STAR WARS: CONFLICTED

CHAPTER XXVI - VISION RESUMED

"He's not lying." Came the voice of Ahsoka, from amongst the flames of the alight village.
The dark figure glanced over at the Togruta, and turned himself to face her.
"And who might you be?" The distorted voice growled.
"Let them go." Ahsoka ignored his question, motioning to the villagers who were tied up behind him.
"See, I told you she would be back!" One of the villagers cried.
"Stop it!" Came the cry of another.
The figure turned back to the villager who had notified him of the Jedi.
"So you did." He snarled, making his way behind the villager in question.

"Here is your reward."

The figure sliced it's crimson lightsaber at the villager, but before it could make contact, the villager was pushed aside by Ahsoka, saving the one who had ratted her out.
The figure looked back up towards the Togruta, who stood with a stance she used commonly, hand outstretched.
The creature began to walk towards her.
"You're supposed to be dead," it said. "Ahsoka Tano."
The villagers gasped.
And as the figure loomed over Ahsoka, it fired a second blade from its hilt, and swung towards her.

* * *

"NO!" Nathan cried, jumping back into consciousness. The moon still hung over the Mandalorian skies, with few coulds to be seen. It must have been somewhat early in the morning still. Ahsoka still slept, underneath her makeshift blanket, breathing quietly. Nathan got up from where he was sleeping and made his way out of the hut, throwing on his boots clumsily, still half-asleep.

Ahsoka began to stirr, lifting her head slightly. She was very tired, so she tried to shut her eyes and sleep once more, but she realised Nathan wasn't there. Her eyes flew open, and she began to panic, sitting upright, and looking around within the hut. Nowhere to be seen.

She got dressed herself, before opening the hut's door slowly, being sure to stay quiet as she did.

She looked around and saw Nathan stood, out by a fire, watching the stars as they floated above Mandalore.

"Can't sleep?" Ahsoka asked, making her way over to the Jedi Knight.
"No."
She paused. She sensed that something else was happening, that he wasn't telling her.
"Nath, there's something else, isn't there?" She asked, resting her head on him, as he wrapped an arm around her.
"I don't know."
"Is it your Master?" Ahsoka asked. She knew it was a touchy subject but she couldn't figure out what else it could be.
"It isn't my Master."
"Is it me?" As Ahsoka said this, Nathan drew a breath slowly.
There was a short silence before Nathan spoke.
"Yes, Ahsoka. Do you remember the vision I told you about when we were padawans?"

Ahsoka remembered it clear as day. It was when she was sparring with Barriss. God, how she hated that name now.

"Yes, I do. Why?"
"It continued, tonight. It felt real, Ahsoka. These are not dreams. Something is going to happen to you, or us, something dark. I feel it." Nathan felt himself tear up.
Both of them sat in silence, comforting each other in only their presence.
"Do I die?" Ahsoka asked suddenly, praying for an answer.
"I don't know. Maybe. It didn't show that." Nathan replied.
"Well, let's forget it for now. We have a task at hand tommorow, a very important one. If we succeed, we may finish off this conflict for good." Ahsoka said, trying to be as upbeat as possible, without much success.
"You're right." Nathan said.
"What's the plan? She asked. They still hadn't really figured out what they were going to do.
"The Force is our plan."
Ahsoka frowned, confused.
"What do you mean?"
Nathan turned to her, taking her hand with his left, real hand.
"I can sense where he is. Once we get to the city, we can snuff them out. From there, it's just the simple matter of fighting a Sith Lord and his apprentice." Nathan said quietly, realising executing his plan would take more than he first thought.

"Your connection to the Force is that strong?" Ahsoka asked.

"Yes, and no." Nathan responded, not really answering the Togruta's question. He knew what he meant though.

"I think we should rest. We're going to need it." Ahsoka took his hand and walked with him back to their hut, where they laid for moments, before passing out.

Tommorow really would be a day of reckoning for the galaxy. They both knew it.