He's Not Our Enemy

Disclaimer: I own nothing, all credit goes to George Lucas and Lucasarts.

Summary: After vanishing from the Jedi temple ten years ago, Anakin Skywalker is found. The Jedi imprison him until he decides to tell them what happened to him. After getting lost after fleeing from some of her abusive class mates, Ahsoka stumbles into Anakin's room and discovers a side to the force she never knew.

Five days Til Competition, Ahsoka Tano

I am woken by the sound of an alarm clock, probably mine, but I feel way too tired to get up. Unfortunately, as always, I don't really have a choice and I shift on my bed to sit up and turn it off, except the moment my eyes open slightly and I sit up I am pushed back onto the bed. Blinking and frowning, I open my eyes fully and look up to see Master Windu standing beside me.

Then I remember everything that happened yesterday and realise that I am still in Master Windu's quarters. He doesn't look tired, surprisingly, and I know that it is probably due to the fact that he got some rest somewhere besides his quarters whilst I was cleaning up. I am laying on his couch, the area where I fell asleep, and someone has gotten me a pillow and a blanket, which is wrapped tightly around me. Surprisingly, I am actually quite comfortable and I feel more tired than I have in a very long time, though the reason for that is obvious.

"Go back to sleep, little one." Master Windu says and I frown. When the alarm clock goes off every Jedi is supposed to get up. However, he takes the silence that follows as an answer and leaves afterwards. I cannot believe that I was just told to go straight back to sleep by the second strictest Jedi in the order even though there are very strict rules saying that I have to get up.

I can't say that I disagree with him, though, and no sooner has the door closed behind him than I have shut my eyes in an attempt to drift off to sleep once more. But, as was the case yesterday and many times before, I cannot go back to sleep once I have woken up and instead I simply lay there trying to rest in some form. Nothing good appears to be coming from me just laying there apart from my body starting to rapidly feel like dead weight. Sitting up, I stifle a yawn behind my hand. There's no point in me sitting around trying to sleep when I could be with Anakin; I didn't get to see him yesterday.

With what feels like most of my energy, I throw back the blanket, swing my legs over the side of the sofa and stand up. Everything goes blurry for a moment and I have to grab the arm rest to support myself before my vision becomes clear once more. I shake my head slightly, if that happens one more time I'm going to have to ask Anakin to heal me. Sighing, I stretch my arms out in front of me and then above my head, to release the tension that come's from sleeping on a couch instead of a bed, when I hear a strange noise from behind me.

Swiftly, I turn around to see what it is and my mouth hangs open, flabbergasted. There's nothing wrong, absolutely nothing, except for the fact that the blanket has been neatly folded and the pillow is now sitting on top of it in a presentable fashion. Blinking, I look around the room. Is there someone else here with me that Master Windu forgot to mention? I reach out through the force and frown when I come up empty handed. There's no one here but me... so how did the blanket get folded and the pillow placed on top of it?

Backing away slightly, I realise that in my tired state I might have done it when I stood up and not realised it – but this is difficult to believe since I can remember literally everything that has happened since I woke up. I rub my tired eyes, thinking that I may have imagined this, but the image remains of the folded blanket and pillow atop it. Stifling a yawn behind my hand, I put the bizarre situation out of my mind and turn with every intention of leaving when the door opens and the twins almost fall on their faces in their rush to get inside. Master Windu's droid is beeping comments about 'no running in the corridors' and such to them fluently as it fixes a broken wall panel.

"Your awake!" Kay says with glee before looking around. "And... wow, it really didn't take him long to fix this mess."

I pin them with glares. "It wasn't Master Windu, it was me. I had to clean the entire place by hand, last time I do anything for you."

"By hand?" Jay repeats with wide eyes. "No wonder you look so tired – you are really pale."

Rolling my eyes, I knew since yesterday evening that I would look sickly after cleaning everything, I stifle another yawn behind my hand. "Tell me something I don't know," I comment. "Let's go and get some breakfast. I haven't eaten since yesterday morning."

"What? He didn't let you eat?"

"He didn't even come in. His droid was the only thing stopping me from leaving, that and the fact that I had to save your worthless hides," I add, reminding them that my annoyance will not be dissipating any time soon. To calm myself, I take a deep breath. "Let's just get out of these damnable quarters, okay?"

They both nod in agreement and the three of us walk out of the door. I smile when Master Windu's droid starts scolding the twins about their running a few moments earlier; I then remember that about half of the younglings in the temple – and a few padawans – have made it their lives wish to dismantle the droid bit by bit. This black and golden astromech is just as strict as Master Windu and about half as forgiving, meaning that your chances of being forgiven are next to nothing.

