Jase and Andros remained on Dantooine for a week before a ship became available to take them off-world. Ahsoka's presence in the Force had appeared to them sporadically over that time, but they were still no closer to finding her. As the ship made its way through the mid-rim of the Galaxy, Jase occupied the bridge, while Andros meditated. Most of his time he spent thinking about his life, and trying to find a way to alleviate the worries of his Master.
"Master Togar and I have been at this for so many years, I hardly recognize him anymore. We have both grown older, but these past fourteen years have worn heavily on him. I can see in his eyes the weariness he tries so hard to hide. They are more gray than blue now, and sometimes he closes himself off, at those moments I cannot sense what is troubling him. He has always been like a father to me. It pains me to see him shoulder this burden alone. And Ahsoka, I fear for her. She was my friend, I wonder if we will ever find her, and if we do, who will she be? Will she remember me?"
During his musings he chided himself for fearing, but he couldn't help it. While his rivalry with Anakin was often heated, Ahsoka had been a calming presence for him. They were four years apart in age and he was human while she was Togruta, but it didn't matter to either of them. Together with Barriss and Ahsoka, he formed a bond that lasted well until the former had a brush with the Dark Side. How she was allowed to return to the Order was still a mystery. Knowing that he was focusing on the negative, Andros refocused on the Force, and as he was calming himself, Jase knocked on the door.
"Andros, I have been able to sense Ahsoka's presence again. It is very faint, but also the best lead I have had in some time."
"Where is it coming from Master?"
When the door slid open, the younger Jedi saw a bright glimmer of hope in the Master's eyes. If he had truly sensed Ahsoka through the Force, they could be closer to finding her than they had both thought.
"It makes all the sense in the world. We are passing through Shili's orbit and the Force is calling to me. It tells me she has been home. I'm going to the bridge, you should come with me."
As he follows, Andros takes notice of his own reflection and he can see the gray accumulating at his temples in his dark brown hair, and he knows these fourteen years weren't only hard on his Master. While they make their way to the bridge, a tracking node was activated on a shuttle on the surface of Shili. A salvage crew had discovered the remains, not knowing where it came from and decided to take what parts they needed. When the signal became active, Kanan was in the control room of the Ghost when the beacon suddenly came on-line.
"Hera, we've got a signal from Master Togar's shuttle. We could be one step closer to locating Ahsoka."
"Where is the signal coming from?"
"The forests of Shili, this was a risky move on her part. If the Sith knew she was alive, they would undoubtedly have come for her here."
"So what do we do?"
"Ezra and I will go down to the surface. When we leave, take the ship into orbit and I'll let you know what we find."
After landing it didn't take Kanan long to locate the remains of the shuttle. It had clearly been stripped of all essential equipment, thus rendering it completely useless. But it wasn't the husk that captured the most of his attention. It was the Force calling him deeper into the forest. He felt the tide of battle, and Ezra followed behind him, feeling a deep sense of dread. As they continued their trek, the signs of an epic battle were beginning to appear around them. The ground was scorched in distinct lines, all of which spoke of lightsabers crossing. Many trees had been uprooted and crushed, and those that were still standing were as dead as the largest expanse of desert on Tatooine between Mos Eisley and Mos Espa. When they both sensed someone else approaching they quickly took cover. It was when the voices they heard became clear, Kanan knew these men were not a threat.
"She was here Master. Her presence in the Force is distinct. But I feel darkness as well. Ahsoka was in a battle for her life here. From there on, I cannot say what happened to her."
Delving into the Force, Jase pushes out with his feelings and can sense the rest of the battle. He is only seeing remote memories from the small lives of the insects buzzing around them, but these memories are just enough for him to know what happened.
"She faced a Sith. Ahsoka fought bravely, but she was outmatched. This one was strong in the Force. His power was…, it is as Obi-Wan feared. Ahsoka confronted Darth Vader. She was defeated, still believing she could save Anakin. She's gone Andros."
"That's what we thought as well, Master Togar. I can't believe she would confront him alone. I told her it was foolish."
Instantly Jase and Andros both have their lightsabers drawn. But their relief is palpable when they see Kanan step out from his concealment. A moment later, Ezra also reveals himself.
"So where do you think they've gone? Could she still be alive?"
"Where they have gone is impossible to determine. She is alive for now, but how long she will remain that way is the real question Kanan. If she is a prisoner of two Sith Lords, she will either die, or become one of them. I shudder at the latter possibility. She knows much of the Rebellion, and of our existence."
"So what are we going to do, Master?"
