Taran woke up in his quarters in the Temple. He sighed, knowing he had to face another day. Without her. He lounged in his bed. There was no hurry to get up. Obi-Wan and Anakin were out in the Outer Rim sieges. Taran had been assigned to stay in the Temple. He hated it here. Everyday he saw their faces. The ones who made her go. He would take time out of his day to go around Coruscant, occasionally going to see Padme. Other times, he just walked around just to walk.
Taran put on his robes and went towards the training yard where the younglings were practicing. He had volunteered the other day to train some of them today. He rather enjoyed them, and they loved to be around him as well.
Stepping out into the yard, he found the six of them using their lightsabers in mock duels with each other.
"Taran!" said Petro. The rest turned and smiled when they saw him. Ahsoka had introduced the six of them to him after their adventure on Florrum. He knew all their names by the second meeting. Petro, Katooni, Ganodi, Zatt, Byph, and Gungi.
"Hey kids, you ready to learn your next lesson?" said Taran.
"Yes," they said eagerly.
"Alright. Let's get to it," said Taran. Today's lesson, he was showing them how to properly disarm an opponent using their bare hands.
"When your opponent comes to you, dodge his or her strikes. Find an opening so that you can reach his hands without any problems. Any volunteers to see how it's done?" said Taran.
"I will," said Zatt. The green Nautolan came forward.
"Now, activate your lightsaber and come at me," said Taran. Zatt turned on his lightsaber, setting the power down to stun, and charged at him. Taran sidestepped his first swing, ducked under his back swing, and used his wrists crossed into an X to block the downward slash. Zatt grit his teeth in concentration and swung again. Taran dodged this attack as well while moving his hands fast as lightning around Zatt's hands for a split second. Zatt turned to face him, but he looked at his own hands and saw his lightsaber was missing. He looked to Taran, who had his lightsaber in his hands.
"How did you do that?" said Zatt. "I didn't even feel you take it."
"Years of practice," said Taran, handing it back to him.
"That was awesome!" said Petro.
"You mean we can do that as effectively as you did?" said Ganodi.
"You can, but it takes time and patience. You have to know when to do this at the opportune moment. You must wait, and listen. Now you all try," said Taran. They split off into three pairs of two and immediately began to try and disarm each other. After half an hour, not much progress was made. Gungi was having the hardest time out of all of them. The poor Wookiee was larger and slower than the others, and he could not move fast enough to take Zatt's lightsaber. Taran saw this and went over to the demoralized Wookiee.
"Gungi, I know it's hard, but practice makes perfect. Sense when he's most vulnerable," said Taran. Gungi nodded. He tried again. Zatt attacked again, but this time Gungi dodged the blow at the last second. His hands found the lightsaber hilt and twisted it out of Zatt's hands. Taran smiled as Gungi let out a yelp of happiness. Even Zatt was happy for him.
Over the next hour, the younglings succeeded in varying degrees. By the end of their session they were exhausted.
"Good work today guys. Make sure you keep that in mind. There's always other ways to defeat your opponent without a lightsaber," said Taran.
"True, but you do have Bending," said Katooni.
"And being the most powerful Bender on your planet does give you a significant advantage," said Ganodi.
"Plus shooting fire is awesome," said Petro.
"And air," said Byph in Ithorian.
"Still, it's a necessary skill to have," said Taran. "Now go on to your force session. I'm gonna go...practice Waterbending or something." The students bowed to him in respect and he returned it to them before walking away.
Byph said something.
"I know. He misses her a lot," said Katooni. "So do we."
Taran lazily bent the Water around him into various shapes. He formed a Venator-class Star Destroyer with one, a Super Battle Droid with another, and a bantha. Ultimately, his water took in the shape of Ahsoka. She was smiling, his water taking her form in to near perfection. He sighed as he gazed at her, wishing she was here.
"Troubled young padawan?" said Master Yoda. The water dropped back into the vase.
"You could say that," said Taran, his tone darkened.
"Noticed, have I, your feelings of late. Tell me, what troubles you?" said Yoda.
"Believe me Master Yoda, you don't want to know how I feel right now," said Taran, glowering in his direction. Yoda gazed at him long before nodding. Taran left the room, taking the vase and dumping the water into a fountain. Yoda watched him go, sighing.
Taran kept walking until he was near the entrance to the Temple. He looked on to the outside. He needed to get out of here for awhile. It was stifling here at the moment.
