In which order 66 happens slightly earlier.
"I know Anakin," stated Ahsoka, as she lighted her sabres. "Your vision is flawed"
Maul looked like he was about to answer when a disturbance in the force hit her. Her connection with her master shuddered, got tinged by the dark and almost disappeared. Panicking, Ahsoka looked at Maul, who was watching her with a smirk on his face.
The young Togruta lunged towards the Sith, trying to incapacitate her rival. However, her concern for Anakin was great, and her swing went wide, the zabrak barely using his staff to deflect a couple of close jabs. And then it happened again. A disturbance in the force. No, disturbance would be calling it mildly. It was an imbalance of cataclysmic proportions, as if the Force herself was about to fall into the abyss. The light bond she had with Plo Koon burned in fire just to banish immediately into nothing, as she felt his and other Jedis death in the Force.
Vision clouded, she turned towards Maul, who was now leaning on his throne, eyes closed. The Togruta narrowed her eyes, pointing her sabre towards the former dark apprentice. "What did you do? What is happening?!"
Maul shushed, almost as if she was an annoying fly. Irritation built up inside of Ahsoka before Maul opened his eyes again. "My former master plan in action, young one. I told you your master was being groomed to take my place."
Before Ahsoka could bite back, her comm beeped, and Bo Katan's panicked voice was heard through the speakers. "Ahsoka! What is happening? The clones had stopped fighting and are headed straight to your position!"
The former-jedi looked confused towards Maul, who looked curious before realization dawned in his eyes. "Brilliant" he chuckled, before looking towards Ahsoka. "Brilliant! My master has turned the Jedi army against them!"
Ahsoka felt nauseous. Was Maul telling the truth? Were Rex and the rest of the guys trying to kill her right now? "I need to go" she said, her mind a thousand parsecs per hour.
"Where, Lady Tano?" asked Maul. "Towards your clone friends trying to kill you? Or towards the Republic, where the Jedi are currently being wiped out?"
Instead of extending his hand like before, Maul moved his hands towards his comm. "As I told you young one, together, we can defeat my master. But we must join forces, and act fast"
Time seemed to stop as Ahsoka thought. There was not much time, and her options were limited. Praying to the force that she was not committing the worst mistake of her life, she contacted Bo again. "Stun the clones. The Death Watch will not interfere"
Jesse awoke with a heavy headache, worse than some of the bigger parties the 501st had given. Blinking he found himself in a sterile room, with three other clones, one awake and two sedated. He almost jumped when he saw the horned helmet of one of the Mandalorians near the door, but the one next to him had the blue decorations of the Nite Owls, and they were still their allies as far as he knew. Confused, he turned towards the other awake clone, a shiny named Sparky. "What's happening?"
Before the shiny could answer, one of the Mandalorians did it for him. "You will learn it in a couple hours. Your commander will explain everything"
The hope of hearing Ahsoka again banished as soon as the clones saw her. The Togruta looked tired, distracted, and overstressed as she addressed the clones. The two Mandalorian factions looked ready to start shooting at each other, while Maul looked satisfied. Jesse disliked that look on that face infinitely.
"Yesterday," started Ahsoka. "The Jedi were proscribed and are being hunted down by orders of the Chancellor, under the charges of treason. The rest of the vod was responsible for executing that order." Jesse was sure he was not the only one who was palling up at Ahsoka's words. Especially after she levitated a small bloodied electronic. "These things were in each of your heads. Chips designed to make sure every single clone complied with the order against the Jedi."
Murmurs rippled through the squadron as the clones looked at each other horrified. "As of now, I would be surprised if there are more than fifty Jedi in the whole galaxy." Murmurs turned to gasps at that statement.
