"Be aware of the Force around you. Call it to you and wrap it around your presence," Ahsoka instructed. Ania stood before her, balanced on one leg, lightsabers activated and pointed together above her head. Ahsoka was seated cross legged and had her eyes closed. "Letting yourself become one with the Force will keep others from sensing your presence. It will be vital that you maintain this during your mission."

"I know, I know." Ania switched into the next position, one leg extended behind her and her lightsabers held in a defensive position. She did as she was instructed and reached out. Connecting with the Force was the easy part. The hard part was letting it become one with her. One of the strange spider like creatures crawled outside the perimeter fence. Ania pulled her focus away and tried to hide herself.

Ahsoka's presence joined hers. "Not good enough. I can still find you." Ahsoka opened her eyes. "Why are you holding back? I know you could do it if you let go."

"It's just that, I don't know if I can control what happens afterwards," Ania said. "I've lost control before and it didn't end well."

"Fear will hold you back. Master Yoda always said 'Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and hate leads to suffering.' Those are the roots of the Dark Side," Ahsoka explained.

Ania deactivated her lightsabers and sat down. "I don't think it's possible to not fear."

"You're right. It's not. You have to learn to let go of everything you fear to lose, to face, all of it. My master struggled with letting go of things and in the end, that is what drove him away from the Jedi." Ania still looked doubtful. Ahsoka rested her chin in her hand. "Tell me what you fear."

"I fear Vader and the Emperor," Ania began. "Not what they can do to me, but what they can do to the Galaxy. I fear loosing control of myself. I fear the Daughter, or, more like her power. I'm afraid of hurting those I care about." Her thoughts drifted towards one particular person. Ania glanced up at Ahsoka. "Attachment was forbidden for the Jedi. Why?"

Ahsoka laughed. "My master and I always wondered the same thing. Attachments could be put before the well being of others. Suppose we were in a dangerous situation where multiple lives were at stake. I had the choice to save you or save everyone else and I chose to save you. That is the price of attachment. Master Kenobi always said it's better to lose one life than to lose thousands."

"I think attachments can be a weakness, but also a great strength. No living being should be forced to give up everything they love. Masters and Padawans had an attachment," Ania pointed out.

Ahsoka nodded. "It is something you must determine the meaning of for yourself and form your own ideals. The ways of the Old Jedi might have worked then, but not all of them will work now. It's time for change and it's up to the next generations to be that change." Ahsoka's wrist comm began beeping and she quickly accepted the transmission.

"Senator Organa has arrived," Commander Sato said through the comm.

"We'll be right there." Ahsoka switched her comm off and stood. "I guess training is done for the day. Your mission is about to begin. Just remember what I told you and practice if you can." Ania nodded her agreement and followed Ahsoka back to the Rebel Base.

When they entered the central building, Commander Sato and Hera were already there. Beside them stood a stranger. The man had black hair with a few gray streaks in it, betraying his age. "Ania, this is Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan," Ahsoka said. She hugged the senator fondly.

"It's good to see you, Ahsoka," Senator Organa smiled. "I don't believe I've ever met you, though I know who you are," he shook Ania's hand.

"I'm Ania," she began.

"Ania Tano, isn't it? There had been a lot of reports about you on the holonet," Bail interrupted.

"Bonteri, actually. I'm Ania Bonteri," she said quickly.

Bail glanced at Ahsoka knowingly. "I see. I knew your grandmother. She was a wise woman. Your father did his best to follow in her footsteps."

Ania smiled faintly, but didn't get the chance to reply. "We should discuss the mission. You must be underway shortly," Commander Sato said. The doorway hissed open and four others entered.

The purple Lasat, Zeb, crossed his arms. "Remind me again why I had to come to this briefing," he growled.

"Because Ahsoka asked us to," Kanan brushed into the hut.

Commander Sato nodded a greeting to them and switched on the holotable. "Senator Aura Li of Shili has agreed to help us with this mission. Ania, you will be posing as Senator Li's ward. Tolsa will be your handmaiden and we are sending Sabine to act as a bodyguard. Their missions will be to deliver whatever information you receive back to us."

"So I'm not going?" Ezra interrupted.

"No. You, Kanan, and I have a different mission," Ahsoka said. "I'll explain later.

"What do we do if the mission falls through?" Sabine asked.

"We will evacuate the three of you as swiftly as we can. You must not do anything to compromise Senator Li or Senator Organa. Their places in the Rebellion are vital. If you are captured, the decision is up to you," Commander Sato replied.

Tolsa glanced at Ania, confused. "He means we can decide if we're going to silence ourselves or not." Tolsa's eyes widened but she said nothing.

"You will leave with Senator Organa tonight. The vote is scheduled to take place two days from now. Do everything in your power to postpone the vote or dispose of it entirely. This mission will be dangerous, especially if you are caught. Ania is the mission leader. We are counting on you, Commander," Sato finished. He dipped his head in dismissal.