"Cyneran? Where are you going?" said Mace Windu. Tara's gaze fell on him, giving him the same look of contempt as he had gave Yoda.
"Going out. I need some air," said Taran.
"You've been out nearly everyday so far. Your studies must be undertaken," said Windu.
"I finished them all yesterday," said Taran. "Including the ones for next week. May I go now?"
"Be that as it may, you leaving as frequently as you are is a problem," said Windu.
"And why is it? If I prefer to be around Coruscant during the day than here, what's the problem? Are you worried about my well-being, or are you worried I might be trying to stab you all in the back?" said Taran.
"Watch your tone padawan," said Windu.
"And you watch your questions, Master Windu," said Taran, his eyes darkening. "Now if that's all, I promised a friend I would join him for lunch." Mace looked at Taran for awhile before nodding. Taran turned and left as Mace watched him go. Sighing, he turned and left.
"For the last time, I'm not extending your credit!" yelled a brown Besalisk as an angry Rodian tried to allow him to eat. The Rodian yelled something, probably profanity, to the owner before angrily leaving. He went past the teenager, not paying him any mind as the Human entered the diner.
"Glad you could make it Taran," said Dexter Jettster happily.
"Me as well," said Taran, smiling at the kind, and informative Besalisk Obi-Wan had introduced him to.
"Have a seat, I'll make your favorite," said Dexter.
"Thanks," said Taran, taking a seat in the booth.
"Would you like some Jawa juice?" asked the droid waitress, WA-7.
"No. Water will be fine," said Taran. In five minutes Dexter had made his favorite meal when coming here. Nerf steak, protato wedges and assorted fresh fruit. Dexter squeezed into the other side of the booth.
"So how are ya?"
"I'm doing alright Dex. It's just..." said Taran.
"It's been three months," said Dexter.
"No call. No message. Not even a word from her to tell me that she's alright," said Taran.
"She's tough. Knowing her, she could be attacked by a tribe of Tusken Raiders, and still make it out without a scratch," said Dexter. Taran grinned a little. Dexter always knew how to cheer him up.
"She still cares about you son," said Dexter. "She doesn't want you making a lifelong mistake for her."
"But I'd follow her anywhere, and so would she," said Taran.
"The best woman knows when to fight her own battles rather than dragging the ones she loves through them. Didn't you have a battle where you didn't want her to be there?" said Dexter.
Taran remembered back to when he had found out about his ancestor and the hidden power he contained. How long had he kept the truth from her? From all of them?
"Give it time. She'll be back soon, I'm counting on it," said Dexter.
"I truly hope so," said Taran. "You heard anything about Anakin and Obi-Wan? I haven't gotten in contact with them for awhile."
"I heard they're still leading the siege against some droid base. That's all I know," said Dexter.
"It's the same thing. I hope they're doing okay. I want to go help them. I need to get out of the Temple," said Taran.
"Why?"
"Dex, I can't breath in there. I have to see the same men who turned their backs on her when she needed them the most. They were ready to cast her off like garbage rather than prove her innocence," said Taran as he ate the fruit. "It's bad enough being around them."
"You have to forgive them kid. They made a mistake, we all make them," said Dexter.
"Not this one. They've practically raised us as their own children and make the galaxy a better place, and this is how we get repaid? I don't think so," said Taran. "If Ahsoka were evil, we'd all know, and Anakin and Obi-Wan saw it firsthand."
"True, but it's not good to hold grudges. They affect your mind and your decisions," said Dexter. "I know your still hurt about the matter, but you have to let it go."
"I can't. They made her leave," said Taran. "And now because of them I don't where she is or what she's doing. I'm lost without her Dex. Anakin's functioning well, but I can still feel his sadness." Dexter felt the deep sadness Taran felt.
Taran ate his meal in silence. He was done in no time, and not a crumb was left. Taran loved Dexter's cooking, even if it was greasy and bad for you.
"I swear you make sure to get every last morsel," said Dexter.
"I only come here every now and again. I make sure to load up when I can," said Taran. Dexter laughed.
"Next time I'll see if I can get some Elementian dishes," said Dexter.
"I recommend fire flakes. Your customers will love them," said Taran, waving goodbye as Dexter waved back with two of them. Stepping out near the repulsorlifts, Taran found his speeder and flew off into the afternoon sky. Taking a look around, Taran began to fly towards the Republic Judiciary Central Detention Center.
