Chapter 17: Frustrations and Questions
"Masters, Count Dooku will not speak," Galen protested.
"Even so, we can't release him," Obi-Wan argued. "We need him."
Galen shook his head in both frustration and disagreement.
"He's more of a liability than a bargaining chip," Galen retaliated. "Dooku's purpose to the Dark Lord of the Sith was to fill the role of apprentice until a more powerful apprentice came to power. If the Dark Lord cared so much about his apprentice, he would have done something to save him."
In retrospect, he should have not said that. That phrase alone had given away too much. He waited for the inevitable question.
"Where would the Dark Lord find another," Master Plo Koon asked.
There it was. So predictable. Galen cursed his tongue for being so free.
"Well," Galen began. "I can only surmise what the Dark Lord plans, but I would not know where he could get another. His plan is very dangerous. We have absolutely no idea what it is, and that is why we should be more on guard."
"Have a suggestion, you do," Yoda inquired.
The Jedi nodded.
"Even though I am a Jedi, my affinity to the Dark Side has not waned in the least. The Dark Lord's ability to mask himself makes finding him...difficult, but I may have a better chance to find him than anyone in the order."
"We were following a lead before the Separatists began their attack on Coruscant, but the kidnapping of the Chancellor changed our schedules."
Even to the most oblivious person, there was something off.
"It seems really convenient that the Chancellor is kidnapped just as you are following up on a lead," Galen began. "Something is amiss. I don't know what, but something is not right."
"We have another matter to consider," Shaak Ti continued. "General Grievous is still on the run."
"Already taken care of. My ship, the Rogue Shadow tracks Grievous' every move. He will not escape my notice."
"Thorough, you are," Yoda chimed in. "Anxious, you seem."
Galen said nothing. His posture remained composed.
Galen was already having much trouble today. The Jedi Council however good their intentions were, were not going to be prepared to face the Chancellor. Palpatine had maneuvered himself into place so that he was virtually untouchable. Unless Palpatine openly admitted his true nature, which was a very low probability, any action taken against the Chancellor would be interpreted by the Senate as an act of aggression against the Republic and the Jedi may very well become enemies of the Republic.
In any case, there were many dangers that the Jedi Order was still oblivious to them. For one, that lead they had been follow prior to the Battle of Coruscant was the right step, but now they had halted their investigation. Still, he couldn't help but notice that the Council, when speaking about the Chancellor, was different. Their tones suggested distrust and suspicion. Their suspicions were justified considering the fact that slowly, but surely, they had more reason to be extremely distrustful.
Old ways died hard, both Starkiller and Galen could agree on. To his Sith side, Palpatine was painfully obvious and knowing of his identity was all he needed to surmise the plan of the Dark Lord. Yes, Darth Sidious controlled both sides of the war, but Galen had not thought how he could eliminate all the Jedi. As powerful as Sidious was, he was not powerful enough to destroy the Jedi Order singlehandedly or he would have done so already.
Then, another thought crossed his mind. If Sidious wanted to conquer the galaxy with the Droid army, he could do so, but that seemed a little too obvious, and the Republic could possibly erupt in chaos. With the clones, he could transition more easily. It was not lost on him that Sidious had grown more powerful as the war progressed. The Senate had granted him power, and the Jedi Council had kept watch over this development, determining that it was serious enough to warrant more attention. He could order the Republic to turn on the Jedi Order given the proper circumstances.
If so, the clones could be ordered to attack the Jedi on sight and the Jedi would have no warning.
Caught between a rock and a hard place, he thought grimly.
Why had he decided to remain here to solve the Jedi's problems? He had been neglecting Ahsoka by not helping her with her problems. He had promised to help her, and although he hadn't spoken to her for some time, he was more than concerned.
Curse these insufferable Jedi and their blasted...incompetence. And curse you Ahsoka for making my existence more complex than it already is.
00000000000
Ahsoka attacked and slashed at an unknown enemy with frustration. He still hadn't spoken to her, and she did not like to be ignored, not when she still had many things on her mind. Her slashes became more randomized and rapid. She needed to vent, and right now, she was aggressively attacking.
"Miss Tano, we are currently approaching the Utapau System."
Ahsoka sheathed her blades and tapped into her comm.
"Got it. I'll be there to help."
She quickly made her way into the cockpit. From there, she could see the system of Utapau. She had never been there personally, but she had heard that this system was neutral system, like many other worlds in the Republic. Theoretically, it was a good place to hide; the Republic would never forcefully bring neutral worlds into war, not unless the Republic wished to wane in support, and with the future of the Republic at stake, the war could not be lost, or hundreds of systems would suffer.
The war, from the latest reports on the holonet news, was heavily criticized for its cost in lives, living areas, and the environment. Millions were dead, but now was the chance to end it all when Grievous was eliminated or captured. As much as Ahsoka did enjoy and learn a great deal on the battlefield, she was now forced to look ahead more, something she had not really ever done before. Never had she discussed the future with anyone much. She was more about the present. Then again, she was a different person during the earlier days of the war than now. Maybe staying with...Starkiller had affected more profoundly than she even realized.
