Chapter 78
Questions
Ahsoka stepped out of Master It'kla's cabin, rubbing the area between her montrals and her lekku. She was running on practically no sleep, and the last hour had been particularly stressful.
"Settled, he is?" came a voice from below her.
"Yes, Master Yoda," she said. "He's trying to meditate. To focus himself. It was a shock. His homeworld..."
"Felt it, I did. A powerful disturbance in the Force. Lost, many lives were."
When she opened her eyes, she saw a wad of cloth, floating in front of her. She peeked around it to see Yoda, leaning on his walking stick.
"Want this, I thought you might."
Ahsoka took the robe that the elderly Jedi had levitated up to her level and wrapped it around her shoulders. "Um... yeah. Thanks. Everything was kinda sudden."
"Understand, I do. But know you from your childhood, I do. Wish to see that much of you, I do not."
"Hey, it could have been worse," Ahsoka said as she found the sleeves of the robe and put her arms through them. "I've seen some of the... stuff that some women buy. I've spent the last year crawling through ship's engines. I only buy useful, functional... clothes. Some women go jogging or play grav-ball in these tops."
She couldn't bring herself to say the word 'underwear' in front of the galaxy's oldest Jedi Master.
"Embarrassed, you should not be. When nearly nine hundred years old you reach, bigger embarrassments you will encounter than undergarments. Especially in times of crisis. An embarrassing story I can tell you about Master Obi-Wan when he was your age, if you would like."
"I think I'd appreciate the distraction. I need to finish the repairs on the seals so we can get out of here quickly. I had hoped to take an extra day or two to help fix up that freighter, so your guest can leave, but considering the circumstances, I don't think it's gonna happen."
"Carry your tools, I will, while work, you do."
"Thank you, Master."
By the morning, the Whipclaw was ready to leave Dagobah. And Ahsoka had a healthy appreciation of how a late-night snack raid could go wrong for a nine year old Obi-Wan Kenobi, and why using Force-enhanced jumps when your pants are caught on a window latch is usually a bad idea.
Even in the darkest of times, when Ahsoka knew that hundreds of thousands of Master It'kla's people were dying, Master Yoda managed to turn a minor embarrassment into a humorous distraction.
Knowing Master Yoda, that was probably his plan all along.
The two red-cloaked guards stood on either side of the door that led to the Emperor's office. For the time being, while his palace was being built, the Emperor continued to use the old Chancellor's Suite in the Executive Building. It was useful and functional for his duties, but Vader had seen the plans for the grandiose throne room that the Emperor would be ruling from.
He didn't really see the point, but Palpatine had always been both a Sith and a politician. Appearances were important to his style of leadership.
Vader preferred to lead by example.
His instinct was to use the Force to brush the two guards aside. He could have. They were the most skillful, best trained warriors in the galaxy. But even they couldn't stand against the Force.
But they served his Master, just as he did. So he stood before them.
"I wish to speak with the Emperor," he said.
Neither guard moved. So Vader waited.
After a few minutes, they stepped aside. They didn't need to gesture or invite him in. Their intent was obvious. Vader walked past them, into the old Chancellor's office. A few senators were exiting the room as he walked in. He recognized Senator Mon Mothma of Chandrila, but the others were unfamiliar to him.
It was no surprise. Outside of the Chancellor, and the small circle of Senators who were friends with Padme, he'd never really taken much notice of politicians.
After the door slid shut behind them, Vader spoke.
"There was a disturbance in the Force."
"Yes, my Apprentice. I have felt it. The planet Caamas was attacked by what appears to be powerful Separatist munitions. Bombs created to create spirals of flaming destruction. Quite effective on a world as heavily forested as Caamas." The Emperor sat back in his chair, allowing his dark hood to cast a shadow over his scarred face. "Too effective. I have sent Admiral Tarkin to head the relief effort. But I fear there will not be much left to save."
