Part V: Hooked On A Feeling

Bo-Katan paced as she waited for her lieutenant to inform her of Tano's arrival. She received confirmation of the ex-Jedi's exit from Coruscant, so now it was a waiting game, at least on that front. The silent footfalls of her lieutenant shook her out of her staring contest with the distant light in the night sky that was the planet Mandalore. "Has she arrived?" Bo-Katan asked without turning to face her lieutenant.

"No. Not yet. She's due anytime now. There is however, a related matter that you should know about." The Lieutenant said as she calmly crossed the room.

Bo-Katan inclined her head, offering her lieutenant to continue. "There has been a communiqué from a Senator Amidala. She was a friend of your sister's, and is close with the Jedi," the Lieutenant prefaced.

"I know that," Bo-Katan said calmly. "Who was the message meant for?"

The Lieutenant hesitated for a moment before saying, "Me. We met briefly during her visit here when I was serving your sister. Lady Bonteri introduced made introductions for us." Bo-Katan surveyed her Lieutenant with something in her eyes resembling pride. "The good Senator was inquiring about the political situation here since comms went dark. She didn't outright say it, but I think she knows about our inroads with Tano."

Bo-Katan's eyes narrowed a bit, but not out of malice. "I assume an intervention from the Jedi in an official capacity is too good to hope for?"

The Lieutenant shrugged, "As of now, yes. But at least we've got the most decorated Commander the Republic Army has to offer."

Bo-Katan nodded, walked over to the table and poured two cups of drink. "How is your daughter doing?" Bo-Katan's change in conversation wasn't unwelcome; she was pleased to see as her Lieutenant's uninhibited smile come out.

She didn't respond verbally immediately, but she fiddled with the holo-projector on her wrist, which then came to life. The projector showed a toddler with black hair and amber eyes walking around, with unusual grace for a toddler, what appeared to be the dining room of her home. Bo-Katan was impressed, as the small girl's wanderings seemed guided as the little girl collected a few items from around the room before approaching a wall. The giggling girl then used the items in her hand, her meal, to paint the wall, making a right mess.

Bo-Katan could see the immense joy and pride in her Lieutenant's eyes, how she completely disregarded the mess her daughter just made for her. "She's beautiful Ursa. You should be proud," Bo-Katan acknowledged with a small smile. The adorable little Sabine was an infectious joy.

Bariss awoke with a smile. She wasn't exactly sure why. She discovered that tears speckled her face, as she reached up to rub the sleep from her dark blue eyes. Her pupils were dilated; hungry for the light they couldn't see. In the distance, she could sense rather than hear muffled voices. Clones. Barriss Offee had done a lot of thinking in her year of captivity. She was surprised that she wasn't summarily executed. She didn't think it was fair really, the Chancellor and his dogs had planned to kill Ahsoka for her crimes. So what changed?

Barriss would be lying if she didn't experience a more than thrill of rage, horror and sadness whenever she imagined that bloody playing out, Ahsoka's beautiful red skin pierce, melted, and burned by blaster fire from unfeeling clones. Ahsoka…what did she mean to Barriss, even now? Barriss wasn't sure.

She didn't have a name to put to the inescapable feeling that in turns hollowed the Miralian out, and tethered her together. But Barriss was sure that whatever that primal feeling's name would be excised and done away with if it were up to the Jedi. It would be simply called attachment; and therefore not worth investing any time in other than to expunge it, for there is no emotion.

Whatever the reason for her continued existence, she wasn't privy to it. Blast, sometimes she resented it. To just end, would be a blessing considering the remainder of her life would be spent watching over and over and over and over; the moment she made Ahsoka's face look like that. An expression of horror and sorrow. A heart, a friendship, and so much more that Barriss couldn't put into words, shattering. She didn't know what it was called, but she knew the feeling of it being ripped right out of her. Barriss' tears stopped as the holo-projector shut off, her daily torture complete. Now there was just the mechanical efficiency of Commander Fox approaching her to deliver her meal for the day.