It Takes Two to Tango

A Hero's Purpose

Ahsoka stepped outside of the cave and saw her ship off in the distance. Strangely, she didn't want to leave this place just yet. She felt calm and at peace here. The Jedi presence was strong with this planet; there must've been an ancient temple somewhere near her. She instinctively reached for the empty space where here Silka beads had been. As a padawan, they'd been her most cherished possession. She couldn't help but wonder where she would be if she stayed in the order; she'd probably be dead, if she were honest with herself. Ahsoka's knew she was no match for the agents the Empire called "Inquisitors."

She landed her ship just outside of Tarkin Town, hopeful that the Ghost crew would return. According to her ship's calendar, it had been a full month since she left to follow the wolf. She felt a chill run down her spine as she remembered how similar the Mortis experience had been regarding time.

Luckily, the crew returned not long after dusk. A young woman disembarked the ship first pushing a crate of what Ahsoka assumed to be food for the starving people.

Ahsoka walked up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You're doing a generous thing here. These citizens appreciate your willingness to do this for them."

"Of course," the woman replied. "I do whatever I can to help whomever I can."

Ahsoka smiled. "Is Kanan here, too? I wish to have a word with him."

The woman froze. "How do you know Kanan? Who are you?"

"We used to know each other as kids," she said, not wanting to give away too much. "I wanted to talk to him about something."

"He's in his quarters on the Ghost. Normally, I'd get Hera to show you inside, but he's been acting strangely lately. Maybe you'll have an answer."

"Indeed I might. Thank you..."

"Sabine. My name's Sabine."

Ahsoka boarded the Ghost and found Kanan right where Sabine said he'd be. He and Hera sat next to each other on the bottom bunk, leaning on each other, talking about something important. She felt badly interrupting them, but this was important.

"Sorry to intrude. I hope you don't mind my visiting. Sabine told me to come inside."

Hera stood up and distanced herself from Kanan. "Sure, yes, of course." She seemed flustered that Ahsoka had seen her and Kanan together like that, but Ahsoka didn't care. She had a boyfriend of her own; who was she to judge?

"I need to speak to you, Kanan." She glanced at Hera, who immediately got the message that this was a private conversation.

As soon as she was gone, Ahsoka sat down on the floor in front of Kanan. She wasn't exactly sure how to start the conversation, so she began to meditate.

She could feel the force flowing through her. She let it give her strength to feel Kanan's presence. He was emotionally conflicted; he wanted to feel the love and companionship that came with caring for his new family, yet he was afraid that letting go of the old Jedi ways would mean that he was no longer worthy of the skills, knowledge, or power he possessed. She understood where he was coming from, as she hadn't exactly mastered balance yet either.

When she looked deeper, she saw a man standing on top of a fuel cell. He was wasn't happy or sad; he has the aura of one that is satisfied with his life and ready to move on and become a part of the force.

She opened her eyes and gave Kanan a once over. So he was the heroic type. "Kanan Jarrus, it's been a long time." Kanan nodded. They had met during their studies at the Jedi Temple but had no substantial relationship.

"Indeed. How times have changed."

Ahsoka nodded. Both of them remained silent, neither wanting to mention the terrible things that ended the Jedi and allowed their current reality to exist. Even the wistful memories from before Order 66 seemed tainted by the Empire.

"Ahsoka, is there something specific I can help you with?"

"Actually, I learned something I thought I should share. Lothal is going to be important in the downfall of the Empire. Something is going to happen here that will give the Rebellion the momentum it needs to fuel a large-scale uprising. You're going to be an instrumental part of that."

He crossed his arms in front of him. "In what way?"

"I can't tell exactly, but you'll know when the moment comes. Be willing to let go and let the force guide you."

His gaze dropped when she realized what she was saying. "Of course. Freedom must come at a cost, and I'm willing to pay the price if it means those I love can have a life free of the Empire."

His words echoed through Ahsoka's mind. Sure, she'd been ready to pay the price as well, but he already seemed to know what was coming. It was almost as if her warning was just reaffirming it.

Kanan had something Ahsoka didn't: time. Kanan knew the moment he would die, but Ahsoka could only guess at how she would go out. When would the force decide that she had served her purpose? Would she be ready when the moment came? Kanan had time to sort everything out and tie up loose ends. She didn't.

The wolf was right; sometimes she had to let go of her duties to see that the most important things were the relationships in her life. She was letting them suffer, and that would have to change.

A/N: It's been a while since I published anything for this book, and I'm so glad I finally sat down and made myself write something. This chapter was painful to write because it feels like it's mostly filler, but it's really not. There's so much dialogue and thought going on that it feels really slow, bland, and uninteresting to me, but I need to have this chapter for the book to make sense. At least now it's done and I can move back to what this book was supposed to be about in the first place.

More luxsoka moments are coming! I'll have another update ready soon, but I'm not sure when soon is. It could be this weekend, or it could be a month from now. I honestly have no idea. I'll do my best to get it up in the near future.

Until next time, may the force be with you!