Hey everyone!
OneLittleSpark18: Thank you as always!
TragicFiction: That might be because I deleted the chapter informing you guys of the delay. Everything should be good now.
CraftClaw: DANG IT I SHOULD HAVE MADE THAT JOKE
Guest: I'm going to go ahead and assume that you are asking about the next update. It is today! And every two weeks.
Fishgirl16: Hahahahahaha I have no idea. I have almost a hundred pages of unpublished content and I'm no where near the end where I'm writing. So uh. Yeah. You may have to put aside a long time for that when it eventually happens.
Oh man you guys. I'm so excited to get this chapter out. Enjoy!
(No Mando'a this chapter!)
ABSOLVED: Chapter 7
They managed to get all the younglings on board the shuttles quickly. Fox had taught the older initiates how to form up and that helped greatly to streamline the process. The unconscious prisoners were kept separate from the younglings in their own shuttle.
All the while Ahsoka kept an anxious tab on the ever approaching Dark being.
"One of the Jedi should be there." Gek said as they watched Wrecker carry another load of toddling initiates into one of the shuttles. "Just to help keep the prisoners quiet."
"I can do it." Ahsoka said. "I can have the most influence over multiple targets."
Master Ti gave her a concerned look.
"Ahsoka," She said gently. "You do not have to."
"Aren't we trained to put the mission above our emotions, Master?" Ahsoka asked. "I'll be fine."
Despite her brave words, Ahsoka dreaded the trip. They couldn't waste supplies on keeping Barriss unconscious; the captured clones were the priority and Jedi tended to need a lot more sedatives than the average being. Not to mention she was exhausted and nearly at her limit. Luckily keeping beings asleep was easy.
"We'll come with you, Commander." Jesse said. "Me, Kix, and Tup."
"Not all three." Ahsoka said. "I want one of my senior troopers in every shuttle. But I'll take you, Jesse."
A sudden burst of delight from her ARC surprised her.
"Sir, yes sir!" Jesse said in a pleased tone.
Ahsoka realized what it was about. She had chosen Jesse to be by her side without even thinking about it. Any trace of their estrangement was gone.
"Probably good that I'm not there." Gek said. "I don't react well to being attacked."
Ahsoka smirked.
"Good luck." She told Master Ti and Gek. "May the Force be with you."
They responded in kind and headed to their respective shuttles.
"Let's go." Ahsoka told Jesse.
He nodded and they boarded.
They passed the unconscious troopers and Barriss. Ahsoka took one of the pilot's seats and rose up to the controls.
"Tech, do you have their sensors jammed?" She asked.
"Of course." Tech said through the comm. "We are set for take off."
R2 whistled an acknowledgement. The ship rumbled to life beneath them. Ahsoka could see the other two shuttles lift off the ground.
"Coordinates in." Hawk's voice came through the comm. "We just need to clear the atmosphere."
"Let's do this quick and easy." Ahsoka said.
As one, the three shuttles flew upwards, clearing the trees of Kaladin IV. Ahsoka glanced down and quietly thanked the Force for its help. It was only a few minutes before R2 beeped that they had exited the atmosphere. Ahsoka looked at the Venator before them, watching the fighters now streaming from it. The other two shuttles shot forward into hyperspace.
"Hit it." She said.
The stars stretched back and Ahsoka felt the ship make the jump. She lowered the seat to see Jesse waiting for her. He sighed loudly and removed his helmet.
"That's that, then." He said. "Mission accomplished."
"For the other shuttles." Ahsoka said. "We still have to arrive in one piece."
"Kix says the sedatives on the troopers will last another few hours. All we have to do is give them another dose. And it's not like they're armed."
"True." Ahsoka said. "But you know as well as I do that clones aren't truly ever without weapons."
"Oh, you mean our devilishly good looks?" Jesse said with a wink. "Ah, but you prefer blondes, don't you?"
Ahsoka shot him a look.
"What?" He asked. "Honestly, Commander, it's not like you two are subtle about it."
"I'd rather not talk about it." Ahsoka said shortly.
"He'll come 'round, you'll see." Jesse said, leaning back into his seat.
Ahsoka hoped he was right. She was willing to give Rex all the time he needed, but that didn't mean it wasn't difficult.
