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Anakin spent the entire journey back to Coruscant in fear for his Padawan. He had combed the entire ship for information on the antidote, but the bounty hunter had no records on the poison. Not that Anakin had really expected to find anything.

They were almost ready to drop out of hyperspace when Anakin received a transmission from the Temple. He winced, remembering how the last one had gone. Yeah, he was probably going to get in trouble for that...

"Skywalker here."

"Anakin, where are you?"

Obi-Wan sounded completely exasperated and Anakin was tempted to turn off his comlink. "Er, I had to make a quick stop on Serenno, but I'm almost at Coruscant now."

"Serenno? What in the galaxy were you doing on Serenno?"

"Obi-Wan, this isn't really the best time," Anakin said, sensing an argument coming on. "Ahsoka has been poisoned by Virdix. She's dying."

There was a short pause as Obi-Wan absorbed the news. "Who poisoned her?" he asked quietly.

"Dooku," Anakin said bitterly. "He arranged to have her captured because of what happened on... Mortis."

"How did he find out?" Obi-Wan wondered. "No one but the Council members know."

"And the Chancellor," Anakin reminded him. "If a Senator had overheard our conversation, it wouldn't take much for him or her to be bribed by the separatists."

"I fear there may be more to the Chancellor than meets the eye," Obi-Wan said and Anakin couldn't tell if he was talking to him or himself.

"The Chancellor is a good man," Anakin insisted. "He would never betray me like that!"

There was another pause, then Obi-Wan spoke again. "Get your Padawan back to the Temple as soon as possible. I will arrange to have your troops return to Coruscant."

Anakin had completely forgotten about the clones. "The Council was right about the superweapon," he said.

"Yes, we have been informed of the weapon by your captain," Obi-Wan said. "He also informed us that it had been destroyed, along with any remaining separatists. Oh, and he said to tell you they are bringing with them a battle droid with the intentions of reprogramming it."

448? Anakin was about to enquire further when the ship dropped out of hyperspace to reveal Coruscant.

"I'm almost at the Temple," Anakin said. "I'll see you soon." He cut the transmission without waiting for a reply.

Anakin piloted the ship down to the surface of the planet, not bothering to use the traffic lanes. He could see the spires of the Jedi Temple up ahead. He landed the ship, then went back to check on Ahsoka. She was unconscious now, and if it weren't for the rising and falling of her chest, he wouldn't be able to tell if she was alive or not. He lifted her again and left the ship.

The sight of Anakin Skywalker carrying the unconscious Padawan through the Temple generated whispers among the Jedi, but at the moment Anakin could have cared less. He brought Ahsoka to the healing wing, where he was greeted by Chief Healer Vokara Che.

"She's been poisoned," Anakin said by a way of explanation. He didn't feel like going into details just then.

Vokara nodded and motioned for him to follow her. The healing wing was nearly filled as a result of the Clone Wars; many Jedi had been injured in the field. Anakin set Ahsoka down on an empty bed and looked back at Vokara.

"You said she has been poisoned?" the Healer asked.

"She was injected with Virdix," Anakin said. "Do you have the antidote?"

Several expressions crossed Vokara's face and she looked at him with something like... Sympathy? Regret? He couldn't tell. She turned away and left him with Ahsoka. Anakin stared after her, bewildered. He started to go after her, then stopped. Instead, he looked back at Ahsoka again. Not even a day ago, she had been full of life, her usual snippy self. Now, he found it hard to believe that she had ever been that lively.

She couldn't die. He couldn't lose her.

All things die, Anakin Skywalker, whispered a voice in his head. Even stars burn out.

Anakin shook away the voice as Vokara returned. "Well?"

She looked at him sadly. "I am sorry, Master Skywalker. There is no antidote for Virdix poisoning."

Surely he had heard wrong. No antidote? "What?"

"There is no cure. A Togruta injected with Virdix has no hope." the Healer repeated. "Even if there were, nothing could bring back her Force connection. Now you see why it is vital that we keep Gavern in the republic's control."

"But she has regained her Force connection," Anakin said. "Can't you sense it?"

She reached out with the Force and an expression of shock flitted across her face. "So she has," she murmured. "I've never known this to happen before..." she turned back to Anakin. "Nevertheless, nothing can be done for her. She has no more than three hours to live."

Anakin felt as though he had been hit in the head with a vibro blade.

Then Dooku lied! He said there was an antidote!

"There has to be something. I can't just let her die!"

She looked at him sympathetically. "There is no death, Skywalker. Only the Force. Remember that." She turned to leave again. "I am sorry."

If you are truly sorry, then help me save her, Anakin thought angrily, but he just nodded silently.

Then he left the healing wing. Ahsoka had three hours left and he wasn't about to waste it sitting around doing nothing. He headed for the library.

When he was halfway there, he ran into Obi-Wan. To his relief, his old Master wasted no time with greetings and got straight to the point.

"How is she?"

"She has three hours to live and there is no cure," Anakin said stiffly, not looking at Obi-Wan. "The Healer said nothing can be done for her."

Obi-Wan stared at him in shock. "I'm sorry, Anakin," he said after a moment.

"I'm going to find an antidote," Anakin said with determination.

"Anakin, even if you searched the whole galaxy, there isn't enough time to-"

"Are you going to help me, or stand there telling me this is impossible?" Anakin snapped. He felt bad for his outburst immediately. None of this was Obi-Wan's fault.

"Of course I'll help you, Anakin," Obi-Wan said. "I'm just warning you not to get your hopes up."

Anakin nodded and set off again. They arrived at the library and Anakin sat down at one of the computers. A list of toxins came up and Anakin scanned the list for Virdix.

There it was. Virdix: A chemical native to Gavern, it has the power to cut a Force sensitive off from the Force... fatal to Togrutas... no known antidote.

No known antidote. Well, it wasn't as though he had thought Vokara was lying, but to see it on screen made it almost official. He checked a list of known antidotes of the galaxy, but nothing looked like it would have the slightest affect on her.

Obi-Wan came up behind him. "There is nothing in the archives. Did you find anything?"

Anakin sighed. "No," he said. "There is nothing." He stood up and they exited the library.

Anakin's mind was a whirlwind. He couldn't believe this was happening again. That he had failed her again. He was watching her die again and there was nothing he could do about it. He hated nothing more in the galaxy than being helpless.

He found himself in the healing wing again and made his way back to Ahsoka's side. He pulled out one of her lightsabers and studied it. It felt too small in his hands, as he preferred a thicker, more powerful grip to her slim, small one. So different were their designs.

So similar were their personalities.

Would she ever hold it again? Or would it be laid to rest along with her?

All things die...

Anakin didn't know how long he stood there, racking his brain for an idea. Ahsoka hadn't stirred in ages and Anakin knew her time was almost up.

Is it the will of the Force for her to die?

The Force. It was the Force that had gotten them into this mess. How could the Force get them out?

Anakin snapped his head upright as an idea flew into his mind. The Force...

All things die...

But if his idea worked, Ahsoka wouldn't be dying that day.

If anyone has read Matthew Stover's novelization of ROTS, 'all things die' is a nod to that book. Anyway, please reveiw!