Aboard the Phoenix Home, post-Fire Across the Galaxy

[jedi_interrupted]

Ahsoka sits at the holoterminal of her adopted quarters and ponders a couple matters she needs to attend to. The rescue of Kanan Jarrus and the rest of the Specters, while a good thing, will cause ripples and complications for the growing rebellion.

The Empire will not let this go without a strong response, but still, Ahsoka can't regret the mission. It was good to see how strong the Rebel Alliance can be. Now they had to be sure it had time to grow stronger yet.

Kanan Jarrus,
I wish to meet with you to discuss recent events and the role I may have played in them. If you are willing, please join me in my quarters aboard Phoenix Home.

Hera,
I feel we should met to discuss matters of the future. I will be in my quarters aboard the Phoenix Home when you are available.

Those communications sent, Ahsoka sits and meditates until she gets replies. Or at least tries. There are other matters she could pursue if needed.

Comments

[notallofus]

It takes a little while for Kanan to feel . . . collected enough to make his way to Fulcrum -- Ahoska's -- quarters. There are a lot of reasons for that, and if he spends too much time thinking about them he's going to become off-balance, and that is the last thing he wants right now.

He takes a breath, then knocks on the door to her quarters, carefully keeping his Force presence just on the edge of sensing.

[jedi_interrupted]

For a moment, she's tempted to use the Force to open the door and just continue to sit in meditation, but days of such casual use of the Force are gone and she's never been one for such dramatics. Standing, she makes her way to the door, keeping her force presence minimal as well.

"Ah, Kanan. Thank you for coming," she says upon opening the door. Stepping aside to allow him entry, she gestures to the room's one chair in case he'd like to sit. She'll take the bed. "Do you mind if I call you Kanan?"

[notallofus]

That question stops Kanan cold before he can move any farther.

A little low, "I'd prefer you did."

[jedi_interrupted]

That response stops her cold, and even anyone who wasn't Force sensitive would pick up on it.

She holds her hands out in a placating manner and bows her head in apology. "I meant that I'd rather call you Kanan, than Master Jarrus. Or Specter 2." She adds a small smile at the last, hoping it's received in humor.

[notallofus]

"No -"

He sighs, lifting his hand to rub at his forehead, though he stops himself from running it through his hair. "I'm sorry, I uh-"

With a huff, just short of a laugh, "- please don't call me 'Master Jarrus.'"

[jedi_interrupted]

She winces and gives a rueful laugh. She's making a mess of this already.

"Let's just start over. Please call me Ahsoka and I'll call you Kanan."

[notallofus]

He manages a crooked smile in return, trying to keep the hint of tension out of his face.

"I think I can do that. So, Ahsoka, what did you want to talk to me about? You said something about the role you played?"

[jedi_interrupted]

She nods, and while she is tempted to pull up that old jedi calm face, she doesn't. This meeting is about honesty.

"I wanted to be sure you knew I was the one who advocated that Hera leave you behind. I felt the risk to the rest of the team was too great to risk a rescue mission. It was nothing personal, but the Empire would have gained too much by the capture of Ezra, let alone the trauma Hera, Sabine, Chopper, and Zeb would have faced."

[notallofus]

Well, that's . . . an unexpected confession. And it must be a confession, otherwise why make it so clear that she wanted this meeting to happen?

Except --

He smiles, crooked and a little wry.

"The whole point of getting captured was for them to get away. Hera and I had talked about something like that before. If -- you don't need to worry that I blame anyone."

If, of course, that's what she's worried about.

[jedi_interrupted]

"I understand that. And Hera made it quite clear when we spoke of rescuing you, but it is good to hear it from you as well."

And the fact speaks much of Kanan's character, if his actions hadn't already.

"But I wanted to be sure you knew, in case we work together in the future. I didn't want there to be a chance you found out later and question my motives. For what it's worth, I am glad I was wrong."

[notallofus]

That wry smile stays on his face, and he shakes his head a little.

"I'm not so far gone I can't trust anybody, Ahoska. I got lucky that way."

Hera found him, and after that everything was different.

"But what I'm trying to say is that you weren't wrong. Hera wasn't, either. We got lucky -- I got lucky -- and I'm glad for it, but . . . there was no guarantee we weren't going to lose somebody else, or everyone else."

[jedi_interrupted]

She bows her head in acknowledgement of his points.

"I am equally glad Hera found you before, and thank you. Still, Ezra and your crew reminded me, and the Rebellion, of something very important; risks must sometimes be taken and saving what we believe in is more important than being cautious."

[notallofus]

Kanan huffs out a breath, mouth quirking up at one corner, even as he turns away.

"I know I still have a hard time with that."

[jedi_interrupted]

Ahsoka cants her head to the side.

"With which, deciding if a risk is worth the reward or with Ezra's message to the galaxy?"

[notallofus]

Kanan looks back to her at that.

"I don't like risking anyone."

It's true.

[jedi_interrupted]

"Aside from yourself," she teases before growing serious again. "I wish no one had to risk themselves, but this conflict will not allow it. We face a superior opponent, and risks are the only way we might gain ground."

[notallofus]

"I'm the only one I can risk," he says baldly, shaking his head.

"Anyway. Do you have some risks in mind for your future?"

[jedi_interrupted]

She shakes her head.

"Not at present, no. Right now I want to keep you and your team safe. It will only be a matter of time before we have an Imperial response."

[notallofus]

"I give it three days," Kanan says, and he sounds tired.

"You know how much they hate being shown up, even in the little things."