Dedicated to The_Pencraft

     Upon returning to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, Obi-Wan and Kyra did not have time to brief the Council on their unauthorized mission, nor did the Council have time to reprimand the master and apprentice for their actions. The Jedi Temple had been bombed, the ongoing manhunt for the suspect temporarily suspended so those in the Jedi Order could prepare for the funeral of their six slain comrades.

     "One with the Force, they are," Yoda began, looking down at the warriors who now rested on funeral pyres, shrouded in a cloth bearing the symbol of the Order. "And our job it is to remember that we will, in time, also pass on. Luminous beings are we but temporary vessels, our bodies are. And we shall all find ourselves here in time. A moment of silence, I ask to remember and to move on."

     Ahsoka, Barriss Offee, and Kyra all stood together, listening to Master Yoda's eulogy. When Kyra noticed the grief-stricken expression on Offee's face, she asked her fellow padawan if she had been close to one of the late Jedi.

     Barriss nodded, "Tutso Mara. We trained together. He taught me how to hold my lightsaber correctly."

     The girls fell silent as Yoda continued, "Live for the fallen Jedi, we must. Live through us, forever they will."

     The funeral pyres were lowered into the floor and the fallen Jedi warriors were cremated, their spirits and bodies now one with the Force. Kyra shuffled to her father's side and slipped her small hand into his calloused palm, silently comforting him and knowing that he was picturing the deceased Duchess of Mandalore in his mind's eye, as she was. After the service, they silently walked the grounds of the Temple and attempted to clear their minds.

     Eventually, Kyra broke the silence and admitted, "Every time I think about my mother, I feel conflicted. It's hard not to let feelings turn into attachment and pain. Have you ever wondered if it was right to ignore your emotions?"

     Obi-Wan stroked his beard and thought for a moment, then answered, "My master once said that 'Our struggle as Jedi is to move past them.'"

     "You make it sound so easy," Kyra grumbled with a weary sigh.

     Obi-Wan's chuckle was laced with bitterness, "No, it isn't easy. But it is possible. We will just have to help one another work our way through this."

     "You've always been capable of seeing things clearly," Kyra stated, looking up at her father.

     A small smile appeared on the Jedi Master's face as he shook his head, "I guess I've fooled you like I have everyone else."

...

     On a bridge suspended between two mountain ranges high above the surface of Yerbana, Republic forces fiercely battled against the Separatists' droid army. Commander Cody and his men suffered heavy losses, and when a missile was launched in their direction, the battalion braced for impact, fearing the worst. Fortunately, the clones were obliterated by the missile, Obi-Wan redirected the projectile with his lightsaber. He then ordered his troops to take cover and assisted his padawan as she deflected enemy fire with her own saber.

     Once their troops had retreated, the Jedi joined Cody, and Obi-Wan remarked, "Well, I can see things are going splendidly on this front."

     "It's no good," the clone commander admitted. "We can't locate the tactical droid. He's staying out of sight."

     They ducked as a thermal detonator exploded nearby and rattled the bridge beneath them. When Obi-Wan asked after the whereabouts of his previous apprentice, Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker appeared behind him, ignoring his former master when Kenobi instructed him to take cover.

     When Cody noted the absence of Captain Rex, Anakin explained, "We already finished our battle, so we decided to come help you with yours. I mean—if you want—I can hide here with you and we can let the people in the city suffer longer."

     When Obi-Wan started to argue, Anakin interrupted him, and Kyra smirked as he suggested, "Or we can do things my way and help them now."

     The Jedi Master sighed wearily, "Alright. I know better than to try and stop you. What's your plan this time?"

     Rather than answering, Anakin told the others to stay down and approached the battle droids, who immediately aimed every piece of weaponry they had at the approaching Jedi.

     "Hold your fire! Hold your fire!" Anakin urged, raising his hands in the air. "I have come to surrender. Your forces fought valiantly, and I must admit that we are overmatched by your superior firepower. I congratulate you, for I have fought in many battles on many planets—Always been victorious against the droid army. So, it is with these thoughts in mind that I gladly surrender myself to the mercy of the Separatist forces."

     When a B-1 battle droid informed his superior of Anakin's surrender, the tactical droid saw through the trap and ordered the Separatist forces to open fire. The 501st division activated their jetpacks and ambushed the bridge as Anakin pulled the tactical droid toward him, activating the blue blade of his saber and decapitating the droid. With the help of Commander Cody and his troops, Rex and his men made quick work of the remaining enemy forces, and Kyra smirked at her father as they moved to Anakin's side.