"Tarkin is an effective commander. But his skills would be wasted on a simple relief mission." There was no accusation in Vader's tone, only a statement.
"This is true," the Emperor replied. "He is one of the few military men that you speak highly of, and I value your judgment, my Apprentice. Are you familiar with his record before the war?"
"No, my Master. I met him during the assault on Lola Sayu."
"Before the war, he rose to prominence in his home sector. He was the Lieutenant Governor of the Seswanna sector." The Emperor's hands came together in front of him. "I fear that while the war may have forced the Senate to act quickly, the end of the Clone Wars may mean an end to the efficiency we have seen as of late. It is my belief that more sectors must follow the example of Seswanna."
"You wish to bring him into the public spotlight," Vader guessed. From the smile on his master's hideous face, he was clearly right. "You wish to return him to that high position, and hold him up as an example."
"Before the war was over, I had already pushed through a vote to bring back to the Republic the ancient position of Moff. Until now, the anti-war Senators have managed to block any appointments to that position. When Admiral Tarkin brings aid to the last of a noble, dying race, then returns to his home sector to resume his strong leadership, the pieces will fall into place. Power will shift from the Senate to the regional government."
"And the regional governors will all answer... to you," Vader said.
"Of course."
Vader still didn't know whether Palpatine had engineered this crisis, of if he had been waiting for any suitable crisis to take advantage of. Either way, it didn't matter. The Emperor had not acted without purpose.
"Do you wish for me to assist, my Master?"
The Emperor closed his eyes, and Vader could practically feel the faint tugs on the many strands of the Force that ran through this modest office.
"No," he said at last. "You must become a visible symbol of a different sort. Take your strike force out to Kuat. The Kuati are designing a new, larger, and better Star Destroyer, one worthy of our new Empire. Ensure that their reports are correct, and ensure that their leadership understands the price of failing their Emperor."
"As you wish, my Master."
"When you are finished there, you may return through the Commenor Run. The Imperial presence must be felt. And you will be nearby, should Admiral Tarkin require your assistance."
Taking the Commenor Run would mean stopping at Alderaan before reaching Caamas. Alderaan was a peaceful planet, full of vast, beautiful vistas. From what he'd seen of the world, it reminded him of Naboo. It reminded him of Padme.
He hoped his visit there would be brief.
In the early gloom of the morning, the Whipclaw was ready to depart. Ahsoka wasn't quite sure that she was. She gave Yoda a case nearly as large as he was full of ration packs.
"These are just in case. I don't know if the Human you're caring for can handle that stew you make while he's injured," she said. "Also, there are juba-berry bars in there."
"Ah, remember my favorite, you do. Something to give back to you I have as well," Yoda said, and held out the ancient holocron that she'd found on Dantooine. "Answered my questions, Master Lestin has. With you, into the galaxy, this knowledge should go."
"Are you sure? It could get lonely here once your houseguest leaves. At least you'd have someone to talk to, even if he has been dead for a few thousand years."
"Certain, I am. With you it should go."
Master It'kla gave a deep bow to Yoda. "It is good to know that you are still with us, Master. But we must go. A Jedi's work is never done."
"To your people, you should go. And may the Force be with you, Master It'kla." Yoda bowed his head to the taller Jedi.
Ylenic turned and went up the Whipclaw's ramp, and began the engine startup sequence.
While the engines hummed, Ahsoka kneeled down and embraced the tiny Jedi Master. "You know I'm probably going to check up on you every now and then, since I know where you are."
"Limit your visits, you should. For safety."
"But not too limited," Ahsoka said. "I don't want you going crazy on your own out here."
"Go crazy, will I? Hrmmph. Much work to do I have here. Fly by, the time will. Much work to do."
Ahsoka planted a kiss on the top of his wrinkled forehead. "I'll miss you too."
Yoda tried to purse his lips into a grumpy frown, but Ahsoka could see the smile lines around his eyes. "The Force will always be with you, Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano."