Infiltrating the spice lab was surprisingly easy. It just took a lot of small steps and a lot of patience.

First, she had to follow the Inquisitor all the way to the building and prevent her from noticing that she was being tailed. Then, it was a matter of gaining access and using a portable geoscanner to recreate the building's blueprints. There was an appropriate place and time for an ambush and right now, considering how high the stakes were, she did not want to risk it. Therefore, she had decided to be as stealthy as possible.

Instead, she used her knowledge of the building's structure to break into the ventilation system and successfully navigate her way to where Obi-Wan and Leia were being held prisoner. It was a bit difficult squeezing through some of the narrow gaps, but Ahsoka succeeded. Her ankles gave her a bit of trouble and her knees started to ache after being on all fours for so long, but she figured it would all be worth it.

When she finally reached Obi-Wan and Leia's cell, however, she was hit by a surprise.

The Inquisitor was already there, talking to them. Although she couldn't hear what she was saying, she could make out some words, and it sounded as if there was a fourth person with them. Shocked, Ahsoka withdrew slightly from the grate that opened down on the cell and huddled against the wall, listening carefully.

It seemed as if Reva was arguing with the fourth person, trying to persuade them against doing something. However, no matter what she said, the fourth voice always responded with indifference and mechanical, unfeeling coldness. Their voice made Ahsoka want to crawl into an even smaller vent and curl herself into a ball. It sounded as if they were being broadcast through a comlink, which explained the staticky quality, but their voice in itself was quite robotic. Each word was distorted and metallic, as if it had been carefully synthesized using a vocorder to remove any ounce of emotion. Each time they spoke, she felt a strange chill run down her spine as they did not sound like anything she had ever heard before.

Yet something about it felt uncomfortably familiar.

"Bring her to me. That is my final order."

Ahsoka shuddered and wrapped her arms around herself, leaning against the wall of the vent and hoping nobody would see her.

It seemed as if the people in the room were equally affected by the strange, inhuman quality of the fourth voice. For a few moments, all of them went silent, as if in a trance. Then suddenly, Reva snapped back to reality and responded.

"I will, my Lord. Your wish is my command."

Yes, Master. I will do as you say.

Ahsoka squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head, disturbed.

No. It can't be. That person is long gone.

Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself and waited until the conversation was over. Once she heard Reva leave the room, she immediately began to crawl towards the grate and attempted to locate a weak point that would allow her to remove it.

Peering down through the bars, she found herself making eye contact with both Master Kenobi and the girl, who seemed to have noticed her presence. She quietly raised her finger to her lips. Then, slowly, carefully, she removed the grate while making as little noise as possible by using a small screwdriver and some elbow grease. No longer obstructed by it, she jumped down. Time was of the essence and she wanted to avoid getting into a fight as much as possible.

Once she finally landed on the ground, she immediately walked over to where Master Kenobi and Leia were sitting, watching her with wide eyes.

Taking a deep breath, she knelt down and made eye contact with Master Kenobi.

It had been many, many years since the two of them last saw each other. She had always thought of Master Kenobi as free of weakness, always suave and put together. Although he did not ooze the same hubris and overconfidence as Anakin, he had always seemed like the sort of person who could overcome any situation, no matter how difficult. Despite the amount of situations they got into, he had never let his put-together exterior crack, always staying calm and using his intuition to figure out a solution.

But the man in front of her was a changed man. Seeing him looking so worn down and forlorn, with an injury on his shoulder, made her want to withdraw her lightsaber and chase after the Inquisitor.

It was childish of her to expect him to not have changed. To hope that, even though he had been captured, he had somehow retained his spirit. Even though she was older and had been a grown adult for many years, some part of her had been hoping that Master Kenobi would still be the same person as when she left him. Wouldn't that be nice? To have a companion with experience in the Clone Wars to talk to and run Rebel business with? Couldn't they just pick up where they left? Couldn't they go back to how it was?

Ahsoka took a deep breath and tried to calm down.

As an experienced rebel, she had known deep down that once she entered this prison, she would likely not find the man that she was seeking. The Master Kenobi who knew everything, who could be beaten in fight but never by mind, and whose spirit remained uncrushed no matter what.

But this was entirely different.

In front of her was a stranger with overlong greying hair, thin clothing and empty eyes that barely registered what was happening.

Master...what have they done to you? She wanted to cry.

In the back of her mind, the memories continued to replay of better times. Easier times.

Hello, Ahsoka.

Welcome back, Commander Ahsoka.

My, my. I see Anakin is raising his padawan to be just like him.

Desperately, she searched his face for a sign of the witty, dry-humored man that raised Anakin and her. Anything. Even just a sliver of recognition. Perhaps it was all a facade, he was only pretending to be beat down to catch his enemies off guard, and now that she was there he would spring back up and regain his normal self...

But she saw nothing in his eyes but her own reflection.

Of course he doesn't remember me.

Why would he want to remember me? I'm the one who abandoned him and Anakin.

I'm the reason he's like this.

It was stupid, but she wanted to cry. Twenty-eight, and she still hadn't learned how to control her emotions. What an embarrassment.

But then again, I'm not a Jedi. I don't have to control my emotions anymore.

She tried her best to muster a smile. Master Kenobi might have seen better days, but she was still strong. She could be strong for him. For both of them. And for Leia.

Even if he hates me, I don't care. I'm fine with him hating me. I'm just happy to see him.

"Hello, Master Kenobi," she said hesitantly, as if she was fourteen all over again. "It's me."

Master Kenobi stared at her through the sweaty mess of hair covering his forehead. He did not respond.

"I'm sorry I'm late."

Then, more quietly, she bowed her head to him and whispered.

"It's...good to see you again."

