~From the perspective of Anakin.~

Anakin was walking back to his room, after the very awkward, and way too long dinner. It was actually pretty boring. There were two of the queen’s advisors present at the dinner-table and they were incredibly good at bartering.

‘Yet, I had to play my part and try to sell Ahsoka for as much credits as possible. Otherwise, I would become suspicious. Well, the queen was sending me long looks at times, making me think that I had messed up something. Only for her to look aside suddenly, with a small blush on her face... Damn... This was making me sweat. Those strange droids were, of course, still there. They were following the queen like a second shadow everywhere she went, even in her bedroom. I have never seen this type of droid anywhere. Must be some rare prototype from Zygerria.’

‘Anyway, our dinner was suddenly interrupted by urgent news, which required the queen’s presence. She was clearly angered by this, so it wasn’t a pre-planned excuse. She apologized shortly, then stormed off towards the castle. At least we managed to agree on the price of my “slave”. They will send the money to my intergalactic bank account that was precisely created for this mission. Therefore, it is under the name of Lars Quell. Everything should work out fine. This money will be used by the Jedi Order later against the separatists.’

‘I glanced at the current time. It was slightly over 10 PM. I should be able to make that call to Ahsoka just fine. Without much preparation, I dropped down in one of the two armchairs in my room. This was a damn long day... It’s incredible that Padmé can do these official meetings daily. I used to joke about it, that I would rather fight battle droids instead... Well, a few more of these dinners, and I think it won’t even be a joke anymore…’

A long outstretched yawn broke out of Anakin, signaling that even his force empowered stamina had a limited use for a single day.

“Ugh, better make that call now, or I will fall asleep.” — ‘I started the call and waited for Ahsoka to appear in a hologram, she did.’

‘I blinked. She was in a bed much like mine, and a little twi’lek was currently hugging her torso while being in the state of deep sleep. Even her leks were hugging the obviously flustered togruta. I could feel a teasing smirk tugging at the edge of my lips. It seems they got along just fine after all.’

“Master, how was your day?” — Came the intentionally neutral voice from the embarrassed girl, doing her best to cover her discomfort.

‘I fought down a chuckle at the sight. Two can play that game, I thought while answering in a similarly bored tone.’

“Yawn... mostly boring and awkward. Luckily, the queen had to leave earlier for some urgent matters... Therefore, I had the time to make this call.” — ‘Alright, there was absolutely no way I would miss out on this chance to annoy my dear padawan. With a wide grin on my face I added at the end.’ — “You, on the other hand, seem to have had a more substantial conversation.” — ‘I winked at the end for good measure.’

‘My efforts were not in vain. The girl blushed, a soft bluish tinge coloring her otherwise orange cheeks.’ — “Got you.”

“Oh, please, not you too...” — She released a disgruntled moan, her features contorting in a potent mix of embarrassment and humiliation.

‘It was hard to hold back my laughter at that, but since I wasn’t eager to wake the twi’lek, I somehow managed...’

“So she hibernated until recently?” — ‘I asked, directing the conversation into a fresh course.’

Ahsoka’s eyes widened with surprise.

“How do you know?” — She demanded softly, trying to not wake her friend.

“There is no other logical explanation.” — ‘I admitted lazily.’

She thought about that and realized that it was indeed the case.

“Yes, she said that she was frozen in carbon from the very day she escaped until about two weeks prior from our arrival. It was then that the queen bought her. I don’t know who captured her. She was not willing to share that fact, but what I managed to gather from her hateful expressions when she talked about that part, it is likely that she was betrayed or have an enemy with a long history.” — Ahsoka explained with a thoughtful look.

“Or both.” — ‘I added, and she nodded along, acknowledging my point.’

“So the Grey Order seems to have their own issues, too. What a surprise. Did you manage to figure out anything else?”

“I-I think yes, but promise me you won’t laugh or shout, waking her up accidentally.”

Ahsoka carefully patted the sleeping girl’s head next to her for extra emphasis.

“Okay, I promise.”

The girl gulped lightly, then continued with a nervous twitch of her face.

“She... she said that she is over four thousand years old, in mind, and I believe her.”

