Notice: This chapter contains some drinking amongst adults age 21 and older, and references to it's effects.
Chapter 83 - The Combustible will Burn
"Your Padawan status will be stripped from you, and you will forfeit all rank and privileges within the Grand Army of the Republic. You will be turned over to the Republic Courts to await your trial and whatever punishment they will set for you. Henceforth you are barred from the Jedi Order," said the booming voice of Ki-Adi-Mundi, in her dreams.
As the Temple guard ripped the string of beads from her head, and moved to drag her out, she saw a brief glimpse of Anakin's eyes. The man was an emotional wreck. Tears were streaming down his face, and for a brief moment, his eyes flashed a Sithly yellow. As Ahsoka rolled over in her cot, she whimpered in her sleep.
The trial passed in her dreams, not at all like it had in reality. When the verdict, Guilty, rang out of the Jury's mouth, a cold chill swept through the courtroom. Next she was being led by the same temple guards to her execution in a public chamber made just for this occasion. "No!" She cried as they strapped her into the death chair. Anakin was even more emotional than he was before. As he wrenched at the guards to try and free her, that yellow glow came back to his eyes. Obi-Wan tried to hold his Padawan back, but Anakin turned on him and began killing the Jedi in the auditorium. "Master, No," Ahsoka tried to get him to stop, but it was hopeless.
She heard laughter near where the Judge for her trial was standing. Palpatine, Darth Sidious, was laughing at the chaos caused by her Master. "Finally, carry out the execution!" he ordered. She looked over to where the chair she was strapped to was attached to a panel with a foreboding looking lever. Anakin was standing there, with an evil, far away look in his eyes, and he threw the lever to kill her.
Ahsoka awoke with a gasp. She stood up and threw the cup of water she had by her nightstand over her head. The shock of it kept her awake, and kept the dream away. It wasn't the first time she dreamt of those events, though this one went a little different from usual. She supposed it was all because of the favor Mara had asked of her. That she rejoin the Jedi Order.
She knew Mara was serious, when she said she wanted to become a Jedi. Even though she hoped to dissuade her by giving her extra practice drills, so far it wasn't working. Mara was as devoted as ever, and truth be told, Ahsoka did feel she'd do well as a Jedi.
Just, whenever she pictured herself rejoining, she was brought back to that devastating moment of betrayal by the elders she was raised to emulate. She didn't know if she could ever forgive them for that.
"Where is it?" Leia wanted to make sure her Master was properly moved back into his quarters on Beskarn. The Elderly Jedi tended to forget things, especially those he deemed of little importance. Things like unpacking bags after a voyage, or where he packed his essentials in the first place. But it was alright, because he had Leia, and if anyone knew how to keep things organized, it was her.
"Hey Leia, where are you?" Luke stuck his head in.
"I'm back here. What do you need Luke?" Leia asked.
"It's Han. He wants to take us out. Our birthday was a few days ago, and he wants to celebrate with us," Luke explained.
"Oh, uh." Leia quickly thought up an excuse. "I'm kinda busy. Why don't you two just go without me?"
"Well, It's just that I think he really wants to take the both of us. You know, our birthday was a few days ago, and he waited until you got back from Alderaan to invite us." Luke looked down at her with big pleading eyes her father swore he'd learned from their Uncle Ben. Negotiator eyes, he'd called them.
Leia sighed, "Okay. If you help me unpack this bag, I'll join you."
"Deal… Why does Yoda have so many bottles of Joint cream?"
"I don't know, because he's Nine Hundred and old-man-joints hurt. Just put the ones with the blue caps under the sink in the bathroom, and the white ones in the nightstand."
"Leia, you look…" Han started. A quick glare got him to shut up before the flirt came out. "Nice. You look nice." He struggled to finish.
"Thanks," Leia's hand traced the gown that was, of all people, her brother's suggestion for her to wear.
Luke leaned in to her and whispered, "See, I told you he'd like it."
Leia blushed, and when Han motioned to the bar of the place he brought them to, she moved forward to take a seat.
"What may I get you today?" The bartender came up and asked.
