Good day all,

I have been waiting for this… and I have been hesitant to start it. Years ago, a much younger me wrote one of the greatest stories I have ever made: Tribulation of the Chosen. Recently I have read back through it and through the reviews, and I truly felt this pull to put the pieces together for so many of those that loved that story. There were many questions regarding the fates of the characters I created (especially the fan favorite Djibourdi), and I feel as though I have not done him justice and left him in the abyss. That being the case, I am starting this full-length official sequel to Tribulation of the Chosen.

If you have not read that fic, please go back and do so. The sequels to it aren't needed to understand this story, but to understand the characters and their purposes you will need TotC first. This fic begins after season five episode "Tipping Points", and is a bridge between that episode and "The Gathering". It has been YEARS since I wrote TotC, but I hope to do it justice here.

Feedback is always welcome – not negativity. Please keep that in mind as we embark on this journey together. If you have any ideas or suggestions for stories you would like to see involving Ahsoka or your favorite me-created character, please let me know.

Without further ado, ladies and gents, they/thems and the furries, I present to you: The Making of Grey.

Happy Writing,

Eliana

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She could still see it. Still feel it. Still smell it.

The unbelievable view that Ahsoka's eyes ate up like a starving gundark was so very different than the cliffside that marked one of her darkest days on Onderon – the bright colors and smells of her home calmed her soul, but it seemed as though she could only enjoy its gift in pieces. She could still see those duller colors that danced in the back of her eyes like it had just happened…and, truthfully, it hadn't happened so long ago that she forgot the agony that had ripped through her body. As if to remind her the sealed-over wound through her shoulder twinged, and she gave a slight frown.

Steela's death was a phantom. It was a menace that gnawed away at her insides, a poison that tainted her ability to cope so far that she couldn't not see it every moment of nearly every day. All of that loss, all of that pain, all of that grief… for her inability to cope with a pain she had felt countless times before. The worst of the entire situation wasn't the sound of Steela's mortal cry, or the piercing pain of the bolt ramming its way through her shoulder, or even the smell of her own flesh searing in the aftermath of a shot that, had it been two inches more to the right, would have been fatal. It was Steela's eyes. In Ahsoka's memory she could see those emotions replay in slow motion over and over again.

Relief turned to horror.

Horror turned to realization.

Realization turned to betrayal.

Ahsoka, the padawan told herself as she mechanically strode over the loose gravel of the mountain ridge, had betrayed Steela. She had betrayed them all. Steela had plummeted straight to her death over a cliff just like this one, just after trusting with her whole being that the Jedi would be her salvation. There was no penance for that mistake.

A sudden assault of loose turu-grass shreds tickled Ahsoka's face and neck, overwhelming her senses with a precious wave of calm and adoration. A deep breath filled her lungs as her cerulean eyes slid shut, the most serene of smiles painting her face as the birds that flew overhead sang. She had often dreamed over the years of a place where her soul could feel like it belonged…where the Force would persuade her to relinquish control and allow her to surrender long enough to rest. It would seem that she had found it here.

Yes.

She belonged here.

Ahsoka's eyes slowly drifted open to face the rising sun, grateful that the repetitive visions of Steela's death became only a whispered memory. The world in front of her was a wonderful array of colors, so skillfully painted and blended together to feed her an image that would forever be branded into her psyche. The pristine crystal blue sky was dotted with white clouds, the turu-grass so far below her was flipping from snow white to flaming red as the wind tickled it, giving the illusion that rolling ocean waves were lapping toward her and the base of the mountain. In the center of that ocean of grass was a small, shimmering lake – and on one of its banks stood Ahsoka's destination. She remembered sitting under the trees that bordered its walls, recalled wanting to explore the library and other buildings a short walking distance away down the stone path, had fantasized about sitting on the roof and watching the stars glow in the night sky. Perhaps she would finally let herself do that.

