"I'm grateful to see you doing better, Zelina. Your recovery was quite...extensive, and had us worried for a while."

Zelina smiled gently at Satine as they idly walked through the Temple hangar, watching as stock was loaded and unloaded from the ships from weaponry for the clones and starships to supplies for the Temple. Zelina had been out of recovery for some time now, but was just starting to get back into the swing of things.

Mainly the Mandalore ordeal that was still going on, though in the background from the main focus of the war at the moment. Unfortunately, she was missing a lot of the front lines action Obi-Wan kept seeing with the other Jedi, as she'd been recovering for the first part of the struggle and was now being tossed around on several different missions—most of them on Coruscant—that ranged from acting as Satine's bodyguard to helping keep the peace with the protesters outside the Jedi Temple to going off world on solo missions, strikes, or in some cases full assaults.

In fact, Zelina was rather envious of Anakin and Ahsoka at the moment for being right at the front lines on Cato Neimoidia.

"I just wish I could be of more help—I've been doing a lot of background work recently, and while I do know that it's just as important...I haven't been on the front lines in a while. I'm sure the 105th miss me, too," Zelina admitted.

Satine inclined her head respectfully. "Perhaps you should enjoy the small break you have from the war while you can."

Zelina sighed. "Just because I'm not in the middle of it, doesn't mean it's not happening. I just have to look at the outskirts of the Temple to be reminded of that, or feel what's going on in the med ward. Every day this war continues it gets uglier and uglier. Yes, some people are flourishing in this environment, growing stronger, wiser, and better...but a little more darkness fills the galaxy every day, and there's so much of it everywhere...it's terrifying at the same time."

Satine nodded. "That's why I tried to keep Mandalore out of things so destructive as war by making it a neutral and passive planet," Satine said softly.

Zelina gave her a look of sympathy. "I'm so sorry for what's happened to Mandalore, Satine. It's become so war torn...I'm rooting for your planet to return to it's peaceful, neutral ways, but it will probably be so long before that happens. Even with the rebel pockets your sister is leading the crime families have such a firm hold, it will be a long time before the Republic ends its siege and reclaims the planet. Even then, you'll have to fight to get it back under neutral control after everything that's happened there, if the people even want the change," Zelina said sadly.

Satine sighed, placing a hand on her shoulder as they came to a stop by one of the hangar entrances. "All we can do now is wait for the Republic to drive out the crime families. Then, I believe, that with patience and perseverance, Mandalore will become what it once was."

"Yes...hopefully." Zelina looked around, deciding they should probably leave so that they didn't accidentally get in someone's way. "We should probably start heading back—Padme did say she was going to speak with you on the Republic's actions on Mandalore. That's probably important."

Satine nodded, pulling away thoughtfully and starting on the way back. "Yes, that should be here by now..."

Zelina turned and caught up to her in a few steps. "Between the lessons the two of you have been giving me, I'll actually be able to listen and understand what's going on instead of trying to find something else to do like take a nap or meditate."

She was glad that earned a laugh out of Satine, who turned back to face her again. "You've been such a wonderful student too. Not many people are willing to learn the ways of politics just because."

Zelina shrugged. "Well, I figured it would help more to have some political finesse on my side. Anakin definitely doesn't have it, and considering how often the two of us are put on missions it would probably be wise for me to try and gain a political side."

"Well, there's always Obi-Wan to help you out of your negotiation issues," Satine said with a smile. Zelina laughed.

"Playing off his Clone Wars nickname, are you?" she mused. "How are you two doing, by the way? I know he's about to leave for Mandalore again..."

Satine gave her a curious look. "We're still friends...just as we always have been. Why, are you insinuating something?"

Zelina blushed slightly. "No! Not at all, I was just...curious to know what's been going on since everything happened."

Satine smiled, coming to a stop. "I have a feeling it's more than that."

"I don't know what you're talking about, I just..."

Zelina trailed off, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end. Over Satine's shoulder, Luke appeared, racing towards them. Zelina's sense of danger spiked, and she saw several Jedi stiffen as well.

"Get down!" Luke hollered at her, and Zelina snapped into action, grabbing a startled Satine by the shoulders and tossing the two of them to the ground.

"Move!" she shouted, her words punctuated by a sudden shockwave and fiery explosion.

Zelina felt Luke lying on top of her, hastily throwing up a protective sheild around her and Satine that was strengthened by Luke's presence. It kept them from a fiery, charred death, but there was still shrapnel, the shockwave, and fire all together, and she couldn't deflect everything so spontaneously.

Then there was the startling, sudden feeling of death all around her, and the pain registered in her mind.

Zelina gasped, her ears ringing so she could hardly hear anything, though she registered Satine moving underneath her.

"Zelina...are you all right?" Satine asked through a fit of coughing. The smoke was gathering in the hangar, making it hard to breathe. Zelina hardly heard her, but she heard.

"I don't...I don't know," Zelina muttered, trying to push off of Satine but finding herself stuck in place. "Satine...I don't know if this is me, but...I can't get up."

Satine's arm pushed upward, and Zelina heard a dull thump and a hiss as her hearing improved slightly. "No, it's not you, something has us pinned."

Zelina sighed, closing her eyes. "Give me a second...let me...get my bearings..."

Satine was silent while Zelina focused, muscling through the pain, suffering, and death all around her so she could get a good grip on what had them pinned. It was decently large, and the more awareness Zelina regained the more she realized it burned.

"Force!" Zelina groaned in pain as she pushed on whatever had them pinned with the Force, slowly lifting it before tossing it aside. She sat up to give Satine more room, looking around in horror to see people in similar situations—terribly burned, trapped by shrapnel, dead, or even impaled in random places from the shrapnel. Fires were all over the hanger, filling it with black cloying smoke that made the situation dire still.

Staggering to her feet, Zelina offered Satine a hand. "Come on...let's get you out of here," Zelina murmured.

"You're injured," Satine noted, taking in several injuries Zelina either wasn't aware of yet or was only faintly aware of at the moment.

Zelina shook her head, taking the woman's hand. "Not important right now. You get out of here and head for the med bay, I'm going to help get these other people out as well."

Satine took her hand out of Zelina's. "You forget, Zelina, I'm a woman of action as much as I am a woman of words. Besides, I'm in better condition than you are, so I have no excuse not to help."

Zelina sighed at the woman's stubbornness, but didn't argue, knowing that would only waste time. "Well, come on then, I'm sure there will be more help in no time."

****************************************

The rumors that the bombing might have been the fault of a Jedi were quick to spread throughout the Temple and beyond. It was disconcerting for Zelina to see how quickly the public turned on the Jedi when it was suggested one of the Temple's own was responsible, even knowing how unpopular the war was. When had the Jedi become the ones painted as the problem when they were trying so hard to help?

Currently, Zelina was one of the many being treated in the med ward. There had been some damage to her eardrums—nothing too serious—because of how close to the blast she'd been, some smaller shrapnel stuck in her, a burn all along her back, and the usual cuts and bruises. She wasn't going to be confined to the med ward again but she'd need some healing.

Satine was thankfully relatively unharmed other than a few cuts and bruises. Zelina had protected her from the worst. Still, Satine was at least keeping her company while Zelina was treated for her own injuries. It was nice to have someone to talk to, though Zelina had heard that the Jedi were now conducting their investigation, so she'd be talking to someone eventually.

Not that she'd be much help—even with how close she'd been to the blast she hadn't really seen what had happened. All she knew was that a bomb had gone off inside the Jedi Temple somehow, and suspicion was rapidly rising—no doubt the pressure on the Council for answers was rising as well.

"Zelina?"

Zelina looked up in surprise to see Ahsoka standing with datapad in hand beside an investigator droid, eyes wide as she studied Zelina's patched up state.

"You were in the blast?" Ahsoka asked, stepping forward. Zelina nodded, gesturing between her and Satine.

"We both were. We're lucky we got out relatively unharmed considering how close to the blast we were."

Satine shook her head. "It wasn't luck-we're all right because of your quick reaction."

"Reaction? Did you see who set off the bomb?" Ahsoka asked hopefully.

"No, I didn't. I only reacted to a prompting from the Force. I stopped questioning the Force a long time ago—if it tells me to do something I do it without hesitation."

Ahsoka nodded. "Well, I bet when Anakin comes you'll be getting an earful from him. He'll be worried sick, especially since you just got out of the med bay not too long ago."

Zelina sighed, gesturing Ahsoka to continue on her way. "Well, don't let me keep you from figuring out who's responsible. There must be someone here who saw something."

"Take care of yourself, Zelina—you too, Duchess," Ahsoka told her sincerely before she moved away. Satine took that moment to move back beside Zelina, sitting down beside her.

"Do you really think it could have been a Jedi that did this?" Satine asked in concern. Zelina sighed and glanced back towards Ahsoka.

"It's possible...it also could have been someone outside the Temple who planted a bomb on someone who was unaware they were carrying a bomb. At the same time, a Jedi would know how to hide their intentions from everyone in the hangar, though we would have at least received a ripple of a warning, I would think—at least one faster than what we did get. It also wouldn't be the first time Jedi has turned recently," Zelina said sadly.

Satine shook her head. "I don't see how these Jedi could turn against an Order they know to be good..."

Zelina hesitated. "Well..."

Immediately Satine's gaze was on her, eyebrow arched in surprise. "By all means, continue-I'm curious to know what you have to add."

Zelina sighed once more. "Well...the Jedi have become...arrogant and prideful, if I may say so myself. High standards that were once strictly followed have been cast aside, rules and morals are readily bent or have so many exceptions. There's a large corruption in the Jedi Order, as well as a troubling blindness in the members. Even if the Order became aware of it we're so far deep in now it would be extremely difficult to undo the damage—even nigh impossible. The right intentions are there, but like the Senate I fear the Jedi Order goes about things the wrong way far too often. As for people like Krell...they spoke of foreseeing the end of the Jedi Order and the Republic."

"But that's absurd! Yes, the Republic is flawed and not what it should be at this point in time, but the end of the Republic—of the Jedi—I don't believe such a thing could happen!" Satine said in a quiet, incredulous voice, gazing at Zelina for a few moments. When Zelina did not agree with her, she grew worried. "You think differently, don't you?"

