Chapter 19: What Ahsoka Thinks

Location not specified

Rogue Shadow

3633 ATC

"Ahsoka," PROXY said, "I believe a message is for you."

Ahsoka, slowly lifted her head from her meditation and looked at the droid. She had taken to meditation more often so as to sort through her life at large. Never before in her entire time as a Jedi has she ever had to meditate this much. She supposed that was because that was a time when she was impulsive and rather quick to action rather than thought. Her time spent away from all of that had given her more time to actually know herself better.

PROXY had been a great source of company more or less, and he provided her with training that she found actually challenging and varied. She was learning how to better wield her lightsaber and shoto for better offense and more practiced defense. She wouldn't pretend that she was good at defense. PROXY still could get through her defenses with enough time and perseverance. Her main strength was her agility and acrobatics. Ataru was her main form, and Shien was her means to defend against blasters and ranged weapons. She continued to hone these skills, but she also found herself much more capable with two blades than before, and she felt at least grateful that Starkiller was learning from her a bit like her learning from him.

With her friend in mind, Ahsoka rose from her position in the center of the meditation room and walked up to the waiting PROXY.

"Put him through," she said quietly.

Though her voice gave away little, she was more than excited and eager to hear his voice again. It had been long enough, and she was a little more than eager to see him again. She was about the best thing to happen to her in these weeks. He didn't demand anything from her, simply he said to find her path and find what makes her understand herself better. For that, she was grateful.

PROXY's form shifted and she held her arms at her side but her hands clenching in strange anxiousness. The image began to reconfigure and Ahsoka was quick to take in the form of Starkiller. Gone was his robe that he wore to enter the temple. It was replaced by a white robe that Ahsoka immediately recognized. These sort of robes were only given to those Jedi who were travellers across the galaxy often deployed to fight the enemies of the Republic directly. His hood was up, but his features were all visible, and he stood at full attention, standing straight and with his hands behind his back.

"You doing okay," he asked. "As PROXY's told me."

"I'm better now that I get to talk to you," she said.

"Sorry that I'm being held up here," he said, "I'd go with you, but I...needed to do some soul searching."

"It's alright," she assured, "You didn't judge me, so I won't do the same to you."

"Thanks," he said, "It's not the same without you. If I'm being honest with myself, the Jedi Council is not quite what I wished it to be."

"Yeah," Ahsoka sighed, "They aren't. Maybe they'll get it sorted out."

"Bit in all seriousness," he continued, "When I return to the ship, I'm going to have to tell you about something."

"Why can't it be talked about now," the Togruta inquired.

His paused seemed more than just unusual, but his expression, a grim and hard expression, told her that something was wrong. She hadn't seen that expression too often on him, as Starkiller was a person of neutrality, which sometimes made her wonder why he couldn't be a Jedi.

"Because," he whispered, "It's a matter of galactic importance."

That instantly piqued her interest.

"That important," she asked surprisingly.

"I don't trust anyone with this info," he said, "Not even the Jedi Council."

"I'll wait then," she said, "So what are you doing in the meantime?"

"As of right now," he said, "the council wants me on the hunt for Grievous, so I'll rejoin you. I've already told PROXY to readjust to Coruscant. Expect me the next day."

"Good," she said, "I've learned some new tricks while you were away."

"Then I hope you'll surprise me," he said, a small smile on his face.

She mirrored his expression in full.

"I think you'll approve greatly," she said.

"Was there anything else." he asked her.

"Nothing really," she said, "See you then."

"May the Force be with you," he concluded.

"And to you as well," she replied.

He then removed his arms from his back.

"I don't know if I told you this," he began, "But my name is Galen Marek. I think you've earned the right to use it."

Ahsoka was taken aback by this. Never had she heard a name besides his Sith-given name. and she repeated his name in her head. It was strange thing to tell her now, but just the same, it made her feel more confident in their relationship.

"Thanks for telling me...Galen," she said slowly.

His image faded back in PROXY. The droid began to fall forward before she grabbed him. It took the droid only a moment before he could stand more upright. She grabbed his shoulders and looked into his eyes, or visual receptors.

"It seems that master is trying to change from his upbringing," he said.

"I'm sure," Ahsoka said, "A Sith becoming a Jedi isn't any easy feat."

"That being said," PROXY said, "We should prepare for his arrival. The Rogue Shadow is now en route to Coruscant. We have a few hours before he comes. Is there anything you might need Miss Tano."

"PROXY, please," Ahsoka said, "Just Ahsoka."

"My apologies," he said, "Anything you might need Ahsoka."

For now, there wasn't anything she needed at the moment. For the moment, the Rogue Shadow had all of the amenities that she needed. She wasn't one to be really picky or needy to begin with.

"Nothing right now," she concluded, "But if I think of something, I'll tell you."

Jedi Temple

Must we continue this?