‘Silence filled the space between us, as I looked for any sign of joviality in the girl’s expression. Only to found none. What does that even suggest?’

‘I stared at the annoying grey twi’lek currently being curled up against my padawan’s body like some sort of spoiled cat. Then to my misfortune I tried to imagine a four thousands years old being in her place only to recoil back in disgust.’

‘I shook my head to get that image out of my head before refocusing my attention on the girl once more.’

‘Still… no matter from which angle I looked, the fact remained that she was clinging to Ahsoka’s body like she was her big sister and sole protector. I wanted to laugh at my apprentice’s hilarious idea.’

‘I shook my head in slight disappointment.’ — “Ahsoka… Be honest with your master, did you drink liquor again? You remember what happened last time, right? I still didn’t fully live down the lecture Obi’Wan unleashed on my head afterwards.”

‘Ahsoka’s face became mortified by my sudden interrogative tone as she sputtered her answer with another furious blush.’ — “W-w-what?!” — The sleeping girl’s body twitched by her side, at the load exclamation.

‘We both exchanged a worried look, not intending to wake her. Luckily, she seemed to lull back into her sleep soon enough.’

‘Ahsoka’s face turned back to me with an enraged glare. What did I do now? I wondered silently.’

“Master, you are the worst.” — ‘She scolded me with all the spite she could muster while whispering, and I struggled to hold back my chuckles at the sight.’

“I am being serious. That would actually explain how she knows so much about the force. Just think about it for once.” — ‘She added with a pleading look at the end.’

‘Placed in that particular perspective, I will admit that the thought got me thinking. Memories of the strange girl swam to the surface of my mind. Memories that until now served as proof of this kid’s strangeness and slight craziness.’

‘Her mannerism, the words she used, the way she spoke; those deep eyes like a bottomless ocean. Her seemingly endless knowledge of the force, her eccentric nature, laid-back attitude, and so on. Any of these attributes wouldn’t seem crazy appearing on an aged Jedi Master. Yet, on a child, these were way too weird.’

‘While more and more realizations seemed to surface every second, I was still unwilling to accept the disturbing possibility laying behind them. Could this bratty girl indeed be a master of her order, as she claimed to be? If she is than the council have committed a much graver insult, then any of us could foresee.’

“Over four thousand years old, you say... huh? That means she is at least four times older than Master Yoda... I guess that explains why she is so short.” — ‘I couldn’t help but make that remark. It was more of a self defence mechanism on my side, joking under pressure and all that. I learned it from the best too.’

‘I did not miss the subtle angry jerk of the twi’lek’s hand as a reaction to my comment. Oh-ho, she was clearly awake. Perhaps we woke her at some point or she was pretending the entire time.’

‘Ahsoka seemed to be surprised by my reaction, completely missing the subtle movement of her friend.’

“Stop joking around… Wait, you are not laughing at me?” — ‘She stared at me, surprised but happy.’

“Of course, when did I ever...” — ‘She gave me a threatening look.’ — “I mean, that one didn’t count when you slipped on a banana peel in the temple’s mess four days ago...” — ‘She was looking at me sullenly now.’

“Okay, okay… I will stop! Look, I didn’t laugh at you, because what you said actually made sense.” — ‘I admitted.’

“It did?” — ‘She seemed to ask herself, surprised by the present turn of events. I swallowed back a snort, witnessing her antics. She was probably starting to think that she went off the deep end.’

‘It was times like these one needed to act like an adult and reassure their padawan. As Obi’Wan’s words rang through my mind, like a haunting afterthought, I took in a deep breath and started.’

“Yeah, I realized that every weird and eccentric habit she was usually doing wouldn’t look strange to appear on an elderly Jedi Master. To be honest, she would be a perfect fit in the elder’s house among those bunch of loonies. What else did she say?”

‘I did not miss the angry twitch on the girl again. This was starting to get interesting.’

“She said that her body is thirteen years old, and that her bodily hormones are making her actions somewhat chaotic. I also figured out that something happened between the time she was accepted into the Grey Order and now that made her turn out like this. But she was very protective of that knowledge. She even threatened me to not ask about it. It surprised me, since she had never done anything like that before. It must be really important.”

