Anger?
Confusion?
Rage?
Despair?
Hatred?
Sorrow?
Pity?
Ahsoka didn't know which one she should feel. None of them seemed right, at least on their own, especially not when confronting the person who had caused her life to change in such a dramatic manner.
One one hand, Barriss Offee's actions had led to the shattering of any trust Ahsoka had in the Jedi Order, leaving her alone for the first time in over a decade.
On the other hand, Barriss' actions had also led her to a comfortable place in her life, serving Chancellor Palpatine, whilst owning an apartment in the most prestigious building on Coruscant, with plenty of credits to back it up.
How should she feel about that? Barriss had simultaneously ruined her life and put her on a new path to success and happiness. Should she be angry with Barriss? Want revenge for her crimes against her?
Or should she be grateful for it all? Ahsoka really didn't know, even as Barriss sighed softly, turning away from the threshold of the doorway and entering into the small apartment she had rented, leaving the door open for Ahsoka to follow.
Taking a deep breath Ahsoka moved into the small apartment, keeping her senses heightened in case of a trap. After their last encounter Ahsoka wouldn't put it past Barriss to try and ambush her again. This time she would be prepared.
"Nice place you're living in." Ahsoka quipped as she glanced around the apartment. It was nothing more than a single central room with a bathroom and bedroom attached to it. Nothing as spacious like Ahsoka's own apartment, but a good place to retreat to if needed.
Surveying the room Ahsoka spotted a small stove in one corner with a sink next to it. It wasn't exactly a great kitchen, but it would do for preparing small meals for one. In a way it sort of reminded Ahsoka of the small apartment she had rented on Coruscant while she was still working for Dex.
The central room was also home to several pieces of worn out furnishings. Several chairs sat around a wonky table only had three legs, and in the back sat a small holovision facing towards a badly torn leather couch.
All in all it was not a patch on her Coruscant apartment, something that Ahsoka was sorely missing right now. She'd give anything to be back in her bed enjoying the warmth and softness of it rather than be here confronting the person who made everything go so wrong.
"It's a far cry from the jail cell I was locked up in." Barriss' response was bitter, but not towards Ahsoka. It was as if her anger was directed elsewhere. Ahsoka could guess at who with ease.
"A jail cell that you escaped. You could have stayed put." Ahsoka countered, trying to keep her tone level, so as not to outright challenge Barriss. She was telling the truth when she had told the Temple Guard that she wasn't looking for a fight.
"I was going to. But then a squad of Commando droids showed up. They were going to execute me. The only way to survive was to run." Barriss explained, offering more detail to the events of the prison break than Ahsoka had beforehand. Barriss' words explained how Poggle and Tambor had managed to escape. Commando droids were not to be trifled with.
Still, that didn't justify stealing a ship and fleeing to Nal Hutta of all places.
"Why didn't you stay put after you'd escaped the droids then? Why'd you steal a ship and make off like a wanted fugitive rather than stay and face justice?" Ahsoka questioned, trying again not to sound too hostile. She didn't want to fight.
"I… I don't know why. It just didn't feel right."
"And bombing the Jedi Temple did? Framing me for a crime that nearly got me executed did?!" This time Ahsoka couldn't help the anger in her voice, especially not at the way Barriss had nonchalantly responded in the first place.
"You wouldn't have been executed. They didn't execute me. Besides, I'm sure Master Skywalker and his men would have broken you out if they'd found you guilty." Barriss began to reason, more with herself than with Ahsoka.
"We both know that neither of us believe that Barriss. Despite my years of service with them the 501st did nothing to help me during that sham. Rex even put out a damn order to hunt me down and capture me. Only Anakin and Senator Amidala believe in me, and despite his strength not even Anakin could have broken me out of such a heavily fortified facility. You left me there to die Barriss, and from the sounds of it did so without remorse."
Ahsoka knew her words were harsh, especially in relation to Rex and the 501st. She had forgiven them for their lack of support, just as she had forgiven Obi-Wan and Chancellor Palpatine as well.
But that didn't mean she had forgotten.
Barriss however had done nothing to help. She had in fact done the opposite and made everything worse.
And now she was trying to justify her escape… and convince herself that Ahsoka would have been ok if found guilty?!
Ahsoka didn't want to fight her… but the urge to knock Barriss out and take her back to Coruscant like that was beginning to grow inside of her.
"No I… I would have come and rescued you again!"
