The Second Padawan

Chapter Eighty-Seven

Almost as soon as our ship was in the air, Anatoli bombarded me with questions on Ringo Vinda, as if I could possibly know of the situation. "I presume it's the same, considering we're going back."

"Can we contact Master Skywalker?" His idol (Don't tell him I'm aware of his immense adoration.) He even customized his lightsaber hilt to match the base of Anakin's for "practical reasons".

"Okay, set up a transmission."

"Anatoli?" I heard my Master's voice as his hologram flickered. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes Master." Anatoli looked at me, "We're returning to Ringo Vinda as soon as we get into orbit."

"Where's Liyah?"

I walked into view of the hologram. "I'm right here Master. What is the situation down there?"

"Admiral Trench was pulled out." He said, "That's what our intel tells us at least." I was pleasantly surprised, everything seemed to be wrapping up nicely. "What's going on there? The council has kept me out of the loop."

"Tup, has passed." I said. "Fives...is currently under arrest-" I almost fell over as the ship swerved wildly.

"Sorry General!" The polite spoke on the intercom. "A pod almost ran into us!" Almost as soon as the polite steadied, Shaak Ti bounced on the transmission.

"General Aviss, General Skywalker." She nodded at us via hologram. "There's been an escape mounted by Clone Trooper Fives. We need him brought back alive."

I sighed, what was Fives thinking? "Alright, I'm on it Master." She nodded and thanked me.

"That Master, is what's been going on." I said semi-sarcastically. He nodded as I had do end the transmission.

I entered the cockpit. "Focus on that pod." I pointed out window. "Incapacitate, don't destroy."

Anatoli closed his eyes and held his hands behind his back. He was sensing something, or lack there of. "Master, there's nobody on that ship." He brought to my attention.

"Are you positive?" I asked, he nodded in return. "Disengage." I ordered the pilot. "The ships empty."

I contacted Shaak Ti once more. I alerted her of Anatoli's findings. "Bizarre...but not unlikely." She said. "I think the plan was never to escape."

"If I may ask, what do you mean, Master?"

"I suggest you remove yourself from this investigation." She said. That was a complete 180, she must have been contacted by the council.

"If that's what you believe, Master. I'm to return to Ringo Vinda." She nodded and ended the transmission.

"What was that about?" Anatoli asked.

"The council...being the council."

Anakin appeared on the holotable. "We're pulling out of Ringo Vinda as-well." He said. "Return straight to Coruscant." I directed Anatoli with my eyes to go alert the pilot.

"I've been thrusted out of the investigation." I tried not to sound bitter.

"Why? What happened?"

"A suggestion from Master Shaak Ti, aka the council."

"If they think that's the best course of jud-"

"Just like when they handed me over to the Republic authorities." I interrupted him. I admit that was childish of me, bringing up those events even months ago was spiteful. "Sorry." I apologized, more for interrupting him rather than what I said. "I just can't make sense of it." I whispered, Anatoli was surely eavesdropping.

"We can talk about it once we get to Coruscant." He said.

"You have other things to worry about. You know, that thing?" I alluded to Padmé, I knew he hadn't seen her in weeks due to his he back to back battles.

"Right..."

"You're always late." I rolled my eyes.

When we landed on Coruscant, I was abnormally stressed. I was slowly starting to despise the planet, mainly the Jedi Temple. Well- I wound say despise, but dislike. I envied Master Vos who never seemed to come here at all. The temple wasn't the place that I previously would have called sanctuary, there were few things keeping me here. I looked to one on my left who yawned, covering his mouth in an attempt to stiffen the noise.

"You could use some rest." I commented. He immediately straightened his posture.

"I'm not tired, Master." He walked with me around the Temple, I was truthfully looking for a moment alone, and he was obviously tired.

"We don't know what's coming next tomorrow, get your rest. I'll come find you when it's time." With that, he departed from me and went to his dormitory.

I walked aimlessly around the temple, it was almost evening when I saw a class of younglings following behind their teacher. I felt incredibly lonely, so I took my now usual spot by the temple ledge.

It was here, that I was truly alone. I looked down at the lower levels, nothing much was very visible but the glowing lights and speeder traffic. I wondered if Ahsoka was down there. Master told me he hadn't sensed her leaving the planet, but that was a while ago.

I knew Ahsoka well. She'd definitely always tries to find a way to help others, it wasn't just being a Jedi that made her selfless, it was who she was.

If I had left, when I had that chance for a split second, if I had walked down those stairs, alone, what would life be like? Jado would have probably been alive. I could have said assisted him on Jakku, or we could have put ourselves first and left. As a Jedi, we never really knew the true meaning of happiness, happiness meant you possessed something , someone...freedom, yet we are not to possess. So would I have known it? Does Ahsoka know it now?

"Luminous beings are we." Yet I don't feel a light within myself, not anymore. I was the Second Padawan, now a Jedi Knight. I felt as though the council has knighted me out of pity. I felt like an imposter, what kind of Jedi can't even use the force?

As the wind passed through my hair, that I was still debating on cutting, my raw intuition told me someone was lurking around me. I turned my head and saw a familiar face. It was Hallo Cohl.

"Well if it isn't Jedi Knight Liyah Aviss."

"What can I do for you, young Padawan?" I stood up and faced him, a smile creeping across both our faces. "I see you've still got that lock on your head." I pointed to the left of my head, mirroring where his Padawan braid stood attached.

"Very funny." He rolled his eyes. "You're a prodigy, everyone talks about you, you know? Jedi Knight at what, 17?"

"16." I corrected him. I was on the younger spectrum of my youngling class. "About 70 more rotations."

"What are you doing out here anyway?"

"I could ask you the same." I crossed my arms. "I needed some air. I just got back from Kamino."

"I see." He stood next to me. "I come here when...I need some space, from everything." I understood what he was saying, I was surprised our paths haven't crossed here before. "Are you free?" He grinned.

"Not free enough to do whatever you're about to suggest."

"Come on, old times?"

" "old times", like the archives? Getting in trouble?"

"No, I know this cantina. They don't bother to check IDs."

"Seriously? I know you're not alluding to what I think you are? You realize I'm a Jedi Knight right? Your Master will have you, my, my master's, and my Padawan's head."

"He's never gonna find out? Come on." I looked back at the Temple, the familiar sense of melancholy started flooding from the mere view of the structure.

"Fine."