"While we speak, the Republic is being reorganised into an empire, according to our spies in other planets." Ahsoka took a moment to regain her composure before saying. "I will fight against what I know is a power hungry Sith, who had tricked billions in his deranged quest for power. But I will not force you to do it yourselves." With a small smile, she made a gesture with her arm. "If you think your loyalty remains with this Empire, you will be allowed to leave, unarmed, and return to them. But if not…" The Togruta eyes burned with determination. "I will more than welcome you into this fight"
The Empire moved fast to consolidate its power, which only meant that the new alliance had to move even faster. Using the network and secret lanes known by Mauls crime syndicates, the new army sent a small squad to Kashyyyk. The 41st legion was lost after Gree's death and was sustaining heavy fire from the remaining separatists' armies and some Wookie squads who realized what was happening, making them easy prey to the Mandalorians, who managed to kidnap almost half of the clone troopers without too much hassle. The lack of a solid foot on Kashyyyk meant that the Wookies remained a thorn in the Empire side for months.
Another squad, commanded by Ahsoka herself, used Ord Mantell to make a straight line to Mygeeto and capture the 21st Nova Corps, thinned after heavy fire from the powerful separatist garrison. After executing commander Bacara for treason, Ahsoka returned with a new squad of clones and a couple of republic cruisers to add to the army. After being dechipped, the vast majority joined the growing Mandalorian army.
The neutral region was not a priority for the Empire, which gave Maul and Ahsoka enough time to secure the Mandalorian space and the bigger planets nearby. The first troops sent by Palpatine to pacify Systems like Taris were surprised to face organized clones and Mandalorian warriors alike instead of civilians, making them easier to capture. Soon rumours started to spread about a new Mandalorian rebellion, who wanted to oppose the new empire. From Ryloth arrived almost a thousand clones under Captain Howzer command to join the insurgence.
Then the real battles started. Fearing more treason from their troops, the Empire accelerated the decommissioning of the clones, exponentially increasing the number of deserters joining the Mandalorian army. That action turned to be counterproductive, as the clones had no love for the faceless stormtroopers, since they weren't part of the vod allowing them to fight more viciously. The conflicts extended for over a year of skirmishes, with the Empire growingly increasing the intensity. It was at Ord Mantell however, where everything went truly downhill.
Sensing Maul´s interference, Palpatine had finally sent force sensitives to face him. His hate to his failed apprentice clouded his sense, choosing to send five inquisitors instead of Vader to face the Zabrak. And as such, the Inquisitorius lost half its members in a single night.
While neither were proud of their role in the Jedi purge, both the 41st and the 21st had defeated Jedi masters, and these creatures were not nearly as powerful. The one who answered to Second Sister fell to the green snipers, while the heavy fire of the Nova Corps overwhelmed Fifth Brother´s defence. Wanting to make Mandalore proud, Gar Saxon killed the Third Sister with his flamethrower, rendering her sabre useless.
However, the tragedy would occur somewhere else. Ahsoka and Torrent company were defending one of the Black Suns hangars when a dark clothed figure slimmed her way through the fire and sent a fast attack over the surprised clones. The Togruta ran as fast as she could towards the attacker, but she was too slow. Before she could do anything, she saw the red blade pierce through Rex´s armour.
Something broke as Ahsoka saw her last remaining friend fall. Anakin and Obi-Wan likely dead. Barriss´ betrayal. Her expulsion from the Jedi Order. Everything that had built up in the now five years of war snapped inside her as the Inquisitor removed her mask, revealing green Mirialan skin.
The Seventh Sister felt the embrace of the dark side of the force around her, grabbing her and lifting her in the air. The playful smile turned to a panicked stare as she realized she couldn't compete with Ahsoka's power. First the armour, then her ribs contracted as the Togruta used the Force to crush the pitiful darksider, eyes shining gold until life abandoned the mirialan, throwing her body aside.
Boringly duelling the Grand Inquisitor, Maul felt the rush of the dark side of the force with pleasure, using two precise cuts to finish the fight. "Finally,"
Battle won, Maul approached Ahsoka, who was holding Rex´s body with care, under the concerned eyes of the remaining 501st. Softly speaking, the zabrak stated. "You were too weak to protect your friend, Lady Tano"
Jesse had to be contained to avoid lunging towards the Sith, but Ahsoka didn't react. Maul simply asked. "Will you be weak again?"
