Hey guys. So, I had originally planned this scene some time ago, but I have only now found a place to put it. I also have bought the Star Wars: General Grievous comic book and I'm using it for reference art and character reference. And by the way, screw my previous note on chronology. This is non canonical, so timing doesn't matter.
Ahsoka awoke in the midst of the night. The rain pattered softly on the roof of the "tent" that Codi had set up, and the puddles around the border rippled as the drops fell. The deluge had subsided to a soft rain several hours before.
The Togruta youngling raised herself onto one arm. She heard something.
It sounded like…drums.
And chanting!
Rising to her feet, Ahsoka called her lightsabers to her hands and stepped around the AT-TE.
And was amazed by what she saw.
The clones, in various states of dress (or, in most cases, undress), were dancing around the fire. They were in a low stance, with their legs bent at the knees like they were riding something. They would take one or two steps sideways, then beat their chests and grunt something in Mando'a, and move again. The light of the campfire silhouetted those closest to her, and lit those on the far-side with a soft orange radiance. The smoke-stained lights curling around their bodies as they moved added to the altogether primal feeling. The "drum" (actually an empty fuel can) beats echoed in her montrals. She felt it calling her, almost keeping her alive like a second heart, the heart that beats wild for the animalistic pleasures of the body. Almost against her will, her legs moved her to join the circle. Her hands placed the lightsabers on her belt. She began to fumble with the clasp of her robe. Her eyes closed as she advanced to join the circle. It was her right as a huntress, as a Togruta, to join the dance. It was a right denied by the Jedi, but there were no Jedi around to scold her.
Suddenly the drumbeats stopped. Like a startled ronto, the feeling of raw energy left her. If felt like falling into glacial water.
She opened her eyes to see all of the clones scrambling for their under-armors, the drum being stashed, and an altogether mood of embarrassment.
Rex was already dressed in his jumpsuit. "Commander, we were…ah, that is…just for a moment….we, ah…."
"We were performing a traditional Mandalorian dance," Bastion finished, dressed only in the leg armor. His bare chest glistened with sweat.
Ahsoka cocked an eyeridge. Now that the primal fervor had worn off, she was left slapping herself mentally for wanting to join, and angry at the clones for doing what seemed like a total waste of time and energy.
Fox, the only one in full armor, hung his head and scuffed a boot. "It's traditional for a Manda'lore warrior to dance before battle. It brings favor from the gods."
"If the gods like dancing, then we need to hide from the immanent fire and brimstone," said a voice from beyond the firelight.
Turning, the clones and Ahsoka saw Codi, leaning on the leg of the AT-RT, half enveloped in the shadows, the fire illuminating one side of his form.
He was smiling. He was actually smiling a close-lipped smile.
It was dazzling.
"If the gods favor those who dance," he continued, "then they may well just kill us all."
"And why is that sir?" asked a clone sergeant.
"Because your dance sucks."
Ouch!
Rex puffed out his chest. "It is traditional. We always do this before a large battle."
"Well I don't know what you've heard, but Mandalorians are not known for their footwork." Codi smiled. "And I can see why."
Bastion crossed his arms over his chest. "Well, I suppose you know all about dancing, don't you, Master Jedi?"
"I do," Codi replied. "Dancing is integral to Togrutan culture. I was taught several dances by Master Ti."
Ahsoka blinked in mild surprise. He was trained by Shaak Ti as well? Small galaxy. And he was right. Togruta always danced, for any given occasion, but their dances were usually done outside the presence of non-Togrutas.
"Oh, so I guess horn-heads dance better than Mandalorians?" Rex sneered.
"As a matter of fact, we do." The racial slur seemed to ricochette off Codi like an insect on a windshield.
"Show me."
This caused Codi to blink. "What?"
Rex smiled and placed his hands on his hips. "I said show me. Prove that Togruta dance better than Mandalores."
"No thanks," Codi sighed. "I'd rather save my energy for use in combat, not in some measuring contest." He rolled off the AT-RT's leg and began to leave.
