Chapter II
Deciding to rescue Ahsoka was doubtless one of the most complicated decisions he has ever made, although he was not sure if she was worth the trouble. Vader knew the risks. He would have to find an decent excuse to return to Malachor so the Emperor, who lately increased the amount of times for Vader to report, wouldn't question his odd absence. Sidious was certainly not foolish, but Vader knew that his concern to capture the remaining Jedi was greater than Tano's influence on his servant. But, of course, Vader didn't have any intentions of really bringing her to his battle station.
As Vader knelt before the Emperor Palpatine's hologram, he could sense the man's displeasure. It was almost disturbing when he smiled as he asked "Skywalker's apprentice lives, Lord Vader, is that correct?"
"So it seems. I was almost certain she was dead, but it was hard to tell after what happened." Vader explained, not sure how to mention his suggestion. "I believe she still could be useful, my Master."
"Are your feelings... clear on this matter? Isn't revenge what you seek?"
"The apprentice has information we cannot let pass." Vader stated, trying to avoid any direct response for the older man's question.
"She betrayed you, after all." The Emperor insisted.
"My feelings are clear." The Dark Lord finally reassured.
The man in the hologram smiled again in almost a sick and twisted way. "Very well," he said slowly. "Take a group of Troopers and return to Malachor. Bring her to me. "
"There is no need for an army. I can deal with this myself." Vader replied. Taking soldiers with him would be an inconvenience for sure.
"I can't take any chances." The Emperor quickly stated. "You have failed me to bring the Sith Holocron and to kill the young Jedi and his teacher. You won't fail me this time, Lord Vader."
"As you wish, my Master."
The dark Lord of the Sith knew the man above him was right. The kid was disarmed and his master was blind. He could have ended both their lives, it should have been an easy task if it hadn't been her.
What was left of the Sith Temple remained quiet. Almost too quiet. If it wasn't for the female Togruta's slow breath the silence would be deadly. Ahsoka opened her eyes and the first thing she became aware of was this sharp pain on her montrals. She hissed in pain as she felt a strong headache as well while trying to get herself to sit . "I must have hit my head really hard." she concluded rubbing her hand on her montreals. Memories of what happened quickly came back. Erza possessing the Sith Holocron. Kanan going blind. The strain she had felt when she saw the face of Anakin for the first time in ages. The urge to pick whatever was left of kindness in the man she faced and stick to it. Sensing the drastic change in his former Master's emotions as she heard him saying "Then you will die". She felt like every particle of her body was telling her to run from the monster that ignited his lightsaber after the cruel statement. But she didn't run. She wouldn't leave him, not when he needed her so much, not when she felt like this was entirely her fault and that she could have prevented whatever happened to her best friend. She abandoned him, she failed him. She wasn't there when he needed her. Everything went blurred after that, and the last thing she recalled was Vader kneeling next to her holding his lightsaber. She was quite surprised in being alive right now.
A small part of her wished she was dead instead. She was injured and there was no way to get out of that wasteland planet. "By now the rest of the Ghost Crew believes I didn't make it. And Rex..." her heart sank at the thought. Rex had been beside her since her first time in the battlefield, during the battle of Christophsis. As the Clone Wars went on, a bond was built between the two, he wasn't just the 501st Captain like she wasn't just his Commander. They were friends and they had been separated for so long that when they finally met again she felt like a sparkle of hope was burning inside her again. Maybe they could figure this out together. Maybe they would come up with a plan and get throught this. Just like old times.
But Ahsoka was alive and she wasn't going to stand idly by, waiting for her death.
She tried to get up, ignoring the fact that she felt every single part of her body aching and shaking uncontrollably. She couldn't recall a time when she felt this bad. "Dehydration, probably..." the Togruta concluded. She hated feeling so vulnerable, so weak. The silence was suddenly broken from what it seemed a ship coming. She didn't had enough time to hope that, perhaps, whoever was on that ship could help her, as she felt almost immediately the dark presence that came along.
"Oh no" Ahsoka whispered to herself while trying to grab her lightsabers, realizing almost immediately that she didn't have them. "No, no, no, no, no..." she quickly scanned the area, only to conclude that they were probably destroyed during the explosion.
Way before the ship landed, Vader could sense her presence thought how weak it was, which could mean that she was trying to hide it or that she was close to dying. And there it was again, that feeling of guilt he hated so much but, instead of trying to turn it aside, he embraced it. They've always been very much alike, and it wasn't any different now. Sure Ahsoka knew who he used to be and Vader knew how easily that could be used against him and, Force, how he hated it. But he didn't hate her.
If it wasn't for the Emperor and his demanding in taking soldiers, the plan would much simple as flying to Malachor so he could grab the Togruta and leave her in a random populated planet. But now, with Troopers following him, Vader would be forced to take her to his battle station, the Death Star, and he wasn't quite sure if he agreed with that. As soon as he started to feel the ship landing, he got out of his private quarters, heading towards the small army who were waiting for orders.
"Search the territory, she can't be far," he commanded between the loud breathing sounds of his mask. "Set your blasters to stun. I want her alive."
"Yes, sir" the one leading the group of about twenty soldiers answered.
Vader got out of the ship knowing exactly where Ahsoka was. He stepped into the temple, making sure that he wasn't being followed. Although the place was quiet and two days had passed, it felt like the heat of the fight between them still lingered in the hair. He explored the ancient temple with is eyes, and he wasn't surprised when he couldn't find her at first. He knew she would show up. Ahsoka Tano wasn't one to hide. That's when Vader heard slow footsteps behind him and, before he could turn around, the young woman asked in a threatening tone, "Why did you come back?"
He could sense the pain she was in and how she was pretty much defenseless, the fact that the she dared to speak in such tone almost amused him. He was nearly shocked when he turned around to meet the Togruta, she looked sick, broken, like she was about to collapse from her assertive pose.
"There is no need for us to be enemies." Vader finally said, aware of the defiant gaze Ahsoka carried in her face "Your abilities have grown, it's almost impressing. The Emperor believes you could be a great ally for the Empire."
"Do you believe that?" she stepped closer to him "I'd rather die than letting him get what he wants."
"So there are other Jedi, after all" Vader stated. "Your friends already believe you're dead and real soon you might be. You don't have a choice."
Vader stared at the young woman, who looked at him with a distressed expression. She seemed to be trying to say something, but every time she opened her mouth no sound came out.
"Ahsoka," he said, expecting her to sense the softness in his voice despite the breathing mask, "you don't have a choice."
Ahsoka's gaze trailed down to the Temple's floor as she whispered "Maybe I don't," she sighed before she looked at him again and shouted, "but you did!" Tears were streaming down her face as she got closer to him to shout again, "You had a choice, Master!"
Her voice echoed in the temple so it didn't take long until four troopers showed up behind her. She looked at them only to find that they were already aiming at her.
"Permission to shot, sir?" One of the soldier requested.
Vader followed Ahsoka's movement as she looked at him again with a confused and hurt expression.
"No, Ahsoka," he paused while trying to tell her through the Force that she had to trust him now, "I didn't." And with that Vader nodded his head to the Trooper who pulled the trigger almost instantaneously. The Togruta let out a short scream of pain before going unconscious. Just before she fell, Vader grabbed her taking her much smaller body in his arms, carrying her away.