I don't own Star Wars: The Clone Wars or its characters, but I only own Nadia Aomori and my other OCs.

Enjoy!

Threads of Destiny

Chapter 67: Old Friends Not Forgotten

Over the skies of Yerbana, Separatist droid tri-fighters and artillery were strafing Clone Z-95 Headhunters and LAAT gunships providing support for Commander Cody and his troops, desperate to get help.

After killing the lead Z-95 Headhunter, Separatist droid fighters shoot down a gunship, causing it to collide with a bridge and crash into a river.

Cody ordered his men to take cover as they advance on a phalanx of Separatist droids including dwarf spider droids, Octuptarra tri-droids, and NR-N99 Persuader-class droid enforcers.

Many clone troopers were killed during the charge by enemy fire.

A missile closed in on Commander Cody.

However, at the last minute, Obi-Wan jumped in and used his lightsaber to deflect the blast.

"General!"Commander Cody remarked.

"Cody, get down!"Obi-Wan demanded.

Nadia rushed forward and deflected a laser blast back at the Separatist droids with her two lightsabers causing an explosion in the process.

"I expected us to overpower these Separatist droids!"Nadia snapped as she held her blades to block the battle droids' attacks."Not the other way around!"

Obi-Wan, Nadia and the Clone Troopers then fall back from the attacks to hide behind a damaged gunship.

"Well, I can see things are going splendidly on this front."Obi-Wan declared sarcastically.

"It's no good."Commander Cody stated."We can't locate the tactical droid. He's staying out of sight."

"Anakin, where are you?"Obi-Wan demanded.

"I'm right here."

Obi-Wan, Nadia and the Clone Troopers looked up to see Anakin casually walking up to them.

Anakin casually ducked a shot that flew right past his head.

"What are you doing down there?"Anakin asked.

"We are taking cover!"Obi-Wan replied."Now get down!"

"You're not serious."Anakin remarked."There's only a thousand droids down there, tops."

A smug look appeared on Nadia's face since she figured out what Anakin was planning to do.

"Oh?"Nadia sneered."You have a plan?"

"You could say that, Kitty."Anakin declared.

"What are you up to?"Obi-Wan questioned."Where's Captain Rex?"

Anakin walked past his companions and went on top of the destroyed gunship.

"We already finished our battle, so we decided to come help you with yours."Anakin assured.

"You're overdoing it!"Obi-Wan scowled."Again!"

Anakin bent down on one knee.

"Master, I mean no disrespect."Anakin assured."If you want, I can hide here with you, and we can let the people in the city suffer longer."

"Now, Anakin, you know I-"Obi-Wan started.

"Or we can do things my way and help them now."Anakin suggested.

"I 100% vote for your way because it's more fun and better than hiding to get shot."Nadia remarked confidently.

Obi-Wan let out a sigh in defeat.

"All right."Obi-Wan responded."I know better than to try and stop you. What's your plan this time?"

"Stay here."Anakin instructed.

Anakin got off the destroyed gunship and started slowly walking towards the droids, completely unconcerned as all of them begin taking aim.

"Hold your fire! Hold your fire!"Anakin called out."I have come to surrender!"

Nadia covered her mouth from laughing at the sight she was seeing while Obi-Wan had no clue what his first former apprentice was up to.

"Your forces fought valiantly, and I must admit that we are overmatched by your superior firepower."Anakin declared."I congratulate you, for I have fought in many battles on many planets always been victorious against the droid army. So, it is with these thoughts in mind that I gladly surrender myself to the mercy of the Separatist forces."

Nadia took out her macrobinoculars and grinned in delight when she saw Artoo watching Anakin and the battle droids through his periscope from the side of the bridge before noticing the tactical droid coming next to the battle droids.

"Why have you ceased fire?"the tactical droid demanded.

"Jedi Knight, Anakin Skywalker, has surrendered to us, Commander."the battle droid declared.

Anakin smirked at seeing the tactical droid.

