Disclaimer: I have no rights over anything used in this story except for my own characters and locations. Everything else rightfully belongs to their respective creators. Hope you enjoy and there will be an A.N. at the end.
A few weeks after Satine's death and Maul's disappearance, everyone continued on in their efforts to put an end to the war. Currently, Nairbix and Natasha were having yet another discussion as they walked through the halls of the temple.
"It's kinda hard to believe that Satine's gone." Natasha said with remorse.
"Yeah, and the last thing I ever said to her was that I was flipping her off." Nairbix added.
"Why are you saying that with regret?" Natasha asked, "I thought you didn't even like Satine?"
"Oh, I didn't, but I could've said something better." he shrugged. Just then, the whole temple shook as the sound of an explosion filled the air. "Never a dull moment." Nairbix muttered as he and Natasha ran to where the explosion came from. They quickly discovered that it occurred in one of the temple's hangars.
Later that day, the council called an emergency meeting to assign Anakin and Ahsoka with the task of who bomb the temple. "How could the Separatists infiltrate the temple?" Anakin asked as he and Ahsoka stood before the masters (with Nairbix leaning against the wall).
"Worse than that it is." Yoda replied.
"What could be worse, Master Yoda?" Ahsoka asked. All of the masters looked conflicted upon answering the question.
"Everything is on the table." Windu remarked, "We have to look into the possibility that it could have been anyone inside the temple, even a Jedi."
"If a Jedi this is, gone to the dark side they have." Yoda added.
"Yeah, 'cause that's the only possible explanation available." Nairbix thought as he rolled his eyes, "Cynical, narrow-minded Jedi."
"I…I can't believe that a Jedi would attack a place this sacred." Ahsoka said in shock.
"We'd like you two to lead the investigation. We can't trust anyone who was here, even a Jedi." Windu informed, "You and Ahsoka will provide an impartial point of view free of assumptions."
"We'll do everything we can." Anakin replied respectively.
"Careful you must be, Skywalker." Yoda warned, "If willing to destroy the temple the attacker is, to great lengths they will go to keep from being caught."
"Then I guess we'll have to go to even greater lengths to catch him." Anakin replied with confidence. Once the meeting was dismissed, Nairbix followed Anakin and Ahsoka back to the hangar.
"Uh, Nairbix, what are you doing?" Anakin asked once he realized his friend was following them.
"Walking with you guys to the hangar." he casually replied.
"But Master Windu said that we were the only ones allowed to lead the investigation." Ahsoka reminded.
"I know."
"…So why are you following us?" they both asked.
"Because I plan on helping."
"But the council doesn't want anyone else involved with the investigation." Ahsoka stressed.
"So?" Nairbix asked, "Guys, I think you've forgotten that I don't have to listen to what the council says. I'm not a Jedi nor do I work for them or even the Senate. There is literally no one in this galaxy that has the right or authority to tell me what to do. I'm here on my own terms and free will, so if the council wants to lecture me about following orders, it'll just go in one ear and out the other."
"…Okay then." Anakin replied unsure of how to properly respond. Once they reached the hangar, they began to further inspect the place. "I can still hear the screaming."
"Do you believe what they said, Master, that a Jedi could do this?" Ahsoka asked.
"Not every Jedi agrees with this war, Ahsoka." Anakin reminded, "There are many political idealists among us."
"But a traitor?"
"Unfortunately, one can eventually become the other." Nairbix replied, "Don't forget Count Dooku, General Krell, Slick; those guys were once allies and now look at them." he reminded as he looked closely at the debris. "Besides, only analysis and our investigation will tell us what really happened if we do it correctly. I think it'd be best if Ahsoka and I begin questioning the witnesses while you stay here, Anakin."
"Alright, let me know what you find out once you're done." he reminded.
"Naturally." Nairbix waved off as they left. In the hospital wing, the duo began their questioning.
"Did you notice anything unusual about the hangar?" Ahsoka asked one of the wounded mechanics.
"Not really." he replied, "Although, I left the hangar five minutes before the bomb exploded."
"Did everything seem alright before that?"
"Everything seemed normal. Is it true that a Jedi might be responsible for the attack?"
"We're not certain of anything at this point." Ahsoka replied, she then walked over to discuss with Nairbix. "This distrust is troubling. Some of these people have worked in the temple for years."
