Chapter 14 – Explanation

It's been a while since my last update. Things in life with work have just been too busy recently. The strange situation we now find ourselves in worldwide has made for some changes and it brought some more work along than normal.

We're picking up where we left off. Anakin rushed to Shili after learning about Ahsoka's survival. Now he's hoping for answers as to what happened. There will be a bit of swearing in this chapter. I wonder from who and why?

Hope you enjoy.

;-

Good day to all of you. I've been informed that there is some concern brewing throughout the city. I hope to set you all at ease with this short announcement.

As some of you have observed, yes, there is indeed a Jedi Knight currently on Shili. However, that is no reason for panic or concern. The Jedi Knight in question is Anakin Skywalker. I'm sure that many of you have heard that name before.

When I was still with the Jedi Order, Anakin was my Jedi Master. He taught me a lot during the years we spent together. We stood by each other against impossible odds and had some incredible adventures. He is like a brother to me and he will always be welcome on Shili.

;-

Anakin watched as Ahsoka addressed the people of Shili. He couldn't understand her words as she was speaking in Togruti, but one of the screens nearby had a translation running besides her words in Basic. He felt touched at her words. He didn't really feel like he deserved her warm words and praise. He had failed her after all, she had died.

He kept on watching. Ahsoka seemed quite comfortable in her new role. He couldn't help but feel that in some way, he was looking at Padmé giving a speech. Ahsoka seems to have picked up a lot from his secret wife. She always appeared to share his impatience for politics, but unlike him, she obviously did pay more attention to it. It was quite something to watch her like this.

She continued for a few more minutes, before she apparently brought the speech to a close. The others around them operating the equipment then signaled her that they were done. Ahsoka gave them a small and a quick thanks (he assumed, she was still speaking Togruti after all), then she walked back over to him.

"There we go, that's all taken care off," she told him with a smile. "Now we don't have to worry that my people get the wrong idea about you. Really Skyguy, you couldn't have been a bit more subtle?" She tried to sound strict, but she was unable to keep the smile out of her voice.

He laughed a bit. He had missed this. A lot. Missed her a lot. "You know me, Snips. It's just not my style," he answered, earning himself an eye roll from Ahsoka. "You looked really in your element there."

She shook her head. "Maybe now I do, but when I first got started it was pretty tough," she admitted. "It took me quite some time to get used to everything. Thankfully, I had a lot of support." Those words were accompanied by a quick glance around the room. The others around them nodded or gave a short salute.

She then turned back to Anakin. "Come on, let me show you around a little. We can catch up further. I'm sure there's still a lot more to talk about," she told him.

Anakin nodded in agreement. There definitely was a lot he wanted to talk to her about. Left up to him, he wouldn't let her out of his sights for a long time. "Lead on, your majesty," he replied in as serious a tone as he could muster.

She scoffed in fake annoyance and slapped his arm teasingly. He rolled his eyes and followed her out of the room.

;-

Ahsoka walked through the halls of the palace with Anakin at her side. She was telling him a bit more about the palace and being queen, when they were approached by someone else.

"Hello Ahsoka, how did everything go on Corus…" a familiar voice sounded behind them.

Anakin's eyes widened and anger overtook him. He knew that voice. He definitely knew that voice. How was she here?! He quickly spun around and saw Barriss Offee standing there, a short distance away from them. Her eyes were wide in fear as she looked at him. "YOU!" he snarled angrily, causing her to flinch. How did this traitor get here? Last he heard she had managed a bloody escape from prison and disappeared from Coruscant. Why was she here on Shili? Was she here to finish the job? Kill Ahsoka again?! He wasn't going to let her.

Fury overtook him and he grabbed his lightsaber tightly in his hand. He ignited the blade and moved to strike the vile traitor down. Her fear was pulsing through the Force, freezing her in place. "Good. She deserves to be afraid!" He thought angrily. "She deserves a lot more than just that!" With a shout of anger he swung his saber down at the Mirialan's head, only for it to be blocked by an orange blade.