Ahsoka nearly had forgotten about Barriss until she felt her former friend begin to wake up a few hours later.
"Jesse." She said. "Barriss is waking up."
Jesse's face immediately darkened into an expression of disgust.
"I can handle her, sir." He said. "You don't have to deal with her."
"I'm not a youngling, Jesse." Ahsoka said, annoyed. "You don't have to protect me from her. Besides, as skilled as you are, I'd rather not risk you. I'm her better match."
Jesse nodded and put his helmet on. They turned to the prisoners, all strapped in and locked into the crash seats.
"I know you're awake, Barriss." Ahsoka said after the Miralin made no move.
A moment passed before Barriss lifted her head.
"I do not see the purpose in keeping me as a prisoner, Ahsoka." She said.
"You don't get to talk to the Commander." Jesse snarled.
"Even if she speaks to me first?" Barriss asked.
"It's all right, Jesse." Ahsoka said. An urge she hadn't realized she had hit her. "I want her to talk to me."
Both Barriss and Jesse turned to look at Ahsoka. Ahsoka found that she had questions that only Barriss could answer.
"I need to know why, Barriss." Ahsoka said.
Barriss' mildly confused expression vanished under a mask of indifference.
"You cannot compel me to answer."
"You're going to answer her questions." Jesse growled.
"Or what?" Barriss asked. She would look at Jesse. "Anything you do to me will further my belief that the Republic was a corrupted cesspool void of any morality."
"Jesse isn't going to do anything." Ahsoka said. "You're going to answer my questions or I'm going to find the answers myself."
Barriss scoffed.
"You are strong in the Force, but not strong enough to break through the barriers of a practiced Force-user."
Ahsoka smirked and opened the door. Power surged through her, both strengthening her and bringing her pain. She pressed against Barriss' mind, pushing the barriers just shy of breaking. Barriss gasped.
"You have no idea what I'm capable of, Barriss." Ahsoka said. "Now are you going to answer me willingly?"
"I-" Barriss' voice seemed far away. "I will answer you."
Ahsoka withdrew herself and found Jesse's steadying hand on her shoulder. Barriss finally glanced at Ahsoka.
"I do not understand why you need to know why I did what I did. I am sure your Masters told you of my confession."
"No, Barriss." Ahsoka said. "I need to know why me? We were like sisters. Did you do this knowing that I would be the one to take the fall?"
Barriss was quiet for a long moment.
"You were a coincidence. It just happened that Master Yoda assigned you to investigate. And you trusted me, which made things- easier." She sad. "But- I regret that it had to be you."
Ahsoka didn't know how she was supposed to feel about that confession. On one hand, Barriss had confessed that she felt badly about her betrayal. The fact that she valued making a terrorist attack over Ahsoka's friendship and life, hurt. Then there was the fact that Barriss hadn't even made her plan with Ahsoka in mind. That it had been chance, that Barriss was indifferent, was painful.
"You're a coward."Jesse said.
Ahsoka glanced at him. Waves of intense loathing were crashing off of him.
"Coward?" Barriss asked. "I was the only one willing to speak up about the corruption of the Jedi Order!"
Jesse gave a bitter laugh.
"Speak up?" He said. "You didn't do any speaking. You were willing to kill, kill civilians, for your message, but you hid from the consequences."
"Jesse." Ahsoka said softly.
Jesse wasn't going to help by antagonizing her. Jesse glanced at her.
"We're the ones who had to fix her mess, Commander." He said. "I think I can speak my mind on this."
He turned back to Barriss.
"You're lucky we cared enough about our Commander to save her." He said. "Otherwise there'd be more innocent blood on your hands."
"One of the reasons I was willing to let Ahsoka take the blame." Barriss said. "She was not guiltless. She is far too attached to the clones. She, like her master, broke the Jedi Code."
Jesse snorted.
"Doesn't matter now. She left the Jedi Order."
Barriss' eyes widened. She looked at Ahsoka sharply.
"Is this true?" She asked.
"Yes." Ahsoka said. "The Jedi Order abandoned me."
"Then you should know what I did was right!" Barriss said. "They are corrupt and no longer hold to what they preach. They needed to see!"
