Chapter 7
You got one too?“ „yes I’ve found it yesterday in my locker“ „yeah me too it was there in the morning!“ „are they really from her?“ „they must be no?“
Rex sighed, shaking his head at the excitement of his men. It wasn’t often that the barracks were this loud before deployment. He stepped closer, watching as Jesse held up a small golden triangle, the edges catching the light.
“Ah, Captain, haven’t you seen?” Jesse asked, turning to him with a grin. “Looks like everyone got one.”
Rex took the small piece from Jesse’s hand, inspecting it. It looked oddly familiar.
“It’s the fake teeth from Ahsoka’s old headdress,” Jesse explained. “Remember? She made a new one after she hunted that beast last month.”
Rex did remember. Ahsoka had proudly told the story one evening while eating with them, explaining the significance of the hunt.
“I think I’ll make a necklace out of mine,” Fives said, examining his own.
“Hey, that was my idea!” Hardcase complained, nudging him.
Rex shook his head again but couldn’t help the small smirk forming on his face. He walked over to his locker, opening it. Just like the others had said, a golden tooth was sitting next to his pistols. He picked it up, running his fingers over its surface.
“Look,” Jesse said, peering over his shoulder, “I was right! Of course our Captain got the biggest one.”
Rex huffed a quiet laugh, shaking his head. He didn’t say anything, but a strange warmth settled in his chest. It wasn’t often clones received personal gifts—especially not from a Jedi.
He tucked the small piece into a pouch on his belt.
“Alright, enough messing around,” he said, voice firm but not unkind. “Gear up. We’ve got a battle ahead.”
As the clones hurried to finish their preparations, Rex glanced at the little golden tooth once more before securing it. Ahsoka really had come into her own as a leader. And more than that—she saw them, not just as soldiers, but as people.
And that meant more than he could ever put into words.
The gunship descended rapidly, the wind howling around them. When they were mere meters from the ground, Ahsoka and the clones let go of the handles, dropping into the chaos below. Blaster fire erupted around them, but Ahsoka was already moving. She ignited her sabers, the green glow cutting through the dust and smoke, and led her squad forward.
As she weaved through the battlefield, her sabers deflecting blaster bolts with ease, a glint of gold caught her eye. She stole a quick glance and felt a surge of warmth in her chest. The little golden triangles—pieces of her old headdress—were attached to some of the clones’ weapons and armor. Small, personal tokens, worn into battle.
It was a strange feeling, but a good one. She had always been close to the 501st, but in the last few months, her bond with them had deepened. Ever since Anakin had left on his private mission, she had spent more time training with them. They had become more than just soldiers under her command. They were her squad, her friends.
And yet, despite everything she had built with the clones, there was still a distance between her and her master.
Ahsoka parried a droid’s blaster bolt and sliced through its torso, her movements automatic, but her mind lingered on Anakin. She still didn’t understand why he had left her behind. When she had asked, all she got was some vague answer about the mission being “private and secret.” She had tried not to take it personally, but now that he was back, things felt… different.
They still worked well together in battle, still bantered, still trusted each other with their lives—but outside of that? Nothing. He was distant, closed off, more than usual. She had even gone to Obi-Wan about it, hoping for some insight, but he had only given her a knowing look and told her to be patient.
Ahsoka sighed, frustration creeping in as she cut down another droid.
Patience.
She wasn’t sure how much longer she could wait.
A few minutes later, the battlefield was silent. The last of the droids lay in smoking heaps, and Anakin, Rex, and Ahsoka stood around a holographic map of their surroundings.
“We just need to check this section behind the stone wall and clear it if necessary,” Anakin said, pointing to the last marked area. “Then we’re done.” He gave Rex a few quick orders before turning away without so much as glancing at Ahsoka.
She had had enough.
“Master,” she called out, stopping him in his tracks. “Can you please tell me what’s going on? What were you doing on Tatooine?”
She had checked the travel records. She had wanted to understand. But the moment the words left her mouth, she saw something snap in Anakin’s expression.
“That has nothing to do with you!” he snapped, his voice sharper than she had ever heard it.
Ahsoka’s eyes widened. He had been frustrated with her before, sure—but this? This was different.
Anakin turned away again. “Go to your position. We start soon.”
