CHAPTER 6: AHSOKA TANO

Coruscant

All around her, Ahsoka could hear murmurs and yells. The loudest cry which caught her ear was someone pleading for a medic.

"What's going on?" Ahsoka slurred, blood in her mouth. She opened her eyes, staring up into a face she had not seen 29 years. Gasping like she had seen a ghost, Ahsoka sat up from the cold hard durasteel platform. Right over her was the face of Padmé Amidala, a Coruscant Guard Trooper standing behind her on the security platform and chattering into his comlink while turning away.

"Confirming subject has been resuscitated, 10-22 on that 10-79, over," he uttered as he strode just out of her range of hearing amidst the background chatter.

Ahsoka smirked, realizing it had worked. Just when you think you understand the Force, you realize just how little you know… Well, the Force with a drop of twisted Bothan tech.

"No—Wait, stay down," Padmé pleaded, tears in her eyes. "You're going to be okay!"

Remaining seated, Ahsoka wiped a running liquid onto both of her handcuffed wrists. A hot red substance ran off onto her maroon gloves. Blood, she realized, with horror. Damn. I didn't expect the transfer to be so… Violent. "I'm fine," Ahsoka groaned, spitting a wad of blood to the ground.
"No, you're not," Padmé stammered.

I am going to be okay, but I am not fine? Ahsoka looked around at her surroundings. She shuddered, seeing the wide-eyed face of Wilhuff Tarkin. Then she looked up, mouth hanging open in shock.

The Emperor—No, the Supreme Chancellor, was staring down at her in an expression Ahsoka could not have conceived in her wildest imagination. Palpatine's mouth too was open in shock. His eyes were wide, as if in fear or surprise.

Ahsoka straightened her face. Damn! Could Palpatine sense—HOLY HELL.

"Senator, get back please!" yelled a green-skinned Twi'lek in a white navy medical officer's uniform. Kneeling next to Ahsoka, shone a glowrod into her eyes. A rotound but still vaguely humanoid IM-6 Medical Droid hovering behind her on its repulsors.

The Twi'lek spoke consolingly, pressing a flexiplast mask into the Togruta's face. "Just lie back, you are going to be okay. Breathe."

Ahsoka took a deep breath and slipped into unconsciousness.

o.o.o.o.o

You can't save your Master, and I can't save mine.

In light of what she had once told Ezra Bridger, Ahsoka's entire plan was highly ironic. With just the Force, perhaps it was impossible. But with the help of Bothan consciousness transfer, she knew she could save both Anakin and Caleb Dume. Potentially everyone's Masters. Potentially everyone.

The last year of the Clone Wars was the crucial time in which Palpatine had converted Anakin to his cause. She reasoned that if she could stop Anakin from ever joining him, Palpatine would put Order 66 on hold until he could find an acolyte. The Sith Lord would be in a permanently tenuous position. Palpatine could not execute Order 66 without killing Anakin.

It had all made so much sense to her as she flew from Bothawui to Krant. When he finally kills off Dooku, she had thought, he'll need someone to replace him with. A Jedi who would give him access to the temple. A Jedi who would help him exterminate the entire Order. Without Anakin… Palpatine fails…

Ahsoka awoke in a hospital bed, gasping in shock. While sleeping she noticed a huge hole in her hurried plan. What if Palpatine finds another Jedi acolyte? Surely there are others who could take Vader's place until he finds a suitable replacement… He did try to turn Luke after all, and many more before him.

She tried to sit up, but her hand jingled, something was—"Ugh," the Togruta slurred dreamily. Her hand was cuffed to the bed railing. The walls were bright white. Visible through the transparisteel window, the Jedi temple glimmered in the distance, hit by a sole ray of sunlight through the cloud cover.

So, I'm not in the Jedi Temple hospital. Oh yeah, I was expelled from the Order during the trial. What's—"OUCH!" she hissed, poking a bandage over her right eye.

"Don't touch that," a Clone voice grunted. "You're in the COMPOR arcology hospital. You just had brain surgery."