"Fear makes even the most trusting individual irrational." Nairbix reasoned.
"I think I think I know who did it, who blew up the hangar." spoke up one of the other mechanics.
"Who?" asked Ahsoka.
"I believe it was Jackar Bowmani."
"And who's this Jackar character?" Nairbix asked.
"One of the maintenance crew in the hangar."
"What makes you think it was him?"
"I passes him as I was going on my shift change. He had been working all morning in the section the blast came from. It was the last place I saw him."
"Is this him?" Ahsoka asked as she pulled up his picture.
"Yes."
"We need to know, have you seen him since the explosion?" Nairbix asked.
"No. Truthfully, I didn't see much of anything after the explosion."
"Thank you for your time." Ahsoka thanked, "Looks like we need to find Jackar Bowmani, Nairbix." she said as they approached Anakin. "Did you find anything?"
"No," Anakin grimly replied, "But the rumor about it being a Jedi is growing. I can feel the anger and confusion throughout the Jedi Temple."
"Nairbix and I have a lead." informed Ahsoka, "We're looking for one of the Temple workers, Jackar Bowmani."
"One of the witnesses saw him leave the area before the bomb exploded, and we can't find him anywhere." Nairbix added.
"Come on, nobody just disappears." Anakin argued.
"Unless it was well planned out." Nairbix countered.
"It'd have to be very planned out to get past Jedi. I'll talk with security, you two keep searching for more answers and Jackar." Anakin ordered.
"Yes, Master." Ahsoka nodded. Hours later after further inspection, Ahsoka and Nairbix discovered that some of the debris in the hangar had traces of nano-droids from where the bomb exploded; Anakin on the other hand managed to meet with Jackar's wife, hoping to gain more information. Unfortunately, she had none to give.
"So apparently, Jackar was in charge of the weapons for the ships in the hangar and a nano-technology expert." Nairbix explained as he looked over Jackar's file while Anakin and Ahsoka looked over security footage. "Have you found Jackar yet?"
"No." Anakin replied, "I'll go gather some Jedi and search the temple. If he's still here he may be planning another attack."
At the council room, the two Jedi (Nairbix had them stay quiet about him to avoid being lectured by the council) gave their report of what they found. "So you've found nothing so far?" Windu asked.
"We have a clue we're following." Ahsoka defended.
"But we still don't have answers." Anakin admitted.
"It is imperative that the truth be found soon." Windu reminded, "There are whispers that the Senate will hold a meeting to decide whether the military police will need to become involved in the investigation."
"They can't do that. Can they?" Nairbix asked Natasha from behind who nodded.
"Clones died in that explosion, maintenance clones working on the gunships as well as civilians." she reminded, "The Senate tends to take notice of these things no matter where they happen."
Just then, Nairbix's comlink softly beeped with Jackal on the other line. "General VanSull, we have found Jackar." he informed quietly.
"Good work, Jackal." he whispered, "Lock down all exits so he doesn't escape." Nairbix ordered, he nodded towards Anakin and Ahsoka and they left. Once he had the chance, he teleported to join his friends as most of Noise Maker Squad escorted them to the room Jackar was in. But once they walked in, they found nothing.
"Uh, Spades," Nairbix asked, "Where's Jackar?"
"Unfortunately, sir, this was all we could find." Spades replied as he held up a severed hand.
"His hand?" Anakin asked.
"Because he was so close to the bomb?" asked Ahsoka.
"Because he was the bomb, Commander Tono." Spades corrected, "We found traces of the nano-droids you informed us about in Bowmani's bloodstream. Our hypothesis is that they were injected into him to make Bowmani a living explosive."
"Any idea on the motive yet?" Nairbix asked.
"Nothing found in the temple has any indication to a motive, but you'd likely find something at his place of residence." Spades offered.
Following the Clone's idea, the trio made their way to Jackar's (not so clean or welcoming) neighborhood. "You'd think somebody working for the Jedi would've lived in a nicer place." Nairbix said bluntly, "You guys must pay terribly." he joked as Anakin opened Jackar's apartment door.
"Search for the droids, but be careful," Anakin warned, "Remember, he was a munitions expert. I'd rather not set off another explosion today."
"Check and see if he left a suicide note." Nairbix advised.
"Master!" Ahsoka called from another room, "The sensors are picking up traces from the disposal. The nano-droids were in the food."
