Part Five: Shadow Warrior

"Part Five: Shadow Warrior" is the fifth episode of Star Wars Ahsoka. The episode was written and directed by Dave Filoni. It was released on September 12, 2023.
==Official description==
Ahsoka confronts her past, while Hera and her allies undertake a rescue mission.
==Plot summary==
===Inspecting the henge===
The charred fragments of the star map leading to Peridea lay on the ground at the Seatos reflex point. After the Ghost lands beside henge, General Hera Syndulla walks out of the forward ramp with her blaster. After determining it is safe, Syndulla tells her son Jacen that he can exit the Ghost and warns him to keep close as Seatos is an unfamiliar planet. When the general hears something, she gestures at her son to hide behind Chopper. Hera investigates the noise and discovers Huyang standing behind a pillar of rock, overlooking the ocean and holding the helmet of Sabine Wren. Huyang somberly recalled that he told Wren and Tano to stay together, but that they never listen.
===The lesson===
In the World Between Worlds, Ahsoka Tano greets the spirit of Anakin Skywalker, remarking that he still looks the same. Skywalker responds that she has grown old. When Tano asks why she has come to the World Between Worlds, Skywalker reminds Tano that she has lost her fight with Baylan Skoll, and tells her that he's there to finish her training. While Tano states her belief that it is too late for Skywalker to teach her, he asserts that one is never too old to learn.
When Tano asks what her lesson will be, Skywalker ignites his lightsaber and attacks Tano, telling her that it is time to live or die. When Tano tells her old master that she will not fight him, Skywalker says that he has heard that before; as Skywalker continues his assault, Tano ignites her lightsaber and defends herself.
===Abilities===
Back at the henge, General Syndulla searches for signs of Tano and Wren while Huyang inspects the two fragments of the star map. Huyang states that the map is beyond repair, and that they cannot know where the enemy is heading. Syndulla asserts that they will get answers when they find Tano and Wren, but Huyang believes that they are on the Eye of Sion with Morgan Elsbeth and her forces. Carson Teva joins them and asks what to tells command as Senator Leia Organa can't keep covering for them and adds that people will ask questions if they stay there any longer. Syndulla, however, maintains that they won't leave until she knows what happened to Tano and Wren.
During the conversation, Jacen tries to tell his mother that there is something unusual about the water. She doesn't notice anything initially, but her son claims to hear the sounds of a battle involving lightsabers; slowly, as Syndulla closes her eyes, she comes to hear them. Hera tells Teva to get his squadron airborne, and that she needs a full sweep of the ocean at a low altitude. General Syndulla tells Huyang to come with her inside the Ghost while Jacen and Chopper stay at the henge. When Teva asks what is going on, Huyang informs Teva that Jacen has abilities because his father Kanan Jarrus was a Jedi.
===Memories===
As Tano and Skywalker continue their duel in the World Between Worlds, Tano holds her own and suggests that perhaps her master doesn't have anything left to offer her. Skywalker, smiling, says that he hasn't taught her everything, before slicing the platform beneath Tano, sending her falling into the depths below.
Tano awakens as a younger version of herself in a location obscured by fog. As clone troopers in Phase I armor, many of the 501st legion, run by her, she is greeted by Skywalker, now wearing armor and appearing as he did when she first met him; he confirms that they are witnessing the Battle of Teth from the Clone Wars. Tano doesn't understand why they would be experiencing one of her first missions, which Skywalker says is the problem; as her master heads into battle, Tano ignites her original green lightsaber and follows him for answers.
During a lull in the fighting of the Battle of Ryloth, Tano finds herself standing in an encampment of many injured clones. Finding a clone on a stretcher with a bandaged head, Tano rests her hand on the trooper, who reaches with his own hand. Skywalker finds her and warns that more Separatist battle droids are approaching. Tano, however, still somber amidst the carnage, contemplates how they had lost so many under her orders. Skywalker offers masterly insight; he reminds Tano that they are in a war and that it is a Jedi's job to lead, but affirms that the mistakes and losses weigh heavy on him.
Skywalker explains how he must teach his padawan to be a soldier despite his upbringing as a keeper of the peace. Tano wonders if fighting is the only thing she will have to teach her own padawan one day, but Skywalker pushes that fighting is how one survives. As explosions appear in the distance, Tano muses that she may want to stop fighting, which Skywalker says will mean that she will die. As Skywalker advances once more into battle, his appearance flashes between his Jedi self and his Sith identity of Darth Vader.
===The search along the coast===
As Jacen Syndulla and Chopper stay at the henge, Teva's X-Wing squad along with General Syndulla and Huyang aboard the Ghost continue their search for Tano and Wren. Despite Teva's suggestion that it may deplete his squadron's fuel reserves, Syndulla orders an extension of the sweep.
As Hera reveals the unauthorized nature of the mission to Huyang, she ponders if she truly is chasing ghosts, but Huyang assures her that her caring and steadfast nature is why people like her. Huyang also asserts that there is still a chance they will find them given Tano's tenacious nature. When Huyang mentions Tano's master, Syndulla asks what he was like, with Huyang responding that he was intense. Suddenly, Jacen calls the Ghost, saying that Chopper has picked up something on his scanners, and that the Ghost will need to fly very low the water to find it.