Ahsoka clenched her fists. She was trying to help, trying to understand, but if he wasn’t going to let her in—fine.
The Separatist quarters behind the wall were nearly empty, just a few droids left to mop up. It was quick, efficient work. But as they made their way toward a tunnel that would lead them back to their ships, Ahsoka suddenly felt it.
A deep, distant rumbling.
“Out!” she shouted.
The clones immediately sprinted for the exit, but Ahsoka could see they weren’t going to make it in time. The ceiling was already cracking, the ground trembling beneath them.
She stopped, planting her feet, and threw out her hands. The Force surged through her, stabilizing the rock just long enough for the last troopers to escape into the sunlight.
Then she ran.
Stones crashed down on either side of her, dust filling the tunnel. Almost there—
Pain exploded through her lekku.
White-hot agony blinded her, and she staggered. The next thing she knew, she was on the ground, gasping for air as rubble rained down around her.
“Commander, give me your hand!”
Rex.
She blinked up to see him reaching for her, his armor streaked with dust and grime.
“Why did you—” She cut herself off. No time to argue. She stretched out her arm, and Rex grabbed hold, yanking her to her feet. Her legs felt weak, her balance unsteady, but she pushed forward with Rex supporting her.
Together, they stumbled out just as the tunnel collapsed behind them.
Ahsoka coughed and wiped dust from her face. “I hate caves,” she muttered.
“Who doesn’t, Commander?” Rex replied.
She straightened, trying to brush him off. “I’m fine, really—”
“No, Commander,” Rex said firmly, tightening his grip. “You’re not getting out of a medbay visit. I will personally bring you there.”
Ahsoka sighed. She wasn’t getting out of this one.
Anakin didn’t even look at her.
As Rex helped her onto the gunship, she caught sight of her master standing off to the side. His arms were crossed, his gaze fixed elsewhere. The moment she got close, he turned his head away.
Like she wasn’t even there.
The wound on her lekku ached, but not nearly as much as the sting in her chest.
Why are you doing this, Master?
Fortunately, her injuries weren’t serious—just a concussion and a gash on her lekku. Nothing a bacta patch and a good night’s sleep couldn’t fix.
Which was lucky, because the very next morning, a new mission awaited.
Ahsoka stood aboard the ship, staring out at the lush green fields and sparkling lakes below as they descended onto Naboo. She had never been here before, but it reminded her a little of Shili—rolling plains, rich nature—though with far more water. It was beautiful.
Captain Typho greeted them the moment they landed. Before Ahsoka could even take in her surroundings, Anakin was already stepping forward.
“Where is Pad—Lady Amidala?” he asked, voice tight with urgency.
Ahsoka narrowed her eyes. So he could still care about something. Good to know.
Apparently, there was some sort of hidden laboratory beneath the swamps of Naboo, and Anakin and Obi-Wan had been called in to investigate. Ahsoka was assigned a scouting mission alongside a female Gungan to search for the entrance.
They didn’t have to look long.
A mechanical eye on a long, spindly stalk suddenly shot up from the ground, lifting the Gungan into the air.
Ahsoka barely managed to grab her and pull her to safety before the spy cam could detect them.
The next steps were simple enough. Contact Anakin and Obi-Wan. Wait for their signal. Blow the entrance open.
Her job was to hold off the droids while the Masters handled the rest.
Eventually, Rex and his squad met up with her, and together they navigated through the labyrinthine corridors of the underground facility, taking out every battle droid they encountered.
For once, everything seemed to be going smoothly.
A while later, Obi-Wan’s voice crackled through her comm.
“We’ve got him. Doctor Vindi is in custody.”
Good.
Ahsoka and her men turned a corner—and nearly ran straight into someone.
She barely stopped herself in time.
“Senator Amidala?” she blurted out. “Why are you still down here?”
The senator, wearing a protective helmet, stood alongside the another Gungan. Jar Jar was his name if she remembered correctly.
“One of the bombs is missing,” Padmé explained quickly. “It has to be somewhere in these halls.”
Ahsoka tensed. A missing bomb was not good news.
“Then we’ll help you find it,” she said without hesitation.
They split up.
Ahsoka sprinted down the corridor with Rex, Jesse, Fives, and Echo, searching for the missing bomb.