     "Bravo Anakin, you've done it again," Obi-Wan said as he attached his lightsaber to his belt.

     "Oh, I can't take all the credit," Skywalker replied. "Your state of helplessness really sold them on my surrender talk."

     When Kyra's shoulders shook with laughter, Obi-Wan arched an eyebrow, "I'm sorry, whose padawan are you?"

     The girl quickly cleared her throat and bowed her head, trying in vain to adopt a serious disposition, "Forgive me, Master. I was merely indicating my opposition to General Skywalker's false statement with a snort of haughty derision."

     Anakin clapped Kenobi on the back and chuckled, "Good job, Obi-Wan, you've taught her the art of silver-tongued diplomacy."

     "You say it with disdain, yet you've become quite good at this 'silver-tongued diplomacy' yourself," Obi-Wan retorted as he rolled his eyes and moved to rejoin his men, though Anakin's comlink chirped before he could.

     "Sir, we've received a transmission from someone using your subspace frequency Fulcrum," Admiral Wullf Yularen informed the Jedi.

     When Obi-Wan asked if Saw Gerrera – the previous Fulcrum – had contacted them, Yularen replied, "No, sir, it's not Gerrera. You had best take this transmission here on the ship. All of you."

     Once the LAAT transport had returned the Jedi to Wullf's Star Destroyer, they quickly made their way to the mobile command center. Anakin started to question the urgency with which Admiral Yularen had summoned them, but his voice trailed off when he saw the holographic form of his former padawan. Several months prior, Ahsoka Tano left the Order after being wrongfully accused of bombing the Jedi Temple, and now she turned to face her friends with Bo-Katan Kryze standing beside her.

     "Hello, Master. It's been a while," Ahsoka said before nodding to Obi-Wan and Kyra. "I wish we had more time to talk, but I have urgent information for all three of you. Lady Bo-Katan and I have located the renegade Sith Lord, Maul. And if we move swiftly, we believe we can capture him."

     A red-hot wave of righteous indignation swept over Kyra at the mention of Maul's name, though excitement quickly took its place at the prospect of capturing her mother's murderer.

     "It all makes sense now. If Ahsoka hadn't left the Order, then she wouldn't have been where she needed to be," Anakin explained, his enthusiasm matching Kyra's own as they made their way to the main hangar bay with R2-D2 at their side.

     Obi-Wan, knowing his former apprentice had struggled with Ahsoka's departure, replied, "That's one way to look at it, I suppose."

     "It's the only way to look at it," Anakin insisted. "We're gonna capture Maul. Finally. I thought you would be more excited about this."

     "I am cautiously optimistic," Obi-Wan said as a Kom'rk-class starfighter settled into the hangar.

     R2-D2 beeped excitedly as Ahsoka walked down the ramp and patted his head, the Togruta flanked by Bo-Katan and several members of the Nite Owls. When words started to flood from Anakin's mouth, Ahsoka politely held up her hand and told him they would have to catch up another time.

     "Every minute we waste here gives Maul an opportunity to slip away," Bo-Katan agreed.

     Obi-Wan led the group to the war room, where Ahsoka debriefed them, "Bo-Katan has been tracking Maul's movements for several months. I was able to obtain some transmission codes from the Pykes on Oba Diah, which helped her pinpoint some of his previous locations."

     Anakin's brow furrowed in confusion, "What were you doing on Oba Diah?"

     "That's a long story and not really relevant right now," Tano replied. "What is relevant is that we know Maul is on Mandalore in the city of Sundari."

     When Kenobi asked if Ahsoka was certain the information she had acquired was reliable, Bo-Katan informed the Jedi Master that Maul had arrived two days earlier.

     "So why not take him yourself?" Kyra questioned.

     "Or, to be more specific, what do you want from the Republic?" Obi-Wan clarified.

     "I don't have the numbers needed for a siege," Bo-Katan confessed. "Without a complete lockdown of the city, Maul will escape again. That's why I'm proposing a joint operation. If we are successful, you'll have Maul and I'll have Mandalore."

     Obi-Wan and Skywalker shared a look before Kenobi replied, "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."

     "In case you haven't noticed, we're not finished with our first one yet," Anakin added.

