Hello, everyone!

So a quick note. I was plotting out the rest of this section and I realized that I am a chapter or two away from bringing the Absolved portion of the fic to a close. And then I'll like need like a month hiatus in order to properly plot and write the beginning of the third part. So uh, be prepared for that.

Also, even with the Fives Effect ending, I'll be probably keeping my bi weekly posting schedule for Across the Stars. I'll need the time to write and edit the chapters.

(oh my gosh when I post for this fic next Season 3 will be out holy CRAP)

Bsmith1138: Thank you! And listen, he just needs to be alive. They can fix whatever happens to him afterwards.

Peachpopcicle: Thank you! And I mean, Echo was barely in the trailer, and well, so is the rest of the Batch. We'll have to wait and see for Cody. Speaking of him and you liking my Maul, I think you'll like the beginning of this chapter. And yes. Omega is going to need major therapy.

4thwallbreak: Hey, no worries! It's good to hear from you though! Honestly, the plan was always for Maul to win. Mainly because I wanted a certain someone to return and help Obi Wan in his hour of need. It came about because my editor was like 'Maul should take it a step further and cut his legs off to make it more like his own situation.' and then I joked that he should take Obi Wan's arm too to make him match Anakin. And then I realized it fit within the canon of my fic. Sooooooo it kinda had to happen.

Lothcat99: Good to see you enjoying the story!

We've got a big one today, folks.

TW: aftermath of canon typical dismemberment. Nothing too graphic.

Mando'a translations at the end!

ABSOLVED: Chapter 40

Cody looked with dismay at the huge junk yard the Senators had directed him to. It spread on for at least three klicks. And somewhere in there, his General was- dead? Injured? Maybe just taking a rest before returning?

Just as likely to be lurking around was Maul.

Cody gritted his teeth. He had gone ahead of the squad he'd cobbled together, but even if they were here, they couldn't take on Maul. Not without a Force user.

But- he wasn't going to find his General by just standing there.

Something shifted in the distance: gigantic droids sifting through the trash. Cody shuddered as he imagined General Kenobi getting run over by one. The junk piles cast long shadows on each other. Cody struggled through the scrap at a torturously slow pace. He cursed as he put his foot down a seemingly sturdy duracrete slab and it shifted under him.

He scanned the towering piles. They were evenly spaced and of similar heights, probably thanks to the droids. Except-

One looked like it had fallen down, spreading its contents out over half a klick. It looked like it'd been knocked over by a giant- or a Force push.

Cody lunged forward through the trash. It dragged at him as he waded through.

"Are you looking for someone, little clone?"

Cody froze and looked up. Maul lounged on a durasteel beam jutting from one of the piles. A smaller, slim figure waited nearby.

Cody clenched his fists, summoned his courage, and tried not to think of what happened to Wolffe when he'd faced a Force user.

"Where is my General?" He shouted.

Maul cocked his head.

"I presume you mean Kenobi?" He asked. "He languishes just beyond those mountains of trash, defeated by my hand."

He gestured lazily. Cody, not believing for a second that Maul had beaten his general without some trick, glanced that way. Could he see a figure buried in the garbage?

"Of course, I cannot allow you to aid him." Maul said, faux sorrow dripping from his voice. "Once he is dead, you may take the body."

"Monster!" Cody snapped. "You don't even have the decency to kill him outright!"

A flash of anger crossed Maul's face, but only for a moment.

"Do you know what your General did to me, little clone?" He asked.

Cody remembered cornering his General and demanding why he'd been so disturbed by the rogue Dark Side user. General Kenobi had looked at Cody for a long time.

He killed my master, so I killed him- or I believed I had.

General Kenobi had explained the duel, taking place just before Cody had been created, and how his master had died in his arms. After that, Obi Wan confided in Cody about every new encounter with Maul: where he'd come from, when he and his brother killed General Gallia, when Ventress had saved the General from them. And- when Maul had killed the woman the General had loved.

"He cut you in half." Cody said. "After you killed his master and were trying to kill him! What did you want him to do?"

"The Jedi preach mercy, do they not?" Maul asked. "And I was not just struck down. I fell into a world of scrap and refuse. Left to fester in my madness for years."

It wasn't his fault! Cody wanted to shout.

"I cannot convince you, I see." Maul said. "Clones, so loyal. If only-"

He shook his head.

