Ahsoka Tano - Undeserving

19

With everything happening, after Ahsoka returned from her sparring session with General Skywalker she didn't even attempt sleep. She instead spent the night taking brief and fitful naps, separated by worrying about her former master's trial the next morning. There was also the stress of wondering what her future held, but she tried her best not to think about that because she already felt as if she was going to explode without that added worry.

Soon enough Ahsoka woke from her final nap as the sun rose, getting dressed and taking a moment to breathe before exiting her quarters. She had never visited the Chamber of Judgement except for when she was a youngling exploring the Temple, so this would be her first time witnessing the chamber in use. The padawan passed by a few other Jedi who glanced her way, making her redden under her already orange skin. There was no doubt that word about her predicament had passed quickly through the Jedi ranks, and Ahsoka diverted her eyes to the floor and ignored the many on her as she approached the chamber.

After several minutes of walking in silence and avoiding awkward eye contact, Ahsoka made it to the entrance of the chamber. She had been instructed to wait there until the trial began, so she gave small smiles of greeting to the Jedi Council Members as they filed into the chamber. Each returned her smile in varying ways, with Master Kenobi's being the most personally reassuring.

Finally Ahsoka was commanded to enter, and enter she did. The Chamber of Judgement was dark and gloomy, radiating with a sense of foreboding. Ahsoka reminded herself repeatedly that none of this was for her, that only those who deserved to be judged on their actions would stand before the Council here. Nevertheless, she couldn't help but feel a churning of nerves deep within her gut.

Once Krell arrived, surrounded by Coruscant Guard troopers and Temple Guards alike with both pairs of hands in cuffs, Ahsoka eyed him warily. But he didn't even cast a glance in her direction, seemingly annoyed with the whole process instead of intimidated by it. Ahsoka realized in that moment that she would have preferred him to shoot her an angry glare than ignore her completely, and she stifled her own frustration as his podium rose up to face the Council staring coldly down at him.

"Jedi Master Pong Krell." Master Windu declared, and he usually sounded detached and cold but Ahsoka couldn't tell if the chamber amplified these sentiments or if he actually despised the Jedi standing in front of him now. "You have been charged with misuse of power over your padawan to the point of physical and mental pain and injury. How do you plead?"

"Not guilty, Masters." The Beaslisk's large voice boomed throughout the chamber. Ahsoka couldn't help but shiver as this was the first time she'd heard his voice in awhile; she'd forgotten how easily just a word from him could strike fear into her heart. "I fully admit that I may have carried my enthusiasm for training too far, but it was all in the interest of my padawan's ability to protect herself. To be prepared for the worst if and when it should come."

"Master Krell, you disobeyed direct orders from Healers in regards to returning your padawan to training much too soon after a terrible injury. Because of this, she had to undergo traumatic and difficult healing and is still not fully healed from her wounds." Master Kenobi stated stiffly, the harsh lighting of the chamber dramatizing the slight scowl on his face.

"And, as I said, I was too enthusiastic to return her to training." Krell admitted, although Ahsoka hoped that the masters saw through his lies as easily as she did. "But I assure you, masters, I never meant to harm my padawan. She is the future of the Jedi Order, and as such it was my duty to ensure her survival during this difficult time of war and violence."

Poodoo. Ahsoka barely kept herself from rolling her eyes, knowing that the Council was observing her reactions to his statements. "That may be," Master Ti began, "But it is no excuse to treat a padawan the that way you have treated Ahsoka Tano. She states that you have been consistently beating and bruising her for trivial punishments such as arriving a few minutes late to a training session, and the Healers who have treated her have witnessed the scars and bruises firsthand that are in too strategic of places to be caused by war alone."