Blood of the Forgotten/Ch1

If someone had asked Ahsoka Tano if she ever had regrets during the Clone Wars, she would answer with ‘many.’ It was as simple as that. She never wanted to delve into the details, but one of her greatest regrets was leaving her Master behind. It was all because of that damned Barriss Offee bombing the Jedi Temple and then placing the blame on her. She never even questioned why she’d chosen her of all people, one of her closest friends in the Order. That was long past now, and she had to look to the future.

“Have you discovered Darth Maul’s location yet?” came a voice that jolted Ahsoka out of her reminiscing. It was that of Agen Kolar, who had been placed on the Council as a replacement for Eeth Koth, after the latter’s cruiser was blown up by Separatists.

“We’ve almost found him, he appears to be in the southeast sector of Sundari.” Ahsoka responded, arms clasped behind her back. Anakin and Obi-Wan were standing a few meters away, and she had noticed how downtrodden Obi-Wan’s face had been since he landed on Mandalore. Mace Windu leaned back in his seat through his hologram.

“Continue with your search, Commander Tano. We await further updates.” The connection cut at that statement. Windu, despite how much Ahsoka did not trust him, still respected her as a person. She looked over at Anakin and Obi-Wan, standing in the tent entrance. Bo-Katan Kryze, appointed provincial governor after Satine’s death, was standing outside. Before she could leave to go talk to her about the search for Maul, Anakin rest a hand on her shoulder. She stopped, still staring out at the members of the 501st that painted their armor blue and orange in honor of her, and sighed.

“Ahsoka.” he said softly, as Obi-Wan’s face appeared in her periphery as she turned around. “I know this isn’t the best time… but I’m proud of you. Even if you did leave the Order, and in turn me, behind, I still care about you.” “I know you do, Anakin, and you can’t change my decision. No matter how hard you try.” He smiled sadly at her in understanding. Obi-Wan left the battle tent silently, allowing the two of them their time together.

“I understand that, Ahsoka.” he said, and he pulled her to his chest. “But I do miss you. That’s really why I came here.”

“Anakin, don’t make me cry,” Ahsoka returned, pulling back for a moment. He smiled at her. For once, he was happy. Much different than her experiences when she was still a Jedi.

“That’s okay.” he whispered, and she went silent. “I know you know about me and Padmé, Ahsoka. I’ve talked to her about all this, and she understands why you left, even if she does miss you too.” He paused, and stroked his hand up and down her back lek. His comlink beeped. “Skywalker here.”

“Skywalker, the Chancellor has been captured by General Grievous. We require your assistance over Coruscant. Bring Master Kenobi.”

“Alright.” The connection ended, and Anakin kissed Ahsoka on the forehead. “I’ll see you again, Ahsoka.” “Good luck, Anakin.” she replied, nuzzling her head against his chest one last time as he walked away. Obi-Wan met him at the spaceport - where their ships were landed. Ahsoka stared, and felt a sharp pain in the Force. A warning. Something was going to go really wrong. She walked out of the tent, as Bo-Katan examined the Darksaber in her hands. Maul had lost it in Sundari’s sewer system while they hunted him, and she’d retrieved it. For a moment, it was silent in the plaza that had been formed by the semicircle of tents in a Sundari park.

“I never thought I would be holding this in my hands, the legendary Darksaber.” she said to herself, as Ahsoka walked over. “Could you use it?” she asked, and Bo-Katan shook her head. The Duchess’ sister obviously had taken Satine’s death hard, despite their differences. Satine was a pacifist, often that split their family - and it had. She regretted not being there for her sister when she really did need her, but there was nothing she could change.

“I don’t know if I could come to use the object that killed my sister. Here,” Bo-Katan said, handing the Darksaber over to Ahsoka. “I’ll let you use it. You’re probably more qualified, anyway.” She smiled politely at the Togruta, as she took in her hands.

“I won’t let Maul get it back. That I can promise, Bo-Katan.” she said, looking up at the Mandalorian. Bo-Katan patted her shoulder and began to walk away. Ahsoka stood alone in the plaza for a long time, the sun beginning to set when she started moving. She had stood there, constantly accessing the Force to reassure herself that Anakin was safe. Some would say that she was way too worried, that Anakin could handle himself, but she was talking about the man who’d practically raised her. She had a right to worry herself, and she knew Padmé was as well. She sighed, and sat down, legs crossed, on the slate tiles. She stared out at the palace before her, where Satine had once lived.