"Ezra, you and Kanan must return to the Alliance. I have felt the Dark Side growing more powerful. The Empire will no doubt make the final attempt to wipe the Rebellion out for good. Tell them of the threat, they need to be prepared for all-out war."
"And what of me Master? When do we leave to find her?"
"We will not be leaving. You will also return with Kanan to the Alliance."
"Master you can't just turn me away like this. Not now."
"Andros, listen to me. I would much rather have you there with me. But I must do this alone. If I…,"
"Don't say it Master. Don't even think it."
Kanan knows what Jase is trying to say, and silently guides Ezra to an open area in the forest to call Hera. What is about to be said is for Master and Apprentice alone.
"If I do not survive this, you must continue on, Andros. I have lived a long life, and I will do what I must to rescue Ahsoka. But I need you to pass on what you have learned. The Jedi need a strong Knight to resurrect the Order."
"But…,"
"I know how you feel about her. I have known for some time, my friend. Your feelings are a credit to you, but if she has been turned, and you confront her before you are ready, it will only end in darkness."
"I can handle this battle Master; you just need to trust me."
"Andros, I trust you with my life. But Obi-Wan told me how much it hurt for him to have to battle Anakin. I have trained you well, and I have no doubt that you could push your feelings aside, but I don't want to put you in this situation. If I become one with the Force, it is necessary. But if you face her, and cannot win, no one will be able to bring her back from the brink."
"You talk like she has already been turned to the Dark Side."
"I know you've felt it. Answer me true; every time you've sensed her presence, you've felt the Dark Side enveloping her. If she hasn't already been turned in these past months, she is closer than ever."
"I cannot deny that I have felt the darkness around my friend. I accept your judgment; Master. I will return to the Alliance with Kanan. May the Force be with you."
"And with you my friend."
Jase watches as Kanan, Andros and Ezra walk up the ramp of the Ghost. Even though he had wanted his apprentice by his side for this battle, he knew Andros would take unnecessary risks. He also knew Ahsoka had fallen already. The voice in his visions had been hers. The Jedi Master has an unerring belief in the younger Jedi that he trained, and that's why he wanted him far away from the first battle. Andros would be the only one who could save her. So with a heavy heart he makes his way to the nearest city to book passage on a ship for his next unknown destination. On the Ghost, Kanan is in a deep discussion with Andros.
"You're not going with Master Togar?"
"I cannot. If Ahsoka has indeed been turned to the Dark Side, as a Master he has the best chance of rescuing her."
"And if he doesn't, he wants you to be safe."
"Yes, because he also believes that if he doesn't make it, I will be the only one able to finish his mission. But not until I'm ready."
Kanan nodded in acceptance of Master Togar's reasoning as they all settled in for the flight to rejoin another Rebel cell. While on Byss, the Emperor was assessing his Togruta apprentice's final lesson of training.
"You are holding back your anger, Lady Melinoe. Anger is the only way to victory. If you face a Jedi and cannot unleash your anger and hatred, you will die."
"Yes Master."
"Now, try again. Imagine this Storm-trooper is a Jedi. Focus, harness your rage at being treated as a traitor to the Order and strike out with all of your hate."
The young Sith focuses on her memories of the day she was expelled. She felt betrayed, she was hunted, and in that instant a Dark Energy surrounds her as she unleashes Force lightning. The effect burns brighter than the lights in the throne room, and explodes straight through the trooper. Where the lightning hit, his armor was blackened as his heart immediately stopped beating. When he hit the ground, his helmet flew across the room, and his face was frozen in a solid state of fear. From his throne, Paplatine claps at the sight as well as the feel of the power she released.
"Excellent my Apprentice. This was your final lesson. Only through your anger can you be more powerful than any Jedi. But you will never stop learning new ways of harnessing the Dark Side."
"And now we will return to Coruscant, Master?"
"Patience, we will be departing for the Capitol soon. Mustafar will have to wait as I have a different mission for you. One of my spies has encountered a Jedi on Corellia. How she survived Order 66 is unknown. She is supposedly a healer. You are to retrieve her and bring her here. A healer would be most useful to me."
"She will be powerful Master. Why not send Lord Vader?"
"Lord Vader's presence will cause her to flee. You are an unknown. And if what my spy tells me is true, you are familiar with this Jedi. You may have known her."
"I knew many Jedi before you brought me here to learn the true nature of the Force as a Sith. They all betrayed me, I will hunt her down."
"Remember Lady Melinoe, I want her brought to me alive."