"I believe the question now is, did he willingly eat them, or did someone feed them to him?" Nairbix pondered.
"What are you doing here?" Jackar's wife Letta asked from behind them.
"We've learned that Jackar was involved in the bombing." Anakin informed.
"That can't be true." Letta denied.
"See if she has any nano-droids on her, Ahsoka." Anakin ordered.
After a quick scan Ahsoka said, "She's clean."
"What do you mean nano-droids?" Letta asked.
"We believe someone set Jackar up and made him the bomb." Nairbix replied, "We'll need to bring you in for more questioning."
"I'll answer any question I can." Letta said nervously. As they made their way outside, Letta darted away to try and escape. However, Nairbix quickly stooped her as he pulled her back with his chains.
"There's one thing I've never really understood about people under suspicion: they always run. Even when nobody's asked them a single question, they run. Not very smart if you ask me."
"Let me go!" Letta demanded.
"Running means you know more than you're telling us." Ahsoka pointed out.
"Jackar is dead, and now you're trying to blame his murder on me." Letta accused.
"Nobody ever said he was dead." Anakin retorted.
"But running proves you had something to do with the bomb." added Ahsoka.
"You don't know what you're talking about." Letta hissed.
"People blamed Jedi because of you. People were killed because of you!"
"Did you feed the nano-droids to Jackar? You will answer me. Now!" Anakin ordered as he yelled.
"…I did feed the nano-droids to Jackar." Letta confessed.
"So you set up your own husband to die." Nairbix stated as he shook his head, "Boy, I bet the two of you had a real wonderful marriage going on."
"You're dealing with things you don't understand."
"Oh, where you're going, you'll have plenty of time to explain everything." Ahsoka said through her anger.
The following morning after imprisoning Letta in temple's prison, the Jedi and Nairbix attended the funeral to the Jedi who died in the bombing. As they all stood in silence, Master Yoda passed before the shrouded bodies of his students and gave his eulogy.
"One with the Force, they are. And our job it is to remember that we will, in time, also pass on. Luminous beings we are, but temporary vessels, our bodies are. And we shall all found ourselves here in time. A moment of silence, I ask, to remember and to move on. Live for the living Jedi, we must. Live through us, forever they will." With a tap of his cane, each of the bodies we sealed into the floor with a beam of light shining from each of their seals.
After the funeral, Ahsoka was called into the prison, apparently, Letta had something to discuss with her. But once she arrived, things took a turn for the worse. Hours later, Natasha and Nairbix went to the prison to see what had happened when Ahsoka never returned. As they walked in, they found a fuming Anakin demanding the clones that he see Ahsoka.
"I said my Padawan is in there." he repeated through his gritting teeth, "Now step aside."
"Anakin, what's going on, where's Ahsoka?" Natasha asked.
"Letta's dead." he said flatly, "She was killed when Ahsoka went to talk to her in her cell and now she's being accused of murder. And this guy is being uncooperative."
"General Skywalker, Admiral Tarkin has ordered that no one be allowed in there." the Clone gently explained as Anakin's fists clenched and trembled in anger.
"I don't care what she's accused of. Let me in." Anakin darkly demanded. Seeing the Jedi grow more and more angry, the Clone indicated to his guards to escort them out.
"Sorry, sir. The admiral's orders stand. This is now a military operation and under his jurisdiction."
"Anakin," Nairbix said trying to calm his friend, "Let's go. There's nothing you can do about it."
Still glaring at the Clone, Anakin reluctantly complied and left with his friends. "This is completely ridiculous!" Anakin growled as they left the building, "Ahsoka would never do something like this. She's obviously been set up."
"We know, Anakin, and we agree." Natasha reassured as they boarded their hovercraft and made their way back to the temple. "But the matter is out of our hands. All we can do is wait this out and try and find out who's really behind all of this. And that may involve looking within our own ranks as well."
"General Romanoff, come in." Wulfric called from Natasha's comlink.
"What is it Wulfric?"
"We've just received word Commander Tono has escaped her cell and is attempting to escape the prison. Colonel Spades, Captain Rex and I are headed there now."
"Stand by, we'll meet you there." Natasha ordered as she turned the hovercraft around. Once they met up with their Clones, the party ran inside the prison where they came across the Clones commander from before.
"Suspect has killed three troopers. Code Red. If you see the target, shoot to kill." he ordered his men via comlink.
