Thank you guys for reading and I hope you enjoy this chapter. A few timeline things I want to clear up. The whole fives finding out about the biochip happens earlier than when it did in the show.
The three men dueled furiously through the halls of the palace. Maul blocked a strike from Obi-Wan and pushed him away. He then tried to strike Anakin but the chosen one ducked underneath Maul's blade. Anakin stood back up and tried to slash Maul's chest but the Zabrak warrior blocked his blade.
Obi-Wan rejoined the fight and tried to give Maul an overhead strike but Maul blocked him. Anakin tried to strike Maul was able to block his strike. Maul then forced both Jedi away and began to run down the hallway. Anakin and Obi-Wan watched him leave and went after him.
Maul led the three of them to where Satine was being guarded and Satine immediately began to watch the three men fight. She watched as Maul jumped backward as Obi-Wan tried to strike him. Satine then watched as Anakin tried to attack maul from his side but it was blocked the Zabrak. Obi-Wan rushed at Maul but he was blocked by the other side of Maul's blade. Anakin was pushed back into the wall but before Maul could stab him, Obi-Wan tried to strike him. Anakin brought up his blade and tried to stab Maul but once again Maul blocked.
Obi-Wan blocked another of Maul's strike but once he blocked maul kicked him in the gut and used the force to push Obi-Wan away. The Jedi master happened to land right beside Satine's guards.
"Ben!"
Obi-Wan got back on his feet and looked at her.
"Hello there."
"Are you alright?"
"Yes just don't worry I'll get you away from these men."
Satine nodded and watched as Obi-Wan sliced the soldier's guns in half. Obi-Wan than forced pushed them into the wall and cut off Satine's binders. He nodded and ran back towards his former apprentice who was fighting his rival. Satine slowly stepped out of her cell and watched as the three men fought valiantly.
Maul kicked Anakin and forced pushed him back into a wall. Obi-Wan rushed to Maul but the Zabrak summoned the force and began to choke him. The Jedi master stopped in his tracks and rose his hands up to his neck to stop the invisible hand from cutting off his airflow.
"Obi-Wan!" Anakin yelled as he charged at Maul.
Maul blocked the incoming strikes from Anakin and forced the chosen one into a saber lock. Anakin tried to force his blade towards Maul's shoulder but his opponent fought back. Maul looked back at Obi-Wan and force pushed him away.
"No!"
Anakin struck furiously at Maul but he blocked every strike Anakin threw at him. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan struggled to get to his feet. Something in force felt off like it was trying to warn him of something. He looked towards Anakin and Maul dueling as he struggled to get to one knee. Anakin blocked one strike, then another, then Maul used his hilt and butted it against Anakin's chin. Obi-Wan's heart stopped as Maul spun around and stabbed Anakin in his gut.
"NOOOOOOO!" Screamed Obi-Wan.
Maul looked directly at Obi-Wan and smiled sadistically as he felt Anakin fall to his knees.
"Once again you have failed Obi-Wan, your apprentice is dying just like your master. You weren't strong enough to protect your master and you weren't strong enough to protect him," Maul taunted, gesturing to the fallen Jedi.
Obi-Wan felt the rage build up inside of him. He failed Qui-Gon, he wouldn't fail Anakin too. Obi-Wan force pulled his lightsaber towards him and ignited it. The two bitter rivals locked blades once again but Obi-Wan was determined to kill Maul. Obi-Wan had become more aggressive in his strike swinging madly at any openings he found. He then felt his lightsaber go through Maul's hilt rendering one half of the blade useless.
The two men continued to fight Maul on the defensive as Obi-Wan used the force to bring Anakin's lightsaber to him. Maul tried to block one of Obi-Wan's strike but Obi-Wan used his other blade and sliced off Maul's hand. The Zabrak's lightsaber fell to the ground as Obi-Wan tried to swing at Maul's other hand but missed. Maul rolled away from Obi-Wan and force pushed him away.
Maul used the force to bring his blade to him and began to run away. Obi-Wan got back on his feet and began to chase after Maul but the force told him not to. The Jedi master took deep breaths as he looked at the severed hand of Maul before remembering about Anakin.
