Chapter Text
Ahsoka started running the moment the doors closed behind her. Something within her told her to get away from the temple before she had a chance to change her mind. She could hear rushed footsteps following her: Anakin. She blinked back tears as she ran, picking up her pace. She was in a full sprint now.
Don’t turn back.
“Ahsoka!” There was an unfamiliar desperation in Anakin’s voice as he called for her. This decision was already painful enough, why did he have to make this even harder?
Can’t turn back.
“Ahsoka! Wait!” As she reached the entrance to the Jedi Temple and stepped out into the evening sun, she slowed her pace a little. Despite the recent bombings and subsequent political unrest, Coruscant’s Temple District was quiet tonight. It seemed impossible that this was the same planet that housed the smoggy, overcrowded capital, yet, there it was, visible on the horizon. Already, she felt lighter-- freer-- outside the formidable walls of the temple.
“I have to talk to you!” Ahsoka took a deep breath and stopped running, allowing Anakin to catch up to her, but she did not turn to face him. “Ahsoka,” she sensed his presence directly behind her now.
“Anakin--” She kept her eyes fixed straight ahead.
“‘Why are you doing this?” his voice was steady, his years in the Jedi Order had taught him to mask his emotions well, but she could sense his uneasiness.
“The council didn’t trust me,” she replied, “so how can I trust myself?”
“What about me?” She turned to face him now. “I believed in you,” he said, “I stood by you.”
“I know you believe in me Anakin, and I’m grateful for that,” his eyes glinted as she said this, “but this isn’t about you. I can’t stay here any longer. Not now.”
“The Jedi Order is your life! You can’t just throw it away like this. You’re making a mistake.” She knew he was being earnest, but she knew better. That wasn’t true. Not anymore.
“Maybe,” she said, meeting his gaze, “But I have to sort this out on my own. Without the council. Without you.”
Anakin closed his eyes for a moment. He really is a Jedi, Ahsoka thought, despite herself, as he maintained his composure completely, trying to think of what to say.
“I understand,” he said. Ahsoka furrowed her brow. That was not what she was expecting. Anakin was stubborn; he rarely conceded to her so easily. “More than you realize, I understand.”
“What do you mean?” she didn’t know why she was pressing the matter; she wanted to get this over with as quickly and painlessly as possible.
“I understand wanting to walk away from the Order.”
Of course. She had sensed this many times before. He was restless; he had been as long as she had known him. He hid it well around Obi-Wan and the rest of the Order, but he often let his guard down around his Padawan.
Former Padawan.
“I know,” she said. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, but he didn’t speak. She wasn’t sure if she wanted him to or not, but his silence did not help motivate her to do what she knew she had to. She let her eyes linger on his for a moment before letting out a deep sigh. What more was there to say? As she began to turn away, she caught a glimpse of her silka beads still clutched in Anakin’s hand. For a split second, she pictured herself taking them and returning them to their place on her head. No. Never again. She wondered what he would do with them once she was gone. Maybe he would keep them, though that would surely be against the Order’s rules; or maybe they would go to some other Padawan. Most likely, she figured, turning away from him once again, they would be discarded or lost.
Goodbye, Master.
Had she meant to say it out loud? Perhaps it was better left unsaid; she wasn’t sure that she could bring herself to say it without crying anyway.
“Then you know what I have to do,” he said, stopping her dead in her tracks.
“No,” she couldn’t help but smile a bit, relieved to have a moment of normal conversation, however fleeting it may be, “I don’t think I do, Master.”
“Hmph, I’m disappointed in you, Snips,” he was joking around, but the words still stung a bit, “Have we always been this out of sync?”
“You can’t come with me.” Of course she knew what he was thinking, but he couldn’t be serious. This was another one of Anakin’s manic, spur-of-the-moment plans-- and it wasn’t even a plan! Once again, she was the level-headed one talking him out of letting his emotions take control.
“So you do know then?”
“I know what you think you have to do,” she replied with a sigh, “but I also know it’s crazy.”
“Crazier than what you’re doing?”
She turned to face him. “The Jedi turned their backs on me--”
“On us,” he cut her off.
She stared blankly at him. “What?”