"Belay that order, Commander Fox." Anakin ordered.
"She's killed troopers." Fox argued.
"I know Commander Tono." Rex defended, "She would never do something like this."
"We can vouch for that too." Spades added as Wulfric nodded.
"Then who did?" Fox hotly asked.
"Quiet!" Anakin hushed, "Ahsoka!" he called out hoping she would hear his echo. "It's me, Anakin. Natasha and Nairbix are with me too. Stop running."
"You can't help me, Masters." Ahsoka called back, "Someone's setting me up."
"We believe you, Ahsoka." Natasha called.
"But no one else will. Just you three." she said, it was obvious that she went back to running after she said that.
"Keep searching until we find her." Anakin ordered the Clones, "Rex, call security. Tell them to search the entire base. Now!"
"General Skywalker has just issued an all-points bulletin on Commander Ahsoka Tono. She's killed three Clones and should be considered armed and dangerous." Rex warned as the three generals continued their search for Ahsoka.
As they made their way outside, they followed the Clones hot on Ahsoka's tail to the industrial pipeline. "Set weapons to stun!" Nairbix ordered the Clones as they ran after the Padawan. "Do not shoot to kill. Do not shoot to kill!"
"Try to box her in, don't let her escape!" Natasha ordered over her comlink to the Clones, "Oddball, what do you see?"
"She's heading west along the central viaduct."
They all ran as quickly as possible and saw Ahsoka running from the surrounding Clones, deflecting their stun rays with only her original green lightsaber. As they all surrounded her, Ahsoka jumped far away and continued her escape through one of the massive pipes.
The Clones chased after her, but the trio knew the Padawan better than they did; so when the troopers went one direction, they went another knowing that it was the route Ahsoka took. And sure enough, they caught up to her. She was standing before an enormous hole that would lead to the lower districts of Coruscant.
"Ahsoka, what are you doing?" Anakin asked.
"You didn't even try to come and help me." she accused.
"They wouldn't let us come in to talk to you." Anakin reasoned.
"You could have if you tried."
"How would that look, Ahsoka, huh?" Natasha asked, "Forcing our way in would've made you look even more guilty."
"I'm not guilty!" Ahsoka cried on the verge of heartbreak.
"Then we have to prove you're innocent. The only way we can do that is by going back." reasoned Nairbix.
"I don't know who to trust."
"Listen," Anakin pleaded, "We would never do anything to or let anyone hurt you, Ahsoka, never."
"But you need to come back and make your case to the council." Natasha pleaded, "I can try to reason with them- help them see that you are innocent."
"No." she refused, "I'm not going to take the fall for something I didn't do!"
"I am ordering you to put down your lightsaber and come with us now!" Anakin ordered, "Trust us." he pleaded.
"Generals, where are you?!" Fox called out from the tunnels.
"I do trust you. But you three know as well as I do that no one else will believe me. Anakin, Nairbix, Natasha, you have to trust me know."
"Ahsoka, we do trust you!" Nairbix stressed as they began to approach her; but she held he hand up to stop them.
"I know you do." she said as the Clones closed in, "Wish me luck."
And with that, she jumped over the side and plummeted before gracefully landing on one of the ships down below. Later that night at the temple, the council was gathered to hear what Admiral Tarkin had to report on the whereabouts of Ahsoka.
"After further investigation, there can be little doubt that the Clone officers murdered in the escape were killed by none other than Ahsoka Tono herself." Tarkin informed, "She used a Jedi mind trick to convince the Clone to open the door and then proceeded to cut him down along with five other Clones along the way."
"Bull shit." Nairbix cursed under his breath as he crossed his arms and leaned heavily against the wall.
"I do not believe that Ahsoka could have fallen so far." Plo Koon said in sorrow.
"The beliefs of the Jedi Council are irrelevant." Tarkin interjected, "We deal strictly in facts and evidence, and the evidence points to Padawan Tono being guilty of the attack on the temple and the murder of the Republic officers. This is sedition." Tarkin said swiftly as the transmission ended.
"I don't believe a word of that." Natasha said flatly as she leaned back in her seat, "They're making Ahsoka a scapegoat to cover their asses."
"Skywalker," Mundi asked, "Was there no way to stop your Padawan before she escaped?"
"No, Master Mundi." lied Anakin.