Sabine and Tolsa left the hut immediately to prepare for the mission. Ezra followed Ania out and to her hut. She began to pile the things she would need in a bag. "What is it?" She continued to gather her things.

"Nothing." There was silence for a while. "This mission will be really dangerous, won't it?"

Ania paused and glanced at Ezra. "Yes, but it's for a good cause. If we succeed, Lothal will be safe from further Imperial occupation and it will keep the Rebellion hidden for a while longer."

"What will you do if you're caught?"

"Whatever I have to. If I think they'll break me, I'm not going to stick around to let them."

Ezra moved closer and touched her arm. Ania half turned but paused at the fear in his eyes. "You have to come back. All of you."

"You've lost someone to the Empire before, haven't you?" Ania realized.

Ezra looked down. "My parents were taken by the Empire when I was seven. I don't want to lose anyone else to them."

"Ahsoka told me you have to let go of what you fear to lose, otherwise losing that thing will lead to the Dark Side." Ezra released a resigned sigh. "But that doesn't mean you can't be afraid of it happening. You just have to be strong enough to overcome it if it does happen. I promise; I'll come back and Tolsa and Sabine will be with me."

Ezra nodded, seemingly satisfied for the moment. Ania's wrist comm started beeping. "Looks like you're leaving now."

Ania grabbed her bag and ran towards Bail's small transport with Ezra right behind her. Sabine and Tolsa were already on the ship by the time they arrived. Ania quickly hugged Ahsoka and even Hera. She paused beside Kanan. "Trust me," she said finally.

The Jedi smirked. "Unfortunately, I'm beginning to."

Ania grinned back and headed up the boarding ramp. She paused and looked back. "Take this," she held her bag to Tolsa before running back off the ship. Ania quickly wrapped Ezra in a hug. He was caught off guard at first, then tightened his arms around her. "I promise," Ania whispered.

"Don't break it," Ezra said back. Ania let go and smiled at him, then boarded the ship. The ramp sealed as soon as she was onboard and they set course for Coruscant.

"You girls should get some rest. It'll take us all night to get to Coruscant, even through hyperspace," Bail said, climbing down a ladder towards them. "We'll meet with Senator Li as soon as we arrive."

The three girls nodded to him and headed towards the bunks. There were four rooms so each girl took a room for herself. Ania lay down and crossed her hands over her stomach. I should probably practice what Ahsoka told me. She began the exercise smoothly. The Force wrapped around her and pulled at her subconscious. Ania steadied her breathing and tried to let go of her fears.

Almost instantly, she was gone. Ania felt herself drifting through a void of space and time. She had the feeling of existing, yet not existing. Millions of blinking lights drifted around her and voices swarmed through her mind. The Force drew her along swiftly, not pausing.

She was dropped harshly onto a red carpeted floor. A jeweled headdress dripped from her montrals. The two piece midnight blue gown hugged her slim figure. A blast bolt hit the wall in front of her. Ania took off running and searched for her lightsabers. They were gone. Her blasters weren't there either. Several senators flung themselves against walls as she barreled past. More blasts rang out, each closer to her than the last.

Ania risked a glance over her shoulder. Her assailant was blurred. Ania ran faster but cried out as a blast struck her shoulder. She fell and gripped her arm. The blurred creature grabbed her.

She was in a room. Tolsa was strapped to a familiar table with it's electrocuting rods pointed at her. "Give us the location of the Rebels," someone demanded. As Ania remained silent, the rods activated, shocking Tolsa. The Twi'lek screamed in agony.

"Ania!" Tolsa screamed.

"Where are they?"

"Ania, please!"

"Answer me!"

"Ania, wake up!"

Her vision cleared and she realized her eyes had been open. She landed on the hard metal ground with a thud. Ania held a hand to her pounding head. "What happened?"

"You were talking in your sleep," Tolsa explained. "I came to see if everything was all right and you were just floating in the air and flickering as if you were a hologram."

"I...what?" Ania shook her head. "What was I saying?"

"I'm not sure. Something about Morty, Moral, something or other?" Tolsa rubbed her forehead. "It didn't sound like you talking at all."

"Mortis," Ania whispered to herself. "What is that place? I keep hearing about it but I don't know what it is!"

"That's not all. When I called out to you, your eyes opened. Only, they were green. Unnaturally green and glowing."

"I was right. I should've never tried that," Ania hissed to herself.

"I tried to find you in the Force but I couldn't feel you. It was like you didn't exist anymore." Tolsa narrowed her eyes. "What exactly happened?"

"I'm not sure. I won't be trying that again, though. I'll just have to take my chances. How far are we from Coruscant?"

"Not far. We'll be coming out of hyperspace soon."

Ania nodded. "All right. I'll be fine. You should go prepare yourself." Tolsa gave Ania a long look before leaving. Ania dropped her head into her hands. "It shouldn't have been me. I can't control this," she whispered to herself. "If this mission fails because of me..." she couldn't even finish the thought.