Again, Barriss' words were an attempt at self convincing. She didn't believe her own words, but it was all she had to go on. It was that or accept that she was a monster.
"Why did you do it Barriss? Why did you frame me of all people?" Ahsoka asked after taking a deep breath, pushing aside her desire to attack the Mirialan and take her back through force. She really didn't want a fight today.
"I, I didn't mean to Ahsoka. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. If Letta had called someone different to her cell to talk it would have been them." Barriss began to reason, pacing back and forth in front of Ahsoka, hands writhing together in discomfort.
"Wrong place at the wrong time?! Are you seriously telling me that you'd have framed someone else as well? What if it had been Master Luminara that went to the cell? Or Master Windu? Would you have framed them as well?" Ahsoka replied, struggling to keep her voice level. The very idea of someone framing Master Windu for a murder, let alone the bombing of the Jedi Temple was absurd. No one would have believed it in a million years.
The same went for framing Luminara Unduli. Despite her strict adhesion to the Jedi code, the Mirialan master was kind and gentle, and would never do anything as obscene as murder innocents to send a message.
'But you were nothing but an outspoken Padawan to a mentor that was reckless himself. It would have been far easier to frame you!' Ahsoka's mind whispered to her darkly, sending a rush of anger through her body upon realizing how true that statement was. Ahsoka had been an easy target to frame, and she would have never predicted Barriss was the one setting her up.
Barriss had planned this to the very last detail. She knew exactly what she was doing all along, and exactly who she was framing.
She had to pay.
"I don't believe you Barriss. I think you saw an opportunity to use our friendship as a tool for your schemes."
"No! I didn't mean to hurt you Ahsoka. I was trying to show you…"
"Show me what Barriss?! That I couldn't trust you? That I couldn't trust anyone?"
"YES!"
Barriss yell in response was enough to make Ahsoka stop with her statements. Whereas before all of Barriss' words have been filled with hesitation and uncertainty, her outcry was vastly different. She was resolute, something that the Force backed up. Barriss had been trying to show Ahsoka something.
"I... I thought that…," Barriss began, moving across the apartment floor before leaning against a wall on the opposite end of the room to Ahsoka, one hand resting on her head, eyes looking everywhere apart from at Ahsoka.
"I thought that if I could show you what the Jedi had become... what the Republic had become…, I thought that I could save you before it was too late. Help you get away from the corruption and hypocrisy. I was just trying to help you." Barriss continued, words slow and despondent, clearly disgusted with her actions taken against Ahsoka.
"How does framing me for terrorism help me Barriss?" Ahsoka countered, voice calm once again, this time choosing to listen to Barriss' words rather than get angry. She didn't want to fight!
"I needed you to see Ahsoka! See what the Republic has become! They wanted to execute you! A teenage girl! That alone should show you what the Republic and the Jedi have become!"
If Ahsoka was being entirely honest with herself, she could see what Barriss meant, and she agreed that the Republic and the Jedi were failing not only the people they set out to support, but failing themselves as well. Ahsoka was no expert on history, nor did she have a strong grasp on politics, at least not enough to make an informed decision, but from where she was standing, from what she could see, Ahsoka would say that the days of the Republic and the Jedi Order were numbered unless they underwent some sort of radical change. Both entities had let the war change them to a point where they were unrecognizable to Ahsoka.
She only hoped that the Republic would be salvageable at the end of the conflict. With someone like Chancellor Palpatine in charge they at least stood a fighting chance at restoring things to the way they were.
But in the end it mattered little what Ahsoka thought. Her trial and abandonment by the Jedi Council had shown her that. For now she had a job to do, and it was a job given to her by one of the few people left who had given her a chance.
Sighing to herself, Ahsoka spoke, her voice calm and patient.
"I understand what you were trying to do Barriss. I just wished that you would have talked to me. Maybe we could have sorted this before it went too far."
"Talking wouldn't have helped Ahsoka. The Council, the Senate, all they do is talk all day and nothing gets resolved. I had to take action. I had to show them what they were, to show you what they were. I never meant you to get hurt Ahsoka. I was trying to protect you."
"Be that as it may Barriss, you still committed a heinous crime and people were killed. You can't run away from this. You're coming back with me to Coruscant whether you like it or not."
Barriss' demeanor shifted in an instant, the air around her feeling like it had dropped several degrees in temperature. Her eyes hardened suddenly, boring into Ahsoka's with a look she had never seen in the Mirialan before, one that chilled Ahsoka to the bone.