Turning, Ahsoka saw a Coruscant Guard trooper sitting in the corner of the room with a blaster. "Brain surgery? I… What for?" Fen didn't tell me about that. Neither did Kelia or Korsk.

"Dunno. Don't very much care," the Clone muttered angrily. He pulled out a datapad and tapped at its buttons with his free hand, either checking the news or logging her awakening.

She'd forgotten the Corries, as she'd heard the 501st and 212th call the Coruscant Guard, were Palpatine's dutiful little lapdogs. Most of them were either too dumb or too obedient to question whatever was in front of them—even before the inhibitor chips were activated.

That Commander Fox, the leader of the guard, had apparently never questioned why only three Clones had died in her escape despite the ample opportunity she had to rack up a larger death toll proved this sort of rot went all the way to the top of the force.

"Ahsoka!" a familiar voice gasped.

Turning, Ahsoka once again saw the face of Padmé. "Padmé, what… What happened?"

Padmé hugged her gingerly. Ahsoka returned the hug uneasily with her one free hand.

"Ma'am, you're not supposed to touch the prisoner," the Clone said gruffly, standing up and holstering his datapad.

With reluctance, Padmé released Ahsoka, taking one step back. "You had a brain hemorrhage. The doctors have no idea what could have caused it. They think you'll be okay, but your brain has a lot of other abnormalities which they are even more baffled by."

Ahsoka sighed. That was close. I almost killed myself… Twice. Blast, I should have thought this through for more than a few hours. I should have found out everything I could. She shook her head in frustration, then gasped in pain as one of her Lekkus flopped off her shoulder.

"They have postponed the trial," Padmé explained, pulling up a chair and sitting down next to her. "In some ways," she added in her strategically political tone, "this hemorrhage is a good thing, as it gives me more time to prepare your defense. Worst case scenario, I also think the fact you suffered a brain hemorrhage makes you more sympathetic to the jury. I sincerely doubt they would execute you now, even if the court found you guilty. You are clearly a helpless child with a serious medical condition who needs to be in a hospital, not on death row. Wartime laws or not, there is something wrong with your brain. The important thing to remember—"

"—SNIPS!" Anakin screamed, appearing in the doorway.

Ahsoka tensed up, gasping. Her pupils dilated in fear.

On an intellectual level, she knew she would be seeing Anakin again. She knew she would be spending time with him, a lot more time with him if, especially if, her plan worked. Yet, the last time she saw that face was seared into her mind. His face which she could make out through Vader's shattered helmet—Right before he tried to kill her, in fact, did kill her before Ezra changed the past.

Anakin who, in less than 4 months, was due to kill almost everyone Ahsoka ever knew, including Padmé, who was currently 5 months pregnant with twins. A man standing before her who, in the next 23 years, would murder millions of beings across the Galaxy and be complicit in the slaughter and terrorizing of billions more. Al'doleem, Alderaan, Geonosis, Kashyyyk, Kothlis, Mon Cala, Lothal, Tiferep Major… And so many other atrocities and battles.

Luke truly was a saint, to be able to even hope to redeem his father, knowing he'd committed such atrocities. Everyone else had simply written him off.

"I'm so sorry," Anakin croaked, typing a passcode into her handcuffs.

No, Anakin, I'm sorry. Sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed me most. I won't make that mistake again.

The Clone stood up, sputtering and stammering behind his red and white helmet. "General Skywalker, you can't—"

"—Ahsoka's been cleared!" Anakin snarled, glaring at the Clone, who backed away frightfully before tapping on the side of his helmet, likely contacting whoever he answered to in order to confirm Anakin's claim.

The Togruta jumped, tensing up in fear, before forcing herself to relax as much as she could. I can't be like this. Anakin will know something is wrong.

"That's great news!" Padmé gasped, smiling in amazement. She focused her smile on Anakin, as if trying to calm him down.

"Is everything all right?" Anakin asked, ignoring Padmé—Ignoring his wife, Ahsoka thought as he tried to put on a more jovial approach for the moment. "How are you feeling, Snips?"

