Ahsoka woke up from distant sounds of blaster fire and explosions echoing through Coruscant. She instinctively reached for her Lightsabers, but remembered that they were no longer with her. Looking outside her apartment window, she noticed the Separatist forces in the streets of Coruscant. "Oh no…" Ahsoka let out as she saw the ongoing carnage outside.
Coruscant was under attack. The Separatists led a surprise attack on the Republic's capital, piercing through the defenses of Coruscant's fleets with ease. As the Separatist and Republic warships battled in the skies above, the Clones were locked in fierce firefights with the Droids in the city streets and rooftops of Coruscant. Many Jedi led the defense alongside the Clones, fire and war raging forth in the city.
Ahsoka wondered what to do. She did not know how she could help, but she felt she had to try. Stepping out of her apartment, Ahsoka ran into the streets of Coruscant as she was then jumped by a Droid Commando who swung its Vibrosword at her.
Ahsoka narrowly avoided the attack and dodged to the side as the Droid rushed towards her and swung again. Ahsoka unleashed a Force push and sent the Droid flying. As the Vibrosword dropped on the ground, Ahsoka called it to her with the Force. It wasn't her Lightsaber, but it would do for now.
The Droid jumped onto its feet and drew its blaster, firing at Ahsoka. The former Jedi dodged, strafing from side to side before slicing the Droid to pieces in a few precise swings.
Ahsoka continued onward as he heard blaster fire echoing closer and closer. Then suddenly, she saw a Clone ARC Trooper tackled her out of a Super Battle Droid's blaster bolts. Crawling to cover with him, Ahsoka laid eyes on the Clones and smiled. "Rex! Thanks for the help!" She told him.
Rex chuckled. "You need to be more careful, Commander!" He called out as he looked at the 5 Super Battle Droids firing at them.
"You don't have to call me that anymore, Rex!" Ahsoka replied as she held onto the Vibrosword.
Rex chuckled and answered "Sorry, old habit." He then peaked out of cover and fired his dual blaster pistols at the Battle Droids, striking two of them in the head and destroying them. As two of the remaining Droids kept firing, the other fired a wrist rocket at their cover.
As Rex ducked back to cover as the rocket was flown back into the three Droids and exploded, obliterating them. Rex raised his gaze to see Ahsoka standing above the cover, hand raised. She had deflected the rocket back to the sender.
Ahsoka jumped down from the cover only to see more explosions in the distance. "Let's keep moving!" She called out.
Rex nodded, pointing towards the Senate apartment building. "I was stalling the clankers while Senator Amidala evacuates the Senator Apartments. Come on!" He then ran back in as the street was cleared of Droids.
Ahsoka and Rex made their way to the Senate apartments where they found Padme helping the evacuation of the Senators. "Senator Amidala!" Ahsoka called out as she and Rex reached Padme.
Padme turned around to see Ahsoka and Rex. "Ahsoka! What are you doing here?" She asked the former Jedi.
Ahsoka looked around the ravaged apartments. "I thought I could lend a hand." She answered, looking down at her Vibrosword, then back to Padme. "I may not be a Jedi anymore, but I still want to help!"
Padme paused at that statement. She then placed a hand on her chin before smirking. "In that case, I may have something for you, Ahsoka." She told the Togruta as she went to a box held by C-3PO. Inside said box contained things Anakin had given to her such as the necklace from his youth or his Padawan braid. But inside said box, Padme took Ahsoka's two Lightsabers and handed them to the former Jedi.
Ahsoka was taken aback, dropping the Vibrosword before looking at her old weapons. She didn't think she would ever lay eyes on them again. "But… how did you get them back?" She asked, with a tone of disbelief.
Padme chuckled. "After your daring escape from the Temple bombing incident, Anakin recovered your Lightsabers that you lost. He told me to keep them in case you ever needed them back." She told Ahsoka as she looked outside at the raging streets. "Well, it seems that now is such a time."
Ahsoka took her Lightsabers and bowed respectfully to the Senator. "Thank you. That'll help me in defending Coruscant." She told Padme as echoes of battles got closer. "Speaking of which, I better go help the effort."
Rex stepped forward. "Ahsoka, let me come with you. You may not be my Commander anymore, but I won't let you fight alone." He told Ahsoka.
Ahsoka looked at him then to Padme who nodded and said "Don't worry, Ahsoka, I'll be fine." With that, Ahsoka and Rex ran out onto the battlefield.
Coming upon a large bridge, Ahsoka and Rex saw Master Plo Koon leading several Clone Troopers against a horde of B1 and B2 Battle Droids. The Clones were firing their blasters, hitting as many droids as possible while Plo Koon deflected blaster bolts back to the Droids.
Ahsoka and Rex looked at each other and nodded, the two then running to flank the attackers from the left. Rex fired his dual DC-17 Blaster Pistols at several B1 Battle Droids while Ahsoka sliced through a few of the B2 Super Battle Droids. The sudden flank attack divided the attention of the Separatist force as they had to focus on Rex and Ahsoka, giving Plo Koon and his Clones the opportunity to charge at the enemy.
As the Droids started to dwindle and retreat, Ahsoka, Rex and Plo Koon kept the offensive, slicing and blasting as many of their foes alongside the Clone Troopers. Volleys of blaster fire flew through the air for a solid 10 minutes before the last of that force was destroyed by the Jedi and their Clones.
Plo Koon bowed respectfully to Ahsoka. "Koo-too-yah, little Soka. I am thankful that you showed up when you did, but didn't you leave the Jedi Order months ago?" He told her, looking at her Lightsabers.
