Choking, Ahsoka continued her mad run, so mad that it had no true destination or path until she hit something, no, it was an actual presence. The presence wrapped his hand around her slim arm. "Where's your master?" There was deep concern, rough and raw, in his voice. It was Obi-Wan, the last man she wanted to see, and strangely, the first.
Giving a small yelp, so out of control, the girl flung herself around, "I don't know! And you know what? I don't care! I never want to see him again! Nor do I want to -" Ahsoka suddenly felt entirely young, and more than a little foolish. Gaping at Obi-Wan, who looked shocked to see Ahsoka screaming brutally so everybody could hear, Ahsoka amended, "It was only a small disagreement, nothing bad, I promise."
"And I believe that because?" Obi-Wan prompted. Ahsoka could almost taste just a flicker of amusement, but then, there was real worry. Real shock at his former apprentice's apprentice, or maybe a bit of, How did THIS happen?
Crossing her arms, Ahsoka jutted out her chin with a touch of pride, but more so, sorrow, anger, confusion, and hurt dwelt beneath her showy acts. Obi-Wan's gaze locked deep within her, searching out her feelings. With a sharp scowl, she resisted the urge to speak out against his searchings, but then, that might provoke suspicion.
Still, even as she didn't speak out, suspicion prevailed. Especially since her Master came barreling around the corner, out of breath and yelling, "Listen to me, Ahsoka!" When he saw Obi-Wan he skidded to a standstill, a mere foot away from Ahsoka, who's hands were clenched at her sides. There was no doubt in either older Jedi's minds that if she had the chance, she'd attack Anakin.
Scowling, Ahsoka turned away to leave the two others - let them deal with her. Let them try to coax her back as though she would run to them like a little Youngling needing shelter. A hand, rough and battle-worn, cold with sweat and fear on her shoulder stopped her mid-stride, "Let me go, Master." She hissed, the 's' drawing out of her mouth slowly, filling the air.
"Calm down, Ahsoka." Anakin cautioned, "You'll have the attention of the Council and everyone else if your not careful." Thirteen superior Jedi Masters staring down at her with disaproval, without any mercy, their eyes going over her face, her Togrutan clothing, and her brilliant, wide blue eyes. They found the faults deep within her, then they took them out and displayed them and tried to see if she would ever be a fine Jedi. Anakin thought she would be, she could tell, but they never did. So who was right?
"I don't care!" Oh, she did care immensely, and she knew that Anakin and Obi-Wan knew so, too. They both exchanged looks, Obi-Wan's more severe, that questioned each other on the best course of action for dealing with her. Agitated, Ahsoka started to leave once more, but Anakin's hand, still on her shoulder, clamped down hard. Ahsoka bit back a yelp and turned to look at him with fiery blue eyes.
"Why don't we go to your quarters?" Anakin suggested with a slight frown. He was right to be upset, Ahsoka thought. She was ready to inform him of this, but she decided against it when she glanced at Obi-Wan.
There was no choice; Ahsoka was stuck. Still holding fast to the belief that she should never speak to Anakin again, there was an edge of, If you don't, those too-concerned-about-everything-but-what-they-should-be Council Members - mainly Ahsoka thought of Master Windu in that statement - would be on top of in a split second, demanding that know the problem to resolve. Too bad for her that 'resolving' meant sending Anakin into exile, like they did to Jenx, and reassigning her, if anybody would want her after she'd been trained by the feared, but not trusted, Chosen One. Pursing her lips, Ahsoka finally nodded, headtails becoming a vivid indigo blue, a blush in Human standards. Force, she was so foolish for acting so childish. "All right." She relented at last, "Bye, Master Kenobi."
Obi-Wan nodded, eyes focused on the two as they walked away, Ahsoka trailing behind her Master. Ahsoka made sure she remained behind him. She had to let it be positively known she was hurt.
The current of pain ran so deep in her veins it surprised her. She did know, after all, that there was something between the two. Ever since she had said to Padme, You know, it's no surprise your such good friends. You've got more in common then you think, and Padme had given that hurried 'yes', she had begun noticing things. Anakin's eyes stayed on the brunette's pretty face longer than they should have, he snapped to attention when he heard her name... She knew. But she denied, never thought it extended so deeply that it led to a child.
