Happy Thanksgiving to my U.S. based readers! Have a happy day for the rest of my readers!

4thwallbreak: Yeah, we can't have TOO much success, can we? And thank you! Cid and Tech are very fun to write.

I like this chapter. It's a good mix of serious and fun.

Mando'a translations at the end!

ABSOLVED: CHAPTER 17

Ahsoka stumbled into her room, her heart still aching. Obi Wan had assured her that he could handle Anakin and that she needed rest. But how could Ahsoka sleep with the way her insides were twisting? She tried to keep her emotions from Rex, but his eyes were open when she reached their bed.

"What's wrong?" He asked, reaching his hand to her face.

"Padme had the twins." Ahsoka murmured.

Rex sat up, eyes glittering with a mix of emotions.

"Is she safe? Are they all right?" He asked.

"They're healthy." Ahsoka said. "But- Palpatine knows how strong they are. They're in danger."

Rex's eyes widened and he put his arms around Ahsoka. Ahsoka buried her face in his chest.

"I wish I could be happy about it." Ahsoka said.

"I know." Rex said. "It's just- bad timing."

Ahsoka nodded. Silence stretched between them, both lost in their own thoughts. Ahsoka mostly wondered how she could help Padme from this far away.

"What are they like?" Rex asked. "Could you tell?"

Ahsoka paused, thinking of the moment the twins had come into the world.

"They're strong in the Force." She said. "And they're bright. I couldn't tell much more beyond that."

"I wonder if they'll take after the General or Senator Amidala more." Rex said.

"They'll be passionate, that's for sure." Ahsoka said. "The question is, will they be hot like Anakin or cool like Padme?"

As Ahsoka listened to Rex's heartbeat, her thoughts turned to him.

"What would your child look like?" She asked in a whisper. Rex's heartbeat quickened under her montral. "Would they be as brave, as loyal, as steadfast as you?"

A strange ache formed in Ahsoka's heart. The thought of what Rex wanted, what she was beginning to want, surfaced.

"We can't." Rex said, nearly inaudible."It's too dangerous."

"I know." Ahsoka said. "When we make things safe."

Rex's grip tightened on her. She knew he was wondering the same thing as she was. Was it possible to create a galaxy where it was safe to bring a child into it?

Ahsoka didn't sleep, and neither did Rex. They spent the rest of the night in each other's arms, minds buzzing with concern and grief. Ahsoka had offered to help Rex to sleep, but he had refused. He insisted on being with her in her torrent of conflicting emotions.

Ahsoka felt drained and unprepared for the day as the sun trickled through their window.

Rex got up, but gently pushed Ahsoka back down when she tried to follow him.

"I have duties right now." He said. "You don't. You can stay and rest if you can."

Ahsoka stayed where he had left her, but while her eyes were heavy with exhaustion, her heart was still twisting painfully.

"I don't know if I can." She mumbled.

Rex smiled a little.

"I think I can help with that."

He leaned down and kissed her forehead before gently placing his hands over her montrals. Ahsoka closed her eyes as he began to massage them. Under his caring attentions, she felt her mind fill with the familiar pleasant fuzzing. She was able to focus on the sensation and she began to drift off to sleep.

A comm beeped. Ahsoka distantly heard Rex answer it. He sounded annoyed and terse. Then she felt his hand on her shoulder.

"Ner 'Soka." He said into her montral. "I'm sorry, but General Plo's reported back. General Skywalker and Kenobi want you there."

Rex was exhausted, but he knew it was nothing to what Ahsoka and the Generals were feeling. He had at least a few hours of sleep, while he doubted the others had any at all. General Skywalker looked it, while General Kenobi seemed more composed. The other Jedi and Commanders gathered around the ramshackle holotable they had erected in one of thr temple's upper floors. General Plo was detailing the results of his and General Gek's mission.

"Maul has agreed to work with us for very little in return." General Plo said. "I am cautious, but I also feel that he would react poorly if we refuse."