Want a battalion of your own, huh? Cody thought. Too bad. My brothers will never follow you.

Brothers.

Hadn't Maul had a brother?

"Please." Cody tried. "He- he's like my brother."

Maul stared at Cody for an uncomfortably long time. Cody thought he saw the slightest softening of Maul's eyes. Then it was gone, leaving a sneer.

"I would think you clones would be used to losing brothers." He said.

Cody's anger flared and he gritted his teeth.

Powerless. He was powerless against a madman. His training hadn't included anything about dealing with a Force sensitive lunatic alone.

But he had been taught to improvise.

As subtly as he could, he brought his comm to his mouth. He was connected to the main comm array of the Rebellion.

"This is Commander Cody." He murmured. "I need you to send as many recordings of General Kenobi as you have in the comm history to this comm."

"Sir?" The clone on the other end asked.

"Now." Cody said.

He glared up at Maul as he waited. His comm made a soft beep. The recordings had been received.

Cody began pacing, trying to make his movements natural- and agitated. It wasn't hard. General Kenobi likely needed help now. Trash shifted around his feet. He walked up to one of the slopes and the scrap began to spill over itself. Cody clicked the comm on and dropped it. The comm flowed down with the other pieces of junk for a meter or so. And then General Kenobi's voice began to float from an innocuous patch of trash.

Maul's head snapped up. His eyes were wide, crazed in a way that made Cody want to step back.

This is General Kenobi.

"What is this?" Maul hissed.

Cody looked at him coldly.

"What are you talking about?" He asked.

Most of the words from the comm were blurred together, but it was distinctly General Kenobi's voice.

"I have silenced him!" Maul bellowed. "I should never hear his voice again!"

"I don't hear anything." Cody lied.

"Lord Maul, I hear it!" Offee said timidly.

"You have heard my voices before!" Maul said. His voice had taken on an edge of panic. "We are bonded!"

Cody looked around as if confused.

"He is not dead yet and he still haunts me!" Maul screamed. "No! Will I never be rid of him?"

He clutched at his head. Offee hesitated before placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Lord Maul," She said. "Perhaps it is this place that haunts you, not him."

Maul took a few shuddering breaths.

"Yes!" He gasped. "Yes. His mind is crying out in the last throes of his life. It will stay here. We must go."

He seemed unsteady as he slid from his perch. Offee gave Cody a strange look- was that relief? And then they fled, leaving Cody forgotten.

Cody waited, tense. The moment he saw a ship lift off from nearby he broke into action. First he found the still chattering comm. Then, he ran.

"General!" He shouted. "General Kenobi!"

Obi Wan drifted on waves of pain. The pressure on him was so great. Every breath took all his strength.

Be strong, Obi Wan.

"Master?" He croaked.

I am with you.

"Master, where are you?" Obi Wan pleaded. He felt as a young Palawan again. "Please, help me."

I am, as much as I can.

"General!"

Endure for a while longer.

"General, where are you?"

Obi Wan, I leave you in good hands.

"General Kenobi!"

Someone touched his shoulder.

"Master." Obi Wan whispered.

"Sir, can you hear me?"

Obi Wan forced his eyes open. He knew the voice and face before him, even if he hadn't heard or seen them for months. Such a familiar, comforting countenance.

Despite everything, Obi Wan felt himself relax.

"Kriff, sir." Cody whispered. His voice was stricken. "Hang- hang on. I'll do what I can and others are on their way."

He stood and Obi Wan could hear the sound of junk being shifted.

"How?" Obi Wan managed.

A part of him thought it a stupid question. It was Cody. Cody would always come. He was loyal, dependable. He'd come, despite everything.

"The senators." Cody said shortly.

Obi Wan could only see Cody's legs now.

"I- I'm sorry." Obi Wan said.

"Sir?"

"I left you behind." Obi Wan whispered. "I left you all behind. I'm so- so sorry."

Cody was silent for a long time, still working. Obi Wan felt the pressure shift, becoming lighter.

"Don't talk, sir." Cody said. "You've got to save your energy."

Then, after a moment, he continued.

"I'm the one who should apologize." He said. "I- could have gotten the chip out. I could have tried harder. I'm sorry."

"You're here now." Obi Wan said.

Cody didn't reply, but Obi Wan could vaguely feel his guilt. He tried to speak again, to tell Cody that it wasn't his fault. Instead he coughed so hard that his vision blurred. He saw a spatter of red on the trash on which he lay.

