Chapter 4 - Battle of Naboo

DISCLAIMER: We (unfortunately) do not own Star Wars. :P

Author's Note: Surprise! :D We're releasing this chapter early, because this month has five Thursdays instead of four, and we didn't want to wait any longer. Lol. This is the end of TPM. There will be a few interlude chapters (things from the Anakin & Obi-Wan comics) before we get to AotC! :)

~ Amina Gila

A strange mixture of excitement and trepidation fill Ahsoka as the group makes its way to the main hangar of Theed. She's never been in a battle before and has no idea what to expect. She just hopes that she'll actually be able to do something, not just spend the whole time hiding.

The group she's with, Padme in the lead, stops around the corner of the main hanger. She can see battle droids milling about, on watch. Padme raises a hand, signaling with a red light to the group on the other side of the hanger. It's time to get moving.

"Once we get inside, Ahsoka, you find a place to hide and stay there," Qui-Gon warns her. So much for trying to help.

"Sure," she concedes reluctantly. Now isn't the time to argue about it.

"And stay there," he repeats, giving her a severe look, clearly reading her thoughts.

All at once, the Naboo soldiers open fire on the droids. The first few go down almost instantly, caught off guard, before the rest start shooting back. Ahsoka's eyes widen in awe and surprise as Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan ignite their lightsabers and start deflecting the bolts away from Padme and the others. She's never seen a lightsaber in action before and randomly wonders if there's a reason for them to have different colors. Maybe she'll ask Qui-Gon about it once this is over.

The Jedi, Padme, and her group charge forwards, attacking the droids. Ducking the blaster bolts flying in every direction, Ahsoka races for the fighters. Several shots hit the ground around her, nearly singeing the edges of her clothes as she finally darts behind one of the fighters.

"Get to your ships!" Padme yells as they continue to destroy the battle droids. The pilots run for the part of the hanger Ahsoka is hiding in, climbing into their fighters.

One of them climbs up the ladder into the room she's hiding behind. "Better find a new hiding place, kid," he calls, "I'm taking this ship." Oh, great. Her gaze darts around the hanger, eyes finally falling on another empty fighter. Maybe this time she should hide in it, so no one can steal it from her this time. Maybe.

She darts over to it, avoiding the continuous blaster shots as she skids to a stop beside it. The Togruta pulls herself up the ladder - why must the steps be so far apart? - clambering into the cockpit. Artoo beeps in startled greeting at her. Ahsoka frowns cluelessly down at the controls in front of her as she sits there. How does anyone remember how to fly these things?

The other ships start blasting out of the hanger as the others press forwards towards the hanger doors up ahead. "The Viceroy is probably in the throne room," Padme calls above the din.

"I agree," Qui-Gon replies. They start off across the hanger, heading for the doors. Wait, they're going to leave this area now? She doesn't want to stay here all alone, and definitely not when she could be doing something.

"Hey!" Ahsoka yells, jumping to her feet, "Wait for me!"

"No, Ahsoka, you stay there," Qui-Gon orders, glancing her direction, "Stay right where you are."

"But – " she begins to protest. Now is probably not the right time to point out that earlier he said she'd be alright if she stayed with him.

"Stay in that cockpit," he repeats, his voice leaving no room for argument. She sighs, slumping back down in the seat. So much for that. She'll just be stuck watching for now. This is the last thing in the world she wants to do, especially since she has a very bad feeling about this.

A sense of foreboding suddenly washes over her as the doors of the main hanger slide open. Her eyes widen in shock at the sight of the dark robed, hooded figure standing in the doorway. Everyone pauses in their tracks, equally startled.

The figure raises his head, throwing back his hood to reveal gleaming yellow eyes, a red and black face, and a horn-covered head. He pulls out a long lightsaber hilt. Where did he get that from? From the darkness she can practically sense radiating from him, she's certain he's no Jedi. She does not have a good feeling about this. Not at all.

A snap-hiss echoes across the hanger as red blades spring out of either side of the being's weapon.

"We'll handle this," Qui-Gon declares, looking over at the others. He and Obi-Wan step forwards, activating their own lightsabers. Motioning for the rest of her group to follow, Padme turns and starts off a different direction. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan jump forwards at the being, who skillfully swings his lightsaber to meet their blows. Their blades clash incessantly for several moments before the fight is carried out of Ahsoka's line of sight around the corner. Please let them be alright. She can't bear the thought of losing Qui-Gon, not now when he's the only one she has.