That was the thought of Starkiller as he stood there watching the interrogation of Dooku. So far, as predicted, he was speaking nothing, like any competent enemy would. Why the Jedi were even trying to do this was something that he questioned.

He was here only to watch for anything subtle. It was Skywalker and Kenobi interrogating him, and rather not to his speed or his preference.

Starkiller and Galen Marek constantly battled, with no clear victor. So far, he hadn't been given a profound enough reason to favor one over the other. Both Jedi and Sith offer something. but which one actually told him the truth? Was there a truth at all to either? Did one offer something greater than the other? Did both offer anything at all?

Why was it in his nature to question these things?

Because between the betrayal of the Sith and the oblivious Jedi, neither group truly motivated him to do what they wished him to do. Being amongst Jedi didn't do much to ease his mind. If they could not sense a Sith in their midst, what good were they? Let them burn in their weak ways and let the Sith take them over. They would learn, even without his interference. Someone would step up to the Sith and dethrone them sooner or later

"Is this interrogation really necessary, Master Yoda," Starkiller asked, "He speaks not and he is Sith, the sworn enemy of the Jedi."

"Patience," Yoda said, "young one. All things in good time."

"Patience where it is due," the Jedi argued, "Dooku refuses to speak, and that is why he is better dead."

"Executors, we are not," Yoda answered, "Protectors and guardians we are."

He should know better than to argue with a master who has lived for well over eight centuries. He should know better, but Starkiller knows that the Jedi cannot muster the necessity to do what they should. The Sith would be willing to do the same. To the Jedi, everyone was worthy of redemption, even a Sith, but in Starkiller's eyes, not all were worthy of such a gift.

However that would be a serious understatement because he was a Sith turned Jedi. If he was granted the same justice, why could the same not be said for Dooku? Who was he to decide the fate of people? Was there some truth to Master Yoda's words?

Try as he might, Starkiller didn't want to mull this for long. He was no longer any help here and was better off not being here in the first place.

"Permission to leave, master," he asked calmly.

"For what purpose, young one," Yoda asked.

He didn't answer immediately. It wasn't on purpose. It wasn't because he didn't care to answer, but he didn't have to consider it really carefully either. He simply paused and watched the pointless interrogation continue.

"My usefulness here has expired," he said, "I wish to meditate."

He turned his head to look down at the diminutive master and waited for the response. The master didn't answer immediately like him, but there was a thoughtful look to his face. Starkiller wondered if his mind was constantly open for the masters to look into him. All these thoughts in his mind might just as easily been there for the picking, despite his every attempt to try and conceal it.

"Very well young one," Yoda conceded, "Go, you may."

With a polite nod, he quickly moved out of the room, making his way out of the interrogation cell block, passing by the clones who were guarding the cell. He quickly retrieved his lightsabers.

He paused to stare at the second offhand lightsaber. It wasn't anything special at face value. Like his main lightsaber, it was skeletal in design with the intent of a form five master. Although Djem So wasn't a style he often used, he did know how to execute the moves at least relatively. However, knowing how to do the moves and executing them were two things entirely. Ahsoka might know about this than he did. Certainly if Anakin and Vader kept the same fighting style, he might have taught her a bit. She knew Shien very well, so it wasn't to far-fetched.

Speaking of his former master, he still hadn't decided how to deal with Skywalker. He laid out all the facts laid before him. Based on the encounters he had with the Jedi Knight, he had greater potential now than as Darth Vader, and Starkiller attributed that to the fact that perhaps Vader was crippled and damaged, not fully Human as Anakin Skywalker was. That being said, what Skywalker had in terms of potential, he lacked in experience, but that could easily be rectified with enough time and combat experience.

That was assuming he was persuaded to the Dark Side. And the only potential link between him and that fate was his wife, the Senator. Padme Amidala. Starkiller hadn't seen much of her, but he knew who she was based on holo videos and profiles and dossiers. He had PROXY hack into databases in the Republic and elsewhere to find as much as he could. The young senator was an easy target for Palpatine. Starkiller had no idea how close the two were in their marriage, but he figured their connection was very strong because the very idea of a Jedi and Senator being married was a very dangerous situation. They must love each other a great deal for them to be married.

Between being Jedi and Sith, Starkiller, or Galen Marek didn't have a clue as to what to do. In many ways, he prefered the older days of simply being a Sith assassin. It wasn't his place to question his master, just to carry out an order no matter the cost. Never had ever had the ability to decide the fate on anything in his entire life. Never before had he needed to care for anyone but himself and PROXY. Never before had he needed to battle between being a Jedi and a Sith.

And now, he was forced to do all of these things at once, and not a single soul in the galaxy could help him in this crisis.

He was truly alone, but wasn't that one of the things he was good at: being alone?

Excuses for being late? You don't want to hear them, besides updating other stories and being busy.

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Peace!