To that, Ahsoka did react, turning her gaze towards him. While the eyes were not fully yellow, the rim remained bloodshot, as a pretty gold ring surrounded her natural blue eyes. That was her answer. Maul smiled.
One year later saw a handful of senators gathered in Senator Bail Organa's palace. Originally, those reunions where limited to republican-friendly individuals like Riyo Chuchi or Mon Mothma. However, the growing violence in the galaxy had done more for the antiimperialist cause that any of Bails efforts to grow a rebellion, gathering some loyalist imperials in their ranks.
"Raada was burned to the ground last week. Orbital bombardment!" nearly screamed Pel Talon, a man so high up in the Empire that Bail was seriously considering him to be a possible spy. However, the sheer terror and indignation in the man's face would be quite hard to feign. "It was just a farming moon for the love-"
Ivor Drake, former senator and now hunted by the Empire interrupted the senator´s tirade. "We believe it is retaliation from the destruction of the naval shipyard in Fondor. Nearly a million people died in that attack, between troopers, technicians and pilots"
"How has this gone for so long?" Despite the respect she commanded, it was easy to see just how young Riyo Chuchi was, when her voice wavered like that. "How can a singular system challenge the whole Empire one on one?"
A small cough called attention to the door. Hooded, Obi-Wan served as secret advisor to Bail. While most of the presents had deduced his standing as a former Jedi, neither really cared about the former keepers of peace, as none really bought the official story about Order 66. "I believe we have some visitors who could shed some light in that subject."
Five men entered the room. For the untrained eye they looked like any other smart traveller. Discreet but evident weapons, rough expressions, and tired eyes. None made any comment of the young girl who had her hand clenched with the leader.
"I introduce you to clone force 99. They escaped from Mandalore a month ago"
The senators turned interestedly towards the newly arrived group. "Escaped?" inquired Mon Mothma.
"We weren't prisoners, if that's what you are asking" answered the leader, handing the girl towards the bigger guy, who promptly guided her towards a seat in the corner. "We simply suspect that announcing our departure would have changed that status" He sighed. "Tech?"
The one with the goggles stepped forward. "Mandalore is not fighting this war alone. Their leader, a Zabrak named Maul has alliances with The Hutts, the Pyke Syndicate and the Black Sun, as well as other smaller crime associations. Besides that, almost a fourth of the former clone army has joined their forces."
"The clones are fighting for a Sith lord?" Bail was usually well informed, and while Obi-Wan had shared his suspicions with him, he needed to inform the rest of his senatorial allies.
"Not happily" answered the one with the weird mark in his eye. "The regs are being forced to choose between being forcibly retired from the imperial army, probably towards termination, or joining the Mandalorians. They don't have that many options."
Silence reigned as despair filled the hearts of the senators. Obi-Wan whispered softly, and yet, they all heard him. "We are trapped in between a Sith war. The leaders of this conflict are two beings who had no respect for any sentient life other than theirs. Fighting one, would only help the other."
"So, what do we do?" asked Riyo.
Sadly, Obi Wan answered. "Protect the innocents"
It took another half a year for the war to end. Discreetly.
Maul and Ahsoka had travelled towards Malachor, searching for anything that could give them an edge over their enemies. By the mysterious ways of the force, Vader and the Emperor had the same idea. At the same time.
The Mandalorian guards who had escorted their leaders were blasted from the sky with a single lightning bolt from Sidious. The Imperial guards tried to protect the Emperor but were cut down in half by Mauls sabre. Only the four Sith stood now.
"So, the pathetic impostors finally meet their demise" snarled Sidious, anger pouring to the force.
Maul bared his teeth. "If you are not going to give me what is rightfully mine, I will take it!"
"If only you had shown that determination 10 years ago"
During the verbal fight between Maul and Sidious, Vader and Ahsoka stood. Silently looking at each other, first as possible opponents, as their bond tentatively reached to each other. Silently, they stood while the others argued, until finally, Ahsoka smirked.
