crawled at the nearness of his face, and it took all the self-control Ahsoka possessed not to shake off the touch she once found so tantalizing. Mentally kicking herself for losing her Lightsaber, and realizing that it might be some time before her own physical strength returned, she knew her only chance of making it back to the Temple alive, and on her terms, would be by playing on his.
For now.
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"Obi-Wan! Come in, Obi-Wan!"
"Yes, Anakin. Have you apprehended him?"
"No. I need some back-up."
Obi-Wan's eyes widened in surprise. For Anakin Skywalker to admit needing help was a rare occurrence indeed. He turned to glare at Layte Eelston and the Neimoidian envoy, currently under clone trooper guard. Was Anakin led into a trap?
"Where are you? We absolutely need to retrieve the blueprints he's taken."
"You'll get those blueprints. I've followed him to a residential hotel, ten blocks north and three blocks east of the rendezvous-point. He doesn't suspect me. I can take him, no problem," came Anakin's report, mingled with his usual self-confidence.
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. He really was not in a mood for Anakin's one-up manship or jests, not when he had traitorous Neimoidians to apprehend, and livid Hutts to appease. "Then why do you need reinforcements?"
If the older Jedi listened carefully, he could hear teeth grinding on the other side of the transmission.
"He's got Ahsoka."
Obi-Wan turned the volume on his comm-link up; what Anakin had said was not possible. "Repeat that Anakin. I could have sworn you said he has Ahsoka."
"You heard me right, Obi-Wan," Anakin sighed. "Don't ask my how or why. But I need a trooper to help me, just in case Ahsoka's...I mean if anything is wrong, I – "
"Rex is with me. I'll send him over. But I doubt you'll need him. Like I said, Ahsoka is your Padawan, after all. She won't go down with out putting up a fight – and coming out on top."
He heard Anakin's muttered curse before ending the transmission. Obi-Wan shook his head, knowing full well Ahsoka could stand her own against Reln. He just wasn't so sure she would have a chance with an angry Anakin Skywalker. Not that he couldn't say he agreed with him.
Walking over to Rex, who was cuffing Eelston's wrists together, Obi-Wan gave the captain the coordinates of the residential hotel, and briefly filled him in on the situation.
"Right away, General."
Rex was about to turn round after saluting, when he remembered something one of the other clones had found. "Excuse me, Sir."
Obi-Wan glanced at what Rex held out in his hand. A Lightsaber. Ahsoka's Lightsaber. At that instant, the Jedi's stomach grew taught. Force, the girl was reckless!
"Give it to General Skywalker the moment you see him. It belongs to Ahsoka, and she might need it when you two show up."
Rex visibly gulped, and Obi-Wan could sense the reluctance in the captain. He smirked, placing a reassuring hand on the man's shoulder. "He won't cut down the messenger, Rex. Not when he would much rather do so to his Padawan."
The captain nodded his head and turned on his heel.
"Reln won't be intimidated by the Jedi," sneered Eelston. "He is one of the best in the Galaxay, trained by Dreddon himself. You think he isn't smart enough to outmaneuver you?"
Obi-Wan faced the Neimoidian, but schooled all expression from his visage. So, Dreddon the Hutt was involved. The most enterprising arms dealer in recent Galaxy history. Making Reln one, too. The Dreddon stamp of approval would also explain why Jabba had no qualms in allowing for Reln's business meeting to take place in his new establishment.
Gunray's representative was free with giving away information, and this could definitely work to his advantage, if he prompted the Neimoidian just right.
"Then why take Ahsoka as a hostage, if we don't pose a threat?"
Eelston snorted. "And what makes you think she's his hostage? I saw the way she was looking at him, while they were eating dinner together. Maybe they are both packing for Minuesurn as we speak. Aren't attachments forbidden amongst the Jedi?" he goaded.
The barb was left hanging in the air. Obi-Wan's demeanor had not changed all through Eelston's defamation of Ahsoka's character. But it was worth it. Obi-Wan got just what he wanted.
Now for some retaliation. "I don't believe Captain Rex secured those cuffs properly, Eelston. If you'll allow me..."
"Ah! Not so tight - they're singeing!"
"My apologies," murmured Obi-Wan, as he led Eelston into the prisoner-holding cell of the shuttle.
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He had left the blueprints out in plain sight, on the eating table. Arrogant, son of a Bantha.
He had assumed that Ahsoka a) wouldn't notice or b) was to cowed to care. Well, she had no idea what those blueprints were all about, but she knew they were at the heart of the matter.
If they mattered to Reln, they sure as the Hells mattered to her. And maybe if she brought them back to the Temple, the Council and Master might be willing to overlook the fact she had broken curfew, along with some other rules.
It would be easy, if it weren't for one little problem. How to free herself from the chair which he cuffed her to.
An idea came to mind, but she wasn't sure it'd work. Still, when only one option presents itself...
"Reln. Reln, please. I have to use the frehser," she whined.
"Shut up! You and I both know that's a lie," he shouted from behind his bedroom doors.
