Bo-Katan, Ahsoka, and Anakin's shuttle landed on the Republic cruiser. They all descended the boarding platform. Obi-Wan and Rex were waiting to greet them.
"You both have grown," Obi-Wan remarked. "Though it appears one of you is doing a better job of staying out of trouble than the other," he added, noticing Anakin's injured form.
"Nice to see you too, Obi-Wan," Anakin replied sarcastically, wincing from his injuries. Ahsoka had her arm under him, supporting his weight.
"He missed you," Ahsoka added over her shoulder. "We missed you."
Obi-Wan nodded. He had the faintest smile. Rex appeared at his side and saluted, smiling. "General. Commander."
Anakin gave a wide smile. "It's been too long, Rex. I can't tell you how glad we are to see you." Ahsoka and Rex were both smiling.
Obi-Wan glanced at Anakin, who was still leaning on Ahsoka for support, "Let's head the medical bay. We'll do the briefing there," Obi-Wan said.
"It won't be easy to take down Maul," Bo Katan starts. "I had been hoping we could use Skywalker's fighting skill. But I'm not sure how much use he will be in is current state."
Obi-Wan considers. "It wouldn't be the first time Anakin has fought injured."
Ahsoka would have laughed if she hadn't so opposed. "Anakin is not taking a part in this mission." Ahsoka crossed her arms. Bo-Katan and Obi-Wan eyed one another before looking back at Ahsoka. She was having none of their speculation of throwing an injured Anakin into combat.
Anakin spoke up, "Ahsoka's right. As much as I would like to, I know that I would be a liability and risk to everyone involved."
Obi-Wan almost looked impressed. "I see she's taught you a thing or two." Ahsoka gave Anakin a playfully smug look. Anakin rolled his eyes.
Anakin continued, "Were we still with the Order, I would have long since recommended Ahsoka to become a Jedi Knight. She is more than deserving of that honor," Ahsoka's eyes widened as she glanced at Anakin. Anakin smiled at her. She must have been beaming with pride.
Bo-Katan and Obi-Wan both looked impressed. Rex looked proud.
Anakin continued, "Ahsoka is more than capable of capturing Maul. I would know." He crossed his arms. And that was that.
Obi-Wan nodded, "We can send the 332nd company with you to help with your siege. Commander Rex actually informed me that he has a surprise for you."
"Commander Rex?" Anakin asked with a grin. His eyes were gleaming with pride.
Rex rubbed the back of his neck. "Heh, doesn't have the same ring to it, does it?"
Anakin shook his head, "No. It sounds much better. You two go on ahead. I could use the rest," he was still grinning, as if the so-called surprise wasn't much of a surprise to him. Ahsoka raised an eyebrow. Anakin just smiled, shooing her away, "Go on."
As Ahsoka walked through the ship with Rex, she found herself being saluted by the clones.
Ahsoka looked guilty. "They shouldn't salute me anymore. Not since I left the Order."
Rex replied, "It doesn't matter to us. We know what you and the General went through for us day after day, battle after battle. It's a sign of respect. Loyalty means everything to us clones."
The doors to the main hangar opened, and Ahsoka couldn't believe her eyes.
"Company! Attention!" Captain Vaughn yelled out when Rex and Ahsoka appeared. The clones of the 332nd company turned to face the center aisle. Their helmets were painted with her white face markings.
She walked down the line of clones, in awe at the gesture. She walked back to Rex, who motioned to a helmet he was holding of the same artwork.
"The General told us as soon as he knew you both were coming back. He was actually the one who came up with the idea," Rex smiled.
Ahsoka gave a big smile.
"As soon as we heard you were on the way, we got to work. The paint job's a little crude but we think it gets the point across." He smiled at her. "Glad to have you both back, Commander."
"Thank you, Rex. But you don't have to call me Commander anymore."
"Sure thing, Commander." Rex replied.
Ahsoka smiled.
(Epic battle scene of S7E10 happens)
Ahsoka was walking with Rex and Bo-Katan to the throne room. The battle was over and Republic forces were occupying Mandalore, though the people were clearly not happy about it.