"Yes, his retribution is something to be feared." General Kenobi said quietly.

"Luckily he's not crazy enough to demand we let him into our base." General Gek said. "But he wants our assistance in hijacking a prison transport."

"That is dangerous." General Secura said. "If we are noticed-"

"They already know about rogue clones." Ahsoka said. "They may just assume that the Mandalorians have hired some deserters."

"Maul has assured us that he has the means to leave no evidence." General Plo said. "He just requires more manpower."

"I don't like it." General Skywalker said. "I don't trust him."

"We need the allies." General Kenobi said tiredly. "At worst he will make an attempt on my life. His goals are not to destroy our rebellion."

"We are not trading your life in exchange for his help!" General Skywalker snapped.

"We can make it work if we're careful." Ahsoka said.

Rex glanced at her, sending a question. She seemed too eager to accept Maul's help.

"I would rather risk the lives of Death Watch than the lives of our men." Ahsoka said aloud.

Rex smirked to himself. A good enough reason. The Jedi were nodding in agreement.

"Fine!" General Skywalker said. "But he is never allowed to be on the same planet as Obi Wan!"

The others agreed, and the holo switched off.

"Ahsoka." General Skywalker said. "A word."

Rex stayed by her side as she and General Skywalker went to the side.

"Ahsoka, I want you to be the one to go on the mission with Maul." General Skywalker said.

Rex exchanged a surprised glance with Ahsoka. General Skywalker tended on the side of caution when it came to Ahsoka's missions.

"I trust you to handle him." Anakin went on. "Let's be honest, you're the most powerful in the Force. If he tried anything- well, he wouldn't be expecting you. And bring along your men. "

General Skywalker gave an unexpected snort.

"If something did happen to you, they'd stop at nothing until Maul was dead."

That was certainly true. Rex felt himself tense at the idea of Maul trying something against his Commander and wife.

Ahsoka let out a long sigh.

"Can we talk about this later?" She asked. "I'm still feeling off after last night and I imagine you are too."

General Skywalker seemed to droop at her words.

"Yeah." He said quietly. "You're probably right."

"If there's nothing else, I'm going back to bed." Ahsoka said. "I suggest you do the same."

Rex jogged onto the large field the clones used as their training ground, the humidity of Yavin making his blacks stick to his body.

"You're late." Bly noted as Rex approached him. "I had to get things started."

Rows upon rows of clones were already in the process of warming up. It was Rex's turn to lead training today, but he had lingered with Ahsoka, making sure she had truly fallen asleep.

"Thanks, vod." Rex said. "Sorry about that."

Bly shrugged and folded himself among the ranks. Rex had the mass of clones march back and forth on the field several times before having the men partner up to spar. He'd usually have set up something more intensive, but he was too tired today. If the men wanted more, they knew how to enrich themselves.

Rex was surprised to find Echo being wrestled into the dirt by Fives. He'd have thought that Echo would be with the Batch, helping them plan their next move.

Fives had nearly pinned Echo when Echo sharply jabbed his brother in the thigh with his scomp.

"Careful with that thing!" Fives said as Echo wriggled out from under him. "I could lose my gett'se!"

Echo proceeded to dig his scomp into Fives' ribs. Fives yelped and let go completely. Then they both seemed to notice Rex.

"Hey Rex." Fives said, sitting up. "You look terrible."

Rex shrugged.

"Didn't get much sleep."

"Oh, right, Commander Tano came back last night." Fives said with a gleam in his eye.

Rex glared at him.

"One hundred push ups." He said. "Now."

Echo sat up as Fives scowled but began the set.

"Something's up." He said. "What's wrong?"

Rex gave a sigh.

"Senator Amidala had her kids last night."

"What?"

Rex looked over to see Tup frozen in the act of grinding Jesse's face into the ground nearby. Fives had halted his push-ups.

"That's what she was feeling." He muttered. "Kriff."

"Yeah." Rex said heavily.