The hoverpod made its way to the cell. Once it stopped, Taran walked down the cell block as the shock troopers stood guard off away. He stopped outside the cell, looking in at its inhabitant.
"Well, I'm quite surprised you haven't visited sooner," said Barriss Offee. She was in an orange prison suit.
"No need to," said Taran.
"Hm, you seem mad at me," said Barriss.
"Oh I'm sorry. Should I be happy? Happy that you killed innocent people to prove a point? Happy that you framed your own friend for a crime you committed? Because if so then yeah, I'm completely jubilant being around you," said Taran. "She was your friend Barriss, I was too. We would have done anything for you."
"I did it for all your good," said Barriss.
"Yeah, having Ahsoka killed, who trusted you with her life, is for her own good," said Taran.
"Are you here to just lecture me?" said Barriss.
"No, I'm just here to tell you that Ahsoka left," said Barriss.
"She did? When?" said Barriss, standing up in her cell.
"The day you proved her innocence. She hasn't been heard of in three months," said Taran.
"It's better that she did. You're all heading down a dark road," said Barriss. "You're all just pawns being used by the Sith."
"Funny. I only see one Sith Lord, and he's on the opposite side," said Taran. "Still no word on this second Sith Lord."
"He's there. He's a lot closer than you think," said Barriss.
"I'll be sure to check my bathroom mirror next time," said Taran. Barriss gave a dry chuckle.
"Your sarcasm always did make me laugh. You need to get out of the Order and go home Taran, while you still can," said Barriss.
"As much as I love to take that advice, I'm gonna have to decline. There's people who need me, and in a way I need them. I won't turn my back on them like you did," said Taran. "Anyway, I'm going to have to go now."
"Taran, you need to leave. Something's going to happen soon, and it'll get all of you," said Barriss.
"Goodbye Barriss," said Taran as he walked away. Barriss watched him leave before slumping back down on the cell floor.
It was night when he made it back. He climbed up the steps of the Temple, going past Gate Master Jurokk who checked him in. Once inside the Temple Taran walked to his quarters. Once inside, he shed his robes off and went to shower. The hot water soothed him. He closed his eyes.
"You were gone awhile," said Ahsoka. He opened his eyes to see her behind him, as naked as he was. She seemed so real, but he knew she wasn't. The first time he thought she was.
"You're not real," said Taran.
"I'm as real as your mind made me," said Ahsoka, wrapping her arms around him.
"Please leave me alone," said Taran.
"Come on Taran. She may be gone, but you still have me," said Ahsoka.
"Go," said Taran.
"Your loss," said Ahsoka. She disappeared. Days like this was when Taran hated his mind. Bad enough he was a descendent of a Sith Lord. This phantom Ahsoka had started appearing last month, and it was quite annoying. He would have to meditate to see if he could rid himself of her.
Finishing his shower, Taran dried off and pull on his pants and a shirt, settling into bed before falling asleep. He found no peace in his dreams.
"Hello?" he called out. It was dark all around, the land around him covered in black. A light appeared, illuminating the one he needed to see.
"Ahsoka?" said Taran. He ran to her, finding his running speed was not slow like in most dreams. When he caught up to her, he turned her around. She was smiling at him.
"I knew you'd try to find me," she said.
"Why wouldn't I?" he asked.
"I needed to do this on my own," said Ahsoka. "No one else had to be involved."
"Soka," said Taran.
"Please Taran. Don't follow me," said Ahsoka, walking off into the shadows.
"Ahsoka, wait!" said Taran. She disappeared without a trace.
"You see what love does to you?" said the shadow. "You put your heart and soul into them, and they repay you by crushing them."
"Please stop messing with me," said Taran, trying to run from him. The shadow was faster. He appeared right in front of him, towering over him.
"Stop trying to run from who you are," said the shadow. "Embrace the power you are given."
"Leave me alone!" yelled Taran. The shadow morphed around him into various shapes.
"You can't run forever," it said. It's face became visible, the white mask appearing in front of Taran's face. It opened its maw to an extreme length and swallowed him whole.
"Ahh!" yelled Taran, waking up immediately. His body was drenched in sweat and his heart felt like it was ready to burst out of his chest. His breath came out in frenzied pants.
"I need her. I need them," he thought. He put his face in his hands as he fought to regain reality from his imagination. How could he function without Anakin and Obi-Wan there with him? How could he function without Ahsoka near him? How could he function without any of them.