Hi everyone! I'm in a bit of a rush right now, so no pre-chapter chat. Enjoy!

"R2? Did you hear that?" A Jedi asked worriedly, Within a moment's time, his trusty companion replied with a series of non-affirmative chirps and whistles. He sighed, turning back to the fighter's controls. "That's... strange. I could've sworn I heard someone telling me to go to Endor. You sure bud?"

This time the droid's response was a bit more annoyed.

"Alright, alright, geez. I'm just hearing things. But... nah. No, I'm just tired." After a minute of silence, save for the clacking sound of him punching in coordinates to the hyperdrive, his thoughts finally consumed him.

"I wasn't imagining it R2," he determinedly stated, pausing for a moment so the droid could get in his two-cents before adding, "I just have a feeling that it's real. I dunno, like I know this person or something? But who has a feminine voice like that?"

Finally fed up with how this conversation was getting nowhere, R2 angrily whistled at the Jedi Master.

"Alright, alright, I'll go check it out for myself. The Order will be okay without me for a couple of hours."

With one last nod, somewhat to assure himself, the Skywalker adjusted the coordinates.

————

"So, ready to spill now?" The man asked in an irritated tone after finally powering off the machine. Ahsoka sharply withdrew a ragged breath, trying to ignore the tidal wave of pain that washed over her body. Even single millimeter of movement made her want to burst into tears. "I mean, if not, I can move you to one of our more advanced contraptions. That one seems to have a raised percentage of success."

"You ever heard of not physically being able to talk, moron?" She managed to rasp out, cringing at the tremendous shocks of pain that were emitted from this mere action.

"Does it look like I'm someone who cares?" He laughed, then stalked towards her with a freakish grin. "I'm not going to complain though. At least the stranger speaks."

"If you think you're going to get anything useful out of me, you're gravely mistaken," Ahsoka snarled. "I couldn't tell you even if I wanted to. I've got nothing to give."

"Everyone has their secrets," he shrugged. "I'll find yours out in due time. Now let's start with the basics. Name?"

"You can call me the woman that's going to end your whole career," the Togruta spat.

"Please do tell," he laughed incredulously. "Because, if you haven't noticed, you're kind of under my control at the moment."

"We'll see about that."

"Well, since your name seems to be a touchy subject for you, we can move on. How did you get here?"

"You're not exactly the most hidden. Or the best guarded. Breaking in was easy."

For seemingly no reason at all, perhaps it was just because she was finally wearing on his last nerve, his calm broke and his voice was filled with rage. Slamming his fist down onto part of the control panel, he snarled, "You only found this place because you were looking."

Ahsoka winced at his harsh tone. After a couple of moments of heavy, furious breathing, the man finally managed to gain his composure enough to continue. "You found this place because you knew it was here. This is no accident. I want to know who sent you here."

"You're out of luck then," Ahsoka said flatly. "I came here on my own terms. I associate with no one but the Force."

"LIES!" He spat fiercely, getting up in Ahsoka's face. "You're a Jedi. I know you are."

"How can you be so sure?"

"You're sure as hell not a Sith. You reek of light. What else would you be?"

"That's for me to know, and for you to wonder. All I can say is that I'm no Jedi. They know nothing of this."

He glanced at her warily, then shook his head and gritted his teeth. "So that means you're solo?"

"Don't know what else it would mean, dimwit."

"I would watch your tone, missy," he darkly threatened. "I'm the one in control right now. I could kill you with the flip of a switch."

"I'm not afraid of death," she snarled back. She inhaled sharply, looking away, before continuing with a flat tone, "Death and I are close friends. Every day, I walk a fine line between it and life, never knowing when the time to lose my balance will come. It comes with the job, I suppose."

The man paused a moment, eyes dilated in slight fright and certain uneasiness, before he drew a calming breath and stared back at her shaded face. "Everyone is afraid of death," he stated plainly, though his tone didn't match his words.

"Not when you've already died," Ahsoka shrugged indifferently. "I can assure you, it's a lot better than the hell I live through every day."