This had been Anakin's idea, and Obi-Wan's order. A meditative retreat, they had told her – some time to clear her mind and reconnect with her ancestral land. She had fought the idea at first and then remembered: this meant that she could go back to where her own life had nearly been forfeit. A place she had hardly forgotten and yet had trouble remembering at times. On the shore of the glistening lake sat the marble-walled hospital that had guided her back to life… a place where sacrifices were made that she still couldn't quantify. It had been nearly three years since she laid eyes on that building, yet it played her memory right back to her with a loving song. She had come all this way just to revisit this place so lost to her.

The breeze lifted to stroke her cheeks and she breathed deeply, sparing one glance at the ship she had landed in before she allowed her smile to morph into a toothy grin. She had flung herself over the edge of the cliff before she realized it, letting herself tuck and roll to a smooth stop right in the embrace of the turu-grass she missed so much. The sand and gravel rubbed her skin as she laughed, letting herself run through the field like some yearling timiar that had just discovered it could jump. It was so good to come undone, and whatever tension she had left in her body was quickly released to the Force as she danced and hopped through the grass field toward the hospital.

By the time she had reached the walkway that showed the way from the parking spaces to the main doors she was covered in turu seeds – and this was clearly amusing to some of the youngling Togruta that were not far away with their parents. Their giggles brought grins to their parents faces and earned Ahsoka some grateful looks, their thankfulness of her breaking the tension of their visits echoing in the Force around them. If that's what she had to do in order to salvage someone's day, she wouldn't complain.

A soft motion of her hand and a quick push of the Force send the turu seedlings back into the wind and she brushed herself off casually.

'So uncivilized,' she heard Master Kenobi mutter in her mind, and she didn't spare the airy giggle that she released as she made her way up the path to the front entrance.

"My name is Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano," she informed the kind Togruta woman behind the desk who asked, accepting a small visitor nameplate from her and clipping it to her top, "I came to visit some old friends of mine."

"Do you know your friends' names? I can look to see what floor they're on for you," the receptionist offered, fingers hovering just above the holo keypad in front of her as she prepared to type.

"They aren't patients. They used to work here….I hope that they still do."

"Oh!" The green eyes looking back at hers lit up, "Who are you looking for? I should be able to direct you!"

Ahsoka sheepishly raised a hand to rub the back of her head.

"So…I only know their first names. I was only a kid when I came through here last time, I didn't think to ask for any more information back then. My doctor's name was Toccara, she had two nurses with her: Eddy and Donovan."

Not two minutes later she found herself wanting to dance to the lift – and three minutes after that she found herself bored out of her skull in an empty conference room. They were all in a staff meeting, the charge nurse told her after Ahsoka asked her to keep the trip a secret for now. It was with unbridled irony that she savored their suffering through these brain-melting events just like she did. To amuse herself she went about making a pot of caf and retrieving a steaming mug, letting herself relax back into the cool window seal behind her as she gazed outside and below. It was certainly busier than she recalled it being the last time she was here…but to be fair, she could only remember so much of the beginnings of her trip. The view of the shuffling bodies on the walkway below her and the trickle of vehicles outside hadn't been her concern last time, but now, separated from the fray of war and death, the only thing her eyes could see was how quickly a place like this could be attacked. It was a shadowed notion.

Ahsoka hummed as she sipped the caf in her hand. There were so many memories trapped here within these walls…and that was part of the reason she had hesitated to return at all. She had finally found a place within herself that was calm, a place that she could settle into and rely on herself to rebuild what she had lost. And then it happened, and she had turned it all to forfeit, watching Steela plummet from the safe haven of the Force and straight into the waiting arms of death. It was so easy to understand that their positions were simply mirrored.

The halls here were still familiar to the Padawan, and just glancing through the windows to her left at the passing faces she could replace them with her own.

And Anakin.

Master Obi-Wan.

Master Plo.

Djibourdi.

That thought made her frown slightly. She hadn't seen him in about a year, hadn't heard from him for a month or two before that. The last she knew he and his new master were in the far reaches of the territory, fully engrossed in the conflicts there that she had been told numerous times were beyond most of the Jedi. Despite her best efforts she did worry at times and reached through the Force… only to come to the same conclusion every time.

