Aboard the 501st cruiser, Anakin and Obi-Wan walked into the command center, still not really understanding what was going on. "All right, Admiral. What's so important that you brought us all the way..back..."

Maybe they should have guessed. Other than Saw Gerrera, Ahsoka was the only other person who had access to the Fulcrum subspace frequency, and indeed it was her who was talking with Admiral Yularen, along with another helmeted warrior. They looked to be Mandalorian, based off of the armor design. 

Ahsoka, at the sight of the two Jedi, grinned and turned around. "Fancy seeing you here," she joked, despite the heavy situation at hand.

"Snips, you called us," he reminded her, crossing his arms but smiling all the same. "Good to see you, though."

"Likewise," she returned, propping a hand upon her hip. 

"I hate to break up the conversation," interceded Obi-Wan, "but I'm assuming you aren't utilizing a secret, in-case-of-an-emergency-only frequency just to catch up."

She shook her head, addressing the subject she had in mind when she called. "No, I have urgent information for both of you."

Both Jedi understood and held off the pleasantries, and Obi-Wan asked, "What is it, Ahsoka?"

"Lady Bo-Katan and I have located the renegade Sith Lord Maul, along with his apprentice, Barriss Offee. If we move swiftly, we believe we can capture them," she explained, knowing it was startling information but sure that it would help their cause.

Obi-Wan and Anakin exchanged glances, having both perked up at the use of those particular names. No matter what the situation was, they needed more information, and over hologram wasn't the best way to share that kind of intel. Obi-Wan nodded at Anakin, who addressed the women. "I assume you're on your way?"

"We're not far," Ahsoka confirmed, looking to Bo-Katan for approval. "With your permission, we'd like to dock shortly."

"We'll be waiting for you," Anakin told her, extending the permission she was seeking. Ahsoka gave him a single nod, with the smallest of smiles on her face. Admiral Yularen ended the transmission and the Jedi walked out, preparing to greet their visitors. 

~

They really weren't that far off. It wasn't long before the hangar doors were opening, and a sleek, Mandalorian ship was descending onto the launch pad. 

"Remember, Anakin," Obi-Wan reminded him as they walked together. "This meeting is for business. There won't be much time to chat."

"I know," he replied, wanting to complain but knowing he was right. "Still, this doesn't have to be all doom and gloom. A 'hello' isn't going to hurt anyone."

Obi-Wan shook his head at his apprentice. "I guess you're right. Just don't take it personally if she seems a bit more occupied today."

The ramp to the ship lowered, and Ahsoka was the first one to disembark. Both she and the Jedi got quite the sense of deja-vu, but before anyone could comment on it R2-D2 rolled past Anakin and Obi-Wan, straight up to Ahsoka, beeping happily. She stroked his metal head affectionately, grinning at the blue astromech. Some things never change, she thought fondly, even if it's only a droid. 

As Bo-Katan and the other Mandalorians followed her off the ship, Ahsoka walked forwards towards the Jedi. This had been her idea, after all. Anakin crossed his arms as they approached. "Long time no see," he teased her, trying really hard not to grin. 

"You don't say?" she fired back, raising an eyemark amusedly. "I am glad to see you're both still in one piece, though. We'll have to catch up another time," she told them, glancing back at her companions. "Things are moving quickly."

Behind her, Bo-Katan spoke up. "Every minute we waste here gives Maul and Barriss an opportunity to slip away."

The group exchanged glances, picking up on the Mandalorian's tense tone of voice. "We understand," assured Obi-Wan. "Please, follow me."

Bo-Katan followed closely behind the Jedi Master, while Ahsoka and Anakin walked side by side after them. When neither of the others could see them, Anakin gave Ahsoka a look that clearly said, 'Someone's in a hurry.'

'Give her a break,' she seemed to signal back, before looking forward again and walking back to the command center. They both seemed to understand this conversation wasn't going to be an entirely friendly one. In fact, Anakin and Ahsoka seemed to be the only ones wanting to visit.

~

"Bo-Katan had been tracking Maul's movements for several months," Ahsoka reported to the others, who were gathered around a holotable in the center of the room. "Her people intercepted unprotected transmission codes two weeks ago from Maul's ship, which helped her pinpoint some of his previous locations."

That sounded a little off to Anakin. Maul was the type of person who would encrypt transmission codes, especially if he knew someone was trying to access them. "Any idea why that was?"

Personally, Ahsoka hadn't been told that story, but she didn't want to say that in case it was important to Bo-Katan. "I don't believe it's relevant to the codes themselves."

"What is relevant is that we know Maul is on Mandalore in the city of Sundari," Bo-Katan stated, altering the projection so it showed the capital city dome. 

"You're certain of this?" Obi-Wan asked, his arms crossed and looking up at his old ally. 