"He's probably just scared," the sergeant whispered.
Codi froze in his steps. "What?"
Rex seized to opportunity to use the young Togruta's pride against him. "Yes. You're like most Senators: you talk a good campaign, but then you can't deliver."
Codi turned, deathly slow. "I am nothing like a politician."
"Prove it then," Bastion chuckled. "Deliver your 'campaign' promise!"
Codi bared his teeth in a feral snarl. "Fine. Let me show you how it's done." He removed his outer robe, leaving him in his tunic and trousers. Ahsoka noticed that his tunic sleeves had been removed, and he wore only the crossing bands of fabric. Also, she noticed three bangles on his left arm. They flashed in the firelight, and jingled softly as he moved. He glanced at the clone with the fuel can. "Set me up with a beat trooper. Moderate tempo."
The clone obliged with a soft beat, with a bit of rhythm thrown in for spice.
He stood for a moment, as if acclimating himself to the sound.
Then he was one with the music in a storm of movements. He and the music were inseparable, they were one. Heck, it looked like the music was more in control of his body than he was.
It was almost hypnotic. The music, the movement. You could barely take your eyes off it. The way he moved was fluid, like water cascading over rocks. She had never seen anything like it. Just watching it made the chills run up and down her spine. She wanted it to never end, to just go on, and on, and on. But all too soon, Codi stopped, and so did the music.
Dead silence fell over the camp. The clones were floored.
"Big deal!"
Well…most of the clones anyway.
Rex wore an indignant countenance. "So you can dance. Big whoop! I could dance that well by myself if I wanted to! What we were doing was a group dance, and the gods favor camaraderie over individuality!"
In all likelihood, Rex was making it up. However, the pride, anger, and the rush from the dance were still coursing through Codi's veins. His brow beetled and a demonic snarl etched themselves in his features. "Fine. Tano, would you come here for a moment?"
Ahsoka gulped, but her feet obediently shuffled to where Codi was standing. "Yes?"
"Dance with me."
If there was ever a person who felt as if they had been shot by five ion cannons at once from point-blank range, Ahsoka was the one. The clones looked more surprised than she did. Bastion's jaw was dragging the leaf-litter. Aside from the crackle of the fire, silence once again took a stranglehold on the camp. No one knew what to do next.
"Ahm…"
Possibilities went through Ahsoka's mind like mag-levs in a Coruscanti station. No; hell no; I have weak ankles, I hate you, so no; You're jerk! Why would that even come into your mind?
"Yes."
D'OH! WHY DID I JUST SAY THAT!
Codi nodded. Perhaps you could call it "happily," but that was a matter of debate. "Come here then."
Ahsoka's traitorous feet dragged her forward. Her mind tried valiantly to stop her, but she didn't. It felt as if a mynock was in the youngling's stomach, fluttering and gnawing. She didn't want to. She was having a hard time enough controlling the feelings that she had for this male. How was she supposed to do this when she was dancing with him? Even the firelight was working against her will: the flames had gone from yellow to a dull orange, bathing the scene in a soft light. Then she felt something. It was a hand, clutching hers. The hand was rough, but not as painfully so as a metal-worker. It was warm, and the touch was soft, yet firm. She didn't even have to look to know whose hand it was.
"You look nervous," Codi said.
Another gulp from Ahsoka. "Considering who's holding my hand."
A smile broke across his features. "Don't worry; it's only going to be a few minutes."
He twirled her into his arms, so that her back was on his chest, his arms wrapped around her like a cocoon.
Ahsoka blushed like no being ever had before or since. She immediately tensed, trying to keep herself from surrendering to the feelings that were suddenly churning even more.
"Your heart is pounding," Codi said.
His breath washed over Ahsoka like a form of vaporized glitteryll. Her eyes partly closed as the scent invaded her mind. "Well, I never thought you could bring yourself to touch me."
"Life is full of surprises, isn't it?"
"But I have to wonder what kind of surprise this is going to be.
The final nail in the coffin came moments later. Codi whispered softly into her ear: "Trust me."