"As you wish Master."
Their Star Destroyer departed for Coruscant that same day. The Emperor knew that Melinoe had been wearing the same clothing since she was first brought to him. She had worn it through her torture, and the subsequent battles with Vader. It showed far too much wear from all of these events. It was her Jedi garb, and not suitable for her new position. So when she returned from destroying the rebels they had captured in the Capitol space lanes, he had provided her with new Sith warrior garb. The tunic and pants were the same style as her previous clothing, but were solid black with red striping running up the sides of the legs. She also received a new robe, one that covered her Lekku, and hid her face so she would have the element of surprise when she confronted the Jedi. As she prepared to depart the Star Destroyer, Palpatine led her to the docking bay to show her the private vessel he had acquired.
"This will be your transportation to Corellia, my Apprentice. It is the first in a new line of TIE fighters."
"Master, traditional TIES have square wings, this is…,"
"A TIE Interceptor. It is faster than a TIE fighter. It can outrun and outmaneuver the fastest; most agile Rebel fighter. And Like Lord Vader's TIE, this is equipped with a hyperspace drive. The Jedi will not be able to escape you."
"When I bring her before you Master, we will turn her to the Dark Side?"
"We shall break her will. A turn to the Dark Side is the only way she will be allowed to live. Yet I sense something troubling you."
"We will turn her, but she will not become a Sith?"
"Do you fear being replaced? If that is so, you should not. I see you becoming more powerful than Lord Vader. His position at my side is not as assured as he believes. But the healer is only a means to an end. With her abilities at our disposal, we can rule the Galaxy for an eternity. Do what must be done, Lady Melinoe. Show the Jedi you have grown far more powerful. Show them that they can no longer hold you back from your true destiny."
"It will be done; My Lord."
After a bow of her head to her Master, Melinoe turns and enters her TIE Interceptor. In her life as a Jedi, she had flown her own Jedi Starfighter and was pleased that the controls in her new ship were identical to her previous one. When she had left the docking bay, she set a course for Corellia and engaged the hyper-drive. The ship moved swiftly through normal space and hyperspace. It cut through both like her lightsaber through her enemies. When she reached the planet, she landed at the Imperial outpost, and was immediately greeted by the Commander.
"Lady Melinoe, the Emperor informed us you would be coming. It is an honor to meet you."
"Stow your pleasantries, Commander. Take me to the spy who located the Jedi."
She followed the Commander on a short walk to the spy's quarters. She had her hood up when she entered, and was radiating power. When he saw her, he immediately fell to his knees.
"My Lady, the Emperor has sent you to me. I have the information you seek."
"You will tell me where you saw the Jedi. I want to know everything about her."
"She has established a place of healing in the wilderness. I was taken there after being injured in a battle."
"And you are certain she is a Jedi?"
"I have no doubts. She used the Force to heal my wounds. None but a Jedi could do that."
"Describe her for me. Her appearance, her power, everything."
The spy discusses in detail everything he learned about the Jedi while she healed him. Her skin is green with diamond shaped tattoos running under her eyes, and across the bridge of her nose. Instantly Melinoe knew exactly who she was there for. Her smile is sinister and though she is to bring the Jedi back to her Master alive, this one will feel her anger and hatred tenfold. She can feel rage welling up inside as her thoughts turn to revenge.
"Barriss. You were the cause of my expulsion from the Jedi Order. You were the first in a long line of Jedi who betrayed and hunted me. My vengeance will be all the more satisfying when I confront you."
"My Lady; do you wish me to lead you to her?"
For a moment, the Sith did not hear the question she was asked, as she was so consumed by her hatred for this Jedi who pretended to be her friend. A dark stare terrified the spy as she questioned him.
"What did you say?"
"My Lady; do you wish me to lead you to her?"
"No. I can feel her through the Force. She is calm, at peace. I will catch her unaware, and she will be no match for me."
Melinoe turns away, but looks back one more time and strangles the spy with a Force choke. When he was dead, she didn't even spare a second glance.
"Pathetic fool. I am a Sith. You are the first to underestimate my power, and you will not be the last. Any who do will meet their destiny as you have."
Outside the room the Imperial Commander heard the sounds of the spy being choked to death. He hasn't met the Emperor or Darth Vader, but he knows he doesn't want to, this one Sith already terrifies him more than he thought possible. He looks down to avoid eye contact with her as she strolls past him. He still doesn't look up to even acknowledge her question.
"Commander, you have a speeder bike?"
"I do, My Lady."