This was the straw that broke the camel's back for the man. He quickly made up an excuse about having to go do something, muttered a couple of words along the lines of being back later, and hastily made his way out of the room. Ahsoka rose an eyebrow, but didn't second-guess his actions. After all, she supposed she would be a little shaken if she had been told that someone who already seemed like the galaxy's biggest mystery wrapped up into a body had thrown in the fact that they had already died before.

To pass time, since Anakin appeared to be in no rush to rescue her, she began to recount her earlier years, when she knew joy and little pain. Of course, her very first memories were hazy due to her young age, but she could vaguely make out a sunny picture of Shili, with the faces of a female and male Togruta towering over her younger self. The female looked remarkably similar to Ahsoka, save for the longer lekkus, different markings, and brown eyes. No, the Togruta most certainly got her electric blue eyes from her father.

A fond smile replaced her previous scowl of pain. Sometimes, to make it through the tough, you had to remember the light.

That smile never left her face as she drifted off into a much-needed sleep.

—————————

"Master Skywalker, what pleasure do I owe this visit?" A masculine voice asked through the pitch black. A picture of a hall in the Senate building began to fade in, and soon after the man that was standing at a half-opened door. It was Anakin Skywalker— slightly-fatigued smirk and everything.

"Please drop the formalities Senator, I'm here as a friend."

"Well, you can come in I suppose," the door was opened wider, allowing the Jedi Master to slip inside. The view panned through the hallway and towards the door frame. "Call me Lux, if we're speaking on these terms then."

"I can't stay for too long," Anakin continued, wandering over to a couch located in the middle of the senator's office. "I just... know some things have been tough recently... and figured it would be best if the both of us has some time to talk things out."

"Tough is an understatement," Lux chuckled hollowly. Now that the view was more directed in his view, the deep bags underneath his dull eyes were much more apparent now. His hair seemed to be slightly disheveled, dim even, and his clothes hung loosely on his thinner frame. Summing it up, he looked absolutely awful. When he realized that Anakin was noticing his degraded appearance, he added, "Believe me, I would know. I keep thinking things will get better, that it will stop hurting as much, but it never does." He paused to look out the window with a slightly incredulous look on his face. "You know, I should've seen it coming really. She was acting rather odd the day of departure, and I had a twisted feeling in my gut. I just didn't want to let myself believe it."

"None of us did," Anakin replied consolingly, gesturing for the young man to sit beside him. "None of us thought she could truly die."

"She always seemed so strong," he choked out, his voice cracking slightly. "I never thought I'd live to see the day that woman finally bid our world goodbye. Invincible, rather."

Anakin hung his head, buried in all his sorrow. "It will get better, Lux. The day will come, I'm sure of it. Padmé came by the other day... decided that it would be best if I got my mind off things. Best afternoon I've had in a long time, I'll say. For once I was focused on something besides her death, even if it was something as stupid as an aquatics show. Maybe you could use a day like that."

"I've tried," Lux sighed in defeat. "Though everywhere I go, somehow I'm reminded of her. I guess I never really knew how much of an impact she made in my life until she was gone."

"You and me both, Lux. You and me both." Anakin leaned over and carefully wrapped his arms around the senator. The boy was stiff at first, but he eventually melted into the Jedi's arms and buried his head in Anakin's shoulder. Soon enough, he was body was shaking from the tears that were streaking down his face.

"Thank you so much, Anakin. Really, I don't know where I would be right now if it wasn't for you. All of the times you've come over recently has really helped me."

"Your welcome," the Jedi smiled softly. "That's what I'm here for. Be grateful though... I'm not always this warm and fuzzy," he ended his sentence with a small chuckle and smirk.

Lux stood up, the corners of his lips slightly twisted up in amusement at Anakin's remark. "You want to know something?" He asked, raking his hand through his lifeless hair and shoving the other when in his pocket.

"Sure thing."

