Water droplets trickled from Fives' damp hair, tracing a path down his neck and bare back. Warmth still lingered on his skin after the shower and the body suit hung loosely from his waist. He squeezed the water out of his hair with a towel and turned his attention back to the half-empty bag resting on his bunk.
"Have you picked your finest outfits already?" Jesse's mocking voice sounded from the upper bunk. "Better pack as much revnog as you can carry, Maker knows we'll be needing that."
"I'm sure they have plenty of it on Naboo, too," Fives remarked, hoping it was true as the mission promised gruelling. "With Thep's jerky piloting, the bottles would've broken anyway."
Initially, Fives had been surprised by their assignment to protect politicians. Given Skywalker's effectiveness on the battlefield and rather poor negotiating skills, it was strange that any member of the 501st would be approaching the political sphere. But as soon as Senator Amidala's name came up in the briefing, all of Fives' doubts disappeared. So now, as Skywalker's courtesy, the ARCs were sent to Naboo and Fives seriously pondered whether to pack a holochess set that would keep them occupied during idle evenings.
"Hurry up," Jesse rushed, closing his bag with a resounding zip. "You still have to brush up on savoir-vivre before mingling with the elite."
"Right, give me a quick revision then. Does punching a brother count as faux pas?"
"No, but etiquette requires I return the favour," Jesse replied, giving a half-hearted smack on Fives' shoulder before heading for the door.
Fives laughed under his breath as he listened to Jesse's footsteps fade away, thinking he'd be left alone in the barracks with his mess. But just as the door swished open, Jesse's voice broke the silence once more. "Hey, Commander."
"Jesse, hi," Ahsoka's bright voice rang out in the room. Despite the rows of bunks obstructing Fives' view of the two of them, every word was crystal clear. "All set?" she asked.
"Of course," Jesse assured, "Can't say the same about Fives, though."
"He's still packing? What a diva," Ahsoka teased.
Fives rolled his eyes. "I can hear you," he said, catching the echo of their snickers, followed by Jesse's farewell.
Fives sensed her light footsteps approaching and turned around once he heard her playful voice.
"Fives, do you need help—" Ahsoka broke suddenly upon seeing him. "Oh!" She blushed, her eyes momentarily lingering on his chest before hastily darting away. "Sorry for barging in."
"No need. It's a common area," he said steadily but Ahsoka kept her gaze on the opposite row of bunks. "You were saying?" He prompted.
"Right, well…" Ahsoka cleared her throat. "You're taking the packing thing way too seriously," she remarked but her voice lacked the usual dose of wit.
"Have to make a good impression at my debut in society," Fives said proudly. "You might've missed your chance but some of us still can hope for an aristocratic title."
Her head snapped back to him and she was about to voice a remark but for some reason she didn't. Snideness vanished from her face and was replaced by something akin to surprise as she stared at his bare chest.
"What?" Fives asked, baffled.
"You're wearing it." She replied with her eyes still fixed on his torso. Fives didn't know what she was talking about until he followed her gaze to where a green pendant lay flatly on his skin.
"I took the necklace thing quite literally," he teased. Ahsoka ignored his jab but must've realised she'd been still staring at his naked chest because she abruptly turned her gaze away, falling into an even deeper blush.
Fives watched her reaction with curiosity. Ahsoka had never seemed to be abashed by the Clones walking around the barracks, baring their chests. After years of growing up in the army, tending to injured men, Ahsoka no longer batted an eyelid at the sight of nudity. So was it the sight of kyber crystal that made her uneasy? Was she flustered by the memory of the conversation they had? Or was she…?
Fives shook these thoughts aside and decided to bring up a topic that would ground both of their minds to the current moment.
"Did you speak to Padme about the negotiations? Anything we can expect?" He asked before turning back to his bag and resuming folding the next pair of bodysuits.
"It'll be her first time speaking to the Arkanian queen so she's not sure what to expect either. Though the deal seems pretty straightforward – no tariff on minerals trade for the Republic's medication technology. Mutually beneficial so there shouldn't be much trouble with that."
"They always find some issue, don't they? Privileged elite, I mean,"
"Cutting a good deal with an even better one for themselves," Ahsoka summed up. "As long as the commoners are better off with, rather than without the deal, then I'm satisfied."
It was a pretty reasonable compromise, but unusually pessimistic for Ahsoka. From what Fives knew, she wasn't often caught up in politics yet apparently it sufficed to bring her hopeful wishes down to earth.
"You accompanied Amidala to similar negotiations before, didn't you?" He asked, but no answer came. Fives turned over his shoulder and caught her staring at him with a mind seemingly galaxies away from their conversation. "Ahsoka?"
"Huh?" she snapped back to reality, her gaze finally meeting Fives'.
"I asked if you attended such negotiations before," he repeated.
"Yeah, um…a couple of times," she said but Fives could see that her mind was elsewhere. He was having trouble maintaining eye contact with Ahsoka throughout the conversation; her gaze kept drifting downward, then quickly darting to other bunks, only to repeat the pattern seconds later. She particularly seemed to grow irritated by the repeating scheme, nervously shifting her weight from one leg to the other.