“I never doubted you, Ahsoka. I never would. I plead your case to the Council, but they didn’t listen to me either,” he let out a deep breath and rubbed his temple, “This isn’t the first time they’ve doubted my judgment.”
“I know you and the Council have had your differences, but this-- This isn’t something to be taken lightly.”
“I know.” She could tell from the look in his eyes that he was telling the truth. Still, she was not convinced he was being rational.
“Once you leave you can’t come back,” she pointed out, “The Jedi Order is your life more than it’s mine! You’re a knight, a commander in the Clone Army! You’re--”
“The Chosen One?” Ahsoka bit her tongue. She wasn’t going to admit it, but, of course, that had been on her mind. “The Chosen One is a myth, Ahsoka. You know that.”
“What about Obi-Wan? He believes it, right?”
Anakin restrained himself from rolling his eyes. “Wouldn’t be the first time Obi-Wan believed something that isn’t true.”
That was a good point; up until today Obi-Wan had been one of the Jedi who believed that she was guilty of killing Letta Turmond and possibly orchestrating the bombing at the Temple.
“What about Master Yoda?” She wasn’t sure why she was defending any of the members of the Jedi Council to him, but she knew she couldn’t let him do this.
“Master Yoda has always doubted the prophecy,” Anakin replied, “Ever since I was first brought before the council, he has made it very clear that he questions the validity of the prophecy.”
Ahsoka blinked, surprised. That was news to her. “So what’s your plan?”
“What?”
“What are you going to do? Just walk out of here with me? Never look back--”
“No,” he cut her off, “I can’t leave now, obviously. But I do have a plan.”
“Okay, what is it?” she asked.
Anakin chuckled. “I’ll find you, Snips.”
“When?”
“Soon.”
“Where?” Ahsoka crossed her arms. This didn’t seem like much of a plan.
“Wherever you are.” He put a hand on his hip, matching her sass. Ahsoka couldn’t help but smile at this.
“You’re just going to find me? Wherever I go, anywhere in the galaxy?”
“That’s the plan,” he replied, his usual overly-confident tone returning to his voice.
“Okay, Skyguy,” she said with a smirk, “I guess I’ll see you around then.”
Anakin reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. “You will,” he promised. She sensed that he was sincere and she could see it in his eyes. A part of her wanted to believe that it was true, but she still had her doubts. Anakin chuckled, probably sensing her doubts and how ridiculous she thought he was being. She rolled her eyes and laughed a little in response. And then, with a final nod, he turned around and walked back toward the temple entrance.
Ahsoka felt her smile fade as she watched him go. Despite her best judgement, she really hoped this was not the last time she would see him.
It won’t be, her senses told her. But under what circumstances would they meet again? Ahsoka wasn’t sure. She was only sure of one thing: she had to leave. Now. She had to figure out a life for herself outside of the Jedi Order. Without her friends. Without Anakin. She took a heavy breath as she started down the stairs and into her new life.
Ahsoka had never known life outside the Jedi. She hopped on a civilian transport headed for Westport, but she had to admit that she had no idea what she would do once she was there. She would have to find a ride if she was going to get off-world. She had enough credits to buy a used speeder, but nowhere near enough for a ship. Emigration it was, then. But to where?
It was on this long transport ride that Ahsoka became keenly aware that she was weaponless. She sadly recalled the memory of her lightsabers being confiscated when she was taken into custody. There was no way she was ever going to see those again. She made a mental note to find a weapon of some kind as quickly as she could. A Jedi, even an ex-Jedi, could rake in quite the reward on the black market; she would need a way to defend herself in case she came across bounty hunters. She scanned the crowded freighter and noticed a man standing near the exit who had a small blaster pistol sticking out of his robes.
You’ve been out of the Order an hour and you’re already stealing? Ahsoka quieted the voice in the back of her mind as she tried to devise a plan. She needed to hang on to the few credits she had. Besides, this guy looked well off: he dressed like the senators she had grown accustomed to hanging around during her tenure as a Padawan. She got up and crossed to the other side of the transport, so that she was standing directly behind him.
