Chapter 25 - Cure

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

Author's Note: In which the Ahsoka and Obi-Wan return with a cure for the Blue Shadow virus, and people talk a bit. :P

~ Amina Gila

Despite trying to stay calm on the outside, Obi-Wan is more than a little on edge as he and Ahsoka land back on Naboo with the antidote they retrieved from Iego. The mission took longer than he was expecting, and it's time that he knows Anakin doesn't have.

The clones don't, either.

The boy might be constantly in danger on the battlefield, but this is completely different. At least out there, there's something they can do about it. He knows Anakin can handle himself fine when they're on the battlefield.

This is different. It's not something anyone can help. He reaches out with the Force automatically, feeling for the bright presence of his second padawan. Anakin feels alright in the Force, but Obi-Wan wants to actually see it, before he can relax. At least he knows the boy is still alive.

(He knows his concern for him, his caring for him, runs far deeper than it ought to. He knows there's a part of him that sees Anakin as more than just his padawan, even if he refuses to dwell on it because it's not the Jedi way. He cares for him more intensely already, than he ever did Ahsoka. She was... not quite a sister but certainly nothing like a daughter. He can't put a label on it. But for Anakin...)

They get off the shuttle, immediately going to the bunker where the others are still inside.

He isn't expecting it, though, when Anakin walks out next to Senator Amidala and Kitster on his own. All the other clones are being carried on stretchers. All of the clones are unconscious now, and he doesn't know if they're going to wake up, Cody included.

But there's nothing he can do for them, anyway.

"Anakin," Obi-Wan exclaims, hurrying over to him.

"Hey, Master," Anakin replies. He sounds tired, but... not sick, which is strange.

"Well, you look better than I expected," Ahsoka informs him, with maybe a little too much cheer given the situation. Probably just relieved to see him alive.

"He reacted differently than any of the clones," Senator Amidala explains, stepping forwards.

"That's... weird," Ahsoka frowns.

"Maybe it's because of the Force," Anakin offers.

"That is... possible," Obi-Wan concedes, though he doesn't exactly think so. A Jedi shouldn't be able to resist the Blue Shadow virus like this, even if they probably would take longer to be affected than the clones.

It always kills humans within forty-eight hours, and it's been almost that long already.

The only reason someone would react differently is if they're a different species, and that makes no sense, so Obi-Wan decides to not worry about it right now. "How are you feeling?" he asks, instead.

"Fine, mostly," Anakin confirms.

"You should go to the medbay to be checked up, regardless," Obi-Wan advises.

Anakin doesn't object. "Will the clones be okay?" he asks, worriedly instead, as he follows Obi-Wan to the waiting ship.

"They should be alright," Obi-Wan assures. Well, he doesn't know that for certainty, but they aren't fully out of time yet. He can hope that the clones will still regain consciousness, once this is over, especially since they have the antidote.

They leave Ahsoka behind with Senator Amidala and Kitster,

Right now, Obi-Wan is relieved that Anakin, at least, will be alright.

**w**

"I wasn't expecting to meet your... favorite Senator like that," Anakin informs Ahsoka cheerfully.

"Technically she's my friend, not my 'favorite' Senator." Ahsoka rolls her eyes though she looks amused.

"That's exactly my point."

"Whatever, Skykid."

He glares at her, and she laughs.

"I could take you over to the Senate building for a proper introduction, if you want," Ahsoka offers.

"Could you?" Anakin asks, "Does she... have time for that?" He hasn't met many politicians before, and he's always kept a distance from the ones he does know, but if Ahsoka is such good friends with Padme, getting to know her on a more personal level shouldn't hurt. He doesn't exactly have an abundance of friends at the Temple, so he certainly wouldn't mind, either. They have a short leave time after the whole Blue Shadow virus ordeal, anyways.

"She'll have time if I ask her to take the time," Ahsoka tells him, cheerfully, "And besides, we're going to be there anyway, since Palpatine was asking to see you."

"Me?" Anakin squeaks in surprise. The Chancellor has asked to see him several times in the past, but it's always... a little startling, because he's an insignificant padawan, and he has no idea why the leader of half the galaxy has an interest in him. Ahsoka doesn't seem to find it strange, though, so it must be fine. Anakin doesn't really get it (though he has to admit occasionally he likes spending time around children way younger than him. It's something about their innocence and light that's... grounding.)

"You did help save his planet, and I have a meeting with him myself, so he asked that I bring you along," she explains. "If we're going to see Padme first, we should leave now."

"Okay," Anakin agrees.