"I have seen...great darkness in the future. Not without hope, though it may be fragile for years. Krell knew I'd seen darkness...but it was Krell who said he'd seen the fall of the Jedi and the Republic. I didn't want to believe it, but considering the darkness of the future...it could be a possibility. Not a set future...but a possible one. Denying that will only make bouncing back from such an event that much harder."

Their conversation was cut short again as—unsurprisingly, really—Anakin appeared in the doorway, his gaze quickly dissecting the crowd of injured until it landed upon Zelina and Satine sitting on the bed together. Within moments he'd crossed the room with a few stride, stopping in front of her.

"Zelina, Duchess—I felt your presences in the hangar while I was investigating. Are you both all right?" Anakin asked, his concern evident.

"I'm all right, Ani. I had a little bit of an extra warning, so even though we were close...we're all right. I won't even need a lot of bedrest," Zelina said with a weak smile, one that quickly faded. "How many died?"

Anakin sighed. "Six Jedi, and several clones and workers...I didn't find any leads in the hangar, so I'm hoping Ahsoka found something. The anger and confusion all throughout the Temple..."

Zelina nodded. "I know; it's growing the longer this rumor that it was a Jedi is allowed to fester. Don't let it rush you two, though. Yes, quick answers would be nice, but the correct solution is far more important," Zelina warned him.

"I know," Anakin said with a smile.

"I did actually find something, Master—I hope it's a lead," Ahsoka suddenly said, coming up from behind Zelina and Satine.

"Well? What have you got, Snips?"

"We're looking for one of the Temple workers—Jackar Bowmani."

"One of the witnesses saw him in the area where the bomb exploded, right before it happened; and we have not been able to find him anywhere," the investigator droid added.

"Come on, nobody just disappears!" Anakin said incredulously.

"Unless it was well planned out."

"Well it had to be well planned out to get past Jedi—I'll talk to security," Anakin stated rather grumpily.

"Well, you two better get on that—don't let us keep you," Zelina said, smiling slightly.

"Take care of yourself, Zee," Anakin said seriously before he turned and left, leaving Zelina and Satine to rest.

***************************************

"One with the Force, they are, and our job it is to remember that we will, in time, also pass on. Luminous beings are we, but temporary vessels, our bodies are, and we shall all find ourselves here in time. A moment of silence, I ask. To remember, and to move on."

Zelina listened in silence to Master Yoda's eulogy of the six fallen Jedi from the bombing, standing beside Obi-Wan and Satine with Palpatine a few people down, and on Zelina's other side stood Anakin, Ahsoka, and Barriss Offee. For some Force-Forsaken reason Tarkin was also present, but she ignored him. This was a time for reflection, morning, and respect...and Yoda's words struck a deep chord in her.

Everyone died eventually. That couldn't be forgotten, especially in war. Hopefully, if the worst ever came...Zelina would be able to let go. Hopefully everyone else she loved could let go if something happened to her.

Thankfully, Anakin and Ahsoka had in fact found their bomber—Letta, wife of the Jackar the two had mentioned in the med bay. She'd murdered her husband to do some damage to the Order...it was a repulsing thought, and one Zelina knew had disturbed Anakin. They saw some scary things in war, but still...some things would strike home far more than others.

Glancing up, Zelina caught a flicker of an extra person in the room, and a little more sadness seemed to fill the air to Zelina. Even as she caught sight of Luke among the crowd, Yoda's words rang clearly in her mind, burned in her heart.

"Live, for the living Jedi, we must. Live through us, forever they will."

Luke nodded slightly, holding Zelina's gaze, and with the soft, single rap of Yoda's gimmer stick he vanished, leaving Zelina to assume she was meant to take those words in particular to heart. The marble slabs the Jedi rested upon lowered into the ground one by one, and Zelina let her gaze lower to watch as the ground sealed, the fires were lit, and a single beam of light for each Jedi emitted from the ground as they were given the full Jedi burial honors.

***********************************************

"Anakin! I heard about what happened."

Anakin was a storm of confusion, anger, and frustration roiling through the Jedi Temple so that everyone could sense it. Considering the news Zelina had just heard, she didn't blame him in the least, and she felt just as he did.

Letta had asked for Ahsoka, and while Ahsoka had been in the room alone with her...Letta had been killed, and all the evidence pointed to Ahsoka.

Even if it wasn't logical for it to be Ahsoka, who was now being held in the maximum security prison Letta had been in.

"I don't have time for sympathy right now, Zelina, I need to see Ahsoka," Anakin snapped angrily, taking Zelina aback for a moment.

"I wasn't going to offer condolences, Anakin—I want to help," Zelina said firmly.

"There's nothing you can do right now, Zelina, so don't bother."

"Anakin, you're going to need help! Ahsoka is going to need all the help she can get! Outside of you and me, I haven't found anyone else who believes it can't be Ahsoka's fault—everyone else is condemning her because of the evidence they have."

"It wasn't her!" Anakin snapped angrily, though his pace didn't halt.

"Anakin, I know it wasn't her," Zelina said sharply. "That's why I'm offering you help—offering Ahsoka my help. Let me come with you, and we can see what's happened together so we can both help her. If we need to, we can even get Padme and Satine to help. Please, Anakin, play this smart, for Ahsoka's sake. She's a friend to me, too, you know."

Anakin's jaw clenched—he was still vibrating with anger, but Zelina took it in stride. She knew how to handle an angry Skywalker for the most part. "Fine, come. If I need you to help with something you can, but that's it."

"Thank you...and I'd appreciate it if you dropped the tone. I'm on your side, Ani, I'm not the one fighting you," Zelina said, her voice softer as she spoke.

Anakin didn't say anything, but he didn't deny her again so Zelina followed him to the nearest vehicle. They took off instantly, heading straight towards the prison.

***************************************************

"I said, my Padawan is in there—now step aside."

Anakin's voice was dark and threatening as he pushed the guard at the entrance to the holding cells to let Zelina and Anakin in. He wouldn't do it, no matter what Anakin said, and a black fury was boiling inside of him. Warily, Zelina stood at his side, firm in wanting to see Ahsoka, but waiting to hold Anakin back if he tried something stupid.

"General Skywalker," the trooper said in a short, firm voice. "Admiral Tarkin has ordered that no one—"

—Zelina watched Anakin's fist clench, his frame trembling angrily as he started to raise his fist, the end of his fuse quickly approaching—

"—be allowed in there," the trooper said.

"I don't care what she's accused of!" Anakin snapped, voice switching to a dark growl that pulsed with the dark side of the Force as he jabbed his finger against the glass. "Let, me, in!"

"Anakin," Zelina said softly, grabbing his arm and tugging it from the glass as the two guards standing by the door activated their electrostaffs and approached to flank Anakin on either side. "Breathe. This isn't helping."

"Sorry, Sir, the admiral's orders stand. This is now a military operation under his jurisdiction," the trooper said flatly.

The look on Anakin's face was murderous—darker than anything Zelina had ever seen. Maybe it was his now war-weathered, older features that made his expression scarier now, maybe it was the older age and experience, or maybe it was—frighteningly enough—the possibility that there was more darkness in Anakin now than there had been in the Tusken Camp. Zelina let go before he forced her to, and he shook the guards off of him, backing away. Zelina didn't give the soldiers an apologetic look, as she was too concerned over her furious friend.

Once they were out of earshot, Zelina grabbed his arm and pulled him aside, pinning him against the closest wall under cover of darkness. "You need to get yourself together, Anakin," she said sharply. Anakin simply shrugged her off, biting back immediately.

"This is why I didn't want you coming—I don't need you telling me what to do and getting in my way," Anakin growled.

"I'm trying to keep your head on straight, Anakin, and rightly so after the scene you caused in there! You're lucky I was the only Jedi around to sense that surge from you because it was pure dark side! The dark side, Anakin! Haven't we had this discussion enough? Accidentally using it is one thing, but using it repeatedly over and over is another entirely!"

"You do not make my decisions for me, Zelina, that is my choice!" Anakin snapped at her, shoving his finger in her chest.

"If it's not my business than tell me why your son appears to me all the time with the same warning tagged on all the time no matter what the majority of his message was—watch out for Anakin, protect Anakin, take care of Anakin, help Anakin with his dark side!"

"I do not need you as my protector, Zelina—in case you've forgotten you're the younger one, and I've saved your rear end plenty of times—you're even in the med ward more than I am!" Anakin shot back, ignoring the part about Luke.

"I know you can take care of yourself on the battlefield, Anakin, it's the war at home, that constant light and dark battle inside, that you need my help in, because out of the two of us I've got my demons under control the majority of the time and you can't seem to keep them on their leash!"

"You do not have the right to judge me Zelina! I didn't want you to come, but you came anyway. If you don't like the way I do things, then don't help because you are not going to stop me!" Anakin said with a fire in his eyes.

"Shut the hell up Anakin Skywalker, and for once in your life listen to me, damn it!"

Both of them were shocked by Zelina's outburst, but though Anakin took a step back, Zelina held firm at her full height—even if she was shorter than him—holding his gaze with a fiery anger in her eyes.

"I will not stand idly by any longer while you go on a downward spiral. You may think you have everything under control but you do not! The few times I've seen your son recently he's been terrified of what's happening with you, Anakin. Terrified! And I was already stepping in and giving you a slap on the hand when you used the dark side but apparently that's not enough because there is far too much darkness I am sensing in you. As your best friend since childhood, Anakin, please at least try to do better, because you're starting to scare me, too, and I have seen you in a complete murdering mindset before!"

The look on Anakin's face hurt Zelina in her heart, but at the same time she knew that she needed to give him the cold dose of reality. He could not go on believing he was fine when clearly he wasn't. Carefully, Zelina put a hand on his shoulder, softening.

"Ani...I know you're only trying to do what you think is right, but somewhere along the way you ended up off course. You have friends and loved ones that are here to help you, but only if you let us and realize we're only trying to help you."