"Well, I have a headache," Ahsoka chuckled wearily.

"I can't believe you got a brain hemorrhage," Anakin stammered, squeezing her in an angry protective hug. "It's all my fault. We should have just believed you. This is all my fault!"

"Anakin," Ahsoka croaked. "It's not your fault." Really. This time it isn't your kriffing fault. For real. This one is my fault. "Could I get a water?"

"Yes," Anakin gasped, then seethed angrily as he turned on the sink, letting the tap-water run into a disposable flimsiplast cup. "I can't believe the doctors here!"

"I'm sure they're doing their best," Ahsoka pleaded fearfully, pulling her bedsheets up.

"Snips…" Anakin sighed, handing her a cup of water. "Are you afraid?"

"No—I—not of you," Ahsoka stammered fearfully, imagining him ruthlessly choking one of the doctors. He's going to kill everyone! He's going to—Damn this was such a bad idea! Such a bad idea! GET A GRIP ON YOURSELF!

Taking a deep breath, Ahsoka closed her eyes, centering herself.

"Ahsoka?" Anakin asked nervously.

"Yes," Ahsoka sighed calmly. "What is it, Master?"

"It was Barriss," Anakin explained, seeming confused about her reaction.

Ahsoka blinked calmly. Old news. I got over it years ago.

"It. Was. Barriss," Anakin said more forcefully, emphasizing each word.

Oh, I am supposed to find this surprising. I am supposed to feel outrage. "Wow," Ahsoka gasped in badly-acted surprise. "I can't believe Barriss would kill people then frame me! Damn! What a kriffing bitch!"

Jerking his head back, Anakin blinked in shock. Padmé's mouth was open in an astonished o-shape.

Even the Clone was now staring at her in surprise.

Oh yeah. I didn't swear when I was a kid. "Excuse my language, Master," Ahsoka sighed.

"Well, you're right," Anakin grunted, sitting on her bed. "She betrayed the entire Republic. She… We need to get you back to the temple hospital."

"I am… Can I stand?" Ahsoka asked, wiggling her toes. They seem to work.

"Doc?" Anakin asked, stepping into the hallway. "My Padawan! She can't move her legs!"

"Stars alive," Ahsoka swore aloud, having forgotten how protective Anakin was. How protective he was before he became the ruthless enforcer of a tyrannical regime, before Sidious manipulated that protectiveness to turn him into a monster. "Master I—I can move my legs," she groaned, stepping out of bed.

Gasping, Padmé ran up to her, helping her balance. "Easy, Ahsoka. You had a brain hemorrhage."

Ahsoka took the human's arm, clutching it as she staggered, nearly falling over. She held her head still. Her neck felt extremely stiff, so stiff she couldn't turn her head. "Thank you, I think I can—"

"—Whoa!" A golden feathered Calibop doctor exclaimed in a warble, squawking in alarm as he burst into the room. "Sit down," he said consolingly "Just... There."

Obeying the doctor's advice, Ahsoka sat onto the side of the bed, groaning as she rested her hands at her sides.

"You just left her here!" Anakin hissed.

"Master Skywalker," the Calibop huffed, feathers ruffling in annoyance. "This is a major brain ward, one also dealing with battlefield casualties. Ahsoka is just one of many hundreds of patients who require—"

"—Wulf!" Ahsoka gasped, interrupting the exchange. Right in the doorway, stood a confused-looking grey-furred Ardennian. He looked younger than when Ahsoka had first met him, but also a lot more injured than she remembered. There was the same gruesome bald patch in the back of his head, but it looked more fresh. Less scarred.

It was a blaster wound from when he was shot during the Republic assault on Murkhana. Ahsoka had never found out exactly what had happened, nor had she pressed the matter.

But whatever it was, it wasn't good, Ahsoka thought cynically. Tarkin was demoted to Captain and only saved from prison thanks to a pardon from Palpatine. In just two years he would go from being demoted, back to Admiral, and then ironically become my prosecutor.

