CHAPTER 1

Bounty hunters Sugi and Serapis brought their ship to a soft landing on the landing pad at the Jedi Temple. They didn't want to jar their passengers too much, especially the youngest among them.
"General Tarfful, we've landed," Sugi 说 to the tall Wookiee warrior who had hired her and Serapis for the rescue mission to the Trandoshan moon Wasskah.
The Wookiee grunted his answer, both Sugi and Serapis understanding him. He nodded to Chewbacca his smaller companion who was staring at two Jedi younglings sitting in the back cradling the head of another young one in their laps. Both had tears streaming down their faces.
Anakin Skywalker walked beside Jedi Master Plo Koon a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. Something was wrong....terribly wrong. The much older Jedi layed a hand on his arm.
"Let's go meet the ship," the Kel Dorin Jedi 说 in his deep voice.
Anakin swallowed hard and nodded.
The door of the ship opened and a very tall Wookiee warrior stepped down followed 由 two Jedi younglings who were dirty and tired appearing.
Master Plo looked back at Masters Mace Windu and Yoda who were standing nearby. Both Masters walked up to the younglings and greeted them.
Anakin stood looking for Ahsoka and then saw another Wookiee shorter than the general. This Wookiee exited the ship with someone in his arms. Anakin knew who it was.
"Ahsoka..." he whispered and walked towards the Wookiee.
The two younglings, a Twi'lek and a Cerean broke away from Masters Windu and Yoda and made their way through the crowd. They knew Ahsoka's Jedi Master 由 the sad expression on his face.
"He's not much older than Ahsoka," Jinx, the Twi'lek 说 quietly.
O-Mer, the Cerean youngling nodded, "We have to tell him what happened."
Anakin stood beside the Wookiee Chewbacca who held Ahsoka's still body in his arms. Jinx and O-Mer walked up and stood in front of him.
"Greetings, Master Skywalker," they both 说 as they bowed in a sign of respect.
Anakin just gave them a weak smile and nodded. His eyes fell on Ahsoka and he felt his 心 breaking. She appeared peaceful except for the bloodied bandage on her abdoman and the bruises on her arms and face.
"What happened?" Anakin asked.
Jinx and O-Mer went on to tell him what had transpired on Wasskah. Anakin listened, feeling sad but proud of his Padawan learner. She certainly had learned how to fight.
"She saved us all, but couldn't save herself 或者 Kalifa our friend," was all Jinx could say before his voice broke.
Anakin placed a hand on Ahsoka's head.
"I'm sorry, Snips," he 说 hardly able to speak past the lump in his throat. He looked up at Chewbacca's face and saw a sadness in the Wookiee"s blue eyes; a sadness that nearly made him break down. The image of Chewbacca blurred with an onrush of tears but he blinked them away feeling Master Plo walk up 下一个 to him. Jedi don't cry, he thought as he stood up straighter and took a deep breath to calm himself.
Master Plo made a sound Anakin had never heard before and layed a hand on Ahsoka's forehead.
"Rest,little 'Soka. Rest now...little one."
Anakin, again had to fight the tears and layed a hand on his much older companion's arm.
A few 分钟 later Ahsoka was carried away to the area where fallen Jedi were prepared for their memorial service. Ahsoka's would be in two days.
O-Mer and Jinx followed Master Plo and Anakin. Anakin didn't mind the company of the younger Jedi. They somehow felt connected to him through their interaction with Ahsoka.
"She was very brave," O-Mer said,"I'm honored to have known her."
Anakin looked down at the shorter Cerean and tried to smile but couldn't.
"She is brave," was all he could say.
Jinx wasn't hiding his tears and Anakin frowned at him.
"Ahsoka wouldn't want 你 to grieve," he 说 a little too harshly, "Jedi aren't supposed to cry. We are to remain strong."
Master Plo stopped and placed a hand on Anakin's shoulder. He motioned for Jinx and O-Mer to follow Masters Yoda and Windu into the Temple.
"Where did 你 hear that?" he asked.
"You," Anakin 说 his blue eyes narrowed in anger,"..and also Masters Windu and Yoda. Attachment is forbidden to Jedi, especially for a Jedi Master with a Padawan learner. I...can't grieve for Ahsoka. It's wrong to."
Master Plo bowed his head.
"I did not mean that, young one. It is alright to grieve for a 迷失 Padawan. Being human 你 should know that. Grieving is part of letting go."
Anakin stood up taller and looked into Plo's goggle-covered eyes.
"I should've gone after her! I could've saved her! It's your fault! 你 didn't want me to 搜索 for her and because of 你 she is dead!"
"No...young one..." Master Plo 说 softly his voice heavy with emotion,"Ahsoka had to find her way back to you. That is part of being a Jedi. Her training under 你 saved O-mer and Jinx, even though she didn't survive. Her sacrafice proved her bravery and strength."
Anakin let Master Plo's words sink in but he felt worse. A piece of him had died with Ahsoka.
"I'm her Master," he 说 his voice shaky with emotion, "It's my responsibility to watch over her, take care of her, train her in the best way I can. I've not only 迷失 my Padawan, but my friend...my sister.."
"Skywalker, it's not your fault," Plo 说 hoping Anakin would follow him back into the Temple.
"Yes, it is..."
Anakin walked away feeling worse.