As soon as they were in hyperspace, Ahsoka stood up and went to the main hold. She watched Luke and Obi Wan practise their duelling skills, with low-powered lightsabers, that is. High-powered would tear the ship apart. She noticed that Luke has become a very skilled fighter, but still has a lot to learn.

He had a short stature but was well-built, like his mother. His blond hair was a feature common to his father, so were his blue eyes. He looked so innocent, and she felt pity for the boy. His reaction to the truth about his parentage was worrisome. She feared he might be turned to a murderer by Sidious. 'It is fine, Ahsoka. No need to worry about way ahead in the future. Let's stay in the present.' She reassured herself.

She remembered her first mission with Skywalker. The night was freezing as they both were just outside Jabba's palace. A swoop bike came towards them and Ahsoka had sensed the presence of Dooku. She told the General to back away, while she fought. Unfortunately, she was taken out by the first few minutes. Then he stepped up to try and defeat the Count, an act which surprised her very much. What was further puzzling was that he survived the encounter and lasted for a mere half a minute. Why the Jedi Council did not have any suspicions? She did not know. Nevertheless, she must accept the past.

Ahsoka leaned against the wall, watching Luke and Obi Wan spar. Their duel was impressive, with Luke using different combat techniques while Obi Wan stuck to Soresu. Soon, Obi Wan started to become fatigue and stopped.

"Alright Luke, not too much. I am not as young as I once was." He said, panting. The boy extinguished his saber and helped his master sit down on a seat.

She shook her head and smiled out of amusement, remembering her and Anakin's teasing in the short but fun moments throughout the Clone War. It was hard to imagine that the sassy, youthful Jedi Master she knew to be in this condition. "I am not that old 'Soka, though you can't run from the truth." She heard her master say, with his volume decreasing.

"I meant no disrespect master," she replied, but still couldn't resist smirking.

"I imagine you to be half as energetic as I am today when you're older." Obi Wan countered, rolling his eyes, "Is the course set?"

Ahsoka chuckled, "Now that, I disagree master and yes, course set for Alderaan. We will be arriving in about the 0300 hour."

Luke watched the two interact together and noticed that Ben usually does not speak to anyone that way, not even him. 'They must have been really close.' He thought.

He looked at Ahsoka. He felt like he has seen her before but did not know where. Her Force signature was sort of familiar, but faintly. Considering her introduction, she probably met him and Obi Wan at least once. Dantooine was an eventful part of his life, first the Rebels, then Padme Amidala, then her but he doubted it would end there.

"Luke?"

The boy's eyes darted towards Ben, stopping his train of thought.

"I hope you do not mind meditating in the quarters, do you?" Ben requested. Luke looked at Ahsoka and then back at him.

"No, of course not." He answered, walking towards the crew quarters.

Ahsoka watched him leave and her face morphed into one filled with sympathy. "He is lonely." She spoke, subconsciously rubbing her arms.

"Yes." Obi Wan replied, sighing, "I feel sad for him. He does not deserve this, he is a good boy. However, he is our last hope and he does not have a choice."

"How and when are you going to tell him?" she inquired, facing him.

"I do not know." He answered honestly, "I hope the time does not come but that is unlikely, he is beginning to question his heritage."

"Might I offer some advice?"

"Yes, please."

"The sooner you tell him the better."

"I know, but that does not guarantee him not turning to the Dark Side. Perhaps I will let his mother tell him."

"Unfortunately," Ahsoka sighed, "I have recently received a transmission from Captain Antilles of the Tantive IV saying that Padme has been captured."

"What?"

"However, they have the plans and are still on route to Alderaan as we speak."

"So how do we get her back?"

"We take the plans, deliver them to the Alliance and then sneak aboard the Death Star to rescue her."

The plan was suicidal, but he knew there was no other way and time was running out. "This is impossible, yet, you are still the Ahsoka I knew in the Clone War." He remarked.

"How do you think I am still alive, master?" she replied, grinning.

Of course youd say that. He muttered and went to rest.

* * * * transition * * * *

"You can't escape them. We are trapped." She said as she inserted the plans inside the astromech droid.

"Then what do you suggest we do?" Captain Antilles asked as the ship shook, indicating that the enemy has boarded.

"Send the crew to the escape pods, these droids included." She answered softly, "I will surrender."

"But –"

"Some sacrifices need to be made, Captain. Tell the crew to say their goodbyes to their close ones. We may not survive this."

****

/*WARNING: SKIP TO (****) IF YOU ARE SENSITIVE OR CANNOT TOLERATE BLOOD, GORE AND VIOLENCE OR EVEN IF YOU ARE BELOW 13 YEARS OF AGE*/

Leia put on her hood, her grip on her lightsaber tight. Adrenaline rushed through her blood vessels as she waited in the entrance of the Alderaani vessel. "The doors are magnetically sealed, milady." An Imperial Engineer informed her.

She impatiently pushed him away and stabbed the door with her lightsaber. It slid open automatically after a few seconds, enabling them to get through. Leia Force sped inside and on finding no one, she lost her temper. "A few escape pods have been launched!" someone exclaimed.