And Anakin will probably pay more mind to that child then me. Like Padme. I'll be third...fourth, if you think of Obi-Wan.
`Bitter when Anakin led her into their shared room, though he mainly referred to it as Ahsoka's quarters because she spent more time there than he did, Ahsoka lashed out in a quiet whisper, afraid that if she rose her voice, she'd fall and never stop falling. "I can't believe it...Master, she's - she's..." Ahsoka couldn't finish. Her shoulders shaking, she turned away.
"Pregnant." Anakin finished painfully. Surprised, Ahsoka whirled around.
"You're upset, and you're happy." She said dimly. She'd thought her Master would be blind to the trouble that came with that. Ahsoka didn't know why she thought that, why it occurred to her in her angered, battered mind, but it did. And now she beckoned for him to sit beside her, eyes pleading.
Anakin hesitated a moment, probably thinking that Ahsoka still wanted to attack him. She was mad, no denying that, but she couldn't just rip him to shreds without a second thought, no matter how much she wanted to. Besides, she had a few questions. He might have a couple for her, too. Anakin sat beside her, Ahsoka scooting away instinctively. "Better than killing me." He grumbled to himself.
Ahsoka held up her fingers, long claw-like nails visible for him, and she bared her teeth slightly, showing the predatory fangs from her ancestry. From the way her Master winced, she suspected there was no way he wanted those sunk into his arm. "Yes, I'm gonna kill you so when they drag me to the Council and demand to know why I can say why." Ahsoka said sarcastically.
"Please, Ahsoka, listen to me." Anakin was pleading, completely missing her sarcasm. Ahsoka rolled her eyes slightly, but he didn't notice, "If the Council finds out..."
"I know!" Ahsoka answered, emitting a small growl accompanied with a snarl. This time her Master was angry.
"Ahsoka, come on! I know you know, I just don't think you understand how much this matters to me."
"Oh, the poor little Padawan who doesn't understand any of the Chosen One's problems or certain affairs. Let me guess the Chosen One's Master doesn't understand, either. Am I right?"
"Obi-Wan doesn't know, I don't want him to know, because he doesn't understand!" Anakin roared back. Instinctively, Ahsoka took a step back. When she realized what she was doing, she stopped and tipped forward onto her toes.
Ahsoka's fingers twitched as the Force rose in fury, surrounding the two, "What am I now? When your exiled, if your exiled, what happens to me and Padme and Obi-Wan? What happens to your child? Don't you realize your ruining our lives, that you can't hide forever?" Practically hysterical now, the Togruta sneered, "In case you haven't thought about that."
"Don't worry about that now!" Anakin leaped to his feet, "Ahsoka, that's why we were hiding! And now you just go run and tell the Council, why don't you? Make that all come true for Padme and I."
"And me, if you thought about that." Ahsoka was being a bit self-centered, she knew it, but she couldn't help it. Honestly, she felt sorry for the child Padme and Anakin would have. If they were found out, disgrace would be the child's life. He or she would never have the chance to set its own reputation.
A bit of jealousy surged over Ahsoka once more. She hated herself for feeling this, but she couldn't stop it, "Master -." She said, voice soft, "Don't worry; I won't tell."
Ahsoka stood up looking at Anakin's shoulder-length wavy hair and brooding frown. The frown was far more intense than it had been when she had first met him. Ahsoka could always tell he carried the weight of the galaxy, but now it was somehow more. "Be careful though, Master." She didn't add they're watching you, but they both knew the Council had their eyes locked on Anakin with distrust.
Ahsoka left abruptly, wanting, yearning to lean on Padme's lap and just sit there while the woman waited for her to speak. And when she spoke, Padme would listen intently as though nothing was more important.
The longing wouldn't stop. It tore at Ahsoka's stomach, begging her to seek comfort from her. So Ahsoka's feet began moving on their own accord back to the Senate building, even though she felt anger and betrayal. Well, it wasn't Padme's fault that Anakin wasn't very good at keeping secrets.
