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Chapter Text

"– Because, if you are not willing to accept him, I would like to adopt him," Sidious finishes, smiling lightly at the two Jedi Masters.

They exchange glances, and a shift in the Force hints to a private communication. "Actually," murmurs Windu thoughtfully, "That would be perfect. If you take him then we do not need to fear the Sith laying ahold of him. We would be grateful."

Through sheer force of will, Sidious holds back his glee and elation. "So, it is settled then," he states firmly, beaming at the pair. "I am most grateful, Master Jedi. The boy is safe with me." More grateful than you will ever know.

***

"Train the boy, you will not," Yoda declares with finality, "Adopted by the Chancellor, he has been."

"How can you do that?" demands Obi-Wan his voice slowly increasing in volume, tone bordering on impudent. "He is the future, the Chosen One. How can you be willing to waste his potential?" His carefully crafted patience spirals out of control. He's always struggled with his temper, but some things tend to anger him far more than others.

"Control yourself you must," Yoda reprimands, frowning, "Too old and too dangerous to be trained he is. Safe with the Chancellor he will be."

"But I promised Qui-Gon!" cries Obi-Wan, "You can't make me break my promise to him!" Outrage simmers just below the surface. He can't explain why, but he has a very bad feeling about the new arrangement.

"Promised you should not have," Yoda reproves, "Trained he will not be." With those words, the Grandmaster turns and leaves the room.

Obi-Wan suppresses the urge to scream or hit something. Neither are exactly traits of a Jedi Knight. Silently, he vows to do whatever he must – even leave the Order – if it means he'll be able to fulfill his promise.

***

Darkness pervades the area, filling every crack like glue. It encompasses Obi-Wan's surroundings like a blanket. "This is what you've done." Qui-Gon's voice breaks through the silence though it's not accusing.

"I –" his reply is cut off as the darkness seems to choke him. Something is wrong. Very wrong. And he doesn't know what. he swallows, throat suddenly dry, stepping further into the dark. He wants to answer Qui-Gon. This isn't my fault. It wasn't me. It was the Council. He doesn't know how he knows; he just does.

The darkness seems to fade then. A pale glow lighting up his path. He follows it hesitatingly, unknowing what he'll find. A child's whimper draws his attention, and he turns to see Anakin sitting on the ground, curled into a ball. It's almost as though the dark is snaking around him and trying to smother his… light. A closer look reveals that the light is emanating from Anakin.

"Help… help me." He can barely hear the child's whispered plea, but the desperation is impossible to miss.

Obi-Wan moves closer, crouching down next to him. Before he can open his mouth, a blinding light flares and everything begins to fade. "You will always be stronger together," a voice that sounds almost like Qui-Gon, but can't be him, echoes around them.

Obi-Wan jerks awake, heart pounding. He has no idea what that was, but it was no ordinary dream. It was more like… a vision. For some reason, that scares him far more than it should.

***

Despite the festivities all around, Obi-Wan can't help but feel an aching sense of loss. It's almost – almost as though the Force itself is unhappy. He can practically feel the wheels of Fate turning around him. He sighs quietly, eyes flitting towards Anakin. Even from here, he can sense the boy is upset. Trying not to be too conspicuous, he slips through the assembled until he reaches him.

"I'm sorry, Anakin," he whispers, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I want to train you, but the Council won't let me."

Anakin looks up at him, frowning. "'S okay," he replies, "'S not your fault."

"I wasn't very nice to you when we met," Obi-Wan adds, "And for that, I am also sorry."

Now, the boy smiles faintly. "It's fine," he murmurs, and Obi-Wan hopes that means he's forgiven. As they stand there, side by side, Obi-Wan feels the Force flare up around them, so gently he almost misses it. When he reaches out, the discovery floors him. For whatever reason, the Force initiated a bond between them, so faint it's almost nonexistent, but he can distinctly feel Anakin's presence much more strongly.

He finds himself being reminded of the dream he had the previous night, and he thinks he perhaps understands. He and Anakin are destined to be together, and Obi-Wan vows not to give up until he succeeds in bringing Anakin back to him. It will take time – no doubt about that – but he intends to train the boy, come what may.

Chapter Text

Anakin stares stonily out the window making sure his displeasure is known. He doesn't want Jedi anywhere near Padme. He can protect her just fine. It's too bad that the Jedi disagree, but that's just how they are. Always sticking their noses where they don't belong, uncaring for who they harm. Selfish. He doesn't know how the Senate can even tolerate them.

The sound of the opening turbolift doors draws his mind back to the present, and he stands impassively as Jar Jar Binks, the Gungan representative from Naboo, welcomes the two Jedi. He can feel their Force signatures radiating light all around him, and a dark part of his mind viciously wonders how long he could torture them before they'll break. He could do it. He wants to do it sometime if his master will let him.

That's the moment that Jar Jar enters the room. "Lookie! Lookie, Senator!" he exclaims cheerfully. "Desa Jedi arriven." Only years of practice keep his expression neutral. He turns with Padme, following her at a distance as she approaches the pair. Captain Typho, the head of security, falls in step beside him, and Dorme, Padme's handmaid, rises from her seat.

He quickly scans them. The leader is a Tholothian female, and he knows he recognizes her. She's on the Council. Gallia. That's right. Her name is Adi Gallia. The second is a human who he can't quite place. The man's hair and beard are ginger, and his blue grey eyes seem familiar for some reason. It takes a moment before it dawns on him that it's Obi-Wan Kenobi. He hasn't seen him since Naboo ten years ago. How time changes things.

The two Jedi bow. "It's a great pleasure to see you again, M'Lady," Obi-Wan greets Padme, "This is Master Gallia, who will be helping me protect you." His Coruscanti accent is just how Anakin remembers it. A bitter smile twists up his lips. Years ago, he would have been thrilled, but now, he just doesn't care. It's too late for him.

"It has been far too long, Master Kenobi. I'm so glad our paths have crossed again, but I must warn you that I think your presence here is unnecessary," Padme says to him. Anakin can feel her joy in the Force, feeling a knot of resentment twist at him. She shouldn't have Jedi friends. She's so much better than the Jedi could ever hope to be. She's – she's an angel, not a hypocrite.

His shields are strong, so no one can pick up even the slightest feeling of discomfort. He continually projects a front of relief and happiness, emotions so different from how he really feels. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Master Gallia," Padme tells her politely, a smile – her politician's smile – on her face.

"And you as well, Senator," the Jedi replies. "The Council has its reasons for assigning us to protect you." Yes. Of course, it does. Anakin refuses to show a reaction, but he can't bring himself to eliminate the tension in his body.

There's a heartbeat of silence, and Anakin steps closer to Padme. She glances at him, and an unspoken communication passes between them. She smiles gently at him, before focusing on the Jedi again. "This is my fiancé, Anakin Skywalker," she continues. "He is the adopted son of the Chancellor."

Anakin catches a flicker in Obi-Wan's eyes he wouldn't have seen if he hadn't been looking right at him. He inclines his head but doesn't speak. He doesn't want to pretend to be courteous to Jedi. Not when he'd rather run them through with his lightsaber. The thought of the shock on Master Gallia's face if he stabbed her in the back gives him a savage pleasure which he reveals in. Silently, he reaches out and takes Padme's arm to escort her back to the couch.

"It is good to see you again, Anakin," Obi-Wan murmurs, his voice completely sincere. Anakin still wants to punch him. He's just as guilty as the rest of the Jedi for his current predicament. Instead, he nods stiffly, keeping his focus on Padme.

Padme turns towards the seating area, the others following her. Anakin sits on one side with Dorme on the other. The two Jedi sit across from them. Captain Typho takes up his position behind them. "Our presence will be invisible, M'Lady," Obi-Wan assures her.

"I am very grateful you are here, Master Jedi," Captain Typho interjects. "The situation is more dangerous than the Senator will admit." Anakin doesn't blink, but he's inwardly seething. He knows Padme isn't in danger. His master had already explained the situation, and he simply needs to ensure that Padme leaves Coruscant so someone else doesn't try to kill her.

Padme glares. "I don't need more security. I need answers. I want to know who is trying to kill me." She gives the Jedi an expectant look.

"We're here to protect you, Senator, not to start an investigation," Obi-Wan explains.

Anakin narrows his eyes at him. "Padme has enough protection," he interjects firmly, noting how all eyes swing towards him at his commanding tone. "She needs you to find out who is trying to kill her."

"The Council has not instructed us to take such actions," Gallia replies firmly. "We will not be exceeding our mandate."

This time, he can't stop the sneer. "Why else do you think you were assigned to her, if not to find the killer?" he demands, blue eyes flashing dangerously. "Protection is a job for local security. Or me. Not Jedi. An investigation is implied, otherwise you wouldn't be here!"

"Ani," whispers Padme, giving him a warning look, "Getting upset won't help." She rests a placating hand on his arm, and he relaxes into her touch. She is right. As much as he hates the Jedi, he cannot overreact this much. His master will be furious if he makes a mistake.

He's not angry enough to miss the uneasy glances the Jedi exchange. Good. They should be afraid of him. "We will do as the Council has instructed," Gallia replies with as much dignity as she can muster. She meets his gaze fearlessly.

"Perhaps with merely your presence, the mysteries surrounding this threat will be revealed," suggests Padme, obviously trying to mollify Anakin and prevent another outburst. He clenches his jaw. He needs to be careful. His master has finally trusted him with this important mission, and he cannot mess things up or he – or worse, his mother – will pay the consequences. "Now if you will excuse me, I will retire," Padme adds after a moment.

She rises, and the others follow her example. The two Jedi bow to her as she turns to leave the room along with him and Dorme. Behind him, he can hear Captain Typho talking to the Jedi and assuring him that the place has been secured to the best of his ability.

"If the Jedi won't try to uncover the person behind these assassination attempts, then I'll do something myself," Padme states determinedly after the door to her bedroom closes.

Anakin sighs, sinking down onto a chair. "I'll help you, Angel."

"Are you sure that is wise, M'Lady?" worries Dorme. "You could be seriously injured like Corde was." Anakin glances her direction but keeps his focus on Padme even as his mind flits back to the events earlier that morning. When Padme and her retinue had arrived, an explosive had blown up the ship. Only the Force's warning had been enough for him to push Corde to the side, saving her life, though she was badly injured.

"I'll be fine," Padme soothes her, "Ani is here to protect me."

"What do you want to do?" he queries, finally beginning to calm down. The tension slowly fades from his body as he relaxes.

A familiar glint enters her eyes. "I'll be the bait, of course," she answers. "You can program Artoo to warn if there's an intruder, and I'll go to bed like nothing is wrong." Anakin's gaze flicks towards the astromech droid sitting innocently in the corner and lets out a breath. He knows that no harm will come to Padme. His master promised and explained why she can't die when he was doubtful.

"I don't like it," he states firmly rising, "But I'll do it, because I know that you would do it anyway even without my approval."

She chuckles quietly. "You're right," she shamelessly agrees. He can feel her approval as he approaches Artoo and crouches in front of him, pushing a few buttons and giving the droid its instructions.

"This is not a good idea, M'Lady," warns Dorme, biting her lower lip nervously. "You could be seriously injured."

Padme scoffs slightly. "I'm not deciding this lightly," she answers gently. "I have complete faith in Anakin's ability to protect me. Besides, I now have Jedi bodyguards as well. They were assigned to protect me they said. So, let them do it."

Anakin shifts, glancing around the room and discreetly casting out with the Force to scan for danger. He learned the technique to mask his use of the Force, permitting him to use it in small amounts without alerting the Jedi to his Force sensitivity or training. Unfortunately, that will not work here, since both Jedi already know how strong he is. He presses his lips together, looking towards Padme again.

"I will go inform the Jedi of your decision," he tells her brusquely. "I also covered the cameras. I don't want them to be spying on you in your bedroom." He gives her a meaningful look. "If their senses are any good, you will not come to harm."

She reaches out, catching his arm before he can leave, pulling him into her arms and resting her head on his shoulder. He melts into her embrace, holding her tightly against himself. He loves her so much. Far more than he ever thought possible. He doesn't know what he'd ever do if she were hurt or stopped loving him. "I love you, Ani," she murmurs, fingers running soothingly on his back. "Be careful."

"I love you too, Angel," he whispers, lips brushing her forehead before he steps back, bowing to her before he slips from the room, letting Dorme help her prepare for bed. He goes in search of the Jedi, letting the Force guide him to them.

**w**

Something is wrong. Obi-Wan can feel the wrongness humming in the Force all around him, but he can't place what exactly it is. He closes his eyes, reaching out to pinpoint the disturbance, but it continues to elude him. "You feel it too, do you not?" Master Gallia's voice breaks though the light trance, and he opens his eyes.

"Yes," he agrees. "I do, but I do not know what it is that is wrong."

She regards him quietly, her scrutiny making him shift uncomfortably. "It centers around the Chancellor's son," she admits. "I have felt him in the Force. Something is wrong."

Obi-Wan feels the dull surge of worry hammering at him. It's about Anakin. Of course, it's about Anakin. Seeing him again was a shock, filling him with bittersweet emotions when he saw the young man he's grown into. He would have made a fine Jedi. Obi-Wan is certain of it, despite the Council's beliefs to the contrary. This is something he can neither rationalize, nor accept.

Seeing Anakin again reminds him of the weak Force link which had been created between them. Tentatively, he reaches out probing at it. He immediately runs into a stone wall. It's almost as though Anakin has shields which are so strong not even his emotions can leak through. But how? He was never trained. Of that, Obi-Wan is certain. An uneasy feeling twists deep inside him, the pervading feeling of wrongness growing exponentially.

"Do you know what it is?" Obi-Wan queries mildly, keeping a firm reign on his emotions. He doesn't want the Jedi Master to have any inkling as to his inner conflict.

She hesitates and seems to be considering whether or not she should tell him. Finally, she relents. "Do you remember the recent death of the Jedi Knight Nahdar Vebb, Master Fisto's former Padawan?"

Obi-Wan frowns, searching his memory before finally nodding. It happened several months prior, and there were hushed rumors all throughout the Temple. Bant had told him about some of them, but he hadn't paid it any heed. He gives Gallia a questioning look.

"He was killed by a Sith," she murmurs, glancing around before stepping closer to him. "The Council does not yet know who did it, but they believe it to be the new apprentice of Maul's master. This is true for the many other Jedi who have been mysteriously murdered over the past couple years."

He looks at her in confusion. "I do not understand, Master Gallia. What does this have to do with the wrongness we are now feeling?"

Her lips thin. "On two occasions, the assassin was seen and described to us. I believe it may match that of Anakin Skywalker."

"What?" hisses Obi-Wan. "That's not even possible! The boy was never trained on your command!" There is simply no way that Anakin could do something like that. He's not a cold-blooded murderer. He's not!

Gallia simply shakes her head slowly. "I hope you are right, but the fact remains, he is capable of shielding. I am sure you yourself have felt it. His Force signature no longer is as untamed as it was the last time he was at the Temple, though Master Yoda would have to confirm that. You spent some time with him. Did you notice anything amiss?"

Yes. He noticed that Anakin seems to have formed impenetrable shielding around their weak Force bond, but he knows that telling her will only further cement proof in her mind that Anakin is guilty. "I would have to spend more time with him," he replies finally, knowing that he's completely evading the question, but something in him revolts at the thought of letting Anakin be accused, even if he is guilty.

He hardly knows him, but he feels as though they've known one another forever. It's as though… they belong together. Like the voice said in his vision so many years ago. It's clear that Gallia knows he's dodging the question from her narrowed eyes, but thankfully, she doesn't push. He avoids her eyes, instead pulling out a scanner he received from Captain Typho to monitor the cameras.

He frowns upon realizing that he can only see part of the Senator's bedroom. "What's wrong?" questions Gallia.

"Something is wrong with the camera," Obi-Wan answers, concern filling him. "I should go see if everything is alright in there or what's going on." He turns walking into the hallway.

"Everything is fine." Anakin steps in front of him, jaw set. His blue eyes are narrowed in an almost threatening manner. Obi-Wan nearly jumps, uncertain how he managed to sneak up on him. Did he overhear the conversation? Obi-Wan hopes not. He doesn't want to upset him. For some reason, he feels that would be very bad.

"She covered the camera," Anakin says by way of explanation. His expression is practically screaming, "too bad. There's nothing you can do if you don't like it."

Obi-Wan frowns. "What is she thinking?"

"I programmed Artoo to warn us is there's an intruder," Anakin answers, brushing past him and into the main sitting area.

Obi-Wan swallows. Hard. Being so close to Anakin, he can feel that the young man's Force signature is being carefully controlled. He knows there's a technique to shield and project falsely, but he doesn't know how to do it. Somehow, he has the feeling that Anakin is intentionally projecting the impression that he's as carefree as he was when a child. He knows that is far from the truth.

"It's not an intruder I'm worried about," Obi-Wan adds following him. "There are many other ways to kill a Senator."

"Then I guess you'll have to show how good you Jedi are," he replies, completely unruffled. If anything, he seems smug. "You refused to try and find her killer, so we took actions of our own."

"You are using her as bait?" demands Gallia in shock.

Anakin gives her a flat look. "No harm will come to her," he answers. "Not if you Jedi are as good as you pretend to be." Again, Obi-Wan gets the sinking impression that Anakin is hiding something. Something huge. Whenever he talks about the Jedi, it's as though he's trying to conceal an emotion – distain, perhaps.

"It's too risky," frets Obi-Wan.

Anakin raises an eyebrow. "I suppose you are overstating your ability to protect," he muses. "What, then, are you doing here? You are perfectly free to leave. The door is that way. I'm sure you can find your way out." He turns his back on them, stepping over to the window and looking out. Though the gesture is probably supposed to appear casual, Obi-Wan can see the tension in the young man's shoulders.

He takes a step back in surprise at the obvious, barely concealed dislike. Does he hate certain Jedi – him – in particular, or is it all the Jedi, in general? He's inclined to believe the latter. More and more, it's beginning to seem as though Gallia's suspicions are correct, though he knows that hatred does not, by any means, lead to outright murder. Only for a Sith. And Anakin cannot be a Sith. It would be wrong. A crime against the Force itself.

Obi-Wan had always known that Anakin would attract dark siders who would want his power, but he'd hoped desperately that the Council had at least ensured the chances were negligible. Now, he's beginning to think he should have done something else himself to protect the boy. Looking at Anakin, he can see how much he's grown, and he hates that he was forced to miss it all. He shouldn't care so deeply for him. He shouldn't, but he does, and he can't find it in himself to care.

"We are here because the Chancellor wanted us to protect the Senator," Gallia answers stiffly. Obi-Wan can almost see the wariness in her eyes. "I am sure that you want her safety as much as he does."

If anything, the tension in the young man's body only seems to increase. He huffs quietly but doesn't bother replying. Obi-Wan shifts, finally moving to sit on the couch. They'll be here all night, and he'd rather not stand there watching Anakin like he might try to kill them if they so much as move wrong. He refuses to distrust Anakin in that way, and he hopes – however foolishly – that he'll get a chance to know him better as a result of this mission.

As he looks at Anakin's back, he gets the sudden impression of looking at a warrior. With his shoulder length blonde hair and posture, Anakin looks nothing like the nineteen-year-old he really is. He's hardly a man, really, but somehow, Obi-Wan gets the feeling that Anakin's more mature in some ways than many of the Jedi Knights he knows. He shakes his head, pushing the thoughts away. If everything goes as planned, maybe he'll get a better read on Anakin in the near future. After all, he'll be protecting the Senator until the killer is found, and Anakin will, no doubt, be constantly hovering in the background.

Chapter Text

Anakin finds himself growing increasingly weary as the night goes on, but he refuses to stop and rest. He’s no worse than the Jedi, and they aren’t sleeping either. Besides, he’s too troubled to sleep. He knows that if he messes up his master’s plans, he – and his mother – will suffer. He cannot let that happen, and now, he needs to fix it, preferably without anyone learning.

He now knows that the Jedi are suspicious of him, thinking he might be the mysterious Jedi assassin. He is, but they can’t know that. It would ruin the element of surprise and prevent him from remaining on Coruscant for extended periods of time. That would mean not being able to be with Padme, and he can’t bear the thought of that. They think, from his recent behavior, that he hates them, which is true, but again, they cannot know. He doesn’t always have the best handle on his temper, but he can improvise and learn.

Right now, he is willing to do both. Much as he loathes to admit it, he needs to apologize for his behavior as pass it off as stress or something equally believable. The Jedi must see him as a friend. It is not yet time for him to reveal himself as a dark side user. Friend. He can do that. He can deceive them. If his master can, then he can do it too. He’s not incompetent. He resists the desire to reach out to the Force and let it soothe him. The Jedi cannot think him to be trained any more than they already do. It will not end well. For anyone.

He’s drawn from his thoughts by a disturbance in the Force. He doesn’t twitch, though he knows the Jedi sense it. Perfect. Jango Fett is doing his job well. “I feel something,” hisses Obi-Wan from behind him, racing towards the doorway with Gallia right behind him. Anakin turns, following them at a quickened pace.

The two Jedi burst into Padme’s room just as Artoo lets out a series of warning beeps to alert everyone. Obi-Wan throws out a hand, using the Force to push Jango’s blaster when he fires, sending the poisonous dart into the wall instead. Anakin helped them select the appropriate weapon. If hit, Padme will only be rendered unconscious. Not killed. But Jango had specific orders to only attempt a killing, not actually carry it out.

The bounty hunter’s jetpack fires, and he rockets away leaving the Jedi without any way of pursuit. Anakin hides a satisfied smirk. “He got away,” Gallia reports, frowning.

Turning, Anakin looks at Padme, who is sitting in her bed, seeming oddly unalarmed. “Angel! Are you alright?” he demands worriedly as Obi-Wan retrieves the dart from the wall.

She gives him a tired smile. “I’m fine, Ani,” she reassures him.

“Toxic dart,” reports Obi-Wan, his brow furrowed. “In the morning, I will take this to the Temple to be analyzed.”

And in the morning, Padme will be asked to leave Coruscant, Anakin thinks with a tinge of guilt. He knows how important the upcoming vote is to her, but he has orders, and he cannot shirk them, even if he wants to. “I’ll stay with you, if you don’t mind,” Anakin suggests, resting a hand on her shoulder.

She glances at the two Jedi as well as Dorme and three bodyguards who rushed into the room at the commotion. “Yes,” she agrees, laying back down. “Do that.”

“M’Lady, are you alright?” worries Dorme, bending over next to her.

“Yes,” mutters Padme, pulling the blanket up over her head. “I’m fine. Anakin will stay with me. I don’t think they’ll try anything again tonight.”

“I agree,” Anakin adds smoothly, stepping closer to her. He looks around the room. “Everyone can leave now,” he orders. “The Senator is unharmed, and I will remain here in the off chance they try something again tonight.”

He doesn’t dare use a Force suggestion, but he knows everyone will follow his orders anyways. The Jedi don’t look happy – and nor does anyone else, really – but they leave. Being Padme’s fiancé certainly does make his current job easier. Sighing, he crawls under the blanket, curling up next to her with his back facing the window. She shifts into his embrace, and in a few minutes, they’re sound asleep together.

**w**

“I’m sorry for my behavior last night,” Anakin manages to say as the early morning sunlight creeps through the windows. He knows the Jedi will be leaving soon, but he didn’t have a chance to talk to them any sooner. “I was under a lot of stress with the assassination attempt, and I was upset that the Chancellor didn’t think me capable of protecting the Senator myself.” There. That wasn’t so hard, was it?

They glance at one another before focusing their attention on him once more. “I understand,” Obi-Wan answers first, smiling lightly at him. “Don’t worry about it.”

Anakin lets a hint of relief show on his face. “I’m afraid I made a very bad impression,” he admits, forcing just the right amount of sincerity into his words. “And I’ve never really gotten a chance to know Jedi, being so busy and all.”

“I’m sure Master Kenobi would like to speak with you. I need to discuss something with the Senator before leaving,” Gallia excuses herself. Anakin can hardly hold back the unease that springs up when she walks away. He doesn’t want her to be alone with Padme, but right now, he clearly doesn’t have a choice in the matter. Let it never be said that he’s a terrible actor. Honestly, if he had the patience, he thinks he could pull off what his master is doing.

“You never learned about the Jedi?” queries Obi-Wan, surprise coloring his tone.

“I know about them,” Anakin corrects. “What I don’t know is the details about their lives. I know they are called peacekeepers, but I’m afraid the public knows very little about them as a whole. The people I know think the Jedi to be superior to the rest of us, and since you are a Jedi, I wanted to know more about the Order as an organization.”

He doesn’t really want to know much about them. He hates the Jedi, and he doubts anything Obi-Wan says will change that opinion. Still, part of him is somewhat curious. There was a time when he’d dreamed about being a Jedi Knight, and he sometimes wonders what life he’d have if he was one.

“We are peacekeepers,” Obi-Wan says slowly. “We protect those who need our help, but there is only so much we can do. We have limited numbers, and the Senate reigns us in, preventing us from doing what we might otherwise be capable of.”

“And yet, the Order has never fought against slavery,” Anakin muses. It’s still a sore subject for him, something he will never forgive the Jedi for. If they’d freed his mother in the first place, he would never have ended up in this situation. He would have a good life somewhere, whether on Coruscant or elsewhere, but he would still be free.

“I don’t make the decisions,” the Jedi answers after a few moments, “But I have come to disagree with much of what the Council is doing. I think we are too controlled by the Senate. Perhaps you could talk to your father about it and see if he agrees. We are meant to help people, not be workhorses for politicians.”

“Perhaps,” he agrees slowly. He’ll never broach the subject with his master. If he even dares, he’ll be electrocuted. That much he already knows. When it comes to the Jedi, his hands are tied, so even if he wanted to help – and he really doesn’t – he wouldn’t be able to.

“Maybe we could meet later to talk more in detail,” suggests Obi-Wan. “I’m afraid we will not have the time today.” Anakin catches the gleam of hope in his eyes, and he doesn’t feel bad for squashing it.

“You could approach the Chancellor and speak to him,” Anakin replies, shrugging slightly. “He has me very busy, and I’m only here because Padme needed me.”

Obi-Wan’s face registers disappointment for a second, before he carefully schools his expression to understanding. “Of course.” Anakin pretends that it doesn’t bother him. It shouldn’t bother him if he just upset a Jedi, but he refuses to risk his master’s wrath, especially for the sake of idle curiosity. He won’t agree to meet Obi-Wan. He can’t afford to.

He slowly inhales, glancing over at Gallia as she approaches them. “You need to be leaving,” Anakin notes, “But perhaps we can talk again later at length?” He forces a polite smile, feigning hopefulness.

“Yes,” smiles Obi-Wan. “I would like that.”

Anakin keeps up the façade until the pair are far away from the apartment, finally letting his faked expression fall away. He turns, stalking across the room and glaring out the window, expression stormy. He hates that Obi-Wan can ignite unacceptable emotions within him like that. He’s never been affected by anyone’s emotions so deeply, save Padme and his mother. It’s worse that the Force seems to hum its approval for him to get to know the Jedi. He won’t do it.

Inhaling slowly, Anakin looks down at his right hand, fisting it hard enough for the mechanics to squeal in protest. He forces himself to remember the pain and desperation he felt when he lost it, immersing himself in the utter hatred and loathing he’d felt towards the Jedi at that moment. Finally, finally, he draws in the Dark Side for a brief moment, keeping himself carefully shielded, but allowing his eyes to bleed yellow. He is a Sith. For him, the Jedi will never be friends. Only enemies. Always enemies.

**w**

“I do not like this idea of hiding,” Padme states firmly, scowling as she packs necessities into a bag along with Dorme.

Anakin nods silently. “I know, but don’t worry. Now that the Council is investigating, it shouldn’t be long before you can return.”

Padme scowls, obviously not placated, and Anakin again feels a twinge of guilt. This is his fault, even if he wants to deny it. He was helping his master ensure that Padme left the planet. “I haven’t worked for a year to defeat the Military Creation Act to not be here when its fate is decided.” She glances at him when he sighs.

“I know, Angel, I know,” he replies wearily. “I’m sorry.” Sorry for more things than she’ll ever know.

She huffs. “You have nothing to be sorry for, Ani. This isn’t your fault.”

He swallows hard. If only she knew, what would she do then? “Will you send Dorme to replace you in the Senate?”

Padme purses her lips, turning to face her handmaid. “Yes,” she replies slowly. “I think I shall. She knows my opinion on the bill, so she should be able to vote in my place without difficulties.”

“Good,” Anakin beams. “At least that’s one less thing for you to concern yourself with. Are you almost ready to leave? The Chancellor will be seeing us off.”

She nods, pausing suddenly, probably as his last sentence sinks in. “He doesn’t need to do that.”

Anakin shrugs awkwardly. “He’s my father you know…” he fumbles for an explanation for the unusual behavior. In truth, he knows the only reason his master will be there is to ensure that he remembers his place and to give him some final last-minute warning or mission. He shudders to think of what might happen should he make a mistake.

If Padme notices his uneasy expression, she doesn’t comment on it. “Alright,” she finally mutters. “I’m done here. It’s time for us to leave for the spaceport. We wouldn’t want to keep the Chancellor waiting.” He notices the sarcasm in her voice, but he doesn’t comment. He agrees with her sentiments exactly, though not for the same reasons.

“M’Lady, I got a message from the Jedi,” Dorme interrupts quietly, biting her lip. Anakin can feel her nervousness through the Force. “They are sending someone with you.”

“I don’t need a Jedi tagalong!” Anakin spits out, miffed. “I can protect Padme just fine! Why can no one accept that?”

“Ani, they just want to keep me safe,” Padme soothes. “I know you might rather just go with the two of us, but whoever is coming will just be a bodyguard.” She smiles encouragingly. “We will still have our private time, don’t you worry.”

“I – fine,” he grumbles, inwardly grateful that Padme is able to help him even if she’s upset. Never once has she questioned his animosity towards the Jedi. She seems to intuitively understand that it is caused, in part at least, by their rejection of him.

“I believe the speeder to take you to the spaceport is here, M’Lady,” Dorme tells Padme. “You should be going now. I have the bags for both of you.”

“Come, Angel,” murmurs Anakin, taking Padme’s arm to escort her to the speeder. It maybe should be more alarming how he can go from annoyed to passive in a matter of minutes, but it’s not. He knows he doesn’t have the best temper, but he does what he can to control it.

**w**

They reach the spaceport, dressed in peasant clothing to blend in with the other travelers. By then, Padme’s mood has significantly calmed, and she seems far more eager to leave and less likely to sneak away and hide so she can stay. People are bustling about with various activity all around them. Anakin leads Padme towards the group waiting to see them off. They came separately so as to attract less attention.

He stops before Captain Typho and Dorme, who is now dressed like a Senator. Chancellor Palpatine along with two private bodyguards are next to them. Off to the side, he notices Obi-Wan along with a young Togruta girl who looks less than happy to be here. He doesn’t pay them any heed, knowing that everything will be soon explained. The sooner they get off Coruscant the better. He has little desire to stay on planet any longer.

Captain Typho is holding their luggage. “Be safe, M’Lady,” he tells Padme as he hands the bags to Anakin, who takes them.

“Thank you, Captain,” Padme replies. “Take good care of Dorme. The threat’s on you two now.”

“He’ll be safe with me,” Dorme interjects. Anakin can feel her worry. She’s is willing to take the risk of assassination, but she fears for Padme’s safety. He can admire Nubian handmaids in that way. They are selfless and caring for whoever they are currently serving.

Padme laughs softly, pulling Dorme into a hug. The handmaid begins crying quietly as she hugs her. “You’ll be fine,” Padme assures her.

“It’s not me, M’Lady,” Dorme answers tearfully. “I worry about you. What if they realize I’m not you?” She leaves the unspoken what if they go after you on Naboo unsaid.

“Then Anakin will protect me, of course,” Padme says, as though it’s the most obvious thing in the galaxy, which it is.

“Of course,” she murmurs, giving Anakin a soft smile.

“It is such a pity that you have to leave at this important time, my dear,” Palpatine declares stepping forward towards Padme, “But I am sure you can understand. The Republic cannot afford to lose a Senator such as yourself. You will be much safer on Naboo with my son.”

“I know,” Padme answers, a look of faint distress on her face. “I fear what will happen in the Senate while I am gone. I have given Dorme instructions, but there is only so much she can do without my presence. She can cast a vote, but she cannot make important decisions without my help.”

“Everything will be fine,” Palpatine reassures her. “I will see to it that you are back here within a week. The Jedi will certainly listen to a request from me personally.” He pauses a moment, eyes drifting towards Obi-Wan. “When the Council suggested that you leave, they asked to send a Jedi with you to help ensure your safety. They do not feel Anakin is capable of protecting you, though I have no doubt that he is.”

He meets Anakin’s eyes for a moment, and Anakin can nearly see the gears whirling in his mind. He tenses involuntarily. He has no desire to upset his master and cause a scene, though he knows one will certainly transpire if it will aid his master’s goals in the long term.

Hearing the Chancellor’s words, Obi-Wan steps forward, the Togruta trailing behind him. “I am sending Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano with you,” the Jedi tells Padme. “She is capable, and I’m sure you will enjoy her company.”

He nudges her gently, and she finally walks over to them, forcing a smile on her face as she bows slightly. “You won’t even notice me,” she tells them flatly, probably guessing that they don’t really want her there. Anakin examines her silently, noting that she seems upset about something. He’ll have to probe later and see if he learns anything useful.

A moment later, his master pulls him aside. “You are doing well, Anakin,” he praises, a smile on his face which is a tad too sinister for Anakin’s liking. “Be careful on Naboo. We wouldn’t want to attract any unnecessary attention, and I would suggest you stay with your mother. You have earned yourself a visit with her, and I’m sure she would love to meet your fiancée.”

“I understand,” Anakin answers quietly. He knows better than to give any indications as to their true relationship in front of the others. He pauses briefly before turning to face Padme. “Time to go,” he tells her, tightening his grip on the luggage.

She smiles wanly. “I know.” She hugs Dorme one last time before following Anakin towards the speeder bus which will take them onto the starfreighter. Ahsoka slowly follows behind them, and Anakin again gets the impression that she doesn’t want to be here. He supposes they will have plenty of time to talk during the journey.

“May the Force be with you, Ahsoka,” Obi-Wan calls after them.

Ahsoka pauses, throwing a smile at the Jedi. “May the Force be with you, Master Obi-Wan.”

Anakin resists the urge to roll his eyes. He’ll never understand why the Jedi say that. When has the Force ever not been with them, even if they don’t understand what it is telling them? He’s pulled from his sardonic thoughts by Padme’s voice. “Suddenly, I’m afraid,” she murmurs, slipping her hand onto his arm.

He glances at her fondly. “I’m kinda scared too, but don’t worry. I’ll protect you,” he whispers gently. “The Chancellor wants us to stay with my mother. I think she would like to get to know you.” Actually, he knows she does. She’d asked him the last time he visited her if he would be able to introduce her to Padme properly.

“We have nothing to worry about,” Padme tells him after a moment. “We have Artoo and Ahsoka with us. We’ll be fine.”

Anakin laughs softly, looking at the astromech rolling along behind him. “You’re right, Angel. We’ll be fine.”

Chapter Text

“So, you’re Anakin Skywalker,” Ahsoka muses as she scrutinizes him, blue eyes in stark contrast to her orange skin. Her montrals are striped white and blue. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

She’s sitting across from Anakin in their cabin. Padme is looking at a datapad in a nearby chair, leaving Anakin to deal with this Jedi. He wonders what would happen if he threw her out an airlock. Would anyone even notice? He certainly hopes not, but he’s not stupid enough to risk it.

“That’s nice,” he offers. Maybe if he keeps his replies to a minimum, she won’t keep trying to talk to him. He does not want to talk to her. Why can’t she understand that already?

She’s frowning now, and he senses vague irritation. “You seem a little upset,” he comments without even thinking. So much for trying not to talk to her. Now he doesn’t have a choice.

Ahsoka seems to brighten when he finally acknowledges her. “I guess I am,” she admits, sighing and leaning back against the wall. “You met Master Kenobi.” She waits until he nods. “Well, I’m his Padawan.”

He’s actually startled by that. “What?”

Instead of being upset that he’s asking questions, the Togruta actually seems relieved. “He didn’t want to take me, and he often doesn’t act like I’m his Padawan. Master Yoda told him that if he didn’t accept me, I would be sent to the Agricorps because I was too old.”

“Too old?” he queries in confusion. “What do you mean?”

She seems uncertain how to reply. “If younglings aren’t taken as a Padawan, they don’t become Jedi. They’re sent to the Agricorps instead unless they want to join a different Service Corp.” Oh. Anakin hadn’t known that. He’d thought that all younglings became Jedi.

He looks her over, finally raising an eyebrow. “You look like a youngling,” he notes. “I didn’t know that Jedi would consider you old enough to become a – Padawan.” He winces inwardly. He’d nearly said apprentice. Only Sith use the term apprentice.

Ahsoka is not amused. She gives him an outraged look. “I am not a youngling!”

“Sure you’re not,” he drawls, smirking. He suddenly realizes that he’s finding it easy to talk to her, even though she’s a Jedi. He hopes his master won’t find out. He probably wouldn’t be pleased, and he certainly would not approve. Anakin knows the Jedi are enemies, but maybe that shouldn’t always be true. The Order is his enemy. All the individuals are not. Maybe he can find some use for Ahsoka. Perhaps he can get her to join the Sith Order.

“I still don’t think you’re old enough. Are you really ready to go on protection missions?” he wonders. He didn’t know that Jedi gave their apprentices such risks. Sith are a different story, but he doesn’t really care for their practices.

She scowls. “Master Yoda thought I was old enough to become a Padawan, and Master Obi-Wan only sent me here because he didn’t want me to join him in his investigation.”

“Because Yoda knows everything,” mutters Anakin, bitterness threatening to overwhelm him. There are times he can almost hear when the old troll claimed he was too old and too angry to be trained. He was not angry then. He had no darkness. Now? The darkness is suffocating his soul. His hands are stained with Jedi blood, and he can never wash it off. It will always be there, mocking him for what he’d wanted and what he’d become.

Ahsoka gives him a curious look. “You don’t like Master Yoda?”

Anakin snorts. “How could I? He’s the one who decided to adopt me to the Chancellor without even asking me.” Despite his animosity, he still takes note that Ahsoka seems to be upset with Obi-Wan and resolves to pressure her about it later. He might be able to learn some useful information.

She falls silent, an inscrutable expression on her face as she studies him. “You’re upset because you were denied becoming a Jedi?” she queries.

He looks at her incredulously. “Do you think I still want to be a Jedi after seeing how they treat others? They didn’t even bother trying to free my mother! The Chancellor did it himself.”

“Free?” she echoes. “You were slaves?”

Anakin narrows his eyes, giving a stiff nod. “I don’t want to talk about it,” he states simply and hopes that she’ll drop it.

Her face registers shock, and she seems to be at a loss for words, but she shakes her head. “I can tell you’re upset though.” Yes, he is, and he’s not going to unburden himself to a child, especially not a Jedi youngling when she’ll run straight back to the Council.

Anakin shrugs half-heartedly and turns the conversation back to safer waters. “I got the feeling that you’re upset with your master.”

After giving him another probing look, she lets the topic change. “Yes,” she agrees reluctantly. “He never wanted to train me or anyone actually. He only ever wanted to train you. He told me he’d promised his master. He wanted to honor the promise, but he also saw your potential, and he wanted to help you.”

He mulls over her words, deciding to determine how he feels about that later, not that he hadn’t already known, but the confirmation was good to hear. “If you’re so upset with how you’ve been treated, why not leave the Order?” he suggests. “It might be the only thing you’ve ever known, but you can still use the Force and not be a Jedi.”

Ahsoka looks startled by his words. “I – I never actually thought about it,” she admits. “The Jedi are like my family. I don’t want to leave them. Besides, if I did, I don’t know where I would go.”

He hesitates before opting to plunge forward and deal with the consequences later. He has a number of cards to play, and if he wants to convert Ahsoka to prove he can be trusted, he needs to tread with caution. “I could teach you.”

“What?” she gapes at him, and he glances at Padme to see if she’s still occupied. She doesn’t seem to be paying either of them any attention. “How can you do that? You were never trained.”

He gives her a flat look. “The Jedi are not the only Force users, you know,” he informs her. “There are many other groups out there, and I explored a lot about the Force. I can use it just fine, even without Jedi training.”

“Really?” she seems skeptical, but he has to give her the benefit of the doubt. She’s probably never seen a Force user who isn’t a Jedi.

“Yes…” he drawls, flicking out his right hand casually and pulling one of Ahsoka’s lightsabers to his hand.

She lets out a startled yelp and lurches forward to grab it away. Smirking, he tosses it in the air out of her reach, using the Force to keep it suspended. Huffing, she reaches out with the Force, calling it back to her. “Don’t do that,” she warns.

“I won’t hurt myself with it, if that’s what you’re afraid of,” he replies, grinning and resisting the urge to reach for his own concealed saber.

“No. It’s not that,” she grumbles, though she doesn’t explain just what bothered her.

“I am serious about my offer, though,” Anakin tells her, letting sincerity color his tone. “I would be willing to teach you if you wanted.”

“I don’t know…” she mumbles dubiously.

“You wouldn’t be my apprentice or Padawan or whatever you want to call it,” he answers, knowing he’s pushing her to accept. That’s something else he’ll have to consider later. “I can simply teach you a few things, even if you don’t leave the Jedi.”

“Okay,” she says finally, smiling at him.

“Can you meditate?” he questions.

“Yes,” she replies immediately. “I learned that when I was really young.”

“I can’t meditate very well,” he confesses, “But I’ve found that focusing with emotions is most helpful.” He doesn’t mention that it’s a Dark Side technique, or that he often uses a strong dark emotion when preparing himself for combat. Some things are better left unsaid.

Ahsoka frowns. “That’s a Dark Side technique,” she tells him. So much for that.

“Is it?” he feigns surprise. “I have never noticed myself feeling anything other than peaceful when I use it.” It’s true – from a certain point of view. Even if he’s burning from the Dark Side, he is still peaceful in the very center of the turmoil.

She nods emphatically. “Yes, it is. The Jedi use calm. We don’t rely on emotions. We let them go.” He keeps his expression neutral. He doesn’t want to arouse any suspicions as to the nature of his training. It’s better if she thinks him to be self-taught.

“I never understood the Jedi ideal of calmness,” he acknowledges. “I’m emotional by nature. It’s not something I can just control.”

“The Jedi teach that you need to release your emotions to the Force,” Ahsoka explains. “We don’t hold onto anything. We just let it go, so it doesn’t affect us.”

His lips quirk into a smile. “You are awfully smart for a youngling,” he teases.

In a millisecond, her expression goes from serious to annoyed. “Stop calling me that!” she snaps, glowering at him. “I’m not a youngling any more than you are, Skyguy.”

He raises an eyebrow in surprise, crossing his arms. “What did you just call me?” he demands. “Don’t get snippy with me… Snips.”

They both glare at each other, neither willing to back down. Inwardly, Anakin finds that he enjoys her company. She’s very different from what he imagined a Jedi to be, and it’s even better that she’s still a child. She’s very impressionable, and he doubts he’ll have a hard time getting her to join him. Once she sees the Jedi’s flaws, she’ll understand the power of the Dark Side and come to him willingly.

**w**

“Naboo is a very beautiful planet,” comments Ahsoka, head swiveling to take in the sights all around her.

Padme laughs. “Yes, it is,” she agrees. “Even though I grew up here, I still find it breathtaking. There is so much to see. Maybe when we’re not hiding from an assassin, I can take you to some of the sights on the planet.”

“Oh, yes!” Ahsoka exclaims enthusiastically. “I would love that.”

“I’m always awed by the sights,” Anakin adds. He glances around, judging the time it will take to reach his master’s private residence where his mother is waiting. After they arrived in Theed, they went to see the queen and then Padme’s family. Now, early the next morning, they are headed to the Palpatine residence. It’s located off the map in a secure area, where his master assured him that no one could find them.

While he falls silent, watching the landscape go by, he hears Padme talking to Ahsoka. He’s inwardly glad that they immediately hit off, especially now that he doesn’t mind the Jedi’s presence. He needs to contact his master as soon as they arrive. He knows he’ll be expecting regular updates.

It only takes them an hour before their speeder is approaching the large estate. Anakin feels some of the tension in his body drain away when he senses his mother’s Force signature. It’s been a long time since he’s seen her, but he doesn’t dare reach out too much with the Force. Ahsoka might be aware that he has some training, but he’s not entirely sure how to use the Force without also drawing on the Dark Side, something that, if noticed, would raise too many unpleasant questions.

Anakin is practically humming with excitement when they arrive. His protocol droid, Threepio, comes out to greet them. “Master Anakin, it is so good to see you!” he cries. Artoo immediately rolls over beeping out a long series of comments.

“Where’s my mother?” he asks.

“Mistress Shmi is in the garden,” the droid answers. “Shall I get her?”

“No, Threepio. Not yet,” Anakin tells him. “I need you to take the luggage to the guest rooms. One for Padme, and one for Ahsoka.” He motions to them walking into the mansion as he escorts them towards their rooms. He knows he’ll have to give them a tour, excluding the areas only Sith are allowed, of course. It would not be good at all for them to see the training facilities underground.

This isn’t the first time guests have come here, so Anakin and Shmi know well how to behave. After showing Padme and Ahsoka their rooms, he leads them to the gardens, inhaling deep breaths of the fresh air. Despite every bad memory associated with the estate, Anakin has never lost his love for the gardens, full of many varieties of exotic plants.

It is there that he finds his mother. She is sitting on her favorite bench, looking at a holopad. She is the manager here, though her duties often leave her with much leisure time. As long as Anakin follows Sidious’ rules, she will remain unharmed. It’s a golden prison, and Anakin loathes it. Sometimes, he would almost rather have remained a slave to Watto. At least then it would be obvious that he’s not free to live his life as he chooses.

“Mom,” Anakin calls softly. She looks up, relief flooding her features as she rises from her place.

“Ani, you’re home,” she says simply, opening her arms. He wraps his arms around her, hugging her tightly, suddenly fighting a lump in his throat. He’s missed her so much, but those are words which don’t need to be said. She already knows, just as she knows that he’s a murderer, but she accepts him anyway, fully understanding his reasoning, even if she doesn’t approve.

He pulls back, turning to face his companions. “This is my fiancée, Senator Padme Amidala,” he introduces. “And this is Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano. We’re here because someone is trying to assassinate Padme, so the Chancellor suggested we come here.”

“It’s wonderful to finally meet you,” his mother murmurs, looking at Padme, “And I’m glad Anakin has befriended a Jedi,” she adds, turning towards Ahsoka. “Please, call me Shmi. We don’t use fancy titles around here.”

“As long as you call me Padme,” she stipulates.

His mother smiles. “If that is what you want,” she replies.

“It’s a little weird being here,” Ahsoka finally admits, inadvertently explaining her awkward silence. “I’ve never been in huge places like this, and it feels like I’ll break something if I touch it.”

“Don’t worry, Snips. If you break something, you’ll only have to replace it,” Anakin announces cheerfully. “You won’t receive the death sentence.” Probably. Knowing his master, he can never be too sure.

“Anakin!” scolds his mother, frowning at him, though he can sense she’s trying not to smile. She looks at Ahsoka. “I felt like that when I first came here, but you’ll get used to it. Nothing is nearly as breakable as it looks.”

“Oh good,” Ahsoka replies, seeming greatly relieved.

Padme laughs softly, entwining her hand with Anakin’s. He squeezes it gently. “I don’t want to take Anakin away from you, but I had hoped to get a look around here before lunch if that’s alright.” Her words are directed to Shmi, who immediately nods.

“It’s not a problem,” she hastens to reassure her. “I know he’s safe now, so feel free to look around. Ani, show her around. I’ll stay out here in the gardens a bit longer.”

“Well, Snips. What about you?” queries Anakin, looking expectantly at the Togruta.

“I think I’ll stay out here too,” she smiles. “Don’t get in trouble, Skyguy.”

Anakin snorts, rolling his eyes, though he doesn’t reply. Instead, he gently pulls Padme back towards the mansion. He knows it will take her a while to look around and get a feel for the place. He doubts that Ahsoka will want a tour. Likely, she’ll just use the Force to guide her wherever she needs to go.

**w**

“Do you like it here?” Ahsoka asks looking at Shmi almost as soon as Padme and Anakin disappear. She likes Padme already even though she hasn’t spoken to her at length. Anakin is a whole other story. She likes him too, but there’s something about him which sets her on edge. She can’t quite put her finger on it, but she hopes that she’ll discover something through meditation. Maybe she can talk to Master Obi-Wan about it later.

Shmi smiles warmly, but there’s a weary look in her eyes which never seems to fade. “Yes,” she murmurs softly. “I do.” The lie rings through the Force.

Ahsoka gives her a look. “No, you don’t,” she corrects. “Why not? I would have thought that living in such a place with your son well cared for would make you happy.”

She doesn’t answer, falling silent as she studies Ahsoka, looking pained. “You’re a Jedi,” she states at last. “You can sense if someone is lying, can’t you?”

Ahsoka regards her with surprise. She’d expected an answer not… this. Shmi is changing the topic too obviously. If she doesn’t want to talk about it for whatever reason, then she could just say so. She ought to know that Ahsoka won’t pry unnecessarily. “Yes, I can,” she answers slowly. “If you don’t want to talk about it for whatever reason –”

“No, it’s fine,” Shmi hastens to reassure her, only making her even more confused. She feels like she’s missing something huge which, if known, would allow her to view the situation from an enlightened perspective. “I know you just met Anakin, but do you care for him?”

Ahsoka gapes at her, her voice momentarily abandoning her. “Is there a reason for these questions?” she demands finally.

Shmi smiles wryly. “Do I look like someone who asks idle questions?”

“I suppose not,” the Togruta replies finally, expression confused, “But I don’t really understand why you’re asking these questions.”

“You don’t have to answer if it makes you uncomfortable,” Shmi tells her, looking at her expectantly.

Ahsoka sighs quietly. She knows that Anakin’s mother clearly wants an honest answer, but she’s not even sure herself. “I – I suppose I care for him,” she finally says. “That’s what Jedi are supposed to do. We care for others.”

“I had hoped you’d say that,” Shmi murmurs, a painful hope in her eyes. “I have a request to make of you.” Ahsoka nods, letting the older woman know she’s listening. “Can you help Anakin?” Just like that, Ahsoka is shocked into speechlessness. Of all the things she’d been expecting – and the list was admittedly short – that was not one of them.

“I – help him with what?” she wants to know.

“Only he can tell you,” Shmi answers sadly. “When the time is right, you will know in your heart, and I ask you to help him. He needs your help.”

“I will do what I can,” Ahsoka assures her after a moment of silence. An instinct warns her that she might regret agreeing too hastily, especially since she doesn’t even know what she’s agreeing to do. She doesn’t want to make Shmi worry any more than she already is – and it’s clear that’s she’s terribly disturbed about something. She really needs to spend time talking to Master Obi-Wan when she sees him again. Hopefully, it will be soon.

“Thank you,” Shmi murmurs, a look of profound relief on her face. “Thank you.”

Chapter Text

"On the transport, you agreed to let me teach you some things I know," Anakin comments casually, looking over at Ahsoka. His mother had wanted to talk to Padme, leaving him and Ahsoka with time to themselves. "Would you want to do that now?"

"Sure," she replies. Despite her relaxed posture and tone, he can sense her nervousness in the Force. For whatever reasons, she's not entirely certain about agreeing, even though she's clearly curious. If he sticks to non-Dark Side techniques, she should warm up to him more.

He already decided what to teach her. He might consider the practice easy, but Dooku had assured him that many, if not most, Jedi cannot do it. "Great!" He tries to tone down the excitement in his voice – he really does – but he still thinks he sounds too eager. He doesn't know what to do with the feelings the thought of teaching her evokes in him. He's never felt anything even remotely similar before.

"I'm going to find a blaster," he tells her. "I know there's some around here." Turning, he strides from the room.

"A blaster?" she questions, sounding confused, rushing after him. "What would you be doing with a blaster?"

Anakin smirks. "I'm going to shoot it at you," he states matter-of-factly, amusement dancing in his eyes, when he feels her concern rocket. This is actually rather enjoyable. It helps him forget – if only for a short time – who he is.

"Why?" she demands.

Anakin hums quietly as he opens a weapons cabinet, snatching up a blaster, before closing the doors again. He motions for her to follow him back outside before he answers her question. "Well, Snips, I'm going to teach you how to deflect blaster bolts with your bare hands," he explains, grinning at the astounded look on her face.

"You can do that?" she questions.

"Try me." He tosses her the blaster before turning and walking twenty paces from her. "Shoot. At my head," he orders.

Hesitatingly, Ahsoka raises the blaster, leveling it at his head before pulling the trigger. He reacts instantly, right hand coming up as he draws the Force to shield. The blaster bolt is deflected harmlessly, sailing off to the side. He snorts when he sees Ahsoka's expression. "Did you really think I was asking you to kill me?"

"I thought you would duck," she admits, lowering the blaster. "That is so cool. How can you do that?"

With a single thought, he casually Force yanks the blaster to his hand, ignoring her startled jump. She still hasn't gotten used to the fact that he's trained and not a Jedi. Because I'm a Sith. "It will take you time to master the technique," Anakin warns, and Ahsoka nods silently. "Draw in the Force and shield your hand. You can sense the energy of the bolt, yes?"

She frowns. "I – yes, if I'm concentrating."

He turns the blaster away from them and fires it, holding up his left hand and catching the bolt mid-air. "Feel it, Ahsoka. Through the Force. That's how they all feel. You need to recognize it as acutely as danger through the Force."

"Oh!" she exclaims. "It feels like a concentrated ball of energy."

Anakin laughs softly. "Because it is," he agrees. "You can move it like anything else." He watches as she extends her hand, the Light Side flowing through her as she draws the bolt towards her. Anakin can feel her rising excitement and wonder at her ability to move it. He watches, arms crossed. "You can deflect it if you manipulate the Force just right," Anakin explains quietly so as not to distract her.

"Can you do it again?" she asks.

Anakin reaches out, drawing the bolt towards him and redirecting its motion before letting go. It sails towards him, and he reaches out, letting it bounce harmlessly off his hand. "Do you need me to do it again? I can try to do it slower."

"Um, sure," Ahsoka answers, brow furrowed as she tries to understand what it is that he's doing.

Anakin fires the blaster again, freezing the bolt mid-air and drawing it towards him once more. Instead of releasing it, he pulls it closer to him until it's only a few feet away. "Watch – and feel – carefully," he instructs. Stepping forwards, he slowly moves his hand forwards, drawing in the Force to shield himself as he puts it up to the frozen blaster bolt. It creates a mini explosion, sending a shockwave out through the Force.

A startled squeak of surprise escapes Ahsoka. "That was awesome!" she cries, giving him a look bordering on awe. "Can you do that again?" Awesome isn't exactly the word Anakin would have used. He doesn't typically show off much – Sidious won't stand for it – but Ahsoka's expression makes him pause before automatically saying no. If his master was here… but he's not, so it doesn't matter if Anakin has some fun. Sidious will never know.

He grins conspiratorially at her. "Let's do it better." He fires the blaster twice is rapid succession, catching the bolts before they get too far before directing them back to him. He uses the Force to coax them together and repeats what he did before. They're rewarded with another explosion, this one even bigger than previously.

"I think I know how you're doing it, Skyguy," she announces. "Can I try?"

He looks at her dubiously. "And if you're wrong, then you'll have a hole through your hand – something I wouldn't much want to explain to your master. He won't be happy, and he may not even approve. We need a different blaster, with a minimum stun setting," he informs her. "Stay here. I'll get one."

Ahsoka nods in agreement, so he turns and jogs back to the mansion. He knows exactly where to find a blaster like this: the training rooms down in the basement. He makes the trip as quick as he can; he doesn't want Ahsoka to start exploring for one, but he really doesn't want to spend even an extra moment down here either. There are too many bad memories associated with the area.

When he returns, his mother and Padme have shown up, probably drawn by the loud explosions. They're currently talking to Ahsoka, and she's animatedly explaining what they're trying to do. "Well, Snips, are you ready?" he calls as he strides up, practically bouncing with impatience. He's never been given the chance to teach anyone before, but he finds it exciting. "Just try not to zap anyone please."

"I'm ready," the Togruta answers confidently. "Shoot."

Anakin dips his head in acknowledgment, raising the blaster at her before firing. He's not surprised when it's not deflected, and her yelp of surprise indicates she was stung by it. He's not too concerned – Dooku used the same blaster on him, and the injuries aren't any worse than those from a basic level training droid.

"Again?" he asks, catching his mother's pinched expression. She dislikes watching any kind of Force training, and his mind drifts to what she's seen of his training. Electricity runs through his body as he fails, yet again, to master the concept. His master's voice angrily telling him that he's too willful to learn properly. He needs to be subdued. Again, he's electrocuted and left panting on the ground, trying to shake off the aftershocks.

He shakes away the memory as Ahsoka nods. He shoots at her again, and like before, she doesn't quite manage to deflect it. Unlike his mother, Padme seems to find the situation entertaining, if her curious, open expression is anything to go by. "Let's try something different," he tells Ahsoka, firing again, and using the Force to freeze the bolt. "Try now," he suggests.

The moment a gleam enters Ahsoka's eyes, he knows that she'll keep doing this until she has it mastered. She confidently walks towards the suspended bolt, raising her hand to touch it. The explosion takes longer than it did for him, and it's not nearly as loud, but he knows she's finally figured it out. "I have it," she declares. "Shoot at me again."

And he does. His delight is almost equal to hers when the bolt is deflected from her palm. "I did it!" she squeals exuberantly, bouncing over and throwing her arms around him, "Thank you for teaching me that, Skyguy!"

Anakin freezes in her grasp for a moment before chuckling quietly and embracing her. "You have a long way to go before you master the technique enough to use it in combat, but you've grasped the method behind it. It's progress." He feels a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment, sentiments which are so uncommon that it takes him a moment to recognize them.

"I always knew you were special, Ani," Padme declares proudly, stepping forward to kiss his cheek. "I'm honored to have you to protect me."

"Who wouldn't want to protect an angel?" he asks lightly, and she laughs softly.

"Was he always this strong?" Ahsoka queries, turning towards Padme and his mother. He nearly stops breathing for a moment before forcing himself to remain calm. If he gets uneasy, Ahsoka might sense it and become suspicious. That cannot happen.

"Yes," Padme answers instantly.

"They called me the Chosen One," Anakin interjects. And to Sidious, I am still the Sith'ari, his Chosen One. The Sith's Chosen One. "I am the most powerful Force sensitive in the galaxy."

"And you weren't trained?" Ahsoka's words reflect her shock at the admission.

"The Council did not want to train me," Anakin answers, drawing on his acting skills to keep his expression neutral. "But that has not stopped me from growing. I can feel my power, even if I have not even begun to reach my potential."

Ahsoka looks at him with wide eyes. "Oh," she breathes finally. "It makes sense now, why Master Obi-Wan was so upset. I can –" she hesitates. "I can feel you in the Force, like a beacon. It's incredible." He feels her nudging at him gently but doesn't react.

"I'm going to put this away," he says instead holding up the blaster. He doesn't want to talk about his power or abilities. It's far too risky. Turning, he walks away, knowing his mother will change the topic while he's gone.

Anakin successfully stows the blaster back in place, a nervous tension dancing under his skin. Normally, he would go practice with training droids, but since Ahsoka is here, he won't dare. He knows she'll sense him using the Dark Side, and his master wouldn't be happy. Gritting his teeth, he heads back to the courtyard to rejoin the others. He needs to do something. He hates being in the mansion; it holds far too many bad memories for him, but his hands are tied. He wishes that he wasn't staying here, but his master didn't give him a choice.

The beeping of his commlink pulls him out of his brooding. Glancing around to ensure he's alone, he answers it, and a hologram of Jango Fett appears. "Lord Vader," the bounty hunter greets him. "I have just left Kamino, and I am being pursued by a Jedi. I'm leading him to Geonosis as Count Dooku instructed."

"I will relay the message," Anakin informs him, relaxing marginally. It could have been worse. It could have been his master calling him, but it wasn't. "Are you alright?"

"I am," Jango replies. "Boba is with me. We're both alright."

Anakin breaths out a sigh of relief. "Good. I will contact Dooku immediately." He disconnects the call before entering Dooku's commlink frequency. He considers Jango a friend and doesn't want him to come to harm. The number of people he can call a friend is very low, and Anakin wants to protect those he does care for.

It doesn't take long before Dooku answers. "Yes, Anakin. What is it?"

"Jango just contacted me," he informs the Count. "He told me that he is leading a Jedi to Geonosis. Is there something you wanted me to do?"

Dooku is silent for a moment. "Actually yes," he answers. "I believe the Jedi is Obi-Wan Kenobi. When he arrives, he will be captured and likely scheduled for execution. I have no doubt that he will transmit a message to Ahsoka. She is with you still, correct?"

"Yes," Anakin confirms.

"Good. Sidious wants to show the galaxy that Dark Side users are not to be mistrusted," Dooku explains. "When you get Obi-Wan's call for help, I want you to discreetly convince Senator Amidala and Ahsoka to join you in rescuing him. All of you will be captured, and you must stage a rescue attempt in the execution arena. Can you do that?"

Anakin's lips twist into a bitter smile. "Do I have a choice?"

Dooku sighs lightly. "No. I don't suppose you do," he admits, a look of sympathy on his face. "Sidious is relying on us to get this to go as planned, so please do be careful."

"I will try," Anakin murmurs as he stares at the hologram of the closest figure he's ever had to a father – more like grandfather.

"May the Force be with you," Dooku tells him, a hint of fondness in his voice as he disconnects.

Anakin pinches his eyes closed and takes a steadying breath. How hard can this be? All he needs to do is act. He's good at that. Forcing himself not to dwell on the deception of Padme and Ahsoka of which he will be a part, he walks down the halls to find the others. What he really needs right now, is a good distraction, something to pass the time until he needs to act.

**w**

"– entire situation was quite tense, and I was honestly scared, but Anakin saved the whole planet. To Naboo, he was a true hero," Padme finishes.

Anakin sighs, rolling his eyes when she completes the story of how he'd accidently destroyed the Trade Federation ship during the blockade of Naboo. Really, he hadn't done anything that great. Not only had he disobeyed Qui-Gon's orders, but also, he'd nearly been killed. Only the Force had protected him during the space battle.

"Impressive," murmurs Ahsoka, giving Anakin an awe-filled look. Oh great. He does not need anyone to worship him as a hero. He is not a hero. He's far from it. He bites his lip and holds his tongue. As long as they're both entertained, he'll suffer through as many battle stories as Padme wants to tell.

She's just about to begin another story, when Artoo rolls up whistling frantically. "What is it, Artoo?" Anakin asks, tipping his head to the side to look at the droid.

Instead of answering, Artoo projects a holorecording in front of them. "Ahsoka, my long-range transmitter has been knocked out," Obi-Wan's figure declares. "Retransmit this message to Coruscant." He pauses for a moment before continuing, "I have tracked the bounty hunter Jango Fett to the droid foundries of Geonosis. The Trade Federation is to take delivery of a droid army here, and it is clear that Viceroy Gunray is behind the assassination attempts on Senator Amidala."

Padme glances over at Anakin, a knowing look on her face despite her obvious concern. Anakin knows that the Trade Federation has a long-standing grudge against her because of her defiance to them ten years prior, and clearly, his master is using that to his advantage. "The Commerce Guild and Corporate Alliance have pledged their armies to Count Dooku and are forming an –" The Jedi pauses, glancing over his shoulder, alarm evident in his movements.

"Wait!" he exclaims, igniting his lightsaber. "Wait!" Before he can keep talking, blasterfire enters the recording, and Obi-Wan backs away deflecting it. Droidekas enter, shooting at him as the holorecording fades into static.

Anakin isn't surprised by the rush of agitation he feels from Ahsoka. "We have to go after him!" she cries, jumping to her feet.

"I thought the first thing he said was to retransmit his message to Coruscant," Padme interjects soothingly as she looks at Ahsoka.

"You're right," the Togruta mutters, sinking back to her seat.

Anakin leans forward. "Artoo, transmit the message to the Jedi Council," he instructs. Now that Obi-Wan has presumably been successfully captured, it is time for him to act. The droid whistles in acknowledgement, whirring softly as it zooms away to comply. It will have to connect to the long-range transmitters in Padme's ship.

"We should follow and see if we receive any instructions," Padme suggests, rising.

"Come." Anakin beckons to Ahsoka as he stands up next to Padme, taking ahold of her arm. He walks towards the ship at a brisk pace. He has a mission he needs to accomplish, and he won't be comfortable until its complete.

When they arrived in the cockpit, Artoo has just finished transmitting the message, and a hologram of a Jedi Master is waiting for them. "Master Windu," Ahsoka greets him, bowing respectfully, and it takes all of Anakin's willpower to keep his face neutral.

"We will deal with Count Dooku," Windu tells her without preamble. "The most important thing for you, Ahsoka, is to stay where you are. Protect the Senator at all costs. That is your priority." Anakin clenches his jaw at the harshness of the words. He thinks he remembers the Jedi; it was one of the ones who looked at him like he was still a slave, loftily declaring him too old.

"Understood, Master," she replies quietly, looking down. Anakin can sense her unhappiness with the order, and it sends a new round of anger coursing through him. Windu has no right to talk to Ahsoka like that, and now, he wants to go to Geonosis simply to defy him.

The hologram disappears as the connection is ended. Padme huffs quietly and looks down at the control panel of the ship, pressing a few buttons. "What are you doing?" Anakin queries, raising an eyebrow.

"They'll never get there in time to save him. They have to come halfway across the galaxy," she replies, flipping a switch which fires up the engine.

"If he's still alive," Anakin mutters, before glancing over at Ahsoka.

"I don't think we should do this," she worries. "You heard Master Windu. He gave me strict orders to stay here."

Padme's lips quirk into a smile. "He gave you strict orders to protect me," she corrects, and Anakin grins at her. This is one of the reasons why he loves her so much. She's independent and will do anything she sets her mind to. It makes her a force to be reckoned with in the Senate, though it's also earned her a lot of enemies, something he's not particularly fond of. If someone wants to hurt Padme, they'll have to go through him first.

"I'm going to save Obi-Wan," Padme states with determination. "If you plan to protect me, you'll have to come."

Ahsoka sighs, but her expression brightens. "I'll come," she agrees.

"Me too, but first, I'm going to tell my mother we're leaving," Anakin tells them. "I'll be right back." He walks out of the cockpit and down the ramp, breaking into a run once he's further away and out of sight.

"Mom, we're leaving," he calls when he sees her in the garden where he'd left her.

She looks up at him with a sad smile. "I knew you would be," she answers. "You can never stay long."

He breaths out slowly. "I know. I wish I could be with you more," he murmurs, stepping closer and pulling her into a hug.

She wraps her arms around him. "Someday, things will be different," she assures him, the same thing she's said for years. The words are spoken more as a hope, than as something she actually believes will happen. Anakin stopped believing them years ago.

"I'll come back here as soon as I can," Anakin promises.

"Of course, you will," his mother replies, smiling fondly at him. "Go now. Don't keep Padme and Ahsoka waiting." He nods before hurrying back to the ship, mind whirling. When he gets to Geonosis, he knows they'll eventually be attacked, and he cannot afford to accidently use the Dark Side – or his concealed lightsaber – to defend them. He'll just have to trust that Padme – and Ahsoka – won't be injured.

Chapter Text

After evading the Trade Federation fleet surrounding the planet, Ahsoka flies the ship to the planet's surface. She had been allowed to fly after telling Anakin that it would be easier for her to locate Obi-Wan because of their training bond. Reluctantly, he'd agreed, but that doesn't mean he'd liked it. Anakin frowns out the window at the barren surface. It looks completely desolate, and it's hard to believe that there's actually a civilization here.

Padme's eyes are riveted on the landscape as Ahsoka flies low over the ground through valleys and around mountains and other rocky structures. "See those columns of stream straight ahead?" she queries before Anakin can even open his mouth. "They're exhaust vents of some type."

"They'll work," Anakin agrees, clenching his left hand. He wishes he could be at the controls right now. Flying is his release, and he's already extremely tense right now. He loathes the task he's been given. Padme cares for him deeply, and he doesn't need to make himself look like a hero to her. It's worse that he's terrified he'll make a mistake and he, or his mother, will be punished for the failing.

Ahsoka seems to agree, because she sends the ship zooming towards them, slowing as she approaches. "I sense Master Obi-Wan," she murmurs. "He's somewhere in here."

"Then let's hope we can find him," Anakin answers, reaching out to push a few buttons as the ship lands inside the vent. He lowers the ramp, watching as Padme stands up, pulling on a jacket.

"Look, whatever happens out there, follow my lead," she instructs them. "I'm not interested in getting into a war here. As a member of the Senate, maybe I can find a diplomatic solution to this mess."

Anakin hides his wistful expression by turning to look at the outside. "Of course, Angel," he readily agrees, guilt gnawing at him. He brought them here to be captured, and he's being forced to entrust their fates to the unknown. If he could, he would tell them both to escape while they still can and go hide in the Wild Space to escape from his master.

"Trust me on this?" she asks, looking at Ahsoka.

The Togruta grins at her. "Sure, Padme," she replies, deliberately straightening her lightsabers. "If things don't go according to plan, we have a backup right here."

"Stay with the ship," Padme calls over her shoulder, when Artoo beeps questioningly. With one final look around, Anakin silently hopes that he'll see the ship again. As much as he hopes to, part of him fears that this is the point where Padme will push him away.

The trio silently slip through the exit door into the factory beyond, and Anakin quickly recognizes that they're in the catacombs. Further inside, they'll find the machinery producing the battle droids. He tenses, pretending not to notice the Geonosian guards which spot them the further they walk. The urge to pull out his lightsaber is overwhelming, so he resorts to fisting his hands to prevent himself from slipping up.

"Wait," whispers Ahsoka suddenly, anxiety radiating into her Force signature. "There's something here…" They pause and look around. Anakin is unsurprised to see the guards flying towards them from behind.

"Ani!" hisses Padme, grabbing his arm.

"Run!" yells Ahsoka, a green blade hissing to life in each hand as she lashes out at their pursuers. Anakin gathers the Force – trying to avoid drawing on the Dark Side as much as he can, though he's not entirely sure how – and throws it towards the attackers. They're thrown far back along the passage, colliding into others behind them.

He whirls bolting towards the doorway at the end of the passage right behind Padme. He steps onto the narrow passageway behind her. Ahsoka joins them a minute later. "Um, Skyguy," she begins looking with dismay at the machinery and conveyer belts below. "We need to –" She's cut off when the door slams closed. More Geonosians fly towards them from their positions inside the factory.

Anakin lets out a few Huttese curses. "Stupid bugs," he snarls under his breath, but the vehemence in his tone makes both Padme and Ahsoka give him a surprised look.

He thinks one of them would have said something, but the walkway under their feet begins shrinking. Without a second thought, Padme jumps down onto a conveyor belt below. "Padme!" gasps Anakin, anger turning to horror. He knows this is a test for him, but it's still painful to have her fate so undecided.

Ahsoka doesn't spare him another glance. "Jump!" she yells to him, leaping down to the floor below. After a moment's hesitation, Anakin follows and not a second too late. The walkway disappears just as he begins falling. He uses the Force to catch himself, knowing that he doesn't need to be as concerned with Ahsoka noticing. She's being swarmed by Geonosians and doesn't have time to do anything other than spin her lightsabers around, cutting them apart.

Just as he'd predicted, the Geonosians don't seem particularly inclined to attack him, probably already knowing of his status. If they had, it would have complicated matters immensely. Considering himself fortunate, he uses the opportunity to start throwing battle droid components at the guards attacking Padme and Ahsoka. The few that do come towards him meet an unceremonious end with a broken neck.

"Padme!" cries Anakin, panicked when he sees her getting thrown into an empty vat. He forgets for a moment that Ahsoka is there, and that he needs to feign an escape. He reaches out, the Force flooding through him as he lifts the vat from the assembly line tipping it onto its side on the floor. Padme hastily scrambles out, just as a group of battle droids approach both her and Ahsoka, who had been far more fortunate in the entire struggle. She's still standing with both sabers blazing as they roll around her.

Anakin casts one last glance around, before leaping across a conveyor belt and rolling to the floor, out of sight. He hears distantly, over the roar of the machines, Jango ordering Ahsoka to surrender. He waits until they've been led away, before emerging from his hiding place and stalking to the nearest guard. "Take me to Count Dooku," he orders.

**w**

Anakin finds himself waiting in Dooku's office and hoping he'll return shortly. He needs to talk to him badly, even if only to get the reassurance that everything will be alright. He breathes out, letting the Dark Side flood through him, eyes turning yellow, secure in the knowledge that Obi-Wan and Ahsoka will never feel him. His expression twists into a dark scowl. Jedi are so foolish sometimes, walking straight into traps meant for them. He refuses to let himself think of his own role in bringing Padme and Ahsoka here. The guilt won't do him any good.

He doesn't have to wait long for Dooku to arrive. The Count breezes into the room with the ever-present air of elegance surrounding him more than any cloak ever could. "Skywalker," he greets him, sitting down at his desk. "You have done well."

Anakin gives him a half-smile. "Thank you, Count."

"I have just returned from speaking to Senator Amidala and the Padawan," Dooku tells him. "Officially, they are to be executed, but Sidious has orders for what he wishes to occur. Before the execution takes place, you are to interrupt and publicly denounce the Separatists, swearing your eternal allegiance to the Republic as a dark sider."

Anakin raises an eyebrow. "And? I sense there is more to this plan."

"Of course," Dooku replies. "You must get Senator Amidala to safety first, and then, I want you to capture Obi-Wan Kenobi and bring him to Sereno. He is my grand-Padawan, and I wish for him to join us. You know this."

Anakin nods readily. He and Dooku had discussed on occasion who their most useful allies could be. Obi-Wan has always topped the list. He thinks about Ahsoka, and her fate if her master is kidnapped by the Sith. He cares about her, probably too much. "I –" he ventures hesitantly, continuing only when he senses that Dooku is paying attention. "I think that Ahsoka could be useful to us. I sense in her much anger and resentment. We can use that."

"And you wish to train her, I presume," the Count says flatly.

Swallowing, Anakin nods. He knows Dooku will never punish him, but that doesn't make him any less willing to open up to him. Sidious beat that tendency out of him before he could even fight properly with a lightsaber. "I would, yes," he admits. "I know Sidious will not think me ready, but I do want to train her."

"Sidious will not be happy if you capture her without his consent," Dooku reminds him. "He will see it as an act of defiance, but I give you my full support. I will tell him it was my idea."

A wave of relief rushes through him. "Thank you, Count."

"Anytime, Anakin," Dooku murmurs, giving him a gentle smile. "Now, you must prepare for the upcoming battle. I have no doubt that the Council will be sending Jedi to stage a rescue."

Anakin hums in acknowledgement, pulling out his commlink and calling Asajj Ventress, Dooku's newest apprentice. "Lord Vader, how may I help you?" she queries, giving him a mock bow.

"I need you to come to Geonosis immediately," Anakin instructs. "You will have to escort Senator Amidala back to Naboo once I free her. Land on the platform outside the factory, and I will take your ship to Sereno."

"I'm on my way," she answers, cutting the connection.

**w**

Anakin stands crouched in the first balcony overlooking the execution arena, waiting for the moment the prisoners will be brought out. Obi-Wan is first, looking more exasperated than worried. The second cart holds Padme and Ahsoka. He sees the Togruta whispering something, maybe words of encouragement, or more likely, knowing them, a plan of escape which will be for naught if he doesn't intervene.

He swallows, throat dry. All around him, he can feel the Force signatures of numerous Jedi, all of whom will witness his declaration. He has no idea if they'll even let him escape alive. All he can do it hope. The Jedi exchange comments as Ahsoka is chained to a pillar between Obi-Wan and Padme. In just a few seconds, he'll be putting on the show, but for now, he must wait.

"Settle down. Settle down," calls the Geonosian leader. Anakin can't remember his name. The creature pauses for a moment, eyes scanning the crowds. "Let the executions begin!" he declares, and the crowds begin cheering and screaming.

Gathering the Force around him, Anakin jumps as far as he can into the arena, landing on his feet with practiced skill as he backs towards the poles. He looks up to where Dooku is standing. "You say you are fighting for justice, but this is not justice!" yells Anakin, drawing on the Force to let his voice carry. He can feel the surprise of the assembled. No one had expected this to happen. "It is a brutal murder. If someone is worthy of death, grant them mercy. You are no better than the Republic you claim to fight against. I may be a dark sider, but I'm not a traitor like you, Count Dooku. I am loyal to the Republic."

He can feel Dooku send a nudge of approval as he slips a hand into his clothing, red lightsaber hissing to life just as the three beasts are released into the arena. He spares them only a glance, dashing straight towards Padme and cutting through her chains. She looks at him, expression a mixture of shock and approval. Maybe later when she has time to process his words, she'll realize that he's been lying to her about his training, but now isn't the time to worry.

Spinning, he tosses his lightsaber towards Obi-Wan, letting it cut through his chains before pulling it back to his hand as he sprints to Ahsoka, severing her bonds. Now, he can clearly sense feelings of surprise and betrayal from both Jedi. He roughly shoves the ensuing guilt down, pulling out their lightsabers. "You'll need these," he says brusquely, turning to see the acklay stamping towards him.

He scoffs, enjoying the thrill of being able to draw on the Dark Side without fear. He revels in the rush of power, knowing his eyes have turned yellow. Extending his left hand, Anakin lets lightning blast towards the beast, sending it tumbling to ground, screeching. Off to the side, Padme dodges an attack from the nexu before Ahsoka jumps in front of her, lightsaber slicing its head right off.

Anakin can hear the roars of outrage from the crowd. They hadn't wanted this, and it's not entertaining in the least for them. He turns to face the reek, stabbing it with his lightsaber several times before it crumples to the ground, dead. Obi-Wan has killed the acklay by the time he turns around. No one even has a chance to speak before a group of droidekas rolls in, taking up positions all around the group.

Padme steps closer to Anakin as he begins dropping the shields around his power. He knows the real fight is yet to come, and he'll need almost everything he has. At that very moment, a purple lightsaber hisses to life in the box near Dooku. Anakin spots Windu, but he can't hear the conversation, so he turns to check on Padme. He notices that Ahsoka is carefully keeping her distance, trying to keep Obi-Wan between them, and hard though he tries, it still hurts.

"I'm alright, Ani," whispers Padme, squeezing his left hand. "Where did you learn all that?"

He turns, extinguishing his lightsaber before resting his forehead on hers. "It is far too complicated for me to explain," he answers quietly, knowing she sees the flash of pain on his face. "I can tell you when we escape."

She looks back at him, fearlessly and trustingly, and he feels an ache deep inside himself. He doesn't deserve her. "I love you, Angel," he breathes, kissing her forehead before he senses a change in the atmosphere around them, igniting his lightsaber as he whirls around. Throughout the area, blue and green blades are appearing as the Jedi force prepares to attack. At the same moment, hundreds of battle droids begin marching through every entrance into the arena. The first battle of Geonosis has begun.

All around, the battle droids open fire, and some Geonosians join the fray, attacking the Jedi and being killed. Anakin doesn't even think. He just reacts, spinning his lightsaber with brutal precision, throwing droids backwards as he clears a path in front of him. "Padme, follow me," he commands, eyes glowing yellow. She does so without question. He knows the Jedi can feel the Dark Side clinging to him, but he doesn't care. They brought this on themselves.

With the skill of a seasoned warrior, Anakin cuts a path to one of the entrances on the side, covering Padme as she follows behind. "I don't think this is going to work," she pants, back pressed against the wall, as she fires a blaster which she grabbed from a fallen battle droid.

Anakin shoots her a cocky grin. "Have a little faith," he teases, stepping around the corner, throwing a massive Force wave through the entrance, pushing over the lines of approaching droids. He uses his left palm to deflect a stray bolt back at the droid, sending it topping to the ground while deflecting another with his lightsaber.

"Follow me!" he calls, dashing forwards and cutting through whichever droids remain standing. It only takes a minutes before they manage to duck into a small corridor and press back against the wall. The passing droids don't seem to notice them.

"This way," Anakin whispers, edging along the hall further into the dark. He doesn't know the layout of the factory very well, but he can use the Force to feel his way through. Besides, he's using Asajj's Force signature as a guide. Anything that brings them closer to her – and, by default, Padme's ship – will help them escape.

It doesn't take long before they enter the catacombs again. Anakin closes his eyes, letting the Force flow through him so strongly, he can practically see every living creature around him. He can feel the humming of the small lifeforms living in this area, and the brilliance of the Jedi fighting back in the arena. He reaches towards Asajj, mentally scouting out the fastest path to reach her. They probably should have chosen a better landing platform. Crawling through the catacombs and trying not to get lost is not his idea of fun.

"I hope you know where you're taking us," mutters Padme when he finally opens his eyes and strides down another dark pathway.

"Of course, Angel," he answers smoothly. "I have little desire to get us both killed down here."

She follows him quietly for a few moments, but knowing her, she has something on her mind, a fact augmented by the glances she keeps giving him. "You never told me you were trained," she finally says, an accusing note in her voice.

"It wasn't safe," he replies, knowing how much that sounds like an excuse, even to his own ears. "The Jedi don't look kindly on dark siders."

"I wouldn't have told them," she huffs, obviously upset by the insinuation.

He slips his fingers into hers, squeezing gently. "I know," he murmurs. "I don't –" he shakes his head. "It's not that simple. There's a lot you don't know, things I can't very well tell you."

"But why?" she asks, confusion in her dark brown eyes as she looks at him again. "We're engaged, Ani. We shouldn't be keeping secrets."

He stiffens, jaw clenching, but doesn't slow his pace. "It isn't something I can explain," he repeats. "Not now. Maybe someday, but not now."

He knows she won't accept his answer. She'll keep nagging him – at least she will if they ever see each other again. He pushes the thought back, knowing that he can't dwell on it now. Sidious wants him to capture Obi-Wan, and he cannot afford to fail. Thankfully, Padme doesn't keep pushing, and they quickly arrive at her ship. Asajj is leaning against it, looking bored.

"Skywalker," she greets him pushing herself off the ship, staring at him with cold, blue eyes. "I was wondering when you would get here."

"Ventress," he returns coolly, nodding at her in acknowledgement before looking at Padme. "Angel, this is Asajj Ventress. She is a friend of mine, who can safely return you to Naboo. I will not be going with you."

"Where are you going then?" Padme demands sharply.

"To the arena," he answers simply. "There is battle going on, and I cannot leave them to fight alone." He doesn't tell her that he doesn't want to go back. He wants to get as far from the planet as possible, but he can't. He has a mission. He tries to tell himself that when he remembers Ahsoka. She just became a Padawan, and there's no way she'll be able to fight as well as the others. She could be hurt or even killed. He won't let himself admit how much the thought horrifies him.

"Asajj, fire up the engines," he orders, ignoring the knowing look in Padme's eyes. "Fly low over the arena and drop me off."

She nods, disappearing into the ship without having to be asked twice. After making sure Padme is secure, he moves to stand at the top of the ramp, mechanical hand gripping the frame to maintain his balance. Padme doesn't argue, probably knowing it will be pointless once he's made up his mind. In only a few minutes, the arena comes into view. Asajj flies low, and he leaps off the ramp hearing it close behind him.

Chapter Text

For a few seconds, Anakin feels nearly weightless as he plummets towards the ground. At the last second, he gathers the Force, catching himself and landing effortlessly on his feet. The effects of battle are visible all around him as his lightsaber ignites in his hand, red blade strikingly out of place among the Jedi's blues and greens. His head swivels around as he tries, in vain, to locate either Obi-Wan or Ahsoka. He can still feel them in the Force, so he knows they're alive.

A blur of violet catches his eye, and he turns to see Windu severing Jango's hand as the bounty hunter shoots at him. Anakin's heart drops when he realizes that Jango's jetpack isn't functioning properly. Windu doesn't even hesitate as Jango takes a step back and swings towards his head. Anakin can see it playing out in slow motion, and he knows he has to stop it. For Boba. No child should have to lose a parent. "No!" yells Anakin, throwing the Force at Windu a millisecond too late.

Jango's head and body fall to the ground separately, and all Anakin can feel is a burning rage. He lunges, leaping through the air, lightsaber swinging towards Windu, who had quickly recovered from the unexpected attack. Their blades lock, Anakin's eyes glowing yellow as he glares viciously at the Jedi. That's what the Jedi always do, it seems. Separate children from their parents with no regard for who they're hurting. "You're a monster," he snarls. "You killed an unarmed man. You are no Jedi."

With those words, he launches a furious attack, realizing less than a minute later that Windu's style is best suited for fighting against dark siders, but this is one fight Anakin has no desire to lose, so he'll do what he's always done best: improvise. Their blades move so fast, Anakin can't even keep track of who is striking where, as he draws on the Dark Side like he never has before. He knows he either needs to back out or find a weakness. Neither options seem very likely, until Windu catches him in a saber lock.

Anakin gives him a cruel smile, tightening his right hand enough that the mechanics squeal in protest before clenching his left fist. Windu staggers back, hands going to his neck as he chokes. Anakin swings for a killing blow when a green lightsaber blocks his. He turns to face a Mirialan Jedi. "You would defend a monster?" he spits with disgust, leaping backwards and throwing Windu at her. Clearly, this is one fight he can't win.

Her reply – whatever it was – is lost in the chaos of battle surrounding him. He knows that Windu and this new Jedi will likely pursue, which means he needs another way to escape. If all the Jedi turn against him, he won't stand a chance. He ducks under a line of blaster fire, rolling to a crouch, eyes darting around. Seconds later, he leaps over a line of droids, moving ever closer to Ahsoka – and the exit.

"Stop him!" he hears Windu order. He throws aside the first Jedi who turns towards him in a threatening manner, skidding to a halt next to Ahsoka.

Using the Force to paralyze her is easy – it prevents her from resisting and adding to his troubles. Sidious will punish him grievously for this. He wraps an arm around her waist, pulling away her lightsabers and clipping them to his belt as he puts his own blade in front of her neck. The Mirialan stops about fifty feet away, watching him warily. "Attack me, and I'll kill her," he growls, voice low and menacing.

He acutely feels Ahsoka's shock and betrayal which quickly lead to anger. "Let me go!" she yells, trying to break his Force hold and failing. When he senses Obi-Wan approaching, drawn by the noise and Ahsoka's panic, a plan forms in the back of his mind. It's risky, and it might not work, but it also might, and with the current situation, he has to at least try. Glancing around, he sees that the Jedi are massively outnumbered. If too many of them choose to focus on him, they'll all die.

Ignoring Ahsoka's screams, he begins backing up, dragging her with him. He doesn't have to go far to reach the exit, and it will be easy from there. The droids are programmed to recognize him, and if he gives them the appropriate order, they'll let him pass unhindered. He has one chance, and he's not going to lose it. He drags her to the entrance before giving the incoming droids the order, hoping that no Jedi is close enough to hear him using Dooku's name.

"Yes, sir," they echo, marching past and around him.

He reaches out, sensing that Obi-Wan and maybe a few other Jedi are pursuing him. The droids will slow them down. He takes off, making a run for the landing bay with Ahsoka still being restrained through the Force. As he gets closer, he reaches for her mind, pressing against her shields and willing the command sleep through them. She resists as best she can, but he's been trained to do this, and he doesn't have a choice. He can't deal with half a dozen Jedi and leave the planet all at once.

When the ship is in sight, she finally succumbs, though her mind continues struggling. Anakin feels a strong pang of guilt when he climbs the ramp, laying her on the floor of the hold before calling a pair of Force restraints and securing them around her wrists as he releases his attack on her shields. It won't take her long to awaken, but he has more pressing concerns now, namely that Obi-Wan is almost there with two more Jedi shortly behind him.

He steps out of the ship, leaping off the ramp to the floor as Obi-Wan slides to a halt right inside the hanger. "Where is Ahsoka?" he demands, something conflicted in his eyes as he takes in Anakin standing there with his drawn lightsaber.

"Safe," he answers in a clipped tone.

"Why? Why are you doing this?" Obi-Wan queries gently, stepping closer.

"Do you think I have a choice?" he demands, pushing back the pain threatening to consume him, and from the Jedi's expression, he thinks he might have caught it. He swallows, extending his left arm as he begins choking Obi-Wan. "I'm sorry," he murmurs as he uses the Force to drag the Jedi over to him.

Obi-Wan struggles in his grip, but he's unable to free himself. Anakin snatches Obi-Wan's lightsaber, clipping it to his belt beside Ahsoka's and deactivating his own. He releases the Jedi Knight inside the hold, and he immediately begins gasping for breath. Anakin snaps Force restraints on his wrists, leaving him beside Ahsoka and races to the cockpit to start the engines. Knowing the ship, it will take a couple minutes before he can take off. In the meantime, he'll have to fight off the pursuing Jedi.

With a grim resignation, he stalks to the top of the ramp and waits after leaving the other three lightsabers inside the ship. He knows that Ahsoka is awakening and probably will be fully conscious by the time they actually leave. Less than fifteen seconds later, two Mirialan Jedi race into the hanger. "Where is the Padawan?" demands the elder of the two, green lightsaber held before her defensively. The younger, raises her own blue blade, eyes narrowed at him.

He shrugs nonchalantly, deciding to bide his time as much as possible. "Somewhere," he answers vaguely. "She's perfectly safe from the likes of you." He gives them a sharp smile, drawing his lightsaber, though he doesn't ignite it. "So, are you willing to let me leave peacefully, when I have done you no harm?"

"You have two kidnapped Jedi on your ship," snaps the older. "Release them."

He gives her an unimpressed look. "They are just where they want to be," he assures her, as his old hatred for the Jedi surges to life. If they want a fight, by the Force, he will give them one, and they will never live to tell the tale. He can feel the bloodlust humming through him, Dark Side hovering around him like a cloud.

Neither Jedi responds. Instead, they charge towards him. Anakin ignites his lightsaber, a scream of fury escaping as he clashes against the green blade. The Jedi killed Jango. They left Boba without a father. Both are injustices which must be corrected. He sends an unexpected blast of lighting toward the Mirialan Padawan, sending her tumbling to the floor. He Force slams her hard into the wall, knocking her out cold, while he focuses his attack on her master.

"Barriss!" exclaims the elder, sending a worried look towards the fallen Padawan.

"I think it is yourself you need to be concerned with," snarls Anakin, kicking her off balance, before leaping aside to avoid her next attack.

She strikes towards him, seeking a weakness when there are none. Anakin moves like he was born with his lightsaber, fighting like it's a part of him. He ducks under her swing, his lightsaber grazing her arm before she swings around to block him again. He's been fighting relentlessly for a while, but his master forced him to train in endurance. He can do this for a couple hours without tiring too rapidly.

He's fought and killed Jedi in the past. She won't be much harder. He attacks her relentlessly, pushing her back towards the wall of the hanger and caging her in. She's tiring far quicker than he is; she's probably been battling droids for a while, after all. He can feel her exhaustion in the Force and decides to end the fight before anyone else can arrive. He thinks he can sense more approaching Force signatures, and it worries him. He'll never overestimate his own abilities after what happened that one time…

Anakin unleashes a burst of Force lightning at her. The Mirialan holds up her lightsaber to block it, ducking when he throws his own saber at her. Predictably, she's shocked, and he revels in her pain, calling his own saber back and leaping towards her. He feints to her right, and she spins her blade to block him. He suddenly changes direction, stabbing her through the side. She gasps, lightsaber falling from her fingers. He stabs her chest, blade piercing through her heart. She's dead before he pulls it out.

The Force gives him a warning, and he senses more Jedi approaching. He spares the Padawan a glance, but knows he'll never reach her in time. Whirling, he breaks for the shuttle, racing up the ramp and using the Force to push the button to close it. Sliding into the pilot's seat, he fires up the engines, exiting the hanger just as more Jedi arrive. He doesn't give them a chance to pursue, pushing the ship to its maximum speed and zooming away into the atmosphere of Geonosis.

When he enters space, Anakin notices the intense space battle going on, but doesn't stick around long enough to be noticed. He pulls the lever, making the jump to hyperspace. It's not until the stars are streaking past, that Anakin allows himself to relax. He's exhausted from the fight, and angry as he was, killing Jedi never gets any easier. He doubts it ever will. Heaving a sigh, he forces himself to get up to go check on his – on Obi-Wan and Ahsoka.

**w**

"Do you know Anakin's master?" questions Padme as the silence stretches on. She's admittedly curious, and if Anakin won't tell her, maybe Asajj will.

She's already gathered that her companion isn't the talkative type, but she might answer a few questions. She doesn't know why Anakin would have kept the secret, but she assumes he had his reasons. She can't forget the look on his face when she'd asked: a mixture of raw fear and anxiety, emotions she'd never thought to see on Anakin. Something is wrong. That much is clear, and she's determined to discover what.

Asajj grunts, opening a blue eye to look at her. "Yes, I know who it is," she answers.

"Can you tell me?" Padme queries.

"He can tell you if he wants to," she replies evasively.

"I just want to help him," Padme murmurs.

Asajj heaves an irritated sigh. "Look, Senator," she all but snaps. "If you really care for Skywalker, you'll leave this alone. It's not something either of us can share."

Padme blinks at her in muted shock. She hadn't expected that kind of reaction. So, whatever the secret is, it's a dangerous one? What has Anakin gotten into? She lets the silence drag on before curiosity prompts her to begin a new line of questioning. "You're not Jedi, right?"

Asajj scoffs. "No, we are not Jedi." Padme might not be Force sensitive, but she can almost feel the loathing in the response.

"What are you then?"

"Some – well, I guess you could call us dark Jedi if you want," Asajj answers finally, a distinctly wary look in her eyes. "Names don't have a whole lot of meaning to us. We're just dark siders."

Somehow, Padme knows there's more to the story. There's something huge that she's missing; she just doesn't know what, but she's determined to find out. She thinks about Anakin, about his braveness, selflessness, and caring heart and wonders if she's been missing part of him. She knows he has darkness, that he's capable of doing harm, but she just doesn't think he would, at least not without an incredibly good reason. They love each other deeply, and even if things get hard, she'll hold onto that love. If nothing else, it will help them weather the storm together.

**w**

Dooku can sense the approaching Jedi long before they arrive. He moves swiftly, entering information into the control panel in the hanger. There's no use sticking around longer than necessary, after all. If the situation were different, perhaps he might feel something other than scorn and disgust towards them. The Jedi were supposed to help people, and while he'd become very disillusioned with them, he had never expected this.

They call themselves peacekeepers, but they've done nothing to prove it. They weren't keeping the peace when they rejected Anakin and handed him over to a Sith Lord to raise. The Council should have known better. Dooku never thought they could possibly be this ignorant and stupid. No one with that much Force sensitivity can remain untrained. It's dangerous, not only for them, but for those around them.

There is no emotion, there is peace. Hah. So much for that. Peace is a lie. There is no peace. There was no peace when Anakin lay dying in his arms. There was no peace when Anakin was forced to kill unarmed prisoners or face dire consequences. There was no peace when Anakin was ordered on missions to eliminate certain Jedi. The Jedi have failed both themselves and the galaxy, and Dooku can no longer find it in himself to believe they deserve saving.

Dooku doesn't need to touch the boy's wrist to know that he doesn't have a pulse. "That was totally uncalled for," he spits at Sidious, resting his left hand on Anakin's chest and sending a burst of Force lightning into him. "You should leave."

"You try to command me, Lord Tyrannus?" Sidious asks mildly, seemingly unconcerned that he may have just killed his other apprentice.

"I am giving you a suggestion which you should heed," Dooku snaps, sending another current to the boy's heart. Force. How can Sidious be so cold-hearted? Is that a requirement in order for him to be a Sith? Sidious watches a moment longer before stalking out of the room. "Come on, Anakin," murmurs the Count, sending a healing wave of the Force through him. His patience is rewarded when he feels life flickering back into the body.

For a long time, Dooku had continued to consider the Jedi his friends, but that day, as he tried to bring the fourteen-year-old back to life, any feelings of kinship died. No child should have had to face pain like that. The memories trouble him to the point of sleeplessness at times. He'll never forget how Anakin asked him why he'd done it, acting as though it would have been better if Dooku had let him die.

"You're going to pay for all the Jedi you killed today, Dooku!" a female voice rings out behind him. He turns, unconcerned, anger boiling within him as he takes in the human Jedi. Her blonde hair glimmers with gold in the sunlight, her blue eyes glaring daggers into him. He knows her – if only in passing. Siri Tachi. And the other Jedi, Master Adi Gallia, is a Council member and Siri's former master. He's heard their reputations of being excellent duelists. He won't take any unnecessary risks, but he doubts they'll be able to defeat him.

Moving in sync, they approach him, lightsabers ignites. Tachi's is purple, while Gallia's is blue. The Tholothian looks him up and down as though sizing him up. Dooku casually extends a hand, sending Tachi slamming backwards into the wall. Before she even has a chance to rise, he starts electrocuting her. He has an aversion to Force lightning now, but he can still admit its usefulness in combat. He must use whatever techniques he has to escape as fast as possible.

"Siri!" Gallia cries, as her former Padawan is slammed into the wall again even harder, dropping limp to the floor. She should be unconscious for a while. Dooku ignites his red lightsaber, parrying Gallia's first strike as she comes at him with furious determination. She's upset over the death of so many Jedi, but Dooku's anger is far more powerful. The Jedi had abandoned the child who needed them, and that is not something he can easily forgive.

He holds fast to the old combat style he had learned, realizing how much of an advantage it gives him against another lightsaber-wielder. Gallia slashes at him, sapphire blade moving at a dizzying speed. Dooku keeps up with ease, hardly moving as she tries to overwhelm his defenses. His lightsaber is always where it needs to be, preventing her from even coming close enough to score a hit.

As the duel progresses, Dooku begins to push her on the defensive, using his skill to push her backwards. "Master Gallia, you disappoint me," he taunts. "I heard you were such a good duelist." Growling, she throws herself forwards, forcing him to take a step back to avoid losing a limb. He spins his lightsaber, keeping her at bay, while he works to find the best way of incapacitating her, especially since he senses Yoda's Force signature not far away.

Drawing on his skills at lightsaber combat, Dooku presses forward, launching a devastating attack which pushes the Jedi Master backwards. They're evenly matched, and Dooku can freely admit that she has skill, though he's not concerned about losing to her. This is war. He doesn't have to play fair. Gallia strikes towards his side, but he's already there blocking her and catching her blade in a saberlock.

Clenching his left fist, he wraps tendrils of the Dark Side around her neck and starts choking her, stepping back in satisfaction as both her hands fly to her neck. She struggles against him, but he doesn't give her a chance to fight, slamming her backwards into a wall. Her unconscious form crumples to the ground. "And so it ends," Dooku declares, whirling towards his shuttle just as the hanger door opens again. Reaching out with the Force, he fires up the engine, preparing to make an escape as quickly as he can.

"Master Yoda," Dooku states coldly, emotionless eyes staring down at the Grandmaster.

"Count Dooku," Yoda replies, slowly walking in.

"You have interfered with our plans for the last time," Dooku warns, ripping a piece of machinery from the wall and throwing it towards the Jedi.

Yoda harmlessly pushes it away, letting it crash to the floor a distance away. He rips down part of the ceiling, but Yoda catches it moving it aside with ease. Of course. He had never expected to win that easily. It was merely a distraction – a way to prolong the encounter and give him a better chance of escaping. He hadn't expected to meet his old master as an adversary, but the part of him which had initially quailed at the thought died years ago.

Dooku follows it up by extending his right hand, sending a blast of Force lightning at Yoda, who catches it in his hand, deflecting it harmlessly to the walls around them. "Powerful you have become, Dooku," Yoda admits, ears twitching in a way which suggests he's unhappy. "The Dark Side I sense in you."

"I have become more powerful than any Jedi," Dooku retorts, "Even you, my old Master. You have failed the Jedi, and for that failure, you will fall." He can't help the emotion which leaks into his words. The anger of seeing Anakin tortured and treated as a slave year after year finally come to the surface in an eruption of pure rage.

He sends another blast of lightning, fueling it with his anger. Yoda still deflects it, sending it flying around the room. He knows Anakin could easily do the same thing if he tried. The boy has so much potential. "Much to learn you still have," Yoda chides.

"I was not trying to fight you, Yoda," spits Dooku. "My duties call me elsewhere." He raises his hands, crushing part of a crane and sending it crashing to the floor where it will crush the life out of Tachi and Gallia unless Yoda stops it. Just as he'd expected, the Grandmaster turns, extending his hands to catch the crane.

Dooku doesn't stay there to see what happens, racing up the ramp of his shuttle and sliding into the pilot's seat as he blasts out of the hanger. He has to reach Serenno as fast as possible so he can contact Sidious – he can send the Death Star plans to him a different time. His master will be less than happy with Anakin's behavior, so he needs to minimize the damage. Another time, he probably would have enjoyed a fight with Yoda, but some things matter more than petty revenge.

Chapter Text

Anakin steps into the hold to see Obi-Wan and Ahsoka sitting silently on the floor. Neither of them looks particularly happy to be there, which is to be expected. He can still sense feelings of betrayal from both of them. He swallows, throat dry. He has no idea what to say to them. When he was wearing a mask, it was easy, but now… everything has just become so much harder. He's afraid they'll reject him without even wondering why he did what he did. He's used to it, but that doesn't make it hurt any less.

