The Night of a Thousand Tears
Part I: The Night of a Thousand Tears
The sun was setting when they arrived on Mandalore, making the temperature of the desert more bearable than usual. The coordinates given by Bo-Katan had led them just a few miles from Sundari, but the place was deserted enough to make them feel like they were on a totally different planet. There was nothing for miles around except for the outpost Bo had told them about. The building was a fairly small construction, very simply made of white stone, and thus fully adapted to the desert climate. It was a decrepit, old, remote place but perfect for them to hide for some time. They landed their ship next to a Mandalorian shuttle that was already there, and Bo-Katan came out of the outpost almost immediately.
"Don't worry, I'm alone," she said. "How are you?"
Neither Rex nor Ahsoka were able to answer. Ahsoka opened her mouth but only to let out a quiet sob. The Mandalorian, who seemed to understand how serious was the situation, spoke gravely.
"Come inside. You'll be able to eat and rest. Then you'll tell me."
They followed her into the building. The interior was as white as the outside but in much better condition. It was completely empty apart from one room, whose only furniture consisted of a table, three chairs and a mattress. Although the decor was somehow stark and minimalist, it was nothing a soldier or a Jedi weren't use to. Rex and Ahsoka sat at the table, soon joined by Bo-Katan who was bringing some bottles and what seemed to be military rations.
"Sorry about the food. I had to be quick and the city still suffers from food shortages."
"Don't worry, we're grateful that you've accepted to help us," Ahsoka answered.
Bo watched them as they began to eat their rations.
"I'll let you rest," she said, getting up from her chair. "I'll come back later when you're better."
"No, wait," Ahsoka said. "I think it's better if you learn what happened now. It could change a lot of things in the days to come."
Bo-Katan frowned and sat down again.
"You're worrying me."
Ahsoka gave her a sad look and began to tell what had happened. The deeper she got into the story, the more emotional she became. More than once, she had to stop in order to put herself together and contain her tears. When she arrived at the moment where Jesse had threatened them in the hangar, Rex promptly rose from his chair and left the room. He had remained terribly silent since they had left the crash site and Ahsoka was getting more and more worried about him. When she finally got to the end, she was in tears.
"I'm so sorry for Maul. I know you tracked him for months and…"
Bo put a hand on her forearm.
“Hey… It's okay, kid. You did what you had to do. We've captured Maul once; we could do it again. Right now, the most important thing is that you're alive."
Ahsoka wiped away a tear from her cheek.
"But if what Maul has said is true… The Republic…" She buried her head in her hands. "I should've listened to him."
"If what Maul has said is true, then there was nothing you could do. It was bigger than all of us."
"Maybe…" She didn't sound convinced.
Bo rose from her chair.
"I'll let you rest. Now that Maul is gone, there is quite a lot of reconstruction to do, but as soon as I have some time off, I'll come back."
"Thanks, Bo"
The Mandalorian nodded and left the room. Ahsoka got up slowly. Now that all the adrenalin had left her body, she could barely stand on her legs. Still, she managed to walk to the next room to check on Rex. She found him looking through what seemed to be an embrasure used to watch the arrival of potential enemies.
"Hey… How are you doing?"
He turned around to look at her.
"I…"
Rex closed his eyes. No words could express the pain he was feeling.
"I'm so, so, so sorry," Ahsoka whispered.
He didn't answer right away and for a brief moment, Ahsoka feared he might be angry with her. But then he opened his arms and she threw herself against him. They cried silently on each other's shoulder for a while before Rex finally broke free from the hug.
"You should go and rest, now."
"What about you?"
"Take the mattress first, I think I'll stay there a little longer."
She tried to protest but her fatigue got the best of her and she left the room. After everything that had happened, she never thought she would be able to fall asleep, but she did. Thankfully, it was a dreamless night. The kind of deep sleep you would usually experience after a particularly tiring day. Which in Ahsoka's case, was an understatement.
**********
The young Togruta was awakened by a distant, thud noise. She opened her eyes, blinking. The first thing she noticed was Rex, all geared up, asleep on a chair in front of the mattress. She smiled at the realization he had tried to watch over her before falling asleep himself. But a second noise, louder this time, warned her something was happening. It sounded like an explosion. Rex woke up and immediately got on his feet.
"What was that?"
"I don't know, but I don't like it."
She got up and walked to the window to see if she could get a glimpse of what was happening. But the desert outside was as calm as usual. Sundari was too far to be seen from the outpost.
"I can't…"
The door suddenly opened and Bo-Katan burst into the room. She had her helmet on and held a blaster in each hand.
"Get up! Quick! You need to go!"
Ahsoka's heart began to beat faster.
"What's happening? What are those noises?"
"We don't have time to explain, you need to leave!"
"But… Maybe we can help!"
"No."
She lowered her guns.
"I'm sorry. Something happened during the night. The clones say they received a new order. They say they have to take Mandalore in the name of the Empire. They launched an attack on a field occupied by our forces. Foundlings were among them. Young children…"
Her silence was suggesting the worst.
"The casualties are heavy. We're still fighting, but I won't be able to guarantee your security much longer. And after what you told me yesterday, you'd better leave before the clones find out about you."
Ahsoka suddenly realized that what she had taken for the end of the nightmare was actually only the beginning. All of a sudden, she felt terribly naive to have believed that Sidious' rise would be seamless.
"I'm sorry," Bo said. "I wish I could've done something else for you."
"We… We understand. You have to protect your people."
"We'll see each other again."
Ahsoka smiled sadly.
"I'm counting on it."
Bo turned around to leave but as she was stepping outside the room, her comlink rang and Ursa's hologram appeared in the air.
"Ursa, what's going on?"
"We're losing, Bo."
"What…?"
"The clones have freed Saxon and his men and they've pledged allegiance to the Empire. We're outnumbered, the city is lost."
Rex and Ahsoka exchanged a look. They both knew what Saxon was capable of.
"Try to hold our remaining positions. I'm on my way, we'll find a solution when I'm back," Bo-Katan answered.
"No, you don't understand."
Ursa removed her helmet. She seemed completely crushed.
"They've taken my daughter hostage."
Ahsoka gasped. She remembered the young Sabine. What kind of monster would use a child against her mother?
"Those of us who haven't been taken prisoners fear for their families. It's over, Bo. You need to leave while you still can."
"No! I will not abandon you. I will not abandon my people. I've been fighting for Mandalore my whole life, I'm not going to stop now!"
"You will be of no use to Mandalore if you're dead! Please, Bo…"
Ahsoka and Rex watched as Bo-Katan's shoulders slumped down. When she spoke again, she sounded defeated.
"Korkie…?"
"Gone. I don't know where he is, but he told me he would contact you once he's safe."
Bo remained silent for a moment.
"I'll come back. I promise."
"You'll always be the rightful ruler of Mandalore, my lady."
The transmission went dead and Ursa disappeared. Ahsoka stepped forward and put her hand on the Bo-Katan's shoulder.
"Ursa is right, Bo. You can't help Mandalore if you're dead."
The Mandalorian didn't answer.
"There is not so much room left in our ship, but I think we could manage," the young Togruta said.
"No, we'll… We'll take my ship. Pack your things, we'll leave as soon as we can."
"Do you need to go back to pick up something?" Rex asked.
"I'm a Mandalorian. My armor is all I have and everything I need."