General Grievous was in high spirits. He was just about to land on Mustafar and claim his prize, a young Jedi knight.
His droid commander carefully lowered the ship so that it hovered over the streams of molten magma that were the planet's surface as Count Dooku strode out of the one lone building that stood above the magma, an ugly metallic structure, but also an engineering miracle, with amazing gravity supports stopping it falling into the magma.
"Greetings, General", Count Dooku said smoothly. "The child is all yours".
"Thank you, Count", rasped Grievous. "I will punish her for the crimes of her fellow Jedi"
"See that you do". Dooku nodded at Grievous and re entered the building. Two Magna droids appeared at the entrance, dragging the unconscious Jedi between them. Dooku smiled. He was going to enjoy this.
Ahsoka's eyes snapped open,instantly taking in her new surroundings. She was in chains yet again with not even enough strength left to groan about her unfortunate predicament.
She could sense that she was not alone, but couldn't turn her neck to see whose prisoner she was now. Ahsoka knew that without the Force, she would have gone mad from the pain. But sometimes she wondered whether being mad would be better in her situation. Then at least she would have a quick death.
General Griveous, one of the many enemies of the Jedi and a Separatist military commander, walked slowly from the corner he had been standing in, his eyes glittering with malevolent triumph. Ahsoka knew that with him as her captor, hope was fading fast. If Anakin didn't come for her soon, she was lost.
The General stopped right in front of her, smiling darkly.
"I have a call to make", he sneered at Ahsoka. Ahsoka stared into the distance, too worn out and weary to care. Grievous seemed irritated by her lack of curiosity. Angrily he punched in some numbers onto his holo communicator. The grave faces of the Jedi Council filled the screen. Ahsoka still resented them for how they had treated her. She had severed all ties with them and didn't care a jot about the war anymore. But her past had caught up with her and was demanding her attention. Ahsoka knew that she couldn't ignore it forever, but she found it too painful when she tried to find closure.
Anakin Skywalker stared at his former Padawan, the girl he had believed dead for three rotations, hope coursing through his veins as General Griveous gloated about Ahsoka's situation.
"I will make this child suffer for your crimes, Jedi", he sneered. "Everything she experiences here is of your doing. I have always wanted to know just how much a Jedi can take. I guess my wish has come true".
Anakin recalled what he had told told the Father on Mortis, the planet where he had almost lost Ahsoka forever and where he had finally discovered his true identity. There's ALWAYS hope.
"Anakin!", Obi-Wan hissed at his elbow. "You must concentrate if we are to rescue Ahsoka!" Anakin nodded.
He had been wrong to give up on Ahsoka. Anakin's face settled in a look of pure determination. He could do this!
Obi-Wan exchanged a glance with his former apprentice and saw his expression. He gave a subtle nod. Obi-Wan Kenobi trusted Anakin with his life and he had just done the same with Ahsoka's. They had no plan and were essentially going in blind, but he didn't care. The Jedi could weather any storm.
Anakin Skywalker closed his eyes, attempting to sense Ahsoka's Force signature for the millionth time, as they slowly began their descent to the planet's surface. Anakin felt a slight twinge in him and for the first time, he understood what it was, what he had been experiencing for years whenever he was around Ahsoka. Love. She was like a little sister to him, but she was far more than that.
An image of his wife, Padme, floated into his brain. He knew what Ahsoka would say if she found out what he had concealed from her for so long. I thought we could tell each other everything, but now I'm not sure of anything. I don't know who to trust. Yes, you stood by me, believed in me, but now I see that you never trusted me. How many other lies have you told me? And how do you know that even YOU have the full truth?
He sighed. Obi-Wan placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"I understand what you're going through, Anakin. Now, more than ever, you will need your friends around you". Anakin shook his head. How could Obi-Wan even begin to imagine his pain? He remembered Ahsoka's last look at him, eyes brimming with tears. She understood. Only then did Anakin realise just how much he had missed her. Everywhere he went, he turned to the empty space that Ahsoka had once occupied, to tell her something, maybe a joke, maybe just an observation. She was never there. And then it would all come flooding back to him.
A clone's voice brought him out of his trance.
"Sir, the enemy is trying to contact us", he said briskly, completely, blissfully unaware of Anakin's emotional state. Anakin forced a smile.
"Patch it through", he ordered. Grievous's metal face filled the screen.