"I grew up... you know... without much of a father figure. He was kind of... killed when I was younger. And, well, I'm not exactly sure what one feels like, but you seem to fit the description I've always imagined him to be. Really, sir, I look up to you. Not just because of how strong you are, but because of you being here for me. I know this sounds crazy, but I just want to say," the senator paused and took a shaky breath, "thank you."

"Come here, Lux," Anakin said softly, standing up from the couch and wrapping him in a hug; "I'll gladly fill that role, Lux. You're in a hard time in your life right now. You're still finding your place in the world. You need someone to be there for you now more than ever, especially now that she's gone." The Jedi turned his face away so Lux couldn't see the bittersweet tear trail down his trembling face.

The senator nodded slowly. He was about to speak, but was stopped by Anakin.

"You loved her a lot, hmm?" Anakin pondered.

"More than anything. Shoot, sir, I was planning on marrying that girl," Lux bitterly laughed, turning away. He looked up, his face twisted in pain. "I don't get it. Why? Why does everything always get taken from us?"

"Because life isn't easy," the Jedi blankly replied. When Lux tensed at his insensitiveness, Anakin adjusted his tone and continued. "If it were, then imagine where we wouldn't be right now. We wouldn't be half as strong as we are today."

Lux quietly hummed in agreement. "You're right. Life isn't what's behind us, it's how we let things shape us into the people we are today and where we'll go from here. I suppose it's time that we shape the future into one that we finally want. After all, a certain Togruta did make it possible."

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When Ahsoka woke up, she found that her weathered face still wore the same smile. This time, salty tears had traced their way across her cheeks and lips as well. She wasn't really sure what she had just witnessed — it was nothing she'd ever dreamt of before — but she wasn't about to question it. Somehow, and someway, it was exactly what she needed to push on. There were two people that she loved very much that needed her back desperately. While she might not care about dying, others did.

"You know, if you asked, I probably would've said yes," the Togruta dryly chuckled as she looked up. However, her gaze was only greeted by quite depressing gray walls. After making an inward joke (or insult rather, if you want to think of it that way) about the room being as colorful as her soul, she began studying her cell.

It was simplistic, probably to keep costs low, and not much to look at. The exit was a traditional hinged metal door, so probably not too hard to hack her way out of. However, the electric contraption that she was suspended in was a much different story. It was high-tech, sophisticated, and quite difficult to comprehend. There was no way in Mustafar she even had a chance of escaping on her own. It was hard to admit to her pride, but for once in her recent years, she truly was beat. And all over what? A stupid couple of words from her old master? Ahsoka shook her head at her failure.

It must never happen again.

"Help would be great anytime soon," she grumbled under her breath. She had been positive earlier that Anakin would come to her rescue, but now she was starting to grow doubtful. How long had it been since she sent the mental message? A day? Maybe more? It was certainly hard to keep track while she was stuck in a cell.

What if he didn't receive it? Or what if he thought that his mind was playing a trick on him...? Or what if he's mad at me for just now reaching out?

Ahsoka gritted her teeth and shook her thoughts away. No, she couldn't let herself think that. She had to have faith in him.

"Welcome back to the world of the living," a voice suddenly broke through the silence, interrupting Ahsoka's harsh train of thoughts. She tilted her head up to see the man from before, this time wearing a different set of clothes and a small smirk.

"Trust me, if I had a choice, I would take myself right back out," Ahsoka hissed at him, then looked away in disgust.

"...and there's that sass again," he noted in amusement. "Missed ya, hun."

"Say that again, I dare you," the Togruta growled, her voice gravely and terrifyingly deep. It almost seemed as though the Son was laced into her words. The man looked at her with raised eyebrows, all the while trying to mask the small tremble that shivered down his spine.

"I see how it is. Got a lover back home?"

"Not anymore," Ahsoka bitterly laughed. "You see, he kinda thinks I'm dead right now."

"The more I learn about you, the more intrigued I am," he admitted, then grabbed a stool from the other side of the room and dragged it in front of Ahsoka. He plopped down on top of it, looking up at her keenly. "But we've just scratched the surface darling. How 'bout a name, hm?"