Sidious barely parried Vader´s blow and jumped away, panic and surprise leaking in his expression. While at first, he thought treachery, he soon realized that it was a spur of the moment decision. For centuries, the apprentice would wait for the best moment to defeat and conquer his master, just as Sidious did by murdering Darth Plagueis in his sleep. Vader clearly thought this was that moment.
Five sabres against one. Despite his wounds, Vader was still the chosen one, with a connection to the force unrivalled in the galaxy. Maul was fuelled by years of hatred and desires for revenge, and had been trained by Sidious himself, the extra edge being given by the anger of the Nightsisters, calling for the Emperor´s blood.
Ahsoka, meanwhile, had no special power behind her other than her will and her experience, dwarfed by the one of Sidious. However, the political games in Mandalore had given her more cunning than anyone expected. Until Vader´s power and Maul´s speed could knock out the giant that was Sidious, she had to keep them alive.
Three times Sidious tried to nullify Vader´s suit with Force lighting, and three times Ahsoka stood between, just enough time to block the attempt without getting herself in risk. When Sidious focused on Maul, she threw a couple of light swings, not enough to actually touch the Sith Master, but enough to aid the zabrak and his relatively weak defence.
The emperor was getting annoyed as he, a giant among worms, had to deal with two insolent apprentices and was being stopped in his quest to teach them a lesson by an insolent Togruta more akin to a fly than a Sith. Gathering his strength, he sent a powerful push, breaking the Togruta´s defence and sending her towards a ledge. Fortunately for Ahsoka, the ledge had a small step not even 5 meters lower, so she was able to grab onto the edge and avoided falling to her death. Unfortunately for Sidious, his anger clouded his vision, and committed a bit too much to the movement.
Two sabres pierced through the Emperor´s body as Vader and Maul stabbed him, one destroying the lungs while the other severed the lower spine. With a small gasp of surprise, Sidious fell to the ground.
Both men were cautious as they knew the power of the Dark Side of the Force. Maul stabbed the body repeatedly while Vader beheaded and then pierced the skull, trying their best to prevent any possible shenanigans from their shared master. Afterwards, they just stared at each other, not extinguishing their blades. Pointless stalemate, that was interrupted when a red blade pierced through Maul´s chest.
Both Sith's stared with different degrees of surprise as their shared apprentice removed her lightsabre from the zabrak, who fell and died quicker than the Emperor. The masters were dead, and the apprentices stared at each other.
Vader broke the silence. "Will you return to your place by my side?"
Ahsoka extinguished her sabres and kneeled, submitting once again as a Sith apprentice. "What is thy bidding, my Master?"
Vader's modulated voice answered. "For you to raise, Darth Nexus. Now, a true Lady of the Sith"
The war ended swiftly after that.
There were talks in the Mandalorian ranks about an attack on Lady Nexus, now the owner of the darksabre. However, it was Ursa Wren´s voice the one who prevailed.
"Even if we recover the sabre, you can guarantee that the new emperor will avenge her. I prefer a decent ruler that we already know, instead of the monstrosity of Emperor Vader."
However, Bo Katan ended up governing Mandalore. As her imperial duties prevailed, Ahsoka named the Nite Owl as Governor of the planet, with almost limitless power unless she did "something incredibly foolish" in Nexus words.
Mandalore soon discovered that their leader hadn't forgotten about them. The planet went to be considered the second capital of the Empire, and for the Empire hierarchy, being a Mandalorian turned out to be profitable.
The armies mixed up, with clones taking on the retirement offers, as well as the training posts in the Empire. Mandalorian warriors went to become squad leaders and generals, and it was common to see beskar-clad warriors leading the spotless stormtroopers. Gar Saxon was rewarded with leadership posts in the navy, as so many other generals.
The 501st refused retirement as long as they could. It soon became tradition that a clone would only retire when they were certain their replacement was up to the standards of Nexus personal legion. The last one, of course, was Jesse, who only retired to the green fields of Naboo when Ursa Wren took the captaincy of the blue legion, making sure that the commander, now royalty of the Empire, was safe. In memory of Rex, and all the others fallen.