"Any advice you can give from experience?" Fives pressed, hoping to draw her into banter, but she didn't take the bait.
"Uh…not really," she said curtly.
"Come on, you must know something—"
"Can you put that kriffing shirt on?!" she burst out. Fives' eyebrows shot up in surprise. "It's hard to have a conversation when you're—" she started to explain herself but trailed off. "You know what; never mind. I'll see you in the hangar." Ahsoka huffed exasperated, and turned to leave, her moves more hectic than usual. A few muttered curses followed her out of the barracks before the door closed behind her.
Fives stared in bafflement, his mind racing to catch up with what had just happened. He hadn't even stepped out of his barracks, yet had somehow already managed to commit his first faux pas. Perhaps revisiting those savoir-vivre rules wouldn't be such a bad idea after all.
Then the pieces clicked together in his head, and an involuntary smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. The grin remained as he tossed the last few items into his bag and closed it with a firm zip.
Fives took in a deep breath and savoured it before letting out a long exhale. Everything on Naboo seemed richer, more elegant and posh – even the air. It was his first time visiting the planet and he already understood why no one had thought of sending him here earlier. Surrounded by grand buildings embellished with elaborate ornaments and gold, Fives felt strangely out of place. His armour, which usually provided him with a sense of belonging and pride, was now the very reason he stood out so strikingly among the ridiculous feathered garments the nobles wore. Even the helmets of the palace guards had plumes sticking out of them. Fives returned his gaze to the centre of the landing platform where the main guest of this whole rave was soon to appear.
The three of them stood at the front – Ahsoka in the middle with Rex and Fives flanking her – followed by a dozen senate guards. Skywalker had departed earlier with Jesse to ensure Senator Amidala's safe arrival for the negotiations, which was hardly a surprise. It was exactly what Fives had expected during their stay and he didn't exactly blame or judge the general; he would also use every opportunity to spend even a second longer with the woman he loved. And for Fives, any arrangement in which he was assigned to Ahsoka was the perfect arrangement.
Soldiers at once snapped to attention as the shuttle neared the platform, its engines creating gusts of wind and sending Ahsoka's lekku mid-air. The hatch opened with a swoosh and dozens of soldiers in silver armour flooded outside, creating a perfect corridor. Fives expected to see the queen follow but the passage remained useless as no one appeared. Minutes passed, soldiers held their perfect parade stance yet for no one to appreciate. Fives started to feel anxious. He wasn't well accustomed to court principles but surely something was off, right?
He glanced at Ahsoka, wanting to confront his concerns but her face was even. She was looking intently at the ship's hatch and Fives thought better and closed his mouth. Just then a woman emerged from the craft.
Naboo's warm sunlight fell onto luminous pale skin. The woman's long hair was even lighter than her complexion; pure white and pinned up in an extravagant fashion under the heavy crown. Silk gown stretched long after the Arkanian woman and was carried by four servants hidden under grey cloaks. The queen – Dermase Fer – made unhurried steps when nearing them but Fives was sure it wasn't for the sake of the servants that followed her steps with hunched backs.
Once the procession stopped in front of them, Fives took a better look at the queen, trying to assess what kind of person they were dealing with. Her dignified and sharp features made it difficult to judge her age, but by the small wrinkles around the eyes, Fives assumed she must be over fifty. Most nobles he'd had the dubious pleasure of encountering had that unusual ability to point out their primacy by the very look in their eyes. Under their gaze, he could simultaneously feel being watched with spite and ignored, as if he was less than a part of the room's furnishings. But what struck him was the fact that Dermase bestowed the same gaze on Ahsoka.
"Your Majesty," Ahsoka bowed gracefully. "I'm Commander Ahsoka Tano. It will be my honour to serve you."
The woman stayed silent, eyeing Ahsoka from head to toe. Her pure white eyes looked like two ice shards, unable to melt even under Naboo's summer sun.
"Is your presence a statement?" The queen asked blatantly.
"I'm afraid I don't understand…"
"Indeed, I don't anticipate you to comprehend." Her four clawed fingers were almost entirely covered in silver rings encrusted with gemstones. But despite their weight, her hand effortlessly swept a stray strand of hair back into place. "Truly, what could be a clearer indication of disrespect than placing me under your guardianship? If I had been aware that these negotiations were merely a farce, I wouldn't have bothered to come all this way."
Ahsoka skillfully dug any traces of surprise or hurt that might've crossed her mind and said with utmost regard, "I'm sure it was in no one's intentions to disrespect you, Your Highness."
"You're telling me the Republic is full of fools then?"
"I promise to protect Your Highness with my life," Ahsoka placed her hand over her heart and bowed again. "General Skywalker was certain of it when assigning me this part."
Dermase watched Ahsoka with scrutiny, a glimpse of amusement flashing in her eyes. Then, with a condescending smile, she said, "You do possess manners, at the very least. Allow me to offer you some advice, child – hold onto them. Obedience will prove to be a valuable asset in the market once you come to terms with the fact that Jedi are not the masters you were born to serve."
