"Calm yourself, Bo. Sit down, have a drink, and... I'll answer your questions as best I can."
Ahsoka sat casually behind a table opposite Bo-Katan. On the table was a bottle of Bo-Katan's favourite wine, a deep and rich crimson, alongside two extravagant crystal glasses. But the thought of drinking it at a time like this made her sick.
"No. No, I..."
She shook her head, letting out a sharp exhale as she took a seat. Bo-Katan had watched the Empress' address to the galaxy. And it had crushed her. She felt guilt- fear- dread- and yet could do nothing with these terrible feelings. What Ahsoka had done had crossed a line, and the Mandalorian could not understand it. Days later, when the Empress returned to Radiance, Bo-Katan asked for a chance to speak to her in private. Now that the time had come, she was left all but speechless.
"I understand that some of my decisions may not make sense to you. That's why I'm here. What's on your mind?"
Bo-Katan gritted her teeth and forced the words from her mouth.
"Just... tell me why. Ignoring the fact that you've taken what little autonomy my people had left- ignoring the fact that you've declared war on the entire galaxy- Mandalore's Ruling Council... they'd been nothing but loyal to you. They were the leaders of the most honourable and legendary houses in our people's history. And you slaughtered them!"
"I did no such thing. Did they not confess to their crimes of their own volition? And did they not carry out their own sentence?"
"Don't give me that! You know exactly what you did. You puppeteered them- forced them to carry out that twisted show."
"Their feelings were real. They genuinely believed they'd betrayed Mandalore. And they genuinely felt such crushing guilt that they were more than willing to execute themselves."
"Only because you twisted their minds... controlled them with the Force!"
"The Light," Ahsoka corrected, a dangerous edge in her voice. "I'll say it again. Whatever role I may have played, to the very end, they believed their choices were their own."
"...you know better than to lie to me, Ahsoka."
"I'm not. At this moment, can you be certain that you aren't being controlled? Can you be sure your emotions are real, not just the product of an unseen puppeteer? Are you truly free, or have you been manipulated into believing yourself to be?"
"I'm not here to argue philosophy."
"You're missing the point. Every feeling you have- every thought in your head- is the product of some kind of manipulation. Your genes- your experiences- your interactions with others- you don't get to choose how any of these circumstances shape your will- your choices- the course of your life."
"I still get to make my own choices!" spat Bo-Katan.
"Incorrect. Just as it was for the Ruling Council, you believe you get to make your own choices- whether or not that's actually true."
"Rationalise it however you want. You made them kill themselves in front of an audience like this is all some sick holodrama! You stole their very will!"
"How could I steal from them something they never possessed?"
"...just... tell me this: why? Why... betray... your own people?"
Ahsoka gave a non-committal shrug.
"Mandalore is the fulcrum upon which the First Light rests. The most capable soldiers in the galaxy... not to mention their invincible beskar armour... we rely on Mandalore for both. To put such a valuable asset in the hands of the Great Houses was a necessary compromise at the time. But it is a shaky foundation, especially for a galaxy-spanning empire."
"The Ruling Council did nothing to oppose the Light. They were among our most loyal subjects!"
"Times change, and loyalties with them. Especially on Mandalore. How many wars have your people fought amongst themselves? How long would it have been before another of our so-called allies decided to carry on this storied tradition? Just look at what became of House Vizsla, and the countless deaths they've wrought. Or what about House Wren and the traitors they harboured?"
"House Vizsla were traitors. And Ursa Wren acted alone. The rest of the Council weren't your enemies."
"I'm afraid that just isn't true. At the very least, I have reason to believe all of House Wren has been plotting against us. We uncovered schematics on the Wren Stronghold network for a weapon our analysts believe was designed to combat beskar armour. Thankfully, the schematics were incomplete- the concept itself required solving a number of engineering challenges I'm told are insurmountable. Still, the intent was there. Who do you suppose would have been the targets of such a weapon?"
"What?" said Bo-Katan, shaking her head in disbelief. "Why wasn't I informed of this earlier?! I could have-"
"An Inquisitor is pursuing the lead as we speak. They advised that you were too... emotionally involved with House Wren to remain objective."
"Unbelievable. I've been here since the beginning, Ahsoka. I've fought for you. I've almost died for you countless times. And you're still keeping things from me?!"
"No. I didn't agree with the Inquisitor's assessment. That's why I'm telling you about this now. The existence of these designs is just more proof that the system of Mandalorian Houses each competing for their own interests was unsustainable. One day, tensions would have risen and boiled and spilled over. The consequence? Another Concordia. Houses, Clans, these arbitrary divisions did nothing but turn our people against one another. They needed to be dissolved, and that could not be done while their leaders were still on the board."
"If you think the houses will disappear just because you've cut off their head-"
"Oh, I've done more than that," said Ahsoka, calmly taking a sip from her glass. The sight only infuriated Bo-Katan even further.
"...how can you be so cold? How can you be so cruel?! What you did to Gar Saxon- a proud and loyal soldier- why can't you see just how sick that was?!"
"Why can'tyou see how necessary it was?"