"Are you alright?" he asks finally, mentally kicking himself the second the words leave his mouth. Of course, they're not alright.

"I've been better," Obi-Wan replies, looking up at him. Ahsoka's jaw clenches, but she doesn't move, clearly refusing to meet his gaze. The tension in the room is almost palpable.

Sighing, Anakin reaches out with the Force, scanning them for any injuries. Obi-Wan is more or less alright. When he gets to Ahsoka, he feels what he'd noticed before. During the battle, a blaster bolt skimmed across her upper right arm, burning it. He debates putting a bacta patch on it, before deciding to go ahead. After all, he really needs a distraction before they exit hyperspace above Tatooine. He has to contact his master before beginning the final jump to Serenno, and he's admittedly terrified.

He walks across the hold, shuffling through a cabinet before pulling out a first aid kit and removing a bacta patch. "You were injured," he says bluntly looking at Ahsoka. She shifts, finally glancing up at him, expression guarded. She doesn't speak, but he doesn't expect her to reply anyway. He hesitates for a moment before walking over and crouching down next to her.

This earns a reaction. "Don't touch me," she hisses, glaring at him and scooting over as best she can with her wrists cuffed.

"You're injured," he repeats slowly, "And I'm not going to let it go untreated."

"What if I don't want you to treat it?" she snaps, looking like she wants to cross her arms but can't.

He rolls his eyes. "Must you be so dramatic, Snips?"

"Don't call me that!" she yells, suddenly furious again. If she weren't cuffed, she probably would have hit him. As it is, she looks about one inch from doing it anyways. He clenches his jaw, reigning in his temper and refusing the urge to pull in the Dark Side. If his eyes turn yellow, that will only make this that much harder.

"Ahsoka, let him treat it," Obi-Wan tells her quietly.

"Why?" she demands.

"He's trying to help you," her master offers, frowning slightly.

"Why are we even debating this?" mutters Anakin, reaching out and grabbing onto her arm. She tries to jerk away but fails. He examines the wound, noting that it's not very deep, so a simple bacta patch will be enough. Picking it up, he quickly applies it over the wound before rising and moving away from them. "See? It wasn't that bad?"

Ahsoka scowls at him before glaring down at the floor once more. He pretends her expression doesn't send a stab of pain through his heart and silently curses his master. It's all his fault he met her as an enemy rather than a friend. If he'd been a Jedi – and since it's the Council's fault he's not, he curses them also – he might have become her master. How ironic is the twist of fate.

He goes to the 'fresher to clean himself up from the battle. He doesn't even want to, but it gives him something to do. If he doesn't do something until they exit hyperspace, he's going to go insane. He takes his time, and when he finally steps out, he notices that Obi-Wan and Ahsoka immediately fall silent. He pretends not to notice, instead heading towards the cockpit to check on the ship, where he remains, lost in thought.

For ten years, he has, for all intents and purposes, been a slave to the Sith, and he hates it. He loathes the life he's being forced to lead, playing a double role in front of Padme, rarely ever seeing his mother. He squeezes his eyes closed, resting his head against the control panel. Why? Why him of all the Force-sensitives out there in the galaxy? Is his power really so special? He knows he has enormous skill and potential, but he doesn't know why he has to be the one forced into slavery by the Sith, though it's not a fate he wishes on anybody.

He loathes the Jedi with every fiber of his being – well, maybe all of them except Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka. If they hadn't been so harsh, he wouldn't be in this situation. They have signed their own death warrant because he has little desire to help them. If his master will leave him alone, he'll be perfectly happy to watch them all be slaughtered. Well… that isn't strictly true. He wouldn't be pleased, but he wouldn't lose any sleep over it either.

Anakin lets out a shaky breath. He'll have to call his master after they exit hyperspace, and he's terrified, but then again, he always is. If he does even the slightest thing wrong, he'll be tortured, and he knows that there is much he could be at fault for this time. His master despises his ability to care deeply for people, and Anakin knows the only reason its allowed is because it makes controlling him easier. That's another thing he's powerless to change, and he wonders why he even has all this power inside of him if there's nothing he can do with it except destroy.

He's pulled from his musings when the alarm goes off, signaling their arrival. Sighing, he programs the hyperdrive again before rising reluctantly and heading to the hold. The holocommunicator he needs to use is there, which means the Jedi will see it all. It bothers him immensely, far more than it should perhaps, but he doesn't want them to pity him when they discover the truth.

When he enters the hold, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka look up at him. "Sit on that bench," he tells them, motioning to a bench on the side, "And don't talk."

"Why? What's happening?" asks Obi-Wan as he stands up, moving to sit down on the bench, Ahsoka following him silently.

"I am contacting my master," he answers brusquely, turning towards the holocommunicator he uses and making the call. He lowers himself onto one knee submissively and bows his head, while he waits. If he's careful, maybe he won't be punished too harshly.

"Lord Vader," Sidious' dark voice rasps through the room as the connection is established. His hooded figure appears, glaring down on Anakin. "It is good to hear from you. I have received a full report of the Battle of Geonosis, and I must say, I am disappointed."

Anakin swallows hard, the calmness of the Sith's words unnerving him. "Apologies, Master," he replies obediently.

"I am very disappointed with you, my apprentice," hisses the Sith Lord. "The Sith do not tolerate failure." He spits out the last word like it's a curse.

"Yes, Master. I know," mumbles Anakin, wincing.

"What possessed you to attack the Jedi?" demands Sidious. "You know it is not yet time for us to reveal our hand." Anakin knows that if he cannot give a good enough reason – which is highly unlikely – the punishment will be swift and brutal.

"The man I attacked is not a true Jedi," Anakin ventures cautiously, careful to keep his tone placating to avoid sounding defensive. "He killed an unarmed man who has a young son."

"Your attachment to those bounty hunters is pathetic, Lord Vader," snarls Sidious. Anakin can feel him probing his mental shields which he'd reinforced before the call began, his master's rage mounting by the moment. And really, what can he say to that?

"Yes, Master," he finally says, hoping it's the right response. He can only tell sometimes, and right now, his fear is clouding his ability to make decisions.

There is a moment of silence, and Anakin's heartrate spikes. He can almost feel the gears turning in Sidious' mind. "Did you capture the Jedi as I instructed?"

"Yes, Master," he answers.

"And who told you to capture the Padawan?" queries Sidious, his voice deadly calm. Shivers run down Anakin's spine. He prefers when his master shows his anger. Whenever he acts calm when he should be angry, the punishment is always worse. So much worse. He begins bracing himself for what he knows will be coming and hopes it will end quickly.

"Lord Tyrannus did, Master," he replies, keeping his gaze fixed on the floor.

"I don't want her," Sidious decides with finality. "Kill her and perhaps I will forgive your mistakes." Anakin freezes, blood running cold. The very thought of killing Ahsoka makes him nauseous. He can't do it, but he can't pretend to do it either. His master will know the truth. He always knows the truth.

"I am waiting," hisses Sidious, glowering at him. "Don't tell me you are willing to face punishment to protect that pathetic little child."

"I – Master, she can be useful," he protests. "I can sense –"

"I didn't ask for excuses!" his master roars. "Very well. You have made your choice." The temperature in the room seems to plummet as the Dark Side coils around Anakin after Sidious raises his hand.

Anakin flinches, inching back. "Master –" He never gets the chance to finish his plea as lightning engulfs his body, sending him writhing to the floor. He clenches his jaw, refusing to give Sidious the pleasure of making him scream. That has already happened far too many times for his liking. It lets up seconds later, and he shakily pulls himself up, refusing to look at Obi-Wan or Ahsoka and see the horror on their faces that he can feel in the Force.

"I think you are forgetting that Sith do not protect, my apprentice," Sidious muses. "They destroy. Attachments are weaknesses we cannot afford. Yours were useful to me, but now, they are becoming a nuisance. Who is to go first? Your mother or the Senator?"

For a moment, Anakin forgets how to move. "Master, please," he begs shamelessly. "Don't hurt them. I will – I will do anything you want, but please spare them all." He hates that his voice is shaking at the end, but it's not something he can control. Not with everything at stake.

"So quick to sacrifice yourself for others," snarls Sidious lowly. "I think it is high time you learn what it means to be a Sith Lord. You have passed the trials and earned the title, but you are still lacking." He pauses and seems to be studying Anakin. "It may not be now, but the time will come when you will learn."

He raises his hand again, and Anakin barely has time to brace himself before he's thrown backwards across the hold from the force of the lightning ripping through his body. A quiet gasp escapes him, and he clenches his jaw, willing himself not to cry out as he's ravaged by the electricity. Even time has not made this form of agony easier to bear as every nerve in his body is electrified. It doesn't last long, but the expression on his master's face promises it will come again, and then, it will be worse.

He can't bring himself to move, the pain and aftershocks still clinging to him. His breathing is ragged, and his limbs are shaking too much to support him. Sidious doesn't care. Of course, he doesn't care. "Get up," snaps the Sith Lord coldly. "On your knees. Kneel before your master."

He knows that tone. The last time he'd disobeyed – it had been years ago – his mother has been tortured. Gritting his teeth, he draws in the Dark Side, eyes bleeding yellow as his rage mounts, using the boost of power to drag himself to his knees before the hologram. "Your hatred makes you strong, Lord Vader," Sidious cackles, pausing for a moment. "Your hatred, anger, and fear," he adds, ignoring Anakin's pain and the murderous look in his eyes.

Anakin growls quietly, but simply dips his head in a nod. He's not so stupid as to say something reckless and worsen the situation. Years of being beaten into submission have taught him well. He's entertained the thought of trying to kill Sidious, but he knows better than to take the risk without others to back him. Alone, he will die, and so will everyone he cares for.

The hatred pulsing through him is overpowering. He hates everyone around him except his mother and Padme. Sidious for making him a slave. Tyrannus for training him to be a killer. Himself for killing. The Jedi for leaving him in the grasp of Sidious. The Hutts for buying him and bringing him to Tatooine to be discovered by Qui-Gon. Everyone but his mother and Padme. They're the only source of light in his dark life.

A sliver of light enters his heart when he thinks about them. Maybe he'll be able to escape Sidious' grasp somewhere, so he can marry Padme freely and move somewhere safe with her and his mother. And maybe… just maybe Dooku, Asajj, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka will be with him. He pushes back the thought as soon as it enters his mind lest Sidious sense it, but it gives him a measure of calm. He cannot undo what he has already done, and the blood will always stain his hands, but perhaps, he can build himself a better future.

"You will not fail me again, Lord Vader," whispers Sidious, his voice dark and deadly. "I have such confidence in your abilities." You will not let me down. Those words don't need to be said. They're implied well enough. Anakin flinches back, body going rigid, though his doesn't let himself react to the taunt.

"I – I understand, Master," he finally grits out, knowing Sidious is expecting a verbal acknowledgement. The Sith simply chuckles, raising his hand again, and Anakin braces himself. He knows this will be the harshest punishment he's received in a while. The Force sings of danger as the Dark Side tightens around his neck, an unexpected punishment. It doesn't entirely cut off his breathing, but the chokehold is tight enough to make it much harder.

A surge of lightning engulfs his body, this time fueled by Sidious' anger. Anakin collapses to the ground, writhing from the agony. A muffled scream escapes him – possibly more, he's not even sure – before Sidious ends the attack and disconnects the call.

Anakin rolls onto his back, staring up at the ceiling, his eyes blue again. His heart is pounding so hard, he's mildly surprised it didn't stop altogether. That happened once or twice before, but he shies away from the memory. He pants for breath, air seemingly unable to enter his lungs properly. After a few moments, he starts uttering all the Huttese curses that he knows, cursing his horrible predicament and Sidious for torturing him in this manner.

Finally, he drags himself to his feet, shaking with barely contained rage. He stalks into the next room, slamming the door behind him after using the Force to flip the lever on the control panel in the cockpit to make the jump to hyperspace. The walls are resistant to the Force, a modification which had been made after Anakin nearly killed everyone on the ship by losing his temper after Sidious punished him for something several years ago. He staggers to the middle of the room, legs buckling from under him. He can't even walk straight right now, and it infuriates him.

He lets out a scream of pure rage, letting the Dark Side lash out crushing the pile of destroyed training droids in the corner. The feeling of destroying something is incredibly satisfying. It only takes a few minutes to let the anger out of him, leaving behind a feeling of hopelessness. Is this, then, to be his fate? The Sith'ari and Chosen One, fighting at the whims of a deranged Sith Lord?

He reaches for his lightsaber with his right hand, scowling when it refuses to cooperate. Just another thing he'll have to fix afterwards. Clearly the lightning was extreme for it to destroy the shielding he'd used on his mechanical hand. Sighing, Anakin unclips his lightsaber with his left hand igniting the red blade. He stares at it, wondering how it might feel if he stabbed himself with it. Would it hurt worse than being electrocuted? He doesn't know, but a dark part of him wouldn't mind finding out.

He nudges up the sleeve on his right arm until he sees the place flesh meets metal. He slowly lowers the blade, holding it right above his skin of his forearm and feeling the heat. He won't kill himself. He can't do it, not when he has his mother and Padme to think about. He's the only one standing between them and certain death. He lowers the blade a fraction more, jerking it away and dropping it on the floor when it singes his skin.

Tears flood his eyes, and he lets them fall, burying his face in his hands. He wants out of this life. He has for years, but there's no way. There's no hope for him to escape, so here he remains, trapped as a slave. And maybe his mother is right that things will change someday, but that day is far off, and he may never be alive to see it.

He stays there until his emotions are under control before he stands up, still somewhat shaky, and turns towards the door, calling his lightsaber to his hand and clipping it in place as he opens the door. He probably looks like a mess, but he can't find it in himself to care. First, he needs to fix his hand, something which could take a lot of work. Sighing, he runs his left hand through his hair, heading to where he keeps tools and spare parts. The Force knows his fixed his hand more times than he cares to count.

He can feel Obi-Wan and Ahsoka's eyes boring into him, but he's not interested in talking. It's the last thing on his mind right now. If they want to talk, they'll have to start a conversation while he tries to ignore them. Pulling out a toolkit, he crouches down on the floor and pulls off his glove, revealing the mechanics beneath. A cursory examination reveals that the wires' transmitting signals were shorted out. Typical.

He's tried to rectify that particular occurrence for years with little success. Now, he'll have to completely take apart his hand to remove and replace the wiring which is incredibly frustrating. It's always easier with help, and he has to do it now, because he can't land the shuttle with only one hand. Grumbling under his breath, he picks up a tool and pulls off the metal shielding, revealing the wires beneath.

Inside, the damage looks far worse, and he wonders if he'll actually need to replace all the wires. He doubts he has a spare arm laying around on this particular ship, so he'll have to make do – something which will be hard. Maybe he can simply patch it together to get the signal working until they reach Serenno when he can find a better solution. He might be a master mechanic, but nothing he's tried has prevented his arm from being destroyed by Sidious.

"Who is he?" Obi-Wan's voice breaks through his thoughts, and his head snaps towards the Jedi.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" he mutters sarcastically.

"I thought you might want to talk about it," Obi-Wan replies after a moment's hesitation.

"That's the problem with you Jedi," he scoffs, turning his attention back to stripping the wires from his arm. He senses more than sees Ahsoka bristle at his tone, but he doesn't really care. "You turn people's lives upside down with no regard for who you're hurting."

"I don't understand," Obi-Wan answers, and he really doesn't. His tone betrays his confusion.

"You gave me to the Sith," he explains, "And then you act like you care."

"Of course, I care!" Obi-Wan retorts, narrowing his eyes. "Why wouldn't I? Nothing that happened to you is my doing. I did everything I could, but the Council didn't listen to me."

"Point," Anakin waves it off. "You're still part of the Jedi, and even you didn't understand the implications of what you'd done."

"I didn't do anything," Obi-Wan defends himself.

Anakin gives him a cold smile, knowing that he's being unnecessarily cruel, but he can't help it right now. "Don't you see?" he queries, tone eerily calm. "You didn't know what you'd done, but you're a Jedi too. You should have been able to see past the veil of the Dark Side, but you couldn't. And that failing is why I've been languishing in Sidious' hands for a decade."

When Obi-Wan blanches, Anakin knows he finally understands. "Oh, Force," whispers the Jedi. "It's Palpatine. The Chancellor is a Sith Lord."

"Only now do you understand," Anakin murmurs, glancing at Obi-Wan's horror filled expression before refocusing on his hand. "What you have done to the galaxy." His words hang in the air for a long time.

Chapter Text

It's not until Anakin has successfully used the Force to attach new wires inside his hand that Obi-Wan speaks again. "I'm sorry I never saw anything sooner," he says quietly, while Ahsoka continues to maintain her unspoken vow of silence. "I should have sensed something was amiss. I asked him several times if I could train you without the Council's permission, and he refused. He insisted that you were doing well and to give you Jedi training would prevent you from settling into your new life."

Anakin snorts. "Well, it was the truth – from a certain point of view," he allows, remembering Dooku's old saying. "If you had trained me, I would have been incapable of becoming Darth Vader." He gives him a sardonic smile. "That would have been an untold tragedy I am sure."

A surprised laugh escapes Obi-Wan. "That is very true," he agrees before becoming serious. "I should have done something. I should have realized that Palpatine wasn't acting normal."

Anakin rolls his eyes. Seriously? Why is Obi-Wan blaming himself for this? He hopes this isn't normal Jedi behavior, because guilt, like any negative emotion, draws people to the Dark Side. "There really was nothing you could have done," he reassures the Jedi. "Sidious never would have allowed anyone to interfere with his plans, and if you had become suspicious, I have no doubt that I would have been ordered to eliminate you."

He sees Ahsoka wince, and she glances up, her blue eyes meeting his before they skirt away, back down to the floor. He tries not to let it bother him that she's not saying anything, but he realizes that there's much for her to take in. It's probably not easy for her to accept everything that has just transpired. She was probably hurt worse than Obi-Wan since they had become friendly. Why does he always have to hurt the people he cares for?

Obi-Wan nods in silent resignation, gaze focusing on Anakin's arm. He's just finishing reattaching the plating, and it seems to be fully operational, at least for now. When they reach Serenno, it probably wouldn't hurt to have it looked it or replaced altogether, but it's no longer necessary. "Your arm. How did you lose it?" asks the Jedi Knight.

Anakin debates whether or not he should tell him. Somehow, talking to Obi-Wan, even if its about something unrelated to what happened to him earlier, has a calming effect. He no longer feels nearly as eager to murder someone. He shrugs slightly. Why does it matter if they know? They already have accepted that he's killed Jedi. "It happened during my first mission," he tells them slowly. "I was fourteen."

He draws on the Force, keeping his emotions locked behind a durasteel wall in his mind, voice emotionless as he continues. "Sidious sent me to eliminate two Jedi, a Knight and Padawan, who were interfering with our plans." He pauses, pushing a stray tool back in the box and individually bending each of his fingers to ensure they're functioning properly. They are. "The Padawan was surprisingly easy to eliminate," he comments mildly, reaching for the leather glove.

"The Knight was much harder, especially after the Padawan was dead," he continues, pulling the glove snugly over his arm. "I lost my hand to him in the ensuing lightsaber battle." He feels much better telling them the story. It's been years – true – but there are still times when the incident haunts him. The Padawan had only been a child, hardly older than him at the time, and killing him had felt so wrong. He could sense the Force scream in protest as his life drained away. He shudders inwardly, pushing the memories back as he continues the tale.

He silently reaches for the Dark Side, letting it flood through him, giving him power and bleeding his eyes yellow. Its touch is comforting, and it helps him crush the guilt. He will never admit to having nightmares from killing Jedi, but he undeniably does. He doesn't want anyone to know about his weaknesses, his guilt. There are times when their faces haunt his mind, and he's sometimes grateful that he wasn't raised as a Jedi, because it would have been like killing family instead of an enemy.

He shakes the feelings away, burying them deep within a box. Guilt is a weakness, one which others will exploit. He knows this. Sidious has drilled it into his mind from day one. He can feel Ahsoka's muted shock through the Force, but she isn't moving to back away from him. Obi-Wan has far more control, and if he's horrified, he doesn't show it. "So, you failed?" he queries.

A bitter smile inches onto Anakin's face. "No, I didn't," he replies. "The Jedi was too certain of his victory when he cut off my arm. He was too full of a desire for revenge, too close to the Dark Side's delicious power, to realize that I was still a threat. He underestimated my power." He leans back against the wall, crossing his arms. "Force lightning is a powerful weapon," he finishes in a smug tone.

"How can you use it?" demands Ahsoka, the first time she's spoken to him out of her own free will since her capture.

"Why wouldn't I?" he wants to know. "It's a powerful tool which most of my… targets don't expect. It takes them by surprise and gives me the upper hand."

"Because you know what it feels like," she replies bluntly.

He shrugs nonchalantly. "So? They deserve it."

"How can you even say that?" she hisses sharply. "They're not monsters like the Sith!"

He meets her eyes, the sheer intensity of his gaze preventing her from looking away. "Do you think I care?" he snarls. "If they hadn't been foolish enough to get in Sidious' way, they could have lived. It's their own fault."

"You – !" Ahsoka begins, anger surging up like a tidal wave.

"Ahsoka," Obi-Wan interrupts her. The sound of his voice snaps her mouth shut. "You can't judge him for this. It's not his fault. It's ours." Ahsoka scowls, staring down at the floor and resuming her sullen silence. Presumably, since she didn't argue, she agrees with Obi-Wan. Anakin can only hold onto that hope.

Obi-Wan meant every word he said, and that floors Anakin. He's showing little, if any, hatred or anger towards Anakin. If anything, his blue-gray eyes are betraying a hint of sympathy, of understand. That is far more than Anakin could ever have hoped for. The realization does something, igniting an emotion within him that he doesn't dare name for fear of what it might be. Hope. Affection. Happiness. All of those are forbidden for him.

Needing a distraction, Anakin stands up, picking up the toolkit and returning it to its rightful place. He doesn't want to finish the story – the rest is exceedingly painful for him – but he still hopes that maybe Obi-Wan will be able to understand what he's been through making him who he now is. He stares down at his hand, slowly moving it around. Over time, he's gotten used to it, but he occasionally misses the feel of the organic limb he used to have.

"When I lost my hand, Sidious was furious," he comments, hardly even sure why he's confiding something so personal to Jedi. "He considered it a failure and forced me into grueling lightsaber training for another year in addition to some other… less pleasant punishments." Remembering the aftermath of the mission ignites his anger once more, and it burns at him, likely turning his eyes yellow once more.

He remembers everything. He remembers being beaten – through the Force, of course. Sidious wouldn't lower himself to doing it physically – immediately after his return, being called a weakling and failure. He remembers being locked into the Force resistant cells, in the dark, for days on end. He remembers being forced to fight off numerous training droids set on murder mode and being injured badly. Why? Why him?

He lets out a shaky breath, hoping that his inner turmoil isn't obvious to Obi-Wan's probing gaze. He turns sharply, walking to the cockpit without another word and waiting for them to reach their destination. He doesn't want to talk to anyone right now. The last conversation aroused enough unpleasant memories as is.

He sits down in the pilot's seat, staring at the blue and white streaks of hyperspace without really seeing them. A numbness has gripped him once more, sucking away his ability to react emotionally towards his memories. He considers them again, probing them, playing them in his mind, feeling it all with a sort of apathy that he rarely experiences. They can't hurt him. They're just memories, after all. What can – and assuredly will – hurt him is Sidious.

He's still sitting there when the alarm goes off, and the ship emerges from hyperspace. On automatic, he pilots the ship down to the surface. He needs time to rest and recover himself. He'll be fine in the morning. As the ship lands on the platform, Anakin feels the familiar rush of soothing Force currents from the planet. This place has always been somewhat of a home to him. As he moves towards the hold, he feels Dooku's Force presence waiting outside.

He pushes the button to lower the ramp, turning towards Obi-Wan and Ahsoka. "Come," he instructs roughly. "We must go." Neither of them protests, though Ahsoka looks far from happy. Maybe she'd entertained a hope that he wouldn't actually carry through with his instructions.

Once he knows they're following, he strides down the ramp after grabbing their lightsabers. Dooku is standing on the landing platform, arms crossed, expression unusually grave. The sight makes Anakin's heart sink down somewhere near his toes. The Count shouldn't be wearing that expression unless something is wrong. Very wrong.

Dooku's eyes look him up and down before he sighs. "It's clear Sidious was most unhappy with the recent turn of events," he comments, stepping forward to greet Anakin. Is it really that obvious? Force, what does he look like?

"Not very good," Dooku tells him, making him start. Are his shields weakening? "Yes," the Count confirms. "You need some rest, Anakin." As if he didn't already know that. Dooku sighs again, his blue eyes shining with sympathy. "Let me assure you that Sidious was not much happier with me, though I believe I have straightened out the situation."

"That would be a first," mutters Anakin, letting out a long breath as he hands the three lightsabers over to the MagnaGuard accompanying Dooku. To his surprise, Dooku pulls him into a hug, an exceedingly rare occurrence. He only ever does it if he thinks that Anakin really needs the comfort, so he takes the time to savor the feeling while it lasts.

"We are in a bit of a situation," Dooku informs him. His expression conveys little other than the serene calm the former Jedi always seems to exude, but through the Force and their bond, Anakin can feel his worry. "Sidious wishes that you be confined with the prisoners."

Being electrocuted on the spot would have been a far less torture. For a moment, Anakin can't even speak. "No – no, you can't do that," he stammers out, taking a few steps back.

"I don't have a choice," replies Dooku quietly, sorrow in his eyes. "Sidious was very clear. He told me that if you refused, I am supposed to call Asajj. She's still on Naboo." She'll hurt your mother until you agree. The words don't need to be said. He squeezes his eyes closed, breathing ragged. He hasn't been in them for a long time, but whenever he is – though those occasions are rare – he is always left alone with his thoughts.

"Please," begs Anakin, staring at Dooku beseechingly. "Don't do it."

Dooku is shaking his head before Anakin even finishes talking. "And what would I tell Sidious? He will know the truth," he replies. "You won't be alone, and you won't be in restraints this time. I'll be down there every day until Sidious arrives here."

"He's coming here?" demands Anakin, already on the verge of panic.

"He didn't tell me," Dooku soothes him, "It was an assumption."

"I – fine," mutters Anakin, caving in to the inevitable. Alone in the dark with only his mind to keep him company. The darkness of his soul devouring him alive, plaguing him with ceaseless nightmares… "Just… can you find Boba?"

A flicker of surprise crosses Dooku's face before his lips thin. "Sidious will not be happy," he warns Anakin. "He was very clear on his opinion of your relationships with Jango and Boba."

"But he's only a child!" Anakin protests.

"I'll do it," Dooku agrees, "But Sidious will be upset. Once I find Boba, I will bring him to see you before I send him to Naboo to live with your mother, okay?"

Anakin nods numbly. "'Kay," he murmurs.

Dooku seems torn but restrains himself from offering further comfort. "Come with me," he instructs Anakin, motioning to Obi-Wan and Ahsoka who were silently standing behind him. He wonders what they think of him now, having seen the truth about him. He feels exposed – more than he has in years – and he loathes it.

Anakin follows Dooku in a sullen silence as they walk through the mansion, down to the basement. He dreads this area more than words could ever describe. He lived many of his worst memories down here. A sense of darkness pervades the entire area, clinging to the walls like some type of living thing. He shivers when he feels it. The training room right down the hall? That was where he was taught how to fight with a lightsaber, where he was injured very badly time and time again.

Dooku stops, using the Force to open the door to the holding cells. It opens with a clang that echoes through the empty hall. Anakin shudders. If it were up to him, he would run as fast and far as possible. Dooku pauses, looking at him silently. "I'm sorry, Anakin," he murmurs gently.
"I'm so sorry this has to happen."

"Get it over with," mumbles Anakin, expression pinched.

Dooku looks at him a moment longer before opening the door to the first containing cell. "Who would you rather stay with?" he asks.

Anakin bites his lip, pointedly not looking back at Obi-Wan or Ahsoka, before shrugging. Dooku sighs again. "Alright. Master Kenobi, if you wouldn't mind?" he queries, motioning to the cell. For a moment, Anakin thinks that Obi-Wan is going to say something, but he doesn't, silently stepping forward and into the cell. Dooku waves a hand, and the Force restraints come loose. He motions to Anakin, so he enters as well, watching as the ray shield comes up.

Across the hall, Dooku puts Ahsoka in the other cell and removes her Force restraints. Now that the Jedi have the Force, Anakin can feel their presences far more acutely than he did before. Both cells are small, with only a few blankets in a corner on the floor, and a door opening to a small 'fresher. He takes consolation in the fact that Dooku left the light on in the hallway, providing some illumination.

He hates the dark. He hated it when he was a young child, but he hates it even more now. Darkness reminds him of the days – weeks? Months? – he spent trapped in one of these cells. Terror. Pain. Regret. Guilt. Anger. The emotions linger in the air, tainting it. The dark reminds him of himself. There's nothing light in him. Not anymore. He's dark in the Force. Now that he's here on Serenno, he lets the protection slip away, baring his true Force signature for the Jedi to feel, and he can sense both of them prodding at him.

He looks around the tiny cell again, backing into a corner and leaning against the wall before sliding down to the floor and drawing his knees up to his chest. He doesn't want to talk to anyone. Being here brings back too many bad memories, and they're suffocating him. Sidious knew it. Of course, he knew it, but he did it anyways, because he's a sadist.

It's laughable, in retrospect, to think he really could have become a hero. There's nothing heroic about being a murderer. The silence – the overwhelming, oppressive silence – is torture in and of itself. There have been times he could swear he heard some of the voices of his many victims as they screamed for mercy he refused to grant. That makes him as bad as Sidious, and isn't that thought simply revolting?

"Don't dwell on it," Obi-Wan's gentle voice breaks through his dark musings, and he raises his head to look at the Jedi. Oh, right. His shields were failing, and he guesses that everyone can hear his thoughts now if they're listening carefully. Or maybe it's the result of the faint Force bond he has with the Jedi Knight, he's not sure.

"Mmm… like there's anything else to do down here," he mutters sarcastically.

"I can help," Obi-Wan offers. "You don't have to let him get to you. I know it will be hard, but you can do it."

Anakin scoffs. "Don't – you're delusional. You haven't seen the things he's done. You can't just… get over it. It stays with you, and you're not like me. You haven't… done what I have."

"It's not impossible to let it go," Obi-Wan answers after a moment.

"Mmm hmm," mumbles Anakin sarcastically, resting his forehead on his knees again, wrapping his arms around them. "And I suppose next you're going to tell me that the entire Jedi Order is coming here to rescue you."

He hears a quiet sigh, but Obi-Wan doesn't say anything. "And you'll be doing it too," Anakin adds after a moment. Maybe he couldn't bear the silence anymore, or maybe he just wanted to give them both a warning. "Both of you. I know. He'll make you kill. And you will."

"I won't," Ahsoka insists. He senses her standing just on the other side of the ray shield, but her voice is raised so they can hear her from across the hall. "I won't give in to him."

"Then Obi-Wan will suffer needlessly," Anakin answers dismissively. "You will both give in eventually. Just like I did. You can't avoid his machinations forever."

"I'll refuse," she asserts.

"He'll make me kill you," Anakin warns her, "And trust me when I say that sometimes, actions can irreparably damage." Maybe his tone betrays something other than the emotionlessness he's been striving to maintain, but he senses a spike of – is that concern? – from her before she falls silent. He hardly knows, and frankly, he doesn't care right now either. It's all he can do to hold back the memories and thoughts and just… be.

"I wish I had known sooner. I would have done something." When he speaks again, Obi-Wan's voice is barely audible.

"No use crying over something that's gone," Anakin grumbles, "And don't you dare apologize even one more time for something you didn't even do. I mean it."

"Fine," Obi-Wan relents, "But I'm still sorry."

"'S not going to get you anywhere," Anakin retorts, voice slightly muffled. He doesn't want to talk… or do anything really. If he could miraculously disappear, that would be nice, but he can't. He closes his eyes. There's nowhere to go. He's trapped here for the indefinite future with two Jedi. What has his life come to? It could have been worse, he supposes, and he realizes with growing dread, it can still get worse.

Chapter Text

Obi-Wan sits silently on the floor, eyes locked onto Anakin, who is curled into a ball of misery in the corner. He yearns to be able to comfort him, but he doesn't know how he even can. He already got the impression that Anakin doesn't want to talk, so he's tried to respect that and remain silent. Back when he had been assigned to protect Padme – has it really been less than a week? – he had been elated to see Anakin again. Now that he's learned more, part of him selfishly wishes he hadn't.

Saying he's horrified by the revelations would be an understatement. Never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined that Anakin is a slave to the Sith, and he now knows that Anakin is, in fact, the mysterious Jedi killer the Council has been searching for. And, he thinks, that maybe he already knew that on some inner level; he just hadn't wanted to admit it. He touches Anakin through the Force again, bemoaning the changes he can now clearly feel.

While Anakin had been like a sun in the Force when he was young, his Force signature is heavily tainted. Even while he's not actively drawing on the Dark Side, he's so incredibly dim. From what Obi-Wan remembers, he'd been a caring boy, something which doesn't seem to have changed. It's the only thing which hasn't changed, he supposes.

And now, maybe for the first time, he begins to understand his vision. The darkness – it had been Sidious, trying to turn Anakin and crush out whatever light he has in his soul. Obi-Wan refuses to let that happen. Anakin had one of the lightest souls he'd ever seen, and he knows it can't be gone. It's still there, and he'll never give up on him.

The things he saw earlier, some of them will probably haunt him forever. It's tormenting his mind, preventing him from finding calm and rest. He ought to go to sleep soon – Dooku already brought them something to eat and took Anakin's lightsaber, which he'd apparently forgotten to do before. He can't believe that Anakin has been living like this for years. The scars he's caring will take a long time to fade, but Obi-Wan is confident that they will, given time and care.

It's at times like this when he thinks that the Jedi are wrong about attachments. If Anakin didn't care for people so deeply, he would already have been lost. Maybe he can use that to his advantage, to help Anakin come back to the Light Side, if indeed he's ever learned to use it. Somehow, he thinks the times Anakin draws on the Light Side are few and far between.

He doesn't regret choosing to stay here. He had plenty of chances to escape when they were on the shuttle, and he's not certain why Anakin left their lightsabers in a place where Obi-Wan or Ahsoka could easily have gotten ahold of them. If they had, it would have been incredibly easy to overpower Anakin by surprise and take control of the ship to return to Coruscant. He knew it, but he chose not to act on that knowledge when he realized how much Anakin is suffering here.

Ahsoka told him about her meeting with Shmi, how she had asked her to help Anakin. Now, at least, they both understand why, and Obi-Wan is determined to do everything in his power to help. Anakin deserves that and so much more. He can't even imagine the horror and pain at being first rejected by the Jedi only to be given back into slavery to an Order which thrives on death and destruction. That alone would have been enough to scar someone deeply, never mind the years of torture and abuse which followed.

He shifts again, studying Anakin who has yet to move. Across the hall, Ahsoka seems to be lost in her own mind, probably considering, just as he is, everything they just learned. It's given him a completely different view of Anakin, but he won't go so far as to pity him. What he needs, is compassion and understanding, things that Obi-Wan is certainly capable of giving. He knows that, on some inner level, Anakin must trust him – and maybe care for him. His actions have said as much time and again.

The same is true for Ahsoka. It's clear that, after whatever happened between them on Naboo, they have become closer – friends even – but it's unlikely that Anakin would ever accept comfort from someone who he obviously wishes to train. The only choice, other than Dooku, is Obi-Wan, and clearly, there will be plenty of time for that over the coming days, and maybe even weeks, if they'll be staying here until Sidious arrives.

"You should get some rest," Obi-Wan says softly. Anakin finally stirs, lifting his head slightly and peering at Obi-Wan, expression haunted.

"I don't –" he cuts himself off, heaving a sigh. "Yes, that might be wise." Obi-Wan agrees. At least he'll get some rest, even if he does have nightmares, and he won't be lost in his own mind. Clearly, that's happened to him a lot down here. The pervading feeling of guilt in the atmosphere around them seems to prove it.

Obi-Wan scoots over, picking up one of the blankets and offering it to Anakin, who accepts it warily, almost as though unsure why Obi-Wan is even offering it. The helplessly lost look on his face makes him seem so much younger, and Obi-Wan is harshly reminded of how much Anakin has suffered over the past decade. His heart clenches painfully until Anakin turns away, stretching out on the floor and turning his back to him.

After waiting for another minute, until Anakin's breathing becomes even, Obi-Wan picks up the other blanket, feeling its roughness between his fingers as he lays on the floor, covering himself up and willing sleep to come. It's most assuredly not easy. Every time he closes his eyes, flashes of Anakin being electrocuted dance behind his eyelids. He shifts around, finally drawing on the Light Side and sending a soothing wave to Anakin through their bond before pulling it close to calm himself enough to sleep.

**w**

Ahsoka rolls around on the floor unable to sleep. She can almost hear the even breathing of Anakin and Obi-Wan in the cell across from her, but she can't find the same rest. The silence is only making her thoughts buzz even more wildly, chasing away any attempts at drifting off. Groaning, she shifts onto her back and untangles the blankets from around her legs, stretching them out properly again.

She won't deny that she was hurt when Anakin grabbed her in the execution arena. She'd thought she could trust him and count on him, until he revealed that he's a dark sider. According to the Jedi, now that he's started down the dark path, there's no hope left for him, but she doesn't know how she can accept that. She's seen how he acts. She doesn't know him very well, but there's no question that he's still capable of caring about people; he'd proved as much when he let himself be electrocuted instead of killing her.

But he's also a Sith Lord, and she really doesn't think she should care about him so much. In retrospect, it all makes sense. The way Shmi was acting when she was there, like she didn't dare to hope that Ahsoka could help, and how much she clearly detested the place. Why can't they just leave? It's not as though Sidious can be watching them at all times. She'll have to ask Anakin in the morning, but before she does that, she needs to let go of her resentment towards him. She can understand why he did what he did, but she's still upset.

Sleep, she orders herself. Sleeeeeeep. She can't. Whenever she tries, she inevitably remembers the moment when Anakin was punished on the shuttle. She always knew that Sith were cruel, but somehow, Sidious's behavior seems to border on the extreme. He's a sadist, plain and simple. Or maybe it's just that his cruelty is in stark clarity to Dooku's behavior. He doesn't act cold, at least not towards Anakin. Clearly, the pair share a bond, one which was probably formed throughout Anakin's apprenticeship to Sidious.

Thoughts of Sidious send her mind plummeting back to the truth of his identity. How can anyone be such a good actor? Better yet, how has not one Jedi realized who he is? She cannot believe that the Republic elected a Sith Lord to be the Chancellor, and that everyone is still so clueless. What does it mean for the future? What will happen now? If there's going to be war, and she's quite certain there will be, then the Sith will be playing both sides of it. It's her duty, to the Republic and to the Jedi Order, to escape from here and warn them, but she knows she can't do it alone. No. The truth is, she's not sure if she wants to escape.

Ahsoka muffles a groan, rolling onto her side and raising her head enough to glance at Anakin and Obi-Wan, gaze lingering on the former. It astounds her that he was able to hide the truth so well. How often does he have to act normal when he's clearly suffering? Maybe being down here with him, when he doesn't need to wear a mask, will help her understand him better. She closes her eyes. Anakin needs help, and she's going to give it to him, not only because his mother asked her, but because she wants to.

Despite herself, she's impressed by his resistance and courage. Even in the face of the torture and abuse he's suffered for years, he's endured, holding onto whatever light he still has. He refuses to let it go, regardless of what he has to face. He's a survivor, and he's not broken, at least not entirely.

**w**

Anakin is on the verge of panic. He's surrounded by darkness which clings to him like a sentient being. He can't move anywhere, and the Force seems distant to him, unwilling to respond to his call. He struggles to break free, and suddenly, he's falling down into a bottomless pit. He opens his mouth to scream when everything around him changes.

He's standing somewhere – the details of the area are blurry – but he's filled with a sense of defeat. "You thought you could challenge me, is that it?" Sidious' voice hardened with rage echoes around him.

"That was never my intention," Dooku replies. Anakin can see the Count, kneeling the floor. A quick glance tells him that he'd been fighting. His normally immaculate clothes are wrinkled and torn, and even his posture betrays weariness.

"You lie!" snarls Sidious, and before Anakin can react, lightning arches through the air, striking Dooku's body. He makes no move to shield himself, crumpling to the floor.

"Stop it!" screams Ahsoka, lunging forward. Anakin grabs for her but misses. She comes to a stop, quivering with rage. Two red lightsabers ignite in her hands, crossed in front of her defensively. As he looks at her, he can see her eyes bleeding yellow as the Dark Side wraps around her.

Sidious look at her and cackles, raising his hands. Bolts of lightning rain down on her, but she deflects them skillfully, keeping her lightsaber firmly in front of her. "It is useless to resist," spits Sidious, expression twisting into a cold, gleeful grin. "Don't let yourself be destroyed as Ventress did." He motions across the room, and Anakin turns his head, a cold feeling settling into the pit of his stomach.

Now he can make out their surroundings, and he recognizes them as belonging to Sidious' mansion on Naboo. He sees Asajj laying on the ground in an odd position. He nudges her with the Force. She's lifeless. He looks back, dread coiling within him. This is a fight they cannot win. Ahsoka narrows her eyes, fierce determination and rage glittering within them.

Sidious flicks his wrist, and she's thrown back against the wall hard enough that Anakin can hear bones cracking. "Ahsoka!" he cries in horror, watching her crumple to the floor.

"If you're quite done fooling around, you can clean up this place," growls Sidious, looking at him. "I want them all dead, or you can join them."

"But –" he begins protesting, eyes skating around the room. Dooku unconscious on the floor. Asajj dead. Ahsoka injured, possibly fatally. Obi-Wan – he whirls around, eyes searching for him. The Jedi is kneeling on the floor a distance away, breathing labored. Whatever happened seems to have rendered him incapable of standing properly.

"I did not give you a choice, Lord Vader," Sidious warns, pausing for a moment. "Do it."

He stands frozen, rooted to the spot as he stares at his master – no, he's not his master anymore. He doesn't know what happened, or how this battle even occurred. All he knows is that something went horribly wrong. He's about to say something, when his hears his mother's voice in the distance. "Let him go! You –"

"Shut up!" snarls an unfamiliar female, and he hears the sound of a body hitting the floor. His mother's Force presence dims into unconsciousness, and panic begins to devour him.

A moment later, a masked black figure stalks into the room, holding a limp Boba in her arms. "I am here as you requested, Master," she murmurs, bowing to Sidious.

Sidious gives Anakin a cruel smile. "I grow tired of your disobedience," he hisses, grabbing Boba from the other person's arms. "Maybe –"

"Enough!" shouts Obi-Wan, and the Force explodes as a massive burst of energy sends Sidious and the masked figure flying through the air. They slam into a wall. Anakin looks towards Obi-Wan with horror as he finally struggles to his feet, swaying. He takes a few steps, limping heavily.

"You would dare raise a hand against your master?" Sidious queries, voice deadly soft.

Anakin glances around the room in a panic, unable to form even a single syllable. Sidious raises his arms, unleashing a barrage of lightning on them. He feels nothing but agony as the world around him fades away.

**w**

Anakin jerks awake with a strangled scream, heart racing. His first thought is that it was a vision. He's had them occasionally over the years, but this one was especially vivid. While he doesn't know exactly what had happened, he doesn't think they were trying to fight Sidious. What happened was purely an accident, possibly due to carelessness on someone's part. That only makes it even worse.

The pain and helplessness he felt in the vision rushes through him, sapping his energy. He rolls over, pushing himself to a sitting position and pulling the blanket back. He runs a shaking hand through his hair, trying to regain even a semblance of calm before giving up and throwing out his right arm, slamming his fist into the wall. It makes a satisfying crack but does little to reduce his fear. Sidious was wrong; his fear gives him very little power. It only makes him more likely to obey his master, but maybe that was the point.

"Anakin, are you alright?" Obi-Wan's gentle voice breaks through his spiral of fear.

He lets out a mirthless laugh. "No. Not really," he admits.

"Nightmare?" the Jedi asks.

He mutely shakes his head. "I think it was a vision."

"Do you want to talk about it?" queries Obi-Wan after a few seconds. That he managed to scoot right next to Anakin without him even noticing is a testament to his inattention.

Anakin shakes his head again, closing his eyes. He knows the mansion has some shielding to protect against Force – or Dark Side – outbursts in addition to his own shielding, but he remembers Dooku often tells him that his emotions can overwhelm any Force sensitive within a hundred feet of him. He very much doubts that Obi-Wan or Ahsoka are any less protected, but he doesn't really care.

Dooku unconscious. Asajj dead. Ahsoka fatally injured. Obi-Wan electrocuted. The images dance around his mind in a loop, preventing him from finding even the vaguest calm. It scares him, because he knows that Sidious is capable of killing every last one of them without mercy. The vision reminds him of what his master had said on the shuttle. Attachments are weaknesses we cannot afford. Yours were useful to me, but now, they are becoming a nuisance. And he knows that Sidious will try and kill someone close to him if he makes even one more mistake.

"Anakin," Obi-Wan whispers soothingly, hesitating as he wraps an arm around him and pulls him closer. "Everything will be alright."

Anakin knows he shouldn't accept comfort from a Jedi, because he's a Sith, but he doesn't really feel like one right now. Instead of pulling away – which is, he suspects, what Obi-Wan had expected – he buries his face against Obi-Wan and doesn't move, silently accepting the comfort. Maybe in the morning he'll pretend it never happened, but right now, he's content.

He can't bear the thought of losing even one person, much less all of them. There's nothing he can do to protect everyone, except bow to Sidious' every whim. Obi-Wan can't save him now. It was… a child's dream, but nothing more than that. He's probably always known on some inner level that no one could ever save him, but maybe some of that foolish hope remained. Now that he's here with Obi-Wan, the only Jedi he'd ever admired, he can't help but wonder what life would have been like had he been raised a Jedi.

Slowly, he works up the courage to slip his arms around Obi-Wan – fearing rejection if he does – and pull him closer. The Jedi tenses for a moment before he relaxes again. He nudges against Anakin's shielding blocking off their weak Force bond, sending him comfort through the Force. He doesn't say anything, not that there's anything which needs to be said. A few minutes pass – maybe more, he doesn't know – before his anxiety over his vision begins to fade to an extent. It's not nearly as prominent, and he feels safer – though he shouldn't – with Obi-Wan holding him.

It doesn't provide the same sense of security he felt as a child when his mother held him, but it's similar. He's older now, and far more mature. He knows that no one can protect him from Sidious, but they can certainly make his life far more peaceful. If Obi-Wan had trained him as Jedi, he wonders what their relationship would be like. Father and son, perhaps. Or maybe even brothers. It doesn't really matter anyways. It's useless to think about things which will never be.

Finally, Obi-Wan shifts, pulling Anakin down to lay on the floor again, still curled against him. That's when he feels Ahsoka nudge against his shields, sending a thought mixed with comfort. We aren't going to leave you here by yourself, Skyguy. We're going to stay with you. He sends her a sense of gratitude before turning to make himself comfortable again. Though he doubts that he'll be able to sleep anymore tonight, the least he can do is calm himself.

He knows he should tell them what he saw, especially since it affects them too, but he doesn't want to talk about it now. Maybe in the morning, when it's more of a distant memory, and everything doesn't seem nearly as hopeless he can tell them. For now, he'll just keep laying here, savoring whatever comfort he can get. Anakin realizes, with a start, that had he been in his room, he would have been utterly alone. He's far too old to go to Dooku over a nightmare – or vision – in the middle of the night, and the Count would have likely ignored him until morning.

As he turns the vision over in his mind, he recognizes that Obi-Wan and Ahsoka had both been with him. Whatever the future holds, their destines are forever bound together. He reaches out, all but clinging to Obi-Wan's Force signature as he wills himself to fall back asleep. He rarely has more than one vision a night, so he's not afraid of sleeping – except because of nightmares – and secure in Obi-Wan's arms, he doesn't think any will come.

Chapter Text

Ten-year-old Anakin slips out of bed and paces around his room, careful not to make any sound. The last thing he wants is to let Sidious know he's still awake. He grumbles under his breath, cursing the Sith Lord in Huttese. He hates him so much. He has no idea how someone who is so important to the galaxy – the Chancellor, no less – could treat him like this. He carefully probes his back, wincing when his fingers connect with the bruises on his ribs.

He doesn't think any of them are broken, but he's really not sure. His left arm hurts too, where a training droid had scored several hits. He can't learn to use a lightsaber that fast, even if he is extraordinarily strong. Sighing, he rests his arms on the window frame and looks out at Naboo. He misses his mother immensely. Ever since her arrival, he's only been allowed to see her once, and that was a couple months ago. Maybe he'll be able to see her before he turns eleven in a few months from now.

While he doesn't know for sure, he suspects that Cliegg Lars has talked to his mother far more than he. He doesn't really know the man, but his mother wants to marry him, something which is now impossible since she's now on Naboo. Sidious has promised that they can return to Tatooine to visit him at some indefinite point in the future, and he's looking forward to it, even if he doesn't want to return to that dust ball.

His mind soon turns to Count Dooku. Anakin can't find it in himself to dislike him. The former Jedi has always been nice to him. Unlike Sidious, he actually seems to care for him, and never ever electrocutes him. He seems to find it despicable. Anakin banishes the thought almost instantly, flinching away from it like a scared animal. He won't think about it. It's far too painful. He had never realized electricity could be so painful, or that the Force could be misused, but as long as his mother is safe, he'll accept whatever is given to him.

Letting out a shaky breath, he checks the shields around his mind, making sure that no one can sense any stray thoughts or emotions. Shielding his mind and Force presence were some of the first techniques that Dooku taught to him. The Count privately disagrees with Sidious on how the corruption in the galaxy needs to be fixed, but he would never say so to his face. That doesn't mean he doesn't spend time explaining the situation and his ideas to Anakin.

As his thoughts spiral down a dark path, Anakin finds himself wishing, not for the first time, that someone could save him. He yearns for someone – anyone, really – to rescue him from the Sith's grasp. He doesn't want to be evil – he doesn't! – but he knows that he's not being given a choice. Just like when he was a slave to Watto and Gardulla the Hutt, he has to do whatever he's told.

So, I'm still a slave, he thinks bitterly, shaking his head. Why can't anyone help him? There is Padme… His mind drifts to the beautiful queen of Naboo. Even if he managed to tell her, she would probably never believe him. She doesn't even know enough about the Force to believe Palpatine is Sidious, he decides. Besides, she's not strong enough to confront a Sith Lord and live. Sidious is far too strong for her.

Is there anyone at all who can help him? Qui-Gon is dead, thanks to Sidious' former apprentice, Maul, and the Jedi don't even care about him. They gave him to Sidious and never bothered checking on him, uncaring as to his fate. Then, he remembers Obi-Wan. An image of the man's face appears in his mind when he thinks about him. He could help; he probably would if he knew where to look. They'd hardly had a chance to spend time together, but he knows they could have gotten along well.

I'm sorry, Anakin. I want to train you, but the Council won't let me. Obi-Wan's words echo through his mind. He could almost feel the Jedi's regret, and he desperately longs to see him again. He truly and deeply cares for him, emotions which are likely influenced by the Force bond they share. They are meant to be together. He knows it, but he doesn't know how such a thing could ever occur.

Come and save me, he wishes desperately, taking the risk of trying to reach out to Obi-Wan through their bond. He doesn't know how communication through bonds – especially weak ones – is done, but he hopes he can do it. He doesn't want to spend his whole life like this: a slave, being tortured. How can anyone even live like this? Anakin closes his eyes, fighting back tears as he reaches out to the Force, trying to find comfort within it.

Let Obi-Wan save me, he silently orders the Force, keeping the thought carefully shielded. He knows he's shamelessly begging the Force for him, but he doesn't care. It ripples around him, possibly in comfort, or possibly trying to tell him something he can't understand. He lets himself imagine, just for a moment, what it would be like if Obi-Wan showed up to save him.

Count Dooku often talks to him about Qui-Gon and how proud he was of his former Padawan, sometimes mentioning Obi-Wan and how promising he is. Anakin knows that Dooku misses Qui-Gon and hopes to get Obi-Wan to become his apprentice. He wants to kill Sidious and take his place – something Anakin wholeheartedly supports. As long as Sidious is alive, they will never be able to make the galaxy a better place.

His musings are interrupted by a noise outside his room. He creeps to his bedroom door and listens carefully. Who could be up at this time of night? Maybe Dooku is coming to give Sidious an update on something?

His question is answered when he hears Dooku's voice somewhere down the hall. "Master, I have a report for you."

" Speak, Lord Tyrannus. What have you discovered?" rasps Sidious, his voice tinged with a dark glee, one which definitely comes from using the Dark Side.

" It pertains to the Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi," replies Dooku slowly.

Anakin can feel the Sith Lord's interest perk, and he holds his breath, straining to hear the conversation and drawing on the Force to assist him. "He created an uproar in the Jedi Order when he refused to take a Padawan despite the Council's instructions," reports Dooku.

" Why are you reporting this to me?" inquires Sidious curiously.

" He called out the Council on their treatment of Anakin," Dooku explains. "He declared publicly that what they did was wrong, and he'll never train anyone other than young Skywalker." Anakin can distinctly hear a note of – is that wistfulness? – in the Sith's voice.

Sidious chuckles darkly, "Well, we shall see if Kenobi's opinion changes when the young boy he wishes to train kills him."

" With all due respect, Master," Tyrannus interjects quietly, "I think Obi-Wan would make a powerful Sith in our Empire."

" Can he be turned?" questions Sidious.

" He will turn or die," promises Tyrannus.

" Very well," replies Sidious shortly, and moments later, Anakin hears a bedroom door close. He jumps, startled, and scurries back to his bed. It would be best if no one learns he overheard. Even Dooku could punish him, albeit not as harshly.

The sound of footsteps in the hallway grow closer, stopping outside his bedroom door. Moments later, it opens, and the Force tells him it's Dooku. I'm asleep! thinks Anakin frantically, no, I'm not awake! He keeps his eyes closed, carefully manipulating the Force around him to give Dooku the impression that he's really sleeping.

Dooku chuckles softly. "I know you're awake, Anakin, but you almost had me fooled. Perhaps I should not have taught you that trick yet," he murmurs, voice barely above a whisper, "And I know you heard what I told Lord Sidious." He glides into the room, not making a sound.

With a sigh, Anakin sits up and slides out of bed, meeting Tyrannus' blue eyes reluctantly. "I did," he confesses, surprised to see the compassion in his eyes. He hadn't expected to see it, especially now. Maybe he wasn't as careful in shielding his emotions as he'd thought.

" You'd better forget you heard it," Dooku tells him gently. "Sidious will never let Kenobi, or any Jedi, get near you." Traces of sympathy leak into his tone.

Anakin nods, his gaze dropping down to the floor. This time, he's unable to stop the tears from flooding his eyes. It's cruel to hope for something that one knows will never happen. All one will ever get is a broken heart and shattered dreams. Anakin knows it, but still clings fiercely to the hope that he can be saved from Sidious' hands.

" It's not fair," Anakin blurts out, wincing when the words escape, turning away from Dooku. "How can he do this to me?" This means everything. Make him a slave. Keep his mother a slave. Torture him. Push him far beyond his limits. Treat him like a tool to be used and sharpened – a future killing instrument.

" He's a Sith. He'll do whatever he thinks is necessary to achieve his goals," Tyrannus reminds him.

" But I don't want to be a slave anymore!" wails Anakin, clenching his fists. He jumps when a hand comes down on his shoulder.

" You won't always be," whispers Dooku, gently turning Anakin around and lifting his chin so their eyes meet. "I can promise you of that. Maybe it will be a long time, but I will not die until I take Sidious down. And then, you will be free."

Anakin bites his lip, tears escaping and tracking down his cheeks. Crying doesn't help anything. He's known that from almost before he could talk, but sometimes, it can be the best – and fastest – way to release emotions. To Anakin's surprise, Dooku pulls him closer into a gentle, comforting embrace. Anakin wraps his arms around him in turn, grateful for the comfort, silently yearning for the day he'll finally be free.

**w**

Anakin isn't sure what time it is when he awakens, but he feels far more comfortable than he should. It doesn't take long from him to notice that someone – Obi-Wan, because there's no one else in here – had tucked the blankets in around him. He rolls over, throwing them off, spying the Jedi sitting in what must be a meditative position on the floor a couple feet away.

He exhales, flopping back on the floor. There's really nothing he has to do down here, so he'll try to enjoy the quiet while it lasts. It's almost laughable, actually. He hates the quiet. Silence traps him within his own mind, and Force knows there's so much he can be trapped in. If the Jedi weren't down here, he'd probably begin to go insane. "How are you feeling, Anakin?" Obi-Wan's voice is a notch softer than it was before.

Last night. Anakin clenches his jaw, pushing the thoughts aside. It doesn't matter. That was a moment of weakness. He will not lower himself to depend on Jedi. "I've been better," he replies brusquely. If he lies, they'll know. He's too emotionally exhausted to wear a mask. He sits up again, pushing past the ache throughout his body.

Obi-Wan regards him silently, and Anakin resists the urge to squirm under his gaze. He has nothing to feel guilty or conscious over. "What do you know about the Light Side?"

The question is so sudden that he's completely taken aback. "It's weak," he answers immediately, repeating what Sidious has always told him. "It can never compare with the true power of the Dark Side."

"Do you really believe that?" Obi-Wan questions gently.

Anakin snorts. "I know it. I've killed – oh, I don't even remember or care how many Jedi, but I've come out on top every time." He pauses, thinking about the differences between the two sides of the Force and remembers what Dooku has told him. "But there is only one Force. It depends how you choose to use it. Is that what you're getting at?"

"Yes, you're right," the Jedi murmurs. "There is only one Force. What do you see as the difference between the sides?"

Anakin raises an eyebrow, silently challenging him. He doesn't see any point behind the questions, but it's not as though he can leave or find something better to do. "The use of emotions." He recalls Dooku had mentioned it to him. "The Dark Side relies on all emotions, which is why it's more powerful. The Light Side focuses on calmness." He rolls his eyes. "That's a myth. No one can eliminate emotions. Ignoring them makes you weak."

"I was wondering if you knew the difference between the two sides," Obi-Wan explains. "I didn't think it was something that Sidious would have taught you."

"He didn't. Dooku did," Anakin replies shortly.

"I don't suppose that Sidious knows that though," Ahsoka comments, voice raised to carry across the hall and through both ray shields. Anakin shifts closer to the entrance, moving closer to the red wall of energy.

"No, he doesn't," he confirms.

"You're very close to that," Obi-Wan warns him, a hint of concern in his voice.

Anakin lets his head fall back against the wall. "I am aware, but touching it isn't fatal. I know. I've done it before." In one of the endless days when he couldn't bear the dark and silence. He'd thrown himself against the shield, bracing himself for what he'd expected would be an excruciating death. Instead, he'd been electrocuted until he went unconscious. It wasn't a pleasant experience, and he never tried again.

Obi-Wan looks stricken. Maybe he hadn't said it as nonchalantly as he'd hoped – or maybe Jedi simply have ridiculously accurate intuition. "Is there no way for you to escape from Sidious?" he queries. He doesn't feel nearly as calm as he sounds.

He's shaking his head even before the question is done being asked. "I won't sacrifice my mother," he tells them. "She can't leave. Her transmitter is still activated. If she strays too far from the mansion, she'll be blown up."

"Can't we get it out of her?" demands Ahsoka. Anakin can clearly feel her horror.

He shrugs. "Possibly. I've been too scared to find out lest I set it off. I don't know much about them." He subconsciously rubs his finger on his right thigh where his own implant had been. The Jedi had deactivated it, and he'd insisted Dooku remove it.

"I'll look into it," Obi-Wan assures him. "I might be able to locate it using the Force. I'm surprised that Dooku hasn't done anything about it."

"We're not ready to take on Sidious," Anakin admits. "He has contingency plans for everything. We don't know the extent of his plans yet, and until we do, we're not going to leave."

"I'll help you," Obi-Wan states firmly. "Ahsoka and I will get you out of here. No one should have to live like this."

Anakin can't help but feel a surge of warmth. They certainly are not regular Jedi; they actually care what happens to him. He couldn't have chosen anyone better to have captured. "We can't act until we know what to do," Anakin cautions them.

"I know, Skyguy." Ahsoka's tone is laced with a touch of fondness.

"Can you meditate?" Obi-Wan's question takes him by surprise again. Does the Jedi enjoy throwing out questions to take him off balance?

"Meditate?" he echoes, grimacing. "Yes, but I hate it. I'm incapable of finding any calm. Dooku says I should be able to –" He pauses, biting his lip. "I – I think I'm too damaged to find even the slightest sense of balance." The admission is quiet, and he ducks his head, unwilling to meet anyone's eyes.

"Anakin." He twitches but doesn't move even when Obi-Wan rests a gentle hand on his shoulder, sending a comforting wave through the Force. "Anakin, you're not –" broken. Obi-Wan chokes on the word, cutting himself off mid-sentence. "Don't think that like," he amends finally, squeezing Anakin's shoulder. "I can never forgive myself for what happened to you, and I'm never going to leave you."

Words. They're just words. They mean nothing unless backed up by action. He really needs to stop spilling things to both of them. That information can be used against him just as easily as for him. He doesn't – refuses to – crave comfort that badly. He risks glancing up, looking away when he meets Obi-Wan's eyes, sorrow swirling within them.

"Why would Sith try to find calm?" Gratitude wells up when Ahsoka changes the topic. He hadn't wanted to dwell on his weaknesses anymore. "I thought they focused on their emotions."

"Well, yes, they do," agrees Anakin. "Dooku is trying to teach me control, but I can't control my emotions unless I can find a measure of calm to draw more effectively on their power."

"But Sith use dark emotions, the opposite of a state of calm," Obi-Wan points out.

"That is a misconception," Anakin corrects. "Sith use emotions, in general. Love. Hate. Anger. Pain. All of them are useful. Dooku will probably explain it better to you."

"How will we escape?" asks Ahsoka hesitantly.

"That is something we'll have to wait on," Anakin answers, meeting her eyes through the ray shields separating them. "We can't plan anything until we get out of here, and that won't happen unless you use the Dark Side." She looks to be on the verge of protesting, but he silences her with a single shake of his head. "If you refuse, Sidious will break you the same way he broke me." He's grateful his voice betrays no emotion as he says the words.

"How about where?" Obi-Wan talks atop the strained silence which follows. "The safest place I know is the Jedi Temple, but I doubt they would be particularly receptive of you."

Anakin snorts mirthlessly. "They'd arrest me for killing Jedi, and Sidious would convince them that I should be tried by the Senate. He'd get me back without even having to try." If that happens, he will kill himself. If he leaves, he's not going back.

Obi-Wan sighs lightly. "I won't let Sidious get you," he murmurs, sincerity shining in his eyes. "I'll do whatever I must to prevent it."

"Even go against the Jedi Order?" questions Anakin, skeptically.

For a heartbeat, Obi-Wan doesn't move. Then he nods. "If I must."

Despite his disbelief, Anakin feels something – he thinks it's hope. Maybe Obi-Wan can save him, but does he really trust the Jedi enough to let them try? He knows he shouldn't because they're Jedi. They're the enemy, but they've proved over and over that they care. He already knows the answer in his heart. For the better or worse, he's willing to trust that Obi-Wan and Ahsoka will help him, even against the Jedi Order.

He's killed a lot people, and while he occasionally feels guilt, he rarely regrets it either. If the Jedi Order gets ahold of him, his life will be over. If they don't kill him, Sidious will. "Why?" Anakin asks simply, looking between them. "Why would you do it? I'm a Sith. I have blood on my hands. I've killed… a lot of people." More than he cares to admit.

"Yes," agrees Obi-Wan, "You have killed people, but that doesn't mean you want to. The Force has put me in a position where I can save you. If I had known where you were, I would have saved you years ago, Anakin." Ahsoka nods emphatically, though she doesn't speak.

His words render Anakin speechless for a moment, and he finds that he can't meet Obi-Wan's gaze. "I'm not the boy you remember, Obi-Wan," he reminds him quietly.

"I know." Obi-Wan's tone expresses an understanding far deeper than what Anakin had expected. He doesn't know what Anakin has done, but he doesn't seem to care either. He's willing to accept Anakin for who he is. Maybe last night won't be forgotten easily.

"We don't care what you've done, Skyguy," Ahsoka echoes his thoughts. The confirmation tears at him, evoking emotions he's unwilling to confront.

"Would you want to become a Jedi?" Obi-Wan queries softly.

Anakin smiles bitterly. "No. They're hypocrites. They abandoned me, yet they still claim to be protectors of peace when they wouldn't even protect me." Obi-Wan simply nods, accepting the answer, not even trying to defend the Order. Perhaps, Anakin wonders, he actually agrees.

"I can still teach you," Obi-Wan offers, a glint of something – hope? – in his blue-gray eyes. "The Council would probably never let you be a Jedi, but that doesn't mean I need to obey them. They've done enough harm already." His words remind Anakin that Obi-Wan had wanted to train him. They can never reclaim the lost years, but they can create something new, and Anakin doesn't find himself shying away at the thought.

"I would like that," he admits, surprising all of them with his words. Ahsoka sends him a wave of support through the Force. Sidious can't take them away from him. He won't let him.

Chapter Text

The moment is broken when the door to the hallway opens, the bang echoing through the hall. "Why is he here?" Anakin perks up when he hears Boba's voice filled with indignation.

"You can ask him yourself," Dooku replies, stopping in front of his cell and opening the ray shield. Boba stands next to him, arms crossed, glaring at the shield until it disappears.

"Vader!" he exclaims happily, throwing his arms around Anakin.

Anakin snorts, ruffling his hair. "You're the only one who says that name with so much affection, you know that, vod?" he teases, hugging him back.

"Why're you here?" he demands, frowning. "You shouldn't be in here."

"Master's orders," Anakin tells him, meeting his dark brown eyes. "He's upset with me."

"But you didn't do anything!" objects Boba.

"I attacked a Jedi when I tried to save your father," Anakin reminds him, "I'm so sorry, Boba. I did everything I could."

The child stares down at the floor, scuffing his shoe on the metal. "It's not your fault," he says finally, though Anakin can clearly feel his grief in the Force. He wraps his arms around Boba, holding him comfortingly. "I want revenge," he mumbles.

"We'll get it," Anakin assures him. "I'll make that Jedi suffer for what he did. I swear it." He glances at Dooku who is watching them with an inscrutable look on his face. "You'll be going to stay with my mother," he tells Boba, "She'll take care of you."

"I want Dad," he whines, clearly struggling not to cry.

Anakin feels pain lance through him. He should have done better. He should have tried harder. He should never have let Jango die. Boba has been a lot like a younger brother to him. Over time, Anakin has come to enjoy spending time with him and teaching him how to fight. Now, the future is so uncertain.

"I know," he manages to say, "I know." He ruffles his hair gently.

Boba stiffens, gaze going behind him, and Anakin belatedly realizes that Obi-Wan just moved closer. Because of the dark, Boba hadn't noticed him before. "That's a Jedi. He came to Kamino," he states, face twisting with distaste.

"He was a Jedi," Anakin replies, "But he's not going to be one anymore." He gives Obi-Wan a stern look, silently ordering him to keep his mouth shut. "He's joining me."

"I don't like him," pouts Boba.

"He's nice," Anakin tells him gently. "I like him, and I think you would to, if you could talk to him. He never would have let your father die if he'd known." He runs his fingers through Boba's hair, keeping the boy calm. To his relief, the grief and pain don't convert to rage.

Dooku clears his throat pointedly, and Boba glances back at him, a silent conversation taking place. "I need to leave now," Boba says dejectedly, hugging him quickly. "I'll miss you, vod."

"I'll miss you too," Anakin assures him as he leaves the cell and heads down the hallway.

"I got a message from Sidious," Dooku murmurs, expression pained. "He wants you to make a recording and send it to him, so it removes any lingering suspicions from him."

"Pretending to be the dutiful son," Anakin mutters bitterly, expression twisting.

Dooku dips his head, putting out a datapad and holocommunicator. "Here. He wrote what he wants you to say." Anakin takes them gingerly, swallowing hard. Even now, his master's grip is tight. "You can send a message to Senator Amidala if you wish," Dooku offers.

Anakin brightens. He knows that Padme must be worried – if not upset – over everything. Maybe he can explain himself, so she won't hate him. "Thank you," he says gratefully, stepping back into the cell and sitting on the floor as he looks at the message on the datapad. He clenches his jaw, forcibly unclenching his mechanical fingers so he doesn't break it. How could Sidious dare ask him to say something like this?

"This – I – how can he do this?!" Anakin explodes, throwing it across the room hard enough that it would have broken had it hit the wall. Dooku catches it using a Force, a sigh escaping him.

"He knew it would not be well received, but he's testing you, Anakin," Dooku warns him, placing the datapad on the floor beside him. Anakin glares down at it, as though it's the machine's fault it contains such a message.

"How do I fake it?" Anakin mumbles miserably.

"How did you pretend to be neutral towards the Jedi when you were with Senator Amidala?" Dooku asks. "I know you can do it. I have faith in you."

Anakin lets his head thump back into the wall. "This is wonderful," he states flatly, ignoring Obi-Wan's concerned expression. "Well, carry on. Is there anymore news to deliver?" He waves an arm in Dooku's direction.

"No, but it would be better for all our sakes if you record that message sooner rather than later." He can sense Dooku's apprehension and is suddenly reminded of his vision last night.

"I – I had a vision," he tells him quietly, exhaling slowly. "We were planning something. All of us. You, me, Asajj, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka, but somehow Sidious figured something out. He attacked us, and I think we all died."

The ensuing silence is strained. "We can only trust in the Force," Dooku murmurs heavily. Anakin doesn't miss the startled look Obi-Wan gives him. Honestly, he's surprised himself. He knows that's a very Jedi-like philosophy. Sighing, he picks up the datapad and rescans the message, mentally preparing himself to make an authentic recording.

**w**

"Padme, I know everything that happened is a bit of a shock. I'm sure you're upset with me for having kept all this a secret. I wanted to tell you," Anakin confesses, shaking his head slightly, gaze going distant. "I wanted to tell you that I was trained so much, but I was scared. I was scared the Jedi would take me away from you. Dooku – he met me. He trained me. I didn't know he was planning to go against the Republic, or I wouldn't have accepted his offer."

He lets out a ragged breath, slumping against cell wall. "He was friends with the Chancellor," he continues, "When we met, I was so happy he showed an interest in me. He didn't reject me like the Jedi. He encouraged me to embrace my abilities and use them for good. Now, I can see that he only wanted me to be his apprentice, but he did teach me. He's been nothing but kind to me, and even knowing who and what he is, I still care for him."

"Angel, I – I love you so much, but I had to do what I did. I couldn't stand by and watch the Jedi do something as horribly immoral as murdering a father before his young son. I don't regret it, even if it's brought me a world of pain." And it's the complete and honest truth. He might regret many things but trying to save Jango isn't one of them.

"I don't know what will happen now or how long I'll have to stay in hiding, but I'll miss you every second I'm away. I could understand if you never wanted to see me again, but Force, I really hope that's not the case." He laughs mirthlessly, unable to even fake a hopeful look in his eyes. He knows what he looks like now. He's seen the broken, hopeless look on his face before, sometimes when he couldn't sleep after a mission, and he stayed up hiding in the 'fresher because he didn't want to face anyone.

"Never doubt that I love you, Angel," Anakin whispers. "That's the only thing I can promise I've never lied about. I truly and deeply love you, and that will never change." He ends the recording, numbly handing the datapad back to Dooku before sending the recordings to the recipients. His stomach twists painfully when he sends the message to Sidious, and he feels sick. How he managed to pull it off, he doesn't know. He can only hope that it was sufficient.

Please, please protect my mother and Padme, he silently begs the Force. If they remain safe, he can handle whatever Sidious throws at him. He shudders before passing the holocommunicator back to Dooku, unwilling to meet the older man's eyes, even as he takes the device.

"You did well, Anakin," Dooku tells him quietly. "I think Sidious will be happy."

"For once," Anakin spits out bitterly.

Dooku seems to be on the verge of speaking, but he sighs before activating the ray shield and leaving the dungeon. They'll be here until Sidious arrives. Who knows how many days or weeks – or dare he say months? – that will be? He distracts himself by thinking about Padme, wondering what she'll think when she gets the message. She won't be able to reply, since it was deliberately sent as untraceable, but maybe – there's a chance he might hear something. It's not as though his seeming betrayal of the Jedi is being ignored by the galaxy.

**w**

Padme keeps her expression impassive despite the waves of confusion and uncertainty nagging at her. She can worry about the message she received from Anakin later, after her meeting with the Chancellor. As hard as she tries, she can't seem to shake away the image of him. She's never seen such desperation in his eyes. He looked – he looked for a moment like he's seen all the horrors the galaxy has to offer, and she shudders to think of what that might mean.

Has he been mistreated? He said that Dooku was nothing but kind to him, but she doesn't know if she can believe that. Nothing in Anakin's body language indicated that he was lying though. Maybe he was telling the truth, and if he was, then who has been hurting him? She knows what that look meant, and she won't accept any denials. He was raised on Naboo. How in the name of the Force could he have been hurt there? Does the Chancellor know? Somehow, she doubts it. He always seemed to enjoy Anakin's company. He's not the type of person to hurt a child.

Around and around her thoughts fly, leaving her no closer to solving the mystery. Truthfully, she isn't sure how to feel about everything which has just happened. She's definitely hurt that Anakin kept such a secret from her. He knows how she feels about secrets, leading her to wonder if he had a good reason for doing so. Never doubt that I love you, Angel. What else could he have lied about? Everything? She doesn't know, and she's not sure she even wants to know.

"Senator," Chancellor Palpatine's voice breaks into her thoughts. She looks up, giving him a polite, yet welcoming smile as he motions for her to enter his office. "I'm so glad you're here, my dear," he adds warmly, though there's a strained note in his voice. "This has all been very disturbing to say the least."

"I'm sure," she murmurs moving inside, pausing with mild surprise when she sees two Jedi there. They're Masters Windu and Yoda if she remembers correctly. "I don't know what to make of the most recent turn of events," she confesses quietly.

He gives her a look, promising that they'll talk about it later before moving to his desk and sitting down. "Masters Windu and Yoda, I am glad you could join us," he declares as Padme sits down, waiting to see what he has to say. "I felt I should invite you here after I received a recorded message from my son." Padme stiffens when she hears his words. What did Anakin say to him that he felt he needed to share with the Jedi?

"Where did the transmission come from?" asks Windu.

"I have asked my security to trace it, but it appears it was sent through an encoded channel. I don't believe we will be able to find a location," Palpatine answers regretfully.

"Show us the message you should," Yoda tells him.

"Of course," Palpatine agrees, pushing a few buttons and leaning back in his chair as the holographic recording begins playing.

Padme can't help but lean forward slightly as Anakin's image appears. Outwardly, he looks the same as he did in the message she received, but as she studies his face, she gets the feeling that something is different. "Chancellor," Anakin tips his head slightly in respect, "I apologize for taking up your time, but I felt that I needed to apologize. It was not my intent to cause you trouble. I know you are deeply concerned for me, but I am safe."

Anakin pauses, looking down as though embarrassed. "I should have told you that Count Dooku was training me to be a dark sider," he admits. "After everything you've done for me, it was wrong to keep it secret. I didn't realize what he was planning until I saw him on Geonosis. I'm sure you've heard rumors about what happened, but please, do not believe them."

Padme glances briefly at the Jedi, who are watching impassively. "When I attacked that Jedi, it was not because I'm against them, but because what he was doing was wrong," Anakin continues, voice steady. "He killed an unarmed man with a young son. The Jedi are supposed to be protectors, and I fail to see how they could condone such cold-hearted actions. Seeing the kind of people their Order produces, I can declare with assurance that I am glad I am not one of them. Their actions were outrageous."

"And I want you to know that I kidnapped no one," he adds quietly, glancing at someone who isn't in the recording with a soft, genuine smile. "They're glad to be here with me. They want to be here with me." Looking at his expression, Padme senses that he's telling the truth, however unbelievable it is. She's heard, of course, that Anakin has been accused of kidnapping two Jedi in addition to killing another.

Anakin looks straight ahead again, an expression of resolute determination on his face. "I am loyal to the Republic, Chancellor. I want to help in any way I can. Dooku didn't just betray the Republic. He betrayed me personally, and that's not something I can forgive him for." He lets out a long, quiet breath as though he's trying to recall what else he needed to say. "When the time comes, I will be there to help you however I can."

With those final words, the recording ends, leaving the office in a subdued, yet thoughtful silene. "A grave mistake we have made," Yoda finally states, ears drooping slightly, "Trained the boy we should have."

"With all due respect, he has been far happier away from the Jedi," Palpatine interjects. "I know how much he loves his mother and Senator Amidala, and I have come to understand that you would not have permitted him to follow his heart."

"Exceptions we could have made," the Grandmaster insists, ignoring the sharp look Windu gives him. "Into the Sith's hands he has fallen."

"Master Yoda, are you saying that Anakin is in danger?" worries Padme. She finds it hard to accept the possibility, as though they're just words which have no baring on reality. There's a lot you don't know, things I can't very well tell you. Anakin's words on Geonosis enter her mind. Was he trying to tell her something?

"Yes. Yes. In grave danger young Skywalker is," insists Yoda.

"From himself," Windu clarifies coolly. "He was trained by a Sith, and we have no reason to believe that he is not a Sith as well. It would explain a number of discrepancies as well as reported sightings." He glances between her and Palpatine. "Skywalker murdered Master Unduli on Geonosis but spared her Padawan. When I fought him, he was drawing heavily on the Dark Side, and I cannot imagine he could be anything other than a Sith. He threatened to murder Padawan Tano. She is in grave danger as we speak, despite his denials."

Padme narrows her eyes, trying to ignore how hard it is to hear these things. Ani – sweet, brave, loyal Ani – couldn't possibly be a murderer at heart. No. She knew him when he was a child. He was so helpful, so determined, so caring. Those things do not make a murderer. As she considers the evidence, she begins to wonder with a sinking feeling if she hasn't missed something huge. That's the only thing I can promise I've never lied about. So, the million-credit question is, what else did he lie about?

"Is there evidence?" demands Palpatine, frowning. "There was a battle raging all around, and it would not be impossible to have misunderstood his intentions."

Windu is shaking his head even before the Chancellor finishes speaking. "Even if we were wrong then, there is other evidence. Several months ago, Jedi Knight Nahdar Vebb was killed, and someone caught a glimpse of the assassin." He meets Palpatine's gaze evenly. "The description matches that of your son. We have no doubt that he was responsible."

Padme blanches. An assassin? Anakin? It seems so wrong. Even Palpatine seems shaken at the news. "If you are so certain, then I can try to trust your judgement, but I must admit that I have serious reservations. I have trusted my son implicitly for years, and he has never let me down nor indicated any inclinations to do evil. He has shown nothing but compassion and understanding towards others."

"I must say that I agree," Padme interjects. "My fiancé has been nothing but caring towards me. The Trade Federation, which is part of the Separatist Alliance, wants me dead, and Anakin has protected me from the recent attempts on my life."

"Be that as it may, but there is still uncertainty as to his motives and allegiance," Windu points out. "We will be searching for him, and if he appears in any Republic territory, we must know."

"A grave danger young Skywalker has become," Yoda agrees, though there's a hint of reluctance in his voice. "A grave threat to himself and the galaxy."

Padme shakes her head, pressing her lips together. "I find it hard to believe," she demurs, "That Anakin would do anything as cold-hearted as you're saying. He cares for Padawan Tano. I saw it with my own eyes. He would never try to harm her."

"This entire situation has become extremely distressing to me," Palpatine murmurs. "My advisors have suggested that I take a short break for around a week to recover. I will, of course, continue my duties."

"That would be for the best, Chancellor," Padme agrees quickly. "When do you intend to go?"

"I was thinking in a couple weeks," he replies slowly, turning back to the Jedi. "It has been enlightening to speak with you. If you have any more concerns, please feel free to share them."

"Of course, Chancellor," Windu responds, bowing respectfully before leaving the office with Yoda right behind him. Padme watches them go with mixed feelings. She needs to spend some time considering what she has learned. If Anakin is really a Sith, then there's plenty she must rethink. She thought she knew him, but what if she didn't know him at all?

Chapter Text

Obi-Wan doesn't even need the Force to know that Anakin doesn't want to talk after he finishes the recordings. Ahsoka seems to sense it also, because she's being unusually quiet, though she can't stop fidgeting. It's probably been an hour when Obi-Wan finally breaks the silence and begins regaling them with tales from his time as a Padawan and his adventures and mishaps with Qui-Gon. He even tells them stories his master had told him about his time as a Padawan with Dooku. It keeps them entertained for a while, and at least Anakin isn't brooding anymore.

He keeps the mood as light as possible given the situation, and it seems to help. Anakin doesn't feel as troubled as he did earlier, and his expression isn't quite as haunted. All Obi-Wan wants to do is help him, make things better, but he doesn't know how. The Jedi never trained him how to treat others who have been hurt as badly as Anakin has been. In this situation, Jedi advice won't help.

While Obi-Wan knows that, he doesn't know how normal people would approach the situation. What would someone tell Anakin which might help him? Or would they say anything at all? How can he comfort Anakin when he seems so unwilling to admit that he needs their help? Last night… that was one time, and he's honestly not sure if Anakin would appreciate it if he did it again. Or maybe he would. He seems like the kind of person who prefers physical demonstrations of affection. Maybe it's the only way he can really forget the abuse he's endured.

Obi-Wan stares into the mirror in the 'fresher, wondering how he got stuck in this situation, not that he minds being here to help Anakin. He does want to. It's just that he feels completely inadequate. He's not at all equipped to help anyone emotionally. If there's anything about him which is a fact, it's that he doesn't give up. So, he won't. Sighing, he steps back into the cell, raising an eyebrow when he sees Anakin pacing back and forth. Well, that's progress. At least he's moving around now.

Time has no meaning here, and it could just as easily be mid-afternoon as sunset. It's probably later in the day. If his internal clock is accurate, Dooku should be arriving soon with a meal. "I've trained minorly with Force healing," Obi-Wan comments, bringing Anakin to a halt. "I think I could probably help your mother as soon as I have a chance."

He knows that he'll never be allowed off Serenno unless he uses the Dark Side, but can he really do it? Let it taint him? Looking at the glimmer of hope in Anakin's eyes, hope he quickly tries to hide, Obi-Wan knows the answer is yes. That doesn't mean that opening himself up to it will be easy, especially at first. He'll have to talk to Dooku and ask him to explain more about it.

"Sidious won't let you get near her, at least not for a while," Anakin points out, leaning against the wall and sliding down to sit on the floor. Obi-Wan only hesitates a moment before crossing over and sitting next to him.

"I know," Obi-Wan murmurs, "I know, but we can plan in advance. It's the least we can do. Maybe Dooku can help when we get to a better position."

Anakin mutters something under his breath, and the only words Obi-Wan catches are "hopelessly optimistic." The derision in his voice seems mostly superficial, but even if it's not, Obi-Wan finds that he doesn't mind too much. Anakin has been through enough that his scorn is certainly understandable.

Giving him a sideways glance, Obi-Wan shifts closer, lightly bumping Anakin's shoulder with his own. If Anakin is surprised by the gesture, he doesn't show it. If anything, he seems to relax imperceptibly. Obi-Wan lets out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. He doubts that Anakin will be very likely to start healing down here, but maybe after they leave, maybe he'll be able to reach him.

***

After a while, Obi-Wan runs out of stories to tell, leaving everyone in relative silence until night. As she rolls around on the floor, Ahsoka feels an unjustified resentment towards both Obi-Wan and Anakin. They're both sleeping soundly, lying back-to-back with one another. Truthfully, she was mildly surprised that Anakin didn't object when Obi-Wan laid down so close to him. Maybe he wants comfort far more than he's willing to admit.

She really should sleep, but every time she drifts off, she finds herself having nightmares. Shuddering she pushes away the sensation of bony fingers grabbing her shoulder while yellow eyes pierce into her. Everything has been so stressful recently, that it's finally catching up. She wishes she weren't alone here, but there's really nothing she can do. Not until morning anyways.

These cells were only meant to hold one person, but she doesn't really think Anakin or Obi-Wan would mind if she asked to be transferred over there. Being trapped over here is only giving her nightmares. Yes, as soon as Dooku comes down here, she'll talk to him.

Ahsoka must have fallen asleep, because the next thing she knows, she's opening her eyes to face the opposite wall. Down the hall, the doors to the dungeon clang open, and she hastily sits up, tossing the blanket aside. It really does get chilly down here, and she suspects it would be far colder if there wasn't any heat. Dooku stops in front of the cell, opening the ray shield to allow the serving droid to bring in a tray of food.

It's now or never. "Um," she begins nervously, uncertain how to address him, "Can I – stay over there?" she finally manages to say, blushing slightly after the words come out.

Dooku studies her, but he doesn't seem surprised by the offer. He's almost acting as though he'd expected it. "Anakin?" he asks, turning towards the other cell. Ahsoka carefully avoids looking over and meeting Anakin's gaze. She can feel his eyes scrutinizing her.

"I don't care," he replies flatly.

Dooku shrugs slightly. "Then come on. It will be crowded, so I hope you don't mind."

"Not in particular," she answers cheerfully, hopping to her feet and stepping out of the cell. It would be so easy to throw Dooku at the ray shield and make a run for it, but then, she'd be abandoning Anakin. She promised herself she would never do that, and it's a promise she won't break. Instead, she calmly steps into the opposite cell, scooting over to a corner and sitting down to pick at her morning meal.

She hardly notices when Dooku leaves, keeping her gaze focused on the plate in her hands. What kind of food is this anyways? She's never seen anything like it. It doesn't matter. She eats it anyways, hoping no one asks her why she was so eager to come over here. A hope, of course, which is promptly shattered.

"Nightmares?" Obi-Wan probes gently.

"Sort of," she mumbles, shoving food into her mouth. It has a really weird texture. And taste. "It's too stressful to be over there," she adds after swallowing.

"I know the feeling," Anakin comments dryly. She sneaks a glance at him, but he doesn't seem any more willing to meet her gaze than she was to meet his a few minutes ago. She stirs at the gooey substance before putting more into her mouth.

"I'm going to get claustrophobic if I stay here much longer," she mumbles.

There's a heartbeat of silence. "I already am," Anakin murmurs. She doesn't miss the way Obi-Wan moves closer to Anakin after that declaration, as though his presence will help soothe him. It probably will. She already feels better being this close to them.

"Well, if we'll be in here for the indefinite future, perhaps we could do something to help pass the time," Obi-Wan suggests.

Anakin looks up, a gleam in his eyes. The last time he had that look was on Naboo before he started teaching her to deflect blaster bolts using the Force. That begs the question, what is he up to now? She's pleased to see him lightening up. It was becoming very depressing to feel him so downcast all the time.

"I will teach you to deflect Force lightning," Anakin declares.

"A useful technique I imagine," Obi-Wan remarks wryly.

"I've never shown Sidious I can do it," Anakin confesses, suddenly seeming uncertain. "I don't think he would be happy if he knew. It wasn't that hard to figure out, honestly. Especially not after I learned to deflect blaster bolts with my hands."

"Really?" Ahsoka perks up. "Does that mean that I'll find it easier to learn than Master Obi-Wan?" Calling him that instead of "master" seems right in a way she can't quite explain. If Obi-Wan notices, he doesn't comment.

"Possibly," Anakin chuckles quietly, "So, Snips, are you up to the challenge?"

"Of course!" she exclaims, shoving the last bite in her mouth and abandoning the tray in the corner. "What do I do? How do I start?"

"Patience," Anakin reminds her. "One thing at a time."

"When we have a blaster handy, you need to show me the technique for deflecting blaster bolts," Obi-Wan tells Anakin.

"It's easier than deflecting Force lighting," Anakin reminds him as he stands up. "It'll be safer like this." Ahsoka leaps to her feet, standing opposite him. Looking at Anakin now, it's as though he's forgotten – or pushed aside – everything which has been tormenting him for so long. She could easily get used to this playful side of him, if only it would last.

***

"Gather the Force to shield your hand, just like you did with the blaster bolt," Anakin instructs, holding up his left hand in preparation. "I'll start small – really small. Remember, this is different because the lightning is being created by the Force. Either you can deflect it into the walls or whatever is around you, or you can reabsorb it back into the Force."

"Which is easier?" Ahsoka wonders.

"It depends," Anakin replies, "If you're being attacked by weak lightning, absorption is easier. If it's really powerful, like what Sidious will do, deflecting is easier, especially if you're combining the two techniques. It's all part of the Force, Ahsoka. Remember that."

"I'm ready," she announces, holding her hands in front of her. Anakin can sense her drawing in the Light Side, so he sends a powerful spark flying towards her from his fingertips. "That – ouch!" she yelps, jumping back and shaking her left hand. "Shield failed," she grumbles.

Anakin snorts quietly. "Yes, that happened to me quite a bit," he admits, thinking back to his training with Dooku. "It's a harder concept to grasp than blaster bolt deflection. It requires a stronger connection to the Force."

"Can you deflect anything?" Obi-Wan questions.

"Possibly." Anakin thinks over his power and how much he's managed to accomplish. "There's a lot I can do, but there's also a lot I can't do. I probably could stop a missile from a fighter, though I've never actually tried. With time, I know there won't be many people who could stand up against me, regardless of their weapons of choice."

Obi-Wan looks at him contemplatively. "I believe it," he says at last. "I can sense how powerful you are, and how powerful you can be, but you don't need to strengthen yourself to your full potential. Once we leave, you won't have to fight unless you want to."

Anakin looks away, thinking over his life. "I've never done anything but fight," he confesses softly. "I don't know how to live without it."

"Then we can help you, Skyguy." Ahsoka's voice is quiet, and she gives him a soft, sincere smile when he looks at her. "Even if I miraculously managed to leave right now, I don't think I would want to go back to the Order, not after seeing what happened with you."

He cannot remember the last time anyone said something remotely similar. He's done nothing to deserve loyalty like that from her or Obi-Wan, but here they are. He pushes the thought aside, deciding to get back to it later. For now, he has someone to teach. "Are you ready?" he queries, raising his left hand again. He doesn't want to lose the lightness in the atmosphere by contemplating his messed-up life.

"Yes," Ahsoka answers confidently, holding up her hands, palms outward again. "Go ahead." And Anakin does. When the spark strikes her palm, it flickers before dwindling into nothing. "That. Was. Awesome," she breathes, clearly in awe of what she just did.

"Let me try," suggests Obi-Wan, moving to stand next to her. "I can see what she's doing." Anakin flicks a spark of electricity in his direction. To his credit, Obi-Wan manages to absorb it on his first try.

"Would it be possible for us to produce lightning?" Ahsoka asks curiously.

Anakin nods. "You don't have to use the Dark Side for it. It simply requires channeling the Force into a physical form. It's often associated with the Dark Side and Sith because it causes immense pain." He doesn't miss the intrigued expression on Ahsoka's face.

"No, I don't think we should learn it," Obi-Wan interjects before she has a chance to say anything. "It's –" he pauses, clearly uncomfortable though he's trying to formulate an explanation. "It feels too dark for my liking," he finishes.

That shouldn't be true. Force lightning requires someone to have a basic grasp of both sides of the Force, but it's not dark by nature. Then again, Obi-Wan has probably only seen it when they were on the way to Serenno. Oh. Well, his opinion is understandable. Anakin shoves away the memories. Now is not the time to remember his punishments. "I understand," Anakin replies, carefully steering the conversation away from the potentially sensitive topic. "Do you want to keep practicing?"

"Yes," Ahsoka replies quickly.

"I sense in the Force that the knowledge may be useful," Obi-Wan agrees.

Anakin lights up. "Then, let's continue!" He takes up his position again and begins releasing small sparks from his fingertips. He could do this for a while without growing tired. Showing off Force techniques – for fun and not survival – is certainly very enjoyable. He could do it for days without stopping. That's probably for the best. They'll be here for days anyways.

***

"Enter." Sidious' voice rasps out, echoing faintly through the hall and sending shivers down Anakin's spine. His stomach is twisted with anxiety as he pushes open the door and steps through into his master's office.

"Lord Vader, the time has come," Sidious declares pleasantly, a hint of malice in his tone. A grin satisfaction twists his lips into a dark smile. "I present you with a choice. Someone will die, and it is up to you to decide who." Anakin hardly saw him move, but he's suddenly standing next to him, turning him around to face the other side of the room.

Only training keeps him from reacting when he sees his mother standing on one side and Obi-Wan and Ahsoka on the other. "They do not accept the power of the Dark Side," Sidious explains, motioning to the pair, almost as though reading Anakin's thoughts. "They are a potential threat to our future." He pauses, stalking around Anakin like a predator. "So, who do you choose to save, Lord Vader?" His smile is cruel.

"No," whispers Anakin faintly. He should have known it would come to this. Sidious had hinted as much. He was so stupid. He should have done something – anything – but now, it's too late. He looks between them, almost uncomprehendingly. This isn't – he can't choose something like that. Not for family.

"I grow impatient," hisses Sidious lifting up his hand and showing Anakin something. A transmitter. It's the transmitter for the implant in his mother's body. With sickening horror, Anakin knows what Sidious is going to do. He pushes the button.

"No!" screams Anakin, jerking awake. He stares dazedly up at the ceiling.

"Anakin?" Obi-Wan's gentle voice breaks through the whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. Seconds later, Anakin feels a hand on his shoulder, grounding him and keeping him from spiraling into panic. "It's alright, Anakin. It was only a nightmare." His tone is soothing, as his fingers rub a calming pattern on Anakin's shoulder.

Anakin groans quietly, pushing himself into a sitting position and nudging Ahsoka's legs off his own. Really. How does she always manage to end up on top of him during the night? She must move around a lot. "Skyguy," she mumbles, opening an eye and peering blearily up at him. A second later, she's moved back into her own spot on the floor. "Sorry."

He waves it off, having other things on his mind. Obi-Wan wraps an arm around him, pulling him closer almost protectively. He accepts it, just like he's done every time for the past couple weeks. Part of him can hardly believe that they've been trapped in here for two weeks. Instead of it being depressing, the experience turned out to be far more positive. But now, Sidious is coming. Dooku told them that he'll be here tomorrow. That's probably why he's having nightmares again.

His mother. Dying. He feels an ache deep inside of him at the thought, something threatening to shatter irreparably. He can't let it happen no matter what he must do to prevent it. When Sidious comes, he'll be good. He'll do everything which is expected of him and more if it means protecting everyone. This won't be for forever. It'll just be until they have a chance to leave.

Ahsoka sits up, scooting closer and staring at him with something akin to worry in her blue eyes. "Are you alright now?" she questions quietly.

"I will be, Snips," he answers finally, resting his head on Obi-Wan's shoulder and just being. His brother and his sister. The two most recent people to join his very dysfunctional family.

"Don't worry too much," Obi-Wan murmurs. "We've prepared as best we can. There's nothing else we can do."

"I'm not worried about being underprepared if Sidious figures out what we're up to," Anakin mumbles numbly. "I'm worried about what if he decides to –" he chokes on the word, "– to eliminate someone."

"That's what happened in your nightmare," Ahsoka deduces, and he nods.

"He – Sidious was upset that you wouldn't use the Dark Side," he tells them.

Complete silence greets his words, and Ahsoka finally lays a comforting hand on his arm. "Despite everything you and Dooku have said, it still feels… wrong, but," she adds quickly to forestall any arguments, "If what you said about Sidious is anything to go by, I imagine he'll force me to get over my reluctance."

Anakin doesn't miss how Obi-Wan flinches almost imperceptibly at her words. "We'll get through this together," he assures them, "And come out even stronger for it." Somehow, Anakin doubts it will be nearly that simple.

Chapter Text

Anakin had been preparing for this moment, but that doesn't stop a tremor of raw fear from running through him when Dooku comes to the dungeon with the news that Sidious is expecting them. Hopefully, the past couple weeks have given his master time to calm down from Anakin's most recent transgressions. Hopefully. Theoretically, any normal person would be calm, but theoretically doesn't apply to murderous Sith Lords.

"Be careful," Dooku warns as they file out of the cell. It wasn't nearly as hard to adjust to being in a small space with two other people as Anakin had thought. Ironically, the past two weeks have probably been one of the first times he actually managed to feel remotely human for a while. "Sidious is not in a good mood."

"When is he ever?" quips Obi-Wan. Dooku ignores the joke, but Ahsoka's lips quirk into a smile. Anakin feels fleeting amusement which is quickly quelled at the Count's next words.

"He came with a number of prisoners," Dooku cautions. Obi-Wan and Ahsoka look at him in confusion. They don't know what that means. Of course, they don't. Anakin feels a knot of terror twist up inside of him. What will Sidious want him to do this time? Become his own personal torture droid? Please, no. Not again.

Dooku casts him a look but doesn't say anything else as he stops outside the doors to the training room. They slide open, revealing the interior. In the center of the room stands Sidious. Anakin steps past Obi-Wan and Ahsoka, moving to kneel in front of him. "Master," he says submissively.

"Rise, Lord Vader." Sidious motions to him, and he obeys the order. "I am here to demonstrate to these weak Jedi the power of the Dark Side."

Had it been two weeks ago, Anakin knows Ahsoka would have started arguing, but after having been with him for so long, she clearly realizes verbal resistance will only prolong the inevitable and make it far worse. She remains silent, though he can see her stiffen. Obi-Wan remains where he is, posture and expression completely impassive. Anakin considers it a demonstration of Jedi calm.

"Bring in the prisoners, Lord Tyrannus," orders Sidious.

"As you wish, my Master," Dooku replies, immediately leaving the room. The tension in the air is nearly palpable.

"You have been misled for years by the Jedi ideology," Sidious begins, the hood over his head shielding most of his face from view. His yellow eyes dart between Obi-Wan and Ahsoka. Anakin slowly exhales, clasping his hands behind his back as he remains on alert. "The Jedi do not understand the power of the Dark Side. Today, I want you to taste that power and join the new, rising Sith Empire."

"Have you nothing to say?" he queries as no one speaks, chuckling darkly. "I am surprised. I thought that as Jedi, you would at least defend the Order."

"I have nothing to say to you," Ahsoka grinds out.

"You will speak to me with respect, child," Sidious spits out. Ahsoka's eyes widen a fraction of an inch, and she hastily averts her gaze to the titled floor.

"How would you wish us address you?" Obi-Wan asks, tone neutral.

Sidious narrows his eyes as though trying to gauge if Obi-Wan is making fun of him. "My Lord," Anakin answers before Sidious has the chance. His master doesn't even spare him a glance.

"And in time, you will call me 'master,'" Sidious adds with satisfaction.

Anakin can almost hear Ahsoka's rebellious thoughts, but she wisely keeps them to herself. Sidious turns as the doors slide open. Dooku steps through, followed by three beings who are being ushered along by MagnaGuards. Anakin scrutinizes them silently. Two of them are Zygerians. The other is a Trandoshan. So, it's a group of random, likely underworld, prisoners. They're led to the center of the room, MagnaGuards taking up positions on all sides.

"The Zygerians are slavers," Sidious announces, "And the Trandoshan is a bounty hunter. Under Republic law, they should die." He crosses his arms, an aura of malevolence surrounding him as he looks between Obi-Wan and Ahsoka. "Kill them," he orders.

"What?" Ahsoka squeaks, eyes widening in horror.

He turns on her. "Take the lightsaber and kill the Trandoshan," he instructs. At his words, Dooku unclips his lightsaber and silently holds it out towards her.

Ahsoka takes a step back. "I – I can't," she stammers, shaking her head.

Sidious makes a disgusted noise, whirling to look at Anakin. "Break his neck. Slowly."

Anakin doesn't look at anyone as he clenches his right hand. The Trandoshan is lifted into the air gasping and choking for breath. He claws at his neck as he struggles to draw in enough oxygen to breath. In the Force, Anakin can feel Ahsoka's muted shock as she watches, clearly unable to look away. "They will die regardless of whether you choose to do it," Sidious informs Ahsoka with satisfaction, "But it is up to you to decide if they will suffer or not."

No one speaks, and the only noise in the room for next couple minutes is the Trandoshan trying to breath as he slowly suffocates. Finally, Anakin drops the limp, lifeless body to the ground. "Do you now see what happens when you do not follow orders?" Sidious asks maliciously, stepping closer to Ahsoka. She flinches under his gaze. Anakin looks away. She doesn't deserve this, but he knows that once she willingly touches the Dark Side, it will be over.

Dooku's lightsaber flies to Sidious' hand, and the Sith steps right up to Ahsoka, holding it out to her. "Take this and end their lives." She stares at it frozen and unmoving. She doesn't protest verbally, but her lack of response is answer enough.

Snarling quietly, Sidious turns back towards Anakin. "Electrocute him," he snaps, motioning to one of the Zygerians. Ahsoka inhales sharply and glances towards Obi-Wan who seems as troubled as she is, though he's hiding it far better.

Anakin doesn't hesitate, delving into the Dark Side so his eyes bleed yellow. Atrocities are far easier like this. He raises his left hand, unhesitatingly blasting lightning at the hapless prisoner. He forces himself to tune out the screams and pleas. In a few minutes, it will be over. He repeats that silently, ignoring the emotions bleeding into the Force from the others. Initially, electrocuting someone to death was as much a punishment for Anakin as for the person being killed, but now, he's grown used to it as much as he can be.

"Now you understand, young Padawan," murmurs Sidious, eyes boring into Ahsoka. "Lord Vader, kill the other."