Tup had scrambled to his feet. His hair was coming undone and added to his anxious air.

"Is she okay?" Tup asked.

"As well as she can be, with Palpatine nearby." Rex said.

More clones had stopped and were staring at Rex now. Murmurs ran through the group of clones. A few shouted questions.

"How did she have two?"

"Did having two make it harder for her?"

"Where did they come out?"

"Everyone, calm down!" Rex shouted over the spattering of questions. "All I know is that both she and the children are all right. Focus back on your training.

A few more clones gave him worried looks before returning to their sparring. Rex had nearly forgotten how much his brothers had admired Senator Amidala. He wondered if General Skywalker knew how willing these men would be to help save his wife.

"You know what I miss about the GAR?"

Fives' voice had drifted from the Twilight's bay to the cockpit, where Ahsoka and Rex were sitting in the pilots' seats. It'd been a few hours since anyone had spoken; it was at that point in the trip that everyone had exhausted conversation and were now waiting for the trip to meet up with Maul to merely be over.

"The travel?" Jesse suggested.

"The armories?" Tup said.

"The rule that troopers have to keep up their hygiene?" Kix said. "I know I miss it."

That brought forth a laugh from the back and Ahsoka and Rex smiled.

"Nah, 79's." Fives said.

There was a chorus of agreeing 'ahs.'

"I could really go for a drink right now." Jesse said. "The higher ups may not have seen us as sentient, but they knew how to provide the booze."

"How many drinks was T-3ND programmed to mix?" Fives asked.

"Something like a quarter million." Echo said.

"I thought it was more than that." Tup said.

"They updated him halfway through the war." Jesse said. "I can hear him now: 'I am capable of mixing 8, 257, 841 alcoholic beverages. 'A kriffing drink' is not one of them.'"

Laughter again. It was a good sound.

"That clanker had a good sense of humor." Fives said appreciatively. "And he could make a damn good Fuzzy Tauntaun."

The others burst into laughter.

"Fuzzy Tauntaun?" Tup sounded close to choking. "The one that all the shinies drank because they couldn't handle anything harder?"

"I liked the tingle!" Fives said defensively. "And I'd have more than one! I'd drink at least-"

"Two." Echo interrupted. "The last time I went drinking with you, you managed two Tauntauns before you were crying in Pionta's lap."

"Who?" Tup asked.

"Pionta was one of the head girls." Echo said with a frown in his voice. "What happened to her?"

"She left right after- you were gone." Fives' voice had sobered. "And it was a while before you came along, Tup. Turns out Echo was the final straw. Apparently she said she wasn't going to 'send any more boys off to their deaths with a smile and a kiss.'"

"She was a good one." Echo said quietly. "She cared."

"The good ones never lasted long." Jesse said. "Can't blame them. Must have hurt to see less and less of us come back."

"A couple of the really good ones stayed." Fives said. "Oria, Riv, Senna. All the ones that stayed after Umbara. They knew what a little kindness could do for us."

"It got too much even for the ones just in it for the credits." Kix put in. "It was mostly droids near the end of the war."

"If we manage to get rid of the Empire," Fives said. "I'm going to find Senna and repay her for everything she did for me."
The group fell silent again. Ahsoka considered what they had said. She had been aware of the services the Republic had provided the clones at 79's, but this was the first time she'd heard them talk about it. At least, talk about it and not immediately nudge each other to stop as she approached.

Ahsoka noticed Rex's uncomfortable expression and curiosity began to burn in her.

"Did you ever- go with any of the girls at 79's?" She asked.

Rex shot her a panicked look.

"I don't care if you did." Ahsoka said hurriedly. "I'm just- curious."

Rex took a deep breath and began fiddling with his gauntlets.

Not really. He said in her mind. She smirked to herself. This was something he did not want the men to overhear. I- tried once. Early on in the war when the service was first offered to us. I was still adjusting and I was overwhelmed. Other clones said it helped, but when I went with her, I just- couldn't. She kissed me and instead of feeling- what I was supposed to feel, I was scared. I couldn't move. She tried to coach me on what to do, but I just couldn't do anything.

