Prompt:
Bariss Offee has just been discovered as a Jedi traitor. Now, Ahsoka is leaving the Jedi Order, and Altheria must help Anakin cope with this.
Requested by AllisonTart
She/Her❥
•OC Insert
Part 5! Lies of the Jedi
3rd POV: Altheria
♡︎♡︎♡︎♡︎♡
It had been a few days since Ahsoka had fled from the Jedi Temple, and Altheria and Anakin finally had the proof they needed to mark the Padawan innocent. She hadn't murdered anyone— it was Barriss Offee.
Now, all Anakin and Altheria had to do was set a trap to prove their theory, and Altheria had a good idea to do such a thing.
She would enter Ahsoka's quarters, as if she was looking for clues or packing up the Togruta's things, and she would bring Barriss with her. Altheria would start a conversation about the whole affair, and knowing the tendencies of Sith, Barriss would inevitably attack Altheria.
She would engage in sword fight with the Padawan, and eventually, Anakin would jump in and subdue the traitor. It was pretty perfect for a plan made on the fly, but Altheria would do anything for her husband's apprentice.
Now, she must make this work.
Altheria walked into the Jedi library, spotting Barriss across the way. The Jedi walked up to the Padawan with a convincing smile on her face, "Evening, Padawan Offee. If you're not to busy, can I ask of some assistance? I know you were close to Ahsoka, and I need some help going through her stuff."
"Why isn't Master Skywalker offering to go through his Padawan's things?" the Mirialan asked. She closed the book she was reading, 'A guide to Outer Rim planets,' and followed before Altheria could reply.
"Master Skywalker is actually with Master Kenobi right now," Altheria lied convincingly, "They're with the 501st trying to figure out how to track Ahsoka down and bring her to justice before anyone else is harmed."
Barriss nodded, taking the bait rather well, "Good. Someone as diabolical as Ahsoka shouldn't be walking free. For a Jedi to take a life unprovoked... it's despicable."
Barriss hid her Sith presence very well. Perhaps it was because she has gone through vigorous training with Master Luminara, or maybe she is simply just strong enough to hide her signature to begin with. Either way, this worried Altheria. The fact that Barriss could lie so easily and get away with murder under the entirety of the Jedi Order and the Grand Republic scared her. Barriss was for sure a force to be reckoned with, and Altheria needed to make sure Ahsoka was freed.
Altheria lead the Padawan into Ahsoka's quarters. Just being in here made Altheria so sad. Ahsoka kept a little stuffed animal tucked neatly on her mattress. Of course, her bed was made perfectly, and all of her things were set neatly around the room. It still looked like a Jedi's room, but there were pieces of things that truly made it Ahsoka's room,
"What kind of things are you gathering for Master Skywalker?" Barriss asked, dragging Altheria away from her thoughts.
"Anything that would be a belonging to Ahsoka," Altheria answered while grabbing the Togruta's stuffed animal from her unused bed, "Unfortunately, until Ahsoka is marked innocent, there is another Padawan in the Order that can use her room."
Altheria could feel the amusement from Barriss immediately at that. It was as if she really believed her plan was working. If Barriss believed both Anakin and Altheria believed Ahsoka was the murderer, what other things could she get away with regarding the Jedi Order? Was murder just the beginning?
Suddenly, Barriss did the exact thing Anakin suspected her to do— attack Altheria. If she could convince the Order that Ahsoka was a murderer, perhaps she could pin Altheria's murder on her husband!
Shockingly enough, Barriss no longer had her signature blue lightsaber! Instead, she wielded a red lightsaber, as if she had already inputted her hate into the crystal, causing it to bleed, "I'm surprised you expected me, Master," she smirked while parrying one of Altheria's defensive maneuvers, "I believed you and Skywalker to be much stupider than this. You've surprised me!"
"Too bad we couldn't let you down, huh?" Altheria asked sarcastically while blocking the red lightsaber's hits, "What would Master Luminara think of this? She was so confident in your abilities and you've done nothing but let her down!"
Barriss barred her teeth at the woman and jumped over her; doing an upwards attack, "Master Luminara was willing to leave Ahsoka and I to die underground on Geonosis! We are just kids, and she was ready to let us suffocate!"