“Room clear,” Echo called out.
“This one too,” Fives confirmed.
“Nothing in here either.”
“I think I got something!” Jesse’s voice suddenly rang out, urgent and panicked.
Ahsoka turned toward him just as she heard it—a faint beeping sound.
Jesse’s panicked “No, no, no—” was all she needed to hear.
“RUN!” she screamed.
Alarms erupted all around them, shrieking in warning. The lab was already sealing itself off, blast doors hissing shut. The virus had been released.
They sprinted toward the nearest safety room, their boots pounding against the floor. But the door was closing—too fast.
Ahsoka cursed under her breath and skidded to a stop. Planting her feet, she reached out with the Force, straining against the thick durasteel door to keep it open just long enough—
“Go, go, go!” she urged.
One by one, the clones dived through.
At the last second, she released the Force and threw herself forward, rolling just as the door slammed shut behind her.
She landed in a crouch, breathing hard.
“Commander,” Fives panted, bracing his hands on his knees. “You seriously need to stop saving us. It’s our job to protect you! We can’t do that if you get yourself killed!”
Ahsoka wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead and shot him a tired grin. “I protect you whenever you can’t. You do the same for me.”
But as she caught her breath, something felt… off.
Her throat itched.
A feeling of unease crept up her spine. Slowly, her eyes flicked to the oximeter mounted on the wall—the device that measured air purity.
The screen glowed red.
Her stomach dropped.
The air wasn’t clean.
They weren’t safe.
A beeping sound snapped her back to the moment. The communicator next to the door flashed.
“Ahsoka?” Padmé’s voice came through.
Ahsoka stepped forward and pressed the button. “Lady Amidala.” Her voice was steady, but she could already feel the burn creeping into her lungs.
“We’re in the other safety bunker,” the senator informed her. “What happened?”
Ahsoka sighed, rubbing her forehead. “A droid had the virus. It managed to place it in a bomb. Now it’s out there.”
A pause.
“And you? Are you safe?”
Ahsoka’s gaze drifted around the small, enclosed space. The clones seemed fine, but she knew it wouldn’t last.
Her fingers clenched into a fist. She looked back at the oximeter.
Red.
She exhaled.
“No,” she admitted quietly. “We’re infected.”
The words sent a ripple of tension through the room. The clones stiffened, glancing at each other in silent understanding.
“I’m sorry,” Padmé said, her voice heavy with guilt. “We saw droids still active on the way here. They might be trying to breach the lab and release the virus into the open air.”
Ahsoka’s stomach twisted. If that happened, the entire planet would be at risk.
“Then we stop them,” she said firmly. “We’re already exposed—it doesn’t matter if we go out there.”
“We’ll meet in the middle,” Padmé agreed. “Our suits should protect us.”
The transmission cut out.
Ahsoka turned back to her men, expression apologetic.
“Sorry,” she said quietly. “Seems I couldn’t protect you this time.”
Rex shook his head. “Don’t be. We’ll make sure that virus doesn’t get out. And then we’ll figure out the rest.”
Ahsoka swallowed hard, suppressing a cough as she deactivated the security gates.
The air outside was tinted a faint, sickly blue.
Ahsoka stepped into the corridor with her squad, her body already feeling the weight of the virus. Her throat burned, raw and dry, and her limbs felt heavier with each step. But it wasn’t unbearable—at least, not yet.
They pushed forward, searching for any hatches the droids might use to breach the surface. Along the way, they destroyed three clankers before climbing a ladder to a higher level, where they finally met up with Padmé and the Gungan.
Ahsoka noted with relief that their suits were working.
“Senator, we cleared the eastern section,” she reported, her voice hoarse.
“Please, call me Padmé.” The senator smiled from under her helmet. “We took down a few droids on our way here, too. I also managed to get through to Skywalker and Kenobi—they’re searching for a cure.”
Part of Ahsoka felt a flicker of hope. Maybe she would survive after all.
But another part of her whispered something else.
Did Anakin know he was looking for a cure for her? Or was he only doing it for Padmé—the person he seemed to care about more?
She shook her head, forcing the thought aside. They had a planet to save.
Thirty minutes later, only three droids remained.
Ahsoka lunged forward, slicing them apart in a swift flurry of movement.
