Chapter 18: An New Army

Honestly, Obi-Wan did not expect these turn of events. Legit, Ahsoka just seems to be full of surprises. The Togruta had basically pulled out old men that served with him during the Clone Wars out to served him. Practically, she had saved those whom is left of the Clone Army and managed to get those chips out of their heads. Having fighting Stormtroopers for the last few years, the Clones of their time were clearly better in war combat then those men. The Clones now seem to be reformed and on Obi-Wan's side, but Kenobi was unsure that he can trust Cody, since the last time he had seen Commander Cody was on Utapau and him shooting him down. Rex had been hiding for so long and have removed the chips from his brothers and they all regret it.

Now, they are going against the Empire and Rebellion both. Since the disappearance of Darth Vader, and with the Clones at their side, there might be a chance to finally destroyed the Empire once and for all. The term "Snips" that were given to Ahsoka from Anakin now seems to make much more sense. The Jedi Master seems to finally understood his old Jedi Apprentice much more. He had always have a brotherly rivalry with Anakin back than. If he had been more understanding of Anakin and not allowed him to continue doing questionable things, the galaxy may have been spared of a lot of pain and the Empire may have never rise. He had knew of Padme and his relationship throughout the Clone Wars, yet he had spared of breaking those two apart. Padme have made Anakin happy and he couldn't break his old Apprentice's heart. Anakin had been a kind and loving man. Numerous times, Anakin have disobeyed the Jedi Council, and there was other times to where Obi-Wan was so close of telling him that he known.

Obi-Wan should have confronted Anakin after sensing his madness and sadness. First, it was when he had fake his death to infiltrates a group of bounty hunter with Cad Bane. Then they were when Ahsoka was framed and leaving the Jedi Order. Anakin have clearly grown darker and darker throughout the war and he always went to the Chancellor, who used his emotions and love to twist in anger and hate. It was always the Chancellor who seems to be telling Anakin the 'truth' and Obi-Wan allowed their friendship to carried on. He never liked the Chancellor and should have permitted Anakin from approaching him, but yet it's too late for that. Darth Vader was all who Anakin Skywalker's fears and anger were. At the end, Vader was unable to find redemption and now he is dead; or so they think, on the first Death Star.

Obi-Wan walked into a strange hanger where not much Rebels seem to be at with Ahsoka, Luke, and Leia. The Clones had taken the lead and leaded them here. The doors opened, and they walked in, as the doors closed quickly. Obi-Wan were surprised at seeing a bunch of Clones resigning their ships and the Alliance is not even aware of this. Now, the Clones leaded them to the table and sat down with other Commanders. The Bad Batch seems to be the same as they did when Kenobi last saw them, as did some in the 501st and others in 212th. Each of the Clones removed their helmets and rested them on the table.

Ahsoka sat down at the main seat in the end, letting Obi-Wan, Luke, and Leia know about who the leader of this little organization is. She gave a ordering motion of her hand at three other empty seats and they sat down in those seats. "So we need to have a talk about our next plan," Ahsoka declares, her voice ringing with dominance and power that the Clones have respected throughout the war.

"I say enough talking and meetings we should go after that traitor with everything we have," Hunter said, gaining attention from other Clones. "The so call Chancellor been controlling us all like we're machines, and he should pay and die for it along with that floating space ball. I would love to shove my blaster into his face."

"I agree," Leia said fiercely, her eyes blazing with anger at the thought of what monster could be doing with her mother. "I'm itching for my lightsaber to stabbed through his torso."

Obi-Wan saw the tips of Leia's mouth forming into a scowl. It was similar to how Anakin was. She was like a mini female version of Anakin, which, for a second made him wondered what destiny awaits Leia Skywalker. Sure, Luke may be angry but he hides his emotions slightly better than Leia, but Leia clearly is angry at the moment and nothing may stopped her from tearing down that base.

Obi-Wan place his hand against the girl who is aside him, "Leia, calm yourself," he scolded calmly, hoping that he doesn't make her even more angry. "He wants you to go after him so you will kneel at his throne." Leia have always been the most impulsive one and there is a high risk that she would not be able to succeed this mission. She have lost control in the past, but now she is really angry and the dark side was leaving her features like it was a second nature towards her. He, himself, was not happy about this but years of experience and Jedi training helped him stayed calm for his old friend.

Secretly, he was concerned about Padme, but he highly doubt he would fully harmed her since he would need her in hope to lure the twins on his side. He needs them in ordered for his Empire to continue but Luke and Leia shall not fall. Though chances of defeating the Emperor in single combat is low but they had no choices. Perhaps with the Clones they can defeat him by blaster fire. Leia turned towards him, her eyes softening, and her lip returning back to normal and easing. She was in reality a calm girl and she knew that she wouldn't helped her mother in anyway if she acts like this. Luke oddly remain quiet throughout the meeting until now, which means he must be fuming towards himself.

"We can destroy that space moon," Rex declares, gaining everybody's attention as they turned towards him. "We should send out two battalions into Starships, waiting in space, while others leaded by the Jedi can turned down the beams and go after Sidious."

Another voice spoke up, "I agree," Cody said, "we can go on ground teams and leaded by a Jedi no doubt, while others can go destroy the Death Star. Alpha, can you lead the space team?" The Clone, Commander Alpha, in the cornered gave a nod. "It is decided then. Both Commander Skywalkers, Tano, and Kenobi would lead the assault. Let's get out of here and leave and go attack already." They let out war cries as they felt a slight nostalgic about the Clone Wars.