"Sir!" Cody said sharply. "Please, for once in your life, just listen to me and don't do anything!"

The strain in Cody's voice convinced Obi Wan more than anything to do just that. He closed his eyes again and floated in darkness. The pain lessened bit by bit and Obi Wan eventually heard others arrive. It wasn't too long, or so he thought, before someone took him under the armpits and pulled him free. He heard gasps and curses.

"Sir-" Cody said, a strange tone in his voice. "Oh, shab. Just-just hang in there. Stay with me, okay?"

Obi Wan heard Cody bark orders and someone began touching him. A part of his mind recognized the hands as a medic's, but the majority of his thoughts were confused. He flinched at every touch and his thoughts twisted even more.

Was it Maul? What was he doing to him? Obi Wan tried to thrash. Where was Qui Gon? Satine? Anakin?

What- What-

A cool metal object was pressed into his hand. His lightsaber.

"Try- try not to lose it again, sir."

Cody. Cody was here.

Obi Wan gripped his lightsaber and used it as an anchor to calm himself. He had Cody to rely on once more.

"He's been hurt bad, sir." The clone, Tack's, voice flickered through the comm. "But the medics say he's stable."

Ahsoka didn't know whether to swear in frustration or sigh with relief. They should have known that Maul was going to pull something like this. His hatred of Obi Wan ran too deep. They were lucky that Obi Wan lived at all. But to have three of his limbs- be gone- it made Ahsoka feel sick.

Cody will be ecstatic, She thought darkly. Obi Wan can't leave the med bay now.

That was the only bit of good news from the comm. Cody had returned to them.

"Keep us updated." Ahsoka said.

"Yes sir!" The clone said and the comm clicked off.

Ahsoka sighed and looked up. Her men had formed a protective circle around her as she took the comm. Their retreat from the Army HQ was underway. Once they had gotten news that Fives, his team, and Padme had gotten out, they had no reason to stay. The clones they wanted were all out here. Ahsoka was about to give the order to disperse, but her comm beeped again.

"Commander Tano here." She said shortly.

"Sir!" It was Tack again. He was at the comm array, assigned to pass on orders and news to her. "We've just received a message from Captain Rex!"

Rex? Ahsoka's stomach writhed. She had sensed something earlier. Something that worried her.

"What's wrong?" She demanded.

"He's trapped, sir." Tack reported. "He found General Skywalker's children, but the building came down from one of the explosions by Maul's men."

"Send a team." Ahsoka ordered immediately. "Get them out."

"Sir, there's more." Tack said. "He's requesting Jedi back up. There's a Force user after him."

Ahsoka went cold.

"Standby, Tack." She said. "Appo!"

Appo solidified from the circle of troopers.

"Can you handle this retreat by yourself?" She asked.

"Yes sir." Appo said. "But- what's our next move?"

"Find a defended position." Ahsoka said. "Contact Tech and have him broadcast a message to the remaining clones to gather there."

Appo nodded.

"And you, sir?" He asked.

Ahsoka gripped her lightsaber in her hand. Her task here was completed. They didn't need her, but Rex did.

"I have a new mission." She said.

Ahsoka leaned out of the gunship's bay, the wind whipping her lekku. She watched the Coruscant landscape pass by under her like a metropolitan river.

Are you still holding up? She asked Rex.

She got a flash of darkness, the scent of dust, and the sound of the twins sniffling.

They seem calm. Ahsoka said.

Surprisingly. She got words back this time. But I think they sense we need to be calm and quiet. I can hear him sometimes.

Ahsoka shuddered. The idea of one of those dark things hunting her husband, Luke, and Leia made her sick to her stomach.

Be ready to run. Ahsoka told Rex. We're going to find you and get out.

Not sure I can do any sort of running. Rex said. I'm fine, but Cettie got crunched.

Ahsoka took a sharp breath. That- limited things.

In any case, I'll try to take the bastard down. She said. We're almost there.

Indeed, the LAAT/I had begun its descent.

"None of you are to engage with the Force user." Ahsoka ordered the clones around her. "Your primary objective is to search for Captain Rex and the twins."

Ahsoka's stomach twisted as she forced herself to leave off 'and any survivors.' Unless Ahsoka could kill the Inquisitor quickly, they didn't have the luxury.

"Yes, sir!" The men chorused.

She felt their discomfort at having to leave innocents behind.