"Anakin!"
Obi-Wan rushed to the young man's side and scooped him up in his arms. Satine rushed over to them and did the best she could to help the wounded Jedi.
"Anakin…" Obi-Wan whispered.
Anakin's eyes opened up, the blue orbs clearly in pain.
"Master…" Anakin replied in a hushed tone.
"I failed you Anakin, I failed you."
"You didn't… fail me… Master."
"I did, I wasn't strong enough to protect you. I'm sorry Anakin."
"There… is nothing… to be sorry… for."
Silence fell over the two as Obi-Wan held onto Anakin for dear life.
"Tell Padme… I'm… sorry and promise me… master… that you'll… finish Ahsoka's… training."
"Don't say that Anakin, you'll be fine, I promise you."
"Ben comm your men, tell them we need a medic."
"Cody come in Cody!" Obi-Wan yelled with desperation in his voice.
"What's wrong general?"
"I need a medic, Anakin is wounded."
"Sir we are under heavy fire here. We can't get to you."
"Then fall back, Mandalore is lost for now."
"Understood sir."
Obi-Wan lifted Anakin onto his shoulder and began to make his way out towards the landing zone. When he and Satine got there, they saw what was left of the landing force fighting desperately to hold off the attacking Mandalorians. When Ahsoka and Rex saw Obi-Wan carrying Anakin they feared the worst.
"Master!"
"There is no time Ahsoka, get on the gunships!" Obi-Wan yelled.
The landing party boarded their gunships and took off leaving Mandalore firmly in Maul's control. In Obi-Wan's gunship, the soldiers gathered around the Jedi Master as he laid Anakin on the floor. Rex took off his helmet as Ahsoka rushed to Anakin's side. Kix began his work on Anakin, applying a bacta patch to his wound.
"He's still alive," Kix said as he continued his work. "I don't have the tools on me to heal him fully, once we get to the ship though…"
"Do whatever you can to save him" Obi-Wan replied.
Rex sighed and placed his hand on Ahsoka's shoulder, doing his best at comforting the young padawan. All the soldiers in the gunship began to take off their helmets as a show of respect.
"Sir, at this point in time, General Skywalker is messed up. There is a 68% chance he won't survive the night" Kix said breaking the silence.
Obi-Wan said nothing as he only held on to Anakin's hand harder. They felt the gunship land and the doors opened, a group of medics greeting them. The medics loaded Anakin on a stretcher and rushed towards the med wing. Obi-Wan was about to rush after them but Satine put a hand on his shoulders.
"Ben, let the medics do their work."
"I have to be by his side, he is like a brother to me Satine."
Obi-Wan ran after the medics trying to reach Anakin's bedside as fast as he could. Satine sighed and walked over to Ahsoka who was looking at the door where Obi-Wan had run through. Satine placed a hand on her shoulder and looked towards the door as well.
"General Skywalker is lucky to be alive. Had the blade went just a couple of centimeters higher, well, you know…"
Obi-Wan nodded as he held onto Anakin's hand.
"What's unclear is when he'll wake up."
"Anakin is strong, he'll be up soon."
Kixx nodded at the general and left to go tend to other soldiers. Obi-Wan watched as Anakin's chest rose and fell listening to his labored breathing.
"I'm sorry Anakin, I am so, so sorry."
"Oh I am sure he knows you're sorry, that is until I mess with his memory," a voice said from behind him.
Obi-Wan turned around to face the voice and when he saw who he was facing he froze.
"I have been looking forward to our meeting Master Kenobi. I have heard many speak highly of you."
"Darth Sidious, how are you here, the men would have seen you."
"I have been in hiding for many years, I know how to keep myself hidden."
Obi-Wan ignited his lightsaber as Sidious laughed at his actions.
"Your lightsaber will not be necessary."
Obi-Wan's saber shut off when the sith lord waved his hand in front of him. Sidious began to walk towards him and Obi-Wan prepared to defend Anakin and himself.
