Chapter 1: Clouded

[End in sight! Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi have successfully rescued Chancellor Palpatine and defeated the Separatist Leader Count Dooku. Intelligence having revealed the location of the Republic's next target General Kenobi makes his way to Utapau to capture the droid General Grievous]

[Meanwhile, Mandalore has been liberated, the Shadow Collective's forces have been routed, and the renegade Sith Lord Maul has been captured. The newly promoted Commander Rex and former padawan Ahsoka Tano oversee the Republic forces' departure from the war-torn planet...]

Bo-Katan: I want to thank you for helping me liberate Mandalore and for agreeing to leave after Maul was captured.

Ahsoka: I only hope Mandalore can recover become what it once was.

Bo-Katan: Agreed

Rex: It was an honor to fight alongside you *salutes*

[Bo-Katan Kryze salutes Rex back as she respects him as a warrior and heads back towards Sundari to rebuild. Ahsoka and Rex board a gunship and head back to the fleet of three Venator Class Star-Destroyers waiting in orbit]

[In the hangar bay of the cruiser]

"So Commander, where are you off to after we take Maul back to Coruscant?" asked Rex.

"I'm still not sure Rex. I tried letting the force guide me and tell me what my next test is but.."

Rex worried for his old friend asked "What is it?"

"Nothing. The Force... its just so clouded its hard to focus." Ahsoka replied worried for what might happen.

As Rex and Ahoska made their way towards the bridge a gunship landed and inside standing there were two 332nd Troopers with their orange paint job, and knelt down on the floor of the gunship was a Dathomirian who's anger could be felt even by those not force sensitive. Even as a prisoner, Maul struck fear into others as the former Sith Lord's appearance was quite menacing.

Ahsoka expected to feel this anger in Maul as she had a vague understanding of Maul from Obi-Wan's stories. However soemthing she was not expecting to sense in Maul, past his extreme anger was... fear. The former apprentice did not expect Maul to fear imprisonment, which led her to believe that maybe what Maul told her on Mandalore was true.

But Ahsoka stopped herself, "I know Anakin he isn't capable of what Maul said" she thought to herself as she watched the Sith Lord be taken to his cell by the accompanying clones.

[Meanwhile on Coruscant, word had gotten to the Jedi Council that Obi-wan had destroyed General Grievous and Mace Windu, Kit Fisto, Saesee Tiin, and Aegen Kolar are en route to Chancellor Palpatine to ensure he returns power to the Senate. Anakin awaits Master Windu in the Council Chamber torn and in pain...]

Ahsoka and Rex walk up to the bridge and their fleet of Venator's jumps to hyperspace. Ahsoka focused into the Force stares out into the mesmerizing blue hyperspace ahead.

"Something... on your mind? Rex asks concerned for Ahsoka.

"As a Jedi, we were trained to be keepers of the peace, not soldiers, but all I've been since I was a padawan is a soldier." says Ahsoka calmly.

"Well I've known no other way, gives us clones mixed feelings about the war. Many people wish it never happened, but without it, we clones wouldn't exist."

"Well perhaps some good has come out of it." replied Ahsoka optimistically. "The Republic couldn't have asked for better soldiers. Nor I, a better friend."

Ahsoka and Rex salute each other and smile warmly as the duo have endured so much together since the Battle of Christophsis all the way up until now.

The blast doors of the bridge open and ARC Trooper Jesse comes in, helmet under arm, accompanied by three 332nd troopers. "You called for me sir?"

Rex nodded "Jesse, I need you to be in charge of security around Maul's cell I don't want him escaping and if he does I don't want him getting of this ship."

"Yes sir, Sergeant Dev is on first watch. I'll personally oversee the second." Jesse replied. Ahsoka continued to look out the bridge window, eyes closed, meditating, trying to let the Force show her what to do next however it was just noise. Not good noise or bad noise just noise. Everything was clouded. Then, suddenly, when trying to reach out to the Force it was just eerie silence...

"Good, after that-" Rex was interrupted by the sound of his ComLink. Rex took out his holoprojector, and then a dark figure appeared, hooded concealing his face.

"Commander Rex..."

Ahsoka could sense a horrid darkness slowly engulfing the galaxy. "No..." she whispered

"The time..."

Ahsoka gasps silently as she continues to feel this darkness.

...has come"

"Execute Order... 66"

Ahsoka cried, "NOOOO!"