Familiar Presence

Ahsoka's POV

Steeler and I ran to the docking bays. "How did you do that?" I asked. He laughed, "Jedi and Mandalorians aren't the only people in the galaxy who can fight. I'm surprised you didn't use your lightsaber." "I didn't want to kill them. Why didn't you use your blaster?" I answered. "I didn't want to pay for the mess." Steeler replied. We boarded my shuttle and took off.

Steeler sat down next to me, "Who are you looking for exactly?" I looked down trying to hold my tears in. I sobbed quietly, "The person who killed my best friend." I shut my eyes tightly and continued to look down. I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up to see Steeler with sad eyes, "I lost my best friend to the Separatists too." I looked down at his hand on my shoulder. I felt that same familiar thing. Axle used to put his arm around me like that. I quickly shrug it off. "I'm sorry." Steeler replied. I looked forward, "It's not you. My friend used to hold me like that." "What's your name?" Steeler asked. I looked in his eyes, "Ahsoka."

After a long moment of silence I changed the topic, "So, you said you can help be find the Separatist Cultist." Steeler nodded, "I know that he was put in charge of a secret weapon. a Dreadnought like no other specifically designed for the droids. It's weapon is a large energy pulse that knocks out any organic being unless they are in the ship's bridge." "That explains how I was knocked out looking for my friend on that ship." I answered, "Do you know anything personal about the Cultist?" "All I know is that he is smart and always wears a mask. He mostly keeps the Dreadnought near the Republic and Hutt space borders. Sometimes he would go to Nal Hutta by himself to get a drink." Steeler explained. I looked out at the stars. I stared at the brightest. "This star glows extra bright when it's near something it likes." A voice echoed in my head. I miss Axle.

My communicator activated and Master Obi-Wan appeared, "Ahsoka why haven't you returned as ordered?" I quickly turned to where Steeler was but he was gone. I looked up to see him holding onto the ceiling. "Ahsoka answer me." Master Kenobi ordered. I looked away, "I can't. Not now." "Obi-Wan, she is going through something similar to what I did with my mother. Let her go for now." Anakin said walking in. He gave a sympathetic smile and ended the transmission.

Steeler jumped down, "I figured it would be best that those Jedi don't know I'm with you." I nodded, "It's better if they don't." If Obi-Wan saw me with Steeler he'd think I'm breaking away from the Order. That's the last thing I need right now. "So, there's only about one or two star systems that align with Hutt and Republic space. My guess is that the Cultist will be near there." "Ok, let's go." I answered and we jumped to lightspeed.

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"I'm always here for you Ahsoka. You're my bright star. I will never leave you. LOOK AWAY!!! AHSOKA!!!" My eyes snapped open. I quickly turned my head and took in deep breaths. "Ahsoka? Ahsoka? Are you ok?" I turned toward Steeler. "You fell asleep on the controls." He finished. I stood up to face him. Again, there was something inside him that calls me. "It was nothing. Just bad dreams." Steeler nodded and looked out the window, "We're coming out of hyperspace." I sat back down and disengaged the hyperdrive, "If he's on Nal Hutta, we'll find him."