He was staring at the floor and she could feel his expectation for her to mock him, though he knew she wouldn't.

You just weren't ready. Ahsoka said. There's nothing to be ashamed of.

Rex shrugged and Ahsoka reached out to take his hand. He squeezed hers and she pulled him out of his chair to come closer to her. He smiled and settled down in front of her, back to her and his head in her lap. Ahsoka began running her hands through his hair.

It was at the length where it curled around her fingers as she moved them through it. She liked the feeling.

Despite his closed eyes, Ahsoka could feel how tense Rex was. This was a dangerous mission. Maul was volatile and Rex was well aware.

Ahsoka moved her fingers down to his ears. Maybe rubbing them would relax him as rubbing her montrals relaxed her. He made a questioning sound as she ran her thumbs over the top of his ears. The skin was softer than she expected.

Ears were weird, Ahsoka thought as she felt the crevices and valleys of his ears' shape. Montrals were more practical. They heard better and didn't have the weird hole.

I'm a genetically enhanced soldier. Rex said. Designed to be perfect. The Kaminoans thought they were good enough.

I would think you would agree that the Kaminoans didn't always make the best choices. Ahsoka shot back.

She continued her exploration until a sharp laugh from the men made her jump. She accidentally stuck her finger inside Rex's ear.

Rex jerked away from her with a surprised grunt and Ahsoka whipped her hand back.

"Ew!" She said. "Why is it sticky?"

Rex turned to her, face reddening and a hand to his ear.

"You don't just go around sticking your finger in people's ears!" He hissed

"It was an accident!" Ahsoka shot back. "And what is in there?"

"It's natural!" Rex protested.

"It's gross!" Ahsoka said.

She reached out and wiped it on his armor. He gave her a disgusted look.

"Your ear made it." She retorted. "Just- come here, okay?"

Rex frowned but let her pull him back into her lap.

"I like your ears, I promise." Ahsoka said, giving one a kiss.

He grunted. He seemed to have relaxed a little, which was good.

As she continued to massage his head, Ahsoka's thoughts turned to the mission at hand. She was nervous and didn't know what to expect. She was, after all, about to perform a prison break with a murderer.

"You all right?" Rex asked.

Ahsoka sighed.

"Maul murdered Obi Wan's master." Ahsoka said. "It's got me a little on edge."

"I've heard the Generals mention him once or twice." Rex said. "Qui Gon, right?"

Ahsoka nodded.

"I met him once or twice." She said. "Master Plo had introduced us, and he'd been kind."

She'd been at the temple around a year when Plo had sat her down and sadly explained that Master Qui Gon had been killed. She had a few strange memories of Qui Gon's voice that didn't make sense, words he wouldn't have said to her as a youngling.

"I got the sense that he had been very close to the Force." Ahsoka went on. "And Maul killed him. He's also killed Obi Wan's- whatever Duchess Satine had been to Obi Wan. Not to mention that he's killed innocents and Master Galia."

Rex nodded slowly.

"But if we can use him to lower the risk to our own men-" Rex said.

"I know. That's why I agreed to do this." She reminded him. "But what if Maul manages to hurt Obi Wan because of this? Obi Wan seems resigned to the fact, but surely we can protect him?"

"I know we can." Rex said. "Not to mention he's beaten Maul before."

Ahsoka nodded and took a deep breath. She tried to bring her thoughts back to Rex and her men, but with a stomach tearing jolt she remembered what had happened to Duchess Satine. Maul had killed her, seemingly just because Obi Wan had cared for her. What if Maul decided she was his enemy too and targeted her men? Was Rex in danger because she loved him?

"I can take care of myself." Rex said. "So can the men."

Ahsoka had forgotten to keep her thoughts in the private corner of her mind. Rex had picked up on them and reached up to take one of her hands. He ran a thumb over her knuckles.

