Shadows of Tomorrow

Chapter 17 - Lethal Trackdown

Author's Note: Enjoy the bit of Thesoka in this chapter! They will not actually get together or have a romantic relationship, so don't be too disappointed. Lol.

~ Amina Gila

"You need to meet Master Plo and me in the hanger as soon as possible," Ahsoka informs Theseus.

"I'm on my way," he replies and from the hologram, she can tell that he's already moving, "What happened?"

"Master Anakin and Windu seem to have gotten themselves buried under a Star Destroyer and we –"

"Star Destroyer?" exclaims Theseus.

"I don't know what happened, but Artoo came back with an emergency message."

"Just another everyday occurrence. I'll be there shortly."

She's pacing back and forth impatiently by the shuttle when he shows up a couple minutes later, and they board the ship, heading for Vanqor. She spots the wreckage almost immediately as fly down for the surface of the planet. It's already catching fire all over the place, smoke pouring off it.

"You know, every time I come here, it's because Anakin crashed somehow," Theseus mutters.

"How do you know he crashed this time?" Ahsoka points out.

"I don't, but it happens every other day, so it seems like a good assumption."

She doesn't take the time to reply as the shuttle finally lowers close enough for her to look over the wreckage. "There!" she exclaims, "In the bridge, I see them!" Artoo beeps in relief, but even his beeps still sound very worried. Ahsoka doesn't dare let herself think of what could have happened if they came later. He's almost entirely buried beneath the debris, and there's no way for him to dig himself out. He could have died here. If something else falls on them, she doesn't want to think about what could happen. No, there's no time for those thoughts. She hastily pushes them from mind. Anakin can't die that easily.

"Ahsoka, Theseus, hold the ship steady," Plo instructs. She instantly raises her hands, following his lead as they try to keep the falling debris from crushing Anakin and Windu.

A flaming piece of the Star Destroyer breaks free as the clones finish helping the two back to the shuttle. It crashes down onto a lower part and the entire Star Destroyer explodes into a ball of flames. Ahsoka shudders, turning back to check over Anakin. If they had arrived even a few minutes later, it would have been too late.

"Some pretty serious burns, but nothing a night in the bacta tank won't fix," Ahsoka remarks as she stands next to the stretcher the clones are carrying Anakin on. And why is he trying to sit up? She bonks his leg as a pointed reminder to keep him down.

"If we got there later, we'd be shoveling up ash. So, you owe me one," Theseus far too cheerfully.

"Guess we have Artoo to thank for that," Anakin smirks.

"Come here, droid," Windu calls from the stretcher he's lying on. Artoo whistles, rolling over to him. "I can see why your master trusts you, little one. Good job."

"That's definitely more praise than I ever get," Anakin remarks. Ahsoka is tempted to roll her eyes at him and chalk it up to her master being his usual dramatic self, but it suddenly hits her that she honestly can't remember the last time someone actually praised him. Or thanked him, other than the people he saves. The realization is slightly unsettling. Maybe he actually does have a point. And the way Windu gives him an annoyed look only seems to further it.

***

"Master Plo, I don't understand," Ahsoka states, "Shouldn't we be heading for the last place we knew Boba Fett was spotted?"