"Necessary? Necessary?! In what galaxy was that necessary?! Even if taking away Mandalore's last semblance of independence really was so important, why did you have to-"
"Calm down, and think. All who gain power fear to lose it. Suppose I was simply to abolish the Ruling Council. Consider what it would be like for Gar Saxon, Governor of Mandalore, to be a governor no longer. Saxon, despite his apparent ineptitude, was charismatic and popular. Your people admired him as a man and as a warrior. To breed resentment in one like that is a dangerous proposition."
"So you killed him," spat Bo-Katan. "You killed him, not for anything he did, but because there was a chance he'd turn on you after you cast him aside."
Ahsoka shook her head.
"Killing him would make him a martyr. I did something better. The way he grovelled before executing himself... he's playing the role not of an inspiring revolutionary, executed for his defiance, but of a pathetic opportunist, marred by avarice and cowardice. To those who'd stand with us, he'll be seen as a traitor. And even those who'd stand against us will utterly despise him. No Mandalorian traditionalist would sympathise with someone who appears so laughable and weak. They'll disavow not just Gar Saxon, but also the Ruling Council who stood behind him. Few will mourn their deaths. And more importantly, nobody will rally to avenge them."
"That's... that's..."
"Efficient? I would think so. In one move, the representatives of the Great Houses- save for yourself- have been eliminated, discredited and dishonoured. And of course, the status of a House is shaped in no small part by the conduct of their leaders. I've ensured the reputation of the Houses will be irreparably marred... it's only a matter of time until shame tears them apart."
For several moments, Bo-Katan was silent. She opened her mouth to speak, stopped herself, and then tried again.
"...listen to yourself," she pleaded. "This... isn't you... this isn't the person I... dammit, Ahsoka, what you've done is just... evil!"
Ahsoka flinched, as though she'd been physically slapped.
"Tell me, Bo-Katan," she grimaced. "When Saxon was a pawn of Maul, would you have hesitated to kill him?"
"That's not the point."
"It's precisely the point. Gar Saxon was not a good man. You want to talk about evil? Look to his actions, not mine. He helped a monster seize control of your people- the same monster who murdered your sister. And Light knows how many innocents he butchered under the banner of the Death Watch."
Bo-Katan stood, fists clenched and furious.
"Have you forgotten that I was also part of the Death Watch?! Have you forgotten the things I've done- the things I'll never be able to atone for?! You should have killed me. You would have been right to. But you gave me another chance. What happened to the woman who believed in me, who trusted me, who for all these years I've fought to repay?! And how do I know that you won't throw me away the moment you think my loyalty might falter?!"
"I wouldn't do that. You know I-"
"Do I?! The Ahsoka I knew- the Ahsoka I loved- was never so kriffing heartless."
"Everything I do, I do for the greater good," replied Ahsoka, an audible hurt in her voice as she stood, turning her back to Bo-Katan to hide her pained expression. "I've fought all my life for the sake of others and you dare to call me heartless?! The decisions I make- the necessary decisions- they aren't easy and they never have been. But sometimes you need to accept an evil to spare others a greater evil."
"Stop it. You're not the victim in this. You, Empress of the Galaxy. You, who sits high and mighty atop your throne in your palace of gold."
"All in service of a false image- an image I maintain so that people respect me enough to listen! An image I maintain only so that this galaxy doesn't tear itself apart! An image that has cost me everything, and has left me completely alone!"
"And whose fault is that?!" screamed Bo-Katan, her voice strained. "I adored you! I still do. I tried to be there for you. I tried... again and again and again... I tried to be someone you could trust, someone you could confide in- but you kept pushing me away! I know how hard it is to be alone. But you're not alone. I'm here for you. So just... talk to me. Please."
Ahsoka didn't utter a word. When the silence had stretched on too long to be bearable, Bo-Katan spoke again.
"I'm worried about you, Ahsoka. I know you're not a bad person. I know you're trying to do what's right. But this... all of this... I..."
Then, to Bo-Katan's surprise, Ahsoka laughed.
"You really don't see it, do you? You really don't get it?"
Bo-Katan was too stunned to respond.
"All this time, and you're still blind as ever," the Empress continued. "The... feelings you have for me... do you think they aren't mutual? Do you honestly believe I think so little of you? The only reason I push those feelings down- the only reason I try to distance myself- is because of how powerful- and how dangerous- such sentiments are. If I let myself get attached... if I ever allowed myself to feel... I... no. The weight of the galaxy rests on my shoulders. The fates and futures of trillions. I cannot and will not take the risks these feelings invite. Am I clear?"
At that question, something in Bo-Katan broke. Her rage left her completely, but her heart ached worse than ever.
"...yes, your Luminance," she muttered, her voice diminished to almost a whisper.
"And as for Mandalore... if we are to confront and conquer our Faithless enemies, this world must stand united. Order is most coveted in times of chaos... and here was an opportunity that may never have presented itself again. If you fault me for seizing it as I did, so be it. I only hope that someday, you realise the necessity of my actions."
"Yes, your Luminance," Bo-Katan repeated.
"Now... leave me. Get some rest. We still have much to do."
Without another word, Bo-Katan nodded, turned, and left.