Ahsoka, Daughter of the Light (Book 4): Hidden

Chapter 30: Reminiscing

KATOONI ADANA

Katooni walked out of the Crucible and onto the soft grass of the Jedi camp.

The sun was starting to set, and it had been a day since Christi, Ezra, and Rex had all come to the camp.

Katooni couldn't help but take everything in. The sunset was looking beautiful, and everything was at peace.

Just like the old days.

Back in the old temple, everything always felt peaceful, even during the Clone Wars. It felt as if no harm would ever touch the temple.

Oh, how wrong that was.

Katooni just hoped that this place was actually safe.

But this time, they had no Republic to keep them safe. They weren't nestled in some heavily-fortified galactic capital. They were in a completely unprotected planet in the middle of nowhere.

A planet the Empire could take with ease if they ever found the place.

She couldn't help but feel scared. Nothing felt safe anymore.

"Hey, Katooni?"

She turned around to see her friend Pedro standing behind her.

"What is it?" Katooni asked in response.

"You look a little scared," Pedro said. "Anything wrong?"

"No," Katooni said. "It's just... I miss the old days, you know?"

"Me too," Pedro said. "As good of a master Ahsoka is, it's just... It's hard to feel safe anymore, you know? I mean, Master Tano is doing her best, and there's nobody here who can do better, but still, I just... I'm scared too. But we have hope.

"I know," Katooni said. "I just don't know how far that'll get us."

"It can get us anywhere if we try hard enough," Pedro continued. "We just have to keep the Jedi way alive for now."

"Since when were you like this?" Katooni asked. "Weren't you the arrogant boy who almost let me freeze to death in the ice caves of Ilum? The one who was so confident he'd get his crystal first? The one who thought he'd be able to take on Grievous?"

"I still am," Pedro said. "I've just learned a few things from Master Tano."

"I think we all have," Katooni said. "She's so young, yet she seems to be as wise and as powerful as Master Yoda. How is that even possible?"

"I honestly don't know," Pedro replied.

The two laid down in the grass and looked up at the sky. The bright colors of the nebula the planet was in were starting to become more pronounced as the sun's light that had been drowning them out began to diminish.

Katooni noticed there was a Convor flying overhead.

"You see that?" Katooni said, pointing to the Convor.

"Yeah," Pedro replied. "How'd it get here?"

"I don't know," Katooni said. "This planet seems like it hasn't had any connections to the rest of the galaxy until now. That Convor seems to be the only creature I've seen here that I've seen elsewhere as well. It's quite odd, you know?"

"Maybe it has some sort of spiritual significance," Pedro suggested. "Remember how that marking got burnt into the ground?"

"Yeah," Katooni said. "Master Tano said it had something to do with an ancient deity of Mortis. The council seems to have kept the details of that mission under wraps, though."

"But Master Tano was there when it happened," Pedro said. "Maybe she knows a thing or two about what's going on here."

"Maybe," Katooni said, "maybe..."

AHSOKA TANO-BONTERI

Ahsoka came into the room wearing the tank top and shorts she normally does when she goes to bed.

Lux was already in there waiting for her, his shirtless handsome body being as attractive as always.

"Hey, 'Soka," he said.

"Oh, Lux," she said, rolling her eyes. "Can't resist taking advantage of our alone time, can you?"

"Just come here," Lux said.

Ahsoka got under the covers, and Lux let out a giggle.

"So," Ahsoka said, "are you ready for the mission to Florrum tomorrow?"

"Why do you bring this up?" Lux asked. "I just want to-"

"Lux," she said, "be honest."

Lux sighed.

"I don't know," he said. "I'm still training, I don't know if I'm a good enough Jedi yet."

"Don't worry, Lux," she said, "I'll be with you every step of the way."

"What about Katooni?" He asked. "I don't want something bad to happen to her. I'm not skilled enough to fend off against Inquisitors!"

"If all goes well, we won't be going up against Inquisitors," Ahsoka said.

"If," Lux said.

"Look," she continued, "I can't guarantee anything. But if we do happen to run into any inquisitors, I'll have your back."

"But First Sister almost killed you! She would've killed you if I hadn't pushed her away!"

"That's because she was an old friend of mine," Ahsoka said. "I... I just didn't want to hurt her. She used to mean a lot to me, you know. I could've beaten her easily if I tried."

"What was her name again?" Lux asked. "Barriss?"

"Yeah," Ahsoka said. "We were like sisters. Maybe closer. But then she betrayed me..."

"I have to admit," Lux said, "after that whole temple bombing thing, you should've guessed the Empire would have some use for her."

"I thought maybe there was still some good in her," Ahsoka said. "I knew her very well. We were very close. I never thought she would do any of this..."

A tear dripped down Ahsoka's eyes. Lux rubbed it away.

"You told me she killed me in the vision you saw on Ilum, right?" she said.

"Yeah," Lux said.

She sighed.

"Maybe she and Anakin won't come back," Ahsoka said. "I... I knew them so well, I trusted them, and I loved them. And now, they want nothing but me to be dead. It's just... I feel like I'm losing everyone," Ahsoka said.

"Hey," Lux said. "You still have me, Rex, and everyone else here. The Skywalker twins are still out there, too. There's still hope for the Galaxy, 'Soka," she said.

"I know," Ahsoka said. "Thank you. You mean everything to me."

Lux pulled Ahsoka in and kissed her lightly on the cheek.