#almost riyo mention? maybe? wait and see

[likeshootingstarsinthenightsky]

Say It (Commander Fox x Riyo Chuchi)

A/N: Hi @redrobinhoods I was your secret Santa! I come bearing a little piece for Commander Fox and Senator Riyo Chuchi! Thank you so much for hosting this Secret Santa exchange @lilhawkeye3 @starwarssecretsanta! This was a lot of fun! It’s pretty much fluff. I hope you like it!

As if on automatic, Fox found himself walking the familiar path to Riyo’s, no, Senator Chuchi’s office. Shaking his head, he tries to clear his thoughts. He can’t call her Riyo, at least, not out in the open. Before he knows it, he’s standing at her door. He can hear muffled talking and before he can walk away, the door opens with a whoosh.

Fox watched Senator Amidala walk out of the room. At the sight of him, she gave a brief nod before continuing down the hallway, most likely heading back to her own office. Just as Fox was about to walk away, a soft voice called his name.

“Commander Fox?” Questioned Riyo, standing a few paces away from her door. Hearing her footsteps drawing closer he paused and waited for her to reach the door, “is there anything I can help you with?”

Yes.

His heart practically screams at him. He can feel it in the pounding of his pulse. But his brain overrides what his heart wants to say.

“No.” Fox says, grateful for the helmet that covers his face, because he knows that without the barrier Riyo would be able to tell something was wrong. “I was just checking to see if everything is going well.”

The battle between his heart and his mind distracts him from seeing the slight falter of Riyo’s smile.

“Oh,” Riyo says as she places a hand on Fox’s forearm, “thank you for checking in.” He can practically feel her touch through his armor.

“Right,” Fox says, “well I should get back to patrolling. Have a good day Senator.”

Riyo’s smile is bright, and he can’t help but mirror her smile underneath his helmet.

“Same for you Commander.” Riyo says before Fox starts walking away.

Fox can’t help but shake his head as he walks into his office. Settling into his chair, he removes his helmet and runs his hands through his hair and over his tired face.

He knows he can’t just tell Riyo how he feels. Why would Riyo like someone like him? Besides, it’s safer to keep his feelings to himself.

--

Riyo sighed as she pushed the datapad away from her. Using her hands to push herself up from her chair, she makes her way out of her office. Looking around the corridor she hoped to see a certain someone, but the corridor was practically empty.

Sighing, she knew that Fox wouldn’t be there waiting for her. Afterall, she hasn’t seen him in a week. The last time she saw him was when he had checked in on her. Since then, she’s been in senatorial meeting after senatorial meeting. Not to mention meetings with the Pantoran Assembly about what was going on back in Pantora.

The thought of having a relaxing evening brought a smile to her face. As she was walking down the corridor, she almost bumped into someone. Luckily, that someone was able to stop them from colliding.

“Good evening, Senator.” Fox’s voice filled her ears. His voice causing a soothing wave of comfort to wash over her.

“Good evening, Commander Fox.”

“Where are you heading?” Fox asks her as the two of them walk side by side.

“Home for the night.” Tiredly, she smiles at him.

“I could escort you home, if you’d like.” You could hear the concern in his voice.

“Thank you, Commander. If it’s not too much to ask, I would like that very much.”

Fox silently answers her with a nod of his head, and the two of them continue walking together.

Once the two of them exited the Senate Building, conversation flows easily. Fox tells her about some of the things Thorn and Thire have done that make her giggle. In turn, Riyo tells him about projects that she’s been working on, they aren’t as comical as his stories, but none the less, Fox listens intently.

Soon Riyo’s apartment is in view. Conversation between the two seems to stop the closer they get. It was Fox who broke the silence.

“Get some rest, Riyo.” He says softly, his hand briefly hovering close to hers. Grasping his hand, she gives it a soft squeeze before telling him to get some rest too.

Once again, Riyo watches him walk away without telling him how she feels. All she wanted was for Fox to stay, even if it was for an hour. But if Riyo was being completely honest with herself, she wanted to be able to come home from work and spend time with Fox- maybe have relaxing dinners and listen to his voice.

“Goodnight Fox, I love you.” Riyo whispered, knowing that he was too far away to hear her. Knowing that he wasn’t close by made it easier to admit to herself.

One day, she thought to herself. One day she’ll tell him how she feels.

--

A frown formed on Riyo’s face the moment Fox came into her office. She’s learned to read him and doesn’t need to see his face to know something was wrong.

“Please,” she asks him, “tell me what’s wrong.”

Beneath his helmet, Fox was clenching his jaw, trying to keep the words from spilling out of his mouth. His hands were curled into fists, his spine straight.

“I’m fine.” Fox says, but the slight raise in his voice gave him away. Looking at Riyo, he could see her trying to keep from raising her voice at him.

“I just want to help you, Fox,” she says in a whisper. Moving closer to him, she takes one of his fists in her hand. Slowly, she gets him to uncurl his hand, and repeats the process with his other hand. Taking both hands into hers, she looks up at him. “I want to help because I care about you.”

Her words freeze Fox in his spot. “I care about you too, Riyo.”

“Then tell me what’s wrong.”

“Nothing’s wrong.” He says, “I promise.”

“If nothing’s wrong-“ Riyo doesn’t have a chance to finish her sentence before Fox blurts out the words that he so desperately tried to keep in his heart.

“I love you.”

As if she’s been shocked by a loose wire, Riyo lets go of Fox’s hands. Eyes wide, she looks at him, but she can’t read his face.

“Take off you helmet.” She says, voice strong and steady.

“What?” Fox questions.

“Take off your helmet.” Her voice leaves no room for question this time, so he removes his helmet. Now that she could see his face without a barrier, she said to Fox, “say it again.”

“Say what again?” Riyo gives him a look.

“If you mean what you said, please say it again. I want to see your face when you say it.” And Fox looks at her sheepishly. However, he nods and clears his throat.

“I love you, Riyo.”

He meant it.

Looking into his face, Riyo couldn’t see a trace of doubt or a hint of a lie. He was being honest with her, and it made her heart beat wildly in her chest.

“I love you too, Fox.” At her words, Fox looked at her in shock.

“You love me?” Fox questions, and Riyo nods her head, smiling brightly at him.

“Maker,” he says in shock. “Can I kiss you?”

“Please.”

Fox leans downs and cradles her face in his hands. At his gentle touch, Riyo’s eyes flutter shut. Soon Fox’s lips collide with her forehead, where he places a soft kiss.

“That’s not my lips.” She whispers, feeling his breath fan across her face.

“I know,” smiles Fox, “I won’t miss next time.”