"Killing innocent people isn't part of what the Jedi teach either, Barriss." Ahsoka said. "You could have left the Jedi Order, or talked to someone, or anything besides blowing the temple up!"
Ahsoka was starting to get angry. How could Barriss not see?
"It doesn't matter." Barriss said. "I align myself with different precepts now."
"The precepts of the Sith, Barriss?" Ahsoka asked. "The precepts of the people who left you to rot?"
Barriss looked down.
"It wasn't a Sith that freed you, was it?" Ahsoka asked. "It was Master Ti-"
"It was my Master." Barriss said softly. "She came for me. She did not wish for me to die."
Ahsoka blinked at that. Master Luminara had freed Barriss? It seemed- unlike the detached Jedi.
"Proves my point." Ahsoka said. "The Sith were using you, Barriss."
"Then why was Dooku the only one who listened to me?" Barriss whispered. "The only one who told me my fears were valid?"
"Because he wanted to turn you and use you as a tool." Ahsoka said. "Ask Asajj Ventress what that's like."
"I would rather be a tool and make changes for good than stagnate as the Jedi were." Barriss said. "Their destruction was inevitable and deserved."
Ahsoka stared at Barriss.
"I don't understand." She said. "I don't understand. What do you believe in? Not every Jedi was making those mistakes!"
"I believe-" Barriss paused, considering. "I believe in peace. At any cost."
"Even the lives of civilians?" Ahsoka demanded, though she already knew the answer. "That's not what the Jedi Code teaches!"
Barriss looked at Ahsoka with cold eyes, eyes that didn't belong to Ahsoka's friend.
"'There is no emotion.'" She said. "'There is peace. There is no death, there is the Force.' Why do you reject their deaths? They are joining the Force. The only reason you object is because of your emotions. If anyone does not understand the Jedi Code, Ahsoka Tano, it is you."
Ahsoka took a step forward, her anger flaring.
"You haven't felt the Force as I have. You haven't felt it scream every time an innocent is killed." She spat.
Barriss met her fury with an icy stare.
"Is it the Force, Ahsoka? Or is it your own attachments?" She asked. "You cannot be trusted to understand the Force. Your passion poisons your perception."
Ahsoka balled her fists. Why didn't Barriss understand? Why couldn't she?
Jesse's hand came to her shoulder again.
"Commander." He said quietly. "Don't bother. She's not worth your time."
Ahsoka sucked in a deep breath and turned from Barriss. She could still feel her old friend's eyes on her.
Rex was terrified. He knew he didn't look it. He was currently calmly overseeing the troopers move supplies into the spacious temple on Yavin. But his face was numb with fear as he directed his brothers and looked over reports detailing what still needed to be done.
He couldn't feel Ahsoka. He hadn't been able to feel her for hours now. She wasn't completely gone from his head, the bond was still there, but that was it. He felt no emotions, no thoughts, nothing. He could only guess that she was still even alive.
She had encountered something that had rattled her badly. He had felt that clearly, even if he hadn't been able to figure out what.
Shortly after he'd been able to feel her sudden and immense effort in the Force. She'd been terrified of clones dying. And then, soon after- nothing. It felt like the bond had shorted out. Nothing could come through.
Rex had to act as if nothing had happened. He couldn't even ask General Skywalker about it; the Jedi spent most of their time meditating together and trying to find survivors.
He resisted the urge to drag his hand down his face. One of the reasons that he adored her was because of her compassion and love for her men. The idea of her dying because that love-
Rex felt sick.
"Rex!"
General Skywalker was approaching.
"Sir!" Rex said, hurrying to the General. He tried to keep the desperation out of his voice as he continued. "Has there been any news of Commander Tano?"
"We just got word from Master Ti. The mission was a success. There were no casualties." General Skywalker said with a tired smile.
No casualties. That should have eased Rex's worry, but it still writhed in his insides.
"Sir, is Commander Tano all right?" He asked. "I felt-"
General Skywalker raised a hand.
"I felt the same." He said. "She over exerted herself."
"Yes, but sir, I can't feel her." Rex said.
General Skywalker frowned.
"She's withdrawn somewhat, but I don't know why you wouldn't be able to sense her." He said.
"But you can?" Rex said.
"Yeah. She's- well, she's not in any danger." General Skywalker said.