Anakin took a deep breath, obviously trying to calm down. "Okay...Okay, I get the hint..." he said, his temper quickly cooling. It was silent between them for a few moments before he met her gaze. "I'm sorry."

"Apology accepted. Now...should we go back and try to figure out what's going on, maybe get some backup from some of your men? They know Ahsoka as well as we do, they'll know she didn't do this."

Anakin sighed. "Let's go see Rex, see if he can think of anything we can do," Anakin said tiredly. "After that, if we still don't have anything, we can go to Satine and Padme."

************************************************

"Generals--I've just received word that Commander Tano is attempting to escape the compound."

Rex's statement was met with immediate disbelief.

"What?" Zelina and Anakin both shouted.

"Rex, get us there now!" Anakin ordered, already moving towards the closest ships, which happened to be military.

"Yes, Sir," Rex said without hesitation, taking up the lead and picking one of the ships.

"What's Commander Tano thinking?" Zelina heard Rex mutter under his breath.

Zelina shifted uncomfortably in her seat at the statement, looking out at Coruscant as Rex launched them into the sky, turning inwards for answers.

What was Ahsoka thinking? Surely she knew running only made her look that much more guilty? She knew none of this was Ahsoka's fault due to a feeling in her gut and knowing Ahsoka personally. This wasn't anywhere near her character. No...something was wrong, something was off with the entire situation—she just didn't know what.

Rex covered the distance from the military compound they had been at to the prison in record time, and as soon as the front doors were within sight the trio bolted forwards, right towards the screaming alarms and rushing guards. Anakin and Zelina both put their comms on the correct frequency so that they could hear everything that was being said by the guard as the prison was searched top to bottom.

"The suspect has killed three clones—code red. If you see the suspect, shoot to kill."

Zelina stiffened. That, she was sure, could not be the truth, no matter what evidence they shoved at her. Ahsoka wouldn't kill soldiers of the Republic, never!

"Belay that order, Commander Fox," Anakin said clearly, voice ringing with authority as they rounded a few more corners to come to the mentioned scene of the crime. There were indeed three clones that had obviously fallen to a lightsaber, but even if the wounds were fresh, Zelina would not believe it.

She could not.

"She's killed troopers!" the commander argued in response.

"I know Commander Tano, and she would never do something like this," Rex said firmly. Zelina nodded in agreement.

"He's right. There's something more going on here, and we're just not seeing it," Zelina said forcefully.

"Then who did?" Commander Fox challenged. Anakin, however, was done with everything that had happened, rolling his eyes and shaking his head as he growled low in his throat.

"Quiet!" He ordered, pushing forward and looking around at the walls and ceilings. "Ahsoka!"

Getting the gist of what he was doing fairly quickly, Zelina signaled the two behind her to stay silent.

"It's me, Anakin," he continued, softening his tone. "Stop running."

There were a few moments of silence before an answer finally came.

"You can't help me, Master. Someone's setting me up."

"I believe you, Ahsoka," Anakin replied seriously, though Zelina could feel the anger boiling inside of him at Ahsoka's statement that someone was setting her up.

"We both do," Zelina added, stepping forward as well.

"But no one else will," came Ahsoka's firm reply.

The expression on Anakin's face told Zelina that Ahsoka was moving once more, and he turned back to the two clones. "Keep searching until we find her. Rex, call security. Tell them we need to search the entire base. Now!"

Without any other warning, Anakin took off, Zelina right behind him.

"Anakin..." she said in a soft voice. When he gave no response Zelina took that as her sign to keep talking. "I think...Ahsoka has a point. If everyone but a small handful of people are against her, it's not going to do her much good to be stuck sitting around. She needs to find out who's setting her up, and she may be onto something."

"We both know that running's only made her look worse—and now she's being blamed for the deaths of three soldiers," Anakin said shortly.

"I know...but it's also going to mean her case is going to garner even more attention, and her punishment will be rushed through without anyone thinking twice about the fact this is entirely out of her character. Everyone's going to want this ordeal over, and the evidence is solid against her even though it's not true," Zelina explained.

"I have to bring her back, Zelina. The longer she's out—if she escapes the prison—it's going to be that much harder to protect her."

"And what are you going to do when you do have her back Anakin? Ahsoka may be able to find who's setting her up while she's out—maybe we should trust her with this. She's perfectly capable—she was trained by you."

"That's why I know I have to be the one to bring her in," Anakin said softly. "I'm the only one who can. And if I don't do anything..."

"As much as you'd like her to be able to make progress, if you don't do anything you could be charged with conspiring against her, and then you'd both be charged with things you didn't do," Zelina said softly. "We can at least buy her some time to find something, Anakin. If she can get out of here, if she can really slip away...then we can buy her some time while we look for her."

Anakin was silent for a few moments, suddenly switching back to the front near the exit for the prison. "I...I'll have to think about it Zelina..."

Zelina nodded. "So long as you're at least considering, I don't mind at all."

There was the distant sound of an explosion outside of the prison, and they both double timed it back towards the front of the prison, not speaking a word as they raced to catch up with what was probably Ahsoka. As they neared the entrance they saw a group of soldiers standing in the open doorway.

"All right, don't lose her, we'll be right there," the one in front said as they came up from behind the group.

"What's going on?" Anakin asked, Rex racing from up one of the corridors to join them.

"We found her," the soldier replied. "She's heading towards the industrial pipeline."

Zelina looked at Anakin. "She's going to try and shake everyone off her trail. That's the best place to do it."

"Set weapons to stun—I want her alive!" Anakin said firmly, grabbing Zelina by the arm and gently pulling her along with him. The two of them fell into step side by side while, in the distance, they could hear the sounds of hounds howling and blasters firing. They made their way on foot, looking up as gunships sailed overhead. Anger clouded Anakin's expression, and he switched on his comm link.

"Do not shoot to kill. Do not shoot to kill! Try to box her in, don't let her escape—tell me what you see, Oddball."

Zelina put a brief, comforting hand on Anakin's shoulder. "Breathe, Anakin—don't panic. You'll be no help to her if you're panicking and you know that," she said in a low voice.

"I know," he returned just as softly before he launched himself up and onto one of the catwalks in the industrial zone, Zelina right behind him.

"She's moving west along the central viaduct," came Oddball's voice over Anakin's comm. The pair adjusted their course according to his directions, Rex and Commander Fox tailing the two Jedi as they pushed ahead even faster, the pipe's whooshing by.

"All right, we got her now."

Anakin and Zelina both tensed, as they were both still a decent distance away. "We'll make it," Zelina assured him through clenched teeth, though they both visibly pushed themselves further.

Suddenly, up ahead of them, there was an explosion, and Anakin cursed.

"She's all right!" Zelina responded instantly. "No death in the Force, she's okay," she reinforced for his sake, though they both hurried, finally coming even with the troops in the back of the chase. They could see Ahsoka's lightsaber now, the small light of green in the dark night as she leapt from the pipes to the silos to the catwalks, moving with all of her Jedi speed. She disappeared from sight for a few seconds as Zelina and Anakin pushed to come over to the section of the industrial zone she was currently in, seeing up ahead as one of the gunships came to a stop hovering over one of the stairways.

"Not so fast, Commander!" came Oddball's voice through Anakin's comm.

"They've almost got her cornered," Zelina said in worry as the troops raced into position. Anakin, Zelina, Rex, and Commander Fox all came to a stop at the top of one of the stairways down to the platform Ahsoka was currently standing in the middle of, the spotlights from the gunships trained on her as she was circled by troops and hounds alike. Zelina could feel the concern and fear emanating from Anakin as he looked down upon the scene, and she felt terrible for him.

For a few seconds, Ahsoka and Anakin made eye contact, and she glanced away for a split second before making a flying leap towards one of the pipes.

"Ahsoka!" Anakin shouted, but Ahsoka didn't listen, her lightsaber making a quick circle before she disappeared below into the giant pipe.

"This chase isn't over yet," Zelina murmured, throwing all of her weight to the right to rush towards the pipe the soldiers were already making their way into. She looked to Anakin, giving him a pointed look as he came even with her. "This is the perfect place for Ahsoka to disappear. If you want to talk to her before she does so you're going to want to use that Master and Padawan bond of yours to track her," she said in a voice low enough Rex and Commander Fox wouldn't hear.

"I will," Anakin said stiffly. His emotions were so conflicted as this chase wore on that Zelina felt her sincere concern for her friend grow, wanting to comfort him but knowing now was not the time.

Right now, they had to try and catch up to Ahsoka.

They both leapt down into the pipe without a second thought, splashing into the shallow water below before taking off without Rex and Commander Fox, leaving them to conduct their own search.

They wanted to be alone when they found Ahsoka anyway. If they were going to talk with her it wasn't going to be anything that could be said in front of the soldiers.

The men quickly fanned out, all of them taking different tunnels but in the general direction Ahsoka had went, and Zelina fell behind Anakin, knowing that it was his turn to lead her. Zelina was close to Ahsoka enough to be friends with her, but her bond with the young woman was nothing compared to the bond Anakin shared with her.

They followed generally the same direction as the troops, making turn after turn splashing through the water, never seeing anything yet somehow still having a trail to follow. However, after one of the sharp turns, Anakin suddenly stopped, causing Zelina to skit to a halt a few paces in front of him as he closed his eyes, focusing for a few split seconds. The troops ahead raced on, not glancing back, but Anakin...he suddenly turned right, and Zelina didn't question him, moving back into place behind him as they followed Ahsoka's real trail.

They were getting closer—she could tell.

At one point they crossed paths with the troops again, following them once more for a while, but soon Anakin made a sudden turn as they raced ahead once more, and Zelina felt the adrenaline and anticipation between them soar upwards.

Almost there...

Down a steep drop into slightly deeper water, they hurled themselves between the blades of a rotating fan, making one, two, three more quick, rapid turns...

They both skidded to a halt when they saw Ahsoka at the end of the tunnel in front of them, staring down a drop it would seem into Coruscant's Underworld.

"Ahsoka, what are you doing?" Anakin asked warily as the two of them crept forward. Ahsoka spun around at his voice, taking them both in.

"You didn't even try to come and help me!" she stated, ignoring his question and obviously wounded.

