Chapter 20

Unknown Location

"This Gojira is meddling with our plans!" Dooku growled. "Why aren't we winning?!"

"Patience, friend," Ghidorah said. "We are simply distracting them from the ultimate goal."

"And what is this ultimate goal you speak of?"

"We shall tell you when the time comes. Right now, you have to acquire the planet Byss."

"What's on Byss?"

"An ancient artifact that will prove useful in the grand scheme: The Sith Holocron."

Quarters of the Steadfast, Hangar Bay of the Resolute, en route to Coruscant

Noc-Ta woke up as he felt Ahsoka moving beside him. She sat up on the side of the bed, her orange skin accentuated brilliantly by the moth-like tattoos.

"I can sense your smile," Ahsoka said, grabbing her tube top. "What are you so happy about?"

"Just my fortune," he replied. "I was expecting a warrior, and I got an angel."

It was Noc-Ta's turn to sense a smile, as well as a blush. Ahsoka got herself dressed and stood up.

"We're probably getting close to Coruscant," she said. "We should be getting ready."

"Of course." The Kelor mercenary groaned as he sat up and grabbed his shirt. "The everpresent war for purity."

"Isn't that what the Force needs? Purity?"

"There's no such thing as purity when it comes to the Force." Noc-Ta used his telekinetic abilities to place his lightsabers on his belt. "There is only balance. I'm surprised Skyguy didn't teach you that already."

"Yeah, me too."

Now Noc-Ta could sense something else. Almost like disappointment, but a tinge of sadness.

"He probably didn't want to tell you until he thought you were ready," he said. "To be honest, I think he might not want you to graduate."

"What?" The teenage Togruta turned to face him. "Why would you think that?"

"It's a thing with parents, and he sees you in the same light my father saw me. You are the closest thing to a daughter he has, maybe ever will have."

"So you're saying that... he wants me to be a padawan... forever?"

"He may not know it, but that could certainly be a possibility. For all I know, he might be planning for your graduation very soon."

Ahsoka nodded, but wasn't reassured. He could very well be right in either situation, and it was bothering her.

"Hey, it's OK." Noc-Ta wrapped his arms around her lovingly. "You'll graduate eventually. I'll make sure of it."

Finally, Ahsoka smiled and leaned into his body. Noc-Ta could feel how she felt safe in his grasp.

However, their time together was short-lived, as the ship began to shake with an otherworldly presence. Something was happening outside.

The couple ran out of the Steadfast and past several clones who were running in different directions. They entered the command bridge, where Skywalker and the Admiral were observing a tense battle.

"What's going on?" Ahsoka asked.

"We received word that a Separatist armada was moving toward Corellia," Yularen stated. "We have moved in to intercept, but by the looks of things, we've bitten off more than we can chew."

Indeed it did, as the Separatist armada was far too much for the Resolute to handle on it's own. The rest of the Republic fleet would be here soon, but how could one cruiser handle five at once.

"Care to try and summon a Titan for us?" Anakin asked.

"They do things as they see fit," Noc-Ta said. "Only if they think they need to interfere will they interfere."

"'If they think?' We could very well die out here! I think it's a pretty good time to interfere!"

"I wouldn't judge their decisions if I were you, Master Skywalker," Noc-Ta advised calmly. "Godzilla is upset enough with the Jedi as is."

"Wait, what?"

They were cut off as a missile barrage shook the ship. Squadrons of Vulture droids were flying in for a killing blow that could destroy the bridge.

"Oh, no."

All of the droids unleashed torrents of missiles that could sear through a solar sail with ease.

"So, this is how it ends."

Suddenly, a massive eye appeared in their vision. It glowed blue as it furrowed in anger.

"Not today, good Jedi."