Ahsoka loved this time of day, when evening was over but night had not yet fallen. Ever since she was a child, she had enjoyed sitting by the window and watching the sky gradually darken, lowering the blue twilight over the earth and painting the familiar daytime street scenes in shades ranging from grey to deep black. This made them seem particularly mysterious. The girl couldn't help feeling that Tatooine had disappeared and she was in a fairy-tale city on an unknown planet, where a special adventure awaited her. But it had been five years since she had left Tatooine, and the fairy-tale city still accompanied her with the arrival of the first twilight. It was as if it was following her soul, constantly searching for something it couldn't catch, to bring it closer to its eyes and finally see what it was looking for and what it was running after. No, it had never worked out, only this state of eternal search and endless running had haunted Asoka all her life and had become familiar to her. So it was today. She had been discharged from the medical ward an hour ago, and on this occasion, Master Plo had allowed her to skip evening training. Tano had no objection to the unscheduled rest, but she found it difficult to cope without training. She loved fighting and couldn't wait for the moment when she would be taken into real combat. For the time being, the only independent activities she was trusted with were driving speeders and aerocars of various models and complexity. The sky still attracted Asoka and she understood it better than anyone else. Even now, she sat on the windowsill with her legs tucked under her, her heart pounding as she looked up at the dark blue, velvety surface of the sky, where white dots of stars were slowly lighting up one by one. At first thin and timidly transparent, they gradually grew larger and cast flickering rays to the side. This sight always attracted Asoka more than anything else and never bored her. However, today her mood was slightly spoiled by the absence of her beloved training, because no matter how she tried to persuade her teacher to let her go to the training hall, the Master, who was always so gentle and understanding, was adamant.
"Asoka," Kel-Dor said, placing both hands on her shoulders, as her father had often done before, "Understand me correctly. I don't mind letting you go, and I might even want you to repeat what you've learned and acquire new skills instead of sitting in your room all evening doing nothing, but...
"So what's the problem then?" Tano interrupted him, jumping up and almost knocking her teacher's heavy hands off her shoulders. "Just let me go there. If you understand how important this is to me."
"Yes, Asoka, I understand that," the Master continued in the same calm voice. "But unfortunately, I also understand that you had a concussion. That's no joke. You need to get some rest. Tomorrow, when you're feeling better, you can come back to class. I promise you won't miss much."
Ahsoka sighed heavily and gave in. When her teacher left to teach the other students the basics of piloting, she plopped down in her chair and banged her hands on the armrests in frustration.
"How I hate idleness!" she said with a discontented look. "Just sitting around doing nothing while others are busy with something interesting?
Unfortunately, this was true. At this hour, all the adepts of the Order, even the youngest, were busy. The younglings were in Republic History class, the Padawans were either training with their teachers or on joint assignments. Even Barris found something to do in the absence of her mentor — she was on duty in the medical ward, treating burns from training swords and putting those who had caught a cold into a healing trance, as well as trying once again to bring old Master Joruz out of meditation, who had gone into it a good twenty minutes ago and did not seem to be planning on coming back. Only Asoka didn't know what to do. She took a holocron from the shelf and opened it. But she soon closed it again and threw it back on the shelf with the Force. It turned out to be a recording of the Codex, complete with explanations.
"Ugh, how boring!" Tano grimaced and climbed onto the windowsill. It was definitely more interesting outside. And so it happened that, gazing at the sunset and the darkening sky, the girl gradually forgot her sorrows, the height helping her once again. In fact, she was so absorbed that she didn't hear the quiet creak of the door opening and didn't immediately feel the light touch on her arm.
"Ahsoka," she heard a moment later. "I heard they let you go. And that they didn't let you go to training. That's very sad."
Togruta tore her gaze away from the sky and looked towards the room, where she immediately saw Anakin. The boy was standing by the window sill, dressed in his usual beige tunic and trousers. His hair, which had grown considerably in recent times, had darkened noticeably, no longer bleached by the sun, for on Coruscant the sun was not as hot as on Shili, but his tan had not faded. He stood there looking at Tano, smiling timidly. At the sight of him, the girl's mood also began to return to normal; they always had this effect on each other, as if feeding off the Force. Especially now, when Ahsoka was so upset about her plans being ruined, and he, sensing this, had found a way to skip class and come to her. She immediately asked him about it, and his answer followed immediately:
"I told her I was so ashamed of yesterday's fight that I didn't sleep all night and now I have a terrible headache, so Master Yoda let me go. He told me to sit in my room and think about my behaviour.