Ahsoka couldn't stop thinking about what the late Prime Minister Almec had said with his dying breath. Maul had wanted Anakin to come to Mandalore. Vengeance on Obi-Wan was clear enough motivation. But Anakin? Ahsoka was certain he and Maul had never faced off.
"This occupation cannot last much longer. The people will not stand for it," Bo-Katan brought her out of her thoughts. "I will not stand for it."
"You asked for our help. My men don't want to be acting like a police force." Rex replied.
Ahsoka stopped and turned to the both of them, "The Republic forces will depart, once we capture Maul." They continued walking. "Then you will have your opportunity to lead."
The doors to the throne room opened. "I agree." They turned to the throne and saw Maul, sitting upon the throne with Jesse handcuffed on the ground next to him.
Bo-Katan pulled out her blasters and charged at Maul. Maul deflected the blaster bolts with ease, before seizing Bo-Katan in a Force grip, disarming her.
"My lady, is that any way to treat your rightful ruler?" Maul asked. He dropped Bo-Katan, who fell to the ground, breathing heavily. Ahsoka and Rex rushed to her side.
Maul continued, "And now, as a show of good faith, I return your comrade in arms to you." He released the binders on Jesse.
"Run along. There you go. Back to your brothers." Maul said. Jesse walked slowly back to Rex and Ahsoka.
"Are you alright, Jesse?" Rex asked.
"I'm sorry Commander. I couldn't help it. I told him everything," Jesse looked ashamed.
"It's okay," Ahsoka said reassuringly. "Rex, get him out of here." She turned her attention back to Maul.
A battle suddenly started raging outside, as explosions sounded off around the sky.
"Oh, one of you might want to deal with that." Maul implied.
"You should go. Your people need you," Ahsoka told Bo-Katan.
"Don't stay on my account, we'll be fine," Maul said, getting up off the throne.
"Go," Ahsoka repeated. Bo-Katan put her helmet on and ran off. Ahsoka turned back to Maul with a glare. What did he have planned?
Maul stared out the window, watching the battle. He sighed, "Look at them. So blissfully ignorant."
"Care to tell me what this is all about?" Ahsoka asked. "Or would you rather save it for the Council?"
"Oh, no, no. You are the one that I wish to speak with," Maul replied. He paused, turning to face her. "Were you not cast out of your Order?"
"I left voluntarily," Ahsoka corrected.
"Yes, but you were motivated to leave by the hypocrisy of the Jedi Council."
Ahsoka considered what he said. She couldn't deny that.
Maul sighed again. "We were both tools for greater powers."
Ahsoka asserted, "I am here to bring you to justice."
"Justice is merely the construct of the current power base." Maul sounded exasperated. "A base which, according to my calculations, is about to change."
"And Darth Sidious is behind it?" Ahsoka inquired.
"He is behind everything. In the shadows, always. But soon, very soon. He will reveal himself."
"With your help, the Jedi can stop Sidious before it's too late."
"Too late for what? The Republic to fall? It already has, and you just can't see it! There's no justice, no law, no order, except for the one that will replace it!" Maul raised his voice in anger. "The time of the Jedi has passed. They cannot defeat Sidious. But, together, you and I can."
Ahsoka paused, considering what he said.
"Every choice you have made…has led you to this moment." He extended his hand.
The window of the throne room shattered suddenly, but neither of them flinched.
Ahsoka considered his offer. "I will help you."
Maul almost looked hopeful.
Ahsoka continued, "But you must answer one question."
"You have but to ask."
"What do you want with Anakin Skywalker?" Choose your words carefully.
"He is the key… to everything." Maul replied.
"To bring balance to the Force?" Ahsoka asked.
"To destroy." Maul corrected. "He has long been groomed for his role. As my master's new apprentice."
Ahsoka's eyes narrowed. "You lie." She would have laughed if Maul didn't seem so serious.
Maul laughed. "I'm afraid not. In fact, I was so certain of his fate, that I orchestrated this war to lure him here with Kenobi to kill him. Thus, depriving Sidious of his prized pupil."
