Chapter XV
Ahsoka springs up off the chair, grabs her lightsaber, and opens the white blade. The blades tip just inches from Titus's chest. Ahsoka clenches the hilt as memories from the Clone Wars and Darth Titus come back to her.
Titus sighs, "Is that really necessary? I said there is no need for violence."
"You betrayed the Order and violated the Jedi Code, you murdered Jedi and individuals in several sectors."
"All in the past, there is no need to threat now."
Ahsoka doesn't take her lightsaber away from Titus.
"Your a Sith! Presumed to be dead, why are you here?"
"The same as you, in exile, trying to stay under the Empire's radar. Now, can we please have a civilized conversation? I mean no harm."
Ahsoka still doesn't trust Titus, but considering he hasn't made any attempt to attack her, she puts away her blade. She does however, keep her lightsaber in hand and puts some distance between her and Titus by pushing the empty chair back with the back of her leg. She sits down, willing to listen to the Sith, but keeps her guard up.
Titus puts his hood down to reveal his face, he in no way looks as Ahsoka remembers. What bits of skin that aren't covered by black and silver metal is a pale white, like a ghosts. His nose and mouth are masked by a respirator that Ahsoka can just faintly hear him breathe through. His eyes, as she last remembers being gold and filled with hate, are now blocked by red optic goggles that have been fused to his body.
"Thank you." he says through the built in voice dilators, "Do you like the temple? It was used as an outpost by the Jedi during the Mandalorian War some thousands of years ago, since then though, it's been abandoned."
"Ironic a Sith would chose this place as a hideout."
If Titus's could show emotion, there would be a sly smile on his face.
Titus shakes his head, "Sith, Jedi, Lightside or Dark, what does it matter? Both have been hunted since the fall of the Republic. You and I are much the same."
Ahsoka only glares at him and says nothing to his profound comparison.
"It's true, we are both deviants in the eyes of the Emperor, trying to stay two steps ahead of his goons. We are both renegades to his Empire, trying to do our part to bring it's end."
"And Hord's Rebellion is your way of doing such?"
"Yes, and I'm sure you have your own ways of dealing with the Empire. I doubt it was coincidence Callan's cell ran into you on Thakwaa. We share the same purpose, we share the same enemy, I suggest we form a friendship."
Ahsoka narrows her eyebrows, "An alliance?"
"If it's effective, yes. Together, we can fight the Empire off Thakwaa and every other system in the galaxy."
"Tempting, but how can I trust you? For all I know, your still a Sith."
Titus groans through his mask in frustration, "Forget the past. That chapter in my life is over, as I suspect yours is to the Jedi. After your master defeated me on Don Har, I became lost with no purpose. I wanted to destroy the Jedi with the Republic, then rule the galaxy, but when the Empire came, I was forced into hiding. I hate the Empire, and am willing to fight to bring its demise."
The chamber goes quiet as Ahsoka thinks to herself whether to trust Titus or not. His cause is the same as hers, fight and defeat the Empire. However, the confrontations she's had with him in the past life makes her skeptical of him.
Anakin's words come back to her from that day on Don Har several years ago.
There is always good in people Ahsoka, even in the worst of them, they just have to find it.
Ahsoka thinks to herself, Perhaps for now, we can be friends.
"Alright." Ahsoka says, "We can work together, at least for now."
Titus rises from the chair and onto his feet, he extends his bionic right hand out offering to shake Ahsoka's hand.
"Then it is settled." he says.
Ahsoka gets up and shakes Titus hand over their mutual agreement.
Titus nods at the deal, "I will gather my forces to prepare for the assault on Thakwaa. Have Callan notify me once you are ready for my assistance."
"I have a friend who may be able to help, it may take some time until I reach him."
"The more help, the better. Until then, farewell Ahsoka."
Ahsoka turns to exit the chamber, still mindful of the agreement she just made.
Titus waits until her hears the chamber door shut behind Ahsoka before walking off towards a separate room that branches off the Council Chambers. There are many doorways in the chamber that leads to different areas of the temple, training rooms, meditation chambers, living quarters, and the temple archives. One room however, Titus uses the most, the command room which gives him access to a holotable and the temples computer. The computer holds information and secrets of the Outer Rim in it's databanks from centuries ago.
Titus has plastered the walls with hand scribed images of various objects. Most of the pictures are triangular in shape, one of an ancient temple of some other world, and another drawn in third dimension of a small pyramid, with finer details on each of its faces.
There is writing on the walls, written in a forgot dialect that few can read today. Titus however can make out some words and has been working tirelessly to form them into a sentence.
Titus moves to the holotable and activates it's long range transmission. A life size image appears of an older figure dressed in black robes that hide his face, and he leans in on a bizarre cane.
The man says in a gruff voice, "What is it, my apprentice?"
Titus bows.
"A survivor of Order 66, my master. The once apprentice of Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano lives."