Ahsoka let the inertial drift of Force waves take her into its own realm, cohesively binding her spirit into a blurred version of herself, a practice meant to assist in maintaining the focus needed to continue. Her vision of her form was only slightly indistinct from that of her own reality, until she moved. She smiled as she stepped forward seeing the hesitation in the coalescing of her form, as if she, herself, were a wave within a wave and the reversion back to something resembling tangible when she stopped. This was her peace, she thought. “I am the Force.” She whispered as she closed her eyes slowly and let the power of her voice sooth any trepidation remaining within her as it carried upon the waves surrounding her.
She always loved the calming affect the sights of this practice imparted, the subtle colors that constantly changed, the skewed vision of her own mortal surroundings. Seeing the cabin her mind had just left, the flickering imagery left on the holotable, somewhat clouded, and hazy as the flows of the Force crossed her vision in all directions. She took three steps forward, that seemed delayed in this realm, and turned around to see her own mortal form kneeling on the durasteel platform of the cabin. She assumed the same kneeling position before her mortal twin and took note of it, how at peace it seemed despite the myriad conflict underneath.
Hearing the flows surrounding her reminded her of her reasons for being here, echoing voices from past and present reverberated in all directions, prayers of wisdom on the winds of the Force. Some voices she recognized, her own always finding its way back to her any time she came here, a tool she had trained herself to use to navigate the more difficult issues at hand. “Find truth through the Force,” She had said, many years ago, feeling the depth of it resonating with her in the moment. She let its wisdom wash over her, take hold of her thoughts as it dug deep into her soul. ‘Truth,’ she repeated in her mind. Glancing down at the wavering form of the sabers in front of her she reached out to examine her newest addition, leaving her hand hovering over the imposing object to divine its own ‘truth.’ She felt the nagging pull to understand why the crystal had chosen her. She was certainly not in need but could not deny the call of it nor the will of the Force as it so clearly presented itself to her. Knowledge in its purpose, her intent, something Kowani didn’t need to concern herself with nor worry about for the time being, provided the only reason necessary for the hue of the energy blade. Vader. The thought quickly skewing her focus with the influx of emotion, she began to fall forward, her hand outstretched to slow her descent. It was only a moment of vertigo, a loss of balance, “This is nonsense,” she told herself. And only then realized her fingertips were pressed around the hilt of the saber.
“That’s a neat trick.” The echoing voice of T’zar Ek whispered behind her. “I had expended my efforts in that pursuit long ago, while alive that is.”
Ahsoka was lost for words. There was no explanation she could surmise nor any she had ever heard of but felt the need to downplay the sight to the point of being irrelevant. “What do you want with me.” She returned his echo, slowly getting to her feet and turning, not surprised at all to see him in the form he had appeared to her earlier. Pale purple skin from bald head to sandaled toe, broad shoulders and impeccably muscled arms, chest, and torso. Dark purple lips accentuated the bony structure of his face with a protruded chin, but his eyes, the eyes bore no witness to the hollow white nothingness from before, these were a sickly deep yellow, the same eye she saw in her encounter with her former master. “Sith” she finished.
“This isn’t the place for labels Ahsoka Tano, what I was is of no consequence. My intention, as you so eloquently put it earlier, is to return.” The lips mouthed the words with authority and took her by surprise. “There is much transpiring that I would see with mortal eyes, aid in where I so choose and take revenge where I see fit.”
“Within a vessel you have no right to attain.” She finished for him.
“Ah, the crux of the matter. There is no subtlety in you Ahsoka Tano, right to the point, is it?” T’zar reflected.
“Whether I trust anything you have to say going forward is irrelevant T’zar, the heart of the matter is that I will not willingly allow what you seek.” Ahsoka said slowly through clenched teeth, the brewing anger beginning to percolate within her.
T’zar managed to kneel beside her after a few moments of consideration, his wavering blue form moving in slow motion. He looked into her eyes, saying nothing, searching her through and through, realizing at the same moment she was doing the same. He broke his gaze and shifted it to the sabers between the forms of Ahsoka and attempted what he had seen her accomplish earlier only to sense his hand passing straight through the object. Ahsoka followed his actions with her own gaze, still internally perplexed at how she had managed to do it not minutes before. It was then she immediately realized where this interaction was heading and abolished any thought of dangers to her own safety and thought of Kowani’s own minimal force abilities, and how this being before her could fulfill his conquest through the Mirialan. The thought sent the brewing anger into a torrent of rage she couldn’t even begin to contain.
T’zar picked up on the change in Ahsoka immediately and studied her forms. Her Force apparition was effectively seething, and her mortal form was twitching at the joints. Something was happening inexplicably around him, the constant whispers he also heard in this realm were becoming more cohesive, losing their echo, slowing in cadence, and forming different words. The ever-present Force currents were slowing to intersect the three beings and beginning to diverge around them, in a sense, walling them in. The subtle sounds that defined the ambiance in his home were being replaced with the rumble of a distant storm. Flashes of light that immediately reminded him of lightning to complete the mental picture, pierced the swirling wall of force energy. And for the first time in two centuries, T’zar Ek was legitimately afraid.