She needed a distraction. Nothing too dramatic, just enough to slip the gun out of the man’s holster without anyone noticing. There was a security droid nearby that she thought ought to do the trick. She closed her eyes and focused her energy. She pictured the droid short-circuiting, sparking as it crumpled to the ground.
Clank!
She opened her eyes and saw that, indeed, the droid had toppled onto its side, drawing the attention of the passengers nearby. Quickly, she stuck out her hand, focusing her energy once more, and with the flick of her wrist, the pistol was in her grip. She slipped into her belt where she usually kept her lightsaber and folded her arms casually over herself to hide it from view. She looked around, cautiously. No one seemed to have noticed her little stunt.
“Wasn’t that a cute trick?” asked a voice from behind her. She didn’t have to look to know who it was.
Ventress.
“What are you doing here?” Ahsoka hissed, instinctually gripping the pistol. She didn’t want to cause a scene, but it was smarter to be ready just in case.
“I could ask you the same question,” Ventress replied casually, “Your friend told me that you had been arrested for the Jedi Temple bombing. Did you manage to escape again?”
Ahsoka was confused. “My friend?”
“Skywalker,” Ventress replied, her distaste apparent in her voice.
“You spoke with Anakin?”
“‘Spoke with’ is putting it kindly,” Ventress said, “he was not happy about your arrest and he seemed to blame me for the entire situation. Which,” she glared at Ahsoka through squinted eyes, “is ironic, because the way I recall it, I was the one who helped you hide from the Jedi when they turned on you.”
“Sorry about that,” Ahsoka wasn’t sure why she was apologizing to Ventress of all people, “I was framed by Barriss Offee. She attacked me right before the Jedi arrested me, but she was disguised. I thought she was you. She confessed to the bombings… I thought she was my friend…”
“But the Jedi didn’t take you back?” Ventress asked.
“They offered, but… I couldn’t stay,” Ahsoka admitted.
“I understand.” Ahsoka met Ventress’ eyes. She supposed she had never really thought of Ventress as a person before. They had been enemies fighting on opposite sides of the war, but now neither of them had a side. Ventress continued, “Where are you going to go?”
“I’m not sure yet,” Ahsoka said, “As far away from here as I can get.”
“Do you have a ship?” Ventress asked.
“No,” Ahsoka confessed.
“I might be able to help you with that.” Ventress smiled coyly.
“Why would you help me?” Ahsoka asked.
“Well it wouldn’t be out of the kindness of my heart.”
“Of course.” Ahsoka rolled her eyes. “What's your price?”
“I’ve got a job I could use some help with,” Ventress told her, “I could cut you a deal.”
Ahsoka raised an eyebrow, skeptical. “What kind of a deal?”
“You help me with the job. If it’s successful, I’ll give you my ship.”
“Your ship?” Ahsoka was surprised. “What kind of ship?”
“Corellian corvette,” Ventress replied.
“That’s a nice ship,” Ahsoka observed, “How did you manage to get your hands on a corvette?”
“That’s the part I need your help with.” A sly smile snaked its way across Ventress’ lips.
“You want me to help you steal a ship?” Ahsoka asked.
“You’re already a thief aren’t you?” Ventress glanced down at the pistol which Ahsoka was still gripping involuntarily.
“Let me get this straight,” Ahsoka said with a glare, “You want me to steal a ship for you so that you can run a job. Then, as payment for helping you with the job, you will give me the ship that I stole?”
“Exactly.”
“That is literally the worst bargain I have ever heard in my life!” Ahsoka said, exasperated.
Ventress smirked. “I never said it was a bargain.”
“No deal,” Ahsoka said, turning away from Ventress. “Thanks for the offer, but I don’t need your help stealing a ship.”
Ventress thought for a moment and then said, “I’ll give you ten percent.”
“Twenty-five,” Ahsoka retorted, “and the ship. That’s my final offer.”
“Twenty and the ship,” Ventress retorted, “Trust me. In this case, twenty percent is a big payout.”
Ahsoka looked skeptical. “What is this job, anyway?”
Ventress smiled. “Do you really wanna know?”
Ahsoka let out a sigh. “No.” She weighed the possibilities for a moment and then nodded slowly. “Fine. You’ve got a deal.”
