AN: Title changed - look below for complete reasoning.
Ahsoka adjusted the dark, caf-colored Jedi cloak as she stared at herself in the refresher mirror. It was obvious she was a Jedi - anyone could tell just by looking at her with the cloak on. Normally Ahsoka would be proud of her status, proud that she was well on her way to knighthood. But now, she dropped the cloak and sighed as she left the 'fresher to sit down on her bedroll. She needed a disguise, without prodding around the Temple, and without wearing her everyday clothing. People might recognize her. People who shouldn't recognize her.
Her master, for one, did not need to hear of her ventures to lower Coruscant. Dangers were common down at the bottom levels, and she knew it. But Ahsoka was willing to face them for what she needed; she needed answers, and soon. Like, "Who was this voice?" "Where was it so she could destroy it?" and, most important, "Was her Master really going to turn to the dark side by some crazed Sith Lord, and how could she stop it?" With a soft moan, Ahsoka rubbed her temples and glanced at the wall with a sigh. What if Dooku would steal him to the dark side right now while he was fighting Palpatine. When would it ever stop? Ahsoka, not really knowing what she was doing, dug around a chest and came across an old cloak that didn't look too much like a Jedi's.
She stood up again, her boots making soft sounds as she slipped back into the 'fresher. Not bad, if she could manage to keep her face covered. Her reflection smiled wobbly, almost worriedly, as the two met each the other's eyes. Briefly blinking, she quietly left her room, locking the door tightly. The halls were dark; it was nighttime, certainly not the time for young Jedi to be sneaking around at night.
Her own master as a Padawan did this to look for droid parts. Ahsoka remembered as she slid the cloak down to cover her nose. She smiled discreetly, thinking of her own excuse if her master found out. Droid parts? That probably wouldn't work. 'You used to' wouldn't, either. She just wouldn't worry. She padded softly down the halls under the warm glow of the lamps that hung on the walls, and outside. No speeder tonight, she would have to walk. That was alright. It gave her time alone with her thoughts.
The underbelly of Coruscant, even at night, was alive with drunken fools, and men who had nothing better to do than steal and possibly hurt or worse teenaged Togrutas. Her master had told her that, and of course, she hadn't paid much heed to his warning.
She walked slowly into a bar, shrinking away at the loud noises of people shouting and waving around fists. Wisely, Ahsoka tiptoed past a group of fighting humanoids, all screaming (loudly) over some credits. All the time, Ahsoka whispered at herself not to fear this people. She was a Jedi, they were commoners. She just needed information, but how to obtain it was beyond her. Looking around the bar carefully, scanning it, she found a young man, a Force-senstive, oblivious to the noise around him. He sat alone in a corner with no drink, his eyes staring into the wall. Without further ado, Ahsoka slid into the seat across from him.
"Go away." He commanded, but he wasn't really being mean, Ahsoka noted. Just afraid of her, and every outsider. He glanced at her with hard eyes as if he was trying to act tough, like he'd kill her in a heartbeat. Normally, Ahsoka would have left the man and found something better to do with her time, but she felt a pang of sympathy.
"That's no way to greet someone." Ahsoka shrugged, a small motion of her shoulders, "But I don't really care, seeing I'm just barging over here, and I don't always greet people so nicely." She was dropping a hint for him to pick up, a little way of begging for help by acting like she didn't care. Besides, Ahsoka wasn't exactly charming to Skyguy when she met him. He thought she was a complete brat - get her out of my sight! That had changed.
The man had a glimmer of a smile on his lips as he spoke, "Odd girl, aren't ya? Most girls here flirt somethin' awful, or they're so drunk they can hardly crawl. Either polite or rude, but you're -" He hesitated, a painful memory overcoming him. He swallowed as he looked away, "You're neither, kinda like somethin' I 'member from the past."
Ahsoka frowned. His Force-Signature was mesmerizing and intelligent. He got around well, scavenging not for food or credits, but for information. Not a trace of darkness was in his blood, yet there was unmistakable sadness, and a long-ago betrayal. This man knew what he wanted, and where to look for it. He knew the Force itself. Nervous, Ahsoka tried to hide her lightsaber even better, tried to stamp down her Force presence, but he held up a hand.
"The name's Jenx, in case you're wondering. Don't bother to hide. I know you're Jedi." Ahsoka gaped at him, shock flowing freely into the Force, and even more shock clouded it when he muttered, "And you're looking for information, ain't ya, Jedi?"
Ahsoka managed to nod as a waitress droid bustled by, unaware of the awed atmosphere. "Drinks?" Jenx shook his head, silver-brown hair falling into his eyes, but Ahsoka nodded, "Water." Before the droid could be stopped by Jenx, she left once more. Jenx frowned at Ahsoka and muttered, "If I was you, I wouldn't even sip the scum this place refers to as 'water'. Careful, you ain't used to this life."
"I hope I never have to be." Ahsoka added dryly when her water was placed before. She glanced at it with distaste and pushed the brown, murky stuff away. Again, Jenx smiled at her. Ahsoka got the feeling that he didn't smile a lot, only sometimes.
"You ain't a typical Jedi, even if you got that aura about ya." He leaned back heavily in his chair, scowling darkly, "Jedi got the wrong ideas, if ya ask me."
Ahsoka felt a bit of confusion. How did this lower man of Coruscant know so much? Apparently, the Force led her to the right man, though. She needed information, fast, about Sith and where they might be located. "I hardly would call myself typical." She muttered, thinking of her Master. She could tell that she was admired by Jenx, and had the feeling that Anakin would be held in high esteem, too. But she didn't inform Jenx of her tutelage.