The sudden clattering of droids draws her attention back to Padme. Several large wheel-shaped droids roll up, shifting into fighting position. They start exchanging crossfire. It doesn't take Ahsoka more than a moment to realize that none of the Naboo's troop's blasts are penetrating the shields surrounding the droids. This is not good at all. How will they ever be able to defeat them? What if some of them end up getting killed? What if - no, she can't let herself think about what if Padme gets seriously injured or killed by one of those things.

She has to do something. Qui-Gon told her to stay in the cockpit, but he didn't know that the Naboo troops would be confronted by droids like these. If she could sneak up behind them, maybe...

She climbs out of the fighter, scurrying across the hanger to snatch a nearby blaster. She's never actually used one of these before, but it can't be too hard. The blasts being shot at the destroyers are being deflected by the shields. The only way to destroy them would be to get through the shield. Ahsoka darts from column to column, hiding behind them for cover. None of them seem to notice her.

Practically holding her breath, Ahsoka approaches from behind one of the droids, practically crawling across the floor. She knows this could easily be suicide, but she has to help. Holding the blaster close enough for the end to come just inside the shield, she fires.

The droid explodes, the debris falling to the ground. Padme's group looks around, obviously confused as to what just happened. This is going to be more fun than she thought.

Ahsoka darts to the next, shooting it down, then the next. She pops out of her hiding spot behind the demolished droids, grinning cheerfully at the stunned expression on Padme's face.

"Ahsoka!" the queen exclaims in surprise.

"Yes?"

"Stay here, stay safe," Padme cautions.

"But I can help!" she protests.

"It's too dangerous," Padme answers firmly, "You need to stay out here where it's safe."

She turns, motioning for the others to follow. "Come on." They break into a run, heading for the palace.

Ahsoka considers ignoring the order, but finally gives in, running back to the cockpit to hide for now. She really doesn't have a good feeling right now. The sensation of foreboding is just getting worse and worse. Maybe she should have gone with Padme? Ahsoka pokes her head up over the edge of the fighter again and glances around. Everything feels too quiet out here. Something is going to happen, something terrible. She's not even sure what that thing that just attacked Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan was, but she can't stand the thought of something happening to either of them. Qui-Gon is the only person she has now, really. He's the only one who she knows will do everything he can to take care of her. Ahsoka can't deny she's still upset at Obi-Wan for how he was acting, but the thought of him dying definitely doesn't sit well with her either.

She's not sure how long she's been sitting there worrying when the clattering of droids reaches her montrals. A group of super battle droids and destroyer droids roll into the hanger, heading for the palace. They're going to attack Padme. Of that she is certain. No way is she going to let that happen.

At the same time, she can hardly get out there with a blaster and start shooting at them. That's never going to work either. But... the ship. It has guns, right? If she could use them somehow... "Where's the button to turn on the engine?" she asks Artoo.

The droid beeps.

Ahsoka blinks a few times. "I have no idea what you're saying." If only she had learned binary... she hastily scans the controls, finally pressing something that looks most like an ignition. The engine fires up and she takes the controls, turning the ship the best she can. "Where are the guns, Artoo?" she asks.

He beeps again, and the letters flash across a screen on the control panels.

Ahsoka groans loudly as she struggles to catch everything he's saying. Her mother taught her how to read, but she's still not that good at it. She's never really had much experience, but she manages to make out a few words before they disappear. She carefully pokes a button - the one she thinks Artoo told her to.

A green laser blast shoots out of the ship, and the last few destroyers are blown to pieces before they get in the door. That was... awesome. Maybe she can be helpful out here after all.

That's when it hits her. Ahsoka gasps, practically falling forwards onto the controls at the sudden surging darkness crashes around her. There's pain, so much pain. There's nothing but overwhelming darkness and death, followed by crashing waves of hopelessness and an anger that runs deep enough to even scare her. It felt so foreign yet so familiar at once. Tears sting her eyes, and she struggles to force herself back into a more decent sitting position, but she can't stop feeling it. The cold, the death. She can't stop shaking, and she doesn't even know why. Someone... someone just died. Ahsoka wants nothing more than to tell herself everything's alright, but she knows it's not true. Something terrible just happened.