"That's not true," Zelina returned seriously.

"They wouldn't let me in to talk to you!" Anakin protested in frustration.

"You could have if you tried!" Ahsoka cried back.

"We did what we could without crossing any lines," Zelina replied seriously as they moved forward again.

"How would that look, Ahsoka, huh?" Anakin asked, voice starting to lean to the point of desperation. "Forcing my way in would have made you look even more guilty."

"I am not guilty!" Ahsoka said passionately, looking like a cornered anooba for a second.

"Then we have to prove you're innocent. The only way we can do that is by going back," Anakin tried, gesturing back down the pipeline behind them.

"I don't know who to trust!" Ahsoka stated in pained frustration.

"You can trust us, Ahsoka. Us, Rex, Padme, Satine, Obi-Wan—your friends, the people who are on your side," Zelina pled while Anakin stepped a little closer.

"Listen...I would never let anyone hurt you, Ahsoka, never! But you need to come back, and make your case to the Council."

"No!" Ahsoka said firmly, her face serious as she drew herself to her full height. The storm outside raged on, lightning flashing across the sky accompanied by thunder. "I'm not going to take the fall for something I didn't do!"

"I am ordering you to put down your lightsaber and come with me, now!" Anakin said angrily. Zelina, however, saw the look in Ahsoka's eyes and grabbed his shoulder to hold him back.

"Trust me..." Anakin pled softly.

"Ani..." Zelina said softly, pointedly as voices started to echo closer and closer to them through the pipes.

"I do trust you—both of you. But you know as well as I do that no one else will believe me!" Ahsoka glanced behind her as a ship passed, looking for a way out. "Anakin...you have to trust me now."

"Ahsoka I do trust you!" Anakin protested, though Zelina held him back when Ahsoka held up a hand.

"I know you do," Ahsoka said gently.

"Let her go, Anakin," Zelina said softly. Ahsoka gave her a small smile of gratitude.

"Wish me luck," she said quietly, and at Zelina's nod of encouragement Ahsoka suddenly jumped out of the pipe. Zelina released Anakin and they both raced to the edge to look down in time to see Ahsoka sailing through the air before landing nimbly on the back of a ship. Rex and Commander Fox appeared beside them, but Zelina didn't pay them much mind. She carefully placed a comforting hand on Anakin's shoulder as the ship Ahsoka was on slowly disappeared, leaning over to whisper quietly in his ear so Rex and Commander Fox wouldn't hear.

"She needs to do this, Anakin. Let her go, let her try to find some answers. We'll do what we can over here," she murmured, rubbing his shoulder slightly in further comfort.

"Force help me if something happens to her," Anakin murmured.

"Like she said...it's your turn to trust her to take care of things. You've trained her well, Anakin...now is one of the times you have to let her find her own way."

*************************************************

That slimy, no good, slithery, two faced, stuck up, pretentious, obnoxious, puffed up, arrogant, pampered—

A rampant, continuous stream of insults looped through Zelina's mind as she glared shamelessly at Tarkin as he addressed the Jedi Council. Anakin and Zelina were only present because what was being discussed was, of course, Ahsoka.

"After further investigation there can be little doubt that the clone officers murdered in the escape were killed by none other than Ahsoka Tano, herself. She used a Jedi Mind Trick to convince the clone to open the door, and then proceeded to cut him down as well as five other clones along the way."

"I do not believe that Ahsoka could have fallen so far," Master Plo Koon stated, sitting up straight in his v hair.

"The beliefs of the Jedi Council are irrelevant. We deal strictly in facts and evidence, and the evidence points to Padawan Tano being guilty of the attack on the Temple and the murder of the Republic Officers. This is sedition!"

On that harsh note Tarkin cut the transmission, leaving Zelina stewing beside Anakin in the background in silence.

"Skywalker—was there no way to stop your Padawan before she escaped?" Master Mundi asked after a few moments. Anakin took to the center of the room, though Zelina remained where she was standing.

"No, Master Mundi."

"The Council believes that Ahsoka may be guilty of the crime. Still believe they are wrong, do you?" Yoda asked evenly. Zelina chose that moment to step up while Anakin spoke.

"I believe she didn't kill the clone troopers or the woman who used the nanodroids to blow up the Temple-that's why she's running, to prove her innocence."

"Ahsoka didn't do anything that she's being accused of," Zelina said firmly, stepping up. "Since this whole ordeal started, something's been...off. There's something we're not seeing that changes everything going on here. Plus, I know Ahsoka—we know Ahsoka. She's had no shift in her personality, and she hasn't been leaning towards the dark side. I know Ahsoka is innocent despite what the evidence says. I trust the feeling in my gut and the Force more than I trust my eyes."

The Council exchanged several looks, and after a few moments Master Windu spoke.

"Guilty or innocent, she's in the lower depths, now. With her skills, she will be hard to find."

"Two teams we will send—Master Skywalker, and Master Plo Koon, with clones, you two will go," Yoda said calmly.

"I think it best if Skywalker stayed here. Having you involved may actually make things...worse," Windu interjected.

Anakin was already shaking his head. "Master Windu, with all due respect, she is my padawan."

"The reason for you not to go."

"I think we're being foolish if we take Anakin off this mission," Obi-Wan cut in quickly and firmly, earning a look of gratitude from Zelina to his hologram form. "He knows her better."

"He's emotionally tied to her, probably too emotional to do what needs to be done."

"I'd rather capture Ahsoka and find out the truth than let her run because of a lie," Anakin practically snapped at Windu.

"You must prove to us that you will stay focused," Yoda returned evenly, staring Anakin down.

"I've already alerted security on the lower levels to be on the lookout for Ahsoka," Anakin said, reigning in his anger at the proceedings of the meeting.

"To swiftly then, Skywalker, and bring back this post child before it is too late."

Anakin sighed. "Yes, Master."

Zelina, Anakin, and Master Plo all bowed to the Council in varying degrees before they left the room. Master Plo went ahead to gather his team while Zelina came up to Anakin and put an arm around his shoulders.

"Don't worry, Ani...we'll get her home and out of this mess," Zelina stated gently. "Besides, at least we'd have the comfort of knowing Obi-Wan and Master Plo are on our side council wise."

"Yes, but Obi-Wan's not here and we all know Windu and Yoda are basically the ones in charge," Anakin muttered bitterly under his breath.

"It's better than having no one on our side," Zelina returned. "Just...try to find her, and while you're out looking for her I'll stay here and do some digging, maybe even recruit a politician or two to help us out."

"I don't know what good that will do—this is an internal Jedi matter."

"That may be so, but if something happens and this goes to the Republic courts and doesn't remain an internal Jedi affair—I can see that happening with Tarkin—then we'll need all the help we can get. Besides, they have connections that might be able to help us find something."

Anakin shook his head. "I still think it's a dead end, but if you think you can find something useful then go right ahead."

Zelina gave his shoulder a small squeeze. "When you bring her home, bring her home safe, okay?"

"I will, don't worry. Good luck."

"You too, Anakin...you too," Zelina said softly.

***************************************************

"I can't believe that they think Ahsoka is responsible for that bomb!"

Zelina sat in 500 Republica with Satine and Padme, having called a female pow wow of sorts. Satine, the one who had made the exclamation despite the fact she'd known Ahsoka was being accused since word for out, was pacing while Zelina and Padme sat on the couch. Zelina nodded in agreement.

"We all know Ahsoka and know she wouldn't do this. However their evidence is solid and they'll probably convict her. What has me worried is I think that the Senate may snatch her case once the Council passes judgement and try to give her a capital punishment for treason. There's something missing from all this but I don't know what. Ahsoka said herself she's being framed...and I'm hoping we can get a lead that will help us find out who."

"It would have to be someone inside the Temple," Padme said worriedly.

"I know...that's one of the things that worries me the most—the possibility of another Krell."

"I may have someone who can look further into this: if she was framed at the jail than surely someone must have gotten inside that day," Satine said pointedly.

"But whoever killed Letta was able to knock out the sound—I wouldn't doubt they knocked out cameras so they couldn't be seen. And the soldiers were obviously mind-tricked to some degree...but no, it doesn't hurt to look. We may find something yet," Zelina said softly.

Satine grabbed her cloak. "I'll also see if someone else can look into the nanodroids. If we find out where they came from..."

"...then we can also find out who ordered the Nanodroids, or at least prove Ahsoka couldn't have ordered them," Padme finished.

"Exactly," Satine said with a smile.

"It's best if we hurry—Anakin could find her at any moment, and the clock will start for us to prove she's innocent. I'll see what I can find at the Temple, talk to some friends and such," Zelina stated.

"I'll figure out what the Senate thinks, figure out where her case stands outside the Jedi Order," Padme added.

"Let's get started then," Zelina said, rising to her feet. Satine was already out the door and headed for the speeder she'd taken when Padme stopped Zelina just short of the door.

"Wait, Zelina, before you go..." she said softly, a hand on her arm. "Can we talk?"

Curiosity arose inside of Zelina, who allowed herself to be guided back to the couch.

"You're not going to tell me you're pregnant, are you?" Zelina asked warily as they both took seats, sensing the serious nature of whatever she wanted to talk about.

"What? No, no, not at all...maybe someday but...definitely not now, during this war," Padme stated, flustered for a few moments. Zelina relaxed.

"Good, because of you'd have asked for advice on what to do I wouldn't have been much help," Zelina laughed, the sound coming off on the nervous side.

"Though...I do want to talk about...Anakin. And you, too," Padme said carefully. Zelina stilled.

"We haven't actually...talked in a long time without anyone else around...especially about that," Zelina said carefully.

"No, we haven't...but before we start...I want to know if there's something you need to tell me," Padme said evenly, searching her gaze. Zelina made sure she didn't break that gaze.

"Why do you ask?"

"Well, it's like you said—we haven't talked in a while. And I feel like recently, when you are around me, you tend not to look me in the eyes as much as you used to," Padme said gently.

Zelina swallowed, knowing that if she was ever going to come clean now would be the time to do so. Zelina cast her gaze down to her hands, trying to find words as she suddenly felt like she was in the hot seat.

