"let's break everything differently" au

[resnipstance]

[ They all stand in the Council room after the trial, the evening sunset light of Coruscant pouring in to the tall chamber. Anakin and Plo-Koon give their apologies, and for just one single moment, Ahsoka thinks that maybe everything will be okay again. Not like it was-- it can never go back to the way it was. The knowledge that some of the people Ahsoka called family were willing to cast her aside without due process will stay with her forever. Such things can never be forgotten. But perhaps there is something there to be salvaged.

But then Master Windu and Master Yoda make their excuses, and Ahsoka feels her stomach drop out of the room entirely. It will always be like this, she realises. The Order is ... not what she thought it was. Suddenly, she knows it as clear as day: if she stays here, her soul will slowly rot from the inside. Like Barriss.

"They're asking you back, Ahsoka," Anakin's voice cuts through her thoughts, as he extends his hand to her holding her padawan braid. "I'm... asking you back."

She looks up at him then, certain that she knows what she has to do, but unwilling to say it. She reaches out to take Anakin's hand in her own, hoping to soften the blow of what she's about to say. But the second she touches it, something else happens.

Death. Terror. Destruction. The whole galaxy, crying out in pain in a single instance, and then just as suddenly-- nothing. The Force, drenched in silence and darkness. Obi-Wan, looking old and alone in the desert, full of sorrow. Glimpses of war-- more war. Never ending war. Anakin's voice from somewhere far off, full of rage, screaming "I hate you!"

None of it makes any sense.

And thne just as abruptly, a different vision. No-- she's seen this one before, but she'd forgotten about it. Herself, standing over a campfire. "Beware!" she warns. "You may never see your future if you remain his student!"

Ahsoka abruptly lets go of Anakin's hand in the Council room and the visions stop. She takes a step back in alarm. ]

I-- I'm sorry, Masters--

[ She speaks to the whole room, heart pounding with adrenaline, eyes on the floor but darting from side to side while she tries to catch her breath. She closes her eyes for a second and breathes in slowly and then out again, calming herself. Finding her center, she opens her eyes again and straightens. ]

It's... been a long day. Your offer is very generous, but I'm not sure I'm in the right state of mind to be making big decisions about my future right now. With your permission, I'd like to request a couple of days to meditate on it.

[ The room is filled with stunned silence, before Master Yoda taps his gimmer stick on the floor decisively and nods. "Certain, you must be. Wise to take your time in such matters, it is."

Ahsoka swallows hard and makes a hasty bow. "Thank you," passes from her lips, before she turns tail and exits from the Council chamber with as much speed as she can muster, not waiting for a dismissal. ]

Comments

[resnipstance]

[ She shakes her head. ]

I'm not saying we're better, or that we should be lawless! I just think-- I don't know. It just seems like... the Republic has a lot of influence over our decisions these days. That's all.

[beardstrokes]

And I'm not disagreeing.

But there isn't much of an alternative now.

[resnipstance]

[ Ahsoka frowns at that, but doesn't say anything-- it seems she's digesting it, thinking. Finally-- ]

... Something's wrong. Can't you feel it when you say that? I tried to meditate on it, but I never got an answer. It feels like-- any way we turn, something bad is going to happen. Like we're ... rats caught in a trap.

[beardstrokes]

[ he nods. ]

Yes, I have felt it. Someone is manipulating things.

[resnipstance]

Wait-- you know already?

[beardstrokes]

Dooku mentioned it when I was imprisoned. We've known for some time now.

[resnipstance]

[ With no small amount of incredulity: ]

What? But that was years ago!

[beardstrokes]

[ obi-wan gives her a Look. ]

What do we do with traps, Ahsoka?

[resnipstance]

[ Spring the trap. But-- ]

But that's for-- for pirates, and bounty hunters and-- and people like Ventress! Sure! Not this. By the sounds of it, you've been trying to spring the trap for years, and nobody's any closer!

[beardstrokes]

[ obi-wan sucks in a deep breath. ]

I see you're eager to do some judging of your own.

[resnipstance]

[ Ahsoka at least has the grace to look abashed. ]

I-- no, I didn't mean it that way, it's just--

I can't wrap my head around this.

[beardstrokes]

[ he nods slowly. ]

These are the truths. The Jedi are a part of the Republic. The Separatists are being led by the Sith. There is someone behind the scenes, a Master we have to uncover and that has always been our goal.

Due to the tangled skein of the war and our involvement, we cannot turn back now. All we can do now is trust in the Force. I may not believe in the War but I do believe that we will get to the heart of the matter. The Sith.

[resnipstance]

... What if we're the ones being led by the Sith?

[beardstrokes]

[ his brow furrows. ]

How so?

[resnipstance]

I don't know, it just-- occurred to me, when you said that about the Separatists! You know we're being manipulated... but who benefits most from that?

[beardstrokes]

The Sith. It's clear that Dooku's hand in them is manipulation. He doesn't care about their cause.

[resnipstance]

Right. But what's the point of manipulating us to be in the war if you're only on Count Dooku's side? If I were a Separatist, I'd jump for joy if the Jedi said they'd stay out of it. It'd make it so easy!

[beardstrokes]

[ he runs his hand through his beard. ]

I found Count Dooku on reconnaissance. As for our involvement, I think that came from the Senate and knowing of the Sith.

[resnipstance]

[ Hm. ]

... What exactly did Count Dooku say, anyway? Do you remember?

[beardstrokes]

[ it takes him a moment. ]

He said that hundreds of senators were under the control of Darth Sidious. We checked but we couldn't find a trace.

[resnipstance]

Hundreds...

It sounds... impossible. But-- if you just assume for a second that it's true, doesn't it track with what we've just been discussing? Think about it.

We're being manipulated by someone, but we don't know who. We suspect the Sith because we know the Sith benefit if we fight in the war, not the Separatists. We're fighting in the war because of the Senate. The Senate has the power to tell us what to do and where to go. And according to Dooku, the Sith have control of the Senate

[beardstrokes]

The Senate is a thousand worlds and senators. A democracy. How would you exercise control over such a large group of people?

[resnipstance]

[ Ahsoka makes a frustrated noise in her throat-- this is more than she's used to. She's used to being pointed in a direction and fighting it. ]

I don't know! It can't be bribes-- there'd be some kind of trail.

[ And Obi-Wan said they checked, so she believes him. So it's not that. ]

Argh. Padmé would know about this kind of thing.

[beardstrokes]

Perhaps the Senator would be your best option to follow on your instincts.

[resnipstance]

[ Your best option, your instincts.

Ahsoka doesn't miss that phrasing. She looks at Obi-Wan sharply. ]

You think I should-- follow this on my own? But-- you know so much more about all this than I do. And besides-- I don't exactly have the best track record when it comes to investigations...

[ Look at how trying to track down the Temple bomber turned out. ]