#swsecretsanta2020 #commander fox x riyo chuchi #foxiyo #the clone wars imagine #commander fox #riyo chuchi #star wars imagine #this was the first time i've written for foxiyo #but i just love them so much

[redrobinhoods]

Sticks and Stones | Chapter 4, one real thing

AO3 Link | 1,900 words (approx) | Chapter 1, Chapter 3, Chapter 5

A/N: This was going to be the second to last chapter and now it isn't. A little kinder slice of life is planned for the next chapter before the end of the fic. Still have some events mentioned in other fics I want to fit in here.

Chapter Summary: Stone checks in on Fox- and Senator Chuchi- while he is recovering.

Two days, later, Fox was back. While it would take a little longer for him to be cleared for return to active duty, he was to resume his other work in the meantime. Stone could hear the slight commotion in the main offices when Fox entered, a few minutes after he himself had settled into his chair with a cup of caf, but he waited a few minutes to allow Fox to settle in as well before going to check on him.

When Stone opened the door to Fox’s office, he found Senator Chuchi already inside. He had expected that. What he hadn’t expected was for her to be signing a pile of flimsiwork with a near exact replica of Fox’s signature.

“Commander Stone!” She chirped at him as he entered.

“Senator Chuchi.” He greeted, looking past her to where Fox was slumped over, propped up on his elbow, reading through a datapad. He looked exhausted.

“Please, Commander Stone. Would you call me Riyo?”

Stone felt like his tongue was stuck to the roof of his mouth. She couldn’t have just asked him that. ‘Riyo’ was Fox’s name for her, not his. “Why?”

“You’ve been a dear comfort to me as of the past few months. Much too dear for you to formally address me in moments like this.” She smiled up at him before turning back to the flimsiplast before her. Stone watched over her shoulder as her fingers directed the writing instrument in her hand into another near perfect replica of Fox’s signature. “Commander?” She prodded when she didn’t get a response, and that was when it clicked for Stone.

“If I can call you Riyo, you can just call me Stone, ma’am.”

“Okay, Stone.”

“Okay, Riyo.” It felt forbidden, but so, technically, was Riyo’s love for his brother.

She looked back at him with a smile before returning to the flimsi before her.

The moment gone, Stone turned his gaze back to Fox. “Are you okay?”

“I’m great.” Fox rasped. “Why do you ask?”

“You look like some being tied you to the back of their speeder and drove circles in a swamp for a few hours with you dragging behind like a shiny in the heat.” Stone made his way around the desk to Fox’s side, taking off a glove as he did so that he could press the back of his hand to Fox’s cheek. “I’m surprised you don’t have a fever.”

“Let me guess, I’ve got more colors in my face than a varactyl feather?”

“Something like that.” Stone chuckled. “Keep your helmet on if you talk to Thire later. He doesn’t need to worry about you right now.”

“Is Commander Thire okay?” Riyo asked with worry in her voice.

“In confidence, Sen- Riyo, the Chancellor has been very demanding as of late. It’s wearing him down.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” She pressed, and Stone could understand why Fox adored her so. He couldn’t imagine most senators would so genuinely want to help a clone.

Fox solemnly shook his head. “We’ll take care of him, Ri.”

“I’ll let you know if we can’t get more lysinate.” Stone gave her what he hoped was an understanding smile. “It helps the headaches to a degree.”

“Is lysinate the strongest drug you have?”

Stone avoided a direct answer to her question. “It takes the edge off. And we need to be deployable at a moment’s notice. I think Fox is on the strongest drug I’ve ever seen at the moment.”

“His prescription isn’t classified as a strong painkiller.” Riyo protested.

“It is for clones.” Fox shrugged. “Just a flesh wound.”

“I saw your guts, Fox. We both did.” Stone scoffed. “That’s not a just flesh wound.”

“Well, both of my intestines are apparently still in one piece so I would classify this as a flesh wound. It’s my injury, Stone. I get to decide how bad it is.”

“That’s not how it works, Fox.” Riyo laughed before turning her head in Stone’s direction. “Has he always been like this?”

“As long as I’ve known him. I feel sorry for his batchmates back on Kamino, having to live with him all the time.” Though Fox began to protest, Stone continued. “The first memory I have of Fox was listening to him and Wolffe argue from halfway across the training center. I never had a good opinion of him until Geonosis. Nothing brings us clones together like almost dying. I suppose that may have been intentional.”

“Stone fought at my side on Geonosis.” Fox explained. “Our regiments were placed side by side in the battle. He helped me drag Thire out of there, actually.”

“He was hurt?” Riyo asked.

“It’s why he and Thorn ended up running security; they were the most injured of the Corrie Guard officers who survived.” Stone sighed. “It feels like it was longer than three years ago.”

Riyo nodded her agreement. “Feels like the war has been going on forever.”

“It’s going to end soon.” Fox said. “Something’s about to happen, I can feel it.”

“We can only hope it’s the end.” Stone clasped Fox’s shoulder for a moment before stepping away. “I should get back to work.”

Riyo rose from her chair and stepped towards Stone. She held out her arms, waiting for Stone to initiate the hug by stepping towards her before she wrapped her arms around him. “It was good to see you.”

“You too.” Stone murmured out of instinct. This was a new form of intimacy for him. It took the albeit short walk back to his office for him to realize what form of intimacy it was. Friendship. Stone had never had friends before, only lovers and brothers. The feeling would take some time to adjust to.

---

Stone tossed his helmet onto his bed when he returned to the barracks that evening. Fox would be spending the night with Riyo, it would just be him and Thire tonight. He could hear the water in the refresher running and decided to join Thire while there was still hot water left.

“Have you successfully melted the skin off your back yet?” Stone laughed when the wave of steam hit him as he opened the door. A hot shower after a long day was the only form of therapy they could get that didn’t come in the form of other beings or drinks. Stone didn’t think about Thire’s lack of answer until he turned around from shutting the door. “Thire?”

For a moment, the man on the floor before him was Thorn, laying in a pool of blood. Then it wasn’t. With the imagined blood gone, he ran to Thire’s side.

“Thire. Thire!” Stone pulled Thire’s head up into his arms as he looked over Thire’s body for injury. Finding none and getting no response he reached down to check for a pulse, letting out a sob of relief when he found it. “What happened to you, kid?” He murmured as he gently set Thire back on the floor so that he could turn off the tap and fetch a towel.

When Thire was wrapped up in his towel, Stone gathered him in his arms and carried him out of the refresher to lay him down on his bed. Thire didn’t stir when Stone set him down on the hard mattress, nor when Stone sat beside him and gently ran his fingers through his hair. It was only after a few minutes had passed that he stirred under Stone’s touch.