"My friends here are finally drinking age. I thought we'd start with a round of your best cocktails," Han ordered.
The bartender started mixing brightly colored liquids into shiny glasses. He pushed a fizzy red drink towards them on the counter. Leia took it and tasted it. It was bitter and sour at the same time. Very unpleasant to taste. Han leaned back and swallowed his little drink in one go, so Leia figured the faster the better, and she did the same.
The bartender handed her another, and Han spoke up, "Woah! Slow down. Those Bespin Fizzes have a lot more punch than you'd realize."
Leia swatted him away. "A trick of the Force, it doesn't affect me unless I let it," she assured them. Sure it was a trick to prevent poisonings in the field, and she hadn't practiced it yet, but in theory it would work. "So, what is this really about?" Leia asked. "If this was just about drinks, you and Luke could've done it while I was on Alderaan."
Han sighed. "I was really hoping to get a few drinks in me first." He threw back another shot. "Alright, here goes. Chewie and I are leaving."
"What do you mean? Where have you been posted?" Luke asked.
Leia rolled her eyes. "He's not posted anywhere. He's ditching us."
"Now, that's why I wanted to do this after we've had a few. I'm not ditching you. It's just not safe for you to be going out on missions with me. What happened on Ord Mantell, wasn't an isolated Incident. I still have a bounty on my head, and the Empire is hoping to get to you guys through me. It's…"
The bartender passed out the little cups again. Leia took hers and threw it back with a grimace, and swallowed. "That's poppycock! You're scared. Because now you're starting to feel useful for once in your life, you're scared of failing. Don't disguise this as some grand gesture on your part."
She reached for another glass of the bitter liquid, and Luke reached out a hand to stop her. "Maybe you shouldn't have too many of those… Where is the restroom in this place?"
Han got up to point Luke in the right direction. Leia's head started to spin, but she thought they were talking more than just simple directions. "Maybe there was more - to those cocktails - than I thought," she muttered to herself. She slouched forwards, and Han returned to her with a cold rag for her head.
The next thing Leia remembered was a large Wookie's grip as Chewie picked her up and carried her back to the Millenium Falcon.
"Grrrrrrr Ahhhhhhhhhnk" Chewie muttered something in his native tongue. Leia was too dizzy to understand.
"What do you mean, at least it's not me this time? When have you ever had to carry me?" said Han.
"Grrrrrrrrrrr Rrrrrrahrrrrr"
"Oh come on. That doesn't count. You know those shots were loaded with something. It's not always my fault, you know. I can hold my drinks just fine," Han replied with a slight stumble to his step.
Chewie rolled his eyes.
Some time later, Leia awoke, when the Beskarn sun dared to assault her. She groaned as she blinked in the morning light.
"Oooh you're awake. Here, drink this," came Luke's voice from somewhere nearby.
All Leia wanted to do was shut her eyes again. Her head was hurting, but she didn't have that option. She rolled over in a rush to find something to puke into. Her brother caught her with a bin.
"Here, drink this." Luke repeated. "It's Uncle Ben's cure for hangovers. I don't know what's in it, but it tastes like what you just puked. Though it did help me, so…"
Leia grabbed the cup and chugged. Indeed, the stuff tasted worse than the alcohol had, but her head did stop spinning, and the ache receded to a low throb. "Thanks," she sighed. "Where are we?"
"We're in my quarters. I didn't think you'd want me to bring you back to Yoda's in the state you were in last night."
Leia blushed as she threw an arm over her face. "Thanks."
Her embarrassment amused her twin. Luke chuckled, "I think Han was actually impressed. Kept saying he'd never met a woman who'd throw back that many Bespin Fizzes and still be able to sit up and yell at him."
"Hmm, I don't suppose it matters though. With Han leaving the Rebellion. He isn't already gone, is he?" Leia asked with worry.
"No, no. Actually I talked him into staying for a few more weeks. Couldn't do much better than that, I'm afraid." Luke winced. "Maybe together, we can persuade him." Luke looked hopefully up at his sister.
