Shadows of Tomorrow

Chapter 54 - Odessen

Author's Note: Welp. There will be quite a few in-between chapters before we get back into canon-ish stuff. :) But that just means that we get to focus on Theseus and his life. :D

Also, there will be a number of time skips. The story makes clear how much time has passed, but just keep that in mind. ^-^

~ Amina Gila

The fact that Ahsoka left the Order turns out to be a lifesaver. She's the only one who knows how to go about life outside the Temple or the Grand Army. Theseus and Rex have never had any such experience, and they're both completely lost.

Once they were able to find a way off the planet they'd crashed on, they go to Odessen. It's a quiet planet, which is what they need right now. To stay hidden from the newly formed Empire until they recollect themselves and figure out what to do and where to go. There is no safe place for any of them, not anymore.

The Empire hasn't reached Odessen yet, so hopefully they'll be safe here. They find a place to stay, at least temporarily, but obviously they'll need more credits to do anything long term. Which thankfully, Ahsoka has some idea how to go about getting, because Theseus has no clue how you find a job in the world beyond the Temple.

The reality of everything is just starting to catch up with Theseus, and he has no idea how to deal with it. Everything and everyone he knew is gone. It feels unreal, but he senses the emptiness in the Force, and he doesn't dare think of what happened to those at the Temple. He has no idea how it could have been overrun, but the entire galaxy feels dark.

"I don't think we should stay here," Rex comments, as the three sit in the room they're staying in.

"Where else would we go?" Theseus inquires. "We can't go back to Coruscant."

"Not when everything is in so much chaos," Ahsoka agrees.

"With what the Empire has done, we should be fighting. For the Republic."

"I agree," Ahsoka states firmly.

"We're just three people here," Theseus objects. It's not that he doesn't want to fight back; it's called practicality. Besides, he doesn't know if he's ready for that. All he can feel right now is the Dark Side calling to him more strongly than it ever has before, and if he starts fighting, he'll have to draw on it again. He doesn't want to accidentally Fall, especially not now. He knows what the Dark Side can do to people, and it's not a risk he wants to take. "There's not much we can do alone."

"There has to be other people out there, resisting," Ahsoka declares firmly.

"How would we find them?" Theseus objects.

"I don't know," the Togruta admits, "But I don't want to sit back and do nothing."

"I'm not ready to leave yet," Theseus confesses, finally. "I know we should keep fighting but I can't. Not right now. I... I'm having a hard time re-finding balance."

Rex looks a little lost, but he knows Ahsoka understands. She used to be his best friend and even if he doesn't usually talk about this to anyone, there's too much going on for him to try and keep everything in right now.

Ahsoka grimaces, reaching over and laying a hand on his arm. "I know," she murmurs, quietly.

Theseus reaches up, taking her hand in his. They were best friends their entire lives, and it's ironic how when his path separated from everyone else, it seems to have led him back to her again. A wave nearly intolerable pain stabs through him at the thought, and he's hard pressed not to let the Dark Side in fully, let it turn his pain into anger. If he let it in that much, he's afraid he'd lose control completely, and that's the last thing they need. "I just need some time," he admits, at last.