"In Need of Wings"

Chapter the Sixteenth

Bane hated that feeling of not knowing what to say. Because he was always supposed to be the one who was never at a loss for words. But now, seeing the exhaustion and determination in Ahsoka's eyes as she waited for his answer, he couldn't speak.

Better she find out this way than letting Vader find out.

"What's wrong is…maybe you should sit down."

Ahsoka stared. "I can stand just fine, Cad. Tell me what's going on already."

"It's about your master," he said before he could change his mind at the last instant.

"What about him?" she asked coldly. As if Anakin wasn't any of Bane's business. Go figure.

"On Coruscant. I met him." He hesitated. "Sort of."

Her face fell and she silently mouthed the words, trying to make sense of them.

"He was…different. He wasn't acting like himself."

"Where did you see him? What happened? What did you do to him?" she demanded, stepping towards him looking furious.

"I didn't do anything!" Of course she would want to come to that conclusion.

Memories of the Jedi Temple came back to him. The burning pillars, the clones, the glowing insanity in what used to be Skywalker's eyes…the blood, the beatings. Bane shivered and instantly felt afraid that it was going to happen all over again. Like something was coming that neither of them could stop. He stepped back, not liking Ahsoka's anger.

"Cad? Hey…sorry, shouldn't have yelled." She gently reached out. "Just tell me what happened to Anakin, please?"

He nodded and sat down, thinking that would be best. It was as if any moment now, those clones would storm through the door and take them away. Or Vader himself, never knowing exactly who he was speaking to, the terrifying laughter and glowing eyes.

"He wanted me to bring you in. He wanted you back. And when I said No…" He sighed and looked away.

Fortunately, it did not take Ahsoka long to put two and two together. She sat beside Bane, holding her head.

"Those were Anakin's clones who did that to you?"

Bane nodded silently. Ahsoka let out a small cry before covering her mouth.

"It's the Dark Side," she whispered. "That's what I was feeling the whole time. Anakin is…"

"Yeah, I think so." Little by little, Bane told her what he could still remember about Vader. How he said the name Skywalker meant nothing anymore. How he sometimes muttered to himself how he hated the Jedi and thought someone like Bane would cooperate better to help get rid of the Jedi. How Vader had every intention to bring Ahsoka in alive. And so on.

The more he spoke, the more Bane could see this horrific new reality crashing down on young Ahsoka. The last hope she finally had that things could get better was slowly slipping away from her the more she accepted that her master was gone.

Both of them soon realized that it would have been better if Anakin was killed with the other Jedi.

When Bane had nothing left he felt the need to tell Ahsoka, he fell silent. Ahsoka had buried her face in her hands and cried silently. Her tone was hollow, as if the news had carved out her insides completely. Bane had no way of knowing if she needed comfort or would rather be left alone. It was a devastating moment for her, and an awkward one for him. Eventually he decided it was time to get up and find something for both of them to drink, after all, alcohol fixed just short of everything. Bane was just about to stand up when he heard a small sound from Ahsoka, and he realized she was sobbing. Now it would be more awkward not to say.

"Hey, 'Soka." He hesitated, then put his hand on her upper back and patted her gently. "We'll figure this out."

Ahsoka shook her head slightly, unable to speak through her tears.

"The hurt won't last forever. It'll get easier. How about I get you a drink?"

"Cad…"

"You won't have to do this alone. I'm not going anywhere." Bane patted her back again and rubbed it gently. He was not sure how to offer comfort through physical affection, but he had seen other people do it plenty of times.

She shook her head again, then clenched her fists as she sat up straight.

"No, Cad. I have to do it alone."

"What?" He stared.

"It's me Anakin wants, not you. He did that to you because of me." Ahsoka's face fell. "Ever since we ran into each other, I've done nothing but make you miserable. I'm miserable to be around, I know that…I'm just a broken mess."

"Not your fault Anakin is going through this. Beat up yourself, it won't do no good." He hated hearing her talk this way.

Ahsoka's legs shook when she stood up.

"Don't you get it? The only reason you're hurting is because I pulled you into this. Anakin only wants to face me. If I let you stay involved, you're going to get hurt again, or killed. I can't let you do that. I've caused you enough trouble already."

Bane did not think she was being serious until Ahsoka turned away to gather her belongings. When he saw her grab her lightsabers, Bane stood up and reached for her to stop her, but she saw his move coming and slipped out of it.

"And if you go alone, he will brainwash you into one of his puppets," he yelled. "That's why you're not going alone. Believe it or not, I actually care what happens to you."

"No, Cad! You're all I've got, I can't let you get hurt again! I…"

He put his hand on her shoulder, hoping that would be comforting enough yet would stop her from running off.

"'Soka. Listen. None of this happened because of you. It's not your fault."