"Lieutenant Fulcrum," The young recruit called as soon as Ahsoka opened her door.
Ahsoka nodded an apology to her captain as she turned away to see what young Jil-Andi required of her. It was a part of leadership, always needing to be there for her junior Fulcrum recruits.
"Agent Fulcrum, how is your investigation?" Ahsoka asked. They always used the Fulcrum title on base. It was one of her security measures.
"Well," Jil-Andi hesitated. "We've had a bit of trouble."
"Tell me about it. You were looking for the secret imperial weapon." Ahsoka took a step to walk with Jil-Andi, ushering the agent to follow.
"Yes, I just got back from a mission. I entered the Imperial base and retrieved a near copy of their database. The only thing is it had a bug on it, and…"
"You didn't load untested data onto our ship's computers here?" Ahsoka asked sternly.
"No, Ma'am. The data is still in an un-networked device, but that's the thing. I can't access any of it. The thing started asking for passcodes, and when the usual ones didn't work, it froze the thing's systems. I still have an unopened copy of the data, but anywhere I load it to will activate the bug."
Ahsoka nodded. "I don't know what to tell you. The data might be lost. We'll have to go after the info with a new tactic." Ahsoka made a mental note to add this bug to her list of things to warn the other Fulcrum agents about.
"That's the thing, I have another option," Jil-Andi said. "When I was leaving the base, I was pursued by an inquisitor. I managed to take her down, and she's in the brig here. I was going to suggest interrogating her, but…"
"But, you want my help." Ahsoka filled in. Jil-Andi performed well on her physical training. Well enough to take down an inquisitor. But her interrogation skills were less distinguished.
Jil-Andi blushed. "Know your weaknesses," she quoted.
Ahsoka nodded. "Okay, on our way to the brig, give me all you have on the prisoner."
Jil-Andi hopped in her step following Ahsoka. "Designated the Seventh Sister. She's a Mirialan. As with most inquisitors, we don't know much. Their backgrounds were expunged, but based on her age, and her Force-sensitivity, she might have been Jedi trained originally."
Ahsoka walked into the brig, expecting she might see a familiar face behind the durasteel bars. What she did see took her breath away.
"I am the Seventh Sister of the Inquisitorius. You will die for your rebellion…" The sister turned her yellow face towards Ahsoka, and she hesitated. Then her blue eyes almost closed in a cold glare at the fulcrum leader.
'She's not your friend,' Ahsoka told herself. She pushed aside her own feelings and entered the cell with the prisoner.
"Hello, Miss Offee, I hope you've been comfortable with our provisions." Ahsoka greeted her.
The Seventh Sister showed her contempt when she bared her teeth in a snarl. Ahsoka sat down next to her anyway.
Ahsoka looked over her shoulder and said to her agent, "Get us some water, please." The agent soon vanished from view and reappeared a moment later handing over a blue bottle. "Thank you," Ahsoka opened the bottle and took a sip to demonstrate it wasn't poisoned. She then handed it to her prisoner. "I have a few questions for you. If you help me out, I'll see if I can get you some caff later.
The Seventh Sister eyed Ahsoka warily, before she grabbed the water bottle and took a sip. "I won't tell you anything. You might as well kill me now."
Ahsoka sighed, "I don't want to kill you Barriss."
This surprised her old friend. "Oh no. Not even after… Little 'Soka, grown into the perfect Jedi."
Ahsoka turned, discomfort obvious and palpable.
"What's the matter? Did you not grow to impress your esteemed Master, the Chosen One?" The dark sider mocked.
"Accessing data off imperial streams, there is a bug to prevent hacking. What is your access code?" Ahsoka redirected the conversation.
Barriss sneered. "You don't even want to know why I did it? Why I framed you, of all people?"
Ahsoka shook her head. Despite the temptation, she knew nothing good would come from going down that path. Ahsoka pulled out a datapad screen, the app designed to look like the standard imperial screen requesting a password. Its figures began to form, and Ahsoka used the Force to detect the minute traces of recognition her prisoner would have when reading a familiar, memorized code.