Fives felt his stomach turn at the insinuation, a sickening feeling spreading through him. His fists clenched with hatred he couldn't and didn't want to cease. He noticed Ahsoka's own struggle to contain her disgust, a grimace briefly crossing her face before she composed herself as the queen began to move towards the palace. However, Dermase's perceptive eyes didn't miss Ahsoka's reaction.
"There's no need for resentment as it seems there may be a misunderstanding on your part." She said neutrally, looking ahead, but there was a twitch in the corner of her mouth that betrayed how she thrived from Ahsoka's reaction. "I value every creature and their usefulness to society. But, of course, not everyone can serve the same purpose."
Fives clenched his jaw tightly, fighting the urge to curse aloud; he knew where this discourse was heading. With each step, his gaze fixed on the queen's back, he felt nothing but loathing burning within him. One glance at Rex beside him, even with their helmets on, was enough to determine exactly which scowl was painted on the captain's face. Unfortunately, Ahsoka was deprived of this luxury and had to maintain an indifferent expression as she marched alongside the Arkanian.
"There exist external constraints on one's potential," Dermase continued and her foul words echoed in the vast halls of the palace, "It would be foolish to masquerade as something you are not. Do you wish to be a fool, child?"
"I do not, Your Highness," Ahsoka replied through gritted teeth. Her hands were folded behind her back so Fives could see how her nails dug inside her palm.
"It's essential to make use of the gifts bestowed upon us by the galaxy. I, born of pure blood, possess an extraordinary talent for assessing everyone's rightful place in the food chain. Women of your kind, young and beautiful, are undoubtedly valuable in my palace," Dermase halted in front of a massive golden door leading to the negotiations. Her clawed palms deftly adjusted the crown atop her head. "They excel in appeasing the desires of their betters. But the only weapon they hold is when preparing my meals."
The door opened before Ahsoka could open her mouth. The heavy diamond chandeliers cast a bright light on the queen, shimmering dazzlingly from the jewels adorning her crown and neck. Dermase entered the room, stepping on the velvet carpet beneath her heels, surrounded by gracefully bowed heads. Ahsoka moved from her spot, shocked, her eyes wide and her movements rigid. She had barely stood on the carpet when the door shut, cutting Fives off from the blinding lights.
Fives blazed with rage. He was letting out ragged exhales but each breath only seemed to flame the fire that was already burning inside him. He clenched his fists tightly to keep from reaching for the doorknob and doing something stupid, but he wasn't sure how much longer that would last as he continued to stare at the closed door with fury.
A hand on his shoulder forced him to turn around.
"Pick the battles you can win," Rex said sternly.
Fives looked around and reluctantly followed in the footsteps of the other soldiers, standing at attention and guarding the entrance. Knowing the Arkanian queen, he could see plenty of reasons why someone would want to dethrone her, and good ones at that. He stared down the long corridor, but he was no longer sure if he would do as much as lift a finger if the danger came.
The echo of Dermase's foul words whirred in his skull. Fives was used to insults slurred at the Clones. Droid fodder, lab rats, meat cans – he could recite them from memory in four different languages. He kinda expected to hear at least one till this moment of his trip. The slurs were devoid of creativity and most of the time he could turn a deaf ear to it. But not when they were directed at Ahsoka.
Togruta were a species of which many stereotypes circulated in the galaxy. Much like the Twi'leks, their people became a desirable commodity behind the markets' stalls. This was precisely the reason why Ahsoka was much safer on the battlefield than wandering the lower levels of Coruscant. Each time she went to the 79's, she was under the wary eyes of the Clones, who kept the lurking eyes or hands away from her.
But elite political events were different. Most of the time, her Jedi status did provide her a sense of protection. Sure, since the war broke out, Keepers of the Peace weren't as welcome in some parts of the Galaxy as they used to. Some treated them almost as divine saviours, others despised their involvement in galactic politics and weaponizing the ancient order. But whatever the stance on the matter, wielding a lightsaber carried some amount of authority. At least, that's what Fives had thought.
What if today's event was not out of the ordinary? What if he was simply never perceptive enough to notice it? What if he wasn't there for her. Fives bit the inside of his cheek until it hurt.
Hours dragged by yet the door remained closed. Nothing could be heard from inside. At first, Five put his anxiety down to inexperience, but when he looked at the palace guards, he saw a glimmer of anxiety in their eyes as well.
Then, there was a crack and the door opened. Soldiers snapped to attention, and Arkanian guards poured out from the negotiation room like a tide. Fives waited in anticipation until he finally saw Ahsoka. It was obvious that her previous shock had worn off. Now, as she followed the queen there was nothing but disgust in her eyes. If only he could reach her gaze and assure her of his support.
From the length of the negotiations, Fives would assume that at least some agreements were reached, but from the look in Amidala's eyes, he figured he knew even less about politics than he'd assumed. The queen, on the other hand, strode confidently, head held up high, and a shadow of a smirk on her sharp features. Fives joined the procession escorting Demarse to the shuttle but hushed exchanges between Republic's senators managed to reach his ears.
