Chapter 15 - Looking Back

Author's Note: The family is coming back together... in time to face another challenge. :)

~ Amina Gila


Ahsoka Tano

The message from the twins has been ringing through my mind ever since I heard it. I can't forget their 'don't look back'. And how they said we deserve better than them. If anything, it only motivated me to try harder to bring us back together again. And for now, I'll do it the only way I can – by working on increasing the Rebel network across the galaxy, much the way they themselves had told me to do.

It's hard still being without Alema, especially now that I'm fighting again, but at the same time, it also helps distract me.

Still, the last thing I'm expecting to hear from Rex is that the twins just showed up, and they're currently hiding with Dooku. The Empire is collapsing now that someone dumped information about Sidious to the public, and I've never felt quite so smug before. Especially because so many clones, and even the newer Imperial stormtroopers, are all refusing to keep fighting for the Empire. It's falling into chaos, and I don't know what will happen, but... Mostly, that's going to be up to Bail if he can make a move soon.

I drop everything as soon as I can, instantly going to where the twins are. That I'm actually about to see them again doesn't truly sink in until I feel their presences for the first time. They feel much like they did in the hologram, with an underlying darkness to their brilliance, but it's still them, and that's all that matters right now.

It feels so much like an echo of the last time I saw them in person as I step off the shuttle, to see them waiting for me. And their eyes are blue. Somehow, that's the first thing I notice.

Except now, I'm even more at a loss for words than I was last time.

"Ahsoka," Anakin breathes, and for a moment, all I can do is stand frozen, looking at them. I still don't understand how they could've Fallen, but they don't feel of that same darkness all the other Sith do. Although... why do I sense someone so dark close by anyway? That's not Dooku.

"Did you really think I wouldn't come to find you as soon as I could?" I blurt, finally. Not by foolishly going to Coruscant of course, but...

The faintest hints of a smile, though it hardly looks real, appear on both their faces. "That's why we warned you to stay away, no matter what," Aniya replies.

I move a little closer, hating how hopelessly uncertain I feel about what to say or how to handle it, now that we're meeting again. It was the same when we met after the Outer Rim Sieges, but it's been even longer now. I want nothing more than to throw myself into their arms and just... rewind time to back during the war maybe, but obviously, I can't. "I did what you asked. With the Rebellion," I say finally.

Anakin moves towards me, until we're only feet apart. "You're tall," he states, dryly, and I let out an incredulous not quite laugh.

"I did hit a growth spurt, right after this... fell apart."

"You're my height," Aniya notes.

"And soon, I'll be taller," I retort, smirking, but the momentary lightness fades again. I just don't know how to... be, and it hurts.

"I'm sorry things came to this, Ahsoka," Anakin says, quietly, and something in me... cracks. I stop thinking and just act, darting forwards to wrap my arms around him. Aniya instantly joins the hug, until I'm practically being smothered between them.

"I missed you," I breathe, giving voice to it for the time since... that day on the Temple steps when I walked away.

"We missed you, too," Aniya whispers back, her hair tickling my lekku to a point that's almost annoying, but I ignore it.

It's far too soon when we finally pull apart. I still can't believe they're here. "How have you been?" she asks.

"I hid on Onderon for a while, but then... I used the Force in public to help someone and clones came to track me down," I reply. It's strange to talk about, knowing they were on the other side of the conflict. I really need answers about that.

Anakin winces in sympathy.

"What happened to you?" I inquire, "Why did you... join the Sith? Why would you?" That's what makes no sense to me. I can't deny that I'm hurt about that, but they didn't do it because they randomly wanted to become evil. I know that much with certainty.

The twins share a glance. They've always been close, but something about that moment drives home how much they've only had each other for so long. It's like each other is the only one that really knows each other anymore. "Why don't we speak of this when Alema arrives?" Anakin suggests.

I perk up. "She's coming?!"

"She sent a message ahead, yes," Aniya replies. For a moment, she actually looks happy.

Eagerness wells through me instantly. "We separated. I haven't seen her in a while. Yes, we can wait. I think there's someone else who wants to see you right now, anyway."

