Chapter Seven
Inner Conflict
It was almost three o'clock in the morning when Ahsoka slowly sat up and grabbed the bucket beside her bed, which she proceeded to vomit into due to her splitting headache. "Ah, kriff that hurt." Ahsoka quietly said to herself as she rubbed her temples. She felt so tired and achy that she didn't even bother to get up and empty the foul smelling expulsion from the bucket.
"That a girl, keep that up and you'll be skinny in no time." A nearby voice said in a teasing tone.
"Kriff off." Ahsoka mumbled as she closed her eyes again.
"After all I did for you, and that's how you talk to me? Guess your gut's not the only thing that's grown, your ego's grown right along with it. As have your thighs, ass, hips; pretty much everything." The voice taunted again.
"You're not real, so leave me alone. I don't feel good." Ahsoka grumbled as she pulled the blankets tighter over herself.
"It's probably all the extra fat you're carrying around. Keep this up and people are gonna start mistaking you for a hutt, Ahsoka the hutt." The voice replied with a chuckle.
Ahsoka snapped and grabbed her shoto blade. "I said kriff off! Kriff off and die!" Ahsoka screamed as she activated the blade and slashed in the direction of the voice. A streak of blue light appeared in the room less than a second later.
"Master!" Bubbles shouted as she drew her sabers and floated defensively in front of Ahsoka, surprised to find the room empty apart from the two of them. "Master, what happened? Are you okay?" Bubbles asked as she deactivated her sabers and looked back at Ahsoka, who was quickly wiping tears from her eyes.
"I'm fine, just a bad dream. I'm sorry if I woke you or anyone else." Ahsoka apologized with a sniffle.
Bubbles let out a relieved sigh before floating over to Ahsoka. "Do you wanna talk about it, master?" Bubbles asked in a comforting tone.
"No, I'm okay. Thanks Bubbles." Ahsoka answered as hugged Bubbles. "Get back to bed, you need your rest after all the excitement you had yesterday." Ahsoka instructed with a smile.
"Yes master." Bubbles replied as she floated back downstairs and outside. Ahsoka slowly laid back down and closed her eyes, letting sleep take over her body once again.
A few more hours passed before everyone started to stir from their slumber, due to the growing sounds of the forest around them. "Ah, the animals are awake, so I'm awake, so I have to explore." Eliza said with a smile as she slowly got up and stretched.
"Can't you sleep in just once?" Debbie grumbled as she pulled her blanket over her head.
"You actually slept outside in the dirt with me? I can't believe it, my sister, the notorious buzzkill, slept under the stars with her younger sister last night. I'd better check to make sure the world's not about to end." Eliza teased as she patted Debbie's back.
"Don't flatter yourself, I just wanted to have a sleepover with with the girl squad." Debbie replied in a slightly grumpy tone.
"Sure you did." Eliza replied with a knowing smirk.
"Mmm. Good morning everyone." Ami quietly said as she stretched a little bit before curling herself around Mako.
"Five more minutes." Minako mumbled as she squeezed Rei in her arms and pressed herself against Rei's back.
"Mina, your boobs are pressing into my spine." Rei groaned as Minako squeezed her a little tighter.
"Oops, sorry." Minako replied as she moved back a bit so her chest wouldn't be pressing into Rei anymore.
"I didn't say stop." Rei said in a teasing tone as she scooted herself against Minako again.
"Come on you two, Debbie and Eliza are right there." Kaede said as she and Sarah stared at the unashamed duo.
"Not to mention the girls." Mako pointed out as she rolled over and looked at the puffs, all of whom were still sleeping.
"Awe, how adorable." Ami whispered with a giggle.
"What?" Mako asked as she looked around, stopping when she saw Buttercup and Donnie, who were both sprawled out in the dirt together. Donnie's leg was lying across Buttercup's chest, while Buttercup's arm was draped over Donnie's face. "Awe, they're so precious." Mako whispered with giggle.
"We'll let them sleep a while longer." Ami whispered as she and Mako quietly got up.
"Come on, let's go inside and see what kind of breakfast we can throw together." Eliza whispered as she lead everyone into the ComVee. "Mako, you're normally the cook, right?" Eliza asked as she looked at Mako.
"Are you kidding, calling Mako a cook is an insult. She's an exquisite chef of the finest cuisine, her skills in the kitchen rival that of the great Gordon Ramsay." Ami answered with a giggle as she hugged Mako.
"I don't know about that." Mako replied with an embarrassed chuckle.
"Don't be modest sis, you're an exceptional chef; hell, you're the best chef. Royals would be lucky to dine on your food." Kaede giggled as she patted Mako's back.
"Come on guys, you're hyping me up too much. Now I feel like I have to cook to royal standards." Mako replied as she looked in the fridge for ingredients.