"–told the deal was practically sealed," A voice was thick with a Korriban accent. "None of this was in the agreement."
"And it won't be," another man responded, surely a Rodian. "Not when I'm–"
A metal clang clashed in a hall. Ahsoka's green saber ignited in an instant. She leapt to the forefront to shield the queen; her palm brushed against the Arkanian's arm, guiding her away from the danger. Fives readied his blasters, scanning the surroundings, not really sure what the threat yet was. Soldiers tightened their lists, evoking panicked yells from the senators. It wasn't until then that Fives noticed that up front, a servant lay on the floor. She was bowing her head to the ground, forehead pressed to the marble tiles as the platter and its shattered remnants surrounded her in a pitiful testimony to her slip.
Ahsoka deactivated her saber, and the guards returned to their passive stance, ready to carry on. It seemed like the whole ordeal was about to get forgotten when a sharp voice brought everyone to a halt once again.
"How dare you touch me!" Dermase's shout broke the silence but what resonated louder in the halls was the sound of her palm slapping Ahsoka's cheek. The blow was so hard that her face turned to the side.
Everyone seemed to freeze, waiting for the next events – everyone but not Fives. Pushed by rage, he moved forward, ready to do anything to stop the woman from touching Ahsoka ever again. Skywalker also tore forward to stop the conflict from escalating but both men halted midway when Ahsoka straightened her posture and looked up. Fives watched in fear as she raised her chin, her chest raising heavily and then, in a perfect manner, she bowed low.
"My apologies, Your Highness."
Fives almost reeled back from shock. Ahsoka kept her head low and Fives noticed that her palms were pressed flat on her thighs rather than nails cutting into flesh.
Demarse adjusted the heavy rings that rotated on her digits as she left marks on Ahsoka's face. The woman looked almost disappointed that Ahsoka gave her no reason for aiming another slap. Anakin stepped in before she could find any.
"We'll escort you to the safe house, Your Majesty," Skywalker stated tightly. The woman barely spared him a glance and moved with her guards. Anakin turned to Ahsoka and whispered, "Return with Padmé to her place, I'll take care of this."
Ahsoka nodded and waited for the general and the Arkanians to disappear around the corner. Fives could see how she fought not to touch her cheek which was still red after the hit. Before he could say anything, Ahsoka spoke up,
"Shall we move to the residence, my lady?" she said to Padmé with a smile.
"Ahsoka…" Padmé gently touched her wrist. There was a sadness in the woman's eyes that made Ahsoka's smile dim slightly but turned into a much more sincere one.
Once they boarded the shuttle, Fives stood by the door with other clones while Ahsoka and Padmé took seats together by the window. Fives observed Ahsoka all the time from the corner of his eye. Her movements were stiff but she didn't allow herself to lose the gentle smile for the entire journey as they escorted Amidala to her residence.
The two women engaged in light conversation, with Padmé leading most of it, pointing out notable buildings as they flew through the city. Ahsoka was nodding politely, expressing admiration for the sights. The whole interaction between the two longtime friends was almost painful for Fives to watch.
As they arrived at Amidala's residence, Ahsoka escorted the senator further, leaving the soldiers behind. The two women stopped by the entrance, their words lost to Fives' ears as the waterfall rumbled in the distance. Eventually, Padmé embraced Ahsoka tightly before disappearing into the house. Ahsoka lingered until the guards closed the door behind the senator; only then did she turn to make her way towards the ship. Passing Fives without stopping, she left him alone to cast a final glance at the waterfall. He let out an exhale that still couldn't bring the calm he was hoping for, before joining the rest of the crew.
The flight to the GAR's base wasn't going to last long but Fives was determined to talk to Ahsoka before they got there. He had to ask a brother for a tip on where to find his commander as she was nowhere in the common space. Once he reached the right door, he knocked lightly and pushed the keypad.
"Hey," Fives greeted. His voice sounded oddly loud as the door swished close behind him, muffling the noise from other rooms.
"Hi," Ahsoka quickly put away the holoprojector she'd been fidgeting with; or rather peeling off the paint that barely covered its surface at this point. "How do you like Naboo so far?" She asked lightly in an obvious attempt to divert attention from herself.
Fives walked up to the couch she was sitting on, placed his helmet on a table and sat down next to her. "Guess I have yet to see its good side," he said tensely, trying to keep his voice as calm as possible.
Her mouth curved in a dry smile. "Not the debut you were hoping for, huh?" she said darkly.
"Some things shouldn't have its first time," he frowned. "Shouldn't happen at all."
"It is what it is," Ahsoka said dismissively, shrugging one arm. "The architecture was great though?"
Fives gave her an unamused look. "Ahsoka," he chastised. He expected it to be a tough talk but hoped for at least some amount of honesty. They didn't get to the candid part because the door to the room opened.
"Commander, we're landing," A Clone in a red-white armour informed.