The two prisoners just stared back at her wordlessly, either too unimpressed or too shocked to speak back to her. Deciding to prove herself first, Ahsoka took out her lightsaber and held out her free hand towards them.

"Here," she said. "Give me your hands, I'll cut those off for you."

For a moment, neither of them reacted, and the room was filled with the sound of Ahsoka's lightsaber buzzing faintly. Then, in a voice she thought she would never hear again, Master Kenobi mumbled something almost too quiet to hear.

"Ahsoka," he breathed.

Ahsoka felt her heart stand still.

He remembers me, she thought quietly.

Master Kenobi bowed his head, and for a second, she began to panic, thinking he was prostrating himself in front of her. Then, he looked back up and she could see that his eyes look red and wet. She immediately felt another pang in her chest.

He's crying, she thought, shocked.

Her stomach began to wriggle uncomfortably, disturbed by a faint tremor of panic. Why would Master Kenobi be crying? Did the Inquisitor hurt him that badly? Was he unhappy to see her?

"Master Kenobi-!"

Master Kenobi squeezed his eyes shut and grimaced, as if he was deeply in pain, as if just hearing his name was too much for him to stand. Ahsoka reached towards him and grabbed his hands, but Master Kenobi did not seem to notice, did not even try to throw her off. He seemed to be alone, drowning in a wave of emotion that was incomprehensible to her.

"Master Kenobi..."

Master Kenobi finally opened his eyes and frowned, a crease appearing on his forehead between his eyebrows.

"I thought...you were killed," he murmured.

Ahsoka inhaled and moved back slightly, unsure how to respond. However, Master Kenobi did not seem to be disturbed by her presence. In fact, he continued to gaze at her intensely, waiting for her to respond.

I...didn't expect him to care this much about me.

"I had to fake my death so the Empire wouldn't suspect I survived Order 66," she whispered. "I'm sure you had to do the same."

Master Kenobi stared at her and shook his head. "No. The Empire has known that I survived and has been hunting me for ten years."

Then, more quietly, he closed his eyes and sighed.

"Come on. I know what you are here for. Free the child first."

Ahsoka blinked, but she quickly snapped back to reality. "Yes, Master," she nodded and switched back on her lightsaber. Then, holding out her hand to Leia, she looked at her directly. "May I hold your hand, Princess? I promise this won't hurt."

Understanding immediately, Leia put both of her hands towards Ahsoka and allowed her to cut her shackles in half.

Ahsoka then stood up and walked behind the girl, cutting off the chain that kept her tied to the wall as well. She then patted Leia on the head. "There you go," she said gently.

After Leia, it was Master Kenobi's turn. She extended the lightsaber towards him, but he shook his head. Interpreting his reluctance as a sign that he wanted to cut himself free, she placed it within his reach and knelt down so she could examine the girl for injuries. She seemed to be alright.

Leia turned to stare at her. "Are you a Jedi too?" she asked. "How do you and Ben know each other?"

Ahsoka smiled at her. "I'll explain everything later," she said. "But yes, we go far back. Don't we, Master Kenobi?" she grinned at him, trying to remove some of the old Kenobi spirit.

Master Kenobi raised his eyebrow at her. "If by "going far back," you mean "being the cause of multiple heart attacks," then yes, I suppose you could say so," he replied drily. Ahsoka grinned. That sounded more like the Master Kenobi she knew.

When she turned to retrieve her lightsaber from him, however, she found his shackles still intact. Confused, she took it from him and turned it on, thinking perhaps it was broken and he could not use it. However, it switched on perfectly fine in her hands.

"Go," Master Kenobi said. "I will stay behind."

Ahsoka's eyes widened, confused. She reached frantically for him.

"What...what do you mean?" she asked "I was sent here by Senator Organa to retrieve you, both of you. I can't just leave you."

"No," Master Kenobi replied simply, and the cold look in his eyes pained her to look at.

So he did hate her after all.

"Why not?" she asked, hurt.

Master Kenobi's mouth set in a grim line. The shadows shifted on his face, making him look older than he really was. Behind her, she could also feel Leia watching intently, holding her breath.

"I'm the one he wants," Master Kenobi replied sullenly. "Until I go with him, he will continue to kidnap and harm innocent people. I cannot hide and let him continue these violent rampages. How can I come with you, knowing that as long as I am gone, more and more civilians will be killed?"

Confused, Ahsoka frowned. "What are you talking about? You're not to blame for...for all of this," she waved her hand vaguely.

"I am. I am, Ahsoka."

Ahsoka stared at him.

"Master Kenobi," she began, reaching out and trying to hold his hand, "I know that you feel guilty about the mission failing. But I assure you, I have the resources to get both you and the Princess back safely. You do not need to hold yourself responsible for-"

"All the Younglings and Jedi that were killed during Order 66. All the Force Users who were converted to Inquisitors to serve under the Emperor. All the planets that have been subjugated, held hostage or destroyed...All of them are because of me. If it weren't for me, none of this would have happened, Ahsoka. That is why I cannot come with you."

Ahsoka stood up and shook her head. So did Leia.

"All this is because of the man I killed. Or, the man I failed to kill."

"Master Kenobi, that's not true. It's not you, it's the Empire-"

"Vader is the Empire."

Ahsoka froze.

"You heard him for yourself. He is never going to stop chasing me. He will not relent until I surrender myself to him. He is determined to capture me."

Ahsoka inhaled sharply and she stared at him. This time, he met her eye.

Slowly, she chose her words before they left her mouth. Inhaling slowly, she asked her question.

"Because...of Vader?"

"Because of Anakin," he replied quietly.

"My Brother...your Master...the Sith Lord who placed a bounty on my head and has ordered my imminent execution. They are one and the same."