Screams echoed everywhere, from inside the temple and on the outside. Instinctively, the two Jedi padawans sprinted up towards the explosion, attempting to help any way they could.
Nathan brushed past Mace Windu as he ran through the temple, but he was halted by the Jedi Master.
"Padawan Tynan, I need you to be part of the crowd control force by the steps of the Temple. We must not let civilians in." He demanded.
"Yes, Master." He obeyed, without second thought. He wanted to stay in the good books of the council.
Ahsoka had also been sent back down to help stop the flock of people from entering the Temple, by Ki Adi Mundi, and now they were the main part of a force, preventing intruders. A long gate was put up, and the padawans stood behind it.
Suddenly, Nathan felt something. His breath went sharp and cold, and his eyes began to flutter. He clutched his head, falling to one knee. Without second thought, Ahsoka rushed over to him.
"Nathan? Nathan!" Ahsoka cried, shaking his shoulders desperately. She had felt something too, but not nearly as much as he had.
Nathan's vision had gone blurry, and Ahsoka's lack of concentration had let quite a large number of intruders in, who were luckily stopped by another gate, this time one with laser fencing, preventing any non-force user from accessing it.
"Ahsoka." Nathan breathed, struggling to even say her name properly.
"Nathan?" She asked with a slight whimper, fearing that he was seriously injured, somehow.
"Something...has happened. The bomb."
"Nathan, what is it?" She asked hurriedly, now holding her friend up.
There was a pause, as Nathan drew a long breath.
"Master."
He fell unconscious in Ahsoka's arms, both organic and mechanical arm going limp as he did so. Ahsoka fell to her knees and began to sob, realising what Nathan had felt.
Master Shaak Ti was in the explosion. And now, she was dead.
* * *
The timing of the bomb was perfect for their opposition. A lot of the Jedi Masters were absent from the Temple, including Kenobi, who was dealing with the sudden reappearance of Maul, out in Mandalore. Master Secura was in the Outer Rim, Anakin Skywalker was in Cato Nemoidia, and Master Kit Fisto was on Kashyyyk. With the height of the Clone Wars approaching, it seemed that the attacker would have been aware of the absentees, and this points to an inside attacker. A Jedi.
Nathan was still unconscious, now hours after the explosion. His pulse was steady and his body seemed to be functioning, but he had yet to awaken.
Ahsoka and Caleb didn't leave his side. The entire time, the pair had been bedside, making sure he was doing okay. On screens throughout both Coruscant and the Temple, the casualties were flashing on the screen, revealing the death count.
JACIN OWNYMAN
OUTINA BEGGITTS
WESTUS BOLAMUS
JACKAR BOWMANI
SHAAK TI
Every time the Jedi Master's name flickered on the screen, Ahsoka and Caleb would tear up. It was heartbreaking. One of the most caring and kind Jedi Masters of the Council was gone, just like that. Ahsoka vowed to herself, that she would find the attacker, and bring them to justice.
"Ahsoka."
The voice of Nathan finally spoke. His voice was slurred slightly, but Ahsoka was alert in an instant. She put a hand on his heart, feeling as it beat at a regular rhythm.
"Nathan?" She said quietly.
"I'm here." He said, barely audible.
"Caleb, could you give us a minute please?" Ahsoka asked the padawan, who nodded and left without a word. It was now just those who survived the bombing with injuries, Nathan and Ahsoka left in the medbay ward now.
"Hey." She tried to smile at him encouragingly but her voice broke, as she choked on her own tears.
"Ahsoka, are you okay?" He asked, opening his eyes slowly, as he saw the Togruta upset in front of him.
"Yes, yeah, I'm, uh, I'm fine." She could barely string a sentence together.
"Are you?"
"I will be. I will just need some time."
He placed a hand on her cheek, wiping the tears off with his thumb.
Ahsoka nodded, and got back to her feet.
"I love you, Ahsoka. More than you will ever realize." Nathan whispered, staring into her blue eyes, still stung with tears.
"I love you too, Nathan. I promise to find whoever did this."
YOU ARE READING
STAR WARS: CONFLICTED
ActionThis is my Star Wars Story, set in the Clone Wars time period, about a young Padawan named Nathan Tynan, who was born in 37 BBY. He was the apprentice to the Togruta Jedi Master, Shaak Ti, and he often spent his free time training with her or, when...
