EDOM: What brings you to the
gardens today, brother Skywalker?
ANAKIN: Obi-Wan suggested
that it might do me some good.
EDOM: I see. I do see. I wonder
if you might be able to help me?
ANAKIN: What do you need, brother Edom?
EDOM: This tree, it suffered from your
encounter with our fallen friend, Barriss Offee.
ANAKIN: Barriss.
EDOM: Such malice do
you still carry, Skywalker?
ANAKIN: She is the reason that
Ahsoka is not here anymore.
EDOM: My deepest apologies, Skywalker.
I must have misunderstood. I believed that Ahsoka
was the reason that Ahsoka no longer resides within the Temple.
ANAKIN: You said that you wanted something?
EDOM: Indeed. I am curious to know whether
you are capable of healing the Uneti Tree.
ANAKIN: A tree?
EDOM: Indeed, a tree. I have been months
at mending its wounds. I miss my
friends at the botanical nursery.
ANAKIN: I did not join the Agricultural Corps.
EDOM: More's the pity. I... could use the aid
of a powerful knight. This task has proven beyond
my abilities. Such is the state of the Agricultural Corps.
ANAKIN: Allow me to see what I can do for you.
Anakin places his right hand on the trunk of the tree.
Edom joins him with closed eyes and then looks
incredulously at Skywalker.
EDOM: Your other hand.
ANAKIN: Oh...
Skywalker glances at
the mechanical fingers.
EDOM: No, no, no. I do not mean to say
do without it. Simply, you will need your
other hand as well. First, before manipulating
anything, merely feel the Uneti.
ANAKIN: I'll give it a try.
They both place both hands
on the trunk of the tree.
EDOM: I can feel the barriers you raise to it, Jedi Knight.
Remember the connections trees such as this foster
through the Force. To see within it look for those
who you most want to see. Imagine to yourself that
you will never see them again otherwise.
Master Obi-Wan, Master Yoda... Ahsoka.
The visions click clearly into Anakin's mind.
He sees Ahsoka's faded form as she had occasion
to pass by. The vision of her grows clearer with
reduced age. As a youngling, she appears
vibrant with the Force.
There is an occasion where a remote was sent
flying and Anakin retrieved and restored it to her
before it flew beyond the reach of the Temple.
The telekinetic gesture was so quick that
Anakin had long forgotten.
EDOM: She created a strong impression here.
Look for more like it.
Anakin released his hand upon
Barriss' collision with the Uneti.
ANAKIN: It doesn't recognize her now.
EDOM: This Uneti's vision of Ahsoka
grew cloudy since the first time she returned
as your Padawan. Rarely did she remain long
enough for it to reorient itself. As is true with
so many beings that depart the Temple.
ANAKIN: I caused her to change?
EDOM: More likely the war, I think.
ANAKIN: She became less reckless.
EDOM: Surprising.
ANAKIN: But she was always strong.
I never sensed the change in her.
EDOM: It is likely that you grew together, I imagine.
ANAKIN: But the tree kept a clear picture of me.
EDOM: Indeed.
ANAKIN: I'm sorry, Edom. I do not think
I will be able to help you with your problem.
EDOM: Stay a moment longer, brother Skywalker.
I asked you to see so that we might tend to the
wound together. We have not even begun
to do so. Replace your hand.
Anakin is made conscious again of his
robotic appendage. But he stifles the
reminder to suffer more visions from the tree.
He comes back to the place where Barriss
struck and feels the fractures that formed
as her back was pressed there.
Now Skywalker feels the fear that she imparted
to the Uneti and returns to him in turn.
His anger had been unmistakable that day.
Once more, he got her to declare evidence before the Senate.
But now the vision wipes clean. The younglings, Master Tera Sinube,
the Temple Guards; they all vanish as part of the vision.
Then the tree disappears. There is nothing to press
Offee against. And with a widening of the eye he understands.
She was afraid of what might have happened if there
were no witnesses. Or more precisely in the moment,
that they wouldn't have been enough to stay the mechanical grip.
Anakin released his grip on the visionary tree.
He began to wonder if he had been so confused
by the vision as to force choke himself
as he now gasped for air.
EDOM: Peace, brother Skywalker. Peace.
I think some of the pain has left the Uneti.
You have touched healing upon the Temple.
ANAKIN: (absent) Glad I could help.
EDOM: Thank you, indeed, brother Skywalker.
With this work much relieved I shall be
restored to my friends in short order.
ANAKIN: (absent) May you be well
received by them, Master Edom.
Anakin bows, which Edom returns.
EDOM: (to himself) Master?
Edom raises an eyebrow to the back
of the departing knight. Anakin leaves
the garden with more consternation
than he bargained for.
NEXT
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