Ahsoka nodded a little bit. As a Togruta she understood, even if she was independent, there was a part of her that was still a fiercely social and group minded person. Even though she wasn't really raised among them, a part of her still craved the closeness of a family.
"If he took you as an apprentice it means he's letting someone in." Daphne said, a genuine smile on her face.
Tonks nodded in agreement. "Something he hasn't really done since the last of his contemporaries and all of our children passed."
Ahsoka debated asking for more details since they were sharing. But Harry's softly worded 'Thank you' from the evening before when she didn't immediately pry sprung to mind. Instead she resolved to get answers from him. She solemnly nodded. "Thank you for telling me."
The two paintings nodded as one. Ahsoka turned to rejoin Harry, but was stopped for a few moments by Tonks calling out. "Please…" Her voice trailed off as she couldn't seem to figure out what else to say.
"Be patient with him… and while he will take care of you, take care of him too. He needs it." Daphne picked up the thread after a few seconds pause. "As apprentices are close relationships in our culture. Historically, there are small number that resulted in great betrayals when an apprentice betrays their master. It never ends well… for Master or Apprentice."
Ahsoka blinked several times as she processed that statement before nodding slightly and turning to leave the study room. There was a battle coming, and she needed to prepare. Ahsoka walked out back to the main area, turning over the painting's comments in her mind. The way they talked about Masters and Apprentices and betrayals, sounded very much like the Sith to her. Always an apprentice and a master until the apprentice overthrew the master. Ahsoka wasn't sure what to make of that similarity. Though she was also reminded that the paintings only said a small number of times regarding betrayals.
She wasn't sure what to make of that one way or the other; was it information she needed, a warning or some kind of threat from the painting?
More and more pieces of Harry's life were falling into place, but the picture refused to come into focus. She was going to have to take him up on his offer to ask more sooner rather than later. She was pulled from her thoughts as she came back out onto the main room, where a very miffed Aayla was alternately glaring between Harry and the conical piece of fabric that only resembled a "hat" in the loosest possible definition of "hat".
It took Ahsoka another moment to realize that Aayla was tapping her foot and no noise was coming out. She wondered what or why Harry felt it was necessary to silence her.
He seemed unconcerned at Aayla's mood at the moment and instead was focused on Shaak Ti intently.
Ahsoka also noted that the holocom call had ended. "Their attack on a planet like this will vary depending on what their goals are. But since Salporin hasn't said anything about an aerial bombardment it has to be an occupation force. The sensor data he transmitted seems to bear that out." Shaak Ti was explaining to Harry.
Harry just nodded slightly, gesturing in the air with his hand for her to hurry up with whatever explanation she was providing, the explanation.
"Based on their deployment and these sensor readings, unless they're doing some massive cloak and dagger movements, strategy will have this as a three-pronged assault." Shaak Ti continued, her expertise on strategy having come to the for. "They'll send advanced scouts to the cities where resistance is likely to be high. These forces are disposable, their purpose is to keep the Wookiees busy from marshalling defense."
forces
any
one
area
for
a
Harry nodded again and didn't interrupt, Ahsoka realized that this might have been the first time he was listening to something one of the Jedi Master's said without interruption or argument.
"Because of the first distraction and skirmishing forces, the second prong will land nearly uncontested. and if they intend to land on the beach that will be a good area to do so. Both prongs will have air support." Shaak Ti explained, "I would guess that the mass of their occupational force lands there, and takes that city they'll have a solid foothold on this world."
Harry nodded without saying anything and looked at her expectantly.
She tilted her head in response to his wordless question, "What?"
"You said three prongs? what about the third?" Harry asked, with an air of impatience about him.
"Oh, the third is the fleet in space. They'll be there in case any message got off to the Republic or any support craft arrive before the droid army is entrenched. The Wookiees are not known for having the strongest space fleet, the Separatists will be much more concerned about resistance on the ground." Shaak Ti finished her summation.
"How many ships are we talking about here?" Harry inquired, his eyes narrowed. Ahsoka looked at him oddly wondering why he was curious or what started this line of questioning.
"I am uncertain … perhaps a hundred and fifty? Almost certainly more than a hundred, but less than two hundred. Without sensor data from the surface it's impossible to guess. But Wookiees are hardly known for panicking or retreating from a city given a little or moderate challenge." Shaak Ti gave the matter some consideration. "Though I'm sure most of them will be transports for the landing troops or cruisers. There will probably only be one or two command ships…"
"Fantastic." Harry muttered rubbing a hand over his face. Aayla began gesticulating wildly waving her hands and pointing to herself.
Shaak Ti glanced her way, "I've answered your questions, could you tell me what you've done to Master Secura?"
Harry nodded almost absently, "It was a silencing spell. It literally can stop all sound made by a person or an area. I had no interest in hearing her bickering with the hat." He waved his hand in Aayla's direction. and immediately sound came from her once more.
"-ate it when you do that!" Aayla was in the middle of barking out, while Shaak Ti was more than a little surprised.
"I told you she had quite the set of lungs on her." The Sorting hat added. Harry held a finger up to the hat, in warning "Another irritating word from you right now, and I'll let my apprentice use you for incendio practice."
"I've spent enough time in silence, I don't need any more Mister Potter. I was only inquiring as to whether these were summoned demons, and what in Merlin's name you've gotten yourself into this time." The Sorting hat replied indignantly.
"Demons?" Aayla echoed.
"Succubus would be my first guess," The sorting hat bobbed slightly in a simulated nod of agreement. "Of course you could be something else … a botched self transfiguration or a polyjuice mishap perhaps."
"They're not demons. They're … another species, from another planet." Harry explained with a roll of his eyes. "They… no. You know what? You're the sorting hat. Have Ahsoka put you on if you want to figure out what's going on. I'm busy."
"No way, that thing's filthy. It looks like it's never been washed… ever. That's probably why its mouth is so dirty," said Ahsoka with a bit of revulsion.
"I'll have you know that -" the Sorting hat started.
"Could you argue with your laundry later?" Aayla demanded, interrupting the two, and then seemed to realize what she said.