Shattered

3RD Person

After Maul has been captured, the rest of his forces were defeated. A gunship carrying Axle, Ahsoka, Rex, Chase and an unconscious Maul landed next to Bo Katan and their forces. "You actually captured him." Bo said surprised. "Of course we did. Why else would you ask us to help." Axle jokes. "That is what the council wanted." Ahsoka responded. Bo gave Ahsoka back her sabers after losing them in the duel. Bo continued, "Still, you succeeded where many have failed." "We learned from the best." Axle said. "Including you." Ahsoka added. Bo looked down and walked over to a ledge facing her city, "I wish I was good at something other than war." "Your people need a new kind of leader." Ahsoka answered. "My sister tried that." Bo says, "I never understood her idealism." Rex and Chase then walked over, "General, Commander, We have the council waiting." "And Master Skywalker? Were you able to contact them?" Ahsoka asked. Chase answered, "He was at the meeting when we left to get you." "Go on. I can handle this." Bo responds. The four of them walked toward a mobile command station.

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Once they entered, they were greeted by Master Windu, Master Yoda and some other council members. "I understand your mission was a success." Master Windu ensures. "Yes. We have Maul in custody." Ahsoka answers. Axle just stood there next to her. Arms crossed. "We will escort Commander Rex when he delivers him to Coruscant." Ahsoka finished. "Commander Chase will take another cruiser a different route back to Coruscant in case any unfriendlies come looking for Maul." Axle added. Yoda smiled, "A great service to the Republic you have done." "I did my duty as a citizen." Ahsoka answered. "Not as a Jedi?" Yoda asked. Ahsoka looked down, "No. not yet." "And what of you Axle?" Master Windu asked. Axle gave a straight face, though Ahsoka could sense much unease from him as he was not happy he was talking to the council again. "I did what was right, but as I said to Master Kenobi, it will take work to earn my trust back." Axle responded. Yoda nodded. "Actually, I was hoping to speak with General Skywalker." Ahsoka said. Master Windu answered, "I sent him to inform the Chancellor that General Grievous has indeed been located on Utapau." "Master Kenobi?" Axle asked. "Engaged the enemy, he has." Yoda informed. Ahsoka looked at Axle, "Then the war could be over soon." "That depends on the Chancellor." Master Windu answers. "What do you mean?" Ahsoka asked. Windu then faced her, "I'm sorry citizen, these are matters are for the council to discuss." Axle gave a cold stare toward his former Master. "I understand." Ahsoka said, looking toward the ground again. The council then left the meeting except for Master Yoda, "Ahsoka, Axle, more to say have you? A message for Skywalker perhaps?" Axle's mood softened. Is he the only one who has learned? Axle thought to himself. "No Master. Thank you. We'll tell him when we see him." Ahsoka answers. Axle smiles toward her then to Yoda. The Jedi Master smiled back, "May the force be with you, young Jedi." as he exits the meeting. "You didn't tell them what Maul said about General Skywalker." Rex said. "No. I didn't." Ahsoka answers as she leaves the room. Axle patted Rex on the shoulder, "Don't worry. I'm sure everything will be fine." and followed Ahsoka out.

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The command team met up at a shuttle transport. Mandalorians and Clone troopers stood in line shoulder to shoulder as Maul was brought up in a force wielder containment capsule. Bo Katan walked over to Axle and Ahsoka. The capsule was loaded onto the shuttle. "Impressive. I suspect even Maul couldn't get out of there." Ahsoka says. "Just be glad we won the siege and we're not locked in one of those." Axle said. Bo Katan laughed, "A relic of a bygone era. When Mandalorians had reason to impression your force wielding maniacs." "I thought your sister outlawed such devices." Ahsoka said. "She did. This is the last one." Bo answered. Axle then shook hands with the Mandalorian. "Goodbye, Gray Jedi." Bo said to him as she smirked. Axle gave a smirk back and walked onto the shuttle. Then Ahsoka shook hands. "Goodbye Ahsoka Tano." as they both nodded. Ahsoka then joined Axle on the shuttle and flew off toward the cruiser.

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Once the shuttle landed on the cruiser, they walked out and brought Maul to the detention center. "General Tinguard, we have the coordinates locked to Coruscant." a soldier reported. "Very good. How long until we reach it?" Axle asked. "About a day if we leave now sir. The Battle for Coruscant has made it very hard to make it to the core." the clone responded. "Alright then make the jump." Axle ordered. The soldier responded, "Yes General."

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Later, Axle and Ahsoka walked in the halls heading toward their rooms. "That fight took a lot out of me. Especially when I used force light. I could use some rest." Axle said as they stopped in front of their quarters. "Well we have some time to...rest before we report to the bridge." Ahsoka smirked "Then let's make the most of it." Axle smirked back. "Shut up and kiss me." Ahsoka pulled Axle into a kiss and they both closed their eyes. She pulled herself against the wall bringing him with her. Axle started unbuckling her skirt from her waist. Using Ahsoka's other hand, she moved it until she felt the door control panel as it slide open. Ahsoka rolled against the wall and pulled Axle into the room with her.