"Right," Ahsoka said and without looking at Fives, followed Brawler out of the cabin. Fives sighed, using these two seconds to collect himself before hurrying to catch up with Ahsoka.
Straight from the shuttle, Browler gave them a tour of the compound, pointing out key areas and sharing essential information about their stay. By the time they had seen everything, they were settled in and had been assigned rooms. Fives noted that the complex wasn't too different from the one on Coruscant. Colder, maybe, but only because it lacked the familiar faces, no matter how absurd it sounds in the clones' case.
"Make yourself at home," Brawler said once they circled back to the grand plaza.
"Thanks, Brawler," Ahsoka nodded in appreciation. The men left to return to his duty but Fives and Ahsoka didn't move from their place. They remained where they were, silently observing as the soldiers strode in and out of the base. The red flags of the Republic flapped loudly on the masts above their heads.
"Come on," Fives abruptly turned to Ahsoka. "Let's go out."
She snapped out of reverie and frowned in confusion. "What? Like now?"
"Well, do you have any other arrangements?"
"No, but…"
"You told me to step up my game. This is me trying harder." Fives recalled her words, looking at her meaningfully. Then he tinted his voice with a more playful tone. "If Naboo's restaurants aren't fancy enough for you then I'm not sure how else I can impress you."
Ahsoka laughed lightly and it was a sound Fives welcomed with great relief. "Fine," she agreed. "Let's go out." After deciding to meet in the same spot fifteen minutes later, they parted ways to their cabins.
Fives quickly changed into civvies, eager to leave the military service and everything that came with it behind, even if only for a while. He hoped to tear Ahsoka from these burdens as well and wondered if it was possible once he waited for her back in the busy courtyard.
Minutes passed slowly, especially since he was suddenly so distinctive from the brothers sporting red-white armour. Fives wouldn't mind waiting for Ahsoka for hours if needed, but five minutes after the appointed time, a thought appeared that even a week wouldn't be enough. He began to worry if she was coming at all or if he was seconds before receiving a text from her, saying she had quit. Fives knew he pushed their meeting on her but he really believed it was better for her than sitting in the compound, pondering whether there was a kernel of truth in Demarse's words. Fives was ready to eradicate any poison that got inside Ahsoka's heart.
Then he spotted a person who stood out even more remarkably in the crowd than he did. Ahsoka weaved between approaching legions, not yet having noticed him. Her head was low and her stride lacked the brisk she usually carried but upon seeing him she picked up her pace.
"Sorry," she said sheepishly once she stopped beside him. "I guess I should've paid more attention when Brawler was showing us around."
"That's alright," Fives assured. "Shall we?"
They caught the first train into the city. Having a wide choice of seats, Ahsoka took a place by the window, with Fives right beside her. The views changed gradually; from green fields sprouted quiet suburbs, with lovely backyards and picket white fences. Then the cottage houses began to grow taller, morphing into grand buildings, criss-crossed by busy streets with busy people. Not that any of this had really registered in Fives' mind, who was more focused on watching Ahsoka.
Even he wasn't sure if he was using the opportunity to simply look at her, as usual, or if he was searching for something more specific. But her hurt cheek was closer to the window and he could only see the indistinct reflection of the reddened skin in the smudged glass. His gaze flicked over the reflection, and he almost flinched when realising that Ahsoka had caught his stare in the glass. She held his gaze for a long moment. Fives waited for a reprimand for keeping constant surveillance on her but the comment never came. Instead, she sighed softly, then turned her attention back to the streets outside, as if acknowledging that it was simply something he would do. And so with that consent, he stopped fighting the habit, which had always won anyway.
When the train arrived at their destination, they stepped off and gave in to the current of people that led them to the main square. Everywhere Fives looked, he was met with extraordinary palaces and statues, all surrounded by both tourists gasping at the monuments and unfazed locals who were too accustomed to its presence. He turned and saw a loud group of Quarren posing for a holo, while a metre away a Twi'lek woman chased away a flock of Pelikki who tried to snatch a pastry from her hand. And, strangely, in this city filled with thousands of all sorts of people, Fives felt in the right place. It was crowded enough to feel anonymous, but without having to squeeze between people or fight for a place to sit. His civvies not only allowed him to blend in, but to actually fit into this strange collective who were simply going about their business, whether walking with a confident stride or wandering, not knowing the direction, quite like him.
Fives and Ahsoka walked along the streets, looking at the old buildings and their newer neighbours who tried in vain to copy their sense of uniqueness. Fives was engaging Ahsoka in light conversation about the most prosaic things; anything that would keep her thoughts from straying off and not require too much energy. They passed a small pottery store when he heard her chuckle.
"What?" Fives asked, a smile appearing on his face at the bright sound of her genuine laugh.
"Nothing, it's... I just remembered it's the place where I got caught in the middle of this rainstorm. I sheltered on the doorstep and the shopkeeper invited me inside. We ended up playing Saigok till the late evening," she reminisced, a fond smile tugging at her lips.
"Were you coming here often? To Naboo," he clarified.