They head towards the Senate after that, and Ahsoka leads him to Senator Amidala's apartment. One of her handmaids – why do people need those? – opens the door, but the first one to greet them is Artoo, the droid rolling up beeping excitedly.

"Hey, buddy," Anakin smiles, reaching down to rest a hand on the droid's dome.

It beeps a happy response.

"Well, you two sure seem to get along," Kitster comments, appearing in the doorway.

Anakin shrugs, abruptly feeling slightly awkward. Isn't this a little like being best friends with someone's pet when you don't even know them?

"Life and death situations tend to do that," Ahsoka comments dryly, "I brought him here to get introduced."

Right on cue, Senator Amidala herself steps into the room.

"Meet my padawan-brother," Ahsoka chirps, "But I think you already knew that."

"Yes, we did," Kitster replies, raising an eyebrow at her, "With how much you talk about him, how could we not?" She talks about him...? Good to know.

"It is nice to meet you somewhere other than the battlefield," Senator Amidala declares politely, ever the politician.

"You too, Senator," Anakin replies politely.

They move to the couches in the living room, letting Ahsoka do plenty of the talking, getting them introduced to one another.

Artoo rolls over, beeping happily as he sits next to Anakin's leg. He does happen to be officially his favorite droid, at the moment.

"You like droids?" Padme asks.

"More like loves," Ahsoka chirps, "I still can't forget the look on Obi-Wan's face when he dragged two protocol droids into his apartment when he was first moving in."

Anakin suppresses a grin at the memory. He doesn't think there's any droid that annoys Obi-Wan more than Threepio, honestly. His master is so easy to annoy, it would almost be a favorite pass-time if he didn't feel bad about it.

"I didn't realize Jedi needed protocol droids," Kitster remarks.

"Technically I don't need them," Anakin explains, "But I did build one of them by collecting spare parts. I reprogrammed the other from the Separatists."

"You got a Separatist protocol droid?" Padme asks, in mild amusement.

"Well, I think it was technically an assassin droid," Anakin clarifies, "I'd give them away to someone at the Temple, but no one has use of them there."

"I think Padme could probably use one," Kitster comments absently.

Artoo beeps, something about wanting to meet this former Separatist droid.

"Maybe some other time," Anakin tells the droid, touching its dome again. He can't well run off with someone else's droid to the Temple, after all.

"Well, I have a suggestion, if you're interested," Padme speaks up, eyeing Artoo.

"What?" Anakin asks.

"You can keep Artoo and exchange him for your protocol droids."

Anakin blinks.

What?

Artoo whistles in what actually sounds like excitement.

"I guess he likes him more than you," Kitster cheerily tells Padme.

"I'm sure she's very hurt about that," Ahsoka deadpans.

Padme ignores them both. "What do you think?"

"That's... Sure. Fine with me," Anakin agrees slowly, still more than a little caught off guard by the sudden offer.

Artoo lets out a near excited squeal. Yes, apparently, he is very happy about this. Anakin has to say that he is too. He likes Threepio and Ay-Seven, but they aren't really of use to him, and he definitely thinks they could be put to use here. Artoo on the other hand... is exactly the kind of astromech he'd like to have. His first one got blown up, and he hasn't actually gotten another one assigned to him yet.

Artoo will make a perfect replacement.

**w**

It isn't long later that Anakin finds himself in Palpatine's office again. It's always weird to be here, literally talking to the Chancellor. He's still not used to it, and he very much doubts he ever will be.

"You have done a great service for the Republic, Anakin. One shudders to think about what would have happened if that virus had gotten out of the lab."

Anakin tries not to squirm. He doesn't know how to react the compliment. It's true, but... he's not used to this. Obi-Wan never really compliments him, only pushes him to try harder and do more. "I was only doing my duty."

"Even so, Ahsoka told me your performance was... impressive," the Chancellor replies, "You have done a great favor to me as well, my boy. Naboo is my home planet as I'm sure you know, and I cannot imagine what would have happened if the virus had gotten loose, even only there. Naboo is in your debt."

"I hardly did most of it," Anakin objects.

"Even so, I am impressed," he insists, slowly walking across his office. Anakin falls in step next to him. It's... stranger that this is the first time he's really talked to him much without Ahsoka present.

"Tell me, my boy, how have things been with you?"

It's strange that the Chancellor seems to care so much, but... Ahsoka trusts him. "It's... the same after every major battle. A lot of clones were sick, but they're recovering now, and I'm on a short leave," Anakin replies.

"And you did not get sick as well?" Palpatine wonders.

"No, I reacted differently, for some reason," he admits, "I don't know why."

