Clouded by the Dark Side

Chapter 7 - Two Paths, Two Sisters

"Why aren't you with Krell?" Ahsoka asks, finally turning to me now that the Huttlet has been dealt with.

"The Council decided to change my master," I explain, almost instantly tensing. I don't really want to explain the situation to her. She should know, but at the same time, I don't really want to talk about it. Especially not right now. I'm still struggling to get used to not having to watch everything I say simply because I'm afraid of what he might do. I don't have to be constantly on high alert, though I know that's nothing that will change any time soon.

She frowns. "Why?"

I shift uncomfortably. "Krell... was not the best master," I say finally. It's a severe understatement, but it's the best I can think of. "He had a tendency to get upset and well, very violent."

Ahsoka's expression darkens, obviously understanding my meaning. "And he was supposed to be a Jedi."

"Well, he was doing a terrible job at it," I mutter, scowling at the wall. The way he treated me was only one such proof.

"What's the Council gonna do about it?" Ahsoka inquires.

"He's going to be demoted from the rank of a Master, for certain. Beyond that, I don't know." I sigh frustratedly.

"They should throw him out or at least put him on a mandatory meditation leave," Ahsoka declares adamantly.

"They ought to, but I don't know. I expect they won't considering he's considered a war hero." Which he is not. Not at all. "It'd look bad on them, but I'm sure they'll do the best they can."

"I can't believe this has been going on so long, and you never said a word to me about it," Ahsoka grumbles.

I sigh. I knew this was coming. She's right, in a way. "I didn't want you to worry about me."

"Because I wasn't worried already that you're out on the fronts, and I'm stuck at the Temple and can't help at all."

"Besides, what could you have done about it? I didn't really want to tell anyone. I wouldn't even have told Master Aniya if she hadn't found out." I sit down on a bench, and Ahsoka takes a seat beside me. It's been so long since we've been able to talk to each other properly, and it's been driving me crazy. At least now we should be together a lot more. We deserve a few minutes to ourselves, and we can watch Stinky perfectly fine from here. We'll go back to find our masters shortly... just not quite yet.

"If I'd known, maybe I could've talked to Council about it," Ahsoka insists dejectedly.

I nod slightly, looking down at the floor. She's right. I probably should have, but... Maybe in part, I didn't want anyone to know. I didn't want them to think I'm weak. But Aniya found out, and she doesn't think any of the things I've been afraid she would. "With the war going on, it seemed kind of unimportant..." I instantly regret the words the moment they leave my mouth.

"Unimportant?!" Ahsoka shrieks. "You thought it was unimportant that he was hurting you? If he could do that, how much else could he do?"

Silence settles over us for a few moments, me not saying anything. She does have a point. At the same time, I can't say I mind how things worked out now. At least if I'm Aniya's padawan – which I honestly am excited about – and Ahsoka is Anakin's, we can count on seeing each other frequently. "I told you you'd be taken as a padawan. That you didn't need to worry," I remark, diverting the topic away from myself.

"Yes, you were right again," she agrees, "Don't get cocky about it."

"Too late," I chirp.

Ahsoka laughs, finally standing up. "We should head back to the cockpit." She walks over to the table, gently picking up Rotta.

"How is he?" I inquire.

"He's doing better," Ahsoka reassures me, "Or at least his temperature seems to be dropping. Come on."

We step back into the cockpit to see Anakin and Aniya working together up at the front of the ship, clearly trying to fix it. Good. The thing is practically a pile of bolts pretending to be a ship. I'd be lying to say I was comfortable being in it. Ahsoka sets the Huttlet in the back of the ship before we walk up to stand behind the seats.

"The medicine, it's working!" I happily inform them.

"His fever broke," Ahsoka reports, her relief clear, "I think he's gonna live to stink another day."

"Wonderful," Aniya responds, "And now, we just have to hope the ship sticks together all the way there."

"Great," Anakin says, "Keeping him alive wasn't as easy as you hoped, was it?"

"Master, if you have taught me one thing, it's that nothing is easy when you are around," Ahsoka replies, smirking.

"Welcome to the life of the Skywalker family," Aniya replies with a grin.

"You think Master Obi-Wan and Master Qui-Gon made it out okay?" I question.

"If I know our old masters, they have things well in hand," responds Anakin as he turns back to keep working on the ship, "Now help us with this. I want the primary systems fully repaired by the time we reach Tatooine."

"You grew up on Tatooine, right? So, for you, this trip is like going home," Ahsoka says as she joins them at the front. I notice the twins' expressions growing grim, strained. They're struggling not to let it show, but it's not working.

"Yeah," Anakin confirms, his eyes darkening, "Home." Aniya doesn't respond, but I don't miss the sudden tenseness that's settled over her at the mention. What's wrong? I want to know, but I refrain from asking. Aniya respected me not wanting to talk about Krell until I found out, so it's only fair for me to do the same.