Once again Rex should have been comforted by that fact, but all he could think of was all the non-lethal agonies she could be going through. How much pain was she in? All he could think of was that terrifying night when her heart had stopped. He had thought that she hadn't been in that much danger. And then he'd nearly lost her. He hadn't even had the stronger feelings for her he had now and it was still one of the worst moments of his life.
"She'll be fine." General Skywalker said. "She's strong."
Rex nodded, though his jaw was still clenched.
"We'll-we'll need to prepare for the younglings." He said.
"Them, and the prisoners." General Skywalker said.
"Prisoners?" Rex asked, confusion briefly cutting through his anxiety. "I thought it was just a rescue mission."
"It was." General Skywalker said as he ran his hand through his hair. "You know Ahsoka. She made it something more. In any case she managed to capture some chipped clones. And-"
General Skywalker turned to look Rex in the eyes.
"Barriss Offee was with the group of younglings."
"What?" Rex hissed. "Why the hell- was she the one who saved the younglings?"
"No." General Skywalker said. "She was saved with the younglings by Master Ti."
That meant Ahsoka was forced to share a ship with the person who had nearly destroyed her. Rex clenched his fists. That traitor.
He thought of what he had felt from Ahsoka. He knew now what had rattled her: it could only be her encounter with Offee. But then why did she strain so hard in the Force? Was she trying to fight something off? Was she trying to fight Offee off?
New fears were bubbling up his throat. What had Offee done to her? What could she be doing now, isolated in the shuttle?
Instead of assuaging his fear, General Skywalker had only made it worse. For once, he couldn't trust his General on this. He knew Ahsoka and he knew their bond. Something was wrong and the moment that she arrived, he would find her.
Rex couldn't focus anymore after General Skywalker had left. He kept trying to reach through his and Ahsoka's bond until his head simmered with pain. Troopers had persisted in asking if he was all right. Even with his helmet on, it was apparently clear that he was agonizing over something. Eventually he had to comm Wolffe to take his place.
He wandered after that. General Skywalker had said that it would only be a few hours until the shuttles returned. Standing and waiting at the landing site was impossible. It was better if at least his body moved while his mind's focus was frozen on Ahsoka.
He found out that they had returned an hour earlier than expected when he ran into the younglings themselves being led through the temple he was wandering. Appo and General Ti were leading them. Rex was surprised to see Fox of all people helping herd the littles all the while holding a small green youngling. Fox didn't share the emotion. He merely nodded wearily to Rex as he approached.
"Fox!" Rex said. He should have been wondering how Fox had ended up here, but his mind was elsewhere. "Where's Commander Tano?"
"Patu!" The youngling in Fox's arms declared, interrupting Fox's response.
Rex glanced at the kid. He looked like General Yoda. Fox smiled a little.
"Yeah, kid. You got it." He said, then turned back to Rex. "She was in one of the other shuttles. I didn't see her when we disembarked. I'd assume she's with your ARC, Jesse. They were with the prisoners."
Fox's eyes hardened at the mention of the prisoners.
Rex nodded.
"Thanks, Fox." He said. "We'll have to catch up later.
Fox shrugged.
"I should help keep this rabble in line." He said. "I'll see you around, Rex."
Rex watched Fox follow the group of younglings. He clenched his jaw. He should have felt Ahsoka arriving. He tested their bond. Nothing
Commander? He tried sending her. You're back?
He got no response. Panic once again flared in his chest. What had Offee done?
Rex raised his comm to his face, ready to contact Jesse. Before he could input Jesse's frequency, it beeped. Rex answered it as quickly as he could.
"This is Rex." He said.
"Rex, have you seen Commander Tano?" Kix's voice came from the comm.
"What do you mean?" Rex asked sharply. "She's not at the shuttles?"
"No." Kix's voice barely echoed the worry Rex was feeling. "Jesse says the last he saw her was right after they landed. I told her she needed to go straight to the med bay after we landed but- well, you know how she is."
Ahsoka! Rex shouted in his mind.
The words felt as if they had bounced back at him after hitting a wall.
"Gather a search party." Rex ordered. "Get as many men involved as you can. Is Offee secured?"
"Yes." Kix said.
"It may be a possibility that Offee has affected the Commander through the Force." Rex said. "Be careful."