Her presence in the Force also changed, a rush of anger emerging suddenly, but held in restraint by a thin barrier, threatening to spill over at any moment.
Ahsoka knew she would have to choose her next words carefully, lest she lose control of the situation.
"I can't go back, Ahsoka. I won't!" Barriss spoke slowly, hands slowly clenching as she turned to face Ahsoka, all signs of shame and regret gone from her body. Her posture was one of confrontation, a sign that she was prepared to fight.
Well, so was Ahsoka.
"It's non-negotiable Barriss. By order of Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine, you are under arrest. Surrender peacefully."
Barriss' lips began to curl, exposing her teeth in a way that reminded Ahsoka of a predator. It was not something that she had ever expected to see from a Mirialan, whose race was more often than not known for being peaceful.
Then again, it was clear now that she didn't really know who Barriss was.
Reaching down to her belt, Ahsoka grasped hold of her lightsaber hilt, but didn't ignite it. She didn't want to resort to violence. She would only do so as a last resort.
Barriss remained motionless except for her eyes, which slowly followed the way Ahsoka's hand moved to grasp her lightsaber hilt, before raising her eyes to meet Ahsoka's once more. The normally peaceful blue eyes of Barriss Offee were a storm of emotions, emotions that Ahsoka had seen before in people like Anakin. He however had never meant harm to innocents, only those that deserved it.
Both Togruta and Mirialan stood, each waiting to see who would make the first move. Ahsoka was certain that Barriss was going to try and escape. All of her body language suggested so. If she did, then Ahsoka would pursue her. Nothing was going to stop her from bringing Barriss to justi…
In a split second Barriss moved, thrusting one hand forward, palm facing towards Ahsoka, whilst the other made a gesture to something on the far end of the room.
Ahsoka felt the Force crash into her as directed by Barriss, sending her body careening backwards into a nearby wall and leaving her slumped on her floor.
Groaning to herself, Ahsoka managed to raise her head fast enough to see Barriss vaulting over a table towards her, a sudden flash of blue light erupting from something in her hand.
Recognizing the blue light instantly, Ahsoka barely managed to grasp hold of her own lightsaber hilt to ignite it in time, bringing her golden blade up to block Barriss attempted lethal strike.
"Where did you get that?!" Ahsoka snarled, shocked to see that somehow Barriss had acquired a lightsaber.
Then again, she shouldn't have been surprised. Out here deep in Hutt territory, all sorts of things were sold on the black market, including lost lightsabers apparently.
"Mind your own business!" Barriss hissed in reply, bringing her blade back from the saberlock before twirling it in her hands and bringing it back down towards where Ahsoka was still sat on the floor.
Knowing that she didn't have the strength or the position to block such a strike, Ahsoka instead extinguished her own blade and threw her weight to the side, evading out of the way of the strike whilst simultaneously using the momentum from her movement to push herself to her feet.
Spinning on her heel, Barriss advanced towards Ahsoka with her blue blade in hand, poised to strike. Ahsoka knew that there would be no more negotiation. That meant she was going to have to do this the hard way, even if it hurt her to do so. She didn't want to fight… but it seemed she had no choice.
Igniting her own saber, Ahsoka entered into her favoured ready position, lightsaber falling into the familiar reverse grip she was comfortable with. The last time she had dueled Barriss she had been unprepared. Her opponent had been an unknown and she had been tired and sore.
This time however she was not, and she knew who she was dealing with.
Barriss clearly recognized this as well. Rather than attack, the Mirialan once again used the Force.
Several objects around the room, ranging from small plates and vases to larger items such as the holovision and even a spare chair suddenly came flying towards Ahsoka, forcing her to break off her focus on Barriss to find a way to evade.
The plates and vases were easy. The chair, less so.
Try as she may, once again Ahsoka found herself knocked back by Barriss' manipulation of the Force. However this time things differed.
Rather than attempt to strike at Ahsoka whilst she was down, the Mirialan spared a brief glimpse at Ahsoka as she began to push the chair off of her, before bolting out of the door.
"Damnit!" Ahsoka spat as she rose to her feet to follow Barriss. As she exited the now trashed apartment, Ahsoka brought her wristcomm up to her face.
"Temple Guard? Are you there? Barriss is making a run for it!"
"Copy." Was the only response she received, but that was good enough. Between the two of them they could hopefully take Barriss.