“Hey, kid.” Stone continued to run his fingers through Thire’s hair when he saw how his brother unconsciously leaned into it as he came to.

“What happened?” Thire managed.

“I found you on the ground in the ‘fresher. I thought you-.” Stone’s voice broke and he couldn’t finish the thought.

“Like Thorn.”

“Yes.”

Thire’s eyes turned away from Stone’s, up towards the ceiling. “I am so sorry. I never- I couldn’t put you and Fox through that again.”

“It’s okay, kid. I’m just glad to have you back with me.” Stone reached down with his free hand and clasped Thire’s hand in his, running his thumb in small circles on the back of Thire’s hand. “What happened to you?”

“I must’ve passed out.” Thire’s gaze turned back to Stone. “Maybe the water was too hot and my blood pressure dropped too quickly?”

“Guess you’ll have to stop taking hot showers then.”

Thire’s face broke into a tired smile. “Never.” They sat in silence for a minute before Thire spoke again. “Stone, could you grab my clothes?”

“Yeah.” Stone rose from Thire’s side to reach up for the clothes that dangled from the storage cubby above the bed. “Do you want help?”

“Stone, if I can’t get my greys on then I should probably retire.”

Stone laughed with him as he stepped back to put a fresh pair of his own blacks on. When he turned back around, Thire had managed to get the pants of his blacks on and throw the towel onto the ground. “Do you want a shirt?”

Thire shook his head. “Too constricting. Stone?”

“Thire?”

“Could you hold-.” Thire stopped, biting his lip. He didn’t want to appear weak. Even in just Stone’s presence, the pressure that the Kaminoans had placed on them to be perfect could be felt.

“Of course, Thire.” Stone crossed the room back to Thire’s bed, playfully pushing Thire over so that he could lay down beside him. “Come ‘ere.” He pulled Thire back over to him, wrapping an arm around his waist and tucking Thire’s head under his chin. “Fox thinks that the war is ending soon. When it does, we’ll have a new chancellor, maybe even one you won’t be allergic to. Everything is going to be alright, Thire.”

“I know, Stone. I know.”

---

When Stone woke the next morning, he found Thire’s head still laying on his arm as his younger brother dozed. Despite the numbness in his forearm, Stone stayed still, watching the rise and fall of Thire’s chest. Though Thire was only a month younger than him and he hadn’t been through the stressors that those made to be commanders had, he looked older than Fox did already with his brow furrowed even in sleep. The end of the war had to come soon. But sooner than the end of the war was the time they had to report in by.

“Thire.” Stone murmured.

His brother’s eyes opened on the first mention of his name and he sat up so that Stone could roll out of bed. When Stone came back from the refresher, Thire had already assembled his armor and was reading over a datapad. When he caught Stone’s gaze, Thire turned off the datapad and tossed it back into one of the drawers under his bed. “Do you mind if I borrow Jek and Rys today?”

“Go for it. They’re your batchmates.”

“They’re your men.”

Stone shrugged before bending over to pull his boots on. “I know how close you three are. Besides, I’m not going to have enough work to go around today.”

“Thanks, Stone, for everything.” When Stone couldn’t think of a response, Thire waited patiently for him to finish assembling his armor before falling into step at his side as they stepped back into the barracks.

#commander stone #commander fox #riyo chuchi #foxiyo #my fics #sticks and stones fic

[artyblogs]

Launch Date ch 6 The Battle of Coruscant

Star Wars the Clone Wars, Ahsoka/Riyo

Launch Date summary: In which Ahsoka mistakes Riyo for an office secretary, Riyo is sometimes too gay to function, and R7-A7 is determined to be a trollish kark.

First Chapter : Previous Chapter : Next Chapter

Chapter Summary: Ahsoka tries to keep herself from losing it.

Riyo’s voice hasn’t improved the next day, but she decides to go to work anyway. For lack of anything better to do, Ashoka goes with her and, unwilling to keep R7 in Riyo’s apartment unsupervised, brings him with her. Once inside the office, R7 hunkers down at the window and watches the crowds below.

Ahsoka sits on a small couch in the far corner of the office, which gives her an uninterrupted view of the entire space. The cushions are soft and they remind her of the ones found in the Jedi Temple.

The both of them fall into a companionable silence as Riyo works, one that’s only broken by the sounds of her typing. Far from being a distraction, the sound of keystrokes serves as a kind of comfort to Ahsoka. After watching Riyo type for a couple minutes, Ahsoka closes her eyes and meditates.

In her mind’s eye, Asajj comes out of the darkness and stands before her. The cruel curve of her mouth is deceptively more bark than bite, and the crazed glint in her eyes is gone. The ’new her,’ as it were. The one who doesn’t revel in blood. There’s probably a story there, but Ahsoka doesn’t know Asajj well enough to figure it out. She’s not sure that she wants to. At the end of the day, why Asajj changed doesn’t matter as much as the fact that she’s changed in the first place. Asajj isn’t good (she’ll probably never be good), but she’s…better than before, and that means that the both of them don’t have to continue this feud.

Ahsoka opens her eyes and finds that she feels marginally better. One thing at a time, right?

The office door slides open and in comes Padmé Amidala, glowing like a solar fire and draped in a loose, flowing gown. Because of Ahsoka’s position in the room, Padmé doesn’t notice her yet, and her attention is kept on Riyo.

“Good morning, Riyo,” Padmé says. “I wanted to congratulate you on your filibuster yesterday.”

“Good morning, Padmé,” Riyo whispers. Padmé leans back in dismay.

“You lost your voice!”

“It’s not that big a deal.”

“You poor girl.” Padmé comes in close to get a better look at Riyo, whose ears turn indigo at the extra attention. “Do you need to see a doctor?”

“Please don’t make me go to a doctor.”

“Then you should get some rest. Goodness knows you of all people have earned it.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Please do.”

The office door slides open again and in comes Bail Organa.

“Riyo!” He says. “That was a fine filibuster you made yesterday. Very well done.”

“Thank you, Bail,” Riyo whispers.

“Your voice hasn’t returned?” Bail asks. He turns to Padmé. “Her voice hasn’t returned.”  

“Thank you for your concern, Senators, but I’m quite alright,” Riyo whispers.

“You should take a break while you still can,” Bail says. “The rest of us can pick up the slack.”

Padmé gives him an apologetic look. “I can’t. I’ve a doctor’s appointment scheduled tomorrow.”

“Yet another appointment, Padmé?” Bail asks. “Oh but forgive me, it’s none of my business. Very well. Mon and I can hold our positions in the Senate while the two of you take your breaks. What do you say, Riyo?”