Nodding, she confirmed, "He arrived two days ago, after receiving medical treatment from a hospital not far from the capital."

Confused, the Jedi Master then asked, "So why not take him yourself? Or, to be more specific, what do you want from the Republic?"

She looked back at Ahsoka, who nodded for her to go on. Although Ahsoka was advocating for Mandalore, it was Bo-Katan who was representing her people and her planet that in question. "I don't have the numbers for a siege. Without a complete lockdown of the city, Maul and Barriss will escape again. That's why I'm proposing a joint operation. If we are successful, you'll have the Sith and I'll have Mandalore."

Anakin glanced at Obi-Wan. He was the Master present, and he was slightly more knowledgable about the situation. He could see him hesitating. "If Republic forces aid you in your assault, it will break treaties that are one-hundred years old. We will effectively be drawn into yet another war."

Ever the Mandalorian, Bo-Katan challenged, "What's one more?"

"Well, we're not finished with our first one yet," Anakin noted, seeing Obi-Wan's point. He was getting tired of it too if he was being honest. 

"I will advise the Jedi Council of this development," Obi-Wan told her, hoping that was the end of the discussion. He knew he had to follow protocol, but he also knew Bo-Katan wasn't going to let him go that easily.

And let him go easily, she did not. "There's no time! Maul's influence on Mandalore is destroying my people! He murdered their ruler, my sister! I thought she meant something to you," she accused him, almost daring him to contradict her.

That was a hard blow. Anakin glanced at Ahsoka, who was doing her best not to react. They had both talked about Obi-Wan and Satine, once upon a time when she wasn't dead. Back then, it had been fun gossip about Anakin's master. Now it was a cruel reminder that the world around them had changed.

To his credit, Obi-Wan kept his composure, somewhat. "She did," he admitted, surprised that he felt safe enough to say it out loud, "and still does, but I cannot allow my feelings to cloud my judgment. I understand the urgency of the matter you have brought before us, but I do not have the authority to act without first consulting the rest of the Jedi Council. Our course of action must be brought before them."

He walked out of the room, not allowing anyone else to have the last word. When the doors closed behind him, Bo-Katan turned around to do the same. She didn't leave before saying to Ahsoka, "I told you this was a waste of time."

Obi-Wan didn't say 'no' yet, Ahsoka wanted to argue, but she left before she could say such a thing. The other Mandalorians followed her out of the command center, leaving Ahsoka and Anakin alone in the room. 

Crossing his arms, Anakin decided to lighten the mood a little. "So, that went well, all things considered."

"You can't blame her for being stressed," Ahsoka told him, turning to face the Jedi. "This is Mandalore we're talking about, it's not like this is our first time dealing with them."

"It's not Obi-Wan's first time wanting to help them either," he remembered, thinking back to when he had lent Obi-Wan a ship to sneak out to help Satine not that long ago. "I don't know how the Council will react, though, especially not with..what happened recently."

"Can't tell me?" Ahsoka guessed, not blaming him but not impressed either. 

Anakin nodded but refused to let the fact ruin their chance to talk. "Come on, I have a surprise for you."

She followed him out of the room and walked beside him as they wove through the hallways of the cruiser again. As they passed clone troopers, many of them recognized Ahsoka, standing at attention and calling her commander. They definitely weren't calling Anakin by that rank, so she knew it was for her. 

"They know my rank from Lokori was temporary, right?" she asked Anakin quietly, looking up at him. "They shouldn't salute me anymore."

Anakin fought off a smile, saving it for later. "It doesn't matter to them. It's a sign of respect. They know what you went through for them, day after day, battle after battle." He paused in front of the doors to the hangar, crossing his arms. "Loyalty means everything to the clones."

At that moment, the door opened for them, revealing Rex standing with a squad of troopers. It didn't look exactly like a 501st squadron, though. Not with the orange helmets on their heads. 

"Company!" called Rex, turning to address the troopers. "Attention!"

They turned face, standing tall and proud for at the order of their captain. Ahsoka watched, shocked at the gesture. She had been wondering where Rex was, but this?

"Go ahead," Anakin invited her. "They've been waiting to see you."

She walked out to them, silent as she found herself surrounded by troopers with helmets painted in her honor. There was no other explanation for the orange paint, and especially not for the design it made. The same pattern on her forehead was showing on their helmets, and she could still pick out the smell that indicated the paint was fresh. 

There was nothing to say. Loyalty was one thing, but this was more than that. She knew how important armor paint jobs were to them. It signified their individuality, their uniqueness. The idea that she would be considered significant enough to include not just their armor, but their helmets was unfathomable.

Behind her, Anakin was standing next to his captain. "As soon as Rex and the guys knew you were back, they got to work," he told her, smiling at them. Ahsoka walked up to Rex, knowing he was the one to blame for the paint job.