Mara Jade was watching her defenseless prisoner. She loath the Empire and what they do, but she is not yet powerful enough to defeat Sidious, so she would have to carried out his every command for now until the power of the Force comes onto her side. Mara secretly wanted to slay him when he has his back turn but he may sense her and catch her by surprise. She was just too young and haven't unlocked the Force completely to defeat someone such as Sidious, who manipulated the entire Republic and that is the reason to why the Empire is still around today. If the Republic had been smart and the Jedi won, the entire galaxy may have been different right now.

"You don't have to do this," Padme said sympathetically, her sitting there almost boldly with her arms wrapped around her legs.

Mara couldn't believed that she was assisted to watched this prisoner. Sidious claimed that she is dangerous but she ain't even that dangerous as he described unless this is all a trick. But she practically have the woman in lightsaber point and can easily cut her down should she try something. She checked over Padme, wondering if she was going to see all that Sidious described to her was true. But instead, she continues to see a defenseless woman who is near her 50 but still has a spirit and can still fight and lead. Now, her prisoner is talking towards her.

Padme stood up and padded over towards her and put an hand on her shoulder. "I can see the conflict within you," Padme continued. "Turn away from him. My husband have joined him and stood with him for the longest and it turned him into such a monster. There is still good in you. I can see the desperation in your eyes, which means there is still some sort of good left within you. I don't know your backstory or anything what you have been through but you can still have a bright future."

Mara's eyes flashed with rage. She knew Sidious would allowed her to torture this woman, but for some strange reason: she didn't. She is too wise and her words alone caught Mara off guard. She lost her parents when she was very young, and this woman remind her of her mother. Perhaps there is some mirth to what this woman was saying.

"You don't know nothing about me," Mara snapped. "I am happy! I am strong! Sidious have shaped me into being more powerful!"

Padme's eyes lowered. "Sidious have promised my husband to save me from death during childbirth. In ordered to gain immortally for me and the power to save my life, Anakin Skywalker betrayed Master Windu and taken the name as Darth Vader, bowing down to Darth Sidious." She explained softly, her body beginning to trembled as she thought about Anakin turning into someone else, but she tried to remind strong. "He destroyed the Jedi Temple along with the Clone Troopers and murdered children. He then visit me and told me about how the Jedi "try to overthrow the Republic" and I knew there was something off about him but it was different than most of the time and drastic times by then. He told me he was going to Mustafar to end the Clone Wars."

Mara found herself interested in this for some reason. This is interesting for some reason. She have remembered hearing tales about Anakin Skywalker by her parents, and then she have heard tales of Darth Vader by Darth Sidious. Now she is hearing them both. Darth Sidious told her that Vader betrayed and murdered Skywalker, but the fact that Padme seems to know so much means she is telling the truth. She isn't stopping. She's not lying. These were new turn of events for the young woman.

Mara hoped she didn't stopped there. "What happened next?" She find herself asking. Maybe she can repaid this woman for knowing more information about Darth Vader or Anakin Skywalker. Sidious have lied towards her about Vader killing her parents hero! Sidious must have manipulated Skywalker for so long and must have brought unbearable pain and guilt for this woman. Her parents were taken away from her when she was only a little girl by Sidious. She remember Sidious entering and chopping her father's head off than impaling her mother with his lightsaber and taking her.

"The next day, Obi-Wan Kenobi came towards me, telling me that he have murdered the Jedi at the Temple. Although I didn't want to believe it then, I secretly knew deep down it was true. I went to Mustafar to talk to him. I was thinking about bringing a dagger due to what he could do, but I knew he would never hurt me or any of his children. I was so close of bringing him back towards the light side of the Force, yet Anakin saw Kenobi and he choked me, thinking that I have betrayed him and brought him there to kill him. I remembered hearing words from the two but it was barely audible. With the two talking towards each other, I'd remember wanting to stopped the confrontation but I couldn't stand up after the Force choke."

Mara again find herself shocked and surprised yet secretly she was disgusted about what he had done to his own wife. This was all due to Sidious's doing. Without him, the Jedi may have been around today. The Emperor may have been a sick and twisted man but this was such a sick tale. Sidious have tell Anakin much lies and must have wanted a powerful Apprentice. For a second, Mara thought about how much more he's torture in the past and how much more he'll torture in the future.

"They begin dueling. For some reason, Ahsoka Tano; my husband's Padawan, went to Mustafar and had caught him by surprised. Together, they managed to defeat him and then escape. Ahsoka took my daughter and Bail took my son, eventually handing him over towards me. We only reunited after 19 years later but I could't remembered her due to only it all being a blur. I'd thought I've only one child and that was my son. I only find out Leia was my daughter after the DNA test we have taken."

Mara frowned as she moved her hand down to the lightsaber. Padme closed her eyes as the lightsaber hissed to life and raised it over her shoulder and brought it down towards her cuffs. "You will help me to destroy this space station and kill Sidious," her voice coming off calmly yet devious. "And I will get you back to your Rebel base."

"We can't do that," Padme countered. "I may be good with a blaster, but Sidious would kill us both."

Still holding her activated purple lightsaber, Mara deactivated her lightsaber, place it on her holster, and crossed her arms and looked at her. "Don't worry, your children would be here soon and together we shall strike Sidious down. They would come for you and I will hand you towards them then together we all shall confront Sidious and I would destroyed him."

Padme was slightly surprised at how she managed to succeed to convince this girl. She only knew for such a short time yet Padme managed to convince her to let herself go. Now, her children will be coming after her, but confrontation with Sidious is unpreventable. She was not sure if they would be able to defeat her, along with her new ally, but she knew they would go after him. Plus, Ahsoka and Obi-Wan would be there at their side, so there must be some sort of hope.

Arthur's note: I'm experiencing writer's block again so the next chapter would be in a while.