We hardly slow down as the droid beeps at us and I recognise all of the curses about the droid that the twins are making under their breath. Somehow I don't think that people would class Anakin as a good influence, due to the fact that I know just about every curse in the book thanks to him. As is the case every day, there are many other Jedi walking around going about their daily routine's. I doubt any of them will pay attention to us because of two things. One; we are not with any Jedi masters. Two; the war is demanding all of their attention.

"So, how was the punishment?" Kay asks me. "I mean, did he give you a lecture or...?"

I shake my head. "No. He just led me into his quarters and told me that I had to clean everything and that his droid wasn't about to let me leave until I'd finished." A thought occurs to me as I am looking at the twins' guilty expressions. "What happened after I took the blame?"

"Well, everyone sorta sat in silence for a while," Jay explained. "And then they started talking to each other about you 'taking things too far' and being kicked out of the order. When that happened another of your friends, Katooni I think her name is, walked up to us and demanded we tell her the truth, so we did. I tell you, we've never had so many people shouting at us in our lives. Getting someone kicked out of the order for something you've done will just about make you the number one enemy around here."

"We snuck up to Master Windu's quarters late in the night to explain to him that it wasn't your fault, so we told the droid instead. The door opened for us and we tried to go inside but we couldn't see you in the dark and the droid stopped us by zapping us." Kay explained. "I guess you were already asleep."

"No, I wasn't." I tell them. "I was just about to fall asleep but if you'd arrived about a minute earlier I would have probably still been cleaning the floor. How in the force did you do that anyway?"

"Spray paint." They say casually. "Really hard to get off."

"You don't say," I grumble, my eyes narrowing. "Next time do something that won't get you in that much trouble or expelled from the order."

Jay smirks. "Believe me, we aren't going too. We've decided that dealing with Jedi masters might be a little too troublesome for our little minds and that our fellow classmates will be just as much fun with much less trouble."

I groan and roll my eyes. They never stop getting into trouble and it's because they're always causing it. "I don't have a problem with that," I say. "So long as I'm not the one who takes the fall." I add, sensing their disbelief through the force.

They nod. "Gotcha," Jay comments. "Hey, have you seen the blonde kid from your class lately? What's his name -?"

"Trevor."

"That's it, Trevor." Jay continues. "Yeah, anyway, no one's seen him for two days now and the council are starting to get worried 'cus they can't find out about those things happening to your class mates -"

I don't hear the rest of what he's saying because I have spotted something sitting in the corner. Slowly, I come to a stop to look at it more closely. There's blood, puss and what looks like a medical needle... my mouth hangs open slightly, as it did earlier on, and my eyes widen when I realise that this is a person.

"-do you have any idea who might be behind the whole thing?" The twins obviously did not notice the reason that I had stopped and they look at me expectantly.

"No," I say. "But I have a good idea of where Trevor is." Without hesitation, I point to the lump laying in the corner that is my class mate and the twins horror echoes through the force with such emphasis that I cringe slightly. When things like that happen in the force it makes my head hurt.

Sensing this, the Jedi around us look at us and then stop dead when they see Trevor too. It takes about three seconds for a few to have gone to Trevor, a few to have gone for help and the rest to either form a crowd or tell us to move along. I am strangely grateful that we have been given an excuse to leave and lead the way through the corridors towards the mess hall, ignoring the stabbing pain in my stomach that is telling me there's something wrong; I need to get something to eat and fast.

"Hey, 'Soka, did you see how bad Trevor was? He looked like he'd been beaten to hell." Kay says.

I roll my eyes, hardly bothered about Trevor right now. "It was the effects of whatever was in the syringe," I say casually. "If he had been beaten up then the passing Jedi would have felt his pain or discomfort through the force."

The two exchange a look which I can't see but clearly sense what they have done. "Ahsoka, are you all right?" Jay asks. "You seem to know all this stuff now and you look like you've worked yourself half to death... this is to do with the competition, isn't it?"

"Your mentor is going to be the death of you." Kay adds.

Sighing, I stifle one of the many yawns behind my hand but my uncomfortable state is only made worse because sighing and then yawning is not exactly a good idea if you want to have air in your lungs. "He's not going to be the death of me," I say. Anakin would be able to heal me anyway so there is no chance of that ever happening. "It's just because I'm not getting enough sleep. I slept for four hours after working for twenty and my stomach hurts, I'm having trouble seeing whenever I stand up and I feel so tired I just want to pass out." I explain to them. Their concern is immediately obvious; even with their troublesome attitudes they manage to show concern for their friends. "I need to have some breakfast and then I'll feel better. I know I will." The last part is a complete lie because I feel awful and a simple breakfast might stop the pain in my stomach but it won't do much else.