Showing her a spare helmet, he told her, "The paint job is a little crude, but we think it gets the idea across." Ahsoka reached a hand out to brush her fingers against the helmet, seeing the detail and thought put into it up close. "Glad to have you back, Commander."

"Rex, thank you," she told him, looking up at her brother, "but you don't have to call me commander anymore."

"Sure thing...Commander," he replied cheekily, grinning ever so slightly down at her. 

Ahsoka shook her head, having predicted he would say that. She looked over at Anakin to see him grinning, but without warning, an alarm began blaring and echoing throughout the hangar chamber. Rex looked to Anakin, but he had no clue what was going on either. 

Apparently Obi-Wan did because he came running up behind them. "Anakin, Rex, prepare all forces. We're jumping to hyperspace immediately."

"Yes, sir," Rex responded, even though he wished his reunion with Ahsoka could have lasted longer. "Men, with me!" he called out, moving to begin his preparations. Duty calls, as always.

"So the attack on Mandalore was approved?" Anakin asked, somehow getting the feeling he was wrong.

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

Bad news, all of them knew. Ahsoka immediately thought of her friends at work. They were in the Lower Levels, but that didn't mean they were completely safe either. 

"Do we know anything?" Anakin asked, trying to get specific details.

"Shaak Ti was sent to protect Chancellor Kanai, but Master Windu has lost contact with her," Obi-Wan informed them, relaying what he had been told moments earlier. He realized Anakin knew what this meant, but Obi-Wan tried to reassure him. "Hopefully, our fleet can be there within the hour."

"So that's it?" Ahsoka asked, butting into the conversation. "You're going to abandon Bo-Katan and her people?"

Obi-Wan planned to do no such thing, but he took to opportunity to lecture. "Ahsoka, you know better than most how pivotal this moment is in the Clone War. The heart of the Republic is under attack, and I recall that you know how important that is."

He's got a point, the Sister reminded her. Remember what happened the last two times Separatists sent someone to Coruscant?

"Which is why I need one of your crazy ideas," Obi-Wan concluded, speaking to and shocking both Anakin and Ahsoka. "Preferably one that allows us to do our duty without leaving Mandalore's fate in the hands of Sith."

"The Council said that?" Ahsoka asked, surprised that they would be willing to let go of politics so quickly.

Obi-Wan shook his head, hiding the smallest of smiles. "No, I said that. The Council asked me to use my better judgment to handle the situation."

The corners of Ahsoka's mouth curled up. It wasn't the answer she had been hoping for, but it was much better than the one she had expected. She turned to Anakin since technically she had no authority here. 

Thinking quickly, Anakin suggested, "I'll divide the 501st, make a new division under Ahsoka's command."

"Unfortunately, Ahsoka is no longer a part of the Grand Army of the Republic," Obi-Wan reminded him. "I said crazy, not unreasonable. Work with me here, Anakin."

"We'll promote Rex to Commander and have him lead the new division," he amended, hoping that was better. "Ahsoka can go with him as an advisor. What do you say?" he asked her, although he knew her answer. 

She nodded firmly, knowing it was the best option for all of them. "I accept."

Stroking his beard, the Jedi Master told her, "It's the most I can do for Bo-Katan until the attack on Coruscant has subsided. Hopefully, it will be enough." He paused for a moment, before adding, "May the Force be with you." 

Ahsoka thought she caught a hint of a grin on his face as he turned to walk away. She looked to Anakin, right before Obi-Wan called back to her one more time. "Oh, one other thing, I killed Maul once. Best to capture him. He doesn't seem to stay dead."

"And Barriss?" she asked, knowing that was her other challenge on Mandalore. "From what I remember, she doesn't seem to stay captured."

Obi-Wan considered it for a moment, before answering, "I trust you to decide what must be done." He continued walking away, and the door closed him out of the hangar. 

She breathed deeply, feeling the weight of his trust. Putting it aside, though, she spoke to Anakin. "Thanks for the support. As always."

"That's what friends are for," he reminded her, crossing his arms. "You capture Maul and Barriss, I'll take care of Grievous. With any luck, this will all be over soon."

"Master Kenobi always said there's no such thing as luck," Ahsoka recalled, glancing back to the door he had just walked through. 

It was true, but Anakin knew he wasn't always right. "Good thing I taught you otherwise."

He turned to go join his Master so both of them could get to their missions, but Ahsoka called out one more time, "Anakin!"

Pausing, he looked back at her, and he saw Ahoska grin at him. "Good luck."

"You too." Anakin gave her one last smile before turning and letting her go. Mandalore needed her and Coruscant needed him. There would be time later to talk more. 

Author's Note: Crazy what happens when our least favorite Sith Lord is taken out of the picture, huh? ;)