New chapter! Yes, I promised one on Saturday, but well I'm still in fight with the Internet…
Anyway, just a few words ahead: Thanks for new Followers, Favorites and Reviews!
Attention, Spoiler! Great you liked Rexsoka , but for all Luxsoka fans reading this story: There is still hope. In this story, Ahsoka will have feelings for Lux first (yes, spoiler), as they're both teenagers at the moment, but then I will call for the final decision who she should choose.
For Guest: No, only her joint, so something inside her arm will be replaced.
For Ia Aria: I would love to get your help, but unfortunately, the Internet blocks me from replying to the reviews directly, I just see their content by mail at the moment.
So have fun with this chapter! For one of the guests who reviewed my first chapter, this is going to be really interesting…
Just as Rex decided that there was no point and sense in staying in an empty medical station, Anakin rushed into the Med-Bay. "Where is she, was she dropped into one of the Bacta-Tanks?"
What Rex had to say would not pleas his General…"No, Sir. Commander Tano…" He hesitated. "She is in surgery at the moment."
"Surgery!?" Anakin nearly fell on the floor. "Surgery, Rex?"
"Yes, Sir. You see, Commander Tano's shoulder joint was ruined completely, they're going to replace it."
"Replace it?" Anakin's face went whiter than his Padawan's had (No wonder, Anakin's skin colour was a slight pink while Ahsoka's was red/Orange). "How will she be able to fight?" Too late he noticed that he had said his first thought out loud. Shut, how could he first care about the mission than Ahsoka?
Rex seemed uncomfortable. "I don't know, Sir, but I'm sure you'll find a way."
"Was she awake, when they told her? How did she take it?" He should have asked this first, he knew.
„Not well, Sir. "
That said everything to Anakin. As well as from the expression in Rex' face and his words, Anakin knew instantly how Ahsoka had felt.
Oh Ahsoka. You must have been so terrified. And I haven't been there to calm you, to comfort you. Forgive me, Snips.
"At least you found the bastard, haven't you, Sir?"
Sadly, Anakin shake his head. Not even this he had accomplished for his padawan. "There was no sign of him, except for the rifle. Quite expensive. Somebody had a lot of money."
"All his money won't help him when he's caught, Sir." Rex' voice was as sharp as a bunch of knives.
"And the model… It was a republic one, Rex."
Shock flashed in the clone's eyes. "Republic?"
"Yes."
"What should we make out of this?"
"I don't know." Tired, Anakin sat down on one of the chairs. "I don't know, Rex… Just don't tell anybody, okay?"
"Understood, Sir."
"Very well, Rex. You're dismissed. Go to the bridge, see what you can do."
Rex hesitated, but the duty was calling for him. And he couldn't help Ahsoka from here anyway. But obeying the General's orders caused pain in his heart. "Yes, Sir. Should we contact the Jedi Council?"
"I'll do this myself. Thank you, Rex." The captain just nodded and left the room.
As soon as the door closed, Anakin sank to one of the chairs. How could he have left his little Ahsoka, who was like his sister, out of view? How could he have left some sniper shot her and disappear without trace?
What if it had been a Jedi, another traitor like Barris? She had been executed a week ago (Anakin had not had the heart to tell Ahsoka yet as Ahsoka was mainly avoiding the theme).
Why would anybody want to kill his 'Soka?
He had to contact the Jedi council anyway, he knew, but this whole story had taken him. Taking deep breaths, Anakin waited in the Med-Bay for something to happen. But he was not quite sure what should happen.
-/-/-
"We seem to conquer more and more of the Separatist planets, but their forces around Dooku and Grievous are still too strong. We need more support." Master Mundi seemed to be a little bit stressed, while he was explaining his situation to the Jedi Council through a hologram. No wonder, as his fleet had been surrounded by Separatist warships, leaded by Grievous.
"Hang on you must, Master Mundi. Send reinforcements, we will. Master Ti, help you she will." Confidently, the Togruta woman smiled at Master Mundi.
Master Mundi nodded hopefully, as he suddenly turned around in horror. His Holo turned black.
"I'll go with Master Ti, Master Yoda." Obi-Wan had watched the Holo with anger and analyzed the situation. It was time for Grievous to pay, he felt it. He felt this anger since… well, since her death (Even though Grievous hadn't killed her). "Against us together, Grievous shouldn't stand a chance to disappear again."
"Right, you might be, Master Kenobi. But your advice and sense for diplomacy, we'll need at the peace conference."
Obi-Wan swallowed. The peace conference, Satine would have lead if not… "Yes, Master."
"Do not worry you should. Send Knight Moudama and Knight Corobb we will. Prepare for taking the senators to Mikun you should. Expected by Senator Amidala in Hangar 1C, at three o'clock, you will be."
Well, at least it was Padmé he had to get along with. Obi-Wan wanted to stand up and left the room, as the Holo-emitter began to beep again. For a moment, everybody was sure it would be Master Mundi again, but instead, it was Anakin.
Obi-Wan was shocked. His former padawan looked horrific, like just escaped from a nightmare that lasted for months.
"Knight Skywalker, with pleasure heard about your success on Himilin we have. Call us why you do?"
"I'm sorry, masters, but I will have to report my Padawan's been shot. She's in surgery at the moment."
A moaning was going through the Jedi-council. "Shot?"
"A sniper, masters. A pretty good one, I'm afraid. He escaped before we could get him."
Obi-Wan chimed in: "Anakin, how's Ahsoka?"