"There he is."Anakin sneered in amusement.

However, the tactical droid realised that it was a trap and told the battle droids to open fire.

"It's a trap, you fools."the tactical droid retorted."Open fire!"

The battle droids aimed their weapons at Anakin.

"Now, Artoo!"Anakin ordered.

Anakin gave Artoo the signal and he relays Skywalker's orders to Rex and his clone troopers.

The Jedi Knight used the Force to drag the tactical droid towards him before beheading him with his lightsaber.

The Clone Troopers activated their jetpacks and emerged from their hiding places beneath the bridge.

Obi-Wan and Nadia shared a smirk with each other as they watched the sight before them.

The clone jetpack troopers attack the Separatist forces, destroying them with explosives and laserfire.

They also planted explosives on the Octuptarra tri-droids.

Commander Cody looked at Obi-Wan.

"General."Commander Cody said.

"Yes, Cody."Obi-Wan responded."You may join the fun as well."

"Yes, sir."Commander Cody answered before glancing at his fellow brothers."Blast them! Go! Go, go, go!"

Obi-Wan and Nadia went up to Anakin while Commander Cody and his troops to joined the battle.

"Bravo, Anakin."Obi-Wan praised."You've done it again."

"Oh, I can't take all the credit."Anakin remarked."Your state of helplessness really sold them on my surrender talk."

"Always glad to help, my friend."Obi-Wan commented before glancing at Nadia."You knew about his plan. Didn't you, Nadia?"

This caused Nadia to chuckle in amusement.

"Oh, master."Nadia sneered."You know I don't like spilling out surprises."

Obi-Wan simply shook his head while Admiral Yularen contacted Anakin via comlink.

"Skywalker here."Anakin responded."What is it Admiral?"

"Sir, we've received a transmission from someone using your subspace frequency, Fulcrum."Admiral Yularen declared.

"Saw Gerrera?"Anakin said.

"Perhaps the siege at Onderon has taken a turn for the worse."Obi-Wan assumed.

"That's unfortunate."Nadia retorted.

"No, ma'am, it's not Gerrera."Admiral Yularen admitted, confusing the three Jedi."You had best take this transmission here on the ship. All three of you."

Anakin, Obi-Wan and Nadia took an LAAT gunship back to Admiral Yularen's Venator-class Star Destroyer.

The three Jedi soon arrived in the Star Destroyer's bridge where Admiral Yularen was.

"All right, Admiral."Anakin stated."What's so important you brought us all the way back here?"

Shocked looks appeared on Anakin, Obi-Wan and Nadia's faces when they saw who had contacted Admiral Yularen as a hologram.

One was Lady Bo-Katan Kryze while the other was someone that the three Jedi weren't expecting to see.

It was a female Torguta wearing a blue-and-grey dress with a short skirt, blue tights, and grey boots, as well as forearm armour and fingerless gloves. Her outfit also had Mandalorian beskar plating.

But they all knew who it was.

It was Ahsoka!

Ahsoka turned out to look at Anakin, Obi-Wan and Nadia.

"Hello, Master and Dia."Ahsoka declared."It's been a while."

Both Anakin and Nadia were utterly surprised to see their old friend again while Obi-Wan and Admiral Yularen shared a glance with each other.

"My stars."Nadia thought in disbelief.

"Ah…Ahsoka."Anakin responded, trying to find the words before becoming happy."I don't believe it! How are you? Where are you? Ar-Are you okay?"

"I'm all right. Thank you."Ahsoka answered."I wish we had more time to talk, but I have urgent information for the three of you."

"What is it, Ahsoka?"Obi-Wan questioned.

"Lady Bo-Katan and I have located the renegade Sith Lord, Maul."Ahsoka admitted."And if we move swiftly, we believe we can capture him."

Anakin, Obi-Wan and Nadia shared a look with each other at Ahsoka's declaration.

Later in the hangar, Anakin walked with Nadia, Obi-Wan and Artoo.

"It all makes sense now."Anakin remarked.