"You cook for Usagi all the time, and she loves your food. I'd say that you're already cooking to royal standards." Rei said with a smile as she looked at Usagi, who smiled back.
"Huh, I never thought of it like that before. I've been cooking for a princess for four years, you think I could put that on a resume when I look for a job after college?" Mako asked with a chuckle.
"Absolutely." Usagi answered with a giggle.
Everyone sat down in various places as Debbie helped Mako get out ingredients and cooking utensils. Everyone stopped whatever they were doing when they heard Ahsoka upstairs. "Shut up! Just shut up!" Ahsoka suddenly screamed, causing everyone to jump in surprise of the volume increase.
"Jeez, I didn't think we were being that loud." Rei mumbled as she looked towards the ladder.
"No! You're a kriffing liar, get the hell out of my life! I'll kill you!" Ahsoka screamed again, causing everyone to rush towards the ladder and up to the room Ahsoka was in.
"Ahsoka!" Usagi shouted as she and everyone else burst into the room, concerned to find Ahsoka standing with her lightsabers crossed over nothing but air.
"I'll kill her, I'm gonna kill her." Ahsoka said through gritted teeth as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Who, Ahsoka? Who are you going to kill?" Usagi calmly asked as she stared at Ahsoka, who slowly turned and looked at her.
"Sh-she's in my head. She's taunting me, trying to turn me into that... That... That walking corpse again! She keeps saying I'm fat, but I'm not! Right? I'm not fat, I'm not. She's a liar! A liar and a monster, and I'm gonna kill her!" Ahsoka shouted as she started bringing her blades together.
Usagi and the others all looked at each other with worried expressions, all of them had an idea as to whom Ahsoka was referring. Though just to be certain, Ami calmly asked for clarification. "Who, Ahsoka? Who are you going to kill?" Ami asked as she stared at Ahsoka.
Ahsoka slowly looked up at Ami with tears in her eyes, she was trembling with either fear or anger as she said one thing. "Mira." Ahsoka quietly answered with a sniffle.
Everyone stared at Ahsoka with a combination of shock and sadness, they all knew who she was talking about, but it hit different when she said it out loud. "Ahsoka, you listen to me and you listen good, Mira is a liar. She is a liar and fraud, Mira is no fitness coach. She is nothing, nothing but a figment of your imagination. You need to tell her who's boss and make her leave, you did it before and you can do it again." Kaede instructed in a firm but compassionate tone.
Ahsoka vigorously nodded her head before wiping tears from her eyes and taking a deep breath. "Mira, you are not real. You're nothing. You're just a figment of my imagination and you have no say in my life, I don't need you, I never did. Now get out of my life and never come back." Ahsoka calmly instructed as she stared into Mira's eyes.
Mira stared at her for a moment, then a wicked cheek to cheek grin spread over her face. "If I'm so unneeded then why am I still here? If you're so fine without me then why are you even bothering with me? Perhaps you're just lying to yourself, deep down you know that what your friend said is true. Though she put it mildly, you're not doughy, you're full on fat. Fat, fat, fat. Got it fatso?" Mira replied with an evil chuckle.
"That's not true. I'm not fat, and I'm not doughy. Or... Maybe I am doughy, but I'm not fat. I-it's okay to be doughy, I'm not alone in that. R-right guys? I'm not the only one who's a little doughy, b-but there's nothing wrong with that. Right?" Ahsoka asked through her tears as she looked at everyone else.
"Of course it's okay Ahsoka. There's nothing wrong with being a little doughy, I mean look at me, I'm doughy. Minako and Sarah are both a little doughy, and Mako would be if it weren't all in her chest." Ami encouraged with a smile as she looked at everyone else.
"I sure am, and I ain't ashamed of it. I am who I am, and ain't nobody gonna make me feel bad 'bout it. So ya tell that snobby stuck up bitch ta go fuck her self, and don't ya worry 'bout yer looks Ahsoka, y're perfect just the way ya are." Sarah replied with a grin as she patted her somewhat doughy stomach.
"You and your buddies can say whatever you want, but it doesn't change the truth. You're fat, and you're just gonna keep getting fatter and fatter unless you listen to me. So, Ahsoka Fatso, what's it gonna be? You know what, don't answer that, I'll answer for you. You're gonna get to working out, skip the fatty breakfast, and lose that fat, ugly..." Mira stopped mid sentence as Ahsoka held her hand out in gripping fashion, locking Mira in a force choke.
"I've had enough of your insults! You are a horrible trainer and an even worse person! You are nothing but a monster in human skin, so for the good of everyone, just shut up and die!" Ahsoka screamed as she lifted Mira off the ground with the force, watching as she struggled and clawed at the invisible hands around her neck. Ahsoka closed her hand after a few seconds, grinning at the satisfying crunching sound that proceeded it. Mira went limp in midair, and Ahsoka tossed her corpse aside like it was nothing more than common trash. "Anakin taught me a lot of things bitch, but the one he never taught me was restraint. I hope you rot in hell." Ahsoka said in a dark tone as she turned on her heels, then marched downstairs and out of the Com-Vee.