The LAAT/I touched down and Ahsoka leapt out. Their target was the half destroyed building crumpled in on itself. Ahsoka immediately pinpointed both Rex and the Inquisitor. Rex seemed to have fallen into the basement, shielded by rubble from the Inquisitor's gaze. The Force user himself was on the first floor, kicking at debris and searching.

Ahsoka ignited her sabers and let herself be known in the Force. The Inquisitor looked up. Ahsoka recognized him. He had been on Lothal. Quinlan Vos.

"Tano." He said.

He leapt from the rubble, unsheathing his own blades, the odd double saber of an Inquisitor.

"Here to save that clone and Amidala's brats." He said, stalking forward. "Your devotion to those things is pathetic."

"Jealous that your men didn't have the loyalty mine do?" Ahsoka asked. They began circling one another. "Loyalty should go both ways, Vos. And it's everything to the clones."

Vos made the first move: a heavy swing aimed at Ahsoka's head. Ahsoka darted beneath the blow, crouching low to the ground. Vos kicked out at her, but Ahsoka was ready to spring away.

Vos stopped her next quick slash with an unyielding blade. His hatred, focused and sharpened, seemed to reverberate through her sabers and up her arms at the contact.

It blistered against her senses, but it still seemed distant. She was far from being its full target.

It seemed ineffective, but who was she to tell a Fallen Jedi how to use the Dark side?

With a twist, Ahsoka broke away. Vos growled, an annoyed noise. Ahsoka leapt over his next lunge and brought both sabers down. He thrust out a hand and Ahsoka felt a blunt force crash into her, pushing her back before her blades could reach him. She managed to land with a semblance of grace as she skidded backwards.

She flicked her hand, sending a piece of rubble shooting towards Vos. Vos slammed his blade down through it with too much force, like he was swatting a particularly irritating insect.

Ahsoka cursed as she saw him turn his gaze towards where the clones worked at the rubble. He barrelled towards them, but Ahsoka intercepted him before he could make more than a few strides.

"You'll find that you can't ignore me that easily." Ahsoka said. "Get too distracted and it's over."

Vos' response was to hoist his saber at her neck. Ahsoka danced backwards. He feinted to the side, but she saw his purpose. She trapped him with two jabs to either side of him.

Their abilities were closely matched enough that their motivations mattered. And Ahsoka's far surpassed his.

He was distracted, angry. All of the other Imperial lackeys Ahsoka had faced had seemed so dogmatic and eager to do their master's bidding. Vos felt like he didn't want to be here. His strikes, while powerful and angry, lacked passion.

Ahsoka was fighting to protect. She felt that strength whenever she blocked, parried, or slashed.

Still, Vos was careful now. Ahsoka had to be aware of his footing. With every blow, he moved himself closer to the clones.

So she pressed hard, using every ounce of Anakin's training. She needed it. Vos was unpredictable: feints, no rhythm to his attacks, irregular footwork. He often left Ahsoka barely able to react to his chaotic attacks. But Ahsoka knew how to be just as chaotic. She came as close as he did to ending the fight over and over. They were evenly matched.

For now.

Ahsoka had more power than he could believe.

Power that she was now terrified to use.

Ahsoka ducked Vos' blade. She didn't necessarily have to beat him. She could likely get away with holding back.

Rex! She snapped in her mind. Sitrep!

I can hear the others. Rex replied. They're almost to us.

Ahsoka gritted her teeth. Almost wasn't good enough. They needed more time. Anakin's training had gotten her this far. Now she needed to use what she had learned from Obi Wan.

"You said that they took your love." Ahsoka panted as she batted a thrust away. "How does this bring them back?"

"It doesn't." Vos said. They clashed, pushing their blades together. "But I will never punish her murderers without this power."
"Power?" Ahsoka laughed. "I was never knighted. I'm practically a padawan. Why can't you beat me if the Dark Side has so much power?"

"Don't lie to me, Tano. You're not just a padawan." Vos snapped. He broke away to slash at Ahsoka's head. She tilted her head to let the blade whir past her montrals. "You're more powerful than any padawan I've known. Where is that power? Why don't you use it to save your clone?"

He dragged his saber back and carved the air in an arc. Ahsoka sidestepped.

"I don't need it to beat you." Ahsoka said brashly as she parried his next heavy blow, but she wasn't sure if it was true.

