Spectre: Okay, so I left the previous chapter with Obi-Wan and Anakin leaving the chambers with Luminara, Padmé, Ahsoka, and Rex. I decided to leave those scenes behind for the next chapters. Hopefully I was able to nail Ahsoka and Vader's duel, because it was much more choreographed than SC 38, so I hope that this rendition would suffice though.
Chapter 16: Interlude, Part 3
The two re-entered the Council Chamber where Anakin, Ahsoka, Rex and Padmé had entered prior along with the rest od the audience. "Ready now, are we?", Yoda asked.
"We are Master Yoda", Obi-Wan assured them while glancing at Luminara, silently thanking her for her support for him. "We may now begin."
Anakin walked forward and played the next holovid in hand.
The scene opens with a purple-haired teenager entering a room within a ship, with a hologram playing. "Keep moving your saber as the key on deflecting the fire of multiple adversaries. With motion. One to the next, into the next, and so on", the hologram revealed to be Anakin Skywalker and an elder Ahsoka Tano knelt down, her eyes closed in deep thought.
"Ahsoka!", Anakin called out in surprise at seeing an older form of his former Padawan, at the same time relieved that she was still around at some point in the future.
"She is safe, thank the Force.", Plo Koon added, just as glad as Anakin. The Jedi were likewise elated or glad that she managed to survive the Empire's rise to power, knowing how strong she is due to Skywalker's teachings.
"I made some...adjustments to the classic Form IV techniques that would work well against droids and ranged attackers. Here I'll show you." Anakin's hologram ignited his lightsaber and began to block several blaster bolts. "One, two, three, four..."
"He's amazing...", Ezra said, fascinated. "I watched his recordings to help with my own saber training."
Ahsoka's expression brightened. "You should have seen him in person."
"Anakin Skywalker", she said, giving a small smile to his holographic form. "He was my Master."
Ahsoka felt her heart cracked on seeing her future cherishing the memories that she had with Anakin, to the point where she kept his holograms to remember him and his teachings. She still wondered where she was when he had perished at the hands of Vader, something she wished that she was able to prevent.
"Kanan said he was the greatest warrior the Jedi had during the Clone Wars!"
"He was powerful. Rarely lost a battle", Ahsoka said, thoughtfully looking at her Master's holographic demonstration. "But what a surprise to people is how kind he was, how he deeply cared about his friends, and looked out for them to the end."
Anakin allowed a warm smile to grace on his lips, seeing the bond that continued to guide his apprentice, even after all that has happened. He was touched on the way Ahsoka thought of him, even as an adult. Rex, Ahsoka, and Padmé felt emotionally pained, not wanting to imagine how it was to lose Anakin.
"Practice these exercises mindfully. And you'll see improvement. I promise", Anakin assured the students present at his demonstration.
"Do you know what happened to him?", Ezra curiously asked.
Anakin smiled before his hologram faded away while Ahsoka looked down, a more somber look taking over. "The last time I saw him he was rushing off to save the Chancellor."
Anakin then felt his chest heavy, now knowing that the last time they had seen each other at Mandalore was indeed the last time he saw her. While the rest of the audience were slowly seeing that the Seperatists may have been succesful with the kidnapping and possible murder of the Chancellor that resulted of the Republic's fall and defeat in the Clone Wars.
Yoda remained silent. However from what he saw on Moraband, he had an idea that the Jedi would lose the war. But not on how they would.
"Then everything changed. The war ended and the Jedi were accused of treason."
Everyone gasped at the revelation that elder Ahsoka gave, not thinking that they would be the ones accused of such a crime.
"Treason?! At what grounds?!", Master Mundi called out in complete dismay, a feeling shared by the rest of the Jedi.
"If Dooku won the war and took over the Republic, he would have his reasons to brand the Jedi as traitors.", Mace theorized, wondering how he managed to deal a finishing blow with the attack on Coruscant.
"If he did, then he probably would have inserted Vader as a mole within the survivors, with him becoming Master Kenobi's apprentice.", Shaak Ti also added her theory, with the rest wanting to formulate a further strategy in order to counter the impending Seperatist offensive.
"One by one they were hunted down."
"By the Inquisitors?", Ezra suggested
"Or worse.", Ahsoka added.
The rest were intruiged by these Inquisitors, wondering how they were the ones that were hunting Jedi. "I have the feeling these Inquisitors are Sith operatives serving the Empire in hunting down remaining Jedi.", Obi-Wan said, frowning.
"With Vader taking the lead? I believe so.", Kit Fisto supported his claim while the others frowned at the thought of the Sith being a whole organized first once more.
The scene then shifted to a Temple, where Ezra Bridger watched as Vader stood above his custom TIE Fighter, lightsaber ignited. The Dark Lord jumped over where Ezra backed away and activated his blue lightsaber.