"Oh master." Bubbles quietly said as she stared at the ladder Ahsoka had just descended.
"What exactly just happened?" Naru asked as she looked at Usagi.
"I have no idea." Usagi answered as she stared at the ladder.
"Master Tano killed Mira." Bubbles quietly answered in a sad tone.
"What do you mean?" Ami asked in a confused tone.
"That hand gesture that master Tano was just using, it was a force choke. In her eyes, she force choked Mira to death." Bubbles quietly explained as she stared at the floor.
"Is that such a bad thing though?" Rei asked in a curious tone.
Ami and Kaede both looked at the ground as if they were staring at Mira's corpse, then they each looked towards the ladder that Ahsoka had just descended. "It could be. Anger won't solve her problem, it'll only give her a temporary sense of satisfaction." Kaede started to explain, stopping to let Ami add to the point.
"That's right. Ahsoka has yet to deal with the root cause of this relapse, and if she fails to deal with the root cause of her issue then Mira will simply reappear at a later time. You can't kill something that's not real, you can only push it away, and that's exactly what Ahsoka's done. She disposed of Mira for the time being, but make no mistake, Mira's not gone, she's only been suppressed." Ami added in a calm tone.
"So how do we help Ahsoka get rid of Mira?" Usagi asked in a calm tone.
"The same way we did last time, by making her talk. If she opens up and explains the cause of the relapse then we can counter and eliminate it." Kaede explained in a firm tone.
"Ain't a bad plan, ya can't strike an enemy ya can't see. If ya draw 'em out inta the open though, ya can take 'em out; and that's exactly what we's gonna do with Mira. Bring her inta the light, then we take her out." Sarah replied with a grin.
"Easier said than done, we're treating Mira like a physical enemy, but she isn't. Mira is literally a piece of Ahsoka, and her will is so ingrained in Ahsoka's mind that she still has some control over her, even after all these months. It's no exaggeration to say that by fighting Mira we'll be fighting Ahsoka. So we need to be careful, Ahsoka's already in a fragile state of mind, that's how Mira reappeared in the first place. If we push too hard it could backfire and push her deeper into her delusion." Ami warned with a thoughtful expression.
"Ami might have a point, though that being said, Ahsoka definitely needs help before this issue gets out of hand. I don't know if she'd survive a major relapse, especially considering how bad it was the first time around." Kaede replied with a stern expression.
"Good point. Let's keep an eye on her for a little while, maybe she'll beat it on her own; if it starts to seem like Mira's getting the upper hand though then we'll bring her straight to Ducky. She connects well with him, and I wonder if part of the reason she's relapsing now is because she hasn't done a follow up with him in a couple months. We all thought that she was passed this, but we seem to have been wrong about that." Ami said with a sad expression.
"Then we're in agreement, we'll keep an eye on Ahsoka and contact Ducky if her condition worsens. We should have faith in her though, she's strong, and she's not alone in her fight. We're all here for her." Usagi said with a smile as she walked over to the ladder to go back down to the lower level of the ComVee.
When everyone arrived downstairs they found Ahsoka sitting at the table next to Eliza, who was watching Debbie cook some bacon. "You sure you don't wanna talk about it? It might help?" Debbie asked as she flipped the bacon.
"No, Debbie, I don't wanna talk about it. Please, just stop asking. Please." Ahsoka quietly begged as she laid her head down on the table.
"Alright, I'm sorry if I was being pushy. We're just worried about you, Eliza and I don't understand what happened; we just wanna make sure that you're okay." Debbie replied as she plated some of the bacon.
"I know, I know. I'm sorry that I'm so snippy right now, I just..." Ahsoka went silent before finishing, opting to just groan and lay her head in her arms.
"Just what, Ahsoka?" Eliza asked as she gently placed a hand on Ahsoka's shoulder.
"I'm too ashamed to say it. I feel so weak, and she's so strong. I don't know if I can do this again, I just want her gone." Ahsoka quietly answered as she started to cry.
"Who?" Debbie asked as she set the bacon on the table and sat down by Ahsoka.
"Yeah Ahsoka, who?" A quiet and low voice asked from beside Ahsoka.
"Shut up! You know exactly who I want gone you rotten bitch! I want you gone, I want you gone for good! Get out of my life, I thought I killed you!" Ahsoka screamed as she swung a back hand at the air on her right side.
"Ahsoka!" Debbie shouted as she stood up and grabbed Ahsoka's hand. "Ahsoka snap out of it, have you lost your mind?! You almost hit Eliza!" Debbie shouted as she squeezed Ahsoka's hand.