Maybe just a little bit- No. Her entire being trembled at the thought of what it could do to her now. And she felt that she may need it soon.

But the fight was easier now that Vos was talking. He studied Ahsoka.

"You realize that you would become like me if you lost that clone." He said. "As would my padawan, and Skywalker. Love like that breaks you, once it's gone."

"No." Ahsoka said. She lowered her sabers ever so slightly. "There is love without attachment, Vos. I'm sorry you didn't have the chance to find it."

Vos heaved his blade in an overhand strike. Ahsoka crossed her sabers to catch it. The force of the blow nearly drove her to her knees.

"Then why do you fight so hard to protect it?" He hissed.

"Because he doesn't need to die. Defending him and his brothers doesn't go against everything I know." Ahsoka said. She shifted his saber to the side and twisted her hips into a high kick. It landed on Vos' shoulder and he stumbled. He still managed to block her next blow. "If I had to, yes, I would let him die, but in all those moments in between I will protect him with my life."

Vos bellowed, a noise filled with confusion and anger. He was getting unbalanced. But Ahsoka found she wasn't fighting to kill anymore.

"Who is your enemy, Vos?" Ahsoak asked, ducking under a swing. "I'd bet my life that Palpatine was behind the death of your love."

"I know that!" Vos screamed. "I will use him to gain the power I need to overthrow him!"

"Good luck." Ahsoka said. She danced backwards from his angry blade. "He doesn't seem the type to risk that chance."

"There is no other way!" Vos roared.

He rushed forward, clashing with Ahsoka and locking their blades together. He began forcing Ahsoka's saber towards her face. Ahsoka surged against his strength.

"You could join us." She managed, trying to lace the words with the Force. "Anakin is fighting Palpatine now. We are here to destroy his Empire, to undo everything he's done. Why fight his battles? Why even pretend to do his bidding?"

Vos swung a fist at Ahsoka and she leapt backwards. With a twirl of her sabers, she reset into a fighting stance, ready.

"You were once a noble Jedi, Quinlan Vos." She called. "You could be that again."

And- Vos paused. He lowered his lightsabers. Ahsoka stayed in a defensive form, just in case.

"There's some truth to your naive idealism." Vos said.

"Then listen to it." Ahsoka said.

Vos met her gaze for a moment. Ahsoka thought she could see yellow eyes behind the visor. Then he looked down. The silence stretched between them. Ahsoka could feel the conflict within him, the two sides writhing against each other. Then he spoke.

"I will follow him no longer. Leave. Take the clone and Skywalker's brats."

Relief, premature or not, washed over Ahsoka. But-

"And you?" She asked.

Vos looked away.

"It's too late for me." He said. "The Dark Side- No, there is no turning back. I will follow my own path."

He- began to walk away. Ahsoka knew it had been possible; the Force had whispered the chance to her. She still stared at him with shock.

"Thank you." Ahsoka said. "I hope you realize one day that it's not too late."

Vos paused, but did not say anything. Ahsoka watched, still tense, as he walked to a dark shuttle just beyond the rubble of the building. Then he was gone.

Ahsoka ran to the clones working to uncover Rex. She began lifting pieces of the rubble with the Force, careful not to strain herself. A strange dread lingered at the back of her mind.

'Soka? Rex asked in her head. What happened?

I managed to appeal to his better nature. Ahsoka replied. Hold on. We're almost there. Were there any other people in the building?

Yes. Rex said.

"Spread out." Ahsoka ordered the men. "There are more people trapped."

She embraced feeling the Life Forces she had forced herself to ignore just minutes before. She was relieved they wouldn't have to leave the survivors behind.

Finally, Ahsoka lifted a piece of duracrete and found Rex's dusty face blinking up at her. She smiled at him as she put the chunk to the side, letting the relief of seeing him chase away some of her anxiety. He grinned back and passed up a small, babbling bundle.

"They've been pretty calm, considering." Rex said as one of the medics took the baby. "Hold on a tic, here comes Leia."

Once the twins were safely with the medics, Ahsoka reached down for Rex. With the help of another clone, Deck, she heaved Rex up and out. Once he was settled on the ground, crushed cybernetic leg outstretched, Ahsoka hugged him.

Rex laughed a little, putting an arm around her. She hid her dread from him.

"I'm all right." He said. "Far better than I thought I would be."

"Let's get you back to the Defiant." Ahsoka said. "You won't be fighting anything with that leg."