Djibourdi would allow her to feel his presence, simply to know he was alive. That was as far as she could ever get. She would feel the confident, warming brush in return to her question but when she would push a bit further it was suddenly gone – and she of course understood what he was telling her…she just didn't like it.

It felt odd being here without him, Ahsoka pondered as she took another sip of the caf that she cradled in her right hand, he should be here.

Cerulean eyes returned to the window when a sudden thump of energy pulsated to her through the Force. That was odd. It was subtle, nothing overly concerning… yet out of place. Something that wasn't supposed to be there was coming, but it wasn't coming in search of anything she understood. A part of her berated herself; if she had a better grasp on the roots of her people, she could probably understand. There was something coming and something already there… a presence that was hesitant and tired and strained – and yet, still harboring something behind its walls. It reminded her oddly of a hatching egg. She had felt that only once before.

The thoughts faded rapidly when familiar footsteps echoed in her montrals, and she let the toothy smile spread across her face as the door to the conference room slid open. Chattering incessantly amongst themselves were the three that she had come all this way to see, and it was with joy that she noted just how good they all looked.

Eddy was the first in the room, handsome face staring straight into the datapad he held in his hand as he nibbled the nail of his right thumb. He was thinking deeply about something, his white coat flapping loosely around his hips.

Donovan and Toccara were bickering back and forth over some conversation that must have gone on in their meeting – and Ahsoka was suddenly so giddy that they hadn't even noticed her twenty feet away against the window. She was going to love this.

"It took you long enough," she spoke calmly into the air, the smile on her face widening when Eddy let out an unkempt yelp and dropped the data pad as he jumped back into his colleagues.

It flew straight through the air to Ahsoka's outstretched left hand that caught it deftly, her right still holding the mug of caf. She moved it slightly to the side and out of her field of vision to take in the shocked and bewildered faces of her companions.

"Hiiiiiiiiii!" she sang to them and then giggled, straightening herself so that she could walk the two paces to the counter to set down both objects she held.

"I – Did you jus – I mean –"

It was Donovan who was trying to speak where he was still in suspended animation behind his friend, his words failing him so eloquently that it earned him a good-natured roll of two blue eyes.

"Listen, I'm on a retreat and decided to come visit but you guys chose to have a meeting. And then you ended up taking forever, so I made caf."

Ahsoka planted her hands on her hips and quirked an eyebrow ridge.

"My master always told me I was supposed to greet guests, not stay in – oof!"

She couldn't finish whatever she was about to say as she was bombarded by two warm bodies, their excited chattering and talking flooding her ability to respond beyond a laugh and an arm woven around both. Her face was a mess of fabric that blocked her vision, but their voices gave them away – leave it to Don and Eddy to be the huggers.

"Ahsoka," Eddy breathed to her once they had released her, an orange hand reaching out to lightly brush her cheek, "by the heavens, look at you."

"Well look at you, too," she reminded him warmly, tapping the nameplate on the jacket he wore, "Doctor. When did that happen?"

"About four months ago," Toccara's voice answered for her companion, the female finally reaching the group with a soft smile, "Seems your marvelous misadventure gave some determination to this old fart."

"I resent that, I'm older than both of you!" Ahsoka's old charge nurse argued back from her right, and she had to fire back.

"That sounds about right there, gramps. Think it's about time to retire for you, isn't it?"

Eddy gave a warm bellow and a loving jab to her good arm at that. It didn't take them all long to settle in at one of the tables with caf and cookies, regaling of times passed and adventures had – of new scars and old friends, dark sins and bright hopes. Toccara's concern over her sealed-over shoulder was brushed aside with gratitude, only half of the story of its origin being told in explanation. This was supposed to be a calming moment filled with joy…. And yet it was still there.

That dark shadow was whispering a warning to her, but Ahsoka pushed it away. It was a reminder of the demons she had faced down she was sure, and during her meditations later she would slay this one as well.