"Ever look yourself up on one of these things?" Barriss teased.
'One, Three, Six no Nine…' Ahsoka mentally noted the code.
"If you had, of course, you wouldn't have to ask me about my motives." She laughed. "If you did do that, you'd learn a few things I'll bet you never thought were in your file."
'...Seven, Four, Four, Eight.' Ahsoka finished. She put her datapad away and moved to stand up. "Barriss, I don't care what your motives were. I've forgiven you long ago, because I realized you had fallen. You were under the influence of the dark side and your mind was unwell. The Barriss I knew would never have killed those people, nor let me be blamed for it. I'll have them bring you some caff in a bit."
Barriss glared at Ahsoka. She turned and walked out of the cell, leaving its prisoner there to rot if she so chose. 'She's away from the empire. She's comfortable in her cell. It's the most I can do. Maybe a mind healer? No, she's fallen, there is no healing that can work on that.'
Ahsoka gave those codes to Jil-Andi, her fulcrum agent. They worked, and the rebellion now had access to an entire section of the imperial database. It was full of information, more so than any of her people expected. They would be fishing through it for months.
Still, though, Barris's words came back to her now. "Ever look yourself up on one of those things?" Of course, as a spy, she did read what files she could on what little the Empire had on her. Ahsoka went to the terminal and typed in "Fulcrum" into the machine. Much of the same information came up. It did include an executive order to arrest her that she was unaware of, signed by Emperor Palpatine himself, but that was no surprise.
Before she turned off the console, Ahsoka typed one more entry into the search query. An identity she hadn't used since before the war ended. 'Padawan Ahsoka Tano, Jedi Order.' A very old picture of her came up on the screen, followed by several notes. 'Current status: Unknown,' That was good news. The expert in espionage hoped to keep it that way.
Ahsoka clicked one of the "Field Notes" attached to the system. They were dated before she left the Order, and she was curious to what they contained.
'The little Arbiter interferes again. It is clear, the Quarry will not concede while she is present. Plans must be made to dispose of her.'
'Tyranus is disappointing. The Arbiter still lives. But a new Combustible may be in the wind. A fallen Jedi, ready to burn. All she needs is a little direction. What's more, this way the Jedi can be blamed for the Arbiter's fall. At least, to the Quarry. Excellent indeed.'
'In a meeting with the Jedi Council today, seeds for doubt and distrust toward the Arbiter were sown. Stupid Jedi see nothing and still do not sense my interference. The Force seemed relieved to have these seeds of doubt changed from the Quarry. Perhaps I have been pushing it a bit hard in that line. Only for the better, though. Quarry reports disdain, that the council doesn't trust him.'
As Ahsoka read this, tears gushed out. "Palpatine, you Behemoth!" She couldn't help but cry out. It was all planned. Ahsoka remembered Anakin feeling really guilty for a while after the Empire rose up. He was the Quarry, and Palpatine was playing him. Her trial, the Jedi barring her, probably every time the Council unreasonably looked on her Master with disapproval, was all a part of his plan.
Ahsoka closed the device and ran out of there, back towards her quarters in tears. She knew she was making a scene, in front of her agents, but it was the only thing she could do to avoid making an even bigger scene in front of them.
Hello,
The first quote came from a clip of the Clone Wars episode "The Wrong Jedi" which I found on YouTube.
Giving Luke and Leia a 21st birthday with Han Solo was hard to write. I don't drink myself, and I worry I have it paced too fast, with how I have the Alcohol affecting Leia. Anyway, it let me tease an upcoming plot twist, so I hope you enjoyed it. And Incase it is unclear, Chewie flew them home, and he was Sober. Hear that kiddos, don't drink and pilot spacecraft.
I came up with the idea to make Barriss Offee an inquisitor, because it seemed logical for my AU. Then I read about a canon inquisitor, the Seventh Sister who is Mirialan, and though her wiki page says she has green skin, it looks yellow in the one illustration… Hey, I'm just saying.
In the next chapter, Ahsoka still needs to decide what to do about Mara and the Jedi Order. There may be an unexpected guest star.
