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Welcome to my lineage. Anakin had officially welcomed her after the battle of Christophsis. Maybe he didn’t want me at first, but now we are connected. The Master, the Padawan, the Force. The Jedi’s secret words- secret as all important things were - whispered in the aftermath of the siege, with only her grandmaster Obi- Wan Kenobi and Anakin’s clone captain, Rex, as witnesses. Ahsoka reached up to touch the braided silka beads again, with wonder. The beads had been a lineage gift from Obi- Wan, who had gotten them on a mission.
“Are you ready, kid? They’ll be here soon?” Rex asked. It wasn’t often they were all able to gather together. But this was important, so they had worked hard to gather all of their lineage under one roof.
Hiding her nervousness, Ahsoka bounced on the balls of her feet and smiled, flashing her predator’s canines. “I was born ready.” It’s all I ever dreamed over back in the slave quarters- the Temple. It’s all any of us dreamed of. The only measure of freedom we’d ever get was becoming Padawans and being sent off to fight the Republic’s wars.
Obi- Wan and Cody arrived first. It had been easy for them to get the 212th and 501st stationed together. Obi- Wan and Anakin were known to be a good team and often sent on missions together. It would be harder for everyone else to come. Obi- Wan had a small pot of tea in hand. He set it down on the crate they had repurposed as a table inside their barracks. “Ahsoka,” he greeted her. “You do our lineage proud. Everyone is eager to meet you.”
“Thank you.” The praise warmed her. Obi- Wan always seemed very serious to her.
Cody just nodded at her. The scar on his face made him seem intimidating, but he was lineage.
“Cody, vod!” Rex pulled his brother into a fierce hug. They moved to a quieter corner of the barracks to talk privately. Ahsoka had heard that the bond between the clones was intense, that they could be almost as in sync as Jedi or a Jedi and their clone. Having now fought in a battle, Ahsoka knew this was true. What if I never fit in? They’re all so close- knit, like a lightsaber hilt that fits perfectly in hand. Then, she shook herself. Remember your training. Release your doubts into the Force.
Aayla Secura and Bly arrived next. Aayla was Anakin’s sister Padawan, Ahsoka reminded herself, trying to keep track of everyone. “Ani!” Aayla hugged her brother.
“Aayla, it’s good to see you well. You too, Bly. This is the newest member of our lineage, Ahsoka Tano.” He beckoned the Togruta girl over.
“You look fierce, little one.” Aayla smiled, showing all pointed teeth. “Are those akul teeth on your headdress?”
“Yes,” Ahsoka said, proudly. “Master Ti tries to give all the Togrutan initiates a chance to slay an akul and make a headdress.” As we would have if the Republic hadn’t stolen us from Shili, went unsaid.
“It is good to keep up our customs when we can,” Aayla said, seriously.
Bly’s comm beeped. “It’s Grey.” Everyone crowded around the hologram.
“We’ve encountered some trouble on Haruun Kal. Master Windu, Depa and I will not be able to come and meet Anakin’s Padawan.”
“That’s me,” Ahsoka pushed her way to the front of the group. “I understand. May the Force be with you.”
Everyone repeated the blessing. It touched something deep and Jedi inside Ahsoka, something the Republic could never understand.
“Masters Tholme and Saa have arrived,” a clone trooper, Jesse, Ahsoka thought, announced.
“Master Tholme, Master T’ra, it’s so good to see you,” Obi- Wan said. The older Jedi smiled and pulled Obi- Wan into a hug.
“We brought nerf steaks and tihaar,” Tholme announced, setting a small icebox on the upturned crate.
Ahsoka stared. “You’re my hero,” she joked. “I’ve eaten nothing but rations since I left the Temple.”
“No tihaar for you,” Rex told her.
She pouted. “No fair.”
“You can have Obi- Wan’s tea,” Rex said, straightfaced.
Just then, the door of the barracks flew open and two figures in cloaks came in. “I’m sorry, sir,” Jesse, again. “They insisted.”
Anakin laughed. “It’s alright.”
“Master Dooku, don't disturb the troops,” Obi- Wan chided, but his blue eyes were happy.
The strangers lowered their cloaks. “So this is Anakin’s apprentice,” the bald, bone white woman said. “She doesn’t look like much.”
Ahsoka bristled, but before she could say something unJedi- like, Obi- Wan spoke. “This is my Master’s sister Padawan, Asajj Ventress. I didn’t think you two were coming.” Ahsoka had heard stories about Obi- Wan’s Master, Qui- Gon Jinn and their two sisters, Komari Vosa, who was dead, and Asajj Ventress, who had joined the lineage after Master Qui- Gon’s death.
“We wanted to meet the newest member of our lineage,” Master Dooku said, looking at Ahsoka, appraisingly. Ahsoka raised her chin and met his gaze. Whatever he saw seemed to meet his approval. He turned his heavy gaze away and began talking to Obi- Wan. Ahsoka caught the names Quinlan and Maul. He must be worried about his other Bondeds.
“We’re going to go ahead and get started without Quinlan and Maul. Force willing they’ll be here soon,” Anakin announced. He slung an arm around Ahsoka and raised a cup of tihaar. “To Ahsoka!”
“To Ahsoka!”
Ahsoka looked around the room at the faces all around her. She wanted to freeze this moment in time and hold onto it for moments when all seemed dark. There is no death, there is the Force.
“Did you start the party without us?” A Kiffar Jedi asked, in a boisterous tone. A Zabrak Jedi lurked behind him.
“Quin!” Obi- Wan’s voice held more emotion than Ahsoka thought she’d ever heard.
“Cyares,” Cody said, softly. He pulled the other three men into an embrace.
“We can only be here for a few hours before we ship out again,” the Zabrak Jedi said, softly. “We arranged for a stopover on Christophsis to resupply.”
“We appreciate you being here,” Anakin said. “Quinlan taught me how to hotwire a speeder,” he stage- whispered to Ahsoka.
“He was a terrible influence,” Dooku said drily.
“Hotwiring is a useful skill,” Anakin argued.
Ahsoka giggled.
“Don’t worry, I’ll teach you how to hotwire a speeder, too,” Quinlan told Ahsoka.
“Hey, that’s my job,” Anakin protested.
My job is to keep you safe and teach you to be a great Jedi, Anakin had told her during the battle of Christophsis.
I will be a Jedi and make my lineage proud.