Calls from the Lightside

3 - The Choice

"Bo has been tracking Maul's movements for several months. I was able to obtain some transmission codes but otherwise that's all we have." Ahsoka explained to the generals. "The only thing we know is that Maul is in the city of Sundari."

Obi-Wan shuddered at these claims once again. Sundari Palace was where Duchess Satine was mudered by Maul, so not exactly happy memories. "You're certain of this?" Obi-Wan said, hoping there wasn't real truth behind these words.

"He arrived two days ago." Bo answered. She knew that her sister and him were close, and she didn't want to bring up bad memories for the older Jedi. "We require the Republic to supply additional troops so we can take Maul into custody. Then you get Maul, I get Mandalore."

"I will have to discuss this with the council before we can supply troops to your cause." Obi-Wan said, resuming the confident stature that was The Negotiator.

"That is fine Master Kenobi, I only hope that the Jedi Council responds to our cause the right way." Ahsoka responded, with a hint of bitterness in her voice.

Anakin noticed this and realised that even though Ahsoka left, she didn't feel content with the council. She does have reason to be angry at the council, they expelled her without a second thought! Anakin thought, realising the reason Ahsoka was acting so harsh. He was once again jolted back to reality when Ahsoka's voice entered his mind.

"Well that went well, all things considered." Anakin looked around to see Bo-Katan and Obi-Wan had left the room.

"You know Obi-Wan, always rushing off to see what the council thinks," Anakin replied with a smirk. Ahsoka made a small grin at that comment, looking up at Anakin.

Force, I missed this, she thought. The marching of soldiers, the commanding of orders, this was as close to home as she could get.

"Come on, I have a surprise for you." Anakin gestured for her to follow him.

Every clone they passed greeted them. "Commander, General." Ahsoka was unsettled by the titles.

"They shouldn't call me that." Ahsoka said, Anakin glancing down at her. "Not since I left the order." Anakin smirked at that comment. "That doesn't matter to them. They know what you went through for them, and loyalty is everything to the clones. I thought out of everyone you would be the one to remember that." Anakin glanced at Ahsoka once again to see her reaction.

"I've been away for too long." Ahsoka said, she then froze and covered her mouth. The hangar they had walked into was full of clone troopers, Rex in front. The battalion had painted their helmets to mirror the face markings of Ahsoka. "They did this for you, Commander." Rex said, smiling proudly at Ahsoka. Ahsoka was speechless. By expressing her gratitude, she gave Rex another giant hug for the second time that day. Anakin simply watched and smiled as he saw the two hugging each other. "Thank you Rex," she whispered in his ear. "Anytime commander, anytime." He replied with the grin never leaving his face.

"I have one more surprise for you," Anakin said, signally for a clone trooper to pass him the box he was holding. Anakin opened the box and showed the contents to Ahsoka. "I fixed your lightsabers up for you." He said, smiling as she took them out from the box. She ignited them to find her old green blades had been replaced with Anakin's blue one. "I even made them a little better." Anakin smirked at his comment, Ahsoka doing the same. They were suddenly interrupted by a loud alarm screaming through the ship.

"Anakin, Rex, prepare all forces! We are jumping to hyperspace immediately!" Obi-Wan said frantically running into the hangar. "Yes sir! Men, with me!" The troops ran out of the hangar at Rex's command, followed by their captain. "So the mission to Mandalore was approved?" Anakin asked, believing he already knew the source of the attack. "No, it's Coruscant, Grievous has attacked the capitol and has taken the Chancellor hostage." Obi-Wan stated grimly.

Anakin paled at this news. The Chancellor had been his mentor ever since he arrived at the temple. He wanted to be apart of the mission to save him, but ever since Ahsoka mentioned the mission on Mandalore, he desperately wanted to be fighting next to his old Padawan, considering this might be the only time he would be able to fight next to her. He was completely torn.

"So that's it? Your going to abandon Bo-Katan and all of Mandalore because of the chancellor?" Ahsoka said with her arms crossed and an annoyed look on her face. "The heart of the republic is under attack Ahsoka! The Republic needs us!" Obi-Wan responded, looking equally annoyed. "No, the Chancellor needs you." Ahsoka rebutted. Anakin felt very awkward in that moment, having basically his brother and little sister arguing right in front of him. "I'll divide the 501st, make a new division under Ahsoka's command to assist them on Mandalore." Anakin said, trying to find a solution to this incredibly awkward problem. "Unfortunately, Ahsoka is no longer a part of the Grand Army of the Republic." Obi-Wan said, a small amount of grief detected by Anakin in his mostly annoyed voice.

It was at this moment Anakin was torn. He had a solution, but it would require him going with Ahsoka to Mandalore. As much as he would like to go, the Chancellor needed him. Maybe the Chancelllor doesn't need you as much as you think, Anakin thought, his decision becoming clear to him.

"I'll go with Ahsoka to Mandalore with the 501st, the Jedi on Coruscant like Master Windu can assist you in taking the Chancellor back to Coruscant." Anakin said, silently pleading Obi-Wan through their bond to give in to this idea. "Well, I suppose that could work," said Obi-Wan, the solution running through his mind. "We have no time, I'll tell the council and I'll expect the remaining Jedi to help infiltrate Grievous' ship." Anakin smiled at this. Although he felt torn between the two missions before, there was a feeling inside of him telling him he made the right choice.

As Ahsoka and Anakin begun today board a fighter with a few members of the 501st, Anakin called out to Obi-Wan who was exiting the hangar. "Obi-Wan!" Obi-Wan turned around to face him. "May the force be with you." Obi-Wan smiled. "And with you Anakin." And with that, the two brothers went their separate ways.

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A/N

Well that concludes the third chapter! It was a bit of a long chapter, but I don't want to have heaps of short chapters breaking up bits that I could just put together. I might write another chapter tonight, depends how I'm feeling. I'm trying to make Obi-Wan happy to see ahsoka too but still have the beliefs of the council in place. Once again, don't forget to comment if you want more chapters, constructive criticism or any feedback for me in general. Thx for reading!