When She Was Gone

Chapter 25

Kaivo paced his quarters. He was rarely one to pace, and would have preferred to calm his mind through meditation, as he often did, but meditation was doing him no good.

His apprentice was missing, and though he sensed her presence nearby, it was...clouded. She wasn't dead, that he was sure of, but the possibility of her going back to the Jedi was worse for the Empire than her death would be. She was a formidable weapon, and would be difficult to overcome should she turn against them.

He was startled out of his thoughts by his wristcomm beeping. "Kos," he said shortly.

"Yes, my Lord. Lady Makari has been found, and she's currently on her way to your quarters."

Kaivo raised his eyebrows. "Very well," he said, disconnecting the line.

~

Ahsoka was trying to hide her anxiety as the lift climbed the floors from the landing bay to Kaivo's quarters. She was wearing that dreaded helmet again. Kos had almost automatically handed it over to her, and f or probably the first time, she wondered just how many she had gone through in her time as a Sith. Anakin had fixed her voice alterer, which was strange to have back in her throat. Her vocal chords didn't like the sudden change.

She had not wanted to come back here, and the place was as ominous as ever, despite still being under repairs. Perhaps she should have felt encouraged that the Empire could be weakened, but the things sparking and fizzing around her did not improve her mood. 

She shook it off. Stalling Kaivo was nearly impossible--he was incredibly perceptive and would know something was off the moment she walked through the door--but she didn't need to do it for very long. However, visible nervousness lowered their chances even more.

Don't let it show, she repeated in her head. Don't let it show. Don't let it show. Don't let it show.

The lift doors opened, and Ahsoka sucked in a breath as they emerged into the bridge hallway. She found it eerie that she knew how to get around so easily. Muscle memory, she told herself. Nothing more.

And then they were at his door.

Leia had been right; he was a malice-vessel. Ahsoka could feel the Dark energy spilling out through the gaps in the door mechanisms. Her facade faltered for a moment, and then she straightened her face, closed the helmet, and opened the door.

~

Their ship was anchored to the bottom of the Destroyer, and despite having checked the cloaking devices not once, not twice, but three times, she still felt anxious. This was no ordinary supply run. This was dealing with a Sith, something she had never done before.

Her orange-and-white astromech came rolling into the cockpit, struts squeaking. He surveyed the stars outside the window, then beeped at her.

She sighed, and her breath came out in a long, visible puff. "No, we're not turning the heat back on. I'm taking a chance having you powered up as it is." He grumbled.

Suddenly, her monitor began to beep. Her heart rate sped; that was her first alert. At the second, she'd have to move fast. Hers was the only ship maneuverable enough to blow up that Sith's back wall without being blown up herself. But Padmé had said she was just a good pilot. 

She hoped it was true.

~

Barriss stood so still one might have thought she had been frozen in time if not for the wriggle of her fingers as she reached for the small button on her fake binders, and the slight rise and fall of her chest. 

She activated the tiny device, hopefully transmitting to their pilot, as Kaivo took a step forward to observe Skywalker.

Ahsoka had punched him--part of the plan, but she could tell it had been difficult--and he was now on his knees, lip cut, staring at the floor in defiance.

"Well done, apprentice," Kaivo said, staring at the top of Skywalker's head. Ahsoka forced out a wave of pride, clearly audible through the Force. Barriss cringed. Too much, she thought as the Sith looked up at her and Kenobi. "And these?" He asked.

"Rebels, my Lord. I managed to catch them on my way back."

He said nothing for a moment. "I find it impressive that you have constructed such an elaborate plan to fool me, apprentice."

Barriss pressed the button again.

"These two are Jedi."

Her cuffs loosened, and she slipped out of them. Ahsoka had no response to Kaivo.

"It's treason, then," he said angrily.

"NOW!" Barriss roared, leaping into the air with help from the Force, kicking the Sith in the chest. Skywalker jumped up, and Ahsoka threw him a lightsaber. Kaivo jumped back onto his feet, not one to be easily downed. Skywalker swung the 'saber's white blade in a huge arc, aiming for Kaivo, who ducked and drew his own 'saber.

In the few moments it took for this to happen, Kenobi had run to the back of the room, fiddled with a lock, and the door was now halfway open. Barriss kicked a leg at Kaivo's, boot meeting shin with an accompanying grunt. She glanced back at her cuffs for a split-second, where the homing beacon's beeps were steadily increasing in speed.

Come on, pilot.