"Greetings, Jedi", he scoffed." If you don't all surrender now, I will kill this little life form here". An image of Ahsoka appeared on the screen, hauled into the picture by her lekku tips. She was totally chained up, barely able to move, and in terrible condition. The Separatists certainly weren't taking any chances.
"Last chance, Jedi". Anakin looked at Obi-Wan, pulling his 'I have a plan face'. Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow, but turned to the screen and said
"Very well, if you are not bluffing we must conceed".
"Wha-", one of the clones began, but Anakin shushed him. Barely audibly, he whispered
"Hang in there Snips. We're coming for ya".
Anakin and Obi-Wan gave R2 their light sabres and instructed him to stay close by as the pair were led into the building in chains.
"Care to fill me in on the plan?", Obi-Wan asked sarcastically as they walked down yet another hallway. Anakin ignored him. Obi-Wan sighed.
"Wonderful. What mess have you got us into THIS time, Anakin?" At that moment,the door swung open and the Jedi were face to face with General Grievous.
"Kenobi, Skywalker", he rasped. "Welcome to my humble abode. I believe you are to be very comfortable here".
"But of course, General", Obi-Wan spat back. Grievous laughed.
"You must be aching to meet the other Jedi intruding upon my hospitality", he coughed.
"It would be a pleasure", Obi-Wan snapped smoothly. Anakin stood very still, his hands clenched in fists, trying to control his overpowering emotions of hatred and anger. Obi-Wan shot him a pointed glance as Ahsoka was dragged into the room. Her eyes filled with tears at the sight of her former master. Then she collapsed upon the ground, eyelids fluttering shut.
"Ahsoka!", Anakin shouted. "Ahsoka!" A droid clanked over to her. Turning to Griveous is said mechanically
"She is unconscious". Griveous nodded.
"You are disturbing my pet. Come, I will take you to your rooms. I think your stay may just have been extended".
Anakin punched the wall angrily. He couldn't believe this had happened. Had he been stupid to give himself up for a girl who probably no longer cared for him? Obi-Wan sighed.
"It'll be ok, Anakin. Don't worry", he said soothingly.
"Don't worry!", Anakin exploded. "We could all be dead within the next few days-but don't worry!" Furious, he turned away from Obi-Wan. For once, neither Jedi had any witty remarks about their situation. Anakin stared stroppily into the corner of the cell in silence. His hand was bleeding where he had punched the wall, but something told Obi-Wan that this was not the best time to point it out.
Suddenly General Griveous strode into the room, coughing raspily. Both Jedi glared at him. Two Magna droids followed him into the room, but Anakin only had eyes for what was being dragged between them. His heart gave a leap of hope. It was Ahsoka.
Ahsoka opened her eyes to see the faces of her two former best friends staring down at her. For a moment the familiarity of the situation threw her and she thought she was back at the Temple. The smile slid off her face when the pain in her side finally registered. She gasped.
"Ahsoka, are you ok!?", Anakin cried desperately. Ahsoka groaned.
"Master", she whispered weakly. "Where am I?"
"Don't worry about it, Snips" The name slipped out before he could stop himself. It had been an instant reaction to something she had said. Ahsoka's blue eyes widened. Then Anakin realised what she had called him. Master.
But of course, something always had to spoil the precious moment, Anakin thought bitterly as General Grievous re entered the room, accompanied by Cad Bane and a masked bounty hunter. For a second, Anakin felt he knew the masked hunter, but he quickly dismissed the thought. He looked to Ahsoka. There was a slight frown on her face. She too had felt it. A slight twinge of familiarity.
Grievous stepped forward and reached out to grab Ahsoka's arm.
"Don't you DARE touch Ahsoka!" Anakin roared. Griveous smirked.
"C'mon Venicia", Bane snapped gleefully at the masked hunter. "Let's get these two to the interrogation room." Anakin and Obi-Wan were forced to their feet. Venicia and Bane led them into a room that reminded Anakin horribly of the Citadel, the almost impenetrable prison he had infiltrated with the help of Obi-Wan and Ahsoka. Anakin's heart clenched with worry for her well being.
Just then, Venicia leaned down to his ear and whispered barely audibly:
"And here I am to rescue you, your master and your pet yet again" Anakin could barely contain his surprise. Ventress!
"Why?", Anakin hissed back.
