Chapter Text
Obi-Wan was on the bridge of The Negotiator when the call came.
“Sir- an urgent message is coming in from Mandalore.” One of the communication clones broke the chaotic silence of the bridge.
Obi-Wan knew his composure showed nothing but he could feel a twinge of eagerness to see his old friend. He spoke, “Put it through.” The image of the Duchess came through immediately. She was dressed modestly and her hair was pulled back in a low bun. She looked exhausted and worn down, as if she was on the verge of collapse. Immediately Obi-Wan was alert. “Satine,” The formalities of titles dropped in his surprise. “What's wrong?”
Satine opened and closed her mouth, looking as if she was going to start talking but nothing came out. She cleared her throat before straightening her spine and turning to face the holo call. Though the clones were trained to focus on their jobs and ignore any distractions, Obi-Wan could tell everyone was listening to their conversation. To his side he felt Cody shift, a sign he was eagerly waiting for the information about to come from the Duchess.
“Maul was on Mandalore.”
The sentence was out of her mouth for less than a second before Obi-Wan replied. “He was on Mandalore?” Even the Jedi general could hear the slicing sharpness of his tone. “What happened?’”
“He came to take Mandalore, there was a fight, he's dead now.” Satine sat stiff in her chair.
“He’s dead? Who kill-”
“Ahsoka killed him.” Satine interrupted before Obi-Wan could finish. “I don't know how she knew, but she did. She knew he was here and they fought. It was epic,” She seemed to choke on the last word. “It was epic,” she repeated fainter than before. Everyone on the bridge seemed to be hanging on her every word.
Ahsoka Tano had left the Jedi Order 2 years ago and no one had heard from her since that day. None of the clones, none of the Jedi, none of the senators or her friends. It was as if she vanished, any trace of her was erased. Everyone had been dying for an update on their favorite former commander. Most of the clones and a few of the Jedi , though they would never admit it, would have given anything for news about the girl but they never got any. Satines words seemed to get stuck in her throat again, she opened and closed her mouth with no words coming out.
Obi-Wan saw her struggle and grew to dread the next words out of the duchesses mouth.``Satine, is she okay?” He only asked when he could no longer stand the silence. He could feel Cody's anxiety and dread about to boil over.
“They were fighting in the dome rafters. She killed him, but as he fell from the beams he grabbed her. He pulled her down with him. I don't know what happened,” Satines eyes filled with tears. She was staring off into the distance as if she was seeing it all again. “I don't know what happened, why she didn't catch herself..” She trailed off, unable to continue for a moment. “She's in a coma.” Satines head seemed to droop and the air seemed to have been sucked out of the room. “Our doctors, there is nothing else they can do. You need to take her to the Temple, perhaps the healers there can do something!” She seemed desperate, like she was begging. “She's a kid, Obi-Wan, she saved my planet. I have never asked you for anything but I need your help, to save her.”
The following conversation was short and full of promises to be there soon. Obi-Wan gave the brief command to have the ship to Mandalore as fast as possible. As he left the bridge, Cody followed him like a shadow, he turned to the bridge crew. “Additionally, please for the time being, keep this information to yourself. I know it is unexpected and upsetting but at this point,” Obi-Wan sighed. “We are doing what we can.” With that he turned to leave, Cody following.
They crossed the ship together, calm and quiet. They acknowledged the few men they passed but did not stop to speak to anyone. Once in the peace of Obi-Wan's private quarters, their silence shattered.
As the door closed behind them Cody ripped off his helmet. He held it in his hands, staring down at the familiar pattern. He tilted the helmet forward and traced his thumb on the hidden symbol on the inner lining. For the singular second he stared at the symbol, time seemed to stretch an eternity. He remembered the night it was drawn there vividly.
Him and some of the men had taken Commander Tano to 79s to celebrate her safe return after the Tradshian hunt. As the night wore on Cody began to notice the emotions that Ahsoka seemed to be swallowing down with no release. A singular glass of wine was held in her hands the entire night and she never took a sip. She was physically there with the men all night, but Cody could tell she was distracted thinking about other things. As the men stumbled home, Cody walked slow and calm with his arm thrown over Ahsoka's shoulders. To others it would appear as if he was shielding her from the wind but in reality he was comforting the young girl. And it didn't take long for the entire story to spill out. Cody learned about the other younglings and Kalifa. To cope with the loss, he encouraged her to find something to hold onto, something to remember the good. And immediately upon returning to the barracks, Ahsoka had stolen his helmet and drawn the symbol. Family and forever were similar in Togruti, she had said. And she had drawn the symbols for each over lapping each other on Cody's helmet.
“Kriffing fuck!” Cody launched the helmet at the wall. It crashed off the wall and clattered to the ground. He stared at it as it spun to a stop on the ground in front of him before he turned to face his general.
Obi-Wan was standing at the small kitchenette in his quarters, a pot of water on to boil already. “That seems quite unnecessary dear..” He spoke.
“Quite unnecessary?” Cody was practically screaming at him. “Ahsoka has been missing for how many years?? And the first news we get of her is that she fought and killed a sith and is in a coma, pretty much dead!”
That caught Obi-Wan's attention, “She's not dead.” He argued roughly.
“She's in a coma. We just received an emergency call to pick up her unconscious body and take her to the Jedi Temple. Because the doctors on Mandalore can't help her.” Cody stared at Obi-Wan as he spoke. “Do you realize this? That she's probably going to die while we take her back?” Obi-Wan said nothing as he stared down at the boiling water in front of him. “What are you going to tell General Skywalker?” Cody began to choke on his words, “What am I going to tell Rex? My brother, do you remember him? The clone that's practically in love-” Cody cut himself off before he could say anything else.
Obi-Wan didn't react though beyond a slight raise of his eyebrows and turning his head to look at Cody. “I can't say I'm surprised by that.” He paused before continuing. “I don't know what we will tell Anakin and Rex. And I don't know if Ahsoka will make it back to the temple.” The words seemed to stick in his mouth. “But we have to go get her, we lost her and failed her once and we will not do it again. We can work out what to say to the others tomorrow. Tonight, I suggest we meditate and rest, lest we let our emotions control us.” Obi-Wan looked away, back towards the kettle as it began to whistle. “Stay with me tonight, Cody? Please.” His words were barely a whisper.
Cody stared at his general, his best friend, his lover. “Of course, Obi.”