StarWars: Renegades -In The Name Of The Fallen

Denial And A Piece Of Advice

Ahsoka
When Ahsoka woke up she realized that she was still in the Spirit's cockpit. Maxwell was sitting next to her in the pilot's seat, his elbows resting on the chair's armrests and his hands were folded on the dashboard.

With his eyes closed, it was impossible to tell if he was meditating or asleep. Then Ahsoka noticed how deep his breathing was. Maxwell too was fast asleep.

The Togruta couldn't help but feel elated at the prospect of traveling with her old friend.

He had been the first person in her short life that had given her the feeling that he believed in her. He had taught her how to fight, how to survive. Her former master Anakin Skywalker had taught her to think on her feet and how to be a soldier. Now, with any luck she would learn what being a Jedi was all about.

It wasn't that Anakin hadn't been a good mentor. She loved the Skyguy like an older brother. However, being his Padawan meant fighting in a war, a war that had provided her with a lot of bad memories. Memories she only now realized she had been much too young to collect. She now realized that it wasn't what being a Padawan was supposed to be like.

Now she would go through the last phase of her Jedi training and Ahsoka hoped that she would learn everything she hadn't been able to learn from Anakin due to the war.

Ahsoka studied her new mentor. She couldn't deny that Maxwell was beautiful with his high cheekbones and proud features, silvery blond hair, and fair skin. His features seemed to stay guarded, even in his sleep. Something was different now, though. She could see the tiny frown in his eyebrows that came from exhaustion. Ahsoka could now see it because she now knew him.

The responsibility of command had taken its own toll on her friend. Not that she blamed him. Sending thousands of people to their deaths, including his own friends wasn't exactly comparable to a vacation on Naboo.

Ahsoka silently cursed herself. It was inappropriate to think him in this way. Yes, he was good looking but a bit too old for her. Not that Ahsoka had any real romantic interest in him. She was also quite sure that it wouldn't do their relationship any good if Maxwell got the impression that her feelings for him were more than just friendly. He would keep her at distance and Ahsoka didn't want her last remaining friend to pull away.

Still, he really was good looking. Ahsoka absentmindedly opened a map of the galaxy on the holographic projector. Her eyes tracing the Hyperspace routes as they crisscrossed through the Galaxy.

For the first time, Ahsoka had no idea where her path was going to take her. Perhaps she and Maxwell would spend the next few years traveling the Galaxy together or she could be dead by the end of the week. It could be that she and Max would stay together until death forced them to part paths or she could be on her own again by the end of the week.

Ahsoka's thoughts drifted off to Lux who she had been forced to leave behind. She was perfectly aware of the fact that he would likely be executed. Her gut told her to go and try to save him but Maxwell was right, there was nothing she could achieve except ending up getting captured or killed. Still, she didn't like the idea of leaving someone behind.

Ahsoka stared out at the shimmering blue vortex of Hyperspace, trying to push aside the feeling of guilt. She knew that her only mistake had been to take Lux on the mission. Still, she got to sit here while he was in prison, waiting for his sentencing.

"Something troubling you?" Ahsoka's breath caught in surprise. She hadn't realized that Maxwell had woken up.

She glanced at him, "Yes. I'm worried about Lux."

Max nodded slowly, "Yes, I trust my brother is displeased that I took matters into my own hands with you. That isn't good for your friend."

Ahsoka sighed, "Do you think that Alexander will execute him?"

Maxwell shrugged, "I don't know. I'm sure it wouldn't be pleasant whatever it is."

Ahsoka shuddered slightly as she imagined Lux being unmanned by a lightsaber. "Perhaps Yela will tame my brother in his rage. She is known to occasionally do that."

Ahsoka bit her lip, "I'm asking you this as a padawan asking her master for advice and not as a friend to another. I know I can't save him but I don't believe I should just walk away either. What advice would you give me as your Padawan on this matter?"

Maxwell stayed silent for a moment and then gently laid his hand on her shoulder. "Trust in the force. I'd tell my Padawan to trust in the force." Ahsoka considered the advice. 

If she hadn't known Maxwell as well as she did she would have viewed it as a none answer.

"Ahsoka. You mustn't hold yourself responsible for all the wrongs around you. Change what you can when you can. When there is nothing you can do than look ahead. Otherwise, you will end up causing a lot more harm than easing it. I'm not saying you should forget those you left behind. Just know when the time is right for decisive action and more importantly when not."

Wolf & Lengendary95 over and out.