"Yeah, I'm starving too," Kay agrees. "We need to tell everyone about what we saw."

"No, we don't. I'm not getting involved in anything to do with this because I'm a target, remember?" I remind them before sighing and rubbing my temples. Why am I so stressed out? It must have started yesterday when I was cleaning up Master Windu's room in the twins' place. However, now I think that it might be due to the fact that I'm not exactly feeling well; it's not like when I had to spend the night in Anakin's room because he had to heal me, I doubt there will be anything like that ever again, it's sort of like having a cold, except it has lots of side effects.

"Maybe you should lie down," Jay suggests.

I nod my head slowly as we turn the corner and head straight for the door that is the entrance of the mess hall. "I think you're right," I agree, ignoring the conversation that they then start about their latest victims.

The doors to the mess hall open automatically and I waste no time in going up to the counter, retrieving my breakfast and sitting down at a free table. unfortunately for me, before I can so much as take a bite out of my toast, Pedro has taken the seat next to me with that look on his face – the look that means he wants something. I'm amazed that he hasn't started asking people about what's going on with the investigation about our class, with everyone being attacked it's sort of a routine for everyone who isn't me and doesn't have a powerful force wielder to look after them.

"Good morning, Ahsoka." He says in that tone of voice; the tone of voice that makes everyone wish they were not in his company.

I sigh. "Something wrong, Pedro?"

His eyes narrow slightly and I take a bite out of my toast in boredom. "Where have you been going everyday?" Pedro asks. "You weren't around at all yesterday, not even for dinner."

"I was cleaning all of the paint off inside Master Windu's quarters," I explain. "The twins painted it pink and I took the blame. Anyway, go on."

Pedro does not seem at all bothered by the knowledge of what the twins have done and is giving me a look that clearly says he doesn't believe me. If you know people who cause trouble on a daily basis you tend to get used to everything that happens around them, so why is he giving me a look like I'm lying? "Who's your mentor?" Pedro questions.

I shrug my shoulders. "He doesn't want people to know. Apparently there's something degrading about helping a youngling, I don't know." The lie actually seems to make a little sense to me considering Anakin's personality would probably make him give that kind of reason to someone. I ignore the look of disbelief on Pedro's face and take another bite out of my toast.

"Liar," Pedro accuses. "You're behind what's happening to the people in our class, aren't you?"

I almost choke on my food at the accusation. "What?" I splutter for a moment, talking with you mouth full is not a good idea when you're trying to get your point across. "How did that assumption come from not knowing who my mentor is? Besides, I've already been attacked and you haven't so how do I know that it isn't you?"

"Oi, Pidgeon boy," Jay buts in on our conversation before Pedro can make a retort, both he and Kay are stood beside the table. "Buzz off."

Casting me one last look of suspicion, which causes me to make a mental note to ensure he does not follow me, Pedro retreats back to wherever it is he came from and the twins sit down at the table with me. Each of them is casting regular glances of warning to someone a little distance behind me, that person can only be Pedro.

"What did 'his majesty the king' want?" Kay asks sarcastically.

"To accuse me of being the one who's attacking the younglings in our class," I inform them, going back to my breakfast. "And all because I wasn't around at all yesterday. That and the fact that he doesn't know who my mentor is."

"Heck, we don't know who your mentor is," Kay points out. "But considering how much he's taught you I think he's earned the right to remain anonymous."

I nod, that's true enough, no matter what other reasons there are for me keeping his identity a secret.

"So, you planning to do anything fun today?" Jay asks. "You did spend the whole of yesterday cleaning spray paint by hand. Why not hang out with us for a bit?"

Dissapointingly, I shake my head. "Sorry, I can't. I need to get some actual rest before I end up passing out, maybe some other time when I'm feeling better."

I finish off my toast and start to eat the fried eggs that are only served on Sundays, sort of like a special. The twins have started talking about new pranks again and I eat the remainder of my breakfast quickly so that I can ignore the eyes boring into the back of my head that are most likely Pedro's. I can sense that it's him, being a Jedi and all, but even with that the feeling is still a little annoying.

"I'll see you later," I say, standing up. "I need to get some sleep." The lie is practically fool proof and I walk out of the mess hall knowing that Pedro's gaze is following me the entire time. I can sense that he is staying in the mess hall, though it is obvious that he will end up following me sooner or later, and as I head straight towards the corridor with the vent that I always use as a route to Anakin's room.