However, Ahsoka could also see that Starkiller, being out of his element in many numerous ways, was also subject to similar experiences that she had to deal with, although his were more severe and hampering. As far as she knew, he kept secrets from her, he kept secrets from the Jedi Council. Even from their conversations, he was always awkward and not one for small talk, at least not until he actually knew a person reasonable well. She herself was no expert herself and she would be the first to admit it, although like her combat and war experience, she did learn a few things from Anakin. He was naturally good at conversation, more so than many Jedi in the order. Oh how she wondered about him, wondered, but nothing more.
She crossed her arms and stared into open space. The Rogue Shadow had now stopped. PROXY was busy over the controls as well as some readings. He seemed to be working a kilometer a minute.
"PROXY, what are we doing here," Ahsoka asked. "I'm guessing we're here for more than just sightseeing."
"You are correct, Miss Tano," PROXY responded. "Master has been in contact with the ship and has kept me apprised of the going ons of the Jedi Council and the Senate in order for this to work better."
Starkiller had been in contact with PROXY? Why hadn't he bothered to talk to her? Her fists clenched and she scowled. How dare he ignore her.
When he gets back her, I am going to get answers.
"Something bothers you, Miss Tano," PROXY asked.
She was not going to hide it.
"Why hasn't he contacted me," she demanded.
"The master has not neglected you. I keep him informed about your training and meditation."
Not good enough for her.
"Why doesn't he talk to me himself," she demanded again.
"He did not give any reasons for his behavior, but I may have an idea, one I should not speak to you about."
More secrets. There were enough of those, and Ahsoka hated being kept in the loop.
"I won't tell him, but I feel helpless without knowing what's going on," she said.
PROXY did not turn to face her, but his slowing in work did tell the Togruta that he was thinking it over. He then turned in the pilot chair he was sitting in to face her.
"Before the Master's unexpected destination here, he did not fly himself. Darth Vader had ordered pilots to take him to his destinations."
"He never told me that," she said. "All he ever told me was that he was ordered to hunt down fugitives."
"For now, the fugitives are unimportant, but what I can tell you is that his latest pilot, Captain Juno Eclipse may be the reason for his...hesitance towards you."
That little bit of information peaked her interest. Seeing her interest, PROXY continued.
"In many ways," he said, "you may remind him of her."
"In what way," she pried.
"Your eyes, for one. He always did seem to grow fond of Captain Eclipse's eyes, and your eyes are like hers."
Ahsoka might have blushed if she was a normal person, but she didn't. She wasn't one for comments about her looks, not that she didn't feeling...flattered about them.
"How close were the two?"
"They were friends by the time Master had completed his final trial to Lord Vader. It was a relatively short period of time that they knew each other, and yet, he trusted her very much."
Ahsoka nodded, mulling over what the droid had said. It made some sense, but she got the feeling there was more, but PROXY, like Starkiller, was carefully guarded, and she couldn't use the Force to get anything from the droid.
"The Master simply needs time, and right now, the Jedi Council has been calling him to serve. He may be more willing to answer questions when the time is right."
When the time was right? When would that be? She was already impatient enough waiting for him to finish his business with the Jedi, and as much as she wanted to talk to him about the nature of their relationship, she dared not to return to Coruscant. Too much pain was there. It was in the past, and she needed to move on. She was only here because she needed to sort out her conflicts, and perhaps help Starkiller with his issues, but he was making it difficult to do either. Despite his training and his words of guidance, she still had a great deal to sort out. Her self-confidence was slowly recovering and she felt better in the past few weeks, but him not being here was making it harder for her to do, and he seemed to be in no hurry to come back.
Maybe she needed some time away from all of this. The war, the Jedi, all of it. She was more than able to care for herself. Starkiller was occupied, and she couldn't sit here idle while he was doing things like this. If he felt he needed to help the Jedi, she she felt she needed to figure out her problems herself. She needed to do that before she could really face him. The Dark Jedi could take care of himself, and being around was probably more trouble than good. As long as he involved himself with the order that had disavowed her, she could never really figure all of this out.
Where she would go, however, was another thing she had yet to think about. Better yet, she wondered if PROXY would even comply with her request. She was on Starkiller's ship, and he might not approve, but then again, he wasn't here, so why should it matter to him. If his duties as a Jedi were more important, than she should let him handle that.
Damn you, Starkiller. Why do you make my life so difficult?
A little too short for my liking, but I got it out. I might have messed up the fine details of this story, so you can tell me about it if you see it. For those who want a hint as to what happens, well, you're not getting any hints. You have to read to see where this goes. that being said, reviews are helpful so I can retool my writing or themes if need be. Peace and victory be with you!