‘My expression turned solemn while listening to my padawan’s remarks. This certainly didn’t bode well.’

“I see… Don’t ask her about that for now. Everybody has their own secrets. You shouldn’t pry too much into hers.” — ‘If you don’t want to scare her away like the council did, I remarked in my mind.’ — Ahsoka nodded, a serious expression on her face. — “Still, I will admit this is quite a strange phenomenon. I would suggest to stay open-minded for now, while weighing the potential possibilities.”

“I understand, master. I am not quite sure what to believe. She looks like just a kid right now...”

“Yet we both experienced the results of her knowledge and the wide variety of her force techniques.” — ‘I paused for a while, before adding a meaningful look.’ — ‘The unspoken but successfully conveyed message was something like this: “She could be dangerous, keep your guard up.”’

‘Ahsoka looked to the side, clearly in discomfort at my warning. Still, she nodded in the end.’

‘What I didn’t expect was the argument she has thrown into my face, completely ruining any subtlety.’

“This is just stupid… We are all dangerous master, every force user is potentially dangerous, but that is not a reason to put us in jail. We are individuals; we can choose what to do with our skills.”

‘I sighed, shaking my head lightly. I will have to lecture her for that later.’

“That may be true... but the council doesn’t seem to see it that way. She is still a wanted criminal in the entire galaxy. Well, at least she is wanted alive.”

“She only tried to defend herself...” — ‘Ahsoka opposed.’

“If that was true, then there was no reason for her to run away.”

“No reason? Don’t make me laugh!” — ‘The girl practically exploded. Her reaction taking me by surprise.’ — “The entire order was against her. They wanted to see a potential sith, or at least a dark side user, being judged and humiliated publicly. That is exactly what would have happened if she stayed there. She would have been thrown into a prison for trying to defend herself and us.”

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‘I was more shocked, sensing Ahsoka’s boiling emotions washing over me than listening to the contents of her words. Her presence was painful, edgy; there was much sadness and hate lingering in her voice. It was hard for me to recognize her presence for a passing moment. The sudden change alarmed me, and I couldn’t help but steel my voice to put an end to it.’

“Ahsoka, stop this, now!” — ‘The girl recoiled for a second, only to jump forth with twice the vehemence as before.’

“Stop exactly what?! Telling you the uncomfortable truth, which you know just as well as I do? Maybe trying to ask you advice about my doubts in the order, or perhaps trying to speak with you aside from missions and mission reports? Master?”

‘It was my turn to recoil from her words. The accusing tone felt like a punch into my stomach, taking the air out of me for a moment. I wanted to rebuke her, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. All because I felt deep down that her anger and following accusations were fair. I had hardly spared time to spend with her, I just wanted to see Padme…’

‘But I couldn’t simply admit that to her. Instead, I steeled my expression and spoke in a leveled tone.’

“Ahsoka, you are disappointing me.” — ‘Words that I meant for myself, I reminded myself internally.’ — “These types of problems are supposed to be worked out in the temple, not in the middle of a mission. You should know that already...” — ‘I added with a growing sense of guilt.’

“When?” — ‘Came the question.’

“What when?”

“When exactly can I ask you anything in the temple?” — ‘She demanded.’

“Whenever you find me.” — ‘I said, already knowing where this will lead.’

“Hah, that’s good, and when is that exactly?” — ‘She demanded once more.’

“What do you mean?” — ‘I continued to play the fool.’

“What I mean is the fact that you were never in the damn temple in the first place. You come back at dawn, or not at all. You are not even eating there nowadays. Only when you don’t have any other choice, so when can I ask you anything? Tell me!”

‘Hearing her frantic voice, something seemed to snap inside me, as my guilt was suddenly overcome by anger.’

“Oh yeah? It’s interesting, you know, because I seem to have a hard time finding you as well, aside from missions, that is. Whenever I go to your room to speak with you or to go for a team meditation, you are in the damn library reading texts from hundreds of years ago.”

“Yeah, and where else would I go when you are never there to help answer my questions? Jocasta at least listens to my problems, even if she only offers books to solve them...” — ‘She crossed her hands over her chest angrily.’