Ahsoka rubbed the back of her head. "Yeah, took some time but I found my Lightsabers back." She then shook her head. "But even if I did leave the Order, it doesn't matter Master Plo. I couldn't just let the Separatists destroy Coruscant when I could do something about it." She answered with conviction.
Plo Koon placed a hand on his chin, pausing for a second before nodding. "Very well. Given the circumstances, I can't quite reprimand you." He answered before his comm link beeped. Answering, Plo Koon saw Shaak Ti's holographic projection. "Master Ti? What is your status?" He asked her.
Shaak Ti was clearly wounded and exhausted. "I'm injured… General Grievous kidnapped Chancellor Palpatine." She said with shame.
Plo Koon sighed as he heard that. "Hold your position, I'll be there soon." He told Shaak Ti as he ended the transmission and looked at Ahsoka and said "I have to report back to the Jedi Temple. I hope to see you around again, Ahsoka." He said to Ahsoka with a slight bow before heading back to the Temple.
Meanwhile on the planet Rattatak, Castle Ventress still stood its ground after so long. Asajj Ventress, the former Dark Jedi apprentice of Count Dooku, hid there after being presumed dead in the Battle of Boz Pity. She kept Alpha-17 prisoner once more, but only to avoid him telling others of her survival. The ARC Trooper was surprisingly well taken care of, an hospitality that the Clone did not know how to react to.
Ventress opened his cell and stepped inside, holding a plate of food and placing it in front of Alpha. "Time to eat." She told him.
Alpha reluctantly ate the food and drank the water he was given, unsure why she was keeping him alive. Not that he complained, given the last time he was held prisoner here the Dark Jedi was far less hospitable. After finishing his meal, he looked up at Ventress. "Will you keep me prisoner here forever?" He asked.
Ventress leaned closer. "That depends on if you cooperate. But I can't exactly have you warn the Republic about my survival. So as long as I can stay hidden, you'll stay as my prisoner, yes." She told him.
Alpha sighed. He knew his position wasn't the best, but at least he was alive and unharmed. He was fed every day and had a bed to sleep in. This was at least enough to be comfortable.
Ventress stepped out and locked the door. Looking at the Clone, she then said "If you need to know the whereabouts of the outside, I just learned the wonderful news that Count Dooku is dead."
Alpha's eyes shot towards Ventress. He was shocked to hear that Dooku had finally been defeated, but also of Ventress' enthusiasm. "Shouldn't you feel sad about his death?" He asked.
Ventress scoffed. "The old bastard betrayed and tried to kill me, then captured and brainwashed me only to leave me for dead. I could care less if he lives or dies." She answered with a frown. But then she sighed as she looked at Alpha. "But in hindsight, it should at least show you where my loyalties lie." She then paused before leaving.
Stepping back into her quarters, Ventress felt a presence approaching her Castle. Looking out the window, she saw a small ship had landed in her Castle. She then felt a dark presence in her quarters. Swiftly turning around and drawing her two Lightsabers, she ignited the crimson blades upon seeing Darth Maul seated in a chair in her quarters.
"No need to act with such hostilities, Ventress." Maul told her with a grin. "I am not here to fight you."
Ventress frowned at the sight of Maul. "Darth Maul. What a pleasant sight to see half a man again." She taunted.
Maul chuckled as he got up and walked towards her. "Very amusing, dear Ventress. But I insist on the fact I am not here to kill you." He then walked past her towards the balcony, leaning on the railing. "No, I come here to make a proposition to you."
Asajj raised a brow, lowering her Lightsabers but keeping them ignited. "What, don't have your mindless brute of a brother to help you?" She taunted only for her throat to be clutched by an unseen force.
Maul, who turned around with a clenched fist raised, watched as Ventress dropped her Lightsabers and clutched at her throat. "Watch your tongue, foolish girl!" He then growled as he calmed himself and let go of Ventress, who dropped on the ground and coughed, regaining her breath. "Savage was killed by my former Master, Darth Sidious… As was Mother Talzin."
Ventress' gaze shot up to Maul as her eyes widened. "What…?" She said in horror and shock. "How did it happen?" She asked as she got up.
Maul sighed. "In my schemes to regain my Master's favor, I had taken over Mandalore as the leader of the Shadow Collective. But much to the shock of my brother and I, Darth Sidious saw us as rivals. He stormed us, killed Savage and took me prisoner. After my escape, I allied with Mother Talzin… Only for Sidious and Grievous to defeat her." He explained.
Ventress paused, feeling anger and sorrow flow through her at the thought of Talzin's death. She then raised her gaze at Maul. "What do you propose, then? That we seek revenge on Darth Sidious? If he killed Talzin and defeated you, I doubt we'll be his match." She answered as she picked up her Lightsabers and placed them back upon her belt.
Maul nodded and walked back to the balcony. "In time, we will have our revenge. But for now, we must be patient." He told her as he looked at the horizon. "I have amassed forces from the criminal underworld. This Shadow Collective which serves me will prove more than capable of facing the Dark Lord in the coming dark times."
Ventress paused, raising a brow. "What do you mean by dark times?" She asked in return.
Maul chuckled as he turned the gaze of his yellow eyes back to Ventress. "Why, nothing less than the fall of the Republic." He answered as he then elaborated further. "This Separatist movement that your former Master created was nothing but a means to create a New Order that would destroy the Jedi and replace the Republic. This War was nothing but a ruse. Darth Sidious secretly manipulated both sides of this war."
Ventress was shocked and felt angry. She and so many others had been mere tools for Sidious, but now she was offered a chance to make a difference.
Maul extended a hand to her. "I offer you to join me. Together we shall destroy Sidious and take our revenge." He offered to Ventress, who slowly walked to Maul and shook his hand.