This is going to be awkward, thought Anakin Skywalker as he ran every possible outcome of the conversation he was about to have with his former Padawan through his head. Coming to the conclusion that it was about to go seriously wrong, he eyed his Master.

Out of all the things he could be doing right now, Obi-Wan Kenobi had pulled out a comb  from his pocket and was redoing his parting. He caught Anakin's glare. "What?" Running the comb through his luscious locks, he could sense Anakin's worries. " I know how you feel, but I've got to look like I'm still the wise one here."

"Very funny, Obi-Wan." responded Anakin as they walked around the corner that brought them to  the hallway where his office was kept. He had sent Rex ahead to make sure that there was a decent signal and to start the conversation.

=====================================

"How long does it take to get an actual response from General Skywalker?" questioned Duchess Satine Kryze, pacing around the transmitter.

"It depends on how much he cares about that person or if its a mission or not." Responded former Jedi Ahsoka Tano.  Her blue eyes were focused on the transmitter. She was waiting for a verbal response rather than the coded transmission she had received earlier. "And if he's in trouble."

"It sounds like he's gained a few of Master Kenobi's traits." smiled Satine, thinking about the Jedi she loved to bits. "In some good and bad ways."

 Ahsoka gave her a small smile. She could sense that Satine and Master Kenobi had a close relationship in the past. Her lekku twitched. She instantly knew what it was. She turned to the transmitter, with a second to spare.

Standing in his military stance, Captain Rex, appeared in his blue tinted form. "Greetings, Commander Tano."

"Captain," responded Ahsoka, not knowing what else to say. "Its good to see you again."

"As with you," Letting his military voice slip, a smile crept up on his face. "Its been too long, Mesh'la."

"I didn't want to interfere with your missions." Ahsoka turned away for a second. " I'm not so little any more, Rex."

"To me, you will always be my Mesh'la." Rex replied, thinking about their relationship they had hidden, with the help of the 501st, from everybody. "Anyway, why did you suddenly contact me?"

"I've been on Mandalore for the past 3 months. The Force drew me to something peculiar. There's an ancient cave. The Force guided me through it until I came across a cave carving. The darkside calls to me but the lightside is fighting it.  It's nothing like I've ever seen. As for carving, nobody can translate it. They don't know what language its in. But it looks like its from millennia ago." 

Behind the hologram of Ahsoka, Rex saw the office door slide open, just as Generals Kenobi and Skywalker walked in. 

Noticing Rex's eyes darting to something behind her, Ahsoka knew who had just walked in. She saw the reckless and stubborn Jedi Knight who had taught her everything she knew along side the equally stubborn ginger Jedi Master. "Hello Master," she placed her hand on her hip. "Its been a while."

Seeing the love of her life, Satine walked over to the transmission to see Obi-Wan.

"I don't know where to start." responded Anakin. "Where have you been? Why haven't you contacted me? How are you? What are you doing now? Are those new clothes? Have you grown-"

"Anakin, stop it." Obi-Wan nudged him. "You're embarrassing me."

"I'm currently on Mandalore and I'm working with Satine." began Ahsoka realising how much Anakin had missed having her around. As for Obi-Wan, he was just happy to see his Padawan sweetheart. "I didn't want to get in the way of your missions or make it seem like you had an attachment to me. I'm fine and I'm taking to you right now. Satine insisted I wear these clothes and I have grown. We all have."  She looked at Anakin's longer mop of brown hair

"Commander, do you want to tell the Generals what you told me?"  asked Rex, trying to stop an awkward conversation. 

"Right," Responded Ahsoka, " I'm reaching out to you for help. The Force led me to Mandalore, where I found this cave. When I explored it, the Dark Side called to me but the Light Side was fighting it. Then there is this carving. Nobody has been able to translate it but it feels big, whatever it is."

"Ahsoka, are you saying that we should drop our duties, run on over to Mandalore and try and translate a little carving?" interrupted Anakin. "Are you serious?"

"Let me finish, Master." replied Ahsoka, letting a brush of sassiness emerge within her response. "That was only the first part. A few days later, I started having dreams about well....Dragons, just like in the Mandalorian Legends, but it was different. This one man, about 20, walked over to me. He started talking about how Dragons wouldn't exist in the future and how I would someday walk among Dragons. Then  he disappeared. And the carving appeared. The it all just ended.

"I've been having the same dream for months on end now."

"That's only one of the two problems we've been having," Satine cut in, still staring at Obi-Wan. "There have been sightings of Maul. And they're become more frequent in the last 24 hours."

"How long have the sightings been reported for?"  asked Obi-Wan, curious about why his arch nemesis would choose to reappear now.

"When Ahsoka arrived, was when the first sighting was reported." replied Satine. "But it turned out to be fake. Three days ago the sightings have been flowing in. We've been investigating but there are no leads, except this: He appears to have a new companion."

"Satine, why didn't you tell us earlier?" questioned the ginger Jedi. "This is Jedi matter."

"I tried to contact you but you were busy." Replied Satine, "with your so called "bringing peace" to the galaxy. All I ever see is high trooper and civilian death tolls from both sides of the war. You Jedi used to be peacekeepers, now you are warriors, like the Separatists!"

"I will speak to the Council about going to Mandalore to investigate, personally." responded Obi-Wan. "If you had contacted the Temple directly, then maybe I would have solved the sightings of Maul and his new accomplice by now!"

"Calm down, this isn't a Senate meeting!" ordered Anakin.

"Fine!" Chorused Satine and Obi-Wan as they both stormed out of the conversation.

"Have they always been like that?" asked Ahsoka.

"I don't want to get involved." sighed Anakin. "But I'm going to say the always have." Anakin looked at Ahsoka just like he used to when they were an unstoppable duo. Memories of the good and bad times started to flow through his mind. He zoned out.

"Um...Skyguy!" yelled Ahsoka. "Mandalore to Skyguy: Do you copy?" She rolled her eyes as she watched him daydream for a few seconds. "Skyguy, do you copy?"

"Yes!" replied Anakin, snapping to attention, as if he was a Padawan. "Can I excuse myself from this conversation to beg the council to let me go to Mandalore with the 501st?"

"Yes, Anakin." smiled Ahsoka. It was great to see Anakin again, especially when he was behaving in his usual manner but by the Force he had changed. He was more tense and stressed. He seemed more dark...but it wasn't that noticeable.

"I'll see you soon, Ahsoka." smiled Anakin. He didn't want to say good bye to her. He wanted her back by his side. He loved her as a daughter. Ahsoka was special to him. " Before I go, I expect you to contact either me or Rex everyday." His eyes darted to Rex, as he gave him a smug smile. "Do you understand?"

"Yes Master." Ahsoka rolled her eyes. "I won't go off the grid ever again. Its been too long since we've been together as a family. I can't wait to hear what excuses you come up with to come to Mandalore."

"I've got some new ones up my sleeve, Snips." admitted Anakin. "I can't wait to see you again too, Ahsoka." He paused as he felt a single tear drop down his face. "See you soon, Ahsoka."

"See you soon, Anakin." Ahsoka gave him a small, sad smile as he faded out of the hologram. The only person left was Rex.

"That was a lot harder for him than I thought it was going to be." Ahsoka let Anakin's face linger in her mind for a minute. 

"It was." replied Rex, happy that most of the drama was over. "I'm proud of you for reaching out, Ahsoka. We've all been needing an old face back in our lives. I'm just happy to see you." Smiling Rex let his emotions get the best of him as a single happy tear flowed down his rigid face. "You know I'll always love you, Mesh'la." 

"I love you too, Rex."