"However, you chose otherwise. I wonder why?" Asoka smiled slyly, already anticipating what this young rascal with a big, kind heart would say. And his words made her smile:
"If you think I lied to him, that's not true. Well, almost not true. I'm really ashamed, because you had to stay here because of me. Ferrus isn't ashamed, that's why he's sitting in class now, laughing as if nothing happened. No one knows anything about the fight, the chancellor decided not to tell anyone, and Ferrus certainly not. And I really didn't sleep all night. I even went to my room, like I was told. Only to yours. Mine is a bit lonely right now. I only lied about one thing, my head doesn't hurt at all. You won't scold me for that, will you?
"Of course not," Asoka laughed openly. "To scold someone here, you need to be a Master, and I won't be one anytime soon. And we still have plenty of time."
"You're right about time. It's such a good time right now, the teachers are busy, we're free. Let's sneak out and come back at night!" Anakin suddenly suggested, looking out the window. Asoka looked in the same direction. It was already dark outside, and stars, like tiny diamonds, scattered across the sky, as if inviting them to take a closer look. Could Togruta refuse them? No. A minute later, she replied to her young friend:
"Yes, with pleasure! I hate the idea of sitting here all evening.
"Even if I stayed with you," Anakin winked slyly, hoping to hear a denial.
"Even if!" Asoka dashed his hopes and jumped down from the windowsill.
"Oh, is that how you feel?" he pretended to be offended. "I stole the key to the hangar for you, and one of your droids made a copy. I've been meaning to tell you, but I never had the chance."
"So that means..." Asoka's breath caught in her throat when she realised what her friend had said.
"That's right! Let's hurry, or we'll run into Yoda and then we'll be in trouble!" Skywalker urged her. "Once he starts lecturing, he won't stop until nightfall, and I personally don't feel like sleeping yet."
Ahsoka thought this was a sound argument, took her friend by the hand, lifted the window frame, and, thankfully, it was only the second floor, and then they climbed out together. It was a little chilly outside, but not cold enough to freeze, a light breeze blew pleasantly, and the full moon lit the way. Of course, there was a serious risk of running into one of the guards, but as it turned out, Anakin knew a few tricks that allowed them to reach the hangar unnoticed. Circling the perimeter of the building, the two fugitives reached the hangar. Anakin took a flat electronic key card out of his pocket and inserted it into the slot in the door. It beeped softly and opened, allowing the boys to see what was hidden inside: ships of various models, sizes and purposes. There were all kinds of ships here, from small and simple ones used for travel within the planet and short flights to huge, sophisticated starships, whose cabins could easily be converted into comfortable living quarters for a decent length of time, which was often done, because such ships flew to the other end of the galaxy and to distant frontiers. And here was the very one that had taken Asoka from Tatooine, the one on which her beloved Phil had flown for the last time. Over the years, the ship had become noticeably worn and dilapidated, but it was still operational and was sometimes used, although for the most part it stood in the hangar like a majestic monument. Looking at it, Tano sighed bitterly, mentally transporting herself back to that distant day five years ago, and touched the medallion around her neck. It was made of wood that grew on Tatooine, and she had made it herself long ago when she was a child. The medallion was shaped like a small carved rectangle with rounded edges. It opened at the front, and inside this small opening, Asoka had placed something important to her, though not very significant to ordinary people — a candy wrapper given to her by Phil. Anakin noticed the change in his friend's expression and immediately understood everything; he knew the story.
"Don't be upset, Asoka, I'm sure he can see you from the world of the Force and is very happy that you are doing so well," said the boy, putting his arm around her shoulder. Anakin was almost a head shorter than Asoka, but he had a similar build to her, so standing next to her, they did not look ridiculous, as might have been expected. He led her further, to the place he had come here for, to the hall where the speeders were parked. They were all different, but Anakin seemed to know what he was looking for and soon stopped near a small, blue, almost state-of-the-art model. Before Ahsoka could say anything, he jumped into the driver's seat, started the engine, and slapped the seat next to him.