And with a sigh, Ahsoka's mind surrendered to her body, and she and Codi began to dance. The world fell away as they began to move. The fire's glow, the drums, and Codi were all that she saw. The persistent voice of her Jedi training was soon silenced as she moved herself and Codi.
At first, he whispered things to her: "One step, left, right, spin, to the back, good."
She stumbled once. Before she could apologize, Codi set her up for the next step with a whisper of: "It's fine, just keep going."
"You know, you could've done something else," she whispered.
She saw a puzzled look come over Codi's face.
"I mean, you could have taught them the Akul Circle or… a tribal dance."
He spun her to arms length. "I could have."
"So why did you choose this?"
He paused as he continued to move. "I…really don't know. It just…came to me."
Ahsoka gave him a look of disbelief.
"No, seriously! Do you remember Master Ti's lessons? She said: 'Do nothing that the heart does not will.'"
"Yeah…"
"Well… my heart didn't will the Akul Circle."
He brought her close to himself. "It willed you."
"Are you sure it wasn't pride?"
"Certain."
"How about hormones?"
He laughed softly. "Absolutely sure it wasn't."
"Then I guess the Force wills it."
Perhaps he hadn't meant for her to hear, but she heard a soft whisper of "I hope so."
And they were one. Their movements were perfectly unified. Their steps were perfectly aligned, each spin a perfect 360. It seemed almost choreographed. He no longer spoke steps to her, and she didn't need them. She was alive with the dance, alive with him. They let their movements become more passionate: she pushed herself into his chest on the back spins, let him lift her off the ground. He held her securely through all of the dips, and his arms lifted her several times during the dance.
All in all, it was the most magical moment of their lives.
The clones around them began to dance as well, forming a circle around the pair of Togruta. They whooped and hollered. The Mandalorian in the awoke again, and the warriors sprang to life. Rex put in a few good wolf-whistles, but the Togruta didn't care. They were so engrossed with themselves that they didn't even notice the formation.
The camp was alive with dance. The forest shook from their noise, but the Force sang from their joy. Neekoflights screeched with the music, lizard-like things chirped happily. Any darkness in the area was purged like poison drawn from a wound. The dawn sun slowly rose over the horizon, staining the once dark sky with gray, purple, and red.
Then Codi and Ahsoka found themselves in each other's faces. All the storms had left Codi's eyes, and he gazed deeply into hers. He smelled her scent; he took her in as much as he could. Their faces inched closer together, reaching for the forbidden taste of the other's lips. They were so close, millimeters between them. All caution had been forsaken, all rules, all Jedi codes were lost in the moment. This blissful moment. All that was needed to complete this moment was seconds away-
"BLAST 'EM!"
The cry of a battle droid was followed by a rain of blaster-fire.
The moment shattered into thousands of pieces as the clones dove for their weapons, several falling to the red plasma that flew past.
Codi left Ahsoka immediately, calling his lightsaber to his hand as he did. She staggered, nearly falling.
It was as if the moment never existed.
All the same, her lightsabers flew to her hand and she impaled a battle-droid on her blads as she charged forward.
XXXXX
Yoda opened his eyes.
The oppressive sunlight was kept from the room by the blinds across the window. He was in the meditation room.
Kit Fisto looked up, his lidless black eyes ever open. "Master?"
Yoda shook his head. "Much emotion I sense from Skywalker's Padawan. Strong with the Force, she is."
Kit nodded. "I sense it too. She is becoming attached to the male."
"Hmmm…. A punishment, this assignment first was. A Trial, young Ahsoka faces. Whether she passes will be unknown to us."
Yes, I know I take forever to update. Sorry, but my life is pretty full nowadays. So please, have patience with me. Anyhoo, what'd you think? Mushy? Sweet enough to put a bee into a sugar coma? Don't worry, these next few chapters will be mainly exposition. I revamped Chapter 3 if you want to check it out. Also, I have an account on DeviantArt, so if I do anything cool, I'll post it there for y'all to see. Here's my first illustration: .com/