The last swing of her saber felt heavier than it should. Her vision blurred, her legs wobbled—then gave out entirely.
She dropped to her knees, coughing violently.
“Commander!”
Was that Rex? Echo? Fives? She wasn’t sure. Someone grabbed her arm, helping her stay upright.
“I’m fine,” she tried to say, but each word was punctuated by another cough.
Padmé led them into a larger room, where they could at least sit down. One by one, the clones began coughing too, Jesse the worst of them.
Ahsoka tried to push herself to her feet, intending to check on him, but the moment she stood, her knees buckled.
She would have hit the floor hard if not for Rex, who caught her just in time.
“Please stay down, Ahsoka,” he murmured.
She blinked. Now I’m hallucinating. Rex never called her by her name.
From her position on the ground, she could see Padmé working with the communicator on her wrist. A few moments later, a hologram of Anakin flickered to life.
“Padmé!” he exclaimed, his voice tight with worry. “Are you alright?”
“I am,” the senator reassured him, but her gaze flickered to Ahsoka. “Not so sure about your Padawan.”
Ahsoka struggled to lift her upper body from the floor.
“Don’t worry, Master,” she rasped, pausing to cough. “I’m alrig—”
Another coughing fit wracked her body.
She lifted a trembling hand to cover her mouth, but when she pulled it away, red specks dotted her palm.
Her stomach twisted.
Blood.
Anakin’s expression darkened. But before he could say anything, Padmé turned toward him, her voice firm.
“Don’t do this to her too.”
Ahsoka blinked. What?
Anakin’s jaw clenched. “It won’t happen again. And you know that. Just look at us.”, Padme pressed further.
He looked away.
Then, the transmission cut out.
Ahsoka’s head swam.
“What?” she rasped, barely able to push the word past her lips.
Padmé placed a gloved hand over her own mouth, signaling Ahsoka to stay quiet.
“Anakin is being complicated again,” she murmured. “But I’m sure he’ll tell you eventually.”
Ahsoka felt hot tears burn in her eyes—whether from frustration or pain, she wasn’t sure.
That’s what Obi-Wan told me too. But when?
All she felt now was alone.
A Padawan to a Master who didn’t seem to care. Suddenly. Out of the blue. Just as she thought they finally formed something.
Her body convulsed as another violent coughing fit took hold. She gasped for air.
The edges of her vision darkened.
Then—
Nothing.
She came to her senses as she felt her body being moved.
Muffled voices surrounded her. She tried to focus, forcing her eyes open.
“Good to see you awake, Commander.”
A familiar voice. Steady. Reliable.
Ahsoka blinked sluggishly. “Good to see you too, Rexter,” she rasped out. Speaking hurt. Everything hurt.
But her heart hurt the most.
Her Master was nowhere to be seen.
She let her eyes close again. If only sleep could fix everything.
The next time she woke, she felt better. Her body no longer ached as badly, and her breaths came easier—almost normal.
The door slid open.
To her surprise, Anakin stood at the entrance.
His expression was unreadable.
Ahsoka averted her gaze. She would not be the one to talk first.
“…I’m sorry, Ahsoka.”
Sorry? That’s all?
Frustration bubbled up inside her. “Sorry? Is that all you have? I was hurt—I almost died! And you didn’t care. You didn’t even look at me!”
“It’s complicated, Snips…” he tried.
“Then try!” She sat up, ignoring the twinge in her chest. “Try at least! Because if you don’t talk to me, I don’t know what else I can do!” Her voice wavered, but she held his gaze. „Please, just talk to me.“
Anakin took a deep breath.
“The mission on Tatooine…” He hesitated, glancing away. “It wasn’t really a mission. It was my yearly visit to my mother’s grave.”
Ahsoka stilled.
“I let my emotions take over,” he admitted. “When I saw you hurt, it just… reminded me that this could happen. That one day, you could die. And if I’m to close I would.. would“, he clenched his fist not continuing.
Ahsoka swallowed. It didn’t make perfect sense to her—not yet. But at least he was trying. At least he was talking.
That was enough.
For now.
She managed a small, tired smile. “I accept that.”
And then she felt it—
A shift in the Force.
A quiet pull.
A pull toward him.