"The escort is ready, please get in, Senator," Skywalker said ceremoniously, preparing to drive the vehicle out of the hangar.
"Anakin, you're crazy. We'll get killed," Asoka was taken aback by his plan, but at the same time she felt a secret thrill; it would never have occurred to her, but her seniority was still getting the better of her.
"Don't worry, I'm a good driver, and I won't even have to do anything, just set the destination," Anakin continued to convince her. "Get in, or you'll have to run after us, and it's a long way."
"All right, you've convinced me," Ahsoka finally gave in, deciding that she could back him up if necessary. "But only there and back!"
"Of course, I don't want to get anything from the owner of the transport, especially not a medal!" Anakin agreed, and when Ahsoka sat down in the seat, he finally took off and flew out of the hangar, beginning to gain altitude. They did not ascend into the sky, as the vehicle would not have allowed it, but flew at an altitude of about five storeys. The upper and middle levels of Coruscant were almost asleep, with hardly a light on in any of the windows, only the 24-hour shops and entertainment venues beckoning visitors with their brightly lit shop windows. But that was not where the two teenagers, fleeing the hardships of loneliness, were headed. They had already flown through all three levels of the city-planet and were now heading for the high bridge at the edge of Upper Coruscant's central street. At first, the teenagers didn't talk, just looked out the window and enjoyed the sensation of flying, which they both loved. Only when Asoka pressed the button to turn on the music player, accidentally selecting the owner's favourite songs from the menu, did a surprised exclamation escape her lips:
"Wow! Who's the romantic here?
"It's us, Asoka, only us," said Anakin with a strange smile, obviously also hearing the song coming from the speaker:
"Do you remember those short nights and crazy days?" sang the young singer in a soft voice.
"The whole world was ours alone," echoed the male singer with a pleasant, velvety voice.
"How we wandered silently, embracing each other, barely breathing, you were a boy, I was a girl," both singers sang almost in unison.
"Do you remember how words of love flew like birds? You were a boy, I was a girl," the singer continued, as if answering.
"How fate separated us, we cannot understand..." sighed the singer heavily.
"There is emptiness in my heart, but the dream remains..." they sang in chorus, and the refrain rang out:
"I follow her, I follow my dream.
I kiss you more and more in my thoughts.
Maybe in short dreams at night.
Maybe I'll meet you!
This song reminded Asoka of a dream she had had that night while in a trance. She couldn't help telling her friend about it when they parked their speeder near the bridge, climbed up and, holding onto the railing, looked down at the sleeping neighbourhood.
"Anakin, you have no idea what I dreamed," she began, catching a dry leaf from a tree as it flew past.
"Don't tell me it was Master Yoda selling his soul for deadly sticks," Anakin smiled and laughed. But Asoka was not in the mood for jokes:
"In this dream, it was you and me, but we were adults. You had a Padawan braid and your hair was tied back in a ponytail, and mine was down to my waist, and I had a crown on my montrolls instead of a chain. That meant I had been knighted. But that wasn't even the main thing. It was that you and I..." At this point, Ahsoka faltered slightly and looked away for some reason.
"What about you and me?" Anakin decided to clarify. "Did we lead the Order instead of those boring people?"
"No, we got married after falling in love!" Asoka blurted out and immediately regretted it. Saying it out loud seemed even stranger and hardly appropriate now. However, contrary to all expectations, Anakin was not embarrassed. His eyes remained serious and his gaze direct, as if he knew something that the Togrutta did not yet know.
"This isn't a coincidence, Ahsoka, I really mean it. I would like to always be with you, even when we are no longer students, and I am sure that we will get married when we grow up, and no Code will stand in our way," he said in one breath, making Tano blush and turn away.
"Let's fly back, they'll be looking for us soon," she said with difficulty, forcing herself to turn back to Anakin. What her friend had said embarrassed her, and she wanted to change the subject to something she was at least prepared to discuss.
"You're right, Windu won't be happy when he realises we're gone," Anakin cursed himself for his hastiness. He should have told her about his intentions differently. But now it was too late, and he could only hope that it wouldn't affect their friendship. They drove back in silence, not even turning on the music or laughing at the romantic Mace, who loved such songs. It was too late for that. And tomorrow, something would happen that would turn their world upside down and certainly overshadow this ridiculous explanation of feelings. Because tomorrow was the gathering.
***
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