She stole a kiss as she positioned herself under his shoulder.

"This is a warzone, cyar'ika." Rex grumbled.

They limped forward together.

"Anakin would argue that it's the best place to flirt." Ahsoka said as lightly as she could.

She didn't let him see the comfort she had taken from the kiss. It would worry him.

"How goes the General's plan, anyway?" Rex asked.

"He's engaged Palpatine and Tech's managed to broadcast it pretty far." Ahsoka said.

She thought that talking about the mission would help push away her dark feelings, but it instead made them stronger.

"This- is going far better than-" Rex began, but Ahsoka's comm chirped.

"Tano here." Ahsoka said.

"Sir!" It was Tack again. He sounded- strained. "Sir, the civilians are in a state of revolt!"

"Excellent." Ahsoka said. "The TK troopers won't-"

"Sir, they're attacking our troopers as well!" Tack interrupted. "And each other! They're rioting! They're starting to destroy the city!"

Ahsoka swore.

"We need to pull out." She said. "Tack, call back all troop transports to the planet surface. Prepare every squad for retreat and inform Generals Gek and Fisto!"

"Yes sir!" Tack said.

Rex looked at Ahsoka, concerned.

"We've done what we've come here to do." Ahsoka said.

Her heart beat quickly with an unfamiliar anxiety. Had the Force been warning her of this?

"We can't just leave them to destroy themselves." Rex said.

"We don't have the troops." Ahsoka said. "We would have to join with the TKs if we want to quell the riot. We need Palpatine dead. I think. Kriff, I'm not a politician!"

Ahsoka felt her voice grow louder and she clenched her fists as she realized that she didn't know what to do. Obi Wan was the one to deal with this, not her! But Obi Wan- he was in no state to help now. The Force battered at her again.

"Get a hold of Jesse." Ahsoka told Rex. They had reached the LAAT/i and she'd set him down on the edge. "See what Padme thinks."

"What about you?" Rex asked, accepting her comm.

Ahsoka paused. For a moment she didn't know what she was going to do.

"I'm going to connect with Anakin." She found herself saying. "And- see if I can help."

Rex nodded, ashen. Ahsoka sat next to him and he took her hand. She closed her eyes and reached through her bond with Anakin. She found a struggle, both in the Force and in the physical realm. Ahsoka immediately shoved against Palpatine's vast void along with Anakin.

Ahsoka! Anakin shouted. Get away! This isn't your fight!

Isn't it? Ahsoka shot back. Let me help you!

Anakin's power was immense, but there was a tinge of Darkness there that Palpatine seemed to feed off of. Ahsoka pushed her own Light into the conflict. It helped, but not enough. She could feel Palpatine's intentions: evil, twisted machinations that gave him power and spread suffering throughout the galaxy.

Righteous anger flowed through Ahsoka. How dare he? How dare he threaten the ones she loved? How dare he try to kill the honest and the good? How dare he try to smother every single being within his reach?

With the anger came power. She had inadvertently thrown her door open to the Force. With another flash of anxiety, she remembered a half forgotten dream. A dying flame, using her as fuel. A small figure of light, holding Rex's hand.

Two paths.

Ahsoka had a choice.

She could give herself completely to the Light like she had never done before. She could destroy Palpatine. She could purge his shadows from the galaxy.

All it would cost was her life.

And- the flicker of life within her.

The flicker that she loved, and knew that Rex would love. The flicker that they had both longed for. The flicker that was so beautiful compared to Palpatine's Darkness.

Ahsoka was willing to give up so much. Her own life, her husband, her men, her masters.

But not this.

Ahsoka closed the door. The power stopped flowing. Relief and shame came crashing down on her. For the first time since she had gained this power, she did not know if she had made the right choice. The Force was silent.

I'm sorry. She whispered.

It's okay, Snips. Anakin soothed. I have him. Get our men out. This wasn't your mission.

Ahsoka didn't believe him.

She returned to her body with a gasp and found tears and blood streaming down her cheeks. Rex held her to his chest as they both sat on the floor. Ahsoka looked up to see Coruscant flashing by as they flew. Clones around them manned their stations or crouched over battered survivors. How long had she been in a trance?

Rex's hand gently took her face and turned her to look at him. There were tears in his eyes. Ahsoka wanted to look away. Was he that disappointed in her? Then his other hand moved slowly to her stomach and she understood.

