AN: Hey, sorry for waiting so long to update.
In this chapter, I have this part about Ahsoka being poisoned. I want to do a future story (One with a slightly less big time span) about her getting seriously ill and trying to figure out a cure, doing so while dealing with the Separatists. When I finish this, I'll update a summary and a title if you want to read it...but that's a way off so I guess you can just read this for now. Sorry for the longer update...I might try to space the updates out a little further. School's a pain especially since the trimester ends Friday.
Now times were changing. Perhaps the war could turn in Jedi's tide - it was a pretty big perhaps. Ahsoka was no longer the naive, but nervous child who rode in the small shuttle to Anakin Skywalker's rescue, who, she had thought, hated her. But her master meant a lot to her, even though they bantered constantly, occasionally fighting. But now she really was somebody, a young, nearly fifteen year old girl. A nervous, wired fifteen year old girl. Ahsoka had been in the Outer Rim now for nearly five months. But that couldn't mean too much, because nor had her master. He seemed much more annoyed by that then her. He tried to keep his emotions down around her, but she noticed. She also noticed the way his eyes always lingered too long on holoimages of Senator Amidala, and how he always snapped to attention when her name was mentioned. That, Ahsoka hated to admit, annoyed her. Ahsoka loved Padme as the sister she never had, sometimes the mother she lost...but sometimes, Anakin didn't seem to notice his padawan, all his attention on the beautiful Naboo senator. No, Ahsoka didn't love her master, but she wanted attention. She was, after all, Togruta. Togruta were not typically independent. They lived in groups, depending on each other for survival. Maybe because she hadn't lived in a group as a child made her slightly nervous sometimes, not that she'd ever show it.
Ahsoka's head was cradled in her arms as she stared in the darkness. She wanted sleep badly, but she felt uneasy tonight. Apprehensive in way she hadn't felt before, well, perhaps not. There had been times when fear threatened her, but that wasn't now. She felt Anakin gently test their bond, simply asking if she was all right. He felt that. Oh, Ahsoka thought wincing. She allowed her master to know she was fine, there was nothing for him to worry about. He answered again, all right, Snips, if you need anything...of course, Master, I know you're there.
Ahsoka glanced at the wall, so tired, and she allowed herself to be lulled to sleep. But there, something mocked her. Something obscure, not right...and definitely not pleasant.
"Master?" It was her voice, a mere squeak, though it sounded nothing like Ahsoka Tano. Ahsoka stared, open mouthed in horror at her Master just inside the Temple. Scattered bodies like carelessly tossed aside rags lay on the ground. Ahsoka didn't berate her master, not the way she might have. She stared, lightsaber not yet in her hand. How could she just kill him? Could she? When his eyes met hers, they gleamed a terribly angry yellow, so bright that they made Ahsoka's eyes ache. They reminded her of something, a tucked away memory. The Son. Silent as a moth, Ahsoka crept towards him with sheer terror.
"Are you going to kill me?" The words were not intentional, not angry either. They surprised the former Anakin Skywalker, the must have, for his eyes became their former blue color again. He seemed nervous, almost, and Ahsoka could hear his whispered words, "No mercy, no mercy." His blue blade sputtered, a reminder that it was there, waiting to kill his young victim. Ahsoka's eyes landed on it, and for the first time, a rise of anger came to her.
"Are you proud of me?" It was a question that Ahsoka had asked before, a steadfast fear that Anakin had managed to tame. But if rose up again, along with the fears about him believing in her, and trusting her. But now when she asked, she sounded dismayed. Betrayed by the one person she always felt she could trust. And, now, it just might be over. Anakin rose the lightsaber as Ahsoka grabbed hers, "Who are you? What happened to Anakin Skywalker, Hero of the Republic?" she demanded, parrying the monster's first blow.
"He is no longer." The name was unspoken, but Ahsoka heard it clearly. Darth Vader.
