The Unchronicled Adventures of Ahsoka Tano, Book Eight

Chapter Fifty-One: The Angel Gets Her Wings

PADME AMIDALA

Padme ran through the snow, sinking deeper and deeper into the cold white stuff with each step she took. The storm was worsening. After a few minutes, she had to all but climb out of the snow bank and onto a patch of ice that could thankfully support her weight.

She wrapped the fluffy white cloak on her snowsuit tightly around her. Even now, she was far too cold. But she knew that she had to get to Anakin.

A few minutes before, she had felt Anakin's presence. She could tell that he was in terrible danger, and her immediate response to the feeling had been to grab her coat and go running blindly to his rescue.

She wasn't Force-sensitive, exactly, but she had a deep connection with certain people she was close to. Ahsoka, Anakin, Bail Organa, Mina, Leia, Lux... They were all a part of her. And even though she was violating her superiors' directive of non-involvement, this was one thing that she couldn't sit out.

Amidala, NO, called out one of her superiors, one of the gentler and kinder ones. You cannot interfere! He must face Vader, as he always has had to!

"I know what must happen!" Padme cried to them over the howling wind. "But there's General Grievous! You said nothing about him! I gave my words not to get involved, but this isn't the fair fight you told me was coming! I can at least even out the playing field!"

The voice of one of the harsher beings spoke next. You MUST NOT use the secret weapons! The galaxy is not ready!

She began walking again, struggling against the snow. She could feel the two weapons bestowed upon her by the afterlife at her utility belt. "It matters not. If neither Vader nor Grievous survive, then no one needs to know!"

AMIDALA, STOP!!

She was suddenly surrounded by a semi-transparent white force field, one that she couldn't pass through, but, thankfully, got rid of the cold. Ghostly faces that were the basic representations of her superiors floated around her, silently convening on what she was proposing to do. She bit her lip, waiting for their answer.

After a long moment, the collective voices said, We have agreed. You will make contact with the Kaleesh cyborg. No one else. Your attachment to He Who Was Chosen is admirable, but it must not cloud your judgment. Vader and Anakin must fight without external influences.

"Thank you," Padme whispered, and the field dissipated.

And remember to cloak your Force-signature, one voice piped up. If Vader knows that you are alive, then there will be grave consequences. The nature of the battle could change. You cannot allow this.

"I know. I understand," she said, relief washing over her.

Good. We leave you now, Ambassadori Padme Naberrie Amidala Skywalker. Ambassadori was a word in the old Nubian tongue, meaning 'high ambassador', which her superiors had come to call her. She was their bridge to the corporeal world. The Force will be with you.

"And with you," she said. She felt their collective presence ebb away, but something was different. Her cloak was gone, and her curly brown hair was entirely free of the hood, held in place only by a white, fuzzy headband to keep her ears and neck warm. There was also a strange-looking comm at her wrist.

She pushed the button, and she was suddenly aware of the existence of a lightweight metal oval attached to her back by the fabric on her coat and two straps. It shifted slightly, then began to expand. With sharp noises, a combination of clicks and slicing sounds, the metal began to unfold.

Before she knew it, she was equipped with a pair of shiny metal wings, designed like those that the Angels were always depicted wearing. Each carved feather, each little cleft in the metal thrummed with a mystical energy. She wondered how they worked.

Well, there's only one thing to do, she said to herself. She crouched low to the hard patch of ice, muscles clenched, and then sprung upwards.

And she flew.

*Padme has received new instructions from her superiors. But just who is this mysterious group of beings? Were they the ones who returned Padme to life? And what are her 'secret weapons'? What are Vader's motives for bringing back General Grievous and confronting Anakin? And how will Ahsoka and Anakin manage to win their separate battles? If they're even as separate as they seem... You'll find out how in the next thrilling chapter of The Unchronicled Adventures Of Ahsoka Tano!

Hullooooo everybody! Here's the next chapter, and to the last couple of days before Star Wars Rebels season two hits the internet! Hope you liked, and I'm going to start working on the next one, because like I said... I know exactly where I'm going with the end of book eight now.

Lure any remaining Jedi that survived the Purge back to Coruscant with a coded signal and may the Force be with you,

Sharron

PS: I just read some of the 'Star Wars: Kanan: The Last Padawan' comic series online and I'm FANGIRLING SO HARD right now!!! It's so awesome!!