“That’s very kind of you,” Riyo whispers. “I’ve no plans for a vacation, but I’ll notify you of any changes that come up in my schedule.”

“Please do,” Bail says. “You’ll actually do well to be off Coruscant for the next several days and not just to recover. Your filibuster was leaked to the press, and they’re having a field day. Political analysts want to interview you.”

Riyo freezes. “I can’t give interviews like this.”

Padmé and Bail share a knowing look, then wish Riyo luck. When they take their leave, they finally notice Ahsoka in the corner of the room.

“Miss Tano,” Bail says. “I owe you an apology.”

“What for?” Ahsoka asks.

“Regrettably, I thought you were guilty. I was wrong.” Bail says all this with grave dignity and humbleness.

“I…thank you, Senator,” Ahsoka says. Bail gives her a brief nod and leaves the office, leaving Padmé behind. Padmé looks back and forth between her and Riyo in thinly-veiled astonishment.

“Ahsoka?” Padmé asks as she comes closer. Ahsoka stands up to greet her. Riyo picks up her mug and leaves the office to give them some privacy.

“Hi, Padmé.”

“You’re staying with Riyo now?”

“Yeah. It’s nice.”

“That’s good. Anakin was so worried about you.” Padmé lowers her voice. “Who knew we’d be empty nesters before we’ve even had children?”

It’s a good thing Ahsoka isn’t drinking anything, because if she were, she’d spit it out right in Padmé’s face.

“Okay, I knew there was something between the two of you, but I didn’t know it was that serious,” Ahsoka whispers.

Padmé winks. “You look like you can keep a secret. Don’t be a stranger, Ahsoka. Call me if there’s anything you need.”

“Thanks, Padmé.” Ahsoka gives a wave as Padmé leaves. Riyo comes back in and glances at Ahsoka.

“What’s wrong?” Riyo asks.

“I think I just got adopted,” Ahsoka says.

At ten am, for the sake of something familiar, Ahsoka dons a poncho with a roomy hood and goes out with R7 to get some food. While in line at a food speeder, she and a few other people watch an HNN debate show on a holoscreen embedded in the side of the speeder. Four people are on the panel, and they sit at a semi-circle table with the host.

“…What I want to know is where all of this evidence was two days ago when Ahsoka Tano was being charged! We’re talking footage, witness statements, things that should’ve been covered by standard procedure,” Analyst 1 says. At the mention of her name, Ahsoka pulls up her hood to hide her face. Thankfully, the people around her don’t notice. The customer in front of her gives their order and hands over a few credits, then waits. On the holoscreen, the debate continues.

“The Republic did the best they could,” Analyst 2 says.

“No, I refuse to believe that at their best, our officers are only capable of this kind of incompetency. Something else is going on.”

“If you’re looking for a conspiracy theory here, you’re not going to find it.”

“Fine, but any rate, we were incredibly close to carrying out a grave injustice. What’s stopping it from happening a second time?”

“Here you go,” the cashier says. They hand over a cardboard take-out box. “Your drink?”

“Got any meiloorun soda?” the customer asks. The cashier nods and ducks out of sight to get it.

“Well maybe the Republic would have more manpower and funds to dedicate to the domestic sphere if there wasn’t a war going on!” Analyst 3 says.

Everyone else around the table groans, but Analyst 3 continues.

“I’m serious; this war is draining Republic reserves. Where is the money for public infrastructure? It’s going to the war effort. Tanks and blasters aren’t going to feed families.”

“People, please,” the anchor says. “We’re talking about Barris Offee’s trial.”

“Yes, why is the investigation period for this trial so long, when the investigation for the previous one was so short?”

POP.

The customer reaches for the can of soda that the cashier holds out to them through the window, only for it to implode, spraying the cashier and the customer with a burst of soda. The other people in line gasp and the customer sputters and paws at their eyes.

The cashier sputters and blinks furiously to clear the soda out. “Gods in heaven, are you okay?” He grabs a few kitchen towels and hands them to the hapless customer through the window. “I’m so sorry about that. I don’t know what happened. Let me get you a new one.”

“Can I get a non-carbonated drink instead?” The customer dries themselves off and places the used towels on the windowsill. “Like muja juice?”

Ahsoka steps out of line and walks away with R7 in tow.

R7 gives a low whistle and Ahsoka takes a calming breath.

“Sorry, I don’t know what happened.”

R7 beeps and Ahsoka whirls on him.

“Hey, nothing is wrong with me! That’s the first time that’s ever happened, and it’ll be the last time.”

R7’s beeping borders on frantic.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got a lid on it.” Ahsoka falls in line at a different speeder, one that doesn’t have a holoscreen on it. R7 extends his manipulators and points past her at the sky. Other people around her gasp and point too.

“What?” she asks. When she turns around to see, she grasps for lightsabers that aren’t there. Separatist ships, whole fleets of them, come down out of the sky. There are so many of them that they threaten to blot out the sun.

“Coruscant is under attack,” Ahsoka whispers, uncomprehending. A missile flies past and hits the Senate Office building, spraying everyone underneath with debris.

“No!” Ahsoka shouts, horrified, but as she watches, two more missiles hit the building, obscuring it in smoke and fire.

One of the Separatist ships lands in the park near them and everyone around it scatters. The ship opens up and a squad of standard battle droids march out of it, shooting everything. Speeders explode, smoke billows into the air. Everyone else around Ahsoka flees and hides and even R7 takes off to safety, screaming. Soon, Ahsoka is the only person left in the plaza and the droids take aim at her.

PEW PEW PEW.

Ahsoka curses in Mando’a and ducks and weaves between blaster bolts, wishing for her lightsabers. Even though things are blowing up, people are dying, and droids are shooting at her, it almost feels like home, and she slips into a familiar state of mind. She charges at the droids, her mouth set in a thin line, and lets the Force flow through her and pool in her hands. She aims at the droids and clenches her fists.

CRUNCH. The chests of two of the droids are crushed and they do down, wailing. Ahsoka whips her fists around and the two crushed droids go flying through the squad, battering all the other droids down. She’s not trying to take the entire squad out though, because that would take too long and she has places to be. As soon as she has the opportunity, she leaps through them and continues on without a second glance.

“R7!” She shouts as she runs. The red droid flies out to her from behind the husk of a burning food speeder.

He beeps, just like old times, and Ahsoka smiles despite herself. She takes cover behind the ruined fountain and activates the comlink on her gauntlet. She doesn’t get through.

“Kriff! We’re gonna have to make a run for it.”

R7 beeps and rocks a little.

“Okay. Do you have my lightsabers? No? Then I can’t do anything about this! I have to see if Riyo’s okay! Are you coming with me or not?”