In shock he looked at who was holding the blade. It was Ahsoka. The blade was in her hand and she had blocked his blow. Why would she be defending Offee? Didn't she know that she was responsible for everything that happened? "Ahsoka," he tried to talk, but she cut him off.

"Anakin, please turn off your lightsaber," she told him calmly but sternly. She gave a hand signal with her free hand. It was then that he noticed that a group of those guards were around them, all of them with weapons trained on him! Not on the traitor in front of them.

He looked back at Ahsoka, not understanding. "Ahsoka, you need to listen to me. You have no idea what this bitch has done! She…"

"Anakin, no." Ahsoka interrupted him again. "I have heard the same information as you, but that's not the full story nor is it the truth." She moved her lightsaber back to a neutral position, but moved to stand between him and Barriss. "Anakin, please. Put your lightsaber away. Barriss is under my protection. Trust me, I would not have allowed this if she truly was responsible for what happened. Please, trust me on this."

Anakin took a deep breath. He didn't like this, not at all. But, because it was Ahsoka... "Fine," he said as he turned off the weapon. "Only because it's you, Ahsoka. But I don't trust her at all." He gestured at Barriss standing behind her with his lightsaber.

Ahsoka turned her own lightsaber off as well. "When had she crafted a new one?" he couldn't help but wonder. She then turned to face Barriss.

"Barriss, let's catch up later, okay?" she suggested to the Mirialan. "Don't worry, I'll work out everything here. You have nothing to fear, alright? Like I've said many times before, you're safe here on Shili. I'll keep you safe. I promise."

Barriss took a few shaky breaths, eyes still darting towards Anakin. She could clearly feel the anger and rage emanating from him. She understood his feelings and didn't blame him for them. Not at all. But that didn't mean that it wasn't terrifying. His presence was overwhelming. Ahsoka lightly tapped her chin and made her turn her attention back on her. "Okay," she replied softly. "We'll talk later."

Ahsoka nodded and gave her a comforting smile. "I'll see you later," she said again. Barriss nodded as well and began to walk away slowly, eyes still darting towards Anakin a few times. Still concerned that he would rush her at any moment. Ahsoka gestured for one of the guards to accompany her friend. Once Barriss was a bit further away from them, she turned her attention back to Anakin.

"Ahsoka, what the hell is going on here? Why would you let her be here and walk around freely? Don't you know everything that she's done?" Anakin asked. He just couldn't wrap his head around it. Why would Ahsoka treat her so nicely? That backstabbing Mirialan traitor doesn't deserve her kindness.

Ahsoka sighed and looked around. This little spectacle had drawn a lot of attention. "Come on Anakin, let's go somewhere else to talk. I'll explain everything to you," she replied calmly. She said a couple of things in Togruti to some of the others around them.

Anakin noticed that a few of the warriors were still eying him carefully. He reached out with the Force, but couldn't really get a good feel for their thoughts. "Has Ahsoka trained them in mental shielding?" he thought surprised. He did sense that these guards were quite adamant about keeping Ahsoka safe, even if that meant fighting him.

Ahsoka then gestured for him to follow her. He nodded and they set out for a different room together.

;-

Anakin took a seat in the meeting room that Ahsoka had lead him to. She had exchanged some words in Togruti with who he assumed were some kind of palace staff, because the girls met them in the room with some refreshments and snacks. Ahsoka thanked them and then moved to join him.

"Barriss' story is a lot more tragic than you know, Anakin," Ahsoka began after a short moment. "She's just as much of a victim as I was. From a certain point of view, perhaps even more so."

Anakin frowned. "I find that really hard to believe Ahsoka," he replied unconvinced. "You were hunted down like an animal. Betrayed by everyone, especially by her! You were killed!"