Okay, so mercy wasn't the way to go. That left her with the one and only option she dreaded employing. Her stomach churned at the thought. "Force help me," she breathed before forcing her shoulders back and committing to the plan.
"Reln, I'm," she forced her voice to crack innocently "I'm just lonely is all."
"You'll see your precious Master and Jedi friends soon enough. Stop whining."
Ahsoka bit her lip and drew on all the strength she had. "I'm not lonely for them, Reln."
The subtle meaning floated between them, and for a moment Ahsoka thought she had failed. She kept her smile in check when she felt the man's battle between his logic and his emotions through the Force. She knew what would win out.
He stomped from out of the bedroom, hair disheveled and a light shadow of stubble growing on his face. This wild abandon suited him, and if she didn't know him for what he truly was, Ahsoka would have swooned for him a second time.
"So what do you want me to do about it?"
"I thought, you know, we could keep each other company... keep each other warm." Ahsoka looked beyond him, towards the bed and he followed her gaze. She almost choked at the thought, but kept reminding herself that nothing would happen. She need only allude, and then freedom.
Reln smirked as he sauntered to her chair, like a predatory beast toying with its prey. "Why should I trust you?"
"You shouldn't," she replied, honestly.
He lowered his face to hers, so they were exactly eye-level. Reaching behind the chair, he unlocked the cuffs, not before warning, "This isn't a game, Ahlevhna. You try anything to make me regret this, and I'll make you miserable. Trust me."
Ahsoka rose from her chair. "Misery loves company," she whispered over her shoulder.
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Anakin was ready to bust down Reln's door, with or without back-up. This waiting was taking too long, and he had his fill of it. Unsheathing his Lightsaber, he was about to cut into its steel when he heard Rex's voice.
"General, what are the orders?"
"Took you long enough! This is an in-and-out job. You take Ahsoka, and I'll deal with the traitor. Got it?"
"Yes, sir. And, sir, here. General Kenobi told me to give this to you. It's -"
"Ahsoka's Lighsaber!"
The usually stoic and imperturbable captain paled at the unconcealed rage in the General's dismay. Before Rex knew it, the General had cut a whole in the door with such speed and animosity, that he wasn't sure whom he should protect Ahsoka from – her captor, or her master.
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"Arggghhhhh! You conniving little flot!"
Ahsoka didn't even bother to look back and check if Reln was fatally bleeding. Her plan had worked better than she had hoped. Once to the bed, she positioned herself within easy access of both the blueprints, and his blaster.
After some bile-inducing kisses, he was distracted enough that through the Force, she pulled the blueprints to her left hand, and managed to hit him over the head with his own blaster, using her right.
She had blasted through the locked bedroom doors (a sign of his rightful distrust) and ready to jump from the large eating room window when something tripped her up. The impact of the fall caused her to lose her grip on the blaster and scuttle to the far side of the room. She tried to call it back, but used all her Force energy in the bedroom.
A small wire lasso had hooked around her ankle, and a dangerously irate man was dragging her back to the room. How she desperately wished for her Lightsaber now.
"You'll be sorry for that," he growled in her face, lifting her from the ground by her head-tails.
"Ah! Stop it!"
"Why?" Reln shook her. "So you can finish me off? Give me the blueprints, if you want to live."
"No."
Reln shook her again, so badly she felt her teeth rattling and her eyes rolling.
"I will not ask you again." He enunciated each word so clearly, so chillingly, Ahsoka could practically envision her death at his hands.
An eternity of quiet passed, and she could tell he thought her beaten. Over her dead, orange body.
"Go crink yourself," she spat.
His eyes hardened, as did his jaw. Reln lifted his hand and Ahsoka heard the crack of his slap across her face, before she actually felt it.
The blow forced her to the ground. Before she passed out, she thought she saw Skyguy lifting Reln by the shirt collar, landing a powerful punch square into his pretty-boy face. If only the image were true, and not just the deluded hope of her dreams playing out.
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"Snips, wake up!"
Ahsoka opened her eyes to a scene of utter chaos, and she knew she was home.
Her Master and Rex were deflecting blaster rays, while at the same time attempting to drag her from the room.
"M-m-master?" she stuttered, unwilling to believe her eyes.
A look of relief washed over his face. "Your one and only. Now get up and do what you're meant to do," he said, while tossing her her Lightsaber.
A wave of relief now washed over her, as the familiar weapon cradled perfectly into her palm. Activating it, a surge of power and comfort ran through her veins.
"Give it up, Reln! You should have let me go when you had the chance!" she shouted over the din.
"What, and miss the family reunion? Too bad I can't stay for the family hologram, but I know when I'm not welcome. Thanks for the kiss, though!"
All of the sudden, Reln jumped from out the bedroom window, tossing a beeping sphere into the middle of the room.
"Bomb!" Rex shouted.
The three of them jumped out the eating room window, just in time. Within seconds, a cloud of violent flames and smoke spilled from the room. The fire alarm wailed and the emergency Fire Droids sprung to action.