Rex finally makes his presence known, stepping off the ship and approaching them.

"It's good to see you alright, sir," he greets, helmet under his arm. I can see the concern and relief in his brown eyes.

"And you, Rex," Anakin says, sincerely, "How did it... go?"

"I found them, as you can see," he replies, "And I've been getting as many of my brothers as I can. What about Appo?"

"He opted to stay and collect who he could first, before joining us," Aniya replies.

With that immediately over, I'm hardly even surprised when the twin's gazes promptly wander to the ship, and they approach it, looking over it with interest. It's so familiar that it hurts.

"An... interesting ship you have here," he comments.

"It is," I agree, dryly.

"Where did you get from?"

"It's mine," a cheerful voice calls from the top of the ramp, and Trace appears in the doorway, grinning.

"It's nice. I can see the personal modifications," Aniya comments. "Does it have a name?"

"... Silver Angel."

She looks momentarily amused. "I suppose it fits, with how shiny it is."

"I think you're the first one to say that," I whisper under my breath, and Anakin shoots me a look. I only grin back at him.

Trace's smile only grows, gaze focused on Aniya. "Want a look around?"

Rafa appears behind her, holding Poe, who's squirming around in her arms, trying to get down. "Is this all you need Ahsoka, or should we stay longer?"

I throw a glance at the twins. "I'll be staying here, so you can go, unless there's something we need a transport for?"

"No," Anakin replies, "But we must find a way to return the... younglings home who we rescued from the Sith."

"You rescued some?" I ask, eyes widening slightly. (What did happen to all the children at the Temple, anyway?)

"Sure, we can help," Trace promises, "Do you know where we need to take them?"

"Not all of them, but some," Aniya responds.

"Why don't we go take a look," Rafa concedes, setting Poe down and coming down the ramp.

But bringing another three-year-old into a room of chaotic little children already was clearly not a good idea, because everyone's running and playing, and certainly paying no attention to us as we try to identify who to take where.

"What's your name?" Poe asks eagerly, running up to a dark-skinned boy around the same age.

His face scrunches. "I no have one."

"Everyone has one!" he protests.

"My numbah Ef Ennn Two One Eighhht Seven," he replies, seeming decidedly proud that he was able to spell it all out. It only leaves me feeling downright appalled. They were just given labels, completely stripped of their identities and anything we could use to identify them? It's different with the clones because they were made that way, but this is... They have no way to remember who they were.

"Finn," Poe decides, cheerfully. I can't help but smile at the adorableness of it. "I call you Finn."

"Does he have anywhere to go?" I ask.

"No," Anakin replies, subdued, "We have no record of his identity."

"He stay with me!" Poe announces, importantly.

We all instantly look to Trace, who looks hopeful. Rafa sighs. "We do not have –"

"Pweaseeeee?"

She huffs.

Somehow, I know what she's going to end up deciding, even before she does. At least we've found another home for one of them. Right now, I can only be silently grateful that I've found my way back to my own home.

I never expected today could go like this, that I'd finally be reunited with all of my family again, but I can only hope that from here on, we'll have a chance to rebuild what we once had. Maybe something better. I have to hope.

**w**

Alema Syndulla

I definitely didn't expect to randomly get a call saying that the twins have defected from the no-longer Empire. Okay, that's hardly what happened, but everything's happening so fast right now. We go there immediately after finishing the literal base raid we're doing. Hunter might not have wanted to get dragged into the fight, but it happened anyway, just as I said.

Echo and Fives were pretty insistent, anyway.

Ahsoka is the first to greet me with a bone-crushing hug when I step off the ramp. "Alema, they're here."

I close my eyes, letting myself soak in the warm and burning presence that always marked them. I haven't wanted to cry so much in a long time. "I know." This is what we've been waiting for, working towards. I haven't felt so much for so long, but this is what I wanted. We're home. Except I don't know what to expect from them.