Snarling, she ran through the corridors and found them in the escape pod room. Unleashing her bloodlust and rage, she killed them, without any feeling, slaughtering them with no mercy.

"PLEASE NO!" the rebel screamed just as she sliced the blade across his face, cutting of his jaw. The blood sprayed on her and his tongue fell on the ground. He stepped on it, making him slip and break his spine.

She slowed all of the blaster bolts that were fired upon her and then directed them to the Rebels, killing them instantly. But she avoided that, it was no fun; she'd rather behead someone. She stalked towards the Rebels that were in the escape pods and tore out the door. She smiled as she saw them cornered and scared in the escape pod.

The remaining Rebels hiding could only shudder at the sound of them screaming and wailing. It was inhuman, the Sith was inhuman, much more inhuman than Vader himself. At least Vader killed with a purpose, this was just overkill. They avoided using blasters after seeing the sheer power she had. Why, why did that lady get them into this?

The blast door started to groan and a red blade penetrated through it as they backed away in fear. They were trapped like sitting ducks, and definitely going to die. That was not how they imagined how they would go down.

They had hoped to die with honour not cowardice. They have to keep fighting for Amidala and that woman, that would be the greatest honour possible and they hoped that their sacrifice would be worth it. The galaxy depends on them to get the plans away from the Empire as much as possible. For the Rebellion!

As soon as the door slid open, they charged, knocking the Sith down by surprise.

"Go, go, go!" the leader yelled out to the one who had the droids. Turns out they still had many rebels and half went to the escape pods with the droids and the other half tried to pressure Leia to the ground.

'They certainly have courage.' She thought as they kept on cornering her. She had a smug face, knowing that she could easily defeat them but she'll have to let their hopes up and then crush them. When she heard the escape pods detach from the ship, she Force-screamed, giving them the element of shock and they were stunned. She summoned a Force wave that threw them back.

They were scattered but still struggled to stand up. 'They're more foolish than I thought.' She noticed that her lightsaber was missing and she glared at the sight of the silvery hilt on one of their belts. She stretched out her hand and choked her. The others were still stunned or on the ground. The rebel stood there, grasping her neck and motioning others to take the weapon before the Sith could take it back.

Leia Force pulled the woman but her other fellow Rebels held on to her. One of them charged at her but once he got close, she delivered a punch so hard that the Rebel began vomiting blood on the floor. She took his head and snapped his neck. Leia Force-pulled the woman who stole her weapon and grabbed her by her neck but it was not there with her. Furious that the Rebels outsmarted her again, she choked her then threw her hard into the wall, ignoring the sound of cracking bones.

At the other end, she saw a rebel with her lightsaber; beams of plasma emitted from both sides and he stood in an incorrect stance.

"Ah, so you are a failed padawan." She acknowledged, cracking her knuckles. The Rebels thinned out, giving them space to duel. No one would want to get cut in half by mistake.

"I was going to be one, until your master ruined it for me."

"Youngling," she taunted as she smirked.

His expression was passive but he charged towards her. She blocked the beam with her armbands of Phrik alloy and pushed him back. The Rebel faltered and slowly walked backwards, further delaying the duel. Another rebel fired at her but she stopped the blast with the Force and directed it towards the source.

There was a tense few minutes, until Leia charged, her hands forming a fist. The rebel feebly tried to attack her — since double-bladed lightsabers were suited for defence, for the untrained — however he was hit by a Force-amplified punch, sending him towards the wall. The crunch of his bones was heard and he collapsed on the floor, clutching his ribcage area. He closed his eyes and sat back against the wall. She took her lightsaber and pointed it at him.

"Poor youngling," she sneered, bending down to pick up her lightsaber, "He wanted to be the hero but now he is going to die. No mere Jedi can defeat the Sith; who are all-powerful." She raised her weapon to kill him but hesitated when he held out his bloody hand.

"Wait..." He spoke, coughing out spurts of blood. His eyes still closed, his voice was gentle and soft and his face morphed into one full of confusion and understanding. "I can sense your feelings, your signature on the Force... You're hurt and... you're lost."-his breathing slowed-"I, I underestimated you. You are not...truly evil but I sense...I sense a flicker of light in your heart, buried within layers of anger and grief."

"Please," he wheezed and looked at her, "let us help you."

"No one can help me," she said, with sorrow in her eyes and coldness in her voice, "As no one can help you."

In one swift motion, his head fell off before he could say anything else. She didn't want to listen to more lies but she also knew what he said was true. The Rebellion tried pathetically to win her emotions but she will not falter. She turned around and faced the helpless Rebels who were whimpering in fear and despair. "So, who's next?" she asked, ignited both ends of her lightsaber and charged.

****

The cries of the rebels echoed throughout the ship but were unheard. Limbs, organs and blood were scattered around the room by the time she eliminated them. The last rebel crawled across the floor, with only his torso and one arm, desperately trying to save himself. Leia rolled her eyes and stabbed him.

"Enough!" a voice cried and Force-pushed Leia away. She grunted and faced the opponent who was obviously a possible Jedi. How come she did not sense a Jedi on board?