"Still got that temper I see, you probably wouldn't be such a hot head if you weren't so out of shape. Oh well, guess we'll just have to work you out extra hard to tame that rotten attitude of yours." Mira chuckled as she stared at Ahsoka.
"I'm not though! I'm not out of shape! I'm not fat! Stop lying to me!" Ahsoka cried as she dug her claws into the table.
"What are you talking about?! None of us are calling you fat! What in the world gave you the impression that we thought you were fat?!" Debbie asked as she continued squeezing Ahsoka's hand.
"It's not you guys!" Kaede yelled as she ran into the kitchen with everyone else.
"We're the only two people in here though, unless she was talking to all of you that is." Debbie replied as Ahsoka struggled against her grip.
"She's not talking to any of us, she's talking to Mira." Kaede informed as she looked at Ahsoka, who was clearly on the verge of a complete mental breakdown.
"Mira? You mean that fake fitness coach from from her... whatever that condition was called?" Debbie asked as Ahsoka ripped her hand out of Debbie's grip before falling out of the booth.
"I can't take it anymore. Please, somebody help me." Ahsoka quietly cried as she put her hands over the sides of her montrals and curled into a ball.
Everyone stared down at Ahsoka with heartbroken expressions, her condition had escalated so rapidly that their original idea to talk to her would be all but impossible now. Ahsoka was far beyond a friendly talk and a few familiar shoulders to lean on, she needed professional help. "Ami, call Doctor Mallard, tell him that Ahsoka's having a major relapse and that she needs help." Usagi instructed as she knelt by Ahsoka and placed a hand on her back.
"I'm on it." Ami replied before activating a portal and stepping through it.
"Bubbles, go to Coruscant and get Padmé, probably Anakin as well." Usagi calmly said as she gently rubbed Ahsoka's back.
"What about Master Kenobi or Merida?" Bubbles asked as she held her watch up.
"Not yet, too many people will just cause her unnecessary stress. Get Padmé and Anakin, we'll tell Obi-Wan and Merida after Doctor Mallard's had a chance to speak with her and she's clamed down." Usagi answered in a soft tone. Bubbles nodded her head before opening a portal and leaving through it. "It's gonna be okay Ahsoka, you just hang in there, you're being so brave right now." Usagi whispered as she contiued to rub Ahsoka's back.
"Sh-she's so loud. It hurts, Usagi. It hurts." Ahsoka cried as she pressed her hands harder against the sides of her montrals.
"Oh come on Padmé, can't you take a break just for today? We finally have time to ourselves. No war, no debates, no one else in our house. We should take a page from Merida and Ahsoka's book and have some fun." Anakin said with a grin as he sat on the edge of Padmé's desk.
"Believe me Annie, I'd love to try out the attachment I got for your mechanical arm, but I'm really busy right now. There's a bill on the floor that if passed would have republic troops deployed to Riptuje, and believe me, I know first hand how bad that place is. That being said, sending republic troops into a civil conflict will only escalate it. If we're not careful then that civil war on Riptuje could quickly escalate to a glalactic level." Padmé replied as she picked up a data pad and started typing on it.
"You've been talking about that place for the past two weeks. Don't you think that perhaps you're overreacting about the conflict there? I know that it's kind of personal for you and everything, but I think you might be blowing it a bit out of proportion my love." Anakin replied before something suddenly sunk in. "Wait, backup for a second. What did you get for my mechanical arm?" Anakin asked in a confused tone.
"Nothing too special, just something that'll make our time in bed a little more..." Padmé started to answer, until a swirling black and white portal appeared in the center of the room.
"I'm sorry to drop in so suddenly Master Skywalker, Padmé, but Ahsoka needs you both." Bubbles informed in a calm tone as she flew over to them.
"Bubbles? What's going on? Is Ahsoka okay?" Padmé asked as she stood up from her desk.
"No, not really. She's replaying, or relating, I don't know what's it's called, but Mira's back." Bubbles answered in a calm tone.
"She's relapsing. Thank you for telling us, take us to her." Anakin instructed as he and Padmé walked over to Bubbles.
"Right away master." Bubbles replied before leading them both back through the portal.
Bubbles lead everyone back through the portal, but the sight that greeted her on the other side was not the Com-Vee, though it was still a familiar environment. "Get her out. Get her out." Ahsoka quietly cried as she clutched the sides of her montrals, and rocked back and forth with her knees pulled up to her chest.
"Ducky's on his way up, Plamer's gonna finish the autopsy." Ziva informed as she walked over to Gibbs.
"Thanks Ziva." Gibbs thanked as he knelt down by Ahsoka.