"I know that, Skyguy, I know." She took a deep breath. "Why don't I start from the beginning and share with you what happened? I'll explain her story. Then you can decide how you want to feel about her." She gave him a pointed look. "You know that there's no way that I would have allowed her to be here if I didn't believe in her innocence, right?"

Anakin looked at his former Padawan. Her feelings about this matter were pretty clear. While he didn't trust Offee at all, he'd never doubt Ahsoka. "Alright, I'll listen to what you have to say about her."

Ahsoka nodded. "Thank you, Anakin," she replied. She took a brief moment to drink some of the tea that had been set out and gestured for him to do the same.

"Like you, I heard all the details about what happened on Coruscant after my death. After that, I chose not to pay too much attention to the Republic's dealings anymore. I was now the queen of Shili after all, I had my own people to take care off," she began. "I learned of Barriss' escape after one of my trusted transport captains who just came back from Coruscant informed us of it. A pulse through the Force lead me to investigate it a moment. I quickly learned that Barriss was now on Shili somehow. She had managed to sneak onboard his ship and escape to Shili." She paused and smirked. "Just like how I had snuck onboard his ship some time before that."

Anakin gave her a surprised look at that. The fact that they had both escaped on the same ship was unusual, but he let her continue the story.

"Through what the Force was telling me, I quickly came to the conclusion that the truth I knew wasn't the full story of what happened. With that knowledge, I instructed my guards to apprehend her, but not harm her. I guided them to her location and they moved in to arrest her. Commander Zadane informed me that when they were doing so, Barriss suddenly collapsed with an intense headache and begged to be knocked out."

She saw Anakin's confused frown and nodded in agreement. "Yes, that confused me as well," she told him. "That's why I had a full medical scan done on her while she was still unconscious. When I sensed she had woken up, I went to confront her on everything."

"Naturally, she was shocked to see me. Especially after she had just heard that I had been unjustly executed." She paused a moment, pushing some feelings away into the Force. "When I pushed her for more information about what happened, she told me that she had no memories of anything that happened." She paused again, this time to let Anakin rant, rave and rage for a moment. He obviously didn't buy that excuse. Once he was done, she continued.

"Barriss told me that her last memory was speaking to Master Luminara over the holocomm, then stepping out to inform her troops about their next move. Her memory is blank after that, until the moment where she woke up in a downed prisoner's transport. A transport that she was the prisoner in."

Anakin frowned at that. "What do you mean a transport? She escaped from the prison, not from a transport. And she killed a lot of clones while doing so!" he stated.

Ahsoka shook her head. "No, that was a lie someone told," she replied. "Barriss regained consciousness after that transport crashed. Almost instantly, clones tried to kill her, so she ran away. She managed to evade capture and eventually escaped here to Shili. She let me through her mental shields and I saw with the Force that she was telling the truth about it. She's missing several weeks in her memory."

"But, if that's true… then what happened? Did she wipe her memory after the bombing or something? Anakin asked, previous rage now slightly being overtaken by confusion.

"I wish it were that simple Anakin, I really do," Ahsoka replied. She took a datapad from the table and pulled up something on it. She then passed it to him.

He studied the images for a moment. This was the result of a medical scan, he had seen them frequently enough because of the war. Judging from the information, it was a scan done on Barriss. There was a clear abnormality: foreign material in her central nervous system. He had no idea what to make of it though. He looked back at Ahsoka.

"What you're seeing there is the results of the medical scan we performed on Barriss," Ahsoka explained. "We found Nano droids in her central nervous system. Nano droids tainted with Sith alchemy." She felt the shock of emotion from Anakin and nodded. "My theory is that after her talk with Master Luminara, she and her troops were attacked. Then, she was implanted with those Nano droids. After that, she was being used as a puppet to perform the bombing and frame me. She wasn't in control of herself. She was essentially a prisoner in her own body, just a tool for those truly responsible."