"Then why does it feel like it's my fault?" she cried. "The Force feels so dark and broken and maybe if I hadn't left Anakin might have…"

"Don't you dare talk like that. Just shut up." He pulled her into what they both quickly discovered was a very awkward hug.

Nevertheless, Ahsoka took it for what it was worth and buried her face in his shoulder, unable to stop crying. He could hear the muffled words over and over and it killed him inside.

"I'm sorry, Skyguy…I'm sorry, I'm sorry…"

With headlines declaring the fall of the Jedi Order, and the rise of the new Galactic Empire so-called, Asajj Ventress' career as a bounty hunter seemed uncertain. Work would be hard to find for the next few months. And she could not trust how the new Empire would even treat bounty hunters like herself. But no matter what happened, she did not think she could expect any high paying jobs anytime soon.

So when the Empire officially released a high bounty for the head of any Jedi, Asajj took notice. Interestingly enough, bringing in a Padawan alone, dead or alive, was rewarded with anywhere from two hundred to five hundred thousand credits. A Knight or Master, beginning with one million.

Two names stood out among the others…'Obi-Wan Kenobi' and 'Ahsoka Tano.' Each had a two million reward on their death, three million for their capture.

At first, Asajj was pleased to see one of those names, and already began making plans to take him in for herself. Unfortunately, before she was barely prepared for the best catch of her career, Kenobi's name vanished. Must have meant someone else got to him first. Asajj hoped whoever it was had taken their precious time with the process.

But Tano. Asajj had heard what happened to her. The last anyone saw of her, she left the Jedi Order. At least Asajj knew she was still alive, albeit alive and the most wanted Jedi in the galaxy.

A lot was on Asajj's mind over the next several days, as she evaluated the cost-benefit of what to do with Tano. If she could live with herself if she turned Tano in. If she could live with herself if she stayed uninvolved in Tano's life at all. If it would be worth the risk to find her.

In a matter of a mere few weeks, the Galactic Senate changed for the worse. As if that were possible, Asajj mused. There had always been talk of segregating Humans from non-Humans but Asajj never imagined they would take it as far as they already were, and so soon after the end of the Republic. It sickened her every time she read about the news laws the Senate was trying to pass in the Core Worlds and beyond. Scared her, in fact.

After one of her best clients rejected her for a far less experienced Human hunter, Asajj had made up her mind. The Empire was not going to do any good for her. And in order to survive under this cruel new galaxy, as if it could have any any crueler from the start, there was no way Asajj could do it alone. She needed to be with her own kind. She needed allies. As hard as that was to admit.

So far, she only had one lead on where Tano could be. And that lead was the person Tano had last been seen with, and according to the report released by the Empire, was someone strongly connected to the former Jedi Padawan. The name struck Asajj with great surprise. But, at least she had her lead.

When Ahsoka finished crying, Bane made her lie down in bed and kept an eye on her in case she tried to run away without him knowing. After a while, he brought her something to eat.

"Hey, by the way…" Ahsoka said quietly after he came in and sat next to her while she ate. "When you said Anakin was going to 'brainwash me into one of his puppets.' What did you mean by that?"
Bane had hoped she wouldn't ask this question. He sighed and rubbed his forehead before leaning back in the chair with his drink.

"You remember about three years ago when I was hired to kidnap Force-sensitive children?"

Her shoulders tensed a bit and a small frown creased her face. He didn't blame her. No one forgives you for stealing innocent kids, and no one ever should. It was one of those things you had to learn to carry with you forever.

"I remember."

"My employer…he was planning to, I guess, 'brainwash' those kids."

"Yeah, we kind of figured that much. But you're sure it was brainwashing?"

"Technically I wasn't allowed to know the specifics of what he was up to with those kids. But when I was at the facility I got a few hints, and a glimpse inside. Anyone could have put two and two together."

"And?"

He closed his eyes for a moment before continuing.

"I think he was some sort of Sith. And he wanted to kidnap Force-sensitives in order to train them and control them."

"Holy shit…" Ahsoka stared. "You're telling me that the Sith we were looking for…you worked for him?" She sounded angry.

"Hey, uh, a job's a job," he said quickly.

"Dammit, Cad."

He was about to throw an insult at her when the sensors alerted a security breach in the area. Quickly Bane got up to investigate.

"Great. Looks like someone found us. Better not be the Empire."

Ahsoka was oddly quiet, staring down at the plate of food Bane gave her.

"Hey, Soka. Get ready to leave if we have to, all right? It's going to be fine, I'm sure."

"It's not that. It's…I think I sense someone familiar in the Force. I know them."

"Don't tell me it's…"

"No, not Anakin." She shook her head.

Bane studied her expression. She did not seem dismayed, or even terrified. Perhaps that was a good sign that they were about to have someone who wasn't bad company.

It certainly would be a lovely change of pace.