     When Bo-Katan's scowl deepened, Obi-Wan assured her that he would advise the Jedi Council of the new development.

     As he started to walk away, Bo-Katan shouted, "There's no time! Maul's influence on Mandalore is destroying my people! He murdered my sister! I thought she meant something to you."

     Obi-Wan turned to face the Mandalorian and quietly said, "She did. And still does. But I cannot allow my feelings to cloud my judgment. The council will decide what our course of action will be."

     As Kyra reluctantly followed her father out of the war room, she heard Bo-Katan claim that their visit had been a waste of time.

     "Master, I'm with Ahsoka and Lady Kryze," Kyra said as she grabbed Obi-Wan's arm. "We promised Bo-Katan we would report our findings to the Republic, and we failed to do so. I understand the war has kept us busy, but we can't just let millions of innocent people die. Especially when it's our fault they're fighting each other in the first place. If Maul hadn't wanted us dead, this wouldn't even be happening."

     Obi-Wan pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, "I understand that, Kyra. But if we are to do as you suggest, I need to know you're not acting on your feelings alone. That...that the death of your mother isn't muddling your thoughts. Clouding your judgment."

     "It isn't, Master," Kyra assured him. "My mind is clear. Yes, a portion of my determination is driven by the Duchess's death, but the greater driving factor is to aid the people of Mandalore. It's a Jedi's job to help those that cannot help themselves, is it not?"

     The weary expression on Obi-Wan's face did not disappear, but his age lines softened as he smiled.

     He chuckled quietly, "Perhaps Anakin is right. I may have taught you too well."

     Kyra smirked, but before she could reply, alarm klaxons tolled throughout the ship. They met with Anakin and Ahsoka in the hangar, where Rex waited with the 501st Clone Trooper Battalion, their helmets painted to match the markings on Tano's face. Obi-Wan's comlink chirped, and after stowing the comm in his utility belt, he instructed Captain Rex to prepare his men for battle.

     "So, the attack on Mandalore was approved?" Anakin asked.

     Obi-Wan shook his head, "No, it's Coruscant. Grievous has attacked the capitol. Shaak Ti was sent to protect the Chancellor, but Master Windu has lost contact with her. Our fleet will be there within the hour."

     "So that's it?" Kyra asked, trying in vain to keep the anger out of her voice. "We're just going to abandon Bo-Katan and her people?"

     "Kyra, surely you understand this is a pivotal moment in the Clone Wars," Obi-Wan replied, unable to hide the frustration in his own voice. "The heart of the Republic's under attack."

     "I understand that, as usual, the Jedi Order is being used as a pawn in the Republic's political game," Kyra retorted.

     "This is why the people have lost faith in the Jedi," Ahsoka agreed. "I had too, until I was reminded of what the Order means to the people who truly need us."

     "Right now, people on Coruscant need us," Obi-Wan countered.

     "No. The Chancellor needs you," Kyra shot back.

     Before the master or apprentice could say anything they would later regret, Anakin intervened, "How about this? 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 his former padawan.

     Anakin thought for a moment, then replied, "We'll promote Rex to commander and have him lead the new division. Ahsoka and Kyra can go as his advisers."

     Obi-Wan's eyebrows shot up, "Since when is my padawan following your orders?"

     "She's not," Anakin countered. "I figured she would go on your behalf, since you promised Bo-Katan you would send Republic aid to Mandalore."

     "I have taught the both of you too well," Obi-Wan muttered with a sigh as he stroked his beard. "Very well. May the Force be with you."

     Kyra and Ahsoka nodded their thanks as Obi-Wan made to leave the hangar, though he paused and said, "Oh, one other thing: I killed Maul once. Best to capture him. He doesn't seem to stay dead."

     Once Kenobi had departed, Ahsoka turned to Anakin and thanked him for his support.

     "That's what friends are for," Anakin replied as he handed his former padawan a wooden box. "If you're going to face Maul, you'll need these."

     When Tano took her lightsabers out of the chest, Skywalker explained, "I took care of them. They're good as new. Maybe a little better."

     Ahsoka ignited the sabers and the blue glow of their blades reflected in her eyes, her former master having changed their color – which had been green – to match the blade of his own weapon.

     As she tested her maneuverability, Anakin said, "You two capture Maul. We'll take care of Grievous. With any luck, this will all be over soon."

     "Master Kenobi always says there's no such thing as luck," Kyra replied.

