Padawan Found Chapter 4

A master in jeopardy!, having lost communication with Jedi master Luminara Unduli after she boarded a separatist ship the Jedi council sends Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, along with his padawans Barriss Offee and Ahsoka Tano, to investigate. But will the mission take a back seat to the even more devastating situation going on inside the head of Barriss Offee?.

Chapter 4: Two Less Lonely People in the Universe

Barriss spent the hold trip mentally hitting herself, although trying to think without Ahsoka hearing became a challenge at first she seemed to get the hang of it after a few attempts.

'If master Skywalker had been just a few seconds later' her thoughts quickly changed direction 'then what?, what would I have said?, that I have feelings for her, that I can barely breath when we're either close together or far apart, that I want to break one of our oldest codes for feelings I don't even fully understand' and there it was. The one question she'd been forcing to the back of her mind all this time, what were these feelings?.

The small shuttle taking them to the larger republic cruiser barely had enough room for it's occupants. Captain Rex sat strapped in beside two other clones on the left side while Anakin, Ahsoka and Barriss sat on the opposite side.

Barriss was fully aware of Ahsoka's bare shoulder rubbing up against her own 'why did I sit in the middle?', chancing a few glances when she was sure no one would notice she racked her mind 'do I find her attractive?, I mean sure she's beautiful but...whoa where did that come from?'. The shuttle coming to a stop was enough to bring her back to reality, all six rose from their seat and stepped out the shuttle single file.


^0^0^0^

Anakin and Rex stared out the Jedi cruisers bridge window, a separatists star destroyer hung in space completely motionless. As Barriss and Ahsoka meet up with their master he was already deep in conversation "so no shuttles have launched since it was disabled?"

Rex shook his head "they have yet to make any attempt to escape or fight back, they're just floating out there. I don't like it sir"

"neither do I Rex, but if Luminara's in there we have no choice but to go in"

Barriss stood patiently by her masters side "master I have a suggestion" both Anakin and Rex turned.

Rex took off his helmet as Anakin nodded "go ahead"

"maybe if me and Ahsoka combine our senses, we could tell whats going on inside from here"

Anakin shook his head "I don't know about that, if you lose control of the force meld..."

Ahsoka stepped forward "I think Barriss is right, it's either this or go in without a plan".

After a long silence Anakin finally motioned for Rex to take a few steps back "everyone be as quiet as possible!" every head on the bridge was now on the two padawans as they moved in front of the window and sat beside each other.

Barriss instantly felt Ahsoka's presence mix with her own, within seconds she could feel every thing around her, Anakin and Rex stood several feet back whispering back and forth and everyone else on the bridge had gone back to their duties.

With a mental push she could just make out the separatists ship, another push from Ahsoka and the inside of the ship became clear. As her vision flashed images of the ship something caught her eye, apparently seeing the same Ahsoka helped her in clearing the image.

Had it not been for all her training Barriss would of screamed at the sight now completely clear in her mind "its Luminara"

she instantly felt Anakin's presence walk closer "is she okay?"

"she's on the bridge, I think she's unconscious"

Anakin placed a comforting hand on her shoulder "can you see anything else?"

Ahsoka answered before she could "the dark side is...very strong. Master I...ah!" Anakin was at his padawans side before her back could hit the ground

Barriss felt herself snapped back into reality as she rushed to Ahsoka's side "Ahsoka are you alright!". For a few of the slowest seconds of her life there was no response,

Ahsoka's body just laid limp in Anakin's arms "come on Snips, pull through".

Barriss quickly wiped away a tear as it formed in her eye "come on Ahsoka, be strong". Then, as quickly as it had happened, it was over.

Ahsoka's eyes opened with a small grin already on her face "Dooku's waiting for us master".


^0^0^0^

Anakin helped Ahsoka to her feet and immediately started with his list of orders "Ahsoka, Barriss get down to the shuttle, Rex get your squad ready, Admiral Yularen if we haven't contacted you ten minutes after departure blow the ship to hell"

Barriss and Ahsoka started towards the elevator as Anakin continued to spread his orders all around the ship, once the doors sealed them from the outside world Barriss asked the obvious "you sure your alright?"