"As much as Anakin and I got a leave, so not often. But we came here on these rare occasions we've got nowhere else to be. And on the condition Padmé was here as well," she looked at him knowingly.
"Right," Fives huffed a laugh. Ahsoka then fell silent for a while as if recalling more memories.
"Come on," she said briskly. "I'll show you my favourite place. And then you can take me to that fancy dinner." She sent him a smirk, then grabbed his hand and pulled him towards a side alley.
They navigated the less frequented streets, where only locals knew how to walk and not get lost. The buildings were not as polished as the townhouses along the main roads, but most of the cavities in the plaster were covered with dense ivy that thrived in the shady streets. Fives didn't get a chance to take a closer look at his surroundings though, as Ahsoka dragged him forward. He kept asking where she was leading him, but she wouldn't tell. "Show some trust", she said. And so Fives entrusted himself into her hands.
Finally, a circled plaza, with a small fountain marking its centre emerged from between the residential buildings. There was no one here, besides the colourful birds that flew from the fountain's edges to the branches above as they approached the alley. Bright chirping and water plopping were all Fives could hear in this small temple of peace. The streets' hustle faded away and couldn't get past the wall of greenery that enveloped them. All the bushes and flowers that once had been trimmed into fancy shapes were now left alone to grow to their whim.
As they neared the fountain, it took Fives a moment to realise that what lay beneath the water wasn't a decorative mosaic, but a thick layer of coins. Various shapes and sizes from across the galaxy shimmered in the rays of the afternoon sun. While many of the pieces were unfamiliar to him, the sheer quantity suggested it amounted to quite a sum.
"I can see why it's your favourite place," Fives remarked. "Is this where you got your pocket money from?"
Ahsoka snorted softly, settling herself at the edge of the fountain and gazing into the rippling water. "You can't take the coin out of the fountain. Someone's dream won't come true."
"Mine will when I buy a drink with it," Fives joked, joining her on the ledge. He watched her eyes roll at his retort, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
Fives held moments like this in high regard; they offered a respite from the chaos of war, bringing him closer to the fantasy he wanted his life to be. However, when Ahsoka's gaze met his again, it was as if the present had called his name. The echo of today's events rang in his ears and brought him crashing back to reality. Fives' eyes involuntarily fell lower, to Ahsoka's cheek. The red marks had already disappeared but Fives couldn't erase them from memory. Like a stubborn flame refusing to die out, the poisonous blend of anger and sorrow still burned inside him. Unable to stop himself, Fives reached out, his fingertips brushing over Ahsoka's cheek with gentle reverence.
"I still can't believe she hit you," he murmured, his voice tinged with regret.
"There was nothing you could've done," she said, sensing his guilt. "The negotiations are far more important than my pride."
"Wish it didn't have to be one or the other," Fives whispered, his thumb grazing alone the white marking on her cheek. He stopped himself; his hand dropped and clenched on the edge of the fountain.
"Yeah," Ahsoka hummed and covered his hand with her own. "That's why I like the negotiations between the two of us. They're always futile and we both end up with bruised egos," she said with affection that made him relax.
"What can I say?" he chuckled. "We're equal opponents."
"And equal friends," Ahsoka chimed in.
"Yeah, that too," he admitted gently. An idea came into his mind. "How about you enhance your chances for our next row with the power of the wish-fulfilling fountain?" Fives retrieved a golden credit from his jacket pocket.
"If I get a wish I want to make it a good one," Ahsoka flashed him a playful smile.
"Alright, but don't go too crazy. Even magic water reservoirs have their limits," he teased, handing her a coin and sweeping her to her feet. With a gentle touch on her shoulder, Fives turned her so her back was facing the fountain. He locked their gazes. "On the count of three," he instructed. "One, two—"
—an explosion marked his count.
Fives instinctively covered his ears as the blast's roar reverberated through the air, shaking the ground beneath them. Above the treetops, flames consumed a skyscraper, sending thick black clouds into the sky through newly formed holes in the building.
"Evacuate citizens from the streets," Ahsoka ordered, already moving towards the explosion. "I'll check the building!" She shouted and disappeared from his sight in a flash.
He followed suit, sprinting towards the main streets. It was easier to navigate as he only had to follow the panicked shouts. The air grew thicker as he approached, becoming stuffy and cough-inducing. Frantic people ran past him, some stumbling and falling in their haste. Fives did his best to help them up, but even he struggled against the force of the frightened crowd.
Soon, the first city guards appeared, but their authority wasn't enough to manage the chaos. Everyone's instinct screamed to run, and run as far from the explosion as possible. Fives dared to think that the situation was slowly improving as the immediate surroundings of the burning building emptied, but his optimism was shattered by another deafening blast.
Bright flames erupted from the centre of the skyscraper, throwing everyone around Fives to the ground. The screams merged into one – a sound even more terrifying than the explosion itself. This time, Fives witnessed the explosion with horrifying clarity, watching every tongue of fire shoot out of the windows. Glass shattered into shards, pouring out of the building and framing a silhouette hurtling towards the ground.
A scream died in his throat.