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Ahsoka and Axle entered the bridge and were saluted by the clones there. Commander Rex approached them. "You two doing alright?" Rex asked. "We're good, just tired." Axle answered and continued, "Have you ever thought what would have happened if this war never started?" "I don't know. Some of us have mixed feelings about the war. Many of us wished it never happened, but without it, we clones wouldn't exist." Rex responded. "Well, at least some good came out of it. The Republic couldn't have asked for better soldiers, nor us better friends." Ahsoka said smiling. Axle and Ahsoka saluted Rex and he saluted back.

"Commander Rex, the latest briefing is about to come in." a bridge officer reported. "Wanna have a look? It might have a report on General Kenobi's progress." Rex asked. "We're fine. You go." Ahsoka answered. "I better check in with Chase and make sure he's on his way to the rondeau point." Axle says as he went to the control panel and typed in a coded message which he got a reply saying that Chase and the boys are on route. Axle went to lean on a wall and started to meditate.

All of a sudden,he felt extreme conflict and pain. Sensing his master, Mace Windu, scream in pain and was suddenly silent. Voices echoed through the force and every word increased his anxiety. Anakin's voice was surprising to hear as he sounded in pain, "I NEED HIM!!!" Axle could feel Ahsoka's thoughts and she was sensing the same thing. One familiar voice in particular rose above the rest, "Execute order 66." "Yes Lord Sidious."

Axle's eyes exploded open as he remembered Sidious's ultimate plan. Satele's voice whispered in his head, "It has happened."

He looked over at Ahsoka as she had a scared look on her face from the voices. He ran to her side as the bridge door opened. Axle slowly grabbed his weapon and put his hand up to guard Ahsoka. She looked up at him to see a serious and scared face. Then she looked back and Rex, "Rex, it's Anakin. I think something terrible has happened." Rex dropped his helmet. "Rex?" Ahsoka question, getting nervous. Axle gripped his saber more tightly. Ahsoka was starting to understand Axle's concern as she saw two clones behind her aiming their weapons at them. "NO!!! I'll do it!" Rex ordered. "Rex, what's happening!?"Ahsoka asked. "Take it easy, Rex. No one has to get hurt." Axle replied. "STAY BACK!!!" Red yelled, pulling out his pistols and aiming directly at the duo.

"Find him...find him. Fives. Find him...find him. FIVES!!!" Rex screamed and blasted at the two former Jedi. They both dodged the bolts and jumped out of the way as the clones opened fire. Axle quickly ignited his green single blade and deflected the bolts back at them. He ran up to Rex and kicked him hard into the wall behind him. Ahsoka jumped on top of the holo-table, igniting bother her blue sabers and closing the bridge door with the force.

Rex started to recover from Axle's kick as he stood up. "REX?!" Ahsoka yelled. The door behind them opened and more clones came in and blasted at them. Axle corkscrewed over to them and force pushed some of the clones back.

Jesse then entered the room with reinforcements. Axle back flipped onto the holo-table as Rex joined in on the fire fight, blasting at the two. Axle could sense Ahsoka's thoughts and nodded at her. She nodded back and they both deflected the blaster bolts up toward the ceiling. The blue bolts of plasma came from all sides as more and more clones ran in.

Finally, Axle and Ahsoka managed to create a big enough hole in the ceiling to fit through. They both jumped and managed to escape the bridge.

"THEY'RE DOWN!!! HOLD YOUR FIRE WE GOT THEM!!!" The clones yelled. They Looked up and saw the hole full of blaster bolts.

"Sir, are you alright?" One clone asked, picking up Rex's helmet. Rex put his helmet back on, "Fine, just tired is all. I want you to go to the detention center. Execute Maul." The clone shock trooper nodded, "Yes sir. Alright, men." They rushed off towards the brig.

Rex placed his hands down on the holo-table, "Alright, the traitors Ahsoka Tano and Axle Tinguard have been marked for termination by order 66. Any soldier who does not comply with the order will also be executed for treason. UNDERSTOOD!!?" "YES SIR!!!" The clone's responded. "There are only so many places they can hide on board. Split up in search parties and move section by section. Come on. Let's get moving." Rex ordered as the clones ran off to find their former leaders.

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Axle and Ahsoka are crawling through the vents trying to get to the droid maintenance closet. They stopped above the detention center and saw a group of clones walking into Mauls cell. They jumped down and knocked out all the clones. "Don't make me regret this." Ahsoka threatened.