"If you or any of the men get hurt because I love you-" Ahsoka started.

"It's not gonna happen." Rex said firmly. "Honestly, I'd like to see him try it with you around."

Ahsoka smiled a little at that. He had a point. At the first sign that Maul would hurt her men, he would be dead.

The small moon that Maul had set at their rendezvous was stony and cold. The only sign of civilization was the automated refuel facility a dozen kilometers from where they landed. A lone Galaar class transport was waiting for them. Ahsoka led their cautious way off of the Twilight.

She could sense Maul in the transport. His mind was chaotic and Dark, but somehow less malicious than the Darkness she had felt from Palpatine. She sensed no deception, but that didn't tell her much. Many Force users were able to hide their true intentions.

Maul himself exited his transport, followed by four Mandalorians in red armor. His group stopped short a few meters away.

"Ah, the Fulcrum." Maul said, yellow eyes boring into Ahsoka.

Ahsoka tensed at the term. Hazy memories of being given the same title floated to the forefront of her mind. That voice had been far more welcome.

"You keep strange company." Maul went on. He swept his gaze over her men. Ahsoka hated the way his eyes lingered on Jesse, Fives, and Tup. "The dead who walk."

Ahsoka nearly took a step forward, her hands going to her lightsabers. There was a knowing air to Maul's observation.

She felt her troopers shift behind her, uncomfortable.

"How did you do it, I wonder?" Maul went on. "Three of your companions were meant to die and yet here they stand."

"Commander," Tup said quietly. "What is he talking about?"

Ahsoka hesitated. Fulcrum. A point of balance. She had been called that. She had changed things. What did Maul know of what could have been?

The idea that Maul of all people knew of her purpose in the Force terrified her. She tightened her grip on her lightsabers. This was dangerous.

A gentle, soothing nudge from Rex helped ground her back to the situation.

"It doesn't matter." Ahsoka finally said. "They're here and so am I, at your request. What do you need us for?"

Maul sighed as if he was disappointed.

"Yes, yes the business at hand." He said. "The Jedi are so straight forward."

"I'm not a Jedi." Ahsoka said automatically. "My name is Ahsoka Tano."

"Yes, Lady Offee has mentioned you." Maul said. "Speaking of my dear contact, you did not bring her?"

"She's a prisoner and a traitor!" Jesse burst out. "Why the hell would we bring her?"

Maul looked at him and Ahsoka had the urge to move in front of Jesse to protect him.

"Yes, you would know something of betrayal, wouldn't you?" He said.

Jesse's anger and confusion spiked the air.

"I'm no traitor!" He snapped.

Maul stared at him a moment longer before looking back at Ahsoka.

"Regardless, I had hoped that Lady Offee had been sent as a- mediator of sorts."

"What's there to mediate?" Ahsoka asked. "I thought we were springing some of your men from prison."

"True." Maul admitted.

"Lord Maul." One of the Mandalorians had leaned forward. "We have limited time, sir."

Maul sighed again. He seemed like he barely cared about the mission at hand.

"If you could please explain the details of this particular excursion, Saxon." He said.

Saxon stepped forward and held up a holo puck. A miniature of a blocky, imposing ship popped up.

"Our target is a Taylir-class dungeon ship." He said. "Holds six hundred prisoners. Thirty crew and around fifty wardens. It is set to refuel at the station on this moon in three hours."

He tapped the holo and the schematics of the ship replaced the outside view.

"They're holding three hundred of our men. There are three sections of the ship. Two prison holds and the control section." Saxon outlined the two far larger outside sections. "We believe our men are being held in just one of the holds."

"What's in the other hold?" Ahsoka asked.

Saxon stared at her a moment, his helmet a blank slate.

"We don't know and we don't care." He said. "This isn't a charity mission to free whatever sad saps the Empire has scooped up for thinking the wrong thing at the wrong time."

