Star Wars : Chapter 57: Sith III

'So will Master Qui Gon...', Obi-Wan internally added for himself.

"Well." Obi-Wan looked down, chuckling, releasing Anakin's hand and arm. "I believe I hear General Grievous calling my name"

Obi-Wan began to make his way to the Vigilance before turning back and smiling at him.

"Good-bye, old friend"

...

Those words caused the Jedi Master's heart to crack, the weight of the emotions that he felt causing it to do so feeling as if it won't be the same again if he saw Anakin again, and he just couldn't picture the grown Jedi Knight and the mechanical monster of a Sith Lord to be one person.

The others felt an ominous feeling within themselves, sensing as if something was wrong but could not point out what it is

"May the Force be with you."

All Anakin could offer in return was a reflexive echo. "May the Force be with you." He stood, still and silent, and watched Obi-Wan walk away. Then he turned and slowly, head hanging, moved toward his speeder.

...

At the planet of Mandalore, Ahsoka Tano ws surrounded by Shadow Collective super commandos, wit Maul stepping from the shadows. The corpses of her Clone Troopers were scattered around, with Vaughn's being the one beside her.

"We have returned to where Padawan Tano had left of...", Shaak To said in utter curiosity. "But why?"

"Perhaps it could be a pivotal moment regarding Sidious", Plo Koon theorized. "If we can capture Maul, then perhaps he could be able to provide information that Dooku could no longer provide.."

"Ahsoka… Tano, is it?", Maul mused. "I can't say yours is a name familiar to me"

"Well, I know you", Ahsoka non-chalantly countered.

"Yes, I imagine we have several mutual friends.", the Zabrak remarked before he chuckled, causing Ahsoka to strengthen her guard.

"I wouldn't put it that way",.

"Of course not", Maul retorted in a sardonic tone. "But I'm afraid your way of thinking is behind the times"

Seeing her opportunity while the Zabrak was pre-occupied, Ahsoka activates a beacon on one of her bracers, which was received by Rex.

"It's her. Come on! We'll trace the signal", the 501st Commander rallied his men and they began to race towards her location.

"I was certain that Kenobi would have come himself", Maul recounted in a rather disappointed tone. "Perhaps bring his loyal foal. Skywalker, is it?"

The Jedi widened their eyes in realization. Did Maul really start a civil war because of his rivalry with Master Kenobi? But what really makes them wonder, why does he appear to be interested in Anakin as well?

"Master Kenobi had a more important engagement"

"Indeed", Maul agreed. "I wonder… The moment may be upon us"

He looks above as if he was expecting that something was about to happen, causing Ahsoka to follow his gesture, confusion setting in.

"Why you?", he was beginning to sound miffed at her presence. "Why did Kenobi send you?"

"You underestimate her too much", Obi-Wan remarked, noticing her growth and is confident that she would be able to stand her own against Maul.

"Why don't you surrender, and then we can both go and ask him?", she sarcastically offered.

"My surrendering, well, that would be pointless", Maul reasoned out. 'For if I am correct, soon the Jedi and Republic will no longer be the controlling interest in the galaxy.

"And who will be? You?", she countered.

"No. Darth… Sidious."

"But given that they are following the Rule of Two, would that mean that Maul no longer had any association with Palpatine whatsoever?", Shaak Ti questioned.

"If memory serves well, I think Maul has his reasons as why he wanted Kenobi and Skywalker to come", Kit Fisto tried to come up with his own conclusion. "With the purpose of killing one or the either..."

"It may be both..." Mace came up with his own conclusion. "He was trying to thwart Sidious' plans"

At the moment he uttered those words, Rex and his troops entered the area and open fired, causing a few Mandalorians to be shot in the ensuing chaos.

Without a second thought, Maul pulled out his saber staff and attempted to cut down Ahsoka, but the Togruta quickly anticipated this and blocked his attempt before Maul ignited the second hilt of his lightsaber, defensively parrying the two blue blades that Ahsoka held.

"Not yet", Maul sneered as he pushed back Ahsoka with the hilt of his lightsaber. Grabbing Rex using the Force, he heaved the Clone Commander towards Ahsoka, leaving them disoriented for a moment. Seeing his chance, Maul made a run for it along with his men.

"Come on!", Ahsoka called out, rallying Rex and the others to the tunnels but by this time, Maul and the others had escaped. "We lost them..."

"Why does it seem that Maul had a clue regarding the plans of Sidious?", Luminara wondered, a thought that is shared by many.

"Trying Master Kenobi and Knight Skywalker, he was", Yoda surmised. "Trying to stop Sidious, he is"

"By eliminating both men I suppose", Saesee added to Yoda's theory.

...

Within the Throne Room of the Palace of Sundari, Bo-Katan Kryze, Ahsoka and Rex were briefing Obi-Wan Kenobi via a hologram while Clones of the 332nd Company and Nite Owls stood guard around the perimeter. Befote them, An astromech droid was projecting the hologram of the map Sundari for them.

"There are a small number of firefights still happening in sector 11", Bo-Katan pointed out, carefully calculating their chances. "But for the most part, your clones have been as effective as promised. Still, without Maul in custody, this could all fall apart quickly. We must capture him before he escapes"

Ahsoka looked uneased. "He mentioned a name, Darth Sidious"

"Who is this Sidious?", Bo-Katan asked.