“Then maybe, you should go and request to be her apprentice instead. You seem to be quite a bookworm already.” — ‘I said with thick sarcasm.’

‘She rolled her eyes at that. Than said with the same amount of sarcasm.’

“I may as well do just that. It’s not like it would make much of a difference.”

‘With that said, she rolled to her side and began to sulk like the kid she was.’ — ‘I frustratedly brushed back my hair, taking a few quick breaths to calm my temper.’

“By the force... I really don’t have the patience for this tonight, Ahsoka.”

“Then why don’t you go and bury your ugly face in the arms of that insipid woman!” — ‘She spat those words at me.’

‘I went rigid, not because of her words, since those were too absurd for me to care, but because I noticed the half-opened pair of pink eyes that were watching our argument. Damn it, I completely forgotten about her, and that was just another strange thing about the girl. When you didn’t focus on her presence, she tended to just slip out of your mind unnaturally.’

‘I swallowed back a desperate grumble. I should have just gone to sleep instead of calling her in the first place...’

“Sigh... why don’t you stop acting already, before I decide to slap you awake? I have long since realized that you are listening to us, girl.” — ‘Even if the fact might have slipped my mind halfway around.’

‘She twitched nervously at being called out. Then said, in a bored tone.’

“I would like to see you try.” — ‘She challenged.’

“Oh, that can be arranged easily.” — ‘I threatened her, shamelessly releasing some of my pent up frustration.’

Ahsoka was the most shocked by the sudden development.

“Nizzy! I thought you were sleeping...” — ‘She began sheepishly, undoubtedly realizing the issue.’

‘The twi’lek girl seemed to become quite grumpy hearing her question...’

“I was, in fact. Until you guys began to shout all over my head! Are you looking down on me so much that I won’t even wake from you two shouting in my ear protrusions over ten minutes? I may as well forget breathing in my sleep and die!” — ‘Her sarcastic argument seemed to startle the young togruta.’

“No, it’s not like that...” — ‘Ahsoka began, but she didn’t really have much of an argument to justify her surprise... So she decided to look at me for help. So now you want your master to help you. I smirked in an evil way than said.’

“Yeah, well, it’s not like we would be that lucky...” — ‘Oh, sweet-sweet revenge. Her baffled expression was pure gold. Ahsoka’s face was also horrified by my statement, but that’s just collateral damage.’

“Says the Gay Lord.” — ‘Reacted Nizzal, with a catlike smile.’

‘My face immediately darkened from the critical damage I received in front of my padawan, no less. Then I noticed that she was looking at me with a slack jaw... Wait… Oh no!’

“Ahsoka, don’t you believe a word of...”

“Why else would he spend all night away from the temple? He is clearly having a forbidden relation-”

‘I was about to panic for many reasons, and since I was unable to do anything else, I simply used the force to slap a pillow in the shameless liar’s face. Silencing her in the process for good measure.’

‘Ahsoka's eyes widened with a new realization. Just as I have realized something else, based on the satisfied smirk of that annoying menace's face.’

‘Shit! She was baiting me to take some drastic action... Now Ahsoka is clearly misunderstanding everything.’

“Master, I would never have guessed... but making close connections like that... isn’t that forbidden? I mean, maybe it is different if... if it is with the same gender.”

“...”

‘At that moment, I just wanted to die, but before I could, I saw the twi’lek’s victorious smirk stretching from ear to ear as she struggled to hold back her laughter.’

“Ahsoka, look at your friend. Is that the face of someone who is telling the truth?”

‘Nizzal froze as the table suddenly turned on her. Ahsoka seemed to thankfully realize that something was fishy, as her friend was clearly holding back her laughter. She also began to slowly move away from her reach. But Ahsoka was quicker and grabbed one of her… her lek? Interesting choice, but it was efficient, since the other girl froze immediately, much like a cat caught by its tail’.

‘Ahsoka began to question her friend in a threatening voice.’

“Are my master a, a... You know, someone who loves men?” — ‘She demanded in a dangerous hiss unique to togruta physiology.’