Anakin's eyes dropped back to the datapad. They were wrong about what had happened? "But, wouldn't the Council have noticed such a thing? Her being controlled?" he asked in confused shock. They should have noticed that, right? Wouldn't Luminara have noticed the change in her own Padawan?

Ahsoka scoffed loudly, surprising Anakin. "The Council? Noticing the truth about something?" she asked in a disgusted tone of voice. "If they were able to see that truth, I wouldn't have been killed!"

Anakin opened his mouth to reply, but stopped. She was right. He wasn't about to deny it. She was just right. If the Council had been able to really see things clearly, then they would have never expelled Ahsoka, let alone allowed her to be executed. They were really failing miserably in their duties as Jedi, in his opinion.

He then recalled that Luminara had barely been on Coruscant in the weeks leading up to the bombing. She had only returned just before it happened and she had been in a lot of meetings those days. She probably didn't even have enough time to notice anything different about Barriss.

"I don't know why Barriss was on that transport," Ahsoka continued, "but I suspect that whoever was controlling her was behind it. I guess that they had a whole lot more planned for her. I'm glad that it went wrong and that she was freed from their control long enough to escape here. The Force was looking out for her, thankfully. We were able to get those things out of her. She's free now."

Anakin took it all in for a moment. Everything that Ahsoka had just told him and the evidence he held in his hands. Barriss hadn't been responsible after all. But then it left him with the question who was responsible. Who was it that had organized the Tempe bombing? Who was the one that had killed his Padawan? He looked back at Ahsoka. "So, you've been keeping Barriss here?" he asked. He knew that there had been a lot of search parties for the Mirialan. Not to mention the massive bounty on her head that had increased several times. One of those times was probably because of his complaining to Chancellor Palpatine. He wasn't sure if he should feel guilty about that now.

"Well, yes and no," Ahsoka replied. "We learned of the warrants and bounties that were out for her, so I strongly urged her to remain on Shili. Considering we're a neutral planet, it wasn't that difficult to keep certain news from getting out. Barriss has been living here on Shili ever since. She furthered her medical studies here, occasionally taking lessons from tribal healers as well. She's become a very talented healer and she's made quite a name for herself. She's saved a lot of lives on Shili, one of the most notable times being after that vile pirate attack."

Anakin could sense the pulse of anger from her with those words, but he chose not to comment.

"Besides all that, Barriss had also been teaching a few Force-sensitives here on Shili that have shown promise and interest in the path of healing. I have no doubt that they'll become strong healers under her tuition," Ahsoka continued with a smile.

"Wait, she's teaching others in the Force?" Anakin asked in surprise and disbelief. If Ahsoka had opened with that, he would have protested someone like Barriss the traitor teaching others. But, considering everything he now knew…

"We both are," Ahsoka answered with a pleased smile. "Shili is strong with the Living Force and so are her people. We have found some excellent candidates. Most were probably missed or overlooked by the Order, but there's also a few children whose parents didn't want to give them up when the Order asked." She paused a moment and looked out the window at the city. "I have no intention of separating them from their families. We've organized for them to be brought here to the city from time to time in order to teach them. When we're done, they are brought back to their families. I think it works out nicely this way. I've gained a lot of insight in the Force and the Light and sharing that with them is very fulfilling."

Anakin looked at her. He could clearly feel that she was happy. It made him feel a lot better, like some raw, festering open wound in his heart was finally starting to heal. Still, he doubted he would ever be able to shake off the memory of feeling her die. Of feeling their strong bond crack and wither away as she had laid there in that other room, slowly dying, until she had drawn her last breath and what was left of the at that point fragile bond shattering completely before fading into nothingness.

"Anakin? What's wrong?" Ahsoka asked him. She could clearly feel the dark cloud that was swirling around his thoughts. It worried her. Dying had definitely not been easy on her, but she knew that it would have also been hard on Anakin. After all, that whole Obi-Wan-Rako-Hardeen-undercover mess had been very hard on him too.

