Chapter Text
It had only been a few days since she returned to Coruscant. After the run in with the Pykes and a close call with Maul (even if it was through a holo-call), she was happy to do something more mundane, like fixing whatever junk that the Martez sisters were commissioned to fix and making tweaks to improve their ship. Until her adventure in Mandalore from a few months ago caught up with her.
She had been taking a break from messing around with her speeder again when she recognized the form of familiar Death Watch Mandalorian member approach. The resulting conversation was not even thirty seconds, but the underlying ultimatum lingered in the air. She stared at the empty archway where Lady Bo-Katan entered and exited. She was given five minutes to decide, but she decided in a minute. The Force practically screamed in her montrals to go. She turned to the Martez sisters. Even though they’d finally accepted her despite her background, she did not want to leave them on bad terms.
Trace immediately said, “I suppose this is it. You gotta go do Jedi things.” She continued with a soft smile, “Thanks for showing me that not all Jedi are pricks.”
Rafa added, “Thanks for your help. Trace and I, we’ll get on fine enough as we always have.”
She sighed in relief and said, “Alright.” She turned and shouldered her tool bag. She did not have much else. “But, let me keep my bike here, just in case.”
Trace glanced towards her sister, and nodded, “Deal.”
Ahsoka walked out towards the landing pad where Bo-Katan awaited. Once aboard, they immediately took off. Bo-Katan handed her a bundle, saying that they had it made as a token of gratitude for the last time she helped them.
“There’s more, but that’s all I carry at the moment,” Bo-Katan said casually.
Ahsoka unfolded the garments and found that it was a full outfit. Tunic with a built-in battle-skirt, leggings, boots, headpiece. Even vambraces, beskar by the feel of it. They were distinctly Mandalorian with the geometric shapes and sharp lines. And blue, matching her the stripes on her lekku. She accepted them, murmuring, “This is too much, really.”
“Well,” said the other Nite Owl. “As our ally, it is fitting that you look the part. The refresher is in the back.”
Ahsoka took the hint and changed out of her work jumpsuit, carefully folding it and putting it in her bag. When she rejoined the rest, Bo-Katan immediately started briefing her while third of three Nite Owls communicated with the traffic tower to clear them to leave.
“Hmm, we should to contact Master Skywalker and Kenobi,” she murmured thoughtfully at the end. “Of all the Jedi generals, they’d be more likely to spare troops.” She called over to the pilot, “Don’t go straight to Mandalore, yet.”
“We can’t contact them directly ourselves,” Bo-Katan said. “Their communication system is far too encrypted, and they're Jedi. It would be a waste of our time.”
She smiled slightly, a light sparkle in her eyes, “There’s a sub-frequency that I still have access to.”
Admiral Yularen was the first to answer, but he promised them that it Generals Skywalker and Kenobi would not be too long. She asked the Admiral, “I don’t suppose I’m allowed to find out where you are at?”
“Well,” the Admiral said with a slight shrug, “I can say that we are in Savareen sector.”
They made as much small talk as they could, given their individual positions until she felt a very familiar presence approaching from behind. She turned, slightly, noting the slightly disheveled appearances of both masters. Then she turned completely, “Hello Masters,” she said cooly to hide her joy at seeing them both alive and well. “It’s been awhile.” She took in Anakin’s gob smacked expression. If she didn’t have a crisis to plan, she would have recorded the wide eyes and open mouth. (She’d still remember it regardless.)
Anakin quickly shifted back to a more professional demeanor. “Ahsoka,” he managed to stutter. “I…I don’t believe it.” He shook his head slightly as he continued, “How are you? Where are you? Are you ok?” Words began tumbling from his lips, surprised tone turning into gentle concern.
“I’m alright, thank you,” she answered as smoothly as she could manage. “I wished we had more time to talk, but I have urgent information for the both of you.” She hoped that it did not come across too cold, but it was hard to tell with holo-calls. Still, they had urgent business.
Master Obi-Wan took over for Anakin, asking, “What is it, Ahsoka?”
She glanced towards the Mandalorian beside her and continued, “Lady Bo-Katan and I have located the renegade Sith Lord Maul, and if we move swiftly, we believe we can capture him.”
That elicited a moment of shocked silence from the two Jedi more than the initial call. Master Anakin answered first, “I think we can spare a company for a special mission. Which system are you in?” After all, the sooner they captured (if possible) the bad guys, the sooner the war would conclude.
Ahsoka smiled slightly as Bo-Katan answered, “We’re in the Coruscant system.”
As promised, Master Obi-Wan and Master Skywalker arrived in four days before inviting them to board their star cruiser. Bo-Katan’s ship landed with a gentle thud. A thousand familiar littles tunes in the Force blazed ardently to her, coaxing a soft smile’s appearance. Then the steady notes of her grandmaster and the roar of an ocean of her master. She forced her expression into something more neutral. The gangplank lowered, and she strode down. R2’s happy beeps was the first to greet her, and she gave the droid a loving pat. She actually missed its attitude.
Anakin was the second to greet her. A half-smiled on his face as he began, “Ahsoka, I’m so glad…”
She felt Bo-Katan glaring from behind her, and she raised her hand and interrupted, “We’ll have to catch up another time. Things are moving quickly.” Anakin’s smile disappeared.
Bo-Katan, helmet held to her side, added swiftly, sternly, “Every minute we waste here, gives Maul an opportunity to slip away."