"Then you will give it to me. The Jedi will be ours by nightfall."
Even before she departed the outpost, Melinoe could feel the Force guiding her direction. She could even feel the Jedi trying in vain to mask her presence. With her enemy so near, but so focused on not being found, Barriss completely missed the presence of the Sith Lady racing towards her. If she had been more attuned to her surroundings, she would have heard the speeder bike approaching, felt the presence of its rider and been prepared when the person in Dark Robes walked through her door.
"You are a healer, I was told. Is this true?"
"Who are you, how did you get in here without me knowing?"
"The questions are mine to ask, not yours. Are you or are you not, a healer?"
"I am. Have you been wounded in battle?"
"No, but I heard there was a healer on Corellia, and I heard that she was a Jedi."
"I was a Jedi, long ago. But if you are not here for medical reasons, you must leave."
"I will not leave, not until you agree to come with me."
"I have business here. I cannot leave. Especially with someone I don't know."
"How quickly you have forgotten me, Jedi. I am hurt that you don't remember an old friend."
Barriss heard the word friend, and she immediately went on the defensive. She heard the word as an insult, and made to reach for her lightsabers, concealed under her robes.
"I know what you are reaching for. You will not need them."
"So you say, but I can feel the Force around you, and you have yet to identify yourself."
Silently, Melinoe pulls back her hood to reveal her face. The blue eyes and orange skin are a complete surprise to Barriss. She can sense something not quite right about the Togruta standing in front of her, but she ignores all the warning signs, hoping that her friend has at long last forgiven her.
"Ahsoka?! How can you be here? Even though you left the Order because of me, it was whispered that you had fallen at the hands of Clones during Order 66."
So far, the disguise was working in Melinoe's favor. She had manipulated the Force to change her appearance once before, and she did it again to gain her former friend's confidence.
"I survived because the clones were only after the remaining Jedi. They didn't know where I had gone to. I had no reason to fear."
"Then I'm glad you survived. Ahsoka, I'm sorry for framing you, and causing your expulsion. You were my friend and I never should have done that to you."
"That was fourteen years ago; Barriss. It's in the past, come with me. I'd like to show you your future."
"So you have forgiven me?"
"Yes, I've forgiven you. It is not the Jedi way to hold a grudge. You know that. Come with me?"
Ahsoka shows a soft smile for her friend, and Barriss decides to follow her wherever she's going. She still hasn't put her guard up, making her first fatal mistake. They walk a great distance, but neither of them speaks. After she can no longer see her healing chambers, Barriss breaks the silence with a confused question.
"Umm, Ahsoka, we've been walking for quite a while. You said you wanted to show me my future, but all I can see is the wilds of Corellia. Where are we going?"
"Patience my friend, we will reach our destination soon enough. All you have to do is trust me."
As they continued to walk, a light rain started to fall and Ahsoka raised her hood back up. Barriss followed suit, and was relieved when they finally stopped walking.
"Okay Ahsoka, you've led me out here to the middle of nowhere. I want to trust you, but what is this all about?"
A dark voice emanates from under the hood of her companion, and Barriss is briefly startled to hear this tone in her friend's voice.
"Ahsoka Tano is dead, Barriss Offee. She died when you betrayed her. She believed in you and you lied to her about the attack on the Temple and the murder you committed."
"Ahsoka, this isn't you. Please tell me what's going on."
"DON'T CALL ME AHSOKA!"
At first the voice was fueled by darkness, now Barriss can feel rage and hatred powering the scream. She can only stand there in shock as the other woman whips around, and her hood falls back behind her. Her skin is blood red, her eyes are a burning yellow ringed with red. Even the Lekku have changed color to black and are covered in red tattoos. In that moment, Barriss knew she was dealing with a Sith.
"You aren't Ahsoka. What have you done with her?!"
"I was once Ahsoka; Barriss. Your betrayal showed me that no one can be trusted! You betrayed me, the Jedi betrayed me! I should thank you though, after everything that happened, I realized just how dark the Galaxy really is. You know it too, otherwise you wouldn't have betrayed me. When I faced Darth Vader in battle he spared my life. I saw power in him, and he took me to his Master. It was from them that I learned the true nature of the Force. The Jedi code you cling to is pure folly. The Dark Side is more powerful, and I have embraced that power. It is true, honest freedom. Freedom to live life the way I want too. Freedom to rule the Galaxy in Peace, and crush the pathetic Rebellion beneath my boot. As I said, Ahsoka Tano is dead. I am Melinoe, Dark Lady of the Sith."