Betrayal in the Shadows [SW: TCW]

The Premonitions

"How could the separatists infiltrate the temple?" Anakin asked.

"Worse than that, it is." Yoda said.

It was a good thing I had this arc memorized pretty well so I could say all of Ahsoka's lines. "What could be worse, Master Yoda?"

The council looked at me, almost pitifully. Almost. Their stares made me regret speaking, it was very intimidating.

"Everything is on the table." Mace Windu finally announced, ignoring my question. "We have to look at the possibility that it could've been anyone in the Temple, even a Jedi."

"If a Jedi this is, gone to the dark side they have." Yoda said carefully.

"I... I can't believe a Jedi would attack a place this sacred." I had to wait until the right time to pull my secret card, but it had to be before things got out of hand, and it had to be at this meeting.

"We'd like for you two to lead the investigation. We can't trust anyone who was here, even a Jedi. You and Ahsoka will provide an impartial point of view free of assumptions." Windu said, still ignoring my comments.

"We'll do everything we can." Anakin assured.

"Careful you must be, Skywalker. If willing to destroy the temple the attacker is, to great lengths they will go to keep from being caught." Yoda pointed out.

"Then I guess we'll have to go to even greater lengths to catch him." Anakin said firmly.

I looked up at him, and back at the council. My chance was now or never.

"Wait!" I said, raising my hand.

"What is it, Padawan Tano?" Yoda asked.

"I had a vision, last night. I thought nothing of it then, but it all makes sense now."

"Explain." Windu said.

"Well, I was in a dark room, it looked like a scummy apartment, and my friend Barriss Offee was there with a woman."

"The woman, tell her identity could you?" Yoda asked.

"No. But She had dark hair, and I think some tattoos under her eyes. Barriss was giving her nano droids, telling her to feed them to her husband, that he would become the bomb. She paid the woman, and left. That was it."

"Watching, or participating in this event were you?"

"It was like I was watching it happen from a corner on the celling, from a distance."

"A curious vision, but what does it have to do with this attack?" Obi-Wan asked. My stomach flipped with dread.

"I think," I took a shaky breath. "I think Barriss may have something to do with it."

"This is a serious accusation you are making. If you are wrong..." Master Windu looked at me, eyebrows raised.

"Then it was just a dream." I said, heart pounding.

"Maybe. But the fact that you had a 'vision' possibly indirectly involving this incident before it happened, is suspicious."

Anakin and I looked at each other in surprise.

"It couldn't have been Ahsoka! She was with me the whole time! You know how much the Order means to her!" He said frantically, his voice getting louder and more upset. He looked at Obi-Wan for support, who gave a sympathetic look before speaking.

"Unfortunately, nobody is out of the question. Not even anyone in this room, or upon these seats." The council nodded in solemn agreement.

"This new truth, accept it we must. Question Padawan Offee I shall." The small green creature looked around at the other council members for last remarks.

"But for the meantime. you two should get started on your investigation." Windu said.

"Agreed. Council adjourned." Yoda announced. As the masters exited the room. Obi-Wan walked beside me, trailing just behind Anakin. The butterflies in my stomach got more frantic. Once we were out of earshot from the rest. he spoke,

"It was very brave of you to tell them about your vision. They are not an easy group to talk to."

"Thank you. I was definitely intimidated and a bit scared to say something like this." I chose my words carefully, trying to stay in character.

"As was I when I was your age. Don't be afraid of Master Windu, although it may seem he is against you, he only wants what's best for everyone. This attack has shaken all of us, so I apologize for his extra gruffness."

"Its alright master, but I just don't understand how he could even think of me as a possible suspect just because I had a vision!"

"Neither do I." Anakin said with a small hint of anger, slowing down a bit to walk on the other side of me.

"Well, just know I believe in you." Obi-Wan said sincerely. "I can sense your immense fear, and I know that you are simply afraid about the bombing, and what the outcome of investigations will be. But the council does not have a close bond with you, therefore they could easily misinterpret that fear as a fear of getting caught."

An epiphany suddenly came to mind. If I was Ahsoka, did I now have access to all her training, memories, and skills? "Well I will have to work on guarding my emotions better."

"We can work on that more in our training sessions. Not only will it help you feel more confident with the council, it can help you stay safe on the battle field, and unfortunately if you get caught." Anakin shrugged.

"Alright. Well, what do we do now?" I genuinely didn't know what was supposed to happen now since in the show it just transitioned from the council room straight to investigation at the bombing site.

"I guess me and you should go to our rooms to regroup, and meet at the site in 30 minutes?"

"Sure,"

"And I have some important matters to attend to. Good luck with your investigation." Obi-Wan said as he walked away.

Anakin beckoned for me to come along, and we silently weaved our way through the large temple. Suddenly, my brain told me I needed to turn right to get to my room, and it was like I was watching back a memory of walking down the hall even though it was happening right now. I looked back and Anakin didn't seem concerned, he kept walking the other way. So I must be doing something right.

Eventually I found myself stopped in front of a door, and my mind nagged at me to put my hand on the keypad. I obliged. The code came to the front of my mind, and almost automatically my fingers punched it in. The door swooshed open. I walked inside.

The room was small, with only a window, a bed that sat on the floor with a nightstand beside it, and a small closet. I looked out the window, and saw the busy Coruscant traffic, and mind boggling high-rise buildings as far as I could see. I sat down on the bed, which was surprisingly squishy, and took a closer look at myself. All of my skin was orange, everywhere I could see. I reached up to investigate the montrals and lekku on my head, only to find that the parts underneath and closest to my skull were super sensitive, and that I could also weakly wiggle them. My arms and legs were unbelievably skinny, even though I was covered in extremely strong muscle.

I looked up at the closet, and focused on it. I closed my eyes and imagined it opening. I heard a whoosh, and opened my eyes to find I had opened it with the Force, and there was a mirror inside. I stood up and walked closer. I really was Ahsoka, there was no faking it. Everything was right, the clothes, skin tones, and everything. After admiring myself, I poked around in the tiny closet to find some extra clothes, what seemed like pajamas, different boots, and a few other headbands. She really didn't have much personal belongings.

As I was busy looking, I heard a beeping start to go off, which made me jump. I looked around and finally located the source as the comm on my wrist. I pressed the button. "Yes?"

"Ahsoka, where are you?" Anakin's voice came through. I looked at the clock, and realized I lost track of time.

"Uh, sorry, I'll be there in a minute! I was, er napping!"

He chuckled. "Again? I didn't think I wore you out that much. Well just be here as soon as you can so we can start."

"Right away Master." I pressed the button again hoping it ended the transmission, which it did, and hurried off to the hallway where he said to meet.