Ashara stood between Ahsoka and Rex by the holotable. Obi-wan was talking to Anakin about their recent losses.

"Amongst our most recent losses was the battlegroup at Falleen. The separatist fleet commanded by General Grievous is headed your way."

"Seems like that coward always knows when and where to attack us", Anakin said in anger. Ashara knew that he was annoyed that they hadn't managed to capture Grievous yet. She knew the time would come, when eventually, they would capture him, but she suspected it wouldn't be anytime soon. They couldn't stop trying, however, because if they did manage to capture Grievous, it would mean the end of the war is close.

"You're heavily outnumbered, Anakin", Obi-wan said. "Even with Ashara and her Valkyrie squad backing you up. I advise retreat."

"If we run, the separatists will take control of this sector", Anakin said. "I can't let them do that." 

"And that is your problem", Obi-wan reprimanded his old padawan. 

"Master Kenobi is right", Ahsoka said. "We should regroup. We don't stand a chance against-"

Anakin cut Ahsoka off by harshly saying her name. She barely flinched as she continued to speak against her master.

"Suicide is not the Jedi way, master", she said calmly. Ashara silently agreed with Ahsoka, but she also knew how much Anakin hated giving up. He had to give up everything during his childhood on Tattooine, much like Ashara had. She sighed softly as she walked around to Anakin and gently placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Anakin... I know you don't want to retreat. But for the safety of this crew, for the safety of the clones that are under your command... Retreat is the best option."

Anakin shrugged her off, and Ashara glared at her friend. "We are going to stay and fight. And I think I know how to beat Grievous at his own game."

The togruta sighed, but listened to Anakin's plan. She had to admit, it was a good one, but she also had a feeling that something bad was going to happen to Anakin. As he and Rex left to carry out the plan, Ashara stayed with Ahsoka in the command center to oversee everything. 

"Resolute command to Gold Leader", Ahsoka called to Anakin. "We are standing by."

"Enemy closing to zone six", a clone nearby told the Jedi commander. "Zone five. Zone four. Zone three. They're right on top of us. Should we commence firing?"

"No", Ashara said. "Wait."

The ship rocked as the enemy fired upon them, sending Ashara stumbling back. She caught herself on the edge of the holotable, before she pushed herself upright. 

"We're outgunned", Ahsoka said, her voice filled with worry. "We're not going to last a mynock minute out here."

"Hang on, Ahsoka", Anakin's voice came through. "We've got em right where we want em."

Ashara saw one of their cruisers going down on the map, and she winced. "Anakin, there's too many of them. We have to pull back now!"

"No!" he snapped. A few minutes later, he spoke again. "Ahsoka, they're in position. Unveil our little surprise."

"Right away, master", Ahsoka said before she changed who she was communicating to. "Rex, old boy, it's time you joined the party."

"With pleasure, sir", Rex said with quite a bit of enthusiasm. Ashara chuckled lightly at that, before she turned her attention to the clones manning the cannons.

"Forward cannon, you're up!" she called. They instantly started firing on the enemy ships, and Ashara watched as they started to fall one by one. She started to relax, but that bad feeling she got earlier still wouldn't go away.

"Anakin, be careful out there", she said softly.

"Why? This is too easy", he said. Ashara winced. 

"I really wish you wouldn't have said that."

She returned her attention to the fleet, and noticed that there was only one enemy ship left.

"All batteries, target that command bucket!" Ahsoka shouted. Ashara watched as the command ship started going down, but her attention slipped away as an image of Anakin's ship floating out in space, broken, popped into her head. She instantly got on the comm.

"Anakin, come in", she said sharply. No response. "Anakin!" Still no response.

"Captain Rex, come in!" Ashara snapped harshly. He instantly responded.

"Yes, general?" he asked, almost timidly. Ashara felt bad for snapping at the clone, knowing she shouldn't be taking her anger out on him. 

"Anakin is in trouble. I need you to find him, and quickly."

Rex gave an affirmative answer, and it didn't take long before he called back in. "I found the general. On my way back to the Resolute right now."

"Thank you, Rex", Ashara said gently, before she hurried to the medbay where she knew Rex would bring Anakin. Ahsoka followed her, and rocked back and forth nervously. She was worried for her master.

"Ahsoka, Anakin will be fine", Ashara said quietly before she muttered to herself. "Until I get my hands on him."

Rex came around the corner supporting a nearly dead Skywalker. Ashara rushed to help him, and they got him into the medbay, where a medical droid instantly started to work on him. Ashara stood in the back corner, watching icily. She was glaring at her friend, angry that he wasn't careful. 

She could sense Anakin starting to wake, which was confirmed when the medical droid stepped away, and Ahsoka and Rex moved closer.

