A single choice

Decisions

I know guys.... The title's really creative. It also says it all... haha

     As Ashoka's body slowly came back to consciousness, she became very aware of the warm blankets on her body and the blinding light shining down on her. Without opening her eyes she said, "Can someone please dim the lights? Either I'm dead, or I'm in the med center." As soon as she said this she heard too many voices scream, (or so it seemed) her name. "Can you all please quiet down?!" 

     Slowly she eased open her eyes letting them adjust to the lighting. Soon she could see Anakin, Padme, Rex, and Obi Wan and Satine, who she grinned to see, were standing rather close. Ever since she'd heard from Anakin what transpired on the Cornet, she had noticed some things that Anakin and herself were more than happy to tease Obi Wan about. After the 3 Jedi were alone she would bring up the subject. 

     Anakin quickly wrapped her up in a big hug, that she could swear, lasted for a whole minute. She liked hugs, but she did not need them to last for 60 seconds. After Anakin let go, she was immediately wrapped into another hug, this time by Padme, but it was much shorter. "Sooo why are you all gathered around my deathbed?" " It's not your deathbed, and don't joke about that." Anakin shot back. "I just did." Ahsoka grinned as she said this and Anakin just rolled his eyes. 

     As she looked around she gave everyone a toothy grin. Rex said, "Nice to have you back kid." A  beeping from Obi Wans com. He walked away while they all started chatting. When he came back he said, " I am so sorry to interrupt this but Anakin, Ahsoka and I need to head up to council chambers. 

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As they slowly ascended the stairs to the temple Ahsoka was brought back to all the times she had walked up these steps. When she had been brought back by Plo Koon, all those years ago. Walking up with Anakin for the first time as his apprentice. His arm draped around her shoulders, in an elder brotherly fashion. All those times coming back from the senate building or Padmé's. And then now. Her master and herself the physically close but worlds apart emotionally.

As they walked through the halls silently, she wondered what she would say. Could she leave her world behind? Even when it had abandoned her? Could she abandon it? Finally, they reached the council chambers. Taking a deep breath she entered.

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Ahsoka was disgusted, no, repulsed. Less than 72 hours ago, Windu had been willing to let her be executed. Now he was asking her to decide the course of her life in a split second? Without even an apology? This was why she couldn't stay. The Jedi pretend to be perfect, while they don't accept what they did wrong and apologize. Then they go and teach compassion and sympathy to the younglings!

Slowly and carefully she took a deep breath. She looked down and looked at her Padawan braid. If she was going to even consider staying, some things need to change.

"If I stay, then some changes need to be made." Master Windu opened his mouth in surprise and horror. She knew he would be the most opposed. "Tano, this is not up for negotiation." Then to everyone's surprise, Aayla Secura spoke up.

"We have wronged Ahsoka, isn't it only fair that we listen to her? Listen to ways we can improve? The Jedi order is about keeping the peace. What better way to do that than to listen to our faults and try to improve?" She then nodded her head at Ahsoka, signaling to continue.

"Well for one, Master Windu, you still haven't apologized to me, that definitely needs to change." It felt good to get that off her chest , she thought. "I do not need to apologize, because there is nothing to apologize for." Ahsoka fumed at these words. "Nothing to apologize for? Has the order become so blinded by war that you cannot realize what a five year old can? This war has made us soldiers, the very opposite of what we are meant to be. As Jedi, we are trained to be keepers of the peace, but all I've ever been, since I was 14, was a soldier, barley older than a child. The only childhood I've ever had, was games with my master and clones I consider my brothers. Games like who can shoot down the most droids, things to keep my mind off of the blood and gore I've seen, the blood and gore on my hands. Because of this horrid conflict you only see the causatives of the soldiers, not the brothers bleeding out on the battlefield. When you gain a victory they tell you that you won, they don't tell you what you lost. When you lose, you only talk about winning the next battle, winning the war. You don't talk about the civilians who lose their lives every day, and who curse you with their dying breath because of this war. The code is sacred to us, and set for the peace, prosperity and protection of the people. You interpret it to the rules you want. Not at all what it was meant to be. And because of that this war has raged with no end in sight. There is only talk about battles and strategy, and ways to get more clones, more money. None, of the people we are meant to protect. We have become like the senate, corrupt in our own form, arguing endlessly about more of what we want. More, Not less, less conflict, less deception. Don't you realize that more Jedi have turned during this war, than in the ten years before. My own friend betrayed me. The order needs to change the way it thinks, the ways it fights, even the code if we have to. It was not meant for a time of war that we are in right now."

"You were also too quick to condemn me. You fell to the demands of the republic. If anything like this happens again, they could not be so lucky." Ahsoka took a deep breath. Sure she would get shot down. All the same it felt good to get that off her chest. It was Aayla who spoke first. "I agree with Ahsoka. We talk too much about the war and what we want. Not what it is costing us. We were also too quick to lock her up."

"Agree with her I do. Knight her we should." At these words from Master Yoda, Ahsoka almost passed out again. "A vote we should take, of Ahsoka, you favor, your hand raise." Everyone except Windu raised their hands. "Win majority did." They all turned to Ahsoka. So did Anakin.

"They're asking you back, Ahsoka. I'm asking you back." Time seemed to freeze and everything stood still. The answer could change everything. Her mind was telling her one thing her heart another. As if someone was whispering in her ear, she heard. "Young one, trust in the force, it will guide you, lead you through mists of darkness. Just as it guided me and Obi-wan to Anakin on that desert planet." 

"Guess you'll have to put up with me a little longer skyguy."

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Welll... Ashoka's staying!! Did you like her speech?? Pls feel free to give me feedback!!