"Well, if you don't want my help, I'll go", Ventress snapped venomously. Anakin took a deep breath and shook his head. He remembered how Ventress had helped Ahsoka when she was accused of bombing the Jedi Temple. Ahsoka probably owed Ventress her life.
"Thanks for helping Ahsoka", he told her. Bane fired his pistol into the air.
"Enough talking! Let's find out what you know", he laughed, anticipation shining in his eyes.
"Now would be a good time", Anakin said. Ventress nodded. Then she shoved Bane aside using the Force, knocking him out, and lifted her helmet.
"Ventress!?" Obi-Wan was just as surprised as his former apprentice.
"Why the surprise?", Ventress smirked. "This is almost becoming my day job"
A sweep of her light sabres cut through Obi-Wan and Anakin's chains. They nodded their thanks.
"Come on!", Anakin ordered. "We've still got to find Ahsoka!" Without waiting for them, Anakin started racing down the corridor. He got about a hundred meters before a group of ten Magna droids stepped out of a concealed doorway.
"Heads up, people! We've got company!"
Ahsoka looked into Griveous's eyes. He smiled to see her so helpless at his feet. It would not be long before he could gather his troops and take out Count Dooku, he could feel it. Soon, he would no longer be a pawn in Dooku's game, but leader of the Separatist Alliance, a Supreme Leader. The thought pleased him. But then he scowled. Dooku was forcing him to surrender his prize. He was going to arrive in a matter of minutes to pick her up. He frowned. But it was too early to try and kill Dooku. He wasn't ready.
Dooku's Solar Sailer soared gracefully into the hangar and the Sith Lord headed slowly down the ramp.
"Count Dooku", Grievous coughed. "I thought you wanted me to take care of the child".
Dooku walked calmly across the hangar towards Grievous, his face unreadable.
"Did you know, General, that as we speak, the Jedi are destroying the droids on board this ship", he asked, his voice steadily even.
"What!?" Grievous looked shocked and taken aback. "That's not possible!"
"It is no longer safe to leave Tano in your care", Dooku told the General. "I will be taking her with me. I suggest you stop the Jedi before they reach the control room".
Looking furious, Grievous set off to apprehend the Jedi. Dooku roughly grabbed Ahsoka and dragged her into his Solar Sailer, shoving her into a Force Trapper, a machine the Separatists had recently invented, which stopped a Jedi being able to use the Force while inside it. Two Magna Droids activated their light sticks and started poking them through the bars, making Ahsoka yelp as electricity courses through her body. Her last coherent thought was: this is going to be a hell of a long flight.
Anakin, Obi-Wan and Ventress cut down droids and blocked lasers from every direction, but they were hopelessly outmatched and decided to abandon their initial plan of getting to the control room and setting the ship to self destruct. He could sense that Ahsoka was no longer on board.
Instead, the the two Jedi and their new ally set off to the escape pods. They skidded to a halt to find that their way was obstructed by ten Magna droids.
"How many of these things can there be!?", sighed Anakin. "I've killed thousands!"
"Stand back, boys", laughed Ventress. "I'll show you how it's done". Ventress launched herself into the midst of the crowd of droids,slashing left and right. Anakin and Obi-Wan dodged past the droids to call the escape pods.
Suddenly, the two Jedi felt the whole ship shake. One of the engines had exploded. More were rocking the ship back and forth.
"They must have set it to self destruct!", Obi-Wan yelled above the noise. "Lucky we didn't go to the control centre after all!"
Anakin turned around and his eyes widened with horror.
"Uh, master?", he whispered cautiously. Obi-Wan frowned concernedly. "The pods are all gone". The three humans stared in utter, pure terror as the chain explosion finally reaction the evacuation room. The last Anakin saw was his old master screaming as the flames engulfed him.
Ahsoka groaned. She was sick of being a prisoner, especially to the Separatists. she wasn't sure why she was still alive. Dooku was always trying to kill the Jedi and destroy the Order. True she was only a former Jedi, but she was sure that was a good enough reason to be slaughtered for.
She wondered what had happened to Anakin and Obi-Wan, but she knew that entertaining horrible notions of what had happened to them would not help her in the slightest. The whole situation called for patience. Ahsoka would not be able to pull off an escape unless she chose the right moment.
Dooku entered her room, smiling at her. Ahsoka was confused as to the Separatists motives for holding her prisoner. Why not just kill her? She had made it quote clear that she would tell them nothing, so why bother to keep her alive?