Ahsoka's excited smile turned to a worried frown. She had not met Wulf yet. She first met him in 7 BBY, when he was the general in charge of the Selonian Rebel cell.

"Uh, do—Do I know you?" Wulf asked in a stutter. "I—Huh. An… Generalakin?" he slurred.

"Wulf?!" Anakin yelled in surprise, spinning to face the Ardennian. "I thought—I thought you were…"

"Dead?" Wulf sighed bitterly.

"No, no! I didn't mean it like that," Anakin stammered apologetically. "Wait. How do you know Ahsoka?"

"I… Don't think… Who's Ahsoka?" Wulf slurred wearily. "Is this a trick question?"

"I'm Ahsoka," the Togruta laughed nervously. He got shot in the head. I am sure he's forgotten loads. I can… Well I know I like him and we can get along! "We go way back! I was one of uh… Lir Sey'les's best friends. Your ex-..." No, not ex-wife, I remember Wulf saying she was his fiancée at one point. "Ex-fiancée?"

"Huh," Wulf grunted, one of his eyes open wider than the other as he slowly processed the information. "Sey'les. Yeah that makes sense. She is friends with so many weirdos."

"Captain Sey'les?" Anakin asked suspiciously, looking mildly offended at Wulf's comment. "When did you meet Sey'les?" he asked sternly, folding his arms. His eyebrows furrowed worriedly. "What other friends do you have that are…?" his voice died as he tried to word it diplomatically.

That are derelict Republic military officers. Damn. Now he thinks I know that feral Bothan too, Ahsoka thought with growing dread. Lir Sey'les was a party animal, even when she was a Captain. Even when she was an Imperial Governor… Or will be... Anakin probably now thinks I get drunk or high on spice when he's not looking! Oh kriff, he's gonna blame Rex and Jesse for not keeping a better eye on me! "I… Please don't get angry at me, Master," Ahsoka gulped, feeling the lingering sensation that she was forgetting a name in her listing of Clones.

"It's fine," Anakin sighed, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Just… I am very surprised that you are... Familiar with someone like that..." He managed awkwardly.

"I think," the doctor interjected in exasperation, "that patient Tano has had enough excitement for now."

"Can we take her back to the temple?" Anakin asked sternly.

"Yes, well…"

Looking at Wulf in the doorway, Ahsoka felt far more comfortable around him than around Anakin and Padmé—Than around the faces of these ghosts who she didn't know how to react to anymore. "Master, if it's all right, I'd prefer to stay in the COMPOR hospital tonight," she said, smiling at Wulf.

Wulf stood in the doorway, looking dumbfounded.

"Of course," Anakin sighed. "Whatever you want Ahsoka. I'll talk with the High Council about getting you re-instated."

"Great," Ahsoka said with a smile. This time, I am not leaving the Order. "I just need time…" Time to hang out with my future friends before I can mentally deal with my past ones. "Wulf? What are you up to?"

o.o.o.o.o

"So you're sure we know each other?" Wulf slurred, pushing Ahsoka on a wheelchair through the hospital corridors. "Really sure?"

Wow, his speech sounds so much worse, Ahsoka thought. That neural regeneration therapy really must have helped. "One hundred percent sure," Ahsoka reassured him, suppressing the thought. It was not a lie, but not the truth either. She felt guilty about taking advantage of Wulf's brain damage to make him think they knew each other, but she needed to get away from Anakin and compose herself.

"How's Sey'les doing?" Wulf asked. "Have you heard from her since she was extradited to Bothawui? Has she… Has she met someone?"

Ahsoka wondered to herself. Has Sey'les met Borsk Fey'lya yet? She said 'second husband...' It's possible there were partners before Borsk though who weren't husbands, well aside from Wulf anyways… There's also a distinct possibility she's in a prison on Bothawui. "I have no idea," Ahsoka admitted truthfully.

"Do you know Hashtivar too?" Wulf asked.

Ahsoka looked around as she was gently pushed into the hospital cafeteria.