"You should have seen it Ahsoka," she could hear Eddy's laughing voice in the distance as she traced the Force signal, "It was so….thing….hyst…"

His voice and the chuckles of his colleagues all faded from her when her skin was suddenly alight with chill bumps, her head snapping up and her eyes darting to the windows to their left. She stood from the table, ignoring the concerned questions that followed her, and strode over to one, undoing the lock and pulling it open. Suddenly her world was alighting with wind and noise, the screams of the frantically running people far below her on the paths being carried by the pulsing wind that whipped at the hospital walls. A short distance away hovered a U-Wing ship, precariously close to the roof of the adjoining library that sat down the path. The ship hovered close enough to the buildings that the pedestrians were caught in the downdrafts, injured and impaired Togrutas hardly able to find their escape from the now-wind tunnel. The pilot was purposefully facing the engines to the buildings, blasting the structures with enough light and noise to impair almost anyone.

"Get first responders ready, get the civilians inside," was the sudden order that left her throat to the people behind her, not bothering to look back to ensure they understood.

Ahsoka was out the window and rapidly scaling down to a landing below the room she had been in, close enough to the engines of the ship to hear their shuddering against their holding bolts. These ships were weak at the joints, she remembered Anakin telling her, obsolete in many terrestrial circumstances because all it took was a hit to the engine binder to –

It took her a few moments to spot the small clips inside of the engine housing. She could hit that.

One of her lightsabers hissed to life in her hand and she fell into stance, spinning the blade as quickly as she could before sending it careening through the air, aided by a push of the Force to snap right through the release clip and sending a groan echoing through the machine. It was far from even injured truthfully, but the sudden change in engine pressure was enough to make its pilot whip it halfway around and crash land harmlessly atop the twin buildings it had hovered over prior.

Things calmed almost instantly to half of their intensity as the lightsaber returned to her and the ship grew quiet, the fleeing pedestrians finding their feet and making their way rapidly to the safety of the hospital she stood on. Ahsoka glanced over her shoulder to where she had been, spying Eddy's bewildered face looking from the ship to her. She gave him a quick wink and a smile before hopping off the landing, flipping once before she landed on ground level at the head of the staircase. Clipping her lightsaber back to her belt she looked at two security guards that were ushering the civilians inside to her right. They weren't going to be of any use… but she needed them for the ruse she was about to pull.

"You two," she addressed them cooly as she strode by and started down the stairs, "come with me."

She could feel the nervous glance that they shared with each other before they jogged to catch up, choosing to stay behind her and flank her as they all calmly walked down the stone path toward the towers that held the ship. She hadn't counted on the surprise that these unwelcome guests had in store for her. A tractor beam illuminated from the side of the crippled vessel, lowering down the ones that decided they were going to chat with her.

An outdated fighter ship with a top-of-the-line tractor beam? Her only thought was and was confirmed when he touched ground: a Muun. Of course. Money had a way of hiding itself, and a well-to-do Muun would choose to fancy the inside of his ship while keeping the outside a wreck… anything to hide from prying eyes. With him were two rather vicious looking Trandoshans, both of which growled in Ahsoka's direction as she and her companions drew closer. She resisted the urge to show them a rather rude hand gesture. She despised paid lackies.

When she stopped the other two Togruta did as well, leaving ten or so paces between the two parties. Judging by the look on the Muun's face, she imagined that he hadn't expected her to be here…so what was he actually after? The blatant disregard for the lives he almost ended told her that it wasn't charitable.

"My dear Togruta friends," the Muun announced as he raised his pale pink arms above his shoulders to gesture around him, "Rejoice at the blessing that I bring to you on this desolate ball of a planet."

Ahsoka crossed her arms across her chest with a huff and an uncontrolled roll of her eyes, shifting her weight to one leg. Couldn't she go one day without listening to some blasted monologue from an overly-rich box of rocks?

"My name is Duham Lutuk, and I come on behalf of my investor to rid you of your suffering and torment."

One of the Trandoshans next to him gave a trilling hiss and raised his blaster to hold it in both hands, licking his lips at the Togruta female that stared back with clear annoyance as the Muun continued.

