The Chancellor furrowed his brow. He had…sensed something. His eyes widened in realization.
He had let go. Skywalker had let go. Of his vengeance. His guilt. His…anger.
No… The Chancellor frowned.
He thought for a long while, unable to accept the truth.
Skywalker was firmly in the Light.
The Chancellor balled his fists in anger before taking a deep breath. A change of plans was in order. He needed to make a call.
A Kaminoan appeared before him in holoprojector form.
"Lord Sidious," the Kaminoan Lama Su bowed.
"How is progress with…our most recent project?" Sidious asked.
"Our initial tests have proven quite successful," Lama Su replied. "However, the mental state of the subject must be quite…fractured before the implantation can be fully successful."
"Increase all testing," Sidious ordered. "This cannot fail."
"Of course, my lord," Lama Su vanished.
The Chancellor leaned back in his chair and smiled.
He would have Skywalker's power. One way or another.
Anakin's communication holoprojector started buzzing. It was a transmission from "Fulcrum," the line for Anakin's informants.
It had been almost a year since they had left the Order. It was early morning. Anakin was still asleep, so Ahsoka went to answer it.
"General Skywalker?" A projection of Saw Gerrera appeared. "Oh, Commander Tano, apologies for the intrusion. Is Skywalker there?"
Ahsoka glanced down at Anakin snoring and replied, "He is."
Saw nodded, seeming to understand. "I see." Ahsoka felt the corners of her lips tug upward.
"I can take a message?"
"I come with a request for help. Our intelligence reports that the Separatists are planning to begin a siege on Onderon. We should be able to keep them at bay, but not for long. We could really use the Republic's help."
Ahsoka started, "Anakin and I aren't…actually part of the Grand Army of the Republic anymore."
Saw's eyes widened. "Oh, I'm sorry-"
Ahsoka stopped him, "No, no, it's fine. We can be there by the end of the day. We still want to do our part to end this war."
Saw was surprised by at the sudden response, "That's great to hear." He paused. "Should you check with Skywalker, first?" he questioned.
"He would agree. If you need help, we will be there." She answered firmly. "We'll be there as soon as we can."
Saw nodded, "Thank you, Ahsoka." Saw looked relieved, and the transmission cut out.
Anakin sat up, groggy. "Was that Saw?"
Ahsoka nodded, "He says they need our help repelling a Separatist siege on Onderon." Anakin looked like he was about to say something.
"Already done," Ahsoka crossed her arms, smirking.
Anakin raised an eyebrow, and laid back down chuckling, "One step ahead of me, I see. As usual." He smiled, before considering thoughtfully. "I guess it's time."
Ahsoka nodded. When the time comes, we'll be ready, Anakin had said.
In the past year, they had spent considerable time sparring and meditating. Perhaps to a typical Jedi, they had achieved all that one could hope to, away from the Order.
But they had realized the true value to their time away from the Order. They had seen how this war was affecting people. Real people. What the Republic and the Jedi were supposed to mean to the people who needed them most.
Anakin brought her out of her thoughts.
"I sense this war is nearing its end. Maybe after all this is over, the Jedi can become the peacekeepers they were meant to be." He sounded hopeful.
Ahsoka smiled, "I hope so, too."
"Be safe, you two. Hopefully one of these days, I'll see you somewhere that's not Coruscant." Trace commented as she gave Ahsoka a hug. Anakin offered Trace a handshake. They both shook hands with Rafa, who gave a smile.
Ahsoka smiled, "Thank you both. For everything." She turned to join Anakin who had already boarded the ship.
"Don't give up on that dream. Hold onto it, and don't let go." Anakin smiled and waved goodbye, before heading to the cockpit.
Trace smiled. "Why do I get the feeling you guys are about to do way cooler stuff than I've ever done?"
Ahsoka laughed. "What can I say? Trouble has a way of finding us." The boarding platform retracted. "Take care, you two." Ahsoka waved a final time to the two sisters.
When they landed on Onderon, the Separatists had just begun their attack. They saw the Onderon troops hunkered down in front of the city's main gate, holding the line against waves of droids.