Still, it wouldn't hurt to have a backup plan.
"Thrawn? Do you copy?" Ahsoka spoke again as she rounded a corner, trusting her instincts that she was following the same route as Barriss.
"I am here Agent Tano. Have you encountered compl...copl...difficulties with your mission?"
"I had her cornered but she ran Thrawn. I need you to prep the 'Huntress'. For all we know she might have another ship hidden somewhere. This could turn into a bit of a pursuit."
"I have been trying to find an excuse to test my piloting skills in such a situation. I shall warm up the ship now." Came Thrawn's reply, an edge of excitement in his tone. Ahsoka wished she felt the same. There was nothing exciting about pursuing one of your closest friends turned traitor.
Following her instincts, Ahsoka ran through the hallways of the apartment complex, hoping that she was on the right track. Barriss had a headstart for sure, but she was outnumbered.
Turning another corner, Ahsoka saw a blur edge round another corner up ahead. The Force sang encouragement to her, so Ahsoka pushed on.
"Barriss! Stop running!" Ahsoka called out, knowing that it was in vain but trying nonetheless. Barriss wasn't going to stop for her, not by choice.
As Ahsoka dashed round the corner she had seen Barriss disappear at, she finally saw just how close she was to catching up to the Mirialan.
Barriss stood at the end of a long hallway, in front of a large window that overlooked the streets of Bilbousa below. She was at a dead end.
Slowing to a walk, Ahsoka reignited her own lightsaber, moving the blade to protect her body just in case Barriss tried anything else.
The Mirialan glanced back and forth between Ahsoka and the window, clearly contemplating what the best course of action would be.
It didn't take long for Barriss to decide, as evidenced by the way her own acquired lightsaber flashed into existence, bathing her in a bright blue hue of light.
"Don't follow me Ahsoka. Turn back now."
With that, Barriss pivoted on her heels and slashed at the window, cracking the glass to allow her to pass through it easily.
By the time Ahsoka's legs had carried her to the now broken window, she was able to catch a glimpse of Barriss landing in a perfect roll, before sprinting off down the street.
Bracing herself, Ahsoka too vaulted out of the now open window, landing comfortably thanks to the Force cushioning her fall, before breaking into a sprint after Barriss, not caring if anyone around her saw. Her goal was to catch Barriss. She didn't care what others thought she was doing.
The streets of Bilbousa were like a maze to the unprepared, and made even worse by the fact that Ahsoka was currently involved in a high speed on foot chase through the streets. Every corner she turned, every alleyway she slipped through made her feel more and more lost. Were it not for the Force guiding her, Ahsoka would have given up by now.
But the Force pressed her on, encouraging her to take a specific route to find Barriss. If the Force thought she was on the right course, who was Ahsoka to argue with it.
Another minute of seemingly blind pursuit later and Ahsoka finally caught a glimpse of Barriss, as did another individual.
From the rooftops a figure pounced, twin yellow blades erupting from the saber staff he held as it was thrown through the air towards where Barriss was headed, hilt rotating with terrifying velocity.
The Mirialan clearly sensed the incoming attack, pivoting on her heels mid run, her own blue blade coming up to deflect the thrown saberstaff, knocking it harmlessly to the ground.
"Barriss! Stop!" Ahsoka called out as she spotted the Mirialan once again break into her own run, this time headed towards a large set of doors, one that by the looks of it led to a set of landing pads.
Barriss darted through the doorway, before turning and raising her hands, channeling the Force.
Seconds later the large doors slammed shut, sealing out both Ahsoka and the newly arrived Temple Guard, who had summoned his own saber back into his hand, one side ignited.
Understanding what his intentions were, Ahsoka ignited her own lightsaber, plunging it into the door before her. Beside her the Temple Guard did the same, the two of them working in unison to create an entrance. It reminded Ahsoka of her time with Anakin. They had done similar things in the past after all.
Half a minute of precision cutting later and a rectangular section of the doorway broke off, falling backwards and creating an opening for them both, one that the Temple Guard immediately seized upon.
Having no choice but to follow, Ahsoka stepped through the hole and continued the pursuit.
Upon passing through however Ahsoka could see she was already too late.
A pair of Rodians lay sprawled on the floor clutching stumps of their arms, a clear sign of lightsaber wounds likely inflicted by Barriss. Ahsoka felt a rush of disgust build up inside her at the thought of Barriss hurting more people, possibly even killing them!
She had to be stopped.