Doing a quick check around me with the force to make sure that there is no one and nothing around to see me, I climb inside the ventilation shaft and hastily make my way to Anakin's room. I am far too stressed out when I'm in anyone elses company but Anakin's and it's a little confusing. Then again, I suppose it's the same thing with everyone when they have a friend they trust more than anyone else. You just feel comfortable telling them anything and when you're angry or sad they can make you feel better just by simply being with you, now that's something I really love about life.

At a brisk pace, I reach the next vent cover in about an hour, probably more, and use the force to sense my surroundings before climbing out after receiving the 'all clear'. I walk up the corridor to Anakin's room and am gratified to know that I am back again at last; I'm not sure why I feel so happy, maybe it's because I like being around Anakin. When I reach the door, I have not even raised my hand to knock on it before it opens and shows Anakin stood there, giving me a stare that says 'explain yourself'.

"Where were you yesterday?" He asks immediately.

"Cleaning Master Windu's room," I grumble. "The twins painted it pink and I took the blame."

Anakin archs both eyebrows. "Why did you take the blame?"

"They were going to be expelled if I hadn't. Besides, it's all cleaned now and I don't have to stay awake for twenty hours doing it all by hand."

"Wait, hang on, twenty hours?" Anakin repeats. "If you woke up at six that would mean you were awake until some time after two. Please tell me you didn't get up at six o'clock today."

The guilty look on my face says it all and Anakin gently grabs my arm and pulls me inside with a 'tsk' noise. As the door closes behind me, I frown at Anakin. "Uh... what are you doing?" I ask when he leads me into his bedroom.

"Twenty hours awake and four hours sleep after a day of legal child labour," He mumbles just loud enough for me to hear. "You need some sleep."

"I feel fine." I protest, though it is not entirely true and he knows it.

Anakin rolls his eyes. "Yeah, yeah." He comments. "Come on, lay down. If you don't sleep then you should at least be laying down."

Slowly, and by all means reluctantly, I sit on the bed and take off my boots. I may not be the conventional Jedi but I know that you do not lay down on someone elses bed with your shoes on. Anakin pulls a piece of shurra fruit out of his pocket and hands it to me.

"Eat it, you'll feel better. I know you aren't feeling yourself, Ahsoka, so don't bother asking me how I do. Now, pick a HoloVid." Anakin says unexpectedly.

I haven't watched that many HoloVids, in fact I've never watched any HoloVids before, and the question is completely new to me. I'm not even sure what types of HoloVids there are to be honest, movies aren't exactly my thing since I'm a Jedi who's supposed to be selfless and only care about other people and not myself.

"I don't know any," I say honestly. "Why do I need to pick one anyway?"

Anakin smirks, probably because its obvious and I still don't know what he's on about. "You need to pick one so you have something to watch while you rest," He explains. "Shall I pick one?"

I nod. "So long as your choices aren't really bad."

Rolling his eyes, Anakin flicks his wrist and the HoloScreen sitting in the corner of the room that I hadn't noticed before opens up and Anakin walks over to it, frowning as he looks at something on the projector. "Hmm," He tilts his head slightly. "Something classical, kids like old things."

"Not a kid." I remind him but he appears not to have heard.

"I got it," Anakin pulls out a HoloVid case from out of thin air and I gawp at him. He needs to give me a warning when he's going to do something like that. "Hercules."

"What's Hercules?" I ask.

"Hercules is the son of Zeus, you know, a demigod." Anakin explains.

"Oh, you mean that mythical person?"

Anakin shakes his head in amusement for some reason. "All the power of the force and the Jedi still don't know that Hercules was real," He comments. "Just wasn't the son of Zeus. Anyway, no spoilers about films, I hate that."

I continue to frown as Anakin places the HoloVid disc into a slot in the projector and the film starts. I've never watched a film before so this is actually one of those rare moments for me; I'd always imagined I'd see my first film whilst on a mission, not whilst in the company of a force wielder who shouldn't exist. As Anakin is doing whatever it is he does, I take a bite out of one of the shurra fruit slices. It's like I thought before, there are many things that Anakin is right about and shurra fruit is one of them.

"Shout if you need anything," Anakin says from the doorway. "Lunch is at twelve so you'd better decide what you want. Do you need anything right now?"

I smile and shake my head.

Anakin nods with a smile. "Enjoy yourself." He says before walking out of the room and the door closes behind him.

Sighing, I shift on the bed and settle back against the pillows in a snug and comfortable position. I prop myself up just enough so that I can eat the shurra fruit whilst watching the HoloVid without choking, eating laying down is not a good idea. As the HoloVid starts I let myself relax completely on the bed which is much more comfortable than Master Windu's sofa. Maybe letting Anakin take care of me isn't as bad as I first thought it would be.