They come to see me before I've even left the hangar. They look exhausted, and I can feel the way the Dark Side swirls around them, half overtaking their presences the same way it once did mine. I felt like I was drowning in the cold back then. I know what that was like, and I could never think less of them for struggling with it, too, even if I once thought it impossible.

"Icicle," Aniya breathes, and I can only smile at the ridiculous nickname, tears burning my eyes.

"Aniya," I reply, the shaking in my voice betraying my overwhelming emotions, "Anakin. I told you someday I'd come home." One day, before I regretted walking away from the start. Before... everything.

My hands twitch, and I pause for a moment before running to them, all but throwing myself into Aniya's arms. I'm not as tall as her, but I'm still close, and she instantly wraps her arms around me in a right embrace. Anakin pulls us both against him.

I can't remember the last time I felt this... warm and safe and comforted. It's the first time in a long time that I've truly been able to accept that I'm not alone, that I won't have to handle it without the rest of my family.

So, this is what it feels like to come home.

"It's been a long time," I say finally – it's really nothing, compared to what I want to say. I don't even know how to say this or where to start. "I – I missed you." Missed is nothing compared to the gnawing emptiness in my heart, but it's the only word I know.

"We missed you, too," Aniya breathes.

"I wish we could've come back for you," I tell them, voice muffled, "I wanted to."

"You did the right thing by staying away," Anakin promises, "If you came... I don't want to know what would've happened, but you had your own role to play out here. That's what brought us back together."

At least his blind faith in the Force has held unshakable. I can't even say I know why, but I... I'm glad. Mine has, too, no matter how hard it was sometimes to let go after everything we went through.

Because it was hard. "I just wish it didn't have to happen like this," I can't help but say, anyway. Now that I'm here, the darkness that's been gnawing at me all this time feels like it's fading, like a new hope I never believed I could feel again is filling me instead.

"We all do," Aniya replies, quietly, "But what matters is that we are together now."

"Yeah," I agree breathlessly. "I suppose it does. We have a lot to catch up on."

"First, we better take you to meet Luke and Leia," Anakin says.

"And Ben and Ezra," Aniya adds immediately.

"Who are those?" What did I miss? That's an obvious question though. I know a lot's changed, but still. I can't imagine they adopted more people into our family in this time, could they have?

Anakin smiles, and it's – it's the first time I've seen it in so long, even if it's the first time I've seen him in so long and it's heartwarming to see. It rekindles the spark of life in my heart that I never truly realized was extinguished. "Come on. They're inside. We have a bit of explaining to do."

**w**

Ahsoka Tano

"You can't be serious," I all but splutter, "How could both of you have had twins in the past year?!"

"Don't worry," Aniya replies, and I can see her amusement far more clearly than I anticipated, though the heavy look in her eyes is still present, "We don't know any more than you do."

"I won't even ask," Alema agrees, flatly.

"There is also... Rey," Anakin adds. Something about his expression looks momentarily heavier.

"... Who's that?" I ask, almost warily now. They could not have had a fifth child, could they? Or randomly adopted one when they already had four to deal with?

"Technically, she is Anakin's... clone," Aniya explains.

I blink. But – what?

"What?" Alema echoes my thoughts, equally confused.

"Plagueis cloned us," Anakin explains quietly, "We didn't know, but when we... left, we were able to find Rey and take her with us."

"He – what?" I repeat, eyes wide. There's no way the twins would have agreed to that, and I don't even... know what to think. Why would he have done that? Why would – Somehow, the first thing I can think to ask is really the least important question. "Wait, us? Aniya had a clone too?"

"I did," Aniya responds, expression tight, "But in one of his... later experiments, we nearly... died. He and Sidious... used the clone's life to pull me back."

Experiments.

Experiments

What does she even mean?! I don't think I even want to know what she means, especially because it's just registering for the first time that the twins' hands are human, and they very much are not supposed to be.

And I still remember far too clearly, that feeling of when it felt like the twins were dying. I had no idea what was happening – what even could be happening – but that explains a few things.