R7 beeps and Ahsoka nods, satisfied.

“Let’s go.” The both of them serpentine through blaster fire to the Senate Office building.

Magnus and Riyo stand on opposite sides of Riyo’s desk, tense and ready to bolt at a moment’s notice. Riyo flinches as the floor under their feet rocks with another explosion. Faster than she can blink, Magnus has stepped around the desk to grab her.

“No!” Riyo squirms in his hold, but Magnus's hand is like a vice around her forearm. “I won’t leave without Ahsoka!”

“We must evacuate, Senator!” Magnus growls as he pulls her towards the door. “Gods help me, I will carry you to the bunker if I have to.”

“Let me go!” Riyo punches, bites, screams, tries everything she can to get away, but Magnus weathers the abuse and, as promised, grabs her around the waist and throws her over his shoulder as if she were no bigger than a small youngling.

“Don’t forget who taught you how to do all that,” he says as he carries her out. The halls are eerily abandoned, but there are screams sounding from deeper in the building every time a missile hits.

“Riyo?” Ahsoka’s voice comes from the other end of the hallway. “Are you still here?”

“Ahsoka!” Riyo’s voice gives a painful crack. Ahsoka and R7 appear, already stained with soot and blaster scorch marks. Ahsoka eyes how Magnus has Riyo hoisted over his shoulder.

“Is…is everything okay?” Ahsoka asks.

“She was being difficult,” Magnus says.

“I was,” Riyo whispers. “Can you put me down now?”

Magnus places Riyo back on her feet.

“We have to get to the bunkers,” Magnus says. Ahsoka nods.

“I’ll take point.”

Their group grows in number the further down into the building they go. Forgotten aides and other workers are found in stairwells and in offices, cowering from the barrage of missiles. Ahsoka and R7 coax them out and together, they make their way down to the bunker in the basement of the building.

The bunker is already full of senators and other workers. Some of them congregate into groups and talk quietly amongst themselves. Others keep to themselves and sleep, or play video games on their data pads. Magnus ushers Riyo onto an empty bench and R7 squeals something at Ahsoka.

“Yeah? Let me see,” Ahsoka sits cross-legged on the floor before the bench and pats the floor in front of her, as if summoning a pet. R7 whistles and rolls up to her so that she can pry open the doors of his compartments.

“Yup.” Ahsoka reaches in and begins picking out small pieces of debris from between his gears. “Don’t worry, buddy, I got you.”

BEEP. Riyo gets a call on her hologram comlink. She answers it and the bust of Chairman Papanoida appears.

“Senator,” he says.

“Oh! We have a meeting,” Riyo whispers. “I’m sorry, Chairman.”

Papanoida frowns. “Are you on mute? I can’t hear you.”

“The Senator has regrettably lost her voice,” Magnus scoots closer to Riyo so that the hologram comlink can see him too.

“How dreadful!” Papanoida says. “Are you going to rest, Senator? You can’t expect to do any good while ill.”

“There’s no need for that,” Riyo tries to say, but Papanoida continues over her.

“Perhaps for a week or two. Surely your schedule can manage that? You could even come home to Pantora for a while.”

Ahsoka and Magnus share a look, then, before Riyo can answer, Magnus says, “capital idea, Chairman.”

Riyo sputters.

“Riyo could use some rest,” Ahsoka says.

“She’s overdue for one, really.”

Papanioda smiles. “Splendid, splendid! Looks like you’ll be able to attend the Trickster’s Ball after all, eh Senator?”

“Wait a minute,” Magnus says, suddenly grim, but Riyo swats his arm and furiously nods her head at the comlink.

“That’s the spirit!” Papanoida says. “I hope you get better soon, Senator. I look forward to seeing you at the ball.”

The call ends, and the two remaining Pantorans stew in their respective annoyance for a couple moments.

“You’re not going to that ball,” Magnus says.

“Well I didn’t want to go on vacation either, but sometimes we just have to do things we don’t like,” Riyo whispers in return.

Yikes, R7 beeps. Ahsoka shrugs and picks out a chunk of concrete from between his servos. She tosses it under bench with the rest and pushes the compartment door shut.

CLICK.

“You’re done, bud.”

R7 purrs and settles in for a long systems check. Ahsoka looks up at Riyo and Magnus, but none of them seem in the mood to talk, so she settles for another meditation session.

This time, Barriss's face emerges from the darkness, all thin and tragic.  Ahsoka wants to scream in frustration, but she breathes in. Out. Her pulse steadies and her shoulders relax, but Barriss's betrayal still hurts, hurts, hurts deep in her bones. Whatever, it’s done. Barriss turned out to be a terrible friend, but it doesn’t mean everyone else will turn out that way. She doesn’t need Barriss. She doesn’t want Barriss in her life if that’s how she’s going to be. Ahsoka breathes in. Out. She wonders what went wrong. She wonders if it’s something she did.

The Battle of Coruscant doesn’t rage for very long. After a few hours, the Separatist forces retreat into space, leaving Coruscant in shambles. The bunker is unlocked and everyone leaves to go home. Magnus and Ahsoka have long since apologized to Riyo, who sighed and told them to forget about it. What’s done is done, and she understands that their job is to take care of her well-being.

“So where do you want to go for vacation?” Riyo asks. Ahsoka looks at her in disbelief.

“It’s your vacation though.”

“I’m not the only one recovering from something. It’s as much as for you as it is for me.”

“Is it now?” Ahsoka asks. Riyo nods. Ahsoka’s hands go to her hips, where she only finds her empty belt.

“Ilum,” Ahsoka says. She’s not a Jedi, but she’s a still a Force-wielder, and she kind of feels naked without lightsabers.

Riyo’s apartment is thankfully untouched. Riyo goes to her room to pack a large duffel bag, leaving Ahsoka and R7 in the living room. Ahsoka only half listens to the holoscreen while she folds the blankets she used last night.

“…Separatist General Grievous abducted the Chancellor from his office in the Senate District during today’s appalling strike on Coruscant. The Chancellor was later rescued by Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker and Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. The Chancellor has since released a statement in which he expresses how thankful he is to be home safe and sound.”

Ahsoka perks up at her former master’s name.

“In other news, the Separatist Count Dooku, also known as the Sith Lord Darth Tyrannus, is dead, struck down by Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker.”

“What?” Ahsoka mutes the holoscreen and calls Anakin on her comlink. It rings twice before he answers.

“Snips!” he says.

“Skyguy!” Ahsoka says. “I just heard that you beat Dooku! Congrats!”

“Ah, yeah.” Anakin’s gaze falters for a second. “Thanks.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I could’ve just arrested him,” Anakin says. “I should have just arrested him.”