"Nothing, Snips, I'm… It sounds like you're doing great. I'm happy for you. It's just…" he paused and took a shaky breath. "I was there. I felt you fade away. Our bond…"

Ahsoka nodded in understanding. "The Force did shatter all bonds I had with others," she said slowly. "They all broke with my death. I may have been resurrected, but my bonds were not. I suppose it was a means of the Force protecting me. After all, if other Jedi had sensed me suddenly being alive again, they would have instantly come after me again. Then, depending on who screamed the loudest, I probably would have either been imprisoned in the Temple or in the Republic prison." She took a deep breath. "And I doubt that it would have been a pleasant experience, especially if they wanted to know how I was alive."

Anakin looked at her. He could understand her feelings. Lately he found himself disagreeing with certain events or opinions more and more. Some officers in the Republic military just rubbed him the completely wrong way. With some, he had checked their records. They had been clean, far too clean. It felt wrong. Just wrong. He had no proof of any past wrongdoings, but he wouldn't put the idea of torturing prisoners past them.

Ahsoka caught him looking at her. "I'm sorry if I caused you more pain by keeping my survival secret, Anakin," she said softly. "I didn't mean to, but… I was just… afraid. I had no idea what would happen if the wrong people learned of my survival. Besides that, I was still trying to get used to the idea of being queen. My people needed a strong ruler they could trust. I had to be that person for them."

Anakin was a little shocked. She thought he was… "No, Ahsoka, I'm not angry at you. Not at all," he replied quickly. "Please don't think that. I'm glad that you're alive. I really am. I'm just… trying to absorb everything that I've learned these past few days. It's a real shock."

Ahsoka gave a light chuckle. "Then you probably have some idea about how I felt when after waking up alive when I was supposed to have been executed, I met my mother's oldest friend who then wanted me to become queen of my home planet. It was a shock and quite the adjustment." She shook her head in amusement.

She got up and walked over the window. She looked out over the city with a small smile. "Considering the feelings I can sense whenever I meditate, I like to believe that I've been doing a good job. The people feel happy."

Anakin got up and joined her at the window. He reached out with the Force as well. Shili felt warmer in the Force than many other worlds he had been to in the past years and, because of the war, that was quite a lot of worlds. "From what I heard earlier, you're doing more than a good job, Snips," he said with a smirk.

They both silently looked out over the city for a short while. Taking comfort from each other's presence in the Force. Ahsoka had missed his presence and she could tell that he had missed hers just the same. Being able to feel it again was very soothing.

"I know that the Force broke all my bonds, but…" she paused. "Maybe, before you leave, we can try to fix ours." She looked at him, to gauge his reaction.

Anakin's eyes widened in surprise, but then he smiled happily. "I'd really like that, Snips," he replied, no trace of his usual bravado or teasing in his voice, just pure honesty. Ahsoka smiled back at him. Then the sound of the door opening surprised both of them.

Ahsoka turned around and saw Barriss walking into the room. The moment she saw Anakin still standing next to her, she paused and hesitated. Ahsoka could clearly feel the worry coming from her friend. It didn't surprise her after Anakin's earlier outburst. She wouldn't fault either of them, it was a messy situation after all.

"Don't worry Barriss," Ahsoka said comfortingly. "We've discussed everything. Anakin knows everything that happened to you now. He won't try to hurt you again, right?" She turned to Anakin with that last part, giving him a questioning look.

"U-uh, yeah," Anakin simply replied. He was unsure of what else to say. There was still a lot he needed to wrap his mind around. In any case, harming Barriss was probably of his list. It wouldn't be the right thing to do after all and there was no way that Ahsoka would let him.

Ahsoka kept giving Anakin a look for a few moments, then turned her attention back to Barriss. "What brings you here, Barriss? Did something happen?" she asked kindly, walking closer to her.