They landed inside the city walls and walked up near the main gate.
"General Skywalker. Commander Tano," Saw welcomed them.
"Saw, it's good to see you." Anakin said, shaking Saw's hand.
"Yes, though I wish it were under better circumstances. The Separatists don't seem to be holding back."
"What are we up against?" Ahsoka asked.
"Their army is composed of standard B1 and B2 battle droids. They're not trying to be crafty. They just want to overwhelm us in numbers." Saw pointed at the holoprojected map of Onderon's capital. "We've concentrated our troops at the city's main gate at the South, as that is where they are pressing their offensive."
Anakin nodded. "Do you have droid poppers?"
"Some, but not enough for this army."
"A single well-placed droid popper can take out a substantial chunk of even this army," Ahsoka said.
"I'm not sure if our troops are capable of that kind of precision," Saw admitted.
"Leave that to us," Anakin said, crossing his arms with a smirk.
Ahsoka and Anakin were making their way through the waves of droids. With the help of the Onderon military and some well-placed droid poppers, they were able to make quick work of what squads had been sent.
"You good?" Ahsoka yelled at Anakin, as she deflected incoming fire.
"Never better," Anakin yelled back.
The Separatists did not seem to be able to adapt to the presence of the two former Jedi. But they had their concerns of what the Separatists might try to pull.
"Sir, we have two Jedi combatants attacking our troops," the droid reported to the tactical droid.
The tactical droid considered. They had not been expecting Jedi reinforcements. They had not brought droidekas which would be more effective against the Jedi.
"We must recalculate." He paused, considering the different options. "We must divert their defending troops."
"The Jedi show weakness if civilians are in danger. Send two squads to charge the city through the West gate. Target civilians.," the tactical droid ordered. "We will force them to divert troops to defend their back and overwhelm them from the front."
"Roger, roger."
Anakin and Ahsoka were still cutting through the waves of droids, when suddenly Saw yelled out from behind them, "We've got reports that they're charging the West gate. Our back defenses won't be able to hold off such an attack."
Ahsoka turned back to Saw and yelled out, "We're on it. Your troops must hold this position."
Saw nodded, "We'll take it from here."
The duo rushed through the city, running across the rooftops of the city.
When Ahsoka reached the West gate, her heart sank. There were two full squads of droids tearing through the city building. The droids were opening fire on anything or anyone in their path.
"Blast," Anakin said, gritting his teeth.
"Let's go." Ahsoka leaped down with Anakin close behind.
The remaining Onderon troops were holed up behind nearby houses, trying desperately to hold off the droids.
Anakin noticed a stack of fuel cells nearby, dangerously close to the firefight. One wrong shot and that would tear a chunk out of the city.
"Watch your fire!" Anakin yelled. "One shot to those fuel cells and this battle is over for all of us!"
The troops looked alarmed but nodded their heads in understanding.
Anakin and Ahsoka let the Onderon troops focus on the droids. Their focus was on protecting the fleeing civilians.
"Ahh!" A mother and her daughter had emerged from a burning house, running right into a droid. Before the droid could fire, Ahsoka had sliced it in half and began deflecting incoming fire. "Go, get out of here!" The mother managed a gracious thank you before fleeing.
"Mama!" A young boy was hiding dangerously close to the fuel cells. Anakin sprinted in the boy's direction, noticing that a few droids had noticed him and were taking aim.
Anakin Force pushed the entire squad of droids down and lifted the boy up, letting him cling around his neck from behind. Anakin turned to face the droids as they got up and deflected the oncoming blaster fire, trying to guide their fire away from the fuel cells.
It seemed Anakin had successfully drawn their fire away from the fuel cells. He realized the boy was still tightly clinging to his neck. He seemed rightfully terrified. Anakin backed up behind Ahsoka and set the boy down, motioning for him to run. The little boy nodded and ran off.
The droids had advanced beyond the fuel cells. Anakin was about to breathe a sigh of relief.
Then he sensed it, almost as if foresight by a hair of a second. A stray shot by a nervous Onderon soldier.
Immediately, he turned around and Force pushed Ahsoka and the Onderon troops back behind cover.
