Shadows of Tomorrow

Chapter 13 - Brain Invaders

"It's good to see you managed not to get killed in my absence," Theseus quips as he joins up with Ahsoka again, and the other Mirialan padawan there. Barriss Offee. They've met in passing before but were never really introduced.

"Well... about that we might have almost been squashed under a building."

"Wait, what?!" he hisses, coming to a stop.

"Ahsoka and I were sent to infiltrate the factory and plant bombs in the main reactor," explains Barriss.

"What?" he echoes again. They went inside alone? Into the catacombs? They could have gotten lost in there! Now he's really beginning to wish he'd been here to help them out.

"Hey, don't worry. Anakin found us," Ahsoka assures him.

"You're not really making me feel much better about this," he mumbles. He was only gone for a day, and she went and nearly got herself killed already.

"It had to be done, regardless of the cost," interjects Barriss. Maybe, but that definitely isn't making him feel better about it.

Their conversation is interrupted as Mundi walks down the ramp of the shuttle, approaching Luminara, Obi-Wan, and Anakin who were discussing the situation with each other. "I'm afraid we have a complication," he declares.

"Don't we always?" Anakin asks dryly.

"I've just received a distress signal from our forces on Dantooine. Master Windu's defenses held, but at a great cost to his men. They need medical supplies immediately. We can obtain these supplies at the medical station near Ord Cestus."

"We're delivering Poggle to Coruscant," Anakin objects, "And Cestus is not exactly on the way."

"The Republic must begin debriefing Poggle right away if we're to get useful intelligence form him," Luminara asserts.

"Master, I suggest we let our padawans handle the supply mission," Anakin proposes.

"Whatever needs to be done, Master, I'm happy to help," Ahsoka chirps.

"Me too," Theseus agrees. "Not like I'm helping here, anyway."

"As am I," Barriss agrees.

"Very well," Obi-Wan says, "Take a medical frigate, and after we've delivered Poggle to Coruscant, we'll rendezvous with you for the voyage to Dantooine."

***

Theseus stares up at the dull gray ceiling above him. He's on the upper level of Ahsoka's bunk. As hard as he tries, he can't bring himself to sleep, for more reasons than that he just got back from a recovery period. The room is too cramped for his liking. Too dark. It's too... quiet.

He can hear Ahsoka rolling around on the bunk below him, her movements punctuated by an occasional groan. Barriss is the only one who doesn't seem to be having any trouble, or maybe she's pretending.

"Can't sleep?" he finally asks rhetorically in a low voice, hoping not to disturb the other padawan in case she is actually sleeping.

"No," Ahsoka grumbles.

"What is it?" Barriss speaks up suddenly, opening her eyes.

"It's too quiet," the Togruta replies, "It's a big change from all the fighting the last few days."

"You should enjoy this peace while it lasts," admonishes Barriss.

"I can't," Ahsoka huffs.

"Then maybe we should do something other than rolling around in bed," Theseus suggests, sitting up.

"Like going to eat?" offers Ahsoka.