Anakin turns, preparing to carry through with the instruction, when Ahsoka's voice cuts him off. "Don't!" she cries.

"Then will you do it yourself?" Sidious demands.

Ahsoka doesn't answer, but she lifts a shaking hand and grasps the lightsaber, slowly walking towards the prisoner. She stops six feet away from him and ignites the saber. Anakin can almost taste her hesitation and horror at what she's about to do. He wants to stop her, but he knows that to do so would be suicidal. If nothing else, he can help her get through the trauma which follows. For the longest moment, Ahsoka stares at the blade before lifting it and cutting off the man's head. The lifeless body crumples to the floor with a resounding thud.

She stumbles back, lightsaber falling from her hand, a wave of horror rippling out into the Force. Sidious cackles darkly. "Good. Very good. It was necessary, my dear," he consoles her. The words echo through Anakin's mind, reminding him of what Sidious had told him when he first started killing people.

" I know it's hard," Sidious tells him, resting a hand on his shoulder, yellow eyes staring down at him with none of the compassion his words are expressing. "It will become easier with time. No one likes to kill, but you must understand, Anakin, that sometimes, it's necessary."

Anakin had tried to believe him, but soon, after he'd murdered unarmed children Sidious had presented to him, the words no longer had any meaning. Necessary. There was nothing necessary about it. Sometimes – sometimes he thinks he can hear the young Twilek's sobs in the dead of night as she begged Sidious to spare her life.

It was monstrous. He's a monster for doing it, even if he only did so under duress to keep his mother alive. And he's a monster for undoubtedly forcing Ahsoka to undergo the same treatment. If only she would understand that it's necessary for her to use the Dark Side. She's already undergone training as a Jedi, and her guilt over doing something against the Jedi's principles will keep her firmly with them. Sidious has instructed him repeatedly on the best, fastest way to break a Jedi. Guilt.

"Lord Tyrannus, clean up the mess and bring in two of the others," Sidious commands.

Dooku silently tips his head in acknowledgment, turning towards service droids hovering on the side. "Dispose the bodies," he instructs, using the Force to activate them. They whir to life, and Anakin looks away as they drag the bodies out. He's seen it happen so many times, but that doesn't make it any easier to watch. It sickens him every single time, no matter how much the beings had deserved it.

Anakin remains still for the next couple minutes as they wait for Dooku to return with two more prisoners. Something about the way Sidious said it was different. That's when it dawns on him. They aren't the same type of people. They're probably innocent victims. The thought sickens him, and he feels a protective instinct surge up. Ahsoka shouldn't have to kill innocent beings, but he doesn't have a say in the matter.

All too soon, Dooku returns, accompanied by two men wearing uniforms. One look at them makes his blood run cold. Clones. They're Jango's clones. This is going to be harder than he'd initially thought. He inhales slowly, drawing in the Dark Side enough to make him feel like a black hole of nothingness to the touch. He can get through this. He will get through this.

"These clones were captured on Geonosis," Sidious declares pleasantly. "Now, they will be executed." He pauses, eyes turning not to Ahsoka, but to Obi-Wan. "Master Kenobi, would you like to do the honors?"

"They're prisoners of war!" Obi-Wan exclaims in disbelief. "They're soldiers of the Republic. You're the Chancellor. They're part of your army. How can you do this?"

Anakin pretends not to notice the two men stiffening at Obi-Wan's words, expressions of betrayal flashing across their faces. He looks away, unwilling to watch them. He cannot, under any circumstances, start viewing them as people. They're prisoners to be executed. That's all.

Sidious chuckles darkly. "My army," he echoes slowly, almost as though enjoying a private joke. He is. Anakin knows that the clones are implanted with chips to make them blindly obedient if triggered. Dooku had told him about it. "Yes, you're absolutely right. They are my personal army, and I can do whatever I please with them. I want you to kill them."

Obi-Wan raises his head defiantly. "No. It is not the Jedi way. It is immoral, not to mention illegal. It goes against the principles of the Republic."

"A Republic which will fall," snarls Sidious stepping forward menacingly. "Very well. If you won't do it, someone else will." He turns towards Ahsoka, and Anakin winces sympathetically. He remembers what this was like, and it was never a pleasant feeling. "Show your strength where your master cannot."

Ahsoka takes a step back, flinching. Her wide blue eyes look towards the prisoners, and she mutely shakes her head. "So, then you are willing to subject them to untold pain," Sidious spits, gaze drifting to Anakin. "Lord Vader, electrocute them." Anakin catches the challenging gleam in his master's eyes, and immediately knows that this is a personal test, one he will not fail.

"It would be my pleasure," he murmurs, raising his left hand. Lightning arches through the air, striking one of the men. He falls to the ground convulsing, screams of agony being ripped from his throat. Revulsion coils within Anakin, but he forces it aside. He has a mission, and missions are important. This isn't for him. It's for his mother, for Padme, for Ahsoka, for Obi-Wan. If he doesn't protect them, they'll be left to Sidious' nonexistent mercies.

"Anakin, stop!" yells Ahsoka finally. He can see her dismay, and Obi-Wan's pinched expression, but he ignores them until Sidious motions to him. The barrage ceases, his hand falling back to his side. For one eternally long second, his master studies Ahsoka from beneath his hood; the entire room is silent save for the prisoner's panted breaths.

"I can feel your disgust," murmurs Sidious, tilting his head. "I can feel your anger. I can feel your self-loathing. Use it. Stop resisting." He extends his hand, and Dooku's lightsaber sails to it. "Take this lightsaber and strike them down. Make yourself one of us."

The ultimatum. If she accepts, she will be forever tainted by the Dark Side. If she resists, the men will suffer needlessly. Dooku stands immobile, expression impassive, but Anakin can sense he's troubled when he meets the older man's eyes. Yes, Anakin wants Ahsoka at his side, wants to train her, but he hadn't thought this far ahead. He'd wanted someone – someone who could understand, perhaps.

Obi-Wan moves as if to say something, but then thinks better of it, clamping his jaw shut. Smart move. If he said anything to contradict Sidious, Anakin suspects he would have been electrocuted. "End it," Sidious whispers in a coaxing tone. "End their suffering. End their pain."

Anakin senses the intent before it actually comes. The second prisoner, who is still standing, lunges towards Sidious, murder in his eyes, and chaos breaks lose. Dooku and Anakin reach out with the Force in unison, throwing him backwards as Sidious whirls, lightning arching towards the unfortunate man. He's thrown hard to the ground, but he manages to shake off the effects with surprising ease.

"I will not be used in your twisted games!" he spits out, glaring furiously at the Sith Lord. "You won't use my life as a bargaining chip to make a child into a murderer!"

Sidious' expression is twisted into rage. Anakin can feel the cold malice darkening the Force all around them. "Teach this clone his place, Lord Vader." That tone means he wants to feel someone's pain. Well, it wouldn't be the first time.

Anakin turns obediently, clenching his right fist and raising the struggling man into the air. He's being choked, but not enough to completely cut off his breath. Anakin drops him on the floor, slamming him backwards into the wall hard enough to break some ribs. To his credit, the clone doesn't even flinch.

"Skywalker, your lightsaber." Dooku's voice is stiff, but Anakin can hear the undercurrent of disgust. The Count does not fancy watching torture – not physical torture anyways. He pulls the lightsaber from where it was hidden out of sight by his cloak and tosses it towards Anakin, who uses the Force to catch it.

Anakin ignites the blood red blade, stalking towards the fallen man. "You have no right to raise a finger against the Chancellor," he hisses, pointing the lightsaber towards him. "Is that clear?"

"I was created with the sole purpose of defending the Republic," the clone retorts, "And I will do my duty. Traitors must be eliminated."

"Lord Sidious is your master," Anakin snarls, the tip of the lightsaber close enough to singe the man's chest. He doesn't even blink.

Despite the humming of imminent death from the red blade, the clone still manages to give Anakin a look of unimpressed disgust and loathing. "All of you are monsters," he states firmly, "Especially if you believe that what you're doing is right."

Anakin gives him a cold smile. "Maybe I am a monster," he agrees, yellow eyes fixed on the clone's face, "But I am a monster who believes that what's being done is for the greater good, even if it is rather… distasteful at times. You will learn your place." He unhesitatingly pushes the lightsaber through the man's shoulder, drawing forth a scream.

"A monster… who will fall…" the clone gasps out, face pale from the pain.

Anakin's grin is cruel. "So quick to make predictions," he murmurs as lightning consumes the man's body. He doesn't stop until he can feel him fading into unconsciousness. Through the Force, he can feel Sidious' satisfaction. Good. Maybe the show will be over now. He turns towards Sidious, clipping his lightsaber back to its rightful place. "What is thy bidding, my master?" he questions respectfully, evoking the ancient Sith phrase.

"You are a most valuable asset, Lord Vader," Sidious says slowly. Is he seriously praising him? That is very unexpected. Those times are far and few between. He turns towards the audience, a contemplative expression on his face. "This could go on for hours. Days. Do you wish to spare them this pain?"

Though he doesn't specify, it's clear the question is being directed towards Ahsoka. Anakin steals a glance, suddenly regretting the brutality he was forced to show. She seems to be on the verge of either fainting or throwing up. Obi-Wan is far paler than he is usually. After a long moment, Ahsoka nods mutely.

"Good." This time, Sidious doesn't chuckle. On the contrary, his tone is flat as he once more holds out Dooku's lightsaber to her.

She takes it, finger running over the ignition switch before she ignites it. Anakin can't control the morbid curiosity which keeps his eyes fixed on her every move as she approaches them. He hears her voice whisper a faint "I'm sorry" as she stands there staring down at them. Then, she swings the lightsaber, painlessly severing their heads.

"Take them back to their cells," Sidious orders, turning to Dooku. Anakin didn't think he'd ever be as glad to hear those words as he is now. He knows it will be a short reprieve – it always is – but it will give all of them some much needed time to process what just happened.

Ahsoka. Curious, cheerful Ahsoka killed two people. And he didn't stop it. Anakin shakes his head roughly, numbly handing his lightsaber back to Dooku as he escorts them from the room. Now, he's not the only one who has to find a way to deal with the crushing guilt. Ahsoka, what did I do to you?

Chapter Text

No one moves until the door to the dungeon swings closed behind Dooku. The click of the lock which echoes faintly down the hall seems to shatter whatever control Anakin has achieved. "Ahsoka?" he whispers, staring at her pleadingly. I'm so sorry. I didn't know he was going to do this to you. I didn't want you to get hurt. Please don't hate me. "Snips," he tries again when she doesn't respond immediately, moving towards her cautiously.

A choked noise escapes her as she steps away, her back hitting the wall. Her legs buckle, and she slides to the floor. "Force, what did I do?" Her voice is barely audible, and she sounds dazed.

"You did what you had to do to survive," Anakin answers immediately, kneeling a few feet from her. "Just like I did."

"Ahsoka," Obi-Wan moves closer, crouching down next to her. "It's okay not to be alright. No one would be."

"But why did I have to do it?" she all but wails, tears beginning to run down her cheeks as she blinks them away furiously. "None of this would have happened if Anakin hadn't kidnapped me in the first place. I would be at the Temple instead of being trapped here with a heartless Sith Lord who wants me to be a monster like him."

"I'm sorry," Anakin mumbles miserably. He leans back against the wall, pulling up his knees and wrapping his arms around them. Somehow, he feels that she wouldn't react very well if he tried to offer comfort to her. In the Force, her emotions are a maelstrom, far too complex to begin understanding, but she's clearly hurting. And it's all his fault.

He watches as Obi-Wan rests a comforting hand on Ahsoka's arm. "We'll work through this, Ahsoka," he says softly. He doesn't say everything will be alright, because it would be a lie. None of them know what will happen, and they can't make predictions like that. Maybe nothing will be alright. Maybe they'll find peace. So many possibilities and no sense of direction.

After a moment, she starts crying in earnest. "I – I – I k-killed them," she sobs.

Obi-Wan rests an arm around her shoulders, but it's Anakin who speaks. "If you hadn't, they would have suffered," he tells her, a resigned note in his voice. "Trust me. I've seen it happen before many times." Too many times.

When she touches him through their weak Force bond, he knows that she needs his comfort now. There are some things Obi-Wan can't help with. Silently, Anakin scoots over to her, sitting cross-legged next to her, his knee touching her leg. "Skyguy." Ahsoka's voice is so quiet, Anakin isn't sure if he heard it through the Force or his ears. "Does it ever get better?" He knows what she's asking. The unfathomable, all-consuming guilt. The knowledge that your actions have snuffed out another living being.

Anakin shifts closer, resting a hand on her back. "Yes and no," he replies finally. "You can learn to accept it perhaps, but with time, there may be so many you can't – won't – remember their faces or how they died." She tilts her head, tear-filled eyes peering at him. In their depths, he can see a self-loathing, a numbness with which he is too familiar.

He leans over, wrapping his arms around her and cradling her close against him. He doesn't move, even when Obi-Wan rests a hand on his shoulder. Part of him can't believe that this is what had to happen. He hadn't planned for it, hadn't expected it, and now, it's as though the days they spent together are nothing more than a distant memory. Anakin finds himself blinking against a sudden onslaught of tears as it finally sinks in that Ahsoka won't be the same. She's lost her innocence now, and though the damage can be repaired, it can never be undone.

***

They're still in the same place when the dungeon door opens at least an hour later, a chill creeping out through the Force. Sidious. Anakin pulls away from the comforting embrace of Ahsoka and Obi-Wan, subconsciously straightening out his robes. To the best of his knowledge, Sidious doesn't even know that they're in the same cell. Please, please let him not insist that they be moved for any reason. He doesn't think he could bear it.

The Sith strides down the hall with a casualness to his step, finally coming to a stop outside the ray shield. He studies them, almost as though their creatures to be experimented on. A slow, malicious smile spreads across his face, sending a chill down Anakin's spine. "Well, I can't say that I'm very surprised," he chuckles darkly. "I should have expected to find you all here. I knew I sensed a bond between you." Somehow, Anakin gets a terrible sense of foreboding.

"Master Kenobi," he continues slowly, "Your weakness has cost your apprentice greatly. I can feel her pain, anger, fear, guilt. She is already lost because of you. Everything that happened was your doing." Sidious shakes his head, gaze drifting past Obi-Wan and towards Ahsoka, who is still sitting in the corner. "You should never have had to experience that, my dear," he tells her in a grandfatherly tone, which only makes Anakin want to run him through with a lightsaber. "It was most unfortunate, but it was necessary."

"It was necessary for nothing except your own sadistic pleasure," Ahsoka spits. Anakin finds himself mildly amused – and horrified – by her spunk. Sidious seems to be in a good mood; hopefully, it will last.

The Sith shakes his head, the same eerie smile never leaving his face. "Oh, my dear, you speak so quickly when you don't even understand."

"I hate it when you call me that!" she yells suddenly, the sudden surge of fury taking Anakin off guard. Force, he can understand it all too well. He had never dared speak like that to his master, but he certainly did experience the same emotions as Ahsoka is after his first murders.

"I will speak to you however I choose," Sidious hisses, threateningly. "I am your master now." Ahsoka glares at him but doesn't push her luck. Smart. It probably wouldn't have ended well if she did. Anakin catches Obi-Wan's uneasy expression, and a closer scrutiny tells him that something is amiss. When they have a chance, he needs to talk to him.

To Anakin's surprise, Sidious deactivates the ray shield. "I would like to test your combat skills. Come with me." Oh. This Anakin can do easily, but he's not so sure about Ahsoka. Obi-Wan is a Jedi Knight, so he should be able to hold his own. Ahsoka is another story.

He doesn't let the thought linger. Sidious likely won't kill her, especially now that she's been firmly ensnared by the Dark Side. Tentatively, Anakin probes towards her. She doesn't seem scared, just angry. The scars, he knows, will take a long time to fade. His own actions hardly bother him. This was far from the first time he killed – or tortured. He's used to the brutality, but then again, it would be hard not to be, especially having been raised by a Sith Lord.

Casting a discreet glance at Sidious, Anakin nudges at Obi-Wan. Their bond is blocked, but he can still catch an echo of something. The Jedi seems troubled – about Ahsoka? About Sidious' words? He doesn't know why, but he intends to find out. Probably, it's a mixture of both.

He's pulled from his musings when they arrive outside the door to the training room. He pretends not to notice how Ahsoka's breath hitches as they enter, her fear and guilt radiating into the Force. He sends her a silent wave of encouragement but stands stiffly at attention. He won't give Sidious any reason to be upset with his conduct.

"Your lightsabers are there," Sidious informs them curtly, motioning to a cabinet on the other side of the room. He moves over to the controls for the training droids. "Lord Vader, you will go first. Show our guests your skill."

Anakin reaches out a hand, his lightsaber flying to his grip. He ignites it as he moves into the center of the room, senses on high alert. The droids never leave this side of the room, so Obi-Wan and Ahsoka won't need to be concerned with a surprise attack. It's fine. He's done this over and over and over. Now isn't any different.

He's not surprised when six training droids whir towards him and open fire. They're set on murder mode alright. They always are. Without the slightest hesitation, he opens himself to the Dark Side, drawing it in as he spins his lightsaber, moving as though he was born with it. He rolls under them, coming up to slash one of them apart before dodging another barrage of blaster fire. He skillfully deflects it, exploding a second. Four to go.

Training has been his release so many times. He stops holding back his emotions and lets them flood out, sharpening his movements and enhancing his precision. He uses the Force to crush a third droid, shoving the fourth away into the fifth. While they recover, he throws his lightsaber at the sixth, slicing it apart. A minute later, the droids are strewn all over the floor, but Anakin doesn't get a chance to recover, because two MagnaGuards march towards him, waving their electrostaffs. They were specially designed to fight against lightsaber wielders.

Anakin takes up an opening stance, lunging towards them before they can attack him. He's a Sith. Attacking is part of his nature. His lightsaber crashes into the electrostaff, and he whirls, parrying a strike from the other. The knowledge that Sidious is watching and analyzing his every move, only makes him work harder to succeed.

Instinctively, he knows this fight will be far easier than many of the ones he's faced over the past many years, because there's only two MagnaGuards. Much to his relief, he manages to defeat them with relative ease. Sidious is studying him appraisingly when he turns towards the others, extinguishing his lightsaber and clipping it to his belt. "Faster than before," Sidious nods with satisfaction. "Master Kenobi, it's your turn."

Anakin moves to put his lightsaber back in the cabinet – he's still a prisoner, so he won't be allowed to keep it – and stands near Ahsoka as Obi-Wan ignites his blue lightsaber, standing patiently while waiting for the attack to come. Anakin has never seen him fight, and he's curious to know what styles and forms he favors. Out of the corner of his eye, he catches Ahsoka giving him an awed glance.

"That was impressive," she mumbles under her breath, just loud enough for him to hear. He casts her a small, quick smile before focusing on Obi-Wan again. He has no doubt that Sidious will want them to spar with each other, so knowing their moves will be extremely useful.

***

"Obi-Wan, you seem troubled about something," Anakin comments as they sit in their cell, eating their evening meal. "What is it?"

"It's nothing," he replies quickly. Too quickly.

Anakin raises an unimpressed eyebrow. He can read people well enough to know when they're evading the question. "If it was nothing, you wouldn't be bothered," he points out, hesitating a moment. "Is it about what Sidious said?"

Obi-Wan twitches but doesn't answer. Anakin realizes that he can now distinctly feel a hint of guilt radiating from the other man. Sighing, he sets the tray on the floor, staring at Obi-Wan seriously. "What happened is through no fault of your own, Obi-Wan," he reminds him sternly. Something in his voice catches the Jedi's attention, and he looks up, meeting Anakin's unwavering gaze.

"You cannot let Sidious get to you like this," Anakin warns. "His words mean nothing. He is trying to get you to feel this way. Don't let him do it. If you become trapped by your guilt, you won't be able to help us. You won't even want to because you'll think it will make the situation worse." In a way, Anakin can't believe that he's really saying all this. He knows these things from personal experience and telling Obi-Wan makes him feel oddly exposed.

Obi-Wan looks down at his plate, toying with the food, though he doesn't keep eating. "I know," he says finally, voice devoid of emotion.

"You know but you can't accept it, is that it?" Anakin queries gently. Again, Obi-Wan doesn't answer. Ahsoka looks up but soon goes back to eating in silence, clearly deciding to let Anakin handle the conversation. "If you don't want to Fall, then you need to let it go," he states firmly, leaving no room for argument in his tone. An unreadable look flashes across Obi-Wan's face.

"It's okay, Master Obi-Wan," Ahsoka pipes up. "You need to take time to figure out how to feel about everything. You don't need to support everyone all the time. It's not like we're going anywhere. At least one of us should avoid being messed up," she adds wryly.

"Can you drop it?" Obi-Wan asks wearily.

"Only if you promise to sort it out instead of burying it," Anakin insists. "It will get out of control if you do." He picks up his tray again and stirs his food, taking another bite.

The silence drags on so long, that Anakin isn't sure if Obi-Wan is even planning to respond. "I promise," he murmurs finally, glancing up at Anakin again.

***

Ahsoka lays on the floor, staring up at the ceiling while Anakin tells them a vaguely humorous story which happened to him eight years ago. "Did it really explode?" she wonders, turning her head to look at Anakin. He's leaning half against Obi-Wan and half on the wall; it's one of the first times she's ever seen him offer comfort instead of simply accepting it. Their time here is changing all of them.

Anakin snorts at the memory. "Not quite, but Dooku wasn't exactly happy. It was the last time he let me 'upgrade' a starship, at least until I was older. That was a very unusual model of ship anyways." He waves his hand dismissively. "It was bound to have problems. I still don't know it was my fault that it happened."

Obi-Wan gives Anakin a flat look, but there's a small smile playing on his face. The atmosphere is depressive, and Ahsoka is glad to see Anakin taking the initiative to lighten it. Usually, it was always her or Obi-Wan. Whatever he might have said next is interrupted when the dungeon door slides open. She automatically stiffens, relaxing only when she feels Dooku's presence.

"Dooku," Anakin greets him, when he stops in front of the ray shield, not bothering to move from his – presumably comfortable – position against Obi-Wan. "Any news? Or is there another reason you're here?"

"Can I not simply be here to visit?" Dooku counters. "Does there have to be a reason?"

Anakin hums, eyes roaming across the cell wall opposite him. "We were just talking about the time your ship malfunctioned after I modified it."

"Very entertaining, I'm sure," the Count answers dryly, pausing before he continues, "As a matter of fact, I only came to see how you're doing after what happened earlier."

"We've been better," Ahsoka offers, sitting up to better look at him.

"I have no doubt about that," Dooku replies, "And I wanted to tell you that Sidious seemed quite pleased with the results of your practice earlier. I suspect he'll have you duel against Anakin, though I very much doubt you will actually succeed in beating him."

"Of course not," mumbles Anakin, eyes alight with mischief.

Dooku ignores the comment. "When does Sidious intend to return to Coruscant?" Obi-Wan wants to know. It's one of the few things he's said since Anakin talked to him earlier.

"In a few days I suspect," Dooku informs him. "He can't be here for long. Depending on the situation, he may even be called back tomorrow or the day after."

"I never thought I'd be grateful for galactic war," mutters Anakin. Ahsoka has to agree. It's only because of the war that they might be able to avoid long-term encounters with Sidious. But it's only because of the war that they're here in the first place. There are always two sides to every coin, she supposes.

"While I'm here, I feel I should give you advice," the Count says with deliberate slowness. He looks at each of them in turn. His blue eyes – tinted red by the ray shield – seem to pierce right though Ahsoka. "Everything which has happened, everything which you have done is not on your heads. Sidious planned it. He manipulated you. What you did was done under duress, so don't beat yourselves up over it."

"That's what I was telling them," Anakin declares, giving Obi-Wan a sideways look. Ahsoka deliberately refrains from thinking about the clones' dead bodies laying at her feet after she killed them. She will not think about it now. It's not important. It's not relevant. It's certainly not helpful. The memories will wait to be analyzed at a later date.

"Good." Dooku's tone conveys a great deal of satisfaction mingled with relief. "If Anakin tells you something, you should listen. He's been with Sidious long enough to know how to survive him. It's hard, but not impossible."

If you don't want to Fall, then you need to let it go. Anakin's words drift to her mind again. They may have been directed at Obi-Wan, but they're also true for her. Or is it too late? Did she Fall simply by killing unarmed prisoners? The thought scares her enough that she hastily pushes it aside, locking it behind a durasteel wall. There will be time enough for later assessment.

"Dooku, are there other prisoners?" Anakin asks quietly. Ahsoka tenses. As much as she doesn't want to hear the answer, she needs to know.

He sighs, suddenly seeming weary. "Yes," he admits. "There are. Sidious captured fourteen clones from the Battle of Geonosis. I don't know if he'll want you to kill them all, but he does want information out of them. I expect you'll be asked to help."

"How would we do that?" Ahsoka questions hesitantly, resting one hand on the hard floor.

"You could try mind tricking, but I don't know it would work." Dooku shakes his head slowly. "More than likely, the information will have to be unwillingly imparted."

"Which means torture," Anakin finishes the unspoken words.

Obi-Wan tenses, casting an almost worried look at Anakin. Ahsoka can understand his concern. Words could never do justice to the emotional storm she experienced when watching Anakin electrocute someone to death. Towards them, he'd opened up, showing how caring he is, but in that moment, she was scared of him. He looked like a cold-hearted Sith Lord. She can't even begin to imagine how he can go from one extreme to the other so rapidly. It would have to be taxing on his mental state, or maybe it reveals how unstable he is.

That thought makes her shudder, and she nearly misses Dooku's next words. "One of the clones is a lieutenant, something I discovered by accident. He's a member of the 501st Legion. Incidentally, many of their men were killed or injured. I believe all of our prisoners are part of that division." She files the information away for later analysis.

Anakin sits forward, eyes intent. "Is there anything else you know?"

"Not for certain," Dooku concedes, "But I suspect there is another clone who is higher ranking."

"How high ranking?" Now, Obi-Wan seems interested in the information.

"I believe there is a captain here," Dooku informs them, clasping his hands behind his back.

"Perhaps we can get their assistance," Obi-Wan murmurs thoughtfully, stroking his beard.

"That's actually a good idea," Ahsoka interjects, eyes darting between the others. She hopes that the clones would agree to help them, even if Anakin is technically a Sith.

"This clone. Who is he?" There's a hint of curiosity in Anakin's voice.

"His number is CT-7567, but the others call him Rex."

Chapter Text

While he finds sparring enjoyable, Obi-Wan doesn't get the same thrill that Ahsoka does or that Anakin seems to. It should be obvious. They both prefer aggressive forms, while he usually uses defensive ones. Watching Anakin fight off the MagnaGuards yesterday, Obi-Wan was able to get a feel for the other man's style. He clearly favors Djem So, while Obi-Wan has become used to Soresu. Ahsoka, on the other hand, uses a form of Shien enabling reverse grip and dual lightsaber usage.

Anakin and Ahsoka circle one another, their lightsabers ignited. Obi-Wan is careful to keep his distance from the two Sith standing next to each other near the arena. If the stakes weren't so high, he might actually be able to enjoy the duel. Anakin attacks first, his red lightsaber slicing towards Ahsoka's side. She blocks him, following the strike with one of her own which Anakin readily parries.

Though neither of them talks, their eyes track each other with a detached calculatedness, betraying their complete absorption with the fight. Obi-Wan knows he's supposed to join, but Sidious didn't want him to participate immediately. He's waiting for the signal to be given. The pair trade a few more leisurely blows back and forth, before Anakin grins, eyes glinting yellow as he lunges. He rains blows on Ahsoka so fast that Obi-Wan can't even keep track of them. She hastily accommodates by backing up when necessary as she struggles to hold her ground. Even with two lightsabers, she's clearly at a disadvantage.

Dooku motions to him, and he ignites his own lightsaber, the blue blade hissing to life as he leaps to Ahsoka's aid. Blue meets red, and as Obi-Wan looks at Anakin, the expression on the other's face can only be described as challenging. He's so clearly enjoying this. Anakin slows down the pace of his assault, keeping his movements quick and deliberate as he blocks their combined attacks, clearly working to lull them into a false security.

Obi-Wan presses the dual, moving more quickly and taking the initiative to attack first to draw Anakin fully into the fight. After parrying several strikes, Anakin spins his lightsaber, nearly hitting Ahsoka's arm and forcing her to leap back to protect herself. He doesn't give her a chance to recover, pressing the attack until one of her lightsabers is knocked from her hand, sending it skittering across the floor.

Humiliating is probably the word to use for their defeat. Obi-Wan still isn't entirely sure how Anakin managed, but he did. Though his face is neutral as he bows to Sidious, Obi-Wan can sense a hint of smugness through the Force. He beat both Obi-Wan and Ahsoka in record time, and he's proud of it. Really, Obi-Wan should have known he couldn't expect anything else. Anakin was trained as a warrior, as an assassin. With his Force sensitivity to boot, he would have to be a stellar duelist, especially since Dooku, who was known as one of the best duelists in the Order, has trained him.

Sidious looks inordinately pleased at the results. "This is the true power of the Dark Side," he hisses gleefully. "Embrace it, and you will be stronger than any Jedi."

Despite the hood pulled up over his head, Obi-Wan can almost feel those cold yellow eyes burrowing into him. Unlike Anakin, who is all passion, Sidious seems to suck emotions right out of the air and into a void. Cold. Calculating. Emotionless. Does he even have a heart? Can he feel? Obi-Wan pushes the thoughts away. That line of questioning will get him nowhere, and Ahsoka right. One of them needs to remain level-headed and untouched by the horrors and guilt all around them.

He rubs his hands together, grinning darkly. "We have an issue with the prisoners," he declares. "It is not a secret that Lord Vader has aided in their training –" Obi-Wan glances sharply at Anakin, who is staring down at the floor, subdued. "– and it is important that we know who else is aware. Normally, clones do not discuss their trainers with the Jedi, but it is a possibility I am not willing to overlook."

"We have identified the most high-ranking clone among the prisoners," Dooku speaks up. "There may be a Captain, but that has yet to be confirmed, so this officer will be interrogated instead." He's not telling the full truth. Last night, he'd said there was another, but that is obviously information he's unwilling to divulge. Whatever game he's playing at, Obi-Wan doesn't know.

"I would be pleased if you would join me," Sidious smiles. "As former Jedi, your insights could prove invaluable."

"That isn't an offer," Anakin adds sharply as if Obi-Wan didn't already realize that.

He wants to say something, to protest or object, but he's smarter than that. In the end, he'll go there because that's what Sidious wants. "Lead the way," he says instead.

Sidious does so willingly, sweeping from the room with a pointed, wordless glance at Dooku. He quickly takes their lightsabers, sealing them away inside a cabinet once more, before falling in step at the rear. Much as Obi-Wan wishes he knew what Anakin was thinking, or even Ahsoka for that matter, their expressions are carefully blank. Torture, Dooku had said. Obi-Wan believes it, silently bracing himself for what is bound to come.

***

Anakin follows Sidious down the familiar halls into the normal detention area. It was built for regular prisoners, not Force-sensitives. Against his better judgement, he lets his eyes flick to the cells. There are no guards down there – none are needed – so whoever is imprisoned here can talk freely. Despite the security cameras located in strategic positions, the feed is rarely viewed. The prisoners clearly hadn't expected them to arrive, if their carefully restrained surprise is anything to go by.

He counts eleven men in the separate cells. The twelfth must be in the interrogation room already. He's already dreading entering. Ahsoka's footsteps falter next to him, and he glances over, giving her a reassuring nod, at least he hopes it's reassuring. None of them can afford to show weakness or Sidious will exploit it. Sidious extends his hand, and the door at the end of the hall soundlessly slides open.

Everyone follows him inside. In the center of the room, the clone is sitting on a metal chair, restrains keeping him cuffed in place. One side of his face is swollen, and he must have other injuries which Anakin can't see. None of them stop him from looking up defiantly. Sidious tuts under his breath. "Resistance is futile," he warns.

"This is CC-1119, known to the clones as Appo," Dooku informs them.

Anakin sucks in a quiet breath, reaching out with the Force to confirm Dooku's words. Yes, it's Appo. He feels just as Anakin remembers him. He can't recall many of them, but there were a few who he could never forget. He didn't interact too much with most of the clones, though there were a few he was fond of. One, in particular, he does remember. CT-5555, known as Fives. He wouldn't go so far as to call the clones friends, but – but they had something beyond a simple instructor-trainee relationship.

As he was often prone to do, he'd slipped up once in front of two of the clones. They weren't supposed to know that he was Force sensitive, so he'd sworn them to secrecy. One of them, he still thinks it was Appo, had told some of the others, including Fives. They were all part of the 501st Legion, which Anakin himself had put together. Suddenly, he can understand his master's concern. The clones know him only by his Sith name, and if the Jedi find out, the game will be over. Sidious's identity could be compromised, which isn't something they can afford, especially not Anakin, because it will be his fault.

"Master Kenobi, you may do the honors," Sidious tells him lightly. "We must know if any of the clones have reported their trainers to the Jedi." Obi-Wan looks at him quietly, raising an inquisitive eyebrow. "Mind tricking," Sidious finally concedes, and Anakin lets out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. He's been forced to rip through minds before, and it's never a pleasant experience, especially if the victim is fighting – they usually are.

"We need to know if they would recognize a holo of me," Anakin murmurs to Obi-Wan.

The Jedi Knight clearly wants to object, but he doesn't, stepping forward and raising a hand. "You will tell us what we need to know," he states firmly.

Appo clenches his jaw, visibly struggling against his restraints. "I – I –" He's fighting the Force suggestion with remarkable strength. It's to be expected. Jango was anything but weak-minded, and his clones bare a similar mental fortitude.

Ahsoka shifts uneasily next to him, eyes riveted on the man before them. Dooku remain impassive as Obi-Wan tries again, putting more effort into the command. "You will tell us what we need to know."

"I – I will t-tell you what you n-need to know," Appo repeats haltingly. It's obvious that he's fighting the order wrapping itself into his brain. Anakin finds he can admire that courage, almost, almost but not quite wishing he could emulate it. He learned long ago that resisting anything Sidious wants is pointless. It only leads to more pain. Maybe that's why he hasn't yet tried to overthrow him. He's too scared.

"Who trained you?" Obi-Wan keeps a thread of the Force in his words, prompting Appo to continue complying.

"He – he called himself Vader," the clone answers almost immediately. Clearly, it's not something he cares to hide. Not good. If they don't care who knows, they could have told the Jedi. That cannot happen.

"Do the Jedi know?" Obi-Wan presses.

Appo clamps his jaw shut. The question is a bit open-ended, and if he knows something, he's clearly not planning to share. He narrows his eyes at Obi-Wan, the clarity in them proof that he freed himself from the mind trick. "I'm not telling you anything," he spits.

"You will answer my questions," Obi-Wan says quietly. Anakin can sense his discomfort through the Force. He definitely is not enjoying doing this, but he's likely convinced himself that it's necessary to prevent more unnecessary pain.

"I'm answering nothing!" Appo yells back defiantly.

"Lord Vader, electrocute him," Sidious snaps. "Perhaps then he will be more willing to tell us the truth." He looks at the clone with something akin to disgust on his face. "The information we are asking you to provide does not in any way harm the Republic. You should have no qualms in sharing it with us."

"Knowledge is power, and I'm telling you nothing," Appo insists.

Anakin gives the man a disbelieving look before letting lightning spark from his left hand, arching into the clone's body. It's drawn like a magnet to the metal of the chair, racing up and down his body as it electrifies his nerves. He's clearly struggling not to scream, but Anakin doesn't let it affect him. This is his job. None of it matters. He repeats that, holding firm to the Dark Side as he directs the electricity towards Appo's mind to weaken his shields.

He stops when Appo starts screaming. The clone is slumped limply against the chair, breathing raggedly. After a moment, he raises his head, expression seeming distant. "Good soldiers follow orders," he mumbles so quietly Anakin can hardly hear him. Before he has a chance to react, Appo bolts up from the chair, lunging towards them, murder written on his face.

The restrains break open, and Anakin distantly suspects that the lightning must have shorted them out before Appo is slamming into him, tackling him to the ground. "Skyguy!" Ahsoka exclaims, the word likely escaping unintentionally. As Appo tries to strangle him, Ahsoka drags the clone backwards, pinning him to the floor with Obi-Wan's help.

"That shouldn't have happened," Dooku murmurs, frowning as he gets another pair of energy binders, clamping them on Appo's wrists.

The clone struggles to break free, jerking around uncontrollably, mumbling the same phrase repeatedly. "What's happening to him?" Ahsoka demands.

"It seems he has malfunctioned," Sidious muses thoughtfully eyeing the clone as Obi-Wan and Ahsoka secure him in the chair once more. Anakin glances speculatively at his master before turning his gaze onto Appo. This isn't natural. He shouldn't be acting like this. "Knock him out," the Sith decides, "It will make this easier.

Anakin doesn't hesitate, clenching his fist and choking him into unconsciousness. Hopefully, this ordeal will make Appo cooperate, though with his current display, Sidious will probably order his execution. Malfunctioning. What does that even mean? Dooku seems to know if his pensive expression is anything to go by.

He doesn't have a chance to ponder the situation for long, because Sidious turns to Obi-Wan, the hint of a pleased and smug smile playing on his lips. "It appears that no answers will be immediately forthcoming, Master Kenobi, so I ask that you use the Force to extract the information from this man's memories."

Anakin doesn't need the Force to know that Obi-Wan is scandalized at the suggestion. If he does what he's being asked – and how Anakin hopes that he does – he'll be forced to carry the guilt of hurting someone in one of the most intimate ways possible. The mind is sacred even above the body, and Obi-Wan must know it.

The Jedi Knight's eyes dart between the Sith Master and the unconscious prisoner before he resolutely shakes his head, sending the tiny bit of hope inside Anakin plummeting into oblivion. "No," he asserts calmly, fearlessly meeting Sidious's gaze. "I won't use the Force for something as perverted as that." Oh, he's brave all right, but that bravery will get him killed. Anakin braces himself for the reaction he knows will be coming.

"Are you refusing?" The deadly calm terrifies Anakin even though it's not directed at him. If Obi-Wan doesn't want to face a brutal and possibly deadly punishment, he needs to do as he's told. He won't, of course. Anakin knows that.

Obi-Wan doesn't answer, seeming uncertain for the first time that Anakin can remember. "I think, my Lord, that you understood my meaning perfectly." Anakin nearly forgets how to breathe at Obi-Wan blatant display of insubordination. If he wasn't so scared, he'd probably be proud at how skillfully the other man wielded his words – mixed with irony – as a weapon.

"Fool," spits Sidious, raising his hands. Lightning arcs through the air, sending Obi-Wan writhing to the floor. Anakin casts his gaze away, unable to watch. He doesn't – he doesn't dare get involved, but when the Sith Lord doesn't let up, even after several seconds, Anakin fears that he never will. He cannot watch Obi-Wan die. Not like this.

When the lightning draws a strangled cry of agony, something inside Anakin snaps, and he stops thinking. Gathering the Force into a tight shield, just like he'd shown Obi-Wan and Ahsoka in the cell, Anakin throws himself in front of Obi-Wan, fearlessly catching the lightning with his palms and deflecting it outward to the walls. Even as the barrage increases, fueled by Sidious' anger – and how it terrifies Anakin – the shield doesn't falter.

Weaving a net of the Force around his cybernetic arm, he protects it, manipulating the molecules to prevent it from catching any of the stray bolts. He can't stop now. Holding this much power is euphoric, as he finally allows himself to access the Force to his full potential. He's not nearly skilled enough to control it, but he can feel it engrained in every fiber of his being. Years ago, he was called the Chosen One, and maybe he is – he doubts it – but he's certain he has a stronger Force connection than any other living being.

He is proud of what he's done for all of five seconds, before his mind catches up with his actions. He – he challenged his master. Nothing can undo what he's just done. Nothing. But he can't drop the shield now, or he'll probably die. He can feel how angry Sidious is, and his life is in serious peril. This was a mistake. Scratch that. Everything has been a mistake. Force, what was he thinking? Why? Why?! Now –

Sidious ceases the attack, yellow eyes filled with malice and raw hatred. He clenches his fist, choking Anakin. "You defied your master." The words and the possible implications send a chill down Anakin's spine, even as he struggles to draw in oxygen.

"You... were going... to kill him..." Anakin retorts weakly, struggling to break free. Now that reality has caught up with him, all he wants to do is run away and hide. He could fight – it would be safer – but they hadn't planned for this. This wasn't supposed to happen. Besides, he's not strong enough to defeat Sidious. None of them are! He can vaguely sense Dooku's spike of concern mixed with Ahsoka's fear. If they know what's good for them, they won't intervene in whatever punishment is concocted.

Sidious throws him backwards, slamming him into the wall hard enough to see stars. Anakin barely has time to catch his breath – it was knocked out of him at the impact – before his master begins electrocuting him and Obi-Wan. Ahsoka makes a move, but Dooku grabs her arm, keeping her in place, as he says something which Anakin can't even hear over his own screams. All he can feel is pain. He's experienced it so many times, but it never gets any easier.

Technically, he could still fight back; if he could focus long enough, he could Force shove the Sith Lord backwards to stop him. It might work, but he's scared. The fear has been beaten and tortured into him from childhood. Nothing, not even one moment of resistance, will make it go away. He already knows that he won't resist. He's never fought back against punishments since he learned that they were more painful if he did when he was still a child. He might have a different master now, but it remains true.

Slaves don't fight back, and that's what he is. A slave. He shouldn't have let himself believe, if only for a few days, that he can be anything more. And he certainly shouldn't have let himself bond with Obi-Wan and Ahsoka. Doing so just made this hurt even worse, but he can't find it in himself to care. He doesn't regret befriending them, and he never will. He holds onto that thought, even as his vision begins to fade to blackness. Mercifully, the attack ceases before it could have killed him – again – and he succumbs to unconsciousness. And yet, perhaps he'll never awaken. He doesn't know.

Chapter Text

If Dooku wasn't so used to Sidious's sadistic side, he probably would have done something completely irrational. As it is, he can barely breathe, surprise and horror overwhelming him. Though he doesn't want Kenobi to die, he knows that Anakin's death would be something from which he could never truly recover. With Qui-Gon, they were both Jedi, so letting go – while hard – was easier. Not that he's ever truly let go of his former Padawan, but he likes to think that he has.

When he met Anakin, the boy was so prone to attachments, especially being imprisoned by Sidious, that Dooku found it impossible not to care for him deeply. The bond he shares with Anakin is far deeper and more meaningful than anything he's ever felt in the past. If it were severed – he shudders to think what that would do to his mind. More than likely, he'd Fall beyond any hope of return.

Still, he can't fault Anakin for trying to protect Kenobi. It was so obvious how much they'd care about one another. Besides, it proved that Anakin is capable of conquering his fear of Sidious. They'll have to be extremely cautious until they get the proper opportunity to fight him, because they cannot afford to raise his suspicions even more. For now, Dooku will just have to do damage control and hope that it's effective.

"Master, stop," he half-orders, half-begs, keeping a tight grip on Tano's arm. She seems desperate enough to try almost anything to save her friends. "If we lose Anakin, we'll lose our most valuable asset. It will be much harder to destroy the Jedi if he's gone."

The words seem to have an effect because Sidious lets up the attack. A quick glance at the pair shows that they're both unconscious. They desperately need medical attention, but Dooku would rather get Sidious out before he tends to them. Fortunately, the Sith Lord seems to have ideas of his own. "I'm leaving," he states flatly, disgust evident on his face and in his tone. "The progress you've made in turning Kenobi to our side is abysmal. It would probably be better to simply eliminate him."

No. No. Dooku can't – won't – do that. "We have to wait longer," he suggests carefully. "Breaking Jedi isn't easy. It will take time and patience. I have both. In the meanwhile, Lord Vader and Tano can assist our plans."

"Fine," spits Sidious, whirling around and stalking towards the door. "I have a mission for them. I'll give you the details. Come with me." He pushes the button to open it, marching away down the hallway.

Dooku releases Tano, giving her brief instructions before turning to follow his master. "See if one of the prisoners is a medic. We might need another assistant. Carefully transport them to the medical wing of the mansion." He explains to her where it is, though he's not certain if she'll remember, before hurrying to find Sidious, not that that'll be hard. The Sith is radiating an aura so cold it nearly burns into the Force. Quickly reaching out, Dooku senses that he's heading towards where his starship is. He'd better hurry unless he wants to find himself in even more trouble. So, he does.

Sidious is standing next to the ramp of his shuttle by the time Dooku catches up with him. "What is thy bidding, my Master?" he asks humbly.

"I was quite pleased by the progress we made in turning Tano," Sidious comments, a twisted smile on his lips. "Lord Vader was correct. She is indeed easy to manipulate. Perhaps too easy. Kenobi will prove to be much more of a challenge." Dooku nods, opting to remain quiet. Either Sidious is planning something, or his temper has cooled since Anakin confronted him.

"I have a datacard for you detailing information for the next steps we must take," the Sith Lord continues. He passes it to Dooku who holds it carefully. Who knows what information it contains? "If we wish to succeed, we must expand our army."

"Yes, my Lord," Dooku agrees. They'd talked about it in the past. While Dooku will always remain the apprentice, having other trained dark siders will help them immensely. They can be used as assassins or infiltrators to help in their many battles and causes. The more chaos they sow in the galaxy, the better, at least in Sidious's viewpoint. Dooku isn't about to challenge that.

"I have picked out another Jedi who will be easy to turn to our side." Sidious's smile turns malicious. "Lord Vader murdered her master on Geonosis, and her anger against him will be her undoing. All the data you need to know about Barriss Offee and her position in the army is located in that datacard. Start with her."

"As you wish." Dooku inclines his head, though inwardly, he's worried. If this Jedi hates Anakin, she will never help them. She'll be blindly loyal to Sidious alone. Oh. That actually makes sense. When Sidious came here, he was already suspecting something amiss, and Anakin accidentally confirmed his suspicions. That means they'll have to tread with upmost caution. When this mission is complete, they'll have an enemy in their midst who will happily report every wrongdoing and deviance to Sidious.

There's also a distinct possibility that Offee will replace Dooku as the main Sith apprentice, not that he'll ever hear about it. Still, he has an order, and he must ensure its completed properly. With everything at stake, he cannot afford to make any mistakes.

"And Dooku, send Tano," commands Sidious. "Fit her with the same tracking bracelet we used on Lord Vader at the beginning of his apprenticeship."

"Of course," he readily agrees. "I shall care out the plans immediately and wait for any further instructions." His master seems satisfied, because he doesn't say anything, instead walking up the ramp onto his starship. Dooku watches him leave, not daring to let out a breath of relief until the shuttle is too far away to be seen. He has to get back to Anakin and Kenobi. They need to be transferred to the medical wing and given proper attention. Then, he'll take the time to read through the datacard.

***

As soon as Dooku is gone, Ahsoka scrambles to Obi-Wan's side. He was being electrocuted longer, so whatever injuries occurred will be most prevalent in him. Through the Force, she can feel their presences, dimmed into unconsciousness, but still pulsing with life. That's one small consolation. She doesn't know what she would do if one of them was to die. Obi-Wan is laying on the floor in an awkward position, and she's wary of moving him without assistance. For all she knows, she could do more damage to his body.

Anakin, at least, wasn't thrown into anything by the force of the lightning. He's laying on his back, face unusually pale. Like this, he seems so much younger than he does when he's conscious, and it hurts to look at him, especially knowing what he's been through. Letting out a shaky breath, Ahsoka scrambles to her feet, glancing briefly at the clone's unconscious body. There's nothing she can do for him. Maybe once Obi-Wan and Anakin are secure, she can come back for Appo.

Sidious wouldn't like it, but she doesn't care. Something is seriously wrong with him, and she's determined to find out what. He shouldn't have reacted as though he was being mind controlled after Anakin electrocuted him. Opening the door, she steps into the small hallway. There are six cells, three on each side. Four of them have three clones in each, none of whom look very happy with their current situation. Though Ahsoka doesn't know much about prison cells, these seem to be fairly standard.

"Is one of you a medic?" she questions hesitantly, feeling inexplicably unsure of herself. Dooku told her to do this, but how can she be sure that one of the prisoners won't hurt Anakin or Obi-Wan? They shouldn't, but suppose they did? "I need help."

One of them snorts quietly – she's not sure which one. A second steps up to the ray shield, raising a disbelieving eyebrow at her. She notices that, unlike the others, his hair is blonde. "Why would you be asking our help? Why should we help you?"

"We're prisoners too," she tells him. "I am – was – a Jedi Padawan, before Sidious captured me." She carefully forces herself not to think about how she'd killed two of their fellow men.

"Why do you need help?" another clone asks from the other side of the hall.

"Sidious used Force lightning on two of us," she replies, neglecting to add that Anakin isn't a Jedi. The details are far too complex for her to explain, and it's not really her place anyways. "They're unconscious," she explains, "And we need to move them to the medical wing in the mansion here. Count Dooku said it would be better if we had more help."

"He's not wrong," the clone informs her. "I'm a medic. The name's Kix."

She smiles at him, "I'm Ahsoka Tano."

"Coric over there is a medic too," Kix adds, pointing to another clone across the hall from him.

She pushes the button to deactivate the ray shield on his cell. He steps out, and she reactivates it, repeating the process with Coric, who has yet to speak. At least none of the other clones tried to force their way out. "What if we tried escaping?" Coric finally says.

Ahsoka sighs as she leads them towards the interrogation room at the end of the hall. "Anakin – he's in there – has a mother who is implanted with a slave chip. If he escapes, his mother will die. That's why we're still here."

"Tough," murmurs Kix. "Maybe I can do something to help her."

"Maybe," Ahsoka grimaces, "But she's on Naboo, not Serenno. Anakin can't go see her very often. The next time he does, we might be able to make plans. Anyways, it's something I'd have to discuss with everyone else."

Neither man flinches at the sight of their unconscious comrade, but Ahsoka notices that Coric's eyes linger on him for a second before flicking to Anakin and Obi-Wan. Kix immediately moves over to them, stooping down to check them for injuries.

"This one might have a spinal injury if he hit the shelf just right." Kix motions to Obi-Wan. "We probably should take them upstairs in stretchers."

"I'll –" Ahsoka cuts herself off, suddenly realizing that she can't rely on her memory to lead them both up there. She's not even certain exactly where she's supposed to go. "We'll have to wait for Count Dooku to come back. He should be back any minute."

"They'll both need treatment for electrocution," Coric comments, checking Anakin's pulse. "They should be fine other than that, though they should remain in the medical wing until tomorrow afternoon at the earliest."

Ahsoka feels more than hears Dooku returning, looking up with relief when he arrives. "He's gone," Dooku says simply. "What's the status?"

"We'll need to move them with stretchers preferably," Kix declares. Watching the way that he acts towards the pair, Ahsoka feels herself relaxing. She doesn't think either of them will harm Anakin or Obi-Wan.

"I have a few upstairs. Come." Dooku motions to him, and together, they leave the room. Ahsoka waits silently with Coric for them to return. They're back within a few minutes, and she helps the clone medic lift Anakin onto one of the stretchers, while Dooku and Kix move Obi-Wan far more carefully.

"I'll come back for Appo," the Count assures the two clones. "He needs to be treated too."

"What happened to him?" Ahsoka wonders as they begin transporting the duo to the medical wing. They pause in a turbolift, and she finds herself being distracted by her surroundings. The mansion is far more elaborate than she'd expected, but she probably shouldn't be surprised. Dooku is a Count, after all.

For a moment, she doesn't think that her query will receive a response, but Dooku clearly knows if his grim expression is anything to go by. "I'll explain later, once Appo has been secured," he finally says. Kix and Coric say nothing, but she doesn't miss their spike of interest. Clearly, they want to know too; if they'll be treating him – they will – they need to know.

Ahsoka pushes all thoughts of Appo to the side when they reach the medical wing. She helps Coric move Anakin to one of the four beds. Obi-Wan is on the bed next to him. Both are still unconscious, but their Force signatures aren't fading, so she supposes that's a good sign. All she can do now is watch, since she's not a medic. She doesn't have the knowledge to help. Resolving to stay out of the way, she resorts to pacing on the other side of the room while Dooku returns to the basement to retrieve the injured clone. If she didn't loathe the place so much, she probably would have offered to join him.

As she waits, she replays the incident in her mind. What happened to Appo? It was as though something was trigged in his mind, something which overrode all common sense. Sidious couldn't have been mind controlling him because she didn't feel any manipulation through the Force, and from Dooku's behavior, she believes it was something else. But what?

***

In retrospect, Dooku should have realized that they were taking a serious risk by electrocuting the clones, especially with the intention of retrieving information. The clone's unconscious body is floating next to him, levitated with the Force. Upon entering the medical wing, Dooku immediately lays Appo down, strapping him down to keep him contained. When he regains consciousness, he'll probably try to carry out whatever mandate has been triggered in his brain.

Without saying a word, Tano appears next to him and helps him tighten the straps. "What's wrong with him?" she asks softly. He can almost feel her worry.

"Appo, like all the clones, has an organic chip in his brain," Dooku explains carefully. He struggles to keep all his emotions in check, not that it's hard. "The Kaminoans will claim it is necessary to prevent them from being overly aggressive and to induce them to follow their commanders' orders."

"That's not true?" she inquires, a hint of apprehension in her voice.

"It's true to a point," Dooku concedes, "But there is another purpose. Sidious drafted a list of orders, and the chip has each of them recorded. When triggered, the clones will be forced to obey, even against their will."

The Togruta sucks in a sharp breath. "They mind control the clones?" she whispers in horror. "What – what are the orders?"

"I don't know," the Count admits, shaking his head sadly. "I was never informed, and I had no way to break through the encryption without alerting Sidious as to what I'd done. However, based on Appo's behavior, I believe that one of the orders is to execute Anakin."

Tano blanches, her reaction proof enough that she cares deeply for Anakin. "So, what can we do for Appo?" Her bright blue eyes dart towards the unconscious man, though Dooku can sense that he won't be thus for long. His consciousness is slowly returning.

"After the medics have stabilized them," Dooku motions towards Anakin and Kenobi, "They can run a scan on his brain. The chip should be easily identified."

"I hope so," she mumbles before turning and gravitating back to Anakin's bedside. She doesn't seem at ease if she's more than ten feet away from him. Her devotion is admirable.

"How are they?" the Count asks, stepping across the room, arms crossed, scanning the pair both visually and through the Force.

"They should be conscious soon, sir," one of the medics – Kix, he thinks the name was – informs him, as he adjusts something. "Skywalker's prosthetic appears to be in need of repairs."

"I'll have it taken care of," Dooku murmurs, turning sharply when he feels a spike of anxiety from Appo. The clone is awake and struggling against his restraints. "Calm yourself," he admonishes, lacing the words with a Force suggestion. It only works for a few seconds.

"Appo, it's alright," soothes Kix, hurrying over and placing a hand on the other's shoulder. "You don't need to do anything right now. Just rest."

"Good soldiers follow orders," the clone rasps in reply, jerking even more fiercely.

Pressing his lips together, Dooku raises a hand. "Sleep," he orders firmly. Appo slumps limply, unable to resist the suggestion. It's too simple of one, and the effects came on him too quickly. "Get him sedated," he instructs Kix. "I don't think he'll remain that way for long. Have the med droid scan his brain. It should be able to find the chip in there."

Dooku has always known that Sidious prepares endless contingency plans, and this is simply further proof. When the clones were created, Anakin was barely even ten. There was no reason to include an order for his execution, unless Sidious actually foresaw that Anakin's power could become a major threat to his dreams of a Sith Empire. As soon as possible, they must take measures to counter Sidious' army. Sith they may be, but even Anakin can't face down millions of blasters and come out alive.

"The scans are negative, sir," Coric reports, frowning.

"Try again. There's something there." This time, Dooku places a hand on Appo's forehead, delving into the Force to help them locate the chip. He knows it's there because that was part of the plan. Now, they just need to find it. If it's not removable – and he really hopes it is – then they'll have to kill Appo. He would be too big a liability to leave alive.

"We have it, sir." Kix motions to the spot on the scan. "It's located right here."

"Can you remove it?"

The two medics look at one another, seeming to be conversing silently. "Yes, sir, we can," Coric answers. "It should be a relatively quick procedure, and all the necessary instruments are here."

"Then do it." If this goes well, maybe they can remove the chips from all the clones. It will give them an advantage in addition to more people they can count on.

Chapter Text

The first thing Anakin becomes aware of is the unbearable ache in his entire body. The memories filter in next, bringing with them a sinking dread. But if given the choice, he knows he would do it again. There was murder in his master's eyes when he was electrocuting Obi-Wan. He was enjoying it, and Anakin couldn't bring himself to stand aside and let his friend die. Drawing on the Force to siphon away his pain, he forces his eyes to open.

Next to him, Ahsoka is sitting on a chair, doing something to his mechanical arm while Dooku stands beside her, pointing something out to her. "What?" mumbles Anakin, forcing the word out. He would really like a drink, but if he can't get out more than one word at a time, he won't be having much luck asking.

"You're awake," Dooku comments, a hint of relief on his face. "You've been unconscious for several hours." He moves swiftly across the room, boots clacking on the tile floor. That's the sound which makes Anakin fully register his surroundings. He's in the medical wing.

"Sidious is gone," Ahsoka adds, smiling over at him, "And I'm fixing your arm. Dooku got me the parts." Anakin blinks at her in confusion. She's – why?

"Here, drink this." Dooku holds out a glass of water, helping Anakin sit up enough to drink it. He sips it slowly, feeling immense relief as it flows down his throat. He still feels extremely weak, but that's normal. It'll pass given a few more hours, and he'll be back to normal. "I'll let Tano explain the situation to you," the Count adds after giving Anakin another minute to fully regain consciousness. "I have to speak with the Separatist Senate and attend to some other matters. I shouldn't be gone long."

Anakin nods, and with one final glance, Dooku turns and leaves the room. Looking around, Anakin spots Obi-Wan laying silently in the bed next to him. On the other side of the room, two clones are standing over someone – another clone? Probably Appo. Ahsoka seems to catch his quizzical expression because she hastens to explain.

"Two of clones, Kix and Coric, were medics, so they've been taking care of you and Obi-Wan." She pauses, eyes flitting to them for a moment. "Appo is here too," she continues, confirming his suspicions. She hesitates then, shifting uncomfortably. Anakin reaches out, touching their bond briefly. Though it's still quite weak, he can unmistakably sense uncertainty and worry.

"What is it?" he prompts, giving her an expectant look.

"The clones," she breathes, expression haunted. "They have chips in their heads, a-and they can be mind-controlled using them. No one knows what the orders are, except Sidious. Dooku thinks that one of them is to execute you which is why Appo attacked you."

Anakin blinks up at her in a stunned silence. It's – that – no. Just no. "That's wrong!" he bursts out, shaking his head. "That's no better than a slave chip! If we can get one of the chips, I can crack the encryption and figure out what they contain." He glances over at the medics, who must have heard his words though they don't give any indication that they're listening. A new determination floods though him, tampered only by his fear. Whatever he does, he must be very discreet, because Sidious cannot learn what they're doing. It would mean their death sentences.

"Good." Ahsoka gives him a weak smile and squeezes his mechanical hand. "Dooku said you probably could. If you don't mind, I can finish fixing this." She motions to the prosthetic. "It was completely wrecked by the lightning, and another patching wouldn't work. I had to replace it. Dooku got me the parts, but I could use some help."

Anakin hums quietly, inspecting her handiwork. "You're good," he praises with a wan smile of his own. "Here. Pass that." He points to one of the tools, and they soon become complete engrossed in the inner workings of his arm. He doesn't mind Ahsoka's help nearly as much as he thought; he's always been a little touchy about getting help in repairing and upgrading his arm which is why Dooku rarely offers. But this is… pleasant.

He's not sure how long they've been working, when someone clears their throat next to him. Looking up, Anakin sees one of the clone medics standing there. "Sir, the procedure is complete, and we've obtained the chip."

"That's wonderful news, Kix!" exclaims Ahsoka, relaxing. "How is Appo?"

"He'll be fine," Kix replies.

"Good," Anakin murmurs, experimentally flexing his mechanical fingers. They're working properly now, so he shouldn't have any further upgrades to do. "Where's the chip? I'd like to have it." He pauses, reflecting on what he might need to crack through the encryption. "Ahsoka, can you get me a datapad? There should be a spare one laying around here." It'll be easier if he can write up a list for her as well as how to find each thing.

"The chip is right here, sir." Kix holds it out to him. Anakin accepts it from him, ignoring the sudden feeling of dread which sweeps through him. What will he find? What kind of orders do the clones have embedded in their brains? Part of him is too scared to know, but he must find out. If Sidious really has millions of trained men at his beck and call, then Anakin and the others need to know the extent of the danger.

Ahsoka has moved across the room, looking around and sorting through some items in an attempt to locate a free datapad. "Maybe ask Dooku," he calls to her, turning the slide containing chip over in his hand. It's almost microscopic, but the tissue around it is readily visible. He sets it down on the table next to his bed, leaning back on the pillows behind him.

"I got one," she answers, holding it up and tossing it to him. It lands on the bed next to his right leg. He picks it up, opening up the notes feature and begins typing up a list of equipment which he'll need. He doesn't need to ask to know that he won't be permitted to leave the medical wing until tomorrow probably, so Ahsoka will have to be the messenger.

"Here, Snips," he says finally, many minutes later. "Take this. You should be able to find your way around with the directions I provide, but if you get lost, just give me a call through our bond, okay?"

"Got it, Skyguy," she returns, giving him a reassuring smile as she takes the datapad. Looking down at the list, she purposefully walks out of the room, the door soundlessly sliding shut behind her. Anakin turns his attention to Obi-Wan's unconscious form with Ahsoka on her way to find the necessary equipment to crack through the encryption.

"Kix, how soon will Obi-Wan awaken?"

The medic looks up from checking on Obi-Wan. "He should awaken within an hour, sir," he reports. Anakin feels a surge of relief. It could have been worse. Obi-Wan could have been seriously injured, so he'll relax with the knowledge that his brother will be alright, that his open defiance of Sidious wasn't for nothing.

Anakin tentatively probes out to Dooku, but the Count doesn't return the signal, obviously preoccupied. Thankfully, he'll have the decryption to work on, or he'd go crazy with boredom. "How long will it take to remove the chips from all the clones currently located in the mansion?" he questions, suddenly curious. If even one of the orders is dangerous, all of the chips should probably be removed, if only to protect his own life.

"Not long, sir." This time, it's Coric who replies. He shifts, facing Anakin. "Everyone should be able to move around immediately after the procedure. Appo took longer since Count Dooku insisted that we remove the chip. We can simply destroy the others with a laser."

He doesn't need to ask Dooku what they should do next. He's not subservient to Dooku; they're planning their resistance together, and Dooku trusts Anakin's judgement. When Sidious isn't around – like now – Anakin has far more freedom to make decisions. He can put his own problems aside and takes on an entirely different persona: Darth Vader. He's not simply an incompetent, beaten down child; he's a Sith Lord in his own right and he demands that he receive the respect befitting his status.

"Do you know the route to the holding cells?" he demands, sitting upright.

"Yes, sir," Kix tells him, nodding.

"Good. Go down there, and bring all your brothers up here," he instructs. "Do the procedures. I don't want any of you to be able to be controlled. You are human beings. You deserve your freedom." There will be no more slavery. Not if he can help it. Now that he's back on familiar territory, he can fall back into his roles. He's not a prisoner here; he's the commander, second only to Dooku, but again, Sidious doesn't need to know.

Anakin can feel their gratitude echoing into the Force. "Thank you," Coric murmurs, before motioning to Kix. With one final backwards glance, they leave the room.

He leans back against the pillows, mulling over the recent turn of events. It's difficult – impossible even – to quell the dread coiling within him; he majorly slipped up, and he knows it. Until this point, Sidious was not aware of the full extent of Anakin's powers. Now, the Sith Master knows that Anakin is capable of deflecting Force lightning with his bear hands. It's not something he has time to worry about though. He'll have to wait for later.

The sound of footsteps in the hall draws him fully back to the present moment. Turning his head, he watches as Kix and Coric lead all their brothers – ten in total – into the room. He brushes against their minds one by one, silently verifying that none of them have any malicious intents. They don't. He can relax, but he must remain vigilant at all times. If any of them try to hurt him or Obi-Wan, he'll easily be able to defend them, even without a lightsaber.

Of all the men in the room, one of them stands out the most. The clone's blonde hair is unusual, but it's his Force signature that immediately draws Anakin's gaze. He has mixed feelings about interacting any further with the clones, partially because of what happened one of the last times he did. But he still remembers… He'd fancied that they could be friends, even though he knew that they were meant to be soldiers, expendable. It hadn't helped that they reminded him of Boba, the younger brother he'd never had.

He needs to stop thinking about this. It isn't helping. It's not useful or productive. "Vader?" The voice pulls him completely out his reminiscing, and he looks up to meet the familiar gaze, which holds a hint of surprise.

Anakin feels a genuine smile form at the man's attention. "Hey, Rex," he greets him evenly, eyes sparkling with mischief. "I did tell you I wasn't a Jedi."

Rex moves to stand next to his bed. "You're working with Dooku?"

"Mm hm," Anakin confirms shamelessly. "He helped me, guided me, protected me. The Jedi refused." He pauses, pursing his lips, finally realizing that he can tell Rex everything. He doesn't need to hold back. Not anymore. "Dooku is a Sith," he explains, "And so am I."

"Sith," Rex repeats slowly, uncomprehendingly.

"They're a group similar to the Jedi, but they use the Dark Side. And they're livelong enemies of the Jedi." Anakin shifts on the bed. "The Jedi are slaves to their emotions, pretending they feel nothing. We – the Sith – use and embrace them. We are free."

Rex seems doubtful, but he doesn't express any of his misgivings. "Why are you here, sir? Are you alright?"

That's why Anakin likes Rex so much. He's very different from his brothers, and he cared about Anakin in a way none of the other ever did. They respected him to be sure, but they didn't care like Rex does. "Ah, I upset my Master. It's nothing serious." Anakin tries to brush it off, knowing even as he does that his words betrayed far more than he'd intended.

"If it wasn't serious, you wouldn't have been unconscious for several hours," Kix interjects, and how he overheard while he's on the other side of the room is mystery to Anakin.

Anakin makes a face. "Okay, fine," he concedes. "I was electrocuted again. Nothing major."

Rex blinks at him incredulously. "That's – that's torture, sir. How can you accept it?"

"Yes, but it's not as though I can go anywhere," Anakin confesses quietly, eyes skirting away. "I don't think the Jedi know that I'm a Sith, but they know that I'm a dark sider, so I can't trust them anyways. And I can't flee without my mother, who has a slave chip keeping her on Naboo." He bites his lower lip, considering the circumstances.

Rex's gaze has hardened when Anakin looks up at him again. "You can't stay here, sir," he states firmly. "What can I do to help you?"

That reminds him of how Obi-Wan and Ahsoka had acted in the early days of their imprisonment. They'd wanted to help him, even knowing of the things he'd done. They hadn't cared that he's a murderer. Rex must know too, but it doesn't matter to him either.

"Rex…" Anakin shakes his head slightly, holding the other man's eyes. "It won't be easy," he warns. "Sidious is the Chancellor; he's – he's started the Clone Wars, and I'm not going to leave anyone behind. Dooku, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, Asajj, my mother, Senator Amidala… they all have to be safe. I – I think we'll have to play this game a little more. If I don't mess up, I'll be okay. For now. But we can work together to destroy my master and save the galaxy."

"You got yourself a deal, sir," Rex replies, voice full of conviction. "I'll stay with you. All of us will." He hesitates, and Anakin feels a tentative worry and something akin to regret. "There was a Jedi Master, Yoda I think, who led us to Geonosis. I asked him if he knew you because I hoped to see you. You said you weren't a Jedi, but I thought you might work with them."

Anakin isn't surprised. He'd already expected something like that from the moment that Appo refused to answer. He obviously suspected that affirming Sidious's fears would lead to punishment, not to him necessarily, but to Rex or Anakin. He'd suffered to protect them. That's a debt that Anakin has every intention of repaying. "Appo knew," he says simply.

"Yes, sir. He did," Rex agrees. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."

"It's fine. What's done is done." Anakin waves it away, exhaling harshly.

He needs to tell Dooku as soon as possible, so they can deal with the fallout. While he hopes the Jedi won't be stupid enough to blab their suspicions to Palpatine, nothing is certain. The Jedi have no evidence that Vader is Anakin. Except they could ask the clones if they recognize a holo of Anakin. Please let the others be intelligent enough to evade the questions, because if the Jedi know, Sidious probably will find out. And then, there's no force in the galaxy which will spare Anakin his wrath.

A change of topic is in order. "Who was captured?" Anakin wants to know. "Just names. I don't care for the identifying numbers you have."

"You know Kix and Coric," Rex begins, "And seeing as Appo is in the room, you know he's here too. Domino squad – Fives, Echo, Hevy, Cutup, and Droidbait – are over there." He motions towards the five standing slightly apart from the others.

Anakin searches out Fives before looking back at Rex. He's secretly proud that the Domino squad, who he'd personally spend a lot of time with, were considered skilled enough to come. "And? Who else?"

"Then, there's Jesse, Dogma, Tup, and Hardcase," Rex finishes, pointing to each one in turn. "Redeye and Mixer were with us too, but they were taken some time back." Something in his tone indicates that he knows, or at least suspects, what their fate was. Anakin can't meet the clone's eyes. They were people, but he – and Ahsoka – had killed them. Redeye and Mixer. Those were their names. He doesn't think he could ever forget.

"I'm sorry," he whispers, guilt gnawing at him. He ruthlessly pushes it down. It doesn't matter. They're dead. They're gone. Regrets won't bring them back. Regrets won't prevent him from killing more clones if he's sent into battle. But that would be different because it would be war. What Sidious had them do was an execution.

"For what, Vader?" Rex rarely uses his name, but considering the topic, considering that Anakin is bringing their relationship to a more personal level, it seems appropriate.

"For watching. For helping," he mutters, closing his eyes briefly. "They're – they're dead, Rex." After a while, he forced himself to stop keeping track of how many people he murdered. The higher the numbers became, the more depressed he was. He'd begun to think of himself as evil. There's far too much blood on his hands. It'll never, ever go away.

"I know," Rex replies softly, "And I'm sure you would have saved them if you could." There's truth to that. What did he do to deserve someone like this, someone else who is willing to offer support, undeserved though it is?

"Yes," Anakin agrees. "I would have." He doesn't want to be like this all the time. He's a Sith, and if he kills, he wants it to be because he chose to, not because he was forced to. He doesn't feel guilty about those he intentionally decided to kill, not that the number is high. It's only those that Sidious forced him to torture or maim or murder that torment him.

He looks up into Rex's dark brown eyes, filled with nothing but compassion and understanding. "My real name," he says quietly, "Is Anakin Skywalker."

A smile ghosts across Rex's face. He probably would have said something else, but at that moment, Ahsoka breezes into the room, holding a box of what must be the equipment he needs. "Everything is here, Skyguy," she declares cheerfully setting it down on his bed. "I ran into Ventress, and she offered to help me."

"Thanks, Snips," Anakin murmurs, sitting up completely and rummaging around in the box.

She glances uncertainly between him and Rex. "Did I interrupt something?"

"No," Anakin assures her firmly and maybe a little too quickly. He gives Rex a sideways glance, one which should tell the other man not to say anything.

"What were you talking about?" she pries, obviously sensing something, Anakin isn't sure what.

"Nothing," Rex tells her.

On the other side of the room, Kix and Coric are busy destroying the chips in their brothers' brains, but that alone isn't enough to distract Ahsoka. Her gaze flickers over the men standing in the room, and Anakin sees in her eyes the moment she figures out.

"What were their names?" she asks softly, pain coloring her words.

"Ahsoka, stop," Anakin says firmly, yet gently. "Don't do this to yourself. It's not your fault, okay? Sidious is a sadist. He – he does things like that all the time. Please, Snips, try to let it go."

"Like you are?" Her retort is probably sharper than she'd intended, but he doesn't let it bother him. She wasn't trying to hurt him.

"I try," Anakin counters. "I hate being forced to kill, but you know what? The deaths might bother me, but… I like fighting. Or killing. I just want it to be on my terms."

"You didn't say that before," she notes.

"Because it wasn't relevant." He shrugs slightly. "I was trained as a Sith, trained to believe that killing is okay if you're doing it for the right reasons. But that doesn't mean I have to like it. The power is thrilling… though after all this? I don't really care for it anymore either."

He's torn. There's a part of him which will always crave darkness and violence, but he realizes that satisfying those cravings isn't worth the costs. He wants to be free, to keep his family and friends safe. If he has to live a peaceful life to achieve those goals, then so be it. He doesn't have to fight. He shouldn't have to do anything; Dooku told him as much. If they're successful in destroying Sidious, he already knows where his path will lead him. Maybe part of him will miss the bloodlust, the thrill of fighting, but he's been forced to do it for so long that he won't resent giving it up.

No one says anything after his declaration. Ahsoka understands his meaning on some level; she can feel his emotions after all. Finally, she reaches out and rummages through a few things in the box. "Let's break that encryption." Everything else can wait for later. She doesn't need to say it; it's something they both know.

Chapter Text

"Why does this stupid code have to be so difficult?" rants Anakin, before uttering a string of curses. Obi-Wan snorts quietly, propped against the pillows. He's been conscious for nearly an hour, and based on what Ahsoka told him, Anakin was working on breaking the encryption on the chips for almost two hours previously.

"If it was easy, everyone could do it," Obi-Wan reminds Anakin. He exchanges a look with Rex, the clone captain, who is sitting in a chair apart from the rest of his brothers. Honestly, he's glad that the room is so big, or it would be extremely crowded with all the clones in here. Someone really needs to give them a place to stay, but obviously that someone isn't going to be him. Or Anakin. They're both on mandated bed rest until tomorrow. He wants to complain, but Kix isn't a medic to argue with.

"Here. Try this," Ahsoka suggests, leaning over Anakin's shoulder. Obi-Wan knows that she has no idea what she's looking at, but he can feel her reaching out to the Force for guidance, something that Anakin would do too if he'd been trained as a Jedi.

"Not gonna work," mumbles Anakin, adjusting something that Obi-Wan can't really see. "This might have something in it to destroy the contents, so we need to be careful." Yes. That could prove to be a serious problem, as all the other chips have already been destroyed. This is the only one which they can use to get the list of orders.

Obi-Wan tries not to think too much about Appo; the clone is recovering fine, but he doesn't like to make a habit of Force suggesting people to reveal information. At least he can take consolation in the fact that he didn't do anything he seriously regrets. Through the Force, he got a sense of what the answer was, and considering that Sidious would have been very displeased, it's a good thing that Appo refused to answer. Anakin doesn't even seem to be aware of how much loyalty all the men in the room feel towards him. The 501st clearly consider themselves Anakin's troops, even though he only trained them.

"Well, well, what have we here?" sings out an unfamiliar female voice. He turns to see a bald, female Zabrak striding in the room. Her skin is completely white, and two lightsabers are clipped to a belt at her waist. Her blue eyes narrow as she scans the scene. "I didn't realize that Count Dooku invited guests up here."

"Knock of the nonsense, Ventress," calls Anakin, giving the woman an exasperated look. "You know perfectly well that these men were prisoners. Did you hear about the chips?"

"Behavioral chips?" she queries. "Certainly. I believe I've been updated with the most recent occurrences, and really, Skywalker? What possessed you to openly challenge Lord Sidious in such a manner?"

"Oh great," mutters Anakin, dramatically flopping back on the bed and nearly hitting Ahsoka. "You only came here to berate me. You don't care that I'm stuck here."

"You brought it on yourself," she declares smugly. Watching them banter lets Obi-Wan know that clearly, despite the fake-hostility between them, they're close friends. It's only natural, he supposes, since she must know how Anakin is being treated here.

"Do me a favor will you? Keep the two guest quarters nearest mine for Obi-Wan and Ahsoka, but give the rest of these men a place to stay, okay?" Anakin spares her a glance before sitting up and resuming his work. "I need to focus."

"I shan't disturb you then," Ventress promises, turning towards the clones watching her. "Alright. I'm Asajj Ventress, Dooku's personal assassin, so don't mess with me. If you're ready, you can come with me."

Rex looks at Obi-Wan, who gives him a subtle nod in return. He doesn't know Ventress, but he trusts that if Anakin likes her, she won't deliberately harm anyone. She doesn't even wait for a reply, instead turning and walking away. "And give them a tour!" Anakin shouts after her. "We don't want anyone getting lost!"

"Yes, sir!" she calls back tauntingly. "Are there any other orders, my Lord?"

"Shut up!"

"As you wish." Grinning over her shoulder, she sweeps out of the room, all the clones except Appo, who is still unconscious, and Kix and Coric, the medics, following after her. "I hope no one minds sharing." That's all that Obi-Wan can make out, the rest of her words covered up by footsteps and the rapidly increasing distance separating them.

He idly studies the entire room again, taking in each and every detail out of sheer boredom. He could try meditating, but that would only work for so long which is why he's been putting it off. Besides, he'd rather be completely present when Anakin finally cracks the encryption. It could take hours; he knows that much. Maybe meditating is actually a good idea. Sitting up completely, he shifts into a meditating position and slip into the Force.

Calm and quiet. Peaceful and tranquil. The Light Side washes through him, claiming worries and fears, things he'd hardly realized existed. Here, he's free from all burdens. Nothing matters here. Obi-Wan finds that there is a part of him which regrets being here. The Jedi are his family, and they're fighting a galactic war while he stays here with Anakin and Ahsoka. He loves both of them dearly, but he wishes there was something he could do to help. Well, staying here is help enough, because by helping Anakin, he's indirectly helping the galaxy.

If only their end goal was more easily attainable. Right now, it seems as though their striving to reach something that is so far beyond them, it's hopeless. But no. He won't give up hope. Ahsoka needs his help to stay on the Light path. Anakin needs his help to pull him free from the Dark ensnaring his soul. Even if he could leave, he wouldn't. His place is here, with his Padawans, his family.

When he finally opens his eyes again, he feels far more serene than he has in a while. Sidious's torture, excruciating though it was, wasn't nearly enough to break him or make him waver. A glance at the chrono tells him that it's been a little over an hour. Huh. He'd thought it would take longer what with all the repressed emotions and the recent lack of meditating.

Anakin is cursing incessantly, with Ahsoka trying and failing to calm him. "What is it?" Obi-Wan wants to know, turning to look at them.

"I broke through the first layer of protection, but now I'm looking at a second which is even stronger," Anakin complains. "I have no idea how long it will take this time."

"Have patience," advises Obi-Wan. "If you get frustrated, it'll take longer. Besides, at least you have something to do. Once you're done, all I'll be hearing is that you're bored."

Anakin glares, but there's no heat behind it. "He's right and you know it," pipes up Ahsoka, patting his arm. "It's like a puzzle, and once we succeed, we'll have extremely sensitive information in our hands. Look at it that way."

"Fine," grumbles Anakin, scowling, but he inhales slowly, and Obi-Wan can feel some of the tension dissipating into the Force.

"Done yet?" Obi-Wan jumps slightly at Ventress's voice. The woman in question is standing in the doorway, Rex next to her. "Rex wanted to come back here and stay with you." She shrugs as if to say like I know why he'd want that. Leaving Rex at the doorway, Asajj moves to Anakin's bedside and sits down. "Let's see what we have here…"

Anakin immediately starts explaining the situation to her, while Obi-Wan turns his attention to Rex. "How is it?"

"Different." Rex seems to be choosing his words carefully, a sure sign that he's not entirely comfortable with Obi-Wan which is to be expected. "There will be three of us in each room, but the quarters are big. I'm surprised that Dooku is giving us so much liberty."

Obi-Wan's lips quirk into a smile. "I think that Dooku understands, like I do, that your personal loyalty to Anakin precedes your loyalty to the Republic, especially knowing the truth about the war and the Chancellor."

"Yes, sir. That is true," Rex agrees, seeming relieved that Obi-Wan understands and accepts his feelings.

"It wasn't more difficult; it simply required more thought!" Asajj asserts smugly.

"Hold on," breathes Anakin, anticipation hanging in the air. "There… now… got it!"

"Thank the Force." Obi-Wan can almost hear Asajj rolling her eyes. "If I hadn't provided you with that little bit of enlightenment, we would have been here all night."

"Yes, now if you would be quiet, I could actually read what these orders are," Anakin snarks back. He shifts, tilting the datapad in his hands so Ahsoka can see it. Obi-Wan wishes he could see too, but he'll have to be patient.

"Oh, Force," gasps Ahsoka not even two minutes later, falling back into her chair, handing coming up to cover her mouth. She shakes her head desperately. "How? How? He's prepared for everything! Anakin, what are we going to do?"

Anakin's expression is completely blank, and Obi-Wan finds that he hates the mask the younger man is wearing. He can't even gauge how he feels, though there's suppressed fury – and fear – in Anakin's Force signature. "Here," he says stiffly, passing the datapad to Asajj. "Read this. You too, Rex. Give it to Obi-Wan when you're done."

Asajj takes it eagerly, walking across the room to where Rex is sitting in a chair. He stands up to see it, reading over her shoulder. Anakin murmurs something to Ahsoka that Obi-Wan can't hear, reaching out to touch her arm comfortingly. Rex curses, stumbling backwards. "We're worse than slaves!" he spits out. "Our sole purpose is to help in the formation of an Empire! Millions of my brothers are out there – they don't even know!"

The Zabrak – actually, Obi-Wan is beginning to suspect she might be Dathomirian, maybe from the Nightsisters clan – clenches her jaw, wordlessly handing the datapad to Obi-Wan. Turning, she rests a hand on Rex's shoulder. "Come with me." Unlike earlier, her words are gentle. She's not giving him an order. The pair leave the room as Obi-Wan scans the words before him.

He's a Jedi Knight. He's trained for many things, but nothing could have prepared him for the cold callousness that went into planning this. Ahsoka was right. Sidious has prepared for anything. Order 66 is probably the worst, because it calls for the murder of every Force sensitive who is not in open collaboration with the Chancellor except Anakin. Like they'd suspected, there is an order here specifically for Anakin's assassination. There's also one for the execution of every Senator and representative. Another gives the Chancellor the power to have every clone commit suicide or even turn on all surrounding civilians and slaughter them.

By the time he finishes, he feels sick. Looking up, he meets Anakin's steely gaze, and immediately knows that the other feels the same way. "I contacted Dooku through our bond," Anakin informs them. "He's coming here as soon as he can. We need to talk." Obi-Wan doesn't think a truer statement has ever been made.

***

Asajj silently leads the clone down the hallways, carefully probing him with the Force to get a read on his emotional status. He's confused, hurt, angry, betrayed. She understands. She's completely sickened by the extent of the orders implanted into the clones' minds, and she knows she'd be feeling the same if it was her. Actually, she'd probably track down the source of her rage and attack brutally. Yes, she'd regret it later, but that wouldn't stop her from doing it.

She pulls Rex into a small side hall which is entirely dark except for light coming in through a window at the far end. It's nighttime now; Anakin spent most of the afternoon either unconscious or cracking the encryption on the chip. Honestly, she's proud of his success. No one else would have been able to do it. That boy is truly a mechanical genius.

"Rex?" she prompts softly. "I know you're upset. You can talk to me. It'll be better than letting it stay there. Trust me. I know."

The clone exhales harshly, and his fists clench. "Was our creation meaningless?" he grinds out. "We were supposed to protect the Republic, but it never needed protecting. They lied to us about why we were training, about everything."

"You were created to unwittingly help Sidious," Asajj grants, touching Rex's arm to keep him grounded, "But that doesn't define you, okay? You're still a person. You can still make your own choices. You have free will."

"Yes, maybe I do," Rex hisses lowly, "But what about all my other brothers? They're still under Sidious's thumb!" At the root of all his emotions, Asajj knows that he's feeling despair. Everything he thought he'd known has been completely demolished. Anakin already told him – all of them, probably – about the Chancellor, but this is different. It's personal in a way she'll never be able to understand.

"Don't worry," she assures him. "Anakin and Dooku will come up with a plan. Even if they didn't care about you – and I know they do – they would still take the chips into account. That means either telling the Republic or doing something to ensure that none of you will be able to be used against them or the galaxy. We have time, Rex."

"Time," Rex repeats, turning towards the window and looking out at Serenno. His breathing is erratic, and she knows that he's struggling to maintain control. The clones were bred – like animals – to be resistant to stress, but they're still human. They still have emotions.

"Just breathe," Asajj whispers. "You'll be alright. We'll figure this out." He might not be having a panic attack, but she knows how to deal with them, and this isn't nearly anything as serious. Anakin had one once, and she'd eventually been able to help him. It was… scary. She remembers the time as clearly as if it were yesterday.

Anakin had been seventeen at the time – she was sixteen. They'd been dispatched on a mission. Though they'd been successful, the ship had crashed and was irreparable. While they'd waited for Dooku to come and pick them up, there had been a violent storm. She thinks it was the lightning which had triggered Anakin, and she'd ended up spending nearly an hour trying to calm him.

"How do you know you won't be too late?" Rex demands, turning to look at her.

"We never know anything in war," Asajj tells him simply. "All we can do is work as hard as we can to achieve a desirable outcome."

The clone slides down the wall to the floor and sits there for many long moments. She doesn't say anything, choosing instead to let him think over her words for a time. "I – I don't even know what I can do," Rex finally confesses without looking at her. "I was trained to fight, but I don't want to fight against my own brothers, and I don't think I can fight for the Republic neither, not with what I now know."

Asajj sighs lightly and sits down next to him. "There is always something you can do," she murmurs. "Life doesn't always go the way we'd expected, and we can only deal with what we're given." She pauses, thinking about her best friend, nearly brother. Anakin has done remarkably well, considering everything he's been through. She's grateful to have met him; she became a better person after knowing him.

"Everything was a lie," Rex repeats, staring off into the darkness. "I don't know what to do." She wonders if he would normally say something like this. Probably not. It's only because he doesn't view her as his superior. He's a soldier, but he must know how to share his problems with others. Besides, it's not as though any of his brothers could help him. They'll all be facing the same identity crises.

"I was born into the Nightsister clan," Asajj finally relates. She can't pretend to understand what Rex is experiencing, but she can share some of her own struggles. "They're a group of witches on Dathomir who use the Force for their own purposes. I was sold as an infant to a criminal – I don't know why. He raised me, and I considered him something of a father even though I was his slave." She shifts uncomfortably, staring resolutely at the floor. She's only shared this once before, sometime after she met Anakin.

"He was killed by pirates when I was a child, three or four, I think, and I was found by a Jedi Knight. He took me as his Padawan, but we couldn't get off the planet." She clenches her jaw as she continues. "The Council abandoned us there, and ten years later, he was also killed. I took revenge and killed all the pirates there. I ran the planet for a while until Dooku found me when I was fifteen. I've been here ever since."

A heavy silence falls between them. Rex doesn't say anything though he clearly is thinking about her story. She tries not to let that make her uncomfortable. "How well do you – do you know Anakin?" the clone finally asks. First name basis. Interesting. They must be closer than she'd initially expected.

"We've spent much of our time together over the past two to three years," she informs him, letting herself begin reminiscing. "He was so bright in the Force, like a star. I was jealous of his power at first," she admits, "But I soon learned how high a price came with it. He's intelligent yet extremely emotional."

Rex snorts quietly. "Yes," he comments dryly, "I know how emotional he can get." He shakes his head slightly, and she's pleased to note that his previous conflict has faded drastically. She'd hoped to distract him; she seems to have succeeded. "Fives once saw him go from pleased to furious and back again in less than a minute."

"That sounds like the Anakin I know," Asajj agrees. "I'd trust him with my life in a heartbeat, and you'll learn to do the same if you don't already." She gives him a pointed look. "I saw how you were looking at him, like there wasn't anyone else you would rather lead you into battle."

She picks up a hint of embarrassment from the other, so she pats his arm reassuringly. "Don't worry. He could use the support. The last couple months have been really rough for him, and he needs people he can rely on to keep him together." She hadn't intended for the conversation to go that route either. It kind of just happened.

"I'll do my best, sir," Rex promises.

She makes a face. "Please call me either Asajj or Ventress," she requests. "The choice is yours."

"As you wish, Asajj." She can feel Rex smiling.

Standing, she plants her hands on her hips and looks down at the man. "You should go to your quarters," she declares firmly. "I'm sure you want to talk to your brothers, and I ought to see what extravagant plan Skywalker and Dooku have concocted to save us." Rex laughs as he stands up. He's no longer on the verge of falling apart, so she considers it a win.

Chapter Text

It was so late when Dooku finally finished his business with the Separatist Senate, that they'd agreed to save the major planning for the morning. Sunrise finds all four of them wide awake in the medical wing. The orders are… horrible. Dooku can freely admit that much. But since he's had time to sleep on them, he's been able to put his emotional reaction aside and focus on the strategic aspects.

"Anakin, as soon as this meeting is over, you need to upload that list to two separate, secure databases and protect them with an access code that only you and I will have," Dooku instructs, standing with his arms crossed at the foot of the younger man's bed.

"I'll be on it," Anakin promises, glancing sideways at Tano who is leaning on his bed. "Is Asajj coming here for the meeting?"

Dooku shrugs. "I told her about it, but I don't know if she'll actually come."

It's Kenobi who gets down to business. "What are we going to do? We can't realistically remove or destroy the chips in millions of clones without anyone knowing."

"We can't tell the Jedi either," Anakin adds. "I don't trust them. They'll ruin everything if they know. Whatever we do will only work from our end."

"Damage control?" suggests Tano slowly. "Is there a way we can prevent the chips from being activated even if they're present?"

It's an interesting notion, and one which Dooku will have to consider later. Maybe he can get ahold of the Kaminoan file on the inhibitor chips without Sidious learning. It'll be a risk, but it's not impossible. "Unless we get more information, we'll have to assume that the chips will be activated at the point in time when Sidious deems it necessary."

"Can we reverse it?" Anakin questions.

"Not that I'm aware of, no." Dooku shakes his head. "It is likely that there's a secret code which can shut the chips down, but it would be external to the chip itself. Now that you've already broken through the encryption, there won't be a way for us to find out."

"It would be like looking for a magical lock that we aren't sure exists," mumbles Tano. "I don't know how that would work."

Anakin glances at her before sighing. "I have to agree with Ahsoka. I can break through encryptions, but what we'd have to look for isn't something I'm sure I could find. Besides, chances are high that we couldn't back track something like that. Even if there is a code, the chip won't necessarily tell us what it is."

"Then we'll have to find another option," Dooku decides, looking at Kenobi. Anakin is their resident mechanical genius, so if he says something, it must be true.

"Can we create a failsafe?" Kenobi queries. "Is it too late for us to create our own order?"

A heavy silence falls in the room. What he's suggesting will be perfect if they can do it. If they can get access to the main database, they might be able to update it from there, which should theoretically reprogram all the chips in existence. "Anakin?" Dooku gives him an expectant look.

"I don't know." He furrows his brow in thought. "I would have to see the database to know what kind of programming they use. I never paid attention, but it's possible that the chips are still linked to the main database. If they are, I imagine it would transmit the update on a frequency which won't be able to be accessed."

"Is there a way for you to find out?" Kenobi gives Anakin a searching look.

"I would have to go to Kamino. Can we invent a reason for such a trip?" Anakin glances between Dooku and the others.

"What if you went to Kamino to eliminate all records of your involvement with the clones' training?" Tano suggests brightly.

"That would be legitimate," Dooku agrees instantly. "I could even clear such a mission with Sidious; however, we may have to wait until you have completed your newest mission." He'll have to think about it and determine the best way of approaching Sidious with the request.

"Which mission?" Anakin asks blankly.

Dooku pulls out the datapad containing the datacard Sidious gave him before his departure. "Sidious wishes to continue expanding our army of Dark Side users. He has instructions for the capture of a Jedi."

"Details," Anakin demands firmly, stiffening.

"Tano, you have been assigned to the mission along with Anakin and Ventress," the Count tells her – all of them actually. "A Jedi by the name of Barriss Offee will be going to Christophsis to deliver supplies to the planet. Ventress will be dispatched next week to help establish a Separatist military base. There will be a conflict, and in two weeks from now, you are to capture Offee."

He can feel Tano's growing horror and dismay, so he gives her a questioning look. "Barriss is my friend," she says faintly. "I – I – He's doing this intentionally, isn't he?"

Dooku dips his head in agreement. "Possibly." Part of him doesn't want to explain the most likely reason why Sidious chose Barriss, but the truth will come out anyways. "I believe that the choice was more because Anakin killed her master on Geonosis."

Kenobi shoots Anakin a startled look which he meets, completely unfazed. Dooku doesn't even feel any guilt from the younger man over his actions. Whether or not that's a good thing remains to be seen.

"If I help capture Barriss, she'll hate me," Tano confesses fearfully. "She'll never help us."

Anakin snorts. "She hates me anyways. Even if she likes you, she'll never ally with me." He taps his fingers on his thigh. "How will we break her?"

Dooku purses his lips. "We won't. You will." There's a flash of smug darkness from Anakin, and he seems momentarily thrilled that he finally got the mission he's been waiting for. If Kenobi or Tano sense it, they don't say anything.

"I suppose we'll have plenty of time to plan the capture," Kenobi surmises. He doesn't seem happy, but he's still planning to go along with it. That's… good. They need to stick together regardless of what comes.

"Anakin, I'll tell Ventress to get the things you need to make two backup copies of the list of orders," Dooku informs him. "You and Kenobi should be able to leave the medical wing immediately afterwards. The medics can check on you if you don't feel good, and the normal staff should be back by the end of the week."

As befits his status, Dooku has dozens of people who work on his estate. They remain mostly unaware of his double identity, so whenever Sidious pays a visit, he gives them a one-week leave. The normal medic who tends to Anakin – and sometimes him – after injuries is absent for that reason. Hence why he'd asked if any of the clones were medics.

"I know," Anakin sighs exasperatedly. They've been over this numerous times, but by the Force, that boy has a hard time taking care of himself sometimes. Shaking his head fondly, Dooku makes his way out of the room. He has many duties to which he must attend, namely preparing the Separatist forces for the Clone Wars. It's been a long time in coming, and he must ensure that he's ready to play the game of chess against the Republic.

***

Three days later, Anakin is standing on a small landing platform near the facility on Kamino where the clones are being raised and trained. He's been here many times in the past, but never to this particular side. Even though it's night, he pulls up his hood to fully conceal himself. He's completely hidden in the Force, and he knows that the Council member Shaak Ti will never sense his presence. He will leave long before she could learn of him.

Sidious had been quick to offer his consent that Anakin be sent to Kamino to erase all evidence of his involvement with the clones' training. Whatever the Jedi have heard will be regarded as rumors or speculation rather than fact. The truth will remain shrouded in the shadows just as his master wants, and Anakin will be able to discretely further his own plans. He should be given access to the main databases which will allow him to run a perfunctory scan to determine the feasibility of hacking it to add another order to the inhibitor chips.

His eyes glow yellow in the darkness as he stealthily approaches the facility. Before he left, Dooku had contacted Lama Su, the Prime Minister of Kamino and informed him that there could be no evidence of Anakin's involvement in the clones' training regimen. To ensure the proper deletion of the data had been done, Anakin was dispatched to conduct it himself. Officially. Other than Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, and Asajj, no one, not even the Kaminoans, will be permitted to know the true reason that Anakin is sneaking into their facility under the cover of darkness.

To the best of his knowledge only a few of the Kaminoans are actually aware of the extent of the plot, and one of them, Nala Se, who is a doctor at the facility, is supposed to be waiting for him. Anakin pulls his cloak tighter, knowing he completely blends in with the night. There is rarely a time when he doesn't wear entirely black. Even the lightweight armor – concealed under the cloak – which he wears atop a tunic is painted black. He touches his lightsaber hilt briefly before stepping up to a back exit.

It slides open, and a tall female Kaminoan stands there. Nala Se. "Welcome, Lord Vader," she greets him in a low voice. "I have been waiting for you."

"Where is the Jedi?" Anakin demands brusquely as he enters the facility. "I hope that you have her under watch."

"Everything has been arranged as instructed," she replies in an unaffected tone. "Master Ti is in her assigned quarters. We do not allow her near the main data storage facility, and she has no reason to enter that area."

Anakin doesn't let himself relax. When dealing with Jedi, it's always best to be on alert. Besides, this isn't only a mission for Sidious. It's also a mission for Dooku, and he won't get any second chances. He taps into the Force, having long since mastered the art of accessing it without making any other Force sensitives in the area aware of his actions. The Force around them is clouded with hints of tension, but it's soothing as well. There is no danger. Not at the present.

"Lead the way, doctor," Anakin says finally, motioning to her. He keeps his hood up, knowing that in the event the Kaminoans fail to erase the footage of this part of the facility, those who see him will not be able to ascertain his identity outside of his voice. It could be a problem, but not one he'll worry about. Dooku had given them instructions for that aspect of the mission, not him.

Without an extra word, Nala Se turns and begins briskly walking along corridors. It's brightly lit inside, almost too much so, and Anakin grimaces at how conspicuous he's being. If the Jedi ever see footage of this, they'll correctly assume that he's a Sith. And they'll probably have Nala Se arrested for treason. That will give them access to her databases which include everything about the inhibitor chips. On that note, maybe he should insist that he personally destroy all the footage. At least that way he won't bear any responsibility if word gets out.

It's not long before they enter the main control room. "The clones who were on guard duty have been dismissed for the night," the Kaminoan informs Anakin as he hastily makes his way over to the main data terminal.

Nala Se enters the authorization code, stepping aside to give Anakin the room he needs to work. He doesn't normally make a practice out of hacking security or databases, but he certainly does know how to do it. That was one of the things which Dooku ensured he learn, something which has proven useful from time to time, especially when he's trying to cover his traces – like now.

Anakin moves on automatic, pulling up all files which include any mentions of or references to him before systematically eliminating each one. After the initial purge is complete, he erases all backups and modifies the server so no one will realize that someone has been tampering. He doubts that the Republic will actually come to do an investigation here, and even if they do, it will be too late. The files are gone, and nothing they do will bring them back. Besides, Anakin trusts that the Kaminoans will block and hamper any attempts at investigation. Sidious will certainly head off any inquiries as well, so all Anakin's tracks are covered.

Closing out of the database, he hacks into the security footage, and deletes everything along the path he took from the landing platform to the current room. It only takes a couple more minutes to adjust the cameras to stop recording – showing only the images taken right before his arrival – for the next half hour. He knows it won't take him that long to leave, but it's better to err on the side of caution than make any mistakes.

After giving Nala Se a sideways glance to ensure she's not watching him, Anakin begins hacking through the firewalls to uncover the list of orders. He's doing it so subtly that even if the Kaminoans realize someone broke in, they won't be able to trace it back to him or anyone. It doesn't take him very long – really, they should invest in better security, though they probably don't think its necessary; besides, his skills are extremely advanced, and he has the Force to help him, so he has more advantages than the average hacker.

The list in front of him looks like an exact replica of what he'd uncovered by extracting the data from Appo's inhibitor chip. Perfect. He did obtain the correct information, but this, by no means, tells him how he can alter these orders, or if he even can. Maybe he should try a more direct approach. Erasing all evidence of his use, he rises, turning to look at the doctor.

"After exposure to electricity, one of the clone's inhibitor chips malfunctioned," he tells Nala Se with an air of feigned indifference. "Count Dooku was wondering if a revision of one of the orders would be possible if he deems it necessary."

"Of course," she nods gracefully. "We have the ability to update the list of orders and transmit the update to all the inhibitor chips which are wirelessly connected to the main database here. It will require the use of several codes which we installed to prevent any accidental modifications, but if Dooku wishes, we can certainly make changes."

Anakin frowns, putting on a show of deep thought. "Would it affect the clones?" he queries. "Would anyone realize what's been done?"

For the first time, she seems hesitant. "No, I do not believe there will be anything more noticeable than disorientation which won't last longer than one or two seconds."

Anakin is careful not to react to the news, but he files it away for later analysis. If they intend to secretly add an order, then they need to take into consideration the impact it will have on all the clones who will – for all intents and purposes – receive a long-distance download. He's certain there's no way that the transmission could be picked up by any outside technology, because otherwise, it would be far too risky.

"Very well." He straightens, pulling his hood up over his head. "There is no time for me to linger. I must be on my way."

"As you wish, Lord Vader," Nala Se replies, inclining her head. "Should I show you the way out?"

He shakes his head. "I can find my own way." Without another word, he sweeps from the room, determinedly making his way through the halls and corridors towards the exit. To the best of his knowledge, they won't be able to make any updates to the list of orders without the Kaminoans finding out. Normally that wouldn't be a problem, but when they're going against Sidious, they can't do anything which might compromise them.

He's back at the shuttle within five minutes, having used the Force to enhance his speed. This entire planet is miserable. He hated Tatooine because of the heat and sand, but Kamino? It's cold and wet. He's not sure which is worse. Leaving his wet outer robe in the hold, he slides into the pilot's seat and blasts off the planet. The sooner he returns to Serenno the better. They have plans to make and strategies to prepare.

While he doesn't know when and how they'll be able to insert the extra order, he knows that they need to be careful with the wording. He hates that the clones have essentially lost their free will because of the inhibitor chips. They're slaves, even if the Republic won't recognize it. The Jedi are no better than slavers, even if they refuse to acknowledge it. This entire war is a hoax, and all of it is solely to put Palpatine on a galactic throne. It's… brilliant. That doesn't mean Anakin has to like it. He'll still do whatever he's told and obtain whatever benefits he can from his position. If Sidious can do it, he can too.