"No-can-do," Ahsoka shrugged. "I don't know how much the big boss told you guys about me."

"Big boss? As in?"

"Sidious. Who else, dimwit?"

He froze at the name. A visible wave of confusion washed over his face before he began to scowl.

"What do you know about him?"

"He's ugly, but most importantly, the fact that he's dead." Ahsoka was smirking underneath the shadow of her hood as she slowly said those words.

"All because of those stupid Jedi," the man snapped, eyes blazing. "And that Togruta. Ahsoka Tano, was her name. Every single person here hates her with a passion. It's a good thing for her that she was killed in the planet collapse."

"Yeah, good thing for her," Ahsoka nervously chuckled, her previously confident aura now gone. So one thing was for sure now— these enemies definitely knew who she was. There was no screwing up now. If ANYONE was to figure out her identity, she would be done for.

"If you're not going to give a name, I suggest you remove your spell from your hood."

"And I would suggest that you should stop being nosy and mind your own kriffing business," the Togruta threatened.

"Do I need to remind you that I'm the one in control here?" He asked, his eyes dilated to the point that he looked like a mad man. He slowly stood up from the chair and stalked to the control panel, all the while never taking his ice-cold stare off of Ahsoka. "Believe me, I'll straighten you out real quick."

The Togruta clamped her eyes shut in anticipation of the icy-hot pain. However, no amount of preparation could save her from the misery she was about to endure.

—————————

"Hold it steady R2... yep... we're almost there now... and, we've touched ground. Geez, I forgot how much I hated landing on this planet. Too many trees, not enough open spaces," a Jedi duly noted as he popped open the hatch to his fighter. He paused before getting out to listen to the chirps of his droid.

"No bud, I don't really know where I'm going. Hey— don't look at me like that! It's not my fault! I didn't choose to all of the sudden have some sort of distress call sent out to me."

With a shrug, he hopped out of the spacecraft and onto the hard forest floor of Endor. However, the second his boots made contact with the surface, he felt a shot of dizziness pass through his body like a lightning shock. His eyes opened wide as he staggered around, flailing his arms in an attempt to lean against something. He eventually found the sides of his fighter, then slumped against it.

"That was... weird," he muttered with heavy breathing. His head still ached and his vision was a little blurry, but he was fine for the most part. "Um... we should get going huh? Yeah, don't want everyone worried over me being gone for so long. You know what happened the last time. They nearly sent out a search party for me," he chuckled awkwardly at the memory.

The Jedi had made it about a half-mile when something odd occurred. His ears began to block out all sources of sound around him, causing him to fall into complete silence. The hairs on his neck rose at this, given that this was the second concerning thing that was happening to his health in the past fifteen minutes, but nothing else seemed to be happening. It was just... silent.

Of course, this peaceful state didn't last long.

Within a couple of seconds, a horrendous scream broke through the silence. He winced before throwing his hands over his ears and cursing. He willed it to go away, but he could barely even get it to quiet slightly. He hissed in pain, turning desperately to his droid friend in search of relief.

After much strain, yelling, and cursing, he eventually wore the sound down to a whisper. A migraine was now coursing its way through his head, but there was nothing he could do to fix it. Hopefully, it would wear off eventually.

"We've got to get to her and help quickly," he muttered to R2-D2. "Whatever is going on is not good."

He raised a hand up in search for the energy signature, but was instead met with a staggeringly high number of bodies instead. After shaking off the shock of yet another rattling discovery, he pushed past the other presences and tried to narrow in on the specific woman's.

Gotcha.

It wasn't hard, given that her's was frighteningly stronger than all the others. The Skywalker wasn't sure if this was something that he should be concerned about. If someone was so powerful, why would they need his help? Especially if he didn't even know this person...

A sharp whistle from R2 brought him out of his thoughts. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Action now and worry later."

With the strong signature to guide him, he embarked on his trek.

I hope you liked the chapter! I should have another one up in a couple of days since I'm off of school right now.