Ahsoka draws on their Force-bond and finds shades of confusion. “You’re conflicted.”

“It’s complicated.”

“It doesn’t have to be. Meditation might help.”

“I don’t think this is something that’ll just go away with meditation, Snips.”

“Wanna talk about it?”

“Not yet.”

“Have you talked to Padmé? Hey,” Ahsoka adds when Anakin gives her a look of disbelief. “It’s a valid question!”

“…No,” Anakin finally says. Ahsoka crosses her arms.

“I might not know much about relationships, but I hear open communication is all the rage between people who do have them.”

“Ha ha. Better not let Senator Chuchi hear that you think the thing between you two is ‘not much.’”

“You…mean our friendship?”

Anakin backpedals at Ahsoka’s blank stare. “Holy—wow never mind I said anything.”

“No, tell me. What does Riyo have to do with any of this?”

“I just assumed…well, you’ve been staying with her, right?”

Ahsoka sighs and reaches out with the Force. Riyo’s still in her room, packing, and the door is closed. She doesn’t have to worry about her eavesdropping. “Well yeah, but I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how I feel abut her, or about any of this.”

“Feelings can be difficult to tackle when you’ve been raised to ignore them,” Anakin says. “I mean, the Council always says ‘trust your feelings’ and then turns around and says ‘don’t be ruled by your feelings.’ What’s the truth?”

“That’s true,” Ahsoka says. “So what is the truth?”

“In my experience, the truth is different for everyone,” Anakin says. “We can only find our personal truths and work with that.”

Riyo’s personal ship is a refurbished YT-1760. Personal, not diplomatic. Because there isn’t an official purpose for the ship, it doesn’t have to be sleek and gilded in white and silver like other diplomatic ships are. Instead, it’s worn in with use, and under Magnus's and Riyo’s combined efforts, it’s also lovingly tended to.

Droids are already scurrying around the take-off platform. They fuel it up, conduct last-minute systems checks, and make little nuisances of themselves, as some droids do.

Magnus steps onto the ship’s entrance ramp with an old, military duffle bag, looking very different in a henley shirt, work pants and scuffed boots. His head is uncovered, revealing salt and peppered hair, and his shirt sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, revealing full tattoo sleeves on both arms.

Ahsoka and Riyo wave to him from further away on the platform. Riyo’s bag isn’t that much bigger than Magnus’s, and compared to the both of them, Ahsoka’s backpack is rather…light. Really, it’s only full of warm clothes and a thick winter parka.

R7’s head spins in excitement as he rolls up the ramp, chattering. Magnus must step back to keep his toes from getting crushed.

“Magnus,” Riyo whispers when they get close enough.

“Riyo, Ahsoka.” Magnus nods at the both of them. “That droid’s an eager one, isn’t he?”

“He really likes to fly,” Ahsoka says.

“Shall we?” Magnus asks, and they enter the ship. The inside of the ship is much the same as the outside; clean, if also worn and cared for. R7’s chatter echoes down the corridor from the cockpit. The entrance ramp opens up into the lounge. Ahsoka hesitates.

“Galley to the right,” Magnus calls out from behind her. “The four doors just in front of you lead to three cabins and the refresher. Go ahead and take one.”

“Okay.” Ahsoka opens one of the doors to find an empty cabin. It’s a double bunk, and she places her backpack on the bottom one. The closet has two sets of bedding and pillows that are sealed in thin, plastic cases against the mites and moths. She unzips a set and pulls the sheets out, letting the case fall to the floor.

The blankets smell stale, but they’re clean and warm, which is already a lot better than the sets she’s found on other ships. Those are sometimes eaten through, or haven’t been washed by maintenance. Ahsoka makes her bed and stashes the plastic case back in the closet. When she emerges from her cabin, she finds Riyo and Magnus already in the cockpit.

“Do you need me to be co-pilot?” Riyo asks. Magnus, who is already going through pre-flight systems checks, must turn around and ask her to repeat herself so that he can read her lips.

“Go rest, girl!” Magnus says, incredulous. “The droid and I are more than enough to handle this ship.”

R7’s manipulators emerge and he gives a smart salute.

“I didn’t know you could pilot a ship,” Ahsoka says. Riyo shakes her head and goes into the galley to make herself some tea.

“I can only do basic maneuvers. Just enough to get myself to safety should the situation call for it. Magnus made sure I at least knew that much.”

The entryway ramp groans as it’s shut, signaling Magnus’s readiness to take off so the two of them sit in the lounge. They can still hear the sounds from the cockpit as Magnus hails the nearest control tower.

“Control, please come in,” Magnus says into a little headset. “This is the Rose Bride requesting permission for launch. Do you copy?”

“We copy, Rose Bride, this is Control.” The control tower comes through the comlink in the dashboard. “You are clear for launch. Have a good trip.”

The ship shudders as it leaves the landing pad, but settles as Magnus flies it to the edge of the Coruscant atmosphere and into the inky darkness of space.

“Alum, was it?” Magnus shouts back to Asoka.

“Ilum,” Ahsoka says. “R7 should know the coordinates.”

R7 beeps and plugs into the port in the side of the cockpit in order to program the navicomputer. A minute later, Magnus activates the hyperdrive and they shoot into light speed. Riyo and Ahsoka talk in the lounge for a little while before Riyo inevitably falls asleep from the tea. Ahsoka gently plucks the mug from Riyo’s hands with the Force and sets it on the table before them. Magnus emerges from the cockpit and sits on Riyo’s other side. When he sees that she’s sleeping, he just blinks and looks at Ahsoka.

“That’s a fine droid you’ve got,” he says in a low voice so he doesn’t disturb Riyo. “Told me I could scram until we reach Ilum in seven hours. Told him to call for me if there’s trouble.”

“He’s very heroic,” Ahsoka says. She ignores R7’s beeps telling them how he can still hear them.

“He’s not the only one I’m happy to have aboard,” Magnus says. “Riyo might not say it either, but she’s glad to have you around too.”

“Thank you,” Ahsoka says. There’s a saying among the Togruta: Togruta don’t do well in isolation. It reminds Ahsoka of the time when she and Master Shaak Ti took younglings to a Togruta festival and while the younglings immersed themselves at a craft booth weaving baskets, she and Shaak talked about their respective attempts of trying and failing to learn Togruti and swapped Akul hunting stories.

Now, Ahsoka won’t be able to talk to Master Shaak Ti again.

“Ahsoka?” Magnus asks. “Are you alright? If you’re tired, you’re free to sleep.”

“I’m okay,” Ahsoka says, then, eager for a distraction, she asks, “what do your tattoos mean? Riyo told me about hers.”