"What happened?" Anakin asked weakly as he looked up the duo.

"You owe Rexter your life, Skyguy", Ahsoka said solemnly. Ashara watched as Rex shook his head in amusement at the nickname.

"Just doing my job, sir",  Rex said. "It was your plan that won the day."

"And nearly got him killed", Ashara muttered.

Ahsoka ignored the older togruta, and gave Anakin the news about Grievous. "Grievous is AWOL, but his fleet of tinnies is nothing but spare parts."

"Ah, good work, all of you", Anakin said as he sat up. "Where's R2?"

Ashara sighed. "He's gone, Anakin."

"I'm sorry, master", Ahsoka said as Anakin layed back down on the cot, staring up at the ceiling. Ahsoka and Rex left the room, leaving Ashara with Anakin. It was then that she released the full force of her fury upon him.

"Are you insane?" she spat. "You need to be more careful, Anakin! You nearly cost us the lives of hundreds of clones, as well as your own life! Your plan might have worked this time, but it might not the next! You might actually die with one of your crazy plans, and do you know how distraught that would leave everyone?! Rex, Ahsoka, me?! We were all worried sick before we found you!"

"Save it, Ash", Anakin said as he sat up. "Look, I'm going to find R2. I don't believe for a second that he's actually gone."

Ashara stared at him, her mouth agape. "Fine" she finally spat. "Go worry about your stupid droid and don't even apologize for making the rest of us worry about you."

The togruta turned and stormed out of the room, ignoring the sound of her friend calling after her. She stormed toward the barracks that housed her squad, but before she could get there, she ran face first into something hard. It sent her tumbling backward onto the ground. When she looked up, she noticed it was Rex. He was laughing softly at her fall before he helped her up.

"It's unlike you to not be paying attention to where you're going, General Ki", he said once she was standing. Ashara scoffed.

"Yeah, yeah", she muttered as she walked around Rex, forcing her glare to be aimed at the floor and not at Rex. He grabbed her arm gently, making her stop.

"Are you okay?" he asked gently. "You sounded pretty upset at the general."

Ashara stared at Rex, losing her glare as her eyes filled with liquid. She returned her gaze to the floor as tears started dripping from her eyes. "I'm fine, Captain. I just need to get some rest."

She could tell Rex hesitated for a brief moment, not believing her for one second. But he let her go, not forcing her to tell him. 

"Very well, General Ki. I'll let General Skywalker know that you're not feeling well."

Ashara wiped away her tears, and sent Rex a grateful smile. "Thank you, Captain."

"Call me Rex, sir", he said, returning the smile. Ashara quietly laughed. 

"Only if you call me Ashara when we're not on duty."

"As you wish, Ashara", he said. The togruta's heart nearly stopped at the sound of her name rolling off his tongue. She gave him a hesitant smile before she turned and hurried away, ignoring the sound of her heart pounding in her ears, and the heat that was across her cheeks.

Ashara entered her squad's barracks, and they all looked up. When they realized it was her, they stood up, and stood at attention. Ashara shook her head at them, amused.

"At ease", she said. "We're in your barracks. There is no need to stand at attention here." The group of five relaxed, and Dice raised an eyebrow at the general.

"General, I don't mean to pry, but why are your cheeks red?"

Ashara's eyes widened, and her blush deepened as she realized that her cheeks hadn't cooled down as much as she thought they had. She looked away from her squad, ignoring the amused chuckles coming from them as she mumbled something to herself.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" Tchachke asked, a teasing tone to her voice.

"Nothing! I was just talking to Rex earlier, and he-"

Halene cut her off. "Oooh! Get it!"

"Halene!" Ashara exclaimed, her cheeks even redder. It stood out against her yellow skin. The clones laughed again, and Ashara shook her head. 

"I don't know why I keep coming to talk to you guys", she muttered. "You just annoy the crap out of me."

"It's cause you love us", Tha said, a small smile on her face. Ashara rolled her eyes. 

"Just like she's falling in love with the captain!" Dice added. Ashara let out a strangled, embarrassed noise, and buried her hands in her head.

"I'm not falling in love with Rex!" she yelled. "I just enjoy talking to him, and he's becoming a good friend, much like the rest of you are!"

The five clones all shared a glance, and a bit of laughter before Meeva spoke. "Whatever you say, Ash, whatever you say."

Ashara groaned, but stayed with them, and talked for a while. Their laughter echoed out of the room, and into the hallways, were a certain clone captain could hear them. He couldn't make out any words, but he could hear the embarrassment coming from the togruta general's voice, and the teasing tones in his sisters voices. He couldn't help but wonder what they were talking about, and as he thought back to the general, he couldn't help but smile.