"Bubbles, there you are. Sorry about the unexpected scene change, we couldn't wait for you to get back, Ahsoka's mental stability was rapidly deteriorating." Ami informed as she looked up at the trio.
"What do you mean deteriorating? How bad is she?" Padmé asked as she slowly approached Ahsoka.
"It's bad Padmé, it's really bad. She had a complete breakdown about twenty minutes ago, that's why we didn't wait to bring her here. She's..." Ami started to say, until Ahsoka suddenly started shouting.
"SHUT UP! Leave me alone you heartless bitch! I'm not fat, you're fat! Shut your kriffing mouth and leave me the kriff alone! I'll kill you, and I'll keep killing you until you stay dead! Go away, Mira! Just go away!" Ahsoka screamed as she started throwing punches at the air in front of her.
Anakin and Padmé just stared at her with a combination of shock and heartbreak, Ahsoka's mind had all but snapped in two. "My God, what happened to her? Ami, what happened to our baby?" Padmé quietly cried as she stared at Ahsoka.
"Make her stop. Make her stop. She's so loud, it's all I can hear. Fatty, fatty, fatty. That's all she says. That's all she says!" Ahsoka said as she burst into tears.
"Should I say something different? Would you prefer doughy? Like what your little blonde friend said? Yes, maybe that will get the message through those flabby montrals of yours. Ahsoka the doughy togruta, it's got an okay ring to it." Mira chuckled as she jabbed a finger into Ahsoka's stomach.
"Sh-she didn't mean it, she's my friend. I'm not doughy, or fat. You're just a liar, a rotten, lying, bitch. I w-won't let you turn me against them. I won't." Ahsoka quietly cried as she went back to holding her knees against her chest as she rocked back and forth.
"Ahsoka! Stop talking to that woman, she's a liar and a fraud! She isn't real, she's just in your head, baby! You're okay here, she can't hurt you. I won't let her. Mama's here sweetie, mama's here." Padmé said in a firm tone as she knelt by Ahsoka and hugged her.
"Your mother's right, Ahsoka. Mira is nothing, she's less than nothing. She can't hurt you and her words are empty and meaningless lies. Block her out, put your shields up and block her out. Your a strong Jedi, Ahsoka, and an even stronger person. You've been trained for this, throw that wretched woman out of your mind." Anakin calmly instructed, as he knelt by Ahsoka's other side and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Oh that's cute. Does your idiot father actually think someone as weak and pathetic as you could throw me out?" Mira asked with a taunting chuckle.
"He's not an idiot. Anakin believes in me, and he's right about you. You're nothing! Less than nothing! Get out of my head, Mira! Get out of my head!" Ahsoka screamed before gathering a large amount of force energy around herself.
"It doesn't matter how deeply you try and bury me, I'll always be a part of you. You'll never be free of me." Mira replied with a deranged laugh.
"I don't wanna bury you, I wanna push you out! I want you out of my head! This is my mind, my body, not yours! Now get out of my head!" Ahsoka shouted as she let out a burst of force energy, which Anakin and Bubbles were quick to dissipate before it blew the room apart.
Ahsoka was gasping for breath as she released the last of the force energy she'd built up. There was so much force energy pulsing through her body that by the time she'd released it there was a visible aura rising off of her like steam. Ahsoka let out a gasp before falling onto her side in a heap. "Ahsoka!" Padmé shouted as she rushed to Ahsoka's side, gently grabbing her and pulling her into a tight hug. "My God. Anakin she's burning up, her whole body is hot to the touch." Padmé informed as she looked at Ahsoka's closed eyes.
"She over exerted her force abilities, that's why she was steaming and she's hot to the touch. She's suffering from literal force burnout." Anakin informed as he gently placed his hand over Ahsoka's forehead.
Padmé quietly cried as she held onto Ahsoka, wishing she could take Ahsoka's pain away. It was so difficult for her to see Ahsoka struggle so much with her appearance, especially since she'd fought so hard the first time to push the same demon from her mind. "I don't understand, Anakin, where is this negative self view coming from? We've all been extra careful to not make her feel like this again, and she's been doing so well. She's been talking about her feelings more, and she was finally okay enough to stop having regular therapy. Why now? How could she suddenly relapse to such an extent as this? I don't understand, what happened to our baby?!" Padmé cried as she clung to Ahsoka.
Minako was fighting back tears as she watched Padmé cling to Ahsoka, she felt responsible for Ahsoka's relapse. "It was me! I'm so sorry Padmé, this is all my fault! I opened my stupid mouth without even thinking! I'm sorry, this is all my fault!" Minako shouted as she broke down crying.
"What are you talking about Minako? How is any of this your fault?" Anakin asked in a confused tone.
"I called Ahsoka doughy! I swear that I didn't mean to hurt her, I'm so sorry! I'm sorry!" Minako cried as she all but literally threw herself at Padmé's and Anakin's feet.
