4
Anakin threw himself completely into the war, pushing himself harder than he ever had to fill the hole in his heart. Being away from the capital for many months, he had not seen Padmé in all that time. That made it somewhat easier, but when he lie awake at night, he couldn't help but think of her. He blamed himself for what had happened, and he reproached himself for being so foolish. Why had he assumed that Padmé would be interested in another man? Surely she had proven her love to him countless times. She had agreed to marry him, despite her misgivings, despite all the barriers; and yet, he couldn't see past his own petty jealousy. I should have left the Order for her, he told himself. I should have devoted myself to her and her alone. She deserved no less….but now it's too late. I've lost her for good. And it's my own fault.
The Outer Rim Sieges, a series of battles stretched out over the vast area of wild space, overextended the Jedi thinly in a vain effort to contain the Separatist incursions. They were orchestrated, of course, by the Sith Lord in order to diminish the impact of the Jedi presence and wear them down. This was all in preparation for the Sith Lord's grand plan to destroy the Jedi once and for all.
Yerbana
Commander Cody and the 212th were in bad shape. With their support ships destroyed by Separatist forces, the clones on the surface were fighting a losing battle. Unable to locate the tactical droid in order to destroy it, Cody and his men were starting to feel like things were stacked against them.
Cody looked up as a missile closed in on him, and he thought that this was it for him. However, at the last minute, Obi-Wan jumped in and used his lightsaber to deflect the blast.
"General!" Cody said in relief. "Great timing!"
"Get down, Cody!" Obi-Wan said as he began deflecting the laser blasts back at the droids.
"The tactical droid is staying out of sight, General," Cody said as he and Obi-Wan regrouped.
Obi-Wan frowned, knowing that taking out the tactical droid was critical. "Where the devil is Anakin?" he grumbled.
"Right here."
Obi-wan and Cody looked up to see Anakin standing there, not even trying to take cover from the incoming laser fire.
"What are you doing down there?" Anakin asked Obi-Wan, an amused expression on his face.
"What does it look like?" Obi-Wan retorted. "Taking cover! You'd be wise to do the same."
Anakin chuckled. "Come on, there can't be more than a thousand droids," he said, looking in the direction of the huge collection of droids.
"What are you doing?" Obi-Wan said starting to get a familiar bad feeling. "Where is Rex?"
Anakin shrugged. "Well, we finished our battle so we thought we'd come and help you."
Obi-Wan shook his head, annoyed with Anakin's arrogance. "Don't you think you're laying it on a bit thick? Even for you?"
Anakin smirked, and looked down at him. "Well, which would you prefer? I could hide here with you, and let the people of the city suffer longer, or we do things my way and end this right here."
"What do you have in mind?" Obi-Wan asked, deciding that he really didn't have a lot of options.
Anakin smirked again. "Just stay here," he said.
The Separatist droids in the command post watched in astonishment as Anakin strode out to meet them.
"Hold your fire!" Anakin shouted, putting his hands up. "I've come to surrender! You have fought valiantly," Anakin continued, "clearly we are outmatched." He went on to describe their valliance, their bravery, their tenacity- laying it on thick, as Obi-Wan would say. But their was, as always, method to his madness. Anakin smiled when he saw the tactical droid appear, no doubt there to see why the droids had stopped firing on their objective. There it is, he reflected with satisfaction, and gave R2-D2 a signal. Using the Force, Anakin yanked the tactical droid towards him and then decapitated it with his lightsaber. At once Captain Rex and his troops activated their jetpack and attacked the Separatist forces, destroying them with explosives and laser fire.
"Go ahead Cody," Obi-Wan said, seeing how anxious his captain was to get into the fight.
As the clones of the 212th ran towards the fighting, Obi-wan walked over to Anakin.
"Impressive, Anakin," Obi-Wan said with a smile.
"Well, you hiding there helped with my plan," Anakin told him.
Obi-Wan chuckled. "Always happy to help."
"General Skywalker we have received contact from someone using his subspace frequency Fulcrum," Admiral Yularen informed him over the comlink. "It would be best for you to take this transmission back on the ship."
Anakin and Obi-Wan arrived on the bridge of Yularen's Star Destroyer a short time later.
"All right, Admiral," Anakin said, "what is so important that you brought us all the way back here?" Yularen stepped back to reveal Ahsoka Tano on a holoprojector. She turned to him, looking serious and without a hint of a smile. "Hello Master," she said. "It's been a while."
Anakin was shocked but delighted to see her and smiled. "Ahsoka! How are you? Where are you?"
