Part 1:
• What if Ahsoka Faced A...
What if Ahsoka Faced Anakin on Mustafar part 2. Due to popular demand, we’re returning to this idea and seeing what the will of the Force may be.
Anakin and Padme settle down on a remote farm on Ryloth. They spend the next few weeks establishing their new home. Despite this, neither can escape the shadow of war looming over them. Anakin fought to ensure this planet's freedom, but they traded one occupier for another.
Padme has her doubts as well. Seeing the suffering people experience up close reminds her of why she became a senator. Despite that, they both try to keep their heads down and remind themselves that others are there to fight for Ryloth.
That is until a Holonet transmission shows Cham Syndulla being arrested for supposedly attempting to assassinate Senator Orn Free Taa. The imperial troops also arrest all his supporters and family. There is now a bounty on the head of Hera, the teenage daughter of the general.
The two look at each other and realize the same thing. Neither can bear to watch this suffering and decide to do something. Leaving their kids with Cut, Anakin and Padme journey to the capital to rescue the Syndullas.
The two go in disguise, blending among the crowds in the city. There they see hundreds of clones marching through the streets. They decide to split up, with Anakin creating a distraction while Padme sneaks inside to rescue the political prisoners.
Anakin approaches the outer defenses and notices a group of clones near a fighter tank. He uses the Force to dislodge a small crate from a nearby rooftop, drawing the troopers from their posts. Seizing the opportunity, Anakin slips through the gap and hops inside the fighter tank. A smile forms on his face as he activates the controls.
Padme approaches one of the entrances to the Imperial headquarters just as blaster fire from the nearby street pulls the guards away. Once they are out of sight, she slips into the entrance and makes her way to the detention level.
As she navigates the hallways, she hears the faintest rustle behind her. Spinning around and pulling out her blaster, she finds herself face-to-face with a shadowy figure.
Hunter: Senator?
The figure stepped into the light, revealing himself as Hunter. Behind him, Echo, Tech, and Wrecker emerge from the darkness.
Echo: Senator, what are you doing here?
Padme: Apparently, the same thing you are.
Tech: If you are here, would the most logical conclusion be that the chaos outside is…
Padme: Anakin. Yes.
Wrecker: Laughs. If we knew you were gonna do that, I would have volunteered to steal the tank.
Hunter begins forming a plan. The Bad Batch will handle the guards and secure the landing pad while Padme rescues Cham and the others. Padme and Echo head to the lower levels where the prisoners are held.
Echo hurls a grenade that unleashes a cloud of smoke, blinding the few guards who try to wipe their visors. The two raise their pistols and take out the guards before they can recover.
Padme activates the cell doors, revealing Cham and his fighters who take the fallen clones' weapons. The group retraces their steps and meets up with the Bad Batch. However, another figure is with them: the garrison commander, Captain Howzer. He explains that a squad of clones is outside to arrest them, but he will buy them time to escape.
Howzer manages to win them over and even convinces a few of his men to join him. However, the defectors are arrested. The last one to escape is Anakin, who watches Howzer being taken away.
Padme watches Cham and Hera reunite while Anakin stands nearby, his eyes meeting Hunter's with a silent understanding. Although Anakin desperately wants to remain out of the Empire's reach, he realizes that avoiding it now is impossible.
Anakin contacts Captain Rex and tells him about Howzer. The clone’s face darkens at the news.
Rex: I was worried about that. Unfortunately, it isn’t anything new. There have been multiple reports of clones who question orders starting to disappear.
Anakin: W-well, if you need help tracking them, I’m here to help.
Rex: You, sir? I thought you wanted to sit this war out?
Anakin: Well, that might not be an option anymore. I don’t think I can sit by and let all of this happen.
Rex: Well then, sir, I’m happy to let you into my network.
He offers Anakin a meet-up point at Cid’s bar to discuss things further. Padme agrees to go too, not wanting to be separated from Anakin again, though the twins will remain with Cut.
On Ord Mantell, Anakin reunites with his captain. But to his surprise, Ahsoka is there too as she is also helping the resistance network. They have been trying to figure out where these clones are being taken, but so far hasn’t been able to find any leads. Howzer is the perfect opportunity to change that.