"Yes sir!" Kix said and the comm clicked off.
Rex didn't know where he was going when he began running. If he was a Jedi, he would have said he was letting the Force lead him. The huge trees became a blur as his feet guided him. He soon lost track of how long or far he was going.
Ahsoka!
What had Offee done? Had she made the effects of Ahsoka's Force use worse?
Ahsoka, where are you?
Was she controlling Ahsoka in her moment of weakness somehow?
Please, answer me!
Why couldn't he feel her still? Had Offee managed to sever the bond?
Ahsoka!
Rex?
The moment she responded was the moment Rex burst into the clearing where she was. She was sitting at the base of one of the enormous Massassi trees, her head on her knees. She looked up as Rex stumbled to a halt in front of her. He stared at her. She looked exhausted, blood was dried on her face, and it looked like she had been crying- but-
His fears hadn't come to pass. Relief drove him to his knees.
"Rex," She said, half moving to reach him. "What's wrong?"
Rex took her shoulders and kissed her.
She's okay, Offee hasn't done anything to her, she's alive.
He had needed that reassurance that it was her. He hadn't been able to get the confirmation he had been deprived of through their bond, so he sought it physically. And it was her.
His Ahsoka.
Realization of what he was doing hit him like a gundark. He let go of her shoulders and pulled away. She was staring at him with wide eyes.
How was he so weak? Even as he tried to look away from her, he couldn't banish the memory of her lips: so soft and sweeter than he had imagined. He didn't know what he had expected, but he had never anticipated the pure pleasure the mere pressure of her lips against his gave him.
Then Rex realized that she had moved closer. Ahsoka's hands were on his face and she was leaning towards him. He turned his face away as she tried to return the kiss.
Confusion spattered through their bond.
"Rex?" She asked.
"I shouldn't have done that." He muttered.
"What?" She said. "What are you talking about?"
Rex shook his head. She didn't understand.
"We need to get you to Kix." He said.
He made to stand, but she grabbed his hand.
"Rex." She said. "What do you want?"
She sounded both puzzled and amused.
Rex swallowed.
"What- do you want?" He asked.
Ahsoka cocked her head.
"I want to be with you." She said.
There was so much in those words and he understood it all.
"And you?" She pressed.
All of the dregs of his resistance came forward in a burst.
"Ahsoka, I don't know if I can." He said. "I'm a clone, it's not right for me to-"
Ahsoka tightened her grip on his hand. She pulled him down back next to her. He stared at the ground. This could not happen, no matter how hard he was drawn to her.
"Rex." She said. "I don't want to know what you think you deserve, or what you think is right. I want to know what you want."
Rex knew what he wanted and in that moment, despite his logic, it was easy to admit it.
"I-" The words were slow in coming and he wasn't sure if they were right. "I want to be the one to watch your six."
He let himself look at her then and immediately wished he hadn't. The starlight was reflected in her 501st blue eyes. Those eyes were boring into his own. He tried breaking eye contact, but found himself tracing the other features of her face with his eyes. The fanning white markings that contrasted with her orange skin. Her prominent cheekbones highlighted by those markings.
Her dark, full lips, slightly parted.
Rex knew little of the galaxy's religions, but he knew that Ahsoka rivaled any goddess.
He nearly raised his hands to touch her face. He stopped himself in time.
Her expression asked the same question General Skywalker had.
Why not?
"I'm a clone." He whispered.
Ahsoka touched his cheek.
"You're a good man." She said.
For all the beauty she possessed, in her eyes shone a greater reason to love her. She saw him. She saw them all. She was a cunning and powerful warrior who had held the power of the stars in her palm and still she saw him.
And she saw that he was worthy.
He let his body move, lifting his hands to take her face. He pressed a kiss to her lips. She let out a soft noise of satisfaction and she met his intensity with her own. Her hands slid down his arms and up to his wrists.
His hand ran down the silky, smooth skin of her lekku. It was warm and supple under his remaining fingers. One of her hands came to rest on his chest. The other cradled his face.
She was the stars, and he the dust of an asteroid field. Yet she kissed him as if he were the one worth thousands of kyber crystals.
If she would have him, he would be hers.
This time he let her break the kiss. She leaned her forehead against his.