**w**

The ray shields finally deactivate and Obi-Wan charges forwards, attacking the black-robed figure with a burning fury. He opens himself up entirely to the Force, letting it guide his movements as he struggles to hold back the crippling pain and fear. Just out of his reach - though taunting him with its relentless whispers - Obi-Wan can sense the Dark Side. It's feeding off his terror for his fallen master. He pushes the dark warrior on the defensive as he clearly was not expecting such a ferocious attack. Soon, though, the Zabrak manages to match the strength of the blows.

As the fight continues, the dark warrior attacks with both ends of his lightsaber as their battle travels around the pit. Obi-Wan manages to block all his lunges, and finally slices his opponent's lightsaber in half, knocking him to the floor. The dark warrior is up again in a second, running a short distance around the pit before stopping. Obi-Wan charges at him again, and the duel continues once more.

The dark warrior finally manages to knock Obi-Wan momentarily off balance, before raising up a hand, Force-shoving backwards, right into the pit. The lightsaber falls from his hand as Obi-Wan catches onto something on the edge of the pit, barely avoiding tumbling all the way down, likely to a certain death. He'd let himself get so caught up in his anger he nearly got himself killed, but that's hardly one of his concerns right now. He might be teetering along the edges of the Dark Side, but as long as his opponent is destroyed, he doesn't care too much.

The Zabrak walks to the edge, looking down with a gleam in his yellow eyes, kicking Obi-Wan's lightsaber down the shaft. Well, there goes his lightsaber. The Sith seems quite confident he's won the battle. No, he hasn't. Not yet. Obi-Wan isn't going to let Qui-Gon's death be in vain like this. He has to figure something out. His master's lightsaber is still there.

Obi-Wan Force-leaps out of the pit, calling the lightsaber to his hand in the same move. The green blade slices through the dark warrior just as he spins around to react. The Sith stumbles slightly before falling backwards into the pit.

Deactivating Qui-Gon's lightsaber, Obi-Wan runs over to him, pulling his dying master into his arms. "Master, master!" he calls urgently.

"It is too late," Qui-Gon gasps out weakly.

"No!" cries Obi-Wan desperately, forcing himself to remain silent when his master's lips move again.

"I'm... proud of you... Obi-Wan..." the dying Jedi Master whispers weakly, breath becoming more and more shallow. "Promise me... train the girl... she may be... the Chosen One."

"Yes, Master," murmurs Obi-Wan, heart simultaneously soaring and shattering as his master finally, finally says all the things he's been desperate to hear. He's always feared being a failure, being rejected, and Qui-Gon has finally assured him that he's not. He would be far happier if not for his master's imminent demise.

Qui-Gon's gaze meets his, and for one moment, Obi-Wan swears he can see love before his master's eyes go vacant, his body going completely limp. Holding the body even closer, Obi-Wan lets himself break.

**w**

Ahsoka is still in her fighter when the pilots start landing. She'd know their part of the mission was a success when the army of droids that marched into the hanger had suddenly collapsed. She'd been continuing to shoot down the droids, but her heart wasn't into any of it anymore. She still can't stop shaking. The air itself feels cold and dark, as if something was ripped right out of it. The only thing she can think about is how she saw the Jedi disappearing inside the building, fighting that black-robed figure.

After what feels like forever, she finally sees Obi-Wan coming out of the building. Alone. Ahsoka's blood runs cold. Qui-Gon isn't there. Where could he be? She shakily forces herself up and down the ladder. Something about the padawan just looks off, also. He doesn't have his lightsaber either, Ahsoka suddenly realizes. He has Qui-Gon's. She hesitantly walks towards him, knowing she has to ask the question even though she really, really doesn't want to know. "Where... where's Qui-Gon?"

He doesn't answer, but he doesn't need to. The pain that flashes through his expression is more than enough.

The Togruta stumbles back, the reality of the situation crashing down around her. He's gone. He's really, truly gone, just like so many others of her friends and her mother, but this time it's so much worse. She'll never be able to see him again. The first Jedi Ahsoka ever met, the only person who could take care of her. The only one willing to go as far as standing up against his own Council just to take care of her. He's gone. He's really, truly gone, and nothing anyone can do will ever bring him back.

