Clouded by the Dark Side

Chapter 7 - Two Paths, Two Sisters

I turn back to the controls. We need to move as fast as possible. "If you've locked the coordinates, Artoo, let's go." The droid beeps in the affirmative, and I pull the lever to go into hyperspace. Seconds later, the familiar blue and white streaks surround the ship as we leave the planet of Teth far behind.

Aniya Skywalker

I absently rest one of my hands on the Huttlett's head as I look over at my brother. The door to the back of the ship opens again and the padawans hurry into the cockpit once more. "I think we might have found something," Ahsoka informs us cheerfully.

"Great," I reply, passing her the Hutt, "Anything's worth a try." She nods and they rush out of the room again. So far, they don't at all seem like ordinary Jedi. They're children. They're not emotionless and don't try to be. "Maybe having a padawan isn't as bad as I thought it might be," I comment, glancing over at Anakin, "How did you get one, anyway?"

"Master Yoda sent her in the middle of the battle to tell us to come rescue Jabba's son," he explains, "But I was going to ask you the same question. She seems to have been on the battlefield for a while."

I grimace. "Oh, about that... she used to be Krell's padawan. Apparently, he has no idea how to train a padawan, and I honestly think he deserves to be thrown out of the Order. And definitely taken off the front. He doesn't know a thing about battles. He's been..." I trail off, sighing quietly. "He has been hurting her. She was injured in the battle, which is how I found out."

"... I see," Anakin murmurs finally, anger burning in his gaze. "Is that why she's been wearing her robes the entire time?"

"It is," I confirm. "Alema... never really had time to recover. We just got back from the battle, and I talked to the Council. Then, she became my padawan, and we were immediately sent here. I can only hope once this is over, she'll have some time."

Anakin nods. "She deserves some."

"We're going to do our best to make her feel wanted, won't we?" It's not really a question that needs an answer. Given her age and what she'd said about becoming Krell's padawan, it's obvious she's been afraid for a while that she was just going to end up in the AgriCorps. And to become the padawan of someone like him right after that... She's going to need our help.

"Am I the only one who has a suspicious our masters have something to do with this?" I wonder suddenly. Because honestly, that seems like the best explanation. Alema was one thing, but Ahsoka... the only way is if someone had preplanned it.

"I was wondering the same," he replies, "Especially since it was Obi-Wan who claimed he wanted a padawan. And now suddenly he seems to have forgotten about that."

I nod, smirking slightly, "Yes, it seems like it."

"On the way to Tatooine," my brother announces, "I want to try and fix up the ship. At least the primary system."

"Great idea!" I exclaim, jumping up. We might as well do something on the journey. It'll be a while, and I hate sitting around. Especially when I'll just be dwelling on what going back there means. I was really hoping we'd never have to go there, and I really want to try to get my mind of our destination. It brings nothing but memories I want to leave behind us forever.

Alema Syndulla

"You will take this, and you will like it!" Ahsoka insists, struggling to get Rotta to swallow the medicine she's holding in front of him. He squirms around on the medical table instead, stubbornly refusing to open his mouth.

"Ugh, why does he have to be so stubborn?" I grumble. Finally, Ahsoka manages to get it into his mouth, and promptly jumps back and covers her nose. I'm glad I'm far enough away not to smell it very well.