"Yes," Ahsoka lied. "Hashtivar was another really wild Bothan female right? Or was she Selonian?" She asked, assuming the Ardennian was referring to yet one of his hectic sexual escapades. All of Wulf's frankly obnoxious crude stories on Selonia had blended together in her mind. A word ending in -r, the name Hashtivar sounded like a plausible female Bothan name to the Togruta. It sounded effeminate enough too.

"Uh, no," Wulf snorted. "Hey Hashtivar," he yelled across the hospital cafeteria. "I found Ahsoka! She's here in the hospital!"

Sitting in an electric wheelchair, a scarred Chelidae male with a destroyed shell turned to face Wulf and Ahsoka with the twist of a lever. He blinked incredulously.

"Ahsoka thinks you're a Bothan babe!" the Ardennian guffawed, unable to control his laughter as he continued to push Ahsoka's wheelchair along with his upper arms.

Ahsoka's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I—Wrong Hashtivar," she giggled nervously. "I haven't met this Hashtivar."

"Huh," the Chelidae said, clucking his tongue audibly as the Togruta was pushed up to the edge of their table.

"Hey there, Hashtivar—Other non-Bothan Hashtivar, that is, I am Ahsoka," she stammered, shaking his hand. "I am good friends with Wulf."

"You uh… Wulf?" he said, then turned from Ahsoka to Wulf, looking the Ardennian in the eye. "She looks like she's sixteen, Wulf."

"Oh no—" Ahsoka gasped, blushing purplish-red. "Not like that. Not his girlfriend. Just a friend."

"Yeah Hashtivar," Wulf slurred in an angry grunt. "Not like that! Ahsoka is a Jedi! What... I forgot what types of food you like Ahsoka. What type of food should I get you from the buffet, or do you want me to push you up to the counter so you can pick it all up yourself?"

Ahsoka hmm'd to herself, trying to relax and get rid of the embarrassed blush on her face. "Pudding. I'd like a chocolate, one of the Bith bean milk ones."

"Pudding? That's it?" Wulf asked.

"I'm not that hungry," Ahsoka admitted with a sigh. I just wanted to get away from dead people and future mass murderers because I time-travelled and am in way... Way over my head.

Maybe I can get Morai to help out… Even when they're sealed she seems to be able to use the portals at will. Maybe a fragment of the Daughter's power at work...

"Alright," Wulf slurred. "Hashtivar?"

"Eh, get me a komerken steak with some salad and carbosyrup dressing," Hashtivar said after a brief pause.

Looking permanently confused, Wulf left the table, heading for the hospital buffet.

"So Ahsoka," Hashtivar prompted. "What are you in for?"

"Brain hemorrhage," she sighed.

"At your age?!" Hashtivar asked in shock. "Did you fall down a flight of stairs? Did you—Oh, I used to be a medic in the Judicial Corps," he added, observing the Togruta's expression of suspicion. "Until a month before the Clone Wars, when this happened to me at Antar." The crippled Chelidae reached his arms around, pointing to his destroyed shell that once contained a piece of his spine.

"Ah," the Togruta replied in sudden understanding, remembering the old news reports she'd seen at the temple. Then she shrugged, looking the Chelidae earnestly in the eye. "Nope. No, I didn't fall down a flight of stairs. I also did not get an aneurysm. I just randomly got a brain hemorrhage at seventeen years of age."

"Huh," the crippled Chelidae grunted cynically. "Some of us have all the luck."

"The Force is definitely very strong with this one," Ahsoka chortled, pointing to herself with both hands.

Hashtivar snorted with laughter, then began guffawing in earnest. Ahsoka laughed along, feeling comfortable for the first time since transferring her consciousness.

I like this Chelidae. I wonder what happened to him between now and the Galactic Civil War. Why didn't I get to meet him? Did he die before Wulf moved into a Selonian den? Did Saw Gerrera kill Hashtivar, or was it the Empire or someone else that killed him, or did he just die? All questions, Ahsoka presumed, she would simply never know the answer to.