"I'm fine really, just a minor setback"

"Ahsoka I'm sorry...I did this to you"

"what are you talking about?, this force meld thing was an accident"

Barriss let out a loud sigh as she turned to her friend "Ahsoka you heard Obi-Wan, only very powerful Jedi are supposed to be able to do this. Aren't you at least a little suspicious about how we pulled it off?"

"I guess it is a little odd, but we're stronger than people give us credit for"

"Ahsoka I know why this happened" the doors of the elevator opened to reveal the docking bay, row after row of ships facing giant blue energy shields.

As they started down the large walkway Ahsoka restarted the conversation "Is this about what you were trying to say back on Corusant?, you said lately I've...before Skyguy walked up"

Barriss was sure her heart would stop, she had hoped her friend had forgotten about that "I really think this should wait till after the mission"

"oh come on, you know you can tell me anything right?"

After a reassuring hand was placed on her shoulder Barriss couldn't help but smile 'maybe she will understand'

"of course I will" Ahsoka let a sly grin cross her face.

It took Barriss a minute but when it hit her it hit her unlike anything ever had "you could hear my thoughts the whole time"

Her questioned was answered by Ahsoka wrapping both arms around her waist "we have a lot to talk about...later" after a cold shiver rippled through her body Barriss leaned forward and returned the hug, for that moment in her life they weren't Jedi, there was no code, and all her feelings that had been held back were now front and center in the best possible way.

Ahsoka's body felt warm pressed against her own and for the first time she let the feeling that started in her own body envelope her, it was unlike anything she experienced but from that moment on she wanted it in her every second of her life 'this can't be wrong, it just can't'.

Ahsoka pulled back long enough to nuzzle her head in her friends neck "we have to focus on the mission for now, Skyguy won't be far behind us"

Barriss could feel Ahsoka's breath on the back of her neck, the words might as well of stabbed her in the heart "...your right, we need to be at the ship before him" despite their words the two padawans found it difficult to pull apart, it wasn't till a small droid approached that they regained their composure.

Ahsoka lightly rubbed her back Lekku "oh...hey their artooie, go get the ship prepped for launch" the blue and white astromech beeped a response before riding into the closest ship.


^0^0^0^

Barriss sat across from Ahsoka in the rear seats of the T-6 shuttle, her friend had yet to say a word since they entered the ship but even the silence couldn't stop the feeling still going through every inch of her body. Goose bumps went up both her arms and legs just from the thought of the hug she had shared only moments ago "Ahsoka"

"yeah"

"what...what does this mean?, I mean...do you have the same feelings I do?"

Ahsoka seemed to cringe at the question "Barriss, you said you would be there whenever I wanted to talk about Wasskah"

"of course"

"well...here it goes, when Kalifa died I felt like a part of me had too. It was my fault, I wasn't strong enough to help her" Ahsoka stood up from her seat and paced the cockpit "then...when I finally got to the Trandoshans leader, I killed him".

"Yes the report said as much, but it was in self defense"

Ahsoka stopped pacing and turned away from her friend "that's the thing, it was in self defense...partly"

"partly?"

Ahsoka spun around with a fierce look in her eyes, a look that was out of place on the girls usually kind and caring features "Kalifa didn't deserve to die on that planet!, those...things hunted her down like the animals they are!. When I fought with the leader I could of captured him alive but I didn't!, that monster deserved to die!" with those last words Ahsoka slumped back into her chair " I killed him out of hate, ever since that day I've felt...something".

Barriss felt a lump form in her throat "the dark side".

All Ahsoka could do was nod, after Barriss leaned forward and took her hand she forced a smile "the code says attachments are wrong, but after what just happened...the dark side never felt farther away than it did when we...well you know". All Barriss could think to do was strengthen her grip on Ahsoka's hand, she wanted to say something in comfort but her mind was blank.

Ahsoka's smile widened as she looked her friend in the eyes "I don't know what these feelings are Barriss, but if they make us both this happy I do know one thing...they can't be bad".