Anakin and Padmé both stared at Minako for a moment, then Padmé looked into Minako's eyes. Minako thought for sure that Padmé was going to scream at her with such intensity and anger that it would rival Bubbles's sonic scream. However, instead of screaming at her, Padmé hugged her. "It's okay Minako, this isn't your fault. I promise you, despite what you said and what you think, you did not cause this. Ahsoka's been called doughy many times since her recovery, even Merida's said it before. It wouldn't make sense that she suddenly relapsed just because you said it." Padmé replied with a small smile.
Minako let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding, she was so thankful to hear that Padmé didn't blame her for Ahsoka's current predicament. "But if what I said didn't cause it, then what did?" Minako asked with a sniffle.
Everyone stood there for a moment, wondering what could've caused such a drastic change in such a small amount of time, then Kaede snapped her fingers in realization of the true problem. "Her concussion! That's why her mind's so fragile right now, and why something that normally wouldn't affect her suddenly caused her to relapse. I can't believe I didn't think about that, I was so concerned with her mental state that I didn't even consider her physical state and the part it may have been playing on the mental one." Kaede explained with an expression of realization.
"I'm sorry Kaede, but her what is responsible for this?! Did you just say that Ahsoka has a concussion?!" Padmé asked in a shocked tone as she stared at Kaede.
"Unfortunately she does, she had a... couple of accidents during our little vacation." Kaede replied in a nervous tone.
"A couple of accidents?! You guys have barely been gone for a full twenty-four hours! How many accidents could she possibly have had?!" Padmé shouted as she stared at everyone.
"Well, she likely got a concussion when she fell out of a tree and went into her feral state, then she recovered from that and helped take out a terroist cell, she got shot three times while helping with that. She got a cut in the valley between her montrals while swimming at the coral reef, those are the big ones that I can remember at the moment." Kaede answered with a nervous expression.
Padmé and Anakin both just stood there for a moment, staring at Kaede like she'd grown a second head or something. "I think I need to sit down for a moment." Padmé suddenly said as she slowly started sitting down.
Anakin quickly knelt by Padmé and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "It's okay dear, Ahsoka's strong, she's been through far worse. She's okay." Anakin encouraged as he held Padmé close.
"That doesn't make me feel better Annie." Padmé replied as she leaned her head against Anakin's chest.
"Terribly sorry about the delay everyone, the autopsy was a bit more complex than we thought it would be." Ducky apologized as he stepped off the elevator in the back corner of the room.
"Doctor Mallard, thank you so much for seeing Ahsoka, especially on such short notice." Ami thanked as she walked over to Ducky and shook his hand.
"It's always a pleasure to help you and your friends Misses Kino." Doctor Mallard replied with a smile.
"Awe, you're the only person who rembers to call me by my married name. Thanks Ducky." Ami giggled as she walked Ducky over to Ahsoka.
"Hello Ahsoka, how are you feeling?" Ducky asked as he knelt down by Ahsoka.
"Forgive the answer, but I feel like shit. I'm a kriffing mess, Ducky! My head is falling apart!" Ahsoka cried as she stared up at Ducky.
Ducky frowned at Ahsoka's answer, but he quickly put on a professional face and smiled at her. "Come, let's go and talk about what's bothering you. Would you like to do it in private, or do you want your friends and family to come with?" Ducky asked as he held his hand out to Ahsoka.
"Can we talk alone, at least for now?" Ahsoka asked with a sniffle.
"Of course." Ducky answered as he gently grabbed Ahsoka's hand before helping her to her feet. "Come, I'm sure the director wouldn't mind if we borrowed his office for a little while." Ducky said with a smile as he lead Ahsoka up a few steps to a balcony above the main office space.
Ducky lead Ahsoka a few feet down a hallway before stopping outside of a door with the words Director Vance written on it. Ducky knocked on the door and waited for an answer. "Come in." A polite but firm voice instructed from the other side of the door.
"After you." Ducky said as he gestured Ahsoka forward.
Ahsoka let out a small breath before opening the door. "Doctor Mallard, is there... Woah! What the hell are you, how did you get in this building?!" Vance started to ask as he turned his chair around, only to yell in surprise of Ahsoka's presence.
"Apologies, Director Vance. Might I introduce Ahsoka Tano, a friend of the guardians and a patient of mine." Doctor Mallard informed as he gestured to Ahsoka.
"You're a friend of Usagi's group? That would explain the strange nature of your appearance. I'm guessing that's not a costume, is it?" Vance asked with a straight face.
"No sir, it's not." Ahsoka answered with a nervous blush.
"Interesting. So, to what do we owe the pleasure of your vist Miss Tano?" Vance asked as he stood up and walked over to Ahsoka.