"Jenx, I need to know about the opposite of Jedi. Sith." The word felt dark, dreary, and it brought Jenx's terrible pain and sadness away, rotting his flesh and skin. He nearly stood up like he would leave, but instead he gazed down at the small Togruta, so desperate. He made a face as he snatched back Ahsoka's cloak to see her eyes, and try to see more of the girl. And Ahsoka knew he found something there, written on his face, for he sighed.
"I don't know much of the Sith, young one. What're they doing to you? You look, at least mentally, beaten." Jenx looked again at Ahsoka's face, almost wearily. Like if he dived into this mystery, he would become what he had left. It was heartbreaking to Ahsoka to see a shell of a strong man in such an emotional turmoil. And yet, every time a pang of emotion threatened to overwhelm he, he resolved it. Like a Jedi.
Ahsoka needed to tell to the truth, needed to get the horrible weight of torture of her shoulders, and not to her overbearing and insanely reckless master, but to somebody who could see straight enough to not only fight it, but be somewhat sensible about it. "They've been giving me visions. I don't know what to do anymore, but every time it comes, it brings me further and further away from the Jedi." She wouldn't breathe a word about Anakin. Never. It was too hard to even think about.
"It hurts ya, don't it?" Jenx murmured, "But I think it's taking an emotional toll on some others, too?" Ahsoka nodded, desperately wishing he would just inform her of the Sith, grab her hand and pull her away from this mess. Because she trusted Jenx like she did Yoda or Barriss. Not as much as Anakin and Obi-Wan, or even Rex, because she saw them daily, but as a friend who understood her. Jenx spoke again, "Chil', there is a Sith Lord here, I believe. The Force here, but nowhere else, is tainted with the Dark Side. I don't know much else, other than the fact that he's prob'ly right under our noses where we ain't looking."
Ahsoka lost herself in thought as mulled over her information, "Could he even be in the Temple?" She queried, almost excited. She doubted that much, but she needed everything. If her master turned...
Jenx snorted, "You crazy? Even them low-lying scum ain't that stupid. They woul'nt think of even touchin' the Force for the Light-side use. They're subtle, but not like that. If you want real help, I recommend Yashaka. She's always out for information - too bad she steals half of it from gossip, but she's got a straight head. Down by Iad's Cafe, you know where that is?-" Ahsoka nodded, "Yashaka spends most time in those alley ways. She'll talk, but be nice. And watch out for Manikons. They'll kill you in a heartbeat." Ahsoka knew what Manikon's where - fierce four-legged warriors who roamed the lower levels of Coruscant for old rubbish. They shot venom into their enemies eyes to blind them. Ahsoka did not want to meet up with one of them.
"Alright. Thanks, Jenx." Ahsoka stood up to leave, wishing she could see this man again. He seemed to think kindly towards her, and even though Anakin would have a fit, she liked him, also.
"Wait. Chil', I'll get ya some more information if ya want. Meet me here in two standard days. At this table. Late, 'cause I get the feeling you ain't supposed to be down here." Ahsoka sported her cheeky grin before turning away, but he stopped her again, "Never did get your name."
"Ahsoka Tano."
Ahsoka's back ached from being pressed up against a wall as she tried to look invisible. There she was; Yashaka. She wore a tight body suit, a stiff frown, but she just stared at the wall ahead. Nothing about her seemed all that bad, just untrusting. And Ahsoka believed she probably had every reason in the world not to trust a tiny Togruta walking up to her.
"Whadda you want?" She growled, a low sound emitted from the back of her throat. Her eyes were fiery and angry; they danced with impatience and tinted fear. In her hands was a razor-sharp vibroblade. She could easily fight Ahsoka and hold her own if she had to.
"Information." Ahsoka's voice held no fear.
"Who wants to know?"
"Me."
"Well, girl, you want the information. I might have it." Yashaka looked bored now, hardly thinking Ahsoka a worthy opponent. The inner predator in Ahsoka seethed. She was worthy, but now wasn't the time to go about proving so. With a half-hearted sigh, Ahsoka looked hard into Yashaka.
"What do you know about Sith?" Yashaka looked surprised at the question, and her guard went back up suddenly. What kind of girl asked about the Sith, anyway? Ahsoka had to remind herself that over and over as Yashaka glanced at the vibroblade uncertainly. She seemed to be wondering if she should snap Ahsoka in half now and run, or pay attention to the the small child who seemed like no threat. The small girl notion won.
"Not much, other than the fact that they prowl around for power and would like the Jedi gone. Personally, I don't care. Never did anything for me." Yashaka looked at Ahsoka with her piercing eyes before shrugging, "You got your information. Now scat. I don't want to have to kill you, then deal with police droids all riled about your death." Yashaka looked like she wouldn't really harm Ahsoka, but talking of the Sith put her on edge. It was obvious that Sith were indeed scary.
Ahsoka backed away slowly, and dejected, walked back to the Temple, vowing that she would indeed save her Master. If she had to kill somebody...Ahsoka shuddered. It would kill a lot more to let him be transformed into that monster.
THIS IS NOW DESCENDING IN THE DARK, ONLY COVERING ROTS AND PLO'S RESCUE. IT MAY BE UP TO 40 CHAPTERS, MAY BE SHORTER. I WILL MAKE A SEQUEL DURING THE EMPIRE CALLED LIVING IN THE DARK ONCE THIS IS COMPLETED. APOLOGIES, ~HorseStar