"On this day, I will bring to you the most joyous of gifts, if only to –"

His monologue was cut short by the angered shout of a Togruta pedestrian that had sought shelter behind one of the stone walls behind where Ahsoka stood. His remark was in fluent Togruti that was so blatantly rude that she couldn't help but feel a slight surge of appreciation at his creativity – and had to admit that she felt the same way. The Muun (…Duham, wasn't it?) made a disapproving sound as he lowered his arms, eyes now settling on the young woman in front of him.

"Jedi," he called to her, getting only a half-nod and raised brows in response, "You allow these feeble-minded creatures to speak for you?"

"They've got more to work with than you," she returned coolly, staring him down, "But I speak for myself. You are violating multiple Galactic Republic Statutes and Shilian laws by trespassing on this property and on this planet with clear intention of harm."

The two Togruta guards behind her powered on the single-handed blasters at both of their sides, raising them together to aim at the face of the Muun. He didn't seem to get the message, so Ahsoka decided a less…formal approach would be necessary. She was glad Master Obi-Wan wasn't around for this. She would never hear the end of the lecture.

"That loosely translates to: shove off, sleemo."

"It seems the Jedi send children to converse with adults," Duham muttered to the larger to the Trandoshans who gave a humorless chuckle, "Go fetch the youngling so we can leave. I don't wish to stay on this dustball longer than needed."

He went to obey, activating the large blaster he held and stepping forward toward the Togrutas. He decided to play to his own strength and attempt to intimidate, turning to point the weapon straight at the padawan as he closed ground. Ahsoka was no longer amused. The actions went quickly – her lightsaber flashed deftly in front of her to slice the raised blasted in half, a quick pull and then push by the Force sending the Trandoshan flinging back into his counterpart, sending both into a wall behind them and then to the ground.

"Get back to the hospital and put it on lockdown until I return," she addressed the two petrified guards behind her that had put on brave faces long enough.

"That will leave you alone with them, ma'am," one told her, eyes widening when she turned to grin at them over her shoulder.

"Exactly. Bye," they were Force-shoved toward their destination.

With the civilians out of the way she could focus on the two, obviously poorly trained, idiots that wanted to pick a fight – and they chose to up the ante by drawing side arms and firing rapid bolts at her. Her own muscle memory impressed her as she was deflecting the shots with practiced ease, altering the block just slightly to send a couple directly back to where they had come from. Both hit home on the Trandoshans who faltered from the pain, more than enough hesitation opening up for her to Force-grab their weapons and send them flying off into the scrubland to her right.

Duham was having none of it, flapping and flailing away from her like a frightened bird before tripping over his downed hired-arms. Ahsoka had no hesitation in closing the distance between them, raising the single green lightsaber she had activated to the face of the larger Trandoshan that hissed at her in rage.

"Clearly you were not expecting me," she told them, an unanswered question being directed at the Muun who cowered away, "I suggest you stay down. I don't want to be responsible for ending your lives."

"You won't be. You've given me what I needed."

She quirked an eyebrow at that statement… but she wasn't going to get any answers, it would turn out.

"You won't get another chance, Jedi," Duham spat at her, rapidly clacking a command and slamming the recall button to pull himself and his guards back to the ship.

Ahsoka powered down the lightsaber as she watched the U-Wing power on and lift into flight, showing no intention of using its weapons as it shot away.

…well, that was odd.

She took a deep breath in through her nose as she clipped her weapon back to her belt, curious eyes staring at the last spec of sky that she had gotten a glimpse of the ship in. Duham had come to retrieve someone. That's what he had said. He broke multiple intergalactic treaties, several Shilian laws, and caused what looked to be thousands of credits of damage…. For whomever he had come for. And it wasn't her. The Trandoshans were easy enough to quantify with the consideration of money but a Muun placing himself anywhere near conflict was… strange.

She let her gaze wander to the weapon she had cleaved in half. Standard black market double hand blaster rifle. That didn't add in at all.

Ahsoka rolled her shoulders and planted one fist at the small of her back as she turned on her heel to quickly stride toward the hospital. She needed to make a call.

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There we have it folks, the first installment. This is going to be a long one and will continue to grow as we go. Please let me know what your biggest hope to see in this story is.

I wish you all the best.

Happy Writing,

Eliana