Fives watched how Ahsoka's body flew to the ground like a bird falling out of a nest before learning how to fly. He was waiting for her to do something. Turn around, reach a hand and use a Force; he was demanding her to. But she remained disobedient until her silhouette disappeared behind the line of trees.
Fives shot towards the burning building. He had to tear through the sweeping mass of people who, contrary to him, were running away from the fire. He was close when the glass started crunching under his feet. All the windows had broken apart and shattered on brick, leaving the corpse of a skyscraper over a glistening sea of shards. Fives was breathing quickly, inhaling thick smoke, as he raced searching, calling for Ahsoka. He was holding onto the hope that she had woken up and used the Force just after he lost sight of her. He reminded himself of all the times she made bigger jumps with no scratch whatsoever. But for some reason, an image of her disfigured twisted body kept coming back.
Fives made another turn into a devastated street when he finally saw her – and he immediately reached for his blaster.
"Drop your weapon," a man barked. By his feet was kneeling Ahsoka, with a barrel pressed to her temple. "Now!" The man urged.
Fives didn't dare to test his patience. He outstretched both hands in view and very slowly put the gun on the ground.
"There," Fives said. "Are we cool?"
"Slide it to me. And hands where I can see them," he ordered, pushing his gun harder into Ahsoka's head as if Fives needed more motivation. The blaster landed by the man's feet when a stronger gust of wind ripped his hood away – an Arkanian, Fives quickly assumed. "Good, now we can talk."
Fives looked over at Ahsoka. Her wrists were shackled in Force-suppressing binders, their sharp edges drawing blood as they cut into her skin. A crimson trickle ran down her neck, probably, like most of her injuries, the wound was caused by the shards that now were digging into her knees. He wanted to look her in the eyes, to read from them if she was alright, but Ahsoka refused to meet his gaze, her head hanging down woefully. For now, it'd have to suffice that she was alive. And it was his task to make that last.
"How about we start with you letting her go," Fives said, assessing the situation. Ahsoka's lightsabers were hanging from the Arkanian belt. Fives had a second blaster on his back, hidden underneath his jacket, but it'd all come down to one question: who would be quicker. Fives pulling out his blaster or him blowing Ahsoka's brains out. He really didn't want to find an answer to that.
"I don't think you're in a position to impose conditions," Arkanian said, almost amused. "But I'll make it easy for you — give me coordinates to Dermase's location and I'll be on my way and you'll get this sweetheart back with a head in one piece."
"Wish I could but I don't know the location," Fives said, trying his chances with a bluff. Initially, he had thought the man was merely a bounty hunter, hired for a generous amount of credits. But now as he looked closer at the pure white skin, five-fingered hands and human-like eyes he recognised the man was an Arkanian Offshoot which made the situation deeply personal for both of them.
"I want to believe you, I really do," the man said. "But trust goes both ways and maybe you're not really convinced that I will kill her," and to prove his words, he pressed a device on his wrist. Blue electricity streaks sprung from the huffs around Ahsoka's hands. Fives watched in horror how her eyes shut in pain, holding back a scream as electro-shocks tormented her body. When the waves stopped, she started catching air in deep draughts.
"I think I proved my verity. Now it's your turn," the man said matter-of-factly, unfazed by what he had just done.
"I—" Fives couldn't choke a word. He was staring at Ahsoka who was still fighting for air and he felt as if suffocating himself.
"Can you really look into those doe eyes and tell her you're gonna choose a murderer over her?" Arkanian looked down at Ahsoka and with anger noticed that her eyes were looking everywhere but Fives. "Look at him," he rasped, gripping her chin and forcing her to look at Fives but she still turned her eyes to the side.
"Don't touch her," Fives growled, every muscle in his body tensed in rage.
Arkanian shot him a curious look. "As you wish," Pointedly, he let go of her and instead pressed the console on his wrist, sending electroshocks that wrapped Ahsoka like hungry snakes.
"No!" Fives shouted. "Ahsoka—"
The waves continued, her whole face twisted in pain but not a single whimper left her mouth. She kept her back straightened while her muscles trembled in extortion. It felt like an eternity as he helplessly watched her agony. Finally, the shocks were gone, but it did little to ease the pain in Fives' chest.
"Look at that," the Arkanian said with outright respect as he watched Ahsoka. For the first time, his face expressed something other than stoic indifference. Then he shifted his gaze to Fives. "She's a tough one. You're a man with good taste. It would be a shame to deprive you of this sweetheart."
Fives didn't know what to think of this praise. How much had the man figured out by simply looking at him? Did he know Fives was a clone? Were the civvies enough to disguise him? Or did the man know exactly who Fives was and was mocking him? Not that any of it really mattered. The only thing that did was finding a way to get Ahsoka out of this alive.
Fives went through all of the options he had. He thought of the privileged shabuir in the shelter then looked at Ahsoka with the gun at her temple – in Fives' mind there really wasn't a choice.
"Fives, don't," Ahsoka said sharply as if reading his mind. It cost her the next salvo of electroshocks, but besides that, the man didn't spare her much attention.