Barriss nodded slowly, the news had been rather disturbing to her after all. "I volunteered to come inform you after I found out about it," she answered. She took a deep breath and then continued. "Senator Corso got a transmission not too long ago. The Republic is sending a group of representatives to Shili. They want to discuss the 'strenuous' situation between Shili and the Republic. According to the message, several senators and members of the Jedi Order, as well as the Chancellor himself, will be arriving on Shili tomorrow."

;-

The next day

Queen Ahsoka Tano was sitting in the main communications hub of the palace. Right now they were waiting for the Republic group to arrive in their system.

She was still annoyed. Apparently the Republic felt that they could just invite themselves to her system. She had been clear enough, hadn't she? It was the Republic that had a lot of amends to make. She wouldn't even begin to reconsider her decision of not joining until they proved that they actually cared about truth and justice. However, it would seem that the Republic thinks themselves as completely blameless. The same could be said for the Jedi Council. Neither had made any form of changes or had given any explanations for their failures surrounding her death.

She sighed. This was going to be a frustrating experience. She was expecting them to divert the blame and just talk in an endless circle until she decided to change her mind about the decision to join the Republic. Or perhaps they were just going to try and fish for information regarding her survival. They would be disappointed in either case. They obviously had the wrong idea about how this was going to go. They weren't the ones in control here. This is not the Senate halls. This is not the Council chambers. This is her planet. Her palace. Her people. She decides the rules here. If her patience runs out, she will send them away. If they refuse to leave, she will simply leave them standing there in the palace halls while she goes about her day. They can complain all they want, but it won't change a thing. Her mind was made up and more importantly, her people fully supported her in this.

The entirety of the royal guards had been mobilized as a safety measure. A part of them was in visible locations, while the rest kept themselves hidden as an additional precaution. They were spread throughout the city to deal with whatever situation might arise. The Republic was clearly demonstrating its arrogance in just inviting themselves to Shili. She wouldn't put it past them to try something else as well. She was expecting them to try and sneak some infiltrators onto the surface. No doubt with the mission to gather some kind of information. About Shili for political pressure? About her and her resurrection? She didn't know, but her guards would be there to intercept them right away.

She sighed. This was going to be a frustrating experience. T'Rani had already been complaining a lot. She had to make quite a few changes to their schedule because of the Republic's unannounced and unwanted visit. Thankfully, those they had already planned to have meetings with were understanding about the situation. They were going to reschedule once the Republic left again.

The communications staff caught her attention. The Republic group had just dropped out of Hyperspace. She watched the scanners. She frowned as she looked at the ships now orbiting Shili. Several Republic warships were accompanying the designated 'political vessel'. Her people instantly requested an explanation for this show of force. The response was that the ships were simply there to protect the Republic personnel from potential Separatist attacks.

A pretty standard excuse, but she would allow it. On the one condition that the ships not enter Shili's atmosphere. Unauthorized transports would be met with force on the ground. Judging from the delay in response, the Republic group was obviously not too thrilled about that, but she wouldn't allow them to bully her and her people around. She wanted to keep the war away from Shili. She didn't have anything against the clone troopers, not at all, but she didn't want battalions of them marching through the streets of Corvala.

After about thirty minutes of back and forth negotiations, the Republic representatives were now on their transport. She could sense it the moment they entered the atmosphere. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the Force. There were several Jedi on the transport as well. She was actually somewhat surprised that they had the time to send this many along with the war and all. She could sense them all clearly. Her eyes shot open.

She could also sense the Sith Lord hiding in their midst.

;-

That's the end of this chapter.

Anakin had a moment to learn more about what happened on Shili. Unfortunately, it seems like the Republic was not happy with Ahsoka's refusal to join. Queen Ahsoka now has to deal with unwanted political maneuvering by the Senate. Not to mention the Jedi and the hidden Sith among them.

I was alternating between this chapter and a chapter for my main Barriss story, so I'll probably finish that one up first now.

Until next time.