"You actually captured him. I'm impressed," Bo Katan said, handing Ahsoka back her lightsabers, after her gunship landed.
"That is what the council wanted," Ahsoka replied.
"Still, you have succeeded where many have failed." She paused before adding, "Skywalker wasn't exaggerating about your skill."
Ahsoka gave a small smile at the compliment, "I've learned from the best, including you."
"I wish I was good at something other than was," Bo Katan replied, looking at the rubble.
Ahsoka walked up beside her. "Your people need a new kind of leader."
"My sister tried that. I never understood her idealism."
Ahsoka sighed, staring at the rubble. Sometimes that idealism was needed.
"Commander." She turned to see Rex, walking up. "I have the council waiting."
"Go on, I can handle this," Bo Katan told her.
Ahsoka entered to see Masters Mace Windu, Yoda, Ki Adi Mundi, and Aayla Secura in holoprojector form.
Mace Windu began, "I understand your mission was a success."
"Yes. I have Maul in custody. I will escort Commander Rex when he delivers him to Coruscant."
"A great service to the Republic, you have done." Yoda said.
"I did my duty as a citizen," Ahsoka replied.
"Not as a Jedi," Yoda clarified, frowning.
"No. Not yet," Ahsoka replied. Maybe someday.
Ahsoka paused for a moment, remembering what Maul had said. "Actually, I was hoping to speak with Anakin."
Windu nodded. "He's on the cruiser that will pick you up and bring Maul to Coruscant."
Ahsoka nodded, relieved. Hopefully she could ask him about…what Maul said.
"And Master Kenobi?" Ahsoka inquired.
"Engaged General Grievous on Utapau, he has," Yoda replied.
"Then the war could be over soon," Ahsoka said hopefully.
"That depends on the Chancellor," Windu replied cryptically.
"What do you mean?" Ahsoka asked.
Windu hesitated slightly. "I'm sorry, citizen. These matters are for the Council to discuss."
Ahsoka gave a small frown and nodded. She couldn't blame them. She had left the Order. "I understand."
The Masters signed off. Ahsoka saw Yoda give her a smile and nod. Ahsoka smiled back and he vanished.
Ahsoka flew back on a shuttle, carrying Maul in his containment unit. They landed on a Republic cruiser. She nodded to the men as they took Maul down to his cell.
She looked over and saw Anakin walking to greet her, looking much healthier. The time in the bacta tank had clearly done him some good.
"Maul didn't stand a chance," Anakin said, smiling at Ahsoka.
Ahsoka smiled back, "I learned from the best." She paused and remembered what Maul had said. She didn't even realize she had the slightest trace of a frown on her face.
"Hey, you alright?" Anakin asked, suddenly concerned. He placed a hand on her shoulder.
Ahsoka looked up. She wanted to tell him, but it just seemed so…impossible. The words wouldn't come. "Yeah, just tired is all. It took a lot out of me," She managed a smile.
Anakin simply nodded, though it appeared he could tell that wasn't the full truth. Luckily for her, he didn't push it.
A medical droid suddenly appeared behind him, "Skywalker, your presence is required back at the medical bay. You are scheduled to take the necessary supplements as part of your recovery plan."
Ahsoka raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. Anakin held his hands up in surrender. "What? It's not every day Maul gets captured."
Ahsoka rolled her eyes, "At least these droids have gotten a lot smarter."
Anakin smirked and walked back with the droid. "I'll see you two on the bridge."
It was time. The Chancellor smiled.
Perhaps in another world, Skywalker would have been more cooperative in joining him. But Tano had made things much more complicated than they needed to be.
The Chancellor frowned briefly before returning to a smile.
No matter. It would have been foolish to not have a backup plan. And the Chancellor was no fool.
The Chancellor picked at the dried blood on his robes. Mace Windu's decapitated body lay at his feet. The bodies of three other masters lay closer to the entrance.
The poor fools. They seemed to have their suspicions when the Chancellor had invited them for a meeting, but the last thing they had expected was to fight a Sith Lord. He smiled.
With the Jedi spread thin, he could begin his extermination of the Jedi in earnest.
"Darth Tyranus," Sidious said. "Let us proceed as planned." Dooku stepped forward and nodded.
"Yes, my lord." Dooku marched off towards the Jedi Temple.
Sidious took out his holoprojector and gave the long-awaited order. "Execute Order 66."
He made sure to give a special addendum to the clone CT-7567. "Execute the traitor Ahsoka Tano. Bring me Anakin Skywalker alive."