Privately, he thinks that the number for the new order is perfect. 501. He named it after Rex's group, because the men in the 501st had been among the best he'd seen. And Rex is also his ally, even if he and his brothers choose not to openly help Anakin in battle. He can't blame them because he wouldn't want to fight against his family either.

If Sidious tries to issue an order which would end in destruction, he and Dooku will try to override it with the order to execute the Chancellor. If that doesn't work – none of them think it will – then they'll issue Order 501, a dictate that Anakin and Dooku are the only ones who have authority over the clone army. It's a risk, but it's one worth taking. It will be worth it, if only to see the look on Sidious's face when he realizes he's been outmaneuvered by his apprentices.

Chapter Text

Ahsoka sits curled in the co-pilot's seat, unable to keep her fingers from fiddling with the anklet on her right leg. Dooku had promised that the code he gave Sidious for the anklet would only allow him to track her movements, not blow her up, like the one Anakin used to wear at the beginning. She trusts that the Count is telling the truth, if only to keep Anakin happy. Said Sith is currently piloting the shuttle down to the surface of Christophsis. It hadn't been easy to slip in past the Republic Star Destroyers without being noticed, but Anakin is an expert pilot. He made it look easy.

"You okay, Snips?" he asks, worry coloring his tone.

"I'm fine," she states flatly, not looking at him. She knows that he can feel the lie, and probably sense her true feelings through the Force.

"Listen," Anakin begins hesitantly, glancing at her. She can feel his eyes but decides not to meet them. She's feeling vulnerable enough without him reading her every fear on her face. "Ahsoka, you don't have to do this. No one will know if you stay here. I – I'll cover for you if you really can't. Asajj will too."

Ahsoka swallows, unable to answer his words. He lands the shuttle on the landing platform which is near the center of the current Separatist base on the planet. She – she doesn't want to do this. It will hurt to betray someone she considers a friend, but Anakin is like her brother. She saw him suffer. She knows he's dark, but by the Force, that doesn't mean she loves him any less.

"I want to help you, Anakin," she finally tells him. "I don't want you to have to do this alone. Besides, the plan centers around my involvement."

"Don't worry." He shoots her a cocky grin. "I can improvise as well as I can breathe. If you aren't comfortable with helping, then you can stay here. I'll handle it on my own. Besides, Asajj will be there to back me up."

Oh, how she wants to take him up on his offer. Pledging her allegiance to a Sith Lord is one thing, but actually acting on her words is another. She's not used to using the Dark Side – not that she needs to – but this smacks too close to betrayal and deception for her to believe that she won't. If it comes down to a fight, she'll pull from the Dark Side. She knows it. She can still back out. Anakin won't think any less of her if she does but –

"I –" She shakes her head. "I'm grateful for the offer, Anakin, but I can't take it. I'd be deluding myself to think this won't become a regular occurrence. I might as well get used to it now." She pauses, finally looking at Anakin, who gives her a soft smile, which has a touch of pride in it.

"You're right," he agrees, "And with that mindset, you won't go wrong."

Ahsoka straightens, swinging her legs to the floor and resolutely ignoring the anklet. Thinking about it won't help. "It's hard to fight on the opposite side of something I've believe in my whole life," she confesses, subconsciously straightening her lightsaber hilts.

Anakin grimaces. "Yes, I imagine that would be hard," he muses. "This whole war is a sham though, and no matter which side we fight on, we'll be aiding Sidious."

"Great. So, all we can do is go along with it until we decide to overthrow Sidious?" Ahsoka asks, rising from her seat.

"Pretty much." He stands up as well, leading them to the ramp to disembark. Ventress is standing on the platform waiting for them. Ahsoka finds herself being distracted by the unfamiliar buildings and landscape all around them as she follows Anakin.

"Finally!" Ventress lets out an overly exaggerated sigh. "I was beginning to get concerned. We only have around four hours to capture Offee and get you two out of here before the Republic's reinforcements arrive." As she talks, they walk into the nearby building which is the current Separatist headquarters.

Anakin moves over to a holotable in the middle of the room and activates it. "Let's go over the strategy again," he decides, all humor gone from his voice. He's slipped back into the persona of a Sith, and it makes Ahsoka a tad nervous. Still, she obediently looks at the plan of the city as it hovers in front of them.

"We're here," Anakin motions to one building, "And the Republic troops are located here." He points to another. "Asajj, what's the plan?"

"I have a spy among the clones," she informs them. "The Republic is planning to set up an ambush in these two towers." She indicates their position on the map. "General Loathsom was waiting for your arrival before dispatching the next brigade of droids. He hopes that we can overrun the enemy troops by trapping them inside the tower and systematically killing them."

From Anakin's sharp look, Ahsoka knows that she isn't the only one who caught the hint of reservation in Asajj's voice. "Having second thoughts about killing clones, are you?" Anakin queries, lips quirking into a mirthless smile. When Ventress ignores him, he pushes further. "Does this have anything to do with your sudden infatuation with Rex?" he teases.

If looks could kill, Ahsoka is certain that Anakin would probably have been vaporized. "It's bad enough that I have to live with you fawning over Amidala all the time," she hisses, blue eyes colder than the ice on Hoth. "I'm not going to start doing the same thing."

"I'm hurt," Anakin intones, an expression of mock offense on his face. "You like Padme."

"I don't even know her," Asajj retorts, pointedly looking back at the map in front of them.

"Ahsoka," Anakin turns to her. "Your mission is to reach the tower where the Republic is waiting a few minutes before the droids do. It needs to appear as though you're escaping from them, okay?"

"Got it," she confirms, anxiety rippling just under her skin. This really smacks too close to deception for her liking. Again, she doesn't have a choice.

"You should take this path," Asajj suggests, pushing a few buttons. A red light appears on the map, tracing the path from their current location to the end point. Ahsoka studies it carefully, committing it to memory. "I'll send the details to your comm," Ventress assures her.

"You'd better go now," Anakin advises, hands clasped behind his back. Unlike many times, he's not wearing an outer cloak right now which has allowed Ahsoka to study his armor. It's tight, fitting snugly, but it also provides a lot of maneuverability and protection. Of course, it's black, but the metallic shine can't be hidden.

"Stick to the cover story," he continues, "And you should be fine. The sooner you lure her into the trap, the better."

"I understand," Ahsoka nods, turning to leave.

"Ahsoka, may the Force be with you," Anakin calls softly as she slips out of the building and onto the streets. It's relatively quiet, though the tenseness in the air is undeniable. Ahsoka pulls up the directions on her wrist comm and sets out at a brisk pace. She knows that the droids will open fire on her when they see her which is according to plan. The further she is from them, the better it will be. She'd rather not spend useless energy fighting when it's not necessary.

She moves as swiftly as she can, and the feeling of aloneness increases the further she gets. It's too quiet right now, the lull before the brewing war. Deep inside of her, she can sense the imminent bloodshed, the Dark Side hovering almost in anticipation. Ahsoka firmly pushes the sensations aside. None of it is useful, and she cannot afford to dwell on how the Dark Side has been calling to her, whispering sweet, seductive words of power more than it ever has before.

Her sensitive montrals pick up the sound of the marching droids which are drawing far closer than she'd expected. She needs to hurry. Inhaling, she draws on the Force and bolts forward, running as if her life depends on it. She knows that the clones in the tower ahead will have picked up her erratic flight from an alley and down the side of the main street. As the first warning sings through the Force, she ignites her lightsabers, defecting bolts as she races for cover.

The thrill of battle begins to fill her, and she lets herself get lost in it. She can't defeat nearly all of these droids, but she can put up a fight. The doors to the tower are ahead of her, and she uses the Force to throw them open, dashing inside, panting. Closing them behind her, she slashes her lightsaber through the controls. The droids will have to take their time getting in here; she won't make it easy for them.

The building is empty except for the life forms of the clones and Barriss above her. She follows them, taking a turbolift to the top floor, stumbling out, limbs shaking from the effects of escaping the droids. It was close, too close for her liking, but this is all an act anyways. Continuing to play the role of a terrified escapee, she slumps against the opposite wall and slides to the floor.

"Ahsoka?" The shock in Barriss's voice makes her head snap up.

"Barriss?" she whispers faintly, shaking her head slightly. She hadn't heard the other girl approach. Focus, she scolds herself silently.

"It's you!" The Mirialan relaxes, crouching down in front of Ahsoka. "What are you doing here? I heard you were captured by the Sith."

"We have no time," Ahsoka mumbles, pulling back and standing up determinedly. "The Separatists know you're waiting here."

"What? How?" demands Barriss, alarm flaring in the Force.

"There's a traitor. I don't know who," Ahsoka explains, eyes flickering to the clones who have moved to the room and are watching silently from a distance. "Dooku wanted me to join him, and I refused, but with the war going on, he decided to force me into working for him. He ordered me to be brought here to see how you would be defeated, and I took a chance. I – I ran. I can't believe it…" Her voice trails off as she struggles to project an aura of relief, though she finds that the guilt is too strong, so she hides all her emotions instead.

Barriss touches her arm comfortingly. "You're here now. You're safe." Anything else she might have said is cut off when the turbolift doors open. Ahsoka feels a prickle of fear as a group of droids march out. She knew they were coming, but she didn't realize they'd get here so soon.

The clones immediately open fire, and Barriss ignites her lightsaber, deflecting blaster bolts and covering her men as they race back to the main room overlooking the streets below. Ahsoka joins her, Force throwing the droids backwards and knocking over the front lines, not that it matters when they are pouring in every available entrance. "We have to pull out!" Ahsoka yells at her friend. "We need to regroup."

Barriss activates her wrist comm. "We need evacuation at the south tower," she reports. Ahsoka whirls as more droids march in through yet another entrance. This wasn't what she had in mind when agreeing to the plan. She doubts Anakin realized it either. Is Sidious trying to get her killed? That would hardly be surprising. No. She's not going to let that happen. She won't leave Anakin to fend for himself. Anakin, Obi-Wan, Asajj, Dooku, Rex… she owes it to all of them to come back in one piece.

Fending off blaster bolts with one hand, she focuses on lifting one of the blaster cannons, hurling the weapon towards the droids and knocking over the ones entering through the doorway. One of the other clones, seems to get a similar idea, except he doesn't throw the weapon. He activates it, firing at one of the doorways. The explosion is so loud that Ahsoka's head is ringing, her sensitive montrals overwhelmed by the sound and shock waves.

As the smoke begins to clear, it's obvious that the droids entering in that doorway have been demolished. All around her, the clones are falling, injured or dead. Across the room, Barriss is mowing through another approaching column, keeping them at bay. Ahsoka sprints to the second doorway, stepping over the blaster cannon which is laying on the floor, lightsabers spinning as she cuts through the droids in front of her, scarcely pausing long enough to let them shoot at her.

"Call in the reinforcements from the other tower," one of the clones calls. "They can use their ascension cables to get across."

Ahsoka hears the command being relayed and turns, using the Force to shatter the windows facing the north tower. She almost wishes that she'd taken Anakin's offer to stay out of it. If she had, he probably would have come here alone, and the battle would already be over, with Barriss in custody – that is, unless he accidentally killed her. Of course, that would entail killing all the clones here so they couldn't give evidence. As it is, she was sent here to lure Barriss away so that no one will realize she was involved, at least not until Sidious wishes it.

She focuses on the droids in front of her, blocking any stray bolts which fly at her from behind. They don't have much more time. Where is the evacuation ship? It should be here any moment. The rest of the clones arrive, leaping through the windows and immediately joining the fray. Ahsoka risks glancing over her shoulder. "We need to evacuate to the roof!" she yells to the others. "The shuttle can pick us up from there."

She feels the murmurs of agreement running through the others, and they begin retreating into the hall towards the turbolifts. Barriss joins her, helping cover the troops as they enter one of the turbolifts. Several of the clones were killed, but those injured who could walk – which were most of them – are with them. As the lift rises, Ahsoka has a sudden thought of what the war would be like if Anakin was a Jedi and her master. She banishes it a second later, because it's nothing more than a fantasy. It will never happen.

The roof provides much better protection than the inside, so the clones move to conceal themselves and provide cover for Barriss and Ahsoka as the droids follow them to the roof. The battle breaks out again, and Ahsoka throws herself into the midst of the enemy, slicing apart droids and deflecting bolts as fast as she can. Barriss joins her a distance away, and together, they rip apart the droids until the sound of an approaching gunship breaks their concentration.

Ahsoka backs up, continuing to cover the clones as they retreat onto the gunship. At that moment, a tactical droid emerges onto the roof. Without wasting a second, she yanks it over to her with the Force, ripping off its head for later analysis before leaping onto the gunship to join the others.

"Here," she pants, passing it to the clone captain whose name she doesn't know. "This should help us figure out what's going on."

"If you hadn't come, we'd all be dead," Barriss tells her quietly as the ship flies away back towards the Republic base.

Ahsoka flinches, knowing that no one can see the movement in the dark. She smothers her guilt and uncertainty, forcing herself to think about Anakin and how much she cares for him. It's completely against everything the Jedi have ever taught, but she's not really a Jedi anymore, is she? Using the Dark Side doesn't make her a Sith; it will only make her a gray Jedi if that's what she wants to be.

"We need to find the traitor," Ahsoka whispers back, changing the topic. With the battle they just faced, she doubts that Barriss will ask too many more questions or be suspicious, but it's better to be safe than sorry. The sooner she leads the Mirialan to Anakin, the better.

It's not long before the gunship touches down on the landing pad, and everyone disembarks, most heading to the medical center to be checked by the medics. The rest head to the control room, including the captain who has the tactical droid's head. Ahsoka honestly doesn't know if that will provide the information they need, but she doubts it. There's no way that Anakin – or Ventress – would allow such a thing to happen.

"Come, Ahsoka," urges Barriss, grabbing her elbow. "You should be looked at. I don't know what happened when you were a prisoner, but it can't hurt."

"I'm fine," Ahsoka insists, but lets herself be led away. The medic declares her perfectly healthy, though the anklet doesn't go unnoticed.

"Did Dooku put that on you?" her friend questions, pointing towards the object in question.

"Yes," Ahsoka admits, fiddling with it slightly. "I'm not sure what all it's functions are, but I think it might be a tracker. Or an explosive. We need to get it off, but I don't think we have any tools here which could work."

"Or we could use the Force," Barriss reminds her, blue eyes worried.

"Maybe," Ahsoka shrugs. She doesn't know what would happen if it was removed, and she's not sure she wants to find out. It won't hurt anything if she succeeds in the mission though. Closing her eyes, she reaches out with the Force, letting herself feel the mechanism enclosed around her ankle. She can feel the components, but nothing is clear enough for her to be able to successfully deactivate and remove it.

"I don't think it will work," she says finally, biting her lip. "I'd rather not accidentally blow myself up. We'll have to wait."

Barriss doesn't look happy, but before she has a chance to protest, the door opens and the clone captain enters. "Commander, we accessed the droid's memory banks," he reports, saluting. "The Separatists did know that we were waiting in ambush, but we were unable to determine exactly how it knew."

"The spy," Ahsoka mumbles, glancing at Barriss.

The other girl nods, motioning for Ahsoka and the captain to join her as they walk down the hall back towards the control room. "Ahsoka has told me that she overheard talk about there being a spy. I know you don't want to believe any of your men are capable of treachery, but we need to at least keep that consideration in mind."

Barriss stops, opening the door to the control room. They enter, and Ahsoka spots two other clones in the room standing near a table which has the tactical droid's head resting on it. "For the Republic to succeed, we must investigate this matter further," Barriss decides. "The reinforcements will be arriving in a few hours, and then we'll be able to press the attack against the Separatists."

"Maybe we can try to get information from the Separatists?" Ahsoka suggests carefully.

"Perhaps," Barriss replies slowly. "I expect that will be the best way of discovering the truth."

"Do you want me to come with you?" Ahsoka queries, silently hoping for a positive response.

"Yes," she responds instantly. "I think whatever you know about the Separatist base will prove useful in our investigation." She turns towards the clones. "Captain, do not let word of our departure leave this room. No one must know that we are coming."

"Yes, sir!" he salutes her again.

Barriss glances at Ahsoka one more time before they leave the room, heading towards the hanger bay to get speeders for their journey into enemy territory.

Chapter Text

Night has already fallen by the time that Barriss and Ahsoka leave the Republic base and head through the mostly silent streets. It's just as clear now as it was during the day that the city has been ruined by the war, and not for the first time, Ahsoka hates it. She focuses solely on the path ahead of them, letting Barriss lead the way, her speeder slightly ahead of Ahsoka's. This is it. It's the end. Either Barriss will die or she'll Fall, and Ahsoka isn't certain which of the two options she wants more. She should be able to sacrifice her friend if it's for the greater good, but… then Anakin will suffer, and more than anything, she doesn't want that.

"We just passed another battle droid patrol," Barriss calls, voice rising with anxiety. "I think we're heading into a trap. Somehow, the Separatists know we're coming."

Ahsoka exhales harshly. She'd really hoped that the other girl wouldn't notice. "What do you say?" she wonders.

Barriss shrugs slightly, increasing her speed. "We still need to uncover the truth, and if we don't do it, then who will?"

"The reinforcements?" Ahsoka suggests, pausing. "Who's coming anyways?"

"Master Tachi is leading the 212th, while Knight Olin is leading the 501st," Barriss informs her.

Ahsoka nearly forgets how to breath at the news. The 501st? The legion that Anakin specifically handpicked men for when he still had a chance to fight for the Republic in name only? This is definitely something that the others will want to know. "Siri Tachi?" she questions, hoping Barriss thinks her momentary surprise was due to the identity of the pair. "She's Master Obi-Wan's friend."

"Yes, I know," Barriss responds. "Now come on. We need to find out what's happening."

Obviously, she doesn't want to engage in idle chatter when they're running right into a trap. Normally, Ahsoka would concur with those sentiments, but she desperately needs a distraction from the guilt twisting her insides. It's for the best, she reassures herself, hoping that maybe Barriss will still be her friend, even if she Falls.

I believe that the choice was more because Anakin killed her master on Geonosis. She can almost hear Dooku's voice in her head. Anakin is supposed to break Barriss, and he'll definitely use that against her. He'll probably use Ahsoka's betrayal too. She blanches at the realization. She hadn't meant to make it easier to destroy her friend, but… it wasn't a choice she was given.

They pull up in front of the Separatist headquarters a few minutes later, and Ahsoka lets all her worries slip away. The building almost looks eerie in the darkness, lit up only in part. Something about this is wrong, and Ahsoka can easily see it. There isn't a single battle droid out here to guard the building. "No guards. No barricades," she notes quietly as they begin walking up the stairs leading to the front door. "You'd think the Separatist headquarters would be better protected." She doesn't add that Anakin is all the protection it needs.

"They don't want to keep us out," Barriss points out, flicking a hand to open the doors. "We have to go in and find out what they're up to."

Ahsoka's heart is pounding, fear mingling with dread. She didn't want any of this, and part of her is tempted to warn Barriss and run away. She won't do it. She won't leave Anakin like that. Something he said to her weeks ago surfaces in her memory. If you hadn't, they would have suffered. Trust me. I've seen it happen before many times. This time, it wouldn't just be her – she'd probably be killed by the explosive strapped on her ankle – but it would destroy Anakin.

Trust me when I say that sometimes, actions can irreparably damage. Even in the beginning Anakin hadn't wanted to kill them. He suffered to protect Ahsoka when he hardly even knew her. He was willing to rebel against his master to save Obi-Wan. He offered both of them guidance and support when Sidious tried to break them. And he was right. She knows that he would never recover from her death if that's what she chose. All it would do is push him to be more ruthless, more vengeful, and she doesn't want that.

She remains silent as they move deeper into the building. Barriss opens another door, and this time, the room before them is completely dark. Ahsoka can feel him long before she can see him. The door behind them slams shut with a resounding clang and locks. Suddenly, they're hit by the full intensity of the Force presence that is not Anakin Skywalker, but Darth Vader. She's rarely felt this much darkness and malice in him, maybe because he's been tamping it down. He's not hiding anymore. He's reveling in the fear he's igniting, and that realization is like a knife to her gut, because it's not right. This is Anakin, her brother, one of her closest friends.

"I have been waiting for you," Anakin intones, his red lightsaber hissing to life, and illuminating his features. Yellow eyes stare at them, holding not an ounce of the compassion Ahsoka knows he can possess. The room is suddenly bathed in light, giving them a clearer view of the area. Anakin's standing at the top of the staircase across the room, lightsaber clenched in his right hand. Outwardly he looks relaxed, but it's clear he's wound up for a fight.

Ahsoka's breath catches at the sight of him standing there, the Dark Side clinging to him like a shroud, one which makes him look as fearsome as it does enticing. Barriss steps forward and ignites her blue lightsaber, pausing to throw a questioning look at Ahsoka who is rooted to the spot. She's torn, unsure what to do.

Anakin's gaze lands on her, and for a moment, Ahsoka can swear that the yellow dims. "Snips." He says nothing else, but motions to the door on the other side of the room. It opens soundlessly, inviting her to pass through.

"I'm sorry, Barriss," Ahsoka whispers, "I'm so sorry, but he's like my brother." Without looking back, she flees through the escape that Anakin has provided, closing the door behind her. She closes herself off from the Force, unwilling to feel her friend's betrayal or her brother's dark joy.

Her feet carry her down the dimly lit hall before she randomly opens a door on the other side. The Force must have been guiding her, because through her blurry gaze, she sees Asajj in the room. "Ahsoka." Ventress is moving across the room before the door even closes. She doesn't state the obvious that Ahsoka is back or ask if she's alright. Instead, she wraps a comforting arm around Ahsoka's shoulders. "Would you like to help me in here?"

"What are you doing?" Ahsoka manages to ask, forcing herself not to think about what's happening just down the hall.

"Writing a report to Dooku about the current status here," Asajj grimaces, "And I'm trying to tally all our losses. We're supposed to be trying to root out the Republic forces, and I need to estimate the likelihood of success."

Ahsoka appreciates the offer, and she knows that having something to do will take her mind of the current situation. She won't be actively helping kill the clones either; she'll only be figuring out where the Separatists stand in the imminent attack. That's something she can do. "Sure," she replies, giving Asajj a wan smile. "Show me what to do."

***

Anakin can feel the Jedi's mounting betrayal and anger as the door closes behind Ahsoka. He doesn't need her help, and even though it would make this easier, he would never ask her to do something like that. Asajj is more than capable of providing whatever assistance might be required. He almost regrets asking Ahsoka to help, but it was for her own good. It would have happened at some point, and he wouldn't be doing her any favors by coddling her.

Anakin chuckles mirthlessly. "Speechless, are we?" he mocks. "You must recognize me."

"What have to done to her?" Offee snarls, trying to cover her fear with anger.

He pretends to consider the question for a moment before grinning. "Nothing," he replies caustically, soaking in her dark emotions, and letting them fuel him. "You should fear more for your own fate than for what has befallen Ahsoka. She is safe in my care, but the same cannot be said for you, Jedi."

"She's a child," the Mirialan spits, moving closer with determination.

"And a brave one," Anakin agrees, lazily watching the Jedi's approach. "Would that all the Jedi had her strength. You wouldn't be so arrogant if you did."

"You mean we'd all be evil," Offee snaps.

Anakin's golden eyes narrow, and he springs towards her, his blade crashing downward into hers as she desperately blocks him. "How does it feel to be betrayed by someone you trusted?" he growls, letting his own fury at the Jedi swell up, blanketing the room in a suffocating cloud of raw darkness which fuels him to even greater heights.

He strikes fast and furious, sending her stumbling backwards as she tries to defend herself. "Like you would know of betrayal," she retorts, swinging towards him, but he's already gone, moving like a whirlwind around her, lightsaber a deadly curtain of red.

"More than you ever will," Anakin hisses. He's toying with her; his skills far surpass hers. He doesn't want to listen to her anymore, because if he does, he might kill her in his anger. He needs to tone it down somewhat, so he doesn't slip up. Inhaling, he consciously pulls back his rage, burying it behind the durasteel walls in his mind where it can be of use later.

He leaps over her head, nearly knocking her over by the unexpected forcefulness of his attack. She stumbles, and he seizes on the weakness, hurling her backwards and pinning her to the wall, left hand coming up to Force choke her. He hesitates for but a moment before letting lightning arc from his fingers, electrifying her nerves, and knocking her unconscious. Her body drops unceremoniously to the floor, and Anakin moves to kneel next to her, snapping Force restraints onto her wrists. He'll secure her better in the shuttle.

They're running out of time. If they can escape the system before the Republic reinforcements arrive, it'll be nigh to impossible for them to track the starship or even know what it looks like. Sighing, Anakin clips his and her lightsabers to his belt before lifting her body with the Force and hurrying to the landing platform where the ship is waiting. After securing Barriss firmly inside the cabin – he chained her to the bed and cuffed her ankles with Force restraints as well – he goes to get Ahsoka.

It's obvious that she's upset by her role in the plan, and Anakin would take the time to comfort her if he wasn't trying to get them off Christophsis, for one, and if he wasn't still so deeply immersed in the Dark Side, for two. Ahsoka is unnaturally still as Anakin flies the ship into the atmosphere, programs the hyperdrive, and makes the jump to hyperspace. Destination Rattatak, where Asajj has a castle of her own, courtesy of her leadership over the planet. After making her his apprentice, Dooku had outfitted the basement with state-of-the-art technology to contain Jedi in addition to installing Sith torture equipment.

This is Anakin's first chance to prove himself, and he's more than eager to do it. "Ahsoka, once we reach Rattatak, I want you to take the shuttle back to Serenno, to Dooku, okay?" They hadn't discussed this previously, but he finds that much as he'll dislike being alone having become used to her and Obi-Wan with him at all times over the past month, he wants her far away even more so. She doesn't need to feel what he does to Barriss. That's something between the two of them only – well, Asajj or Dooku could be there too, but not Ahsoka or Obi-Wan. He knows they wouldn't be able to tolerate that brutal aspect of his life.

"'Kay," she mumbles, staring vacantly at the stars streaking by. Anakin silently reaches out towards Offee's presence, checking the shielding he placed around her. She'll regain consciousness long before they arrive, and he doesn't want Ahsoka to be exposed to the anger and betrayal her friend will be radiating. It'll hurt her more than she's already hurting.

The silence drags on until it becomes awkward. Anakin finally breaks it, clearing his throat to draw Ahsoka's attention. "Talk to Obi-Wan when you get back, please," he tells her, blue eyes searching her face. "I think he could help you better than me right now."

"Will do," she murmurs, eyes briefly flicking to his face. "I – I think I'll go lay down, if you don't mind?"

"Of course," Anakin immediately agrees, touching her shoulder fleetingly before she rises and leaves the cockpit, heading to the second, unoccupied cabin. Well, that leaves him alone for the next few hours… Maybe he can figure out the best way of achieving his goal in the meantime.

Once he starts planning, he gets completely lost until the alarm on the ship pulls him out of his reverie. Part of him can hardly believe that he's been entrusted with something so vital, especially so soon after he resisted Sidious. Anakin shakes the thought aside as he reverts the ship to real space and guides it down towards the coordinates Asajj gave him.

Ahsoka comes out of the cabin and joins him during the landing procedure. He notices that she looks a little better than before, but that may be because she had time to process and sleep. He'd almost expected her to stay in the cockpit until he disembarks with Offee, but instead, she follows him to the main hold and lowers the ramp. She waits there while he goes to the other cabin where the Jedi is still bound.

"You are not to speak unless I speak to you, do you understand?" Anakin asks harshly as he undoes the chains and yanks her to her feet.

"I – yes," she responds, glaring at him defiantly. He meets her gaze coldly before shoving her ahead of him out of the cabin. Ahsoka doesn't look at her friend, but she doesn't flinch either, stepping aside to let them pass.

Two guards are waiting for them on the landing platform. "Lord Vader, welcome back," one of them says as they bow to him.

"Take the prisoner," Anakin orders, pushing the Jedi towards them. They immediately take up positions on either side of her, tense and ready for any possible resistance. He dismisses them from mind, turning around to look at Ahsoka where she stands at the bottom of the ramp.

"Ahsoka," he says softly, stepping in front over. They stare at one another wordlessly before he continues. "I should return to Serenno in about one week's time. My presence will not be continually required here," he adds when he sees the question in her gaze.

"I don't like this," she finally blurts out, lowering her head to stare at the ground. She doesn't need to explain, but Anakin already knows what she's talking about.

Sighing, he reaches out, gently lifting her chin to look at her face. "Nor do I," he admits, "But –" He hesitates, uncertain exactly how to express his thoughts. "I – You're stronger than I am, Snips." Her muted shock echoes in the Force, but Anakin doesn't give her a chance to argue. "You stood up to my master. You defied him when I never would. I never liked what he wanted, but… I got used to it. I didn't fight him."

It was true. He'd hated Sidious for what he'd forced him to do, but he hated himself for giving in even more. He needs her to know, to understand, exactly how different they are. She could become like him, but he doesn't see that as a possible future. Not now.

"You were a child," she retorts. "Of course, you weren't able to fight back."

He laughs mirthlessly. "Do you really believe that? Look at me now. I'm more powerful than my master, but I'm still bowing to him. I'm still following him."

"Why?" she challenges.

This time, it's him who looks away. "Because I want to keep my mother and Padme safe," he begins, knowing that he's not admitting the real reason. "Because he's not wrong. The Jedi are corrupt. The Republic is falling apart. You know as well as I do how much chaos the galaxy is in. It's not as though he created it alone; he simply hastened along the galactic war."

"But you don't agree with his end goals," Ahsoka points out. "How do you know that he won't outmaneuver you, making all our plans useless?"

"I have to trust that it's safer to stay than leave," Anakin answers firmly. If they don't stay close to Sidious's plans, it would be far too easy for them to be destroyed.

"There's more," she says, searching his face as she reaches out to him through the Force.

Anakin inhales, forces himself not to flinch. He knows what Ahsoka just caught a glimpse of and trying to deny it won't do any good. In her eyes, he can see the truth. Their bond is getting far stronger if she was able to tease out his feelings from behind his shielding. "Yes, I fear him," Anakin answers in a low voice, dropping his shields for a moment and permitting her to sense the overwhelming, all-encompassing fear he keeps buried deep within him.

Ahsoka seems momentarily startled and stands there gaping at him silently. "I am proud of you, Ahsoka," Anakin tells her. "You have more bravery than I ever did."

Instead of arguing, she steps forward and hugs him tightly. Anakin returns the embrace before stepping back, watching as she boards the ship and flies away, leaving Rattatak behind. He'll be rejoining her soon enough, but for now, he has a Jedi to break.

Chapter Text

Ahsoka sits with her knees pulled up, arms crossed atop them as she stares out at the gardens. Let it never be said that Dooku doesn't know the beauty of greenery. She returned to Serenno yesterday, and despite the time, she's still very troubled. She – she doesn't know what she wants, actually, but the gnawing guilt inside her isn't fading. Though she's been keeping a distance from the others in the hopes of sorting out her thoughts, it's not helping nearly as much as she'd hoped it would.

The clones have established a sort of rhythm here which she knows about only because she asked Anakin what they've been doing. Apparently, he got Rex, Hardcase, Echo, and Appo involved in his numerous engineering projects, most of which involve taking apart damaged shuttles and creating completely new, personalized models. It keeps them entertained, so she doesn't mind. Besides, the shuttles will probably be useful, even if they're not employed in battles.

Dooku had once spoken to everyone about the political aspect of the Clone Wars, and as a result, unintentionally inspired Fives to find a way to not only free the clones from their forced servitude, but also, end the war diplomatically. Ever since, Fives and Tup have spent their time doing research and learning more about the political arena. Even if their skills will never be used, she admires their dedication to their studies.

Coric, as would be expected from a medic, has been furthering his medical knowledge, while Kix – and Jesse – have been spending their free time in the garden. They've taken a liking to caring for the plants there, maybe because they've never had the chance to on Kamino. The last three clones, Droidbait, Hevy, and Cutup, have generally been trying out different hobbies including cooking. Frankly, Ahsoka doesn't think they're too bad at it, even if the thought of trained soldiers cooking is weird.

She can see Jesse in the garden if she leans forward, so she does, half-heartedly watching him move around. "Ahsoka, can I come in?" Obi-Wan calls from outside. They spoke once, when Ahsoka reported to him and Dooku the details of the mission. That was last night, and its late afternoon now. This was a conversation she was expecting.

"Yes," she replies flatly, straightening to look at him. He steps inside, eyes darting around the room before settling on her, the worry in them evident.

He seats himself at the other end of the couch she's in and regards her in silence for a long moment. "Talk to me, Ahsoka," he murmurs softly. "Tell me how you feel."

Anakin had told her to talk to Obi-Wan; she doesn't want to talk about it, but she knows that he's right. She exhales harshly, eyes flicking to the window again. "She was my friend," she begins quietly. "I shouldn't have betrayed her like that. I manipulated her with the intent of leading her to Anakin when I know what will happen to her."

"What would have happened if you hadn't?" Obi-Wan prompts.

"Anakin would have found another way," Ahsoka tells him. "He told me when we landed that I didn't have to help if I didn't want to, but I told them that I could do it. It was wrong, Obi-Wan." She squeezes her eyes closed, trying to ignore the guilt which is threatening to consume her. "Maybe I shouldn't have done it. I didn't think I had a choice anyways, because even if I didn't do it now, there will always be a later."

By the time she finishes, her voice is shaking, and she's struggling to hold back her tears. She loves Anakin dearly, but that doesn't make it any easier to betray another friend.

Obi-Wan reaches out, squeezing her shoulder. "It will always be hard," he answers, "But this is something we have to do. As Jedi, we must strive to work for the greater good." He pauses, giving her a meaningful look, and Ahsoka appreciates that he's not simply telling her to let it go. After all this time, he knows how useless that is, not when they're surrounded by Sith. They've been forced to change, to forge themselves a new path, but she doesn't regret it.

"I know," she whispers, "But how can we decide what the greater good is? Was it really good to let Barriss be captured, to let her suffer and break?"

Obi-Wan seems troubled, but the compassion on his face never fades. "The greater good is stopping Sidious and bringing peace to the galaxy," he assures her firmly. "We can only do that if we're here, and we can only do that if we save Anakin." She stares at him wordlessly until he continues speaking. "Anakin is troubled and misled, but he hasn't completely Fallen. He's suffered Force only knows what, but he's still capable of using the Light Side."

As Obi-Wan explains, Ahsoka finally begins to understand what he's saying. "If we help him, he won't completely Fall," she deduces, "And that means we're putting his well-being over that of others? Isn't that… one over many?"

The Jedi Knight wordlessly shakes his head. "If Anakin completely Falls, no one will be shown any mercy. He's so strong already, and Sidious will use him as a weapon. I have no doubt that he'll be able to take on dozens of Jedi and come out on top."

Ahsoka looks at him skeptically. "Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration?"

Obi-Wan raises an eyebrow. "Is it?"

And Ahsoka realizes with a chill that she has no idea. She's seen him fight, but she's never once seen him at his best. She's never seen him unable to come out on top. And with what she does know about him, the question isn't what can he do, but what can he not do?

It hurts. It'll probably always hurt, but if she keeps sight of the end goal, of keeping Anakin with them so they don't lose him entirely, is what matters most. Of course, they could always take the coward's way and simply kill him – she imagines the Council would suggest that probably – but if he's not evil, killing him for what he could do is cruelty.

Obi-Wan is watching her, probably guaranteeing that she understands when someone else knocks on the door before opening it. Dooku steps into the room, somehow managing to look as though he's not intruding on a private conversation. Ahsoka can't find the energy to be annoyed at him, so she settles for a half-wave.

"I was hoping to see how you were doing," he informs her, "But it seems that Master Kenobi has already spoken to you."

"Just discussing priorities," Obi-Wan answers a bit dismissively.

"Oh?" Dooku raises an eyebrow, eyeing him curiously.

Obi-Wan glances at Ahsoka, as if uncertain if she'd care if he explains to Dooku. She doesn't. Not anymore. She knows that Dooku cares deeply for Anakin – and them, by extension – and he'll do whatever he must to keep Anakin safe. "I was explaining exactly why it's important for us to do things which might be against our morals if it means ensuring Anakin is safe," he explains.

Dooku's expression darkens slightly, and he nods. "I have… been apprehensive over what might happen should he fully Fall," he admits. "After you came, he changed a lot. You know how dark he can be, but he used to be like that all the time until you came."

Ahsoka nearly forgets how to breathe. What Dooku is saying is impossible from the Jedi's point of view. He's saying that Anakin's caring for them, and the attention and affection they've shown him, has slowly been drawing him away from the darkness which is eating at his soul.

"I had noticed that he seems more… balanced," Obi-Wan agrees, "But I wasn't sure if it was because of us or because he was here."

Dooku sighs, and there's a weariness in it which Ahsoka hadn't been expecting. "I've done what I can, but he views me as something more like a grandfather. It doesn't help that I'm the one who trained him to be a Sith. He cares for his mother too, but there's not much she can do. Senator Amidala doesn't even know, and Ventress does her best, but she's a very troubled young woman as well. She compliments Anakin in many ways, and they're much like siblings."

Though he keeps his tone neutral, Ahsoka can hear the underlying fondness he feels for both Anakin and Asajj. Interesting. "They get to be dark together, and they keep each other from slipping, but it's not enough to pull either back, is that what you're saying?" Ahsoka wonders, curious despite herself.

The Count inclines his head. "If we keep Anakin in the Light, we still have a chance against Sidious," he says finally. "If we lose him… may the Force have mercy on us and the galaxy." With those final words, he leaves the room.

Ahsoka exchanges a look with Obi-Wan, suddenly realizing for the first time how much of a burden is on their shoulders. Her guilt has finally receded as she understands just how high the stakes are. It will be hard, no doubt about that, but she will never shirk from her duty as one of the few who can actually protect the Chosen One from the darkness threatening to obliterate him. Obi-Wan gives her a small smile of encouragement, obviously sensing, and agreeing with, her sentiments. Together, they will succeed, no matter what she has to do to guarantee it.

***

Anakin stalks around Offee, much like a wild predator might tease its injured, helpless prey before moving in for the kill. The Jedi is hanging from the ceiling by a chain, wrists fastened above her head. She's glaring coldly at him, at least as best she can. Finally, he stops in front of her, arms crossed, a sardonic grin on his face. "Well, well," he croons cruelly. "It looks as though the little Jedi is trapped. You're stuck with me here. No one will find you on this planet. You're not important enough."

Offee clenches her jaw, but otherwise doesn't respond to his taunting. Chucking, Anakin resumes his leisurely walk around her, footsteps echoing off the dungeon walls. The Force dampening is irritating, but Offee is almost completely cut off from the Force; the chains are Force restraints as well.

"I can feel your anger, your guilt," Anakin continues speaking in a slow, measured tone. "You mourn for your master, do you not?" There's a flare of fury, which only makes him grin, the darkness drawing him in like an insect would go to light. He studies her, yellow eyes calculating. "She was pathetic," he states decisively. "She fell like a cowardly weaking. If she couldn't even stand up to me, how do you think you can?"

He swings around her, standing only two feet from her, searching her face for some traces of emotion. "You should let it go," he whispers mockingly. "You shouldn't be mourning for a dead woman who failed you. The Jedi have failed the galaxy, don't you see?"

"The Jedi protect the Republic from people like you," Offee hisses, blue eyes burning with anger. "You're a coward for picking out defenseless victims and slaughtering them."

The barb hits harder than he wants to admit, and he slaps her viciously with his mechanical hand, relishing the pain it causes. "Ignorant child," he spits. "You see, yet you refuse to understand the truth. Accepting it would be too painful for you. The so-called peacekeepers are lying. They are leading a war! What is heroic about that? You're far too old for blind hero worship."

Offee raises her chin defiantly, but stubbornly remains silent. Time for a new tactic. "I killed your master, you know," he states casually. "It was remarkably easy. You couldn't even save her, so what kind of Jedi does that make you?" He pauses, before giving a sigh of feigned sympathy. "The Jedi will never understand your pain. They'll never let you mourn. They won't let you express your anger, a totally natural emotion."

"And what's more," he continues in the same, gentle tone. "You don't even understand why it happened. You feel helpless, don't you, Barriss?" For the first time, he uses her first name. "You haven't yet comprehended the mockery which the galaxy is enduring. There is nothing you will be able to do if you persist in clinging to the outdated ideologies of the Jedi Order. Their sight is clouded. They are blinded by their own arrogance. They think themselves infallible, when, in reality, they've already fallen from their path. The Jedi are no longer bringing justice to the Republic. They serve the Senate, not the people."

He looks into her eyes and sees loathing there, directed at him and also, directed at herself. She's trying to ignore his words, but in the coming isolation, he knows she won't be able to stop thinking about what he said.

"It's so easy." His voice is soft, like a caress might be. "All you need to do is reach out and touch the power you have been denied. The Dark Side gives everything you could ever have wanted. I could never have found the truth had I rejected this part of the Force."

"Lies," she hisses. "The Dark Side only takes. It never gives. The price it would demand is far too high for me to accept."

"Do you not want justice?" he queries mildly, "Or do you genuinely believe that the Jedi should serve the politicians who have never seen the horrors of war? The Dark Side is the path to true power. The Force is one. You cannot have the light without the darkness. Why else do you think the Force is out of balance? The Jedi shun the Dark Side. They fear it. That very fear has blinded them, has made them susceptible to the alluring call of the dark."

He exhales slowly and continues his monologue. "There is a hidden beauty in the wildness of the dark, the soothing touch of its bitter coldness. It never lies. It can't lie. In the Dark Side lies all the truth we wish to ignore, the truth we would seek to twist for our own benefit. You are young. You know little of the mysteries of the Force. The darkness isn't cruel; it just is."

Anakin sidles closer, lowering his voice. "In the silence and darkness in this cell, you would do good to reflect on your life's choices, and on what you truly desire. Everything you have ever believed is a lie, young Offee. Remember your failings. You failed your master. You let her die. You didn't defend her. Remember your guilt and anger as you languish here. No one will come for you. You are completely alone."

With those words, he withdraws a syringe which he'd brought in here with him. It contains a powerful drug designed to cause acute pain in the victim. He doesn't hesitate, plunging the needle into her upper arm. Though she doesn't react visibly, he can feel her pain in the Force as he leaves the prison cell. His work is done for one day, but he has a lot to reflect on.

It will take time to break her, and patience has never been his forte, but he will succeed. He will prove to Sidious that he's useful, that he's worthy of being a Sith. Mind games have never been easy for him, even though his master thought him about their importance in breaking Jedi. Anakin listened to the lessons, absorbing everything. Only now has he been given the chance to test his knowledge. If nothing else, he can resort to torture. If Offee is alive, Sidious won't care what condition she's in when she finally breaks.

He comes back the next day, late in the evening. As before, he's alone. "I hope you have thought about what I've said," Anakin states calmly as the prison door closes behind him.

Offee only glares at him, keeping her mouth closed, and Anakin tuts quietly as he moves closer her on silent feet. "Why hold onto your anger until it destroys you?" he asks mildly. "You resist the inevitable. You resist when your only hope is to surrender. I'm not asking you to become a monster. I'm not asking you to slaughter a village of innocents. I'm only asking that you open your eyes to the true nature of the Force."

That's all true. He doesn't want to break her to make her into a monster. He's following orders, and he can't help but hope that she'll see the truth and join their silent resistance against Sidious. The Jedi are doomed; he knows that. It's far too late to save them. All he can do is resurrect something better from their ashes. It's time to destroy everything which has been built, Sith and Jedi alike, and rebuild.

"Speak to me, Barriss," he practically implores. "Tell me what you're thinking." He might want to lure her into his confidence, to use her words against her, but he also wants to help her, strange though that may be.

Her eyes narrow, and Anakin can almost see the gears turning in her mind. "What would you like me to say?" she demands scornfully. "Do you want to hear how much I detest you? Do you want to hear how much I resent Ahsoka for betraying me to you? Do you want to hear how certain I am that your sole purpose is to twist me to do your will?" She shakes her head violently. "No. I won't listen to you."

Anakin tilts his head and nods slowly. "I see," he murmurs. "You have these feelings, and you refuse to use them. You refuse to understand yourself, and that is your biggest failing. You won't admit to your weaknesses and desires. How can you choose to enslave yourself in this manner? If you want freedom, it is at your fingertips. Accept the Force as it truly is, one cosmic body with no boundary between Dark and Light, and you will break your chains."

Slowly, he withdraws the Sith mask and approaches her, pulling it down over her face before loosening the Force restraints. Anytime she reaches for the Force, all she'll find is the Dark Side. No Jedi has been able to resist this particular torture device. He'll return periodically, using words as weapons to tear her apart. If she doesn't break within two weeks, he'll have to up the torture. Part of him – an exceedingly small part of him – hopes that it doesn't go that far.

Chapter Text

"You're late," Asajj states flatly as Anakin steps into the mostly empty dining room. He was supposed to be back early in the morning for a short break in his attempts to break the Jedi. Honestly, she suspects the only reason he came is because she returned for two days before heading back to the front lines. The war is no joke, and she's been fighting almost nonstop since it began. Okay. Maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration.

"Miss me much?" Anakin teases right back, pulling out the chair next to her and sitting down. "Hey, Rex!" he greets the clone who, unlike his brothers, is still eating.

Rex nods a greeting. "Would you like me to get you something, Anakin?"

"Please," Anakin replies gratefully, and Rex rises to fetch him a tray of breakfast.

"Mmm hmm," Asajj hums, leaning over to give him a playful, chaste kiss on the cheek as she throws an arm around his shoulders. "It was incredibly boring on the front lines without you there to keep me company."

Anakin snorts, elbowing her. "Careful or I might think you're trying to steal me from Padme."

Asajj makes a gagging noise. "Ick! I told you I'm not interested in that sort of thing! Besides, you're my best friend or brother, whichever you prefer."

Rex coughs to smother a laugh behind them as he sets a tray down in front of Anakin before returning to his own seat. "Thanks," Anakin tells him with a half-smile as he starts eating. "I'm starving," he comments five minutes and half a plate later. "It's busy work to break a Jedi, and my brain feels as though it's been fried from all the exercise that I've been giving it."

"Which is to say that you normally don't use it," Asajj concludes, patting his arm. "I feel bad for you." Anakin swats her hand away and glares.

"Hush, you," he scolds. "I'm the one talking." She nods with a feigned obedience and is pleased to see him fighting a smile as he looks back at the food in front of him. "Anyway, she's Fallen. I played enough word games and used the Sith mask on her. I'm not sure how she feels about me now; that's something which Dooku will have to decide when we return there tomorrow."

"Great job!" Asajj praises. "I knew you could do it!" And she did. Anakin is not only powerful, but incredibly determined. Nothing can stop him once he sets his mind to something, and she can only admire – and envy – his power. He's the strongest of all of them, and even she has yet to learn of something he can't accomplish with the Force.

Anakin looks smug and altogether pleased with himself. "Where are Obi-Wan and Ahsoka?" he queries. "And Dooku?"

"The Count is probably in his office," Rex answers, "And Obi-Wan and Ahsoka went outside to the gardens about fifteen minutes before you got here."

"Oh well," Anakin shrugs. "I'll go see them in a moment, but first, I wanted to talk to you, Rex."

That immediately perks Asajj's interest, because she hadn't heard him mention anything he wanted to discuss with Rex. Maybe this is just a spur of the moment thing. "I know you and your brothers are keeping an eye on the progression of the Clone Wars," Anakin begins neutrally, "And I also know that you dislike sitting here, unable to help."

Rex seems mildly surprised for a moment, but maybe that's only because he didn't realize that Anakin pays close attention to everyone around him, even if he doesn't act like it. "Yes," the clone admits, "That is true. We know that it's not realistic for us to help, especially given our positions, but if it would be possible, we are all more than willing."

Anakin nods slowly, leaning back in his chair, blue eyes scrutinizing Rex. "I don't want to push you, but if you want, you can help us. I know that means fighting with the Separatists and against the Republic which is why I want you to think about it."

Rex exhales, eyes flicking down before he looks up at Anakin again. "I respect you very much, sir, but I don't wish to be in a position where I'll be forced to fight against my brothers."

The look on Anakin's face can only be labeled compassion. "I know," he says softly. "That's why I want you to think about it. There are other ways you could help us, especially in situations where battle won't be necessary, such as infiltrating to obtain information."

"Then… then, yes, I would like to help," Rex decides. "I'm sure my brothers will be happy to help you also."

Anakin meets his gaze with a faint smile. "It'll be good to have someone I trust at my back on information runs," he teases.

"Anakin, it's good to see you're back!" calls Obi-Wan as he steps into the room, Ahsoka beside him. Asajj tilts her head to watch as Anakin's face brightens, and he spins to his feet, striding over to them.

"And with good tidings," Anakin offers enthusiastically. He almost seems to be vibrating with excitement at his success. Asajj huffs quietly. She could probably do the same thing he did given time – and training.

"You succeeded?" queries Ahsoka as Anakin gives her and Obi-Wan a quick hug.

"I did," he confirms gleefully, and Asajj is certain that he doesn't notice the way Ahsoka's face dims slightly.

"That's good," Obi-Wan replies smoothly, smiling. "Let's go find Dooku to see if you can tell him the news in person." Anakin waves to her and Rex over his shoulder as he follows the others out of the room.

She only realizes that she's frowning when Rex clears his throat. "Something wrong?" he questions lightly.

It takes her a moment to figure out what's bothering her. "He seems… so happy with them," she finally says, "And I don't begrudge him that, but I feel like they don't care nearly as much about me. Which is stupid because it's not like they don't care about me." And she's really, truthfully not sure why she confessed that to Rex.

He studies her for a moment before rising. "Well, how about you come spend some time with me and the boys?" he suggests. "Echo wanted to build a customized shuttle without Anakin's help."

Asajj grins at him. "I'm with you," she asserts. "Even if I don't normally enjoy engineering projects, there's a first time for everything."

***

Dooku knows that he shouldn't be proud of Anakin for succeeding in breaking Offee in so short a period of time, but he is, only because Anakin did it without sacrificing needless innocent victims. He's honestly come to feel that Anakin is the most suited for the role of Emperor because of how compassionate he can be. He broke Offee because he was told to, but also because he wanted to prove to himself that he could, and while such a drive could be destructive, Dooku knows that Anakin's natural empathy makes it unlikely.

If he had any doubts about the former Jedi's affiliations, they're gone when the guards lead her into the room where he's waiting with Anakin. The Dark Side hangs around her like a shroud, and Dooku knows that he has to give her careful guidance so that she doesn't entirely lose herself in it. Anakin told him that he told Offee about Palpatine already – it was one of the primary things which ended up breaking her – which means one more revelation out of the way.

But first and foremost, they need to call Sidious together to inform him of the status. The Sith will, no doubt, be incredibly pleased by the state of affairs; maybe he'll even let Anakin off the hook for being so rash during the battle of Geonosis. Doubtful, but Dooku can always hope.

The guards leave Offee in the room and return to their posts outside. "Are you well?" Dooku asks her gently. "You can speak freely."

She nods jerkily. "I'm fine," she answers brusquely. "I was given a room and food after I saw the truth in Skywalker's words."

"I don't trust her," Anakin sends telepathically, eyes narrowed as he watches her. "I feel like it would be a foolhardy move to trust her for some reason."

"I sense it too," Dooku replies, the pleasant expression on his face never changing. "Very good," he tells her. "Are you ready to contact our master?"

"Of course," Offee answers immediately.

Anakin turns, inputting the frequency of the holocommunicator, kneeling in the transmission field. Dooku joins him, and grudgingly, Offee bows next to them as they wait for the call to connect. Finally, the hooded figure of Sidious appears in front of them, and Dooku can sense a momentary surge of surprise which is followed by satisfaction. "Lord Vader, I see you have succeeded," the Sith states with relish.

"Yes, my Master," Anakin answers, bowing his head. "It was my honor."

"Perhaps you are deserving of your rank after all," muses Sidious. A taut silence hangs in the air as he presumably scrutinizes Offee. "And you, my dear, how have you been? I do hope Lord Vader was not too harsh on you."

"No, my Lord," Offee murmurs respectfully. "He was not. He only did what was necessary to show me the truth. I am more than happy to be here and serve you."

Studying her posture and remaining attentive to the Force, Dooku doesn't miss how she seems to put a strange emphasis on the last word. Is it because she despises Anakin? Because she only wants to serve Sidious instead of Anakin or him? Neither will bode well if they want their plans to continue without any impediments. Anakin – as usual – was right. Offee could easily become a liability. Unfortunately, it will not be easy for them to eliminate her if she proves to be a risk for them and the galaxy.

Sidious cackles darkly, the sound sending a chill through Dooku, though he doesn't move. "Good. Good. Lord Tyrannus, you will instruct her in how to control her new power, so she doesn't begin to overestimate her abilities. I wish to have frequent updates. Give Offee a commlink so I can contact her at liberty."

"As you wish, Master," Dooku replies as fear begins to prickle through him. No, this is not good at all. Another Fallen Jedi isn't necessarily a bad thing, but the problem arises if said individual is allied with Sidious over him and Anakin.

"Lord Vader, you may contact your mother and speak to her as a reward for your success," Sidious finishes.

"Thank you, Master." Despite the respectful tone Anakin is using, Dooku can hear his delight. Oddly enough, that only seems to fuel Sidious's amusement. Strange. He has to be plotting something against them. It's the only explanation, and for one brief second, Dooku has a moment of clarity. Sidious is carefully crafting events to turn everyone he can against Anakin and destroy the rest in his calculated bid to break his favored apprentice and bring him to his knees forever.

The image vanishes as Sidious disconnects the call. Dooku shakes off his unease lest Anakin sense it and demand answers. He doesn't want to ruin Anakin's mood right now. This is something they can discuss later. "Do you want to call your mother now?" Dooku queries.

Anakin nods, eyes shining with excitement as he rises and enters the correct frequency. Dooku motions to Offee to wait as he stands next to Anakin, waiting for Shmi to answer. It takes her less than ten seconds to connect the transmission.

"Ani!" she exclaims, relief evident in her tone. "I feared it would be longer before I heard from you again."

"Mom," Anakin whispers, unable to tear his eyes away from her hologram. Dooku can feel his rising surge of emotion and touches his shoulder fleetingly to offer his silent support.

"Count Dooku, it's good to see you again as well," Shmi continues, studying him. Dooku couldn't use any one word to describe their relationship, but he will admit to being… a bit fond of Shmi. She is a wonderful person, and it's easy to see where Anakin got his heart. It might be pushing it to define her as a daughter, but he knows that she views him as something of a mentor and definitely a friend.

"Everything is well," Dooku tells her carefully, all too aware of the unfriendly pair of eyes watching them. "There has been a single complication, so don't expect any visitors in the near future." He employs their old code talk to discuss the plans which will hopefully and eventually result in their freedom.

Shmi nods, obviously understanding. "Well, may the Force be with you and stay safe." Don't do anything which might compromise you. Dooku allows a slight smile at the coded reply.

"We'll be safe," he answers. We won't. He shifts into a more relaxed posture. "I'll leave you to speak with Anakin." He glances at Anakin, and their eyes meet, a look of shared understanding passing between them. Anakin knew that Dooku was only talking to Shmi to update her the new possible problem: Barriss.

Turning, Dooku walks to the door and opens it, Offee falling in behind him.

"I've missed you so much, Mom," Anakin says behind them before the door closes, cutting off any further noise and granting Anakin some privacy.

"Are you up for some training?" Dooku inquires.

"Absolutely," Offee replies, a surge of pure darkness accompanying her words.

For the first time, Dooku wonders if she's already too dark for him to help her learn control. Just what did Anakin say to cause something like this? Or was it the Sith mask which did this? It must have been. Anakin can be cruel with words, but nothing he could say would elicit something like this. What did the Sith mask show her? More likely than not, she'll never tell him which, as far as control is concerned, will only make the situation worse.

***

"Chancellor, you wished to speak with me?" Padme steps hesitantly into the office, heart pounding far harder than it should be. Over the past month, she's heard nothing, no word of Anakin, and while she and Palpatine have often conversed, there was something in the latest message which seemed unusually urgent.

It's been so hard to live in this uncertainty surrounding her fiancé, to hear the whispers of him being a traitor. She'd tried to defend him at first, but nothing she said had any impact, so eventually, she began ignoring everything said about him. Much as she's loath to admit it, she's begun to have doubts as well. Anakin… Well, he's always seemed a bit troubled, and there were times when he seemed to be distant, but she chalked it up to stress as being the adopted son of the Chancellor.

But maybe it was something else. Maybe he was being troubled by something which she can never hope to discern. It's been long enough, and Padme is tired of waiting. It might take her a lot of time, but she's determined to unravel the mystery which is Anakin Skywalker. The only problem is that she doesn't even know where to start, though talking to Palpatine seems like as good a place as any.

"Ah, my dear, it's good to see you here so early." The Chancellor sounds as weary as he looks, and Padme feels a pang of sympathy. The detractors and critics have been far harsher on him than her, and she wonders how he's able to cope with it.

He motions for her to sit, and she does, shifting almost impatiently in her chair. "This is about Anakin, I presume?"

"You presume correctly," he agrees, sighing. "The Jedi Council brought this to my attention earlier, and I felt you should be made aware. I know you will not betray my confidences or unduly reveal anything about Anakin which I tell you."

"Of course not," she hastens to reassure him, leaning forwards. "What is it?"

"A report has just arrived from Christophsis," Palpatine tells her gravely. "Ahsoka Tano, one of the Jedi Anakin is rumored to have kidnapped on Geonosis, joined with our troops there, led by Jedi Knight Barriss Offee."

"Is that – what did she say?" Padme asks anxiously, fidgeting with her skirt.

"She said that Dooku is trying to convert her to his cause," he explains grimly. "She informed them of a clone spy – who was later discovered – but her and Offee went to investigate. They never returned."

Padme gapes at him in horrified shock. "Was Anakin lying about not working with Dooku?" she whispers, pain and betrayal rushing through her. "He said that he's supporting the Republic, but was it all a lie?"

"I wish I knew," the Chancellor whispers, voice laden with anguish. "I wish I knew."

In this moment, Padme knows that they're both silently mourning the loss of someone they'd held dear, and she lets herself grieve, holding back her tears for later when she's alone. "How did this happen?" she manages to get out. "How could we have missed something like this? I can't believe that he could possibly fall so far as to betray the Republic and stab us in the back like this." She shakes her head. "There must be something we're missing."

"I know it hurts," Palpatine soothes her, resting a grandfatherly hand on her arm. "It may never stop until we find the truth, but I have to confess that I fear we are still being blinded. I'm afraid it may be too late."

Padme pulls away, staring at him, askance. "What are you suggesting?" she demands, voice rising slowly as her despair gives way to anger. "How can you even imply that Anakin might have turned against the Republic and against us, his family?!"

Palpatine sighs, looking down at his desk, and Padme feels bad for getting upset at him. He must know Anakin better than her, having raised him, but she simply can't bring herself to accept what he's saying. "I first met Count Dooku before he left the Order," the Chancellor relates, seeming to be lost in thought. "I introduced him to Anakin shortly after he repossessed his land on Serenno. Dooku was quite taken with Anakin, or so I thought at the time. He told me that Anakin is incredibly strong with the Force, and that leaving him untrained could destroy him, so powerful was he."

He meets her eyes, and she can almost see the guilt swirling in them. "Dooku explained that he would teach Anakin how to control the Force, and I knew that they became extremely friendly to the point where Anakin would accompany the Count to Serenno. I didn't see any harm in it, and since Shmi didn't seem to find anything wrong, I let it continue. I probably should have put a stop to it much sooner."

"It's not your fault," Padme tries to assure him. "You didn't know how conniving Dooku was. I can maybe talk to Shmi and see if she can shed some light on this."

Palpatine nods but isn't quite looking at her. "Do you know what the Jedi say about those who turn to the Dark Side?" When she wordlessly shakes her head, he continues, "They say that they're lost. They say that once someone begins using the Dark Side, they're lost. They'll no longer be the same person they were before."

She's desperately shaking her head before he even finishes. "No," she chokes out. "No, they're wrong. Anakin is not lost to us. The Jedi will never know him like I do, like you do. We know how much he cares about people. He hasn't lost it. He hasn't."

Padme struggles to reign in her emotions, but she can't stop the tears from spilling down her cheeks as images of Anakin turning against her, against the Republic flash through her mind. It's all so wrong. He's not evil. At heart, he's one of the best people she's ever has the fortune of meeting. And he loves her. If he was utterly lost, then he wouldn't be able to care for others. Still, hard though she tries, she knows that there is truth to what Palpatine was saying. Something has happened to Anakin, but even if he has somehow in some inconceivable way betrayed the Republic, Padme knows that she will always love him, and she will never stop trying to bring him back to her, back to those who care for him.

Chapter Text

Ahsoka is thoroughly and utterly exhausted. After Anakin successfully turned Barriss to the Dark Side, he'd returned to Serenno and put her and Obi-Wan through a grueling training regimen. Well, Dooku helped too. Apparently, the hand-to-hand combat which Anakin ingrained into them was something he'd learned from Jango. And that doesn't even begin to get into the lightsaber training. Anakin, unsurprisingly, is also a master of Makashi, and they'd been forced to learn the form as well. He'd also taken time to teach Ahsoka how to better wield two lightsabers, something which she had been struggling with.

Ever since his success with Barriss, Anakin has become extremely determined to push them to their limits, probably, in part, because he fears she will betray them. Honestly, Ahsoka wouldn't be surprised if she did, though why she would turn against them for Sidious is beyond her.

Anyways, that aside, as much as she enjoyed spending so much time with Anakin over the past month, she's glad it's finally over. Even though it means she has another mission. Although, all things considered, it could be worse. While she doesn't know the full effects the kidnapping of Jabba's son will have on the galaxy, she bears no fondness for Hutts. Jabba deserves whatever fate Anakin likely has in store for him.

"Approaching the convoy," Rex reports from the pilot's seat as Ahsoka balances on the lowered ramp. He's flying the Twilight, an armed shuttle which Anakin had apparently modified. Her mission is easy. Once Jesse, the copilot, destroys the two speeders accompanying Rotta, Jabba's son, he'll disable the engine of the third speeder. Then, she'll jump down there, the hood concealing her features, and use her lightsabers to cut Rotta free. They'll take him and leave Tatooine. All in all, it's a simple, straightforward plan.

"Jesse, take your shot," Ahsoka calls through the comm, shifting so she's not blown away by the wind. She hates the rough fabric of the dark gray cloak which is snugly fit around her skin. Anakin was insistent that no one suspect she's a Togruta. The only things which need to be displayed prominently are her lightsabers.

"Aye, Commander," he replies, a teasing note in his vote. The shuttle jerks beneath her feet as the cannons fire twice in quick succession, scoring a hit on the two speeders accompanying Rotta's. She leans forward, looking through the smoke and flames to see the target in question speeding through the debris. Jesse fires again, clipping the back of it, and it screeches to a halt.

"You're clear!" Rex informs her. "Go for it. I'll come back around to pick you up." She inhales, before leaping to the ground, right next to the damaged speeder. She uses the Force to catch herself. It opens, and a guard emerges. He seems startled to see her and immediately whips out a blaster. Before he's even fired once, Ahsoka's lightsabers are ignited. She deflects the bolts, finally Force shoving him backwards into the wreckage behind him.

She turns in time to see the second guard aiming at her with his own blaster. She yanks it out of his hands, throwing it onto the sand a distance away, before reaching out with the Force and pulling a screaming Rotta to her.

"Hush," she soothes as the shuttle circles back towards her again. Sending a calming wave to Rotta through the Force, Ahsoka leaps onto the ramp holding him tightly against her.

"We're clear to go," she declares, hitting the button to close the ramp and walking to the cockpit. Rotta shifts uncomfortably in her arms, blinking up at her crossly with his big eyes.

"Next stop: Teth," Rex tells them, as he guides the Twilight away from Tatooine. "How was the mission?"

"It was fine," Ahsoka shrugs. "He doesn't seem very happy though, which isn't surprising. The sooner this is over, the better."

"Sidious better be pleased with the risks we took for him," grumbles Jesse, crossing his arms as he tilts his head to study their newest companion.

"I did what he wanted," she states flatly. Though, in truth, she doesn't know if there's anything that will make Sidious satisfied except immortality and sole, unlimited control over the galaxy. What a miserable life that would be.

"Is Anakin going to be there?" Jesse wants to know.

Rex shakes his head. "We've been ordered to return to Serenno, and Anakin will go to Teth to join Ahsoka in the Twilight. They'll wait for a time before returning Rotta to Jabba and securing the Hutts allegiance to the Separatists."

Jesse purses his lips. "So, you think that the Republic will find Rotta?"

Ahsoka clears her throat, leaning forward. "Dooku suspects that it's likely. He said that Republic will spare no expense to find him, so Anakin wants you on Serenno in case Republic forces show up." She pretends not to see the look of relief on Rex's and Jesse's faces.

Though she doesn't know much about the clones' lives, she knows that they were treated as subhuman by the Kaminoans. While they trust and respect Anakin, it's obvious there's a part of them which still fears that they'll be used against their wills. Anakin had told her that they don't want to fight against their brothers – a sentiment she definitely understands. Anakin's obvious concern for them is slowly making them relax and become more willing to open up to everyone around them. It makes Ahsoka happy to see the clones slowly adjusting to more normal lives. She only wishes that they all had such an opportunity.

***

Dooku had sent a small battalion of droids to join them on Teth and help keep Rotta out of Republic hands until he can claim that he successfully "rescued" the Huttlet from the Republic. Anakin paces back and forth inside the antechamber in the monastery while listening to a string of reports from the vulture droid sentries in orbit. It seems that the Republic forces have showed up and based on the information which Anakin has been given, the battalions belong to the 501st and 212th. Anakin can't help but feel a certain fury that his specially trained clones have been given to a useless Jedi.

Apparently, Jedi Master Siri Tachi, who was recently appointed to the Jedi Council, and Jedi Knight Ferus Olin, in control of the 212th and 501st, respectively, had provided support on Christophsis shortly after Anakin and Ahsoka had left with Offee. And now, they're coming here. Well, Anakin will have to show them who is really in control. They're walking right into a trap, and if he can bring the Jedi's heads to his master, maybe he'll be able to rejoin the Republic with Obi-Wan and Ahsoka.

He doubts it, but right now, he desperately wants to get the position which he'd been promised and which he is now being denied. He was to be a general in the Republic army, the only non-Jedi and dark sider to boot. Because of his actions on Geonosis, Sidious seems to have decided that Anakin is no longer worthy of the role he's been preparing for since he was sixteen. Snarling under his breath, he roughly shoves those thoughts aside.

In a few minutes, the Jedi will be landing on the planet. It's still too soon for them to leave – Dooku isn't ready yet – so they'll have to keep them occupied, and maybe Anakin will get to test his skill against these Jedi. But if he does, he has to kill them and all witnesses if he wants to get the role of General in the Republic. Ahsoka and Rotta are deep inside the monastery where it'll be safer. For now. With the Republic here, the place will soon be overrun.

"Sir, Republic forces are attempting to scale the walls," reports the commanding droid. "They have walkers with them which are providing cover fire."

"Eliminate those walkers," orders Anakin. "Send out some of the droids on speeders to shoot down – or at least delay – the incoming troops. I'll be on the roof." He doesn't wait for a reply, turning and sweeping from the room, making his way to the rooftop higher up which allows him to look on the courtyard below. The Jedi are coming, and he'll be waiting for them. He's cloaked in the Force so deeply that even Ahsoka probably can't sense him. They won't even know what hit them when he attacks.

Explosions sound all around as the clones and droids exchange fire. Anakin can feel the lives being snuffed out in the Force, which only serves to increase his anger. His men. He's being forced to kill his men instead of leading them. It doesn't take more than a few minutes before he sees one of the Jedi through the macrobinoculars. The young man leaps from one of the droid's speeders – he must have managed to take it – blue lightsaber swinging as he deflects blaster bolts and rips his way through the remaining droids there.

Anakin has the rest of the droid army waiting a distance away. Once the Jedi and clones are inside the monastery, he'll call them in. The first walker arrives just as three destroyers roll up and open fire, nearly killing Olin. One blast is all it takes to demolish them. Master Tachi arrives a few seconds later, her purple lightsaber still activated as she looks around warily. They move into the building, and Anakin waits patiently for them to bring Rotta out, a camera ready to record their interactions. It would be good for him to capture footage as "proof" that the Jedi wish to harm the Hutts.

It isn't long before they reemerge, a squirming Rotta in Olin's arms. "I can't wait to get rid of him," the Knight grumbles, scowling down at the Huttlet as his erstwhile master procures a backpack for them to carry Rotta in.

Tachi laughs softly, or at least Anakin thinks she might, shaking her head. "You and me both," she agrees. "The faster the better before any unwanted company shows up." She helps him push the Huttlet into the backpack.

With a smug grin, Anakin ends the recording and retreats back into the monastery, activating his comm. "Send in the rest," he orders.

"Yes, sir," replies the commanding droid.

Anakin quickly transmits the recording to Dooku, before contacting him. "I obtained a recording which will convince Jabba that the Jedi are plotting to murder his son," he reports in a clipped tone, watching distractedly as the vulture droids fly in low, bombing the courtyard.

"Very good," the Count congratulations. "I am currently on Tatooine with Offee, who Sidious wanted to be here in the off chance that the Jedi manage to follow you when you recapture Rotta and bring him back."

Anakin hums quietly. "And do you know who the Republic will be sending to try and negotiate with the Hutts?"

Dooku hesitates for a moment too long, and Anakin knows that he won't like the answer. "Not specifically, but there is some talk that Senator Amidala may have volunteered."

A chill of fear runs through Anakin at the mention of her name. He hasn't seen her since Geonosis, and he has no doubt that she's put together enough to realize that he might have been lying about not working with Dooku. Regardless, he suddenly had a bad feeling that they'll be meeting again and soon. He'd be excited if nor for the prospect of it being a difficult, tumultuous conversation in which he'll have to try not to tell her the truth while she pries. Delightful.

"I'll keep that in mind," Anakin murmurs, disconnecting the comm with Dooku and opening the channel with Ahsoka. "Snips, are you in position?" he asks quietly.

"Yes." Her voice comes through. She sounds far calmer than he would have thought, maybe because she's not actually been ordered to kill anyone. "I'm right inside the door to the landing platform on the backside."

"Okay," he replies. "I'm going down to the courtyard now. The Jedi should reach you in a few minutes. If they're together, try to distract them, but do not engage until I arrive."

"Roger that," Ahsoka calls back.

Anakin moves back outside and looks down to see the droids outside the door to the monastery which has been closed. Leaping off the roof, he lands in their midst, rising to his feet in a swirl of black robes, hood pulled up to make him look more intimidating. Igniting his red lightsaber, he slices through the lock and pushes the door open with the Force. The clones open fire, and he calmly deflects the blaster bolts back at them, aiming to incapacitate, but not to kill. If he does kill both Jedi, he'll decide how to deal with the clones then. For now, he'll focus on getting past them as quickly as he can.

He's nearly caught blindsided – but not completely, because that's impossible – by the purple lightsaber flashing towards him. He deflects the blow with ease, silently scolding himself for momentarily losing focus as he delves into the Dark Side, blood humming with the thrill of the coming fight. Siri Tachi attacks him with no mercy, no signs of slowing down her assault, especially when he drops his shields to let the darkness spill out around him. Ahsoka is good, and Anakin is convinced that she can hold her own against Olin long enough for him to come help her. If the Jedi wanted to defeat him, they shouldn't have split up.

"You," hisses Tachi, blue eyes flashing with anger as she spins her purple blade, trying to find an opening in his defenses. She doesn't find one. Anakin is not Dooku's best student when it comes to Makashi for nothing.

Anakin grins back at her. "Surprised?" he taunts, as their duel carries them further into the monastery. He intentionally leads her away from her – his – men and the droids attacking them, so she can't provide them any aid.

"Actually, yes," she throws back, expression filled with fiery determination. She's a Jedi Master, a Council member, but it's not enough to stop him. He is a force of nature. He is unstoppable. His red lightsaber is a part of him, and he lets the Force guide his movements, keeping him forever a step ahead of her. "How can you do this? You yourself claimed to be a supporter of the Republic! And Obi-Wan… What have you done with him?!"

He senses something in the last question, a desperation that Tachi obviously is trying to hide. She's scared for Obi-Wan, because she's in love with him, even if she'll try to deny it. So, she knows of what he said, and if she escapes, she'll tell everyone about encountering him here. In this moment, Anakin knows that he has two choices. He can stay here and try to kill her, leaving open the possibility of returning to fight with the Republic, or he can follow Olin to obtain Rotta, thus fulfilling his mission, but forever barring himself from taking the position he's craved.

Their lightsabers crash together, neither of them pulling back, and Anakin knows. He won't leave Ahsoka to face possible injury or death on her own. He'll stop Tachi and get to Ahsoka as fast as he can so they can stop Olin and retrieve Rotta. Mind make up, he yanks away from her, spinning his lightsaber once as he swings towards her legs. She blocks him, striking out towards his side. He parries her attack easily.

"I do support the Republic," he finally retorts darkly, "But I do not support the kidnapping of infants. I'm here to bring Rotta back home where he belongs."

Tachi glares at him, completely unimpressed. "Then why did you set up this trap for us with battle droids you could only have gotten from Count Dooku?"

"Because you kidnapped Rotta!" Anakin argues back, pushing her back with a flurry of moves, "And I was rescuing him."

She snorts in response. "You can't expect me to believe that."

His grin is predatory. "Believe whatever you want, darling," he taunts. "The truth will remain unchanged." They've moved into a much larger chamber by now, and Anakin can only hope that he's not moving too far away from Ahsoka and Olin. He casts out quickly with the Force, sensing Ahsoka's determination and apprehension. If she hasn't already engaged him, she will soon. The droids currently outnumber the Republic forces, but they won't for much longer. He must move as expeditiously as possible.

Tachi pushes him back with the Force, and he flips away, landing in a crouch, eyes blazing yellow. "Why do this?" she yells at him, stalking closer, purple blade held defensively. "Tell me where Obi-Wan is!"

"He is safe; he's with me the way he always should have been," Anakin fires back, cold anger and resentment burning away everything within him and leaving him drowning in the smothering darkness. He should have had this, all of this. He would have, if not for the Jedi. They've taken everything from him, leaving him bereft of a family, a home. Had they left him, he might have been a slave, true, but it wouldn't have been like this. He wouldn't have been slowly undone and remake into the perfect apprentice Sidious wants.

"He cared about you and –"

Anakin cuts her off before she can finish the sentence. "He cares," he corrects coldly. "It would be good for you to remember that." He nearly died for Obi-Wan once. He refuses to listen to anyone who would claim he might hurt the other.

He throws her hard into the stone wall using the Force, extending his left hand before she can rise and letting his rage pour out in a searing blast of lightning. He watches impassively as she screams under the assault of cracking white electricity, tinged with a hint of red. Red lightning is the purest embodiment of the Dark Side which any Force user can get, and Anakin is the only one who has succeeded.

With Tachi sufficiently stunned, he leaves her semi-unconscious form for the droids and stalks away deeper into the monastery, intent on finding her wayward former apprentice and dealing with him as well before he can harm Ahsoka.

Chapter Text

Ahsoka remains crouched in the shadows, waiting. She can sense the unfamiliar Force signature heading towards her and surmises that it belongs to Ferus Olin. She’d met Ferus a few times since she became Obi-Wan’s Padawan, but she knew Siri far better. And she can sense Rotta approaching as well. That means Anakin must be facing Siri. She really hopes that the older Jedi isn’t killed, being Obi-Wan’s friend and all.

Her mission is to slow Ferus down or stop him and take Rotta if possible. She’ll do her best to make Anakin proud. When he gets closer, she can feel his footsteps with her sensitive montrals and leaps out from her hiding spot, whipping out her lightsabers as she lunges towards him. She’s gotten much better, and she thinks that she can outlast him, especially when he’s trying to protect Rotta from harm. He won’t take nearly as many risks as usual.

His blue lightsaber is blocking her initial strikes before she even has a chance to blink, not that she’s surprised. He is a Jedi, after all. She can feel his surprise echo out into the Force. “Ahsoka? What –?”

She interrupts, unwilling to let him ask her anything which might unbalance her. “Give me the Huttlet.” She keeps her tone perfectly steady, narrowing her eyes at Ferus, and she’s secretly proud of how determined she sounds. Her lightsabers are held out defensively, but she doesn’t move to attack him again. If they fight, he’ll have to make the first move. Or if he tries to leave with Rotta, she’ll attack.

Ferus frowns. “No,” he declares firmly, drawing back a step, “I’m taking him back to Tatooine.”

Ahsoka gives him an unimpressed look. “Really? Then, why did you kidnap him?” she asks skeptically. “No, I won’t let you kill him.” She raises her lightsabers again, bracing herself for a fight.

“I didn’t,” Ferus protests. She can almost see the gears turning in his head as he tries to figure out what’s going on. Slowly, he points his lightsaber at her. “You did though, didn’t you.” It’s not a question. “You’re in league with Dooku.” He sounds almost hurt, but Ahsoka shakes it off. She has far more important things to worry about than one person’s feelings. She’s never really liked Ferus much anyways. He was always too much by-the-book for her liking.

“I am not working for Dooku,” she counters, watching the Jedi warily and keeping her back to the hallways which he’ll have to pass through to reach the back landing platform where the Twilight is waiting. If he gets on the ship, she suspects that Anakin will want it – and Rotta – destroyed. Jabba will be furious at the Jedi; the death of his son will not easily be forgiven. But she doesn’t want the Huttlet to die, so she’ll have to tread with caution.

“Move out of my way,” orders Ferus, a hint of coldness in his tone.

Ahsoka raises an eyemarking in response and braces herself. He doesn’t disappoint her, lunging towards her. She parries the blow, bringing her shoto blade around to strike at his side. He dodges, swinging towards her right arm, but careful to keep Rotta – who is fussing noisily now – away from the blades. They continue to exchange blows, the pace of the duel slowly picking up as he gets a feel for her fighting style and tries to counter it enough to disarm her. She doubts he’ll actually kill her… at least not right now.

“I cannot believe that you, of all people, would do this,” Ferus hisses as she holds up both lightsabers to block his downwards strike. “What would your master say?”

“He’s proud of me,” she throws back, faltering when she realizes that while he was referring to Obi-Wan, she automatically thought of Anakin. Her momentary distraction is enough for him to twist one of her lightsabers away and push her back with the Force. She catches herself, rising just in time to block a strike which might have taken off one of her lekku.

Ferus scoffs. “I very much doubt that, unless he’s Fallen too.”

“I’m not Fallen!” she yells at him, calling back her other lightsaber and forcing him to duck at the ignited green blade shooting towards him. Rotta wails even more loudly as the backpack he’s in hits the stone wall. Her anger surges at the implication that, because she’s touched the Dark Side – which is true – she has given in. She doesn’t even think twice before pulling on the power her anger offers.

For a moment, Ahsoka realizes that she can understand why Anakin enjoys this power. It’s thrilling, giving her a rush of energy which she knows will allow her to possibly defeat Ferus. And she’s enjoying it. She’s doesn’t know what it says about her, or what the implications will be. In a way, she’s pleased, because this was her choice. Sidious didn’t force this on her. Maybe this is what Dooku has been trying to teach her ever since she ended up on Serenno. The Dark Side is dangerous if misused or overindulged, but it can be used for good just as easily as for evil… It’s something she definitely needs to think about later.

“Then, why,” Ferus demands darkly, “Are you using the Dark Side?”

“There is no Light Side. There is no Dark Side. There is only the Force,” she recites calmly, letting the Force flow through her without any resistance. Her emotions strengthen her connection, letting her act as a conduit.

Ferus swings towards her. “You’ve allied with the Sith,” he declares firmly, “And if you refuse to turn back, then you will be destroyed.”

“That kind of attitude is why I did!” cries Ahsoka, each word punctuated by their sabers clashing together. She raises a hand, pushing him backwards down the hall. He skids before catching himself and leaping towards her. Their duel continues until he Force throws her down the hallway. She lands hard, lightsabers falling from her hands. She rolls aside as a blue saber pierces the stone where her head just was. He swings again, and though she calls back her own blades, she doesn’t think they’ll reach her in time.

A dark, familiar, welcome presence flares, fury sweeping through the Force, and Ahsoka swears that she can feel the temperature plummet. Ferus senses it too, because he pauses abruptly, whirling to look behind him. Anakin stalks forward, lightsaber hilt clenched in his hand, yellow eyes narrowed threateningly. Ahsoka has never been so relieved to see him in her life.

“I will forgive your transgression against my apprentice only this once,” warns Anakin, and a shiver of delight runs through Ahsoka when she hears his words. Apprentice. He considers her his apprentice. And it goes without saying that he trusts her not to betray him. She won’t.

Ferus opens his mouth to reply, when Anakin raises a hand and clenches it, leaving the Jedi clawing at his throat as he tries to breathe. “Ahsoka, please relieve him of the Huttlet,” Anakin says casually, as if they’re discussing something no more important than the weather. She doesn’t hesitate to pull Rotta from the backpack, shushing him with the Force. Anakin throws Ferus backwards, and there’s a crack as his body slams into the rock.

Anakin motions for Ahsoka to go ahead, and they hurry down the pathway, quickly reaching the landing platform. She slips into the pilot’s seat while Anakin guards them to ensure no one follows. He’d given her permission to fly as long as she’s careful. The Twilight lifts off, flying away from the monastery and the planet. It’s not long before Anakin approaches, eyeing Rotta with visible disgust before lifting him off the seat and sitting down.  

Ahsoka lets herself relax with the first half of the mission having gone as planned. The Dark Side slips away as she reaches to the Light, drawing it in. She feels different now, though she can’t quite say how. It’s – it’s as though she’s finally been able to recenter herself somewhere in the region between Light and Dark. She is neither. She can be neither. But she can be both. She’s gray now, and only time will tell what repercussions that will have.

She shakes herself out of her thoughts when she sees the space battle up ahead, diving down to avoid running into it or being shot. Thankfully, the Republic starfighters seem far more focused on attacking the vulture droids than going after one lone shuttle. It helps that the Jedi have both been presumably rendered unconscious so they cannot inform anyone that they lost the Huttlet.

“Programming the navicomputer now,” Ahsoka announces, punching in the information for them to get to Tatooine.

Anakin only hums in reply, still eyeing the Huttlet with revulsion. Ahsoka can understand that sentiment, even if she doesn’t share it. She knows – from Dooku – that Anakin and his mother were slaves to one of the Hutt clans before being sold in a bet. Honestly, she can’t even imagine what kind of life that must have been, so it’s no wonder that he’s irritated at returning to Tatooine. She would be, too, if she was in his situation. Just as the first Republic ships begin taking an interest in them, she pulls the lever, making the jump to hyperspace.

“You claimed me as your apprentice,” she comments once they’ve settled down for the journey and switched places, with her taking Rotta.

Anakin arches an eyebrow. “I did,” he agrees with a tad too much cheer in his voice. “I sensed it when you touched the Dark Side and accepted it.” He studies her critically, a hint of approval in his expression. “You have done what Jedi claim to be impossible, Ahsoka. You’ve found the way to control the Force in its entirety.”

“Oh. I – I guess I did,” she smiles. “What about you? Can you…?”

“Use the Light Side?” he surmises, lips quirking. “Is that what you’re trying to ask?”

Ahsoka nods a bit hesitantly, knowing that his use of the Force is a sore subject. She really doesn’t want to upset him by accident. He tilts his head, studying her with some unfathomable emotion in his gaze. “Dooku told me how the Jedi do it,” he says finally, “And Obi-Wan elaborated, but I wouldn’t be able to find anything resembling calm.” His voice is light, but when his mechanical hand fists, she knows that, despite the blankness of his emotions in the Force, it’s difficult for him to talk about.

He turns his head away for a moment, and Ahsoka thinks that he almost seems ashamed. She can understand why. The Jedi called him the Chosen One, the one who would balance the Force, and if he can’t even draw on the Light Side… yes, she can understand it, though she has no idea how he can deal with it or how she can help him.

“Anakin…” she whispers, unsure exactly what she’s planning on saying, but trying to find something, anything, which will assure him that she doesn’t find him lacking even if he’ll never be able to draw on the Light the way she and Obi-Wan can.

He looks back at her, an odd sereness in his blue eyes, still holding an emotion in them which she can’t quite read. She feels him touch her, tentatively at first, but then with more boldness. She nearly gasps at the sensation, at the purity of the light which washes through her. It’s not the same as she might feel from a Jedi, which is to be expected. Anakin is anything but a Jedi.

“Anakin,” she breathes, amazement and awe taking her breath away as she can feel Anakin reaching into the side of the Force which has always been forbidden to him. “You –”

He gives her a charming, yet smug, smile. “I know,” he says simply, expression brighter than she’s ever seen it. She’s struck suddenly by the realization that this is how he would have looked, had he been a Jedi: eyes a clear blue – without any lingering darkness – shining with affection and contentment, the center within a storm.

“You bring out the best in me,” he admits, the light neither fading nor wavering. “You and Obi-Wan both.” He shakes his head slowly, and Ahsoka can’t look away from him. He would have been an amazing Jedi, the best Jedi. She can see that image even more clearly now: her and him acting as an unstoppable force on the battlefield, their mutual sibling bond holding them together. She wants to hug him, but with Rotta in her arms, that’s impossible right now.

“How?” she wonders. “I thought…”

He reaches out to squeeze her shoulder and chuckles. “Light emotions help channel the Light Side, Snips,” he explains. “I never really tried it until now because it’s hard to let go of everything else. It’s… surprisingly nice.” He sounds mildly surprised by the realization. “It kind of feels incomplete though, as if I’m missing something else.” He looks thoughtfully at the streaks of hyperspace. “It gives calm, but it lacks the power of the Dark Side.”

“Maybe that’s the balance you need to find,” she suggests. This isn’t the first time she’s wondered, especially with everything Dooku has told them.

“Maybe,” he agrees, leaning back in his seat and looking through the viewport at the swirls all around them. Ahsoka notices that he holds onto the Light for a while before finally letting go.

***

Their arrival on Tatooine is uninterrupted for which Anakin is deeply grateful. He would have hated to be jolted out of the serenity which he’d managed to obtain for what feels like the first time in his life. As he brings the shuttle down to land near Jabba’s palace, the sight of the planet and the memories it evokes bring out his long-standing anger and resentment. He lets it come, washing through him, and brushing away any lingering positivity. The time for lingering is passed. He has a mission to complete.

He follows Dooku’s Force signature, sending him a silent nudge to let him know of their arrival.  The Count reaches back, sending the impression that he’s waiting outside. “Come on,” Anakin says, waving Ahsoka forwards. They disembark and walk the rest of the distance to Jabba’s palace. Dooku is standing nearby, Offee next to him.

“I am glad to see that you were able to make it,” Dooku greets him, a hint of approval in his gaze. “I trust you didn’t run into any complications?”

“Nothing serious,” Anakin assures him, “But we did encounter Master Tachi of the 212^th and Knight Olin of the 501^st. We were able to stall them and escape with the Huttlet.”

The Count smiles. “I am pleased to hear that. Tano, if you might give Anakin the Huttlet.”

Anakin makes a face of revulsion but grudgingly takes Rotta from her, who coos, oblivious to the fact that Anakin would much rather put a lightsaber through him and forget about the consequences. Dooku’s eyes linger on him, almost as if cautioning him to be careful before he turns towards Ahsoka. “Wait out here with Offee. Anakin and I will deliver the Huttlet back to Jabba, and then, I will finalize the treaty with him.”

“Okay,” Ahsoka agrees, even though she’s visibly reluctant to remain close proximity to her erstwhile friend for any period of time.

“As you wish, my Lord,” Offee adds, dipping her head in a semi-bow. Anakin nearly shudders at her excessive formality.

He follows Dooku towards the palace, and it’s not until they’re out of the others’ earshot that Dooku clears his throat pointedly. “There is another minor problem,” he murmurs as the guards allow them entry into the palace.

Anakin does not like that tone. At all. “What?” he asks anxiously.

“Senator Amidala just arrived on the planet shortly before you,” Dooku admits slowly. “She is currently with Jabba now, trying to convince him that the Republic would never condone the kidnapping of his son.”

Anakin’s blood runs cold, and he desperately reaches out with the Force to confirm it for himself. Sure enough, he can sense Padme’s dim, yet steady light only a short distance ahead. He’s going to be sick. He’d always known they’d run into one another again, but not like this. He had wanted it to be on his terms, and now, he’s going to be forced to speak with her. He – he doesn’t even know what he can say. He can’t tell her the truth, obviously, which leaves him with few justifiable reasons for his actions. Force, she’s going to be furious. She might hate him. No. No. He can’t think like that.

“Anakin.” Dooku’s calm voice, coupled with the hand suddenly on his shoulder, breaks through his spiraling panic, and he realizes that he stopped walking. Rotta is squirming uncomfortably as his right hand tightens almost to the point of painfulness. He forces himself to relax the grip, before meeting the Count’s eyes. “It will be fine. Senator Amidala is a very level-headed woman, and while you may not be able to get her to understand now, I’m sure that, with time, she will see the truth and accept it, accept you.”

He nods jerkily, inhaling a few times and burying his fear under a growing bonfire of anger, delving into the Dark Side, and letting it bleed his eyes yellow. He thinks this is the only way he’ll survive the coming confrontation. Dooku gives him one last, searching look before he continues walking into the palace. They’re escorted into the throne room, and Anakin resolutely does not look at where he knows Padme is standing. All his senses have gone into hyperawareness of her presence; he hasn’t seen or spoken to her in so many weeks. None of that prevents him from hearing her voice arguing with Jabba.

“I will not accept any arguing. That is final!” booms Jabba in Huttese as Dooku steps forwards.

“Mighty Jabba,” he declares, the sound of his voice drawing the attention of everyone in the room. “I have successfully located and brought back your son to you.” And the room explodes into pandemonium.

Chapter Text

Anakin steps forward, passing Rotta to Jabba and acting as if it's his great pleasure to do so. "You have my thanks, Count Dooku, for returning my son safely to me," Jabba declares. "I am willing to discuss the terms of the treaty between the Hutt clan and the Separatist Alliance."

Padme's horror echoes sharply into the Force, and Anakin winces. Again, this is his fault. "Jabba, Count Dooku is deceiving you!" she exclaims, stepping forwards. "He is the one who kidnapped your son. He is doing this for himself, not for you. The Jedi would never kidnap your son. You must understand this!"

"Leave my presence," orders Jabba harshly, and Anakin lets his fury mount at the dismissive way the Hutt is speaking to Anakin's fiancée. "You are not welcome on Tatooine."

"This is wrong!" protests Padme, totally ignoring the command.

"It would be best that you depart," Dooku cautions her, and she gives him a scathing look.

"You must have been complicit in the kidnapping," Jabba accuses. "You will not leave this planet alive."

Anakin freezes hardly able to quell his rising panic when guards approach Padme, clearly planning to take her into custody. "No!" he blurts out desperately, stepping forwards. "She – The Senator would never go along with something like that. The Jedi have deceived her, just as they have tried to harm you." He can feel Dooku's gaze on him but refuses to look away from the Hutt. He will not allow anything to befall Padme. He will break her free if he must.

"Very well," Jabba decides after a long, tentative silence. "Take her out of my sight."

"Wait for me outside, Anakin," Dooku instructs him. "I need to finish negotiating with Jabba."

Anakin nods, turning to look at Padme for the first time. She's staring at him, eyes filled with distrust and uncertainty, and it breaks his heart. Even on Geonosis, when she'd first realized that he lied about his training, she had never looked at him this way. He doesn't say anything to try and justify himself. He doesn't even know what he could say. Instead, he motions for her to follow him. She does, and they leave the room, slipping through the beings towards the entrance.

"I don't know what's going on with you, Anakin Skywalker," Padme suddenly says, voice filled with a fierce determination, "But you are going to tell me now. We are going to my ship, and we are going to discuss this like adults. Do you understand?"

"Yes," he manages to reply, everything in him screaming at the wrongness of this. Padme isn't supposed to treat him this way. She's not supposed to order him around like this. He knows that he deserves no less but thinking it and experiencing it are totally different. Force, he doesn't think he can do this. He can't tell her the truth, so he doesn't know what he even can say. He'll have to stick to the official story, obviously, but – but she'll know if he's lying or hiding things. Yes, he's a skilled actor, but this is Padme. How can he pretend in front of her when she'll be questioning everything?

He knows that Sidious would tell him to kill her because she's a liability. He'll never do that, so that only other option would be to capture her. But… he won't do that to her. Obi-Wan and Ahsoka were different since they were Jedi. Padme is a Senator; her life's work is being a politician, and he can't take that away from her without warning. They'd already agreed that she wouldn't have to give up her position in the Senate after marrying. So, that means that he'll have to fool her. Somehow. Why did he ever think this was a good idea? Because he loves her. He'll get through this because he doesn't have a choice.

***

Ahsoka is decidedly uncomfortable at being stuck out here with Barriss, and she can't stop herself from fidgeting or shifting around. She blames part of it on the suns which are beating down on her. She pulled up her hood, but there's only so much it can do against the oppressive heat. "Ugh, it's so hot here," she grumbles under her breath.

Barriss huffs out something which sounds like a laugh. "Get used to it," she advices, voice stone cold and devoid of any sympathy.

Ahsoka feels as if her former friend was laughing at her misery more than because of the comment. It stings to see what she's become, and it's even worse to know that she could have been the same if not for Anakin's constant presence and support. But still, she takes it in stride, acting as if she doesn't really care for Barriss' opinion. She rolls her shoulders nonchalantly. "Why? Are you planning to move here?"

The former Jedi scoffs. "I will if my master commands it," she answers dutifully as if reading a script. It nearly makes Ahsoka cringe. She wants to scream and ask her how she can act like this towards the Sith Master who commanded her captured and broken. She doesn't.

"Luckily for you, that won't be necessary, I'm sure," Ahsoka comments, still carefully keeping her voice casual and detached.

Barriss says nothing, clearly choosing to remain silent and at attention. Ahsoka has so many questions for her, but there's almost nothing she can ask without crossing the line and potentially getting in trouble. Finally, she can't take the silence anymore, and the conflicted, dark emotions filtering through her bond with Anakin are worrying her. "So, what made you see the truth and choose the Dark Side?" she wants to know. Barriss looks at her, something resembling distain in her sickly yellow eyes. "What?" demands Ahsoka crossly. "I thought that it was a Sith thing to boast about choices and power."

"Maybe some things shouldn't be shared," points out Barriss mulishly, "And don't forget, that only the strongest will survive."

Ahsoka narrows her eyes. She's fairly sure that was a threat but forces a laugh anyways. "Well, you and I both know that Anakin is far stronger than we are. Staying on his good side is the only way to survive then."

Barriss seems ready to debate that, but finally shrugs. "You asked why I realized that the Dark Side is the only way? I'll tell you then. I saw the future," she elaborates, narrowing her eyes. "I saw the Jedi destroyed when their own fear consumed them. That's when I realized that they had lost their way, that the only way to stop them from destroying the galaxy was the Dark Side."

Ahsoka swallows, knowing that whatever her friend may have seen was a product of the Sith mask playing on her fears, many of which were likely inspired by Anakin's words. She desperately wants to find a way to assure Barriss that they can fix things together, but if she's not careful she'll be in for a world of trouble and pain. Maybe Anakin is right. Maybe Barriss currently is too deep into the Dark Side to listen to reason. She doesn't want to wait, but she may not have a choice.

"My reasons for choosing the Dark Side were not nearly as noble as your own," she finally admits with a half-smile. "I chose it because it gave me the power I needed to survive. I don't regret it," she adds fiercely.

"And why should you?" Barriss queries mildly, shaking her head. "You're here, serving our master. You want nothing more than to ensure that his vision becomes reality."

Something cold twists in Ahsoka's gut. It takes her a moment to recognize it as apprehension mingled with dread. It's just as she suspected. Barriss is loyal to Sidious, not them. For now, she had best drop this. She doesn't have long to consider her next course of action – it will be dreadfully uncomfortable to stand here in complete silence – when a Jedi starfighter comes swooping down to land a distance away from them. Somehow, Ahsoka isn't surprised to see Master Tachi emerge, leaping to the ground and striding resolutely towards them.

"We cannot let her inside," Ahsoka murmurs to Barriss, who nods. They shift so as to block her path towards the entrance.

She pauses, looking between them, a mixture of confusion and sadness in her gaze. "You don't have to do this," she tells them quietly.

"That is where you are wrong, Master Jedi," Barriss retorts coldly. "I have seen the truth. The Jedi are failing. No, they have already failed. The only way is through the Dark Side."

If Ahsoka lets her continue, she knows that the former Jedi will continue spouting Sith dogma to which she has no desire to listen. "The Huttlet is safe," she interrupts calmly, "And we will not let you through to assassinate Jabba as well. You have failed, so give up."

Siri seems taken aback, but she recovers quickly. "I am not here for Jabba, and you know it. I'm not here to talk to him either." Ahsoka had suspected that, but it's good to have the confirmation. "I am actually here because Senator Amidala is on Tatooine. I am to escort her back to Coruscant and ensure her safety."

Barriss remains firm. "If she is here, it is because she is part of the plot. We will take her into custody and deal with her as we see fit."

Ahsoka shakes her head at Barriss. "The Senator is inside," she informs Siri, "But I am afraid that I cannot let you pass. You will have to wait out here." She lets her hands fall to the hilts of her lightsabers in a clear, albeit subtle, warning that she will resort to violence if necessary.

Siri wavers when a noise behind them draws Ahsoka's attention. She turns to see Anakin walking out of the palace following Padme, who looks absolutely furious. She can't help but wince on his behalf. "Senator!" calls Siri, "I'm here to escort you back to Coruscant."

Padme pauses, giving her a look, before nodding. "I will be ready to leave momentarily," she assures the Jedi Master with a smile that is obviously fake. "I was going to have a word with Anakin before we depart."

Siri hesitates, frowning. "I don't think it's safe," she argues. "He's… dangerous."

Anakin glares at her, the fear and misery which Ahsoka could sense through their bond being replaced with a burning anger. His head snaps towards her, eyes glowing yellow. "Hold your tongue, Jedi," he spits. If looks could kill, Ahsoka would bet that Siri would have long since ceased to exist. As it is, Anakin seems to be about two seconds from killing her simply for existing. Ahsoka can't really blame him. This must be hard for him, seeing his fiancée, with whom he is clearly enamored, but being unable to actually love her, to tell her the truth.

Siri raises an eyebrow, looking completely unimpressed. "That's what I mean."

He takes a step towards her, clearly intent on inflicting serious bodily harm, and Ahsoka isn't about to stop him. "Anakin," snaps Padme, and he stills, though he doesn't turn towards her. "Leave her alone."

If anything, that only fuels his rage, and he's lost control over it to the point where Ahsoka can almost feel the air vibrating around him. She can deal with him when he's depressed, when he's cold and calculating, but this is totally different. She moves towards him slowly and deliberately, making sure that he's aware of her approach and holds up her hands to help calm him. While she doesn't know how to help, she can at least give him one reassurance. "I won't leave you, Anakin," she vows. "Not this time. Not ever."

Their eyes lock, and Ahsoka can see him struggling to reign himself in. Much as she'd love to hug him, she doesn't think it would be a good idea given their present audience. He finally closes his eyes and sucks in a slow, deep breath. When he looks at her again, the yellow has receded, though she can see it lurking in the depths of his gaze. Then, he turns to Padme. "Let's go," he says, tone clipped. Ahsoka watches them leave, disappearing onto Padme's ship and hopes that this isn't going to end in a disaster.

***

It's all Anakin can do to keep himself together as Padme motions for him to sit in a chair at the small table in her starship. He does, though he forces himself to act normal and not simply collapse into it like he wants to. She sits down opposite him, face a cold mask of anger and hurt. It's all his fault. He's hurt her, and he doesn't deserve her forgiveness for betraying her like this.

"I want answers," she states flatly, "But somehow, I don't think you're going to tell me anything unless I ask. So, is that how it's going to be?" She seems… almost disappointed, and he doesn't know how to respond to that. His mind is short-circuiting, and all he can do is nod. "Okay. What were you doing with Count Dooku?" She says the name with no small amount of loathing which he can understand, but he still hates it.

"I was helping him," Anakin answers, breathing a little more easily. "I heard that Rotta was kidnapped by a Jedi, so I offered him my assistance."

"And I suppose that you've been collecting a band of Jedi to help you," she replies sarcastically. "I know Barriss Offee was captured by the Separatists, and she was there along with Ahsoka. So, let me rephrase: where are your loyalties?"

Anakin breathes out slowly. He can do this. He has to do this. If he sticks to the story, it will – hopefully – be fine. "I think you know that, while I support the Republic, I do not agree with everything they are doing. And I certainly harbor no love for the Jedi. Their actions have done them no credit, and this most recent act of kidnapping Jabba's son wins them no favor in my eyes." He's pleased at how reasonable he's able to sound, but he won't get his hopes up too fast. Padme is clever, and he'd better not underestimate her.

She raises an eyebrow. "I think you and I both know that the Jedi were not involved. In fact, I tend to believe that either Ahsoka or Barriss was put up to it which begs the question: why are you helping him?"

"He asked for my help," Anakin reiterates.

"So, does that mean that if I ask for your help, you will help the Republic?" she asks. "That's what I thought. I don't understand why you're doing this, Anakin. The Chancellor has given you… a home, a place to live after the Jedi Council refused to train you."