* * *
Stealing things turned out to be a lot of fun, actually. Ahsoka couldn’t help but imagine the horrified faces her friends on the Jedi council would have made if they knew how much of a thrill she had gotten from stealing the corvette off of the Westport docks.
“That’s the one,” Ventress whispered, pointing toward a white corvette with blue markings, glittering in the evening light.
“That is a nice ship,” Ahsoka admitted, scouting the surrounding area.
“Diplomat named Jaa Tanau,” Ventress replied with a shrug, “But he’s not here. It’s the dock workers we have to worry about. Most of the workers around here have been well-trained to keep away smugglers and thieves, so they’re likely impervious to Jedi mind tricks.”
“We’ll need a diversion,” Ahsoka agreed.
“Like your stunt with the droid?” Ventress asked with a smirk.
“Exactly,” Ahsoka replied. “There aren’t a lot of people working over here so it shouldn’t take much…” She looked around. “See those fuel canisters over there?” Ahsoka pointed to a large shipment of fuel which was being stored nearby. “Could you set those on fire without blowing this whole place up?”
“No,” she said, “Even the least volatile fuels will explode if that quantity catches fire. But, I could possibly syphon some from a canister and use it to set something else on fire.”
“Okay,” Ahsoka said, “I’ll go talk to that worker and make sure his back is to you. You set something on fire-- it’ll have to be big enough to distract all the workers nearby, but nothing too destructive-- and meet me onboard.”
“Alright,” Ventress said, pulling up the hood of her cloak to cover her face.
“If you’re not onboard by the time I’m ready to take off, I’m leaving you,” Ahsoka added, only half-joking.
“I’ll be there,” Ventress responded, not joking at all.
“Okay, here I go. Hey!” Ahsoka waved her hand above her head as she ran over to the worker who was guarding the ship.
“Can I help you, miss?” the worker asked her. Out of the corner of her eye, Ahsoka caught a glimpse of Ventress darting toward the fuel supply before disappearing out of sight.
“Yes! Um, I’m totally lost,” Ahsoka replied, feigning helplessness, “My friend is giving me passage to Naboo and he told me to meet him at his ship, but, um, I forgot where he said it was docked.”
“Oh, well I can certainly look that up for you,” he said, gesturing toward his datapad, “What’s your friend’s name?”
“Skywalker,” Ahsoka said the first name that popped into her mind, “Um, Rex S--Skywalker.”
“Hm. Rex Skywalker. Skywalker,” the worker mumbled to himself as he searched through the list of names in his datapad, “I don’t see any ‘Skywalker’s listed here.”
Hurry up, Ventress, Ahsoka thought to herself, but out loud she said, “Really? That’s so strange. He said he was in Westport, unless-- Oh no! Do you think it’s possible he’s at Newport?”
“Um, I’m not sure, Miss,” the worker responded, scratching his head. "I’m not seeing his name here.”
“Could you look again?” Ahsoka asked, batting her eyelashes in a manner which she hoped was convincing and not too over-the-top.
“Well, I suppose I could. Could you spell it for me?” The worker asked.
“Sure! It’s R-E-X S-K-Y-W,” just then, a small, orange light appeared a few feet behind the worker. Perfect timing. “A-L-K-E-R,” Ahsoka finished as the small orange flame erupted into a fire nearly the size of the ship she was trying to steal. “Holy Stars!” She shouted at the worker, pointing at the fire behind him.
“What? How did that happen?” The worker asked, suddenly overwhelmed. Several other workers from the surrounding area began running toward the fire to investigate.
“Should you, maybe, deal with that?” Ahsoka asked, trying not to be too forward.
“Yeah, uh, sorry Miss,” he said, already taking off toward the flames.
“Nice one,” Ahsoka mumbled under her breath as she sneaked backwards onto the ship, ensuring that no one was watching. Once onboard, she ran to the bridge and began to prep the ship for takeoff.
“Pretty good diversion, if I do say so myself,” Ventress said, appearing behind Ahsoka. Before Ahsoka had the chance to respond, Ventress hit the doors and said, “Now let’s get out of here!”