Ahsoka frowned, but nodded at him to continue.

"The hyperdrive is attached to the control section." Saxon said. "However, the subspace thrusters are attached to the prison holds. If we can rig the connectors with explosives, we can separate the hold with our men and fly back to the Oppression."

Ahsoka raised her eyebrows at the name of their ship, but stayed silent.

"If they're not made to break off, how're you supposed to control it?" Fives said. "I really doubt they have a way to pilot the ship in there."

Saxon stayed silent. Ahsoka wondered if Maul's men had hoped that the clones or Ahsoka had an idea, but were too proud to admit it.

"I can do it." Echo said. All eyes turned to him. "There will be a terminal in the hold, yeah? I can transfer steering and control of the thrusters to it from the main console."

"I'll go with you." Fives said immediately.

"Me too." Rex said.

Ahsoka gave them a nod.

"Is there anything else you'll need us to do?" She asked Saxon.

"The plan is to board the ship on the hold not holding our men." Saxon said. "Your team will draw the guards there while we will gain access to the correct hold. We will set the charges and escape. You will return to your own ship at the entry point."

"They'll be able to follow you easily." Jesse said.

"I can take out the remaining thrusters and the hyperdrive." Echo said. "And destroy any security footage."

"Then we've got Echo, Fives, and Rex going for the main console," Ahsoka said. "Tup, Jesse, Kix, and myself are to be the diversion. You and Maul-"

"Lord Maul will not be joining us." Saxon said in a flat voice.

Ahsoka snapped her attention to the Zabrack, who was staring off into the distance as if lost in thought. Her esteem for the man was dropping by the moment and she could feel her men's disgust.

"I am afraid that while I am an excellent duelist, Lady Tano," Maul said, not looking at them. "I must defer to you in the art of tactical warfare. I have little experience in the area."

Ahsoka wanted to snap out that it didn't matter if he'd never lifted a lightsaber in his life, any Force user on the battlefield could save lives. But her men were not in the balance. If Maul wanted his men dead, that was his choice.

"It's a simple plan, but it'll work." Ahsoka said, folding her arms. "What do we need to do to prepare?"

"We are prepared." Saxon said. "Your troopers may need the time to scrabble enough courage for the mission."

Ahsoka got the sense that he had been waiting to drop an insult onto the clones. To her men's credit, none of them snapped out at the Death Watch member. She could tell that Jesse and Fives in particular were glowering at Saxon.

Ahsoka had her men double check their gear before settling down to wait. The clones mostly ignored the Mandalorians, choosing to talk quietly over their comms. That could not be said of the Mandalorians. The red armored Death Watch members kept staring at the clones and Ahsoka's sensitive montrals kept picking up on scoffs and sneers.

Maul was pacing slowly, looking like he was above it all.

Ahsoka stayed close to her men. She didn't trust these Mandalorians, but they needed to test the waters. This was theoretically a safe mission to do so.

She couldn't help but worry. Maul made things so unpredictable.

Be calm, 'Soka. Rex sent her. It's a simple mission.

I know. Ahsoka replied. But I'm not used to working with a Sith Lord.

I thought he wasn't a Sith, technically.

He has yellow eyes and that's good enough for me.

Rex's posture shifted and Ahsoka knew he was chuckling.

"Hey Commander!" Fives piped up. "Settle this for us. Would you say Rex's shebs are average for a clone or-"

"How dare you!"

One of the Mandalorians had stood up. Ahsoka could feel the jags of anger from him, as if his posture didn't immediately reveal his rage.

"You dare taint the sacredness of Mando'a with your profane tongue!" The Mandalorian continued.

"Sacred? I just said ass." Fives said, sounding more bemused than angry.

He still stood, facing the enraged Mandalorian. Ahsoka thought that he could have said the most base swear word in the Mando'a lexicon and this Mandalorian would have reacted in the same way.

"You are soulless!" The Mandalorian went on. "You have no right to speak our tongue!"