Ahsoka thought of nothing but the safety of Kowani Y’mmat, her feelings, emotions and intent left unchecked or filtered. As a result, she paid no attention to the changes around her, her focus completely on the form of the purple skinned man before her, his name even escaping her mind. Her feelings had affected the flow of the force to form an inescapable whirlpool of impenetrable rage. Her emotions had caused a shift in the voices that were completely lost to her now. Her intent forming the violent storm she knew was coming. She bore her eyes into his and sensed the fear in him. “I told you not to underestimate my abilities in this place. For you it was home. For me, it is the only sanctuary I’ve ever known.” She said slowly and precisely. “You had a glimpse of my past, but only what I chose to show you. There is so much more you couldn’t even comprehend.” With that she opened her right palm while springing to her feet and willed the force to pull her new saber from the durasteel decking before her mortal form into her waiting non-corporeal hand.
T’zar was in a state of complete confusion. The Togruta had absolutely misunderstood his intentions and was clearly in no state now to hear an explanation. After witnessing the seamless transaction to force state the light saber had just enacted, he watched in ever increasing bewilderment as the mortal form of Ahsoka began to slowly rise to her feet, clenching her sabers in her hands. Her eyes still delicately closed as she assumed her Jar’Kai stance igniting both simultaneously. He knew in that instant he was doomed and attempted to relocate his form to someplace, any place, outside this advancing maelstrom, finding no agreement with that change outside of his own mind. His body was simply unwilling to accept what his thoughts were convincing it to do. The fear within him was being replaced with awe and genuine respect for the level of Force use being deployed before him. He had known, sensed, and witnessed marvels at the hands of others quite older than the Togruta he now faced that paled in comparison to the magnitude and complexity of what was currently transpiring, and he began to laugh. A laughter that was born from realizing the part he played in the grand scheme of forming the individual that was nothing short of a grand master. A laughter that belied the coming fate of any that would dare to stand in her way. A laughter of abject humility and appreciation for what Ahsoka would be capable of in the future. And a laugh that now foretold his own demise.
Ahsoka watched the shifting gaze of the target in front of her and knew he had seen any escape to the mortal realm cut off from her form. She had effectively convinced the force to keep him rooted in place and maintained absolute control of the situation. His sudden bursts of laughter confused her, but only briefly, as she ignited the red blade with a snap hiss, “Your time has come and gone T’zar Ek.” She seethed the words with disdain, raising the saber to strike down.
“As has yours Ahsoka Tano.” He mumbled through pursed lips. Words that should not have been heard through the maelstrom surrounding them found purchase all the same. Ahsoka blatantly hesitated in her actions, distracted by the unexpected, “What did you say?” She asked, feeling the tension within her very muscles soften somewhat.
“You heard every word Ahsoka Tano.” He repeated with a louder rasp through the Force cyclone enveloping them both. “Do not forget that you’ve shown me your own past Togruta.” T’zar paused briefly to raise his head and lock his yellow eyes on hers, “You should never have survived Malachor, yet you did through actions that were not your own.” His face betraying no emotion whatsoever, he let the words hang in the air while deciding whether to continue with the bite he sought. The expression on Ahsoka’s face evolved from directed rage to dawning comprehension. Her eyes widening as the truth within his words began finding the connections, he knew they would. She lowered the saber, its pulsing hum begging her to finish what she had started. Residual energy within the emitted blade riding thin currents of black lightning through its entirety creating microscopic, brilliant flashes of white along its periphery.
The full weight of T’zar’s truth rushed in, dropping her to her knees before him, the ignited saber breaching the wall of Force energy around them both as it fell to her side still clutched in her right hand.
“You see Ahsoka Tano, your anger does indeed make you powerful and the Force itself responds with what you desire most. It is anger bred from fear, however. Fear of what is unknown.” T’zar spoke calmly, unmoving from his position despite the previous barriers broken down. “To give in to that fear is to act without reason. This is what separates you from your enemies. Where they revere the influx of unmatched power fear generates, you reserve for yourself the one true measure of your identity. Compassion Ahsoka Tano.”
Ahsoka let every word course through her, the truth in every one of them bearing themselves to the scrutiny of her soul. She knew the truth of it all in any case and understood that despite her protective intentions, the very compassion T’zar spoke of could allow her to act without reason if unchecked. Her gaze drifted to the saber in her hand, the thin black veins flowing up the blade and away from her, taking with them the tempest of anger she had become. Diffusing themselves into the pin pricks of brilliant white and with that extolling her intentions back into the cosmic Force around her. “For many years have I examined the Force from within, heard its call and basked in its eminence. If you listen, you will hear its plea Ahsoka. You say this is your sanctuary, so let it provide for you.”