She released Maul from his capsule. "You...you survived." He coughed. Ahsoka pointed her blade at his face, "Is this your doing? Choose your words carefully." Maul shook his head, "No no it was not my doing." Axle put his hand on Ahsoka's shoulder, "Ahsoka, it's not him." Maul continued to explain, "I don't know what has happened, but surely you two have felt it. The voices crying out. The death." Ahsoka looked away and lowered her blade, "The clones turned against us. Even Rex." Maul started to chuckle, "Brilliant, Brilliant" "What" Axle asked with a serious tone. Maul took in a deep breath, "I was not open to my master's plan, but he turned the Republic army against the Jedi. Well, you did the right thing by coming to me, only together can we survive."

Ahsoka pointed her saber back at him, "You don't understand, we need a distraction and you're it." Axle raised an eyebrow, "What, um...Ahsoka, is that really the smartest move." She didn't look away from Maul, "I still don't trust him." Maul rolled his eyes, "Uh, care to give me a fighting chance?" "I'm not rooting for you. Now get going." Ahsoka ordered. Maul started to walk away, but Axle spoke up, "Wait. Maul, this probably means nothing to you, but considering how much you've been through. All lose and hate. I just wanna say, I'm sorry."

Maul gave a small smile. He pointed to him and looked at Ahsoka, "This one's a keeper." "Wait, how did you know?" Axle asked, confused. "Your room is on the same ship, you know." Maul answered. Axle looked surprised and weirded out. Maul walked down the hall. "Come on." Ahsoka said as Axle followed her down the opposite way.

"What's happening? Why did the clones just shoot at us?" Ahsoka questioned. Axle sighed, "I don't fully know, but my ancestor, Satele Shan, told me that if Sidious's plan was complete, order 66 means the end of the Republic and Jedi order. I tried to warn the council, but they wouldn't listen. As usual."

They arrived at the droid maintenance closet. Thankfully, there were no clones here yet. The two quickly entered and turned on the droids. They started to crowd and panic. Ahsoka tried to calm them down, "I don't know what's making the clones do this, but we might be able to do something about it. R7, pull up everything on CT-5555. Alright Rex, what are you showing us?"

The files and report that Rex had one Fives came up. After listening, Axle understood, "The clones are being made to do this by their inhibitor chips." Ahsoka looked confused. Axle explained, "The chips inside every clone's head makes them more obedient. Or so the Kaminoans say. Now I get it." Ahsoka started to understand too, but was surprised that Axle was a little relieved. "Why are you so calm?!" Axle grinned, "I removed Chase's and all the other 338th division's inhibitor chips. They shouldn't be under Sidious control." Ahsoka was starting to feel calm too. Now they know how to stop this.

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The droids ran in front of Rex. "Our of the way!" The Captain ordered. The droids closed all doors trapping him in the door way.

R7 played a message from Axle and Ahsoka. "Where are they?" Rex asked, pointing his blaster at the droids. "Right behind you." Rex quickly turned, but Axle hit the blaster out of his hands and punched him in the helmet. R7 then tasered him. "CAREFUL!!! We're trying NOT to hurt him." Ahsoka reminded them. Axle sighed, "Well, he's being mind controlled and kinda deserved it from trying to kill us." Ahsoka just gave a smirk and helped carry Rex to the medical center.

Once inside, they sealed the doors shut and put Rex on the operation table. "Alright R7 find that chip." Ahsoka ordered. (Multiple beeps) "What do you mean it's not there?" She replied. "Ahsoka." Axle called Ahsoka over to his side and nodded at her as they put their hands on Rexes head, "I'm one with the force and the force is with me. I'm one with the force and the force is with me. I'm one with the force and the force is with me."

The machine found the chip. "R7, get him under and remove that thing." Axle ordered.

The doors suddenly started to make a loud scraping noise. "They found us." Axle said with wide eyes. He pulled out his sabers ready to defend as Ahsoka did the same. The door slid open and clones started to open fire. The blasters were overwhelming the two force welders. More and more blaster bolts continued to pour in. Ahsoka was hit in the shoulder and she fell back. Axle tried to protect her, but a blaster bolt pierced his defenses and nailed him in the arm.

All of a sudden, Rex pulled out his pistols and shot at his controlled brothers. A droid managed to seal the doors again. Axle and Ahsoka turned around and looked at the horrified clone. "Rex, are you ok?" Both Jedi asked. Rex was panting hard, "Yea. Yea guys, I'm ok. Sorry for what happened back there. I almost killed you." "Well, tried to anyway." Axle ensures. "Rex, how widespread is this?" Ahsoka asked. Rex paused, "Ahsoka, it's all of us. The entire Grand Army of the Republic has been ordered to hunt down and destroy the Jedi knights." Ahsoka turned away in horror. A small tear developed as she whispered, "Anakin."

Axle pulled her in for a hug. He then turned back to Rex, "Wait, the only person that could have been able to contact every clone would be the Chancellor." "What are you saying?" Asked Ahsoka. Axle gave a surprised look, "Darth Sidious...is Palpatine."