"The Council believes that Ahsoka may be guilty of the crime, still believe they are wrong do you, hmm?" Yoda asked Anakin.
"I believe she didn't kill those troopers or the woman who used the nano-droids to blow up the temple. That's why she's running. To prove her innocence."
"I agree with Skywalker. There are too many holes in this story and yet Tarkin has already put a mark on her head." Natasha added.
"Same here." Nairbix threw in.
"Now she's in the lower depths." said Windu, "With her skills, she will be hard to find."
"Three teams we will send." Yoda nodded, "Master Skywalker, Master Romanoff and Master VanSull, with Clones you will go."
"I think it would be best if these three stayed here." Windu interjected, "Having you involved may actually make things worse."
"Master Windu, with all due respect, she is my Padawan." Anakin pleaded, "And if it hadn't been for Masters Romanoff and VanSull's assistance in her training, the both of us could've ended up in unpleasant situations a hundred times over."
"The reason for you three not to go." Windu countered.
"I think we are being foolish if we take them off this mission." Obi-Wan argued through his hologram, "Who knows her better than them?"
"They're emotionally tied to her. Probably too emotional to do what needs to be done."
"We'd rather capture Ahsoka and find out the truth then let her run because of a lie." Natasha argued.
"You must prove to use that you will stay focused. Can you?" Yoda asked.
"I've already alerted security on the lower levels to be on the lookout for Ahsoka." Anakin replied.
"Go swiftly then," Yoda waved off, "Bring back this lost child before it is too late."
"Yes, Master." Anakin said as he and Natasha bowed to the Council and walked out with Nairbix. With their Clone platoons aiding them as they flew in their gunships, Spades gave his report to Nairbix.
"The lower level police claim to have spotted Commander Tono heading to level 1312."
"Alright, boys, let's bring her home." Nairbix said to Noise Maker squad. As they came down to the lower level, they actually managed to find Ahsoka; but with Ventress of all people! Not a moment later, all three of them jumped down from their ships and ran after them. Unfortunately, Ventress was quicker and activated an electric field separating them as they escaped.
"Send out the probes, I want them found now!" Natasha ordered the troopers. It wasn't until a couple of hours later until they found her again, only this time unconscious courtesy of Wulfric's stun gun. To make matters worse, they found her surrounded by dozens of crates filled with nano-droids.
The next morning, the Council was once again contacted by Admiral Tarkin over the matter of Ahsoka. "The Senate requests that Ahsoka Tono be indicted for acts of treason against the Republic."
"A fair trial Padawan Tono will have in accordance with Jedi tradition." Yoda replied.
"Ah, yes. Jedi tradition. I'm afraid, Master Yoda, that the Senate believes that an internal Jedi trial would seemed biased. Therefore, the Senate asks that the Council expel Ahsoka Tano from the Jedi Order so that she may be put to a Republic Military tribunal, where she will receive a more impartial judgment."
"And who exactly would represent Ahsoka in this tribunal, Admiral?" Natasha asked, "He seems to be enjoying this way too much." she thought.
"That would be up to the Council, General, but I would recommend someone outside the Order."
"The Council will act as they deem necessary. Thank you, Admiral." Windu dismissed as the transmission ended.
"Surely we cannot do as Tarkin suggests." stated Obi-Wan, "We need to stand together with Ahsoka."
"And yet there's evidence that she is indeed the mastermind behind the attack on the temple." Mundi countered before another Jedi agreed with him.
"She was in possession of nano-droid explosives. This alone is enough to convict her."
"I understand your sentiment, Obi-Wan, and yours as well, Natasha, but if the council does as you suggest, it could be seen as an act of opposition to the Senate." Windu reasoned, "I'm afraid we have little choice."
"To the Chamber of Judgment, summon Skywalker and his Padawan, and in our decision, may the Force guide us." Yoda said to the Council.
Sometime later, Nairbix waited for Natasha outside the entrance to the chamber to hear of what transpired. As she walked out, he quickly caught up to her. "Well, don't keep me in suspense. What happened?" he asked.
"Agh, the whole was just a formality; only a select few member, namely the only ones who spoke the whole time, already came to a decision before the trial began." Natasha groaned.
"And, and?"
"Sigh…Ahsoka's been expelled from the Order; she's now in the custody of the military police until her tribunal. Anakin was furious."
"I can imagine." Nairbix nodded, "Expelled. How blind can they be? Everything used to frame her has been completely and utterly sloppy!"