Ahsoka let go of the last remnants of anger she was clinging to, extinguishing the saber in the process. The tempest that had previously surrounded them was nonexistent, a comfortable silence taking its place and she locked her eyes on his once more. “With a single choice I can decide to follow in my master’s footsteps, his very path could be mine.” She said in a faint whisper.
“And that of the Emperor.” T’zar spoke evenly. “Neither would deny you that.”
Ahsoka thought on that elaboration momentarily, “And share in their fate and destiny.” She exhaled heavily.
T’zar couldn't let this opportunity pass them by, “Look deeply into that thought Ahsoka Tano, feel it’s weight press unnaturally into the fabric of time, space and knowing. It is an aberration.”
Without saying as much Ahsoka began to understand that she had indeed misunderstood T’zar’s intentions and recoiled slightly by her own reaction and intentions of meeting out a swift extinction in response. Instead of treading on what could have resulted from her intended compassion then she did as T’zar had suggested and looked beyond the immediate. “I am not your arbiter T’zar Ek. I see that now.”
“Then you have only begun on your own journey toward finding that what you seek Togruta.” T’zar pulled his purple lips into a smile that seemed fitting to Ahsoka, his face, his presence, bathing in a soft white glow.
She looked down at the saber in her hand again, the impossibility of its own presence here with her lost on her for the moment. “Look deeper.” She whispered, repeating his words for her own benefit. A sudden comprehension slammed her thoughts in place and she looked up to ask the Zeltran to expand his own statement to fit the question that had formed in her mind, but he was no longer there. She tossed her head in all directions and got to her feet in the process, finding no trace whatsoever of T’zar Ek.
“Unparalleled your skill has become Ahsoka.” The voice snapping her from her post adrenaline decline as she opened eyes she didn’t remember closing and wheeled around to confront the voice’s source in what she estimated was behind her. The small green form leaning heavily with both hands secured atop his gimmer stick, Master Yoda had his head tilted to the side and was studying her with his deep ancient eyes. “Use of the Force, in ways no one had ever employed, you have, to the best of my knowledge.” She ascertained he was smiling but more for her own benefit as it was difficult even at the best of times to glean any emotion from him.
“Master?” She stuttered.
He confirmed her conclusion with a short high-pitched giggle that momentarily took him off balance. “Call me you did, yes?”
“Yes, I did….at least I think I did. I wasn’t sure if I could handle my situation.” She admitted.
“Handle it you did, impressively I might add.” Yoda added with another short giggle. “Powerful you have become Ahsoka, aid from others will often not be necessary, I think. Your thoughts?”
“Master, I don’t care about power. I mean only to do what I must and what must be done.” She returned.
“A balanced agenda, the force favors...above all else Ahsoka. It is for that reason it favors you with no limitations.” Yoda said.
“Provided that balance stays...balanced.” Another voice interjected, finishing his sentence with hesitation in accented basic. Materializing beside Master Yoda was a tall statue of a human male, long hair cascading over broad shoulders. Beard and mustache disguising his details but for the black eyes and rumpled brow of his antiquated face. Home spun robes and knee boots completing the image before her.
“Master Qui Gon.” She knew without knowing.
“Your insight serves you quite well Ms. Tano.” His form performing a respective bow to her. “Master Yoda has told me quite a bit about you, as has Obi Wan, and I find you meeting expectations from the start.”
“Thank you for that Master Qui Gon.” Ahsoka returned, not quite sure what else to say, her gaze falling to her feet.
“My comment, regarding balance, has taken your tongue Ahsoka, that much is clear. Or perhaps my presence?” Qui Gon suggested.
“Both, to be honest Master.” She replied, lifting her eyes back into his. “I have learned to understand the Force holds powers beyond our comprehension but even some leave me to question the reasons why.” She paused for a moment, clearing her head. “Remaining balanced is precisely why I needed to see Master Yoda….” She cut herself off as she felt something within her lapse and couldn’t quite explain it. “Masters, I need to revert, the ordeal with T’zar has left me drained.” She explained in part truth. She knew she needed to return to her body but there was something else, something different, within her that she couldn’t explain and wouldn’t be able to while in this form.
“Very well Ahsoka, soon we will see you?” Master Yoda asked.
“Yes Master, I need to rest but will set a course for Dagobah.” She barely finished as her head began spinning in waves of dizziness. She was acutely aware of the glaring gaze of Qui Gon’s form as she pulled upon the force to relax the turmoil within, enough so to revert to the material world. Her final thought upon departing the realm of the Force was the myriad questions she had for Obi Wan’s former master, nothing sinister she reflected internally, but more in the inquisitive form of what he found so enthralling about a little slave boy from Tatooine so many years ago.