"I'm fine," she said. "I have urgent information for the Jedi Council. Lady Bo-Katan Kryze and I have located Maul," she said, indicating the woman at her side. "If we move swiftly, we can capture him." Anakin and Obi-Wan exchanged a look.
"Perhaps you ought to come aboard," Obi-Wan suggested.
A short time later, Anakin and Obi-Wan watched as a Mandalorian shuttled landed in the hangar. Anakin smiled when he saw Ahsoka emerge, noting how grown up she was. He'd missed her tremendously, and was eager to get caught up with her. It had been so long.
"Ahsoka!" Anakin said, walking to her. "It's wonderful to see you!"
But Ahsoka was all business. "We'll have to get caught up later," she said. "Things are moving quickly. Every minute we waste gives Maul the opportunity to slip away."
Anakin was disappointed and a little hurt by Ahsoka's coolness, but said nothing.
"Please follow us," Obi-Wan said, and led the women to the ship's war room.
"Bo-Katan has been tracking Maul for months," Ahsoka explained. "I was able to obtain transmission codes from the Pykes to help pinpoint his previous locations."
Anakin frowned, wondering what Ahsoka was doing tangling with the Pykes.
"We know that he is in the city of Sundari, on Mandalore," Bo-Katan explained.
"How do you know this?" Obi-Wan asked.
"He arrived two days ago," Bo-Katan replied.
Obi-Wan frowned. "So…why are you here? Why are you seeking the Republic's help?"
Bo-Katan exchanged an uneasy look with Ahsoka. "We lack the numbers needed for a siege," she explained. "Maul will escape without a full lockdown of the city. I'm proposing a joint operation to capture Maul and liberate Mandalore."
Obi-Wan shook his head. "What you're asking would break treaties that are a hundred years old," he said. "And draw the Republic into another war."
"We haven't finished with the first one, yet," Anakin said with a smirk.
"We will advise the Jedi Council of this development," Obi-Wan said. "That is all we can do, I'm afraid."
Bo-Katan grew frustrated. "There is no time to consult the Jedi Council! Maul's influence is destroying my people. Have you forgotten what he did to my sister? Someone you once cared about?"
"I will not allow my feelings for her to cloud my judgment," Obi-Wan aid. "This is a matter for the Jedi Council to decide." With this he left the room.
"I told you this was a waste of time," Bo-Katan told Ahsoka with a frown, and stormed off.
Anakin and Ahsoka were left alone.
"So, that went well, all things considered," Anakin said with a smile.
Ahsoka scoffed. "You two certainly haven't changed," she commented.
"Is that a bad thing?" Anakin asked. She didn't reply, which essentially gave him her answer.
"Come on. I have a surprise for you," he told her.
Anakin lead her into a hangar where she was greeted by Captain Rex and his company, all with helmets painted in the likeness of her facial tattoos. At Rex's command, the clone troopers stood at attention. Ahsoka was shocked.
"As soon as Rex and the guys knew you were back, they got to work," Anakin explained.
"The paint job is a little crude," Rex explained to her, "but we think it gets the idea across. Glad to have you back, Commander."
"Rex, thank you," Ahsoka said, looking up at him with a smile. "But you don't have to call me commander anymore."
Rex smiled. "Sure thing, Commander."
"Oh. I have one more surprise for you," Anakin said, takin a small wooden box from Rex. But before he could give it to Ahsoka, klaxons began to sound and Obi-wan rushed into the room.
"Anakin, Rex, prepare all forces," Obi-Wan said. "We're jumping to hyperspace immediately."
"Yes, sir!" Rex said. "You heard him, lads! Let's go!"
Ahsoka watched as the clones jumped into action, and turned to Obi-wan. "So, the attack on Mandalore was approved?" she asked hopefully.
"No, it's Coruscant," Obi-wan said. "Grievous has attacked the capitol. We have lost contact with Master Shaak Ti who was sent to protect the Chancellor. We must leave immediately."
"So that's it?" Ahsoka asked in irritation. "You're going to abandon Bo-Katan and her people?"
Obi-wan sighed. "Ahsoka, surely you understand this is a pivotal moment in the Clone Wars. The heart of the Republic is under attack."
"I understand that, as usual, you're playing politics," Ahsoka said hotly. "This is why the people have lost faith in the Jedi. I had too, until I was reminded of what the Order means to people who truly need us."
"Right now, people on Coruscant need us," Obi-Wan told her, trying to remain patient.
"No. The Chancellor needs you," Ahsoka retorted.
"That's not fair."
"I'm not trying to be."
Anakin, tired of being caught in the middle, made a suggestion. "I'll divide the 501st, make a new division under Ahsoka's command."