===The lesson continued===
As Tano continues to relive her past, she battles Mandalorian super commandos at the Siege of Mandalore alongside clone troopers of the 332nd company. Clone Commander Rex spots Tano, complementing her on her work before charging forward. Tano pauses, surveying the battle as Skywalker approaches her, saying that he did not recognize the battle currently unfolding. Tano informs him that it is the Siege of Mandalore, which occurred after the two had parted ways.
Skywalker proudly affirms that Tano did well. Though Skywalker explains that Tano is the culmination of Skywalker's knowledge and the legacy of masters before him, Tano believes that her part of that legacy is one of death and war. Skywalker asserts that both he and Tano are more than that, but Tano recalls how Anakin was more powerful and dangerous than anyone could have realized. At the mention of his fall, Skywalker says that Tano has learned nothing, and reminds her of the choice he gave her: to live or to die. Skywalker ignites his lightsaber again, revealing a red blade and yellow eyes. Tano once again attempts to refuse a fight, but Skywalker presses on, and the two duel viciously.
Skywalker kicks Tano back into the inky darkness of the World Between Worlds as his form shifts back and forth to his helmeted Sith persona. Enraged by Tano's lack of conviction, Skywalker batters down Tano with strike after strike, claiming that it is time for her to die. Tano outmaneuvers Skywalker and takes his lightsaber, holding it to his neck; however, she drops the lightsaber into the void, saying that she chooses to live. Satisfied, Skywalker smiles, bowing his head as his eyes return to their normal state, and says that there is hope for her yet. As the World Between Worlds rumbles, Skywalker disappears, and the mysterious plane slowly fills with water, enveloping Tano as she closes her eyes.
===Rescue and recovery===
At night, Tano is pulled from the waters by New Republic Lieutenant Jensu and pulled aboard the Ghost as she whispers her master's name. When Tano reawakens aboard the ship one rotation later, she reunites with Huyang. The droid catches her up to speed, telling her that she may have been lost for good if not for the efforts of Jacen Syndulla and that Sabine is not with them. Tano emerges from the Ghost to thank Jacen, who is whisked away by Huyang to explore Tano's T-6 shuttle so she and Hera can talk in private. Syndulla inquires where Wren is, leading Tano to attempt to read the broken map for impressions of what happened. After experiencing echoes of Wren and Skoll's conversation, Tano discovers that Wren is alive but joined Elsbeth's forces aboard the Eye of Sion willingly.
Teva arrives to inform Syndulla that the New Republic Fleet is en route to Seatos; as Syndulla and Tano part ways, Tano gazes up at the sky to view a pod of purrgil passing overhead. Aboard the Ghost, Syndulla and Teva meet with Chancellor Mon Mothma via hologram, who informs them that without evidence of Imperial Remnant activity or Grand Admiral Thrawn's return, there is little she can do to help them. Furthermore, Mothma reveals that Syndulla and Tano are ordered to return to Coruscant for a hearing by the Senate oversight committee that will determine if Syndulla's command will be permanently disbanded. Despite the bleak situation, Tano rejoins them, claiming that she knows how to find Wren.
===Another way===
With a new plan in place, Tano's ship, the Ghost and Teva's squad ascend into the Seatos sky. Syndulla asks Tano if the purrgil know the hyperspace coordinates that will lead them to Wren, with Tano replying that there was only one way to find out. A larger purrgil is spotted amongst the pod, and Tano, now dressed in white robes, walks out onto the hull of the shuttle to commune with the giant creature. Teva informs Syndulla that the New Republic fleet has arrived to the planet and Syndulla warns them not to approach, as they will frighten the purrgil. Outside of Seatos' atmosphere, Teva converses with New Republic Captain Girard, doing his best to stall her from approaching the planet. Before Girard's forces can activate their tractor beam, Teva informs her of Tano's plan.
Back on Seatos, Jacen Syndulla asks his mother if Tano is trying to talk to the purrgil. He reminisces about the stories Hera told him about how the purrgil took Ezra Bridger and the Imperial forces far, far away and saved the rebels, then asking if the purrgil will take Tano where Bridger was; Hera tells him that that was the hope. Tano reaches her hand out to the purrgil, communicating with it through the Force. The enormous purrgil opens its mouth and Tano orders Huyang to move the ship inside.
Once inside the purrgil, Huyang asks Tano if she was certain that the purrgil would take them to Wren, to which Tano wistfully responds that she had no idea, happily acknowledging that the purrgil could take them anywhere but that it was better than going nowhere. The purrgil, emerging from Seatos' atmosphere, fly between Girard's ships, preparing to jump to hyperspace. Tano apologizes to Syndulla that she couldn't make the trip, but Syndulla assures her that it was alright, as her son is too young to travel between galaxies. With a newfound sense of purpose and a promise that she will find Wren and Bridger, Tano, along with Huyang and the purrgil, jump to hyperspace.
==Credits==
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==Notes and references==
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Category:Ahsoka episodes