Everything just seems to fly by in a blur after that. The situation on Naboo has been resolved, but at what cost? Ahsoka trails along after Obi-Wan, not paying a lot of attention to anything. Not long later, Palpatine – who is the new Chancellor, apparently – arrives with the Council. Ahsoka doesn't really care. She has no idea what's going to happen to her now, and she doubts anything will be able to heal the constant pain over Qui-Gon's loss. She's lost so much over the past few days. Why? Why does she have to keep living like this while everyone she knows is dead or gone?

Everything she sees reminds her of him, sending another stabbing pain through her heart. She feels so... so alone. Before, whenever she lost someone, there was always her mother to comfort her. Here, there's no one. No one except for Obi-Wan, who's not paying a much attention to her, wrapped up in his own grief. He didn't want her to begin with, she reminds herself.

She doesn't really pay attention when the council gets there, just follows Obi-Wan's example of bowing as they approach. It's not until the Chancellor himself comes over to the two that she refocuses a little. "We are indebted to you for your bravery, Kenobi," he says, "And you, young Tano." Her eyes widen. He's talking to her? "You have shown great bravery for someone so young. We shall watch you with great interest."

She just stands there for a few moments, blinking after him in shock. Maybe she did a lot more help shooting down those droids than she realized.

The Chancellor stops to talk to Padme, but Ahsoka doesn't really pay attention to it as her mind wanders back to her most recent losses. If only there was something she could do, something to get her mind off everything.

After that, the evening comes quickly. She finds herself standing on Obi-Wan's right as the two of them, Masters Yoda and Windu, Padme, the Chancellor, and several dozen other people whose names she doesn't know stand gathered around a funeral pyre. Since Qui-Gon died away from Coruscant, his funeral would be held here on Naboo instead of at the Temple.

"What will happen to me now?" Ahsoka asks at last, hugging herself tightly, hardly able to restrain herself from crying. All hopes of the future she had started dreaming of on the way to Coruscant the first time are quite literally going up in flames right now. And really, it hurts more than anything to see someone she cared for so much – someone who had cared about her so much – now gone forever.

Obi-Wan turns towards her, and for once she can see his obvious grief. "The Council has granted me permission to train you. You will be a Jedi. I promise."

She nods, looking back at the fire. She hadn't been expecting that to change, but that knowledge does little to reassure her. Qui-Gon's gone, and no one or nothing will ever be able to replace him. Maybe the knowledge will be able to make her feel better in the morning, but right now, she just feels horrible. She wants to wake up in a different world, one where she didn't always lose everyone.

"There is a strong possibility that the mysterious warrior was a Sith," Ahsoka hears Windu speaking very quietly to the grandmaster. The only reason she can even hear is because of her enhanced hearing.

"Likely, this is," murmurs Yoda, "Always two there, no more, no less. A master and an apprentice."

"But which one was destroyed? The Master, or the apprentice?"

**w**

Ahsoka isn't feeling much better in the morning. The only thing that is making her feel happier is the knowledge that she is going to be a Jedi. Not to mention having a padawan braid feels very weird. She's changed her clothes out of the white dress she used to wear on Tatooine into ones that seem to fit her a lot better. They're much tighter and aren't the kind of things any Togruta would wear on Tatooine if they were in their right minds. She doesn't want to keep anything from that planet. Not if she has a choice. It's behind her, and she wants to forget everything. Except her mother. And Kitster.

Ahsoka watches as the celebration continues, standing at her master's side. Master. It's hard to consider Obi-Wan that. Not only did he not want her, but also, she was supposed to be free. She's trying to tell herself it's just a title, but it still gives her the inherent need to please him.

Everyone is celebrating, but Ahsoka can tell none of the Jedi are. A great Jedi Master was lost here because of their mistake of only sending him and Obi-Wan. She tries to tell herself it isn't their fault, that it's nothing they could have helped, but she can't help but blame them on some level. She's still upset about her initial rejection, too. How can everyone be so peaceful and happy? She doesn't understand. Qui-Gon is dead. Nothing is right.

Everything just feels vacuous and empty. She can only hope the pain she's feeling will fade in time, but somehow, she doubts it's going to get much better, at least not for a while.