Anakin and Zelina had agreed not to talk about it to anyone, and the first instance she was the only soul who knew the truth as far as she was aware. Focusing on her breathing, Zelina decided to try and speak the guilt that had been weighing on her chest regarding Padme.

"When we were on Zygerria...I'm sure Anakin told you about what happened—about most of us getting captured and me getting him out of there before he could be caught like the rest of us," she started in a soft voice.

"Yes, I remember," Padme confirmed patiently.

"When I hid him...I was convinced that I was going to die or, at the very least, be in slavery for the rest of my life. I was scared, I thought I'd never see him again, and to say goodbye...I kissed him." As soon as that was out in the open Zelina rushed to admit her guilt. "I know it was wrong to do, you two are married and I respect that and I would never get between the two of you, but...I know you know I love him too, but I swear I wasn't trying to make a move on him, I was just...I was afraid I'd never see him again."

Zelina shook her head, taking a moment to catch her breath as her throat closed up. "And while I'm admitting guilt it wasn't the first time. When I was still a Padawan under Master Secura he almost died protecting us when our ship crashed and I was terrified I was going to lose him and I kissed him briefly then, too, while he was unconscious. I haven't been able to get over my guilt of those two incidents since they happened, and even though I wasn't thinking straight in both situations and I was terrified of losing him it was still wrong, but I was scared of speaking up and ruining the friendships I have with you and Anakin so I just left them in the past to be forgotten, but I can't forget. The guilt over that has been eating away at me and I'm sorry that I did it and I'm sorry that I never told you."

There was only silence for a few moments, and Zelina didn't dare look up at Padme, afraid to meet the woman's gaze.

"Thank you for being honest with me, Zelina," Padme's steady voice came. Despite the gentle tone, Zelina still flinched since she recognized Padme's senatorial calm when she drew upon it. She shook her head once more, forcing herself to look up.

"Honest or not, I shouldn't have done it...and I'll understand if you're angry with me. Just don't be mad at Anakin—he's just as oblivious today as he was on Naboo regarding how I really feel about him...I've done my best to keep it that way. I refuse to come between the two of you. He's happy with you, and he needs you, especially during this Force Forsaken war. I'm sorry I've broken your trust, Padme," Zelina finished quietly. Padme stood from her seat, sighing softly and taking a few steps away.

"I am upset, Zelina, believe me, I am," Padme said in that scolding tone that could make almost anyone cringe. "But I can also see your sincerity and guilt to go with your honesty, which is keeping me from being condemning."

Zelina nodded timidly, rising to her feet as well. "I'll do whatever I can to regain your trust, Padme. Your friendship means a lot to me—I only have a small circle of true friends."

Padme looked off into the distance. "Right now we should probably focus on getting Ahsoka out of this mess—these more...personal matters can wait for another time."

Zelina caught the break when it was offered, nodding once more and shifting into a more professional stance. "I'll go to the Temple and see what I can find. Good luck at the Senate, Padme."

"May the Force be with you, Zelina," Padme called as Zelina was getting ready to leave.

"And may the Force be with you too, Padme...always."

***********************************************

"No one has heard anything, and there was nothing out of the normal that anyone in the prison can recall other than the obvious that Ahsoka has been accused of," Satine was telling Zelina as they met in Zelina's chambers, Padme joining them from a hologram.

"The majority of the Senate is convinced of her guilt as well—in fact, Tarkin is already pushing to have the Jedi Order hand her over so the Republic can charge her. I hate to think of what he has in store if that happens," Padme said worriedly.

"Then this really was a dead end, just like Anakin thought," Zelina said with a sigh.

"At least we tried," Padme told her gently. Satine rested a hand on Zelina's shoulder.

"And at least we're prepared for Tarkin's schemes. I never liked that man," Satine sniffed.

"You and me both," Zelina muttered.

"I heard Anakin brought Ahsoka into custody," Padme stated, veering the conversation elsewhere.

"Yeah, he did. And to make matters worse, they found her in an abandoned factory with the same nanodroid explosives used on the temple, and she'd been seen earlier in the company of Asajj Ventress. Whoever is setting Ahsoka up is doing one hell of a job."

Satine took that into consideration, nimble fingers pressed thoughtfully to her chin. "Perhaps...perhaps Asajj is the one setting her up—or someone who knows her well enough to frame her so accurately."

Zelina leaned back as well, considering. "Perhaps...I'll have to talk to Anakin and Ahsoka to make a decision based on that thought though...they're going into the Chamber of Judgement though, and I don't like the feeling in the air. Something bad is going to happen, probably in more than one way," Zelina murmured.

"I'll let you go so you two can investigate than—I'll try to get in a position so I can defend Ahsoka if her trial is moved to the Senate," Padme stated, straightening.

"Thank you, Padme. I'll contact you as soon as I find something out," Zelina promised.

"Be careful, you two, and good luck."

With a simple click Padme was gone, and Zelina and Satine both moved in unison towards the door.

"We won't be allowed in the Chamber of Judgement, so we'll have to wait outside until they're done," Zelina told Satine as they made their way into the hall. Zelina took a moment to appreciate the fact that recently she'd been able to wear more traditional Jedi garb again with all the time she'd spent on Coruscant and diplomatic missions. It felt good to be wearing her dark grey cloak again, which she rarely wore in the heat of battle, and so many times she'd worn republic issued armor for the Jedi like Anakin or Obi-Wan tended to wear, though gradually she'd been able to phase back to wearing the traditional Jedi clothes.

"I don't mind waiting at all—in fact the longer the meeting takes, the better in my opinion, considering all the doubt Ahsoka's been faced with from other Jedi recently," Satine stated, drawing Zelina back to full awareness.

"I suppose you're right...a fast trial would only concern me at this point in time," Zelina murmured. Satine put a gentle hand on Zelina's shoulder.

"Like you said, Zelina—we'll get her through this together. She'll be all right," Satine soothed her.

"I hope so, Satine," Zelina sighed, and the pair continued forward until they reached the appropriate room. They stood outside in the hall, with Zelina frowning as she felt a confusing tumult of raging emotions from more than one person inside of the room. She couldn't even tell who was feeling what, though she knew it was Ahsoka's trial taking place—Anakin and Ahsoka were definitely in there, and she could sense Obi-Wan as well rather distinctly.

A sharp wave of sudden anger and deep, tearing betrayal hit Zelina hard, and she stiffened. "Oh no..."

"What, what is it?" Satine asked, studying her intently as Zelina paled.

"I think the Council made a decision...against Ahsoka," Zelina said softly as emotions from Anakin, Ahsoka, and even Obi-Wan rose to a dangerous fever pitch.

"No, they couldn't have possibly..." Satine started to protest, though Zelina shook her head as she started to feel everyone in the room moving. Anakin and Ahsoka were going a different direction, but Obi-Wan...

The doors opened and Zelina drew herself to her full height, approaching the exiting council swiftly and descending upon Obi-Wan in record time. "Tell me it's not true, Obi-Wan. Tell me what happened in there isn't as I felt it," she pled, coming to a stop before him. Obi-Wan seemed at a loss for words for a few moments, eyes sad and shoulders slumped slightly in sorrow.

It was, surprisingly, Master Yoda who answered, coming up beside them with a few taps of his gimmer stick. "Afraid so, Du'ahn. Decide, the majority of the Council did, that guilty, Padawan Tano is. Expelled she has been, and handed over to the Senate she is soon to be."

Zelina felt like she'd taken a blow to the gut, even if she'd been preparing for such an incident. Apparently part of her had still hoped...

After a few moments of Zelina's silence Master Yoda hobbled away, though Obi-Wan stayed in place as Satine came around to put a tender hand of comfort on Obi-Wan's shoulder. "I tried to convince them that we should stand with Ahsoka when Tarkin contacted us before the trial...but they didn't want to hurt their ties with the Senate..." Obi-Wan said softly. At the pain in his eyes over what was happening and his comment on why the Council had turned Ahsoka over to the Senate—bloodthirsty as they could be—something in Zelina just...cracked. And it must have been something noticeable too, because Obi-Wan shifted his gaze to her eyes when it happened. She didn't care though. She backed away a pace or two, feeling denial setting in as she watched so many parts of her foundation crack.

"I have to...I need some time," Zelina said softly, turning and leaving without a second thought. Behind her Satine quickly took charge to comfort Obi-Wan, and though that may have made her overjoyed to see any other time, right now she just wanted out of there, out of these temple walls that seemed so cold and harsh now, away from the stares of the Jedi that now seemed so critical and harsh now, the ones that had been whispering of Ahsoka's guilt or openly discussing it, easily throwing one of their own—a great Jedi—under the bus without a second thought, leaving her to be torn apart by the Jedi. And someone so close to Zelina as well...

Zelina went to the outside Temple Gardens, but even that gave her no solace, at least not the one she wanted. There were too many people nearby.

Not caring how it would look, Zelina turned and made her way to a shadowy part of the temple where she started to climb carefully up its side, climbing higher and higher to a vantage point that would give her a lovely view of Coruscant from high above...and would be so isolated no one would bother her...

Once she was where there was no access from the inside, out of the prying view of anyone within or without the Temple, Zelina dropped down into a meditative pose, taking several deep breaths and staring at nothing as her eyes burned.

What had cracked inside of her, what had broken so suddenly and deeply, had been the trust she held for the Council. She'd known they made questionable choices, she'd understood that—they were average beings in the end bound to make mistakes no matter how skilled in the Force they were. But this blatant betrayal, this inability to listen, cold shouldered attitude, quick condemnation, and disregard for the feelings of those close to the situation that something was not right, this need to please the Senate and choose relationships with a corrupt government over the safety and possibly even the life of one of their own, an innocent teenager who was blooming into a wondrous young woman...

She couldn't look at the Council the same. The illusion of grandeur and greatness that Zelina had held once as a child was gone, destroyed, and she didn't think she'd ever get it back. She could never trust the Council's guidance again—who knew how many times by now they'd been wrong and made some terrible mistake by now? How many horrifying consequences were they going to face because of the choices of the Council, consequences they had yet to discover, wrong choices they had yet to discover?