"YOU COWARD!" A roar of anger came from the Temple Guard, drawing Ahsoka's attention to the unexpected situation that was before her.
The Temple Guard was stood with both arms out, his signature in the Force one of fury and concentration as he tried to keep something in place with great difficulty.
What he was trying to keep in place turned out to be a small one person shuttle, one that Barriss had clearly stolen.
And one that now had a pair of cannons pointed directly at the Temple Guard.
"No!" Ahsoka cried as she darted towards the Temple Guard, barrelling into him and forcing them both to the ground just as the cannons fired on the spot where the Temple Guard had previously been stood. Had he still been standing there when the shots hit their target…
Despite the sudden impact, the Temple Guard recovered quickly, vaulting back to his feet and reaching for a small device on his belt, before reaching his arm back and throwing whatever it was towards the shuttle Barriss had stolen.
Ahsoka glanced up in time to see the small device latch onto the shuttle before it began to gain altitude, no doubt headed for orbit. Chances were the shuttle had a hyperdrive, and that could lead them to losing their target.
The Temple Guard however seemed remarkably content with that, as evidenced by the way he turned his attention towards Ahsoka instead of the now departing shuttle.
Gloved hands came down to offer Ahsoka a hand up, one that she happily accepted.
"Thanks." The Togruta said, a small smile on her face despite the defeat.
"I should be the one saying that. You likely saved my life."
Nodding her head, Ahsoka brought her commlink up to her lips and began to speak.
"Thrawn! Barriss made it to a shuttle and is trying to escape!"
Thrawn's response was instantaneous.
"I spotted." The Chiss replied as the sudden presence of the 'Huntress' hung over the landing pad, rear ramp lowered to allow the two Force users to jump aboard. Reaching into the Force, both Ahsoka and the Temple Guard pushed themselves off of the ground, landing on the tip of the ramp with ease before heading inside, both headed towards the cockpit.
Traversing a ship this small whilst the pilot sharply pulled it upwards into the sky was never an easy task, and more than once Ahsoka felt her balance wobble and nearly falter. The Temple Guard too appeared to be struggling to move through the small hallway of the shuttle during Thrawn's evident pursuit of Barriss, his hands held out to grasp the bulkhead as he moved.
Despite the struggle, both Force users made it to the cockpit without injury, and just in time to witness Thrawn bring the 'Huntress' out of Nal Hutta's atmosphere and into orbit.
Taking her place in the co-pilot seat, the Temple Guard moving to stand behind her, Ahsoka spoke.
"Where is she?"
"Up ahead. I am in pursuit as we speak Agent." Thrawn replied, gesturing with one hand out of the window before them. In the distance Ahsoka could see the small ship that Barriss had stolen, heading further and further away from Nal Hutta with each passing moment.
She couldn't be allowed to escape! Ahsoka wouldn't let her! Not when she had been so close!
"She is powering up her hyperdrive!" The Temple Guard's voice boomed from behind Ahsoka, nearly making the Togruta jump out of her skin. Focusing her eyes on the small ship ahead, Ahsoka saw that the Temple Guard's words were true.
A low blue pulsating energy was emanating from the rear of the stolen ship, a telltale sign of an aftermarket hyperdrive, one that had been installed on the ship in a hurry. There was just as much chance that it would explode as it would be successful. In a way, if it did explode, Ahsoka's mission would be resolved.
Still, she didn't want that, not if she could avoid it. Barriss might have attacked her and tried to kill her again, but she hadn't lost hope of her friend coming in peacefully, not yet at least.
'What sort of friend tries to kill you more than once… or at all for that matter!' The voice in Ahsoka's head whispered. The Togruta knew that it was right of course. Barriss wasn't going to come peacefully… not anymore.
It would require force to bring her in. Ahsoka just hoped it wouldn't have to be lethal force.
"She is going to escape! Shoot her Chiss!" The Temple Guard roared again, fury in his voice.
"Patience my friend. Perhaps the hyperdrive will malfunction." Came Thrawn's response, his beady red eyes staring out the cockpit window with great focus.
Moments later, there was a shudder where the stolen ship floated in space, before it promptly vanished before them.
"Ah… clearly not then. Blast."
The Temple Guard's response to Thrawn was nothing more than a guttural growl from deep within his throat, before he turned and began to move towards the terminal in the back of the cockpit, taking a seat and inserting something into a socket in the process.
