❝𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏'𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒏𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈.❞ -- 𝑺𝒉𝒎𝒊 𝑺𝒌𝒚𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝑨𝒏𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏 𝑺𝒌𝒚𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒆𝒓
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Master Windu's mouth quirked to the side just slightly when he caught sight of the two Jedi, and he turned to face them fully. "I was not aware you were onboard the Separatist ship," he told them as he took a few steps forward on the main bridge.
Master Secura only inclined her head and replied, "All is well. We got out on time." She paused before muttering in frustration, "And so did General Grievous."
"General Grievous?" Mace Windu repeated with mild astonishment, his brows shooting up in surprise. Astrid nodded solemnly.
"We couldn't take him on anyways," Astrid told him, and Master Secura snorted.
"Perhaps we could have if given enough time," her former master corrected, and Astrid smiled in bemusement. They had been doing a rather good job fighting Grievous near the end before their ship had been fired upon by Master Windu.
Master Windu looked thoughtful as he gazed out the viewport at the burning battleship. He seemed to snap out of it, though, and he blinked a few times before turning to the clone troopers. "They are not a threat, captain. You are dismissed," he ordered coolly.
The captain dipped his head before marching out of the room, the other four clones filing out of the command center behind him. Astrid couldn't help her astonishment at Master Windu's indifference towards the clones.
In an effort to keep her emotions hidden from the strict Jedi Master, she cast a glance around the room and recognized a few of the Republic officials. There were a couple of clone troopers, but not many.
She frowned.
"What mission are you on?" Aayla Secura asked Mace Windu in an even, polite voice, and Astrid turned her attention back on the two Jedi.
"We intercepted a Separatist distress call," he replied, jerking his head towards the burning battleship in the distance. "So, we decided to come and help." A smile tugged at his mouth, and Astrid thought that this might be the first time she'd seen a laughing smile on his face.
Master Secura smiled broadly. "Well, I'm glad. We were grateful for the help, really."
"Do you know where the other Jedi are located?" Astrid interrupted smoothly, trying to keep her face neutral and her voice bland and devoid of curiosity.
Master Windu frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. "Last I checked Jedi Knight Marilyn was accompanying Master Plo Koon to Utapea. As for the Jedi on Coruscant, I believe Master Yoda, Master Kenobi, Master Fisto, and--"
Something about Master Windu's sentence must've suddenly caught Master Secura's attention because she interrupted pressingly, "Oh, I-- or I mean we as in Astrid and me-- better get back to Coruscant then."
Astrid was still fixated on one of the first things Master Windu had said to take much notice of Master Secura's comment. Did he say Master Kenobi was still on Coruscant, as in Master Kenobi had been in the capital for quite some time?
She had been in Coruscant just three weeks ago, and Master Kenobi nor Anakin had been there!
Astrid saw Master Secura glanced towards her out of the corner of her eye as if prompting Astrid to agree with their sudden need to return to Coruscant, and Astrid quickly said, "Oh, yes, we better. I think Master Yoda wanted to speak to us about something."
If Obi Wan was in Coruscant, then odds were Anakin was there, too. So, if Master Secura felt the sudden need to go back to Coruscant for whatever reason, then Astrid was going to go with it and tag along.
Astrid gave Master Secura a probing look, and her former master quickly replied, "Oh, yes, Master Yoda did." She turned to Master Windu and inclined her head as she spoke, "We best get going. Thank you for your aid."
Master Windu had a slightly suspicious look in his eyes, but he inclined his head and replied, "May the Force be with you."
"May the Force be with you, too," Astrid and Master Secura returned in unison before they headed off the main bridge.
Once they were out in the hallway, they exchanged amused looks, both of them hiding their own dark secret unbeknownst to the other, and they burst into laughter.
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When the two Jedi finally arrived back on the bustling planet, Coruscant, it was a dreary day. The sky was an ashy blue and the neon light of the advertisements splayed across the entire planet appeared muted and dulled to Astrid.
Perhaps the capital of the Grand Republic was finally feeling the effects of the Clone Wars. Well, the Coruscant citizens ought to try fighting the war. Then they would really be feeling tired of it.
Although, if Astrid was being honest, she'd never felt so alive and free. Truly, she was thriving during the Clone Wars. She wondered how Anakin was faring. And then she wondered how her other Padawan friends were doing.
She knew Marilyn was still out and about (if she could even call her a friend per se), but how about Maddox and Ida? And was Artoo still with Anakin?
Astrid could bet Anakin was giving Artoo all the latest updates that the newer R2 unit droids were coming out with. A droid had to stay updated to retain its usefulness.