"Good thing Master Skywalker was determined to save the two of you then!" Altheria growled back. She couldn't believe what she was hearing from the Padawan's mouth, "Because of Anakin and Ahsoka's diligence to save you, you're alive now! You're ready to kill the man who saved your life, and your best friend in the Jedi Order! Luminara should've left you to die!"
The Mirialan barred her teeth once more, and rose her lightsaber to beginning striking at Altheria once again. However, Altheria could sense her husband approaching, and her heartbeat began to quicken.
This was all going according to plan, yet something seemed off. Knowing Anakin, he would harm Offee over both the damnation of his apprentice, and the attack on his wife. This filled Altheria with anxiety, because if Anakin killed Barriss, the Jedi Order wouldn't get the closure they needed to release Ahsoka.
The Chosen One barrelled in angrily; his blue lightsaber ignited and pointed at Barriss, "You might as well surrender now. You couldn't defeat Altheria in a fight, and you sure as hell won't be able to defeat both of us. I have also alerted the Jedi Council of your betrayal, so even if you do manage to defeat Master Altais and I, you will have the whole Order after you."
The Mirialan hesitated for a moment, and Altheria took advantage of that. Using her grey lightsaber, she sliced the hilt of Barriss' lightsaber; the bled crystal flying onto the floor. The Padawan shrieked and extended her hands to choke Altheria in anger, but Anakin grabbed both of the Mirialan's wrists and twisted.
Barriss fell to the ground, defeated.
Altheria sighed sadly and fished a pair of force-proof cuffs from her belt and clasped them around Barriss' wrists, "I hope you know how disappointed everyone is regarding this betrayal," she began, shooting a sad look to her husband, "You were the prodigy of the Jedi Order, and now you're our biggest mess up."
"How kind of you, Master Altais," Barriss whispered while wincing as the cuffs went around her bruising wrists, "I'm sure everyone feels as you say, but frankly, I don't care. The Jedi are corrupt and don't deserve the recognition they get from the Republic. The Order is full of cowards like yourselves."
"Save it for the Senate," Anakin said, quickly cutting the Padawan off while pulling her to her feet, "Now that you're caught, my apprentice can come back and fight by our side once more. Barriss, you have failed."
The Mirialan shrugged without a care in the world, "You're lucky to have Ahsoka. She is truly the only one in the Order that was worth it."
"Ironic how you framed her then," Anakin snapped while dragging her out of Ahsoka's room.
Altheria and Anakin lead the Padawan away from the Jedi quarters and into the Senate building. Chancellor Palpatine and the other important Senators had heard about Anakin's plan, and went ahead and got ready for the trial. Master Luminara was also there, and she had such a grave look on her face. She blamed herself for Barriss' betrayal, and Altheria couldn't help but believe it either.
Luminara did leave Barriss and Ahsoka to die. If her master had done what Luminara had done, Altheria would've had doubts about the Order too.
Chancellor Palpatine stood there, staring angrily at Barriss as the group entered. As Anakin lead the Mirialan to the stand, Palpatine stood up,
"I hope you understand what you've done, Barriss Offee," he said in a booming voice, "You have challenged the integrity of the Jedi and the Republic both."
Before Barriss could respond, Anakin grabbed his wife's hand and pulled her away from the Senate room, "We need to find Ahsoka. Now that Barriss has been confronted and admitted she is responsible for those murders, Ahsoka can come back and train again."
Altheria nodded and raced off towards Anakin's ship. R2-D2 was already on board, waiting for the two Jedi,
"Do you think she's still on Coruscant?" Altheria questioned while getting comfortable in the cockpit seat.
R2 whirred beside the two of them, and beeped out a response to Anakin. The Chosen One could understand the astromech, which made conversations with R2 much easier,
"R2 says he has been keeping an eye on Ahsoka. She's in the Coruscant underground."
"That's where we must go, then," Altheria answered while turning the ship on, "She shouldn't be too far."
Anakin drove the ship into the undergrounds of Coruscant. Fortunately, not a lot of people were out at this time regarding the underground. The majority of life on Coruscant at this time was in the upper levels, whether they are travelling to work or going shopping.
R2 kept beeping directions to the Chosen One. Altheria reached over and lovingly grabbed his hand, "Ahsoka will be fine, honey," she whispered, kissing his cheek lovingly, "She always is. She's a very determined and powerful Jedi."