“... Probably not.” — ‘She smiled awkwardly.’ — “But... he is having a relationship for sure... so stop squeezing my lek! Ouch...”

‘Ahsoka turned back to me with the same threatening expression and voice.’

“With who?” — ‘My heart skipped a beat, my previous satisfaction at seeing the annoying twi’lek suffering under my padawan’s assault was already forgotten. Being the one who now suffered her burning gaze.’

“A-Ahsoka, come on, you can’t take her seriously... she is clearly lying...”

‘I began to cover up the situation immediately... but I was interrupted with Ahsoka’s voice turning colder.’

“She can’t lie to me right now.” — ‘I blinked. What does she even mean by that?’ — “So who do you have a relationship with, tell me or I will tell it to Obi-Wan, then Master Yoda.”

‘An icy dread suddenly settled in the bottom of my stomach as the realization came over me. I was cornered.’

“You can’t do that, because if you do, I will be kicked out of the order!”

‘Ahsoka’s face seemed surprised... but also relieved and somewhat sad.’

“So you are indeed in love with someone... I-I thought that you were simply avoiding me, because I wasn’t a good enough apprentice.” — ‘Her gaze strengthened, as she added with a non argumentative tone.’ — “You will have to tell this to master Yoda...”

“What are you talking about? I would never avoid you like that, but you can’t tell this to master Yoda, they will kick me out of the order and where else would I go afterwards? I have nothing besides the Jedi Order and my wife...”

“...” — ‘I have received a thousand miles stare from both girls.’

“... You have a w-wife, master? Since when!? Who is it, do I know her... or him?” — ‘She blushed again.’

“It’s her, obviously, and stop bringing that up. This is completely crazy...”

‘I felt awkward, but surprisingly relieved and even happy seeing my padawan’s stupid yet generally warm reaction to the news. I-I never even thought that she would say something like that... react so positively. Why did I even lie to her in the first place? I blinked, feeling tears beginning to cloud my eyesight...’

“We will speak of this later... I-I have to go now, good night.. and thanks, Ahsoka...”

‘She wanted to say so much more, I could see it in her eyes, but I cancelled the call... For some reason, I felt so... so relieved right now. As if a heavy burden had been lifted... I just walked over to my bed and fell into it.’

‘Unfortunately it didn’t take long for my relaxed state to dissolve while panic and fear took its place. What did just happen? My secret is out, the order will know of it, if Ahsoka won’t tell them, then that damn girl will... but what could I do now I wondered? Kill them... The ominous thought stole itself into my mind, kill them and no one will ever find out...’

‘I froze.’

‘What, what happened to me? These are children I am thinking about, and one of them is my own apprentice! How can I even think of killing her?’

‘That is the only way. Destroy them and no one will threaten your position. Only then will your wife be safe.’

‘Something was wrong about those thoughts. They didn’t belong to me, it felt more like talking to someone. Someone who was in my head. A cold chill run over my body as the realization took root.‘

‘I won’t kill my own padawan, get out of my head you bastard.’

‘Hahahahaha! You can’t get rid of me... I am you. I am the manifestation of your lies, your hate. I am part of you. Can’t you see your own potential? You and I can rule this galaxy, maybe this whole universe. You only have to use your hate, let it control you, and I will grant you the power to save Padmé, from her inevitable death. Isn’t it a small price to kill two nosy and annoying brats if it meant you could end the war, and create peace, true peace at last?’

‘You are making me sick. I would never hurt Ahsoka... I will protect Padmé with my own power. There is no need for your lies here. Now, get out of my head! Or I will make you!’

‘I sent out a powerful force wave pushing towards the dark presence that was trying to manipulate me. I felt that it hit its mark, as the connection ended abruptly with a surprised shout.

‘I collapsed backwards onto my bed. Feeling incredibly weak all of the sudden, as if I had lost a portion of my power. I struggled to stay awake, but it was in vain as I succumed to tiredness almost immediately.’