A bitter laugh escapes him before he can stop it. "I never asked for his help," he spits before he can prevent himself, the helpless rage and fear surging up to drown him. He belatedly realizes that everything around them is shaking, and he sucks in a sharp breath, trying to calm himself. "I would like to think you would have offered the same if he had not," he adds, voice carefully devoid of emotion.

Padme hesitates before deflating. "Yes," she agrees, "I would have." She studies him as though she's never seen him before, dark brown eyes thoughtful. He wants to hug her and never let go, but he's not being given that luxury.

"What is your relationship with Dooku? I want the truth." She stares at him, a stubborn defiance in her gaze, and he knows that she won't stop until she's satisfied.

It takes immense willpower to keep himself together, even when the only thing he wants to do is fall apart and let someone else put him back together again. He's tired of the lying, the constant hiding. He can't give her the full truth, but he can give her some of it. He owes her that much, at least. "He trained me," he responds carefully. "He taught me how to use the Force, how to defend myself."

"So, he's your… what? Master? Sith master?" she queries.

"The correct term would be master," he answers, which, of course, is the truth from a certain point of view. Dooku is so much more to him than a master. He's a confident, an ally, a friend. More than that, he's like Anakin's grandfather.

"Are you a Sith?" Padme finally questions bluntly.

He looks up at her from his pointless study of the table in front of him and meets her eyes. "Yes. Does that scare you?"

"It should, but it doesn't," she admits, shaking her head with a sigh. "I'm worried about you, Anakin. I don't know what you've gotten yourself into, and you're not talking to me. This is not how relationships work, you know."

He knows. He knows it much more than she'll realize. "I can't talk about it," he settles on, clenching his mechanical hand hard enough that the gears squeal in protest. "Besides, my situation hardly matters." She opens her mouth to protest, but he holds up a hand to quiet her. "Angel, the Jedi won't care who I am or what I have – or haven't – done. They'll see a Sith, and they'll kill me. They killed Jango simply for existing. He was wounded. He couldn't even fight back, and they killed him."

Her brow furrows. "He was a bounty hunter. He knew the risks."

"Then let me rephrase that. Jango was murdered in front of his son," Anakin explains, "And I know I did something I shouldn't have, but I can't undo what I've done. I'm helping Dooku because I can't be part of the Republic anymore." It's not the truth, but it's close enough. "The choice is no longer in my hands."

"You always have a choice," she replies quietly, a shadow of sadness in her eyes.

"No, Padme, I don't." He shakes his head slowly, flattening his hands on the table. "Perhaps I could make a different choice and return to Coruscant with you, but if I did that, I would be too dead to regret it." He's not talking about the Jedi. He's talking about Sidious, not that she knows that. But she can, no doubt, sense his sincerity.

She straightens suddenly. "This is goodbye then," she states flatly. "I cannot, in good conscience, remain in contact with you if you are willing to actively aid the enemy who, might I remind you, wants me dead." More than you'll ever know. You're looking for him in all the wrong places.

He smiles, though there's no humor in it. "Then consider this my attempt to protect you," he suggests, swallowing and trying to hold back tears which suddenly threaten, the desperation and hopelessness threatening to consume him.

"I don't see how you're protecting me by staying with Dooku," she comments dryly.

"Not just you then," he amends, "But Obi-Wan and Ahsoka too."

"That I might find a little more believable," she agrees.

Finally mustering the courage, he asks the question he's been wondering the whole time. "We're engaged. What – what of that?"

"I might regret this, but I don't intend to break our commitment if you don't." Padme reaches out, resting her hand on top of his left one, and he stills at the contact. It's been so long since he was able to touch her, to hold her. Her presence has always calmed him, and he's been bereft of it for so long that her sudden nearness is making him lose control. Slowly, he turns his hand over, taking her hand in his own.

"I don't," he whispers. "I couldn't."

She smiles slightly, and he can feel her sadness as strongly as he can see it. "What do you want?" she inquires. "I don't mean about the war either."

It seems like it should be an easy question, but it's really not. In fact, it's probably one of the hardest questions he's ever had to answer. He knows, of course, in concept, but he can't quite figure out how to put it into words, and another, smaller part of him doesn't know why it even matters. It's never mattered before. Except, a voice whispers, when you wanted to be with Padme, and she wanted the same thing.

"I – I want to be with you," he confesses, voice barely above a whisper, unable to meet her eyes. "I want everyone to be safe. I want to have a family." By everyone he, of course, means his mother, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, Dooku, Asajj, Boba, Rex, and all the other clones who have been staying on Serenno. He wants it all to end. He doesn't want to keep living like this.

"Me too," Padme murmurs, rising and gently tugging on his hand until he stands as well. She steps forwards until there is only a couple feet between them. "I don't know what's going on with you, Ani, but I'm going to figure it out." She reaches up, running her fingers through his hair, and he shudders at the familiar sensation, arms automatically wrapping around her and pulling her against him.

She hugs him in return, resting her head against his chest, and Anakin can't prevent the tears from flooding his eyes. "Why can't it always be like this?" He doesn't know why he said it, but the abject misery he's feeling is readily audible.

"You can come back with me," Padme tells him. "My offer still stands."

"You know I can't, Angel," he replies, and she pulls back enough to look at him, her expression sad.

"There are many things which I'm willing to do for you but having a continued relationship and contact with a… Separatist is not one of them." She sounds genuinely regretful, and he thinks that she probably is. For a moment, he expects her to pull away, but instead, she leans up to kiss him. He responds desperately, silently pleading that she does not have to leave, because he can feel that she's saying goodbye. Until the war is over, he'll never be able to interact with her again this way, and he hates it.

Finally, he rests his forehead against hers, not even making an attempt to wipe away his tears which flow unchecked. "Goodbye, Anakin," she whispers, and he can hear her pain as if it's his own. "I hope that, when the war is over, we'll be able to piece something back together."

"Me too," he answers just as quietly, choking back a sob and pulling back. The longer he drags this out, the harder it's going to be. "I don't think you have any idea how much I wish this could be different," he adds before slipping away, not giving her time to reply. Padme is still alive, but for the moment, she's lost to him, and he doesn't know how to even begin coping with the grief.

Chapter Text

It's after his first successful solo mission, two years after he first lost his hand, that Sidious informs Anakin in no uncertain terms that he will be accompanying him to a celebration on Naboo as a reward. He can't help but think that he's being treated like a wild pet someone hopes to tame: giving him treats for good work and hurting him for misbehavior or failing. It irks him terribly and more than that, it hurts. There's no end in sight, at least he doesn't see one, much as Dooku insists to the contrary.

Still, he dutifully obeys like the good like slave he is, and dresses appropriately, hoping that this… celebration will be more interesting that it sounds. What he hadn't been expecting upon his arrival was to be reintroduced to Queen Amidala. She's even more beautiful than he remembered, and the fond, delighted look in her brown eyes warms him thoroughly. He no longer regrets coming; in fact, he's glad he did.

"Ani," she says, and her tone – soft, gentle, accepting – is different from anything he's used to. The only one who speaks to him as if he's a person, not a slave, not someone to be treated as if he's fragile, not a Sith, is his mother. And now Padme. He thinks that she is indeed an angel, come to grace him with her radiant presence. "It's so good to see you again. I'm glad you're doing well."

"I could say the same," Anakin finally murmurs, feeling stiff and awkward in his master's presence. He wants him to leave, to give him a moment with Padme when they can be alone, when he can finally drop some of his masks.

It takes about half an hour before Sidious seems convinced that Anakin will do alright, because like everything else, this is some sort of test to see how well he can interact with others while maintaining his façade. Once he's wandered off to speak to some of the others, probably collaborators or likewise, Anakin unobtrusively makes his way over to Padme. She's in the middle of a discussion with someone – a politician of some level most likely – and is projecting her boredom and irritation into the Force.

She's relieved to see him and excuses herself, moving to stand next to him. "How have things been?" she queries kindly. "I heard all about what the Council did, rejecting you, and I told them off the next time I saw them."

"Thank you," he replies, unsure if it's the correct response, "But that really wasn't necessary, Your Majesty."

She waves it off. "It absolutely was, and please, call me Padme." She smiles at him, a genuine look, and Anakin can't help but feel as if he's not quite as insignificant and worthless as he was only hours ago. "I don't care what the Council says. You would have been a great Jedi."

Something twists inside him at her confidence. She's… probably not wrong, but the Jedi are the enemy. They're not to be trusted. He knows that now, and Padme obviously thinks that he'll be happy to hear what she said, so he won't dispute it. But he'd rather not give her the impression that he still desires something of that nature. "It is kind of you to say that," he murmurs, "But having learned more about the Jedi, I am not confident that it would have been the best path for me after all."

Padme looks at him in surprise. "Why would you say that?"

Anakin makes a face "I've learned that the Jedi do not permit families," he explains, "And had I become a Jedi, I would never have been permitted to speak with or contact my mother again."

"Oh, that's… Would they not have made an exception for you, seeing as you knew her?" Padme wonders, putting a hand on his arm in sympathy.

He shrugs slightly. "I don't know. I don't think so."

"That's not right," his angel declares firmly. "I know how much you care for your mother. They shouldn't allow such separations. I imagine it would be highly traumatic."

Anakin thinks about how infrequently he's seen his mother, how much he's missed her, and wonders if it would really have been different as a Jedi. It probably would have been worse, because at least now, he knows that if he obeys, she'll be safe. Before, she was a slave. He would never have known if she was hurting or even alive.

"Yes," he agrees, "It would have been."

"Stay in touch, yes?" she requests. "I would love to speak to you more."

"As my Lady commands," he replies teasingly with a half bow.

Padme laughs and swats him. "Don't go all formal on me, Ani," she scolds playfully, and he grins despite himself. She's different than everyone else he's interacted with, better in many ways, unburdened by the knowledge of what he is, of what he's done. It's… This will be good. He wants this, and he dearly hopes that he doesn't lose her friendship, because of Sidious or for any other reason.

***

Padme's second term as queen ends two years later, and she's appointed Senator of Naboo shortly thereafter. Anakin had promised to keep in touch with her, and he's done so to the best of her ability. He loves spending time talking to her, listening to her laugh about a joke he made, complaining to him about the burdens of being a politician who fights for justice, for the people. And… he loves her. It didn't happen all at once, and Anakin isn't even sure when exactly his feelings towards her went from friendship to something more, but he knows that she's a part of his soul. He doesn't think he could live without her, not that he's actually told her so.

Sidious is well aware of Anakin's feelings, and he doesn't approve, but he doesn't disapprove either. Anakin suspects that he's weighing the possibility that Anakin will betray him for Padme against the possibility that a romantic relationship or even a simple friendship will allow him to have more control over the Senator. Anakin can't outright refuse any requests or orders, even ones involving Padme, whether they may hurt her or not, but he can make his displeasure known, to Dooku at least.

But luckily for him, no such orders have come, except for a passing comment that Anakin should pass along anything Padme tells him which might be of importance. He has been, though he feels guilty every time he does. He's tried to reason that he's not actively harming her, that his reports will be more likely to help than hurt her, but he doesn't know that for certain. When it comes to Sidious, nothing is a guarantee except that one will be kept alive if one has a special importance to him or his plans. Everyone is a tool for Sidious.

So, Padme. She's a wonderful person, the light of his life, his angel, and since he can talk to her more than his mother, which is wrong on so many levels, they've developed a certain camaraderie. Anakin's skill with the Force allows him to read her emotions which has made them far more in sync than he'd thought possible. He suspects that she harbors feelings for him, but again, he isn't certain. He hasn't outright asked her, fearing rejection. That's always been his particular failing.

She had invited him to come with her to a gathering of the newly elected Senators as well as those who are experienced. It's somewhat traditional, according to her, since it allows the new, somewhat more inexperienced politicians to obtain allies and simply discuss the intricacies of politics with their more knowledgeable colleagues.

He's wearing black as he often does, but he had to choose something a little more fashionable than his Sith robes, not that Padme is aware that's what they are. It's almost ironic how easy it is to flaunt alliance with the Sith without anyone, even Jedi, noticing. Sidious has been doing it for years now, and on the few occasions when he's mentioned it – usually in tandem with a monologue about the idiocy of the Jedi – he's been incredibly smug.

Padme nearly does a double take when she sees him but smiles graciously up at him. "That outfit looks good on you," she compliments. "Let's hurry. I think this early exposure will be good for you if you intend on entering politics like the Chancellor." Personally, Anakin can't imagine anything more boring, but he doesn't say so. He's not that stupid.

"Thank you," he murmurs inclining his head as they climb into a speeder, with him flying, of course. "I had once considered the political arena, but I'm not sure that it really appeals to me," he admits with a laugh. "With the recent, growing unrest, and the formation of the Separatist Alliance, I've heard that the Republic may begin to splinter as more systems leave. It could mean war." It will mean war. He suspects that it'll be a year or two before it happens, but over the past two years, he's been helping train the clone soldiers on Kamino, carefully putting together a battalion of the best men who be part of his 501 st  Legion. He is meant to be a general.

"I don't want war," Padme declares passionately, and he nearly winces, just barely forcing himself to continue casually flying towards their destination. He thrives on war, on the thrill of battle, on the bloodlust which overwhelms him as he pursues an enemy. "If the situation deteriorates any further, then I will begin to push for a diplomatic resolution."

"I feel we will have war," Anakin says at last, staring out at the passing traffic. "If we do, then I would like to help." He gives her a long look, and she meets his gaze, face betraying few of her thoughts on the subject. "I… rather enjoy studying military campaigns and maneuvers," he admits, clenching his hands on the steering. "If it came down to it, I may be able to use my knowledge for the good of the Republic."

Padme sighs. "I do hope it doesn't come down to it, but if it does, I suppose I would be happy to know that you're out there protecting the Republic. I trust your abilities, but you are currently too young to be involved in war."

He gives her a look. "And you weren't?"

She grins back after a moment. "Point."

Their conversation is cut short when he lands. They climb from the speeder, entering the building together. A number of Senators, their aids, Representatives, and lobbyists are already present, and Padme easily mingles with the others, Anakin following her like a shadow, close enough to intervene should it be necessary, but far enough away that he won't intrude on her conversations. Besides, politics is boring, and nothing will change his mind about that.

As the time passes, Anakin sees more and more politicians trying to win Padme's favor, and it irritates him, because he knows that she isn't the type to sell her morals for anything. It doesn't help that she's fairly well known, having spoken to the Senate as a queen at the young age of fourteen before leading a campaign to free her planet from the Trade Federation. She is popular enough that her opinion, especially on crucial issues, matters. He's not ashamed to admit that he's proud of her.

"So, you are the Chancellor's adopted son," states a voice, and Anakin turns to see Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan looking down at him, a small smile on the man's face. He mentally reviews what he knows, which is admittedly little. Of note, however, is the fact that he's as pro-justice as Padme, which means that he's on Sidious' list of those who may prove to be a threat in the future. Anakin had seen him talking to Padme earlier, and he already knows that Alderaan had been in support of Naboo during the blockade. His respect for Bail isn't low.

Anakin forces a polite smile. "I am," he agrees. "I came here with Senator Amidala."

"Trying to get an early start to politics?" teases Bail.

Anakin can't help but laugh at that. "No. No. I'm not really interested in becoming a politician, but perhaps someday… Who knows? I'm here more for her." He nods his head towards Padme. "Being the Chancellor's adopted son and all… it means that I've learned far more about politics than I ever cared to know. I must admit that I am a bit concerned with the direction everything is heading, especially with the formation of the Separatist Alliance."

Bail nods soberly. "Yes," he agrees quietly, "That has become a point of much contention. We're doing our best to keep the Republic together, and the Jedi are, of course, doing their part as well, but many of us feel that it won't be enough."

"I would agree with that assessment," Anakin comments, glancing casually across the room towards Padme and seeing a man who he presumes to be a Senator standing next to her.

"I feel we ought to attempt diplomacy with the Separatist Alliance," Bail informs him. "Perhaps you should mention it to the Chancellor."

Anakin nods. "I will." And he will when he gives his report about the meeting. He very much doubts that Sidious will actually agree. Excusing himself, he meanders across the room, moving towards Padme when he sees that the Senator is still speaking with her. He doesn't recognize him – he must be new since Anakin is aware of all the human Senators – but he can already decide that he doesn't much care for him. He's obviously hitting on Padme which is not allowed.

It's getting late too, which is a good enough excuse as any. He slips up next to her, and she pauses in her discussion to introduce them. "Senator, I would like you to meet Anakin Skywalker. Anakin, this is Senator Rush Clovis," Padme introduces.

Anakin narrows his eyes ever so slightly looking the man up and down. "Pleased to meet you," he states flatly, deliberately resting a hand on Padme's arm.

"And you as well," Clovis replies, a spark of interest in his gaze, though he clearly doesn't miss the way that Anakin is standing. "You're the Chancellor's adopted son."

By now, he really wants to sigh, because almost everyone has recognized his position upon hearing his name, but still, he plasters on a tight smile and nods. "I don't mean to interrupt your conversation – I'm sure it's fascinating –" Lies and more lies. He did plan to interrupt, and he doubts it's of interest to him. He turns towards Padme. "– But it is getting a bit late, my Lady, and I was wondering if you were ready for me to escort you home."

Padme's lips quirk ever so slightly, but she checks the chrono. "Yes, indeed," she agrees, looking back at Clovis. "This has been a most enlightening conversation, Senator, and I shall be happy to work with you in the future."

"Of course," he replies graciously, obviously recognizing a dismissal when he hears one.

Anakin waits until he's out of earshot before smirking. "If you ever need me to break his nose, I'll be more than happy to do so."

Padme laughs. "That won't be necessary," she assures him. "Let's leave. I think I've gotten done almost all I can for the night."

The silence is pleasant as they fly back to Padme's apartment in 500 Republica, the same place where Sidious has an apartment which Anakin stays in when he's on Coruscant. "You don't need to leave yet," Padme tells him when they arrive at her apartment. "It's not that late, and Sabe will still be here too. Probably Corde and Dorme as well, though they might have retired for the night…"

He agrees immediately, never able to say no to his angel. "Hypothetically, if you did become a politician, what position would you aim for?" Padme queries once they're settled on either end of one of the couches in her living room, each of them holding a drink – non-alcohol, of course. Anakin doubts that his master – or Dooku – would be happy if he drank alcohol, though he doubts it would affect him significantly.

He hums quietly, thinking over the question. "Well, my main home world is Tatooine, but it's not part of the Republic. If it could be freed, I could theoretically become Senator there. I'm not interested, by the way," he hastens to assure her. "I grew up on Naboo… but you're Senator there, and I don't want to take your position anyways. You'll do so much better than I could."

"I doubt that's true," Padme chides. "You care for people. You think for their best interests instead of your own, just like you did when I ended up on Tatooine…"

If only that were true. Maybe there was a time when he did, but that changed the moment he became a Sith. He's sacrificed all his ideals and principles – albeit against his will – for a greater cause. "What are you thinking about, Ani?" she questions suddenly, studying him with something akin to concern. "You have this look on your face."

"What look?" he asks dubiously.

She doesn't answer immediately, slowly reaching out and taking his hand, his flesh one, and lacing their fingers together. He nearly stops breathing at the intimacy of it, realizing that it was a deliberate move. He wonders if she planned this from the start. "A look that you're in pain and trying to hide it," she answers quietly. "I thought maybe… I don't know." She sounds genuinely confused, and he hopes it stays that way. She can never know.

Anakin carefully blanks his face, forcing all unwanted emotions away and hiding them deep inside of him where he won't be able to feel them. "You don't have to hide from me," Padme whispers, shifting closer so that she's almost touching him. Her brown eyes are filled with more feelings than he can name, but he does recognize her desire… for him. She does love him, maybe more than he's realized, or let himself hope for. "You can tell me anything, Anakin," she adds, reaching up to cup his cheek. He unconsciously leans into the touch. "You never have to hide from me." Yes, he does, because he can't tell her the truth. He doesn't want to see her fear of him when she knows what he is.

She leans closer, and he definitely knows what she wants. He wants it, wants her, but he doesn't know if he can do this: have a relationship while hiding everything true about himself. There's nothing he can tell her, and he doesn't want their relationship to become a lie like everything else. "Do you really want this?" He can't help but ask. He doesn't want to stop her – he desperately wants to hold her, wants the comfort she can bring him – but she's too good for him. She deserves someone better, less damaged, less dark than him. Someone who isn't a Sith.

Padme smiles. "I've never wanted anything more," she confesses softly. "I want to be with you, Ani, because you're the most caring person I've ever met. You don't do things by halves, and I know that there are probably many things troubling you, but this is right." Her faith astounds him. How can she see through some of his masks to know how he's hurting, but not realize that he's a monster too? He doesn't understand it. How can she be so much like his mother, who has never once looked at him as if he's something inferior or lesser for his crimes?

"You're thinking too hard," whispers Padme and kisses him before he can decide that leaving would be better, that the heartbreak now would be better than having her and losing her when she learns the truth.

In that moment, Anakin doesn't think anything could have stopped him from pulling her closer and kissing her back. He's wanted this, her, for so long, craved her touch in a way he's never wanted anyone else's. She's a part of him, and it feels as if she was always meant to be with him like this. He pulls back enough to rest his forehead against hers and stare into her eyes. "I love you, Angel," he murmurs, "And I always will."

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

"Why do I have to learn this?" whines Boba, pouting as he sits on the couch, arms crossed grumpily. He looks so much like Anakin in this moment, that it's all Shmi can do to hide a smile.

"Because it's important," she explains gently. "If you don't have adequate language skills, it will be hard for you to survive on your own in a galaxy like this. Here, tell me what you don't understand." She leans closer to look at the datapad in his hands.

Ever since Dooku brought Boba here, Shmi has been raising and teaching him the way she would have had Anakin remained with her. She misses her son greatly, only seeing him on the occasions where Sidious has deemed his achievements great enough to get a reward. Shmi well knows the sort of things her son has been forced to do, but there's nothing she can do about it. She's one of the few who can keep him stable, and she doesn't want to take that away from him. She doesn't think she even can without putting the galaxy itself at risk.

There are many nights when she's too distressed to sleep. Anakin was – is, she won't lose faith in him – one of the best, kindest people she's ever known when he was a child. Sidious tortured it out of him, forcing him to commit heinous crimes that will forever burden her soul, and she's powerless to save her son. It hurts. It hurts far more deeply than anything she's ever known, even than being kidnapped from her family and sold into slavery.

This is her fault, her responsibility. She had only wanted what was best for Anakin, but she was wrong. The Jedi were meant to help her son. They didn't. Perhaps it would have been better if she'd stayed on Tatooine with Anakin. Even if they were slaves, they could have eventually gotten their freedom and left of their own accord. Because now, they're still slaves but this time, it's to someone who is cunning and manipulative. She doesn't stand a chance against him, and nothing she does will ever be enough.

She tried. Oh, she tried at first to protect Anakin. It only took her being electrocuted two times before she – and worse, Anakin – got the message. They had to play nice. They had to obey, to do whatever Sidious demanded of them no matter how badly it might hurt. Anakin has never confessed his crimes, but she's a mother, so she knew when he first killed someone. She'll never forget the look in his eyes when she saw him afterwards; he was only twelve.

"Did Anakin learn this?" Boba asks when Shmi finishes patiently helping him with his Rodian grammar. Being such a big galaxy with so many species and cultures, almost everyone learns at least one secondary language.

"Yes, he did," Shmi answers, smiling slightly. It's obvious to her that Boba respects Anakin as a surrogate brother and role model. As happy as she is to have the child with her, she fears for his future. She fears that he'll become nothing more than another bargaining chip for Sidious to use against Anakin. Dooku probably wouldn't have brought Boba here if he thought it might not be safe, but… she doesn't have the same confidence.

She respects Dooku, and while she does harbor some resentment against him for helping train Anakin to be a Sith, she knows that he's doing his best and he is fond of Anakin. If he wasn't, she probably would have done something incredibly risky to get Anakin away from Sidious.

At that moment, her comm beeps, and she moves out of the room to answer. It's Sidious. "Yes, my Lord?" she questions meekly.

"Senator Amidala has an interest in speaking with you about Lord Vader," the Sith Master informs her. She can't see his face – it's concealed by a hood – but she can see his smile of satisfaction. He wants this for some reason, and that fact makes her incredibly wary. "Answer her truthfully, but do not reveal our secrets. I would so hate to kill you." The comm call disconnects, leaving her shaken. She loathes communications with Sidious because they're so infrequent. He only speaks to her if he's planning something or threatening.

Either way, she will heed his advice to the letter. "Boba, I have a call to make. Will you be alright on your own for an hour?"

He looks up at her and nods, so she leaves to go out to the garden. It's not for privacy this time; it's for comfort. Shmi enjoys being surrounded by plant life, and she knows that Sidious will be monitoring this call, just as he does all of them, though she imagines that he normally doesn't care what she speaks about in her infrequent contacts with Anakin. This is one call that he will be listening to; she knows it.

She's barely had time to settle in the garden under a tree before her comm beeps again. She answers with no small amount of trepidation. A hologram of Senator Amidala appears, a woman next to her who is dressed like a Jedi. Not good. "Shmi Skywalker speaking," she answers pleasantly, as if this conversation couldn't turn serious. She is no stranger to the knowledge that Anakin is publicly known to have abandoned the Republic.

"This is Senator Amidala. You do remember me, right?"

Shmi smiles softly. "Of course, I remember you, Padme," she murmurs.

Padme smiles back. "This is Jedi Master Siri Tachi," she introduces. "We have some questions about Anakin, if you don't mind."

"What would you like to know?" Shmi queries. There are so many things which they could ask, and she's worried that she might slip up if she's not careful. She has to watch every word which she says, especially being that Jedi – like Sith – can sense lies in the Force.

"You know Anakin has joined Dooku, don't you?" Padme questions.

"Yes," she answers truthfully. "I heard it on the news."

"When was the last time you spoke with him?" Padme wonders. "I saw him yesterday, helping Dooku." She pauses, something flashing across her expression. "The Republic has taken a huge blow, and I'm trying to understand what's happening to him."

"A few weeks ago," Shmi informs them. "He was upset about Jango's death – he knew him personally through Dooku apparently; he knew Boba as well – and he was questioning the future of the Republic. He wants the war to end, but he knows that we each have our roles. His is with Dooku, or so he said." That's not strictly true, but it's close enough that she knows Siri won't pick it up. It's a truth which is only valid from a certain point of view.

"When did he first meet Dooku?" This time it's Siri who asks the question.

"Shortly after he was ten," Shmi tells her. "Palpatine had invited him to Naboo to talk politics. This was after Dooku had left the Order, and he was having doubts about the Republic. He saw the corruption, and he had hoped to find a way to fix it. When he met Anakin, I knew he realized something, but I didn't know what. He offered to teach him to control his abilities, and I agreed." She sighs lightly, sinking back into the bench. "I think sometimes that perhaps I shouldn't have, but Ani wanted to learn. His abilities are… beyond anything the galaxy has seen, at least that's what Dooku told me."

"You can't trust anything he says," Padme declares, "But in this case, I think he's right. Anakin is the strongest known Force sensitive, which is why we need to find him. Shmi, if we can't stop him, the Jedi will probably issue a kill-on-sight order to the Republic. We cannot let that happen."

Shmi feels fear clench her in its vice-like grip. She wants to help; she knows how she can, but if she does something as foolhardy as telling Padme who Sidious is, she knows that he'll denotate her transmitter. She'll be dead, and Anakin… She doesn't want to lose her child to the darkness. Her fear doesn't prevent her from narrowing her eyes at Siri. Padme seems like a good person – Anakin cares for her deeply – so Shmi hopes that she wouldn't involve a Jedi who might use whatever information she obtains against Anakin.

"I do not agree with the Council on this matter," Siri says, as if reading her mind. She leans forward. "Where might Anakin be?"

"With Dooku, wherever he is," she replies honestly, unsure of she can say that he's on Serenno.

"So Serenno then," Padme surmises, and she nods. Maybe it isn't a secret after all.

"Did Anakin associate with others, with people who Dooku knew personally?" Siri queries.

"Probably," she answers truthfully, carefully choosing her words. "He left Naboo many times after Dooku started his training. I didn't think there was anything unusual about that, so I didn't pry, but Ani always seemed very happy to be with Dooku, and it was obvious to me that Dooku has a soft spot for him. That's why I allowed it. I never asked him who he met or where he went, though he did talk about it sometimes. Nothing that could help you, I'm sure."

Padme looks disappointed. "Thank you for your time, Shmi," she murmurs at last with a polite smile. "I hope we can talk more in the future. I'll comm you if I ever have any more questions."

"You too," Shmi tells her, preparing for the connection to be broken.

"Wait," Siri blurts out, holding up a hand. "Shmi, did you know that Dooku is a Sith?"

"Not at first, no," she responds, shaking her head. "He told me a few years after he took Ani as his apprentice."

Siri's brow furrows. "Did he not tell you what Sith are?"

"No," Shmi answers. And he didn't. Sidious is the one who did. By the time that she found out Dooku was a Sith like Sidious, there wasn't much she could do to protect Anakin.

Padme frowns and exchanges a look with Siri as if they're having some sort of silent communication. "Did he mention anything about his master?"

Shmi can feel her heartrate pick up at the question. She can't answer truthfully, but she certainly can't lie either. "Dooku is a man who makes his own path," she answers with a laugh. "He has no need of a master."

Siri seems a bit disappointed. "Thank you for answering our questions. Can you let us know when Anakin contacts you again?" she requests.

"Of course," Shmi agrees, though she has no intentions of doing so. When the connection is broken, she breathes out a sigh of relief and hopes that she didn't mess anything up. She won't know unless Sidious calls to reprimand her. No such call comes. All she gets is a text message a few hours later that says only two words. Well played.

***

Obi-Wan feels Anakin's presence the moment the shuttle emerges from hyperspace, and he immediately makes his way to the hanger bay to wait for their return. He hasn't heard anything of how Anakin and Ahsoka have done on their mission but seeing as they're both here – and Dooku is with them – he expects it must have gone well, which might not be a good thing for the Republic. Somehow, he imagines that whatever they're told to do next will involve him.

He stands near the doorway next to Rex, who had wanted to come as well, watching silently as the Twilight lands gracefully in its spot in the center of the hanger bay. The boarding ramp begins lowering immediately, and Ahsoka is jumping off before it's even on the ground yet. Her expression is tinged with anxiety, and with a jolt, Obi-Wan realizes that he can feel her fear broadcasting into the Force. The Dark Side is strong, making it harder for him to discern anything properly.

"Master Obi-Wan, you need to talk to Anakin," she blurts out in a rush. She's paler than normal, blue eyes wide with apprehension.

"What happened?" he asks, trying to maintain his calm so as not to agitate Ahsoka further. For some reason, he has a bad feeling about this.

"Padme was on Tatooine," she explains, "And she talked to Anakin. I don't know what happened, but he's not listening to anything Dooku is telling him. I think you might be the only one who can calm him down."

Obi-Wan blinks. Well, that's surprising. He hardly knows Anakin, and if he's worked up about something, surely Dooku would have more success? Apparently not. "I will," he promises, striding towards the boarding ramp.

Dooku greets him inside, expression unusually grave. "Be careful," he warns. "Anakin is highly unstable right now." That sounds ominous.

Obi-Wan simply nods, slipping past the older man to find Anakin. He's in one of the cabins, sitting mutely on the lower bunk and staring fixedly at the opposite wall, face streaked with tears. It makes his heart twist painfully to see it. "Anakin," he says softly, slowly approaching him the way he might a spooked animal.

At first, Anakin gives no indication that he heard, until he finally turns his head enough to look up at Obi-Wan. His eyes are vacant, and the emptiness of his gaze sends a chill down Obi-Wan's spine. Worse yet, there's a prominent sheen of yellow lurking in their depths. He doesn't know what he can even say to this powerful, ruthless, yet compassionate, and broken – sort of – man. What can he do to help Anakin away from the brink, away from the darkness that's threatening to swallow him whole?

The Jedi taught him not to act on his emotions, but right now, Obi-Wan thinks that it's the only option. Dooku has been telling him time and again of the important of mastering emotions without shunning them, and it's only now that he can better understand. His Jedi training tells him that Anakin can't be saved, that it would be a mercy to end his suffering, that Anakin is too attached to properly be anything other than a disaster. But his heart is telling him something else. It's telling him that Anakin is hurting – his pain is echoing through their bond – and that he needs someone to lean on, someone who he doesn't associate with pain.

Obi-Wan sits next to Anakin with a deliberate carefulness, giving the other plenty of time to move or react in some way. He only turns his head back towards the wall in a detached apathy. Obi-Wan gently wraps an arm around Anakin's shoulders, pulling him into a comforting – hopefully – embrace. Anakin reacts only enough to bury his face against Obi-Wan's shoulder, his breathing ragged.

"What happened?" Obi-Wan whispers, rubbing his – his brother's – he would like to think that they've been together long enough to be something like surrogate siblings – back soothingly. Anakin remains silent, but Obi-Wan is more than willing to wait for him to answer. After a few minutes, the tension slowly drains from Anakin's body until he's leaning entirely into the embrace, his arms winding around Obi-Wan's waist.

"I talked to Padme," he mumbles, choking on her name. "She doesn't understand. Sidious will turn her against me. I'm going to lose her."

The final pieces click together in Obi-Wan's mind, and he tightens his arms around Anakin as anger flares through him. This has always been Sidious' goal. If Anakin is Fallen, he'll be dangerous and unpredictable. The Jedi will, no doubt, try to kill him, and he'll slaughter them. He might try to destroy Sidious too, but the Jedi will be one of his targets. And Sidious will find another way of controlling him. Obi-Wan can't give up on Anakin for the sake of the galaxy, and for his own sake. He deserves better.

"Do you trust her?" he asks gently.

"Of course," Anakin answers instantly, voice muffled by Obi-Wan's robes.

"Then you need to trust that she won't accept anything as a fact without hearing your side of the story," Obi-Wan murmurs. He desperately hopes that his words will reach Anakin, and that he'll actually listen. There's something else there just below the surface which is triggering Anakin. Obi-Wan can sense it, but he doesn't know what it is.

Anakin presses closer to Obi-Wan, gripping tightly as if afraid he'll disappear if he doesn't. "What is it?" Obi-Wan queries.

"I don't know why she cares," Anakin confesses after another long moment, voice choked. "She shouldn't. She'd be safe if she didn't."

"You and I both know that she will speak out for what she believes in," Obi-Wan reminds him, "And that she knows you is probably keeping her alive. She sees your heart like I do. She can see that you have a good heart, Anakin."

A strangled sob escapes from him. "How?" he asks shakily. "How can you say that?"

The utter hopelessness in his voice makes Obi-Wan's heart break, and he finds himself fighting tears. How can someone hurt a child like the one Anakin used to be? How can anyone beat and mold another person – a good person who always wants to help others – into a weapon of destruction, take away all of their self-worth, and make them think they're nothing?

"You are so much more than a tool for Sidious," Obi-Wan tells him fervently. "You are more than that. You aren't a slave. We will destroy Sidious, Anakin, I promise you. No matter what it takes, we will end him, and you will be free. But I want you to understand this: Sidious might try to control you, but you are still a person. You can still make your own choices."

He pulls back slightly, moving his left arm so he can cup Anakin's cheek and force him to meet his gaze. He needs him to see how sincere he is. "You are worth just as much as any other being out there," Obi-Wan declares firmly, voice leaving no room for argument. "You must believe that." Words can't do justice to the emotion which flashes across Anakin's face. Has Dooku never told him that before? Or did he not realize he needed to? Or did he not know how? Or did Anakin not believe him? It probably doesn't matter anyways.

Anakin blinks furiously, more tears spilling down his face. The swirling cloud of darkness hovering around him seems to lessen as the yellow fades even more from his eyes, leaving them almost entirely crystal blue. He stares at Obi-Wan with what can only be defined as gratitude before ducks his head forwards, pressing it against Obi-Wan's shoulder again as he cries silently.

Obi-Wan doesn't know what will happen now, but he somehow knows that everything will be alright. Eventually. Their path won't be easy, and he knows it. Even when it gets hard – and it will – he refuses to lose faith that they can eventually find a place where they can be free from Sidious' darkness and shadow, where Anakin can grow and heal, becoming the person he was always meant to be.

Chapter Text

It's only been a few hours since Obi-Wan has managed to get Anakin settled in his quarters when Dooku comes to the door. The Count's expression is serious, and the faint hint of concern whispering into the Force worries Obi-Wan. What could have happened now?

"How is he?" queries Dooku.

"Better," Obi-Wan answers honestly, "I talked to him, and I think it helped. He needs some time to recover himself. I don't think he should be alone for now either." While Anakin isn't suicidal that he's seen, leaving him to stew in his own thoughts isn't the best idea. Obi-Wan doesn't want to make Anakin's depression worse by leaving him be. He seems to thrive under personal, undivided attention, and it makes Obi-Wan glad to see Anakin acting more… normal.

Dooku's relief is palpable. "Good," he declares firmly, hesitating slightly. "Sidious contacted me," he admits finally. "He has a new mission for you, and it's one which I don't believe you will like." He inhales slowly before continuing, and the fact that he's putting off speaking is making Obi-Wan feel antsy.

"Within a week, you, Anakin, and Tano are to record a public broadcast decrying the corruption within the Republic and maintaining that the Jedi Order has fallen into the trap and become complacent. It will be released on news outlets across the galaxy," Dooku explains. "You must state your intention to join forces with the Confederacy of Independent Systems until such time as the Republic and Order can correct their failings."

Obi-Wan is struck speechless. He had expected an undercover mission, but this is something else entirely. It's going public with a narrative which can only hurt their future cause. Is this Sidious' attempt to discredit them in the eyes of the galaxy and the Republic when they later try to defeat him? Or is it something else? Something bigger which none of them can see? "I don't really understand what Sidious has to gain by such a move," he admits.

The Count inclines his head in quiet agreement. "It is possible that he wishes to be able to use you more openly, and also, the Republic is now aware that Anakin and Tano have allied with me. The Council likely suspects that you have as well."

Obi-Wan sighs lightly, stroking his beard. "Well, it could have been worse," he concedes.

Dooku raises an eyebrow. "Sidious also intends to plan for another Jedi to be captured, and he wants you to discreetly aid in the subsequent escape. You are meant, for all intents and purposes, to appear to be a Republic spy. He wants the Council to believe you are still sympathetic and working undercover to thwart the Sith's plans."

That… isn't going to be difficult either, but Obi-Wan isn't terribly keen on the thought of deceiving the Jedi and Republic in such a manner. It's one thing to ally with Anakin and Dooku against Sidious. It's quite another to begin playing manipulative games. This is what Sidious wants, he reminds himself. The Sith Master wants everything to be solely under his control, and they'll have to try and remain one step ahead of him which is hard, considering that they don't even know what he's planning. If nothing else, Obi-Wan can take consolation in the knowledge that whatever he does will be at Dooku's direction. His game of being a spy won't be done alone.

"I'll do it, of course, but I think there's a reason behind this which is going to hurt us," Obi-Wan confesses. "It's to be expected, I suppose."

"Yes," Dooku murmurs, "You had best relay the news to Anakin."

***

It takes a few days of planning and preparation before Obi-Wan decides that they can record their broadcast, one which will naturally need approval from Sidious before it can be released. He's standing in the center, slightly in the front, Anakin on his right and Ahsoka on his left. They're wearing their normal clothing, lightsabers clipped in plain sight. As per their agreement, Obi-Wan will be doing most of the talking.

"This is Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi," he begins. "I followed Anakin Skywalker away from Geonosis with my Padawan, Ahsoka Tano. I have been given a unique opportunity to better understand the conflict which is tearing the galaxy apart while I have traveled to numerous systems. All my life, I have supported the Republic as a member of the Jedi Order, but time has given me the benefit of hindsight."

He raises his chin ever so slightly, eyes hardening. While he might not fully believe every word he is speaking, he does feel that the essence of his message is the truth. The Republic is corrupt, possibly even beyond saving, and the Order is complacent now, allowing crime to run unchecked in the Outer Rim. Anakin's story should serve as an example of what can be, not as an exception.

"I can no longer in good faith continue to support the Republic and fight in a war, when the system has become corrupt," Obi-Wan continues with conviction. "The Senate no longer serves the will of the people. It no longer looks out for their best interests. Certainly, there are many Senators who do their best to help their systems, and I can only applaud their efforts in the face of great adversity." He smiles slightly, thinking of Padme, of the passion she has for justice, a passion which even time hasn't dulled.

"Count Dooku, the head of the Separatist Alliance has recognized this. It is why he left the Republic to form his own system where the people rule, where their voices are not suppressed. There are many systems who want the freedom to act in their own interests to help their people without the crushing oversight of the Republic. Why should they not be afforded that luxury? Why must they be burdened by bureaucracy and the many faults which the Republic currently has? How is that justice? How is that democracy?" The more he speaks, the more impassioned his words become. He has little doubt that Sidious will be pleased with this propaganda piece.

"The Jedi Order has not been spared the trap of complacency either," Obi-Wan adds with fervor, deliberately looking back at Anakin and then turning towards Ahsoka. "Slavery and crime abound in the Outer Rim, and the Jedi do nothing. If the Council can now devote resources and lives to leading soldiers in a galactic war, why could they not have done the same for the millions of sentients suffering in the bondage of slavery? How can they allow such horrors to be perpetrated without doing anything? Naturally, they cannot help everyone, but why not even help a few, so they can go on to help others?"

He pauses, letting his words, his accusations hang in the air for a long moment, before gesturing to Anakin. Anakin steps forwards, a myriad of unnamable emotions flickering across his face. "I was born a slave," he declares, probably starting in such a way so as to grab attention. It's not a well-known fact about him. "I grew up believing that freedom was only for those who were so lucky, but then, a Jedi came to the planet." His expression twists with bitterness, and Obi-Wan longs to reach out and comfort him. He doesn't, settling instead for soothing him through the Force. Anakin never deserved to bear this burden.

"He didn't intend to free me, until he learned of my Force sensitivity," Anakin explains, voice level, almost detached now. "So, he gambled on my freedom in a pod race – a race which I did win – and took me with him to Coruscant, leaving my mother behind in slavery. The Council could have accepted me, helped me learn how to control my power. It was… scary. I could feel and see so much, and not just with my eyes. I was in an entirely new world, trying to understand for the first time what it means to be free, to be able to choose my own destiny. Instead, the Jedi rejected me, and I was fortunate enough to be adopted by Chancellor Palpatine."

He takes a deep breath, hands clenching. "Had I been trained as a Jedi, I would have fulfilled my childhood dream of freeing the slaves. They didn't even try to help me, dumping me off as if I was simply another burden to be disposed of." Some of his emotions are bleeding into his words, and Obi-Wan knows that years of resentments are finally coming out. He can only imagine how much this will turn the public opinion against the Jedi.

"Count Dooku found me," Anakin elaborates, never once taking his eyes off the camera, "And he taught me. He showed me how to use the Force to protect myself and to protect others. Many might consider him evil, but I will never be able to view him as such. He is the one who has enabled me to one day fulfill my dreams."

He sucks in a sharp breath. "No child should be born into a life of slavery, never knowing when the next meal will come or if the mother will be ripped away and sold without warning. No child should have to lose friend and family alike to the slave auctions or cruel masters, who believe death a fitting punishment for misbehavior. No child should have to fear being assaulted by a free adult, simply because that child is a slave. Children are the most precious and innocent ones in this world. We should strive to keep it that way as long as we can."

It's only experience that keeps Obi-Wan from gaping at Anakin's words. Not only is he going off their original script – in a good way though – but also, he's so much more a public speaker than he'd ever imagined. He can feel in the Force a raw wound of pain, hurt, confusion, fear. Something happened, and if he were to venture a guess, it's about the added lines. This is probably something they ought to discuss. Maybe the Jedi never helped Anakin move past his many childhood traumas – and why would they when he was no longer their problem? – but Obi-Wan can and will.

Anakin slowly steps back into place beside Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka moves forwards to claim the center stage. "I was raised as a Jedi, believing that we were always supposed to help others, but looking at the galaxy now, I don't really see how they're doing that." She sounds young, innocent, and that's the point. Her youth will do much for their cause. "I know that they're now helping the Republic in the war, but what about before? Why did they not reach out to those fighting for their freedom, the slaves who haven't given up and broken?"

She hesitates, as if trying to find the right words to express herself. "I just – I don't understand," she confesses. "What Anakin has been through was horrible, and that's only a fraction of what millions of other children are experiencing. How can it be so hard to muster a force of a few hundred Jedi to take down at least one slave cartel? So many systems would support it, even if the Senate didn't, and the Jedi aren't beholden to the Senate. They can still act freely. This galaxy needs more people who work for the benefit of all, who won't rest until every sentient is free, who try to help as many struggling systems as possible."

Obi-Wan gives Ahsoka a light nudge of approval through the Force as she moves back to her own spot. "The Republic has failed the people," he summarizes succinctly, "And until such time as its flaws are corrected, the Confederacy of Independent Systems has succeeded where the Republic has not. From here onwards, Anakin, Ahsoka, and myself will be allying ourselves with the Separatist cause and fight for the freedom of all."

With those closing words, Obi-Wan turns off the holorecorder before looking at Anakin and Ahsoka. He doesn't even try to suppress his pride at their accomplishment. He knows that this is a masterpiece. It will do everything Sidious wants and probably so much more. He himself can't even begin to imagine what the consequences will be. "You both did good," he says simply.

Anakin huffs out a mirthless laugh, expression distant. "Let's hope Sidious agrees," he mutters. Yes, that's the key, isn't it?

Obi-Wan waits until they're in the living room, settled down on the couches, before asking the question, even though he's hardly sure how to broach the subject. "Anakin, those lines you added into the speech, they – it sounded… personal." He keeps himself open to the Force, so he'll sense any sudden mood changes and adjust his words and tone accordingly.

Anakin is still for a long moment, expression almost completely impassive, though it does nothing to hide the maelstrom of emotions swirling around him. "It is," he answers almost casually, hands clenching.

"Do you… want to talk about it?" Obi-Wan queries carefully. Anakin's words echo though his mind again. Hunger, or even near starvation at times. Fear of losing his mother. Losing friends to auctions and slavers. Assault. It makes him sick, even to think about it. How can any sentient do that to another? And why haven't more people taken action against slavery? Even small acts are better than none.

Anakin seems to shrink in on himself, crossing his arms tightly over his chest as he mutely shakes his head. It's obvious that he's reliving some of his most traumatic moments – and the Force alone knows how many more have been added since he was "adopted" by Sidious. Obi-Wan exchanges a look with Ahsoka; her eyes are sad and pained, filled with a grief as she, too, likely thinks about what Anakin said. As if in sync, they move to the couch where Anakin is, sitting on either side of him, close enough that they're touching him as they offer silent support. Obi-Wan doesn't know what else they can do, so maybe this will be enough.

***

Dooku approves the broadcast immediately upon hearing it, and Sidious does likewise not even a day later. For that, Obi-Wan is relieved. He had thought it would be harder to please the Sith Master, though he's glad it wasn't. Before the week is over, Dooku has officially and publicly declared Anakin and Obi-Wan to be generals in the Separatist army. Their fleet is larger than any other Separatist's except General Grievous.

Ahsoka was appointed as Anakin's commander, while Asajj is Obi-Wan's. Honestly, he's not too surprised by the decision. He and Ahsoka both have the best stability, while he and Anakin are the best equipped to be military leaders. It's only natural that they be paired up as they are.

Unlike the other Separatist leaders, they share a joint command over the Death Squadron, which Obi-Wan is fairly certain was named by Anakin. His flagship is the Devastator, while Anakin's is the Executor. They're new prototypes designed, in part, by Anakin from what he's heard. Either way, Anakin is incredibly proud of them, and his enthusiasm is all but contagious. It's a relief to see him acting so much more light-hearted compared to the past few days.

Anakin brings Rex with them, when the four take a tour of their new flagships. "Battle droids are effective, because they're numerically superior to the clones," Anakin states as he looks around the bridge.

Obi-Wan imagines that both of them will end up spending significant amounts of time here in their respective ships unless they're heading into battle. He hopes they don't. It'll be bad enough to feel the lives disappearing in the Force; he doesn't want to be one of the ones who takes them as well. While Anakin and Asajj haven't explicitly agreed with him, their attitudes speak loudly enough. They don't want to kill clones either. That doesn't mean they won't, however.

"But they don't really think well," he continues. None of the battle droids standing around even respond to his statement, seeing as they're all currently deactivated. "I was thinking that we should try to fix that. Obviously not for all the droids, but maybe for some of them? The MagnaGuards could use a good update. Jedi will cut right through them otherwise."

Obi-Wan hums, stroking his beard. "Do you intend to rewrite their programming then?"

"Actually, yes," Anakin confirms, "And maybe add in some hand-made adjustments to their weapons systems and whatnot."

"I don't know anything about reconfiguring droids," Ahsoka points out.

"I don't like messing with their insides at all," Asajj agrees, smirking.

"Wear gloves if you don't like the grease," Anakin shoots back at her with a grin, "And as for the rest of you, I'll be giving you instructions if you want to help."

"MagnaGuards are more for bodyguard protection, correct?" queries Rex, continuing when Anakin and Obi-Wan nod. "Then yes, I'll help with them."

Asajj glances at him briefly, her eyes lingering on him though she says nothing. There's nothing which they need to say anyways. They all know the reason behind Rex's question. He doesn't want to be responsible for the deaths of his brothers. Not for the first time Obi-Wan wishes that they had the choice of fighting for the Republic. He'd much rather help defend the clones – his men – than lead an army of lifeless killing machines to kill those same men.

"Great!" declares Anakin cheerfully, "So, that's settled. If I have to lead a bunch of droids, then they're going to be the best droids." His face becomes determined. "And yes, it might be a bit of an overkill… but what do you say to painting a black or white mark on all the droids? Death Squadron, you know. We ought to have our own personal touch."

"How morbid," drawls Asajj.

"Noted," Anakin says, not even looking at her.

"I have no objections," Obi-Wan tells him, "Though you need to consider the cost. I don't know if Dooku will think that to be a problem."

"I'd like it," Ahsoka comments. "It would make us stand out a lot. Not sure if that's something we want, though." She shrugs slightly.

"Decorating clankers," Rex chuckles and shakes his head. "I never thought I'd see the day. I have no qualms with doing that. Might as well give them a target to be shot at."

Obi-Wan can't help the flare of amusement at Rex's words. "Might I suggest that you limit all improvements to the droids on our flagships?"

Anakin grins at him. "You might."

After finishing their tour, Anakin contacts Dooku with his inquires, and to Obi-Wan's surprise, the Count concedes that they can spare the resources for the inane painting jobs as well as whatever improvements Anakin has in mind for the MagnaGuards. But still, this is one step closer to being sent to the battlefield, and Obi-Wan doesn't quite know how to feel about that.

Chapter Text

Siri doesn't really know how to feel anymore. It's barely been two months since the war started, and her entire life seems to have been turned upside down. She can't even say what the biggest shock has been for her. Her Padawan, Ferus, was knighted immediately after the Battle of Geonosis, which led to her getting the rank of Jedi Master. Then, she was offered – and accepted – a seat on the Council, which is something she's still getting used to. Of all the Jedi, why did they pick her? She has no answer for that.

If that wasn't enough, her long-time friend was captured by the Sith – she knows that Anakin is a Sith, much as he might try to hide it, because how else could he be so powerful in the Dark Side? Siri might be a Jedi, but she still feared greatly for Obi-Wan's fate as well as that of his Padawan, Ahsoka. At least she finally has her answers, much as she might dislike hearing the truth.

Slowly, she inhales, trying to release her conflicting emotions to the Force. While she and Obi-Wan have been friends since they were young, they haven't been on the best terms for the past many years. When the Council rejected Anakin for training, Obi-Wan was livid. She can't remember a time he was more furious, and over the years, his attitude grew increasingly bitter and resentful. She can no longer count the number of times she chided him for his hostile remarks towards the Council, and it had begun to worry her. She feared that he might choose to leave the Order once more, not that she could blame him.

Siri is willing to admit that she also opposed the decision to refuse Anakin training. Though she didn't meet him, Obi-Wan told her of his strength. Perhaps if the Council had made a different choice none of them would be in this situation now. She had blamed Obi-Wan for his choices after Melida/Daan, when he left the Order to help the people on the planet. Though she'd eventually forgiven him, there was a part of her which, she thinks, was always a bit resentful. After everything they'd been through, after all the struggles Obi-Wan had faced in his fight to become a Jedi Knight – a fight in which she'd whole-heartedly supported him – he had chosen to cast it all aside as though it meant nothing. And now, he's done it again.

There is no emotion, there is peace, she recites silently. She needs to let go of her attachment to him. Even though she told him years ago that she wouldn't look back on the relationship they could have had… it's not been that easy. There have been times – many times – when she longs to touch him the way they once had. She's still in love with him, even after all this time, though she's been trying ardently to ignore that fact.

It is going to hurt when they inevitably end up facing off across the battlefield. Maybe if she was stronger, maybe if Obi-Wan was less sworn to duty, they could leave and run away together. Siri doesn't want to fight in a war; this is not who she was trained to be. In her youth, she was impulsive and reckless, attributes which lessened with time as she learned patience and calm. She was trained to be a peacekeeper, to negotiate with opposing parties. She wasn't meant to be a warrior, a general, but she has no choice. Someone has to protect the Republic, and all the Jedi must do their duty.

Her thoughts wander to Shmi, with whom she'd spoken scarcely more than a week ago. Overall, the woman seemed pleasant and kind-hearted, but Siri is certain that she's hiding something. What or how important it is, is a whole other matter, and without concrete evidence, there's nothing she can do about it. Likely, Shmi is only trying to protect Anakin, something Siri can understand, but with the future of the Republic at stake, she's willing to sacrifice a few people – even Obi-Wan – if it means that peace will be restored once more.

"General, the Jedi Council has contacted us. They wish to speak with you." Commander Cody's voice breaks into her internal monologue, and she turns towards him.

"Thank you, Commander," Siri replies, heading towards the comm center in the Star Destroyer. She has no doubt that they want to discuss the most recent broadcast and what type of response they should give. Truthfully, she doesn't even know what they could say without sounding defensive and as if they're trying to hide something or deny the truth.

When she arrives, the holograms of most of the Council members are present. Only Tiin, Piell, Rancisis, and Koth are missing. They must be on the front lines, in the middle of battle. Otherwise, they would, no doubt, be here as well. "Master Tachi, how goes the war?" queries Windu when she steps into the transmission field.

"Well enough, Masters," she answers, feeling slightly awkward. She's the youngest of all of them, the youngest Jedi to be put on the Council, and she feels so inexperienced compared with them. "We're keeping the Separatists away from our supply convoys."

"Good," Windu nods. "You did see the broadcast, correct?"

"Yes," she confirms. "What are we going to do?"

"Have answers yet we do not," Yoda tells her. "Disturbing the revelations are by Skywalker. Dangerous times these are, and many enemies the Jedi must now face."

"There has been a backlash against the Jedi in many systems," Plo adds gravely, and Siri nearly shivers. If it's not enough that the Separatists don't trust them, what will happen if their own allies turn on them as well? Was this the intention? "Some are calling for the Jedi to be entirely removed from the war effort and put on trial for crimes against humanity. They are in the minority, but we have reason to be concerned."

"The future of the Order and the galaxy is now at stake," chimes in Mundi. "If we don't reply to the broadcast, we will, in essence, be silently admitting that they're telling the truth. This was orchestrated by the Sith."

"I concur," Gallia states, and Siri instinctively finds herself focusing more intently on her former master. "Skywalker is undoubtedly the mysterious Jedi assassin we've been looking for. He's a Sith, no question about it."

"No one was disputing that," Depa points out, "But he's not the one behind this. Dooku must have planned it, or maybe his master. Or even both."

"We should focus on writing a response," Siri suggests. "It's not as if we'll be able to find the Sith overnight."

The other Council members murmur their agreement. "I can't help but wonder if Skywalker is right," Shaak Ti suddenly admits. "We did choose to reject him, and as a result, Dooku got ahold of him. Perhaps Kenobi is being manipulated –" Siri is certain he must be. There's no way that the Obi-Wan she knew would ally with the Sith much less condone Ahsoka becoming Anakin's apprentice. And then there's Barriss, who was somehow turned. "– But he raised good points about the war and the Order's non-action against slavery."

It's jarring to hear it all laid out by another Jedi, to hear that members of the Council actually agree with the enemy and question the war. Well, she does too, to an extent, but she would never admit it openly like this. Or will she? She dislikes the way the Order is heading – they shouldn't be soldiers! – and maybe she should express her own reservations. Even if nothing is done, at least she'll have spoken her part. It's not as though she's not on the Council, which means that speaking up is acceptable.

"Our hands were tied," Windu interjects firmly. "We have never wanted to be warriors. Our job is to bring peace, to give people the resources to help themselves."

"But perhaps more we could have done," Yoda adds. His ears twitch – almost sadly – as he looks around at the others.

"We have made efforts against slavers, but the Senate won't allow us to do much," Depa comments. "I would have liked to do more. It's not as though we've been ignoring their plight."

"I agree with Shaak Ti," Plo announces. "It would be best if we pursued a peaceful resolution to the war. Perhaps we should suggest this to the Chancellor and ask him if we might try to at least speak with Dooku."

Siri is shaking her head, even before he's done speaking. "He'll insist that the Senate vote before giving us the authority to take such drastic actions. We're at war because the Senate authorized the creation of a Republic military force, and look where that got us? I don't think it will work."

"We can still try it," Gallia points out.

"All in favor of requesting that the Chancellor permit us to attempt a diplomatic solution," states Windu, glancing between the other masters.

Siri ponders what she should vote for only a moment before voting affirmatively. She wants peace, does she not? She wants to be a peacekeeper, not a general. The vote is unanimous. Everyone concurs that it would be best to at least attempt a peaceful solution, though Siri suspects that they all think it will fail. At least they can say they tried.

"I do not like the idea of negotiating with Sith." Mundi sounds disapproving, and Siri understands and agrees with him completely. She's loath to find peace with a long-term enemy of the Jedi, but in the end, peace matters more than her own principles. If the galaxy doesn't suffer, if the Sith agree to peace – what a laughable thought – then why should she protest?

"It will not be long-term solution," Windu asserts. "The Sith are far too warrior-like and bent on destroying the Jedi for us to allow them to continue existing."

She completely agrees. Unless the Sith change their ways, something which is unlikely, then they cannot be permitted to wander the galaxy. They're far too dangerous. "That is something which will take time," Depa says. "Perhaps we should seek a means of stopping the Sith once and for all. They will not make it easy for us to find them, even if they do agree to peace."

"If we want more information, we should start with Skywalker's mother on Naboo," Plo points out. "She ought to have knowledge of her son's skills. Even if she cannot tell us of his whereabouts, she can still offer us assistance."

"I'm not sure that she would actually betray him like that," Gallia muses. "I imagine we will have to find another source to help us."

"That is a matter for another time, I believe," Shaak Ti interjects. "What will we tell the public in response to the broadcast?" That's the exact question which Siri has been asking herself since before the meeting even began.

"Admit to our faults we must and take responsibility for our actions we will," Yoda answers serenely. Siri really hopes that she's not going to be put in charge of helping draft something, because it sounds like an exceedingly difficult task. The entire future of the Order is at stake, and if they make a mistake now, it could have far-reaching consequences beyond what they can probably imagine.

Regardless of what they decide, nothing will ever be the same. Jedi aren't meant to be involved in politics, but now, they no longer have a choice. Political games abound during wartime, and whether for better or worse, the Order has been sucked into the middle of the most recent controversy.

***

Padme has heard the buzz in the Senate after the broadcast. It hurt to see Anakin speaking out so openly and brazenly against the Republic and Order, backed up by Obi-Wan and Ahsoka, but she can understand where he's coming from. The hurts he experienced during his childhood as a slave have made him who he is; they've shaped his life forever, and it's not something he can forget, even if he wants to. So instead, he's fighting back.

And she refuses to believe that the Republic is as lost as Obi-Wan is making it sound. It can be fixed. It will simply take time and patience. Crime is an issue, especially in the Outer Rim. She knows that, and she also knows that once they're able to bring an end to this conflict, they can focus on some of those problems. She'd hardly been a Senator before the war broke out, and unfortunately, there are many who are profiting. They don't have any regard for those who are being hurt, and as a result, they have no interest in ending the war either. That's why any attempts at suggesting a diplomatic resolution go nowhere.

While Padme isn't exactly happy with how the Jedi Order handled Anakin's situation, she does still have great respect for them. Be that as it may, Anakin did point out a number of glaring issues which the Order has, even if they are biased. He suffered for their mistakes but dwelling on the past won't help. They need to move on. They need to learn and become better. And clearly, they are. She was pleased to see the Council's official response to the broadcast, admitting that they have not done as much about slavery as they would like, mainly because of their limited numbers and the Senate's restrictions.

They aren't wrong. They're peacekeepers, not warriors, and they don't have the numbers to launch large-scale operations throughout the Outer Rim against the crime lords without turning it into a massive war. They hesitated, but according to their response, they have helped slaves and taken down some of the smaller slave rings in recent decades. Perhaps everyone is looking at the situation wrong. Perhaps instead of relying on themselves, the Jedi need to enlist the help of the affected peoples and systems. The Senate might not approve, but if it's an internal matter, their ability to interfere is limited.

Padme is pondering the situation in her office, trying to ignore the quiet ache in her chest at seeing Anakin and his new companions speaking out against everything she's fighting for, when her comm beeps. When she answers, a hologram of Siri appears. "Siri! I'm so glad to hear from you!" she exclaims, surprised by the unexpected call.

The Jedi Master looks worn and exhausted, but she still smiles. "I'm certain you've seen the Council's official response to the broadcast, right?" she questions.

Padme nods. "Yes, I did. In fact, I was planning on proposing a bill in the Senate to give the Jedi Order more leeway when it comes to dealing with galactic criminal networks. It will have to wait for a bit, because of the war, but it's an initiative which I think would do a lot to help the Order's standing in the eyes of the public." She had put much thought into it, and even spoken with a few other Senators, mainly Bail and Mon Mothma. They had all agreed that the Jedi need more room to act when necessary and should be given additional resources to help, though that will involve much debate as she proposed that the clones be given to the Jedi to keep after the war is over.

"I don't know what will happen next, but the Jedi's support is shrinking," Siri admits with a sigh. "I wish we could bring an end to this war. I'm not comfortable leading an army of soldiers in war. The Jedi were not meant to be warriors."

"Believe me, I'm doing everything I can, but the majority in the Senate are not interested in bringing a fast end to the war," Padme admits. "I'm afraid it will drag on for a while."

The Jedi Master seems to deflate. "I had feared as much," she replies. "I'm also contacting you because the Council wants to learn more about the Sith's plans. I wondered what you think about asking Skywalker's mother more questions. Do you think that would help us?"

Padme prides herself on being good at reading people, but it was extremely difficult for her to determine anything from Shmi. "I don't think she'll tell us anything which we don't already know," she says after a contemplative pause. "Do I believe that she knows more? Yes. Absolutely, but I'm under the impression that she isn't willing to put her son at risk."

Siri hums an agreement. "She won't, but we must do something. Perhaps you could ask the Chancellor to speak with her at his convenience? We have to do something." She hesitates, before continuing. "Padme, I know you're worried about what might happen to Anakin, but this is something we have to do."

Padme winces, overtaken by a sudden, fierce yearning to bring Anakin back to her side, safe and sound, away from the chaos of the galaxy around them. It hurts. It hurts so much to put him at risk, but she isn't going to protect him if the cost is millions of lives taken and destroyed. The boy she'd known on Tatooine would never have wanted that regardless of what he has now become. She'll never fear him, and if he does die, she'll always mourn him, but she won't let her love for him prevent her from fighting for freedom and justice.

"I know. I understand, Siri," she responds quietly. "I'm not putting him over the galaxy, I promise you. I want answers as much as you do. I'll speak with the Chancellor when I have the opportunity. Hopefully, he'll be able to learn something we weren't."

"I hope so too," Siri agrees, before they move onto other, less painful subjects. It won't do to dwell on the things that could have been. All they can do now is search out the truth and hope that they won't be too late to save the people they care for, because Padme is certain that Siri, despite whatever she might say, cares deeply for Obi-Wan.

Chapter Text

It's nearly a month after their broadcast, and almost three months since the Battle of Geonosis, when Obi-Wan is sent on his first major objective. Sidious has now decided that it is time for him to begin his mission to work his way into the Council's confidence as a double agent. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't nervous. Anakin doesn't know the details about the mission either, something which Obi-Wan has been instructed to correct. That's why they're currently sitting in their shared guest quarters aboard the Malevolence.

Four times the length of a normal Star Destroyer, the Malevolence is the Separatist's biggest, super-weapon. It's armed with an ion-canon capable of disabling the electronic and power systems of any ship caught in the blast, including Star Destroyers. Naturally, it's also heavily fortified with numerous battalions of droids of every type, especially vulture droids.

Obi-Wan's current mission is to ensure that the Republic receives the plans of the Malevolence. Ever since the Separatists allied with the Hutts, the Republic has been suffering heavy losses in the Outer Rim, its ability to send supply supplies severely limited by the lack of any reliable trading routes. To even the playing fields, the Separatist's new toy must be destroyed. Otherwise, the war could end far faster than Sidious wants.

"It's hard to imagine you being a double-agent," Anakin comments with a smirk. "Oh, I know you're capable, but I'm just trying to picture you being deceitful and trying to manipulate your way into getting information for the opposing side." He hasn't said much about Obi-Wan's mission, but the little that he has said has given Obi-Wan the impression that he's not really concerned by it. Or if he is, then he's doing an excellent job in hiding it.

"You're not wrong," Obi-Wan answers, shaking his head. "I know I could do it well on my own volition if I wanted, but I have no reason to do so."

"I should hope not," huffs Anakin, crossing his arms. "So, what are your orders now? I know Sidious wanted you to accompany me to witness a test run of the weapon for a reason."

"There will likely be Republic ships scouting the area, especially given that they know of the mystery weapon," Obi-Wan explains, "And chances are high that a Jedi will be involved on the mission. I am to sneak the plans for the Malevolence to this Jedi so the Republic can find a way to destroy the ship before it makes it's next trip to Naboo."

Anakin makes a face. "I'll help you if it's necessary, but I don't really like the thought of going to Naboo." He's scowling by the end of the ending, a heavy storm of darkness swirling around him in the Force.

Obi-Wan understands what he's not saying. He's not saying that he doesn't want Naboo to be a target, because Padme will be furious if – more like when – she learns that he was involved in what is to come. The Malevolence must be destroyed, but it will come at a cost, and only time will tell what that cost will be. He wishes so badly that he could reassure the younger man, that he could do something to protect him. Anakin doesn't want to fight, even if he does enjoy it many times. He only wants to be left alone so he can be with the people he loves. Fate hasn't been kind to him, and Obi-Wan can't help but wonder how the Force could allow it.

Does it care? Does it care that its son is being treated in this manner? Or does it, too, see Anakin as expendable as long as he brings balance? It's an unsettling thought, one which ignites undue resentment against the unfairness of it all. Maybe Obi-Wan had been hurt when Qui-Gon insisted on training Anakin in front of the Council so many years ago, but he had known, he had felt how important and powerful the boy was. He had sworn to his master that he would train him, and he had failed. He failed Qui-Gon by not fulfilling that oath. It's a guilt he'll forever carry with him.

Many nights, Obi-Wan finds himself unable to sleep – something he'll never share with anyone else, because it's not important and they don't need to know – wondering if he could have done something to save Anakin from the life he's been forced into. Every scenario is wilder than the last, but in the end, he knows that any actions would have been fruitless. He couldn't very well kidnap Anakin from Palpatine, because much as it would have helped, it would have also been illegal, and they would have been on the run ceaselessly. Would it have been worth it? Would he have survived long enough to teach Anakin, to be the master and parent he needed? He doesn't know, and he'll never know now.

"Please stop," Anakin declares, raising an eyebrow at him.

"What was I doing?" Obi-Wan queries, bemused. He is certain that Anakin didn't feel his thoughts because he would have mentioned it if he had.

"You're brooding," Anakin elaborates, a hint of something like amusement in his eyes. "There's enough darkness in the room for only one of us."

"I'll share it if you're willing," Obi-Wan jokes, but his tone falls flat. He hadn't intended to have this conversation ever, but he can't help the wave of guilt which surges over him. "I'm sorry, Anakin," he says quietly unable to stop the words from spilling out. "I can't help but feel that I should have done something to protect you from this." He reaches out, resting a hand on Anakin's shoulder.

Anakin seems completely taken aback, though he shamelessly leans into the touch. "Haven't we already had this conversation? You couldn't have done anything, Obi-Wan. Just accept the situation as it is and move on."

There's a pause as Obi-Wan tries to accept and respond to Anakin's words. Finally, he gives him a small, strained smile. "I try," he says quietly, suddenly, and irrationally grateful that there isn't another Jedi who can comment about his use of the word 'try.'

Any further attempts at conversation are interrupted when Anakin's wrist comm beeps. "General, three Republic ships have just dropped out of hyperspace," reports a droid. "General Grievous is awaiting you on the bridge."

"We'll be right there," Anakin answers, motioning to Obi-Wan. They race through the halls towards the bridge, arriving in time to see three Star Destroyers hovering in the distance. The Malevolence is positioned between them and the nearby planet in the Abregado system which it's orbiting. "General," he says, dipping his head to Grievous as they arrive.

"What should we do?" queries one of the droids.

"Jam their transmissions," Grievous replies immediately, not even bothering to look back at them. Obi-Wan has only met the droid general once before, and they didn't really get off to a good start. Grievous seems to feel that he is the one in charge of the Separatist armies, and that anyone else is simply infringing on his rightful position. He's not terribly fond of Anakin either, but he at least tolerates him, probably because Anakin is a Sith.

Obi-Wan watches as the three Star Destroyers slowly begin closing in. He can feel the Jedi who's here. Master Plo Koon. A glance at Anakin tells him that the younger man is almost eager, and it saddens him, because he knows how many thousands of clones will likely die here. There is nothing he can do to save them, so he lets his emotions go, flowing out into the Force.

"This will be a suitable test for our new weapon," muses Anakin from his place in the observation deck which is positioned in the middle of the bridge and above the rest of the droids who are working on manning the ship. Grievous is down there too, and Obi-Wan knows that their position is a subtle reminder as to who is really in charge. "Fire when ready," he orders.

"As you say, my Lord," Grievous answers, turning back towards the droids. There's a tense few second pause of silence. "Fire!" orders the general, raising a clenched fist in the air.

The circle of purple, crackling energy blasts from the Malevolence, speeding towards the three Republic Star Destroyers. Despite himself, Obi-Wan is nearly fascinated, unable to look away as the ion blast impacts the three enemy ships, rippling across the surface. The three visibly spark with something like electricity as the power sources are completely destroyed.

"Their shields are down," reports one of the droids.

"All cannons, fire!" commands Grievous.

The Malevolence opens fire, red laser bolts tearing through space and ripping into the now defenseless Republic ships. The battle – destruction more like – doesn't take long. It's only minutes before the Star Destroyers are ripped apart under the intense firepower, though Obi-Wan sees a number of escape pods being ejected as the massive ships explode, flames engulfing them as they're destroyed. He can feel numerous lives being snuffed out through the Force, and he fights his instinctive urge to help them and lessen their suffering.

"A rather successful test, wouldn't you say, my Lord?" Grievous brags, without turning to look back at them. It's irking that he's completely ignoring Obi-Wan, but that's going to change soon.

"We must ensure that the Malevolence has remained a secret," Obi-Wan declares, stroking his beard. "Send out the hunters. I want the escape pod with the Jedi to be brought on board. Maybe we should bring some of the others for insurance. We must guarantee that the Republic does not know where we are."

Frankly, he expects that Plo was able to communicate his location with someone before the attack or jamming began; it's what he would have done. It's a good excuse, one which gives him a reason to bring Plo on board instead of simply killing him.

Grievous' eyes narrow at the orders, and Obi-Wan can feel his irritation at being commanded on his own ship, but he doesn't object. The droids obediently dispatch hunters to locate the pod containing the Jedi, while readying the tractor beam to pull the pod aboard the ship. "I'm going to the hanger to guarantee that the prisoners make it to the detention level," he declares. "Anakin, would you like to come with me?"

"Certainly," he agrees, and they turn and leave the room together, making their way to the lower hanger bay through into which the escape pods will be unloaded. There isn't much for them to say, so they wait in silence. It feels like hours pass – though it can't be more than one – before the first pod is drawn to the ship via one of the hunter crews sent out to search. The pod lands with a loud crash on the floor of the hanger bay, and droids open the hatch.

"Surrender, Jedi!" the leading battle droid orders, only to have its head chopped off for its efforts. Plo leaps out from the escape pod, blue lightsaber ignited and held before him defensively as he cuts down the droids surrounding the pod. His clones position themselves behind him, blasters at the ready.

"You can't possibly think you'll escape, do you?" Anakin asks with amusement. He doesn't even bother to make a move for his own lightsaber, and nor does Obi-Wan.

"I am not afraid to die if it means stopping you, Skywalker," Plo replies calmly, unmoving. He's not being antagonistic for which Obi-Wan is grateful. They have no need to fight.

"It really would be best if you surrender, Master Plo," Obi-Wan comments lightly. "You're impossibly outnumbered, and there's no reason for you to have your men die pointlessly." He knows that, of everyone on the Council, Plo is one of the most caring. He cares for everyone, and the quiet reminder that his men will die should make him hesitate.

He does. After a long pause, he extinguishes his lightsaber, conceding to the inevitable. Anakin looks triumphant as the battle droids swarm them, taking their blaster and putting them in restraints as they lead them away. "The droids can handle the rest of the clone survivors. You should go to the bridge to give our report to Dooku and ask him if we should depart for Naboo in case the Republic is sending backup. I'll escort the prisoners to the detention level," Obi-Wan tells Anakin, who nods.

"I concur," he agrees, and they part ways, Obi-Wan following the procession to the detention level of the ship.

Despite himself, Obi-Wan can feel his heartrate pick up as he realizes that now is the time for him to put the plan into motion. He's carrying the plans of the Malevolence on a small datachip in a pocket, and it will be easy for him to slip it to Plo once they're securely in the prison cell constructed for Jedi. He wonders if Ahsoka felt like this during her first mission, when the consequences of success or failure are much higher than they were for the Jedi.

He pauses at the security terminal at the beginning of the corridor, pulling up the security options and setting them so that there isn't any audio in the cells. The droids shouldn't realize that anything is wrong, at least not right away, and by the time that Plo escapes, even though there will undoubtedly be an investigation, all evidence will be destroyed when the Malevolence is. He's grateful that he prepared for this ahead of time.

Once the droids have secured all the clones and Plo in cells, Obi-Wan makes his way to where Plo is. The cell door has a ray shield on the outside, followed by a durasteel door. It won't stop a Jedi who is free from the restraints inside, though it will slow them down. He enters, letting the door close behind him. As long as he stands with his back to the camera, no one will be able to see what they're saying to one another, especially being as Plo's mask covers his mouth. All he needs to do now is slip the datachip to him and detail the plan.

Obi-Wan suddenly realizes that this is the first time he's encountered a Jedi face-to-face after being captured by Anakin, and for some inexplicable reason, he's nervous. He needs to relax. He can do this. He just… doesn't know how to start the conversation. He's saved from breaking the strained silence when Plo speaks. "It is good to see you alive, Obi-Wan. We had feared you might be dead or worse."

"I have been treated well," he admits, knowing that since the device is dampening Plo's Force abilities, he won't be able to verify his words, which is moderately annoying. It makes his job harder as well. "You might not believe me, but Anakin has not harmed me. On the contrary, he has become… attached to me, for lack of a better phrase." He slowly inhales, bolstering his courage. "I know what I said on the broadcast, but I don't want the Jedi to be destroyed. I am not a Sith, and I have no intention of joining them."

"Is it true that Ahsoka has joined them?" Plo asks, and Obi-Wan can almost feel his dismay and sadness. It hurts, and he can't quite contain his flinch at the question.

"She loves Anakin; she idolizes him in many ways, even if she herself is not aware of it," he admits. "No, she is not a Sith, but she has accepted the Dark Side. She's willing to do anything for Anakin."

Obi-Wan knows that he must be prudent about what information he does reveal. He has to say enough that the Jedi believe him, but at the same time, he can't say too much which will uncover Sidious's plans – though he certainly can make them more difficult if he has good explanations – or he'll suffer the consequences.

"And you?" Plo questions.

"I have not used the Dark Side," he answers truthfully, though he knows that's not what the Jedi Master was really asking. "I care for Anakin deeply, but I cannot entirely support his actions." That is also true. He loves Anakin, but he will not condone cold-blooded murder or torture.

He shakes his head, trying to refocus on the important topic. "We don't have much time," he continues before Plo can speak again. "I have a datacard containing the plans of the Malevolence." He walks closer, standing with his back to the camera as he surreptitiously slips it into Plo's robes, ensuring that it's secure before he steps back. "I'll arrange for your clone commander to escape, and if you hurry, you might be able to flee. I'll keep Anakin and Grievous distracted, so they don't realize what's happening until it's too late."

"You would risk yourself like that?" Plo wonders, something almost doubtful in his tone.

Obi-Wan tries not to let it hurt. "I must," he replies adamantly. "This weapon must be destroyed, but I cannot do it myself without compromising my position. It's not improbable for you to escape without assistance if the circumstances are right. The ship is large enough that you can hide fairly easily and get away in an escape pod. There are some with hyperdrives. You must destroy the ship before it reaches Naboo."

"What are the Separatist's plans?"

He hesitates, unsure how much he should answer, though he carefully keeps his expression thoughtful so as not to betray anything. "Dooku wishes to pressure Naboo to join the Separatist cause using any means necessary, even if he must use the ion canon against the planet. It will cause untold suffering, and I cannot abide by such acts."

He steps backwards towards the door, pausing once more. "I'll help you any way I can, Master Plo," he vows. He feels guilty offering a promise like that when he knows that he'll only be able to keep it if Sidious wishes him to. Perhaps in the future he won't be under such close scrutiny, but for now, he must follow his orders to the letter. As it is, he took a risk with speaking at length about himself, Ahsoka, and Anakin.

The Jedi Master remains silent for a moment. "If you are sincere in your desire to help, then I thank you, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan doesn't know how to answer him, so he says nothing, dipping his head in acknowledgement of the words before he leaves the cell, closing it behind him and making his way to the clone commander's location. He doesn't have much more time, and Grievous might eventually notice his absence, though Anakin can cover for him, claiming that he's busy overseeing the prisoners' capture. Still, he cannot raise and undue suspicion, not this early.

Chapter Text

The battle droids are leading another group of clones to the detention level when Obi-Wan finishes closing the door of Plo's cell. He waits until they've split the prisoners into cells – two per cell – before going to the one which he knows contains the commander. He can't help but wonder what Plo thinks of him now that he's offered his assistance to allow them to escape. One such act won't be nearly enough to make the Jedi trust him, but they will have doubts. That will have to be enough until he can prove himself more effectively in the future.

The clone commander tenses when Obi-Wan enters the prison cell. Only his armor is left intact. All weapons were stripped upon their capture. Being as he's of a higher rank, he's being held separate from his brothers. "I'm not here to interrogate you," Obi-Wan tells him calmly, facing his back to the camera, wishing he could see the man's expression, though it's probably better that he can't. He wants to make this as short as he can. "I'm only here to give you instructions. I will request that a droid be sent to interrogate you, and you will have a few second window of opportunity to take it and the guard droids out without an alarm being sounded."

"You should be able to free your brothers and Master Plo before escaping. I will attempt to keep the others distracted," Obi-Wan finishes, still sensing wariness and incredulity through the Force.

"Why would you tell me this?" the commander demands. "Why would you help us?"

"Dooku is planning to use this weapon against Naboo unless it joins the Separatist Alliance," Obi-Wan explains in a level tone. He doesn't need to share too much information with a clone. The ones who are supposed to trust him are the Jedi. "I know Senator Amidala, and she will never agree. The Malevolence will devastate the planet, and even if I do not entirely agree with the Republic and Jedi, I will never condone so much suffering."

The clone nods. "Very well," he concedes. "I will do my best, but if you're double-crossing us, if you kill the General, the Republic will never stop hunting for you."

Obi-Wan smiles humorlessly. "Believe me. I know." He turns and leaves the prison cell, making his way back to the bridge after confirming that all the pods were either retrieved or destroyed. He mourns the loss of these men, bred and born to die for the Republic, but he can only help them by working to end the war. It will be a delicate and slow game, though it's one that he is willing to pay, especially seeing as the end results are more than worth the investment.

***

This is far from the first time that Plo has been captured, though it is the first time that he's been held prisoner by the Separatists. The Clone Wars have been raging for almost three months with no signs of ending, except maybe the Republic now has an advantage. Maybe. Even if it means sacrificing his life, Plo knows that the datachip must be returned to the Council, so they can destroy the Malevolence. Perhaps it was carelessness on Obi-Wan's part – he doubts it; now, he thinks it was deliberate – but he now knows what the Separatists are planning with this monstrosity, and he cannot and will not allow that to occur.

It would be best for him to escape and return to the Republic, though it may not be an option. If he cannot escape from the ship, then he will destroy it and himself along with it. It would be a worthy sacrifice if it means protecting Naboo and taking out this mammoth weapon. Of course, the Separatists could simply build another, which is why he'd prefer delivering the plans to the Council in person. The only other one he would trust with such a mission is his clone commander, Wolffe. One of them must make it off the Malevolence alive.

There's nothing he can do now but wait and hope that Wolffe is able to escape like Obi-Wan said he would. Is it a trap, or is Obi-Wan sincere? Plo doesn't know. He finds his mind drifting to the younger man, wondering if he was speaking the truth. While the Force is dampened, he did not sense the Dark Side in him, not now and not earlier in the hanger bay. Obi-Wan is still very much a steady, flickering flame of light, untainted by the darkness around him. And in the few minutes Plo had to look at the former Jedi through the Force, he'd sensed how tempered the anger in him has been.

After Anakin was adopted by the Chancellor, Plo had honestly begun to fear for Obi-Wan's future, hoping that he wouldn't let his bitterness against the Council drive him into the darkness. He was light, but there was always an underlying darkness to him, a darkness which has all but vanished as if he's finally found his purpose in the galaxy. It's disturbing to an extent because it contradicts everything which the Jedi have taught. By all logic, Obi-Wan's friendship with Anakin should have tainted and darkened him, but on the contrary, it seems to have stabilized him, brought him the peace and clarity that he's been lacking for years.

That Obi-Wan is still light in the Force makes Plo inclined to believe that he is sincere about offering his assistance, and that he is willing to help stop the Separatists, or more important, bring an end to the war. Of course, he and the rest of the Council must be cautious because this may be an elaborate ruse to draw them in, but the Force doesn't lie. It wasn't lying when it told him that Obi-Wan is still firmly entrenched in the Light, unlike Anakin, who though not actively drawing on the Dark Side at that point, still glows with a darkness potent enough to unnerve even the most serene of Jedi Masters.

What happened to him, Plo wonders, to have turned that bright light, that star gone supernova, into this twisted dark person he sees before him today? Are the Jedi wrong? Should they try reaching out and offering help to the child they'd failed so badly? If he escapes from this ship, he would like to speak with Anakin's mother, to see what she has to say about her son. Even if she is reticent, her silence alone might help him gain a deeper understanding.

That leads him to Ahsoka. He clearly remembers the day that he found her on her home world of Shili. She was tiny, barely able to walk, and so fascinated with her surroundings. She was a pure bright light, and he'd been immediately drawn to her. He's found many younglings over the years, but he always had a soft spot for Ahsoka. He watched her grow from a tiny, adorable toddler to a more mature child. In her, he could see the ability to become one of the greatest Jedi the Order has ever seen, though perhaps her future does not lie upon that path.

She, as is characteristic of Togrutas, a predatory species, always had a fierce temper and was quick to lash out. Ahsoka also had a softer side, a side that cared deeply about others, and it was in the hopes that she would keep Obi-Wan in the light that the Council gave her to him. It was a calculated move, one which may have backfired in the end, especially if Obi-Wan spoke the truth of her fate. It hurts to think that she might have sacrificed her ideals to follow someone who, though undoubtedly attractive in the Force, is so firmly rooted in the Dark Side. It is not her failing, but theirs, for the Jedi were responsible for her wellbeing, and they failed her.

Plo remembers what she said in the broadcast, how she questioned the Jedi's inability to help the slaves and others who are suffering under crime cartels. She isn't wrong per se, but there aren't nearly enough Jedi to fight crime and protect the Republic from the inevitable backlash. Perhaps now with the clones, the Jedi will be able to do the things they should have done from the start. If they can bring the war to a close, or at least bring both parties to the negotiating table – something they should have done at the beginning; they are meant to be peacekeepers after all – then perhaps at that point, the clones' skills can be put to a better use, helping those whom the Republic has failed for decades.

Suddenly, the door to his cell slides open and Wolffe darts in, a blaster in his hands. "General," he states in curt acknowledgement, hurrying over to shut down the energy field in which Plo is suspended, an energy field which is Force dampening. He finally fires the blaster into the base, and Plo catches himself with the Force as he falls, landing on his feet.

"We must hurry," Wolffe adds as they dash into the hall where the other captured clones are waiting. For the most part, they don't have any weapons, except three blasters among all nineteen of them. Plo doesn't have his lightsaber either, and he doubts he'll get it back. They don't have time to wait, so instead, they hurry towards the entrance of the cell block. He glances around the corner, before gesturing for his men to follow him.

Though he keeps his Force signature muted, he's certain that Obi-Wan – and probably Anakin too – can feel him. It's only a question of if they'll act on their knowledge. He expects that Obi-Wan will not, although he cannot say the same for Anakin. More than likely, he'll be down here as soon as he can be.

A droid patrol passes, and they barely manage to make it around the corner in time to avoid detection. It was close, almost too close, but Plo doesn't let it faze him. He's been in many, worse situations in the past. The Force is his ally, and he's not afraid.

After three close calls, and one instance where they were forced to destroy the droid patrol and confiscate their weapons, they see the row of escape pods up ahead. The Force tells them that they're in the right place, and not a moment too soon. Plo can sense the darkness drawing closer as Anakin gives pursuit.

"Quickly. Into the pods," he orders, motioning to his men. They split in three separate pods, partially in the hopes that the one with the information will escape unscathed, while partially because there isn't enough room for all of them in one pod. Knowing the severity of the situation, Plo slides into the pilot's seat, flying away from the Malevolence as quickly as he can, taking shelter behind debris to avoid detection for as long as possible, while Wolffe programs the navicomputer. As soon as they leave the debris field, they can make the jump to hyperspace.

Laser fire from behind them strikes one of the pods, destroying it, and Plo silently mourns the death of more of his men. Not even a few seconds later, a laser bolt hits a piece of debris right next to them, and he swerves fast enough to prevent any damage to the pod. They reach freedom within a minute, avoiding a hail of laser fire, and they make the jump to hyperspace right as Plo sees the massive weapon lighting up in preparation to fire at them. They escaped. He can only hope that Obi-Wan won't be paying the cost.

***

Dooku hears the report of Master Plo's escape along with a few of his surviving clones shortly after it happens from General Grievous. He chides the droid general suitably as would be expected though he's inwardly pleased. He'd expected that Kenobi would be given a mission which might fit with his alignments, and while he is not happy by what it entails, mainly because he knows that the Jedi – or former Jedi? – will be forced to deceive his fellows, he is satisfied that Sidious has deemed Kenobi useful. For now.

"General Skywalker, General Kenobi, take your fleet and join General Grievous in blockading Naboo. Your commanders can meet you in the system," Dooku instructs, looking at Kenobi and Anakin where they stand side-by-side behind Grievous. This will be something of a test-run to see how well they work together and with their commanders, Tano and Ventress. While they have undertaken missions in the past, they were smaller in nature. None of them would have had such long-standing repercussions.

"As you wish, my Lord," Anakin replies, dipping his head in a respectful acknowledgement. After exchanging a look with Kenobi, a wordless communication passing between them, he withdraws his commlink, stepping out of the transmission field as he presumably contacts Tano to relay the news.

"The Republic will learn of our plans, and they will send reinforcements to stop us," Grievous rasps, eyes narrowing.

"Let them," Dooku answers, not even needing to feign the distain in his voice. If the Jedi stopped thinking only of the present and began to look at the overall pattern of events, they would soon realize that they have a traitor in the Senate, in the Chancellor's office. Whether or not they would realize that said traitor is a Sith remains to be seen. They are willfully ignorant, and as a result, they have fallen into Sidious' trap. "We will be ready for them when they arrive."

"Yes, Count. We shall be," Grievous answers.

"General Kenobi, you and Skywalker must protect the Malevolence at all costs," Dooku instructs. "I know the Republic will spare no expense in attempting its destruction, so one of you is to command a squadron of fighters personally to ensure that the ion canon is not damaged."

"I will personally see to it," Kenobi promises. "Anakin is a better pilot than I, so he is the best option to lead the defense."

Dooku regards him with a cool stare – for Grievous' sake – trying to discern if Kenobi understands what his real mission is to be. He is to pretend to protect the Malevolence from Republic fighters, while the true enemy likely will slip past the defenses and infiltrate the ship. The easiest and fastest way to destroy it is by detonating the main reactor. Dooku knows this, but he isn't going to tell Grievous, because it's not as if Dooku "officially" knows that Plo was given the plans for the ship.

"You are correct," Dooku agrees before disconnecting the transmission. He has a call to make to the Nubian queen, and based on what Sidious told him, Senator Amidala is also on the planet, not that Anakin is currently aware. Sometimes, it's better if he doesn't know these things.

He reaches out to the Force, but the future remains clouded. Finally, he places the call after waiting long enough that the Malevolence will be coming out of hyperspace soon with the Death Squadron. He's sitting at his desk with his arms resting on it as he waits for the transmission to connect. It does eventually, and he sees the Nubian queen – he can't remember her name right now – along with a couple advisors and Senator Amidala.

"Your Majesty," he greets her courteously.

She glares at him, expression cold and distant behind the layers of make-up which she's wearing. "Count Dooku," she spits. "To what do I owe this honor?

He smiles genially, taking her attitude in stride. It's not as though he could have expected that she'd be happy to hear from him, especially not when she hears what he wants. "I am extending an offer for you to reconsider your alliance with the Republic," he tells her, getting straight to the point. He doesn't mind playing the villain in this galactic conflict, so long as the galaxy finds peace in the end. "My fleet is traveling to Naboo to enforce our occupation of your system upon your joining with the Confederacy of Independent Systems."

"We are not joining the Separatists, Dooku," the Queen snaps. "You are out of your mind if you think another blockade of our planet will induce us to change our minds. We did not give in to the Trade Federation ten years ago, and we will not give in to you either. You can remove your fleet immediately from our system."

"Oh, I'm afraid that I cannot do that," he replies placidly. "Perhaps you are unable to understand your position. I am telling you that you must join us for your own good. If you do not agree, we will occupy your system by force."

"Don't you have any idea how much damage and destruction that would cause to our people?" Senator Amidala interjects after exchanging a look with the Queen who has presumably given her permission to speak. "That will cause untold levels of devastation!"

Dooku smiles thinly. "Perhaps you are then willing to reconsider?" he queries mildly.

Before the Queen or Senator have a chance to reply, a guard steps into the transmission field and says something to them in a low voice. At the same time, Dooku sees a notification appear on his comm, a text message from Anakin saying that they have arrived and are currently forming a blockade around the planet. The Death Squadron consists of three smaller, droid-manned Star Destroyers which aren't nearly as impressive as the two main flagships. It's an impressive fleet of eight powerful ships, enough to frighten almost anyone.

"We will not reconsider," the Queen declares adamantly, voice more emphatic and emotional than it has been this entire time.

"Then perhaps my fleet will change your mind," Dooku informs her. "You know how to contact me when you're ready." He disconnects the transmission before sending a message to Sidious, informing him that the blockade around Naboo has been put in place. It's now time for phase two of the plan to begin.

Chapter Text

Padme still remembers when she met Anakin. It feels like a lifetime ago now. She had been curious and uncertain about her surroundings in the spaceport of Tatooine – she can no longer quite remember the name of it – especially knowing that the Hutts controlled the planet. And then, in the junkshop, she had seen Anakin. Almost immediately, she had realized that he wasn't a normal child. Despite his size and obvious youth, he seemed so much older and more mature than any child she'd known.

She remembers thinking that he was cute in the way all children are, and somehow, she had known he was important. Then, he'd started talking to her, and it was as if everything clicked into place. Anakin may only have been a child, just as she herself was, but Padme had known that this meeting would forever change her life. She thought that, perhaps, she might go on to fight against slavery after meeting this selfless child, who asked for nothing in return when he offered to help them.

Obviously, she had not, at the time, had an inkling of just how important Anakin would be to her. It wasn't until after they met again, when he was sixteen, that she realized how much he'd grown. Their feelings developed slowly, and Padme could no longer deny how she felt by the time he was eighteen, shortly after she became the Nubian Senator. And now, they've been separated with no way of knowing when or how – or if, she refuses to add – they'll find their way back to one another.

Padme will always love Anakin, but she cannot and will not blindly accept his actions. This time, he's gone too far. Naboo is their home, and she won't tolerate it being threatened, not by him, not by anyone. Granted, she doesn't know much about the commanders of the ships in the blockade, but the reports they've obtained indicate that the main ship is a monstrous Dreadnought, four times the size of a normal Star Destroyer. Its weapon capabilities are unknown, but Padme knows that they would be fools not to be worried.

It's accompanied by a massive fleet of eight Star Destroyers, two of which have never before been encountered in battle, at least not as far as she knows. However, she has heard rumors of a new Separatist fleet which is not only deadly, but also, has won all of the small skirmishes in which it's been involved. No one knows who the commander – commanders? – is, but she has her suspicions. Anakin had openly admitted to being interested in military strategies, and in some dark moments, she wonders if he knew that the galaxy was headed towards war.

Their last encounter was painful, and Padme finds herself thinking about it more than she ought to. Somehow, she doesn't think that their next meeting will be nearly as easy. The betrayal he's committed this time is far more personal. It's an attack against her home, her planet. Perhaps she'll be able to forgive him in time, but it won't be easy.

***

"General." Commander Cody salutes as he approaches Siri on the bridge. "We are emerging from hyperspace. Separatist ships are dead ahead."

"Thank you, Commander," she replies, turning her gaze to the viewport as the blue and white star streaks dissolve into real space. It's with dismay that she notes the number of Separatist ships between them and the planet. Hopefully, the intel that Plo has managed to get on the Malevolence will be enough to help them destroy that monstrosity. If it's not, Siri hates to admit that she doubts any force in the galaxy will be enough.

She and Plo have each come with three Star Destroyers. She will lead the fighter squadrons in a space battle, while buying cover for Plo and a squadron of his men to secretly board the Malevolence and destroy the main reactor. It's the only way for them to destroy the ship, and it must be destroyed if the Republic is to have any hopes of surviving. Maybe they can even take Grievous down with his ship. Maybe. It's probably just wishful thinking.

Once the battle is over and won, she'll have plenty of time to consider Plo's report about Obi-Wan. She wants to believe so badly that he's being sincere, that he really has the Republic's best interests in mind – or at least the best interests of those who will be suffering from Separatist actions – but she can't. It would be foolhardy to accept that he's on their side when they only have one piece of evidence which indicates such. They also have one piece of evidence which indicates that he's supporting the Separatists.

Reaching out with the Force, Siri can feel him, not on the Malevolence thankfully, but on one of the two flagships. On the other, she senses the dark presence which she knows belongs to Anakin. Perhaps she will encounter Obi-Wan on the opposite side, but it won't be today, unless the Force truly wills it. Once this is over, she wonders if she shouldn't speak with Padme about Anakin. She'd want to know that he was here, much as that information will hurt her.

Shaking the thoughts aside, Siri turns towards Cody. "Ready the fighter squadrons," she orders.

"Yes, sir," he replies promptly, turning to give orders into his commlink.

Siri leaves the bridge as quickly as she can without actually running, contacting Plo as she does. "Everything is ready," she reports to her fellow Council member.

"Good," Plo answers. "We're ready to make our run. This is the only chance we'll get."

"May the Force be with you," she says quietly, knowing how easily he could die on this mission, just as on every, though this one is far riskier to both of them.

"And with you." His tone is solemn yet determined as he breaks the connection.

Taking a breath to bolster herself, Siri strides into the hanger bay, heading towards her starfighter. They have a mission to complete and a planet to protect. Naboo will not be harmed under her watch.

***

Anakin sits in his starfighter, waiting for clearance from the bridge. Ahsoka is waiting for just the right moment before giving him the go-ahead and opening the hanger doors so Anakin and his vulture droid squadrons can take off to join the fray. The starfighter, while currently unnamed, is one-of-a-kind. Anakin programed and equipped it so that not only does it have built-in astromech functions, but also, it's intelligent, similar to MagnaGuard fighters.

This will be the first battle they've flown in, and he's a bit excited – and nervous – despite all of the test flights they've gone on. The comm channel is currently open to the bridge, which also has Obi-Wan, Ventress, and Grievous on it as they coordinate their attack. This will be a glorious battle, more so because his men aren't here. Through the Force, he can only sense Plo and Tachi. Good. It's been too long since he's been in the cockpit of a fighter – or any machine – for purposes other than travelling.

"Bridge to Black Squadron, you are clear for takeoff!" Ahsoka's voice crackles through the comm channel as the hanger bay door of the Executor begins to open.

"Copy that," Anakin replies, muting and turning on the channel to his vulture droid squadrons. "Tighten up formation and follow me," he orders as they fly from the hanger.

The droids reply in binary, but that doesn't bother him. He's often more at home among droids than he is among people which says a lot about him. Pushing aside all irrelevant thoughts, Anakin lets himself fall into the Force, focusing single-mindedly on the mission again. A quick look tells him that all six of the Republic Star Destroyers have positioned themselves in such a way that the Malevolence will be unable to hit them with the ion canon without risking hitting the Separatist ships as well, a risk which Grievous will never take.

The clone fighters meet him half-way to the Republic ships, and Anakin lets battle instinct kick in, the Force guiding him as he opens fire. These vulture droids have gone through maneuvers with him before, battle exercises meant to make them more adaptable. It's showing. Manned fighters are always better, but Anakin's personal squadron of droid fighters nearly matches these clones' level of skill.

He pulls away from the rest of his squadron, letting them be a distraction while he speeds towards the first Republic Star Destroyer. He can sense the presence of Tachi out there somewhere, but she's far enough away that he's not worried. A group of four clone fighters fly towards him, and he hardly even slows down, shooting them all down before they can move out of the way. The feeling of life disappearing into the Force is one he's long been accustomed to. This is war, and this is what he wants to do. Death is inevitable. It's a necessary part of the balance, of the long-term goal of restoring order to the Republic.

Anakin moves like a one-man army, spinning his fighter away from laser bolts as he fires with complete precision, taking out enemy fighters all around him as he finally reaches the command ship. The Republic is meant to win this battle, but he won't let it be easy. No. If they're going to fight, then by the Force, he's going to enjoy this. This is his arena. This is where he belongs. Sidious might have tried to break him innumerable times, but he's never been able to take Anakin's love of flying, and he never will if Anakin has anything to say on the matter.

"Let's do this, buddy," Anakin murmurs, as he reaches out to the Dark Side, letting it flow through him, fuel him. He is the Force in this moment. He can feel the ebb and flow of the lives around him, the clones' deaths feeling like the extinguishing of tiny lights. It hurts, but that's good. The Force never reacts positively to death; it fuels the Dark Side, and in turn, it fuels Anakin.

His fighter beeps an enthusiastic response to him; it is, in fact, capable of expressing emotions, despite whatever Dooku might think. Anakin flies low, dodging the laser fire from the built-in defenses of the first Republic Star Destroyer with an ease and grace that any pilot would envy. He's moving before the cannons have even begun to fire at him, rolling his fighter as he shoots at the bridge, flying up and away as the shields hold beneath the initial assault. He circles around, coming back around to launch proton torpedoes which will penetrate the shields, leaving the Star Destroyer damaged enough for the vulture droids to destroy the rest.

He's intercepted by a squadron of clone fighters, twelve in all, and he can't help but grin as he speeds towards them, weaving in and out of their fire. Three are destroyed as he flies past them, spinning around to come back for another attack. Their attacks always miss, not coming close enough to graze his fighter or scorch the hand-done paint job, which is nice, because Anakin would hate to get so much as a scratch on his fighter this early into the fight.

The lead enemy fighter launches torpedoes at him, and he reaches out with the Force, nudging them away from him and towards the Republic flagship. They make a satisfying explosion when they impact, and he smirks triumphantly. That was too easy. He needs to take it easy on the Republic, or their entire fleet will be wiped out long before they have a chance to finish infiltrating the Malevolence, much less getting to the main reactor to destroy it.

"Black Squadron," Anakin calls, "Mark my position. Finish off this Star Destroyer." They echo a chorus of agreements.

He zips away, abandoning the clones to his droids' nonexistent mercies as he flies towards yet another cruiser which is right in the thick of the battle. Tachi is closer to this one, and he knows that if he moves fast enough, he'll be able to damage it before she can stop him. Switching channels, he listens to the Separatist droid commander chatter for a moment, hearing nothing from any of his living allies. "Commander Tano, what's the status?" he calls.

"The Republic fleet is within firing range," she reports.