"I uh... I'd rather not say, sir. I'm ashamed of the reason." Ahsoka quietly answered in a shy tone.
"That's alright, I'll let you and Doctor Mallard talk in private then. We can get to know each other a little more afterwards if you'd be comfortable with that. I like to stay in the loop with what's going on with the guardians since they have such a close relationship to my team." Vance replied as he started leaving the room.
"Of course sir, and thank you for letting me talk here with Ducky." Ahsoka thanked with a small bow.
"You're welcome." Vance replied as he closed the door behind him as he left.
"Please." Ducky said as he gestured to a chair. Ahsoka slowly sat down and watched as Ducky sat down in the chair next to her. "So what's bothering you, Ahsoka?" Ducky asked in a calm tone.
"She's back. She's in my head again, and I'm trying to ignore her! I really am, but she's so loud, Ducky! I tried to make her stop, I really tried to fight her back. I even killed her, but she just came back a few hours later! I can't take it anymore! It's so painful to hear her call me all of those horrible things again, and I don't want to believe her, but the more she says it the more I start to think it's true. I mean, I know I've put on a little bit of weight, enough that it's noticeable. Still though, I'm not fat, I'm doughy at the most. But Mira, she just twists my perception of reality, she wants me to see this huge blob of orange flab whenever I look at myself. I know it's not true, but the more she says it the more fat I start to see on myself. I don't want to go back to being that walking skeleton that I was a short time ago, but if I don't find a way to silence her, then I know that's what'll happen. Please Ducky, help me." Ahsoka explained through her tears as she stared at Ducky.
"I understand, can you tell me when she first started talking to you again? How long has this been going on for, and do you have any idea as to what may have caused it?" Ducky asked in a calm tone.
"I first heard her last night right as I laid down to go to sleep. Ami and Kaede think that my mild concussion might have something to do with her sudden return, Minako keeps blaming herself because she made a casual comment about me being doughy, but I know it's not Minako's fault. Being called doughy's practically pillow talk for me at this point, even Merida calls me doughy, and it always makes me giggle when she does. Especially when she tickles my belly as she says it." Ahsoka replied with a giggle and few tears. "I can't think of any reason other than the physical head trauma that she'd appear again. Is that possible? Could she just be the result of my concussion rather than some kind of deeper psychological thing?" Ahsoka asked with a sniffle.
"That's certainly a possibility, concussions are caused by the brain impacting the inner walls of the skull. If the right part of your brain was injured then it could definitely have an affect on your mentality. Plus, when combined with Minako's comment, it may very well have hit you harder than it typically would have due to a distorted frame of mind. I'd suggest healing from your concussion and seeing if she's still talking to you after that. In the meantime, stay close to your friends and family, you'll need a strong support group to help you block her out. If she continues to speak to you even after you've healed then we'll talk some more, but if you feel the need to talk to me even before you've healed then please do so, I'm always here for you if you need me." Ducky explained with a smile.
Ahsoka smiled back as she stood up and hugged Ducky. "Thanks Ducky, I don't know what I'd ever do without you." Ahsoka quietly said as she hugged Ducky a little tighter.
"You'd be just fine, you have many people that love and support you, Ahsoka. Never forget that, you'll always have someone in your corner when you find yourself battling such difficult opponents." Ducky replied as he hugged Ahsoka back. "Now then, I believe the director wanted to meet you." Ducky said with a smile as he opened the door for Ahsoka.
"Thanks Ducky, I'd love to meet him as well." Ahsoka replied as she walked out of the room and headed down the hallway she'd walked through the first time. Ahsoka descended the steps a few seconds later, happy to find all of her friends and family members chatting with the N.C.I.S team.
"Oh yeah, try deflecting that baby. A hundred and fifteen grains of copper coated lead that travels upwards of nearly eight-hundred miles per hour." Tony said with a grin as he held up a nine millimeter bullet.
"I must admit, something like that has been proven extremely affective against Jedi in the past. The Mandalorians taught us that almost four-thousand years ago." Anakin chuckled as he looked at the bullet. "That being said, your handgun as you call it, holds way less rounds than our blasters. One blaster cartridge can give the shooter five hundred rounds, plus the power pack can provide an additional fifty rounds in dire situations." Anakin replied with a grin of his own.
"Damn. That thing must be huge if it can hold that many rounds." Tony replied in a surprised tone.
"Not at all, they ain't much bigger than an MP40, 'bout two feet long." Sarah answered with a straight face.
"You're kidding? That's awesome, you wouldn't happen to have one to show off, would you?" Tony asked in a hopeful tone.
"Sure, as long as it's alright with Gibbs that is." Kaede replied as she looked at Gibbs, who just shrugged in response. "I'll take that as a yes." Kaede replied as she transformed, then summoned her bag and dug Buttercup's blaster out of it.