______________________

On Coruscant at the same time, a certain chancellor robed in black clothes, was currently sprawled out on the marble floor of his personal residence with a likely broken left arm. A suffocating swirl of dark miasma surrounded his person. A phisical manifastation of the boiling rage that engulfed him. Dark tendrils began to manifest around him answering his rage and he needed every bit of self-control to subdue his own emotions. It was a precarious situation. If he lost his control, that would even allow the otherwise retarded jedi to find his presence and pinpoint it’s exact location.

After the shadowy figure managed to rain in his emotions, he began to think over what had just happened.

The situation was not good. There was that strange accident two years ago when his spell was broken over the Jedi Academy, and even he did not dare to cast another one. The jedi clearly realized what was going on and since then, they were actively investigating everyone in the senate for the stupidest of reasons. He was of course, trying to make it impossible for them to do their jobs properly, even going so far as to say that it was entirely unnecessary and paranoid, and that they were damaging the trust that was created with political virtues. As if such political virtues ever existed, there was only power and knowledge.

His shaming’s worked to a degree, and they slowed down their investigation, but they were adamant in its necessity. They were believing that a Sith Lord, of all things, was hiding in the Senate, and they were right about it for once.

While the investigation was an annoying thing to happen, it was not a serious problem right now. His future apprentice turning against him however was a devastating miscalculation. How could this happen, the figure clouded in shadows wondered over the possibilities.

A spark of pain traveled up his arm reminding him of his broken arm.

He will have to figure out a story about how his arm got injured. Maybe he will say that he fell down the stairs. That would make him look like a pathetic sickly old man, whose body had begun to fail him. Even the jedi, wouldn’t dare to accuse him for being a sith, like that.

After the Chancellor managed to crawl to his feet, he began to walk back to his scrying device, which was an elevated and clearly ancient stone bowl filled with poisonous ingredients.

His long work to create a dark side connection with a powerful and young Jedi had been cut short, just like that. It was almost completely broken, years of work and arduously planned manipulations, cut short with a simple mistake. It was all because of the unexpected reappearance of that grey-skinned calamity. That creature seems to always appear in the wrong place at the right time to cross his plans. Worst of all, with all his spies, he didn’t manage to find her, or more likely the ones that did, were unable to tell the tale. He was just about to forget her transgression and let go of his grudge with the foolish child. After all, even he could appreciate such tenacity, but she chose to come back and taunt him again!

“You will regret your decision to cross me a second time. When I finish torturing you, you will be nothing more than a sacrificial pawn in my much greater plans.”

“And you Skywalker, maybe seeing your wife being actually tortured in front of you and not just in your dreams will manage to change your mind about where your true loyalties lie. Hehehe...”

The cackling of the eery old man stopped just as quickly as it started. His laughter replaced by dreadful seriousness as he began a transmission. Almost immediately his current apprentice dutifully answered his call. He appeared in the blue hologram as the kneeling form of Darth Tyranus. The sight of the decrepit figure filled him with distaste, reminding him to the recent loss of his future apprentice.

“Master, how may I be of service.”

He smiled sweetly at the man, calming his internal fury. Tyranus has his uses as well after all.

“I have an urgent mission for you, Lord Tyranus. You will bring me Nizzal Grey, the annoying twi’lek worm that has managed to cross our plans a second time. Remember, apprentice, I want her alive. You may maim her as you see fit, until she remains capable of coherent speech. I wish to talk with her, after all. She is currently on the planet of Zygerria, in the palace of the queen, as her majesty slave none the less.”

“I understand, master. I will send Asajj Ventress...”

“No. Your prized assassin had already failed me once in this matter. She had indeed managed to slaughter a ship full of twi’lek slaves, but the one I was hoping to kill or capture, was not one of them. You will go personally, and you will not fail me, because that is your own personal interest.” — The threat left hanging in the air, was anything but subtle.

“Yes master.”

“One more thing before you go, Skywalker is also in the palace. Try to capture him if you can, but only after you finished your first priority. While you are at it, send your assassin to capture Padmé Amidala, alive. This is her last chance to redeem herself in my eyes.”

“It will be done.”

“Good. If the queen stands in your way... Show her, her true place, there are plenty of pawns I can choose from as replacements. Her death would be tragic, indeed, but life will go on.”

“I understand, master.”

“Now go, and don’t appear in front of me before you succeeded.”