"Your powers are growing stronger, aren't they?" he asks, evidently reaching the same conclusion as Anakin, even though it still doesn't make a whole lot of sense to him.

"... yes." Slightly odd question, but he supposes non-Force sensitives are often curious about things like that. He can't imagine how someone could survive without the Force, honestly.

"You are one of the most gifted padawans I know, perhaps even more so than Ahsoka at her age," Palpatine responds.

What? Isn't she the Chosen One? "Thank you, Your Excellency," Anakin replies, carefully, despite his confusion. Ahsoka did start her training late. Maybe that's why?

"In time, I can see you becoming one of the most powerful Jedi ever," Palpatine continues, "

"Perhaps," he says, carefully unsure how to respond while trying to be respectful at once, "But a Jedi does not seek after power."

"Of course not," The Chancellor agrees, "But with abilities of your advanced level, there is much you can do. Don't allow yourself to be held back."

Anakin blinks. "What do you mean?"

"I have seen – especially with the Ahsoka – that the Jedi often do not know how to appreciate the full extent of your abilities," he says.

The comment sets him the slightest bit on edge for some reason, but... he supposes maybe Palpatine does have a point. The Council probably would never approve of the things that Ahsoka is doing – the things that she's asked Anakin to help her with. He knows why, but Ahsoka is right, too. It might be expensive and difficult, but it will be effective. Of that, he is certain.

**w**

It's a wonder, Sidious can't help but think, how blind the Jedi can be to the fact that Anakin is the Chosen One when they already have so much evidence of it. There's no other way that the boy would have been unable to resist the effects of the virus.

Anakin is... far more indoctrinated with the "Jedi way" than Ahsoka is, but in time, he knows that will change. Likely it will be Kenobi himself who starts to push the boy away from the Jedi. And of course, Ahsoka will help with that unknowingly, the same way she already has been.

Things are working out far better than he imagined. Over time, he needs to keep planting doubts in both of their minds, until they're loyal to him above anyone else. Ahsoka already is loyal to him above anyone so far, but that isn't true for Anakin.

Yet.

He'll deal with Anakin and Ahsoka's bond to each other... later. It cannot prove to be a problem and deprive him of either of his potential apprentices. For all of Ahsoka's usefulness, Anakin is still the more powerful of the two.

"I believe our time is running short," Sidious murmurs, glancing at the chrono on the wall. And he still has to talk to Ahsoka about everything. "I'm sure you've been very busy with your training but thank you for taking the time to see me, Anakin."

"Of course, Your Excellency," the boy replies, before he heads from the room, to let Ahsoka know that Palpatine is ready to see her.

"The... Project is almost ready for its first test run," Ahsoka informs him with no small amount of eagerness, as they walk together over to the window of the office.

With how much she's turning her back on what the Council will want, he can already see her willingly joining the Dark Side. He doesn't know for Anakin, yet, but it will work out, in time.

"That is relieving to hear. This will be a great asset for the Republic," Palpatine continues, "Though I cannot be certain how pleased the Council will be over this plan."

A scowl briefs crosses her face. "They don't have the ultimate say, if you support it," she points out.

"Fortunately yes," he agrees, "Sometimes I worry about the collective wisdom of the Council in their decisions. Perhaps in time they will understand they are only hurting themselves by trying to supress your abilities."

"I don't think I'll be able to use it often," Ahsoka says, her mind evidently occupied more with her Project than anything else. "It's often too big to travel through the hyperspace routes, and it takes too long. But the next time there's a major battle, I'm going to test it out."

"That will be incredible," Sidious muses, "And now I must ask: have you encountered Dooku again?" He knows the answer, of course. But it's time that he speaks with Ahsoka about this again, to gauge her interest and determination in that regard.

"I haven't," she replies, "I don't know if that's intentional on his part or not, but I'm sure I will in time. I'm not sure if he's willing to go through with this."

"Do not put yourself in unnecessary danger, my dear!" Palpatine cautions. If the Jedi find out about this, he can only imagine what they'll do. Besides, it's... amusing to see how she reacts when he shows her the concern no one else does. "But it is hard to say if Dooku would really be honest in such a deal."

"I don't think he actually wants a war," Ahsoka replies, amusingly oblivious to the fact that she's talking the person behind everything, "But I do think he has goals he wants to accomplish so... if we could work them out together, maybe the war could be brought to an end sooner."

"The next time you meet him, it will be important to determine what it is that he wants, before we know if we should proceed further with this," Palpatine declares, "We must do what will be in the best interests of the Republic in the long run."