But most of all, knowing she was a flawed being that still needed guidance herself...who could she even trust for that guidance when it came to the bigger picture, or what she should do in a morally conflicting situation?

Anakin she was growing reluctant to go to for guidance considering his recent life choices, Obi-Wan was wonderful but sometimes he lacked the proper...well...emotional aspect of things. He may even still reference her to the Council, which was the reason she couldn't really consider Yoda beyond maybe private counseling about her visions.

Satine and Padme were wonderful wells of knowledge, but she'd just damaged her relationship with Padme partially, and neither of them were Force Sensitive, which would make situations regarding the Force difficult.

And the Force didn't always give her answers.

Zelina sighed, closing her eyes and feeling a few tears slip down her face as the wind recklessly tossed her cloak and hair in the wind—she hadn't put her hair up in its usual bun yet today.

"What do I do now? Who do I turn to for guidance when I need help? I cannot trust the Council again after this, it's now painfully obvious how wrong they are. They mean well...but they're blind in this war, blind by politics and rigid rules, bending the wrong ones and sticking to the worst...who do I trust to guide me now?" Zelina whispered. "What do I do when I don't agree with the Council without leaving this Order?"

There was only the wind as her answer, and Zelina ducked her head, allowing herself to cry openly for a few moments.

How could the Council just give Ahsoka over to the Senate? The Senate would call for a death sentence, they would not see the factors the Jedi Order could see, and with the rising hatred against the Jedi Order...

How could they?

"There's no right or wrong answer, really."

Zelina's eyes opened and she looked beside her to see Luke sitting on the ledge of the pillar she was perched upon—one of the four towering pillars that were shorter than the main center pillar with the council room at the top. Zelina looked at him for a few moments, noting how somberly he looked over the sprawling surface of Coruscant.

"I don't know what to do, Luke...I'm lost. Who do I follow from here? I always had a respect for the Council, looked to them for guidance in this war...Force, they give me my orders on where I go and what I fight for...but now that my trust in them is broken...what do I do?"

Luke turned to face her, his blue gaze intense. "You listen to the Force as you always have, but more often, perhaps. And you listen to your heart. They've never led you wrong. If you think you can't follow the Council, then follow what you still know is right. And don't condemn this order because of the misconceptions they've grown. They are trying to do what's right...they've just lost their way in all this darkness, caught in a web of deceit no one can see yet...but you'll start to see it."

Luke suddenly turned to face her completely, taking her hand in his. "Promise me when you start to see this web you'll do everything you can to be excluded from it. And help my father too, please. This is going to be one of the hardest things for him—his foundation will be shaken just as badly if not worse than yours is right now. I need you to be strong, for all of us."

"Luke I'm strong so often...when am I'm I allowed to be weak, to be me? I'm so tired of fighting, I just want it all to be over soon..."

"You'll get your break, sooner than you realize. But first you have to get through this, and I'm not going to lie, this next year...it will be the hardest of your life. But if you don't stop fighting it will be worth it. Please, don't give up on the galaxy yet. Trust yourself and the Force, and you won't be led astray. I promise you," Luke said fervently.

Zelina sighed. "You know...I'm far too young for this. I'm only nineteen, you know—I'm not even in my twenties yet."

Luke smiled bitterly. "It seems sometimes the heaviest burdens fall upon the youngest."

"That they do," Zelina murmured. "Will you continue to act as my guide, then? If I trust more in the Force?"

Surprisingly, Luke shook his head. "No...my time to guide you is coming to a close. You'll have to start making decisions on your own, but I can tell you to please be careful. The ripples you make now will be the largest down the road. The future is ever in motion, and each step you take from here on out will alter everything."

"Again...I'm only nineteen...but I understand, Luke. Thank you for everything you've done for me. You've saved my life several times and guided me in some tight spots."

"It's the least I can do for everything you'll do for me—no matter what path the future takes...even if I grow up never knowing you...it's the least I can do," Luke said softly, rising. "Go to him. He's going to need you now, but make sure you don't forget to forge your own path too. Good luck...and may the Force be with you," Luke said softly.

"You too Luke...I hope to see you soon, and hopefully in a happier galaxy."

Luke smiled. "You may see me sooner than you think."

Before Zelina could inquire what he meant, Luke vanished.

***************************************************

Not long after Zelina's enlightening conversation with Luke, Anakin, Zelina, and Padme all went to see Ahsoka in the prisons to get her side of the story. If they were going to help her, they had to help her now. Zelina had already made the time to see Obi-Wan after her enlightenment to tell him that she held nothing against him, and she was truly grateful that he had tried to do something. It gave Zelina some comfort to have seen some of that weight lift from Obi-Wan's shoulders when she'd told him so, but she'd had to leave soon after to find Anakin so she could make sure she was a part of everything that happened from here on out.

"Padme has agreed to represent you before the Senate," Anakin stated as they approached Ahsoka, who looked grateful to see them there, but Zelina did notice she didn't seem too hopeful.

"I will do everything I can to prove your innocence Ahsoka," Padme said sincerely.

"I am almost certain that the person behind this is Ventress—and you know that I wasn't working with her," Ahsoka said passionately, looking to Anakin. "She was at the warehouse, in the room, we fought, but she got away...didn't any of the clones see anything?"

Anakin and Zelina both shared a frown, both of them turning away and pacing a few steps away thoughtfully. While Zelina understood Ahsoka's accusations...she felt like there was still more, and wondered if Anakin had the same feeling.

"No...none of the clones reported seeing Ventress at the scene," Anakin eventually said thoughtfully. "I thought you said Ventress left before you even went into the warehouse?"

"That's what I thought too, but then she attacked me when I got back inside. I'd know her red lightsabers anywhere."

"But that still doesn't make sense," Zelina stated with a frown, drawing attention to her. "Wouldn't Ventress profit more by turning you in for a bounty instead of leaving you there to be picked up Republic Officials? I know she became a Bounty Hunter after all that Dooku business..."

"How do you know that?" Anakin asked, brow furrowed.

"I keep track of people, Ani, the best that I can. Besides, the more I found out about Ventress...the sorrier I felt for her," Zelina said with a shake of her head. "Anyway...it being her lightsabers does make it seem likely...though it still doesn't make sense."

Zelina looked to Anakin. "Perhaps that should be the first place we look. Either way it's our only lead."

"Then we know what we have to do," Anakin said seriously, and the pair turned towards the door.

"Wait, where are you going? You can't leave now!" Padme exclaimed softly, causing Anakin to pause momentarily from guilt.

"Yes I can. We have to find Ventress and get to the bottom of this," Anakin said, gesturing between himself and Zelina.

"If she does have something it will help strengthen Ahsoka's case, maybe even drag out the real culprit," Zelina added. "Letta did say it was a Jedi that showed her how to make the bomb, not a bounty hunter."

"All the more reason to investigate," Anakin said in a low tone of voice.

"Well...while we're out, you two be careful, and if we're not back before the trial starts, don't worry, we'll be back before it ends," Zelina soothed them. Without another word the two left, making a straight shot to the underlevels Ahsoka was in before she was caught with cloaks carefully covering them.

******************************************

"There she is..." Zelina said in a low voice as she stood beside Anakin on an overhead walkway. Down below, Asajj Ventress' lithe form was making its way along the filthy underworld street, head bowed low. "She doesn't have her lightsabers. Odd, don't you think?" Zelina pointed out, leaning against the bar.

"Well, I'm about to find out just what's going on," Anakin said in a low, dark voice. Zelina gently touched his arm.

"Don't do anything rash that forces my hand," she warned him as Asajj came to a stop below them. Anakin didn't reply to her statement. Instead, he tensed, though Zelina did too. Asajj had sensed them.

With a powerful shove each, both of them launched into the air to land upon the roofs, following Asajj as she made her way into an isolated street, most likely to draw out whoever was following her.

At least she wasn't going to run, for once.

Once she was halfway down the alleyway, Anakin and Zelina both dropped down, landing side by side and blocking Asajj's exit.

"Anakin Skywalker...and his little sidekick Zelina Du'ahn. How quaint," Asajj drawled in disinterest as she turned to face the pair.

"I know you're behind all of this," Anakin growled, causing Zelina to tense slightly.

"Prove it," Asajj hissed, leaping backwards and upwards onto one of the walkways. Anakin ignited his lightsaber, which caused Zelina to scowl. Asajj was unarmed—yes that didn't make her any less dangerous, but it also made the use of lightsabers excessive in her opinion.

Anakin and Zelina both jumped up to follow her, Anakin on one end and Zelina on the other, and almost immediately Asajj descended on Anakin, which made sense considering he was the one with the lightsaber activated. Effortlessly Asajj scored at least two kicks and a punch while Anakin was off guard, though had to back away in the next moment when Zelina engaged her from behind hand-to-hand. The two hardly got to exchange blows before Anakin came up from behind with his lightsaber, and alarm shot through Zelina who, to keep Asajj alive, had to grab her hand with the next punch and fling the woman behind her the same time she activated her lightsaber and blocked Anakin's descending one.

"What the kriff, Anakin!" she shouted, pushing him back with the Force to get him to back off. But Anakin was furious underneath the calm exterior he'd kept since the Jedi Temple, and when Asajj made to escape behind Zelina, leaping up two more overhead walkways Anakin made a swift chase, leaping up just as fast with Zelina hot on his tail.

"Leave me alone!" Ventress snapped, though Anakin was done being patient with people, and Zelina felt a dark surge well up inside of him a second before Ventress started to choke.

"Anakin, enough!" Zelina said firmly, yanking him away from Ventress with a fire in her eyes and using her own Force abilities to shield Ventress from Anakin's assault. "You're sitting this out, Force help me, if I have to hold you back with my blade."

With that warning, Zelina turned to Ventress. "Despite Anakin's aggressiveness, we came to find out what happened with Ahsoka. Obviously Anakin's short tempered today so I suggest you skip the games and get to explaining why you were with her and what happened at the warehouse."