"I know she is," Anakin responded, pressing his lips against Altheria's; sadness morphing over his features, "I just feel like this will affect Ahsoka's outlook on the Order, just like how Barriss' outlook changed when Luminara was willing to let her die under the rubble on Geonosis."
"That won't happen," Altheria said immediately, "Ahsoka knows how much you care about her, and I don't think anything that the galaxy throws at her would change that at all. You're her mentor and father figure, and she loves you."
Anakin breathed out a shaky sigh and nodded, "You're right, sweetheart. I know you are... I love you so much. Thank you for sticking by my side throughout all of this. I know it's been stressful for you too."
Altheria nodded, accepting his thanks.
Before she could reply to her husband, R2 beeped once again, signifying the approach to Ahsoka. Anakin sighed while settling the ship onto the ground. He was nervous... even if Altheria wasn't a Jedi, she would be able to tell this.
The two Jedi and the astromech exited the ship and began to look around. Altheria, using her force abilities, began to feel around for the Togruta. Then, after a few moments, she found Ahsoka!
"Ani, she's over here," Altheria whispered while grabbing his hand, "I hope we get over there before Ahsoka senses us, or she might run like last time."
Anakin agreed, and lead the way, "Ahsoka!" he yelled the second the Togruta came into sight, "It's Anakin and Altheria!"
Ahsoka looked up, and all of the colour in her face seeped away as fear set in. Of course, she couldn't have heard the news of Barriss' arrest at this point, considering she had been cut off from the Jedi Order the last few days. When in doubt, she likely thought that her Master and Altheria were here to arrest her!
"Please! I don't want to hurt either of you!" she said threateningly while pulling out her lightsabers, "I didn't hurt anyone! Please, just leave me alone!"
It broke Altheria's heart to see her husband's Padawan in such a terrible state. She was like a scared, caged animal. All alone to fend for herself.
Altheria extended her hands in surrender and stepped in front of her husband, "Ahsoka. The Order has decided you're innocent. Anakin and I captured Barriss Offee, and she had admitted to committing the crimes you were framed for! You're free to return to the temple!"
Ahsoka's face softened, but within moments, it was standoffish and hardened again, "I don't think I can come back."
"What do you mean?" her Master questioned while stepping forward, "You're cleared! You have to come back!"
"I don't want to, honestly," she whispered, not meeting her Master's eyes, "None of the Jedi trusted me— not even you and Master Altais. I can't trust the Order now, and that means I can't trust you guys either."
Altheria felt her heart break at that declaration, but she couldn't find the heart to blame the Padawan. The Jedi Order had burned their bridges before, but none could compare to the bridge they just burnt with Ahsoka Tano.
Altheria nodded and approached; wrapping Ahsoka in a hug,
"I respect your decision, but if you ever decide to return, you have a home with me and Master Skywalker."
"I appreciate that... thank you, Master Altais," the Togruta responded while looking towards her master, "Thank you for everything, Skyguy. I know this hurts, but don't blame yourself. You did everything you could for me."
It appeared like Anakin was blinking away tears. He spun around and walked away without another word.
Altheria allowed Ahsoka to leave with her lightsabers. Although she was no longer a Jedi, she would need protection. Altheria wouldn't be able to sleep at night if Ahsoka didn't take them.
She then left and headed back to the ship to meet her husband. There was a heaviness in the air... a sadness over the loss of Ahsoka. Anakin was sitting in the cockpit; fiddling with his lightsaber hilt. He always did this when he was deep in thought.
Altheria approached and sat down in the seat opposite to him. She laid her head onto Anakin's shoulder and deeply inhaled his familiar scent, "She knows what's best for herself," she said finally, breaking the silence, "I know this is hard, but she's capable. She will be okay."
"I'm definitely not worried about my Padawan," Anakin said with a bit of anger in his voice, "I just don't know what I will do without her. She was like a daughter to me."
"I know, honey," Altheria whispered while pressing a kiss to Anakin's lips, "Unfortunately, when it comes to loving someone, sometimes you have to just let them go."
Anakin wiped a tear away from his cheek and nodded, "I just hope she knows what she's doing."
"She does. This is what's best for her. The Jedi failed her for the last time."
February 5th, 2023