Puissant

A Star Wars the Clone Wars Story

An hour earlier, Anakin Skywalker was sure he'd got the wrong landing platform. All around him was a blur of white armor-clad soldiers talking excitedly amongst each other. He was there to see his padawan arrive as he'd wanted to be the first thing she saw when she stepped off the ship. Though the jedi knight doubted that would happen now as more and more clones arrived. Seeing the red markings of a familiar clone, Anakin rushed over.

"Commander Fox, what's going on?" The Commander stood at attention before answering simply, "We're here to see Commander Tano Sir. We want to show our support." The clone didn't wait to answer any more questions as he left the confused jedi behind and started rallying the men towards the landing bay.

"Ohhkay," Anakin thought for a minute before he understood and swelled with pride. He had seen the holovid and it had made him angry. Very angry. Now, now he saw it in a different way. Anakin saw it as the clones must have. A force-sensitive commander, a jedi, their superior, mourning the death of one of their own. A shiny rookie after he was murdered ruthlessly. Skywalker caught the small tear that had dripped from his padawan's cheek and he'd felt the power of the force that exploded from her at that moment. He could still feel the reverberations of it now and knew he wasn't alone in that.

"You should be proud Skywalker," A serene voice filled the air as Anakin turned to see Shaak Ti standing behind him. Her hands were latched together as she gave him a small smile. "Your padawan is the buzz at Kamino. I've got new trainees that have been struggling with the thought of going to war suddenly excel. They want to be the best… so that they'll be assigned to your unit."

"Master Ti," Taken aback Skywalker greeted her formally, the togruta nodded, "I am very proud of Ahsoka."

"Yet, I sense your uneasiness. You're afraid your padawan won't forgive you. That she'll blame you for what happened on Umbara," Shaak told him as she walked by his side. She'd always been wiser than most.

The young jedi knight sighed, his robotic arm curled into a fist, "Shouldn't she though? I'm her master. I'm supposed to be there to teach her and protect her."

"Not everyone agreed with the council's decision Skywalker, but they did make the decision. It was an order and you followed it. I don't believe Ahsoka will blame you," Shaak added her calm demeanor easily calming him as well, "Perhaps this will be an experience well learned from. It's definitely not one that she or any of these men will forget anytime soon. I don't think any of us will. Your padawan showed a power none of us have seen or felt before. Not even from your Skywalker."

Out of all the members of jedi council besides Obi-Wan, it was Master Ti whom Skywalker tolerated the most. She had a deep compassion and cared deeply about the clones she trained and sent out to battle. Though the Jedi Knight was surprised to hear that she hadn't agreed with the council's decision to re-assign Ahsoka. That he didn't see coming.

"Are those your ARC Troopers?" Anakin asked seeing the three men walk forward in very distinct armor.

Shaak Ti nodded a small smile gracing her lips, "They requested to come along."

"As did my Commander… Master Skywalker, Master Ti," Luminara Unduli greeted them from behind. Anakin caught the markings of Gree, the clone soldier as he excused himself from his general to meet up with his fellow men.

The two walked in silence as they reached the gathering of the other council members. Plo Koon, Kit Fisto, Ki-Adi Mundi, Adi Gallia, and Tiplar greeted him kindly. Anakin was equally surprised to see the amount of jedi that showed up. Though he figured it was really to get a sense on Krell to reach out into the force for confirmation that it was true. That the besalisk had turned on his men and padawan. That he had fallen to the dark side. It was a traitorous move that shocked them all. It was something that slipped through, right beneath the entire jedi order. Anakin didn't need to see him to know it was true. He could feel the hurt and pain and loss in his padawan.

Yes, he wanted to hurt Krell like he'd hurt Ahsoka, but for that moment all he cared about was Ahsoka.

"Skywalker, I heard your mission was a success, correct?" Mace Windu asked as he and Yoda made their way towards the group.

"Yes Master. I discovered where the coded threats were coming from only to find a young Rodian male with a grudge against the jedi. He'd gathered a few followers, but he had no real way to actually follow through," Anakin told him plainly as he thought about the waste of time the whole mission really was, "I took care of it."

No one fully noticed as his eyes darkened partially.

"Good to hear it," Mace continued, "I imagine that you'll want to interrogate General Krell, Skywalker?"

Anakin thought for a minute, the jedi patiently waiting his reply. He felt like it was a test as their eyes pressed him for an answer, but shook his head simply, "Actually Masters. I'd like to leave that to you. My first priority is making sure my padawan is healthy and well."

