Only Love can Save them

Chapter 1

"General, we're losing our shields!" yelled a rebel as the entire ship shook from the impact. Imperial blasts rained down on them from a massive grey Star Destroyer that hovered above them. 

"Full power to engines!" the usually calm Togruta general ordered. "Let's see if we can outrun these bucketheads before our reinforcements arrive."

The rebels at the computer stations nodded, making the needed adjustments with practiced ease. The general imagined what the battle looked like to the people of Christophsis down below. She had been to the planet several times in the past, but immediately shook the painful memories away. 

"Incoming ships emerging from hyperspace!" a female Pantoran rebel announced as the general spotted the three shapes pop up on the holoprojector. 

"Let's hope their ours," the general muttered under her breath. "And if not, may the Force be with us all."

But the Togruta let out a sigh of relief as three Alderaanian supports ships appeared beside them. A squadron of A-Wing and Y-Wing fighters flew out of the hangar of the blue and white ships, as the skilled pilots took on the Imperial ship. 

Their red blasts broke the shields of the large ship as the Y-Wings sent bombs below, slowly destroying the Imperial ship's bridge. The TIEs were attempting to fight back, but were quickly destroyed by the A-Wing fighters. 

A small victory, but one that wouldn't matter the moment Imperial reinforcements showed up. The fighters docked at their hangar and the general immediately typed in the coordinates for their nearest base. 

"Make the jump to hyperspace!" she ordered as the other support ships were already disappearing into the blue and white blur. 

The Togrutan rebel slumped in relief as the stars blurred together and they made it into the safety of lightspeed. "General, incoming transmission from General Offee," said a male rebel, looking up from his spot at the bridge. 

"Put it through," she replied. Immediately, Barriss Offee, dressed in a pitch-black jumpsuit with a leather belt, and finely crafted leather boots. A cloak with accents of pale green was wrapped around her shoulders, embroided with the symbol of her house. Her lightsaber hung from the belt at her waist.  Barriss had taken the path of the Grey Jedi after she had decided to leave the Jedi Order when she was found guilty to the bombing of the Jedi Temple.

Years later, Ahsoka reunited with her former-enemy and had taken the path of the Grey Jedi as well. Now they were simply friends, fighting together once again, but this time for the freedom of the galaxy, not for another ruler to control most planets.

"General Tano," Barriss Offee said, her figure tinted blue by the hologram. "Good to hear from you, my friend."

"You as well," Ahsoka replied, nodding slightly. Their figures were replaced with their specific symbols to all but themselves. "Right on time, as always."

Barriss gave a light, airy, laugh before turning serious. "It's becoming much harder to predict what moves the Empire will make. Few other cells have been able to continue with your efficiency."

"I wouldn't call it efficiency," Ahsoka said, leaning on the holotable as she pulled up a map that showed their recent losses. "We've lost many fighters over our past battles near Shili system and Corvus. The forest planet is burning." 

Barriss let out a soft gasp and covered her mouth with a small green hand. "I'll speak with Bail about sending humanitarian aids to the people. But is there something else?"

"Yes, my friend. The sheer number of the force is not the issue. The Empire is getting the newest tracking technology even before it comes off the assembly line. They have a large advantage over us and can track us back to our bases. I suggest we use astromechs to scan the ships after fights."

"I agree. However, this is not why I have contacted you. Senator Organa has it from a source that the-" Barriss paused for a second, contemplating what to say. "- certain Imperials we seek are overseeing the construction of a new base on Mon Cala."

Ahsoka inhaled sharply. She assumed they were both dead. She told herself that it would be better that they were dead than serving the Empire. But now they were both slaves of the Sith-led power. "Barriss, we must let go. If there is time to save them, then we can certainly try. But now we must do what is best for the fleet and the galaxy," Ahsoka decided. 

"But-" Barriss protested, before Ahsoka cut the Mirialan off sharply. 

"I want to believe that we can bring them back as much as you, my friend. However, we must do what is best for all of us. If we sacrifice a portion of our fleet to save them, then we are risking losing everything we have worked to build," Ahsoka explained and Barriss nodded sadly. 

"Very well. Offee out," Barriss said as her hologram flickered for a moment before disappearing entirely. 

"Rendezvous with General Offee's ships at Starlit Base," Ahsoka ordered the rebels. "I need to rest. If you need something, comm me."

"Yes ma'am," a rebel said as he looked back towards the control panel. 

Ahsoka walked off the bridge and took several winding turns before she entered her quarters. It was simple. A bed, a holoprojector, a mat to meditate on, and a bag filled with supplies that she could grab if needed. 

She sat on her bed and, immediately, tears rolled down her cheeks. She hated herself for what she had done years ago. As she tried desperately tried to forget, the memory came back more vivid than ever. 

----Flashback----

"Rex, hurry!" Ahsoka yelled as she climbed onto the Y-Wing fighter that was still under repairs. The blue blaster shots from the other clones lit up the cruiser's hangar and the sound echoed around the metal.

Rex turned to her and removed his helmet, so she see every part of his pain-filled amber eyes. A thin tear rolled down his cheek as he turned his blaster to the already-thin metal holding the ship in place. 

With a soft click, he removed the safety. He fired three perfectly-aimed blaster shots at the metal and with a snap, the Y-Wing shot out from the hangar. "Rex!" she screamed. "No!"

"Live to fight another day," he mouthed as a blaster shot went through his shoulder. "Live to fight another day."

He disappeared from view as she steadied the ship and tears clouded her eyes. She watched as the ship tore itself apart from the inside out. "Rex, no. Come back. Please,"  she begged through her sobs. "Come back."

----End of flashback----

For years, that memory had haunted Ahsoka Tano. It was her secret. Only she knew. The others assumed that Captain Rex was killed by his brothers when the cruiser went down. But that was wrong. Rex was left to die on a crashing ship. 

But now that he was alive, one thing haunted Ahsoka. She had left him to die when she needed him most. And she was a monster. 

Monster. The word echoed around in her head. 

Monster. 

Monster. 

A/N: Okay, so hope you liked the first chapter. Barriss's house crest is the symbol of the cover that isn't Fulcrum or the Empire. Ahsoka is wearing her outfit in Rebels. I'll try to update as soon as possible. 

-EmeraldMoon