Obi-Wan spoke up. "I do not know much, but I will share with you what the Council suspects."

Bo-Katan looked at Obi-Wan, wanting him to give a full explanation while Rex turned off the hologram of Sundari, motioning the astromech to leave them.

"Darth Sidious is the Sith Lord who orchestrated the Clone Wars and played both sides of it from the beginning. I first learned the name from Count Dooku, though any chance of learning more about Sidious from Dooku has been lost", Obi-Wan explained, causing Ahsoka to quirk an eyebrow.

"Why?"

"Because Count Dooku is dead", Obi-Wan answered, his tone grim. "Anakin killed him while rescuing the Chancellor. With Dooku gone, we've lost a vital link to understanding the mystery of Darth Sidious. If you can capture Maul, he may be able to provide the missing pieces to this puzzle"

"Just like what Master Plo had said", Kit Fisto recalled the Kel'Dor's statement.

"Given how things had ended up for both the Republic and the Jedi, it may have been too little or too late", Mundi reluctantly remarked.

"Then send me more men", Ahsoka suggested.

"Unfortunately, I cannot", Obi-Wan replied. "I'm being sent to hunt down General Grievous on Utapau"

"What about Anakin? Maybe he can reinforce us"

At this, Obi-Wan looked unsure for a moment before he turned his sights at Bo-Katan and Rex.

"May I speak to Ahsoka alone for a moment?", he requested. Bo-Katan and Rex leave the two, though it was clear that they were hesitant. Once they were out of sight, Obi-Wan returned is attention to Ahsoka.

"Anakin is on a special assignment by order of the Jedi Council", he began, and Ahsoka was quickly suspicious at that

"What kind of assignment?",

"He has been instructed to observe the Chancellor and report his findings."

Now Ahsoka was incredulous at the statement. "Observe? You mean spy. They told him to spy on the Supreme Chancellor? Why?"

"We owe our allegiance to the Senate but not its leader", Mace sternly stated. " Especially if the leader's term had long expired, which in turn says a lot",

"The Senate has allowed the Supreme Chancellor to remain in office long after his term has expired. The Council wants to know what his true intentions are"

"The Chancellor has been a great friend and mentor to Anakin", Ahsoka reasoned out. "I can't imagine he is happy about this"

"Even little 'Soka did not find the Council's decision to be a suitable option", Plo Koon observed her dismay.

"She was Skywalker's apprentice after all", Luminara stated.

"No. He is not. So perhaps it's best that you do speak with him."

She maybe the only one capable by this time..., everyone thought as it was clear that Anakin's trust within the Council was depleting.

Now Ahsoka is uncomfortable. "And what? Defend the Council's actions? I hardly think I'm the best person for that"

Obi-Wan looked at her hesitantly with a pang of guilt. "Ahsoka, the Council isn't always right. That's why I'm asking for your help"

"Failed we have...", Yoda admitted, having realized all the errors that the Council has committed over the years. And those errors, along with their flaws were exploited by Palpatine.

"Sorry to interrupt, but there's been an attack", Rex interrupted, to which Obi-Wan nodded before turning to Ahsoka.

"You had best go"

Ahsoka nodded and prepares to follow after leaving, she faces Obi-Wan one last time.

"Tell Anakin...", she pleaded.

"I will", Obi-Wan promised.

...

The screen shifted up to a citadel attached to the side of a cliff within the planet of Utapau. Inside the citadel was a number of people who sat at a conference table hearing the briefing of General Grievous..

"With the death of Dooku, it makes sense that Grievous would become the Separatists..." Mundi began. "And Palpatine purposefully leaked his location to the Council"

"He was sold out like his own master, per say", Windu added.

"It won't be long until the armies of the Republic with track us here" Grievous proclaimed to the attendees. "I am sending you all to the Mustafar System to the Outer Rim"

"Isn't that the planet where Vader had taken up residence?", Kit Fisto said in intrigue.

Above them, was a Boga Lizard being ridden by a hooded figure as it ran down the walkways, completely undetected by the Separatists.

"And this takes place as soon as Master Kenobi had spoke to Padawan Tano", Shaak Ti pieced out.

"It is a Volcanic planet. You will be safe there" The Cyborg explained but this didn't sit well with the collaborators. "Safe?!" Nute Gunray exclaimed in disbelief. "Chancellor Palpatine manged to escape your grip, general!" The man pointed out to the cyborg. "Without Count Dooku, I doubt your ability to keep us safe!"

"Perhaps we should secretly ready a fleet en route to Mustafar", Mace suggested on behalf of the Council. "This may be our only chance to intercept all of the Separatist leaders at once"

"I vote that we do", Mundi raised hand in support, followed by Saesee, Plo and the rest of the Council.

"Be thankful, viceroy, you have not found yourself in my grip!" Grievous warned the Neimodian. All in the meanwhile the hooded figure watched from above as they argues amongst themselves, as the hooded figure revealed to be Master Kenobi.

"Your ships are waiting" Grievous said, as he escorted them out of the conference area. Kenobi watched from above as he planned out his next move. Obi-Wan discarded his outer robe and jumped down below, landing gracefully and facing the turned back form of Grievous.

"Hello there!"

...

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