"Anakin!" Ahsoka yelled out in surprise.
BOOM! Anakin turned to face the explosion and held up his hands, creating a Force shield to contain the explosion. The droids were already blown to bits by the explosion.
The few seconds he bought were enough time for Ahsoka and the Onderon troops to land behind cover.
The explosion eventually overpowered him, slamming him into the building behind him, falling unconscious onto the ground.
The groan that had escaped Anakin's lips made Ahsoka's heart drop.
"Anakin!" Ahsoka got up and ran to his limp body, turning him onto his back. Her heart was frantically racing as she checked for a pulse.
After what felt like an eternity, she finally heard the steady "thump thump." She sighed a breath of relief. She looked in front of her at the debris. The droids had been shredded by that explosion.
To her right, she saw that the most of the Onderon soldiers were still alive.
"He needs medical attention." None of them moved. She did not have the patience for their uncertainty. "Now!" she snapped.
"Y-yes, sir!" A couple of them quickly scampered off.
Ahsoka noticed one of soldiers had a look of guilt on her face. Ahsoka almost glared at her, before instead gave a look of sympathy. She knew all too well how it felt to make mistakes. They all did.
"It's okay. Don't blame yourself." She told her.
"It's my fault," the soldier blurted out, ashamed. She stared at Anakin's unconscious state, a look of guilt across her face.
"He wouldn't want you to blame yourself." Ahsoka gave a small smile, gazing at the gentle rise and fall of Anakin's chest. "And, I think he'll be okay."
The soldier nodded, though obviously still distraught. Ahsoka noticed the head of a young boy popping out from behind a house. The boy Anakin had saved.
Ahsoka looked sadly at Anakin's unconscious form. His selflessness was what made him who he was. But she couldn't help but worry about the day when she would lose him to it.
Ahsoka was sitting in the medical care room with Anakin. Anakin had an oxygen mask and was breathing steadily. He had bandages wrapped around his abdomen and head.
Ahsoka thought back to one of the things that had first made her question the Order. The Jedi forbid attachment, yet they stressed the importance of compassion. The Code's absolutism distorted the truth.
Anakin and Ahsoka knew that attachment and compassion could coexist. In fact, it was their attachment that let them go as far as they did. It made them who they were. As invincible as they were. Together.
She smiled at the thought.
"Ahsoka?" Anakin suddenly sat up, coughing.
"Woah, easy there," Ahsoka helps him sit up.
"What- what happened?" Anakin asks, before slowly remembering.
"You were so busy saving other people that you forgot to save yourself," Ahsoka wanted to look exasperated. "What else is new?" She managed a small smile.
Anakin gave an apologetic look before asking with a smile, "Did we at least win?"
"We've successfully repelled the Separatist attack." Saw suddenly appeared. "Thanks to your two's help."
They both smiled and nodded.
Saw continued, "Without your help, I doubt that we could have held off their attack. We are in your debt," Saw bowed his head.
"Anything we can do to help," Ahsoka said. Saw nodded and left them alone.
Anakin and Ahsoka sat in amiable silence for a while, before Anakin's comm suddenly began beeping. Another one of his informants was transmitting on the "Fulcrum" sub-frequency.
A projection of the Mandalorian Bo-Katan appeared.
"General Skywalker? This is urgent."
Anakin rubbed his head. "Um, okay?"
"We have intel that confirms Maul is on Mandalore." Anakin's eyes widened.
Bo-Katan continued, "The Death Watch is in control of Mandalore. I…I don't have the resources for a siege. I am asking the Republic for help. As it seems we both have something to gain."
She suddenly noticed Ahsoka to the side and gave a small nod. "Commander Tano." Ahsoka nodded back.
Anakin replied, "Ahsoka and I aren't affiliated with the Republic anymore…" Bo-Katan raised an eyebrow. "But we know that they will be interested in this. I will get in contact with Master Kenobi and let him know about this development. We'll be in touch."
"You'd better hurry. There's no telling how much longer Maul will stay," Bo-Katan replied before signing off. Anakin sighed.
Ahsoka smirked, "Back to work?"
Anakin smiled. "Back to work."