A baby? He asked in wonder. We're- going to have a baby?

Ahsoka couldn't do much more than nod. Rex let out a shuddering breath that almost sounded like a laugh. He buried his face into her shoulder.

Thank you. He said. A baby. Our baby. Thank you.

Ahsoka wrapped her arms around him, holding him. It was rare that he was this vulnerable around the men. The news seemed to have undone him.

I'm sorry I didn't tell you. She said, caressing the back of his head.

Rex snorted wetly.

I wouldn't have been able to do my job if I knew. He said.

His hand was gentle against her stomach, as if afraid of hurting their child. He'd been terrified, she realized. Had he seen her decision when he saw that she was pregnant?

What did you see? She asked him hesitantly.

Everything. He replied. I saw- what you could have done.

He felt understanding, not angry or ashamed of her.

You made the right choice. He told her. The Jedi protect the innocent.

Ahsoka wanted so desperately to believe him. An ingot of doubt lay heavy in the pit of her stomach. She- she needed to move on, focus on the present. She straightened, as did Rex, to look around the gunship.

"I need a report." She said to the group at large.

"Sir! Good to see you back with us!" Deck said. "The riots are getting worse, sir. Citizens are fleeing the planet en masse and those remaining have gone practically insane. Senator Amidala believes that any chance she had at calming them has passed."

Ahsoka let a breath hiss through her teeth. That wasn't good news.

"In fact, we're getting reports that many of the planets with the strongest Imperial presence are no better." Deck said.

"I see." Ahsoka said. "How goes the retreat?"

Deck paused.

"It's- rough, sir." Deck said. "They created the rendezvous point for the clones across the planet, but it's being attacked by TKs and civilians alike. They don't know how long they'll hold."

Ahsoka closed her eyes again. She didn't know if she had the strength to lead now.

"Give them another thirty minutes." She finally said. "Have Tech send out another message: this time to hide and to stay safe. We'll be back for them."

"Yes sir!"

Ahsoka sighed and forced herself to her feet. She paced as she waited for the next piece of news, though she was beginning to feel nauseous. Rex watched her with concerned eyes. A few more tidbits came in: Master Fisto had pulled a full retreat. Gek had managed to capture three more Venators and was ready for the order to leave. Tech and Echo had been retrieved from their position. Padme and her team were under heavy fire and were still making their way to safety.

Then, finally-

"Sir, an update from General Skywalker!" Deck said.

Ahsoka looked to him sharply.

"The fight with Palpatine is over." Deck said. "But- the General is injured, and Palpatine has gotten away."

Ahsoka's stomach went cold. Even in exile, Palpatine could be very, very dangerous.

"Get us to Skywalker." Ahsoka ordered. "We'll be his casevac."

Deck nodded and passed on the orders. Ahsoka stared at the back of his helmet. Palpatine lived. And she knew that it was her fault.

Mando'a:

Shab: the eff word

Cyar'ika: sweetheart

Okay, from the top!

I like to call the first scene of the chapter 'Cody gaslights Maul into having a mental breakdown.' I originally was going to have Cody think that he hadn't been trained to fight Force users…but uh…yes he probably has. So I had to add the bit about Maul being a lunatic.

Hey Barriss, maybe if murder makes you uncomfy, maybe don't hang out with a murderer.

Qui Gon checks in for about 5 seconds. Probably because Obi Wan is dying and close to the Force. But Qui Gon knows that our man Cody is here to take care of things.

This fic has Schrodinger's Ventress because I actually don't know if she's alive or dead. But Vos thinks she's dead so that's what matters. I'm proud of this fight scene. I specifically workshopped it with my editor and I think it turned out well. Vos is just the most annoyed with doing Palp's bidding and Ahsoka manages to convince him that even pretending to serve the person you hate most isn't a great idea.

Oops, maybe next time have a plan to stop mass rioting when you bring down a government, Anakin.

As many of you guessed, Ahsoka is pregnant. And has made a choice. We'll see if it was the right or wrong one later on.

Rex realizing he's going to be a dad is one of my favorite little scenes in the fic. GIVE THE MAN A FAMILY.

Anakin wins but Palps gets away! I'm sure that won't have any repercussions in the future. Also note, apparently a casevac is when you're getting an injured person out, but you're not specifically a medic. The more you know.

Okay, that should be everything!

Stay safe, remember to review, and have a great week!