"You are lucky that I was able to attach a tracker to the ship then." The Guard responded, finally explaining his earlier actions. Ahsoka had a suspicion as to what the small device had been, but there hadn't been time to ask for an explanation.
Now however it looked like the Guard had saved the day with his forward thinking.
"Yes, I suppose that is lucky. I was going to extrapolate her possible destinations through fuel and flight plan data. Besides, we will not know where she is going until she exits hyperspace." Thrawn spoke, a hint of ire in his tone.
"Yes but for now we can follow her. If we waited and analyzed we would not be able to follow the trail immediately!"
"True, though if we can isolate her possible destinations based on ship design and fuel consumption then we can predict where she will end up and arrive ahead of her. This ship is more powerful than the one Offee has stolen."
"But again, your plan leaves us with multiple options. What if you chose planet A, but she goes to planet B! We will have lost the trail completely!"
"Then it is a good thing you have put a tracker on the ship as well, unless she discovers and removes it, of course."
"Why you….."
"Hey! Focus you two! If you're going to argue like this I'll leave you both on Nal Hutta." Ahsoka chose that moment to interrupt, tired of the argument that had seemingly arisen from nowhere. The Temple Guard was clearly frustrated that Barriss had escaped once again, and wanted to take immediate action, a direct contrast the Thrawn's more reserved and thought out approach.
"My apologies Agent Tano. What plan should we follow?" Thrawn apologized first, his red eyes focused on her blue ones in a calm and collected manner, another stark contrast to how the Temple Guard was currently feeling.
Both plans had their strengths and weaknesses, most of which had already been revealed during the argument between her companions. Both plans could lead to them finding Barriss. However both could equally lead to the trail going cold.
Whatever they were going to do, they had to do it fast.
"Temple Guard, can you upload the data on the tracker to the 'Huntress'' systems?" Ahsoka inquired, formulating a plan in her mind that would hopefully appease both of her companions.
"Of course I can!" The Guard's response was one that sounded affronted by such a question, frustration rolling off of him through the Force as he fidgeted in his seat.
"Then do so. When the data comes through Thrawn I want you to plot a course that follows any trail she leaves. Extrapolate what information you can and where she could possibly go. It might just give us an edge over her."
"It will be done Agent Tano." Thrawn replied, turning his attention back to the screen before him as the data from the tracker came through. Instantly his hands began to move across the consoles before him, inputting flight plan data into the nav computer and powering up the hyperdrive.
Content that everything was in hand Ahsoka rose to her feet and approached the Temple Guard, gesturing with a hand to follow her. The Guard tilted his head to one side in a questioning look before he stood from his chair and followed her.
Exiting the cockpit and leaving Thrawn to his own devices, Ahsoka moved through the shuttle with the Temple Guard following her.
Moving through the ship they eventually reached a small cabin that Ahsoka had claimed as home for longer trips such as this one. She needed somewhere to rest after all.
Entering the cabin, Ahsoka turned to watch the Temple Guard move inside as well, before she closed the door and spoke.
"Look, I get that you're angry that she escaped, but we need to work together here. I won't have a fight on my ship between allies."
At her comment the Temple Guard chuckled, his voice modulated underneath his helmet, but full of humour nonetheless. Clearly whatever anger he had been feeling at Thrawn had already vanished. Surely that was a good sign?
"It's not everyday that someone younger than me chastises my actions. You've got some courage Tano, but in this instance you are correct. I apologize for my behaviour, and will do so to the Lieutenant as well."
"I'm glad to hear it. Sorry if that came across as a bit lecturey." Ahsoka replied, taking a seat on the cot she had laid out for herself.
"No need. My anger at Offee's actions and escape should be reserved for Offee alone." The Guard spoke, leaning back against the wall opposite the cot where Ahsoka now sat, one hand coming up to brush some unseen dust off his shoulder pads.
Ahsoka had to admit that the Temple Guard before her was a bit of an enigma. During the brief visit Palpatine and herself had made to the Jedi Temple earlier he had seemed like a levelheaded, if not slightly frustrated individual. His interaction with the two Jedi who had been reprimanded by the Council also showed a level of compassion about him, one that represented the protector that his position required him to be.
But on the other side there was something dark, something radical about him. His actions today, as well as his reactions to Barriss' escape were also an oddity, especially when she remembered him tracking her down on the streets of Coruscant only to say that he agreed with what Barriss had said during her trial.
When Ahsoka voiced this, the Temple Guard presented a response.
