The Rise of the Valkyrie *ON HIATUS*

Chapter Twenty

Ashara stood next to Plo Koon as he discuss some military ops. Ahsoka stood on Master Koon's other side, Anakin not with her. He was on a mission with Master Windu currently. The yellow togruta didn't like thinkin about Anakin's mission because so far, him being with Master Windu had only gotten him into trouble. They had to evacuate the cruiser they were on due to it being sabotaged, and now they were looking for the admiral of the ship. All Ashara got when she thought about it was bad feelings. 

She jumped when several thuds and a crash sounded almost immediately after the door opened and a droid started beeping frantically. 

"R2?" Ahsoka said as everyone turned to see what the fuss was about. Ashara recognized Anakin's droid as Ahsoka got him upright. 

"R2? What are you doing here? Where's Anakin?" the yellow togruta immediately asked. The droid didn't say anything and just started to try and push the red astromech out of the way so he could plug into the computer instead. The droids started fighting and Ahsoka had to get in between the two.

Ahsoka knelt in front of the R2. "R2, what's wrong?" The droid merely whimpered and shook slightly. Ashara narrowed her eyes in worry for Anakin.

"Ahsoka? You know this droid?" Plo Koon asked.

Ashara answered before Ahsoka could. "This is Anakin's droid. And if there's one thing I know for sure, if R2 is here without Anakin, it means that Anakin is in trouble..."

"Plug in, R2", Ahsoka said gently. R2 rushed to the computer, and instantly plugged in, playing a recording of Anakin stuck underneath some rubble. 

"I need you to go back to the fighters, and call the temple for help." Anakin coughed. "Okay?"

Ashara stared in worry, barely hearing Plo Koon as he said to someone to prepare his ship. She whipped around and stalked out of the room. She heard Ahsoka and Plo Koon following her as she made her way to Plo Koon's ship. 

~~~~~~

Ashara held on as a gunship flew down into the atmosphere of the planet Anakin and Windu were stuck on. She caught a glimpse of the two trapped in the bridge.

"There!" she called at the same time as Ahsoka.

"Ahsoka!" Plo Koon said. "Hold the ship steady."

While the master and apprentice held out their hands and focused the force around the ship, Ashara focused her energy on lifting the rubble trapping Anakin and Windu while some of Plo Koon's clones got the Jedi out.

As soon as Anakin and Windu were safely aboard, Ashara let out a deep breath. She looked over at Anakin and saw him and Ahsoka talking quietly. She caught his gaze and sent an upset look his way. A half smile appeared on his face, and she rolled her eyes. They landed a ways from the ship, and got the two Jedi onto some stretchers and tend to the more serious wounds.

Ashara let out a quiet sigh, tensing when a voice spoke from behind her.

"You care a lot for Skywalker, don't you?" Plo Koon said. Ashara turned, and sent him a smile.

"Of course I do", she replied. "He's been my best friend since we were little. He's always looked out for me, like a big brother would. It's time I returned the favor for once."

Plo Koon hummed, but didn't say anything in reply. They returned to the gunships, and prepared to make their way back to Coruscant.

~~~~~~

Ashara made her way to the temple medbay. She entered the room where she knew Anakin was resting. She was surprised, however, to see that he had a roommate of Master Windu.

She greeted the master respectfully before making her way over to Anakin. He was sitting the bed, staring a datapad and didn't see her. She cleared her throat and Anakin jumped.

Ashara giggled, and sat down next to him. "How you feeling, Anakin?"

"Better than I was before, Ash", Anakin replied. "Hope you're not still upset with me for being reckless again."

"Oh, I'm still mad. It's just easier to ignore it when it's directed in two different places."

"You shouldn't be feeling such emotions in the first place, Ashara", Master Windu spoke from his bed. "It is not conducive to the Jedi code."

Ashara rolled her eyes. "That may be so, Master Windu, but you also forget that I didn't have much practice blocking out my emotions due to me coming to the temple later than everyone else. Both me and Anakin still have a long ways to go before we'll be as good at you at ignoring your emotions."

"Does he even have any?" Anakin muttered to himself. Ashara snorted, knowing that Mace Windu couldn't hear what her friend said.

"Anyway, just thought I could keep you some company while Master Plo and Ahsoka go and find the little rascal who did this."

Anakin raised an eyebrow. "I'm surprised you didn't go with them."

"Eh, I didn't think that it'd be necessary. Three Jedi seem a bit overkill for a young bounty hunter in training", Ashara said. "Besides... I've been assigned to another mission. So I can't stay long."

Anakin groaned. "I just want to get back out onto the field. I've dealt with worse injuries."

"Oh, I know, and you made just as big a fuss about it then as you do now. Like when you got your hand cut off. Man, it took everything I had in me to not gag you so you would stop complaining about being stuck in medbay while they made sure your prosthetic worked."

Anakin grumbled, and Ashara chuckled. A quiet beep came from her wrist, and she sighed as she answered the comm-link.

"What is it, Obi-wan?" she asked, completely guessing at who was calling her.

"It's time to go", the master said. "Where are you?"

"I was keeping Anakin company!" Ashara said cheerfully. "We'll meet you in the hangar soon, Obi-wan!"

Before the master could reply, she hung up on him, and stood. "Well, I guess I'll see you guys later! Bye for now!"

Before they could reply, Ashara was already out of the room, happy to leave behind the kill-joy that was Mace Windu.