"General Grievous, you can open fire when ready," Anakin tells him.

"All forces, open fire!" orders Grievous, and the Separatist ships, including the Malevolence, around which most of the space battles are occurring, begin firing at the six – soon to be five – enemy Star Destroyers.

Anakin watches as the Republic ships return the fire, the space full of crisscrossing red and blue laser fire. It's beautiful if one would be so inclined to think that battle is glorious. Space battle is glorious though, Anakin is shameless about admitting. He's intercepted by a number of enemy fighters as he moves towards the next star cruiser in his path. One by one, he blasts them away, hardly slowing down as he dives towards the bridge, launching two proton torpedoes and spinning away as the explosion echoes out behind him.

This Star Destroyer is his. He'll take it down alone. He doesn't need his droids to help him, not this time. "Press the assault," Anakin instructs his droid fighters – Ahsoka has launched a couple more squadrons since he's come out here. "Let's make the Republic flee like a coward." He doesn't mean it, but he has to at least put on a show.

Enemy fighters swarm him, falling like insects in front of him, as he dodges their laser fire, weaving in and out of the cannons on the side of the damaged Star Destroyer. He alternates between shooting the clones and the Republic ship along which he's flying. "Keep those fighters off my tail, buddy." Anakin smirks as his fighter answers him, turning the second set of laser guns in the rear towards the enemy ships chasing him, while he focuses on hitting all the most crucial parts of the Star Destroyer beneath him.

He is a part of his fighter right now, and they're working completely in sync. While they might be comparable to an insect annoying a krayt dragon, they can still cause a great deal of damage. As Anakin reaches the end, flying past the hyperdrive engines of the Star Destroyer, he launches another set of proton torpedoes. They impact with tremendous force, and his fighter is pushed away from the ship. It only takes a moment for him to regain control, and he swoops around, speeding towards another weak point on the cruiser.

That's when Tachi arrives in her fighter, shooting at him from behind before he can successfully hit another crucial part of the Star Destroyer. Anakin clenches his jaw, irritation rolling within him as he's forced to focus on evading Tachi's laser fire. A couple of her bolts hit his ship, but it holds together. "We good?" he asks the ship. It beeps an affirmative, adding the suggestion that they return to the Separatist side of the battle to lose their pursuer.

"I'll do you one better," Anakin mutters, reaching out with the Force, while he keeps one hand on the controls as he makes for his flagship. Both the Executor and the Devastator are completely undamaged by the battle, the special ray shields around them keeping them protected from harm. He touches the engine of Tachi's fighter, nudging apart a couple components with utmost care. It's not easy for him to manipulate machines which he can't even see, and the strain exhausts him.

Her fighter sputters and dies behind him, and Anakin grins in victory, spinning around and heading back to the Star Destroyer. Tachi will be stranded for now, and while he could blow up her fighter, it feels a bit like cheating. She is one Jedi he wants to defeat face-to-face. He reaches his primary target again, circling around it and destroying all the pesky clone fighters that are continually trying to stop him.

"Intruders have been confirmed on the Malevolence," Grievous reports – snarls would be more accurate. "I am going to deal with those Jedi myself."

"Keep us updated," Obi-Wan says brusquely. "If it's damaged, we'll need to get to a safe distance away to protect the remainder of our fleet."

Anakin knows Grievous won't be happy, more so when the Malevolence is, in fact, set to destroy, but that's okay. The war is a game, and Sidious needs to level the playing fields a bit. If the Separatists keep the Malevolence, he knows that it will only be a matter of months before the Republic is completely crushed, especially given the strength that Death Squadron possesses.

In a matter of minutes, Anakin is flying away from the smoking, exploding wreckage of what once was a Republic Star Destroyer, a ship he destroyed single-handedly. His droids in Black Squadron finished off the first, leaving the Republic with only four cruisers, one of which had sustained heavy damage. This will be a Republic victory, but it won't be an easy one, that's what matters. A couple of the Separatist cruisers – neither of the flagships, of course – have sustained significant damage as well, though nothing which can't be repaired.

"The main reactor of the Malevolence has been breached," reports the tactical droid who works beneath Grievous. "Estimated time of detonation: less than forty seconds."

"Commander Tano, Commander Ventress, get Death Squadron away from the Malevolence," Anakin orders. "I'm coming back. We've lost this round. We need to leave."

"Copy that, General Skywalker," Ventress replies.

"Leave? We can't leave!" roars Grievous.

"My sources tell me that Republic reinforcements are on their way," Anakin responds calmly, as he makes for the hanger bay along with what's left of his droid fighter squadrons. "It would be best for us to leave the system while we still have the upper hand. We will not win Naboo now."

Grievous only snarls.

Anakin lands in the hanger bay, seconds before the Malevolence explodes with enough force to make the Executor shudder. He has to look away from the brilliance. Minutes later, Death Squadron is jumping to hyperspace after picking up Grievous in his personal starfighter. For some, like Grievous, it's a battle lost, but for Anakin, it's a victory. They successfully allowed the Republic to destroy the Malevolence, and hopefully, the Jedi now believe that Obi-Wan is on their side. It's a victory indeed.

Chapter Text

Dooku isn't nearly as surprised as he maybe should be when he gets the news that Senator Amidala successfully captured Nute Gunray of the Trade Federation. Gunray was never noted for his high intelligence. His greed was, and still is, the main reason why Dooku is working with him. Nevertheless, it definitely poses a problem to the Separatist Alliance as well as the Sith. If he cannot be recovered, he must be silenced, because he knows far too much.

Sidious calls shortly after Dooku has begun to plan ways of retrieving or silencing Gunray. He kneels before the hologram of his master as is usual, listening to him obediently. "Gunray's capture could be a serious threat to us, my friend. The Viceroy will not last long under Jedi interrogation," the Sith Master declares.

"Yes, my Lord," Dooku agrees. "I have a plan. I will send Lord Vader to infiltrate the Jedi ship and either free Gunray or silence him."

Sidious hums lowly. "Yes," he concurs, "I believe he is more than up to the task, but I believe you should send Kenobi as well. This will be his first major mission of importance as well as the first which will put him in close proximity to the Jedi. If he plans to betray us, he will now have a prime opportunity."

Realization crashes over Dooku, and he looks up at the hooded holographic figure. "You mean to test him." It's been a month since the destruction of the Malevolence. A month in which the Death Squadron has begun to gain a name for itself. But in every single battle, Kenobi has remained on his flagship, directing the battle from afar, while Anakin has flown into the thick of the battle, unless his presence is required elsewhere. Death Squadron has more than earned its name, and it strikes terror into those on the Republic's side from what Dooku has heard. The Republic rightfully fears it.

Skywalker and Kenobi. They have become something of a legend for those who support the Confederacy of Independent Systems. They are The Team now, often called the Hero with No Fear and the Negotiator. Anakin is fearless on the battlefield, channeling his pain, anger, and aggression into controlled chaos and devastation. He seems determined to outdo himself and his past levels of destruction in each battle, and it worries Dooku, if he's being honest. Anakin might be gaining a greater control over himself, but he's rapidly slipping into the embrace of the Dark Side. Being surrounded by so much death and destruction – caused at and by his hand – is not at all conducive for mental stability. He's barely even twenty.

Obi-Wan has talked many a Republic commander into surrender – the Jedi having died at Anakin's hand. The surviving clones are taken as prisoners-of-war, and the Republic has yet to find the prison where they're being kept. When the Death Squadron attacks, there are no survivors, no one left to report what happened. That's the way Anakin wants it. It's the way Sidious likes it too. Their only hope is to end the war as fast and expeditiously as possible. Sidious is trying to make the Republic systems see how horrible the war is, and it's working. Too well, even.

Ever since the Republic failed to get an alliance with Jabba on Tatooine, it's become increasingly hard to sustain campaigns on that part of the Outer Rin. The longer the battles go on, the more expensive and costly they become. It's only a matter of time before Republic control in the systems near Tatooine disappear entirely because the Separatist's base on Tatooine makes it easy for them to replenish lost troops. Not so for the Republic, which has been forced to expend resources on protecting supply conveys to the Outer Rim.

Sidious smiles, his dark glee echoing into the Force. "Yes," he confirms, "Proceed with the plan, but you must move quickly before the Jedi have time to interrogate Gunray, thereby putting all of our plans in danger."

***

"Alright, listen up." Anakin's voice echoes through Obi-Wan's wrist-comm as he speaks to everyone who is participating in the mission. "We need to move fast. Gunray is being held by the 212th Battalion, so your armor has been provided accordingly." He's speaking mainly to Rex, Fives, and Echo, who were chosen to accompany them on this mission. This is the first time that the clones have been assigned a mission which puts them in close proximity with their brothers, and that's all the more reason to ensure that everything goes without hitch.

Obi-Wan does not want to put the clones in the position where they have to choose between their brothers and Anakin. Until now, most of their work has been behind the lines, but now, that's changing. He knows that Anakin is testing their loyalty to him, testing to see if they'll desert given the chance, just as he knows that Sidious is testing his loyalty.

This is Obi-Wan's first mission in which he'll be sent directly into the middle of the action. Even Ahsoka has been fighting on the front lines more than he has. He doesn't like it, but it's the cost he has had to pay for refusing to submit to the Dark Side and Sidious. However, he has been given other pieces of intelligence to pass along to the Republic, thereby building his credibility with the Council. While he doubts that they'll ever entirely trust him, it will make it more likely for them to believe him in the future when he gives them a bigger piece of information. Like he's supposed to do now.

"Rex, Fives, Echo, you three need to slip into the clones and get Gunray out of the cell, claiming that you're taking him to a more secure location," Anakin instructs. "Obi-Wan, you keep the Jedi distracted, lure them away from the brig. I will go to main reactor and set charges to destroy the entire cruiser, maybe make a distraction if I need to so as to divert the Republic forces. No one can know that we have clones on our side."

"Copy that, General," the clones echo. Obi-Wan can feel their determination mingled with uncertainty and apprehension. They don't fear Anakin, though maybe they should. Anakin has killed thousands of their brothers – though rarely any of those in the 501st Legion for which he harbors a fondness. While Obi-Wan knows that Anakin would never willingly hurt them, his judgement isn't always the best, especially since Sidious has immense control over him.

The weeks of fighting together have brought them even closer, and he's willing to admit that Anakin reveals a side of himself to Obi-Wan which he never shows to anyone else. He doesn't know why – he's never had a reason to ask – but he does know that he will never betray Anakin's trust. They're openly friends, and neither of them would hesitate to call the other as such in front of others. They're more than that too, though he can't quite name what. He would prefer to think that they're like brothers, and maybe they were in the beginning, but sometimes, he could swear that Anakin looks at him with unfiltered admiration and adoration.

"I'm ready if you are," Obi-Wan assures Anakin, shifting his position inside the droid boarding ship. The vulture droids will attack first, distracting the Republic forces enough to allow the boarding ships to penetrate the hull and unload the super battle droids inside the Star Destroyer.

"Everything is under control, Master!" calls Ahsoka. "You're clear to go." That's another thing which has changed. In the past few weeks, Ahsoka has taken to infrequently using the term Master on Anakin. It doesn't make Obi-Wan jealous; on the contrary, he's actually relieved, because he never wanted to train her. He'd always felt that she was not meant to be his Padawan, and time has proved him right. She fits with Anakin in a way that she never has with anyone else. The Force itself seems to want them to be together.

"Then let's get this operation moving," Anakin declares, the familiar darkness gathering in his Force signature like a storm about to break loose.

The ship begins moving, but there's no viewports, of course, so Obi-Wan can't see their progression through space. He still knows when the battle begins, able to feel the faint vibrations of laser fire outside. There's a jolt as the boarding craft slams into place, opening up and beginning to unload super battle droids into the cruiser. Blaster fire reaches Obi-Wan's ears as he waits inside the craft, crouching until he finds the right moment to leap down.

Distraction, Obi-Wan thinks despairingly as he feels Anakin throw himself into the battle. He leaps down from the craft, standing back, hood pulled up over his head as he watches with dismay as Anakin rips through the clones like they're nothing. He doesn't even seem to notice or care that he's killing, but then again, he is a Sith. It will never become easier for him to see Anakin like this, to see him so ruthless when Obi-Wan knows how caring he can be. The almost-shy and quiet man he is in private is completely different from this whirlwind of chaos and destruction which he becomes on the battlefield.

"All units!" calls one of the clones frantically through his commlink. "General Skywalker is here! We need reinforcements!"

Anakin flicks out a hand, snapping the man's neck without a second thought, looking around at the destruction all around him. All the clones are dead. His yellow eyes meet Obi-Wan's for a moment, and he gives him a nod, a signal for him to leave. The super battle droids continue onwards, shooting beginning only moments later from the hallway beyond. Obi-Wan can feel Siri here, can feel her presence drawing closer, and an uncomfortable feeling of guilt twists within him. What he's doing is necessary, but he knows their confrontation will be anything but easy, especially given how emotionally involved they are; they used to be friends.

Rex, Echo, and Fives drop down, weapons held at the ready. Obi-Wan doesn't miss how stiffly they're moving, how careful to avoid looking at the decimation all around them. "Gunray is being held prisoner by Senate commandos," Anakin tells them, extinguishing his lightsaber and adjusting the straps of the small backpack he's carrying which contains explosives. "They are not clones, so don't hesitate to kill them if you need to. I'll meet you there."

"Yes, sir," they chorus before Rex motions for the other two to follow him out a side door. They'll blend in readily enough. Now, Obi-Wan can only hope that they're able to accomplish their mission. They understand the importance of no one learning that some clones are working for the Separatists, so they'll be careful. Anakin trained them well.

Obi-Wan glances at Anakin again, and they exchange a look before walking towards the sounds of battle up ahead. Anakin splits off to do his part of the mission, while Obi-Wan mentally prepares himself for his coming confrontation with Siri. He's supposed to slip her some information when he sees her – he has to keep up his cover of being a double agent. Perhaps the future attack on Kamino won't be in the next couple weeks, but it will be coming. Hopefully forewarning the Republic won't hurt them in the long run. He hasn't forgotten their plan to have Anakin slip a new order into the inhibitor chip coding.

***

Anakin works his way through a back corridor, away from the main part of the battle. He knows that the Jedi will be looking for him which is good. They should run right into Obi-Wan, who will hopefully keep them distracted with talking until the main part of the mission is complete. He stops to grab a wrist comm from a dead clone – so that he can track the Republic's movements through their comm chatter – before he climbs through a grate into the ventilation system. He knows his way around Republic Star Destroyers by this point, so he works his way to the main reactor room.

"Super battle droids are everywhere. Fall back to the detention level! We have to protect the prisoner!" orders a random clone trooper.

Bar any conflicting orders from Dooku, Gunray will be retrieved in one piece and returned to the Separatists, even if Anakin has to slaughter his way through every single enemy combatant on board by himself. He reaches the engine room before long, slipping away the grate and watching two clones on patrol, who are checking to ensure that everything is secure. It makes him want to laugh because they have no idea how much danger they're in. All he needs to do is close his fist, and they'll both drop dead with no one the wiser.

He doesn't, letting them leave instead, and the second they're gone, he crumples the droid into a heap of scrap metal, before casually dropping down onto the walkways. It's easy for him to plant all of the explosives on the reactors before leaping back up to the ventilation shaft and disappearing inside.

Listening to the comm chatter, Anakin travels towards the detention level, knowing that while Tachi is likely confronting Obi-Wan right about now, her little sidekick, Olin, still seems to be in place. A pity. Anakin would so hate to kill him. Still, he trusts that his men will be able to figure something out. Either they'll wait nearby and blend in, or they'll come up with something which will make Olin leave. They're intelligent. It was because of that that Anakin chose them to be a part of his 501st Legion.

He cloaks himself, disappearing so that Olin won't sense him coming. How he loves dramatic entrances. When Anakin reaches the area right above the detention level, he uses the Force to rip apart the ceiling, dropping through the hole as he drops his shielding. All of the Senate commandos tense up, raising their blasters towards him.

"You really don't want to do that," he comments casually, waving a hand and tossing them all into the wall as if they're naught but a minor inconvenience. They stay down, stunned, albeit only temporarily.

"Skywalker," Olin declares, igniting his blue blade and positioning it defensively. The clones are standing outside Gunray's cell as if protecting it, and Rex gives Anakin a faint nod. They're ready to do their part if Anakin can do his and lead Olin away.

"Time to play," Anakin singsongs, igniting his lightsaber with a flourish. The Jedi lunges and Anakin easily sidesteps his swipe, backing from the control room and into the corridor beyond which leads to the main part of the ship.

His hatred for this Jedi who stole his men is immense, and he lets it fuel him, the Dark Side singing through him, echoing the song of his kyber crystal. For him, it is time to play, because he'll go easy on Olin for now. There are times when he likes toying with his… prey before killing them, and now is one of those times. Besides, he needs to buy Obi-Wan as much time as possible. His conversation with Tachi won't be easy, especially since she'll probably be more likely to try and kill him than she will be to listen to him.

Olin remains stubbornly quiet, eyes burning with a furious passion as he attacks Anakin repeatedly. His form is flawless, but Anakin is better. Obi-Wan taught him the basics of Soresu, and right now, he's drawing on that knowledge, letting his opponent wear himself out, while deflecting his attacks with only one hand.

The Jedi pushes him backwards, and he lets himself skid a few feet, because it gives the clones more time to get Gunray out of there. Biding time for them is of utmost importance right now. He won't let any petty feelings of hate rule him, not right now. Olin leaps forwards, and Anakin blocks his downwards slash with laughable ease. As much as he wants to kill Olin, the true reason why he won't do it, is because when Tachi feels their bond break, she won't listen to reason. He's seen that, time and again, even as the Jedi preach about control, they tend to become emotional and erratic if their master or Padawan are killed.

He lets himself fall into the Force, picking up the pace of his attacks as he begins to do more than parry and block blows, slowly and continually leading Olin away from detention level of the ship. Dooku trained him to be a master duelist, and he is. Anakin blocks a strike aimed towards his left arm before unleashing a flurry of counterattacks and flipping over Olin when he returns them. Now that he's between the Jedi and the detention level, he can let go.

And he does.

He attacks brutally and without mercy, and within a minute, Olin is spending the majority of his time dodging blows and backing away from Anakin. Realization has dawned in his eyes, and he knows what Anakin was trying to do, but it doesn't matter, because he doesn't even have the time to try to warn anyone else; he's too focused on trying to stay alive.

Anakin's next blow scores a hit on Olin's arm, and he stumbles back with a cry. Oh, that's definitely going to scar. Good. It'll ensure that he never forgets this. Anakin can only feel the Dark Side burning around him, demanding more pain, more death, but he pulls back with a great effort so that he doesn't lose himself entirely. Olin hardly has a chance to recover before Anakin hurls him backwards, slamming him into the durasteel wall hard enough to knock him out cold. He levels his red blade at the Jedi's throat, inhaling deeply and asking himself: what would Obi-Wan think?

And he knows the answer to that. Obi-Wan knows who he is and what he has done and is doing. He hasn't left, choosing instead to stay with him, to help him. Anakin doesn't deserve his kindness. He doesn't deserve to have someone like Obi-Wan in his life. Their relationship is as complicated as ever, but Anakin doesn't mind how much it's changed. Obi-Wan is an anchor for him in the way Dooku never could be, and he knows that Obi-Wan would not want him to kill Olin. So, he extinguishes his lightsaber, moving back the way he came.

It's easy enough to find Gunray; all he needs to do is work his way towards the hanger bay. There are a few droids and clones still fighting, and Anakin makes quick work of the clones, letting the droids continue on their way. The three clones are clustered behind some crates, Gunray between them.

"Get him on a shuttle," Anakin orders, pressing the button to detonate the bombs in the main reactor. The entire ship jolts, and alarms go off as the damage becomes more and more apparent with each passing second. Now, it's time to fetch Obi-Wan and bring him here, so they can all leave together and flee to the Executor which is waiting. Anyone who stands between him and one of his closest friends will die.

Chapter Text

Obi-Wan lingers behind the droids, discomfort churning within him as he watches the clones being shot down. He wishes he could help them; he always does, but such is the cost of war. Honestly, he's glad that he's not being sent to the front lines like Anakin and Ahsoka. Overseeing and directing the space battles is hard enough, because he's still responsible for so much death, even if it's not directly. Much as he's tried to keep himself balanced, Obi-Wan has noticed how much darker he's become since the beginning of the war, how much more willing to make necessary sacrifices if it means that he'll be protecting his family.

Anakin and Ahsoka are all he has left now, and he would rather die than let them come to harm. While he has something of a relationship with Dooku and even Ventress, it's far more professional. He doesn't consider either of them friends. He's still mulling over his position in the galaxy when he feels Siri arrive.

Her Force presence is light, though infused with anger. She cuts down the rest of the first wave of droids, blue eyes unerringly zeroing in on him. Her initial anger evaporates, shock replacing it, but just as suddenly, her expression hardens, and she stalks towards him, violet blade still ignited, gesturing to her clones to continue the fight.

"You," Siri says bluntly. "What are you doing here?"

"I think it should be quite obvious," Obi-Wan replies mildly, crossing his right arm and stroking his beard with his left hand. It puts him in closer proximity with his lightsaber, and he will draw it should the need arise.

"You're a traitor to the Jedi," Siri states coldly, something akin to hurt flickering through her expression. "You're not the man I befriended." She swings her lightsaber towards him, and he reacts on instinct, springing backwards and igniting his own lightsaber to block her.

"Siri, listen to me!" Obi-Wan protests, defending himself from her attacks, though he doesn't make a move to fight back against her. He won't let her hurt him. "It doesn't have to be like this. I'm doing what I have to do for the galaxy. The Republic is corrupt! It cannot be saved."

"And you think that the Sith can fix it?" Siri demands scornfully, shaking her head, blonde hair falling loose around her face. "Then you're more delusional than I believed. You can leave. Come with me. Talk to the Council. We can only fix things together."

Obi-Wan might have been tempted by her offer in another time, but he doesn't even need to consider it. "No," he states quietly and with conviction. "I won't. I'm not leaving Anakin. He needs me." It's the absolute truth, and maybe he's a terrible Jedi for loving Anakin so deeply and fiercely, but so be it. He refuses to betray Anakin, no matter the cost to himself. Anakin has lost so much already – even his humanity – he doesn't need to be betrayed by one of the people he loves and considers a friend.

Siri scoffs. "That's your attachment talking, Obi-Wan," she informs him. "I knew you were struggling, but this is a new low, even for you. You're protecting a murderer! He's a monster! I might have once thought that he could change, but you know how much damage and devastation he's caused. He's proud of it, isn't he?" Obi-Wan doesn't answer her tirade, slowly drawing in a breath to maintain his calm. If he loses his composure now, it won't be good.

His silence is, he supposes, answer enough. "He is," she states scornfully, glaring daggers into him, lightsaber poised for another attack. "There's a kill-on-sight order issued by the Jedi Council for him. He's dangerous, Obi-Wan, even if you choose not to accept that."

"I know Anakin," Obi-Wan replies with conviction. "He's not my superior. He's not my captor. He's my friend." It feels so good to say that. It's like a reaffirmation of their connection. Their bond which seems to transcend everything. He'll never forget his vision shortly after Anakin was adopted to Palpatine. It was a warning from the Force itself that he and Anakin belong together. They always have. They always will. He won't betray Anakin for anything. Not now.

Maybe if he had raised Anakin, trained him the way he'd meant to, things would be different. He won't delude himself into thinking that he would have disobeyed the Council the way he is now. He knows that he… always used to believe that he had to put duty over everything and everyone else, and he shudders to think of how much he might have hurt Anakin, albeit unintentionally in the process. What might have happened? How much could their relationship have deteriorated? He doesn't know, and nor does he want to know.

At least now, he has been given the chance to change, to become a better person, to become more open-minded, to see the situation in the galaxy for what it really is. And most importantly, Obi-Wan has been given a chance for a real friendship with Anakin, one that he may never have gotten otherwise. He won't misuse this rare opportunity.

"Then you are lost!" Siri exclaims, launching another attack against him, though his defenses remain impermeable. He didn't master Soresu for nothing. "If you are truly his friend, why are you betraying him?"

"Am I?" Obi-Wan asks a bit sardonically.

She narrows her eyes at him, pressing against his blade. He doesn't even move, and after a moment, she steps back. "You've been giving the Republic some intel," she points out. "You've tipped us off."

Obi-Wan hums, wondering how best to calm her. It's a good thing that he warned Anakin not to kill Olin. Hopefully, he'll listen, because if he doesn't, he'll lose whatever credibility he has with the Council here and now. "I don't believe that the Republic is entirely unsalvageable," he admits, "And I know how hard the war is on you. If I can help you, even a little, then it's worth it. On that note, I've found out something else."

"What?" she asks warily.

"I've heard talk about launching an attack on Kamino at some point in the future," he informs her. "I imagine that it will likely occur within the next couple months, though I don't have an official timeline as of yet."

She clenches her jaw, her expression grim. "Are you certain?"

"Yes," he replies, and the truth of his words echoes into the Force.

Siri is quiet, studying him, as if trying to peer into his mind to see what he's thinking. "Does he know that you're helping us?"

Oh Force. This is not a question he's ever prepared to answer. He never thought that anyone would ask. What would Sidious want him to say? How would he want him to respond? What if he tells the truth? Taking a deep breath, Obi-Wan prays that he isn't making a mistake which will end his life. "Yes," he tells her with a sigh. "Yes, but you cannot tell anyone. Not the Council. Not any Jedi. No one."

Siri frowns. "Why not? I don't think I can keep this a secret."

If the Council knows, then Sidious might find out too, and if that happens… maybe he's been waiting for Obi-Wan to make a mistake of this magnitude. "Siri, please," he all but begs. "If you've ever cared about me, you won't repeat that to anyone."

The ship suddenly jolts under their feet, and Obi-Wan realizes that the explosives around the reactor have been detonated. Alarms start blaring almost immediately; they only have a few minutes – ten at most – before the entire cruiser is destroyed. "Don't make me regret this," Siri declares fiercely. "The next time we meet, we are going to talk, and you will answer everything. If you don't, then I'll tell the Council everything."

There's no more time to negotiate. He knows that. "Thank you," he says as sincerely as he can.

His comm beeps at that exact moment. "Obi-Wan, come in!" calls Anakin. "Where are you? We need to leave. Now!"

Obi-Wan glances at Siri, her face inscrutable, though he doesn't miss her flare of anger at Anakin's voice. "I'm coming Anakin. I'll meet you in the hanger."

He turns, preparing to leave when Siri calls after him. "Don't forget." He looks back at her briefly, and her expression is hard. Nodding, he sprints away, clipping his lightsaber hilt back to his belt as he goes. If he doesn't make it to the hanger as quickly as he can, he knows Anakin will come looking for him, and he would rather that not occur. It would be complicated and unnecessarily make a mess.

Thankfully, he gets there before that happens. Anakin's relief is unmistakable, making Obi-Wan even more grateful that he didn't consider accepting Siri's offer. He misses the days when they would spend time together, just… being. Unfortunately, such moments of leisure are almost nonexistent given the war which is going on. They are too important to the Separatists to be allowed an extended reprieve. Perhaps that will change in the future, but for now, Obi-Wan knows that he and Anakin with both have to be content with whatever limited time they have.

***

After taking Gunray back to Separatist territory, Dooku allowed the Executor back to Serenno for which Rex was grateful. He thinks he needs some time to recover from the mission. True, he didn't harm any of his brothers personally, but seeing the dead bodies lying strewn all over, knowing that Va- Anakin himself was responsible for some of them… it's not easy. He's fortunate that Anakin is as understanding as he is. He didn't say anything when Rex was reticent on the way back to Serenno, looking at him with a silent recognition.

Rex knows, of course, that Anakin being a General means that he'll be fighting the Republic, the clones. He'll be killing them too because that's what he does. He's a military strategist. He doesn't make stupid mistakes. Even now, even after seeing firsthand what Anakin is capable of, Rex doesn't fear him. He will still follow him to the end of the galaxy if he has to. Anakin cares for him and his brothers deeply; it's more than any Jedi could do, he knows that. Anakin helped them with their training. He wanted them to succeed, to be the best.

They would have been too, had events not unfolded as they did. But Rex doesn't spend much time dealing with regrets. He knows that he's more fortunate than many of his brothers because they're on the front lines, constantly surrounded by death and devastation. While he might not be able to support them, he can do whatever he can from here.

After reaching Serenno, Rex takes Fives and Echo, the three of them heading to the dining room to join the rest of their brothers for the afternoon meal. They regale the other clones with the details of the mission – including how they had to kill the Senate commandos who tried to stop them from leaving with Gunray – trying to keep their voices down so as not to disturb Anakin who is sitting with Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, and Asajj a distance away.

"I've been doing research on the Republic's laws, especially with regards to the clones," Tup declares after a lull in the conversations.

Rex perks up at that, the words catching his attention instantly. "And?"

Tup and Fives exchange a look. "Slavery is illegal in the Republic," Tup tells them with a frown, "But the Republic is purchasing its clone army from Kamino. We don't have a choice. We can't leave if we want to, or it's desertion, which is punished severely."

The implications are obvious, and it sends a chill down Rex's spine. He'd always known that he and all his brothers were meant to be soldiers, meant to fight for the Republic, and meant to lay down their lives for the Republic if need be. That's what they were bred, born, and trained to do. He's never really questioned it, or at least he's tried not to question it. Slaves. It's an ugly word, and the connotations even more so. But at the same time, it doesn't not fit. Slaves can't do what they want; they can only do what they're told, and they don't have any choices. Just like he didn't. Just like his brothers didn't and don't.

Fives leans forwards, expression dark. "Perhaps the Republic doesn't want to admit it, but we are slaves. All of us. Those of us who are fortunate enough to be here have a choice; the same is not true for millions of our brothers. The Republic is using a slave army to do its work, and the Jedi are going along with it."

"We cannot let this continue," Echo agrees, "But what can we even do?"

"Petition the Republic Senate?" suggests Tup.

Rex shakes his head. "They have no reason to listen to us. We need to contact someone who can do something, someone who would be willing to advocate clone rights. I don't know much about the politics, but I imagine no one will care to listen, not as long as the war goes on."

A heavy silence falls among them, each of them undoubtedly feeling the same burden, the same pain at the knowledge that they're essentially helpless right now. "So, then we end the war," Jesse points out. "I know that there's been talk about modifying the orders. When will we be doing that?"

"I'm not sure," Anakin speaks up suddenly, and it's only now that Rex realizes that the other four individuals have been listening to the entire conversation, their faces filled with a variety of emotions from solemnity to anger to frustration. "I'll talk to Dooku about it, but we're waiting on Sidious to give us the go-ahead. Dooku actually asked me if I want to accompany him to the Separatist Senate, something about publicity." He sounds so aggravated, that it's honestly amusing. "Perhaps I could raise the issue with them, rally more systems to our cause. It's better than nothing, at any rate."

"That's… thank you, sir," Rex says as sincerely as he can which isn't hard. He never considered that Anakin, with his limited political expertise, would be willing to actually get involved in the clones' fight instead of simply offering them his support.

Anakin waves it off as if it's nothing. "I'll take Ahsoka with me. We're leaving at the end of next week, so Obi-Wan will be in charge of Death Squadron in our absence." He pauses, glancing at the Jedi Knight. "You and Asajj will be leaving the day after tomorrow. Some Separatist forces somewhere will likely need our assistance in breaking through Republic lines."

"Why am I only hearing about this now?" Asajj wants to know. She sounds irritated.

"Maybe it's because you missed our debriefing," Obi-Wan points out dryly, and she scowls.

"Is there anyone on the Republic's side who could be of aid?" queries Appo suddenly.

Anakin seems thoughtful. "Padme might help if we could get in contact with her. I imagine she has a number of allies including Bail Organa who would support her."

Rex hums quietly. "I don't suppose we have any way of contacting her though." It's a statement more than it is a question. While he doesn't know much about Senator Amidala, he is definitely aware that she's Anakin's fiancée. More than that, he knows how deeply Anakin loves her, how committed he is to have a future with her.

"Not without committing treason and defying Sidious, no we don't," Anakin confirms, more misery leaking into his words than he'd probably intended. Rex feels sympathy wash over him, but he buries it quickly. Anakin will never accept his pity, he knows that.

"In other words, there's nothing we can do." Tup's voice is flat, emotionless, but it conveys the dismay and resignation which they all feel.

"I'll talk to Dooku," Anakin is quick to assure them. "We'll figure something out, I promise you." The words don't seem as meaningless with the promise behind them, but still, Rex can't help but wonder: how long? How long will they have to wait? He'd always known that they were meant to be slaves, at least after he learned about the inhibitor chip, but learning that they're legally slaves as well is horrifying.

"We can go talk to him now," Obi-Wan suggests, giving Anakin a meaningful look. An unspoken understanding passes between them, and they rise in sync, leaving the room with Ahsoka trailing after. That seems to be a signal to everyone that the meal is over, because all five members of Domino Squad – Fives, Echo, Hevy, Cutup, and Droidbait – stand up as well. It's not long before they're all going their separate ways.

"Rex." Asajj's voice stops him, and he turns to look at her. He'd been planning to go to his quarters and rest after the mission, but apparently the Nightsister has other plans.

"Yes?"

She purses her lips, clearly pondering how to word whatever is on her mind. "You're not alone in this, okay?" There's an intentness in her blue eyes, one which he hasn't seen before. "You can talk to me if you need to, I just wanted you to know that. Anakin will do whatever he must, and so will I. We –" She looks away, suddenly unable to meet his gaze. "We both know what it's like to be a slave, Anakin especially."

He knows. He knows that. "I know," he whispers, feeling as if he can't speak any louder, lest the sound shatter whatever strength he has left. "I know that." Rex might not know any details, but he's heard how Anakin was born into slavery. He was a slave until the Jedi found him… and then handed him over to a new master. He doesn't think he can even begin to grasp the horror of such a thing. How did he manage to go on, to survive? It's a testament to Anakin's strength that he's managed to hold onto whatever makes him… him despite his enslavement by Sidious.

Asajj meets his eyes, her gaze lingering on him before she slowly turns and walks away.

Chapter Text

After being rescued by Republic reinforcements which arrived far too late, Siri returns to Coruscant along with Ferus and the remainder of her men. The Council wanted to debrief them in person; besides, she needed to rejoin the rest of the 212th Battalion. She and her former Padawan were both given two weeks of leave before they'll be sent back to the front lines, barring any emergencies.

Ferus was injured in the duel with Anakin, something which a bacta treatment or two will fix, even if he has the scar for the rest of his life, and it makes her wonder. He could have died. He should have died. Anakin had no reason to spare him and yet… he did. What is he playing after? What is Obi-Wan playing after? What do they want? What are their motivations, their intentions? Endless questions circle in her mind, questions to which Siri has no answers.

Obi-Wan was adamant that Anakin is not evil or lost. She doesn't know if she can believe that, but he clearly has a great deal of self-control if he was able to restrain himself from killing Ferus after defeating him. Perhaps it was intentional on Anakin's part, to not cause as much destruction while Obi-Wan is attempting to convince her of his trustworthiness. It's not as though she believes him, but it still gives him more credibility. If he's telling the truth, then the Republic must be prudent, because should the Separatists capture Kamino, the war effort is doomed. They cannot fight a war without soldiers.

Even had Obi-Wan denied that Anakin knew about him being a double agent, she wouldn't have believed him. She knows the rumors of Death Squadron's effectiveness. There is rarely a single survivor who can testify as to what happened. The clones are taken as prisoners-of-war to an unknown location. If the Republic could only locate it, they could attempt to rescue and recover thousands of their men.

Maybe it wouldn't be worth it, but at the same time, it would make more sense than letting the Separatists keep so many clones as prisoners. That's especially true if there is an imminent attack on Kamino. This is first any of them have heard of it, and on the Chancellor's recommendation, two more Republic Star Destroyers were dispatched to Kamino to reinforce it. If Kamino falls, so does the Republic, and they cannot let that happen. Two Jedi Masters were also sent – temporarily – to ensure that the system remains secure.

Siri banishes all irrelevant thoughts as she approaches the Room of One Thousand Fountains. Master Yoda had asked to speak with her there about a matter of some urgency. The Grandmaster is sitting in meditative position next to one of the fountains, and she joins him, sitting across from him.

"Master Yoda, you asked for me," she states, announcing her presence.

"Mentioned something to me, young Olin did, and disturbing it was," Yoda informs her, opening his eyes. His ears twitch in a decidedly worried way, and that's more than enough to alarm her. It's rare to see Yoda expressing concern so openly. "Told me, he did, that mentioned a name his clone captain has. Trained by Vader, young Olin's clones were."

"Vader?" Siri echoes, frowning. "Who is Vader?" The Force seems, well not alarmed exactly, but it's humming around her in an insistent and urgent sort of way.

Yoda's ears twitch again, drooping downwards. "Know the answer we do not, but a Force sensitive he may have been."

A chill of dread electrifies her nerves before she lets it go, struggling to maintain her calm. "A Force sensitive?" she echoes, "But that's not possible. There aren't any Force sensitives involved in training the clones." The Grandmaster doesn't respond, only looking at her as if he's waiting for her to make some connection. It takes her a moment to understand, and when she does, she can't quite manage to release the wave of horror that washes over her. "Anakin," she realizes numbly. "It's – it's his Sith name. Darth Vader."

"Suspect the same I do," Yoda replies. "Answers we need and quickly. If involved the Sith are in the creation of the clone army, uncover the reason we must. Tell this to no one we can until answers we have."

This is… Siri doesn't even know. Why would the Sith want to create an army for the Republic? What would they have to gain? Was it because they want war? And if they do, for what? Too many questions. That seems to be the summary of her life this past week. Too many questions, no answers, and no means of obtaining them. It's obvious that Padme won't know anything, and until they can find someone who does, there's not much which they can do. They already talked to Shmi, and without more evidence, they can hardly arrest her for questioning. The only one who can give them answers is Anakin – Vader? – and the chances of him doing so while the war is going on are low.

Alternatively, Siri needs to find a way of encountering Obi-Wan again, because he promised to give her answers. Still, she has the feeling that he'll be doing everything in his power to avoid her, so she can't wait and hope that she'll be lucky. No, she has to do something, and she has to do something now. They cannot afford to wait. Regardless, they need to keep whatever investigating they do quiet. No one – no one can learn what they're doing.

"I'll contact Master Shaak Ti on Kamino and have her send us the files for the 501st Legion and their training," Siri tells Yoda. "I think I should also speak with Senator Amidala. She doesn't know anything, but she might have suggestions for how we can get answers from Anakin, or the best way of proceeding."

Yoda is quiet for a moment, and then he nods. "Give you permission I do to investigate this matter. Great care you must take that kept secret our actions are."

"I'll be careful, Master," she promises. They sit there in silence for another minute before Siri rises and hurries away to her quarters. She has some people to contact.

***

When Siri called to ask her if they could have a private meeting, something had seemed off. Padme had tried not to dwell on it, but with her curiosity piqued, she's found it hard not to think about it. With the Senate session over, Padme returns back to her apartment, waiting for the Jedi Master's arrival. She doesn't have to wait long.

Siri's expression is tense, and it's obvious that she's troubled about something. "What happened?" Padme queries after inviting her to sit down and having her astromech, Artoo Detoo, scan the area twice to ensure that no one has any listening devices nearby.

"It has come to my attention that… a trained Force sensitive may have been involved in the training of those clones who are a part of the 501st Legion under Ferus," Siri explains.

Padme frowns, the news completely unexpected. "Why would you think that?"

"Captain Del made a passing comment to Ferus that he'd thought their leader would be someone named Vader, given the special training and care he'd put into them," Siri responds. "After some additional questioning, Ferus realized that this 'Vader' was a Force sensitive, and a trained one at that. The Council is… concerned."

She can certainly see way because that revelation is quite disturbing. If the Council didn't even know about the clones until Obi-Wan went to Kamino – with the exception of Sifo Dyas who died years ago – then how could any trained Force sensitive have had access to the clones? Why would Dooku have known about it or been involved in it? That doesn't even make sense, but they're clearly missing something. Something huge.

"I know why the Council would be concerned, and I'll keep this between us," Padme assures her. "What are you… suspecting as of right now? And why are you coming to me?"

Siri takes a deep breath, as if bracing herself. "I spoke to Del myself, questioned him more intently, and it made him… rather uncomfortable. He didn't want to share any details about his trained. The same is true for the other clones who admitted having been trained by Vader. Their loyalty to him is… disturbing. From what I could glean, I suspect that Vader is Anakin."

"What?!" Padme blurts out in shock before she can stop herself. "How could you even think something like that? It can't have been Anakin because he didn't know anything about the clones." At least not that he told her. But even as she says that, she remembers a conversation they had a couple years ago, speaking about the state of the galaxy. She remembers how certain Anakin seemed to be that there would be war, how he'd admitted to taking an interest in military strategies and techniques which he'd promised to use for the Republic's benefit. Dread creeps through her, and she finds herself wondering if Anakin and Dooku were conspiring together to start a war, if Anakin was meant to be a double agent for him.

"Not that he told you," Siri counters calmly, "But we need to get to the bottom of this. If you know something, I ask you to tell me."

Padme inhales slowly, before succumbing to the inevitable. "I think he knew a lot more than he was telling me," she admits. "Do you think there's a way we could capture him, so we could question him?"

Siri's face blanks in such a way that makes Padme think she's hiding something. "I don't think that would be possible, no."

"Why not?" Padme frowns.

The Jedi Master opens and closes her mouth, suddenly seeming to be at a loss for words. Finally, she sighs, looking resigned. "The Jedi Council has issued a kill-on-sight order," she confesses. "Considering how much destruction he has caused since the beginning of the war, he's far too dangerous for us to take into custody alive."

Even in the face of the explanation, Padme feels her anger rise. "Does the Chancellor know about that?" she demands. "Does anyone except the Jedi? I told you that Anakin is not evil or lost, and you completely disregarded my personal experience, and for what? Because you're afraid of him? Because he's a Sith?" She pauses, taking a breath to reign in her fury. They could have had a chance to set a trap for Anakin to lure him in, but because of the Jedi that's not an option. It's stupid. "I don't agree with him," she continues, "But this is war. Why would he not use his abilities to their utmost?"

"Padme, I hardly you are qualified to tell the Jedi how we should deal with a dangerous threat," Siri points out bluntly. "You haven't seen him in action. You have no idea what he's like."

There's no way that she isn't going to be telling the Chancellor about this. He has the authority to order the Jedi to rescind their order, and she imagines that he would. Anakin never wanted war; he never asked for it. He's dangerous, yes, but the Jedi can be dangerous too. They can easily turn their immense power against the Republic, even if they wouldn't. Anakin has already proven that he's willing to help them, but he was too afraid of being arrested and executed for merely being a Sith to consider it. Apparently, his fears were well-founded. Perhaps he's not as wrong as she thought. If not for her unshakable faith in the Republic and democracy, she might even consider leaving to join him.

"Even an enemy deserves to be given a fair trial upon surrender," Padme reminds Siri. "You cannot go ahead and execute them. That's against Republic law."

"Perhaps," the Jedi concedes, "But as a Sith, he falls under Jedi jurisdiction. It's up to us to counter the threat he poses."

Padme glares. "It's not illegal to be a Sith," she says tightly. "I know. I looked. You cannot persecute him for his beliefs."

Siri looks irritated. "It doesn't matter anyways." Her tone is mostly neutral, but Padme can hear the underlying aggravation. "We need to find a way to discern if Anakin really is the individual named Vader who trained the clones."

"I'm not going to help you, because if he is, you'll only use that as more proof for why you have to execute him on sight." Padme gives her a hard look. "I know about kill-on-sight orders, and they are only issued in extreme circumstances and upon order of the Chancellor, since he now holds that power."

"But what if it's the key to everything?" Siri presses, leaning forwards. "What if learning the answer will help us uncover the Sith, help us uncover the truth about the war and end it?"

Padme already knows what her answer to that is. She's long known that she cannot and will not put Anakin over the restoration of peace. "If I help you, you have to promise me something," she replies. "You have to promise me that you'll try to convince the Council to rescind the order, or I'll speak to the Chancellor about it." She might do it anyways, though she doesn't tell her so. "And you have to promise me that you'll try to help Anakin."

"You have so much faith in him," Siri murmurs, shaking her head. "You and Obi-Wan both." Before Padme can ask her what she means, she keeps speaking. "Fine, I'll do it."

"Okay, so where do you think we should begin?" She has one or two ideas, but nothing concrete. She'll forgive the Jedi for this misuse of their power if Siri actually helps her.

"I think we need to talk to Anakin," the Jedi informs her. "I don't see any other way of obtaining the necessary information."

Padme laughs slightly, though it's mirthless. "I've been trying fruitlessly to open peace talks with the Separatists ever since the war began." If only it was that easy to talk to Anakin and get answers. Whenever she and her fiancé meet again, she knows that their conversation will be just as painful, if not more so, than their previous one. "If only I could talk to Senator Bonteri," she muses, wistfully.

Siri raises an eyebrow. "Who is he?"

"He is a she, a Senator in the Confederacy of Independent Systems," Padme explains.

"So, she's a Separatist then," Siri surmises with a shake of her head. "That doesn't really help. If she's allied with Dooku, she won't be able to help."

"She's not his pawn," Padme argues. "I was close with many of the Senators who left. I know the Senate made it illegal to speak with any of the Separatist Senators, but I feel that if we want to be proactive in getting answers, it's really our only choice."

"It's a shame that you can't hold peaceful talks," Siri comments. "I guess that means that we can't do anything right now?"

Padme feels a hint of excitement rise as an idea crosses her mind. It's dangerous and undoubtedly risky, but she thinks it will be worth it. "Actually, I have an idea," she declares. "You're a Jedi, which gives you special clearance."

"Right," Siri confirms a bit cautiously.

"And Jedi are allowed to travel to neutral worlds like Mandalore, where we could then board a cargo ship to a Separatist system," Padme finishes with satisfaction.

The Jedi splutters. "You want me to use my status as a Jedi to illegally smuggle you behind enemy lines?!"

"Hey, you want answers and so do I," Padme reminds her, "And you're the only one who can get us through to meet her. I haven't seen her and her family in so long…" Her voice trails off as she drifts down memory lane, recalling the last time she visited the Bonteri family. Hopefully, they haven't been too badly affected by the war.

"Where would we be going?" Siri asks warily.

"Raxus." Yes, it might be the capital of the Separatists, but they're only going to go there to see if Mina can do something to push for peace. They're not planning to spy or locate Anakin. Even if Padme would like nothing more than to speak with him, she cannot trust that he won't turn them in to Dooku.

Siri sighs. "You're insane, and this plan is insane," she states flatly.

"Do you have a better plan?" Padme inquires. She only asks for the sake of asking. She already knows that if Siri had a better plan for their next course of action, she wouldn't be here, asking Padme for suggestions and advice.

"No," admits the Jedi, "But I think going to Raxus is a bad idea."

"It's our only option," Padme insists. If they don't act now, if they choose to wait for a better option, they could be waiting for years.

"Fine," Siri concedes, "But if we're doing this, then you have to do exactly what I tell you to." Her expression makes it clear that she won't accept any arguments, not that Padme has any objections anyways. They're really going to do this. Hopefully, they won't live to regret it.

***

Thankfully, they arrive at Mina Bonteri's mansion without any complications for which Siri is grateful. After the Senator has her son, Lux Bonteri, take their luggage, she leads them inside her home. She seems like a very motherly, well-meaning person, and Siri can see why Padme likes her so much. She cares about her people, about justice. After they're settled inside the large sitting room, though Padme remains standing, staring out the window, while Siri takes up a position near the doorway, Mina brings in glasses for all three of them.

"He's grown so much, Mina," Padme comments, almost wistfully as she looks at Lux through the window. He's sitting outside, staring off at the trees.

"Time won't stop, even if we are at war," Mina replies, a bit sadly, "And I'm afraid these events are shaping his young life." Of course, they are. How could they not be? She sighs, and Siri can feel her pain in the Force. "He is much like his father, and since his death only a month ago on Aargonar, Lux has been struggling."

Padme winces. "I'm so sorry," she murmurs.

Mina accepts the condolences with a nod, and they move to the couch together, sitting across from one another. "So, why are you here?"

"It is a complex situation," she admits. "I have come to suspect that there is something… underhanded going on, and I think both Dooku and my fiancé, Anakin Skywalker, know about it. I want answers, but I cannot speak to Anakin directly. I hope that if we can open peace talks, it will be easier to find answers."

Mina hums quietly. "Well, they are very close," she comments. "In fact, they were here yesterday. Anakin is a very fine young man, and I think he admires Dooku more than even I do."

Siri frowns slightly at her words. They'll never get any useful information from Mina – that much is obvious – but they're not here for information. They're here to find a way to work towards peace. Padme falters momentarily, but she covers her reaction well. "Well, if you could convince your representatives to extend an olive branch of peace towards the Republic, there might be enough sympathy in the Senate to finally open negotiations," she suggests, hopefully.

"I admire your spirit, Padme," Mina says with a smile. "I can at least put the motion on the floor, though I can guarantee nothing. Many of the Separatist systems are still upset about the war, and they blame the Republic and the Jedi."

Padme's relief echoes into the Force. "Thank you, Mina. That's all I ask."

"To peace, then," Mina declares standing and lifting her cup.

"To hope," Padme echoes.

Siri can only pray that it will be so easy. Somehow, she doubts it.

Chapter Text

"So, this is the Separatist Senate," Ahsoka declares as she looks around the room with curiosity. "It looks different from what I expected for some reason."

"Well, I guarantee you that it is exactly as boring as you expected," Anakin replies dryly. He's in the shadows, arms crossed, hood pulled up, unlike Ahsoka who is leaning forwards with avid curiosity. They're both sitting in the place where visitors can observe the goings on, and their shields are raised as usual.

"How can Dooku stand it?" Ahsoka whispers, eyeing the Count who is standing at the podium in the front of the room. He rarely attends these sessions in person but given the motion that is about to be presented by Senator Mina Bonteri, it was necessary. Besides, Dooku took her and Anakin to speak with the Senator personally – not that she did anything other than chat with Mina's son, Lux. She's the first trained Force user he's met other than Dooku, and he was especially curious about the fact that she used to be a Jedi.

"Would you like to ask him?" Anakin deadpans, and she elbows him. He's being a lot more lighthearted than usual, probably because he's finally able to do something to help people. She has no idea what the ramifications of their support of clone rights will be, but she knows that they will be far beyond anything she can currently conceive.

They watch as Mina begins to give a speech, talking about the anti-slavery laws in the Republic, and how they have purchased clone troopers from Kamino who have been fighting for them. "We use droids," she declares. "We would never stoop so low as to enslave fellow humans or any species for that matter. In every battle, the Republic is sending these men who were bred, born, and trained for war to the front lines. They do not have a choice! What the Republic is doing is wrong!"

The Senator pauses, looking around the chambers as murmurs and whispers, both friendly and antagonistic, sweep through the assembled. "How many lives on both sides have to end before we see the futility?" Mina demands. "Surely there's room in the galaxy for Confederate and Republic planets to coexist. I move that we immediately open peace negotiations with Chancellor Palpatine on Coruscant."

Ahsoka jerks upright with a frown. "That wasn't part of the plan," she whispers to Anakin, who feels as unease as she must look. "What changed?"

Anakin's body is coiled and tense, and he shakes his head, eyes closing as he reaches out with the Force. Suddenly, he jerks, shock flaring, before he smothers it. "There's a Jedi here… and Padme is with them," he says grimly pulling out his commlink. "I'll tell security to lock down the building quietly so no one can get out."

"Okay, do you want me to tell Dooku?" Ahsoka questions.

He looks at her, glancing down to the podium. It wouldn't be that weird for her to slip down there; many will probably think she's a young aid or trainee. "Hurry," is all he says. Ahsoka rises, excusing herself as she walks behind the rows of seating and reaches a staircase in the back. She takes it down to the main level, entering the main floor and approaching Dooku. He's calling the Senate to vote on the bill, so she waits until the voting is done – the Senate supports Mina's calls to make a public statement about the immorality and illegality of a clone army as well as opening peace talks – before stepping up to the podium.

Anakin's urgency is ringing through their bond, and she can only imagine how he must be feeling. Why would Padme be here, and with a Jedi? It's illegal for Republic citizens or military officers to enter Separatist space, especially without permission or unless it's a military operation. None of this makes any sense, and she knows that as much as it might hurt Anakin, he is responsible for the security of the Separatist Senate, at least for today, and if their uninvited visitors will cause problems, they need to know. Besides, they don't have a right to be here in the first place.

"What is it?" Dooku asks quietly.

"Senator Amidala is here along with a Jedi escort," Ahsoka informs him.

There's a flicker of surprise in Dooku's brown eyes, but he gives her a sharp nod. "You and Anakin should go and arrest them. Until we know what they want, we cannot risk letting them leave. Take them to my private holding cells, and keep the area secure, personally if you must."

"I will," she promises, turning and going back the way she came. Anakin meets her half-way, expression troubled. His concern only grows when she repeats Dooku's orders.

"Come on then, Snips," Anakin tells her, gesturing. "We need to hurry. They know that I know. The Jedi is shielding them, but they'll never get away." They make their way towards the main exit for visitors, carefully keeping themselves intermingled with the other people milling about so they can't be readily spotted. "I don't know what she's even doing here," he grumbles as they walk. "She ought to know how dangerous it is."

"Do you think she's spying or what?" Ahsoka queries worriedly.

"I don't know," Anakin replies through clenched teeth, "But we're going to find out." His anger is radiating into the Force, the Dark Side readily responding to it. Ahsoka can't help but fear for him. The last time he spoke with Padme, it left him devastated and reclusive. He'd spent most of the time with Obi-Wan, probably not wanting to let Ahsoka see him like that. She can only hope that this second encounter won't leave him in a similar state.

"Over there!" Ahsoka realizes, pointing at the side exit. "I'll try to slow them down. You go around to cut them off."

Anakin doesn't comment about her telling him what to do which is a sure sign that he's too stressed to be bothered. He might officially be her master, but between them, they're equals. He moves out the main exit, while Ahsoka pushes her way through the people – a temporary recess was just called – trying to reach Padme and the Jedi before they have a chance to escape. As she gets closer, she realizes who the other is: Siri Tachi.

She catches up to them right as they step out the side exit. "Excuse me," she calls, "But you seem to be in quite a hurry."

Siri tenses, turning finally to look at her. Recognition dawns and her eyes widen. "Ahsoka."

Before any of them have a chance to say anything, Anakin stalks up followed by two MagnaGuards. They're his personal escorts, modified to protect him – and Ahsoka – even if he doesn't truly need the protection. His eyes are glowing yellow, expression set in stone. "Arrest them," he orders, gesturing to Siri and Padme.

Ahsoka can feel the extent of Anakin's conflict through their bond, though he's doing his best to shield, and the Dark Side is clouding his Force signature to the point where most Force sensitives would be unable to get a clear picture on how he feels unless they're bonded to him. The MagnaGuards move forwards, and Padme glares at Anakin. "This is not necessary," she protests, backing away from the droids. "We were planning to leave anyways."

Anakin crosses his arms, face remaining as empty and blank as it was when he first walked up. "You shouldn't have come here, Padme," he says instead. He's obviously counting on neither of them putting up too much of a resistance lest they draw attention to themselves. Already, passersby are looking at them with curiosity and suspicion. "It was foolish."

"It was the only way!" Padme protests vehemently, struggling as one of the droids grabs her arms, putting her in cuffs. The other droid does likewise to Siri. Anakin gestures, and the procession begins moving through the halls of the Senate towards the exterior. Dooku has a small mansion on Raxus, and that's where they'll be confining Padme and Siri. Since the holding cells there are likely not meant for Force sensitives, Ahsoka imagines that she and Anakin will be remaining there to guard them.

"It was a mistake." Anakin's voice is toneless.

"Why are you doing this?!" Padme practically yells as she and Siri are shoved into a transport, Anakin getting into the pilot's seat.

"Unless I'm very much mistaken, you are a Republic Senator, and she is a Jedi. You are enemies of the Confederacy," Anakin replies.

Ahsoka glances nervously between Anakin and the two women in the back. "Why are you here?" she asks them finally, hoping to alleviate some of the tension.

"Senator Amidala was hoping that she could bring about a peaceful resolution to the war," Siri explains slowly, as if unsure how much to divulge, "And she insisted that the only way we would have a chance is if we came here."

Anakin stiffens, though he doesn't look back at them. "You spoke with Senator Bonteri," he states. It's not a question, and neither of them answers.

"Isn't that… illegal?" Ahsoka queries, looking at Anakin. He's radiating pain and fear into the Force, though he's trying to mask them under anger. "Skyguy, hey, we'll figure this out," she says, hoping to reassure him.

He gives her a sideways look, nodding slightly, though the movement is jerky. "Yes, she should have reported them as soon as she knew they were coming," he tells her with a sigh. He brings the speeder down to the landing platform at Dooku's residence. "Take them to the holding cells," he instructs the droids.

"Why can't you let us leave?" Padme demands indignantly, twisting to look at him as the MagnaGuard practically drags her away.

Anakin gives her a tight-lipped smile. "Orders."

"Since when do orders matter to you?" Padme cries, "And why are they more important than protecting me?"

Anakin flinches, looking away from her. Despite how awkward Ahsoka feels, she moves to Anakin's side, pouring affection and trust through their bond as she rests a hand on his arm to ground him. He remains in place, watching as the duo are taken into Dooku's mansion through a side door. "Dooku has to tell Sidious," Anakin whispers to her once the door has closed behind them. "I don't know how he'll react."

Ahsoka slips her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly. "We won't let anything happen to Padme," she assures him. "I'll do whatever I have to do to help her and you, too." Since Padme is important to Anakin, she's important to Ahsoka, by default. While Ahsoka has only known Padme briefly, she can readily see why Anakin cares for her so much. She's passionate and dedicated, caring more for her people than herself, unlike most politicians.

"Thank you." Anakin's voice is quiet, but she still hears him. He wraps his arms around her, holding her close to him for a moment. "Come on. We had better go ensure that they remain secure. It won't be good for any of us if they escape on our watch." From the almost audible dread in his voice, it's clear how afraid he is to face Padme, but they both know from experience that avoiding something unpleasant rarely makes it go away.

***

Padme and Tachi have been confined in separate holding cells, a ray shield between the cells and across the door. Both of them are clearly unhappy about their new accommodations, their disgruntled feelings echoing strongly into the Force. Anakin could care less how Tachi feels; it's Padme that worries him. Her brown eyes are filled with passionate determination and anger, a combination which will definitely be unpleasant to face.

Ahsoka takes up a position in front of Tachi's cell without having to be asked, for which Anakin is grateful. "All the things you're doing Anakin, how could you?" Padme demands as soon as Anakin steps into view. He finds that he can't meet her eyes, focusing instead on the floor as her words lash into him. "I came here, because I hoped that I could find the truth." He says nothing, remaining silent. He doesn't think he's ever loathed himself more than he does in this moment, but such is the nature of the Dark Side. He tries to act without regrets, and yet, he often… mourns the lives he's been forced to take.

"Can you give me the truth?" Padme asks, something in her tone almost pleading.

He looks up despite himself, meeting his angel's gaze. "I am under no obligation to give you anything," he forces himself to say, "But if I can, I will."

"Are you Darth Vader?"

Anakin blinks at her, completely taken aback. How could she have even heard that name? She shouldn't even know it. None of the Jedi should. "What?" He doesn't even need to fake the hysterical note in his voice.

"Well, are you?" Her voice is level, unwavering.

He's saved from answering when he senses Dooku arriving outside. "Dooku's back," he comments, turning towards Ahsoka. The rest remains unsaid. She can feel his fear, just as he can feel her own. Neither of them knows what will happen when Dooku tells Sidious of the most recent occurrences, but no matter what, Anakin will not let Padme come to harm. Now more than ever, he fears that he'll lose one of the people he cares for. Sidious has likely been waiting for an opportunity like this.

"Oh." Ahsoka's voice is faint, and a tad higher than usual.

Anakin swallows hard, looking back at Padme. "I'm sorry for this," he tells her quietly, knowing that he's not answering her question and that by not answering, he'll likely make her wonder even more, but he can't bring himself to lie to her. His hands clench as he battles with his emotions. "This is… you should not have come here. You have only made everything more difficult, Padme. I'll do whatever I can to protect you, but I cannot guarantee that you'll emerge unscathed."

Uncertainty flits across Padme's face, and Anakin slams the button to lower the ray shield. He trusts her. He knows that she won't hurt him. She doesn't move when he steps closer, closing some of the distance between them. "I don't understand. What would be so difficult?" She frowns. "Is Dooku –?"

"If Dooku has a choice, he'll keep you safe," Anakin interrupts. He resists the urge to touch her, to pull her close to him and never let her go. "You have nothing to fear from him or from me. But Angel –" The endearment slips from him before he has a chance to censor it. "– We don't call the shots. Our master – he – the decisions are his."

Sucking in a slow breath, Anakin forces himself to say something that he should have said before. "It would be better for you if you stayed away from me. Don't – don't do this to save me." He knows his eyes are still yellow, the Dark Side is still held tightly in his grip. "There's nothing to save. This is who I am. I am… not a good person."

It's the first time that he's even come close to admitting how much he loathes himself, especially with the war going on for so long and all the death he's brought about. When he's in the thick of things, it's easy to let go of his inhibitions and slaughter without mercy. It's afterwards that's hard. It's the aftermath, seeing the thousands of dead clones, knowing how much death and devastation he brought about, that's when he struggles. He's concealed the truth for so long, that he can almost blind himself to it entirely as he lets himself slip closer to the edge of no-return. Immersing himself in the Dark Side dulls the hatred, though it feeds on it, magnifies it at the same time.

Ahsoka gasps, and Anakin remembers, with a jolt, that he's not alone. He whirls in time to catch the Togruta who comes barreling into him. "Don't say things like that!" she yelps, crushing him in another hug.

"It's true," he replies, even as he gives in and hugs her back. It might not be easy for her to acknowledge, given how much she looks up to him, but he has to make her see and accept the truth. "Recite the Sith Code, my young apprentice."

Ahsoka rests her head on his shoulder, and a wave of affection for her steals the Dark Side from his grasp. "Peace is a lie, there is only passion," she recites dutifully. "Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power I gain victory. Through victory my chains are broken. The Force shall free me."

Anakin smiles with a touch of pride. "Well done. What does the first line mean?"

Her face scrunches up as she thinks. "We draw strength from our emotions. It's how we draw on the Dark Side," she explains.

"Yes, and what emotions are best?" This is the first time he's ever worked her or anyone through the logic of how Sith draw on the Dark Side, or at least how he does. Maybe it's different for others, but this is what he's found works best.

"Dark ones," she replies, finally pulling back from him. Anakin can keenly feel her protectiveness and desire to help him. "Anger. Fear. Hatred…" Her voice trails off as it dawns on her. "Oh," she realizes quietly.

Anakin gives her a small, sad smile, gently pressing his palm against her cheek to help calm her. "I know you love me dearly – just as I love you – but that does not change the truth about me. Don't let your affection blind you."

Ahsoka scowls. "I hate him," she declares fiercely. "He deserves every kind of torture which has been invented." She adds in a few swears which she's definitely picked up from him. "I don't care what he's told you, but you're more than what he makes you. Anakin, you're the best person I've ever met, and I don't want you to think otherwise."

He sighs, stepping back from her. "I know that's what you like to think, but you know the truth in your heart."

She huffs with irritation. "I'm going to tell Obi-Wan," she announces. "I know you're not going to listen to me."

Anakin turns, meeting Padme's stricken gaze. She says nothing, but he can sense her sorrow. He doesn't need to ask why. "Anakin, Sidious wants to talk to you," Dooku sends through their bond. "Please tread with care." There's an underlying note of… fear, one which sends a chill of dread through him. Somehow, whatever happens next, Anakin knows that he won't like it. He's probably about to face his master's wrath.

"Sidious is requesting my presence," he tells Ahsoka, reactivating the ray shield over Padme's cell. "Keep watch."

"Be careful," she calls after him as he leaves without looking back.

Chapter Text

"Master," Anakin murmurs as he kneels in front of the hologram of Sidious. Dooku is already there, kneeling next to him

"It has come to my attention that Senator Amidala thought herself clever enough to end the war which we began," Sidious declares, and suddenly, Anakin has a feeling that he knows where this is going. No. No, he won't. He can't – "She has become a thorn in my side," the Sith Master continues, heedless of Anakin's silent panic. "The time has come, Lord Vader. I want you to kill her and the Jedi."

"I – I can't. Master, please." Anakin is careful to keep his head down, the perfect picture of submission.

"Very well. Lord Tyrannus, you know what to do." There's a dark, malicious glee in Sidious' voice, and Anakin can't help but wonder if he wants to torture the both of them.

"My Lord?" The surprise in Dooku's voice is real.

"Dispose of them," Sidious orders.

"There must be another way," Dooku protests. "Surely, we can –"

"You question me?" Their master's voice is cool, a hint of underlying anger in it.

No, it's worse than what Anakin initially thought. This is a trap for both of them. Sidious knew, of course, how they would respond, and he's speaking in such a way so as to provoke them into open mutiny. Why? Does it want Anakin to rebel? Or is he simply looking for an excuse to hurt or kill someone?

"Of course not," Dooku hastily reassures him. He doesn't look at Anakin, but Anakin knows that the Count wants him to remain silent. Unfortunately, he doesn't think that he has that luxury. Sidious is in an unreasonable mood right now, which means that anything short of complying to the letter will infuriate him. He'll take his anger out on someone, probably Anakin, but he's willing to accept that if Padme will live.

"Then do it."

Anakin inhales shakily, trying to control his fear. He doesn't want to lose her, not this soon. They haven't even had a chance to have a real relationship, a real marriage. "No, I – Master, I can't lose her," pleads Anakin.

He doesn't need to look up to know that Sidious is scowling. "Your attachment to her is very unbecoming of a true Sith," he snaps. "I spared the Jedi already, and your mother still lives."

It's a veiled threat, but Anakin won't back down now. He can't afford to. "I'll do anything, but please spare her life." His voice is shaking more than he can hide.

The Force sings a warning to him, though he doesn't heed it, of course, as lightning slams into him, coursing through his body and electrifying his nerves. He doesn't scream or cry out, at least he tries not to. Showing his pain will only make Sidious want to hurt him more. The Sith Master – he knows – wants to break him entirely, and he's been fighting tooth and nail to cling to his sanity. It's how it's always been.

When the attack, the punishment lets up, Anakin is lying on the floor, his robes smoking, his breath coming in gasps. He can feel Dooku's silent guilt, though he remains silent, not even looking at Anakin, though he probes Anakin with the Force to ensure he's alright. Anakin drags himself back into a proper position, ignoring the shaking in his limbs.

"I know you will not obey, so I believe a compromise is in order," Sidious proclaims. He's grinning; Anakin can feel it. "Lord Tyrannus, announce the capture and imminent execution of the Jedi and Senator. Lord Vader, I am authorizing you to enable their escape, but do it quietly. Upon their return to the Republic, they will both face repercussions for their actions. Senator Amidala will cease to be a threat to me, and her life will be saved. For now."

"Thank you, Master," Anakin murmurs, bowing. He hates how he can still feel gratitude towards this – this monster in front of him.

"As you wish, my Lord," Dooku agrees, dipping his own head in acquiescence.

Sidious chuckles darkly as he disconnects the transmission. There's a moment of silence, broken only by Anakin's labored breathing. "Go prepare them," the Count says at last. "I'll contact Kenobi. I think you could use his presence. Besides, I have another mission for Ventress to go on, and she won't need his help."

"Okay," Anakin agrees in a whisper as he unsteadily rises to his feet. He does want Obi-Wan here. He wants to have the elder man's comfort and reassurance, to have the affection he's willing to share, to have the steady calming of his presence. They fight together, lead battles together regularly, but it's always different when they're away from the front. The bond they've formed is unshakable, or so Anakin hopes, and he often finds himself wanting Obi-Wan's presence, even if he shouldn't. They're more than friends now, and he can't quite put a label to what the war has forged them into.

He ignores Dooku's sympathetic glance as he slips from the room, heading back to the holding cells. Though he doesn't know when the escape will occur, he knows that it will probably be tonight or in the morning. The sooner the better, he supposes, even if he will miss Padme's presence. Maybe he can talk to her, convince her that staying with him would be better than leaving. If she's with him, he'll be able to protect her better. He shakes the thought aside almost as quickly as it comes. She would never agree, and he has no way of convincing her to remain here without offering her the truth.

Anakin stumbles slightly when he reenters the prison level, and Ahsoka's sharp eyes see. She scurries over to him, completely disregarding Tachi, who had been talking to her. "Are you okay?" she demands, looking him up and down. "Did he –" Her breathing hitches slightly. "Did he hurt you?" she asks in a small voice.

"It doesn't matter," he says, keeping his voice steady, though he knows it's not very convincing.

Ahsoka tilts her head, frowning. "I… he electrocuted you, didn't he?" It's hardly even a question. She can, no doubt, smell the lingering ozone clinging to his body, the aftereffect of electrocution. "Should you even be walking?"

"Hey, I can move just fine, thank you very much," Anakin argues. "It wasn't that bad. I'll be okay." He tries to step around her, but she blocks his path.

"Why? Why did he hurt you? What happened?" she questions, worried.

"He's a sadist," Anakin answers, clenching his jaw. He couldn't hide the bitterness in his voice, even if he tries. "He was in a bad mood. I refused to kill the prisoners. I got electrocuted. It's no big deal." He knows Ahsoka is about to protest, but he doesn't want to have this argument right now. "We need to make preparations," he continues a bit louder than is necessary, ignoring her attempts to talk, "Because I will be helping the prisoners escape either tomorrow or in the morning."

There's a chorus of surprised 'what?'s from all three people on the level as Anakin strides resolutely to the end of the hall, looking between Padme and Tachi. "What do you mean?" Padme questions with a frown. "Why are you helping us escape?"

"Because my master wishes it," he replies with a shrug, "And it's better than killing you."

"That doesn't make sense," Tachi accuses. Her suspicion flares strongly into the Force. "Why would your master – you do mean Dooku, right? – agree to let us leave as an alternative to killing us?"

"Not Dooku," Anakin corrects. "Sidious. And he is masterminding the entire war. He, and he alone, can determine which pieces to move and how to play everything to his benefit." He's said enough. He won't answer any more questions on this topic.

"And… who is he?" Tachi inquires.

"Oh, Jedi, wouldn't you like to know?" he taunts, letting his eyes bleed yellow, the Dark Side filling him in a rush. "If I told you, you would interfere in our plans. Sometimes, the truth is best kept secret."

"But… if you told me, we could help you," she points out.

Anakin outright laughs at that, allowing his scorn to slip through his shields. "You can't help me," he states with surety. "You proved that a long time ago. The only people who can help me already are."

The Jedi says nothing to that, expression guarded and wary, as well it should be. He's a Sith, and it would do her good not to forget that. "Anakin, can I talk to you?" Padme asks. "Privately?" While she's technically asking, her tone indicates that it's more of a demand than a request.

Would it even matter if he agrees? It's not as if they'll be remaining here long enough for her inquiries to be problematic. Besides, if she tries to use this as an attempt to escape on her own, for whatever reason, then he still has the Force. She could never get past him and Ahsoka both. "If you must," he replies, opening the ray shield with a wave of his hand. "Follow me."

Anakin leads her to the interrogation room, closing the door behind them. The room is bare except for a table with two chairs on either side, one of which has mechanisms for restraints to be fitted in. They remain standing though, and Padme stares up at him as if she's trying to see through him. It's unnerving, and he consciously blanks his face, so she won't be able to discern anything from his expression or posture.

"You led the fleet that was prepared to attack Naboo," Padme states at last. Leave it to her to start with the most difficult subject first. "You grew up there. Why would you want to attack your home? Why would you want to endanger it in such a way?"

Anakin twitches slightly at her words, forcing himself to continue appearing visibly unfazed. "This is war," he replies, tone inflectionless. "We all have to make some sacrifices."

Padme looks at him as if she's never seen him before, though he can almost feel the gears turning in her mind. "You are willing to sacrifice your home?" she inquires lightly. "Your family? Me?" Her dark brown eyes are fiery. "I don't think so. It goes against everything I have ever known about you. I refuse to believe that you chose to do that."

And really, what can he say to that? How does he try to fool someone who can see through him so easily? It scares him, because he knows how independent, how passionate Padme can be. If she suspects something, she'll never stop searching until she proves or disproves it. It could easily land her in a world of trouble with Sidious, and if she crosses him or uncovers his secrets… Anakin very much doubts that anything he says or does will convince his master that his fiancée should be spared.

"You aren't going to stop pushing, are you," he mumbles bleakly. He doesn't see this ending in any way but disaster.

His Angel lifts her chin. "Never," she vows determinedly. She quiets, studying him carefully. "When I first met you, when you were still a young child, I saw a boy who was compassionate, who was selfless, never thinking of himself. You knew and understood the innate goodness within you, Ani, and I now wonder… what changed? Despite whatever you may have done, I still believe that there is good in you."

Anakin viciously tamps down the urge to argue, to make her see him, but to do that, he would have to let himself be Darth Vader fully. He – he doesn't want to hurt her, whether physically, emotionally, or mentally, not intentionally. It's too late, he realizes numbly, because Padme has seen and heard too much. She's already putting together the pieces, even if it won't be enough to lead her to Sidious. The Sith Master chose his hiding spot well; who would suspect that the elderly, well-meaning Chancellor could possibly be the cruel, malicious Darth Sidious?

"Who did this to you?" Padme whispers, voice infinitely gentle and sad. She steps forwards until she's almost touching him. "Who has tried to drive away the light within you? Who has – who has tried to… break you?" Her voice wavers on the end, and her eyes shine brightly with unshed tears. Anakin averts his gaze, unwilling to meet Padme's when she's this emotional. He knows that he'll never be able to hide the storm of emotion within him well enough to keep his gaze cool and distant.

Dismay unfurls within him because she's beginning to realize too much. She isn't – she shouldn't have been able to realize that he's – that he, for all intents and purposes, is Sidious' slave. Anger burns deep inside of him. He's a slave, playing at being a freeman, and it's the fault of the Jedi. Why did they adopt him out to a random, elderly politician who took an interest in him? How can it not be criminal and neglectful of them to not ensure that, if he's not going to be under their care, he ended up in a stable, save environment? Force, he wishes that Dooku had adopted him. At least that way, the both of them might have been able to escape from under Sidious' thumb.

Padme reaches up, fingers brushing over his jaw, and his thoughts screech to a halt as he shamelessly leans into her touch, eyes snapping back to hers, wild and desperate. He needs this moment, needs her, and he can't bear the thought of losing her again, never knowing when – or if, he dares not add – he'll see her again. Her expression is open, uncertain, and it tears at him to know that he's the one who is causing her pain.

"I don't understand any of this," she admits, voice raw and vulnerable. "Can you help me understand?" If only he could.

For a moment, Anakin impulsively considers giving in and telling her the truth she wants to know. He considers convincing her to join him, so they won't have to fear being separated. But it's only a dream, nothing more, and he lets it die almost as soon as it's born. Padme's touch, her hand on his cheek, is driving him insane, making him want to let go of his carefully guarded reservations and control, so he steps backwards, inhaling shakily. She's made an emotional appeal to him, and the only way for him to get away without answering is to do likewise.

Anakin hesitates for only a moment, before dropping to his knees in front of her. It's eerily reminiscent of the moment when Anakin asked her to marry him. Their engagement seems like so long ago, like something out of another reality entirely. Padme sucks in a startled breath, and Anakin knows that the memories of the last time, as well as the implications of the gesture, are not lost on her. It's a position of submission.

He reaches out, taking her hands in his as he stares up into her eyes. "Do you trust me?"

Padme blinks, a lone tear escaping, and he can acutely feel her pain and heartbreak, though for what, he doesn't know. For him? He's – he doesn't – she shouldn't agonize over him like that. He doesn't deserve it, not this. "Of course."

She shouldn't, he thinks bitterly, especially as her sincerity echoes into the Force. It might have hurt him less if she had lied, if she was only trying, however fruitlessly, to spare his feelings. "Then, Angel, please stop searching for answers. It will only hurt us both if you don't." He hesitates, uncertain how much he should even say, but he's gone this far. It shouldn't matter if he confirms her suspicions even more. "My – my master uses those I care about to manipulate me," he confesses quietly, "And he will hurt you to get to me if you give him enough reason. I will not apologize for my actions, because I do not regret them –" Lies. He regrets some things, though not as much as he should. If anything, he regrets not regretting what he's done. "– but you – this cannot happen again. He will not spare you a second time."

Padme flinches, tugging on his hands to pull him back to his feet. He rises as she flings her arms around him, burying his face against his chest. She's trembling, but he doesn't think she's actually crying. Moving on automatic, Anakin brings his arms up to embrace her, resting his head on hers as he holds her. He loves her. He loves her so much he doesn't know what he would ever do without her.

"I'm sorry," Padme murmurs, tilting her head back to look up at him. Her eyes are dry, though they're pained. He wishes he could do something, anything to get rid of the sorrow she's now carrying. "I'm sorry that I never tried to check on you sooner, that I didn't convince my parents to adopt you." She sniffs slightly, blinking. "I know they would have loved to if I had asked."

It's touching, more than it has any right to be, but in the end, it would never have worked out. If anything, Anakin might have lost her even sooner, because Sidious would have, no doubt, tried to eliminate the entire Naberrie family for interference. But still, a part of his mind can't help but cling to the 'what if's', wondering what might have been had he been raised by Padme's family. He's certain that they would have ensured his mother was freed and brought to live with them. Overall, it would have meant a far better, happier future for both of them, or so he hopes.

Padme seems to sense the tumult in his mind – and for whatever reason, he doesn't exactly… mind that she can see him more clearly now, see what his life has truly been like, beyond the image of perfection which he'd always projected – because she squeezes him a little tighter before leaning up to kiss him. It's entirely unexpected, that he forgets, for a second, how to respond, and when he finally returns the kiss, his brain whites out altogether, thoughts fleeing from the passion and desire which rush through him.

She pulls back after a minute – or longer, he has no idea – and remains burrowed in his embrace, seemingly content to stay there. Anakin has no objections either, and why would he? He'll savor this stolen moment, knowing that Padme will soon be gone, back with the Republic, and only the Force knows when they'll meet again.

Chapter Text

Before Siri even returns to the Temple, she knows that she's in a world of trouble with the Council. Not only did she break the law by going to Raxus, but also, she took Padme with her. She led a Republic Senator into what could have been a deathtrap. It was foolish and irrational, and Siri very much regrets her actions in retrospect. The entire galaxy now knows what she did, thanks to her capture.

And now, she finds herself torn, the words she overheard from Anakin bouncing around and around in her find. He is admittedly different from what she was expecting. She knows he's a Sith; she's seen what he's capable of. Somehow, she had thought that he would be… well, cold and ruthless without a shred of compassion or mercy. He's not like that though. When he spared Ferus, she had thought it was because he was simply playing a game, trying to mess with her head or otherwise confirm the validity of Obi-Wan's words to her. Now, she isn't so sure.

Anakin is nothing like what she had anticipated. He was far more emotional – and dare she say conflicted? – than she expected. Him declaring that he's not a good person doesn't really surprise her, except that she didn't imagine a Sith capable of such introspection. He knows that what he's doing is wrong, of course, but he's still doing it. More than that, though, Anakin was willing to be hurt – electrocuted, based on what Ahsoka said – to protect Padme. Is it all a ruse? Siri doesn't know, but she doesn't think so. Still, Padme's unusual reticence on the journey back to Coruscant makes her wonder.

What if it's all a lie? What if Anakin is using the Force to compel Padme into acting or feeling in a way which she doesn't? It's too ludicrous to contemplate for long. Siri felt how strongly Padme feels towards Anakin. She misses him constantly, and her love for him is deep and unyielding. If it was contrived, it would wane in Anakin's absence. So, no. Anakin is not controlling Padme, which means that the Senator sees something that she herself does not. What? What is it that Padme knows but isn't saying?

Admittedly, Siri hardly knows Anakin, but she is good at reading people. She's been on numerous undercover missions before and has met a wide variety of people all the way from criminals to their victims. Based on her experience – which is admittedly not nearly enough to make conjectures from – Siri would venture to say that Anakin acts less like a perpetrator, a power-hungry madman and more like… a slave.

Her mind hazes over at that comparison, and she has never before felt so confused, because that doesn't make any sense. Anakin was raised by the Chancellor himself! There's absolutely no reason for him to act in such a manner irrespective of his past. Siri would never want to accuse the Chancellor of nefarious, underhanded actions, especially when he's not only the head of the Republic itself but has also never had any such allegations in the past. Still, maybe it's worth looking into. Perhaps she needs to pay Anakin's mother an in-person visit to clear up a great many things.

Or if she runs into Obi-Wan, she can ask him to answer the myriad of questions spinning through her mind. Maybe she's reading too much into this. Maybe not. Even so, she'll follow her Jedi training and keep her senses alert. Master Yoda entrusted her with the mission to uncover who Darth Vader really is – she thinks she already knows, but she has no confirmation as of yet. She'll see it through, and she'll tell no one what she's planning. That way, if there is a traitor or criminal in unlikely places, she won't have to worry about the wrong person hearing the news.

The doors to the Council chambers slide open, and Siri steps inside, moving to stand in the center of the room as a Jedi, not as a Councilor. She can almost feel the disapproval in the room hanging heavily in the air. She might regret her actions, but that changes nothing. She made a choice, she was aware of the consequences, and she is willing to face them, whatever they may be. Hopefully it will be nothing too… serious.

"Is it true that you illegally went to Raxus without permission and took Senator Amidala with you?" Windu's voice is cool and detached as usual, but Siri gets the feeling that he's being colder than usual. He's probably hiding anger, disappointment, or both. She winces internally.

"It is," Siri replies calmly. "I went to speak with Senator Amidala about a matter which Master Yoda mentioned to me, and she believed that she could get answers from Anakin himself if – and only if – the Separatists and Republic opened peace negotiations. I let myself be talked into her plan against my better judgement."

"It was foolish and dangerous, a very unnecessary risk," reprimands Mundi. "It has put us in a difficult situation. In an emergency session, the Senate has decided not to have you arrested and put on trial for your illegal actions, but we cannot let you off without punishment."

Siri bows her head. "I understand." Outwardly, she's calm and composed, but inwardly, she's floundering. Anakin had said that he would help her and Padme escape, because it's what his master had finally agreed to.

" Sidious. And he is masterminding the entire war."

He wouldn't answer who, precisely, Sidious is, but he obviously must have some measure of control in the Senate to be able to "mastermind" the war, as Anakin claimed. And if he was able to fulfill his word, then it must be true. She doesn't want to believe it, but now she's beginning to understand why Obi-Wan so strongly emphasized that she not tell anyone that Anakin knows of him being a double agent.

A sudden, horrible thought strikes her. Is Obi-Wan helping because he genuinely wants to, or because the Sith Master – Sidious – told him to? Can she even trust anything he says anymore, any information which he feeds them? Will he one day walk them into a disastrous trap on Sidious' say-so? She pushes those worries aside for later analysis. Perhaps she can go speak with Ferus and some of his men after this meeting is over, or even later. She needs answers.

"Understand I do your desire to learn the truth," Yoda states, "But great care we must take, that mistakes we do not make. Dangerous times these are. Exploit our weaknesses our enemies will."

"Because of your actions, the Council has decided that you are to be removed from its ranks. Master Kit Fisto will replace you," Windu tells her. This time, there is something almost apologetic in his dark brown eyes. "Additionally, you will be put on two weeks of mandatory meditative leave in which you will remain at the Temple. You are not permitted to leave."

Siri controls her reaction to the second half of the punishment. It stings, but she probably deserves it. She never wanted to be on the Council in the first place. It was something she only accepted because she saw no reason to refuse. "I am willing to abide by these restrictions," she states clearly and without hesitation, determined to maintain her Jedi Master image to the end.

The Council members exchange looks as if conferring silently. It's clear that they already finished discussing this matter before she came before them. She might mind the exclusion if not for the fact that she's somewhat relieved at the leniency of the punishment. "Very well," says Windu. "The Council expects a full report of what transpired on your unauthorized mission."

As if she wasn't going to give them one anyways. "Of course, Masters," she replies respectfully, bowing before taking her leave. It looks like her work for the next two weeks is cut out for her. She'll have to write the Council report – which won't take long – and she'll have to find a way of getting the answers that everyone desperately needs.

***

Padme feels entirely wrung out and exhausted by the time she reaches her apartment, her mind whirling with all of the information which she learned from Anakin. None of it makes any sense, and she desperately wishes that she had someone who could help her puzzle it all out. Who could have gotten their hands on Anakin when he was still so young? Why did his mother never say anything? Padme knows how much Shmi loved her son. Was she being threatened? And what of the Chancellor? How did he never notice that something was amiss?

Something is wrong. She knows it, but she doesn't know what. Padme might not be a Jedi, but she knows that, according to Jedi dogma, the Force flows through everything. And right now, she thinks – she thinks she can almost feel it trying to push her – forcefully – towards the answers. She's simply unable to understand what its voiceless whispers mean.

Siri is sure to be busy with the Council, and Padme isn't sure if she should trust the Jedi Master enough to tell her the very personal things that Anakin said to her. Her handmaidens perhaps. They might not have known Anakin well, but they still knew him, and they, at least, are far more likely to be receptive to her words of his goodness. Sabe for certain already accepts and believes that Anakin isn't evil, simply lost.

"You," Sabe states categorically the moment Padme enters the apartment, "Are an idiot!"

"I know it was dangerous, but it was necessary!" Padme protests, frowning at her best friend. "I had to at least try to open negotiations."

"There will be no negotiations," Sabe replies bitterly, something sorrowful flickering through her dark brown eyes. "Mina is dead."

Padme inhales sharply. "What?"

"Dead," Sabe repeats. "The Separatists are blaming the Republic, and Count Dooku is speaking out publicly against such an act of 'terrorism.'" She sighs heavily. "The Republic is also accused of breaking its own laws by agreeing to have a slave army."

No. This can't be happening. All the risks she took, going to Raxus, talking to Mina, being captured… they were all for nothing. Never before has Padme felt as defeated as she does now. "What else?" she questions, bracing herself. Something in Sabe's eyes tells her that she won't like it.

"The Senate is an uproar over your actions," Sabe tells her grimly. "The Queen has removed you from your position. I'm sorry, Padme, but you are no longer a Senator. Jar Jar has been appointed in your stead. I am to be his advisor."

Padme feels the blood drain from her face, and she sits down on the couch. "I have devoted myself to the Republic, to the people! How can they do this?"

"Padme," Sabe says sharply, almost glaring, "You're lucky you're not about to be executed for what you did. You could have been accused of treason! You willfully broke the law and went to enemy territory to collaborate with the enemy. If nothing else, you could be facing years in prison. You're fortunate to still be walking free." She blows out a breath and sits down next to Padme resting a hand on her arm. "I know that your Senate work meant a lot to you. I know how much you want to help people. But maybe this is the Force's way of telling you that you are needed elsewhere."

Padme's mind automatically flashes back to Anakin as she remembers how he was acting and the things he said. She told him at the beginning that they can't have an ongoing relationship with the war and them being on opposite sides, and she intends to stand by that. She won't join the Separatists, no matter how much she might miss Anakin at times. And given what Anakin told her about how his master uses those he cares about to manipulate him – like he's still a slave – Padme refuses to let herself be pulled into the Sith Master's game any further.

"I don't know what I should be doing then," she admits helplessly. "How can I help people if I don't have a voice to defend and stand up for them?" This feeling of helplessness is a new one. She's been working in the political arena from the time she was a young child, and it now feels as if she's been thrown into the deep end of a lake with no idea how to swim. Where does she go from here? What should she do now? Is there even anything she can do about the situation? It's not as though the Queen's decision was unjust. She did go to Raxus knowing the risks.

"I'm sure you're stressed and tired after your journey, especially after hearing this news," declares Dorme as she enters the room, standing in the doorway. "Perhaps all of us should eat dinner, and you can tell us what happened."

Padme hesitates momentarily, but finally acquiesces. It does seem like it would be a good idea to have a meal which will allow her to unwind from everything which has happened. Mina is dead. She doubts she'll ever learn the details of what really happened without asking Anakin, something which she obviously cannot do right now. What will happen to Lux now? He's lost both of his parents over such a short span of time. If not for the war, Padme would willingly invite him to come live with her. He needs someone who can help him, and given the long friendship between herself and Mina, Padme hopes that she would be able to help Lux properly.

She hasn't gotten over her shock enough to even consider beginning to grieve. Somehow, the atmosphere feels far heavier and tenser than usual when she and her handmaids – Sabe, Dorme, and Corde are all here – sit down around the table. "So, you saw Anakin," Corde states a bit knowingly, raising an eyebrow. "What happened?"

Padme grimaces. "It wasn't easy," she admits, putting down her fork and looking up at her friends. "Something isn't right, but I can't place it. I think – I think his Sith master is…" How does she say it? How does she express the magnitude of what she's only begun to grasp? "It's not good," she finishes grimly. "We need to find this… Sidious. It's the only way to help Anakin. We can't give up on him."

Sabe and Dorme exchange looks. "We aren't," Dorme assures her. "He's your fiancé. He's a part of the family. We won't give him up as lost unless the evidence is indisputable."

Padme knows that Siri would never have been this understanding, for all that she likes the Jedi Master. The Jedi's views of the Sith are naturally biased as a result of their long, dark history. It's understandable, but it doesn't mean that Anakin is as evil or lost as the rest of the Sith. "Thank you," she says, letting her relief and affection show. "I don't know what I would do without you to help me." And it's the truth.

Sabe smirks, opening her mouth to say something, when she suddenly freezes, eyes darting from Padme towards the ceiling. Suddenly, she lunges to her feet, tackling Padme from her chair as the first hint of wrongness echoes in Padme's awareness. Padme hits the floor with a crash, Sabe's body covering hers as the ceiling – and room – explode.

Everything is a blur after that. The ceiling over them caves in, smashing down on them with incredible force. Glass shatters, and Padme thinks she hears screaming over the ringing in her ears from the sudden explosion. It was – it was right next to them, right over them. She's no stranger to attempts on her life, but this was totally unexpected, unwarranted. Who could be so bold as to try something like this?

She groans, blinking open her eyes to try and see something through the dust and smoke filling the air. Her shoulder is throbbing painfully; Padme thinks she sprained it somehow during the explosion, probably as everything fell apart around her. She takes stock of her injuries, realizing that she's mostly unscathed. The bruises and cuts aren't anything serious; they'll heal in time. A moment later, she realizes that Sabe is lying next to her, face ashen, and in a flash, Padme is scrambling to her side, trying to pull the pieces of duracrete and rubble – Force, how much of the building was damaged? – off her best friend's body.

Sabe's eyes flicker open, and she groans weakly. "Something – something's not right," she whispers, fingers twitching as she reaches out slightly towards Padme. "Can't –" She swallows a cry of pain when her body shifts until the rubble. "Can't feel my legs."

Padme stills instantly, stopping her desperate attempts to pull Sabe free. She knows what that must mean; she knows how precarious Sabe's situation is right now. If she can't feel her legs, then her spine must have been damaged and – No. Padme doesn't want to let her die, but it's not in her hands anymore. "Just hang on, Sabe," she murmurs, stroking a hair back from her best friend's face. She can already hear the emergency responders coming. "Help is coming."

Sabe grimaces, giving her a weak smile, blood trickling down her cheek from a superficial cut, and Padme leaves her there, slowly venturing further to see if she can find Dorme or Corde, the pit of horror and fear in her gut slowly growing bigger. Part of the floor has collapsed, and through the smoke – something is burning, something nearby. They need to get out of here before it's too late – Padme can see the crumpled form of Dorme. It's too dark to see clearly, but she could swear that there's a pool of blood under the handmaiden. She doesn't want to accept that – no. No, it's not possible. Only minutes ago – it was minutes right? – they were talking about everything that happened. The situation with Anakin seems trivial right now, her thoughts consumed by fear for her friends.

Padme doesn't see Corde anywhere, and she doesn't want to make the damage – or anyone's situations – worse by climbing around. Besides, she hardly wants to fall through the floor. It's a long drop, and she'll definitely be badly injured. "Corde?" she calls, coughing as smoke fills her lungs. "Dorme?" Nothing. No one answers, and her fear continues to grow. It's always hard to lose handmaidens, because they're her friends, her family. It's especially hard when she knows they died for her.

The rescue teams arrive less than a minute or so later, though it feels like an eternity, and everything becomes a whirlwind of action and chaos. Padme is escorted to a hoverambulance to be taken to a medcenter. She waits anxiously for news after her minor injuries are treated, and it's not until several hours later – after the sun has long since set – that she's appraised of the situation.

Sabe is paralyzed from her waist down, but she should make a full recovery – provided there are no complications – even regaining the use of her legs once she receives an implant to allow nerve signals to travel to the lower part of her spine. Dorme and Corde are both dead. Dorme was killed when she fell – she'd hit her head, fracturing her skull, and seriously damaging her neck. She'd been impaled by some of the debris and had bled out long before the rescue team got to her. Corde had been crushed under the ceiling, ribs breaking and puncturing her internal organs. She probably wouldn't have survived the massive internal bleeding, even if she hadn't been caught in the fire which broke out after the explosion.

Padme is numb when she hears the news. She knows that she's going into shock, too many things having happened in too short a time. It doesn't seem real that two of her best friends are now dead, but at least she still has Sabe. At least she has one friend who isn't now dead. More than anything, she wishes that Anakin could be here with her, comforting her. She misses him. She misses him so much that she's almost tempted to run away and find him. But she won't, because it would mean abandoning Sabe, something she'll never do.

Machines are beeping ceaselessly around Sabe, keeping her alive and monitoring her vital signs. "I'm sorry," Padme whispers, squeezing her best friend's hand and leaning forwards to rest her head on the bed next to Sabe. This happened because Sabe was trying to protect her. Maybe it really is time for her to leave the political arena, she doesn't know.

Padme rarely cries, but she does now as she sits on a vigil at Sabe's bedside, desperately looking forwards to the moment Sabe wakes up. It could be hours or days, maybe even longer, she doesn't know.

"Please, Sabe. Please wake up."

Chapter Text

"She's dead." Dooku's words hang heavily in the air, and Ahsoka finds it difficult to understand what she's hearing. It doesn't make any sense.

"What happened?" Anakin reacts first, expression grim. From the look on his face, it's clear that he already recognizes the implications.

The Count hesitates, expression somber. "I think Sidious ordered Offee there personally. Mina Bonteri was murdered in her sleep. You two should go visit her son. Give him my condolences, while I prepare a statement. The Senate voted that the Republic be condemned for its use of the clone slave army. Bonteri's death will be blamed on the Republic."

"At least we won't lose too much from this tragedy," Anakin murmurs, turning and gesturing to her. "Come on, Snips. Let's go pay Lux a visit."

He remains silent on the way there, and Ahsoka wishes that she was able to better gauge his mental status. Ever since he talked to Padme yesterday evening, he's been quiet and moody, something weighing heavily on him. It's hard for him to be apart from her for so long, Ahsoka knows, and she wishes there was a way for her to help him.

Lux is sitting on a bench under one of the trees in his backyard when they get there. He doesn't look up, head bowed, as he stares fixedly at the ground. "I'm so sorry, Lux," Ahsoka whispers, taking a few steps closer to him. She intuitively understands that Anakin would prefer not to talk. Besides, when they came here last, Anakin was with Dooku while she had spent the time with Lux. They're not friends exactly, not yet – they haven't known each other long enough – but they are more than simple acquaintances.

The teenager switches, finally raising his head to look at them. His eyes are distant and bloodshot, and she can see his exhaustion clearly. "It wasn't your fault," he replies numbly.

Ahsoka exhales slowly, sitting down next to him, feeling a sharp pang of guilt from Anakin through their bond. He blames himself then. Unsurprising. If not for his – their – attempts to help the clones, this might never have happened. They would never have realized that Padme and Siri had come, and hopefully, no one would have realized Padme had been in contact with Mina. Or maybe not. Padme could well have – foolishly – related everything to Sidious herself.

After a long moment, Anakin moves to sit next to Lux, resting a hand on the boy's shoulder. "I cannot relate to your pain," he says, voice quiet, soothing, "But I do know that I would burn the galaxy itself to the ground if something happened to my mother." It is not a very reassuring admission, at least not for Ahsoka, but then again, she isn't the one who lost a parent.

She can feel grief and sorrow flare into the Force from Lux, so she moves closer, offering him her silent, unyielding support. "Why did this happen?" he asks, voice lost and hopeless. "What did – what did she do to deserve this?!"

"Nothing," Ahsoka says firmly. "She did nothing to deserve this, but there will always be people who seek to silence the voice of truth. She spoke out against the use of clones, and the Republic killed her for it. It would look really bad on them to be violating their own anti-slavery laws. Oh, and Count Dooku sends his condolences," she adds, as an afterthought.

Anakin nods. "He's planning to speak out against the Republic's actions and fulfil your mother's last request by condemning the use of clones."

Lux sighs heavily. "I wish it felt like it was worth it," he mumbles, rubbing his hands over his face. Ahsoka wraps an arm around his shoulders without a second thought; it's always been difficult for her to feel others in pain, and that's especially true now that she's with Anakin. It's strange – and more than a little amusing – that a Sith has been able to teach her such compassion.

A few leaves fall from the tree above them, and as they drift to the ground, Ahsoka dimly notes how much they resemble falling tears. It's as if the Force itself is crying for the loss of one of the few people courageous enough to stand up for what is right. And the pain that she can feel from Lux is one that she herself is all too familiar with. She doesn't question that she belongs at Anakin's side, and she doesn't regret giving in to the Dark Side. What she does regret is the war, the killing. It's necessary, she knows, but she doesn't have to like it. She was raised as a Jedi, unlike Anakin, and she will never find enjoyment in the deaths of others.

"Me too," she whispers, squeezing Lux. "Me too."

"If you ever need or want our help, I'll give you my comm frequency." Anakin's voice is quiet, as if he is unwilling to break the tentative peace and shared mourning.

Lux nods his thanks – they can both feel his gratitude – and they sit there together, watching the falling leaves drift to the ground around them.

***

Everything is hazy, as if it's from an old holorecording, but Anakin can still make out the distinct image of his mother. She's walking through the massive halls of a large building, masked individuals on either side of her. She's a prisoner, and that realization makes his blood boil with outrage. Doors slide open, and Shmi steps into the center of a room. The Council chambers.

It has been many years since Anakin has been there to observe the beauty of the Jedi Temple – so what if it's the home of the enemy? He can still admire the architecture – but he recognizes it all the same. What are the Jedi doing to his mother?! How dare they treat her in such a manner? She is a far better person than any of them can or will ever be. He rages silently, wishing that he could jump into the vision – for it's definitely a vision – and slaughter all the Jedi where they stand for daring to lay a hand on his mother.

Suddenly, the Force ripples ominously, and an explosion shakes the Temple, the Council chambers going up in a billow of debris and flames. There's no way anyone could survive that, Anakin knows, and he jolts awake with a strangled scream, chest heaving.

No. Nonono. He hasn't had a vision like this in so long. He has nightmares all the time, but from the way the Force is humming around him, he… knows. Force, please. Not his mother. He can't lose her. She's the one person who he's always had, the one person who has always protected and supported him. Could the Force really be so cruel as to take her from him? But he has a warning now. He has seen what can – and maybe will – happen. He doesn't know what to do, how to react to this, and he stumbles shakily from his bed, momentarily confused by his surroundings before he remembers that they're staying on Raxus.

Obi-Wan is probably here now; he was supposed to be arriving in the middle of the night, and a look at the chrono tells Anakin that it's nearing dawn. His heart is pounding, and he doesn't want to go back to sleep, too scared of the "what ifs" to close his eyes. The mansion is quiet, dark, and Anakin reaches out through the Force, feeling Obi-Wan's presence close and soothing, though dim with sleep. Ahsoka is… awake and heading towards him. Somehow, he isn't surprised that she sensed his turmoil. Obi-Wan would have too, if not for the fact that he's probably exhausted.

He opens the door of his room, slipping into the hallway as the shadowy figure of a Togruta steps in front of him. "Are you okay?" Ahsoka whispers, worried blue eyes staring up at him.

Anakin considers lying, but he's shaking so much that he would betray himself; Ahsoka wouldn't even need to call him out on it. "I – I don't know," he admits finally, heaving a defeated sigh. It's probably immature and pathetic for him to want to be near Obi-Wan right now, but he does. He hates how he feels like a child who can't handle himself, crawling into his parents' bed in the night because of imagined fears.

Ahsoka studies him with an assessing gaze that is almost unnerving before reaching out and grabbing his wrist, his prosthetic one, and tugging him in the direction of Obi-Wan's room. "Nightmare?" she asks on the way.

He shudders. "Vision," he corrects, choking on air as his mind conjures up the images of the Council chambers – and his mother – being reduced to smoke and ash. Ahsoka pokes Obi-Wan awake through her bond with him – Anakin can feel it – so the erstwhile Jedi is awake when they get there.

He's not upset by their presences, even if he does look exhausted still. He simply lets them inside, motioning for them to sit on the bed with him. It is a large bed, large enough for all three of them, so Anakin happily obliges, grateful to be this close to Obi-Wan again. They haven't had time to themselves like this in far too long, what with the war and all. Usually, any moments of leisure are spent in tense apprehension for the next attack or when they're so exhausted they can hardly move.