Asajj was obviously displeased, rising to her feet with no shortage of death glares towards Anakin. "When I heard the little brat was on the run, I thought she'd bring a large bounty," Asajj said as if that explained everything. It explained how Ahsoka and Asajj ran into each other, but not the rest.

"Bounty?"

Anakin took a threatening step forward at Asajj's wording, but Zelina held him at bay without flinching. "Go on."

"I was going to catch her and turn her over to the authorities, collect whatever bounty was due," Asajj spat at Anakin.

"What changed?" Zelina asked, still holding Anakin at bay.

"At first, I'll admit, I was just interested in the money, and a little bit of revenge...but then I realized the fallen Padawan and I had a lot in common."

"How dare you compare yourself to Ahsoka," Anakin snarled, pushing against Zelina's firm, restraining hand. Asajj whipped around at the accusation, glaring daggers at him.

"It's true!" she said so fervently and with obvious deep wounds Zelina was taken aback for a second. "My master abandoned me, and that's exactly what you did to her! You and your precious Jedi Order," Asajj accused.

"Anakin didn't abandon her—not everyone did," Zelina cut in before Anakin could. "While Ahsoka was looking for who framed her down here, he was playing his part in looking for her while the rest of us tried to find more evidence in her favor topside, and Obi-Wan pled her case to the Council. Just because we weren't physically with her doesn't mean we left her to rot, Asajj," Zelina responded evenly.

Looking back to Anakin, however, Zelina could see that Asajj's words had left a mark, one similar to the mark the Council's obvious betrayal had left on her. "How about we all take a breath, step back, and stop throwing accusations so we can get somewhere with this? Ashoka's trial is going on right now and we're on a time limit," Zelina reprimanded mostly Anakin, though the beginning was for Asajj too. Once Anakin had noticeably relaxed, Zelina removed her restraining hand and turned to face Asajj fully, lowering her hood—Anakin's had fallen down during the chase. "Why don't you tell us what happened at the warehouse, Asajj...and why you don't have your lightsabers?"

Asajj inclined her head, apparently willing to talk to Zelina rather than Anakin as the woman held Zelina's gaze alone.

"After I left his little Padawan alone, I was walking away, and I thought she came up behind me to talk more...but I was wrong. Someone came out of nowhere and hit me from behind. Not just anyone can sneak up behind me." Asajj made her way to the railing, leaning against it. "It had to be another Jedi."

Zelina nodded. "Just like I've been saying since this entire ordeal started—there's more going on here than we're seeing, and someone else is involved—and a Jedi like I mentioned in Ahsoka's cell."

Anakin, however, shook his head in denial. "I don't believe you."

"Believe it," Asajj said shortly. "Just listen to your little sidekick there; whoever you're looking for has my lightsabers—that's how you'll know you've found the criminal."

"Again, this is all starting to make sense, all the gaps I've been pointing out since the beginning...the only thing we're missing is the who, and if we don't have any leads on who..." Zelina said with a sigh as Anakin spun away in agitation.

"Then we're at a dead end. Asajj is the only one Ahsoka talked to!"

Asajj's eyes widened slightly, and she touched her chin thoughtfully. "That's not true..." Asajj whispered.

"What do you mean?" Anakin asked sharply.

"Your padawan contacted the Temple. She spoke to someone named...Barriss. That's why we knew to go to the warehouse in the first place. It was this Barriss that told us to go there."

Zelina was reeling. Barriss? As in Barriss Offee? Master Luminara's Padawan, the same one that Zelina had gone through those cursed brain worms with? Surely she wasn't the one responsible?

But then again...these were strange...dark times...

"If you're lying...you're dead," Anakin threatened darkly before he launched himself away, headed back to the Temple.

"Such promises," Asajj said snidely, though Zelina remained.

"I'll make sure your actions don't go unrecognized, Asajj. Maybe I can even get the Jedi off your tail—it's obvious you're not with the Sith or Separatists anymore," Zelina told her.

"Don't make a promise you can't keep, Gray Jedi," Asajj said smoothly, leaning against the railing. For the first time, Zelina didn't even flinch at the accusation, which Asajj didn't miss. "I noticed the change in you when you arrived. Someone's not happy with their precious Order anymore. What changed, sidekick?"

Zelina inclined her head. "I've always seen things...differently from the Council...and I've tended to go against what they say with guidance from the Force. This recent ordeal with Ahsoka just...was the last straw. I don't trust the Council anymore. They are trying to do good...but they're not going about it the right way anymore. I've just decided my trust and loyalty is to the Force, not the Order. As for the dark side aspect...well...it's healthier to accept and come to know your demons so you can control them than to constantly fight and feed them until one day they overpower you."

"Such wisdom," Asajj said in that bored tone of voice. "You better make sure that wonderful Council of yours doesn't pick up on your shift in loyalties or you may be ostracized."

Zelina looked to Asajj. "I can take care of myself, Asajj, just as I know you can look out for yourself. Besides, it's not like my loyalties have shifted to the dark side like whoever bombed this Temple. I just don't trust the Order—but I do trust the Force. Especially the light side...and perhaps I'll take more time to study the Living Force..."

Asajj waved her hand dismissively. "Go—you're starting to bore me, and Skywalker's off your leash. You may want to wrangle him back in before he goes rabid on the townspeople."

"I thought you said I was the sidekick?" Zelina said in amusement, readying herself to leave.

"You may be his sidekick, but I believe you're far more in charge than he is."

**************************************************

"Enter."

Anakin walked into Barriss Offee's room first, the perfect picture of calm. However, Zelina, who walked in right behind him, was not fooled, knowing that the weight of the situation was weighing heavily upon him. If Barriss truly was the real culprit, then Ahsoka would have been betrayed by one of her closest friends. The weight of that knowledge was weighing upon Zelina as well.

"Barriss...we need to talk to you," Anakin said calmly as he took up a position in the middle of the room. Barriss rose to her feet from a meditational pose, her lightsaber sitting upon a small shrine that was common among Barriss' people.

"Master Skywalker, Master Du'ahn! How can I help you?" Barriss asked pleasantly as Anakin walked right by her and Zelina remained by the door.

"I was told that you spoke to Ahsoka before she was arrested," Anakin said calmly, calling Barriss' lightsaber to hand and turning it over idly as he spoke. "What did you say to her?"

"We've been friends for a long time—I was only trying to help her," Barriss said, her voice curious. "I hope I'm not in any trouble..."

"No trouble, not at all," Zelina said in a tone just as pleasant as Barriss' had been when they entered, leaning against the door. "We just need to know what you said, and if you told anyone else."

"No...I thought I had a clue for her but I really couldn't tell her anything," Barriss said sheepishly.

Strike one, Zelina thought. Barriss had told Ahsoka there was a lead in the warehouse she'd been caught in with the nanodroids.

"Who told you I spoke to her?" Barriss asked suspiciously.

Strike two, suspicion.

"Ventress. She told us," Anakin said quietly. Barriss appeared taken aback.

"Ventress? Isn't she the one Ahsoka says is really behind all of this?"

"That's what Ahsoka says...but we think she's wrong," Anakin said evenly.

Zelina nodded. "While it is something believable at first glance...the more you look into it...the less sense it makes. And even further, Ventress thinks someone else is involved—which is a feeling I've had since this whole ordeal started. It makes us more inclined to believe her when her account matches promptings from the Force."

"And you actually believe her? Who else could it be if not her?" Barriss challenged with a smile. "Surely not Ahsoka."

"No...I don't think it was Ahsoka either," Anakin said calmly, and Zelina saw fear start to creep into Barriss' features.

Strike three.

"I think both Ventress and Ahsoka are telling the truth," Anakin continued calmly while Barriss slowly backed closer to the wall furthest away from Anakin and Zelina where the only thing that sat there was a pot. "But...there's only one way to find out," Anakin said smoothly. He activated his lightsaber, and Zelina watched steadily as he whipped around with the blade swiftly descending towards Barriss—

Who, with a little tug from the Force and two simultaneous snap-hiss sounds, was suddenly blocking her own blue lightsaber with Ventress' red twin lightsabers.

"Funny—those belong to Ventress," Anakin said coldly, and Zelina finally straightened from the wall, activating her violet blade.

Just like that, the tension in the room shattered, and Barriss lashed out, trying to sweep Anakin's legs out from under him. He backed away from the assault without effort, anger dawning across his face as they locked blades again.

"You should have gotten rid of them!" he snapped, as if her lynchpin mistake was what had him so furious.

"I think they suit me," Barriss said slickly. Done with the chatter, Anakin broke the lock and Zelina opened the door into the hall, backing out of the way as Barriss' chambers were far too small for all three of them to have a lightsaber fight in. Without hesitation Anakin kicked Barriss out into the hall, descending upon her just as quickly while Zelina also pounced into the fray. Barriss snapped to her feet to block both of their lightsabers, sending a Force Push towards both of them to catch them off guard and give her a chance to bolt down the hall.

"We're running out of time, Ani—let's make this fight quick and get her to the Senate alive," Zelina told him.

"Agreed," Anakin replied, tone low as he activated his own lightsaber and Zelina activated her green blade as well.

Two dual wielding Knights against one dual wielding Padawan—this would be a much quicker fight.

Once they came to one of the wider halls and Barriss came into view again, they both Force leapt towards Barriss, though she held them off and they took a moment to back away and regain their bearings, the three of them standing in a tense triangle.

"Ahsoka trusted you, and you betrayed her!" Anakin snarled, twirling the lightsabers to ready himself and get a better feel for her weapon.

"I've learned that trust is overrated," Barriss snapped back. "The only thing the Jedi Council believes in is violence!"

Without a spoken cue, Zelina and Anakin both leapt forward at the same time, forcing Barriss to split her attention as the two came down on her with two blades each. Barriss was a quick and nimble person, but she was no Master dualist, and Zelina knew that if they could both keep on her they would overwhelm her quickly.

Barriss tried to sweep Zelina's feet out from under her, but Zelina somersaulted in the air behind her, coiling against one of the pillar bases by the window and using it to kick off and launch herself at Barriss with one blade aimed at her. When Barriss tried to hold off Anakin's furious Skywalker assault on her right and bat aside the blade coming at her from the left, Zelina used her shoto blade to quickly burn her hand, forcing the girl to drop the lightsaber and slipping her violet blade before her throat, deactivating her shoto blade and pressing the emission end to Barriss' back.