"What?"Obi-Wan asked.

"If Ahsoka hadn't left the Order, then she wouldn't have been where she needed to be."Anakin admitted.

"It seems like that."Nadia agreed.

"That's one way to look at it, I suppose."Obi-Wan answered simply.

Anakin went in front of Obi-Wan.

"It's the only way to look at it."Anakin stated in a firm tone."We're gonna capture Maul, finally. I thought you would be more excited about this."

"I am cautiously optimistic."Obi-Wan admitted.

Shortly later, a Mandalorian shuttle landed in the hangar.

Then Ahsoka exited the gangplank before Artoo rushed to meet her and she stroked his dome while giving him a gentle smile.

The female Torguta was then followed by Lady Bo-Katan and several Mandalorians.

"Hey, Soka."Nadia greeted with a smile.

"Ahsoka, I'm so glad-"Anakin started.

"We'll have to catch up another time."Ahsoka interrupted.

"Things are moving quickly."Bo-Katan declared."Every minute we waste here gives Maul an opportunity to slip away."

"We understand."Obi-Wan answered."Please, follow me."

Obi-Wan led Ahsoka and the Mandalorian warriors to the war room.

Both Anakin and Nadia frowned as Obi-Wan, Ahsoka and the Mandalorian warriors walked past them since the two Jedi Knights wanted to talk to their old friend after so long.

Inside the war room, Ahsoka and Bo-Katan explained the plan to capture Maul to Anakin, Nadia and Obi-Wan.

"Bo-Katan had been tracking Maul's movements for several months."Ahsoka exclaimed."I was able to obtain some transmission codes from the Pykes on Oba Diah which helped her pinpoint some of his previous locations."

Nadia looked at Ahsoka.

"Oba Diah?"Nadia said in surprise."What were you doing there?"

"That's a long story and not really relevant right now."Ahsoka declared.

"What is relevant is that we know Maul is on Mandalore in the city of Sundari."Bo-Katan admitted.

"You're certain of this?"Obi-Wan asked.

"He arrived two days ago."Bo-Katan stated.

"So why not take him yourself?"Obi-Wan suggested."Or, to be more specific, what do you want from the Republic?"

Bo-Katan looked at Ahsoka, who nodded at her before she looked back at Obi-Wan.

"I don't have the numbers needed for a siege."Bo-Katan declared."Without a complete lockdown of the city, Maul will escape again. That's why I'm proposing a joint operation. If we are successful, you'll have Maul and I'll have Mandalore."

Obi-Wan, Anakin and Nadia shared a glance with each other.

"If Republic forces aid you in your assault, it will break treaties that are 100 years old."Obi-Wan reminded."We will effectively be drawn into yet another war."

Bo-Katan gives Obi-Wan a glare.

"What's one more?"Bo-Katan asked.

"She has a point, master."Nadia agreed with a frown."And I am pretty sure those treaties of old have already been broken since the beginning of the Clone Wars."

"Well, we're not finished with our first one yet, Nadia."Anakin declared.

Obi-Wan looked at Bo-Katan.

"I will advise the Jedi Council of this development."Obi-Wan suggested.

Obi-Wan turned to leave the war room, only for Bo-Katan to become furious at his respond.

"There's no time! Maul's influence on Mandalore is destroying my people!"Bo-Katan argued, her tone filled with hate for the Dathomirian Zabrak male that nearly murdered her older sister."Satine nearly gotten killed because of him. I thought she meant something to you."

This caused silence to come in the war room as all eyes were now on Obi-Wan.

Satine used to be the Duchess of Mandalore, but lost her planet to Pre Vizsla before he was defeated by Maul.

What was more worse, the Senate refused to help the civilians of Mandalore even after what happened.

"She still does."Obi-Wan declared honestly."But I cannot allow my feelings to cloud my judgment. The council will decide what our course of action will be."

Obi-Wan then left the war room as Nadia frowned in disappointment while Bo-Katan glared at Ahsoka.