"He is almost mine you know? Ever since I knew of his existence I have been corrupting him and he is too naive to understand."
"Anakin will never join you, I will make sure of it."
"Doubtful, you have known of my presence for many years now and you still can not find me. Tell me Kenobi how much anger did you use when you sliced off Maul's hand? Did you give in to your hate when Anakin was stabbed? Admit it Kenobi, you failed your master and you failed him, I plan to use that against him."
"You will leave him alone"
"And what will you do, Kenobi? Attack me?"
Obi-Wan's lightsaber once again came to life, the blade humming has he aimed the weapon towards the sith lord.
"Give in to your anger, strike me down and take my place."
"No… no, get out of my head."
Sidious laughed as he walked towards the Jedi master.
"You let your fear control you, your anger towards Maul is radiating off of you. You failed him and because of your failure Skywalker will be mine."
Sidious moved towards Anakin once again and Obi-Wan stuck him down. The sith's robes fell to the ground but his cackling laugh still filled his ears.
Obi-Wan jolted himself awake looking around to find where Sidious had gone to only to be met with the sight of Anakin on his bed.
"Another nightmare…" Obi-Wan told himself.
Ahsoka walked into the med bay and made her way over to where Obi-Wan was sat next to Anakin.
"How is he?" Ahsoka asked.
"Better, Kixx said that he'll be fine."
"That's good, I was worried about him. When I saw you carrying him on his shoulder, I thought he was dead. I couldn't sense him through the force and seeing you so distraught, I… I…" Ahsoka said with tears threatening to fall.
"It's okay little one. What matters is that he is okay for now."
The two of them sat in silence for a brief while before Ahoska spoke up.
"Master, the Dutchess wanted me to tell you that she would like to talk with you. She is in your quarters and I'll watch Anakin for you" Ahsoka said.
"Thanks, Ahsoka, I guess I'll go see her then."
Obi-Wan looked at Anakin one last time before walking away leaving his Padawan and his grand-padawan alone. Walking through the halls of the Resolute felt weird without having Anakin by his side. Watching the men do their work though put his mind at ease somewhat. Once he reached his room, Obi-Wan felt his nerves flaring but he had to push them down if he was to talk to Satine.
Obi-Wan walked through the door and his heart stopped seeing Satine. 'Calm down Obi-Wan, you just saw her a little while ago' he thought.
"Ben… I… Thank you for saving me once again" Satine said.
"Satine I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"Everything. Ahsoka told me about my funeral and I have felt bad every day since then. I should have told you."
"Your right you should have. I thought you died, I thought I wouldn't be able to tell you that I loved you ever again."
Obi-Wan briefly looked down in sorrow before briskly walking up to Satine and pressed his lips against hers. With his actions and tension in the room, immediately left. Satine wrapped her hands around his neck and leaned into his body as the kiss deepened. Eventually, the two separated but left their foreheads touching.
"Satine, I love you. I always have and I always will."
"Leave the order then."
"Not now, not until the war is over my love."
Satine sighed and looked down but Obi-Wan placed a hand on her chin.
"Satine you don't know how badly I want all of this. You know I can't leave in the middle of the war. I promise you Satine, this war will be over soon and we can have all of this."
Satine nodded before turning around to sit on the cot. Obi-Wan sat next to her and looked at the Mandalorian woman. The next thing he knew his Jedi robes had come undone.
Rex walked into the medical lab as Kixx requested. The clone Captain was still shaken by the death of his brother Fives and was determined to get to the bottom of what Fives said he found. Going against protocol, he had removed the biochip in his head and had Kixx examine it.
"Well Kixx, what did you find out?" Rex asked.
"Well I found something out and well, you're not gonna like it Rex old boy"
Kixx handed Rex a datapad and the clone captain began reading over its contents. The further the read, the more shocked he became. The biochip was filled with contingency orders ranging from something as minor as searching for a traitor to genociding an entire planet to find a criminal. Then he found something that made his heart stop… Order 66.
"Kixx, what in the sith hells is this. Order 66, in the event, that the Chancellor deems the Jedi traitors of the republic, we are to kill the Jedi traitors until a new command structure can be established."
