Chapter Text
“The members of the court have reached a decision.”
Chancellor Palpatine reached for the transmitter handed to him, and Ahsoka swallowed as he stood up. “Ahsoka Tano, by an overwhelming count of-”
“Chancellor!”
Ahsoka and Padmé both turned at the sound of Anakin’s voice. Ahsoka wasn’t sure what surprised her more: that he had chosen the literal last minute to make an appearance or that he was being followed by no less than four Temple guards.
“I hope you have a reason for bursting into our proceedings, Master Skywalker,” the Chancellor said, clearly miffed that he had been interrupted.
“I’m here with evidence and a confession,” Anakin claimed, “from the person responsible for all the crimes Ahsoka has been accused of-”
At that instant, shivers ran up the spine of every Jedi in the room. Anakin cut himself off mid-word and flinched as thunder clapped in his ears. A guttural, wretched screaming filled the Force, cutting through every other sense available. Ahsoka shut her eyes, willing the sensation to stop, and even the temple guards looked around, searching for a threat they couldn’t see.
In fact, no one could see it. Especially not the other attendants of the trial. They looked around, wondering if they had missed something.
The jolt only lasted for an instant. It passed, and everything was as silent as before. If it weren’t for the looks on the faces of the Jedi in the room, there would have been no evidence for it in the first place.
Trying to regain his momentum, Anakin turned around. “Barriss Offee, member of the Jedi Order,” he announced, “and traitor.” His words might have had a bit more venom in them if his ears weren’t still ringing.
Ahsoka hadn’t been able to see who was behind the Temple guards when they walked in, but when they stepped to the side, she saw her friend. She looked as shaken as Ahsoka felt, but Ahsoka could no longer tell if that was because of what she had felt in the Force or because of Anakin’s claim.
Up in the seats, the Jedi Council looked at each other, just as startled. Luminara was not with them, or else they might have turned to her. No one spoke a word. Not about Barriss, and not about the screaming.
“Barriss, is that true?” Ahsoka asked, her voice shaking and echoing through the hall.
“Tell them the truth,” Anakin demanded, a bit more power behind his words now. Whatever… that was could be dealt with later when Ahsoka’s name was clear.
Barriss looked up at the Chancellor, took a breath, and stepped forward. She didn’t know what the screaming had come from, but one thing was plain to see: the fact that it had come while they were in the heart of the Republic, during this, of all things, was no coincidence. She finally had her chance to speak, to say what Luminara had refused to hear.
“I did it,” she confessed, “because I’ve come to realize what many of people in the Republic have come to realize: that the Jedi are the ones responsible for this war, that we’ve so lost our way that we have become villains in this conflict, that we are the ones that should be put on trial. All of us!”
They had to hear her now. They had to hear the truth whether or not they wanted to think about it.
“And my attack on the Temple was an attack on what the Jedi have become: an army fighting for the dark side, fallen from the light that we once held so dear. This Republic is failing! They know it!”
She turned and looked at Anakin. “They have felt it, all of them in this room right now! They felt what I’ve felt.” She stared back up, but at the Council this time. “The darkness is on the brink. It’s only a matter of time.”
Anakin pulled her back, and she fell silent. Ahsoka couldn’t rip her eyes from Barriss. She was just saying something about this now? Of all times? Not before, days ago, when Ahsoka’s life was on the line?
Chancellor Palpatine waved to the Temple guards. “Take her away.”
They moved to guide her out of the room, but Barriss caught Ahsoka’s eyes one last time. They were pleading with her. ‘You know what I’m talking about,’ they said. ‘You have to believe me.’
She turned her back, and with the reignition of their blades, the four guards began to escort Barriss out of the hall. There would be a cell waiting for her before long.
Satisfied, Anakin looked at Ahsoka. He smiled, trying to silently tell her that everything was okay now. They knew the truth. Everyone did: the Senate, the Council, and anyone else who was watching. They couldn’t blame Ahsoka now.
If that were the only problem at hand, she would have been more reassured. She acknowledged the look, giving him the best smile she could muster, but her shoulders dropped, and her eyes fell to the platform.
It was too much. Too much to process, too much to think about. If Ahsoka said that she wasn’t still on edge from the screaming, then she would be lying. Somehow, through the chaos running through her head, she heard a new announcement: “The members of the court request additional time to consider the implications this evidence has on the case.”