Privately, Ursa was hoping to soon inherit the post to one of her children. She had faith in his elder Tristan, but secretly, Ahsoka had her hopes in little Sabine. There was something intriguing about the girl and the Togruta made sure to keep her happy, spoiling her with attention and gifts, even letting her express her art in her private ship. When Sabine Wren took the leadership of the 501st, there was no force in the galaxy that could face the feared legion.
The business with the cartels was more miscellaneous. The Black Sun was basically in shambles at the end of the war, so Ahsoka disbanded it without too much hassle. The Pykes, in their infinite wisdom recognized the new order and submitted. Their reward? Full control over commerce in the Outer Rim, with their secret routes and hyperspace lane launching the efficacy and control over the region, more than any tactic Tarkin had tried before. Secretly, Nexus kept under wraps Maul´s pet project. Crimson Dawn would start smaller and humbler, but she had confidence that, if that idiot of Dryden Vos could keep the small crime syndicate afloat for a couple years, young Qi'ra could make it grow. She had no hurry to challenge Vader, but when the time arrived, she was going to be ready.
As for the Hutts, the slugs thought the end of the conflicts meant weakness from both sides. Forming an alliance with the shattered Zygerrian empire, they attempted to expel the Empire from the Hutt Space and nearby planets. The new war came with immense support from the core, as they saw the Empire was trying to finally give peace, only to be shattered by the greed of the Hutts. Privately, Vader and Nexus welcomed the challenge. After all, peace is a lie.
Leading the offensive, Ahsoka took the controversial but ultimately successful decision of inviting Cham Syndulla to war. The Twi'lek was distrustful of both the Empire and Mandalore, but not even he could refuse the opportunity to take revenge on the two main culprits of slavery in the galaxy. Led by a Togruta and a Twi'lek, the two most enslaved species in the galaxy, the imperial army destroyed the remnants of the Zygerrian, and cornered the Hutts on Nall Hutta and Tatooine.
It was in the last where the newly finished Death Star awaited, with a confused Chiss talking to two Sith.
"I'm afraid I don't understand your highness" asked Grand Moff Thrawn. "If we must use this monstrosity, its destructive capacity would be better employed against Nal Hutta, not this forgotten corner of the galaxy"
Vader didn't answer, so Nexus had to intervene. "Destroying the capital would end millions of lives, Moff. Par contrast, this force-forsaken ball of sand would barely be close to thousands."
"We aren't cruel people, Moff." The dead serious tone of Vader made Thrawn consider the comment as a joke, but then decided against it.
"We will only use this if pushed, and only against low populated systems" The Togruta smiled in a gesture that never failed to make a tingle travel in Thrawn´s spine. "Or at least, that's what they will thought"
The tactical genius finally understood. "None would want to attract attention to their own planet, so they would not organize themselves against the Empire in their home-planets."
Ahsoka nodded. "Fear is a powerful tool, but only with moderation. A prey in peril will run. If there is nowhere to run, it will fight."
Making a mental note to check on Togruta culture, Thrawn turned to the planet as the green light of the Death Star charged and shot the planet, reducing Tatooine to cosmic dust. Darth Vader tasted another closed chapter of his life. The Chiss made another note to eliminate the planet from his database. Darth Nexus purred.
AN1: Welcome, to the dumping site of all my disconnected ideas for a Sith Ahsoka story, that didn't manage to form a coherent storyline. If some of the next one-shots seems part of the same universe, feel free to consider them as such. Or not. The only constant in this collection is a fallen Ahsoka Tano.
AN2: I must confess, I read Darth Nexus before as Ahsoka potential Sith name, a parody of her canon Fulcrum. However, I can't remember where I read it. If you know, please let me know so I can give due credit. As of now, I only acknowledge that it´s not my original idea.
AN3: Anakin and Ahsoka reunited! Shame it is as Sith Lords.