I found her dwelling in my chambers. Her face was alive and gentle, looking at my old swords. I stood for a second, feeling… just… feeling. It was such a novel thing I hadn't realized I missed.

My heart ached. Loneliness had crept in on me while I was unawares- selling my soul to Sith for a chance to slay enemies. Foolishness, this whole war was nothing but foolishness.

Ahsoka's Jedi senses alerted her to my presence.

"Are you sure you're okay?" She asked, giving me a once-over.

"I feel okay," I answered honestly.

The young woman laughed, "Okay… that's weird."

"What?" I asked, aghast.

"It's just… I never thought you'd be so…" She paused, looking for a word, "normal?"

I stood there in silence for a moment, "Maybe we shouldn't talk to each other anymore."

"Wait, wait, listen," She cleared her throat, "We've met before, you and me."

"Hmmm…" I tried to remember. Obviously, not many foes escape me alive, but I don't remember battling someone so young, "I don't remember battling you, young one."

"Well…" She laughed sheepishly, "It wasn't much of a battle. A bunch of clones shot at you, I mocked you, then you killed all the clones," She swallowed nervously, "Then you chased me around the outpost. I ran away."

"Ah, yes, I remember that day. It was quite annoying that you survived."

"Well, sorry I wasn't more killable!" She laughed. I frowned. Now that I no longer desired to kill her, I found this train of thought…

"Discomforting," I said.

"What?"

"I… do not desire to kill you," I said, "I want you to know that."

"General," She whispered, "You're not… I mean, we're just business associates. You know that, right?"

"Right," I answered, "is there ever any doubt?"

"Well…" She muttered, "I just get this feeling that you're…"

"Angry?"

"No!" she crossed her arms indignantly.

"I'm getting angry," I say, knowing it's not the truth. She is right. Lately, my view of her has changed. I never really saw myself seeking out a mate after the death of my beloved, and I still cannot see myself doing that. But when Ahsoka Tano is near… I feel…

Happy.

That is a disturbing thought indeed.

"Give me your word," Ahsoka stares at me, dead-on, "Give me your word as a warrior you're not…"

"I give you the word of a warrior," I say, interrupting her, "On my life; I will not touch you in any manner."

This seems to calm her spirit. Ahsoka gives me a nervous smile, "Thank you. And I hope you get through whatever it is you're wrestling with soon."

l swallowed. She knew I was struggling with something big. Yet I decided to trust her with something that I had wrestled with forever, "Do you Jedi believe that those who have gone before watch over you?"

To my surprise, she frowned unhappily, "Yes and no. I mean, some of us," She bit her lip, noticing she referred to herself as a Jedi. The Togruta sat cross-legged "I think that the Force is an energy field, and that those who have gone before us exist somewhere in it. There are plenty of instances where powerful Jedi speak from beyond the grave. Especially if they go dark-side!"

I blink, "And everyone goes into this… Force?" Perhaps I was somehow connected to the Force itself.

"The only people who seem to come back are sensitives," She said a bit harshly, "Everyone else just… flows along. Some believe they are reborn time and again as life renews itself."

I glared at her. So… Ronderu was gone, then. At least in theory she was. Perhaps she was now a rock, or a tree.

"Enough of this," I spat out, "I am in need of rest."

She made a sweeping gesture, "Ready when you are, Qymaen."

I lay down, feeling her soft hands on my helmet.

…yep, still weird I can feel that.

My eyes shut of their own accord. As strange as it was, this was the best part of my day. Asleep, I was back on the wilds of Kalee, with my love, free from the bonds of metal and rage and war.

I was there alone this time. No ancestors, no Ronderu, not even a Huk.

…

Kalee itself was quiet. The feral beasts that had given me such a thrill as a child were now gone, entirely removed from the world.

The quiet was unsettling, but it gave me an opportunity to think, to feel. Where was I? And why was I alone?

"Where did you go?" I asked, "RONDERU?!"

My voice echoed violently across the ghost world. Had I done it? Had I finally been abandoned by my people?!

One star twinkled in the night sky. The souls had fled there, I could feel it. I had to go there, and release them.

Then… soft warmth filled me, and danger filled the air as a loud klaxon alert sounded. I saw her, both of her.

Ronderu. Ahsoka. Ahsoka/Ronderu. Ahsonderu.

They were one and the same. Her soul lived on in the body… of a Jedi?

"My love…?" I called out, reaching for her face.

The real-world came rushing back, my metal claws caressing Ahsoka's face. Her eyes connected with mine, and her golden pupils widened in fear.

No… oh now, "Ahsoka, wait!"

It was pointless. I had broken my warrior's word, and there was no way to undo that. She fled. She had every right to. I was scum, worse than scum.

But I knew the truth now. Ronderu was alive. And if she lived, I would die to protect her from the same fate.

…

I ignored the bizarre spiritual drama in the universe around me. Let those Jedi figure out who or what she was. An alert blared throughout the ship as we were under attack. But how?

Somehow, Skywalker and Kenobi must have figured out a way around our defenses. They usually do. I'm sure some plucky sidekick has managed to gain their trust long enough for everything to go horrible wrong, only to be saved at the last minute by some misguided teachings of some ancient Jedi master. Have I mentioned lately how predictable this war is becoming? Forget that. I'm going to end it all. You see… I know what I have to do now. I know where to go.

Focusing on that dream-world, there was one star that shone brighter than the rest. When entered into the computer, only one world came up from that vantage point on Kalee. The closest planet to a star that never existed in the actual sky of Kalee… was Coruscant. Palpatine was responsible. I would kill him and end this bloody conflict once and for all!