Upon Ahsoka's arrival, the woman looked stunned for a moment, then saddened, "Ahsoka, I won't ask you not to tell." There was guilt in those soft brown eyes.
Immediately, Ahsoka spoke, "Don't worry, I won't, Padme." She stepped into the apartment, catching the scent of something cooking. Ahsoka inhaled deeply. She hadn't eaten good food, even though she had the mess hall, in a long time.
Padme smiled, "You can stay for dinner if you want." Her smile was almost teasing.
Ahsoka made a face back at her. "Is Master Skywalker going to be here?"
Padme's answer didn't come for a minute, but when she finally spoke, Ahsoka knew that she knew that Ahsoka was hurting. "Come here." Padme slipped her smooth, delicate hand around Ahsoka's and led the girl to the couch, pulling Ahsoka down beside her. "We couldn't tell you, or anybody, you see. It's risky. The less who know, the better.
"I know." Ahsoka picked up a pillow and buried her face in it, hoping Padme would see, "But I can't believe it...I would've rather not known, or at maximum have it not exist. Then I would be safe if you were caught. And so would everyone else." Lifting her head, she gazed up at Padme, suddenly exhausted.
Laying back down, Ahsoka closed her eyes and tried to escape to a more comforting solace without the haunting of visions. Perhaps the good of the Force was with her today, or perhaps the ill-mannered, cruel Sith Lord was taking it easy, because she found a few better dreams than the horrific ones, some consisting of a hidden evil. But only one was truly important, and it was simple and short, laced with the dark side
"They're names are Luke and Leia." An old, shadowy, blue man stood before her, hands in his robe, eyes strangely familiar. His white hair, course and thin as in old man's should be, distracted her. His name, he said, was Ben.
"Luke? Leia? Who are they?" She asked, eyes on him. Ben frowned thoughtfully, and suddenly Ahsoka knew who he was, "Obi-Wan?"
But he was gone all too fast, and Ahsoka rushed to her feet. The darkened landscape and navy lake hid any trace of where the Jedi Master might've gone, but Ahsoka doubted he was still around. The trees waved in the wind, and she brought her cloak around her as the freezing air blasted around her from everywhere.
She heard singing, far away. An older woman with two young women sat nearby. There was something familiar about this place...it was Naboo. Naboo? She had only gone to Naboo a few times and haden't loved it near as much as Anakin. The woman's voice was quavery and sweet. Ahsoka slipped up behind her, and realized there was a grave in front of both of them.
Her stomach became a block of cold ice, freezing her body. Ahsoka tapped the woman's shoulder, but realized soon that she wasn't really here. She was here to see what lay underneath the marble stone.
Ahsoka's steps were quick and choppy, but she made it to the grave. One woman spoke, "Mom, why do I have to come here?"
"Ryoo!" The woman's voice was sharp, "You remember your aunt, correct? Can't you be nice?"
"Well, I didn't remember her being a piece of rock." The woman turned, and and a glint of silver moonlight revealed her to be a young teen. Hunched in her cloak, she had looked older. Acting selfish and rotten made the mother nervous, her sorrow blotting the Force.
There were two stones, one smaller than the other. Squinting to see, Ahsoka read the smaller one first; Jobal Naberrie. She didn't go any further, but she knew who Jobal was; Padme, and her sister Sola's mother. Glancing up at the oldest woman, she realized that she was probably Sola mourning her mother.
Darkness surrounded her when she read the second, "Padme Naberrie Amidala." For a moment, all Ahsoka could think was 'they forgot 'Skywalker'. That's part of her name'. But then she realized that Padme was gone.
Stiff-backed, she found something there, in her heart that she hadn't known but had known. Padme had been dead, and she knew it.
But still, even as she knew that fact, it opened up a hole inside Ahsoka as she turned away, touching Sola's shoulder briefly in passing. The woman had tears sliding down her cheeks, purple flowers in hand. She knelt beside the grave sit, tenderly running her hands over the carefully engraved stone.
Ahsoka closed her eyes and could seen the woman, dressed in a blue silk dress, white flowers decorating her hair.
When she found herself back at the grave, Obi-Wan was there again, "Tell me what happened." She sounded a bit wobbly and shaken and was taken back by it. Obi-Wan just gazed at her for another minute. "Where's Anakin?"