Ahsoka woke up suddenly, her heart hammering in a mad tempo against her chest. Her vividly striped lekku paled with fear, and cold sweat damped her back. She lifted a shaking hand to her mouth to trap the scream, and prayed her master did not feel her discomfort. Just to make sure, she sent a message through their bond. I'm fine, Master. I just had a small nightmare. Ahsoka waited a moment, but she didn't get an answer. He apparently hadn't heard her. Relieved, Ahsoka lay back down. She didn't really want to sleep, not now, but Ahsoka felt suddenly exhausted. The vision, the premonition didn't return to her. Her sleep for the short remainder of the night (at least during the times she didn't wake up) was dreamless.
Anakin could feel her fear. He couldn't feel the dream that she had dreamt, or the exact thing that had made her so apprehensive, but until she had smothered it, he could hear her message. I'm fine. It was a lie. Anakin sighed to himself with disgust, hating the girl's want to hide her dream. He stood up slowly and walked to her room. At the Temple, during the few nights he actually spent there, they shared quarters. Here, on a ship called the Leveler, they each had their own.
Quietly, so not to disturb any of the other sleeping residents, Anakin walked to Ahsoka's quarters and used the Force to open her door. She lay curled on her bedroll, a troubled frown on her young face. Anakin lay a hand to her forehead, not exactly and at the same time knowing why. Once, awhile back, she had gotten ill. Every med droid, every person told him that she would die unless they found a cure. And they had, thanks to Ahsoka. Even though it was over, it was ingrained into Anakin's mind, even though Ahsoka didn't seem to care.
Ahsoka yawned widely, showing the small, sharp predator teeth from her ancient background. She snuggled against his palm as though it were a pillow. Anakin couldn't resist a small smile. She wouldn't be too pleased if she knew it wasn't. Anakin sat back on his heels, listening to her quiet breathing and watching the gentle rise and fall of her chest. Anakin's hand briefly touched her shoulder before he stood up. He wanted to stay, but he knew his Padawan was all right. For now.
The next morning came too soon for the Togruta Padawan to wake up. Exhausted, Ahsoka stumbled into the hallway, squinting at her chrono. Suddenly reminded of the now broken promise to meet her master on the bridge, Ahsoka groaned to herself. She tapped her Commlink impatiently, and started to say, "Master, I'm gonna be late..."
"I realized that, Snips." A friendly, joking voice interrupted her mid-sentence. Stunned because she hadn't felt his blinding presence - it was impossible not to feel - she jumped and turned guiltily. Would he be angry? His words last night had been rather harsh, he wanted her a half hour earlier. But Anakin didn't look angry, not even the least bit annoyed. His smile was just barely there, but something else was etched onto his face. Concern. He had felt her distress. Ahsoka cursed inwardly as he said, "You look exhausted. Did you sleep at all."
"Master." Ahsoka rolled her bright blue eyes, "Skyguy, of course I did." Ahsoka knew that Anakin knew what she was doing. Ahsoka wanted to joke her way out of it, but she also knew her master probably wouldn't be to happy about that. If he was, he didn't show. He simply shrugged, but in a subtle flicker in his eyes told the young Padawan that he knew she was lying.
"Come on, then, Snips. We have to get to the bridge." Anakin was already walking walking away. A white eye marking drifted up, causing Ahsoka's forehead to wrinkle. No lecture? That was new. Ahsoka trotted after him, trying to ignore the exhaustion that weighed down her feet and eyelids. She was alright. The nightmare wouldn't come again - it couldn't. She was, after all, Anakin Skywalker's Padawan, and as his Padawan, she would know if he was about to betray her and the Jedi Order. Besides, even if she wouldn't, Obi-Wan would. Mace Windu and Master Yoda would. And Padme - the senator from Naboo, the one Ahsoka knew Anakin admired, if only that - she wouldn't even allow becoming a Sith Lord, Darth Vader, to even cross Anakin's mind.
Nobody would. They could prevent it.
Couldn't they?