“She did, eh?” Magnus holds out his two forearms and looks at them. “I know you don’t mean any harm by it, but be warned: that’s a very personal question you just asked.”

“Really? I’m sorry,” Ahsoka says. Magnus grunts.

“It’s all right. Just keep it in mind for the future.” There’s a jagged design on the outside of both of Magnus’s arms and he traces one with a fingertip. “Both my mother and father come from reindeer herding clans. Rival clans. That’s how they met. These shapes here that look like lightning? Those are reindeer antlers.”

“That’s pretty cool,” Ahsoka says. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Magnus gives her a rare smile. “Your facial markings, those are natural, right?”

Ahsoka nods and smoothes her knuckles over her cheek. “They’re camouflage, for hiding in tall grass. I guess you could say they’re marks from my ancestors too. My people are hunters. Predators; I think that’s what the science holoshows call us. There’s a lot of traits left over from that.”

Seven hours is a long time to be aboard a ship. Even one that’s traveling at light-speed. Ahsoka eventually retires to her cabin and meditates. It’s easy for her mind to empty while she’s sitting alone in the darkened cabin, where the only sounds are her breathing and the hum of the ship’s engines.

Ahsoka breathes in. Out. Yesterday, (was it really yesterday?) she told Anakin that the Council could eat their condemnation of her. That if they couldn’t trust her, than how could she trust herself? Today though, she breathes out her anger and basks in the remaining peace, and she finds that she would still turn down the Council’s offer to come back. The Jedi Order have always dedicated their lives to the Force. To Justice. To Peace. But they put the Republic before the Force. They tried to protect their reputation before seeking justice for her. It’s…wrong. Ahsoka wonders if she sees this now only because she’s so removed from the situation. She’s reminded of Barriss’s speech in the courtroom.

Barriss. Force, must that girl keep coming up? But she was right in a way. Partially. The Jedi have lost their way. Ahsoka sighs. Even if Barriss was right, that’s not the point. There’s no way Ahsoka can go back to the Jedi Order while they still serve the Republic, or while they still answer to the Supreme Chancellor. Maybe in the future, when this war is finally over, she and Master Yoda could talk about things.

Ahsoka opens her eyes. She changes her clothes in the dark and gets into bed.

She dreams of fire.

The Jedi Temple burns once more and Ahsoka is running through the smoky halls and rooms, looking for survivors.

“Hello?” she shouts. “Anyone?”

There are screams everywhere, but Ahsoka doesn’t see anyone. The bodies that scatter the temple are faceless and bloody. Ahsoka prays that she doesn’t find Anakin here and in her praying, she trips head over heels down a flight of stairs into a gaping abyss.

While Ahsoka falls, she’s surrounded by images and sounds and sensations. Ships explode. Senate pods crash to the floor. Padmé screams in anguish.

Wait a minute. Ahsoka focuses in on Padmé and gets this itchy, anxious feeling about this vision that has nothing to do with its content. She reaches out to it and wakes up mentally holding her Force bond with Anakin.

Note Bene: Force powers are severely limited in the 2008 Clone Wars series. For the purposes of this story, I’m going to be working with the over-the-top Force powers depicted in the 2003 Clone Wars series, where Force-users are the forces of nature they should be.

How many wlw ships can I reference in a single story? I don’t know, let’s find out.

I like to think that Riyo can throw a decent punch, but since she’s a tiny person, that’ll only get her so far.

What else happened this chapter? Action! Yes! I finally get to write some action scenes! It was short in this chapter, but I’m just getting started.

Thanks for reading! Please leave feedback. If you wanna read it on AO3 or Fanfiction.net, then go for it. 

#star wars the clone wars #fanfiction #riyosoka #riyo chuchi #Ahsoka Tano #artillery writes #Launch Date

[b-radley66]