Ahsoka glared at Maul before replying, "I know Anakin." She ignited her lightsabers and got into a fighting stance.
Maul growled in anger.
"Your vision is flawed."
"I see the Padawan needs one... last… lesson." Maul replied, igniting his double-bladed saber and charging at Ahsoka. Ahsoka almost smirked, remembering Anakin's pride in her.
Maul's Juyo (Form VII) fighting style was relentlessly aggressive. Ahsoka spent most of his initial assault dodging his attacks.
Maul managed to disarm her of her primary saber, leaving her with just her shoto saber. She went on the defensive.
It seems you are getting reliant on your second saber, Anakin's words rang in her mind. Good thing she had been practicing sparring with a single blade.
She managed to land a kick against Maul, pushing him back. She Force pulled her primary saber off ground back to her, igniting it in mid-air. Maul barely dodged out of the way.
Ahsoka almost laughed at Maul's arrogance, thinking he could defeat Anakin.
She commented, adding a bit of sass, "You're lucky Anakin didn't show up. The way you're fighting, you wouldn't have lasted long." Then again, no one ever did against Anakin.
They circled each other. "Oh, you have Kenobi's arrogance." Maul replied.
Ahsoka replied, "You'll find I have many qualities for you to dislike."
She moved in for another strike. She pressed on the offensive, but Maul was able to parry each one of her strikes. Then it was Maul's turn. His dual-bladed saber hummed as he twirled it. She dodged with a series of backflips before returning to a saber lock.
Maul growled, using his strength to overpower her. Ahsoka rolled back against the floor, kicking him up and out the window behind her.
Ahsoka got up off the ground, panting. This fight was taking everything she had. She couldn't deny Maul was the better duelist. But she knew she had to find a way.
Ahsoka is more than capable of capturing Maul, Anakin's words rang in her head again. She mustered her remaining strength and chased him, jumping out the window.
She pursued Maul the support beams of Sundari's dome. Maul seemed to be speaking to someone on his comm before Ahsoka called out.
"Obi-Wan was right." Maul turned to face her. "You are difficult to kill." Maul growled.
Ahsoka sprinted along the narrow beam, locking blades with Maul again. They continued trading strikes. The narrow support beams were not making this easy for her Ataru fighting style.
Maul finally said, "We could have destroyed Sidious!"
"Only for you to take his place!" Ahsoka replied.
Maul charged and Ahsoka parried his strikes, managing to kick him back. She moved in for another attack, locking blades with Maul, balancing on his knee. Maul threw him off her and swung for her head. She ducked, but Maul predicted it, using the opportunity to kick her backwards and almost off the beam structure entirely. She was barely able to hang on in time.
A ship appeared above outside the dome and Maul made a run for it. He shattered the glass. Ahsoka leaped back onto the beam and pursued him, knocking him away from the dome's shell.
Now or never. Ahsoka went full offensive, charging at Maul. But Maul was fighting with far more determination than he had earlier. He parried and countered each of her strikes with ease. He disarmed her of her first saber, as it fell to the ground below. Then her second. And in a few short moments, she was suddenly without her sabers. He cut the beam between them. He flipped up and over her to her beam, leaning it down further.
"I give you one last chance. Join me…or die." Maul implored her.
Ahsoka glared at him, "Never."
Maul glared back and charged her. He wanted to cut her down himself by his own blade.
Ahsoka dodged each of his swings. Once she got close enough, she grabbed his saber and threw him off over the edge. As he fell, she gripped him in a Force hold.
Maul looked frantic. "Let me go! Let me die!"
The Republic gunships arrived to apprehend Maul.
Maul yelled out in frustration. "You're all going to burn! We're all going to die! You don't know what you're doing!" The clones stunned him and tied him up.
Ahsoka let out a sigh, exhausted. That fight had taken everything she had.
Rex looked up at Ahsoka. "We'll take it from here, Commander!"
Ahsoka nodded at him. She stared up the dome, where Maul had been planning his escape.