Master Obi-Wan nodded, “We understand. Please, follow me.” The Mandalorians were the first to fall in-line. As they began walking away, she looked at her master. His crestfallen look tugged at her heart, and she managed a quick side-hug. “Come on, Skyguy,” she said a bit more lightly, “I’m sure we can catch up some on our way to the war room.”
His smile returned, and they started walking as Ahsoka regaled him with her time with the Martez sisters. Their camaraderie echoed an old song from their early days as master and padawan. As they approached the war room, she quieted down, and the two entered in silence. Bo-Katan’s two companions immediately took guard at the door.
Ahsoka pressed familiar keys, bringing up a map of the Mandalore sector. She quickly began, “Bo-Katan had been tracking Maul’s movements for several months. I was able to obtain some transmission codes from the Pykes on Oba Diah, which helped her pinpoint some of his previous locations.”
“What were you doing on Oba Diah?” Anakin asked incredulously.
She half-smiled as she explained, “The Martez sisters, but it’s a long story that's not relevant right now.”
Bo-Katan then took charge of the briefing, telling the two Jedi of Maul’s current location and answering their piggy-backed questions. Then the briefing turned into a slight argument between Master Obi-Wan and Bo-Katan that only ended with Master Obi-Wan exiting to the main bridge.
Bo-Katan turned away, murmuring harshly as she passed her, “I told you that this was a waste of time.” She and the other Mandalorians strode out to the hallway.
Then it was just her and Anakin. He broke the silence with a nervous half-laugh, "So, that went well...all things considered."
She smiled wearily, “You two certainly haven’t changed.”
“Is that such a bad thing?” he asked with his falsetto innocent grin. She only smirked right back at him. Then he added, “Come with me, Ahsoka. I’ve a surprise for you.”
She nodded and followed her former master out. She supposed Bo-Katan would probably leave, but she’ll manage on her own if it came to that. They passed members of the 212th, each one saluted her as she passed. Out of habit, she nodded in acknowledgement, but it felt strange, a ghostly reminder. She voiced her slight shock that they’d still show her that kind of attention when she wasn’t even a part of the Order anymore. Anakin jumped to the clones' defense, pride and confidence leaking in his tone.
Then they arrived at the hanger. The familiar site of Rex and his company met her. Each member painted their helmets. A bright orange, complete with her white markings. She walked down their ranks a bit, in shock that they even bothered. A twinge of sadness tugged at her heart. Then she returned to Rex and Anakin. Both sported similar looks – fondness, mixed with pride. As Rex spoke, she decided that she didn’t want this moment to end. She looked at Anakin, and he had a box in his hands. From within, she could hear something familiar singing with a touch of something else.
But of course, the sirens started blaring, and members of the 212th scurried into action. Obi-Wan rushed in with news of another development. General Grievous and their new orders. Obi-Wan’s dedication to the Council’s decisions (and by extension, to the Chancellor) coldly reminded her of why she left. Walking away from the Order allowed her to help those who needed it, like Bo-Katan, the Mandalorians & the Martez sisters, even if it meant doing so with far less resources.
Then Anakin decided, first addressing Master Obi-Wan, “You and the 212th are the main responders, and I am officially providing support. That means I should be able to split the 501st and go with Ahsoka. Like old times.”
“It would work if she was a member of the GAR,” Obi-Wan pointed out, not entirely dismissing the plan.
Anakin raised his com-link and pressed a few buttons until Rex answered. Then he said with a slight smirk, “Rex, gather the 332nd and other companies that worked with Ahsoka before. You are going on a special assignment to Mandalore.”
“Sir, yes, sir,” was the automatic response.
“And Rex,” Anakin added, eyes sparkling with mischief, “You’re being promoted to commander of the 332nd division with Ahsoka as your official advisor.” He cut the link before Rex could answer.
“Well, that will work,” Master Obi-Wan said, stroking his beard as he started pacing towards the door. Then he turned to Ahsoka, “I killed Maul once, best to capture him. He doesn’t seem to stay dead. He continued with a tender smile, “May the Force be with you.” The door shut behind him.
Now, it was the two of them again. Two feet apart. Yet he lived in completely different world in the last few months. She really should consider leaving, but she did not watch to go just yet.
She delayed her imminent departure, gently saying, “Thank you for your support,” paused and added, “As always.” She sent waves of gratitude to him through the bond she hadn’t touched in months.
“That’s what friends are for,” he answered in a similar tone and gentle smile. Then he pulled out a box that he still held. “Well, if you’re going to face Maul, then you’ll need these.”
She opened them, revealing lightsabers. Their song now clearly indicated that they were once hers, but it was mixed with Anakin. The casing with new with Anakin’s distinct touch. She picked them, and she felt the crystals rejoice at being reunited with her. Anakin noted, “I took care of them; they’re good as new.”
She ignited them. Blue. She looked at Anakin with a raised eye marking and a crooked smile.
He crossed his arms, admitting without a hint of guilt and a smirk, “Maybe even better.” She could only shake her head. He continued, voicing out what could happen next. He finished, “With any luck, this will all be over soon.” Hope sparked in his eyes.
“Master Kenobi always said that there was no such thing as luck,” she said immediately, trying to prolong the time they had.
“Good thing I taught you otherwise,” he said proudly, adding with a defeated murmur, “I shouldn’t stay much longer.”
“And I don’t wanna go just yet,” she answered sadly. It hurt her that they couldn’t be like what they were. They stood there for another few seconds before he gave her a familiar smile with its trace of overconfidence.
“Anakin.” He turned, and she took a small step in his direction. With a slight shrug and smile, she called out, “Good luck.”