Opportunity Born 3: The Queen Commands

Riyo Chuchi watches as the CR-90 erupts from hyperspace. It rotates and moves to the nondescript diplomatic vessel. She feels the slight lurch as the two ships join at the airlocks. She closes her eyes at the sounds of depressurization and pressurization behind the metal hatch of the airlock. A small ‘ding’ and the door slides open. She opens her eyes and smiles at the tall figure standing in the ‘lock. She can see the smile in the bright blue eyes over the cowl. “Fulcrum,” she says. “Advocate,” comes the clear, confident, high voice of her memory. The operative falls into step beside the Senator as they walk to the small conference room. Once behind the door, they fall into each other’s arms, holding tightly to each other with an easy familiarity. Riyo moves her hands ups and slides the hood off of Ahsoka’s montrals. Her hands move to the operative’s cheeks as the younger woman tugs at the cowl. As the garment falls, she places her forehead against that of the shorter woman. Riyo’s eyes soften as she sees the flinch. She moves back and runs her fingers gently over the bruise on Fulcrum’s forehead markings, then down to the slight amount of blood under the distinctive nose and on the full lips. She kisses Fulcrum on the right cheek, the one uninjured spot, it seems, on her face. “Force, girl, what the hell happened?” “Meeting got disrupted. Had to do some disruption of my own.” “Did you take on an entire trooper legion yourself?” Ahsoka grins, her eyes looking innocently at the ceiling. “Nah. Just some fleeties and their commander. You should see the other girl.” Riyo rolls her eyes. She has given up worrying about her friend of many years. Her eyes grow mischievous. “Pity I don’t have a room on this bucket. Maybe ‘Jana’ could make an appearance for a conjugal visit.” Ahsoka Smirks at the mention of one of her cover names. <i>Jana Roshti</i>, a young layabout who is happily married above her station to the sitting Senator from Pantora. Much to the chagrin of the current Chairman’s son, Ion Paponoida. “Sounds like I don’t have a lot of time. Plus, I am fairly certain that Her Majesty the Queen of Naboo would not take too kindly to a nooner in her audience chamber.” “You would be right, Fulcrum,” comes a high, regal voice from the door. Kylantha, elected Queen of the Naboo smiles slightly as she takes in the reunion before her. “Much as I would love to give you both time to relax together, I fear we have a problem on our hands. A problem that could cause the Rebellion some serious issues with their information retrieval.” Ahsoka nods. “I am at your disposal, your Majesty, but let us be clear. I am here for the movement’s sake. Not Naboo’s, not yours. If the two intersect, I am fine. But if they diverge, I will go where I need to.” Kylantha’s regal face remains expressionless. “I see that you believe the propaganda about me, my dear. That I am an Imperial puppet. That is not very helpful. I am quite sure my Handmaidens would have no problem throwing you off of my ship, if I don’t like any of your solutions.” Ahsoka doesn’t rise, but calmly replies. “Your Majesty, I have heard of how well-trained your Handmaidens are. I have fought with a few by my side. But I doubt that I would go anywhere that I didn’t want to.” Riyo rolls her eyes as two pairs of icy blue eyes gaze at one another. She finally steps between them. “I could let this little pissing-match go on for a while, or we could sit down and discuss what we need done.” Her own golden eyes burn at the two. “Which do you think is more productive?” There is a leaden silence in the room. Riyo is certain that Ahsoka is thinking of her friend and handler, who nearly died trying to protect this Queen’s predecessor from an assassination by the vaunted 501st Legion of Stormtroopers. The same battalion that had stood behind her in battle when she was much younger. Kylantha sees something similar in her mind’s eye. A beautiful world laid to waste by Imperial choices. A world kept whole by her choices. Riyo smiles. <i>But still in the fight.</i> Her friend nods. She turns and bows her head slightly at the Queen. Kylantha smiles. “You are right, as always, dear Riyo.” She looks at Ahsoka. “I am sorry, Fulcrum. I know your responsibilities to the larger galaxy. Just know that mine is to the tiny world I call home.” After a moment, Ahsoka nods. They walk fully into the room and sit at the small table. ~=~=~=~=~= Ahsoka watches as the Queen pours a brightly colored liquid into two glasses, after Ahsoka declined. Her experience before with some of the Naboo wines had done nothing for her, except tear her system up. She pours herself a glass of water and waits until Riyo and Kylantha have completed the rituals of sipping and nodding appreciatively. She is tempted to bring out the small flask of Whyren’s. Kylantha contemplates her wine. She finally looks up, directly at Ahsoka. “As you know, I have had to tread a fine line to keep Naboo from being totally occupied and crushed under Palpatine’s heel.” She takes a sip, makes a face. She stands and pours the wine into a flower pot. “I could use something stronger. I have always hated welcome-wines.” Riyo smirks at Ahsoka. Without a word, Ahsoka reaches into her jacket and pulls the flask, only recently filled. She opens it and takes a sip, passing it to the Queen. She tentatively takes a sip, then smiles. “Thank you, Fulcrum,” she says. “That will do it.” “I have been aided in this by a series of fortuitous circumstances. A few years ago, Shaizan Financial, the Exalted and Noble House, through the stupidity of the current leader, was involved in a conspiracy. A conspiracy to assassinate two Senators and plunge two worlds into war. We were able to wrest control of the House through his wife, who also happened to be my Captain of the Royal Guard.” “Shaizan is one of the oldest Financial Houses in the galaxy. It is the foundation, indeed, the cornerstone of our economy.” She pauses as the flask comes around again. She stops and looks out at the stars through the port. “As such, it also has established one of the best and most far-reaching private intelligence networks in the galaxy. One that is not well known.” “With the help of Riyo, here, we have managed to establish some very significant networks that have provided some important leads for your network, and others, especially the Corellians.” “Your Majesty, should I be knowing this? If I were caught…..?” Ahsoka starts. Kylantha smiles. “My dear, if you were caught, with the things that you know, this would be a drop in the bucket.” Riyo looks away at the thought of this. She looks at the inside of the warrior’s bracer, at a tiny capsule wedged into the strap. A capsule, that once broken in the mouth, would explode a Togruta’s heart, almost instantly. Riyo knows that this is only the backup. If Ahsoka were in danger of being taken, her captors would pay a heavy price, and would be forced to end her for their own self-preservation. “So what does this have to do with me?” Ahsoka asks. She sees Riyo’s distressed expression, pats her hand gently. “Apparently, Hana, the <i>Dai-Lin</i> of the House learned that there was a leak somewhere. She apparently contacted some pirate friends of Riyo’s and took off with nothing but a young Handmaiden to watch her back for the Outer Rim.” Ahsoka looks at Riyo. “Let me guess. The ‘feared’ Blood Bone Order?” “Yep. Tried to talk her out of it, but she wanted to solve it herself, after I told her about the leaks. She saw something on a datapad that set her off.” “We figured out what it was?” “Nope. I have Ano working on the code in the pad. She managed to slice into it.” Ahsoka smiles at the thought of Riyo’s antisocial slicer, Ano Lessi. Riyo looks at the Queen. “You need to tell her the rest.” “Right after she took off for the Outer Rim, her daughter, Sosha disappeared from Soruna estate.” Ahsoka’s eyes widen. “The nanny-droid was disabled with a code word. We have been able to track the movements of a flyer that was near the estate. It made for Theed and the spaceport.” “Do we think that the leaks and her disappearance are connected?” Both women are silent. Ahsoka stands up. “What the hell are you not telling me?” “Fantos Shaizan. Hana’s husband has gone off of the grid as well. The exact same time that the girl disappeared.” Ahsoka crosses her arms, waiting. “He was seen on the Smuggler’s Moon. Nar Shaddaa, a few weeks ago. Around the time that the leaks started.” “He is now on Ganthel. We have a sneaking suspicion that he may have the girl. That Hana realized that he or someone working for him was responsible for the leaks,” Riyo says. “The leaks that may be responsible for two of your cells getting rolled up.” Ahsoka’s eyes flash blue fire. “What the hell were you doing with that kind of info, anyway?” Riyo stands up. “They didn’t have any information on cells. That is just the thing. The leaks were of information on something entirely unrelated. Something about the Imperial Currency Reserves on the worlds that the cells were on.” They see a look come over the young woman’s features, a look gone in an instant. She turns away for a moment. When she turns back, the look of determination, the look that Riyo has come to recognize, even when they first knew each other as young Padawan and young Senator, is present. Somewhere there is a brick wall waiting for a pair of montrals to be shoved into it. “I am going to the Outer Rim. Is there anyone that you can send to Ganthel? Or do I need to bring the Corellians in?” Kylantha smiles. “We have someone in mind. We just need some off-the-books transport.” Ahsoka is thoughtful for a moment. A smile flows to her features. “I can help with that. A new operative with a nice ship. She has only come into the network in the last year or so.” She takes the flask from the Pantoran, then tips, and drains it. She looks at it ruefully then replaces it in her jacket. “I will contact her. Get her started to meet your team.” She nods at the Queen, then reaches down to kiss Riyo’s cheek. Kylantha stares at the closed hatch. She turns to the Senator. “Do you think that you should’ve told her about the little girl? About the possibility of her parentage?” Riyo is quiet for a moment. “No. That is not mine to tell.” Both women are silent as they think of connections.

#adventures in fanfic writing #ahsoka tano #riyo chuchi #queen of naboo #strong women #star wars: rebellion era