"What happened?" Obi-Wan inquires, leaning back against the headboard.

Anakin's breath hitches, and he squeezes his eyes closed, forcing the words out. "I – I had a vision," he relates, mouth dry. "I – the Jedi had arrested my mother for some reason, a-and the Council chambers were destroyed with her in them. I don't – I don't know what it means, but I… I can't lose her."

Obi-Wan beckons to him, and he doesn't hesitate, shifting across the blankets so he can curl by the elder man's side, wrapping his arms around him, letting his presence soothe the all-encompassing terror. Ahsoka crawls to his other side, burying herself against him, clinging as if she's trying to merge them together forever. Here, surrounded by the warmth and affection of two of the people he loves more than life itself, Anakin finds that the fear isn't quite so overwhelming.

"We'll figure something out," Obi-Wan promises, running a hand through Anakin's hair gently and holding him close. "We can meditate on it in the morning, if you wish, and we can take precautions. Perhaps the time has come to free your mother from Sidious. As soon as we get a chance, we should take it. If it's what both of you want," he adds.

"Yes," Anakin breathes out. "Please."

Ahsoka remains silent, fingers stroking up and down his arm, montrals digging into his shoulder. He doesn't mind though, as long as she's comfortable. Somehow, he gets the feeling that she already carried out her threat to tell Obi-Wan what she discovered about his opinion of himself. He can't bring himself to feel anything other than resignation at the prospect.

As if catching the direction of his thoughts, Obi-Wan speaks up again. "There's something else we do need to talk about when you're ready. We don't have to do it tonight, of course."

"I'm not sure I'll be sleeping anymore anyways," he admits ruefully. He doesn't want to admit to how much Obi-Wan's touch grounds him. It's – the more they interact, the deeper their bond becomes, and Anakin wonders sometimes how he survived so long without Obi-Wan. He gives him a sense of clarity, of peace, of security, and there will always be a part of him which mourns the opportunities and time they lost.

"Very well." Obi-Wan's voice is carefully neutral, a sure sign that he's hiding – or concealing – some emotion. He's not angry; he's never had a hard time showing his anger – if he's upset, he seems to like making sure that the other person or people know it – and besides, Anakin doesn't know why he would be angry.

"Ahsoka told me that you hate yourself." There's nothing judgmental in his tone. It's simply a statement of facts. "Why? Can you tell me?" He's not condemning. He genuinely wants to know, to understand.

That is a surprisingly difficult question to answer, maybe because he hasn't wanted to think about it and putting his thoughts into words is painful. But the moment he actually takes a mental step back to think, the answers come rushing forth. "I'm – I'm doing everything against what Mom taught me," he confesses, looking down. It feels physically painful, as if the words are being ripped from him through brute force. "It's – I always wanted to help people… when I was a child. I did it too, even if it hurt me. And now?" He scoffs, bitter self-loathing tearing at him. "I do the opposite now."

Obi-Wan lets out a tired-sounding breath, reaching down to pull the blankets up over them, tucking them in as best he can before wrapping his arm around Anakin once more. "At least you're capable of recognizing it," he offers. "For anyone who does wrong, the hardest part is accepting how much wrong they're doing."

"It never used to be like this," he mumbles, dropping his head onto Obi-Wan's shoulder.

"When you were younger, you did what you had to do to survive," Obi-Wan reminds him. "Now that the war is going on, your objectives are… bigger, meaning that the lives you take are not explicitly ordered by Sidious. You feel more responsible for them."

That… actually makes a lot of sense. He's noticed how much darker he's begun to feel, how invincible during battle, how thrilling he finds it to kill and rampage his way through anyone who stands before him. "I don't want to be like this," he asserts shakily, tears blurring his gaze. "I don't – I don't want to lose myself entirely the way Sidious wants me to."

It's only this bad because he's fighting against the Republic, as opposed to fighting for it. He could embrace the Dark Side without fear or remorse if he was only destroying droids. Mowing down clones, day after day, was never what he thought he would have to do. The Jedi he doesn't mind; they can at least fight back, but the clones? Their blasters are meaningless to him. By the time they can aim at him, he's already gone, moving as if he is a literal extension of the Force.

"We won't let you go, Skyguy," Ahsoka promises, speaking for the first time. She was so quiet, he would have thought her sleeping if not for the activeness of her Force signature. She presses closer to him, burrowing into his side.

"You need to let us help you," Obi-Wan clarifies. "Let us in. Tell us how you feel. The war won't be easy on anyone. You need time to destress. Take a day off and relax: no training, no sparring, nothing resembling what you do on the battlefield."

It honestly doesn't sound like it would even work, but Anakin doesn't say so. Obi-Wan means well; he's trying to help, and Anakin wishes that he could, though it feels hopeless. Sometimes, he doesn't think there's anything that can help him anymore, the memory of when he embraced the Light Side nothing more than a wistful fantasy from another lifetime altogether. What he needs most is to escape Sidious so he can try to piece back together whatever remains of his broken – breaking – self.

"We'll be fine as long as we stay together." Obi-Wan's words echo slightly in the Force, as if it's trying to confirm them, assure him of the validity of them. They ring hollow though, as if they're another empty, meaningless promise.

Don't let me go, Anakin thinks desperately to the two, though he doesn't say it. To do so would be to admit to a weakness he's ashamed of having. Giving voice to his yearning for physical contact isn't something he's willing to do, because it could become one more thing Sidious holds over him. If he lost the ability to get comfort from it, he thinks he might lose himself entirely.

The longer he stays, the more whatever made him a genuinely good person – the person that Ahsoka and Padme insist is still there – disappears, vanishing through his fingers like mist. He fears the day when he forgets altogether what it means to love, to cherish, to care. He fears breaking down entirely and giving in to his Master, letting him rule and possess him as if he's no better than any other slave. He fears – he fears becoming a monster, who has lost every shred of humanity. He fears becoming Darth Vader in its entirety.

But he doesn't know how to say any of that, how to put his deepest thoughts and fears into words so he remains silent, knowing that, for now, he will be content to stay here with Obi-Wan and Ahsoka so close. He's sorely missed moments like these, where they have time to be together without any other pressing obligations or duties.

Surrounded by the comfort and warmth of Obi-Wan and Ahsoka, he feels exhaustion catching up to him, threatening to drag him back down into sleep's embrace. He struggles against it, too afraid to give in lest he see his mother die yet again. Obi-Wan reaches out through their bond, entwining their Force signatures together. "Get some rest, Anakin," he whispers, nudging Anakin to lay down entirely, lying down beside him, still holding him close.

Ahsoka throws her arm around Anakin's waist, cuddling next to him. She doesn't like heat as much as he does, but she clearly doesn't mind being so close to him when his body radiates heat far more than most human's. Maybe it's because he's half-Force. Who knows? It's not as if it matters anyway.

"Stop thinking," Ahsoka grumbles, poking him in the ribs.

"Fine." Anakin can feel Obi-Wan's smile at the grumpiness in his voice, even if the elder doesn't actually say anything. He listens to Ahsoka, banishing dark thoughts from his mind as he focuses on the even breathing of two of his best friends. This is where he wants to be, and with them right here, he's safe.

Chapter Text

"You wanted to speak to me?" Anakin queries, taking a seat in Dooku's office. A summons like this was unexpected, to say the least.

Dooku nods. "I did. There are two things, actually." He pauses, brown eyes studying Anakin in a grave silence. "First, I believe that Barriss might have been the one to assassinate Mina Bonteri."

Anakin stiffens. The news isn't exactly that surprising, he supposes, because Sidious would naturally have had a reason to want her dead. Still, it worries him that his master eliminated her without breathing a word to any of them and did so by the hand of the one Fallen Jedi none of them can trust. "She is a liability," he declares, narrowing his eyes. "We should eliminate her. I'm sure I can arrange something."

"I think we should wait," the Count cautions. "We don't want to alert Sidious to our plans too early, and certainly not before we're ready. I agree that Offee is dangerous, but… not yet. When the time comes, I'll let you know."

Personally, Anakin thinks that waiting will probably do more harm than good, because she could be used for many other objectives to which none of them are privy, but he doesn't object. He knows that Dooku is right. Sidious would become suspicious if they acted too early or killed a Fallen Jedi who is clearly in his favor. Given Anakin's recent defiance and refusal to kill Padme, Sidious might use that as an opportunity for a "lesson," and he shudders to think about what it might include. He cares for too many people now, and Sidious knows that.

Hatred twists in his gut, hot and fierce, but he smothers it, clenching his fists, and trying to focus on something else. "What is the second thing?" he questions.

"Please do try to remain calm," Dooku begins, and if that isn't ominous. "Senator Amidala has lost her position in the Senate, and upon her return to her apartment, she was attacked. There was an explosion, but reports are that she is uninjured. You would know if she were killed or seriously wounded." The Count gives him a pointed look, and Anakin reaches out to the weak link he has with Padme; it's still and bright the way it always has been.

"She's alright," he realizes, but that does nothing to relieve the increasing fear and panic within him. "Was it – Do you think Sidious was involved?"

"It is possible," Dooku allows, "And you should know that her two handmaidens, Dorme and Corde, were killed. Sabe is, by all accounts, still alive, though barely."

Anakin feels a pang shoot through him. He knew Sabe better than the others, and she and Padme are close. It would hurt his fiancée badly if she were to die. Their bond is not one he even understands himself, but he respects it. He's sick with worry and fear, and he wants nothing more than to go to his Angel's side. He can't though, and he hates that. He should be there, comforting and reassuring her in these times. All he can do is wait and hope. Their paths are separated for now, and he has to accept that. But it hurts. Oh, it hurts.

"She has many enemies," Dooku says, though it's not much of a reassurance. "She knows how to take care of herself. Now that she is no longer Senator, she won't be in the spotlight as much. It is safer for her like this."

He's right, and that stings in and of itself. Anakin had, once and very briefly, thought about what their lives would be like, free and away from the machinations of the Sith. He'd abandoned the thought almost instantly, because it would have meant living on the run and in hiding, being apart from anyone and everyone else whom they care for and consider family. And yet… it is a tempting daydream, especially now.

Dooku's comm chimes, and he looks down at it, frowning. "Sidious says that your mother wishes to speak with you," he tells him. "You can take the call privately."

Anakin nods, rising, anticipation and anxiety churning within him. His contacts with his mother have always been far and few between, and never in the past, have they been initiated by her. Did something happen? Is – is she okay? Fear pushes him to move faster, and it's not long before he's entering his mother's frequency, knowing that his master will likely view a recording of their conversation. In another universe, Anakin knows that he could have been deprived of his mother entirely, so he tries not to be too resentful of the observing.

"Ani," his mother greets him, relief clear on her face, "I'm so glad to see you, to see that you're alright and well."

'Well' is… relative, but Anakin doesn't contradict her words. He might wish to confide his true thoughts and feelings to her, though he knows that he can't do that now, not while the call is being observed. "Are you alright, Mom?" Anakin questions. "Did something happen?"

Shmi sighs, the smile dropping from her face. "I just got a communication from Beru Lars," she explains. "She told me that Owen's father, Cliegg, has been captured by a band of Tusken Raiders. They fear for him, and Beru worries that his absence will… hurt them as well as those who are relying on them."

Anakin understands what she's not saying, and he takes pride in the fact that his master won't recognize the inner meaning of Shmi's words. Unbeknownst to Sidious, or so Anakin hopes, Beru and her family are deeply entrenched in an anti-slavery movement on Tatooine. Anakin might not be able to actively help them, but Shmi gives the Lars advice frequently. With Cliegg being gone – Anakin has no doubt that the man is dead; that knowledge is the cause of his mother's current grief – Owen and Beru will struggle. Slaves who seek freedom will suffer as a result. More than anything, Anakin wants to help them.

"Is there anything I can do?" Anakin questions. He hopes that his mother is contacting him because she wants him to actually do something, not sit here stressing over the news.

"I spoke to Palpatine about it," she relates, "And he agrees that you may go to Tatooine to help Owen and Beru however you see fit. They doubt Cliegg is still alive, but it is a possibility."

There's not even anything to ask. Anakin already knows what his next course of action is. "I'll go there," he promises. He could take Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, or both with him, but they're finally getting a chance to relax – it's been a couple days since Obi-Wan came to Raxus – and he doesn't want to distract them from that. It won't be long before they all have to return to the war, and their breaks are far and few between. He would rather handle this himself. He doesn't need anyone to help him. Not in this.

"Be careful, Ani," cautions Shmi, before smiling suddenly. "I know you're strong and capable, but I'll always worry about you. I love you."

"I love you too, Mom," he whispers, before disconnecting the call. It's time for him to return to Tatooine, whether he likes it or not.

***

He goes alone. Obi-Wan and Ahsoka had both volunteered, but this is something which Anakin wants to do alone. He goes in his fighter, which is now named Rogue, landing on a ridge overlooking the Lars homestead – his mother had sent him the coordinates.

He pauses, briefly, to speak to Owen and Beru, meeting them for the first time, before setting out on his hunt. He takes a speeder, opening himself up to the Dark Side and trying to get a feel for where this camp of Tusken Raiders is located. The Raiders, at least in this part of the planet, have been a perpetual nuisance from what Owen told him, attacking and murdering without provocation. They do not distinguish between victims, adults and children alike falling to their hand. And now, Anakin is about to end it.

Maybe this is why Sidious allowed him to come here; his master knew that he would be forced to give in to the controlled bloodlust within him. He knew that Anakin would confront and embrace his inner demon. When he immerges from the other side, there is no way of knowing how he will be changed, if at all. But his master let him come here, so his master has a plan.

Anakin pulls his hood up over his head as he speeds through the desert, lets the ebb and flow of the Force guide him in the right direction. He is death, and he will exact vengeance. This is the way of the Sith, the way that Anakin has embraced. Perhaps he doesn't need to let it consume him or define him forever, but for now… this is who he is, and he will not be ashamed of it. The moons light his path as sunset wanes to night, the chilly air nipping at his face as he flies onwards towards the pinpricks of life which he feels in the Force.

He stops his speeder at the top of a ridge, swinging off as he looks down at the encampment. It seems so small when he views it from here, but he knows: this is the tribe that took Cliegg. The man, however, Anakin thinks may already be dead. He withdraws macrobinoculars, scanning the camp up close and zeroing in on the tent which is separated from the others. There are no guards there, but Anakin senses the Dark Side hanging heavily there, the pain, the fear, the anger.

Yes, this is the right place.

Cloaked in the Force, Anakin leaps down into the camp, moving along the outskirts as one with the shadows, approaching the tent. He ignites his red lightsaber, cutting an opening in the back wall before ducking inside. Cliegg is there; Anakin knows it's him intuitively, without ever having truly met him. He saw a holo of him once, many years ago, and even though he doesn't remember it clearly, the elderly man is too similar to Owen to be mistaken.

He's dead already, his body cold and lifeless. From appearances, he died sometime earlier this day; it's not been more than a day, surely. Anakin knows enough about the human body and death and torture to know. He determinedly doesn't think about how he learned that kind of information. It doesn't matter anyways.

He stands again, looking between the body and the door. He can come back for it later, but for now… well, he has vengeance to exact upon the Sand People here. Are they all responsible? Assuredly not, but if they live now, they will do the same again to others. And they will raise their children to be the same. He can't destroy every Tusken Raider across Tatooine – he doesn't think he would even if he could, not without knowing more about them – but this tribe is involved in random, sporadic, senseless attacks.

Maybe he is a Sith, but this is a wrong that he can right. It doesn't matter to him if this, in and of itself, is a wrong. Determination flooding through him, Anakin lets the Dark Side in, fueling him. He stalks forwards like a predator, yellow eyes gleaming in the dim lighting as he steps through the front door and ignites his lightsaber.

The night is filled with screams, and he drinks them in, the fear and anger of the enemy powering him. It's intoxicating, and he is aware of every second of it. The Force answers his call, and he bends it to his will, using it to destroy the camp as he moves through it like a specter of death. He is the Force, in this moment, and he knows that he is unstoppable. Perhaps he cannot yet confront and destroy Sidious, but soon. Very soon, he will achieve the level of power he needs.

When it ends, there is silence, and Anakin stands surrounded by the bodies of dozens of Tusken Raiders. And he doesn't regret it. He would do it again, in a heartbeat, and that terrifies him. The Dark Side doesn't take a person all at once; it does so slowly, seducing them further and further until they can see no way back. Maybe it's already too late for him. Maybe he has already passed the point of return. Maybe… And Anakin recognizes – and accepts – that there is a part of him that does not want to turn back anymore, that he would rather stay on this path than try to claw his way back to… the Light.

To Obi-Wan, his mind reminds him, to Ahsoka, to Padme, to Mom.

Yes. Yes, there are them. They would – they would regret seeing him like this, the full power of the Dark Side surrounding him. They would not want to see him as a Sith, but they would nevertheless accept him – at least Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, and his mother would – no matter how much it would hurt them to do so. It would upset them to see him so Dark, so twisted, so Fallen. He doesn't want that, and yet… he doesn't know how much more of this he can endure before cracking entirely and giving in forever.

He feels numb, detached, uncaring about the dead men, women, and children – yes, there were children here, some no more than infants – strewn all around him. If he can kill them with naught more than a thought, what does that make him? Is there even anything left of the good person that was once Anakin Skywalker, or is he gone, replaced entirely by Darth Vader? It's not something Anakin wants to think about, because he doesn't want to know the answer to that. He doesn't want to know if he's lost himself too much to return.

This, he realizes, is what Dooku had been warning him about from the start, cautioning him about delving too deeply or too far. The war, the bloodshed, they have taken their toll on him. They've changed him, made him darker. He knew that already, and he hated himself for giving in. Now, Anakin doesn't know if he can even hate himself anymore for falling further than he'd even realized to be possible.

Slaughterer of innocents.

He should add that to his list of titles. He's drowning, and he doesn't know which way leads back anymore. He doesn't know how to find his way back if he even can. It didn't happen overnight; it was a slow, gradual process, each use of the Dark Side for causing mass chaos and death leading him a little bit further from the balanced middle ground. And now, all he can see, all he can feel is the darkness. It would be smothering if it didn't feel like a literal extension of himself now.

He is – he is not Anakin anymore. He is Darth Vader. He is a Dark Lord of the Sith, and that is his destiny. Sidious raised and trained him for this. Whatever delusions he once had about being able to stay good in the face of the evil being poured down his throat – forcefully – are gone. This isn't – he chose this. He chose to kill these people. He chose to destroy everyone. He can't simply undo this, and he doesn't know if he even would want to if he could.

Extinguishing his lightsaber, Vader clips it back to his belt, turning to retrieve Cliegg's body and return it to the Lars family. If nothing else, they can at least bury him, lay him to rest and find healing from there.

***

On the other side of the galaxy, Sidious feels a tremor in the Force, his bond with his favorite apprentice flickering and darkening rapidly, the Dark Side plunging it into sheer chaos. In his office, Sidious smiles. He has long been waiting for this moment, for the moment that Vader gave in to the destiny, to the fate he had been trained for from childhood. At long last, the time has arrived. Vader will be unstable now more than ever, but Sidious needs to do just one more thing to secure him in the Dark Side and bind him there.

Vader's Jedi pets won't comprehend the sudden change that has come over their once-friend. They do not understand the Dark Side like Sith do. Even Dooku, Sidious knows, will be shaken to the core when faced with Vader at his finest. Sidious needs only one more thing, one thing which will push Vader fully into the grasp of the Dark Side which will eat his pain. It is so easy to manipulate him, to nudge events in their proper, predestined direction, to ensure that his plans reach fruition.

And Vader has been an integral part of that from the moment that Sidious created him in his mother's womb. Oh, that was a glorious moment; knowing that he and he alone was powerful enough to craft the weapon that he would use to destroy the Jedi. Even now, he still relishes the memory, looking back on it with utmost fondness.

Vader is his. The future is his. The galaxy is his. It is only a matter of time, and Sidious will be patient. Perhaps, when Vader's mind has been sufficiently twisted by the Dark Side, Sidious will instruct him to slaughter those he now calls friends. And he will do it. He will do it, because his master requests it of him, because his master can ask him for anything, even his very life, and he will offer it up willingly.

Dooku's greatest mistake was in failing to see and plan for the way the war would change the boy he thought would be his. Vader has always been meant for darkness, for greatness, and no one can change that, not even Dooku or Shmi. They can try – they will try – but they will fail, and when they do, Sidious will laugh.

Chapter Text

Obi-Wan had known something was wrong long before Anakin's ship returned from Tatooine. The currents of the Force are anxious, uneasy, and that in and of itself sets him on edge. He felt the brief flare of darkness through his bond with Anakin, but it was, admittedly, nothing… too unusual. It's been happening more and more as of late, or maybe it's just that Obi-Wan is beginning more sensitive to changes in Anakin's Force presence.

But when Anakin's starfighter touches down, he knows with certainty that something is horribly wrong. The presence is no longer a mix of light and dark, swirling intermittently. It feels… cold, like someone is pouring ice over him. It's colder, darker than anything Obi-Wan has ever felt before, even from Anakin. In the past, Anakin's presence has become like a black hole in the Force when he draws on the Dark Side deeply, but never like this; it's never been so chilling. It was always a tumult, a storm, a burning inferno. It was never cold.

He knows what he'll see even before Anakin leaps from Rogue onto the landing pad. It's with resignation that Obi-Wan takes in Anakin's yellow eyes, eyes which are cold, emotionless, empty. It's as if someone sucked all the life from him, and it scares him.

Beside him, Ahsoka sucks in a sharp inhale, and Anakin looks at her, pausing. For a moment, everything feels like it's frozen, as if everything is about to irreparably change, though Obi-Wan does not know whether it will be for better or worse.

"Anakin, what happened?" he asks finally, giving voice to the question that is eating at him, at both of them. He is desperate for answers, the memory of a few nights ago – them snuggling together in Obi-Wan's bed, as he and Ahsoka tried to give Anakin the comfort and stability which he needed. It seemed to be working, so what happened?

Anakin's eyes flicker towards him, but he doesn't visibly react to the question or the faint pleading, worried undertone. "I… made a mistake. A costly one," he replies vaguely.

"What do you mean by that?" Ahsoka queries, visibly fearful.

A prickle runs down Obi-Wan's spine as those yellow eyes sweep back to the Togruta. He isn't scared of Anakin, not exactly, but he has never seen him like this before. The Jedi would say that now, he is too far gone. Obi-Wan will not accept that. He refuses to accept that. He will find answers, and he will remain a patient, supportive presence for Anakin.

"I went to Tatooine," Anakin tells them. "I found Cliegg's dead body in the Tusken Raiders' camp. I killed them, all of them. Men, women, children, it didn't matter." His hesitation is almost imperceptible before he continues. "I cannot undo that. I can't… find my way back."

"You can do anything," Obi-Wan counters softly. He moves forward, walking until he's a few paces from Anakin before reaching out to touch his shoulder. "I have faith in you, Anakin. It is not too late for you unless you choose not to come back." As he says it, he can almost feel the way the truth of it echoes in the Force. It isn't too late. It is not too late for Anakin. (It is a truth which he will cling to desperately in the long, long weeks and months that are to come.)

Anakin bows his head, anguish and defeat flashing across his face. "No," he says, shaking his head. "It's not… I can't. I don't know how. I don't…" His voice trails off, and he shudders.

Intuitively, Obi-Wan understands what's happening. It's not that Anakin can't come back – because the Dark Side is a choice; it is always a choice – as much as it is that he is subconsciously stopping himself from doing so. They have to deal with Anakin's guilt – and self-hatred – before he'll be able to take the steps necessary to return. It won't be easy, Obi-Wan knows, because every battle, every mission will be pushing him further and further away from them. That scares him, terrifies him like nothing else ever could, and for the first time, the chilling realization sinks in that – that he could lose Anakin.

Losing Anakin has never been something he's thought about before, because he has always been more worried about Ahsoka, about Shmi, about himself even. Anakin is clearly Sidious' favorite, and Obi-Wan knows that Sidious would never actually kill him. But… loss comes in many shapes and forms, and Obi-Wan knows with a surety that if he is unable to help Anakin find balance and return to the Light, he will lose him. Yes, to be sure, the traits that make Anakin who he is, the compassion, the caring, the loyalty, those will remain, but they will be twisted and warped by the Dark Side.

I can't do this, Obi-Wan thinks desperately, frantically, for the first time realizing exactly how much Anakin has come to mean to him. I can't live with myself if I lose you to the Dark Side and Sidious like that. Anakin is, he is his everything. They have known each other for mere months, and Obi-Wan already knows that he would lay down his life – and soul – without a second thought if it meant he could protect Anakin.

"You can," Obi-Wan repeats with conviction. "You can come back. I will help you." Please, Anakin, listen to me. Don't go down a path I cannot follow. In another universe, perhaps things would never have come this far. In another universe, perhaps Obi-Wan would have been able to spare Anakin from Sidious' manipulations. But that is not his current reality, and he has to live with that.

"I don't think you can," Anakin whispers, voice shaking. "I don't think anyone can any longer."

And that, that is what scares Obi-Wan even more, because if Anakin gives up, then there is no hope left. If Anakin refuses to fight, then Obi-Wan cannot fight the battle for him. Ahsoka makes a quiet, wounded sound next to him, and Obi-Wan realizes that she, too, understands the gravity of the situation. Everything is coming undone. Everything. All he can do is trust in the Force and hope and pray that they will all be alright. He can't lose Anakin. He can't. And maybe, he thinks bitterly, that will be his own undoing.

Obi-Wan says nothing to that, unsure what he can even say to counter Anakin's words, so instead, he reaches out, pulling Anakin against him and holding him tightly. All he wants is for this young man to be alright, to stop hurting, to be able to take a moment and breath, but that is not to be. Not yet. For now, the most he can do it offer comfort, and hope that it will be enough, hope that he is not failing to do something which would have helped.

Ahsoka presses closer to them, wrapping her arms around Anakin as well, and Obi-Wan hears her sniffing, a sure sign that she's crying. Her fear is flooding their bond; she's terrified too, terrified that she will lose her master, her older brother. Even if it killed him, Obi-Wan would willingly take all of their pain away if he only could.

"I love you," he promises fervently, pressing a kiss to Anakin's head. "I always will. Never doubt that, Anakin, please."

Anakin says nothing, pulling both of them closer to him, clinging to them, obviously craving this moment as much as they do. But even so, his Force signature remains dark.

***

Obi-Wan doesn't know how long he and Ahsoka stood there, holding Anakin, but finally, they parted ways. Anakin had gone to report to Dooku and had returned an hour later to tell Obi-Wan that Dooku wished to speak with him. And here he is, walking with Dooku in the gardens of Serenno, gardens which are both extensive and beautiful. Even without the Force, he thinks he'd be able to sense the Count's conflict. Dooku's expression is troubled, deeply so, and Obi-Wan knows why.

Anakin. Somehow, it all seems to come back to him.

"I failed to protect him." Dooku's voice is quiet, tone bleak, and for a moment, his grief and pain flares from behind his shields before it's buried again. "I thought I could keep him safe from Sidious, but I didn't."

"You did your best," Obi-Wan replies, though he knows it isn't much consolation, not when it feels like the entire world is crumbling all around them. How did this happen? Did he do something wrong? Should he have done something differently? What? "If not for you, he would have given in years ago."

Dooku sighs, hands clasped behind his back as he walks, slowly and aimlessly, Obi-Wan at his side. Both of them, he knows, feel guilt for what has befallen Anakin. Both of them are desperately seeking ways to help him find his way back. "Perhaps," he concedes, "But I saw the warning signs that he was growing too dark. I ignored them. I thought he could control himself. I never thought – I never thought that something like this would happen."

"I could say the same," Obi-Wan admits, grief a constant, unrelenting dagger in his chest. Anakin is alive, and he hasn't lost him, so why does it feel like he did? "I – I didn't think he would slip this far. I thought he would say something before the situation got so serious."

Dooku shakes his head slightly. "He has suffered far more than either of us can imagine. Asking for help is not in his nature."

And oh, Obi-Wan knows that now. He realized that a few days ago when he spoke to Anakin about his self-loathing. At that point, it seems like an eternity ago, Anakin had feared losing himself. Maybe he realized it long before anyone else. Maybe he knew what was happening, but he simply did nothing to stop it, since he could do nothing.

" I don't want to lose myself entirely the way Sidious wants me to."

Remembering that confession makes Obi-Wan's heart twist painfully, because everything Anakin feared happening is now becoming a reality. "He had a vision," he remembers suddenly, "About his mother, about the Jedi arresting her, about her dying."

Dooku stills. "He told me nothing about it." His eyes scan the nearby plants – though Obi-Wan imagines he isn't really seeing them – before he turns to him. "I think he may trust you more than me in many ways," he admits. "I had to train him as a Sith. Pain was sometimes a necessary part of that, though I did my best to spare him. You, however, he does not associate you with pain of any kind. And I fear he might blame me for his situation."

The topic of Dooku is not one he and Anakin have really addressed at length or at all, so he doesn't know. He doesn't know if Dooku's fears are even remotely close to reality. "What will we do now?" he asks instead because that is his primary concern.

The Count's expression tightens. "You and Tano are, I feel, the only ones who can help him anymore. With him being so lost in the Dark Side… attachments become a major problem. He fears for his mother and his fiancée. Tano gives him stability, someone to look after, and it helps; I have seen it. You… you are the master he could have – should have – had. Perhaps he does see me as a father figure, but the same may be true of you as well."

Obi-Wan jerks. "You can't be serious!" he exclaims, surprised. "Anakin isn't – he isn't like my son. I never raised him. You did."

"That is true," Dooku allows, "But there are still… similarities. I am only speculating on what I have observed this far. He looks up to you, admires you, and I think you know that."

That is yet another subject which he and Anakin haven't really addressed. They haven't really talked about how they feel towards one another – aside from earlier; Obi-Wan had to say it, had to make sure that Anakin knew – because their friendship is still too new. They need more time, time which, he doubts, they're going to get.

"Yes," he acknowledges, "I know."

"All you can do is your best," Dooku says solemnly. "It's all any of us can do."

And hope it will be enough, the Sith doesn't add, but Obi-Wan can definitely hear the undertone. And hope it will be enough indeed. What more can they do?

***

Asajj would to be both blind and deaf to have not heard what's happened to Anakin. Even if she's only just arrived back on Serenno, the solemn mood – and glaringly dark Force signature – would have told her enough. Anakin has always taken the worst of Sidious' manipulations, and perhaps her natural, inborn aggression has kept her from growing that dark. She knows the line between Light and Dark, even if it's not one she cares to keep in mind. She isn't being subjected to the constant oversight of the Sith Master.

Rex is the one who told her, in a hushed, worried voice, about how Anakin came back Dark, about how he's almost unrecognizable now. The clone was scared, scared of Anakin. Asajj can understand why, because for a non-Force-sensitive, the Force is a strange, mystical thing that doesn't make sense. They rely on what they can see with their five senses, instead of the Force. Rex knows intuitively, of course, that Anakin would never hurt him, but at the same time, the cold, emotionless mask on Anakin's face is very unsettling, to say the least.

"Darkness got to your head, huh?" Asajj comments, almost smirking. It's disturbing her too, but Anakin is still the same person. It's not as if he's… that different, so immersed in the Dark Side. That is something she doesn't think Obi-Wan or Ahsoka will be able to truly understand unless they try it themselves.

Anakin huffs out a breath that isn't a laugh, yellow eyes flashing. "You don't know the half of it," he mutters, sighing. "This – this isn't gonna change, even if I want it to."

"Well, do you?" she poses.

"Maybe," he admits, "If I don't find a way back, Sidious will win. I don't want that."

"Okay, then fight it. Turn back from the Dark Side if only to spite him," she suggests.

"But how?" He sounds so… lost, so helpless, so hopeless.

Asajj shrugs. "I'm the wrong person to ask. I don't know anything about the Light Side. The Darkness has served me well, and I am in need of nothing."

"How do you not lose yourself to it?" he questions.

She pauses at the question, pondering it. "I don't delve in unless I need to. I don't – I've stopped caring much about the lives of anyone except myself and my friends. No one bothered with me when I needed help, so I don't see a reason to bother with them either."

He smiles. Bitterly. "If only I could have that kind of cold attitude," he murmurs. "I have always been too caring."

"No," she denies instantly, glaring at him. "You sell yourself short, Anakin. Your heart is your greatest strength. That's why I like you so much." She pats his arm quickly before stepping back. "Perhaps you should go find Obi-Wan. This seems more like the kind of thing he could help with. If he doesn't listen to you – actually listen to you, come get me. I'll pin him down and gag him for you, okay?"

Anakin gapes at her for moment before he bursts out laughing. For a moment, the yellow in his eyes dims, flickering back towards blue, but the moment is gone as quickly as it came. "I will do that," he promises, turning and walking away.

She watches him go before prowling into the garden, feeling a mixture of triumph and frustration. She hates seeing Anakin like that, hates seeing him so torn up. How she wishes for the days before the war, when days would pass with only each other for company. They were best of friends back then, inseparable, merged together in the Dark Side in a way that no one else could understand. But now… everything has changed, and she has to admit that she doesn't much like these changes. She does like, of course, seeing Anakin more settled and balanced the way he was in the beginning, but the more time passes, the more everything seems to be coming undone. If only there was something she could do about it.

Her thoughts are interrupted when she senses another life form in the garden with her – she almost never comes here except in times like now when she needs the soothing peacefulness it can provide. Looking up, Asajj spies a familiar Togruta crouched in one of the branches of a tree. She's about to make a snippy remark about Ahsoka's choice of seating when she realizes that the girl is crying.

Okay. This is – this is not something she wants to deal with, but she doesn't really… want to walk away and leave her to her misery all alone. It is not a pleasant experience. After a brief hesitation, Asajj flips up into the tree as well, positioning herself on a branch not far from Ahsoka. The former Jedi doesn't even twitch which means that she's probably trying to ignore her, hoping she'll go away.

"Is this about Anakin?" she queries, trying to keep herself from acting too hostile or closed-off.

Ahsoka nods, choking on a sob. "I hate this," she whispers, wrapping her arms around herself. "I hate that we can't seem to find a way to pull him back. I hate that he thinks he can't come back."

He said that? Well, Asajj wouldn't be too surprised, she supposes. He said something similar to her as well. She doesn't know what to say, so she remains silent, letting Ahsoka keep talking.

"I want him to – to be okay, to be happy, and I don't…" Her voice trails off, more tears spilling down her cheeks.

"I talked to him briefly," Asajj admits. "I told him to go talk to Obi-Wan. I don't know if it will help, but I can hope. He doesn't want to stay like that, but he doesn't know how to not."

"That doesn't make sense. He's never had a problem before," Ahsoka points out bleakly.

"True enough," she admits grudgingly, "But there is a war now. He might only need a few days to rebalance." She doesn't add that every day that goes by with him in this state means that the chances of a slow return to "normal" will decline. She is not a Sith, not the way Dooku, Anakin, and Sidious are, and nor does she have a deep grasp of the Dark Side. But what she does know is that the Dark Side is unforgiving. If Anakin has lost his ability to control it, it could begin to control him, and the prospect of that is… terrifying is not a strong enough word.

A sudden thought occurs to her, and she jolts upright. "I have an idea," she announces, "Though I don't know if it would work. I could ask Dooku if I could go to Dathomir, to the Nightsisters. They might be able to help us. If nothing else, I could learn more about the Dark Side to see if there's another way for us to help Anakin."

Ahsoka finally turns to her, a sparkle of life in her blue eyes. "Do you really think it will work?"

"I don't know, but it's something at least," Asajj answers determinedly, "And I'm not going to do nothing while Anakin is struggling."

In her mind, she can already see herself returning to her home, her family, and she wonders if this is the Force's way of guiding her in the right direction. Hopefully, this won't be another mistake.

Chapter Text

Vader is agitated when he reaches Obi-Wan's quarters. The Jedi is inside, and he immediately lets him in when he knocks. "Asajj told me I should come talk to you," he blurts out, fists clenching. What is he doing here? This is never going to work. He'll be disappointed. This –

"Why?" Obi-Wan questions, a raised eyebrow betraying his surprise.

A hint of apprehension slithers into Vader's conscious awareness, and he finds that he's unable to meet Obi-Wan's eyes. "Can I talk to you?" he asks instead.

"Of course." The reply is immediate, instant, automatic. "Anytime, Anakin."

He bristles inside at the use of that name, but he doesn't object any more than he objected earlier. Somehow, asking – demanding – that everyone use another name makes it feel too real. It makes it feel as if he is really a lost cause, trying to deny the obvious. You're stupid to think you can reverse this. The mocking voice sounds like Sidious, but it's only the sound of his own doubts and self-loathing making him dig an even hole for himself.

Vader paces to the window, standing there for a minute without actually seeing outside before whirling back towards Obi-Wan. "If I don't find my way back, I'll be letting Sidious win," he tells him, saying what he told Asajj earlier, "But I don't know how to turn back. I don't think it's even possible at this point, and – and I'm afraid of losing whatever is left of myself."

Obi-Wan's expression is open, understanding. "Go on," he requests.

"This is exactly what I was afraid of happening," he admits quietly, slinking over to the couch and sitting down. "I think I've known for a long, long time that this was coming. There's a limit to how much anyone can kill and destroy without… getting lost."

"I know," Obi-Wan whispers, expression shattered, "And I am so, so sorry that it had to come to this for you." He moves closer, sitting down next to Vader. "If I could find a way to fix this for you, I would do it."

"Even if you Fell?" Vader asks dubiously – the one thing which Obi-Wan has always refrained from doing is touching the Dark Side. Even Ahsoka has given in to the temptation, though she rarely uses it.

"Yes," he answers without hesitation, "Even if I had to Fall."

It sends a tingle of warmth through Vader, fleetingly thawing the icy chill wrapped around him. It also reminds him of what Obi-Wan said earlier. "I love you I always will. Never doubt that, Anakin, please." He had never thought, dreamed that Obi-Wan might actually care for him that deeply. It's not something he's let himself give much thought to, because they have hardly known each other, and his ability to form attachments and seek out connections to other is… not something he's terribly proud of.

It seems like such a weakness to crave a deep emotional connection to people, especially those he hardly even knows – relatively speaking; they only met at the beginning of the war and mere months have passed since – but the moment they met again, it was as though something clicked into place. It was as though the Force itself was proclaiming that they were meant to be. Anakin had fought the pull he felt to the Jedi from the beginning only to give in to it when they were imprisoned together with no one but each other and Ahsoka.

The vulnerability he'd felt then, and the knowledge that they were in it together, brought them together. It allowed them to form a bond that became far deeper and more extensive than they could ever have anticipated, given the couple weeks they were together. But it happened, somehow, and Vader doesn't regret it. He doesn't regret the way he's come to care for Obi-Wan; he still can't put a name to their relationship. They don't need one anyways. They are friends who are family. That's enough for him.

"How can I come back?" he questions finally, the icy cage around him flickering once more.

Obi-Wan reaches out, laying a hand on his arm. Vader likes that the Jedi – ex-Jedi? – recognizes how much he needs physical contact. It helps him focus, even if nothing else can. "You have to want to, first," Obi-Wan tells him, "And you have to be able to face what is keeping you from coming back."

Vader looks away, swallowing, as his mind drifts back to what happened before he Fell, how he killed the Tusken Raiders. The power he had felt was intoxicating as always, but then… he had enjoyed destroying them for no reason other than that he wanted to. They were not the enemy. They were not trained soldiers. They were civilians. They were innocents. And – and Obi-Wan is right. Letting go of the Dark Side will mean facing the emotional repercussions of his actions as well as the truth that he cannot undo that. He cannot bring the dead back to life.

Obi-Wan is right, of course.

"I don't know if I can do that right now," he whispers.

"That's what I was afraid of," Obi-Wan admits, but he doesn't sound accusing. He shifts closer to Vader, offering him silent comfort and support. "If you're not ready for that, then perhaps we should focus on keeping you from getting lost any further."

Vader reaches out, gripping Obi-Wan's hand tightly, trembling slightly for a reason unknown to him – or a reason that he is unwilling to admit. "How? Please, Master, tell me what –" He cuts himself off when he realizes what he just said. What was he thinking? That is wrong. It's not – Obi-Wan is not – he would never have wanted to train him, not now after seeing him like this. Embarrassment creeps up, and he feels himself flushing. "Sorry," he mutters, abashed.

"No, it's – it's okay, Anakin," Obi-Wan promises, squeezing his hand. He pauses, hesitating almost. "Do you really… think of me as your master?"

Vader focuses on trying to quell his mortification for the slip-up; it's not something he'd even given thought to in the privacy of his own mind. "Yes? No? It's difficult to explain," he admits. "I have thought, sometimes, about what it would have been like if you had trained me as a Jedi, and I know that if you had, I would not… find it difficult to call anyone 'master,' but…" His voice trails off and he shrugs. "I don't know."

"I'm not upset," Obi-Wan repeats, reaching out to touch Vader's face for a fleeting moment. "I would have been proud to raise and train you. It had been my dearest wish for years that I be able to train you as a Jedi, not because of my promise to Qui-Gon, but because you deserved the chance to fulfill your own dreams."

A sound escapes him, and he lunges forwards, burying himself in Obi-Wan's arms. "That – knowing that you really think that…" His breathing hitches. "It means a lot to me, Obi-Wan. I love you too, you know. You're part of my family."

Obi-Wan says nothing, wrapping his arms around him, holding him with a secure protectiveness that Va- Anakin never thought he could get from anyone – other than his mother perhaps – not like this. "You wanted me to tell you how to refrain from becoming more lost," the Jedi says at last. "Refrain from hurting and killing as much as possible. Don't do anything I wouldn't do. And – and I know that is asking a lot from you, but I see no other way right now."

And again, he knows that Obi-Wan is right. It will be asking a lot. It will force him to control himself far more than he does when in battle. It won't be easy, especially not while he's so immersed in the Dark Side. But… he had asked, and Obi-Wan is trying to help in the only way he knows. Even Anakin can't see another way.

"Okay," he murmurs into Obi-Wan's robes, pressing closer. He doesn't understand why Obi-Wan sometimes seems to be the only person now who can keep him sane. It used to be true of Padme – in a different way, of course – but now that she's not here… He'll always miss her and long for her presence, but maybe it's a good thing that he isn't relying on her for everything. This is – he doesn't normally reach out to anyone for help, but he can trust that, right now, Obi-Wan will be here to help him. "Stay." It's practically a plea.

"I will," Obi-Wan promises, hugging him closer.

After a short pause, the Jedi speaks up again. "What exactly are Tusken Raiders?"

"Hmm?" Anakin mumbles, lifting his head. "Oh. They are – they are a nomadic species on Tatooine. Sapient, but deadly. They – some tribes anyways – attack moisture farmers or other settlers, slaughtering them senselessly. They – they also… capture prisoners for some type of ceremony or something and torture them to death."

He feels more than sees Obi-Wan make a face, his incredulity echoing into the Force. "Killing them, the children, especially, was wrong, and I think you know that, but if they are really… if your description of them is the truth, and not simply what you believe of them, then I don't see how the loss of the adults is a bad thing."

That was – well, it wasn't what Anakin expected to hear. It's weirdly comforting in a way, but it's not enough to give him the final push to letting go of the Dark Side.

***

Anakin spends a couple hours snuggling with Obi-Wan and talking to him about nothing in particular before he seeks out Ahsoka. He feels far more stable and more like himself, but at the same time… not. He can feel the Dark Side burning at him, distorting his perspective, making him feel more jealous and possessive. It's different from how he usually feels. Usually, when he's not on the battlefield, he's able to let go of the Dark Side enough that he's able to breathe without inhaling the Darkness as well.

Now, it's different. It's chilling, searing him from the inside out with the sheer coldness of it. He knows his eyes are yellow. He can withstand it for now, but it's only a matter of time before his resolve and his desire to be good still in the face of the evil he's embraced wears away at him. Every moment, he's losing more of himself. Is it really worth it, to avoid facing himself, the truth of who and what he is?

That, he supposes, is the crux of the question. He has always known that his actions were… questionable, to say the least, that he shouldn't enjoy killing as much as he does, but what he did on Tatooine was worse. The entire operation was his choice from start to finish. It wasn't for any greater good. Well, okay, it was, in a way. He did it, partially because he wanted to stop the Tuskens from causing any more damage, but that thought had been an inconsequential one in his mind. He did it because he wanted to feel their suffering.

And he isn't ready to face himself yet. He isn't ready to take a look at himself and accept the person that he has become. Accepting that he is not as… good as he'd always wanted and hoped will be difficult. It will shatter his worldview, his opinion of himself. He isn't ready to do that while he's under Sidious' thumb.

Anakin – he will cling to his name, his own name, for as long as he can – finds Ahsoka in the gardens. She's lounging in a tree, lying back against a branch, and staring up thoughtfully into the canopy. "Snips," he calls, tilting his head back to look up at her.

She perks up, swinging upright and looking down at him. "Hey, Skyguy," she replies, and he feels her probing at him through their bond. "You feel… less conflicted, but still Dark," she observes. "Did you talk to Obi-Wan again?"

Anakin hums. "I just got back from being with him. I wanted to talk to you again."

"Okay," she replies, hopping to the ground and wrapping her arms around him, hugging him tightly. "Do you feel okay?"

"Yes. No. I don't know," he sighs, holding her against him, resting his chin in between her montrals. "The Dark Side will change me into someone I don't want to be… but I'm not ready, not able to let go of it right now."

"I just want you to be okay," Ahsoka whispers, sending him a wave of affection through their bond. "Asajj talked to me. She said that she was going to ask Dooku about returning to her home of Dathomir to see if she could get some advice for you from the Nightsisters."

Anakin laughs despite himself. That is totally something that Asajj would do. "I don't think she'll find what we need, but it couldn't hurt I suppose," he admits. "The Nightsisters are very different from the Sith; they don't use the Force, the Dark Side like we do. But… I suppose we might learn something of interest."

"Don't sound so optimistic," Ahsoka grumbles, poking his side.

He pokes her back, knowing how incredibly juvenile the gesture is. "I'm not very optimistic," he replies flatly. "About anything. But I'll keep my comments to myself."

"I have an idea," Ahsoka declares brightly. "How about you teach me about the intricacies of building a starship engine? You started a lesson that once, remember? But then we got interrupted and never got back to it."

A distraction. She's trying to give him a distraction to keep him from getting lost in his thoughts. Somehow, even if they've only known each other for a few months, Ahsoka is able to understand him and intuitively sense what he needs. He feels his affection for her grow, and he lazily sends it to her through their bond. "Okay, but don't complain when it doesn't make sense."

***

Padme pulls herself away from Sabe's bedside only to make a special, brief visit to the Chancellor. She'd promised herself that she would speak with him on Anakin's behalf, so she will. As soon as she finishes with Palpatine, she'll return to Sabe's side. The handmaiden – ex-handmaiden, technically, now – has finally been stabilized, so she'll be transported back to Naboo tonight where she will undergo the surgery and begin the long process of healing. It will be difficult for her, but Padme intends to be there with her, just as Sabe has been with her since she became queen so many years ago.

"It is such a relief to see you alright, my dear," Palpatine greets Padme once she is shown into his office. "I heard about the attack on you. Such a tragedy, truly. My condolences for the loss of your two friends."

"Thank you, Chancellor," she replies gratefully, meaning every word of it, "But that is not why I am here. It's about Anakin."

He leans forwards instantly, expression set with worry. "What is it? Tell me. Did you see him? Talk to him? How is he?"

"He is… struggling," Padme admits, "And I could not get him to tell me anything which I could use to help him or the Republic. He feels trapped with no way out. Before I went to Raxus, and please spare me the lecture – I have heard it already from everyone – I spoke to Master Tachi. She confided in me that the Council has issued a kill-on-sight order on Anakin. That – Anakin has not proven to be so much of a threat that killing him is preferable to capturing him. He is only a pawn. He is not like Dooku."

Not that she would condone such an order on Dooku either, but at least there would be more grounds for it.

Palpatine is visibly troubled by her words. "I have heard nothing of it," he tells her, just as she had expected. "I will speak to the Jedi Council about that at the soonest convenience. While I do not expect they would be able to capture Anakin, I would hate for them to callously execute him without giving us the chance to get answers from him. His actions against Naboo, especially, were very troubling to me. Naboo has been his home, and I know he loves the planet. I never thought he would agree to participate in an attack against it."

Padme winces slightly when he mentions it. Truthfully, she has still not gotten over it herself. She and Anakin will need to talk about it again, at length, and she at least wants an apology from him in addition to an explanation. His mother is on the planet. Why would he ever willingly put her in such danger, even if he didn't care for the planet itself? Too many things aren't adding up, and Padme wishes that she could get answers. She feels so lost, so helpless, and now, she has to be strong for Sabe's sake. There is no one she can turn to or rely on to help her sort this out.

Except Siri, she realizes. Maybe once Sabe is settled on Naboo, she can try contacting her Jedi friend. Perhaps they will be able to put some puzzle pieces together if they talk about the situation. She still doesn't know what punishment Siri faced on her return to Coruscant; hopefully nothing too severe.

"None of this makes sense, and Anakin refused to tell me anything." Padme tries to tone down the frustration in her voice, but she knows she doesn't fully succeed.

The Chancellor sighs. "I will speak to the Council," he reiterates. "We have to start somewhere, I suppose. Let me know if you learn anything about Anakin."

"I will," Padme promises, understanding a dismissal when she sees one. "Thank you for taking the time to speak to me, Chancellor."

He gives her a strained smile. "Of course, my dear. Anytime."

***

Sidious watches the naïve, young, foolish ex-Senator leave, a sinister smile on his face. He had not, in truth, known about the kill-on-sight order, but it aggravates him. The Jedi are doing far too much sniffing around for his liking, and if he doesn't know their plans, he can't prepare accordingly. They will not be able to kill Vader though; he is a dangerous, wild animal that can only be controlled by a firm, unyielding master.

He will be the guiding hand that the young Sith needs, and in time, Vader will be able to achieve his full potential. But not yet.

No, there are other things that must play out first. Dooku, Sidious knows, is planning to betray him, so perhaps he should set into motion his plan of locating a suitable replacement. And in the meantime, he needs to find a source inside the Jedi Order who will feed him everything. He has just the person in mind, actually.

Chapter Text

"Windu?" Anakin is gratified to see that Obi-Wan seems as surprised as he is, even if he's hiding it better. "Sidious wants us to capture Windu? Not kill him? And he wants Obi-Wan to help?"

"That is correct," Dooku confirms, nodding stiffly. "I don't know any more than you do. I can only speculate as to his motivations."

"But why me?" Obi-Wan questions, frowning. "If something goes wrong and word gets out, I could lose my credibility as a double agent. Why would he be willing to risk that?"

Dooku's expression tightens. "I think he means it as a test, to see if you're capable. If you fail, if we fail, the punishment will be that much harsher. He would not ask us to do this if he didn't have a good reason. He plays pieces of a game we often cannot fathom or comprehend until much later." The Count doesn't add that it's often too late then, but he doesn't need to.

They all know it.

Anakin and Obi-Wan exchange an uneasy look. It's only been a couple hours since Anakin attempted to begin his lessons with Ahsoka regarding ship engines; the mission seems to have come out of nowhere. Usually, they have more time to prepare beforehand. The invasion of Ryloth is happening right as they speak, and Anakin doesn't really like their odds. They've handled worse, of course, but none where the stakes are so high.

"He won't be easy to capture though, not with his ability to see Shatterpoints," Obi-Wan warns.

"I know," Anakin agrees, "That's why we'll have to set up a trap for him." This is it. This is the moment where he – and Boba, of course – can avenge themselves on the Jedi who killed Jango. If they can capture Windu, they can hopefully get to kill him eventually. Maybe Sidious simply wants information from him. Doubtful, though. Anakin doesn't know what the Sith Master could possibly want with the Jedi Master, but… he isn't complaining. Not right now.

"We have a little time still. We'll need to get to it though."

"Boba deserves to be involved," Anakin decides. "I'm sure we can work something out which includes him. I don't it's fair for us to capture his father's killer without him."

Dooku and Obi-Wan exchange a quick look. "I agree," the Count says at last. "I'll clear it with Sidious, but you should be able to go pick him up yourself."

***

Sidious approves as Anakin had expected he would, so he finds himself en route to Naboo to pick up Boba. Dooku was supposed to comm ahead to tell his mother to be ready, so Anakin won't be doing more than stopping for a couple minutes before leaving. More than anything, he wants to stay there for a bit so he can spend time with his mother. He misses her. But there will time for them to spend together in the future once Sidious is gone.

His mother and Boba are both on the landing platform when Anakin lands the shuttle, and he hurries to disembark, so he can greet his mother. "Mom," he murmurs, hurrying forwards and hugging her. "I'm so glad to see you." He can't help but remember his nightmare from a few days ago, though he tries to shove those memories away. He doesn't want to think about them right now.

"I can say the same," his mother answers, embracing him. "You should be on your way, though. I would like for you to stay a while, but… you know how Sidious will get."

Anakin grimaces at that. Yes, he does know. He knows very well, in fact, so he reluctantly pulls away and gestures to Boba to follow him. Together, they board the shuttle, and Anakin slips back into the pilot's seat. "Did Mom tell you what's happening, vod'ika?" Anakin asks as he flies away from Naboo. They're making a couple jumps to throw off any trackers before going to Ryloth. They'll meet up with Dooku and Obi-Wan on the surface.

"She said we're going after Windu," Boba answers, a look of fierce determination in his dark brown eyes. "What's the plan?"

Personally, Anakin isn't sure how much he likes the plan, especially since he won't be extensively involved, but it should satisfy Boba. "So, the capital city, Lessu, is on a cliff. The only way to reach it is via a plasma bridge. Windu will have to get past that to activate it, allowing the Republic forces to cross. We'll allow them to pass, but we cannot permit them to activate the bridge. I'll protect the controls, while you lure Windu deeper into the city. Obi-Wan and Dooku will be waiting for him, and hopefully, they will be able to defeat him. Capture only."

Boba narrows his eyes. "Can you show me a holomap of the area?"

Anakin feels his lips quirk into a smile at the question. Boba is already thinking strategically. Good. Honestly, he suspects that the mission to capture Windu could fail if not for Boba. The boy is young, and Windu will have no reason to suspect him of anything when he first shows up, unlike with anyone else. Boba is their best bet.

***

Boba has been waiting for this time to come for so long, and now that it's here, it doesn't even seem entirely real. Vader – Anakin, his real name apparently is – had promised him that they would get revenge on that Jedi for what he did. Boba never doubted him for an instant, but he did wish that the time would come faster. Now, it's here, and he's both excited and nervous. Anger is humming through him, and with it, grief. This Jedi took his father from him, and he'll pay. Once he's been captured, everything will be alright again.

Well… Boba would much rather Windu be dead, but that's not part of the plan. However, Vader did promise him that the Jedi would suffer. Boba… doesn't really want to see it, so he'll content himself with the knowledge.

He crouches in the shadows, wearing tattered clothing, including a cloth wrapped around his head to conceal his features. Hopefully, the Jedi, Windu, will think he's simply another civilian who has been oppressed by the Separatists. From what Boba knows of the Jedi, he suspects that Windu will walk right into the trap. Vader had cautioned him to keep his feelings under control as much as possible, so Windu won't become suspicious when Boba leads him to where Obi-Wan and Dooku are waiting. Anyways, it's not like Boba is the only child in the city, although the rest are Twi'leks, for the most part.

He doesn't end up waiting long, at least not when compared with how long he's waited already. It isn't long before he hears the snap-hiss of a lightsaber igniting and the sounds of a struggle against the droids guarding the outside. Then, footsteps come closer, and Boba hears Windu's voice, telling some clones accompanying him, that he'll locate and capture Wat Tambor, while they should secure and activate the plasma bridge. Just as Vader predicted.

Slowly, Boba shuffles out from his hiding spot, carefully peering around the corner. Windu sees him, of course, and he approaches slowly. "What are you doing here, child?" he asks.

"Hiding," Boba answers, shrinking back a little. He's scared, even though he knows he shouldn't be, because what if the Jedi tries to kill him, too? He doesn't want to die. "I know a backdoor route to the droid command center," he offers.

Windu hesitates for a long moment. "Can you show me?"

Now, it's Boba's turn to pause for a few seconds. "Uh huh," he confirms, sliding out and scampering off. "Follow me."

The Jedi follows him, while the clones split off on their own. Boba is worried that Windu suspects something, because he seems… strangely distant and guarded. Or maybe that's just how the Jedi is, he doesn't know. It doesn't take long before Boba leads Windu to the passageway which enters the command center where Obi-Wan and Dooku are waiting. "Up there," he tells Windu, pointing.

The Jedi steps past him, glancing back once before he moves forwards and through the door. Boba listens attentively, and it's not long before Obi-Wan and Dooku confront Windu. "You're on your own, Master Windu," Dooku states, almost gloating. "Prepare to meet your fate."

"I don't think so," Windu counters, and Boba sticks his head through the door in time to see Dooku and Obi-Wan draw their lightsabers and advance on the Jedi Master. He cheers internally as the fight breaks out. All three of them are skilled, immensely so, and Boba watches them in awe. It's a fast and furious duel, Obi-Wan and Dooku pushing Windu onto the defensive. Too bad Vader isn't here. Boba would love to see him face Windu, but apparently, the way Vader fights is something the Jedi knows how to combat with ease. Disappointing. He knows that Vader would have been here if he could be.

The duel ends in a blur of motion and light. Obi-Wan's blue blade slices through the Jedi's right wrist, and he and Dooku level their lightsabers at Windu's neck. He yields because attempting to continue fighting would have resulted in his death. Boba watches as the Jedi is dragged away a prisoner, and he doesn't know why he feels so numb and empty.

This is what he wanted. This is what he joined the mission for. So why doesn't he feel relieved? Why isn't he happy and satisfied that it's all over? Why is the only thing he feels an aching loss and loneliness? It doesn't make any sense.

They leave Ryloth almost immediately, taking a shuttle off-world and letting the Republic find a way to move in and retake the planet. It no longer matters, apparently, since the main reason the Separatists had continued to fight was because Vader's Sith master wanted to lure Windu into the trap and capture him. They succeeded, and the loss of the Jedi will be a great blow to the Republic, or so Dooku says as they leave.

Once they're in hyperspace – Boba didn't actually hear where they're going next – Vader comes to find him. His expression is caring, compassionate, and it makes Boba feel marginally better. "What's troubling you, Boba?" he asks quietly, sitting next to him, close enough that their shoulders are touching. It's grounding.

He lets out a shaky breath, trying to formulate his thoughts. "I got revenge," he states finally, "So why doesn't it feel like it? I… it doesn't even seem to help." To his horror, tears prick at his eyes, and he forces them away. He will not cry. He will not. He's not a little child any longer. "I – I thought I would feel better, but…" He shrugs.

Vader is quiet for a long moment. "Revenge is messy. It's not… easy, because by its very nature, revenge means we are trying to right something we perceive as a wrong," he explains, "And getting revenge cannot undo what's been done. It cannot bring anyone back. It… I guess it doesn't really change or fix anything." From the way his tone changes, it seems as if it's something he's only realizing now. "It is hard to cope with death, but by not trying to move on, we are only hurting ourselves. Obi-Wan has been encouraging me how to learn control by only doing what he would do in the situation."

What he's saying makes sense, even though Boba isn't sure if he's ready or able to move on from his father's death. He wants Windu dead, he wants to him the Jedi himself, but he knows somewhere deep inside of him that it would change nothing. Vader is right. It won't bring his father back, and that, he supposes, is what he wants most. He aches to have his father back, like a part of him was severed abruptly, tearing open wounds which he doesn't even know the depths of himself.

"I miss him," Boba chokes out, voice shaking, and his lack of response is probably an acknowledgement enough that he accepts the truth of Vader's words. Tears blur his eyes again, and they escape before he can stop them.

"Oh, vod'ika," Vader whispers, sounding pained, as he reaches out and wraps his arms around Boba, hugging him tightly. "I know you do, and I miss him, too. You're not alone, young one." It can't bring back his father, but then again, nothing can. Still, knowing that he isn't bearing the burden alone makes it feel more manageable. Vader was never as close with Boba's father as Boba himself was, for obvious reasons, but Vader did care about him. He does care about him still, and he probably always will, just like Boba himself will.

Grief is hard, and the only thing that makes it more manageable is knowing that you're not alone.

***

They detour to Naboo to drop off Boba before continuing to Rattatak where Windu will be confined. No one will be able to find him there, and even if they could, Anakin knows that they won't have the resources to spend. Slowly, bit by bit, the Republic is losing ground. First, they lost a possible allegiance with the Hutts. Now, they've lost an important Jedi Master. The end of the war, he thinks, is pretty much inevitable, even if it'll take many years to get there.

Anakin goes to find Obi-Wan after they leave Naboo. He had chosen to first stay with Boba, given how the child was struggling, but he could sense Obi-Wan's conflict through the Force, though the former Jedi refused to respond to his silent inquiries. Obi-Wan is in one of the cabins, sitting on the floor in a meditative position, though Anakin knows he's not really meditating, even if he's making a valiant effort to do so.

"What's on your mind?" he queries, sitting opposite Obi-Wan and waiting expectantly.

Obi-Wan opens his eyes, something akin to frustration shining in them. "Sidious, the war, the Jedi, you, everything, he answers.

"That was as clear as mud," Anakin answers dryly. "Care to elaborate on any of that?" When Obi-Wan seems reticent, he adds, "You helped me earlier, Obi-Wan. Let me return the favor."

"Is that what it is?" Obi-Wan murmurs half-heartedly. It's nothing like his usual quips. After a moment, he exhales harshly. "It is… about Windu," he admits.

"What about him?" Anakin inquires, trying to keep his body language open and inviting. It's bad enough that he's being screwed up by the war and Sidious; they don't need Obi-Wan to be fighting internally as well. One of them needs to be sane and stable, that person clearly cannot be Anakin, not while Sidious has his eyes on him like this.

"He is well-respected among the Jedi," Obi-Wan answers, "And he knew my former master, Qui-Gon, well. We argued a lot in recent years, because of what happened regarding you, but… I still respected him. I feel… I suppose I feel guilty over betraying him and being involved in his capture like this. I – I hurt him. I cut off his hand during the duel."

Anakin studies him for a moment, before nodding, accepting the words. "I'm sorry," he says quietly. "I don't know what to say to you. I – I'm glad we captured him. I think it helped Boba somewhat to see that seeking revenge like he had been, won't help or make him feel better. And I have no love for Windu – or any of the Jedi, really."

Obi-Wan huffs out something that isn't quite a laugh. "Oh, believe me. I know that. You've never made your distaste of the Jedi a secret, and I don't blame you for harboring anger against them. The Council made a costly mistake, but they are paying for it now, with the war and all."

"Don't distract me," Anakin chides, shaking his head. "I suppose you are also feeling troubled over Windu's fate, whatever it may be."

Obi-Wan sobers a little at that and nods. "I wish I knew what Sidious wanted with him."

"Nothing good," Anakin predicts. "What bothers me most is that we're leaving him on Rattatak with Barriss. I don't trust her." None of them do, actually. They all know that she is far more loyal to Sidious than she is to any of them. It's unfortunate, because making moves against the Sith Master is increasingly difficult with him having a secret agent in their midst. Still, Barriss seems to have gotten the idea that she's not welcome among them – not that she ever tried to be friendly anyways – so she keeps to herself, and on the rare occasions she is on Serenno, she stays in her own quarters and doesn't wander. Thankfully.

There's a short lull of silence as Obi-Wan struggles with something internally. Finally, he sighs, exhaustion visible in his blue-gray eyes. "I – I have been working with the Separatists for a while, but this is different, somehow. I don't know. It's always been you who has led the ground invasions. You have no qualms with killing anyone. I – it is hard for me to fight against the Jedi. For so long, they were always my family, and in many ways, I suppose they still are."

Anakin isn't surprised by the admission, but he is grateful that Obi-Wan is willing to confide in him so much. "I'm Dark, Obi-Wan, and you're not. You're Light. I – I don't want that to change. I'm teaching Ahsoka the Dark Side, but you…" He trails off, unsure how to formulate his thoughts into words. He reaches out, taking one of Obi-Wan's hands and squeezing it. He reaches out to Obi-Wan's Force signature, entwining them together in the Force. "I don't want you to learn it. It would change you, irrevocably, and I don't – I don't want that."

This isn't something they've ever talked about before, and despite Anakin's slight apprehensiveness, he doesn't hesitate to express his thoughts. Obi-Wan is quiet for a moment, before he smiles slightly, genuinely, warmly. "Thank you for telling me that, Anakin," he says, and whatever conflict he had been experiencing seems to fade. "Do you want to meditate with me? I know you don't meditate normally, but… I think it might help you. I know you're struggling after your recent, deep brush with the Dark Side."

Anakin hesitates, but finally shrugs. "Sure," he agrees. "I don't think it will actually help, but we can try." He gives Obi-Wan a half-smile, pulling back and settling down into a meditative position which mimics what he's seen the former Jedi do. "Go on. Show me what to do."

Chapter Text

They think she's loyal to Sidious, and they aren't exactly wrong. She is. Barriss won't regret that either. When she was here on Rattatak, after she was first captured by Skywalker, she had been resistant. She hadn't wanted to listen to him, to let his words manipulate her. But she couldn't deny the seeds of doubt which he had planted in her mind. She couldn't unhear what she had heard. When he put the Sith mask on her, any attempt at reaching out to the Force was met with the Dark Side and visions of terror and death.

Barriss knows that what she saw wasn't really real, but it's jarring all the same. Sometimes, she wakes up from nightmares even now, mind replaying things that she witnessed while there. The most effective way of breaking a Jedi is by breaking their mind not their body. She does not think of herself as broken. She is not broken. She is complete. The Dark Side is merciless and unforgiving, but it also shows the truth. There are no comforting lies in it, only the cold, harsh truth, and she has become accustomed to it by now.

While imprisoned, she had seen visions of her master dying at the hands of the Sith, of the Jedi falling to their own army, of the Sith rising supreme and drowning the galaxy in darkness. And Barriss knew that while the Sith mask on her face had been intentionally dredging up her deepest fears and insecurities, it had not lied to her. It only shown her a reality which could have been. By joining the Sith, by Falling the way she did, she averted the possible future she had seen, or so she hopes.

Even if she didn't, it doesn't matter to her anymore. The Jedi are complacent and corrupt. They are no longer the beacons of light and peace and hope which they once were. They are… arrogant. They think themselves infallible, and they are blind to the truth that they are already falling. By obeying the Senate, they have fallen victim to the manipulations of Sidious himself. They can't back out anymore, and their ever action draws them irrevocably deeper into the web.

Their best option would be to back out entirely and do something drastic, but Barriss already knows that they'll never do that. There will be no peace so long as the Jedi continue to exist. They are an evil which needs to be eradicated and destroyed. They are lost. She is not, though. She can still act. She can still make a difference and being in Sidious' favor will only make it easier for her. In time, she can become his apprentice, and from there, she can usurp him and take the throne of the galaxy for herself. Empress Barriss Offee has a nice ring to it, and she won't misuse her power the way the Jedi are, the way Sidious is and will.

No, she will bring peace, true peace, to the galaxy. That is still a long way off, of course, so in the meantime, she will bide her time and be patient. She will earn the Dark Side and become powerful. She will learn all of her new master's teachings, and she will turn them against his disloyal followers, especially the ringleaders: Dooku and Skywalker. Ahsoka, perhaps, she might leave alive. Ahsoka is young, and she still has much to learn about the galaxy. It is not at all impossible that Barriss might be able to convince her once-friend of the truth. Ahsoka can join her. They can rule together. Supreme.

In the meantime, until her dreams and aspirations can become a reality, Barriss will wait. Sidious wants her to torture and break Windu, so she will. It will be a challenge for her, of course, because Windu is a Jedi Master. He won't break easily. Sidious means this to be a test, and she won't fail it. She won't let him down. What the Sith Master wants with the Jedi, she doesn't know, and nor is it her place to ask.

Still, she has her suspicions. Time may prove her right, or it may prove her wrong. Sidious has always seemed to be one step ahead of everyone else. That's why he's alive, despite Dooku and Skywalker's planned treachery. She can continue to spy on them all as she has been – though she has admittedly found little of note – and she'll continue to wonder why Sidious is even leaving them alive when he knows what they're planning. He has his reasons, and it is not her place to question him, not now and not when he had her murder Mina Bonteri in her sleep.

Barriss stalks through the underground halls to the cavern-like cell where Windu is being held. It's the same cell where she herself was held until she… accepted the truth. Skywalker had been right in everything he said to her. Now, if only he would recognize the futility of fighting their master. Sidious might be maniacal and power-hungry – not really unlike any of them though, she had to admit – but he's the only one in a position to do anything. If he dies, all of this falls apart. That seems to be something that Dooku and Skywalker haven't realized. Or perhaps they simply don't care.

And Barriss doesn't want this to fall apart. The galaxy needs change. It needs to grow. The Jedi must fall, and the Republic along with it. There is a certain wisdom to Sidious' actions. The Dark Side never lies, and it has been showing her the importance of letting nature take its course and allow an Empire to rise in the Republic's place. Sidious is the best person to do that, and Barriss does not think she's being egotistical in thinking that she might be the best person to continue it. Sidious trusts her more than he trusts Dooku and Skywalker. She knows how to play the game, how to act and when the best time to rebel would be. She, unlike the others, is a true Sith.

It is normal for the Sith apprentice to betray the master, but not for the apprentice to put the master's plans in jeopardy, plans which generations of Sith have orchestrated. Now that the Sith are finally approaching the culmination of their plans for a millennium, Barriss doesn't understand why any self-respecting Sith would try to thwart those plans. It is time for the Sith to rise once more, and she will be there when they do.

***

Whatever plans Siri had for continuing her investigation into Vader's identity are upended by Windu's capture a little more than a week after her return to the Temple. He had gone to Ryloth to retake the planet from the Separatists. The mission was a success, but he is now a prisoner. And chances are high that they'll never be able to find him. Jedi have already been dispatched to locate him, and she's still close with many of the Jedi Masters on the Council. Her own former master, Adi Gallia, has been keeping her appraised of the situation.

After her second week of leave time was over, she was immediately dispatched to a far corner of the galaxy to chase down a lead of Windu's possible location. She found nothing. Not on that mission and not on the next two, either. It seems as through Windu is truly gone, and that is… unsettling to say the least. Windu has been on the Council for years, and he is one of the best duelists in the Jedi Order. Having him gone is a huge blow to the Jedi, and Republic as a whole.

In the meantime, Agen Kolar has been temporarily appointed to the Council in Windu's place, because like it or not – and Siri doesn't – the war and life are still going on. None of them can afford to be stuck on the hope that Windu will come back. Hopefully, he will, but there is no guarantee of that. Whatever fate the Separatists and Sith have in store for him, Siri knows it will be nothing pleasant.

She hasn't had time to talk to Padme over the past four weeks, but she's heard that the former Senator is now on Naboo again, staying with her handmaid and best friend, Sabe, who had nearly been killed in the attack on Padme's apartment. She hopes to speak with Padme again sometime soon to check in on her, because she thinks of her as a friend, and besides, Padme could probably use someone else around for a short while, given everything that's happened.

With the chances of locating and rescuing Windu dwindling rapidly, Siri is using her free time on Coruscant to continue the investigation which Master Yoda entrusted to her what feels like a lifetime ago. And so, she is in the barracks with the 501st and her former Padawan, Ferus.

"You've spoken to Captain Del before," Ferus says to her, before looking at the clone. "Captain, Master Tachi is investigating a matter. I would appreciate it if you would be forthright and honest with her about it."

Siri can feel the way Del tenses in the Force. "Of course, sir," he replies. Somehow, she doubts this will be any more productive than before, but she has to try again. She already spoke with him and a few other clones here about Vader. It can't hurt to try another approach though, right?

She withdraws a holodisk, activating it to show a frozen holoimage of Anakin from a security recording from the incident when he rescued Gunray from them. His eyes are glowing yellow, and his lightsaber is poised mid-deflection of the blaster bolts the clones were shooting at him. "Do you recognize this man, Captain?"

Del is unfazed, betraying no emotion, even in the Force, which is truly impressive. "Yes, ma'am," he answers as she knew he would. "He is Anakin Skywalker, the legendary Hero with No Fear among the Separatists."

"He has caused much harm to the Republic," Siri tells the clone. "We need to locate him and to do that, we need information."

Del hesitates. "Why are you telling me this, General? What do you want?" There's a hard edge to his words, and Siri suspects that he'll continue to tell her nothing. But she has to try.

"I want the truth," she answers plainly. "Is he or is he not Vader?"

"I cannot answer that."

"Cannot or will not?" she challenges. "This man has been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of clones. He does not care about you. He will not hesitate to kill any of you to get what he wants. He's dangerous, and it is our duty to stop him."

Del wavers, something almost like… guilt or remorse flickering into the Force for a moment, but he shakes his head. "I'm sorry. I cannot help you."

It's not really a confirmation, but his reticence tells her enough. He is blindly loyal to Vader – as are the rest of the 501st, for whatever reason – and he won't say anything which could hurt him. He can't lie either, because the Jedi would sense it, so he refuses to tell them anything.

Siri takes her leave, going straight to find Master Yoda. She needs to appraise him of the situation, and they need to act. And fast. The longer they wait, the more time the Sith Master will have to carry out his nefarious plans. By learning more about Anakin, they might learn enough which will lead them to the Sith. Or so she can hope.

Yoda is quiet when she finishes telling him everything, and she waits patiently, mind racing through the various possibilities. Is there any way for them to get information out of one of the clones? Perhaps, but she doesn't think that's the way to go about it. If they forcibly question the clones, it could cause problems, especially if the others find out what they did. Besides, they have no reason to employ such heavy-handed techniques. There are other ways, undoubtedly, for them to obtain the necessary information.

"Disturbing this is," Yoda says at last, ears twitching. "Suspected, I did, that Skywalker is Vader. More information we must obtain as to the identity of the Sith. Learn we must how get ahold of the boy the Sith did."

"I agree, Master," Siri murmurs, "But the clones are not being forthcoming. I don't know to whom we should go." Not the Chancellor, that's for sure. Not only is he emotionally tied to Anakin – his demand that the Council rescind the kill-on-sight order was not unexpected, but it's still aggravating nevertheless, since they were forced to comply – but also, the Council doesn't trust him. Siri is not one of them any longer, but she doesn't either. She suspects he might know more than he's letting on.

"To Skywalker's mother we must go," Yoda decides. "Have information that will help us she does. Bring her to the Temple we should. Discuss this with the Council I will."

"As you say," Siri agrees. "I can bring her in with a squad of clones. Just let me know when."

"Clones?" Yoda echoes. "Think it so serious, do you?"

She shifts uneasily. "I don't know," she admits, "But I have a bad feeling about it. The Force is… troubled." If only she could find a way of arranging a meeting with Obi-Wan again. If she does, she would be able to find out everything they need to do. But alas, they don't have that kind of time, and Anakin's mother is a far more easily available source of information.

"Mm… agree with you, I do. Great care we must take." Yoda's expression is grave, and Siri wonders how much he's able to sense. The Dark Side might be clouding everything, but Yoda has always been able to see more clearly than the rest of them. Whatever happens next, Siri knows that bringing in Anakin's mother will change everything. Preferably for the better.

***

"Knight Olin is here to see you, Chancellor."

Sidious schools his expression, telling his secretary to usher the young Jedi in. Olin is a useful tool and nothing more, but the Dark Side is restless. There are things going on which he doesn't know, and he doesn't like it. Perhaps this Jedi can shed some light on it.

Olin enters, bowing. "Your Excellency," he says politely.

"Ah, Ferus, my boy, it is good to see you," Sidious greets him with a grandfatherly smile, resting his arms on the desk and turning his full attention on the Jedi. "What brings you here?"

Even before the Clone Wars began, Sidious had known Olin. Theirs was a loose acquaintanceship, which he had carefully fostered, knowing how useful it could eventually be. He has no intention of turning the Jedi; Olin is far too stuck with his Jedi ideals, but it's been enough for Sidious to worm his way into the Jedi's confidence. For all that Olin pretends and tries to be a "good Jedi," he still feels emotions, and he is… disillusioned by the war. He doesn't really agree with it, and it makes him uncomfortable and unhappy.

Also, Olin is struggling with the recent revelations that his clones are loyal to the mysterious Vader, something which the Jedi confided in him. Sidious is glad that he has been cultivating their relationship, especially now, because while Olin will not come to him about everything, and nor will he tell him all the Jedi secrets, he will speak of some things. Hopefully, now is another one of those times. Sidious would very much like to know what the Jedi are up to.

"We have been searching for the identity of the Sith Master behind this war ever since it started," Olin relates.

Sidious nods. "I am aware. Have you found something then?" He injects a note of hopefulness into his voice, even though he already knows the answer. Olin wouldn't be here if he was under suspicion. Still, if they have a lead, he needs to eliminate it immediately.

"No, sir." He shakes his head. "Not yet, but we have a… possibility."

"Oh?" Sidious raises an encouraging eyebrow, silently prompting Olin to go on.

The Jedi hesitates. "I… It's Jedi business. Nothing… important."

He can't help but frown a little at that, though he's careful to keep his seething rage hidden. "Then why are you here, may I ask?"

Olin lets out a breath. "I just thought you should be appraised of the situation, Your Excellency."

Apparently, whatever "lead" the Jedi have is one which they don't want to share with him. With some careful prodding though, he might be able to figure something out. "I must confess, I am curious about how you managed to uncover something about this… Sith. I thought you had no leads, what with Anakin being unavailable."

Olin opens his mouth, pauses, and then nods. "I know it must be hard for you, and since you're asking… do you know of anyone other than Dooku with whom Skywalker had contact?"

Sidious shakes his head with a feigned regret. "I do not. I have yet to find anything. I have spoken to Shmi about it, and she, too, knows of nothing which might help."

Something akin to disappointment flickers through Olin's eyes. "It's a pity, but I suppose the least we can do is confirm that. Double-checking everything, you know?" He freezes a moment later, as if he said something he shouldn't have.

Sidious turns the words over in his mind, suspicion rising. A lead indeed. "Of course," he agrees pleasantly, not giving any indication that he figured out the Jedi are planning to go speak with Shmi. He cannot – will not – be able to permit such a conversation to occur. Shmi is clever and smart, and if she gets the chance to betray him, even at the cost of her own life, she'll do it. Worse, he imagines she could do it in such a way that he might not even realize it until it's too late. Oh, he has all of his contingency plans in place, but if the Jedi team up with Dooku… there will be little he can do.

He can use the clones against them. The droids too, perhaps, if he still has the ability. And he might be able to bring down the Republic – not that it could even be attributed to him anyways, because it's already falling. The risks now outweigh the benefits, and Shmi is a liability.

How unfortunate.

Chapter Text

"Are you sure about this?" Rex can't help but ask as Asajj pilots the shuttle down towards the surface of Dathomir. The planet is giving off creepy vibes which are only enhanced by the redness of it. It seems unnatural. And, of course, it's a planet of witches. Like Asajj. She might not have been raised one of them, but she still is – or was – one of them. Still, that doesn't do much to make Rex feel any more comfortable.

She purses her lips, clearly trying not to laugh at him. "You've only asked me that five times, Rex," she teases lightly. "Are you sure about this? You didn't have to come with me, you know."

He knows that. He can't even explain why he did come. He… hadn't wanted her to go alone, and he thought she might need the support. Besides, Dooku hasn't been keen on sending Asajj off to Dathomir on her own, even if she is perfectly capable of caring for herself. Rex had volunteered, because – because… he doesn't know. He has no idea how to put his feelings towards the Nightsister into words. She is a friend. She has been there for him in the past, and he knows that she will be in the future as well. He would like to repay her for that. And maybe there's something else, something… he doesn't know how to label.

"I wanted to," he shrugs, trying to sound nonchalant.

She gives him a sideways glance as she lands the shuttle in the middle of a clearing, in between the strange-looking fauna of the planet. Something Rex can't quite interpret – gratitude perhaps? Or something else – flashes through her blue eyes, and she nods, standing. "Come on then."

They disembark to the strange sounds of the wildlife on Dathomir. Asajj steps forwards, walking towards some unknowable location, and Rex follows her, feeling uneasy, hands slipping towards his blasters. He doesn't like this planet. At all. Suddenly, Nightsisters jump down all around them, surrounding them. The witches are dressed in red, and they're all carrying weapons of some type or other.

"We don't like strangers," one of them hisses, pointing a sword at Asajj and Rex.

Asajj narrows her eyes. "I'm not a stranger."

The Nightsisters ignore her, snatching away her lightsabers and taking Rex's blasters. Oh, this isn't good. This is the last time he'll ever go to a planet of witches. "Prepare to die," warns one of them, and Rex braces himself for a fight.

"Stop!" calls a strangely echoing voice, and everyone turns towards a taller Nightsister, wearing clothing in a style that makes Rex think she's the leader. "She is one of us. Her companion is under her protection. Take them to the village."

The Nightsisters begin murmuring amongst themselves, obviously surprised, but Asajj pays them no mind, her eyes fixed on the leader. "Mother Talzin," she realizes, bowing her head in greeting before gesturing to Rex to follow as they all begin walking to the village.

"At last, you have returned," Mother Talzin says, "And you are safe again. I remember the day we were forced to give you up to protect the clan. Your sacrifice has never been forgotten. I had hoped you would find your way to us sooner."

Asajj's expression tightens. "We're not here to stay," she clarifies, "But I need your help."

"You have but to ask."

Rex really, really does not like these witches. At all. But he won't say so. Asajj seems similarly ill-at-ease, though she's hiding it well. These were her people though, so it makes sense that she wouldn't have that hard a time being here. Or maybe it simply makes it harder because she never grew up here. Coming back to a home she hardly remembers must be difficult, and not for the first time, Rex wonders what it's like for nat-borns; he's only ever known what it's like to have siblings, brothers. He doesn't know what it's like to have parents or children or any of that.

"I need to learn more about the Dark Side," she explains. "Dooku is… a Sith, but he was not raised a Sith, and I know there is much that his master is hiding from him. I want to know more."

"There is someone," Mother Talzin tells her, moving a hand over an orange orb in the middle of the table. Rex is doing his best not to stare at anything, because these are witches. Will he be cursed if he offends them somehow? Best not to tempt fate and find out. "He lives in the Outer Rim, in exile. He was once a part of this clan before he was taken by Darth Sidious." Rex glances at the orb when he notices that Asajj is staring into it, and he sees a red and black Zabrak's face. Creepy. "You will find him. He will teach you everything you need to learn to become even more powerful."

"How?" Asajj asks, frowning. "How will I find him?"

Rex gets the feeling that Mother Talzin is pleased by the question, because she lifts a strange necklace of some sort, holding it out towards Asajj. "This talisman has been imbued with the power of our clan. It will be your compass."

Slowly, Asajj takes the chain, slipping it around her neck and looking down at the circular disk which glows softly for a moment. Nope. No way is he touching that thing. "You have an important destiny to fulfill, Asajj Ventress," Mother Talzin adds. "Go. You will know where to find him."

"I will return, Mother," Asajj promises, eyes flicking towards Rex. She inclines her head towards Mother Talzin before beckoning to Rex to follow her. They leave silently, returning to their shuttle and taking off.

"I didn't think we'd leave so soon," Rex admits. The 'but I'm glad' goes unsaid.

Asajj laughs. "There will always be surprises," she replies cheerfully. "Now, you keep this shuttle running while I go meditate to figure out where we're headed next."

***

They end up going to Lotho Minor, one of the major dumping grounds of trash in the galaxy. In some ways, it's sad to see how badly the planet was wrecked, but Asajj pushes that thought from mind, telling Rex to remain with the shuttle – who knows what's out there – and going in search of the person Mother Talzin sent her to find. Based on what she was told and what she knows about the Sith, she must be searching for… Maul? That doesn't make any sense though because he was dead. He was killed by Obi-Wan on Naboo, or so she's heard.

Yet, at the same time, Asajj recognized the facial markings, and she knows what Maul looks like. Sort of. Whether it makes sense or not, she's going to find this… Sith. He, of everyone, should be able to teach her what she needs to know. She doesn't know or understand why the Force has guided her here, but she knows, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that is has. Her initial resolution to go to Dathomir to learn more about the Dark Side was cemented further when she tried meditating and connecting with the Force, and sensed that, for whatever reason, this was the path she was meant to take.

And so, here she is.

She finds Maul… or she finds what's left of him. He's half-mechanical, and his lower half looks spider-like almost. Gross. But, worse, he seems to be insane. "We need to leave," Asajj says loudly, on top of Maul's – it does seem like him, and he feels like a Sith in the Force – insane ramblings.

"Always remember I am fear. Always remember I am hunter. Always remember I am filth. Always remember I am nothing." Maul's words send a pang through her, because is that how Sidious trains his apprentices? Does he really teach them to be subservient slaves to him? It's a wonder that Anakin is different and sane, still.

"Follow me," she orders, lacing her words with the Force, feeling pleased when Maul actually obeys, scurrying after her as she exits from the underground cavern, heading back towards where the shuttle is waiting.

"He took them," Maul mutters. "He took them. The Jedi. He took them."

This is going to be a long trip.

"I don't ask for mercy, Master. Mercy is a lie, a delusion of the weak to think themselves strong. I ask not for mercy… But the chance… And through the filth, through the grief, Jedi! Revenge. I must have revenge."

Oh yay. So, he's that kind of Sith. Delightful.

Asajj ignores him entirely as she leads him onto the shuttle, leaving him in the main hold and heading to the cockpit. "I found him," she tells Rex, feeling herself relax in his presence. "I think it's Maul, Sidious' first apprentice who Obi-Wan was thought to have killed. But he's insane. I hope Mother Talzin can fix that, or I'll kill him myself."

The clone does his best not to laugh at her, but he doesn't entirely succeed. "That bad?"

"You have no idea."

***

Asajj is doing her best not to scream as she angles the ship down towards Dathomir. From the hold, even though the cockpit door is closed, she can hear Maul… singing. Or chanting. Or something. Rex has long since given up trying to understand how Maul could help her, and to be honest, so has she. Frankly, she has no idea what Maul is saying, and she doesn't want to know.

When she and Rex go to drag the insane ex-Sith off the shuttle, he refuses to leave, cowering in a corner and muttering to herself. The only word she can pick out is 'Kenobi.' Which… oh, that's not good. He was talking about revenge earlier, and everything suddenly falls into place. He wants to get revenge on Obi-Wan. Anakin will never allow that. She will never allow that. All she needs to do is learn from him. Then, she can dispose of him, so he doesn't threaten their plans for the future, unless he agrees to help them destroy Sidious.

"Stay here," she grumbles finally, leaving with Rex to find Mother Talzin.

She meets them as they approach the village, seeming quite pleased. Obviously, she already knows they succeeded, and she had probably expected it, too. "You found him. I knew you would," she states.

Asajj crosses her arms. "He's insane. I hope you can fix that."

Mother Talzin smiles. "Of course. That is why I asked you to find him. Come, let us fix what has been broken."

***

Asajj waits near the doorway with Rex while Mother Talzin and the rest of the Nightsisters go about using their magick to restore Maul's mind and body. She approaches as Maul sits up, a look of lucidity in his yellow eyes that was missing before. Hopefully, all of this will have been worth it, especially since she can feel how strong Maul is with the Force.

"Maul," she states neutrally, and he looks up at her, slowly rising to his feet. His legs are mechanical now, though they do not look remotely Zabrak.

"Who are you?"

"I am Asajj Ventress," she introduces herself, "And I wish for you to teach me more of the Dark Side. I want to learn more, so I can destroy Sidious."

He is quiet for a long moment. "The Force feels out of balance," he notes.

"The Clone Wars have begun," she answers with a shrug. "There is a war now."

"Oh, yes. So it began without me," he murmurs, something dark in his voice. "I was apprentice to the most powerful being in the galaxy once. I was destined to become so much more, but I was robbed of that destiny by the Jedi, by Obi-Wan Kenobi. I want revenge."

She gives him an unimpressed look. "And what of Sidious? He left you for dead."

"Him too," Maul concedes.

"Then will you teach me?"

The Sith – former Sith – pauses for a long moment, studying her. "Yes, I will."

***

After nearly four weeks of training, Asajj is thoroughly worn out. Her routine the day is pretty much the same, and she spends almost all of her waking hours with Maul, learning more about the Dark Side and lightsaber combat. Even though it hasn't been that long, all things considered, she can already feel her powers growing. She hopes that her new skills will be helpful when she returns to Dooku. She has kept in contact with both Dooku and Anakin, and she's told them about her training under Maul. Both are wary but hopeful. She doesn't have much longer until she needs to leave and return to helping Dooku, though.

Maul still doesn't know what her role is in the Clone Wars – or so she hopes – and he hasn't really asked her any questions. He takes the training seriously, and he's a pretty good teacher. While Asajj had had her doubts about it in the beginning, given that he was trained by Sidious, he actually knows how to explain things in a way that makes sense to her.

When she isn't with Maul, she's with Rex. He's the only other person she's with here since they're currently staying in an isolated place on Dathomir so she can devote herself to her training fully. As the days have dragged by, she can feel the connection between them deepening. Their friendship is growing closer and deeper. It's… different, but she likes it.

And, of course, just when everything seemed to be going well, it all comes crashing down. Asajj doesn't even know exactly how it happened, but Maul comes prowling towards the tree under which she and Rex are sitting, talking about her new skills and the best way for her to put them to use when they return home.

"Witch," hisses Maul angrily, and Asajj stiffens, jolting to her feet at his tone. He's often dark and angry, but never like this. Never at her. "You lied to me," the Sith accuses heatedly.

She's more than a little taken aback by the accusation. "What are you talking about?" she demands, sensing more than seeing Rex standing behind her, hands falling towards his blasters – not that there's much he could do against Maul anyways if he attacked her.

"Kenobi. You know him," Maul says sharply.

Asajj narrows her eyes. "I do," she agrees, "And I didn't tell you because it wasn't important. Sidious is the primary threat." She pauses for a moment, trying to gentle her voice. She might be protective of Obi-Wan because Anakin cares about him, but she's not so blind that she can't see how much the former Jedi hurt Maul. "I know what he did to you," she continues, "And I know what you did to him. You were fighting. It was war. You both hurt each other. If you continue with your incessant pursuit of revenge, it will destroy you. Obi-Wan has powerful friends."

Maul glares. "Including you."

"Yes," she admits grudgingly, "But I was referring to Anakin, actually. He is the strongest Force sensitive, stronger than either you or me. If you do go after Obi-Wan, you'll have to go through Anakin, and trust me when I say that he will kill you slowly and painfully. It's not worth it. You should focus your efforts on Sidious instead."

The ex-Sith is radiating anger at an almost disturbing level, but she doesn't let it intimidate her, even if she doesn't think she could necessarily defeat him if it comes down to a fight. "He destroyed me. I survived because of my hatred. My hatred kept my spirit intact. I will have revenge," Maul seethes.

"At the cost of your life?" she retorts sharply. "What good is revenge if you're dead?"

That seems to make him pause because he doesn't immediately reply to her. "I will not die."

"You will," she promises, "And I will help Anakin stop you if I must." Something like betrayal flashes across his face, but it's gone before she has a chance to analyze it. "Leave Obi-Wan alone," she presses, before he can say something else, "And I guarantee you that he will leave you alone as well. Don't forget that you killed his master. I think both of you have reason to be angry, but this… feud will solve nothing. I say you should end it."

And she resolutely refuses to think about how much like a Jedi she probably sounds right now. It's simply a matter of practicality. There's nothing else staying her hand.

"Leave." Maul's voice is low, vibrating with anger, "And don't come back. I don't want to see you ever again, witch."

It stings for some reason, maybe because she had thought they had… something. It was never a friendship, but perhaps, it was a mutual respect of one another. It's not a promise not to come after Obi-Wan, but it's not… not, either. Regardless, it seems that her lessons are now over, but still, she bows her head to Maul, showing an uncharacteristic display of respect. "If that is what you want," she agrees.

She moves towards the direction of where the shuttle has been located for the past few weeks, Rex following her. Maul lets her go, and he doesn't make a move to attack her either. Maybe, regardless of how much he doesn't want to admit it, he agrees with her and accepts the truth of her words. Deep down, he has to know that she's right.

"That was… unexpected," Rex comments as they slip into the cockpit together and take off from Dathomir, probably for the last time. She doubts she'll ever be back, at least not for a while.

Asajj hums an agreement to his words, but they don't actually talk until after they've made the jump to hyperspace, and she's sent a message to Dooku, informing him briefly about what transpired. "I could have learned more, I suppose, but I might know enough to make a difference," she tells Rex as they sit side-by-side in the galley. Their shoulders are touching lightly, and it's sending a tingle of warmth through her.

"I couldn't really say," he replies with a half-teasing smile. "I don't have the same abilities that you do. So… what will we do now?"

She shrugs. "I guess we'll go back to Raxus – that's where we're headed now, and I suppose I'll go back to doing missions for Dooku." There's a part of her which doesn't want to go back, and she can't really explain why. She wants to stay here with Rex, just the two of them, for some time longer.

Rex nods, and from the unnamed emotion in his eyes, Asajj thinks that he might feel the same as her. "I hope to see you more frequently though?" It's phrased as a question, and she realizes that he is… apprehensive. And maybe a bit regretful.

"Definitely," she whispers, leaning a little closer. Their eyes meet, and she knows that she's not alone in feeling this… whatever it is. Her heart is pounding a little faster than normal, and she wants – she wants things she's never wanted before, things she teased Anakin for wanting. Rex doesn't move or pull away when she tilts her head slightly, and slowly, she closes the gap between them, brushing their lips together lightly.

The moment is broken before it even begins when, even light-years away, Asajj hears the scream. She stiffens, jolting upright with a startled intake of breath. "Anakin!" she breathes, eyes darting to Rex who seems uncertain – and maybe a little confused. "Something happened to Anakin," she tells him urgently. She just doesn't know what.

Chapter Text

It's been around three weeks – half a month – since the mission to Ryloth, and after a series of minor skirmishes, Death Squadron is being sent to Kamino. Finally. Anakin couldn't be more relieved, because it means that they'll be able to implement the plans they've spent so long preparing. The war has only gone on for scarcely half a year – if even – and it's already causing massive damage all across the galaxy. The Republic is struggling heavily, especially with so many of its supply lines cut off or vulnerable due to the Hutt's alliance with the Separatists.

Kamino is blockaded by Republic Star Destroyers when Death Squadron comes out of hyperspace, but Anakin is unconcerned. They already planned for this, and he imagines – hopes – that the Republic will suspect nothing. Both sides open fire on one another, fighter squadrons flying out to attack. Once the transport ships Anakin brought are destroyed, the debris will fall down to the planet, allowing them to assemble the attack craft. He – and the others – will go down to the surface in fighters, leaving a tactical droid in charge of the space battle, since Asajj is still on Dathomir. Hopefully, the Republic won't even know what hit it.

There are Jedi here on the surface, but Anakin is ready. Obi-Wan and Ahsoka will be a distraction while he carries out the most important part of the mission. He has to hack into the computer system and add Order 501 to the inhibitor chips. Secretly, of course, because Sidious cannot be permitted to learn the truth. Officially, he is to destroy the DNA samples here which will bring the production of more clones to a halt. That's a good thing, because it means the Republic will have fewer soldiers, and Rex will have fewer brothers who are sent to die. Also, it's in line with Sidious' plans; he seems to want the Separatists to win, which is already happening, slowly but surely.

Crushing the Republic, system by system, taking planet after planet… it could take years. It will take years, but it will break whatever spirit of resistance is left. If it was anyone other than Sidious in control, Anakin would wholeheartedly devote himself to such a thing. The Republic is corrupt. It needs to be destroyed. The Jedi needs to go with it.

With the battle raging, Anakin waits until he sees the transports taking heavy damage before he gives the order for Obi-Wan and Ahsoka to join him in their fighters in the space battle outside. Three small fighters should be able to slip past enemy lines fairly easily and get down to the surface to meet up with the Separatist forces below. They'll be informed when the time is ready.

Anakin lets himself fall into the Force, spinning his fighter through space as he shoots down all the enemy clone fighters in his path, making a run against the lead Republic Star Destroyer, shooting down at it, before turning away and spinning back to attack again. He reaches out briefly towards Obi-Wan and Ahsoka, checking on them. They're still okay, radiating concentration, and in Obi-Wan's case: guilt. He doesn't want to be doing this, but it's an order. Sidious wanted all of them to go down to the planet. He wanted Obi-Wan to be there, probably because he would be forced to fight the Jedi and maybe even kill them.

It isn't that long, all things considered, before the droids signal Anakin that the assault craft are ready and heading towards their targets. "It's time," he says to Obi-Wan and Ahsoka through the comm, twisting away from the fight and plunging downwards towards the surface of Kamino. Their fighters join him, and they hide in the thick clouds from the pursuing clone fighters, shooting them down and covering each other.

They land on the edge of a landing platform, behind the rows of droids swarming the facility. Anakin gives Rogue one last look before he jumps out. "Take the fighters out of here, buddy," he instructs, patting a wing with his mechanical hand. "Keep them safe. I'll contact you when we're ready for a ride out of here."

The fighter makes a sound of acknowledgement before remotely connecting to Obi-Wan's and Ahsoka's fighters, taking all three of them out of there. As one, they draw their lightsabers, charging forwards into the fray. Ahsoka's radiating an excitement, probably because of how close their success is, while Obi-Wan is more reserved about it.

"Make a diversion for me," Anakin calls to them, extinguishing his blade and taking a running leap, flipping over the lines of droids and clones alike, landing in a crouch on the ledge of the building. He climbs along the side of it, jumping up to the roof and walking along the wet surface as he heads towards his destination, keeping his Force signature hidden. The Jedi might sense him here, but they won't know where he is, which is what matters.

He trusts Obi-Wan and Ahsoka; he knows that they'll cover for him, do whatever they must to keep the Jedi and clones distracted. At some point, he slips into a backdoor entrance to the facility, pulling up his hood and moving through the halls like a specter of darkness. He knows his way around here well, having been here so frequently. It's not necessary for him to have a map of the facility.

No one sees Anakin as he enters the DNA room of the facility. This part of the mission comes first, especially since planting the explosives will give him another opportunity for a distraction if needed. He attaches all of the bombs around the room, careful to ensure that the radius of the explosion doesn't cause damage to the rooms where the clone embryos are. The adults are soldiers, and Anakin will… kill them if he must, but the others are not even born. They're babies. He won't hurt them.

Once the bombs are planted, he heads towards the main data terminal. He was here during his last visit to Kamino, and because of the attack, all of the Kaminoans are likely hiding in protected bunkers, so he has free reign of the place.

***

Ahsoka loses track of Obi-Wan in the chaos, focusing on protecting herself from the clones, when a blue blade flashes towards her. The Jedi are finally here. She blocks the slash instinctively, turning to see a female Mikkian Jedi who she vaguely recognizes. Tiplee. Her twin sister, Tiplar, is fighting droids a distance away. Across the platform, Obi-Wan is dueling Shaak Ti. Ahsoka is on her own.

Anakin has trained her for this, though. She is more than prepared. Falling into her normal stance, Ahsoka wields both of her lightsabers, swinging at the Jedi Master. Tiplee is not the first Jedi Ahsoka has fought, and she won't be the last either. They're evenly matched, with Tiplee maybe being a little bit better. She is older, more experienced, and for all of Ahsoka's training, she's young, only an apprentice.

Ahsoka grunts as she's shoved backwards, and she backpedals, catching herself and ducking under the Jedi's next strike, parrying the next effortlessly. She's small, and she can use that to her advantage. Right now, she doesn't think she'll have a choice but to kill. Anakin won't be able to save her this time, like he was in the past when she fought Ferus. She nearly died then. She won't let the same happen again.

Resolve bolstered, Ahsoka reaches for the Dark Side consciously, hardly the first time she's done so, letting it flow through her, filling her with power. In a flurry of attacks, she pushes Tiplee backwards, forcing her to retreat. The Force blares a warning, and she ducks barely in the nick of time as a green lightsaber swings down at her. Tiplar. Oh great. She can't fight two Jedi. Flipping backwards, Ahsoka shifts direction, leading them towards the edge of the landing platform. When she gets closer, she throws out a hand, Force shoving Tiplee backwards. The Jedi Master stumbles and slides backwards off the edge with a startled cry.

Ahsoka wastes no time in throwing herself into the duel with Tiplar. Anakin is counting on her. That alone is enough to motivate her. With a series of brutal, deadly strikes, she drives Tiplar back, scoring a couple minor hits on the Jedi's body, though nothing serious enough to slow her down significantly. The Jedi shoves her backwards with the Force, leaping forwards to try and injure her fatally. Ahsoka crosses her blades in front of her, halting the downwards stroke, and when Tiplar shoves down harder, Ahsoka kicks her off, sending her sprawling a few feet away.

They both spring to their feet, leaping at one another. They collide mid-air, lightsabers crashing again in a saberlock, neither side gaining even when they hit the landing platform again. Maybe Ahsoka should try something else…? So, she pivots, drawing on the Dark Side and shoving the Jedi Master backwards. She skids into a group of droids, which instantly turn their blasters on here. She blocks most of the bolts in time, but not all of them; some of them slip through, hitting her, as she cuts down the droids as through, they're no more than a nuisance, turning back to Ahsoka again.

