Atara must have fallen asleep because Amy was soon standing over her and shaking her again.
"C'mon Atara! We're here!" Atara rolled lazily off the bed and walked over to the ship's large window. They had landed on the night side of Corasont and were surrounded by a blaze of neon signs. The girls could hear drunken laughter from near their position. Atara tensed but Amy placed a soothing hand on her back.
"Don't worry Atara! This is the same as all our other jobs. We just kill the target and go home. It's easy. Sandie says there's going to be a party when we get back!" Amy loved parties and was generally a very excitable person. Atara had closed off her heart to the outside world when she left the Order and was only now realizing that she couldn't leave it behind. There were too many memories, too many friends and the bitter betrayal of her closest and dearest friend, Barriss Offee. Even thinking about her was enough to make Atara scowl.
The pair exited the ship and walked over to the nearest hotel. It was shabby and run down but it would have to do. The girls checked in as Jenna Williams and Syrah Loudon before settling down to prepare for their mission.
Anakin Skywalker found his former master teaching a small group of Younglings how to swing a light saber in the training room. Anakin felt a stab in his heart when he recognised the Younglings to be the ones Ahsoka had taken to the gathering a few months ago. Anakin would give anything to have her back.
"Master, can I have a word please?", he asked. Obi-Wan strode over to him.
"What's wrong Anakin?", he queried.
"Master, I've been having visions. I know that you're in danger. Someone close to you has been sent to kill you." Obi-Wan looked disturbed.
"Are you sure Anakin?", he questioned. He knew better than to ignore what Anakin told him. He was almost always right about these things and he was the Chosen One. Anakin nodded.
"Who is it? Who has been sent to kill me?" At that moment Jedi Master Plo Koon strode up to them. He seemed as close as he ever got to excitement.
"Little Ahsoka has been located on the planet!", he informed Anakin and Obi-Wan.
"She's here?"' Obi-Wan asked at the same time as Anakin asked "Where?"
"Yes, she's here. She's staying at the Dancing Twi'lek Hotel". Anakin was already running to the main hangar. Obi-Wan thanked Master Plo and followed.
After twenty five minutes of top speed driving the pair stood outside the Dancing Twi'lek. They used their senses to find out that Ahsoka was staying in the penthouse flat, number 92. Anakin gently pressed the doorbell.
"Who is it?", asked a suspicious voice.
"It's OK, we're friends, Jedi Knights", Obi-Wan stated.
"What do you want?", snapped the same voice. Both Jedi could sense a lot of nervous energy coming from the room.
"We're looking for Ahsoka Tano", Anakin replied.
"There is no one here going by that name". Anakin had had enough. He shoved the door open irritably. Insidehe found himself faced by a human girl. There was no sign if Ahsoka. The girl pointed twin blasters at them. Anakin rolled his eyes. He could sense Ahsoka was no longer in the room.
"Where is she?", shouted Anakin. The girl was clearly not prepared to deal with an angry Jedi.
"What does this Ahsoka Tano look like?", asked Amy. Anakin was about to make a furious retort but Obi-Wan pulled him back. He could sense nervous excitement radiating off the girl when she caught sight of him.
"She is a Togrutan girl of average height. She has blue and white striped lekku and big, blue eyes".
The girl clearly recognized the description.
"Oh, you mean Atara, Atara Tala!", she exclaimed. Turning to Anakin she huffed;
"You could have said so before".
"Where is she?", Anakin asked darkly. Sensing that lying wouldn't help, Amy sighed.
"You just missed her. She'll be back in an hour."
"Thank you...?" Obi-Wan queried kindly.
"Amy", Amy replied, not seeing the point in lying any longer.
Atara still couldn't believe how close that had been. She had just managed to flip out of the window before the two Jedi entered the room. She had spent an hour wandering around the streets of Corasont, trying to find a place which wasn't filled with memories. Her trip hadn't been very productive.
Now Atara was climbing up the steps to the flat she shared with Amy. She paused for a minute, trying to sense them. They were still there! Atara could sense her former master's determination and Obi-Wan's mixed emotions. Atara knew Anakin well enough to know that he would not leave the flat until Atara came back. She took a deep breath before pushing open the door.
"Snips!", cried Anakin joyfully, racing over to hug her and swinging her up into the air.
"It's so good to see you again!" Atara stared at him strangely. Anakin took the hint and put her down.
"Where have you been all this time, Ahso-"
"Atara!", Atara interrupted harshly. Anakin stared at his former Padawan. He should have known it would be like this. But he was certain of one thing. No matter what name she chose, Atara would always be his little Snips to him.
"What've you been doing all this time? I've missed you so much!", Anakin said, looking slightly deflated. Atara just smiled mysteriously. She still couldn't work out if she was happy to see Anakin again. She certainly wasn't happy to see Obi-Wan as she knew Amy would be thinking of different ways to kill him while he stood there oblivious.
Anakin got the sense that Atara had been trying to get rid of him and Obi-Wan throughout the time they had spent together. She had looked very relieved when they had been ordered to come back to the Temple. He wished their reunion had gone differently. He hadn't known what to expect, but he never dreamed things would go that badly. It was almost as if she didn't know him, Anakin reflected sadly.
Obi-Wan looked at him in concern.
"It'll be OK, Anakin. You've got to let her get used to seeing you again. Let's visit her again tonight."
"What do you think about Ahsoka's new friend?", Anakin queried.
"I'm not sure. She seemed like a sensible enough girl and she obviously cares about Ahsoka, so I think they'll muddle through", Obi-Wan replied.
"We still don't know why Ahsoka's here though. She refused to answer. Do you think she's missed us? She didn't look too happy to see us. She almost shoved us out of the door!" Anakin was obviously agitated.
"You worry too much, Anakin", his friend told him gently. "It's all going to work out fine."
"I hope so", Anakin whispered softly.