There wasn't an answer to that either, but then the old man picked her up off her feet and set her upright, "Ahsoka..." He trailed off, "I am so sorry."
"What?" Ahsoka felt the confusion come out of her mouth easily as she gazed up at him.
"But there is hope."
"Hope?"
Gone once more, Ahsoka was left alone. The beautiful planet of Naboo disappeared before her, Sola and Ryoo and Pjoo gone. She was left in the darkest place she had ever been in, but the wind still whispered to her.
Luke...
Leia...
There is still hope...
And then, another voice, strong and passionate. It was Anakin's, "Don't ever give up, Snips." It was horrible, the way he sounded, as though the words had been wrenched from his lips and ached to speak. It would make Ahsoka sick to hear anyone sound so tortured, but when she heard him like that, she felt queasy, but oh so sad.
And angry. And happy. Like it served him right to be suffering so badly. What was the matter with her?
"Hope...there is still hope!" Ahsoka cried out when she finally awoke. It was nighttime; Padme was gone. Ahsoka sat up stiffly, and nearly rushed from the couch to find her and demand to see that she was still alive. But she when she looked at her Chrono, she stifled a gasp. It was late, far later than she thought. She lay back down, ignoring her growling stomach and stared at the ceiling.
With a silent sigh, Ahsoka got up and stretched, thankful that Padme allowed her to remain here for the night. Yet, it still felt somewhat awkward. She walked quietly, her boots hitting the ground with barely any sound, to Padme's room.
Did she really want to see if her Master was there, with Padme. Deciding not so, Ahsoka turned and left, grabbing her grubby cloak that she used for her nightly adventures. She pulled the worn fabric about her shoulders tightly, moving it over her montrals.
She started back for the Temple, but her feet began moving on their own accord towards Lower Coruscant. Back to Jenx. Could she tell him? Ahsoka didn't think he'd tell anyone, but beings eavesdropped...
The streets were crowded, filled with a number of humanoids milling, one randomly shooting a blaster at others. Ahsoka ducked the numerous red bolts, cursing under her breath. Some made it hard to play the undercover Jedi, especially when her instincts led her hand to her lightsaber. Somehow, without managing to get clipped by the red fire, Ahsoka moved into the bar. Jenx wasn't there.
"Looking for someone?" A familiar breathy voice threaded its way into her lekku. Beaming, Ahsoka turned to him. "Come with me, Ahsoka. We're going over to my place."
"Wait...why? Normally we talk here." Ahsoka would typically feel nervous talking confidently with so many who could listen, but in the bar most stayed far away from Jenx and Ahsoka. And most were too drunk to realize that there was a Jedi and former Jedi close to them.
"I felt your distress easily tonight." Jenx murmured, lips barely moving, "Come on." The man moved into the streets, slumping like a drunk fool. Ahsoka tried to mimic, but by the way Jenx had to put a hand over his mouth to control laughter, Ahsoka sensed she wasn't doing so well.
At Jenx's door, he pulled her in and motioned for her to sit down, "Water? Caf? It's better than what they call 'good food' at that bar."
"Water." Ahsoka responded, ignoring her still-growling stomach. Famished after the lack of eating for the last few days, Ahsoka could barely think of anything but food. So when Jenx placed a Nerf steak in front of her, she smiled gratefully up at him.
"Well, Ahsoka, how've you been? And don't tell me 'fine', because I know it's not true."
"I'm okay." Ahsoka answered with impact, "Something's going on though." She wasn't talking about Anakin, but it was revolving around him.
"I know...the Force is centering it around you and your master. Stay strong. Don't let whatever's irritating you make you vulnerable. Somebody wants you...dead." There was no question of who that person may be, but no one actually knew what he looked like, and where he dwelt, so perhaps it wasn't knowledge of who.
What was alarming was the fact that he could strike out and kill someone, erase their existence far easier than a normal person could do. He could even kill the young Togrutan warrior with a swift gesture of his hand.
Alright, so they'll be a lot more action after this..I'm doing a lot of revising of what the original was...so, enjoy. Thanks for the reviews!