Ahsoka nods. "I'll see what I can do."

Or more correctly, she's going to wait for Sidious himself to pull the strings on how he wants this all to play out.

**w**

"I believe the moment the Republic conceded to war over a peaceful solution is the moment we lost," Ahsoka says, firmly. "It's not the Separatists we're hurting, it's the people on both sides. The very people the government is supposed to be protecting!"

Kitster has never seen his friend speak publicly before, but he has to admit she has the ability to. She's an amazing leader, he knows. She always was, he supposes. After all, it was partly from her – and Padme, of course – that he learned to lead his slave rebellion. What he fears though, is what will happen. He knows the public – or the media at least, because he knows a large portion of the public is against the war – has a tendency to... go crazy screaming about conspiracies if someone ever has objections to the war effort. It's been driving Padme crazy, because it makes it almost impossible to try encouraging a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

As Ahsoka keeps speaking, Kitstar can't help noticing her mentioning some of the points Padme often brings up; clearly the time she's spent with him and the Senator has been paying off on her political understanding.

"The Jedi are peacekeepers," she continues, "I never would have dreamed of being a soldier when I was a padawan. That wasn't the life I joined the Order for. It's not the life any of us were trained for! We can learn and adapt, but this is not what we're prepared to do. We know to deal with small skirmishes on individual planets, but not galaxy wide!"

She's spoken to Kitster before about how she dislikes how the Jedi were put in charge of the war, but the truth they both agreed on is how they simply didn't know who could take the place. That doesn't mean either of them were happy about it.

Aside from the ideals, Kit does not appreciate his best friend being a general, even if he knows she's perfectly capable of taking care of herself. She could die, and he wouldn't know, and he wouldn't be able to do anything about it. They've been separated their entire life, but he really wants to be able to fight beside her. He's not a Jedi, and he can't be in the army, so it makes the chance of such a thing impossible. That doesn't stop him from dreaming of a time when they can be together. He doesn't know a life not surrounded by violence and constant tension.

He – he wants to be with her again, without having to constantly fear if this will be the last time they're together. He... fears loss. It's a side-effect of slavery, another thing they both know so well. It wasn't something Padme or the handmaids were able to understand. They didn't know the dangers of reality the same way he and Ahsoka do. Padme may be nice and caring, and he will never be able to repay her for her kindness, but she can never hope to understand the horrors so many in the galaxy face every day. She was born into a wealthy family and then became a queen. She has no idea what Kit and Ahsoka and so many others went through in their childhoods.

But... Kit doesn't know if Ahsoka wants to leave the Order even after the war is over, and he doesn't want to ask that of her. He won't ask her to give up her life for him. He could never do that. He doesn't know if she'd be willing to anyway, because the woman she's become is not the same as the caring, compassionate, selfless little girl he remembers from Tatooine. He remembers she had a violent temper when she was young, but that seems to be most of what composes her now, and it frightens him.

General Tano is not the same little 'Soka she used to be. She's a Jedi now, and she sees the bigger picture. She tries to help everyone, he knows, but she doesn't go out of her way to do so. It's not like when they were young, and it hurts, because while he's glad his friend was able to escape slavery – how could he possibly not be?! – he sometimes wonders what she'd be like if she stayed, if the Jedi hadn't taken her.

(She may be a Jedi, but for as much as it hurts to say, he simply cannot see this older version of her hitting someone way above her in rank and twice her size for trying to hurt one of their friends and taking Kit on one of her hunting expeditions when Watto got mad and decided to starve her. He definitely can't imagine her laughing at her master's stupidity when out of earshot – she's a predator, after all, and there are so many wild animals on Tatooine, though many are very dangerous to kill, especially without a weapon – and giving the most of the kill to the 'less fortunate'. Of course, that was one of many memories and Kit doubts all of them were that light, but it's always the best parts that stick out after separation.)

The Jedi Knight, the General Ahsoka Tano is just not the same as the girl he used to know. She's grown and changed and hardened in ways he hasn't. Their differences doesn't make their bond any less, but it still feels like they hardly know each other. He wishes that would change, but it's out of his hands.

"While I understand the need for the war, the longer it drags on, the more the people suffer. Both governments and their inability to take action as needed are destroying them. Diverting more funds to the war effort will only cause the Separatists to do the same thing, and the galaxy will be destroyed faster. If we fight, we must use whatever means we have to bring a swift end to this conflict. The more we fight, the more we lose."

That, Kitster has to agree, is the absolute truth. Now he can only hope that maybe this will make a difference and the public and Senate will actually listen. (Somehow, he doubts it.)

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