Most of all, it explains so much of the heavy looks in their eyes, the way the light and brilliance and energy they once held so much of is nearly nonexistent now. It looks buried, though I don't think it's entirely gone. I don't want to believe it's entirely gone. I can't believe that the siblings I once knew are no longer who they were when I knew them.

And I can't believe they nearly died. I was going to ask them about it, but I didn't even know how to bring it up, and I assumed it happened because they were trying to kill the Sith. Not because someone was experimenting on them.

"I – I'm sorry about... the clone," Alema offers, voice faint with horror.

"We never... met her," Anakin replies softly, "We did not know of Rey either, until after."

"He never told you?" I ask, feeling sicker than I did before.

"He never told us any of what he intended to do," Aniya answers, with no small measure of bitterness lacing her words.

"We – we should've come back for you," Alema says, voice barely above a whisper.

"No," my former master assures instantly, "Had you come, you would only have been hurt, too. Like..." He trails off, grief flaring around him, and I know he's thinking of Qui-Gon.

"We were trying to stop all of this from happening," I remind, "When... when we were on Mandalore, Maul warned us about it. That's why we tried to kill Sidious, but we failed."

"He told us," Aniya replies, subdued, "Maul... told us about what happened. He didn't take it very well."

"Maul said you were overwhelmed and had to leave," Anakin continues. "But how did you end up there with him, anyway?

"We talked to him on Mandalore. Maul told us that Sidious... was planning to turn you, and we went with him and Savage to try stopping Sidious," I explain. "Then... he had the clones there. We couldn't fight them off. The only thing we could do was run."

"Even if you hadn't been, I don't know if you could've defeated him then," Aniya replies, "And... that would still not have dealt with Plagueis. Before, Maul told us he wanted to take them both out at once."

"That time when he captured Anakin during the war?" I clarify, and Anakin nods.

"He was getting desperate, I think," Alema says.

The twins don't seem... to be feeling any better at that news, and I can't help but think maybe talking about this isn't the best of ideas right now. Constantly thinking about it won't help them recover, will it? And I really have a question right now. "What's the deal with you and Maul anyway? Why would he have cared if you ended up as Sidious' apprentices in his stead? Or was that the problem?" Sounds reasonable enough, for Sith, but really, I have no idea.

"He kidnapped us when we were young, and started training us in the Dark Side," Anakin explains, "You have... heard that part before."

"But... that makes this make even less sense," I point out, "Why would you..."

"He... cared about us, even then," he replies. "He didn't hurt us even when he... could have. That was true for few others at the time." I wince internally at the words. Because they were recently freed slaves at the time, I know. That... I can't imagine it.

"He's not so bad," Aniya assures, "And we only had each other for a long time. It was... easier to rely on him, too, even if... he wasn't always the most pleasant company."

Considering the circumstances, it really shouldn't be that surprising. Of course, they would have to form some sort of bond with someone, even if they were surrounded by Sith. It's just that thinking about it in those terms hurts even more. I know this wasn't my fault, but it still feels like it was somehow. I didn't have to go, and if I hadn't, they wouldn't have been so alone.

But that won't change the past.

"There's something else I thought you'd want to know," Anakin adds uncertainly. "We... Barriss became one of the Inquisitors."

I can't help the anger and betrayal that flares through me instantly at the words. I never knew what happened to her, except that the Senate had been reluctant to have her executed after what had nearly happened with Aniya and me. The fastest option was to just have her imprisoned, and let the whole mess blow over, especially when the public was so upset, and some were doubting if even Barriss had been guilty.

I should have expected she would do something like this. After she already made her choice to Fall as fast as she did, I can't believe that she might not have wanted to do it like the twins didn't. She already betrayed me once, so I don't know why this has me so upset, again.

"I'm not surprised," I reply, a dark note in my voice, and Aniya lays a hand on my shoulder, squeezing it lightly.

"What will happen to the Inquisitors now?" Alema wonders.

"Unless they decide to support Maul as Emperor, I imagine they will leave," Aniya replies.