"Gar sirbur sa ibic?" Fives taunted.

The other clones were standing now.

"Fives." Ahsoka said in a warning tone.

Fives glanced back at her.

"I'll back down if he does, sir." He said.

Ahsoka sighed. The younger sounding Mandalorian didn't seem like he intended to let things go. They were all probably looking for an excuse to pick a fight with the clones.

"Saxon, control your rabble." Ahsoka said.

She would have spoken to Maul, but Maul was still wandering around, never looking at them.

"Motir gar bral, Ka'den." Saxon said without looking up from inspecting a blaster.

Ahsoka grit her teeth. Saxon had ordered the opposite.

"If you speak the sacred words of Mando'a in our presence again, I will remove whatever twisted form of manhood the cloners gave you and wear it as a kama." Ka'den said.

Ahsoka saw Rex shift posture, probably telling Fives that if he provoked the Mandalorian that he'd let Ka'den carry out his threat.

"All right." Fives said. "I won't speak any Mando'a."

Ahsoka was going to release the breath she was holding, but the way Fives had said speak set her on edge. As she expected, Fives then violently mimed stabbing the air and she groaned. It was the chekarnor, the backstab, and it was one of the most offensive gestures Ahsoka had ever learned.

Ka'den let out a bellow and barreled towards Fives, flipping out a vibroblade. Fives interrupted the Mandalorian, catching the hand holding the vibroblade.

"Fives!" Ahsoka and Rex shouted together.

"I've got it." Fives said, though his voice was strained.

He reared his head back and crashed it into Ka'den's. The Mandalorian stumbled back, dazed. Fives began landing upper cuts on the bottom of Ka'den's helmet. It was a tactic that the clones rarely used. The Kaminoans had taught them how to disable a trooper in hand to hand combat and the clones took pride in not using it. It seemed that Fives figured that what worked on a trooper's helmet would work on a Mandalorian's.

It did. A few more cracks to the chin later, the red helmet went flying, revealing a shockingly young face with unkempt dark hair. His expression contorted into a snarl as soon as he recovered from the blow.

"Aw, he's just a kid!" Fives said, relaxing a degree.

Ka'den growled and swiped at Fives with the vibroblade, who stepped back with ease. He pushed away his opponent's next thrust, stepped inside his guard, and punched the kid square in the jaw. Ka'den staggered back.

"I hope you Mandos are better at shooting than you are at hand to hand." Fives said. "Otherwise this mission's going to be a mess."

"That's enough, Fives." Ahsoka said. "We're supposed to be allies in this."

"Sir, I can't stop him from attacking me again." Fives said.

"You provoked him." Rex said sternly.

But Ka'den hadn't made another move towards Fives yet. He didn't even look that angry anymore.

"A good fight." He muttered, before retrieving his helmet and returning to the other members of Death Watch.

Ahsoka and her men stared. Maul gave an unexpected chuckle.

"Did you not know, Lady Tano?" He said. "The quickest way to gain a Mandalorian's respect is to best him in battle."

Ahsoka knew that, but if she was honest, she did not associate the traditional Mandalorian culture strained through the clones with the seemingly lawless Death Watch. Maybe the incident would make these Mandalorians easier to deal with.

Mando'a:

Ner Soka - My Soka

gett'se: balls, testicles

Galaar - hawk

Taylir - hold

shebs - butt

Gar sirbur sa ibic - you mean like this

Motir gar bral - stand your ground

chekarnor - backstab

I had fun with this chapter. Good bit of angst with Rex and Ahsoka realizing they probably shouldn't have a kid during a civil war, but plenty of fun stuff. The ear scene was meant to be used on Scarif, but I repurposed it for here because I love it.

I basically decided that Maul has seen Seasons 6 and 7 of the Clone Wars and Revenge of the Sith and is kind of super amused by it all.

Uh, I thought I'd have more to say, but the chapter really speaks for itself.

Happy Thanksgiving again!

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