Now, this one isn't very long, but I did that on purpose. This one is Ahsoka-centric. It is something I have had in the works for a while now and since I'm running out of time before I need to start thinking about what I need this series to lead up to, I figured it was time to post it. It isn't exactly what you requested 501andFriends, but it's Ahsoka-centric since let's face it: Ahsoka still lives. :)

Summary: To the galaxy, she was dead. To her master, she was an enemy. To herself, she was lost.

Here she was again.

Lost. Nowhere to go.

Ahsoka knew she couldn't go back to the rebellion. She would only put the rebels in danger. It was not an easy decision. Maul was most certainly out there hunting Ezra. Kanan was blinded by Maul's blade. Rex would be devastated if she let him believe she was killed. They all needed her assistance more than ever. However, she knew the rebels could handle Maul. Vader was a completely different story, one that the fleet knew all too well. Neither knew the location of the base they had established.

Ahsoka could only hope that it was kept that way.

The temple was gone, reduced to rubble in an explosion she was lucky to survive. Vader was long gone, probably picked up by the Empire, at least, she hoped so.

With lightsaber wounds on her arm and leg, a second encounter would end poorly.

About two days of wandering later, Ahsoka, dehydrated and starving, found a TIE Fighter, possibly belonging to one of the Inquisitors. There was only one, which led Ahsoka to believe that someone got ahold of the other one.

That someone was no mystery.

Ahsoka tenderly climbed into the other TIE, pleased to find it had a full tank along with some water and food rations and a first aid kit.

"Just take it easy," she said to herself. "No need to rush things."

She slowly downed one of the many water bottles inside the compartment and ate some food.

Suddenly, Ahsoka remembered something important. Taking another bite of a bread ration, she opened up the compartment that held the wires. She located the tracking beacon and broke the wires that led to it. She then disabled the comlink so that no one contacted the ship.

With a sad smile, Ahsoka limped to the first aid kit and took care of her wounds.

Exhausted and hurting, she allowed her eyes to slip shut for a few seconds.

Ahsoka had no idea how long she slept for. All she knew was that she awoke in a cold sweat after having a nightmare of what had occurred inside that temple.

After her shaking subsided, Ahsoka felt refreshed but lost.

"So what now?" she mumbled. She remembered the last time she saw Anakin's master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, was shortly after the rise of the Empire.

"I'm going to disappear until the time is right," he had told her. "You left the Jedi Order, so that will give you immunity for now. However, the Empire won't stop at the Jedi. Soon, the will go after anyone Force-sensitive. You need to hide while you can."

Despite being seventeen at the time, Ahsoka didn't hide, remembering what she said to the younglings she befriended when she was captured by a band of Trandoshan pirates so long ago. "My master would never forgive me for running and hiding in a situation like this."

So she fought, just like her master would have done...if he hadn't turned to the dark side and destroyed everything.

Ahsoka blinked back tears at the thought. Obi-Wan had told her that Anakin had perished on Mustafar. He was right and wrong at the same time.

Maybe she should have hidden. It would have been a lot easier.

However, regrets would not help her survive. Ahsoka needed to get off Malachor before Vader returned. She limped over to the pilot chair, thankful the TIE had a full tank of fuel.

With a sad sigh, Ahsoka began to start the ship up, having no idea where she was going to go.

She needed to disappear. As far as the Empire was concerned, she was dead. For the safety of herself and her friends, it needed to stay that way.

"I'm sorry everyone..." she said to herself. "I let the galaxy down a second time."

Sometimes Ahsoka wondered what would have happened if she hadn't left the Jedi Order. Would Anakin have turned to the dark side? Would all of this have been avoided if Ahsoka hadn't left? Guilt stabbed her heart and she sighed. There was no time for regrets. What's done is done and there was no turning back.

She didn't necessarily have to stay dead forever. If and when the Empire fell, she could reemerge. Until then, Rex, Ezra, Kanan, Hera, everyone would have to make do without her,

As Ahsoka left the blasted planet and set course for Wild Space, she stared at the stars in front of her and managed a smile.

"We'll meet again..." she whispered. "I know it."

With that, Ahsoka disappeared into the unknown.

Okay, important announcement:

Updating the next three weeks will be kind of difficult. I will be VERY VERY busy. Therefore, please don't get your hopes up that there will be on time updates. I will try to update Wednesdays during that time period but it will be difficult since I may not have time to post. If an update comes, it will most likely be late so just because there isn't a Wednesday update doesn't mean there won't be an update. You guys were so patient during those times where updates were iffy so thank you for that!

(On another note, tomorrow is three months without Rebels. That means we are nearly half way through the hiatus! Just keep chugging! October will be here before we know it!)