"You have unlocked the secret of the Temple", Vader said, seemingly impressed. "How did you accomplish this?"
"You're smart, figure it out!", Ezra shot back at the Dark Lord.
"Good choice of words, but not towards him, kid", Anakin uttered.
"He's a young one, but I doubt that he could last long against Vader.", Saesee observed the young man's bravery, but with a hint of fear visible.
Ezra attempted to strike the Dark Lord with his lightsaber, only for his attacks to be parried effortlessly and forced Ezra into the defensive.
"No matter. The power within will soon serve the Emperor."
"I don't fear you!"
"Then you will die braver than most"
Everyone felt chills at Vader's message, one that clearly showed a tyrant with a lack of any empathy towards his opponents.
Vader then turned to attack Ezra once more, easily overpowering him and destroyed his lightsaber. Ezra looked up helpless, as the he is at the mercy of the Dark Lord.
"Perhaps I was wrong", Vader stated, poised for the finishing strike.
Everyone braced at the unfortunate teen's fate.
"It wouldn't be the first time.", a voice called out from behind, and Vader turned to see Ahsoka Tano, standing a few feet away, her expression grim towards him.
"Vader...", Anakin growled, trembling at the sight of the Dark Lord, who had destroyed the Jedi Order, in front of his former Padawan. "You wouldn't...you wouldn't dare"
Ahsoka looked at her future with a visible look of worry, but at the same time, felt a connection to the Dark Lord that she couldn't explain.
The rest became agitated, especially Plo Koon and Rex. If Obi-Wan, one of the most powerful members of the Order, couldn't defeat Vader, what chance would she have against him? Only the holovid could tell.
"It was foretold that you would come here", Vader declared, de-activating his saber. "Our long awaited meeting has come last."
"I'm glad I gave you something to look forward to."
"We need not be adversaries", Vader said. "The Emperor will show you mercy. If you can tell me where the remaining Jedi can be found."
"There is no way Commander Tano would give them up.", Rex said in a raised tone. Even despite the Jedi's treatment to her, she wouldn't sink that far. Not ever.
"There are no Jedi!", Ahsoka snapped. "You and your Inquisitors have seen to that!"
Vader glanced at Ezra. "Perhaps this child will confess what you could not"
"I was beginning to knew who you were behind that mask!", Ahsoka said, her face of complete denial. "But it's impossible! My master could never be as vile as you!"
"What?", Anakin said, flabbergasted at the elder Ahsoka's words.
"Played by the Dark Side of the Force, she is. Misguiding her judgement, he does.", Yoda pointed out at Ahsoka and Vader respectively, also not thinking of that possibility.
"Anakin Skywalker was weak.", Vader proclaimed. "I destroyed him."
Obi-Wan frowned at the Dark Lord's words, wondering why did he even take him as his apprentice if it would only cost him his brother. Rex had a visible angered look towards the Dark Lord for taking away the General and the 501st's true leader.
All the Jedi frowned at the cyborg's words just as Ahsoka's heart felt heavy, wondering what her future felt on losing the master who had since become the older brother she never had.
Ahsoka closed her eyes in anguish, before they flashed once more, determination replacing them. "Then I will avenge his death."
"Ahsoka, no!", Anakin cried out for his apprentice, fearing the worst. "Just run!"
However, he knew that despite the danger, Ahsoka isn't the type to leave her friends behind. Plo and Rex knew this as well.
"Revenge is not the Jedi way", Vader mocked her.
The Jedi present frowned at the Sith Lord making fun of their code and the principles that he destroyed.
"I am no Jedi.", Ahsoka declared, activating her two lightsabers, both enamating a white glow while Vader done the same, his crimson blade coming to life.
The audience were struck silent at the sudden motion. Anakin, Rex and Plo Koon watched in worry for the Togruta fighting the Dark Lord.
Ahsoka dashed towards Vader, who dodged a strike from above while delivering a counter-attack from his own blafe, only for Ahsoka to evade the attack and quickly brought his blade on the defensive when she poised to deliver several powerful strikes. Another slash delivered by Vader was ducked by Ahsoka, who used the Force to push Vader back away from her, momentarily stunning him.
Vader looked up to see Ahsoka attempting to slash him downwards, bringing his blade above him and forced her to somersault from behind, where she ducked another sideward slash from Vader and brought both her lightsabers in a blade-lock with Vader's crimson saber.
Everyone was impressed on how Ahsoka was fairing against the Dark Lord, some even admitting the grace and the tenacity of her skill, having been the apprentice of Anakin Skywalker after all.