When Master Secura and Astrid entered the Jedi Temple, it seemed gloomier and less crowded than it had been three weeks ago. Astrid supposed most of the Jedi were gone, doing their own mission. The Jedi Order was scattered even more so throughout the galaxy these days.
Astrid couldn't help but wonder if the Jedi Order was spreading its forces out too thin. If perhaps scattering to the winds in the galaxy to met out justice and keep the peace was the smartest move.
It seemed to her like the Clone Wars was making the Jedi Order weaker, and with the mysterious Sith Lord master and Darth Maul out on the loose, they needed to be strong.
They needed to stick together.
Wanting to explore the Jedi Temple on her own to see the subtle changes that had occurred since she'd last stayed here, Astrid separated from Master Secura. She tugged down the hood of her brown Jedi cloak as she slipped through the red carpeted hallways.
More Padawans than Jedi Masters passed by Astrid in the hallway, probably because many of the Jedi Masters were busy fighting in the war. Though the clone army was a major benefit for the Jedi Order in maintaining peace and justice in the galaxy, a Jedi Knight had to be present at each battle to commander the clones.
It was how Astrid and her fellow Padawan friends, like Marilyn and Ida and Anakin, had been promoted to Jedi Knights at such a young age. They were needed to direct clone trooper legions.
Astrid's personal clone legion was the 431st, but she'd had to leave them behind in Kuat, a planet in the Core System, to stop the Separatist battleship with Master Secura. The 431st had been too busy with their own duties on Kuat to come along and help Astrid.
She'd left a Padawan in charge while she was away, which meant Astrid really needed to get back to Kuat. Soon.
Astrid roamed the Jedi Temple, half-hoped she would somehow run into Master Kenobi or maybe even Anakin (if he was traveling with Obi Wan), but she made it to her rooms without interruption.
She stifled her rising disappointment.
Her room was just as she had left it. Her nuna-ball poster remained hanging up on the wall, the only personal belonging left in her room. Astrid collapsed onto her bed, the day's events finally catching up to her.
Her bed was softer than she remembered, or maybe she'd just gotten used to sleeping on the ground or on one of the Republic battleship's hard, stiff cots in the ship's sleeping quarters. Her head sunk in the pillow, and she closed her eyes with a soft sigh.
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Astrid was jerked awake by the sound of loud banging on her door, and she quickly sat up in bed, the covers slipping from her shoulders and onto her lap. There was silence, and Astrid stared at the door, waiting, wondering if she had imagined the insistent knocking.
Then, she heard a girl hiss quietly, "Anakin, I'm sure she's sleeping. She probably had a long, busy day."
"And she didn't think to fit me into her busy schedule?" Anakin remarked curtly.
But Astrid had already leapt from her bed, and she raced to the door before flinging it open. Her eyes went immediately to Anakin standing before her, and she instantly flung her arms around his neck as she pulled him into a tight embrace.
A moment later, she felt his arms wrap around her waist, and his honeyed scent washed over her like a soothing balm to her anxieties and worries. She closed her eyes.
His breath tickled her ear as Anakin murmured quietly, "Careful. Someone's watching us."
Astrid forced herself to withdraw from him, and as she examined his face, she noticed that his sierra-colored hair had gotten a little longer, and as a result, it seems to have become curlier. But his azure eyes were still bright and lively, and they shown with excitement and elation at the sight of Astrid.
She couldn't help but smile broadly.
Someone cleared their throat from beside Anakin, and Astrid's eyes flicked down to the girl standing to Anakin's right and Astrid's left.
She was a Togruta, judging by her white and blue montrals, the cone-like horns characteristic of all Togruta, and her two peaking head tails. The montrals resembled human hair in that it came down about six inches below her shoulders like normal human hair would.
Astrid had heard that Togruta montrals helped the species sense objects moving around them more efficiently. Of course, Togruta can see with their eyes, but montrals only enhanced their sight in a way.
The girl had a peach-colored skin tone, and white pigments adorned her face in a sort of pattern. Astrid could tell the girl was a Padawan because her outfit was one a Padawan would wear. She wore a grey leggings with a burgundy colored skirt and boots. Astrid spotted the two lightsabers that hung clipped to her belt.
Astrid raised a brow, and the Padawan spoke eagerly, "I'm Ahsoka Tano. I'm Master Skywalker's Padawan."
Astrid's eyes widened in disbelief, and she shot a bewildered look to Anakin, who wore a sheepish look. He opened his mouth to speak, but Ahsoka, oblivious to their exchange, asked, "Who are you exactly? Anakin's been looking for you all day."
Did Astrid arrive here just this early afternoon?
Astrid blinked before replying hedgingly, "I'm Astrid Katarn. I am one of your master's friends." She glanced at Anakin as she said this.
Anakin smiled and remarked, "One of my best friends. My most best friend."