Right. Because Maul is the Emperor now, somehow, or at least he's the Emperor of part of the galaxy that's still staying together. Many systems are leaving to join Dooku and still others are falling into complete chaos. And two Sith Empires is something I don't think the galaxy will last under for long. But until Plagueis is gone, and the Jedi are no longer seen as traitors, there isn't much we can do.

"Why did you Fall?" I ask, finally.

The twins exchange glances. "It's... complicated," Anakin replies, "The Jedi were planning to forcibly seize control of the Republic, and other than that, we were... having visions."

Visions?

And, wait – "The Jedi were really going to do that?" I object. Arresting Sidious is one thing, but that is... I can't imagine the Council doing that. Even if they were willing to throw out me and Aniya – Probably.

"We didn't know how far they were going to go, and there was no time," Aniya responds, the lack of emotion in her voice being the only sign I need to know that it's something they still haven't been able to let go of. "If they were actually committing treason, we couldn't be a part of that."

"What visions?" Alema asks.

"I saw Padme almost... dying. Jaufre said she nearly did," Anakin replies, quietly, "And we saw the same happening to – to Qui-Gon. And..." He throws a glance at Aniya who looks away.

I frown. "What?"

"Something else," she says, quietly, "I don't – I don't want to talk about it. But it was... about Anakin."

I can't imagine what could be that... awful, but I don't press for details. I'm not sure I even want to know, given what she just said. If they're comfortable sharing, they will. I can, in theory, see why they would've Fallen, even if I'm not happy about it at all. But they're opposing the rest of the Sith, so it's different.

"I don't think I want to know," Alema sighs, "And all of that's over now. We just need to stop Plagueis." I can hope it stays that way, but this time, I actually have a real hope that we'll stay together, without being separated again.

It hurts, but it will never stop hurting. Alema and I had a warning before it happened. We already knew. That's why we were able to accept it. I don't think Obi-Wan has, if the dark, closed off way he carries himself is anything to go by.

It reminds me of how I felt for a long time. I still do, sometimes, but it's getting better, easier. I had Lux, then Rex, then Alema, even if we're not together all the time. I have people I know will always come back. Alema's getting better too. She's had quite the adventure with the Bad Batch without me, and on occasion even with me, though I don't know them as well as her. But either way, I think she's adjusted better than me in some ways.

Maybe.

Alema also took everything that happened harder than I did. She's always been more emotional.

It's easier for her in some ways, because she's used to being a Commander, to having an army. In a way, that's what they've become to her. At first, after they came together, Echo and Fives eventually joined Alema, before they all came back together again and took a more active role in fighting the Empire. They had a slight falling out with Cid – I don't know the details – and then Omega's Force-sensitivity started showing up, and that was about the end of them trying to hide.

"What will we do about the other Sith?" I inquire, "We can't leave them, can we?"

"Not unless we know they won't pose a threat to the galaxy," Alema interjects.

"Maul will not," Anakin replies, "Dooku claims to be intending to restore peace, but this is what led to the war before. But now, the galaxy has no government at all, so perhaps his leadership is our only option for now."

"Do you really think Dooku is our only hope at restoring peace and settling the galaxy?" Alema asks disbelievingly.

Anakin sighs. "No. But we really don't have time to worry about anything else at the moment."

My eyes narrow in suspicion. "What are you doing?"

"Plagueis is who we need to stop. We just don't know where he is, or how to do it," Aniya answers. "And mostly, we don't even know a way to stop him yet."

"Don't we have to find him first?" I object. At least we're talking more freely now, a little more like things used to be.

It's right that moment that I suddenly sense a prickle of danger in the Force, and it's growing steadily stronger. Something's not right.

Anakin and Aniya are already in motion, moving for the door.

"What's happening?" Alema asks, more rhetorically than anything, as she reaches for her lightsaber.

"We may have an intruder," Anakin replies, "Ensure the base is secure." He and Aniya bolt without looking back, and I almost wonder for a moment if they have a suspicion of who this is and where they're going, but Alema and I immediately do as they asked.

And what has me worried the most is the way I sense the twins tensing up, almost even more than how the strange presence I feel doesn't feel... real. It's wrong, unnatural, and I don't like it.

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