"I suggest you drop the other one, and you come quietly to the Senate," Zelina stated her voice low. Barriss' teeth were clenched tight, but once Anakin backed away and deactivated his lightsabers Barriss tossed her remaining one, her anger obvious, though they gave it no heed.

Jedi Sentinels came from around the corner, and Zelina nodded to Anakin, who moved to explain the situation to them.

The sooner the better.

They had to make it to the trial before a sentence was issued.

********************************************

"Ahsoka Tano: By an overwhelming count of—"

"Chancellor!"

Anakin and Zelina were at the front of their litter entourage as they entered the courtroom, Palpatine's unwelcome voice having informed them of how close they had cut their investigation as Anakin interrupted him in a clear, powerful voice before the verdict could be given. Zelina met Ahsoka's gaze and gave her a reassuring smile as she felt all eyes turn to the new group.

"I hope you have a reason for bursting into our proceedings, Master Skywalker and...Knight Du'ahn," the Chancellor said calmly, though Zelina could tell he wasn't very happy. Anakin and Zelina moved forward, the four Sentinals and their prisoner right behind them. Zelina's gaze moved to the collection of Jedi on their upper right hand side, catching Obi-Wan's gaze and giving him a small nod of reassurance.

"We are here with evidence and a confession from the person responsible for all the crimes Ahsoka has been accused of," Anakin said clearly for all to hear, standing at his full, over two-meter height. "Barriss Offee, member of the Jedi Order, and traitor."

Anakin and Zelina both stepped aside so the Sentinels could usher the girl forward, who had the audacity to hold her head high for the shameful thing she'd done. Shock rippled across the room, as well as guilt from a few Jedi Order members—which Zelina was pleased to feel since their mistake was laid bare before them.

"Barriss, is that true?" Ahsoka asked, her quiet voice echoing across the room.

"Tell them the truth," Anakin demanded sharply.

Bariss looked at Anakin like he was something disgusting on her shoe, but nonetheless stepped forward to speak her peace.

"I did it because I've come to realize what many people in the Republic have come to realize—that the Jedi are the ones responsible for this war! That we have so lost our way that we have become villains in this conflict! That we are the ones that should be put on trial, all of us! And my attack on the Temple was an attack on what the Jedi have become—an army fighting for the dark side, fallen from the light that we once held so dear. This Republic is failing! It's only a matter of time."

Anakin chose that moment to step in, pulling Barriss back while Zelina looked at her in worry. Barriss had her points, points that Zelina herself had felt—the failing Republic, the lost state of the Jedi—but how she'd gone about it, and some of her darker notions...those Zelina did not agree with.

"Take her away," Palpatine said distastefully, and without a word the Temple Sentinels ushered Barriss from everyone's sight.

Now there was just one more thing to address...

******************************************************

"Ahsoka...I am so sorry. About everything," Anakin said sincerely. Ahsoka held Anakin's bright blue gaze, feeling the deep honesty and pain in his words and knowing them to be true.

"You have our most humble apologies, Little Soka," Master Plo Koon added. "The Council was wrong to accuse you."

"You have shown such great strength, and resilience in your struggle to prove your innocence," another Master who was present added, with Master Mundi building off of what he said.

"This is the true sign of a Jedi Knight," Master Mundi stated.

"This was actually your great trial," Master Windu said, which caused Ahsoka to fold her arms over her chest and raise a skeptical, tattooed eyebrow. "Now we see that. We understand that the Force works in mysterious ways, and because of this trial, you have become a greater Jedi than you would have otherwise."

"Back into the Order, you may come," Yoda said with a smile from where he stood at the front of the Council Masters. Ahsoka was surprised, but also...didn't know how she felt about the invitation. Anakin stepped forward, drawing Ahsoka's attention.

"They're asking you back, Ahsoka," he said hopefully, drawing something from his pocket before his voice softened to one of affection. "I'm...asking you back."

Ahsoka looked down to see the Padawan Braid that had been ripped from her head in his hands, and something in her heart clenched, her standoffish stance dropping as she looked from the braid to his pleading eyes.

Ahsoka raised her hand to take the braid, hovering mere inches from Anakin's proffered hand, but something just...didn't feel...right. Her heart grew too heavy, her throat constricted too much from reluctance when she reached for the braid. Something in her heart broke, and she raised her other hand to cusp Anakin's, tenderly closing his fingers over the braid before looking up into his suddenly hurt and confused eyes. It hurt her to see the hope shatter so quickly, the obvious why emanating from Anakin's very soul.

"I'm sorry Master...but I'm not coming back," she managed to say, letting her hands drop away from his. She cast her gaze down, and without another word she turned her back on him and left, the only sound the click of her boots against the floor. She went out the first door, her heart growing heavier with every step even though she knew she couldn't turn around and go back—she couldn't.

The first door closed behind her and she went out the first, but to her surprise heard her name from someone who hadn't been in the room.

"Ahsoka..."

Ahsoka turned to see Zelina leaning against the wall, a sad smile on her face and a tear leaking from her eye. "So you decided not to stay."

Ahsoka looked away, unable to hold her gaze. "I can't, Zelina...I just—"

"I know," Zelina said softly, startling Ahsoka into looking back up at the young woman who wasn't really that much older than Ahsoka. Just three years. There was an old wisdom in her eyes, a well of sadness...and true understanding. She was different than she'd been when this all started, changed somehow...and Ahsoka believed that yes, she did understand, and if she didn't have something...no, someone...keeping her here, then Zelina would be right behind her.

Carefully, Zelina approached Ahsoka and pulled her into a tight hug, a few more tears leaking from her eyes. "I'm going to miss you...Little Sister."

Ahsoka was moved deeply by the title, returning the hug just as tightly. "I'll miss you too," Ahsoka whispered.

Zelina sniffled, pulling away and holding her at arm's length. "Just be careful out there, take care of yourself...and don't forget what Anakin's taught you." Reaching into one of her utility belt pockets, Zelina pulled out a personal commlink, pressing it into Ahsoka's hand. "If you ever need help, or anything for that matter...please, get in touch with me."

"I will...thank you Zelina," Ahsoka said softly, tucking the commlink away. "And you take care of Skyguy for me—he needs someone around to save his skin."

Zelina nodded, a few more tears dripping down her cheeks. "Yeah...you're not the first person to ask I take care of him..."

Looking up, the two met eyes, and Ahsoka thought of everything they'd been through. Zelina had been there since Ahsoka was assigned to Anakin, and she'd treated Ahsoka just like a little sister, always there...she and Anakin had stood by her, and from what Padme said, Zelina had been the one to contact Padme and Satine before Ahsoka was even captured to help. Zelina had watched Ahsoka grow from the impatient, frustrated Padawan she'd been when Ahsoka had first met Anakin to the woman she was today.

And Ahsoka had heard, along the way, snippets of just how hard of a life Zelina had suffered, how many people she'd lost. This parting had to be agonizing for her.

Even if it was painful, Zelina cleared her throat. "Goodbye, Ahsoka...may the Force guide you on your new path."

"Goodbye, Zelina," Ahsoka said softly, and though she could feel the growing heartache of everyone she was leaving behind, Ahsoka forced herself to turn around once more and leave.

***********************************************

Zelina watched Ahsoka go with a heavy heart, tears trickling down her face at a steady pace. Ahsoka was already out of sight when Anakin suddenly burst out of the room behind Zelina, rushing right by without seeing her in an obvious pursuit of Ahsoka. Within the room behind Zelina, she could feel Obi-Wan yearning to go after Anakin and comfort him, but someone was keeping him back. Zelina watched Anakin disappear herself for a few moments before she gave Obi-Wan's presence a reassuring brush, straightening from her perch and drying her eyes as she followed after Anakin.

Zelina came to the main archway of the Temple entrance when she spotted the two, with Ahsoka's forlorn form reaching the end of the row of pillars, right by the last set of stairs that would carry her far away from the Jedi Order. Anakin was sprinting towards her even now, his heartbroken desperation piercing Zelina to the core, especially when his words echoed through the pillars.

"Ahsoka, wait! Ahsoka, I need to talk to you!"

Zelina hurried her own steps to catch up to them, grateful when they came to a stop just outside of the row of pillars. For the sake of privacy, Zelina hung back, though she could still faintly hear what was being said from her place in the shadow of the pillars, staring out at the setting sun filtering through the pillars.

"Why are you doing this?"

"The Council didn't trust me, so how can I trust myself?"

"What about me? I believed in you, I stood by you!" Anakin almost shouted.

"I know you believe in me, Anakin...and I'm grateful for that. But this isn't about you. I can't stay here any longer. Not now..."

"The Jedi Order is your life. You can't just...throw it away like this! Ahsoka, you are making a mistake!"

"Maybe...but I have to sort this out on my own. Without the Council...and without you," Ahsoka said softly as she turned her back to Anakin, prompting Zelina to move a little closer so she could still hear. Anakin turned away as well, the suffering evident on his face to Zelina.

"I understand..." he admitted in defeat. "More than you realize...I understand wanting to walk away from the Order."

"I know..." Ahsoka said quietly. Anakin seemed surprised, and he turned to look at her once more...but Ahsoka was already moving away, and the further she went, the emptier the Temple started to feel. Zelina carefully made her way towards Anakin, watching until Ahsoka was gone, and even a few moments after that. She turned her gaze to Anakin then, watching as he stared after Ahsoka, looking so lost and confused and hurt...

"Anakin..." Zelina said softly, closing the distance between them and wrapping her arms around his neck. He didn't question why she was there, didn't even speak. He let her hold him tight, arms winding around her as well for much needed comfort. Zelina rested her chin on his shoulder, staring off into the sunset as the tears resumed their fall down her cheeks. She couldn't help but feel like the setting was done on purpose...and that the sun wasn't just setting on another day...it was setting on their time of happiness, however rocky that happiness had been.

Something had died today, and it was something they wouldn't be getting back.