"Truthfully I don't know what to think anymore. Both the Republic and the Jedi are flawed, but they are tenfold better than the Separatists. I may agree with what Offee said, but I do not agree with her actions, at least not entirely. Targeting civilians is very different than targeting the military, though I suppose the reaction is not the same is it?"
"The general public do take things more seriously when they are threatened directly. I doubt they care much about what happens to the Clones or Jedi in general." Ahsoka responded, running a hand over her forehead, pushing away an ache that had begun to grow thanks to Barriss' earlier assault on her.
"Agreed. Our Order is dying. It has been since before the Clone War even started. Though it seems that only a few of us actually realise it. None of the Council do, that's for sure." The Temple Guard continued, voice lowering to what sounded like sadness. He clearly wasn't happy about the situation. If Ahsoka was being honest, she could see what he meant. The Jedi Order had become military generals subservient to the Republic, a far cry from what they used to be. All it would take was for the Republic to deem them unworthy and the entire Order could easily fall over night.
Was the Temple Guard trying to prevent such a thing from happening?
"No. I have accepted the inevitability of the Order's fall." The Temple Guard answered when questioned, sadness still present in his voice. "All I seek now is to protect those who think like me. Perhaps we will be able to start afresh somehow."
"Those like you? You mean like those two Jedi we met when the Chancellor and I went to visit the Council?" Ahsoka inquired, hoping she wasn't prying for too much information. The Guard seemed like he needed to get all of this off his chest, and she wanted to let him.
After all, she now thought much the same as him. Surely they were natural allies?
At the mention of the two Jedi who were clearly his friends, the Temple Guard chuckled lightly beneath his mask. Ahsoka liked to imagine that he was smiling underneath it too.
"Yes, Masana and Bil are both a bit unorthodox for Jedi, but they mean well. They share my reservations about the direction of the Order, as do several others amongst us. Jedi like them are the ones I seek to protect in these trying times, not the Order."
"I can understand that. Master Skywalker wasn't the most conventional teacher, but I would never have made it this far if it weren't for him." Ahsoka replied, recalling memories of her time as Anakin's Padawan and all the lessons he had taught her.
"Yes, the 'Chosen One' certainly lives up to his reputation. I only hope he will lead us into a glorious new era."
"Don't let him hear you say that. He hates that whole prophecy stuff." Ahsoka interrupted, further memories of a look of discomfort on Anakin's face whenever the prophecy of him being the 'Chosen One' came into conversation. Anakin saw himself simply as just another Jedi. Ahsoka too now shared that perspective… though he was special in his own way.
"Dependence on prophecies is only another fatal flaw our current Council has. Jedi of old would seize the initiative, not wait and speculate. Is it any wonder that we have been outmaneuvered by two Sith Lords so easily?" The Guard ventured, helmet raised towards Ahsoka, clearly wondering what she thought about the matter.
The thing was, everything the Temple Guard was saying was true. The Council, for all of their supposed wisdom had sat back for decades now and simply watched as the galaxy revolved around them, not bothering to look for any threats to their existence.
And when they had finally discovered a threat to their existence, it had been hidden too deep for them to root out the problem, leading to the war as it currently was!
"In hindsight it's easy to say the Council has made some fatal mistakes. I guess all we can hope for is that they find the true identity of the Sith Lord before it's too late. A secret that size can't be buried that deep surely?" Ahsoka answered, offering her own speculation back.
"Unless it is not buried deep at all. What if it is hidden in plain sight?"
Shortly afterwards, the Temple Guard had excused himself from Ahsoka's quarters, intending to head to the cockpit to apologize to Thrawn.
That had left Ahsoka with nothing to do but ponder the Guard's words.
What if the identity of the Sith Lord was hidden in plain sight. What if it was someone people would never suspect in a million years, like Windu, or perhaps even a Senator like Padmé… not that she ever be someone as malicious as a Sith Lord in a million years!
'If the so called all powerful and wise Council can't see a truth hidden before them, don't they deserve whatever is coming to them?' Ahsoka's consciousness whispered to her darkly, vocalizing thoughts she never thought she would have. She didn't want the Jedi destroyed, far from it.
But if they couldn't see the obvious… then why even bother trying to help them? They wouldn't listen to her after all.
Perhaps the Temple Guard had the right idea. Perhaps she should focus on protecting those that were important to her rather than everyone. People like Anakin and Padmé, Obi-Wan and Rex, and Caleb and Palpatine. They had all earned her trust and loyalty… and she would do all she could to protect them.
