Fall of the Chosen One

Chapter 5

 Both Anakin and Ahsoka stepped onto the dry and sand-covered surface of Tatooine. They had a few clones following suit, and Obi-Wan was also with them.

"Out of all planets, why here?" Anakin sighed.

Obi-Wan turned to him. "Relax, Anakin. This isn't one of those long and boring missions. We just have to deal with some..negotiations and then we'll be off."

"That sounds more simple than what the Council said.." Ahsoka commented. "According to Anakin."

"Yes, but the Council seems to make things more dramatic don't they?" Obi-Wan guessed with a glance toward his former padawan. Anakin just stared at them as they neared a small town. Ahsoka was surprised any life could survive here. It was so hot and dry..

And the sand was annoying.

"Well, time to get this over with.." Anakin muttered.

"Yes," Obi-Wan agreed. "The sooner the better."

They neared the small village, where small or medium-sized structures stood out among the crowd of different creatures. Ahsoka glanced around and took in the landscape, along with the planet's 2 blazing suns shining down on them.

Ahsoka also spotted multiple buildings that seemed to look slightly like shops. Those are where most of the attention seemed to be, if the people here weren't conversing with one another.

"Ah, how pleasant.." Obi-Wan sighed. He turned to Anakin and Ahsoka. "You two can go look around and find something to entertain yourselves with while I negotiate. But seriously, Anakin. Do not draw trouble. I am trusting you."

"I won't let you down, Master," Anakin smiled mischievously and Obi-Wan was beginning to regret his decision as soon as his former padawan and Ahsoka disappeared into the crowd.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Anakin, what am I going to do with you?"

.........

"This place is surely crowded.." Ahsoka muttered as she tried her best to keep Anakin in her view. At some points, she had to push forcefully passed other people as she fought to catch up with him.

"Not a surprise, exactly," Anakin replied. "Where I lived, it was crowded, too. But maybe not like this. I agree with you, though. For a small desert town, this place is definitely crowded."

Ahsoka nodded. "Some people look a bit...I don't know, shady."

Anakin's eyes narrowed as he kept his gaze forward. He felt a sudden rush of anger. "No doubt some of these people are slaves.." He growled. "Can't believe they still allow it."

Ahsoka remained quiet. Mainly because she didn't want to make her master angrier than he already was.

Then, for a few moments, Ahsoka grew panicked. She hadn't been paying attention and Anakin had disappeared into the crowd. He was completely out of her view.

"Master!" She yelled, but the noise of people arguing or chattering around her seemed to drown out her own voice. People pushed passed and shoved her, and she felt herself becoming nauseous, like she was being thrown around.

Her head swam. There was so much to take in at once. It was so loud. Unless her montrals were being awfully sensitive.

"Master!" She tried again, turning and walking in one direction. Then, someone grabbed her. And when she turned around to find that it wasn't Anakin, she was shoved onto the sand.

She grunted and looked up at the hooded figure. "H-Hey! What are you doing?"

"What's a little girl like you doin' out here?" The figure asked instead of actually answering her question. His voice was deep and gruff and sounded awfully disturbing.

Ahsoka narrowed her eyes and scrambled backward. But she was grabbed again. She punched the figure in the face with her free hand and managed to get away. Then, she started running. Mostly like her life depended on it, which she was starting to think it did.

"Anakin!" She shouted again, this time more desperate. Being honest, she was beginning to become terrified. Her senses seemed to just be spiraling out of control at this point, and the only things she could hear were the confusing sounds of voices echoing around her.

Then, she was grabbed again and she whipped around to see the same figure as before. This time, she was the one punched. And she fell onto the ground with a grunt of pain.

"L-Leave me alone!"

The figure chuckled. "You're a very pretty girl, ya' know? Haven't seen anyone like you in a long while."

Ahsoka instantly felt like she was going to puke. She had thoughts of what this man was planning to do to her and she didn't want to think about it anymore after that. Her eyes widened.

"Get away from me! Get away-"

Then, a familiar, but very angry voice rang out. But relief flooded her body as soon as she saw her master storming toward them. Though, she was a bit concerned. Because she had never seen him this mad.

He definitely had a bad past on this planet. I can see why.

"Get the hell away from her!"

The figure standing above Ahsoka barely had time to process what was happening before he was put into a force-choke.

"Don't you dare lay a hand on my padawan," Anakin growled. The invisible pressure on the figure's throat tightened.

"O-Ok-ay.." The figure choked. "B-But let..me g-go!"

Anakin slammed the man onto the ground. The figure then quickly scurried away.

Ahsoka found herself being yanked to her feet and pulled into an extremely tight hug. But she didn't care, she was probably just as scared as her master was. And she could feel him shaking.

"Are you okay?" He asked without loosening his grip.

Ahsoka couldn't respond, the only thing that came out was a half-choked sob of fear and relief.

"I'm sorry..I'm so sorry. Force, I shouldn't have-" Anakin paused, taking a shaky breath and Ahsoka realized, not for the first time, what this experience had probably done to him. And that he was definitely scared out of his mind. Obi-Wan had told her about Anakin's mother.

"I'm okay.." She finally managed to choke out.

When they finally separated, they began back toward Obi-Wan. The negotiation had to definitely be over by now. And Ahsoka also didn't fail to notice how Anakin kept his hand on her shoulder the entire time. And with his shields slightly down, she could feel the anger and terror radiating off of him. Not long after though, the shields slammed up.

Finally, Obi-Wan made his way through the crowd. "There you two are," He quickly noticed the terrified expressions on both of their faces. Anakin seeming to be even more scared than Ahsoka at this point.

"Are you two alright? What happened?"

Anakin drew in a shaky breath and sighed. "I'll tell you later," he muttered.

Obi-Wan knew that was likely a lie and that he probably wouldn't tell him, but he didn't push. The 3 of them made their way back to the ship. Ahsoka kept her head buried in her master's chest, and he kept his arms planted firmly on her back. The experience had definitely brought up unwanted memories. And Anakin definitely wasn't going to lose Ahsoka like he lost his mother.

Obi-Wan cast worried glances toward them. No one spoke a word the entire way back.