"Rex, take Ahsoka back to the Temple," Anakin ordered, as he took off after Reln.
"Master, wait!"
"No, Ahsoka! Go with Rex!"
He wasn't slowing down, leaving Ahsoka with no choice.
"Sorry, Rex."
"Sorry for – oomph!" The clone trooper doubled over from the pain of her round-house kick to his abdomen. The General was going to kill him. "Ahsoka, wait!"
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Anakin was a few yards ahead of her, but she was gaining. She had almost caught up when she was violently jerked into a side alley and slammed face first into the wall. His hand was pinned to her back, so even though she could reach her Lightsaber, she did not have the leverage to turn and face him.
"You're not worth the air you're breathing," Reln hissed into her hearing orafice. "But you've got something I need. One last chance: you either give the blueprints to me, or I take them from you. Your choice."
"Some choice. I die either way."
"Yes, but only one option will make death quick and painless."
Ahsoka's heart caught in her throat. A dirty back alley was not where she planned her brave Jedi death. A battle field, a ship explosion – sure. But here, a common criminal's territory? The shame of it stung her eyes, more than the fear of dying.
He heard her whimper. "Crying won't save you now."
A shadow dropped down behind Reln.
"No, her tears won't. But I will."
Ahsoka heard the Lightsaber sear into Reln, and she could smell the smokiness of burning flesh, before she heard him cry out in pain.
Abruptly she was jerked from the wall and pushed behind her Master. She unsheathed her own Lightsaber, ready and poised for action. But it wasn't required. Reln had dropped to the ground, motionless, with his shooting arm cut-off.
"Is he...dead?"
"No. He's passed out from the pain."
"Oh."
Master and Padawan stood there in the darkened alley, watching over the now mutilated figure of her former captor, when Rex finally reached them.
"What the –?"
"It's all right, Rex. He's not dead, but we need to bring him in for questioning." And then, as if an afterthought, "Call in a Medic droid, too."
"Right away, sir."
Anakin walked into the sun-filled sidewalk, and Ahsoka followed. Neither one said a word to the other, and the intensity of his silence wracked at her conscience. She closed her eyes, hoping to read his thoughts.
"Don't even try it."
She jumped, more from his curt tone than the fact his mind had every block and shield up.
"I just...I wanted to know -"
"Just how angry I am? How disappointed? How furious? How scared I was at the thought of losing you not once, but twice?"
Ahsoka trembled at his shouting. Morning passerbys gave them wide birth, not wanting to get caught up in their dispute. The question which followed took her completely off-guard.
"Where did you get that dress?" He did not ask pleasantly, and she was conscious of the fact that the wrong answer could tip him over the edge. The problem was, she didn't know which answer was right.
"Senator Amidala gave it to me. She said it was a gift, marking my entrance into womanhood."
Anakin snorted. Ahsoka flinched. But he didn't rail on her, so she took that as a good sign. There was nothing more she could say except for, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for all this to happen."
Anakin narrowed his eyes at his Padawan. All the fury of the Nine Hells didn't carry as much heat as his look did. Ahsoka wanted to find a cave and hide.
"Well sorry wouldn't be worth a blasted thing if you were dead right now, would it? You're lucky I came along to save your sorry tail."
The girl bristled. Yes, maybe things did get difficult there for a minute. But she would have found a way out. And her part in this wasn't completely useless.
"Well, you're lucky that I came along otherwise, you wouldn't have this!" she shouted, pulling the blueprints from one of the dress' deep folds and slapping them into his chest.
"How did...when did you...?"
Their eyes locked, and Ahsoka wasn't sure whether to run or hold her ground. Just when she thought they'd be staring each other down until the next lunar cycle, Anakin's lips tipped up and his eyes sparkled.
"I'll give it to you Snips, you've got guts." He pulled her into a hug – brief, but a hug nevertheless. Ahsoka closed her eyes, taking in the prickly but sincere comfort that he offered, letting the Force speak the words he didn't know how to say.
"Ahem, General Skywalker?"
Ahsoka almost fell backwards from Anakin's disengaging shove.
"What is it, Rex?"
"The shuttle is here, with the medic."
"Good. Ahsoka, ride back with Rex. I'll be right behind you."
"On it, Skyguy," she said, bounding into the shuttle behind Rex and their incapacitated prisoner.
"Oh and Snips, one more thing."
"Yeah?"
"You are in a LOT of trouble. Don't forget what we talked about on the way back from the Citadel. Just thought you might want to think about it, while you sit in your quarters for the rest of the day. See ya' later!" he said smiling, as he jogged off to wherever he had left his speed pod.
Ahsoka paled as the shuttle took off.
"Excuse me for saying so," interrupted Rex, "but you don't do anything by halves, do you?" he asked, with a comical undertone that she did not quite appreciate.
"It's not in my nature," she sniffed.
"Yeah, well, I observed it's not in the General's, either," he commented. Then quickly called for a medic, as it looked like his young Jedi commander was going to be sick.