"What did you do to that blaster?" Anakin asked as Europa handed it to Tony.
"Hey don't look at me, it was my firearm obsessed wife and her niece that gave it a paint job." Europa replied as she looked at Buttercup and Sarah, both of them smiled proudly at their customization of the blaster.
"It's green, though I do like the decal of the exploding droids; but what is that written on the side?! The clanker buster nine-thousand!" Anakin asked as he gawked at Buttercup's blaster.
"It was my second choice name, the professor and my mommies wouldn't let me call it the villain kriffer upper." Buttercup replied in a grumpy tone.
"Push-ups, now!" Sarah shouted as she glared at Buttercup.
"Yes aunty." Buttercup said with a sigh as she got into the push-up position.
"Guardian or not, she knows how to keep order and drive a lesson home." Vance quietly said as he looked at Gibbs.
"What'd you expect, she is a Marine after all." Gibbs replied with a grin as he watched Buttercup do her push-ups.
"What'd she say this time?" Ahsoka asked as she walked up behind Gibbs.
"Something about wanting to call her blaster the villain kriffer upper, whatever that means." Gibbs replied as Buttercup finished her push-ups.
"That'd do it, she knows better than to not swear." Ahsoka replied with a smile.
"I take it that's a more local swear word from where you came from." Vance said with a smile as he looked at Ahsoka.
"Yeah, though on this planet it's apparently the equivalent of some kind of F word." Ahsoka replied with a smile.
"Oh, yikes. No wonder Sarah was so mad, a kid Buttercup's age shouldn't even know that word in one language, let alone two." Vance chuckled. "So, may we formally meet?" Vance asked as he turned and faced Ahsoka.
"Oh, yes. Sorry, I got distracted by the scene. My name's Ahsoka Tano, I'm a Togruta from the planet shili, a planet in what you all know as the andromeda galaxy." Ahsoka greeted as she held her hand out to Vance.
"Leon Vance, human from the planet earth, located in the milky way galaxy. It's a pleasure to meet you Ahsoka." Vance greeted as he shook Ahsoka's hand.
"Ahsoka, I'm sorry to interrupt yours and Director Vance's meeting, but what did Ducky say? Are you okay? Is she going to be a problem that we need to deal with?" Padmé asked in a worried tone.
"Hopefully not, Ducky believes that my relapse was actually brought on by a combination of my concussion and Minako's comment. That's why something that normally wouldn't bother me suddenly brought Mira back, a distorted frame of mind as Ducky called it. Long story short, she shouldn't be a problem long term, I just have to block her out for the time being. To be honest though, I can't silence her on my own, I'll need some help from all of you." Ahsoka explained with a small smile.
Padmé sighed in relief before smiling, then she walked over to Ahsoka and hugged her. "Don't worry, mommy's not going anywhere until that wicked woman is gone for good." Padmé giggled as she kissed Ahsoka's forehead.
"Mom, you're embarrassing me." Ahsoka quietly said with a blush.
"Of course I am, that's my job." Padmé replied before letting go of Ahsoka.
"I beg your pardon my dear, but that's actually daddy's job to embarrass his little girl. Isn't that right Snips?" Anakin chuckled as he ruffly rubbed Ahsoka's valley, receiving a loud and harsh hiss from her as he did so.
"Ahsoka!" Padmé scolded as she stared in surprise of Ahsoka's outburst.
"N-no rub head, hurts." Ahsoka said as she shook her head a little bit.
"Right, mild concussion. Sorry about that Snips." Anakin apologized as he patted Ahsoka's back.
"Well, we should get you home to rest. Do you wanna go back to the palace, or would you like to stay with your friends?" Padmé asked with a smile.
"Can I bring my friends to the palace?" Ahsoka asked with a hopeful smile.
Padmé made a playfuly thoughtful expression for a few seconds. "Mmm, I guess it would be okay if you brought your friends over. But don't get too adventurous, you need to rest." Padmé answered with a chuckle as she waited for someone to open a portal to Naboo.
"Thanks mom." Ahsoka thanked as she hugged Padmé.
"You're welcome honey." Padmé replied as Blossom opened a portal to Naboo and lead almost everyone through it.
"I'll go let the Thornberries know that we're leaving a bit earlier than expected." Usagi informed as she opened a separate portal.
"Actually aunty, invite them to the palace. That's who master Tano was referring to when she asked if she could bring her friends with." Bubbles informed with a smile.
"Are you sure, Bubbles?" Usagi asked in a surprised tone.
"Positive. Come on, let's go tell Mister Strawberry." Bubbles answered as she flew through the portal Usagi had opened, Usagi quickly followed her as everyone else went into the other portal.
"That'll never stop being amazing to see." McGee said with a smile as the portals vanished.