"Rex, the way I see it is that if that order comes crashing down on us, who's to say the Palpatine won't deem all the Jedi are traitors. He'll make us kill the General and commander Tano."
"Fives was right Kixx, he was right. I need to tell General Kenobi and Cody."
"No Rex, Cody won't believe you, not at first anyway. He might bring this up to the chancellor himself."
"But General Kenobi will believe us and won't let the chancellor know. He needs to know, he'll decide what's best to do in this situation."
Kixx nodded as Rex left the lab, making his way over to Kenobi's quarters. As he was leaving the lab he looked over to where Skywalker lay wounded. Rex sighed silently wishing the general would be okay.
Rex reached Kenodi's quarters and knocked on the door. After a while, he could hear shuffling and voices from inside the room. Obi-Wan opened the door wearing nothing but his pants.
"Uhh, am I interrupting something?" Rex asked.
"No… No, you're, uh, you're good Rex, come in" Obi-Wan stuttered.
Rex nodded and walked in. Upon seeing the Dutchess Rex respectfully bowed and took a mental note that her hair was a mess and in Kenobi's robes.
"What did you want Rex? Oh, I'm sorry, would you like anything to drink, a Correllian whiskey?" Obi-Wan asked making his way over to his drink storage.
"No sir, I'm good thank you. I need you to look at this."
Rex handed the datapad to Obi-Wan who began reading it. After a brief moment, Obi-Wan's expression changed as he continued reading. Then he reached the thing Rex wanted him to look at. Obi-Wan looked up from the datapad and looked at Rex.
"I don't understand why would that be necessary?"
"What would be necessary Ben?"
"Order 66, in the event that the Jedi have been deemed traitors by the supreme commander of the GAR which is the Chancellor, the clones are to kill the traitorous Jedi until and new command structure can be established" Obi-Wan read from the datapad.
"That's insane, why would the Keminoans put that in the clones, first of all. And second, couldn't the clones disregard the order.
"Us clone have a biochip in our heads to make us more 'obedient' to our commanders. Inside the biochip is that order and at any kriffing moment Palpatine can deem the Jedi traitors and we would be forced to kill them against our will!" Rex replied frustrated.
"This can't be real, I have to be having another nightmare. When I wake up I'll be back laying on the ground on Mandalore."
"Ben, what are you talking about?"
"I've been having nightmares or visions now, I guess. They are about events that have yet to happen, I saw this order 66 in my dreams. I don't know what to make of it anymore."
"Ben, you should've told me or Anakin."
"That's not it, Count Dooku told me that the sith lord has control over the senate and with this revelation of order 66. I think Palpatine is either working for the sith lord or…"
"He is the sith lord" Rex finished.
"Ben, you'll have to bring this up to the council," Satine said.
"I agree, I think the council should be made aware of these biochips and the possibility of Palpatine working with the sith."
"Sir, with no disrespect towards you or the council, I don't think that is such a good idea. There is very low public support for the Jedi and if they decide to take action against Palpatine…"
"He will enact order 66…"
"We have to do something then."
"I think I know where we could start. I'm going to com Cody and tell him about the biochip."
"Sir, I know Cody well, do you think that is such a good idea."
"Of course, he is just like you Rex, always wants to do things right. He just does it by the book most of the time."
Rex nodded grabbed the datapad Obi-Wan hand handed back to him. Rex made his way over the door and looked at Obi-Wan.
"Oh and General."
"Yes, Rex?"
"Try and keep it down, my bunk is right next door."
Obi-Wan redded a bit and Rex laughed as he walked out the door.
Sidious smirked when Obi-Wan had driven his lightsaber through his dream from. To him, it was a sign that the Jedi master was breaking. All he needed to do was nudge Kenobi further towards the dark side and soon the destruction of the Jedi would be upon them. Sidious sensed Obi-Wan's weakness when it came to the dutchess of Mandalore and Anakin Skywalker, he would exploit that. The dark lord began waiting for Obi-Wan to fall asleep and when he did, he began the dark ritual once again.