And if that meant she had to protect them from people like Barriss Offee, then so be it. The Mirialan had made her choice.
And so had Ahsoka.
Author's thoughts
Well, here we go. Part one of the two part finale for this story arc. I hope you liked it, and sorry again for the evil cliffhanger last time around. That was pretty heinous of me I'll admit. XD
As for this chapter... oh boy... was this a hard one to write. The confrontation between Ahsoka and Barriss was always going to be the hardest part of this arc, as every single reader will no doubt have their own opinion of what they think should happen. Some will want Barriss to die, others will want her to escape. Some will want Ahsoka to run off into the sunset with Barriss, others will want her brought to justice. In the end though, I had to pick a path, so I went with the one that made the most sense for the overall direction of this story. I only hope people will enjoy it when they see it next chapter.
The discussion between the two however was another tricky bit to write. I didn't want to completely demonize Barriss, so I tried to give her a sense of flawed reasoning behind her actions for bombing the Temple. Barriss believes that what she did was right, but she can't see just how evil it was to blow up innocents. The thing is, in a way, it did exactly what it needed to and gained the attention of an otherwise ignorant Council, something that Ahsoka in her role as Palpy's agent can now see. However, that still doesn't make it right. Ahsoka meanwhile is adamant in bringing Barriss in alive, whilst Barriss refuses to cooperate, leaving to the conflict between them. Had Ahsoka not tried to take Barriss in, things might had been different. Alas, not this time.
Still, all of the conflict did allow for an interesting scene at the end as well between Ahsoka and the Temple Guard. I wonder what effect this might have? XD
Anyways, next time round the hunt for Barriss reaches it's conclusion. Place your bets now folks. What will happen?
Thanks again to my beta reader 'ArrinSnyders' for all the help.
As usual, comment and speculate at will. Speaking of which:
Dream Plane: Glad you enjoyed Iena. She was great fun to create and write, even if she only gets a brief appearance.
Hopefully the confrontation in this chapter was good enough for you. Things were going well, but like so much in Star Wars it all fell apart. Only time will tell what the outcome it now. :)
Fires of Eden Red Rose Aurora: Thanks for the kind words, I'm glad you are enjoying it so far. It's a fun time period to explore with an AU especially considering how it all comes to a close. Guess we will have to wait and see just how different the ending is... if at all.
Palpy's overall plan for Ahsoka will become clearer and clearer over time. He's not gonna reveal all his cards on day one after all. XD
TragicFiction: Hey, thanks for all of the reviews you've been leaving on my stories. I really appreciate the support and kind words.
Hopefully the update was worth the wait. This is a pretty big chapter after all so I hope everyone likes it.
RCWolf: Glad you enjoyed the previous chapter...
And sorry for the cliffhanger ending. Please don't hate me for it. XD
Travis Middleton: Glad you enjoyed Iena. OC's are always a risk, but if you liked her that means I did something good for once. XD
Hope you liked the start of the confrontation in this chapter. It was a tricky thing to write.
As for the Siege of Mandalore... all I will say is it will be important to the story. That's all the info I'm giving though. Sorry. XD
Cat-Gods-Of-The-Cat-People: Glad you were hyped for this chapter. Hope it met your expectations and didn't disappoint you.
And thanks for the kind words about Iena. I'm glad she seemed like a natural character that was in place rather than out of place. XD
Erukat: Don't worry about forgetting to read. Happens to everyone. No bad blood here. XD
Glad you enjoyed both chapters though. The more quite and peaceful character based chapters are my favorite to write, and are a good contrast to this and the next chapter as well.
And sorry for the cliffhanger as well. Got to have them sometimes though. Hope you liked the start of the confrontation. XD
tf330129: Still keeping it up. Hope you didn't mind the wait. XD
1saaa: I am feeling better yes, so thanks for asking. Glad I was able to give you a happy update day. XD
Good instincts you've got there by the way. There were hints that Iena was a Force User, so nicely picked up on.
Hopefully you enjoyed the start of the confrontation between Ahsoka and Barriss. It could go many different ways, but the route I've chosen is the one that makes sense for this AU. I only hope you like it.
And sorry for the cliffhanger... and for the wait between chapters. Hope it wasn't too bad. Might be a bit of a wait for the next one too I'm afraid, so sorry again. :(