"I know and so does Obi-Wan. We tried to convince them, but you know Yoda and Windu; they only ever listen to each other during Council meetings."
"Great, so now Ahsoka's going to be tried for treason, homicide, multiple accounts of murder, and conspiring with a former Separatist and war criminal!"
"Not only that, but it's most likely that even if we manage to find any actual evidence, Tarkin will just wave us off and smirk as he watches Ahsoka stand there helplessly and innocent before the Chancellor at the tribunal."
"Is there anything we can do now?" Nairbix asked.
"Aside from finding the real murderer? No." Natasha replied, "Though Tarkin did give us the option of choosing someone to represent Ahsoka from the Senate. I just hope Padme isn't too busy."
"You know just as well as I do that she would drop everything just to help save that girl." he reminded, "And, you also know just as much as I do that Anakin will stop at nothing to save her too."
"Even if it means going after Ventress without us?" she asked with a smirk.
"We'll just have to remind him not to leave us behind once we catch up with him now, won't we?" Nairbix asked setting their next move in motion. Sure enough, they found their friend trying to beat answers out of the former Sith in an ally back on level 1312.
"So this is what happens when you go off on your own?" Natasha asked as they jumped down to join them, "Not very discreet, Anakin."
"She knows something," he turned to Ventress in his iron grip, "Tell me what happened!" he bellowed as he choked her.
"When I heard your little brat was on the run, I thought she might bring in a large bounty." Ventress admitted through her choking.
"Bounty?" Anakin snarled.
"I was going to catch your pet and turn her over to the authorities, collect whatever bounty was due."
"What stopped you?" Nairbix asked as Anakin let go of her.
"At first-I admit- I was only interested in the money and a little bit of revenge, but then I realized your fallen Padawan and I had a lot in common." Ventress confessed sparking even more rage in Anakin.
"How dare you compare yourself to Ahsoka?" he growled.
"It's true!" she shouted, "My master abandoned me, and that's exactly what you did to her, you and your precious Jedi Order. After I left the warehouse, after I left your little Padawan alone, I was walking away, and I thought she came up behind me to talk more. But I was wrong. Someone came out of nowhere and hit me from behind. Not just anyone can sneak up behind me."
"Another Jedi?" Natasha asked.
"It had to be." Ventress nodded.
"I don't believe you." Anakin glared.
"Believe it." Ventress shot back, "Whoever you're looking for has my lightsabers. That's how you'll know you've found your criminal."
"Well, this leads us to another dead end." Anakin sighed, "You're the only one Ahsoka talked to."
"…That's not true." Ventress corrected.
"Come again?" Nairbix asked.
"Your Padawan contacted the temple." Ventress further explained, "She spoke to someone named Barriss. That's why we knew to go to the warehouse in the first place. It was this Barriss that told us where to go."
"If you're lying, you're dead." Anakin threatened in her ear.
"Such promises." Ventress teased as they jumped away back to the temple.
"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Natasha asked her friends as they flew back to the temple.
"I hope not." Anakin replied.
"If it really was Barriss who set Ahsoka up, then it'd be best if only one of us went to confront her. You may want to take on that task, Anakin." Nairbix suggested.
"With pleasure." he growled, "Where will you two head then?"
"We'll head to where the tribunal is being held." Natasha replied, "Hopefully, Tarkin hasn't already tied the noose for Ahsoka."
After dropping Anakin off to confront Barriss, Nairbix and Natasha hurried to where the tribunal was. As they arrived, they could hear the Chancellor's voice carry through the halls. "I'm sure many of you look at this former Jedi and think 'surely, this cannot be the murderer or saboteur that they speak of.'" Palpatine said to the court, "And yet, think of all the times we have been fooled by the Separatists and how they have infiltrated the Republic and ask yourself, 'is this another Separatist scheme?' Another way to rip the Jedi, and subsequently all of us, apart."
"This does not bode well." Nairbix muttered.
"Anakin," Natasha groaned, "You better hurry."
"The members of the court have reached a decision." a member of the jury announced as he sent the verdict to Palpatine.
"Ahsoka Tono," he addressed, "By an overwhelming count of-"
"Chancellor." Anakin interrupted, behind him were a group of temple guards and a contained Barriss.
"I hope you have a reason for bursting into our proceedings, Master Skywalker."