"She has become more powerful than I thought", Mace admitted, her skill in Form V Shien had apparently impressed him. "Not just powerful, but refined as well"
"All those years of training even without the Order, made her stand out among the Jedi Knights", Luminara observed. "Had the Order survived and she remained, she would have been made a Master"
"And it would've been possible if a few people were willing to give her a fair trial." Anakin called out, resulting of some of the Jedi frowning. He would never forget the day that Ahsoka left the order, all because of their arrogance and their mishandlings.
Breaking the blade-lock from one another, Ahsoka cartwheeled backwards as Vader moved for the offensive, dodging his strikes along the way. Ahsoka turned back to see Vader landing a flurry of strikes, maneuvering her blades on the defensive. This went on until they made their way into the Temple's pyramid, where they continued their clash, trading blows but without any decisive results.
Landing in a blade-lock once more, Vader lets go of her, where she tried to deliver a counter attack, only for Vader to use the Force and pushed her down below the lower floors of the Temple. Vader looked at her for a moment, before noticing the pillar above him.
"Ahsoka!", Anakin called out in alarm, with Obi-Wan and Rex trying to calm him down..
"It's not over yet, Anakin." Obi-Wan assured him, though unsure himself. "She will get through this."
Meanwhile, Ezra helped up a masked man by the shoulder towards the shrine where a floating red holocron resided.
"A Temple Guard?", Shaak Ti noticed the man's headgear.
"It's only the helmet so I doubt it. But I feel that he is a Jedi as well.", Depa added, feeling a sense of familiarity towards the man.
Kit Fisto noticed something familiar on the pedestal. "Is that... Sith Holocron?"
"Probably what Vader was after. The three were trying to prevent him from retrieving it for the Empire", Luminara suggested.
"Few more steps", Ezra instructed. "Now reach!" Both men grasped the holocron at the Pedestal. "NOW PULL!"
They did at the same time, and succeeded. Ezra looked up and noticed something was happening. "The Temple is starting to collapse!"
At the same time, Ahsoka looked up and noticed this was well. A droid belonging to the group urged them to hurry. "We're going as fast as we can!", Ezra said, agitated. "Just be ready to whoaahh-?!"
Ezra felt his hand holding the holocron being pulled as Vader outstreched his hand for it to reach while the masked man helped up the young man. "No, no, no, no!", Ezra cried out.
"Kanan! It's him!"
"I know! I got you!", the man, named Kanan, replied.
As Vader continued to pull the Holocron, and Ezra with him, he failed to notice Ahsoka running behind him. The Dark Lord noticed this but it was too late and Ahsoka leapt above him and delivered a slash at Vader's mask-covered face, with the Dark Lord groaning in pain as a result.
"She's got him!", Padmé called out. Anakin breathed a sigh of relief at seeing Snips dealing a blow towards the Sith Lord in front of him.
However, Ahsoka suddenly felt fear and denial within her, suspecting the truth behind all this. She quickly shook her head of the thought
"Ahsoka! Come on!", Ezra urged the former Jedi as she lay down from the jump. She tried to get up and heard the mechanical, yet altered, voice behind her.
"Ahsoka..."
Everyone became intruiged, wondering how Vader knew of the Padawan firsthand, while Ahsoka felt chills run down her spine, wanting to know how and why Vader knew her, perhaps personally.
Unfortunately, the holovid ended there with static taking over the scenes, leaving her future self's fate ambigous to those who watched the holovid, to their own dismay and disbelief.
Needless to say, it adds truth that one of those who were watching the future is either dead or missing.
"Little 'Soka...", Plo Koon uttered, praying that the worse has not come for the young Togruta present. Those who watched the first video had one thought, that Ahsoka had became one of Darth Vader's victims. It was too much for the Kel'dor Master to think about it, while silently cursing to why he wasn't there with her.
Mustering her courage, Padmé asked. "Has she-?"
Anakin, however, wouldn't accept this, not to what he just saw. "No, we don't know what happened. She could've escaped!", he spoke in complete denial with a raised tone. He had sworn that he wouldn't let anyone hurt her. Not once, not ever.
"We are aware of that, Skywalker", Mace clarified to him. "Calm yourself."
"How could I be calm if I wasn't able to save her or Obi-Wan from Vader?!", Anakin nearly shouted that taken those present back. However, they couldn't blame him, he had his reasons at seeing this future they themselves wouldn't want to accept either.
Obi-Wan placed a hand on his apprentice's shoulde. "Anakin, calm down. Anger over to what we haven't know won't help over what's happening now. If we managed to gather the pieces together, then we'll be able to stop all of this from happening."
Sighing in defeat, Anakin relented. "I know, forgive me, Master."
The holograms of the hooded male and female appeared to them once more, their holovids activated by queue. "Now that is over with, you can now begin...", the man said in a monotone voice.
"About what?", Ahsoka wondered, curious.
The female hologram turned to finish the man's sentence. "With the truth that lies ahead..."