     "Good thing I believe otherwise," Anakin responded, stopping just short of the hangar door. "Kyra, Snips...good luck."

     Bo-Katan joined Ahsoka, Kyra, and thenewly promoted Commander Rex on one of the transports, which were carrying one halfof the 501st division and a squadron of AT-TE walkers.

...

     Several Kom'rk-class starfighters and a portion of the Republic fleet, which consisted of multiple transports and several Star Destroyers, emerged from hyperspace and entered the upper atmosphere of Mandalore. As they descended, a pilot informed Rex that Prime Minister Almec was hailing them. Rex instructed the clone trooper to send the transmission through, and Almec appeared on the holoprojector a moment later.

     "What is the meaning of this invasion?" the Prime Minister of Mandalore demanded. "The Republic's presence here is a direct violation of our treaty."

     "Your time has come, Almec," Bo-Katan stated. "We know you're Maul's puppet, and we are coming for him."

     "Ah, Mistress Bo-Katan, the traitor," Almec sneered. "I should have known you were behind this incursion. Siding with the Republic will make you an enemy in the eyes of the people."

     "I'm fine with that," Bo-Katan replied bluntly as she ended the transmission.

     "You're nothing like your sister," Kyra said quietly, and Bo-Katan held her gaze for a moment before hailing Ursa Wren of House Vizsla.

     When Bo-Katan asked if Ursa knew of Maul's location, Wren replied that she could only confirm he had not left the city of Sundari. Ursa then told Bo-Katan her previous attempts to locate Maul had been halted, and that Gar Saxon – the leader of the Death Watch – had scattered his defenses. Suddenly, the transport shuddered as two nearby Republic ships were shot down by the Shadow Collective. Saxon led his men toward the fleet, clashing with Bo-Katan and the Nite Owls when they ignited their jetpacks and flew out of the transports.

     As the clone troopers joined the aerial battle, Rex turned to Kyra and Ahsoka, "Sorry, I didn't think to bring you guys jetpacks."

     Tano and Kryze shared a glance before Ahsoka replied, "We don't need one. Race you to the surface."

     Rex chuckled as the two Force wielders leapt from the transport and landed on the nearest shuttle, igniting their lightsabers. Kyra slashed through the jetpacks of three Mandalorians, sending them careening through the air as she jumped to the next transport, rolling as she landed. She kicked the nearest Mandalorian in the stomach, vaulting over the mercenary as he opened fire and simultaneously slicing through his jetpack.

     She lowered herself into the hollow hangar of another vessel and defeated the two nearest Mandalorians inside. When a third member of the Shadow Collective attempted to flee, Kyra grabbed his arm and climbed onto his back. She slashed through his jetpack and landed on a nearby Kom'rk fighter, running across its wing and leaping onto another Republic transport as it plummeted toward the surface below.

     The pilot frantically tried to free himself from the cockpit, and when he was able to do so, Kyra cut through the glass dome with the blade of her lightsaber. The clone thanked her before ejecting from the cockpit and slowly descending to safety below. Ahsoka landed beside Kyra as the transport plunged toward the domed city of Sundari. At the last moment, Tano and Kryze jumped from the transport, activating their sabers and landing next to one another as the vessel exploded behind them.

     The Shadow Collective opened fire, several being gunned down by their own ammunition when Ahsoka and Kyra redirected the shots with their lightsabers. Eventually, the Mandalorians started to force Ahsoka and Kyra toward the edge of the docking platform, but before they could push Tano and Kryze over the ledge, Bo-Katan and the Nite Owls came to their aid. When Rex landed beside the girls, they raced farther into the city of Sundari as the surviving Republic transports touched down behind them.

     Once inside the capital, they discovered a full-blown civil war waiting for them, and the clone troopers immediately moved to aid the Night Owls in protecting the citizens of Mandalore against Gar Saxon and the corrupt Shadow Collective. As Ahsoka, Bo-Katan, and Kyra watched the enemy forces retreat to the Undercity below Sundari, Rex informed the trio that they had not found any sign of Maul.

     "We can't sustain a long siege," Bo-Katan reiterated. "I'll head for the throne room and deal with Almec. Kyra, you and Ahsoka must find Maul."

     As Bo-Katan and several of the Nite Owls set off to find the Prime Minister, Kyra turned to Rex, "I need you to support Ursa at the docks. We must ensure Maul doesn't escape."