"I am here with evidence and a confession from the person responsible for all the crimes Ahsoka has been accused for." Anakin announced, "Barriss Offee, member of the Jedi Order and traitor."
"That little bitch." Natasha cursed as the room filled with gasps.
"Barriss, is that true?" Ahsoka asked her so-called-friend.
"Tell them the truth." demanded Anakin.
"I did it…because I've come to realize what many of people in the Republic have come to realize, that the Jedi are the ones responsible for the war, that we've so lost our way that we have become villains in this conflict, that we are the ones who should be put on trial, all of us!" cried Barriss, "And my attack on the temple was an attack on what the Jedi have become, an army fighting for the dark side, fallen from the light that we once held so dear. This Republic is failing! It's only a matter of time."
"Take her away." Palpatine ordered. Later that day as the sun began to set, Obi-Wan, Anakin, Yoda, Windu, Natasha, and Nairbix all stood in the council room to apologize to Ahsoka.
"Ahsoka," Anakin began, "I am so sorry about everything."
"You have our most humble apologies, Snips," Natasha added, "The Council was wrong to accuse you." she resisting the urge to glare at the members present who did not believe them.
"You have shown great strength and resilience in your struggle to prove your innocence." Obi-Wan complimented, "This is the true sign of a Jedi Knight."
"This was actually your great trial. Now we see that." Windu added.
"No, no, they can't be serious." Nairbix denied in his mind, "They can't be trying to cover all this up with such pathetic excuses now, can they?"
"We understand that the Force works in mysterious ways," Windu carried on while Ahsoka look unimpressed and unhappy, "And because of this trial, you have become a greater Jedi than you would have otherwise."
"Back into the Order you may come." Yoda offered kindly.
"They are." Nairbix growled in his mind, "Those bastards!"
"They're asking you back, Ahsoka." Anakin clarified, he then held out her Padawan beads and offered them to her with a smile filled with hope. "I'm asking you back."
At first, it seemed as though Ahsoka was going to take back her beads, but after thinking for a moment, she gently closed Anakin's hand around them and looked at him in sadness on the verge of tears.
"I'm sorry, Master, but I'm not coming back." she said to him and made her way out of not just the room, but the temple itself. Utterly shocked, Anakin and Natasha began to go after her while Nairbix stayed behind, mulling over his thoughts.
As Ahsoka walked outside, Anakin and Natasha ran after her, pleading for her to stop. Ahsoka, wait!" Anakin called out.
"Ahsoka, we need to talk to you!" Natasha called, thankfully, the former Padawan stopped. "Why are you doing this?" she asked.
"The Council didn't trust me, so how can I trust myself?" Ahsoka asked.
"What about us?" Anakin asked, "We believed you. We stood by you!" Anakin reminded as his heart began to break.
"Anakin, Natasha, I know you two and Nairbix believe in me, and I'm grateful for that. But this isn't about any one of you. I can't stay here any longer, not now."
"The Jedi Order is your life." Anakin reasoned, "You can't just throw it away like this. Ahsoka you are making a mistake."
"Maybe, but I have to sort this out on my own, without the Council, and without the three of you."
"I understand. More than you know." Anakin said as he pulled her in for a hug, "I understand wanting to walk away from the Order."
Taken aback from the hug, Ahsoka was quiet for a moment but then hugged Anakin back before whispering in his ear, "I know." She then hugged Natasha who was trying not to cry as well and began to make her way down the main stairs of the temple.
"So," Nairbix said as he appeared out of nowhere behind them, "She's made up her mind then?" he asked.
"Yeah." Anakin replied as he made his way back inside the temple, heartbroken over the loss of his student.
"I can't even imagine what it's like to lose your life's purpose at such a young age." Natasha said shaking her head as she watched Ahsoka walk away.
"She may not be as bad off as you may think, Natasha." Nairbix disagreed.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, Ahsoka may just have another path ahead of her should she take it." Nairbix said mysteriously.
"…What are you going to do?" she asked, Nairbix looked out at Ahsoka's back and turned to look at Anakin's before he answered.
"Something I should have done almost twelve years ago." he replied just before vanishing in a wisp of darkness.
As Ahsoka continued down the steps, she walked past Nairbix resting on the edge of the side of the steps. "If you're here to try and talk me into going back, forget it, Nairbix." she waved off as she kept walking.