"I told you this was a waste of time."Bo-Katan scowled.

Bo-Katan and her soldiers then left the war room, leaving Anakin, Ahsoka and Nadia by themselves.

"So, that went well, all things considered."Anakin stated.

"You three certainly haven't changed."Ahsoka praised.

Nadia smirked. "Is that a bad thing?"

"Come on, Snips."Anakin encouraged."Me and Kitty have a surprise for you."

"Sure thing, Skyguy."Ahsoka answered with a smug look.

A nostalgic feeling grew inside Nadia at hearing Ahsoka call Anakin by the nickname she called him when they were still younglings.

It utterly made her feel that things were as they were before.

Anakin and Nadia then led Ahsoka through the ship.

As they passed a few 212th Clone Troopers in the hallway, they saluted Ahsoka which surprised her since she was no longer regarded herself as a Jedi.

"Commander."A Clone Trooper greeted.

"Sir and ma'am."A second Clone Trooper added.

Ahsoka looked at Anakin and Nadia.

"They shouldn't salute me anymore."Ahsoka commented sadly."Not since I left the Order."

"It doesn't matter to them."Anakin stated with a smile."It's a sign of respect. They know what you went through for them, day after day, battle after battle. Loyalty means everything to the Clones."

"Unlike the members of the Jedi Council who don't understand the importance of friendship and trust."Nadia declared bluntly.

Ahsoka gives Nadia a smirk.

"Nice to hear you're still you even after becoming a Jedi Knight, Dia."Ahsoka replied in relief.

"Thanks, Soka."Nadia answered.

Anakin and Nadia lead Ahsoka into a hangar where she was greeted by Captain Rex and his company, all with helmets painted in the likeness of her facial markings.

"Company, attention!"Rex ordered.

At Rex's command, the Clone Troopers stood at attention as Ahsoka, Anakin and Nadia inspected them.

Ahsoka looked at the Clone Troopers with a surprised expression before looking at Anakin and Nadia.

"Go ahead."Anakin insisted."They've been waiting to see you."

Nadia gives Ahsoka a nod before she walked forward to look at Rex and the other Clone Troopers.

"As soon as I told Rex and the guys that you were back, they got to work."Nadia admitted.

Ahsoka then circled back to Rex again.

"The paint job is a little crude, but we think it gets the idea across."Rex exclaimed, showing a helmet with Ahsoka's face mark."Glad to have you back, Commander."

"Rex, thank you."Ahsoka thanked."But you don't have to call me commander anymore."

"Sure thing…Commander."Rex answered.

Rex then passed a box to Anakin.

"Oh."Anakin chuckled."I have one more surprise for you."

Nadia smiled, knowing inside the box was Ahsoka's lightsabers.

Before Ahsoka can open the box, she, Anakin, Nadia and the Clone Troopers hear the klaxons ringing.

"What now?"Nadia muttered in annoyance.

Obi-Wan then rushed into the hangar.

"Anakin, Nadia, Rex, prepare all forces."Obi-Wan ordered."We're jumping to hyperspace immediately."

"Yes, sir."Rex responded before glancing at his brothers."Men, with me!"

Rex went off with the other Clone Troopers as Anakin, Nadia and Ahsoka glanced at Obi-Wan.

"So, the attack on Mandalore was approved?"Anakin assumed.

"No, it's Coruscant."Obi-Wan admitted."Grievous has attacked the capital."

"What about the Chancellor?"Nadia questioned with a hint of worry.

"Shaak Ti has been sent to protect him, but Master Windu has lost contact with her."Obi-Wan declared.

Both Anakin and Nadia fell quiet at Obi-Wan's statement.

"Not to worry."Obi-Wan assured."Our fleet can be there within the hour."

Ahsoka frowned in disapproval.

"So that's it?"Ahsoka questioned."You're going to abandon Bo-Katan and her people?"

"Ahsoka, surely you understand this is a pivotal moment in the Clone Wars."Obi-Wan complemented."The heart of the Republic is under attack."