     "If he's here," Rex countered. "If he's not, then all of this plays right into his hands."

     Before Kyra could reply, Captain Vaughn hailed his superior officer and reported, "Commander Rex, this is CT-0292. I think we have something."

     When Kyra, Ahsoka, and Rex met Vaughn and his forces, the captain said, "We were cutting off this access point to the Undercity when we engaged one of the leaders, Gar Saxon. He disappeared through there. Seemed in a hurry."

     When Kyra asked what the Undercity contained, Vaughn answered, "A system of tunnels and sewage ports, mainly. Some conduit access pipes. We don't know if they lead outside the city."

     After a moment, Ahsoka and Kyra moved deeper into the access point, followed by Rex and his men. The silence inside the tunnel, laced with tension, was broken when Ahsoka's comlink beeped.

     "Ahsoka, Kyra come in. You're walking into a trap!" Bo-Katan warned.

     Tano and Kryze came to a halt and glanced at one another as they ignited their lightsabers. Sensing the presence of the Shadow Collective, they turned to look behind them and found Rook Kast – Saxon's right-hand woman – waiting for them. When Kast lowered her rangefinder and launched the missile built into her jetpack, Kyra ordered the clone troopers to take cover. As the projectile raced toward them, Ahsoka and Kryze used the Force to redirect it, the concussive blast of the explosion knocking both girls off their feet.

     The troopers that remained standing opened fire and pursued the Mandalorians. Kyra urged the troopers to wait as she helped Ahsoka to her feet, but the men had already disappeared around the corner. As the girls raced to catch up with the 501st division, they heard the screams of the troopers a moment before they encountered the fallen soldiers and the destruction that the Shadow Collective had left in their wake.

     When they rounded a final corner and found Vaughn lying on his back – his armor smoking – Tano and Kryze rushed to his side and gripped his hands in theirs, listening to his labored breathing as they comforted the injured captain. After one last shuddering breath, Captain Vaughn's body went limp and he fell silent. Kyra squeezed her eyes shut, only opening them when Ahsoka placed a hand on her shoulder and urged her to keep moving. As the girls got to their feet, they were surrounded by enemy forces, who eventually stepped aside to allow Darth Maul into the circle.

     Kyra's nostrils flared, and she used every ounce of resolve in her being to maintain her composure as Maul stated, "I was hoping for Master Kenobi. Instead, I got Padawan Kryze and Ahsoka...Tano, is it? I can't say yours is a name familiar to me."

     "Well, I know you," Ahsoka growled.

     "Yes, I imagine we have several mutual friends," Maul replied before turning to Kyra. "Padawan Kryze, the last time I saw you, you cost me a pair of metal legs."

     "And you murdered my mother!" Kyra snarled. "You're lucky I didn't kill you when I had the chance."

     "Yes, an unfortunate decision you made in sparing my life," Maul said as he stepped closer to the duo. "But I'm afraid your way of thinking is behind the times."

     Ahsoka and Kyra shared a glance as Tano stealthily opened a comm channel on her vambrace and sent her signal to Rex.

     As Maul made a wide circle around the two Force wielders, each with a lightsaber in hand, he droned on, "I was certain that Kenobi would have come himself. But, instead, he sent his loyal foal to come in his place."

     "Master Kenobi had a more important engagement," Kyra retorted.

     "Indeed. I wonder...The moment may be upon us," Maul muttered to himself as he looked down at the ground, but he suddenly snapped out of his reverie. "Why did Kenobi send you, Lady Tano? Kyra I understand, but why you?"

     "Why don't you surrender, and then we can all go ask him?" Ahsoka suggested.

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

     "And who will be? You?" Kyra asked sarcastically.

     "No," Maul shook his head, gasping when the revelation came to him. "Darth...Sidious."

     Before he could elaborate any further, several members of the Shadow Collective were gunned down by Rex and his troops. Maul ignited his double-bladed lightsaber and fought with Tano and Kryze as the 501st division continued to battle the treacherous Mandalorians.

     "Not yet," Maul stated as he used the Force to throw Rex across the chamber, knocking both Ahsoka and Kyra off their feet.

     As Maul and the few remaining Mandalorians retreated, Rex helped the two girls to their feet before pursuing the enemy forces. Tano, Kryze, and the troopers split into groups and widened their search, but they quickly lost track of Maul and the Shadow Collective within the elaborate tunnels of the Undercity.