Anakin did not look at him. Of course, he hadn't since the incident with Ahsoka. "How should she be? I can feel her fear, but she'll be strong. They'll have to replace her shoulder's joint." An unsaid Not that you would care was in the air.
"Look, after her, do so Skywalker", Master Yoda said.
"I would have done so anyway. Skywalker out." The Holo disappeared. But Obi-Wan had a feeling like Anakin was hiding something. He knew him the longest and best of anybody in this room, and Anakin had decided not to tell the Jedi council something he knew about the sniper, he was certain.
"Unfortunate, this turning of events is. Meditate over it, I shall. Ended, this council meeting is." Everybody, who was personal present, stood up and left the room, Obi-Wan as one of the last. There was no hurry for him; he had still three hours till Padmé was awaiting him.
"Master Kenobi, Personally, I may speak with you?"
Obi-Wan did not know if he was in the mood for philosophy right now, but telling Yoda to piss off was probably not the best way to remain in the Council. So he just friendly said: "Yes, of course, Master."
"Anger I feel in you, Master Kenobi."
Obi-Wan hesitated, there was indeed Anger in him, but could he tell Yoda about what bothered him?
He did not have to make a decision, as Yoda made it for him: "Satine, it is, isn't it?"
There was no point in denying it. "Yes, Master."
"Meditate, over this, you have?"
"Yes, but it didn't help me. I have to keep myself occupied."
"Only blocking your pain it will, not healing."
"What do you then suggest, Master Yoda?" Couldn't he just leave him alone, instead of trying to help him?
"A new beginning could indeed be a good start, but also face your sadness and profess yourself to it."
"A new beginning?"
"Somebody to heal the pain. What about a new padawan, hm?"
"A new one?" He was happy with Anakin being his one and only padawan at the moment, very happy actually, and he kept him enough occupied for twelve padawans.
"Not decide this manner, you have today. Keep meditating. Help you, it will."
With these words, Yoda turned around to leave Obi-Wan, who suddenly had an idea: "Master! May I ask for a favour?"
"Ask you may, Obi-Wan. If granting this favour, decide I will after your question."
"Could Anakin join me on this assignment with Ahsoka? Her shoulder wound won't allow her to fight anyway for the next month."
Yoda hesitated for a moment, before saying: "Granted your favor is. Inform Skywalker, I will."
Obi-Wan nodded smiling and left for the mediation room.
Even though he would never admit it, he missed Anakin. They had been like brothers, but after Ahsoka's return to the order, they hadn't been on missions together any longer. Anakin had been sent away with Ahsoka, Obi-Wan had stayed.
He knew, he should have stepped up for Ahsoka more. Only that he was not one of the most powerful Jedi-Council members, even if Yoda saw great potential within him.
And he had faced other problems while Ahsoka's trial. Nobody would ever know about the dark hours he had spent alone in his rooms. Well, nearly alone.
He had to see Anakin, move on. Get his thoughts away from Satine… or Maul.
He was wondering where the wannabe-Sith was at the moment. He had received one message from Satine's sister Bo Katan, after he had escaped, in which she told him that they had found the lifeless body of Savage Oppress, but that there had been missed any traces of Maul. She wanted revenge as deadly as him, he knew.
-/-/-
The Medi-Droid stepped out of the OR, Ahsoka behind him on a barrow. Anakin jumped on his feet. "How is she?"
"She'll be fine. The wound was great, but we and one of the clone healers were able to fix it." He took Ahsoka from the barrow and lied her down onto one of the beds. Anakin stepped beside her quickly, while the Med-Droid was going over to one of the closets, apparently searching for medicine.
"What did you do? I mean, how did you perform the surgery?"
The Med-Droid turned around and put one of the holos. Anakin saw a stream of pictures passing by, until the Med-Droid stopped at a projection of a shoulder joint. "We had to replace this part with a mechanical device, like your hand was replaced. She'll be able to use her arm full functional again when she gained some experience and training. Luckily, there was no irreparable nerve-damage."
Well, at least this was something. "When will she wake up again?"
"In half an hour, Sir. I would assume you stay here. She'll have no pain when she awakes at first, but as soon as she starts to have some, give her these pills, okay?"
Anakin nodded and pulled his chair over to Ahsoka's bed. Exhausted, he buried his face in his hands. He had to think.
Suddenly, his comlink started to blink. With a short look, Anakin sighed. He wasn't in the mood for the Jedi-Council now, but well, he couldn't just ignore them. Hopefully, nobody had noticed that he had left out the part about the Republican rifle.
The picture of Yoda appeared on his arm. "Master?"
"Awoken your padawan, has she yet?"
"No, Master."
"New assignment, for you and she we have."
"I doubt my Padawan's condition will allow any kind of fighting, so…"
"Not into battle, you'll be sent. Stay your cruiser, will in the area. Your padawan and you to Mikun will go. Taking care of the security for the peace conference, you shall."
Peace conference? Well, at least there would be plenty of time to train with Ahsoka. "When shall we go, Master?"
"Time there is. Take off in three days, arrive you will in time. Meet with Master Kenobi you will."
"Obi-Wan?" The young Jedi's voice was everything else than happy.
"For your presence he has demanded."
"Yes, Master. We'll be there."
"Force with you may be. Master Yoda out." The small green Jedi's picture vanished.
Suddenly, Ahsoka was beginning to move. "Master?" She mumbled.
Anakin gently smiled. "Hey Snips. How are you feeling?"
End of chapter 4…
How did you like Obi-Wan's condition? And you have any guesses for new padawans? Can't wait for your reviews…
See you Wednesday!