"I understand that, as usual, you're playing politics."Ahsoka stated."This is why the people have lost faith in the Jedi."

"That is awfully true, Ahsoka."Nadia agreed with a nod."Though I clearly hope this won't mean the rise of the Sith, if the Republic falls."

"Was that supposed to frighten me?"Obi-Wan questioned.

"Maybe."Nadia responded casually.

"I hope too that won't happen."Ahsoka stated.

"Same with me."Anakin added before changing the subject."I'll divide the 501st, make a new division under Ahsoka's command."

Obi-Wan opened his mouth to say something, only for Nadia to immediately speak up.

"Terrific idea, Anakin!"Nadia praised with a stern tone, warning Obi-Wan to be careful on what he says."Ahsoka may no longer be part of the Grand Army of the Republic. But that doesn't mean we have forgotten for all the times she fought with us since the Battle of Christophsis."

Obi-Wan gives Nadia a look causing her to grin innocently at him.

"Just correcting the sentence you were going to say, master."Nadia assured brightly.

"If the Council has disagreements, we'll promote Rex to Commander and have him lead the new division."Anakin suggested."Ahsoka can go with him as an adviser."

Anakin and Nadia looked at Ahsoka.

"What do you say?"Anakin asked.

"I accept."Ahsoka responded and looked at Obi-Wan."That is, if Obi-Wan agrees."

Anakin and Nadia glanced at Ahsoka.

"Very well."Obi-Wan said, making Ahsoka nod in approval."May the Force be with you."

Obi-Wan turned to leave the hangar, but then stopped to look at Ahsoka.

"Oh, one other thing: I killed Maul once. Best to capture him."Obi-Wan insisted."He doesn't seem to stay dead."

Obi-Wan then left the hangar as Ahsoka brought her attention on Anakin and Nadia.

"Thanks for the support."Ahsoka thanked."As always."

"That's what friends are for."Anakin remarked before gesturing to the box he held."If you're going to face Maul, you'll need these. I took care of them. They're good as new."

Ahsoka opened the box, revealing her lightsabers inside.

She picked them up before igniting them which revealed the blades to be now blue.

"Maybe a little better."Anakin sneered.

"I say it totally suits Ahsoka's new look."Nadia remarked with a smirk.

Ahsoka stepped back to give herself space to test out a few moves with her lightsabers, feeling quite enthusiastic to wield them again after so long.

"You capture Maul. We'll take care of Grievous."Anakin insisted."With any luck, this will all be over soon."

Ahsoka deactivated her lightsabers before putting them away.

"Master Kenobi always said there's no such thing as luck."Ahsoka reminded.

"Good thing I taught you otherwise."Anakin responded.

Nadia gives Ahsoka a hug as good luck on the siege on Mandalore.

"Good luck, Soka."Nadia insisted."See you later."

"Yeah, Dia."Ahsoka agreed with a small smile."Later."

Nadia then went next to Anakin.

"If Grievous attacked Coruscant, we better be ready for a complete space battle."Nadia suggested."Even Count Dooku."

"That's all nothing we can't handle, Nadia."Anakin declared.

Anakin and Nadia turned to leave the hangar before Ahsoka called out their names.

"Anakin!"Ahsoka called out."Nadia!"

Anakin and Nadia turned around to look at Ahsoka.

"Good luck."Ahsoka admitted.

Anakin and Nadia smirked warmly at Ahsoka before the door slid shut in front of them.

Ahsoka smiled lightly, feeling happy to have seen her close friends again.

Even though the reunion was small and not in peaceful circumstances, she hoped to see them again after the Clone Wars end.

But why did it felt like dark times will begin for the Republic, the Clones and the Jedi Order?

Ahsoka simply shook her head before going off to join Rex and the other Clone Troopers on the gunship that will take them to Sundari; the domed capital city of the planet Mandalore.

Next is Revenge of the Sith.

See you all in the next chapter and have a wonderful day!