The Padawan who Saved Him

Ahsoka was crawling through the air vents of the Separatist's newest weapon, a star ship that produced more battle droids than any factory she'd ever heard of. She and Anakin had gone separate routes. He was going to draw all major attention to the engine's while she infiltrated the bridge and sent the ship on a crash course into a nearby star. A good plan, but she was almost certain she would see much action.

Ahsoka had just reached the bridge and destroyed all six of the battle droids who were piloting and set the ship on its new course. She left the bridge with a smile, happy about her job well done, but as she was running down the hall she felt something. It wasn't as evil or sinister as Dooku or Ventress, but it was strong, and dark. She looked back the way she came and saw a cloaked figure, a full head taller than her, their face hidden beneath the hood.

Ahsoka activated her lightsaber. "Who are you?" she demanded.

The figure removed his hood to reveal a young human boy, with jet black hair and deep brown eyes. He gave a deep bow as he said in an authoritative voice, "I am Kal Oren and I believe you must be a jedi."

He eyed her up and down with a small grin. "The Order sent someone so young on a suicide mission?"

Ahsoka narrowed her eyes at him. "Suicide? Hardly, It was easy to get in and ruin this whole operation." she shot back.

His grin grew wider. "Perhaps, however, getting into the rancor's den is easy, getting out alive, that's the trick." he beamed.

Ahsoka had a look of confusion on her face when her wrist com started beeping. She answered, never taking her eyes off the strange boy, who was pretending to be interested in his nails at the moment. "Yes master, what is it?"

Over the small com link, Anakin's voice came in. "Ahsoka! Get out of there! This is a trap!"

Ahsoka looked up in shock at the boy, who looked like he was trying his best not to laugh. "All of this was a trap?" she asked, getting ready for a fight.

"Bingo. You think that the Separatists would waste money on something so easy to get into and destroy? This place doesn't even have droid assembly lines, as I guess your master just discovered." Kal was walking towards her confidently, as if she was completely unarmed. He then reached into his cloak and pulled out a lightsaber with a handle about twice normal length. He looked at her lightsaber and said, "Nice, but mines bigger." activating his lightsaber, revealing a bluish purple blade, instead of red.

She rolled her eyes at him. "Over compensating?" she asked grinning, thinking she may have hit a soft spot. To her surprise he laughed and leaned back, as if daring her to glance down.

"Hardly" Kal grinned. "By the way, nice try, but taunts like that only work on those who feel inadequate. In other words," he came right up to her, "not me."

Ahsoka had had enough of this meaningless talk. She took a swing at Kal only to have it blocked. She hadn't even seen him move.

"Awww, and I was having so much fun talking to you." the boy whispered in her ear before throwing her back with a force push.

"OOF" she cried out as the air was forced from her lungs. Her lightsaber flew to his hand.

Ahsoka looked up at him, the expression on his face changed. It became softer, his presence in the force changed as well, it was warm and cheerful. He deactivated his lightsaber and held out his hand. For some reason she couldn't quiet understand she took his hand and let him help her to her feet. His smile began to fade and he backed away. She didn't know why until she realized that she had her lightsaber in her hand again.

Kal activated his lightsaber and turned away from Ahsoka. "Your master got tired of waiting it seems."

Just that moment, Anakin rounded the corner and charged at Kal, his lightsaber already active. He began swinging at him, only to have every blow blocked.

"It's rude to interrupt!" Kal exclaimed as he swung full force, driving Anakin back.

"Ahsoka, are you alright?" Anakin asked his apprentice.

"Uh yeah. He just caught me off guard." she lied hoping he'd believe her.

"Don't worry, we'll take him down together."

'He actually believed me?' the padawan thought to herself in disbelief. She activated her lightsaber but wasn't sure she could attack. No matter how weird he was, Kal wasn't evil. Before she could make up her mind however the two men were already at each other's throats. The "crash" and "clang" of the two duelist's blades sent chills up Ahsoka's spine. She felt killing intent in every move Kal made. He was nothing like just moments before. "Does he really intend to kill Anakin?" she thought. Of course he was the enemy and she had no reason to think he wouldn't, but for some reason she felt betrayed.

"Ahsoka! I could use some help here!" Anakin yelled at his apprentice who seemed to be lost in her own little world.

"What's wrong jedi, can't take the heat?" Kal taunted him, using his distraction to try and get in a cheap shot, though it failed and ended in them being forced into a grappling position.

Ahsoka put her thoughts aside to aid her master. When she swung her saber however, it was blocked by a second blade from the other end of Kal's lightsaber. In a brief moment of surprise she offered little resistance when he force pushed her and Anakin backwards, allowing himself to escape. She tried to follow but Anakin grabbed her by the arm.

He said "Ahsoka we HAVE to go, the ship's going to crash into the star any minute."

Ahsoka's face paled. She had completely forgotten about that. She followed him to the hanger. Surprisingly meeting little opposition along the way. "Why aren't any droids attacking?" she asked her master.

"Not sure, just keep moving." was his short and to the point answer.

When they reached the hangar doors, they found them shut and locked.

"Damn, locked," Anakin said as he brought out his lightsaber to cut the door open. A few moments later he realized that the door was just too thick. "Ahsoka, we'll have to find another way."

Just then the hangar doors slid open, when they looked to the door controls, they saw Kal standing with his hand on the keypad.

Ahsoka was the first to speak. "Why would you help us? We're enemies."

Her master spoke up next. "I agree. What could you have to gain from letting us go?"

Kal looked into Ahsoka's eyes, completely ignoring Anakin. "You interest me. I'd like to see you again, and I can't if you're dead." he said blankly.

Anakin was suspicious of him but decided not to wait around. "Come on."

Ahsoka was snapped out of her confusion and followed her master to the ship, turning her head to see Kal boarding another ship on the other side of the hangar.

He looked up to see her watching him. He gave her a wink and smiled as she quickly turned away. "Padawan!"

She turned to him.

"Take care." he finished, closing the cockpit and shooting into space.

Anakin wasn't far behind.

The two ships took separate paths and Ahsoka looked in the direction that Kal's ship had gone. She was confused about this whole ordeal. "Master, there was something strange about him."

Anakin kept his eyes forward, answering, "Yeah, he did seem a bit off."

"No, I mean I don't think he's a bad guy."

Anakin raised an eyebrow. "Oh really?"

"Yes really, before you showed up he didn't attack once. He just blocked, and he didn't seem to want to hurt us."

"Oh, I suppose that's why he lured us onto a ship that was going to crash." he said sarcasticly.

"Crashing it was YOUR idea."

"All I know is that he was a Separatist and that he can't be trusted." Anakin stated, ending the argument.

Ahsoka just crossed her arms over her chest with an annoyed "Grr" and looked outside, thinking of the strangest person she'd ever met.