The woman had a vibroblade only and stood in a stance that was very unfamiliar to her. "The rebels offered you help, did they not? And you inhumanly slaughtered them in cold-blood," she said in a voice full of anger which was unusual in a Jedi. "Your tactics are from bloodlust. It is dangerous to the Force as it is dangerous to you. Now, stop this, and you will be spared."

"Who do you think you are?" she bellowed, rising up from the floor and ignited her lightsaber. The Rebels offered the help only because they were afraid and wanted to take advantage of her emotions. This time though, she concentrated on her mental shields.

The woman did not answer her question, annoying the girl but she said, "Walk away before I can hurt you. I don't want to, unless you provoke me."

"What makes you think that?" Leia replied, walking slowly, studying the surroundings and trying to search for the Jedi's possible disadvantages.

"I may not be able to hurt your physical body, but I can hurt your mind," The Jedi said, and then looked at her, Leia feeling the woman's eyes looking through her own, "You are Vader's new apprentice, are you not?"

"Does it matter?" Leia snapped, not removing her glance from the woman not even for a second. The woman wore a robe with a two-piece tunic, identical to the robes of the Jedi but not exactly a Jedi's outfit. She covered her head with a hood and the only visible part was her lower face and her long, greying, black hair that was left open.

"Yes, it does." She said, slightly raising her voice, "I sense the uncertainty and imbalance within you."

"No, I do *not*!"

"Why do you have such issues, young one?"

Leia closed her eyes and covered her ears with her hands. She knew what she was doing to her. It was a Dark Side technique used during interrogation or for stun during combat. "Stop it!" she yelled.

The woman pressed on, "Is it because of your fear of failure? Your desire to impress your master? Your love for your father? Or...is it because you wish to be loved? Well, you say you hate, but I know otherwise. There is still a part of love inside you, one you cannot remove, but you want to. Your desire is to impress your masters but you fear. You fear that you would disappoint them, that you would receive punishment. Why do you want to hate your father if you love him so...? Ah! So that is why."

The woman was reading her life like an open book and she did not like it. The apprentice felt pressured and lost her control, releasing her rage and instability.

She let out a Force scream which caught the woman off guard. She took her lightsaber and slashed towards her. The opponent reacted in time to dodge the attack. Leia delivered merciless flurry of strikes, leaving her enemy to defend herself and search for a rare opportunity to strike.

And the woman finally found it. When Leia brought her weapon up to thrust it on her body, she thrust her vibroblade forwards and twisted it, successfully hitting the Sith on her waist. Having stunned her for a few moments, she retreated, with the Sith chasing her. However the chase was short because Leia kicked her and knocked her down, her back hitting the ground.

Leia kneeled by her on the floor and smirked, raising her lightsaber to deliver the killing blow. At that moment, the woman quickly stopped it by grabbing her hand. She gritted her teeth as she tried to fight back, but the girl was strong and she was an old woman. She called upon the Force and hit her opponents chest, delivering a peculiar blow.

The dark Jedi calmed down and released her, but immediately panicked over what just happened. Leia was confused and backed away. She felt different; she no longer felt the bloodlust she had. Now, she was scared.

"What did you do?!" she roared, her eyes glowing more golden as time passed.

The Jedi was about to answer and clear her confusion but a blast hit her back. She let out a loud moan and fell to the ground. Her vision blurred and spun but she could not get up. She was paralysed. Leia just watched her on the floor.

"Milady!" she heard the call. She was embarrassed, her eyes were red with tears and she looked vulnerable. She covered herself with her robe and pulled on her hood. A trooper came to her and saluted before asking, "Are you alright?"

"Yes," she replied, looking at the woman on the ground, "Yes I am. What is your number?"

"WS-7089, milady."

"Thank you."

Her response earned a surprised reaction from him, shown by his uncomfortable shifting. She also found it weird. The woman, she did something to her and she must find out what. It was confirmed now that she was not the typical Jedi, but maybe a Sith or something else.

"Get a medic," she ordered. The trooper nodded and left.

She glanced at the woman who groaned at the floor. She stood next to her lying body and asked, "Are you a Jedi or a Sith?"

Her lips moved, indicating a response, which was useless since she could not hear it. The woman closed her eyes. She was not dead; Leia could still sense her signature and she wouldn't allow it. The woman must live to give her the answers she wanted.

****

She went to the control room to search for the plans, only to find out that they were not there. She grew frustrated and let out a grunt of anger. She stood there, thinking. Where would the Rebels hide the plans? She looked outside the window and saw many escape pods being destroyed, but despite that, some of them managed to enter Tatooine.

The plans were aboard one of them and she hoped that it was destroyed. However it was not what the Force told her. A pod with no life form was one of those which escaped and she was certain it was the one she was looking for. She stared at it, displeased with her own progress. She would fail the mission, unless...

"Send a squad down there." She commanded, storming out of the room, "Get those plans and kill every survivor!"

Leia roamed around the corridors of the vessel, feeling restless. The rebels have escaped with the plans and are probably lost from the Empires hands. She feared the consequences she would have with Vader. She remembered her time with the Emperor; he had no mercy and she doubted Vader would have any but shed rather be with the Emperor. She hated her father for what he had done to her.