"You watch my six and I'll watch yours." She said. "Okay?"
He nodded.
"Yes, sir." He said.
He traced her cheek with his thumb. She laughed and then she was kissing him again. Rex had never known bliss like her lips and hands on his. He pulled her closer.
"Woah!" Wrecker's voice shattered Rex's trance and he broke away from Ahsoka with a jolt.
The larger clone had come into the clearing and was staring at them, helmet perched on his head and his eyes wide. Rex stared back. Where had he come from?
"I didn't know we could do that!" Wrecker said.
Ahsoka let out a breathless laugh.
"Well, we're not exactly following GAR protocol anymore, are we?" She said.
Wrecker laughed too.
"You can say that again!"
Rex finally found his voice again.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
Wrecker blinked.
"You ordered a search party, right?" He said. "Echo said we should help. Speakin' of which-"
Wrecker brought his comm up.
"Hey, I found her!" He said into it. "Half a klick south from the landing pad! Uh, and Captain Rex is here too. I think they were snogging."
Rex looked helplessly at Ahsoka as he heard Kix start swearing loudly through the comm. She gave a tired laugh and rested her head on Rex's shoulder.
With a start, Rex realized she was trembling.
Are you all right?
Ahsoka shrugged.
There's a reason Kix wanted me to go to the med bay.
Rex became aware again of how exhausted she looked.
I couldn't stand being fussed over right then. Ahsoka continued. But I guess I shouldn't worry Kix anymore.
She looked at Rex.
Can you stay? She asked.
Rex squeezed her hand.
Yes, sir. He told her. Always.
AFTER OVER 130,000 WORDS OF A ROMANCE FIC WE FINALLY HAVE A KISS. CUE THE FIREWORKS.
Starting from the top though, I knew that Ahsoka and Barriss needed to have a confrontation. It took me a minute to realize what exactly Barriss' motivations would be. I think peace at any cost is a fairly good match. Her views on the Jedi Code come from Luminara 'Hey don't be sad your parents are dead they're with the Force now :)' Unduli. And now Ahsoka is very disturbed about that point of view. She's pretty sure she knows the Force (she does) but Barriss is giving her some doubt. HM IF ONLY THERE WAS SOMEONE TO COMFORT HER, PREFERABLY WITH HIS LIPS.
Anakin is not helpful. 'Oh you can't feel Ahsoka after that rough feeling experience? That's weird huh. Anyway I'll see you later.' My editors and I have come up with an explanation that when Ahsoka uses the Force too much, part of her becomes part of the Force. Like she half force ghosts herself. That's why Anakin and assumably Plo and Obi Wan can feel her, but Rex cannot. The part of her returns eventually, but it's enough to terrify Rex.
(Grogu and Fox cameo, Grogu living his best life!)
So, fun fact about their kiss. It was supposed to happen during the Bacta Heist, but I decided that was too early. It was similar to what you read here, but Rex was inspired by her rad Force usage instead of her being safe. Then my mom told me that Rex would never act out of passion and I believed her at the time. (I have come to realize that my mom has very strict and slightly different ideas of how a character should act that did not align with the rest of the story) So I rewrote it to be a moment of Rex just thinking about it and deciding to go for it. My lovely editors told me that was TOO slow, and that the original version, while happening too early, had the right idea of it being in a moment of heightened emotions. We decided that Rex would just overthink things forever and never actually kiss her.
Ahsoka of course when he kisses her is like 'hot DOG finally!' and is then very bemused when he's suddenly like 'no i cant.' She's just like 'rex honey, you just kissed me, it's clear what you want but tell me what you think you want.'
AND YES WRECKER COMES IN WITH THE AWKWARD INTERRUPT! I had it in the original kiss, had to get rid of it for the second try, and IT CAME BACK BETTER THAN EVER IN THE FINAL PRODUCT! I just feel it works so well here because at first he comes out of nowhere and then you remember that Rex called a search for Ahsoka. Ugh I love it.
So yeah, they're finally together! They're not intimate yet, as I feel that Rex would be hesitant to make that next step. Maybe if they had been left alone here and Rex didn't have the chance to overthink it...
Let me know if there are any questions about logistics or anything!
So stay safe, remember to review, and I'll see you next week for Fives Effect!