It's Commander Tano, Not Padawan

Chapter 32

A/N: Sorry for the wait, ya'll. 

The cool, damp roughness of stone dragged across Ahsoka's fingers as she stepped into room – a cell, more accurately – of Fort Anaxes that was buried deep in the mountain. She felt the life of the earth beneath her feet call out to her.

She needed to breathe. Deep, earthen breaths grounded her, filling her lungs.

Breathe in. Hold. Release.

Rex had yet to deliberately reach out to her and she didn't want to distract him on a mission, but his spiking emotions of anguish-panic-joy sent her skyrocketing, followed by an immediate spiraling descent.

Ahsoka leaned her forehead against the stone, a chill rushing down her arms.

Breathe in. Hold. Release.

She was now in possession of damning evidence about Palpatine's intentions in this war. Evidence that with what the Jedi knew of the war would leave no room for ambiguity.

Ahsoka lowered herself to the stone beneath her feet.

Breathe in. Hold. Release.

Every step she made from here needed to be calculated. Meticulous. Every motive, every possible outcome needed to be accounted for. Messing up was not an option.

She pressed her hands against the stone, the dampness of the moss in the cracks, the sleekness of the azure which weaved between the coarseness of the stone pressing back.

Despite the Jedi Order's recent failure, Ahsoka knew she could trust Master Windu. He would always do what he thought was best for the Republic. There would be backlash, no doubt, when the knowledge that the Order had but didn't share came to light. But the future of the Republic and that of the Jedi Order was far more important than public disfavor.

Breathe.

It was guaranteed that Palpatine had contingency plans as far as the eye could see. He had to be prepared to be found out which left even less room for a mishap. She would arrange to speak with Chancellor Palpatine for a promotion. Rex would be with her as a personal guard. All the younglings would be removed from clone accessible areas. There would be a team of Jedi under Yoda's command waiting for her or Rex's word.

And Anakin?

Anakin would be on Anaxes, none the wiser.

Breathe.

The Force is with you, my Sister.

Ahsoka's eyes snapped open.

_________________________________________________

"We're back."

That was the extent of what she received from Rex, his voice echoing in her mind. She frowned at her comm device as if it was the source of all her problems. Ahsoka wished she could hear his voice

"Did you find anything?" she probed.

A tangible weight seemed to be carried in his clipped words. "Yes. Meet us in the main hangar by platform TT-3-9-7."

Ahsoka's furrowed her brow. She couldn't tell what the results were: if he had found proof for his theory or not. She shook her head. He'd tell her once she got there.

By the time she arrived, he wasn't at the platform number he had given her, but closer to the barracks with an odd-looking clone and... Anakin? The scene before her was almost comical, Rex clearly trying to communicate something to Anakin that was just not getting through. The other solider appeared as if he had had just about enough and was opening his mouth to speak when Rex noticed her over Anakin's solider.