"No, Snips, I'm not here to do that."
"Then why are you following me?" she asked as she reached the flat platform before the next flight of stairs and took a seat on the last two steps.
"Because you're my friend, and you need me." he sincerely replied, "I can tell right now that you feel empty and lost inside. Not exactly the best attitude before starting a new life journey."
"…I just can't believe that out of everyone I knew in that Order, you three were the only ones who believed in me; who actually fought for me when I was backed up against a wall!" Ahsoka cried as the tears finally fell down her face and she hid her face in her arms.
"…Ahsoka," Nairbix began as he took a knee three steps above he right shoulder where he rested his hand. "How would you like to become a wielder of the Keyblade?" he asked.
Hearing this, Ahsoka gasped and jerked her head up at the offer. "What?" she breathed.
"I'm not about to just let my friend go out there alone and heartbroken. You need a purpose in life, Ahsoka Tono, and I think I have the perfect one for you; should you accept."
"You think that I can wield a Keyblade?" she asked.
"Hmm-hm," he nodded, "I do. The last time I saw such potential to wield one was in Anakin; I'm not about to just let you slip through my finger like he did. But this your decision, Ahsoka. Only you can decided if this is what you want."
"…What's the catch?" the former Padawan asked as Nairbix sat beside her gazing at the sunset.
"The catch." He repeated, "The catch is if you are able to wield the Keyblade and accept my offer, you will never be allowed to return to this galaxy. Ever."
"Can I ask why?"
"It takes a lot of magic and skill to open corridors leading to other worlds, Snips. Going from one galaxy to another, that might just kill you. I'm only able to do it so easily because of my unbelievable magic skills and reserves."
"…Would you train me?" she nervously asked.
"Sigh, as much as I would like to, me fighting in this war would prevent you from learning even the first level of the basics. No, I wouldn't be the one to teach you. But, I would send you to someone I know of who is more capable and a better teacher for you and has much more time on their hands. So I'll ask again, do you want to become a wielder of the Keyblade?" he asked.
After thinking things over for a moment, Ahsoka looked her friend in the eye and nodded with determination. "Yes."
"Good. Please kneel." Nairbix ordered as Ahsoka complied. He then summoned his Keyblade and cleared his throat and recited the words of the Inheritance Ceremony.
"In your hand, take this Key. So long as you have the makings, through this simple act of taking, its wielder you shall one day be. And you will find me, friend-no ocean will contain you then. No more borders around, below, or above, so long as you champion the ones you love."
With these sacred words spoken, Nairbix handed his Keyblade to Ahsoka and watched as it stayed in her hands proving that she too could wield the mighty weapon.
"Congratulations, you are a wielder of the Keyblade." Nairbix praised; he then waved his hand and opened the corridor that would lead Ahsoka to both her new life and new teacher. With a smile on her face and tears of joy in her eyes, Ahsoka stood up and tightly hugged her friend thanking him in his ear as the Keyblade vanished.
Looking at the dark void in both excitement and nervousness, Ahsoka turned back to her friend and said only two words, "Goodbye, Nairbix."
"Goodbye, dear Ahsoka." Nairbix said back as he let her go and watched her walk through the corridor before it vanished. "Until our next meeting."
You read right, I made Ahsoka become a wielder of the Keyblade. Phew! You guys have no idea how long I've been wanting to write this chapter. You know what this means now? Now, the only Star Wars production I have left to type up is Revenge of the Sith and then I'll fina-fricking-ly be done with Star Wars for the rest of this damn story!
Don't get me wrong though, I love writing this thing, but oh my God does it get old having to go through dozens of episodes of a show you've already seen and work your characters into it!
That being said, the next chapter will not be Revenge of the Sith. In fact, that will probably be after the next one or the next two. Don't worry, I have something great in store before we finish up in this galaxy and yes Ahsoka will make more appearances later on, mostly when Nairbix goes back to fighting the Inquisition.
But until then, it will be awhile before we see Snips again. And most likely me on account of how much I'll have to write and how long each of these next few chapters will take. I mean, the one or two won't be as long as Episode 3 but, I plan to make them long enough to where I'm not rushing things to get done with this saga like the last two.
You got to give me credit though, this is the fastest I've been posting since the first ones I had already typed out when I first started this thing; school being out really helps too.
So anyway, stay tuned and I hope you enjoyed this one!