A new team and a new mission

It had been three days since the doors slammed shut behind Luminara and her Padawan, and there had been no contact from them since. All attempts to communicate, whether through technology or through the ****, were met with silence. Now this temple was more than a strange anomaly. It was a threat.

And to meet this threat, the Jedi needed to send their best. From the frontlines of the war they had recalled two of their most accomplished members: Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker and Master Obi Wan Kenobi. These two had always pulled through seemingly impossible odds to achieve victory for the Republic and the Jedi Order and perhaps they were best suited to this strange task.

However, they would not be going in alone. The council had decreed that in addition to a **** of Clone Troopers, another Jedi Master would be accompanying them. Hoping that strength in numbers would prevent anyone else from going missing. But the council had not decided whom as of yet, and now Anakin and Obi Wan were simply awaiting their arrival to depart.

In one of the waiting rooms at the Jedi Temple, Master Kenobi was settled into one of the chairs while Anakin was pacing the room with his arms crossed, looking out the window like he was expecting the sky to fall any minute.

“You must calm yourself, Anakin. They’ll be here shortly.” Obi Wan advised his former Padawan.

“They were supposed to be here shortly an hour ago. We can’t just wait around all day, Luminara and Barriss could be in danger in that thing.” Anakin retorted, continuing his pacing but swinging his prosthetic arm in frustration.

“I share your concern, Anakin. But we must be cautious or we may end up in whatever danger they are in now.” The Jedi Master responded, tracking Anakins movement as he paced. Finally, the Jedi Knight stopped and sighed as he turned towards his master.

“You’re right. Forgive me, Master.” Anakin said, his gaze weighed down to the floor.

“There is nothing to forgive, Anakin. As I said, I share your concerns. But we will find them and we will bring them home.” Obi Wan answered with a smile.

Not a moment after he finished his breath the door to the room was now opening. Anakin and Obi Wan turned towards it and watched as a figure now entered. It was a blue skinned and lightly clad Twi’Lek woman with a saber dangling from her hip, her headdressed Lekku hanging across her back, and a determined expression on her face. Jedi Master Aayla Secura.

“Ah, Master Secura. Good to see you. I take it you are to be our third member for this mission?” Obi Wan asked, standing up as he did so.

“Indeed, Master Kenobi. I apologize for the delay, but there was a bit of a development with the council.” Aayla spoke with her strong Rylothi accent.

“What kind of development?” Anakin asked.

“The kind where we will be having a fourth member in our group as well.” Aayla answered, and then rotated herself as she looked back behind her.

Puzzled, both Anakin and Obi Wan looked past her to see whom she was talking about. Now in plain sight, seeming to have trailed behind Aayla initially, now stood a young Togruta with firm orange skin, white and blue headtails and white markings across their face. A race Anakin and Obi Wan knew well as Anakins own apprentice: Ahsoka Tano.

“Hello, Masters.” Ahsoka said, smiling at her two friends. Though they did not return the smile, instead Anakin’s mouth went agape.

“Snips? The Council assigned this to you too? Why wasn’t I told?!” Anakin demanded, looking between Obi Wan and Aayla for answers.

Instead they came from Ahsoka herself.

“I volunteered.” The Togrutan Padawan answered.

“More begged, really.” Aayla commented.

“Ahsoka, we’re already missing two Jedi I don’t…” Anakin tried to start but Ahsoka cut him off.

“And one of them is my friend. If Barriss is in danger I want to help. And besides, I figure Obi Wan can use all the help he can get to watch your back Master.” Ahsoka said.

Obi Wan shrugged. “It seems your Padawan is becoming just as stubborn as you are.” He said, looking to Anakin.

“Urgh, fine. But I’m going to want to talk to the council about this.” Anakin almost growled, displeased that his apprentice was being placed in danger without his input. At least she would be where he could look after her.

“Thank you Master.” Ahsoka said, smiling in reassurance.

“Now then, I think we’ve lost enough time as is. That temple needs to be investigated and our comrades rescued.” Aayla said.

“Very good. Let’s get underway. Rex should be waiting with the troops outside.” Obi Wan replied.

“Alright. Come on Snips.” Anakin said as the group begun to head out of the room, walking to a gunship to fly over to the mysterious temple.

Taking up the rear of the group, Ahsoka paused for but a moment to gaze out the window. Off in the distance, even with all the skyscrapers of the city world, she could see the shadow of that temple in the distance.

“Hang in there, Barriss. We’re coming.” She whispered, then sped along to not fall behind.