"Yes, my lord." The clone responded evenly.
Ahsoka and Rex made their way to the bridge and watched as they made the jump to hyperspace.
Ahsoka looked lost in thought, though for a different reason than what Maul had said.
Rex noticed and asked, "Something on your mind?"
Ahsoka thought for a moment before speaking. "As Jedi, we were trained to be keepers of the peace, no soldiers. But all I've been since I was a Padawan is a soldier."
"Well, I've known no other way. Give us clones all a mixed feeling about the war. Many people wish it never happened. But without it, we clones wouldn't exist."
"Well, then perhaps some good has come from all of it. The Republic couldn't have asked for better soldiers, nor I, a better friend," Ahsoka said.
She saluted Rex, who saluted back, smiling.
A trooper appeared behind Rex. "Commander Rex, the latest briefing has come in."
"Want to have a look? It might have an update on General Kenobi's efforts."
Ahsoka replied, "You go. I'm sure it's more good news."
Moments later, Anakin returned from the medical bay. He didn't say anything, he just walked up beside her and stood at the bridge with her, staring out at the blue streams of hyperspace. Ahsoka smiled. It was like the good old days with her, Anakin, and Rex.
Anakin suddenly broke the silence, trying his earlier question again. "You sure you're alright?"
Ahsoka thought for a moment. She should tell him the truth. "It's just…" she started.
Suddenly, Anakin grabbed his head, gritting his teeth in pain.
"Anakin! What's wrong?" Ahsoka asked.
"I feel…" He looked up, in shock. "Death. The deaths of thousands of Jedi." He looked horrified.
Ahsoka was in disbelief. She was about to say something, but then it hit her like a shockwave as well.
"Ahsoka Tano," they heard from behind. Rex had appeared, visibly shaking. He was holding his helmet to the side. He dropped his helmet.
"Rex?" Ahsoka looked up.
The troopers all received a message and began to aim their guns at the Ahsoka.
"No!" Rex suddenly said. "I'll do it."
"Rex, what's happening?" Ahsoka continued.
"Stay back!" Rex commanded, suddenly aiming his two pistol blasters at Ahsoka.
"Rex, what's going on?" Anakin repeated, stepping in front of Ahsoka.
"Skywalker, step aside," Rex started. Anakin raised an eyebrow. Rex was not himself.
"Rex, stand down!" Anakin tried. He and Ahsoka started to move forward towards Rex, trying to coax him down. "That is a direct order!" No effect.
"No, Skywalker. You need to stand down," Rex replied. There was an edge of menace. Rex still had his blasters trained on Ahsoka.
Rex's hands were shaking. He had tears in his eyes. Suddenly, he said, "Find him. F-find him. F-Fives…" He reached his breaking point. "Find him!" he managed, before firing, Anakin and Ahsoka barely dodged out of the way in time.
The troopers opened fire at Ahsoka.
Ahsoka deflected the blaster shots back to the troopers. Ahsoka launched herself forward, pushing Rex over and knocking his head against the holo-table. She landed on the holo-table and Force pulled the doors closed behind them, leaving just her, Rex, and Anakin in the room.
"Rex!" Ahsoka tried again.
Then, behind her another group of clones emerged and began firing at her and Anakin.
Ahsoka began to deflect the blaster fire. Anakin was on the ground besides the holo-table doing the same. Those who were firing on Anakin had their weapons set to stun. The rest, including Rex, were firing normally on Ahsoka. The message was clear. They wanted her dead.
What? Ahsoka could sense Anakin's confusion. Before she could think about it anymore, a blaster bolt came dangerously close to hitting her.
Ahsoka spoke up, "The two of us alone won't be able to hold them off. We'll need a distraction." Maul.
Anakin nodded in understanding. If the clones had turned on the Jedi, then keeping Maul in custody wouldn't do them any good. Anakin knocked back all of the clones in the room with a Force push, regrouping with Ahsoka near the door.
"There they are!" A larger group of clones was rushing towards them from the left hallway.
Anakin turned to face them and said over his shoulder, "I'll keep them occupied. Get our distraction and find out what this is all about." And he charged towards the troopers, deflecting blaster bolts and knocking them unconscious.
Ahsoka nodded and ran off in the opposite direction. As she ran, she heard Rex give the order. "Set weapons to stun for Skywalker! Weapons to kill for Tano."
At least Anakin would be all right. She just had to make sure she got out of there in one piece.