"Fives," Arkanian said, testing the name as if pleased with this piece of information. "It wouldn't look good on your resume to get your Jedi dead, would it? It certainly wouldn't feel good on your conscience."
"No, but I can see you have no such qualms."
"There is a price to freedom," he shrugged.
"Yet you're buying it by someone else's life," Fives remarked, sick of twisted morality concepts from deranged people for one day.
"What's one to hundreds dying every day," Arkanian said, back to his indifferent demeanour. It was a man who put everything on one card; who had nothing to lose, and that's what terrified Fives. "You look like a reasonable man. Jedi aren't very cooperative; they're willing to die just for the sake of heroism." He glared at Ahsoka whose shoulders were trembling in pain. "On Arkania there are millions like me, bred to serve, used as spare parts. But I guess I don't have to explain what it's like to you."
"I've never done a coup so you might need to elaborate after all," Fives said, hoping it would buy him time for the reinforcement to come. The burning building was like a beacon so it was only a matter of time until they arrived. If only Fives knew how much time he needed to buy.
"I see you're not worried about the orders you've been given but about doing the right thing; quite unnecessarily," the man said, his tone far from condescending. He sounded as if he really believed Fives would be convinced of his ideology. "I'm not doing this for power or money – this is for the basic rights of my people. You must understand how it is to be stripped of freedom, forced to sacrifice your life for a cause that's never been yours to begin with. Don't you wish for justice?"
"I've lived enough to know justice is subjective," Fives retorted because he knew better than to believe empty phrases, no matter how much they resonated with him.
"It definitely is for Demarse," Offshoot remarked. Fives grimaced at the sheer mention of the woman; it didn't escape Arkanian's notice. "You met her, didn't you? How compassionate did she seem?"
The answer to this question wouldn't support his stance, so Fives decided to alter the course of exchange. "Even if you kill her, the repercussions will only grow stronger," he tried to reason, although his moral codex had never been more pushed to a challenge. "After one ruthless ruler always comes two more."
"I won't stand and watch as my people are dying in those mines!" The man snapped, and Fives watched in horror how his hand clenched tighter around the gun pressed to Ahsoka's head. "This treaty of yours? Kriffing shitshow. The medicine Republic promises will only go to the wealthiest and we'll see none of that. Meanwhile, offshoots like me will work for the ore to repay the deal, having nothing in return but death."
"You won't save them from beyond the grave," Fives said slowly, despite heart racing in his chest. He chose his words carefully, painfully aware that he was on the verge of losing everything. "And that's where they'll put you after the coup."
"I don't have time for this," Arkanian rasped, the wind hurling his long hair into his face. He tossed the strands with a shake of his head. "Make your choice. Unless you don't give a shit whether she dies, then I'll make it quick—"
"No!" Fives shouted.
"Fives, don't do it!" Ahsoka suddenly yelled. Her head lifted, her gaze pleading as she struggled against her restraints. "You can't do it! Forget me—"
"Shut up," Arkanian pressed the barrel harder into her temple, but it did nothing to silence her.
"—don't do it, Fives! Just—"
"I told you to shut the kark up!" Electro shocks shot from the binders. Ahsoka shut her eyes, her teeth biting into her lip so hard that it drew blood.
"Stop it!" Fives screamed, desperate to do anything that would set Ahsoka free from this agony. "Please, just stop!"
A shriek tore from Ahsoka's throat, outperforming Fives' pleas. Finally, the shocks subsided, leaving Ahsoka swaying heavily before falling forward, her forearms sinking into the shards of glass. She panted heavily, the electroshocks still coursing through her body.
"Get the kriff up," Arkanian rolled his eyes as if bored by her cries. Ahsoka was still hunched on the ground, her back heaving. The man harshly grabbed her rear lek and yanked her upwards, eliciting a broken wince from her.
"Ahsoka," Fives whispered, his insides tearing up with helplessness. He still hadn't figured out how to end this without condemning anyone to death, and there really wasn't any more time.
"I wish there was another way," Arkanian said. "Really. But unlike you, I have no choice."
Fives watched at Ahsoka's scratched arms, ornamented with sharp fragments of glass that dug into her skin. Burn marks encircled her wrists, blood seeping from beneath the cuffs and trickling down her fingers, pooling around the large piece of glass she clutched in her trembling hand.
"No," he muttered, his gaze darting quickly to Ahsoka's eyes which were still as beskar. "Ahsoka," he tried to oppose as he read her thoughts, but her gaze showed no hesitance.
Fives glanced back at her hands, one gripping the glass, the other extending three fingers. The street lamps lit up in unison but the main source of light remained the candent flames competing with the flare of the dying sun.
"Last chance," Arkanian warned. "Give me the coordinates."
Ahsoka flexed a finger. Fives took a breath, as deep as he could.
"I won't ask again," Offshoot's words drifted on the chill wind of the night, which was mercilessly closing in on them. Birds scattered into the sky when Ahsoka bent the last finger.
And two shots rang out, echoing over the glassy ocean.