He could practically feel the shock ripple through each of them. Skywalker would get his time with Krell. He'd be sure of that.

General Windu brought a hand to his chin, deep in thought, "Indeed."

Anakin drummed his fingers with excitement as he kept his arms folded across his chest. The clones had fallen into order in rows on both sides of the platform. The jedi general could see the ship coming for a landing as the murmurings of jedi behind him quieted down. He could sense their own anticipation and apprehension as the frigate landed gently, the ramp reached for the ground and the doors opened.

He half-expected Ahsoka to come bounding out with a small smile and bright eyes. Though it would be Obi-Wan and six clone troopers that led the way with General Krell sandwiched in the middle. Immediately, he felt the dark side creeping in, the anger and the hate clear and present as the very ground they stood on. Muffled gasps and lowering of heads were like a ripple effect among his jedi comrades. The force-sensitive group twitched, unable to fully quench their young jedi knight had to quell his own spurt of anger that threatened to explode out of him. Biting his tongue, Anakin caught Obi-Wan's eyes before his former master lowered his head.

He too felt a sense of guilt.

Reaching the group, the six clones dispersed to either side, joining their brothers. Obi-wan gave the jedi a nod before he turned around with Krell in arms, as the older jedi understood what was to happen next. The clones moved to stand at a higher attention, with their arms behind their backs. Then Anakin saw it. Ahsoka's red boots making their way down the ramp. Her step matched two white armor-clad sets of feet as the three made their way together.

As they reached the bottom and Ahsoka came into view, Anakin frowned. His already tiny padawan was barely skin and bones. Her white-bandaged hands were cause for concerns as well as the healing, but nasty bruise on her lekku. She looked as though she was barely holding herself up. "Oh Ahsoka. I'm so sorry."

Though as his young padawan took in her surroundings he saw her posture straighten and her eyes brighten. Her entire force signature lit up in confusion and light as she moved forward. Her head swiveled back to Rex and Cody as the latter yelled out, "Atten-tion!"

Both Rex and Cody removed their helmets, opposite of standard protocol, before raising a hand in salute, in respect to their Commander. Anakin could feel it. She had been accepted as one of them, a brother. Or rather- a little sister. It was an amazing sight. Something that he has never seen before. None of them have. He'd always told Ahsoka to get to know the men as many of them had something to teach her. It also went a long way on the battlefield in forms of trust. He'd been pleased when his padawan had taken it in stride, getting to know each of them individually. Now this, he couldn't be prouder.

Skywalker had also seen the holovid Ahsoka had sent Padme. His padawan had managed to lead in terrible circumstances while under direct orders from a jedi master whom she was obligated to follow. She and the men under her command tried and succeeded valiantly with a plan that not even he'd suggest. Ahsoka had found strength with the men and the men with her until leaving them with no choice they succeeded in bringing Krell down. A massive jedi with decades more experience than any of them had. It was nothing short of amazing. Yet still, his padawan should never of gone through that. He hoped she wouldn't have to go through it again.

That's when she looked right at him, Ahsoka's blue eyes caught his. She brightened up immensely as Anakin smiled too. His arms held out. He'd planned on giving her a hug whether she wanted it or not, but as her tiny form bounded towards him, barreling into his arms it was unexpected to say the least as he stumbled back a bit.

It was in a moment like this that reminded him how young his padawan really was.

Shaak Ti and Luminara Unduli tried to hold back their smiles, but were failing. If Plo Koon could smile, he would have. Kit Fisto, who'd win an award for best smile in the galaxy, didn't even try to to hold his back and was all teeth. Master Yoda even smiled as he worked his way over to the master and padawan finally united in a small moment. Though the wise jedi felt the change in the force as the darkness that had been clouding the jedi lifted slightly. Mace Windu did not smile as he rubbed his hand against his chin once again.

General Kenobi smiled before shaking his head. Krell snarled, the whole moment sickening him as Master Yoda spoke, leading the group away. Obi-wan led the traitor away to the waiting guards before handing him off.

"Keep an eye on him," He muttered before also turning away.

He had a debriefing to attend and a young friend to stand by.

How was it? Was it too much? I'm excited for the remainder of the story! Let me know what you think! Any suggestions, comments, criticisms and reviews are really appreciated. Thank you for sticking with this.

-Flipside