My Unfortunate Fate

chapter 56

Trust can never be understated.

"I said my padawan is in there," Anakin tells Commander Fox. "Now, step aside."

The glass separating us from him is the only barrier between us and access to Ahsoka's cell. It's frustrating to watch how Fox could keep us from her so easily.

"General Skywalker, General y/l/n..." Commander Fox begins. "...Admiral Tarkin has ordered that no one be allowed in there."

I look down to notice Anakin's hand balling into a menacing fist. I tap it lightly, trying to stop him from doing anything too harsh because he has a record of doing so. "Are you sure there's no way we can just talk to her?" I ask in an attempt to ease the situation.

"It doesn't matter what she's accused of," Anakin says, pointing his hand at the glass display. "Let us in."

A hum sounds from nearby, so I turn and watch two shock troopers approach us with electro-staffs. Anakin lowers his hand and looks around at the troopers, then back at me.

"Sorry, sir," Fox says. "The admiral's orders stand. This is now a military operation under his jurisdiction."

My husband scowls, and the shock troopers lead us out of the building.

***

"I can't believe they wouldn't even let me in to talk to her!" Anakin complains, walking across the front platform of the detention facility with me.

I negotiated with the shock troopers to let us walk back to our speeder alone. Their company was somewhat unnerving, seeing as we hadn't done anything illegal; we merely wanted to visit Ahsoka, which should be permitted under normal circumstances.

"It's not like we could've done anything in the first place," I say. "Whatever she's in there for, I think Ahsoka is innocent. I can only hope Admiral Tarkin comes to realize that."

He took Ahsoka. He locked her up for nothing. I know she wouldn't hurt a fly, much less another person or Jedi. Ahsoka is tough, but she isn't merciless. Her fighting ties in with honour, which is well-deserved.

Ahsoka Tano is one of the greatest Jedi I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. To consider that she could do something so terrible and get herself thrown in prison is unthinkable. Aware of this, Tarkin still locked her up and kept Ahsoka from us.

"You never did like Tarkin, did you?" Anakin remarks as we reach the speeder.

"He doesn't like me," I shrug, jumping into the passenger seat. "And this certainly doesn't help."

"But it's been like that since the Citadel," Anakin adds. "You ignored everyone for half the mission, too."

"I didn't—" I begin my protest, but think back on the mission. I wasn't trying to ignore anyone, I just couldn't process everything that was going on. "I had trouble even figuring out what was going on," I state. "Nothing felt real. Not since the shuttle blew up."

Anakin glances at me and hesitates to start up the speeder. "I'm sorry-"

"Don't," I cut him off. "I don't want to think about it right now."

He sighs, setting up the speeder to start up. "Back to the Temple?"

I nod in response.

"Now, hold on," Anakin warns, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear and smiling. "I might go a little fast."

I scoff and look ahead, taking in a deep breath while smiling.

As we race through the city, Coruscant's sky seems to become infested with thick clouds, warning us of an upcoming storm. The sky always looks calm here, so the harsh weather gives me an uneasy feeling. Even though we're on our way back to the Jedi Temple, Anakin and I know we won't get in a blink of sleep. Not with Ahsoka gone.