"Unfortunately, Ahsoka is no longer a part of the Grand Army of the Republic," Obi-Wan pointed out.
But Anakin wasn't about to give up. He felt compelled to help Ahsoka, no matter what. "We'll promote Rex to Commander and have him lead the new division," he suggested, "Ahsoka can go with him as an adviser. What do you say?" he said, looking at Ahsoka hopefully.
"I accept," she said. "That is, if Obi-Wan agrees."
"Very well," Obi-Wan relented.
Anakin smiled.
"May the Force be with you," Obi-Wan said to Ahsoka. "Oh, one other thing: I killed Maul once. Best to capture him. He doesn't seem to stay dead."
Once Obi-Wan had left, Ahsoka turned to Anakin. "Thanks for the support. As always."
"That's what friends are for," Anakin replied. "If you're going to face Maul, you'll need these," he said, giving her the box. She opened it, a smile spreading over her face when she beheld her beloved lightsabers.
"I took care of them," Anakin said. "They're good as new. Maybe a little better."
Ahsoka smiled.
"You capture Maul. I'll take care of Grievous," Anakin said. "With any luck, this will all be over soon."
"Master Kenobi always said there's no such thing as luck," Ahsoka reminded him.
Anakin smiled. "Good thing I taught you otherwise." He turned to leave.
"Anakin!"
He turned back to her.
"Good luck."
Anakin smiled, and then left her.
Naboo
Ruwee and Jobal had been closely following the news ever since the assault upon the capital had occurred. The abduction of the Chancellor had sent shockwaves through the Republic, as its citizens waited anxiously for his safe return. Luckily the two greatest Jedi warriors, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi, had been sent to rescue the Chancellor. If anyone could get him back safely, it was Skywalker and Kenobi.
"Anything new?" Padmé asked as she sat down with her parents to watch the latest news.
"No," Ruwee told her. "I imagine the rescue operation is underway right now."
Padmé nodded. Anakin is involved in the rescue…he'll be facing Grievous and Dooku… she frowned as she considered this.
"Are you all right, Padmé?" Jobal asked.
"Yes," Padmé replied. "Just…concerned about the situation on Coruscant."
"You're worried about Anakin," Jobal said. "That's only natural."
Padmé looked at her mother. "Yes, you're right Mom, I am," she said. "I know what he's up against. I can't help but worry."
Jobal and Ruwee exchanged a look. Despite everything, they both knew how much their daughter still loved Anakin Skywalker.
"Anakin has been in plenty of tough situations," Ruwee reminded her. "He'll be fine. He's the Hero with No Fear, remember?"
Padmé smiled. "Yes, he is."
"Look, it's the Chancellor!" Jobal said, as the image of Palpatine surrounded by his cronies appeared. "They got him!"
"As if there was ever a doubt," Ruwee said with a smile.
But Padmé wasn't listening to her parents, nor was she watching Palpatine. Her eyes darted over the images, trying to catch a glimpse of Anakin.
And now, one of the heroes of this daring rescue, General Anakin Skywalker…
"It's Anakin!" Padmé said. Her heart raced as she watched him address the media, knowing how much he hated doing so. And yet, he spoke well, and it made her proud of him to watch him so poised and mature. I miss you, Ani, she thought, starting to grow emotional. It had been so long since she'd seen him or heard the sound of his voice that she simply took him in as he spoke briefly to the reporters who were hanging on his every word.
General Kenobi and I were able to secure the Chancellor without injury. Unfortunately General Grievous escaped us, but we will capture him, have no fear. Count Dooku? Dooku is dead. I killed him myself.
Padmé was surprised by this, for she knew that Anakin had encountered Dooku before, many times. Dooku had taken Anakin's arm a few years earlier, and had proven himself a formidable enemy.
"Well, with Dooku dead, we just took one step closer to ending this war," Ruwee said. "Don't you think? Padmé?"
"Yes, you're right, Dad," Padmé said. She stood up slowly. "Excuse me, but I'm rather tired," she said. "I think I'm going to bed."
"Are you sure you're all right, dear?" Jobal asked.
"Yes," Padmé said. "Goodnight."
Padmé headed to her bedroom to get ready for bed. She sat down heavily on the side of her bed, rubbing her abdomen. The twins were quite active, and she wondered how well she would sleep. I miss you, Ani, she thought as she got ready for bed. Have I made a mistake? Was I too impatient? He's fighting in a war…did I treat him too harshly?
Padmé climbed into bed, lying on her side. The image of Anakin as he addressed the media filled her mind as she closed her eyes and drifted into an uneasy sleep.