Eye Of The Needle (Star Wars)

Chapter 83: The Situation On Ringo Vinda

Once Anakin and I returned inside the Jedi Temple, Areria approached us. She glanced around as if searching for someone. "Where's Ahsoka? I heard Barriss was the one responsible for the bombing, so I wanted to make sure if she was all right."

Anakin and I exchanged a look. He gave me a pat on the shoulder. "I'll leave you to break the news to your padawan."  

With that, he walked off, leaving me alone with Areria. She furrowed her brows. "What news?"

I let out a sigh. I knew this wasn't going to be easy. Areria was just as close to Ahsoka as Anakin and I are. I placed a hand on her shoulder as I tried to find the right words to say to Areria. 

"Areria, unfortunately Ahsoka won't be returning to the Jedi Order...She left, the Council offered her to return, but she refused." I explained.

Areria's face fell. "But...I didn't even get to say goodbye."

"I'm sorry, Areria. It happened all of the sudden." I apologized. 

Areria nodded. "I just wish I could've been there. Why did she have to go?"

"Ahsoka couldn't stay, she had to leave. She has her reasons..." I informed her. "And we must respect her choice."

"Of course, Master. But will we see her again?" Areria questioned. 

"I hope so, Areria." I replied. 

••• 

Weeks passed by and I was rather busy. If I wasn't going on missions or helping out in battles on different planets, then I was training younglings like Katooni, Petro, Ganodi, Zatt, Byph, Gungi, and a few others. I also got a new droid, he was a T3-series utility droid. The droid was known as T3-A2. 

I hadn't seen Jinx in a while, she had been busy helping out other Jedi in their battles. But lately before Jinx was busy, she had been distant to me, behaving rather strange. Currently, I was in Ringo Vinda space station in Ringo Vinda orbit with Anakin, the twin Jedi Masters Tiplar and Tiplee, Maya, and O-Mer leading many clone troopers against the droid forces that were under the command of Admiral Trench. Master Tiplar was a yellow skinned Mikkian, while Tiplee was a red skinned Mikkian. We fought for several rotations with neither side gaining or losing any ground, which was frustrating.

"Push forward!" Anakin ordered. 

Rex and Mocax urged their troops to move forth as we continued fighting. Anakin, Maya, O-Mer, and I deflected the blasts of the droids, sending them back to the droids. It wasn't long until we joined Master Tiplar, Master Tiplee, and their troops.

"Tighten our flank!" Master Tiplar ordered. 

As more droids approached us, I glanced over at the clone troopers. "Shields up!"

The clone troopers nodded. "Yes, sir!" 

At that moment, droidekas rolled over towards us. The clone troopers raised their shields as Tiplar and I used the Force, knocking the droidekas back. The clone troopers then rolled their explosives to the droids into their shields, destroying them. Once they were crushed, we approached one of the command rooms, where all the droids had all been destroyed.

"Don't get too comfortable men." I advised. 

"Storm's right. This battle hasn't been won yet." Anakin added. 

"Masters Ca'ana, Skywalker, we must get to the command post. Admiral Trench has sent for reinforcements. We must take this post before they arrive." Master Tiplee informed us. 

Rex turned on his imagecaster. A holograph of the layout of the station then appeared before us. All of us gathered around the holograph. 

"Look's like it's time for phase two." Maya mentioned.