Chapter Text
Sometimes, straying from one’s path might just be good for the soul. Even if it hurts at first.’
“Why did you do it?”
Luthen, for whatever reason had come to see the prisoner held in the cell before her trial and sentencing was to take place. Death. It was the Jedi code after all. One simple punishment for such a horrid crime.
But even if Luthen had been the one to bring her in, having seen all the evidence stacked against her. As seemingly there being no doubt whatsoever that this Padawan was indeed guilty of the heinous act of bombing the Jedi Temple.
Having even sided with a known Sith, Asajj Ventress. And rather openly at that hadn’t she!
So, why was Luthen there now? What could have been a possible reason could Luthen, a Temple Guard, have in visiting this… monster?
The Padawan did not look up. Simply sitting there with her knees bent as if meditating. But Luthen could sense she was not. She was simply existing in the moment. Her mind, empty.
Luthen stood there for a long moment debating on whether to leave or not. After all, this was all out of his hands at this point in time. He had done his bit and it was up to the Jedi Council to sentence the Padawan.
So why did he not budge? Simply standing there, glaring at the young woman in front of her. There was something clearly bothering Luthen in all of this, the notion blurry at best. But it was still there. That inkling of a thing there was more there than met the eye.
A spell, then few passed. The silence inside the darkened cell continued.
Until.
“What do you want?” Ahsoka finally spoke, her tone having a hint of defeat in it.
Luthen sighed. “I am here to…” Why was he there. Really? “…help you.”
Was he? He could not be sure. But something, in the Force, had compelled Luthen to come there. To talk to Ahsoka. To find out what there was to find out. Whatever it just might be. As he was certain there was something there to figure out.
Ahsoka seemed to contemplate the words for a moment. At least that was what Luthen was sensing form her even if her mind was mostly closed to him.
But.
“Why would you care what happens to me?” There was so much defiance in her words now.
Luthen sensed the shift in the Padawan. Her becoming more sure of herself than she had been when Luthen had entered the cell.
And then, Ahsoka got up and stepped closer to the dividing red wall between them. Standing there with an unreadable glare in her eyes. No, Luthen could read it. Clearly. Defiance.
“Because…” Why would Luthen help her? He had been the one so sure of Ahsoka’s guilt having been the one arresting her. Well, per given orders. But surely the Jedi Council was in the right?
Ahsoka stepped even closer. Standing a hair away from the ray shield. Her gaze burning Luthen’s skin. If this was a scare tactic then she was really good at it.
Luthen, despite his current position in the Jedi Order was far from being as strong as he could have been. His powers only beginning to reach their full potential. And he had seen how this, Padawan had been fighting against her would be captors. Having heard the stories and read plenty of files on her and her Master as well.
But, there was something inside of Luthen which made him question whether the orders had been right after all. Whether there was something they had overlooked. And so, he was here. Trying to find out what it was nagging him in this supposedly clear cut case.
“Yes?” Ahsoka was still waiting for the answer. Some of her impatience felt by Luthen. Her guard relenting somewhat.
“There is something, about the incident which bothers me.” Luthen had read the reports over several times by now. And the nagging feeling had remained even if it all seemed to be on the level.
Ahsoka glared at him with those eyes. Those big big eyes on him. Judging him. But if she was the guilty party then why did Luthen feel like the one under scrutiny? Shouldn’t it have been the other way around?
“Maybe, it is because I am not guilty.”
Luthen seemed rather shocked to hear the words out loud from the suspects mouth no less.
Sure, it was in the report as well. Just when the Padawan had fought the troopers trying to assure them she had not done the deed she was accused of. But hearing them now for himself? Seeing the determination in Ahsoka’s eyes. It all hit Luthen like a ton of bricks.
“The evidence…” Luthen tried to make some sense of it all finally.
“The evidence, is wrong.” Ashoka cut Luthen off before he could continue. “I was framed.”
And so, there were those words again. Spoken out lout. By Ahsoka.
Luthen felt it now. Felt her through the Force.
Either Ahsoka was really good in twisting the Force for her own purposes which was highly unlikely. Or then she had simply convinced herself of her innocence and believed it so strongly it felt like she was in earnest with her statement.
But, there was more than that present there. And Luthen had become more and more sure, not because of the words exchanged between them as there had been only a few. But the overall feeling, the connection through the Force he could feel that Ashoka wasn’t lying.
That was why Luthen had come there. To listen to the words unspoken. To feel the Padawan’s true self rather than hear her pleading her case in front of her accusers.
“I believe you.” Luthen was finally sure Ahsoka was telling the truth.
The reason for him coming to the cell in the first place. The simple fact that this Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, was telling the truth.
Now the only thing remaining was for Luthen to figure out whom the real culprit was and find the evidence to support the suspicions. But Luthen needed help and he also knew exactly where to find it.
“I will help you.” Luthen told Ahsoka then.
And with those words, Luthen left the rather confused looking Padawan in her cell. Because time was of the essence and Luthen needed to act quickly, to be able to help Ashoka escape her fate.