Calls from the Lightside

6 - Troubles at Hand

"What is it General?" Rex said as Ahsoka and him arrived at the edge of the city. "Vaughn has discovered a series of tunnels. Most of them are sewage ports, some of them are conduit access pipes." Said Anakin, explaining to them what Vaughn has informed him of earlier.

"Do they lead outside the city?" Asked Ahsoka. "We aren't sure commander," replied Vaughn. "But one of the leaders of this siege escaped down there, there's a chance Maul's down there too." Anakin's eyes narrowed at the thought of a Sith Lord hiding far too close to him for his liking. "We'll split up, report to the rest of the group if anyone of importance is encountered." Said Ahsoka, taking the lead of this situation.

Rex, Ahsoka and Anakin each took a few troopers and split up through the tunnels. They wove through the dark pipes until Ahsoka reached a point where a few pipes connected. She stopped running. Down the pipe directly opposite her, the sound of footsteps started to reach her ears.

"I was hoping for Kenobi, why are you here?" Ahsoka froze. A large figure steps into the light. It was Maul. "Ahsoka Tano, is it, I can't say your name is familiar to me." He said menacingly, his yellow eyes scanning her.

"Well I know you," she replied. "Yes, I assume we have several mutual friends." He said. Ahsoka stood her ground. As much as she tried not to show it, she was scared, and why shouldn't she be?! She was alone with a Sith Lord for crying out loud! Despite all of this, she sneered at him. "I wouldn't quite put it that way." She said while discreetly pressing a button on her commlink, alerting the troopers to her location.

"Of course not, but I'm afraid your way of thinking is behind the times." Maul replied, not noticing Ahsoka activate her receiver. "I was certain Kenobi would come here, instead he sent you," he said, sneering at Ahsoka. "No matter, he sent his loyal foal with you as well, am I correct? Skywalker is it?" Ahsoka stiffened. How did he know Anakin came? She thought. Right on cue, Anakin, Rex and the clones arrived.

At this moment, Maul's group of soldiers started firing at the clones. Maul ignited his lightsaber and sliced at Ahsoka. She parried the strike and returned it to Maul. It was at that moment a blur of blue light sliced through all of Maul's soldiers. "Don't let me miss all the fun," Said Anakin, carrying his own strike at Maul.

"Ah, Kenobi's old Padawan, a pleasure to kill you too." Maul said, throwing another blow at Anakin. "I wouldn't get so cocky Maul, after all, your only half the man you used to be." Anakin said, smirking at Maul. That didn't sit well with Maul, as he force pushed Ahsoka and Rex into the wall. "No!" Shouted Anakin. With Anakin distracted, Maul took the chance to escape.

Ahsoka, who had just fallen off the wall, crawled over to Rex. She gripped his shoulders and helped him up. Anakin noticed this, and simply smirked at the two before running and chasing after Maul. Ahsoka and Rex hurried after Anakin, splitting up to cover more ground. After searching through the the pipes they banged into each other and fell to the floor. They suddenly heard Anakin yell Kriff! And ran off in the direction it came from.

Anakin was standing at the end of one of the pipes. "He got away, I'm sorry I couldn't get him." He said, turning around to face Ahsoka. "Hey it's okay, he couldn't have gotten far. But we should go back and meet with Bo." She said. The trio left the pipes and made their way back.

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Anakin stood with Ahsoka and Bo as a holo-map of the city was displayed in front of them. Obi-Wan was standing behind it as a hologram. "What is your progress?" Asked Obi-Wan, directing his question as Bo-Katan. "A few small firefights in sector eleven," said Bo, gesturing towards that part of the holo-map. "But otherwise your soldiers have proven effective." Anakin looked at Obi-Wan and asked, "Were you successful in saving the Chancellor?" Obi-Wan shifted his gaze from Bo to Anakin.