She respected Satine. Not only because she was Master Obi-Wan’s close friend, and they’d known each other for a while, but because she represented what the Jedi should be. Peacekeepers, but not afraid to fight if they had to. They’d lost their way, and that was partly why Barriss Offee had betrayed them. Ahsoka looked up at the dome, trying to see past the radiation-blocking gray fiberglass. There was only a small glimmer of sun, and it was like the war. Everything was dark, but there was always the small glimmer of light there - waiting for it all to end. Ahsoka stood up, and walked towards where she saw Rex and the other clones waiting for her.

“Commander.” he said on instinct, and Ahsoka waved him off.

“I’m not your commander anymore, Rex.” she replied, as he turned to look away. “Any new information on Maul’s whereabouts?” Rex shook his head as his only response, and Ahsoka felt something in the Force. The same feeling she had gotten when Anakin had left Mandalore. She shook it off, better worry about it later. One of the clones working at the computer system’s series of cameras in the city walked towards them.

“Captain, Commander, we’ve found Maul. He’s in the south district near the schools. All of the children have already been evacuated, so there’s nothing to worry about with them.” the clone said. Ahsoka nodded, and looked in the direction of the school.

It was time to face her first real Sith.

~ Maul knew that the former Jedi would be coming for him. She was close to the darkness, and he could and would use that to his advantage. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the orange, blue and white. Indicative of this Togruta, who was the former apprentice of Anakin Skywalker… interesting. Kenobi was nowhere to be seen, most likely on Coruscant. He turned to stare at them. Clones flanked her.

“Lady Tano.” he said, bowing in mock politeness. “A pleasure to finally make your acquaintance.” He smirked and Tano stared at him, obviously annoyed at him. The warehouse was once where countless shipments of materials entered Sundari, but now was where he kept himself. The half of his lightsaber that fell with him in the Naboo reactor shaft was in his right hand, ready to be ignited at a moment’s notice. “We don’t have to default to violence.”

“That’s obviously what you’ve done, Maul.” she retorted. “Look what you’ve done to this planet, the people that live here. You killed the Duchess, you even kriffing killed Korkie! A kid, no older than me! And you’ll pay for that, Maul. I’ll make sure you do.” The markings above her eyes narrowed like human eyebrows, and she ignited the green lightsaber in her left hand - the shoto, as her other lightsaber had been lost in the Coruscanti underworld - and the Darksaber in her right. He was surprised to see the Darksaber in her grip. It had been confiscated on Stygeon Prime, how did they end up getting it? He ignited his own red saber. It fizzled as it turned on, and it almost appeared as if was going to turn off on its own.

“Well then, Jedi, we’re going to have to do this the hard way.” he said, twirling through the air to meet the Darksaber. Flashes of hundreds of colors and shades illuminated the room as Rex stood on his own at the doorway. He knew that entering the fight would be a death sentence. Ahsoka and Maul were twirling around each other in a dance of death - and it seemed no one was getting the upper hand. They each met each other’s blows, no opportunity wasted. Despite how lopsided one would think a duel between a Sith Lord and a Padawan who never officially finished her training would go, this was evenly matched. Rex’s comlink turned on, and an order was given.

A breach opened up in the warehouse’s large water tank as the two lightsaber-wielding combatants neared it, and water began to cascade down. Ahsoka slipped in the water, slamming the shoto into Maul’s leg on accident, but he fell down with her. His shirtless body crumpled, and he grabbed on to her arm and prepared to swing down and remove it from her body. She kicked and grabbed the Darksaber, slamming her fist into his chest in the process. It dazed him for long enough, allowing her to stand. Hazily, she looked over towards Rex. Behind him stood another clone. A blaster in his hand.

“...Rex?” she asked, eyes widening enough to see the clone aim. Rex took off his helmet, and spun in a half-circle to slam the helmet into the other clone’s chest, sending him off-balance as the blaster fired a shot upwards. Maul grabbed a hold of Ahsoka’s leg, using the Force to propel her towards the back wall, slamming into a load of shipping materials in the process. A knife inside broke part of one of the containers. Red stained it as Ahsoka cried out. “Rex! Help me!” she tried to scream, but it was only a hoarse whisper as another crate crashed down. The warehouse was being bombed. She saw Rex leap towards her as Maul slipped through a crack in the walls, bricks and stones avalanching down the walls and from the ceiling, and she felt someone forcefully remove the knife.

“Ahsoka. Ahsoka, if you can hear me, you’re going to be fine. I’ll get you out of this.” The Darksaber slipped from her grip, only to be caught in another hand. She grunted as Rex lifted her off the rubble and she felt nothing else.