Ashoka looked at Anakin in amusement, and Astrid couldn't ignore the fluttering feeling growing her chest. She was glad to see that nothing had changed between her and Anakin. They were exactly as they had been before they had last seen each other six months ago.
Astrid realized she was staring, and she quickly looked away as she cleared her throat. Her gaze happened to land on Ahsoka, who at closer glance looked as if she was maybe fourteen or thirteen.
"Where are you from?" Astrid asked curiously.
"Shili," Ahsoka replied brightly. Astrid had never been to the planet before, so she only nodded.
"And when exactly did you become Master Skywalker's Padawan?" Astrid inquired, giving Anakin a narrowed look. It felt weird to call him Master Skywalker. He wasn't even a Jedi Master. He was still a Jedi Knight.
"At the battle of Christophsis," Ahsoka responded, crossing her arms and leaning her weight on one hip. "You know, the battle near the beginning of the Clone Wars."
Astrid looked at Anakin with a raised brow. So, he had been a supposed Master during the New Year, and he hadn't bothered to tell her? Why hadn't he?
Anakin winced as if he could read her thoughts.
"I never wanted a Padawan," he quickly explained, and Ahsoka narrowed her eyes at her master. Anakin continued hurriedly, "In fact, Obi Wan wanted another Padawan, but instead Master Yoda gave Ahsoka to me." He waved a hand towards Ahsoka, and she gave him a teasingly mocking look.
They seemed so... familiar with each other, Astrid couldn't help but notice. They even moved in tandem as if they were constantly aware of the other person and their movements and position.
"Interesting," Astrid mused as she regarded Ahsoka thoughtfully. A smile crept across her face as she continued, "I suppose Ahsoka can help me monitor you, Anakin, to make sure you aren't getting into too much trouble." She looked to Ahsoka as she whispered conspiratorially, "We'll be fast friends, you and I."
Ahsoka grinned, her blue eyes glittering with earnest.
Anakin only shook his head with an amused smile.
Astrid wanted nothing more than to take him somewhere private and truly talk to him, freely. And she wanted nothing more than to touch him. Their hug had been too brief.
But Ahsoka was standing there, waiting, watching, and the silence between the three of them was growing to an awkward level. Astrid looked at Anakin until he looked at her, and then she gave a pointed look to Ahsoka in silent request to somehow send her off somewhere to give them some privacy.
Understanding dawning in his azure eyes, Anakin cleared his throat and told Ahsoka, "Hey, why don't you go inform Obi Wan that we finally found Astrid?"
Ahsoka's eyes narrowed as if she knew what he was doing, that he was trying to get her away, but she nodded and teased, "Do I have to do all your errands for you?" She didn't wait for him to respond before she added more seriously, "I'll see you around, Anakin. It was nice meeting you, Astrid."
Astrid smiled and watched the young Padawan disappear around the corner. Only then did she turn towards Anakin, but he was already on the move.
Her nose grazed his chin as he took a step forward and, leaning down, touched his lips to hers, leaving the barest of traces. His familiar honeyed scent washed over her.
She gripped his dark tunic and tugged him farther down to her as she deepened the kiss. Her hands slid up his neck to the back of his head, tangling in his hair as she kissed him with desperation.
Her hand found her door's doorknob behind her, and she opened the door and tugged him inside her room without breaking their kiss. His hands roamed her body desperately as they backed into the room.
Astrid wasn't aware they had already reached her bed, and the back of her shins bumping against the headboard of the bed surprised her enough that she lost her balance and fell backwards onto the mattress.
Astrid laughed at her own clumsiness and reached up and took his hand, tugging him down with her. Anakin eased some of his weight off of her as he raised himself onto his elbows.
He dipped his head down, and his mouth caught hers once more. One of his hands came up to tangle into her hair. As she lost herself in his touch, Astrid felt like they were the only people existing in the whole galaxy.
After all of these months of not seeing Anakin, she was desperate for him. Any one of them could have died within these past six months, but here they were, alive, together once more, even after all they had gone through. She was so lucky to have him, so lucky to have met him.
Anakin Skywalker, the greatest star pilot in the galaxy, the Chosen One, the Jedi Knight with a heart bursting with compassion and passion, and the boy who held Astrid's heart in his hands.
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If you haven't seen my author's note for the last chapter yet, go check it out, just so you can understand this book's timeline. I guess it wouldn't be fanfiction if I didn't switch it up a little, right?
*nervous laughter*
Also, yeah this chapter is kind of gross. Watch me change it up a little in a month or so. I'm not really liking the ~vibe~ of it. LOL that's why I waited so long to update (oops).
Anyway, have a nice day!
--Paradise_Palms <3