This ends here and now. It must. Ahsoka isn't nearly skilled enough to continually hold off against this Jedi, especially not when she expects that Tiplee will be back soon; she didn't feel her die, after all. She springs forwards, and Tiplar is definitely slower now, having been worn down by the injury she suffered from the droids, and Ahsoka finally finds an opening, stabbing her blade into the Jedi's side. She stumbles, going down, dying. For a moment, Ahsoka feels frozen, an icy regret creeping over her. This is the first Jedi she's actually killed, and she doesn't like how it makes her feel. At all. How does Anakin stand it?

"No!" Tiplee cries, and the next thing Ahsoka knows, the Jedi Master is lunging towards her, intent on avenging her twin sister. Not good.

Ahsoka backtracks, moving towards where she feels Obi-Wan fighting a distance away. She could use his help right about now, and she knows when to fight and when to retreat. Now is the time to retreat, so she keeps moving through the battlefield and Tiplee keeps following her, no matter how dangerous and suicidal it is. Ahsoka can't deny feeling guilty, because she can only imagine how it would feel to lose a sibling like that, especially one with whom one is so close. She would do anything, kill anyone, if they took Anakin from her, after all.

Reaching out through the Force, Ahsoka tugs urgently on the weak bond she and Obi-Wan still share, conveying her need for his assistance. She feels him respond at the same moment as she feels Shaak Ti's death in the Force. A quick glance sideways reveals the Togruta Master's dead body falling to the platform, Obi-Wan standing over her, breathing heavily. He doesn't waste a second though, leaping towards her and coming to her defense.

With him here, Ahsoka doesn't feel quite so tense – and scared. For all the problems they have had, and for all that she considers Anakin her master, she respects and cares for Obi-Wan too. It seems strangely… right that they be working together here, fighting side-by-side. He took her as a Padawan, and she's grateful for that.

It's easy enough for them to defeat Tiplee, and before Obi-Wan can turn away to move on to the next task, Ahsoka reaches out, catching his sleeve. She wants to tell him, needs to tell him. "Obi-Wan," she says, and he pauses, looking back at her with a raised eyebrow. His internal conflict is obvious, even if he's struggling to hide it – and she knows why, because he killed a Jedi. "I – I just wanted you to know that – that I am grateful to you for taking me a Padawan. Maybe I didn't always show it the way I should have, but I – I do care about you."

His expression softens, and he gives her a small, genuine smile. "I know," he replies gently. "I know that, Ahsoka, and I am glad that I was able to train you for the short time I did. I care about you, too." He lets those words linger for a moment before nodding to the raging battle all around them. "Anakin is counting on us." Together, side-by-side, they step forwards into the fray.

***

Anakin makes it to the main data terminal without many delays, and he immediately sets about getting into the system, fingers flying over the screen as he works his way in, opening himself up to the Force to tell him what to do. He can feel the deaths of the Jedi who were here, which means that he'll have that much more time.

But then, "Who are you?"

He jumps, not having heard or felt the approach, turning to see a young clone peering around the corner, staring at him with wide, brown eyes. He – no, she – has blonde hair, a chain around her forehead marking her as a medical assistant.

The girl's eyes narrow. "You're not supposed to be here," she accuses.

Anakin holds up his hands slowly. "It's okay, little one," he assures her. "I'm trying to help you and your brothers. Can you tell me your name?"

She hesitates, seeming to be trying to figure out if she should answer. "Omega," she says at last.

"Okay, Omega, I'm Anakin. I can see that you're… a medical assistant. Probably for Nala Se, right?"

Omega nods, biting her lip, eyes darting around as if she's trying to figure out if she should run or try to sound an alarm. He needs to hurry. He needs to calm her and finish his mission, or all of this will have been for nothing.

"All of the clones have inhibitor chips in their minds. Did you know that?" he asks.

Omega nods again. "They're supposed to be to make them less aggressive, but they can do more than that, I think. I don't know any details."

"They can be used to control their minds and force them to act against their will," Anakin explains seriously, and her eyes widen with shock and horror. "I'm trying to add in another order so that if someone does that to them, I can stop it. I don't know what the frequency is – if there even is one – to overwrite and shut down the chips permanently, so I'm doing what I can."

"Why?" she inquires, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "Why would you do that?"

"Because I care about you and your brothers," Anakin answers, trying to quell the pang of guilt that goes through him when he thinks about the many clones that he's killed. "I – one of my friends is Rex. He's a clone, too. I promised I would help him, and he wants all of you to be free. When I have the chance, I'll come back here, Omega, and I'll take you away from this place if you want to leave. I'll take you and all your brothers. You'll be free."

He owes them that much at least, after everything he's done to them. Besides, on Tatooine, he had long wanted to free slaves. He hasn't done that yet, but there will be time in the future once they escape from under Sidious' thumb. And that time will be very soon because they're finalizing all of their plans. This was the last major thing – other than his mother's slave chip – which was keeping them in their position.

Omega stares at him with wide eyes, and he can feel her indecision. She wants to believe him, but she's afraid to. She's so young, so… naïve, in many ways. She's a child, and she deserves better. So much better. "I want that," she whispers finally, blinking away a sudden sheen of tears in her eyes. She doesn't cry though. "I want that so much."

Anakin smiles at her. "Then it will happen. I promise you." And this is one promise which he has no intention of breaking. Maybe it will be some time, but he will come back for Omega and for her brothers. They deserve it. "Now, can you help me?"

"Yes," she decides, only hesitating for a moment. "What do you want me to do?"

"You've helped Nala Se, so you must know how to use her computer system. It's giving me some trouble." He gestures, and she tiptoes over, leaning forwards next to him to peer at the screen. After a moment, she reaches out, shyly touching the screen to get past the programming that was blocking Anakin and giving him some trouble.

Once he's past it, it only takes him a few moments to make the appropriate changes and download Order 501 to the database. Anakin double checks to ensure that everything is working before closing out and clearing all traces of his activity. His heart is hammering wildly, success flooding through him. Somehow, it worked. Their biggest hurdle has been crossed, and from here, everything should be easy.

"Thank you, Omega, for helping me," he tells her sincerely with a smile. "Now, I'm certain you didn't see me at all, so I'll be leaving." He winks at her, and she grins up at him, a level of truth and faith in her eyes which he rarely sees. It – she – reminds him of Boba.

"Bye, Anakin," she calls after him as he darts out of the data terminal area and heads back towards the exit, contacting Obi-Wan and Ahsoka on the way and telling them that it's time to pull out. He waits until all three of them are clear of the facility – to make retreat easier – before pushing the button to blow up the DNA room. He can't help but smile with satisfaction as he feels the facility tremble beneath him. The Republic will be in chaos and for now, there will be no more clones being produced. It's a major win for them all.

Chapter Text

Sidious considered the mission a success, so much so that he allowed all three of them – surprisingly – to take a week off and go to Naboo. Anakin is excited, because he's missed his mother so much, and this will be the last thing they need to do before they disappear. Everything is ready. Once they arrive on Naboo, Obi-Wan will use his knowledge of Force healing to locate the slave chip, and he'll then remove it. It will be dangerous and risky, of course, but the alternative is waiting for the indefinite future.

Anakin refuses to do that. Once his mother is freed, all five of them will leave Naboo and rendezvous with Death Squadron – which will include the clones – and they'll be able to disappear together. In a galaxy this big, it will be relatively easy to hide away from the prying eyes of the Republic and Separatists, both.

He's buzzing with a hidden excitement, his relief at the nearness of freedom making the Light Side actually reachable for the first time in a while. That alone is enough to calm him, the Force offering a gentle current of comfort as they travel through hyperspace. They haven't actually talked about the aftermath of the mission, but Anakin knows that they're all pleased about it. Well, for the most part. Obi-Wan and Ahsoka both killed Jedi there for the first time, and he knows both are struggling to cope with the guilt, Obi-Wan especially.

He'll have to deal with that, but first, he can talk to Ahsoka. She's right here, next to him, in the co-pilot's seat, while Obi-Wan is allegedly meditating in one of the cabins. Anakin doesn't believe it – not when he can feel the raging emotions in the former Jedi. "How are you holding up?" Anakin asks quietly.

Ahsoka shrugs, expression oddly blank as she tilts her head back and stares up at nothing in particular. "I'm not sure," she admits. "I regret it, of course. I… wish I didn't do it, but I know, intellectually, that it had to be done. It's… different than it is with the clones because the Jedi are… were where I grew up. I was one of them. It's not easy to fight and kill them like that."

For a moment, Anakin wishes he could relate to that. He has no idea what it would be like. He's always seen the Jedi has enemies, and before that, as untouchable saviors who were no more than a concept to him. He's never known them as people, and he regrets that. He regrets that his judgement is so impaired, having been raised a Sith. "I – this is war, Ahsoka. I don't like sending you into situations like that, but… if we aren't willing to do what it takes to win, we risk losing everything we're trying to protect."

"I'll be okay," she assures him, reaching out and squeezing his hand. "I just need a little time to come to terms with what I did. It had to be done, and I know that if I hadn't, they would have killed me. It was… almost like self-defense?"

Anakin nods slowly. "You're not wrong about that. If you want some time to yourself, I think I'll go check on Obi-Wan."

"Please do," Ahsoka replies. "I think he needs someone to talk to."

He absolutely agrees.

***

Obi-Wan is meditating; well, he's trying to meditate, that is. He hasn't struggled this much with meditating in a long time. No matter how hard he tries, he can't get the images out of his head. He can't get rid of the feeling of Shaak Ti's death. It's stupid, because even Ahsoka isn't being affected this way, and she killed both of the other Jedi Masters who had been present. But for some reason, killing a Jedi Council member has shaken Obi-Wan to his core. He's struggling to find balance, to find a way to ignore the Dark which is calling to him.

Now, he finally understands exactly why Anakin gave in to the Dark Side the way he did after he killed the tribe of Tusken Raiders. Even if he refuses to do so, he is sorely tempted if it would make the guilt stop for just a moment. He's slipping, but he won't let go. He won't, because Anakin doesn't want him to. Anakin told him how much it means to him that Obi-Wan remain Light, and so, he'll do his best to hold on.

It's – it was war. He was fighting for his life, and he's lucky that he was even able to defeat Shaak Ti like that. But it still hurts to know that he ended her life. She didn't deserve that. None of the Jedi did. They're not evil; they're simply misguided. They do their best, even if they can't always do what they need to do. Obi-Wan doesn't protest to fighting against the Jedi in this war, because for one, Sidious has ordered it, and for two, he knows that complying and having some free will in his actions is better than doing nothing and sitting on the sidelines.

"Obi-Wan?"

He opens his eyes, giving up on the pretense of meditation, looking up at Anakin who is standing in the doorway. After hesitating, Anakin steps inside, letting the door close behind him and sitting in front of Obi-Wan. "I'm fine," Obi-Wan says automatically.

One side of Anakin's mouth curls up into a mirthless smile. "Well clearly," he deadpans, "Because it is entirely normal for you to struggle with meditation." He shakes his head, expression becoming sober. "I know you're not alright. I wasn't alright when I killed my first Jedi. I had been told, by that point, for years that they were not good, but I still didn't entirely believe it. That came later."

"Or perhaps," Obi-Wan blurts out without thinking. "You made yourself believe that because it was… easier for you."

To his credit, Anakin doesn't immediately deny it. Instead, he looks down at his hands, staring at them for a moment. "Perhaps," he agrees grudgingly, meeting Obi-Wan's eyes. "I may not… consider them to be a major evil, but I cannot deny that they are still a problem. They have failed the galaxy."

"They don't deserve to die for that failure though," Obi-Wan counters with a little more heat than he would like. He's stressed and ashamed, and he's taking it out on Anakin. He knows he shouldn't, but he can't seem to stop himself.

Anakin opens his mouth, closing it again. He appears contemplative. "Die? No. But they need to change or be destroyed." He sighs. "But we're off topic now. Somehow, I feel that was intentional. I know you're having a hard time. I can feel it. Obi-Wan, you've helped me in the past more times than I can count. Let me help you, too."

Obi-Wan can feel the younger man's sincerity in his every word, and he doesn't know how to respond to it. Anakin is sincere. He does want to help Obi-Wan, but Obi-Wan isn't sure how to let him, or if Anakin is even capable. This is something he thinks he needs to face on his own. He recognizes that his actions were necessary, since he was fighting for his life, even if it wasn't self-defense, but he still killed a Jedi.

"Do you remember when… we were imprisoned together?" Anakin queries hesitantly. "Do you remember what I told Ahsoka after what Sidious made her do?"

Yes, he remembers. Not the exact words perhaps, but he remembers the general idea of it. Anakin had told Ahsoka that she needed to learn to accept it, to accept her actions. She needed to forgive herself for what she did. It's not really a whole lot different than what he was telling Anakin after he started losing control. "Yes," he answers at last. "Yes, I – I know." But how is he supposed to forgive himself when he doesn't think he deserves it?

"You're not alone in this. I've dealt with this before, and so has Ahsoka. You can talk to either of us at any time." He sounds hopeful and painfully unsure of himself at once.

"It was wrong," Obi-Wan says finally, giving voice to what he's felt from the beginning. "It was wrong. I shouldn't have done it." Somehow, it's as if acknowledging the wrongness of his actions makes it easier for him to accept them. "I chose to do it… because I wanted to… help you." The more he speaks, the more he's able to sort out his tumultuous thoughts, and they begin to quiet. "And," he adds quietly, "I would do it again. For you, Anakin."

That is wrong, too, but he can't bring himself to regret it. None of them will be whole when this is all over. It's impossible. They've been through too much. But once they're free from Sidious' shadow, they can learn to heal, and they'll do that together. Whether for better or worse, their lives are now irrevocably entwined.

Obi-Wan slowly inhales, breathing out and feeling his conflict dissipate. It's still there, and his actions will always haunt him, but he'll be okay. He won't lose himself to the Dark Side the way he feared. He cannot afford to. If he does, Anakin and Ahsoka will go down with him, and there will be no redemption for any of them. He is the one holding everyone up. If he falters, for even a moment, it will be over.

Anakin moves closer, radiating a soft concern into the Force which is mingled with affection. "I'll do anything for you, too," he whispers. "I'll do anything for anyone in my family."

Obi-Wan smiles at him, somewhat sadly. "I wish you wouldn't," he says. "I wish you wouldn't have to, but… I know you will." There's nothing he can do about it, not now. "Come here." Anakin scoots over next to him, and Obi-Wan wraps an arm around his shoulders. It's almost over. They're almost free. So, why doesn't it feel like it?

***

Anakin can barely contain his excitement as they land on Naboo. The planet seems more beautiful to him, somehow, than it has in the past. Maybe because this time, he knows he'll be free. Obi-Wan assured him that it wouldn't take long for them to locate and remove the slave chip. By the end of the day, hopefully, they can all escape from here and meet up with Death Squadron at the prearranged location.

His mother is waiting for them on the landing platform, along with Boba, and Anakin goes to her immediately, hugging her tightly. "We can get the chip out," he whispers to her, so quietly that no cameras or spy devices will pick it up. She doesn't visibly react – of course not; she knows how to school her expression and keep her true feelings hidden – but he knows she heard and understands the significance.

While Obi-Wan and Ahsoka greet his mother, he turns to Boba. "How are you doing, vod?"

"I'm… okay. Better," he amends, glancing sideways for a moment. "Shmi – Mom is helping."

"Mom?" Anakin echoes, an almost knowing smile on his face. "I guess we really are brothers then." He isn't really surprised. He knows how generous and caring his mother is. She's the best mother in the galaxy, and of course, she would adopt Boba as her own, especially given that he's an orphan.

"I guess so," Boba agrees, a hesitant, half-hearted smile on his face. He is doing better though. Anakin can sense it.

"Boba," their mother interrupts, "Show our guests around the mansion, will you? I would like to speak to Anakin for a little bit."

"Sure," he replies, turning to Obi-Wan and Ahsoka. "C'mon!"

The three of them walk away, leaving Anakin alone with his mother for what feels like the first time in years. "Walk with me," she says, and together, they walk towards the gardens, just as Anakin had expected. He has no idea what she could possibly want to speak to him about – maybe about her slave chip?

"What is it, Mom?" he asks when he can't take the silence anymore.

"Dooku talked to me," she replies, stopping and turning to look at him. A breeze rustles through the trees, fresh, clean air washing over them both. "He told me about your visit, and he also told me that you are… struggling."

Anakin winces. He had hoped, perhaps foolishly, that his mother wouldn't find out about it. He didn't want to worry her, and more than that, he didn't want to burden her. "I… maybe," he concedes. "The war is hard on everyone."

"He said," she continues, "That you're getting darker."

For some reason, those words make him feel guilty, even though he already has accepted his actions. Perhaps he's been trying to justify his actions a little too much. Perhaps Obi-Wan is still able to see clearly in a way which he himself is not. "I – I don't know," he answers, shaking his head. "Maybe somewhat. I'm only doing what is necessary."

"Are you?" his mother queries, "Or are you doing what you think you need to?" She steps forwards, taking Anakin's hands. "I'm not afraid of death, Ani, and nor should you be. I'm not afraid to die if it means that you'll be free. I was willing to let you go so you could become a Jedi, and even if that didn't work out, I would still be willing to let you go if it meant you'd be safe. I don't want this life for you. I never have."

This is – this is more than she's ever said on the subject for a long, long time. She never talks about it, and it makes him feel deeply ashamed of himself. He's known, intellectually, that his mother wouldn't be pleased with his actions, even if she understands why he's doing what he is. But hearing, from her, that she's displeased is worse, somehow.

"It's almost over," he insists, desperately. "You'll be free, Mom, and then, we can all leave together. You'll be fine. We'll all be fine."

"For now," she agrees readily, "But you know as well as I do that Sidious will not stop coming after you. He will hunt you to the ends of the galaxy if he must. We can run, but we can't run forever. Is that really what you want? Do you really want to be running from him nonstop? Constantly fearing for our lives? We might be alright now, but there's no guarantee it will last forever. You're only one person. You can't protect everyone. You can't keep us all safe."

"I – I – no. Don't say that," Anakin insists desperately. He pulls away from her, pacing a few feet away before turning back, expression tormented. "Everyone will be fine. I swear it." He isn't ready to face Sidious yet. None of them are. They're not strong enough. Theoretically, they could go after Sidious as soon as his mother is free, but they have no plans for the future. To do what must be done to repair the galaxy, they need a plan.

His mother sighs, and for a moment, she looks weary. She looks old. "Ani, you cannot stop death. No one can. Death is a natural part of life. Force knows how hard everything has been, and I now see that I should have done something differently. I might have died, true, but you would have been safe. That is all that has ever mattered to me. I failed to protect you. You are my son. It was my responsibility to protect you as best I could." She pauses for a moment, before continuing, "You have to be prepared for the possibility that Sidious will claim some lives of those close to you before he is destroyed."

Anakin can't quite hide his flinch at her words. That, he supposes, is a large part of the reason why he's so afraid to go after Sidious. He can't kill him alone, but he wishes he could. If he could, then he wouldn't have to worry about losing anyone in his family to Sidious. "I – I can't," he whispers, agony obvious. "I can't." He can't lose anyone. He doesn't think he could bear it.

"Destroying Sidious is the right thing to do," his mother replies kindly. "Not out of revenge or because he hurt you and people close to you. It's the right thing to do, because destroying him will prevent him from hurting others." She meets his gaze, reaching out and cupping his cheek. He leans into the touch with a wounded sound, and for a moment, there's a flicker of sadness on her face. "On Tatooine, we always did everything we could, no matter the cost to ourselves, if we could help others who needed it. You remember that, don't you?"

He does. He remembers, once, given his ration to a child younger than himself who had nothing and who was slowly starving to death, while his mother helped the child's older sibling. It happened many times. He was never a stranger to being without food as a slave on Tatooine. That, he supposes, is one thing which has changed. Slowly, hesitantly, Anakin nods, unsure what exactly his mother is trying to tell him.

"We can never go back to the past," she explains, "But we can still remember. I think that's what you need to do. Sidious has changed you, made you… darker and more selfish. You can still be selfless if you want to be. Everything is a choice, Ani. You can still choose to help people if that is what you want. You can also choose to ignore the suffering of others in favor of protecting your family, and no one would fault you for that, because there are many who would choose the relative guarantee of safety for their families. I cannot tell you what to do. The choice is yours. But," she adds, "You know that the only way to protect anyone is to stop Sidious."

He knows that too. He's known that from the beginning. But he doesn't know how to let go. Because of his fear of what Sidious might do to his mother, and later, to Padme, he began to, in turn, fear losing them. He rarely saw his mother when he was younger, his only guarantee of her safety being if he did what Sidious told him too. And Anakin understands what his mother is telling him, but he doesn't know how to actually accept it and live by it.

As always, his mother seems to understand that intuitively. "It isn't going to be easy to change your pattern of thinking, but I know you can do it. You can learn to live without living in constant fear. And if you lose someone, you will learn to accept and move past that too. I have faith in you, that you can do it. I love you, Ani."

"I love you too, Mom," he murmurs, mind whirling. This is something he'll have to think about, but preferably not until they're all away from here. Soon, very soon, he'll be free.

Chapter Text

"Do you feel it?" Anakin asks, a little anxiously as Obi-Wan holds a hand out towards his mother. Both of them are sitting on either side of her on a bench in the garden, while Ahsoka is inside with Boba. They mutually agreed that Ahsoka didn't need to see it, and Boba certainly doesn't. Equipped with a medkit, including the tools they're most likely to need, Anakin is waiting while Obi-Wan uses the Force to discern the location of the slave chip.

"Shh. Not yet," Obi-Wan replies distractedly. His fingers twitch a little. "… Got it," he says at last, opening his eyes with a small smile. "It's right here." He reaches out, touching Anakin's mother's side, just beneath her ribcage. "It should be just under the rib. That's deep, but it's not so deep that it'll be too risky to do this without help."

As they had suspected.

"This could go wrong," Anakin's mother points out. "You could accidentally detonate it. You need to keep that in mind."

Anakin tenses. "We won't," he promises fervently. "We won't. It will be fine." And yet, the Force is humming with warning for a reason he can't quite make out. It seems to be telling him – them – to hurry. But hurry for what? Lest Sidious find out?

She is obviously not convinced, though she doesn't argue any further on the subject. "Go on then," she says with a sigh. "We have nothing to wait for."

Anakin expects to feel excitement, but suddenly, all he feels is dread, as if someone has doused him in icy water. At the same moment, he hears the engine of a starship approaching which is wrong. No one should be coming here. Sidious would never have allowed it. Unless, of course, he didn't know, which also doesn't make sense. He's the Sith Master. He knows everything, is aware of everything.

"I hear it, too," Obi-Wan tells him grimly, seeming unsure what they should do now.

Ahsoka streaks towards them, radiating alarm. "It's the Jedi," she calls, panting as she skids to a stop. "Boba is watching them now, but I don't know what they want. Threepio tried raising them on comms, but they're not answering. I don't think they're supposed to be here."

Suddenly, it all makes sense. "They know," Anakin realizes numbly. "They know that Mom knows about me and the Sith. They're here to question her."

"I already talked to them," she objects. "I told them I didn't know anything."

But Anakin hardly hears her, mind flashing with images from his nightmare-vision so long ago, images of his mother's death while at the Temple. It was terrifying then, but now, he knows it doesn't even make sense, because she'll never be able to get off Naboo with the slave chip. The vision – it never meant that she would be arrested. It meant that she would die because of the Jedi. And… that time is fast running out.

"We have to get the chip out now," Anakin blurts out desperately. "We can't let the Jedi come. We have to – have to do something. Can we stop them? Or… what should we do?" He can't accept the possibility that it's too late. It can't be. They can still do something. They can. Resolve hardening, a plan formulates in his mind. "Go inside," he orders Obi-Wan. "Get the chip out of Mom. You can do it in a 'fresher. It might be a little crowded, and Sidious might see, but it's better than nothing. I'll hold them off."

"I don't think –" Obi-Wan begins.

He never gets the chance to finish his question because a sudden rumble shakes the ground. The Force screams out a warning, and all Anakin can do is watch in horror and disbelief as the mansion collapses before his eyes, flames and smoke billowing into the air as well-placed – and hidden – explosives destroy it. Anakin never knew. He never knew about that failsafe which Sidious had in place to keep anyone from discovering the truth hidden there. And – and Boba was in there.

Ahsoka seems to realize the same thing he does, because she inhales sharply, choking, and making to bolt back towards the burning mansion. Anakin tackles her, stopping her before she can get too far, and they roll across the ground. "He's still in there!" Ahsoka cries, trying to pull away from him.

"I know that!" Anakin yells back, voice breaking, "But I'm not going to lose you both." It doesn't even seem real. It doesn't seem possible that Boba could be gone like that, that everything could be falling apart all around him. Just earlier, on the way here to Naboo, he was thinking that all of them would be okay. It seems so laughable now, as if fate is trying to mock him for wanting to be happy.

He can hear the shuttle landing, despite the roaring of the flames and the breaking of the debris. The entire place here used to be peaceful, serene, even despite knowing what it was truly like. It's not like that anymore. It's all gone, and that still hasn't sunken in. He climbs off Ahsoka, pulling her to her feet but keeping her close so she doesn't do anything foolish. Then, Anakin turns towards Obi-Wan and his mother.

"Remember what I told you, Anakin," she says to him, holding his eyes. "I love you." It sounds like a goodbye, but he won't let it be one.

"No," he protests, "I –"

Anakin never gets the chance to finish the thought when his reoccurring childhood nightmare on Tatooine happens before his eyes. He feels the twinge in the Force, the momentary flicker of danger, before the slave chip detonates. It's hardly the first time he's seen something like that, but never – never was it his mother. Logic and coherent thoughts blank out entirely when he feels their bond abruptly wrench apart, but not before he feels every last bit of his mother's agonizing pain as she's ripped apart before his eyes while he watches helplessly.

The force of the explosion throws Obi-Wan backwards, and Anakin spins, shielding Ahsoka both from that and from having to see. But that doesn't stop him from screaming, from falling to his knees when the initial shock is over, and it begins sinking in that his mother is dead. He failed her. He failed to protect her. He promised. He –

"It was my responsibility to protect you as best I could."

"No," Anakin whispers numbly, in denial, unable to tear his eyes away from what is left of his mother. "Nonono." He hears the approach of boots – clones, his mind dimly supplies – but he can't be bothered to care, too wracked by grief and pain. The Force nudges him of danger, though it seems so distant from him that he can't find it in himself to care. Electricity jolts through his body – stunbolts – and he doesn't resist, slumping down into unconsciousness.

***

With a snarl that sounds positively feral, Ahsoka flips to her feet, igniting her lightsabers and standing over Anakin's unconscious body the moment he collapses. Obi-Wan pushes himself upright, feeling as shaken and stunned as everyone probably is. It might help if he wasn't covered with blood and… yeah. Standing next to someone when they explode makes a mess. It's only something a distant part of his mind registers, but he doesn't really care right now, more focused on trying to diffuse the situation than anything else.

Anakin is out, and even if he wasn't, Obi-Wan doubts he'd be in a position to do anything, much less try to escape. Ahsoka is trembling, ready to protect her master with every last bit of energy she possesses, but she's going into shock too, and it won't be good when she does. And he – he has no desire to fight. He doesn't even have the energy to do so. The – the Republic isn't trying to kill them, or at least Siri isn't, because she is the one here, standing frozen, staring at the scene with wide eyes. The clones around her seem equally uncertain what to do, blasters held at the ready, but Obi-Wan can keenly feel their dismay and revulsion in the Force.

He tries to focus, tries to unhear the explosion and Anakin's scream, tries to forget the way the Force itself had trembled under the weight of Anakin's pain. He's only standing because he has to, because if he doesn't try to do something, Ahsoka will start killing. He can see it in the tense way she's standing, the way pain and anger and fury are whirling around her. She's temporarily lost control of herself, and that means the Dark Side is overwhelming her.

"Ahsoka," he says, voice calm and quiet, though for how it breaks the stillness, he might as well have screamed. "Ahsoka, put down your lightsabers."

"Put them down?" she echoes, confused and angry all at once.

She isn't angry with Siri or the clones or even the Republic. He knows that. She knows that, too, on some level. She's simply angry because anger is a natural part of the grieving process. Is that what this is? He doesn't know. He only knows that he himself is trembling. Probably from shock, because he feels cold, far colder than he should be. His eyes, momentarily, dart down to the ground, and he swallows back the desire to throw up. Oh Force, how could this have happened? How could they have allowed this to happen? This was never supposed to happen. They were supposed to leave, to get away from Sidious.

"Sidious did this," Obi-Wan tries to reason, his voice shaking as the enormity of it all comes crashing down on him. He sways, stumbling slightly and catching himself on a tree trunk. He stares at his hand, seeing the blood splattered on it and forcibly drags his eyes away. This can't be happening.

"I will kill him," Ahsoka seethes, not taking her eyes off Siri and the clones, but from how dark she feels, Obi-Wan gets the sinking feeling that her irises are a burning gold right now. "I will gut him, and I will strangle him to death with his own entrails."

That was unnecessarily graphic, and he winces at the mental image. Not that he would oppose such a thing. Probably. Well, it would be rather inhumane to torture Sidious to death, but Obi-Wan is really not entirely averse to such a thing. No, not at all. On the contrary –

No. Now is not the time. Focus. Ahsoka and Anakin first. Everything else later.

"It will be better for you if you come with us willingly," Siri speaks up for the first time, raising her hands in a gesture of peace. "There is no reason to fight. Although, I am curious about how you got here as well as what you were even doing."

Ahsoka growls, sounding very much like a ferocious predator, spitting out a few swears which Obi-Wan suspects she learned from Anakin. "Ahsoka, please," he entreats, "Listen to Siri. Put down your lightsabers. Anakin will need you to be levelheaded."

That, he suspects will do the trick, because he can feel the cracks in her façade through the Force. Pain leaks out, followed by confusion and dismay and horror and sadness and pain. Anakin was worse before the clones stunned him. Ahsoka's fingers clench before relaxing, and she straightens, hands falling to her sides as she bows her head. "Obi-Wan," she whispers shakily. If not for what lies behind her, Obi-Wan knows she would turn to him, seeking out comfort while Anakin is unconscious and unable to help her.

"I'm here," he promises.

Siri nods to the clones, and they suddenly fire on her, two stunbolts hitting her. She goes down without a fight, body collapsing next to – and slightly on top of – Anakin's. Obi-Wan inhales shakily, wishing he could smell something other than smoke and ash and blood. Carefully looking away, he skirts around the radius of the explosion, trying not to look back at it lest he lose whatever is left of his control.

He promised Siri answers, and now he has to own up and tell her everything. Not that he would refuse to answer at this point anyways, even if he hadn't promised. They'll be in Jedi custody now, and if the Council can keep this matter secret, no one has to know what happened. If Sidious doesn't officially find out, he can't have the Senate vote for anything, so they'll be temporarily safe. Maybe they can't go up against Sidious alone. Maybe they will need the Jedi's help to defeat him.

Siri looks him up and down, pressing her lips together. "Come," she tells him as the clones pick up Anakin and Ahsoka taking them to the shuttle, while she and he walk towards the landing platform after them. "We'll have to search through the debris later, and the clones… I can have them retrieve Shmi's body."

Obi-Wan scoffs bitterly. "There's nothing left to retrieve."

Siri shrugs slightly. "I know, but I still think it might help. She deserves a funeral, at least." She hesitates for a moment. "I'm sorry about her death. What happened?"

"I… later, please," he answers, closing his eyes. If he tries to talk about this, covered in blood and… whatever else, he thinks he'll be sick right here on the landing platform. "I – I need a moment, and I would like to clean up first."

Siri nods. "I understand. Take your time. There's a 'fresher next to the cabins. I'll have them put the prisoners there, but first, your lightsaber?"

Obi-Wan hands it over stiffly, without protest. "Why are they prisoners and not me?" he wants to know. It's a fair question, he thinks.

"You're a double agent," Siri explains, "And the Council knows that. You'll be kept under surveillance, but we won't imprison you if you don't give us a reason to. Anakin, as you know, is far too dangerous, and Ahsoka is clearly… Fallen."

Obi-Wan clenches his jaw to stop himself from blurting out arguments or protests. He hates this. He hates that they'll be locked up, but he feels so exhausted right now. He doesn't have the energy to argue with her though. As long as he can protect Anakin and Ahsoka, keep them safe, nothing else matters. It's – it's what Shmi would have wanted before she blew up.

He holds in any comments, simply nodding as he goes to the 'fresher.

***

It would not be an exaggeration to say that everyone with some degree of Force sensitivity, especially those who have training, felt the ripple in the Force which Anakin created when Shmi died. Most, of course, ignored the sudden, fleeting feeling of darkness and foreboding. Some, however, did not, could not.

On the other side of the galaxy, Sidious smiles in his office. Perfect. Everything is still going according to plan. If Dooku or Vader thought they could stop the inevitable by their tiresome, feeble attempts at rebellion, they're sorely mistaken. It's only a matter of time before Vader claims his rightful place. And when he does, Sidious will continue ahead with his plans as he has been this whole time. It no longer matters to him, as much, if the Jedi somehow learn the truth. They're too deeply entrenched in the war effort to do anything to stop him. And if they try, they will fall early.

Elsewhere on Coruscant, Yoda opens his eyes and frowns, ears drooping. "Something terrible has happened," he tells Plo. "Great pain I sense. Great, great pain. Suffering. Loss. Death. Changed the future has."

Plo nods his agreement. "I sense it too," he replies, though he, like Yoda, is unable to see past the veil of the Dark Side to discern the source. But – "I feel it may have to do with Master Tachi's mission to Naboo. Perhaps we should contact her."

On Serenno, Dooku staggers, the sharp stab – more like scream – of pain taking his breath away. He doesn't even need to ask. He knows, with certainty, what happened. And he also knows that everything they have built is about to come undone. This was not supposed to happen, and he closes his eyes, silently mourning Shmi's death. He had cared for her; he had seen what a good woman she was, and she had been Anakin's mother. If not for her, Anakin would have lost himself far sooner. Now, her death may have sped up what Dooku is beginning to fear is inevitable: the rise of Darth Vader. It's time to change the plans.

In hyperspace, Rex feels the faint tingle of something that he can't quite name, but Asajj's words quickly chase away whatever feelings he had that were overtaking him. "Is he alright?" he asks instantly, worried for the man he has come to call a friend. He would do anything, anything at all, except kill his own brothers, to keep Anakin safe.

"I don't know," Asajj whispers, expression twisting. She looks close to tears. "I don't know." Silently, Rex reaches out, hesitantly wrapping an arm around her shoulders. A choked sound escapes from her, and she throws her arms around him, burying her face against his shoulder, trembling as she struggles with her emotions.

On Dathomir, Maul opens his eyes. Through the Dark Side, he can feel the source of the sudden turmoil. Skywalker. Well, perhaps it is best if he leaves the past in the past. There are many other things to which he can devote his attention, and the pain that Kenobi will now be feeling, while he tries, no doubt, to help Skywalker will be more than enough of a revenge. Someone close to them as died, and perhaps it was not because of Maul, but… Oh, that witch is right, even if he hates to admit it. Perhaps he can instead search to see if he has any living kin. It might be nice to find a long-lost brother or two.

In a medcenter on Naboo, Padme sits up, eyes going distant. She can feel, deep in her heart, that something is wrong, and her thoughts instantly go to Anakin. He had told her once, a year ago, teasingly, that because they love each other, they would always know if something happened to the other. And now, Padme's instincts are telling her that something is very, very wrong. Sabe is still recovering, so she sleeps a lot, but that doesn't stop Padme from reaching out and taking her best friend's hand. "Something happened to Anakin," she confesses, "And I don't know what to do." For now, she doesn't think she can do anything except wait.

Chapter Text

Obi-Wan doesn't allow himself to look in the mirror in the small 'fresher until he's cleaned himself – and his clothing – off as best he can. It gives him something methodical to do, something to keep his mind off the horrible reality. A part of him still can't quite accept it: that Shmi is dead. If it's this hard for him, how hard will it be for Anakin?

That, of everything, is what scares him most.

He has seen death before. He is no stranger to it, having been a Jedi, and he thinks that what is shaking him up so badly is that he knew Shmi personally, and she was literally blown up right beside him while he could do nothing to stop it, because of the bomb inside her body. He was going to help her, and they were all supposed to flee from Sidious. Those plans have been destroyed now, and the future is far from certain.

Most of all, Obi-Wan is worried about Anakin. He fears how the younger man will be affected by this, knowing how scared he is of losing people. Now, he's lost Shmi and Boba both. Even if they didn't see Boba's body, Obi-Wan very much doubts that anyone could survive something like that. It's not impossible, but it's not very likely.

He takes a few deep breaths, trying to establish a shaky calm before he exits the 'fresher, entering the cabin where Anakin and Ahsoka are. They're both in restraints, and they're unconscious, each resting on a separate bunk. Two clones are guarding the door on the outside, and Siri is inside, sitting on a chair and watching them. He's not surprised. Even sedated, they could pose a big threat whenever they awaken.

"They were drugged," Siri tells him, probably guessing his thoughts from the way he's looking at the two. "They should be unconscious until we reach Coruscant. Now, I believe you have some things to tell me?"

Obi-Wan lets out a slow breath, pulling the Force in close in a bid to quell the ache deep in his chest. He moves across the cabin, sitting on the edge of Anakin's bed. It doesn't matter to him that the young man is unconscious. It still feels like he's offering him comfort. Almost instinctively, Obi-Wan reaches out brushing a hair back from Anakin's forehead, sending soothing feelings to him through the Force. Even like this, Anakin's expression seems troubled, and Obi-Wan wants to be able to make him feel better. He would like nothing more than to take away Anakin's pain, though he knows it's impossible.

When he looks up, he notices that Siri is watching them equal parts wary and curious. "You love him, don't you." It's not a question.

"Of course," Obi-Wan answers. He couldn't deny his feelings, even if he knows they're not the Jedi way. He might not have raised Anakin, but he certainly wishes he had, and the two of them are surprisingly close despite the short period of time they've been together. Sometimes, it feels like they've always been together, and Obi-Wan knows deep inside of himself that the Force brought them together. The Force willed them to be together, and that's why it's happened.

Siri hums, but doesn't say anything, so Obi-Wan clears his throat, turning his attention on her. "Ask me what you want to know," he says. It'll be easier that way to answer and to tell her everything. He doesn't even know where he could begin, given all the things that have happened since he was captured by the Sith.

"Let's start with what you were doing on Naboo," Siri suggests, settling back. "You promised me answers, so I'm expecting to get them."

Obi-Wan huffs out a breath that's more bitter than anything else. "We came to visit Shmi," he answers, and even now, an hour or so later, it's so hard to say her name. She was alive such a short time ago, and she was supposed to be free so they could leave together. Now, it's all fallen down, and he still can't understand how. "It was… a reward, I suppose, for our success."

"Okay…" she says, drawing out the syllables, brow furrowing. "What happened to her."

He bites back the deadpan response of 'she blew up,' because it's not funny or something to joke about, and nor does he have any reason to be intentionally difficult. Although, aggravating her might make him feel better – even if he would later feel some guilt over taking out his stress and grief on a once-close friend. Way back when they were Padawans, he and Siri had been… close. Jedi are not allowed to have romantic attachments, which is why they were unable to maintain a relationship, even if it was something they both wanted. They had tried to move on, and they had both claimed they did, but Obi-Wan sometimes thinks he's lied to himself about that. He doesn't think he let go of Siri any more than he let go of Satine.

He has always struggled with attachments.

"She… was a slave. On Tatooine. Like Anakin was," he replies. "She had a slave chip in her body. It detonated before it could be removed."

Siri narrows her eyes, and he can almost see the gears turning in her head. "The Chancellor?"

He inhales slowly. "You must swear to me that you will not reveal anything I tell you unless you talk to me about it first," he demands. "There is far more at stake here than you realize, and I will not risk Anakin's soul." He would rather die than watch the young man he's come to know and love as his own son and brother both, Fall past the point of no return.

"That was not part of the deal," she argues, visibly unhappy.

"It is now," he returns evenly.

Siri is quiet for a moment, obviously wrestling with herself. "Fine," she grits out, "But this had better be worth it then, and I expect you to tell me everything. You can't leave anything out."

"I don't intend to," Obi-Wan says dryly, shaking his head. Then, he pushes away all of his emotions, so he can try to look at this from an objective viewpoint. It won't be easy to talk about, as is, and it will be even harder if he gets emotional. "You asked about Palpatine," he states, redirecting Siri's focus to the subject at hand. "He is Sidious."

She blinks, gaping at him in a stunned silence. "You can't be serious," she blurts out almost immediately. "That…" Her expression falls, something grave and understanding in her eyes. "It makes so much sense actually. So much sense. He's orchestrating everything. I – I suppose the only reason we didn't suspect him is because he is the Chancellor, and because I think we all assumed we would have sensed him if he was, in fact, a Sith. You are certain?"

"Absolutely," he confirms.

"Did he kill Shmi, then?" she wants to know. "And why now?"

Obi-Wan shrugs. "I suspect that he found out you were coming to Naboo. It's not likely he knew what we were up to."

"Which was…?"

"We were going to free her, remove the chip," he elaborates. "Then, we were going to run. Anakin only stayed with him because he couldn't leave without killing his mother. He refused to do that. Now…" His heart clenches with grief, and he looks down at Anakin, lightly brushing a hand across Anakin's forehead. "I don't know what he'll do or how he'll react."

"I'm sorry." Siri's voice is quiet. "I had no idea that this would happen. We needed answers. I – I've been investigating the mysterious Vader who trained the 501st Legion," she continues, and Obi-Wan does his best not to react outwardly. "Ferus found out by chance, and the Council was… disturbed about the sway which this Vader has over those clones. It's Anakin, isn't it?"

You promised the truth, Obi-Wan reminds himself, so he forces himself to nod. "His Sith name is Darth Vader. He had long been prepared to fight on the side of the Republic. I suspect that Sidious wanted to accustom the populace to the idea that Sith aren't always evil or dangerous. When he slipped up on Geonosis after Jango was killed –" Oh Force, Boba is probably dead, too, and that will affect Anakin deeply as well; the boy was like a brother to him. "– I think Sidious changed his plans. I no longer think he intends to have the Republic win the war. I think he intends to crush it into submission."

"But all of you – and Dooku, too, right? – are planning to betray him," Siri points out. "You can't expect me to believe that he hasn't already suspected that."

"I… in truth, I have no idea what he's planning," Obi-Wan admits. "He gives us all missions to do, and we're left scrambling and guessing about what his intentions are. It often takes us a while to even begin understanding what he might be planning. He is far ahead of us, and all we can do is try to… get ahead of him. I think, hopefully, that we've succeeded." Being captured is a setback, and as long as Sidious doesn't discover what they've done with the inhibitor chips, they'll be alright. They have to be. Obi-Wan won't let it be any other way.

"What are you planning to do to take him down?"

Obi-Wan hesitates, because, in truth, he had given more thought to trying to escape from Sidious than he had to how to defeat him. Maybe that was a mistake. "I'm not sure," he admits finally, knowing how stupid it probably sounds. "My main priority has always been getting Anakin away from Sidious, so we would have more room to operate. I – I suppose I hoped we could enlist the help of the Jedi, so maybe we're on the right path."

"Maybe," Siri agrees, not giving anything away.

Right now, it's so obvious that there is a gap between them. It's obvious that while she is still a Jedi, he… is not. He has been gone for a while, working with the Sith, and he's no longer welcome the way he once was. It hurts a little, perhaps, but he's willing to let it go. His path, his destiny is with Anakin, not the Jedi.

Obi-Wan knows how to play this game, and he promised to tell her everything, but she hasn't asked about everything. He knows the Jedi will likely view him as a threat, and if he's not careful, the Council could take action against Anakin and Ahsoka. He will not let that happen. He cannot let that happen. It might be best if they know everything, but at the same time, he doesn't trust them. He doesn't trust how they would handle the situation. He had always assumed that Dooku would do something politically to destroy Sidious, but they may even have lost that leverage too, depending on how Sidious chooses to act next. He will, eventually, learn that the three of them are at the Temple, and there's no way of predicting how he'll act.

"We need to figure something out," Obi-Wan offers finally. "This –" he gestures at their surroundings, "– happened too quickly and unexpectedly for me to plan." He thinks about Shmi again and pushes back the ensuing swell of grief and anger. There will be time for it later. But still, he can't help but think, somewhat bitterly, that had the Jedi not started investigating, none of this would have happened. Obviously, he can't be upset at them for doing so. It was the logical course of action, and it was only reasonable to uncover the Sith. But still, he's upset that any of it had to happen at all.

"What do you have in mind?" Siri questions. She's keeping herself open, but Obi-Wan knows her well enough to know that she's being extremely guarded. She doesn't trust him, and he has to concede that she probably shouldn't, either.

"First of all, you should know that the clones all have inhibitor chips in their heads," he informs her. "If activated, they can be made to do anything. As of now, we have not yet figured out a way to remotely shut down the chips, though there must be a way. We simply have not found it."

Siri's expression shifts slightly, becoming pinched with worry and surprise. "It really is a slave army then," she notes, somewhat dully.

Obi-Wan meets her eyes. "Yes. Sidious intends to use the clones against the Jedi. If he gives out an order, they will kill them all."

"How… convenient," she states dryly, using sarcasm to hide her obvious unease. "Can we remove them surgically?"

"You can, but it will take time for them to heal and be ready for battle. Besides," he adds, warningly, "If he gets wind of such a thing, he will destroy you immediately. Of that, I have no doubt. He'll find a way to spin it to his advantage, I'm sure."

"Undoubtedly," she huffs, relaxing a little more. "I – thank you for telling me this, Obi-Wan. I really think we should go to the Council with everything. You can tell them everything you know, and together, we can figure something out."

She isn't asking him anymore; she's telling him what she intends to do without outright saying so. Her sense of duty will make her entrust the Council with everything, he knows. And to think that he might have once been the same… "Very well," he agrees reluctantly, "But no one outside the Council should know any of this, and certainly not the clones. We cannot trust them right now when they might turn on us at any moment." Belatedly, he realizes that he said 'we' as if he is still a Jedi. He still feels like one, at least he uses the Force like one, but in other ways, in more important ways, even, he's not. Not really. Not anymore.

"I…" she hesitates. "I think I should at least let Commander Cody know of the situation. He can arrange to have the clones de-chipped as surreptitiously as possible. Of course, now that you've prevented the further creation of clones, that only puts the Republic at a disadvantage. The clones are our only line of defense against Sidious."

Obi-Wan feels himself instantly coiling to defend them, though he forces himself not to. Aggravating Siri will gain him nothing. "You won't listen to me, no matter what I tell you," he says finally, feeling almost defeated. The Jedi don't trust him, and they have a good reason not to trust him, but still, it will only make it that much harder to defeat Sidious. "I don't blame you, but I wish you could accept that we have a common goal."

"Do we?" she asks shrewdly, "Or will Dooku simply cease control once Sidious is gone? As a Jedi, it is my mandate to destroy all the Sith."

Obi-Wan tenses instinctively, narrowing his eyes. "You won't touch Anakin," he warns lowly.

She raises an eyebrow. "I have no intention of doing so. The Jedi Council, however, is another story. We all know how dangerous he is. He has caused so much damage to the Republic. If not for Palpatine's intervention, the kill-on-sight order would never have been rescinded."

Suddenly, as clear as day, Obi-Wan realizes exactly how compromised he is. Because in this moment, hearing exactly how dire Anakin's situation is, he realizes that he would be willing to fight his way through the Jedi to protect him. He would be willing to even go to Sidious to beg for help if he had to. He would be willing to embrace the Dark Side, the one thing that Anakin has practically asked him not to do.

Siri watches him calculatingly for a moment before she keeps speaking. "Where is Windu being held? If we can rescue him, his aid against Sidious will be invaluable."

"If Sidious knows I'm telling you everything, it will only doom you," he replies evenly.

"Where is he?" she repeats.

"Rattatak," he answers slowly, "But you'll never get to him. It's too well-fortified, and the Separatist presence is too prevalent."

"The Council will be the judge of that," Siri replies, shaking her head. "Not you."

"What I don't know is how Sidious even knew you were coming to arrest Shmi," Obi-Wan points out, the gears turning in his head. If the Sith Master has someone inside the Jedi Order itself, he would very much like to know.

"I…" She frowns. "I think Ferus went to talk to Palpatine, but I doubt he would have said anything. We all had agreed that it would be best for him to not know anything of our investigations. You don't think…"

"That Sidious is influencing him somehow?" Obi-Wan finishes grimly. "It's quite likely. He excels at mind games."

"No," Siri denies firmly, "Ferus would never do something like that."

"Perhaps you should ask him," he suggests, because he's loath to admit it, but it is actually quite possible that Sidious has somehow gained an influence over Ferus. It makes sense that he would want to have control over someone inside the Jedi, someone who could feel him inside information. It remains to be seen if Ferus is actually aware of what's going on or not. Regardless, in Obi-Wan's opinion, everyone who spends excessive time with Sidious in a one-on-one setting is suspect right now. Not that he'd ever tell Siri so.

"I will," she states flatly. "Now, unless you have something else of extreme importance to add, I should probably go update the Jedi Council on the recent developments, so they are prepared. I trust you will not try to escape?"

Obi-Wan gives her an incredulous look. "Escape? Me? Without a lightsaber and with two unconscious, drugged individuals? Are you serious?"

She smiles at him, thinly. "Perfect. Then we are in agreement." With those words, she rises from her chair and exits the cabin. The door locks behind her, leaving Obi-Wan alone with Anakin and Ahsoka. For some reason, he gets the feeling this may be the last time they'll be alone together in a long time.

Chapter Text

Padme is still stressing over Anakin when Sabe awakens again. "Take it easy," Padme soothes, giving her a few sips of water. "How –"

"Don't," Sabe interrupts, lips quirking into a smile. Her voice is still a little weak and strained, but her tone makes her point clear enough. "Don't ask me that again, Padme."

"Sorry," she says a bit sheepishly. Maybe she has been being a little annoying, asking Sabe how she feels every time the latter wakes up. Which is… several times a day at this point. She can try to tone it down a little, but she's worried. And more than that, she feels restless. She has nothing more pressing to attend to, which is strange for her in and of itself.

"It's okay," Sabe assures her. The brown eyes, so similar to her own, study her. "How are you? You seem… troubled," she notes.

So much for trying to hide it. "I think it's probably nothing," she answers at last, "But I have a bad feeling… like something is wrong with Anakin."

"If it's bothering you so much, maybe you should talk to his mother about it," she suggests.

"Yes, that's a good idea," Padme decides. She still has Shmi's comm frequency, so she pulls out her comm and enters it. It rings, but there's no answer. So, she tries again. And again. The result is the same, and that makes her feel even more unnerved. Something is wrong; she just doesn't know what.

"It might be nothing," she says aloud, though she doesn't really believe that. At all. "It's – it probably is nothing. She's probably busy, or maybe –"

Sabe holds up a hand to stop her. "You're rambling, Padme," she points out with a faintly amused smile that soon falls away. "If it's bothering you this much, you should go check it out. Don't go alone. Take someone with you. Rabe was here earlier; is she still around?"

"I – yes, she is," Padme replies, hesitantly. "I don't want to leave you alone, though."

"You won't," she assures her. "You won't be gone long anyways, and I'll probably be resting the whole time. If you think something is wrong, follow your instincts. Go."

She almost wants to protest, but thinks better of it, since she doesn't want to strain Sabe any further and talking still isn't easy for her. So instead, she simply concedes. "Okay." Padme reaches out, brushing a hair back from her best friend's forehead before leaving the hospital room. Rabe is still at the hospital; she said that she would be staying nearby for a day or two, at least until she was assured that Sabe is alright.

Rabe isn't hard to find, thankfully, and she readily agrees to fly Padme to the Palpatine residence, even if the trip will take several hours both ways. Padme doesn't want to leave in the least, but Sabe is right. If she doesn't do this, then she'll never be able to let it rest, especially not with the feeling of foreboding in her gut.

They don't talk much, at least not anything meaningful, during their flight, though Rabe does ask Padme what she plans to do now that she's no longer a Senator. And honestly? Padme has no idea. She plans to help Sabe though, at least initially. After everything that her best friend has done for her, it's Padme's turn to help her, and she refuses to shirk that duty. But after that? Padme doesn't know. Perhaps she could try and find Anakin. She wants to see him again, especially if something really did happen to him.

Whatever it was, was probably something bad, and Padme wants to help him. She's always wanted to help him, and she wants to understand. There's a part of her that might harbor some resentment against him for the secrets he's kept, for what he's done, but at the same time… she can't stop remembering what happened on Raxus. Anakin saved her. He was hurt because he didn't want to kill her. She can't forget how she learned that Anakin has been being broken and forced into submission. He might not have shattered yet, but he's close.

But she doesn't think that's what this was. It was… something, but not that.

Padme sees the haze of smoke in the air before they even arrive, and something within her clenches, a mixture of both fear and dread. It gets worse when they approach, and the devastation becomes clearer. All she can do is stare with a numb sort of horror at the ruins of what was once Palpatine's mansion.

Rabe reaches out and squeezes her hand, though she doesn't actually say anything as she lands the small shuttle on the landing platform. They disembark together, and Padme slowly begins to walk around, surveying everything. Somehow, she already knows that Shmi is dead. What else could have explained that sudden feeling? What else could have happened to her, given what transpired here? For that matter, what did happen here?

She ventures further, Rabe following closely, stopping in her tracks when she sees the dried blood stains all over the ground. Her heart plummets somewhere near her feet, and she thinks she can almost feel the… pain, the death. Someone died here.

"Do you think –?" Rabe begins slowly.

"I don't know," Padme replies, shaking her head. Or maybe it's that she doesn't want to accept it. It doesn't even seem possible, and she needs to find Anakin. If – if his mother is really dead –

They both jump when they hear a sudden noise in the rubble, turning towards it in unison. Padme feels that she can hardly breathe as something crashes down, sending up a plume of ash and smoke; it's clearly been hours since whatever destroyed this place transpired, since the fire is already out, though the debris is still settling.

"What could have happened?" Padme asks, daring to break the silence.

Another crash interrupts Rabe before she can answer, and Padme could swear that she hears something, or someone, moving around. She moves closer, uncertainly, freezing in place when she sees a hand moving around near some of the debris. A child's hand.

"Is that –?" Rabe begins, sounding horrified.

"– a child?" Padme finishes. "I think so." She scrambles closer, pushing some of the debris aside and reaching for the hand, helping the child free from the ruins.

For a moment, she and the boy stare at each other, and she can't help but think that he looks familiar somehow, though she can't place why. "Who are you?" he asks. He sounds like – he almost sounds like a clone.

"My name is Padme," she tells him kindly, "What is your name?"

"Boba," he answers shortly, warily.

"Oh my, I do believe I'm stuck!" exclaims a mechanical, droid voice, and Padme turns to see a golden limb waving near the whole. Rabe rushes forwards, pulling the protocol droid free, and Padme's heart clenches when she sees it. Threepio.

"Mistress Padme!" cries the droid. "Thank the maker you're here. We would never have gotten out if not for you."

"What happened here?" Padme asks, gesturing.

"The Jedi came, unexpectedly, while Master Anakin was visiting Mistress Shmi, with his two friends," Threepio relates. "Mistress Shmi was killed, and the mansion was destroyed from what I do believe were concealed explosives."

"… The Jedi killed Shmi?" Padme asks in disbelief. That doesn't seem right.

"They might as well have," Boba mutters, expression distressed. "They shouldn't've come. They don't belong here! They did enough damage! And now…" He looks away, but not before Padme sees the pain on his face.

She reaches out, touching his shoulder. "I don't understand what's happening here," she admits. "I might be Anakin's fiancée, but he never told me all his secrets." She exchanges a helpless look with Rabe, unsure how to even go about getting answers.

Boba sighs, a little dramatically. "Count Dooku had me brought me here after the Jedi killed my father," he answers, "Since Anakin and Dad were friends. He's like my brother. Mom – Shmi – she took care of me. And – and then, Anakin came with Obi-Wan and Ahsoka. They were gonna do something to Mom, and we were gonna leave so we'd be safe. And… the Jedi came. It blew up. Literally."

His dark brown eyes go distant and haunted, and Padme desperately doesn't want to know what exactly he saw to put that look in his eyes. "Who was your father, Boba?" Rabe queries gently. "Was it Jango Fett?"

Boba looks up at her, seeming caught off guard, before he nods hesitantly.

"I'm sorry for your loss." To her credit, Rabe actually sounds sincere. "We can take you somewhere from here until we figure out what's going on. Is that alright?"

He wavers, uncertain, looking back at the mansion behind him. "I guess so."

"We can talk on the way back," Rabe says to Padme, before reaching out to take Boba's hand. "Come with us then," she encourages, "And can you tell us what happened to the mansion? And Sh- your mother?"

He hesitates again before taking her hand and letting her lead him from the ruins. Padme follows, taking the time to actually study him. He's covered with ash and soot, and scratched in a few places, but somehow, he's still alive, and she doesn't know how. He was inside the building, but he survived. How? And if the Jedi were here, does that mean Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka were captured? Or did they escape? She has no idea, but it's probably time to give Siri a call.

Boba doesn't loosen up or relax until after they've already left the ruins. It's only then that he begins to open up. "I was in the control room," he explains, "When it happened. Ahsoka had gone to warn Anakin, and then… everything detonated. It was sudden and unexpected, but the walls in the control room shielded me. I managed to get to a shelter which protected me and Threepio while everything was destroyed. It was… designed for that purpose, for hiding out while the building and everyone inside appeared to be demolished."

Padme and Rabe exchange uncertain looks. Something isn't adding up. At all. Why would the Chancellor's private mansion be designed in such a way? "How did your mother die then?" Padme asks again. She can tell how hard it is for Boba to talk about, but she needs answers.

Boba's eyes go distant and blank again when she asks, and she winces internally, resting a hand on his shoulder to try and keep him grounded, to keep him from reliving the past. "She blew up."

… Padme does not want to know what that means.

"If I may," Threepio interjects, "It is possible that what happened to Mistress Shmi was the result of the slave chip implant located inside her body."

"What?" Padme doesn't know who sounds more horrified: her or Rabe.

"Surely you must remember that Mistress Shmi was a slave on Tatooine," Threepio elaborates, misinterpreting Padme's horror. "It was a very common practice out there to have chips implanted in a slave's body to prevent their escape."

"Why would it not have been removed?" she clarifies, "Or deactivated?" There's a sinking feeling inside of her as pieces of the puzzle begin to click into place. She doesn't want to accept it though, so she holds off on the possible truth, on thinking, until she gets answers.

"Oh, well," the protocol droid begins, somehow sounding both alarmed and worried at once, "I am not to speak of such matters.

"Threepio, listen to me," Padme beseeches, "Shmi died. I need answers. I need to know who was responsible for this. I need to help Anakin, but I can't do that if I don't know what's happening. Can you help me? You won't be deactivated; I promise."

"I… helping people is in my protocol," the droid replies, a little uncertainly. "It was Chancellor Palpatine. He desired to keep Mistress Shmi's slave chip in her body so as to keep Master Anakin under control."

" My – my master uses those I care about to manipulate me."

Padme had wondered how it was possible that Palpatine knew nothing about Anakin being trained as a Sith by Dooku. She had wondered about the way that Dooku treated him; she saw that the Count cared for him, and she knew, because of that, that it was not him who was mistreating Anakin. So, she had questions.

But now? Now? It all makes so much sense.

"Palpatine is Sidious," she breathes out, staring blankly ahead of her. "Palpatine is the Sith Lord who started this entire war." And she'd trusted him. She'd trusted him, and he'd manipulated her, too. And he's been trying to break Anakin. He's been trying to destroy him.

"I am afraid that is the truth," Threepio worries. "Whatever will you do now?"

"… I don't know." And really, what can she do, even? She isn't in the Senate anymore. She doesn't have a way of obtaining information on Palpatine which can be used to take him down. She can probably get into contact with Bail or some of her old colleagues though, but she'll have to be careful that Palpatine doesn't suspect anything. And she should also call Siri again. The two of them really need to talk, even if the Jedi Master probably already has learned this information; Siri doesn't have the political expertise that Padme herself does, so maybe they can work together on this.

"Whatever you're planning, Padme, just be careful," Rabe cautions. "I'll help you, of course; we all will. But just be careful. Don't do anything rash."

"I'll be careful," she promises solemnly, knowing that not only does her own life depend on it, but so does the lives of all of those close to her. She can easily see someone as cold-hearted and manipulative as Palpatine apparently is being spiteful enough to hurt the family and friends of someone who is close to unmasking him. She cannot afford to slip it. It's time to manipulate the manipulator, not an easy task to be sure.

"The Jedi have Anakin in custody," Boba blurts out. "I don't know what they'll do to him… or to Obi-Wan or Ahsoka, but they have them."

"I'm friends with a Jedi," Padme tells him. "I'll contact her and see what we can figure out. I'm sure Anakin will be alright." She doesn't know if she really believes that though. She can hope, at least, because she can't bear the thought of something happening to her finance.

More than anything, she wants to spend time with him; she wants to see the man he really is, not the mask he wore in front of her. She wants to get to know him as him, and maybe her being removed as Senator is actually a blessing in disguise, because it's what led her to this truth. If not for the attack and everything that followed, she would not be here on Naboo. She would not have been here to find Boba and Threepio. She would not have learned the truth about Palpatine. Maybe the Force does have a way of guiding people, and Padme thinks that it's guiding her now, even if she isn't sensitive to its whispers.

And Padme thinks that the Force wills her to be the one to unmask Palpatine, to help Anakin. She'll do it. She'll do it even if it's the last thing she does. She owes it both to the man she loves and the galaxy she lives in to give her all to protect them.

She is Padme Amidala Naberrie – soon to be Skywalker, she hopes – and she has never backed down from a fight.

She will not start now.

"We need to find information on Palpatine," Padme decides, looking to Boba. "We can all work together. If we can take him down, we can end this war. We can save the galaxy." And then, holding Boba's eyes, she adds, "We can get Anakin back."

He smiles, slightly, at her, and some of the melancholic depression lifts. "I can help you," he declares firmly. "Mom – she made me learn a lot. I can help."

"Good," Padme answers, nodding, turning toward the protocol droid. "Threepio, I'll need your help. I need you to upload everything you know and have witnessed while in Palpatine's mansion to a datapad. We need to go through that information. It might not be much, but it will give us something to start with. Rabe, I still have Artoo, though he's been turned off. Once we return to the medcenter, can you go to my parents' house to pick him up. He can help us start splicing through files and seeing what all we can uncover."

"Absolutely, M'Lady." Rabe's voice betrays a hint of enthusiasm, and Padme feels a wave of gratitude at the loyalty of her former handmaiden. If not for her, for all of them, Padme knows that she would never have gotten as far as she has.

She will do this. She will take Palpatine down. She will avenge Dorme and Corde and Verse. She has never forgotten the names and faces of the friends who died for her, and their deaths are on Palpatine's hands. She will make him pay.

"I will also need a secure, untraceable comm which I can use to contact Siri," Padme continues, mind racing as she tries to figure out what she'll need for her mission of necessity.

She'll need to question Boba, too, but she'll have to do so gently and only once he's begun to recover from his traumatic experience. Force, he doesn't look like he's older than ten, but she can't simply give him to someone else, not if he really is like Anakin's brother. She owes it to her finance to watch over Boba, even if she has no idea how to handle children. Maybe she should contact Yane or Sache, especially the former, given that the duo have adopted many children of their own. They can at least give her some advice, and they might even be able to help her figure out what to do next.

"Yane and Sache can help with Boba," she adds aloud, thoughtfully, "And maybe with other aspects too, since Sache is into politics."

"Maybe it's time for us to get everyone back together," Rabe smirks. "I think you could use the help. Just say the word, and we'll all be there."

Oh, she knows that, which is why she's never done it. Her former handmaids would drop everything to help her if she asked them to, and these are desperate times. Maybe she does need to call upon the bonds and people from her past to help her bring down Palpatine. It's not something that she can do alone, after all.

"I'll call them," she decides, hoping that she won't regret it, hoping that she won't drag them into a mess that will get them killed. The galaxy itself is at stake, and Padme cannot think of anything more crucial than this. She, whether she likes it or not, needs their help.

Chapter Text

Anakin comes back to consciousness slowly, awareness filtering in through vague bits and pieces, flashes really. It comes rushing back all at once, and he jolts awake, blinking at his surroundings and trying to figure out where he is. He can sense Obi-Wan next to him, the elder man lightly stroking his hair. His hand still though when he realizes that Anakin is awake.

"Anakin?" Obi-Wan queries hesitantly.

"Where – where are we?" he rasps, closing his eyes as a wave of pain and grief so strong it feels physical washes through him, threatening to drown him. He remembers all of it. The explosion, the blood, the death.

Mom.

"We were captured by the Republic," Obi-Wan answers. "They stunned you." He remembers that much, and he doesn't care any more now than he did then. "Ahsoka was… going to fight, but I knew we were outmatched. It was… not a good situation. I had her surrender. We're enroute to Coruscant now."

He struggles to make sense of the words, trying to move his hand only to realize that he's in binders. He slumps back, defeated, staring numbly at the ceiling, unsure how he even ought to feel now. She's – she's gone. His mother is gone, dead, because of the slave chip in her, because of Sidious, because of the Republic. He doesn't know who he hates more. The galaxy or himself.

"Thank you," he manages to say, meeting Obi-Wan's eyes. "You… saved her. Us." Anakin recalls, vaguely, the feel of the clones and the Jedi who was there – Tachi – and he knows that Ahsoka would have died if Obi-Wan had not surrendered. All of them might have. And he might not know how much he himself wants to live anymore, not after how badly he failed, but he doesn't want his family to die.

"I'm so sorry," Obi-Wan whispers, pressing his hand to Anakin's face. "I – I wish we had… succeeded." His pain and grief filters through their bond, an echo of Anakin's, and he feels tears pricking at his eyes.

"Me too. I don't – what do we do now?" he asks brokenly. "I don't – I don't know how to deal with any of this."

"We can only take it one step at a time," Obi-Wan replies soothingly. "I will do for you whatever I can, Anakin. Perhaps the Republic – and the Jedi, primarily – will be able to help us."

He opens his mouth to instinctively protest, but Obi-Wan holds up a hand, forestalling him. "I know you do not trust the Jedi," he continues, "And for good reason, but they are good people. I have friends there; they were like a family to me, even if we… had our disagreements. The Council is not evil, even if they may be willfully blind. With the knowledge that we now have, perhaps they can help us stop Sidious."

"They will execute me," Anakin points out woodenly. "Eventually. They – they will. And maybe it would be best – I know I am dangerous – but I do not think I want to die."

"You won't die," Obi-Wan assures him fiercely, almost desperately. "You won't. I will make sure of it."

He doesn't bother pointing out that it really isn't up to Obi-Wan, and that, now that they're with the Jedi, they have no guarantees of anything. They both know it anyways, and Anakin says nothing more until Tachi shows up. She seems surprised to see him awake, though she hides it well, and once he's been given another dose of the sedative, he's dragged back into the welcoming embrace of darkness. He might not be able to hide from the truth, from his pain and grief, but he can, at least avoid it a little longer.

***

The meeting with the Council, unsurprisingly, took hours, and when it finished and after Siri sedated Anakin again – she has no idea how he woke up so fast – she returned to the cockpit to wait out the short remainder of the journey to Coruscant. She needed time to think and reflect as well as figure out her next course of action. The possibility of Palpatine having gotten inside information is a disturbing one, and she leaves a message for Ferus, asking him to meet her once she returns to the Temple.

Even if it amounts to nothing, she needs to do due diligence, and at least speak to him about it. It could be nothing; it probably is nothing, because even if Ferus has spent time speaking to Palpatine alone, he has always been faithful and loyal to the Order. She has no reason to doubt him, and she hates the fact that a part of her now is.

It will be simple enough to clear it up.

Upon their arrival, the still unconscious Anakin and Ahsoka are taken down to the Force-null cells within the Jedi Temple prison levels while Obi-Wan is escorted to a window-less, exit-less room and left there with two Temple Guards watching him. While the Council agreed that they could probably trust him, in part, they have no intention of leaving him alone or letting him go anywhere alone until they can determine the extent to which he's been influenced by the Sith. Not to mention that they have no desire to let knowledge of his presence leak out to everyone; it's best to keep Sidious in the dark about what happened for as long as possible.

And then, Siri goes to meet up with Ferus to speak with him. "What happened?" he asks, falling in step next to her. "You wanted to speak with me."

"I did," she confirms, evading his question until she has answers of her own. "I did go to Naboo, but… we were unable to bring Shmi in for questioning. There is… suspicion among the Council that someone may have let the word slip to the wrong individual, but as far as we know, no one outside of us and the Council itself was aware of the operation."

"Master…" he begins, a faint flicker of… some emotion visible for a moment before he hides it.

"Did you say anything to someone?" she interrupts, stopping to look at him. "I do not suspect you, but I must at least ask."

Visible shame flashes across his face, and he looks away from her, down to the floor. "It was… an accident," he admits. "The Chancellor asked me, and I told him that it was Jedi business, but I questioned him to know if he knew of anyone other than Dooku that Skywalker had spoken with. He said no, but he mentioned Shmi. I… accidentally slipped that we would be double-checking everything. I don't know if he figured it out or not. I apologize, Master."

Siri has no idea how to feel at that confession. What has Palpatine been doing to her former Padawan that he could make such a costly mistake? And she has no idea how much trust he has in Palpatine. Should she tell him anything, or should she leave him in the dark?

Is there really even a question, though? They cannot take any chances that Palpatine discover that they know of his identity before they've found a way to deal with him, not when the entirety of the clone army could be turned against them at a moment's notice. (She doesn't overlook the fact that Obi-Wan or Ahsoka could easily have triggered the clones against her when she showed up, but they didn't. Perhaps they were merely in shock, or perhaps it means that they are really not as corrupted as the Jedi way would have her believe.)

Even if she wants to tell Ferus everything, it's not a chance that she can take.

"I am disappointed that you made such a mistake," she tells him, picking her words carefully, "But I do not know if the failure of the mission was a result of your slipup. More than likely, it was not."

Ferus nods, looking suitably chastened. "Can you tell me anything more?"

Siri hesitates, uncertain. "I do not think I should, at least not without permission from the Council. This is… highly sensitive."

"I understand," he nods, and he doesn't seem upset in the least, so after giving him one searching look and wishing that she could warn him about Palpatine, Siri takes her leave.

***

Once he's left alone, Obi-Wan settles on the floor in a meditative position and tries to find his center again. It's… easier here now that he's in the Temple, surrounded by the familiar feel of Light and life, but he's still struggling. It was hard, so very hard, after Qui-Gon died, and if not for his friends, including Siri, and his knowledge that he was breaking his promise to his master, he doesn't know how he would have gotten through it.

Shmi's death is hitting him equally hard, and he doesn't even know why, because he never really knew her personally. He knew her through Anakin, and he knows how much she meant to Anakin, so perhaps that is the reason. Seeing Anakin suffer in the aftermath of his mother's death and knowing that he won't be able to offer him the unconditional help and support that he would like to will be hard.

In a way, he's glad that Anakin awoke briefly on the way back to Coruscant so that he had been able to speak to the younger man once before he – and Ahsoka – were locked away. Hopefully, his words and reassurances will be enough until Obi-Wan can find some other way of helping. He promised. He promised, and he is getting very tired of promises that he is forced to break.

For all that he's glad to be back here at the Temple, since it was the first home he ever had, Obi-Wan cannot deny feeling some… resentment as well. Had the Jedi been more careful, none of this would ever have happened. Had the Council allowed him to fulfill his promise to Qui-Gon, they would not be in this mess. He refuses to allow himself to think about how the situation could be worse.

Obi-Wan finds it hard to find any balance when he's grieving for Anakin as much as he is grieving with him. Shmi was a wonderful woman who had her life cut short all because of the insidious machinations of the Sith Master. She deserved better. Anakin deserves better. All of them deserve better. The Jedi, the clones, everyone.

His attempts at meditating are interrupted when the door to the room he's in slides open, and he jolts with a startled shock when he sees Master Yoda there. For a moment, he's at a loss for words as the elderly Grandmaster hobbles into the room. It's been a long time since Obi-Wan has seen him, but it also feels like just yesterday.

"Master Yoda," he blurts out, inclining his head with respect.

"Obi-Wan," Yoda returns neutrally, leaning on his gimer stick and staring at him for a moment before sitting down in front of him. "Come to speak with you I have."

"Speak, Master," he replies, "And I will answer what you want to know." He knows that he has nothing to gain by being difficult, and nor does he want to be, because he knows how important it is for them to find a resolution to the problem plaguing the galaxy. And then – then, perhaps he'll be afforded the chance to help Anakin and Ahsoka heal.

"Touched by the Dark you have not been," Yoda notes, staring at him speculatively, almost as if he can see through him, can see his very soul. It's uncomfortable, but Obi-Wan bears it.

"No," he agrees, "I have not used the Dark Side." He doesn't add that Anakin had practically begged him not to give in to that temptation, had encouraged him to resist and stay true to the Light, no matter how hard it may be.

"Killed Jedi you have," Yoda continues, relentless.

Obi-Wan can't help but flinch at that. "I – I did," he admits, "And it is something that will forever haunt me. I did what I had to do to survive, to help Anakin and Ahsoka, but I am not necessarily proud of it."

"A Jedi, are you?"

He hesitates, uncertain if it's a trick question or not. "It is true," he answers carefully, "That I have broken the Code, but I have done my best to always hold true to the Light, to hold onto it. I have never lost my faith in the Force, no matter how difficult these past many months have become at times."

"Hm." Yoda's ears twitch, and in the Force, he feels serene, maybe a little curious. "Fond of young Skywalker you are."

Maybe, Obi-Wan thinks a little hysterically, this is actually an assessment to see if he, too, needs to be imprisoned. If it is, he hopes that he'll pass it in a way that will allow him to give Anakin the most help. Staying free would be most ideal, because then, he can help most and perhaps they will find a solution to the Sidious problem fast enough that he and Anakin can be truly reunited again. And in the meantime, he can only hope that Ahsoka will be able to afford Anakin a sense of stability and balance while he mourns.

"I am," Obi-Wan answers, unashamed. His attachment to Anakin is not something that he will ever be able to bring himself to regret. No matter how short of a time they've been together, Obi-Wan still feels as if he's known Anakin forever, as if Anakin is a part of him that he never knew he was missing until he found him. They've always been drawn together, haven't they? Fated to forever find a path to each other's sides.

"Attachment that is," Yoda points out.

"I will not be ashamed of it," he answers defiantly. "It is the one thing that has given me strength throughout all of this time. It is the thing that has kept me Light when I thought I was unable to hold on any longer. Anakin is… he is special. He has been raised a Sith, but his heart is still so good and caring. He cares about me, about Ahsoka, even if that caring has only brought him more pain. We have helped him. We have balanced him. And I dare say that his attachment to me is one of the things that has given him the courage to fight against Sidious."

"Cheeky you have become," Yoda huffs, and Obi-Wan resists his instinctive urge to roll his eyes at the comment.

"Will you tell me I'm wrong to find strength in my attachment?" he challenges, and he can hardly even explain why he's behaving in this manner. Perhaps it is merely his grief, manifesting itself in anger, in a desire to lash out.

"Dangerous it is," the Grandmaster allows, not answering.

"I know that," Obi-Wan replies, "And I am being careful, but I have begun to see that attachments are not all dangerous. Because of Anakin, I am fighting. I am doing it for him. I want him to heal. I want him to be happy. Not all attachments are bad, Master." Not like we've always been taught, he doesn't add. It wasn't until Anakin that he truly understood the meaning of the word 'love' and it's not something that he would want to give up in a million years.

"Dominate his destiny, the Dark Side will," Yoda declares – or cautions, Obi-Wan is unsure.

"His actions will always be a part of him," Obi-Wan concedes, "But he can still use the Light. I – Ahsoka saw him do it: tap into the Light, though he's never been taught. I have… had questions about the Jedi way for a while, and now I see that they are not always right. I meant what I said in my speech to the galaxy. It may have been coerced, but I meant it."

"Meditate on this I must," the Grandmaster decides after a moment of contemplative silence. "Affected you have been but corrupted, I do not think you are. Imprisoned you will not be, but under guard you must remain."

Obi-Wan inclines his head in acknowledgement of Yoda's words. Despite everything, he still harbors some respect for the Grandmaster. It was trained and engrained into him from the time he was young; it's not something that he can forget about overnight. "What will the Jedi do about Sidious?" he wants to know.

"Decide this we must," Yoda tells him.

"And what of… Anakin? And Ahsoka?" He tries to control himself, to remain outwardly calm and relaxed, but he doesn't know if it really works, especially not when the mere thought of something happening to Anakin fills him with immense anxiety.

For many moments, Yoda is quiet, and Obi-Wan wonders if he'll even get an answer before Yoda says, "Imprisoned they are. Imprisoned they shall remain. Dark Siders they are. Dangerous. Risks we cannot afford to take."

"You cannot be meaning to keep them there indefinitely." He doesn't know if disbelief or dread are stronger right now at the prospect of Anakin and Ahsoka being imprisoned like that, possibly forever, of not being able to see them, and all that merely for the "crime" of them having embraced the Dark Side. It's not fair.

"Decided later their fates shall be." There's a finality to the words, and Obi-Wan knows that this line of conversation is over. It's not a yes, but it's not a no either, so all he can do is hope. He will not stand by and watch as the two are sentenced to a lengthy imprisonment. It's not something that he needs to deal with now, thankfully, but he will have to be mindful. He is all too aware of how the Jedi tend to treat Sith, and they will not care that the duo in question are both young and close to him.

And he can understand that. He knows that Anakin – and Ahsoka, too – can be extremely dangerous. His attachment is clouding his judgment, but is it really foolhardy of him to think that he can help Anakin heal when the younger man has already expressed his desire for freedom, for happiness? He doesn't know, and it's simply yet another thing that he'll have to meditate on.

"Can I see them?"

Yoda's hesitation is answer enough. "Not safe it would be." He doesn't say for who, but then again, he doesn't need to. It's pretty obvious. Even so, Obi-Wan can't help but feel disappointment that mingles with the silent pain piercing through his heart. Shmi died, and he owes it to her to help Anakin. He cannot fail another person.

Chapter Text

Ahsoka awakens to a dull pulsing throb in her head, and a strangle groan escapes from her as she opens her eyes to see the glowing red ray shield across from her. Right. Everything floods back in, from the… explosions to her capture, and she slumps back against the cool durasteel floor of the prison cell. The Force's absence is like a lost limb, and she hates it. It wasn't this bad in the cells that Dooku had, but then again, that's probably because they weren't actually designed to restrain Force users for an indefinite period of time. They were primarily intended to punish Anakin – and maybe other acolytes in training.

Without the Force, she can't truly sense anything or anyone outside her cell; all she can feel is an aching numbness where her bonds are. She doesn't know if Anakin is alright or what state he's in. She doesn't know where Obi-Wan is, either. All she knows is that she's alone here. And it terrifies her. Even now, she can distinctly remember what happened the last time she was in a cell like this.

Ahsoka knows that she's in the Jedi Temple – or at least she can assume so – but that doesn't stop the fear and panic from bubbling up as she remembers Last Time, as she recalls how Palpatine forced her to kill for him, how he pushed her to touch the Dark Side. And perhaps the Darkness has given her strength, but she cannot go through it again.

She can't. She can't.

Everything happened so fast, so abruptly, that she's still reeling from it all. Shmi – Shmi… And Boba. They're – they're dead, gone. Like so many others. It hurts so much worse though because they were Anakin's family. They were his family, and they were her family, too, by default. And now, they're gone, just like that. She doesn't know if she's angrier at the Jedi or at Palpatine. It's an irrational anger, she knows, because only the Sith Master truly deserves her fury, but… a part of her is too far gone to care.

They – they came for Shmi. They came for her, and she died because of that, when all of them could have escaped from Palpatine's clutches. They could have been free, been happy. They could have healed and taken down Palpatine on their down. Now, none of that can happen. If she's struggling this much, then what of Anakin? How will he handle it? Will he be alright if he's alone? Will the Jedi even leave him alive?

It's something that Ahsoka shudders to think about since the Jedi have every reason to want Anakin executed; he is dangerous and brutal, and he would not hesitate to kill if it means protecting his family. But – but he's Anakin. He is – he is her brother, her master, her – her everything. Anakin is… he is like a star, burning so brightly that she can't help but love him even if she shouldn't. He should not be so dear to her, being a murderer as he is.

But he is also a victim, and she cannot and will not forget that.

Anakin did not want this. He's gone along with it to protect his mother – who is now dead – and to protect Padme. One of them, at least, is still alive.

And now, she and Anakin and Obi-Wan are all prisoners of the Jedi, the Republic. But what now? What will happen to them now? What will their fates be? What will the Council do with them? Will they remain here, imprisoned? Are all of them down here?

Ahsoka pushes herself to her feet, feeling dizzy and achy from the stunbolt as well as the drugs, and her head pulses sharply, reminding her of the headache that she cannot dissipate with the Force. She sways but doesn't fall, and cautiously steps up to the ray shield, peering each way as best she can. She sees no one, but in a cell diagonal to hers – it's the one on the left of the cell across from hers – the ray shield is activated as well. Is… someone there?

"Hello?" she offers hesitantly, but only silence answers her. Sighing, Ahsoka slumps down on the small bench which serves as a cot, leaning forwards, her elbows resting on her knees, feeling dejected. She feels… cold. Freezing. Without the Force, she is… lost. It feels like she's suffocating with no way out.

***

Anakin knows where he is as soon as he returns to wakefulness. The dampening of the Force is the first thing he notices, even before he's fully conscious again, and he can hear the buzzing of the ray shield. Also, he remembers his brief talk with Obi-Wan while they were enroute to Coruscant; there is only one place that this can be.

He's in the Jedi Temple for the second time in his life, and he doesn't like it one bit. The first time was strange; everything was huge and foreign and too peaceful, and the Council was… nothing like he thought they'd be. He was scared, of them, of the situation, of his mother's fate. They had never understood that, living in their fancy Temple on a fancy, wealthy world. They would never understand slavery… or him.

And the second time is hardly any more welcoming. He's older now, more cynical, and even if he had been conscious for the arrival, he would not have looked at it with awe. Rather, he would have viewed it with disdain. He hates that he's here, hates that the Jedi have caged him like he'd a rabid dog. They, the so-called peacekeepers, lose their compassion when they deal with Dark Siders, not that he expected anything differently from them, but it's still enraging, and it still… hurts. And he doesn't know why, can't properly explain why he would ever have come to think differently.

Perhaps because of Obi-Wan and Ahsoka, because they grew up here, were Jedi here, and they are… they are good people. They are his family. He had questioned the things he was told about the Jedi, about how they're supposedly evil and heartless, and perhaps a subconscious part of him had hoped that the Jedi might not be quite as harsh with him as Sidious always claimed.

But they are. He deserves it anyways, because he knows how dangerous he can be, and he knows that he's not being rational right now. But he hates this. He hates being trapped, hates being confined in a cell like this, one that so painfully reminds him of his… punishments in the past when he was still training, of how he ended up truly bonding with Obi-Wan, with Ahsoka.

Anakin does his best to keep his mind blank, to stare up at the ceiling while trying to keep his mind free of any thoughts about his mother. He can't think about her now. He can't. If he does, he – he thinks he'll shatter. His mind isn't fogged by drugs now, and Obi-Wan isn't here. It shouldn't make that much of a difference, but it does, and he feels like he's… back There. Back with Sidious, locked up because he failed somehow. The lighting is all different, it's brighter, but it's hardly enough to stay calm or composed.

His Mom is – she's – she's –

He squeezes his eyes closed, balling his hands into fists, the gears of his prosthetic squealing from the pressure, as he struggles to maintain his composure.

She's gone, and he doesn't know how to keep moving. He doesn't know if he even can. She was important to him, the one person who he always had. And now, she's gone. More than anything, he wants to feel her warm embrace, feel her stroking back his hair as she hugs him, whispering words of reassurance and comfort. If she was here now, she'd probably say something like 'you'll be alright, Ani', but she's not here, and – and it's his fault, isn't it?

He had a vision of it, the feeling of foreboding, of loss which had been growing. He had known, or should have known, that it was coming, but he was too much of a coward to face it, struggling to hold onto his family instead of looking ahead and trying to protect them. He hadn't – he hadn't taken the time to look hard enough at what Sidious would do, even though he had warned him that he would do something. And – and this happened because of this, because of his weakness. It's his fault.

He rolls onto his side, not having enough energy to sit or stand or even move really, and rests his head on his arm, just… lying there. Thinking. Trying not to think. Trying not to see his Mom's final moments. Trying not to – not to remember. Any of it. Preferably ever. It would be easier if he could forget, if he could erase it all from his mind.

" I'm not afraid to die if it means that you'll be free."

" I don't want this life for you. I never have."

" You're only one person. You can't protect everyone. You can't keep us all safe."

" Death is a natural part of life."

" You have to be prepared for the possibility that Sidious will claim some lives of those close to you before he is destroyed."

" We can never go back to the past, but we can still remember."

" Everything is a choice, Ani. You can still choose to help people if that is what you want."

" You can learn to live without living in constant fear. And if you lose someone, you will learn to accept and move past that too. I have faith in you, that you can do it. I love you, Ani."

It – it was as if she knew, somehow, that her time had come, that she was going to die. And he doesn't understand it, how she couldn't have warned him outright, so he could have saved her. He could have. He could have. He's – the Jedi, Qui-Gon rather, thought him to be the Chosen One. Sidious says he's the Sith'ari. The Force itself birthed him, right? He's stronger than anyone, than any other living being ever. He – he could have saved his mother. She didn't have to die. So… why didn't – why didn't she tell him?

He's angry, and he doesn't know if he's angrier at himself or at… the universe in general. It won't change anything though. Nothing he does will change it, what happened; it won't bring her back. His anger fades, temporarily, as resignation washes over him. She – she's gone, and he doesn't know how to accept that. It doesn't even make sense, how his Mom could be –

No. No, he can't think about it, can't accept it, even though he knows she would want him to move on, to find happiness. With her… gone, he doesn't know how to do that.

"Anakin?"

Anakin jerks in surprise when he hears Ahsoka's voice, though is somewhat distant; she's not that close to him, or she's not speaking loudly, he doesn't know which. Without the Force, he feels blind. He pushes himself upright, scooting towards the ray shield and peering out both ways, trying to see her. Her cell is kitty-corner from his, but he can still see her standing in front of the ray shield, expression uncertain. She looks unharmed, though it's hard to tell with the two barriers between them.

"Ahsoka," he manages to say, relief crashing into him. He doesn't know if Obi-Wan is nearby, but he doesn't see him, so it's hard to say. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," she assures him, nodding, sitting cross-legged on the floor, looking relieved to see him. "I thought… Well, I wasn't sure if I was alone down here or not."

"Obi-Wan –?" he begins, his question obvious, and she shakes her head.

"I don't know. I don't see him."

Anakin doesn't know if that makes him feel better or worse. More than anything, he wants to have Obi-Wan here; he needs the elder man's grounding presence so that he doesn't lose his mind, but he'll never stoop to asking the Jedi if… he can see him. He won't ask them for anything, not after how they treated him in the past.

"I'm sure he's okay," he assures Ahsoka, and he finds that he actually believes it. If the Jedi were planning to summarily execute any of them, they would pick him first. Obi-Wan was pretending to be a double agent, so more than likely, they thought him safe enough to not imprison. Perhaps that is a good thing. Perhaps not. Only time can tell.

"Yeah," she agrees, looking down at the floor, fingers drumming absently on her knee; he knows it's a sign that she's on edge, which isn't surprising given their… location. It has got to be bringing up bad memories for her, just as it is for him. "I wonder how long we'll be here."

"Indefinitely," Anakin deadpans. "Do you really think that the Jedi will let us go?"

Her lips press together, and she doesn't answer; she probably doesn't want to acknowledge the truth of his words lest it make them more real. He hates how he's being forced to work so hard to read her since he can't feel her in the Force. Their bond is still there, but their senses are being dulled, suppressed. He loathes it. It's wrong, like something in him was abruptly ripped out and stuffed back in all wrong.

In some ways, it doesn't seem as though the last day – or however long it's been – really happened. He – he knows that it did, that his Mom is –

And – and Boba too, but it doesn't… seem real? It feels more like something out of a nightmare.

Grief isn't easy, he knows, and it will be a long time before he's able to let go of this, much less accept it. It will be hard for him, for Ahsoka, for Obi-Wan, for all of them. And all he can do now is hold on and try not to break.

***

After Master Yoda left, Obi-Wan must have spent at least an hour or two trying to meditate before Siri arrives. She stands inside the doorway, watching him almost uncertainly. "You were right," she says finally, sitting opposite him in much the same way Yoda did earlier.

He raises an eyebrow. "About what?"

"Ferus," she answers simply. "I – I think Palpatine is getting to him somehow. I trust him, but he has… never made a mistake like the one he did. I worry for him."

He bites back the completely unnecessary and snide remark about attachments. There's no reason to antagonize Siri or hurt her feelings. Obi-Wan knows that he is merely struggling with his own grief, and if it's this bad for him, he doesn't even want to think about how much Anakin and Ahsoka must be suffering, the former especially.

They sit in silence as Siri studies him, probing him lightly through the Force on occasion. "You are… upset at the Jedi," she notes, brow furrowing. "I can feel your anger."

Her pointing it out only makes it worse, and he fiercely tamps it down, because he promised Anakin. He promised. He won't let Anakin down. He won't fail him. He won't fail anyone else. He can't. "Yes," he retorts a little more sharply than he'd intended, "I think that anger is justified. The Jedi failed Anakin. All of this? It happened because the Council did not respect my promise to Qui-Gon. I could have taken care of him. I should have."

This anger, it's nothing new, and a part of him is too angry and bitter to even try holding it back. He's tired of watching Anakin suffer, of knowing that his ability to help is so limited, of being apart from Anakin when the latter needs him now more than ever. And maybe this is also about his anger at the time they lost. They are… close, closer than Obi-Wan thought they ever would be, and he hates that they were robbed of so much more. He's tried to tell himself that maybe things will be better now than they could have been, but he doesn't really believe that.

Anakin is – Obi-Wan doesn't even know what word to put on their relationship. It's far too complicated for a label to be able to define it, and yet, Obi-Wan already knows that he could never truly survive if he was to lose Anakin. In so short a time, they have been bound together in ways he himself cannot even fathom. The Force has willed them to come together, and so, they have, even if ten years went by before.

And he hates that.

He hates that he wasn't able to fulfill his promise to Qui-Gon, that he'll never be able to fulfill it now. Anakin is a Sith; he's been hurt and broken, and he'll never be a Jedi now. Obi-Wan would never ask that of him anyways, not after all he's been through.

"We've talked about this before." Siri doesn't sound frustrated, but she doesn't not, either. "The Council did what they thought was right. Anakin was too old to be trained as a Jedi, and though we can now see that it was a mistake, giving him to the Chancellor, who not only expressed interest in him, but also, had promised to free his mother, was the best option. At the time, the Council thought that he would be safe and well cared for."

Obi-Wan jolts at her words, feeling surprised. "He told the Council he would free Shmi?"

Now, she seems taken aback. "You didn't know?"

"I never got an explanation, except that it was for the best that Palpatine adopt him," Obi-Wan answers, a little harshly.

"I assumed you knew," she admits. "Master Yoda mentioned it to me in passing after I was appointed to the Council and after you and Ahsoka were confirmed as prisoners. I though you would have been told."

He hadn't known, but it hardly makes a difference now, and he doubts it would have mattered then, either. Although, it does somewhat ease the anger in him at the knowledge that the Council had not, in fact, merely handed Anakin over to a complete stranger. He can, albeit grudgingly, understand that the Council had reasons to think Anakin and Shmi would be safe. But he doesn't know if he can forgive them for making him break his promise to Qui-Gon. He would have left the Order to raise and train Anakin if he had known, if he had been given a choice. He would have left later, too, had Palpatine let him see, or even stay with, Anakin.

Obviously, he never got the choice.

He's still angry, but it's an anger he's used to, so he pushes it aside. "What will we do now about Sidious?" he wants to know.

"I do not know," Siri admits. "We are in a very delicate position, because Palpatine is the Chancellor. Technically, he is in control of the Order, and if we make any moves against him without utmost caution, he could turn the clones against us and accuse us of treason."

No, the Jedi really are not in a good position, and Obi-Wan doesn't envy them one bit. He might not have any authority among them anymore, but they will at least listen to him if he speaks. "I feel that you should speak to a trusted Senator or two, or at least someone with political sway," he suggests. He has spent time around Dooku, and he has learned more about politics while with the Separatists. He is not ignorant about political maneuverings. "You will need someone who can organize an undercover effort against Palpatine to expose him and what he's done. If we cannot beat him politically, we will lose."

That was something Dooku had impressed upon him numerous times in their brief discussions about how they could oust Palpatine politically, and while the Count never said so, Obi-Wan has gotten the feeling that Dooku hopes to turn the CIS into an Empire in the Outer Rim.

Siri looks at him, assessing. "I am aware," she replies at last, "And it is something that the Council will keep in mind." As he had expected, she says nothing more to reveal what plans the Jedi might be hatching. She doesn't trust him, and she probably shouldn't, either. Obi-Wan's loyalty lies with Anakin now, and he will do what is best for Anakin's sake… even if that means going against the Jedi Order itself.

Chapter Text

Dooku is unsurprised when Sidious calls him half a day after he sensed the ripple in the Force. He had been expecting it, even as he fervently worked to secure something, to reform a new plan, drawing up and throwing away idea after idea. He is not stupid; he had considered the possibility that Anakin would not be a part of his plans, but he had not… expected it to happen this soon or this unexpectedly.

He should have though. He had thought – hoped that they would get Shmi to safety, even though he had suspected that Sidious would go through with his threat to eliminate one of the people close to Anakin. It – he had assumed, foolishly, that they would get ahead of Sidious this time. Apparently not.

"What is thy bidding, my Master?" Dooku intones, kneeling in front of the hologram, hands clasped, head bowed, emotions and feelings carefully tucked away.

"You have felt the disturbance in the Force, have you not?" Sidious inquires as Dooku had thought he might.

"I have."

"It is unfortunate that Shmi Skywalker met her ending so soon, and because of the Jedi, no less."

Dooku stills, taken by surprise. "The Jedi?" He has no idea what could have happened, what those fools could have done, but… he finds that he shouldn't be surprised by it. Or maybe, they began to follow the real trail to Sidious, at last, and the Sith Master tied it up before they could follow through to conclusion. He knows that Shmi would not hesitate to sacrifice herself if she could be assured of Anakin's safety.

"They went to her," Sidious elaborates, "And the safety mechanism was activated. The mansion was destroyed, and her with it."

"What of Anakin?" Dooku can't help but ask, almost fearing the answer. Wherever the young man is, he is alive, and he is undoubtedly struggling. Hopefully, he will have Kenobi and Tano at his side to help him in a way that Dooku probably never could.

"He and the others have been taken prisoner by the Republic, by the Jedi," Sidious reveals. "I have heard nothing from the Council as of yet, so either they seek to hide it from me, or… they know more than they are letting on."

"They may feel that your judgment will be clouded," Dooku points out. In truth, he does not know if Kenobi would have been willing to reveal anything to the Jedi, but it is very possible that he would and did. If so, the Council may already be aware of Palpatine's identity, something that Sidious already seems to be counting on. But it is also possible, that the three have said nothing, and the Council is keeping the captures hidden from the Chancellor because of his… personal connection to Anakin.

"Perhaps," Sidious answers dismissively. "It matters little. They have guaranteed their own destruction. It is only a matter of time before Lord Vader returns to me. You must know, Tyrannus, that the boy belongs to me. I know you are planning rebellion against me. You will never succeed."

Dooku thinks, briefly, about denying it, but that would be pointless. Never before has Sidious come out like this and spoken of the plans that Dooku is making. It's unlikely that the Sith Master has any idea of the extent of those plans, but… well, Dooku has been careful. He would not have survived this long as a Sith if he acted rashly.

"The boy is stronger than you think," Dooku replies instead, looking up at the hologram of Sidious as he cackles madly in response.

"We shall see. Your faith is misplaced."

And with those words, Sidious ends the transmission, leaving Dooku feeling oddly shaken. If Sidious is on to them, they need to hasten their plans. Perhaps it is time for him to bring Asajj fully into his confidence. Her and her clone friend, Rex, should be returning from Dathomir any day. And if not, he can always demand her return. Her time of learning more of the Dark Side is at an end. She is needed here. They are running out of time, and for the sake of the galaxy, it would be best if they move with haste.

With regret, Dooku can't help but acknowledge the possible truth of Sidious' words. He does have faith in Anakin, but… perhaps Sidious will win him over. Though it is unlikely, he cannot take any chances. He may hate it – he does hate it – but it will be best for everyone's sakes if he prepares a contingency plan in the event that Anakin is not with them. If the boy ends up against him, Dooku will need to take steps to ensure that even the power of the Sith'ari and Chosen One himself will not be enough to stop them.

Even if it means crippling him.

Dooku could never forgive himself for it, but if it is necessary for the sake of the galaxy, for the sake of destroying Sidious, then he will do it.

He will be left with no other choice, and he will not let Anakin stop him.

***

Asajj is… well, she doesn't really know how she feels upon her return to Raxus when Dooku tells her what transpired in her absence. Her first thought is to go to Coruscant and find a way of breaking Anakin and the others out of the Temple, but Dooku is right. If Sidious is on to them, they need to move forwards with their plans. They can't afford to wait, and it's unlikely that she would ever be successful in breaking into the Temple anyways. All she can do is hope that the Jedi have more use for the three alive, and trust that they can take care of themselves.

It's not ideal, but she has – or soon will have – far more important missions to which she must attend, especially if she will be Dooku's right hand in whatever he has planned next. Rex's brothers, the ones who had been staying on Serenno, have fled with Death Squadron, and now, she and Rex are enroute to meet up with them. From there, once they've established contact – since it is far too risky to contact them via comm – she is to go to Rattatak and see if she can free Windu from where he's being held.

Though she dislikes having to go there, to ask for his aid, she knows that they could certainly use his help. They need all the allies they can get, especially with Anakin being in the Jedi's hands.

Neither she nor Rex speak much while they're in hyperspace after she explained to him what happened. He's thinking, processing, so she lets him be. She can feel his worry, his concern, and she wishes that she could do something to assuage it. But no. She can't. She spends a while thinking, reviewing what she knows of their plans and trying to strategize. Asajj may not be a tactical genius like Anakin, but he taught her a few tips; she's not stupid.

Time passes in a blur after that, and after they arrive at the Executor, they remain there for a short while as Rex confers privately with his brothers before the two of them set out for Rattatak. It'll be some hours before they arrive, so she suggests that they eat something and try to rest. She has no idea if Barriss will be on the surface, but if she is, this may be a prime chance to off her, especially if she can do it discreetly. Perhaps they can stage it to make it look as if the Jedi are the ones who did it. Unlikely, but she can hope.

They eat together in relative silence, but the solitude and companionability reawaken in Asajj the desire that she had felt earlier before she sensed Anakin's pain. Once they're done eating, she reaches out, boldly placing a hand on Rex's forearm. "My cabin?" she asks, raising an eyebrow almost suggestively. "I can pretty much guarantee that we won't be interrupted this time."

Rex's eyes flicker to her lips as he swallows, nodding. "Please," he whispers, and Asajj practically drags him to the cabin, shutting the door behind them before she leans in, kissing him like she had wanted to previously before they had been interrupted. She has no idea where this will lead, but she is very eager to find out.

***

Padme is almost surprised – though maybe she shouldn't be – when she gets a call from Siri before she even has a chance to contact the Jedi. Once she's guaranteed that the connection is as secure as they can make it with available technology, they sit down to talk. "I'm glad to hear from you," she says sincerely. "I've been meaning to contact you as soon as I can."

"Did something happen?" Siri questions, her expression betraying only a slight amount of concern and nothing else. It makes Padme wonder if Siri called her for the same reason that she wanted to call the Jedi.

"I imagine you already know this," she answers dryly, "But I sensed something had happened to Anakin, so I went to the Palpatine residence to see if Shmi could help me. And… well, I think you know the rest," she finishes when she sees the visible surprise that flashes across the other woman's face.

"I… yes, I know," she admits. "I was there."

"I found Boba and a protocol droid in the rubble," Padme elaborates. "I heard from them that the Jedi and Republic showed up. Shmi is really…?"

"She is. I'm sorry," Siri murmurs, subdued, "And we have Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka in custody. Obi-Wan is cooperating with us. He has… told us a lot."

"I have gotten a great deal of information from the droid, as well," Padme tells her. "I know who the Sith Master behind this war is, and my former handmaids and I are working to collect enough evidence to do something about it."

The Jedi Master's expression registers surprise for a moment. "I am relieved to hear that," she admits. "I contacted you with the hopes that we can reach an arrangement. I do not believe that he is aware that we know, and we cannot simply move on him while he is still in control. We need a valid legal reason for it, and I hoped you could help us with that."

Padme glances over at Artoo; the astromech is still working on downloading and sorting all of the information in Threepio's memory banks, and she expects that the process will still take some time longer, probably hours. That's good because it gives her time to catch up with all her handmaids as well as explain the situation to them and figure out what they need to do next. None of this is easy, especially not with a traumatized child on top of it all.

"I will do everything I can," Padme promises. "Let me know if there is something, in particular, which you need from me."

"I will be in touch," Siri answers, nodding. "I have ensured that this line is secure, so you can contact me at any time through it."

"Absolutely."

There's a hesitation from Siri before she speaks again. "How is Boba handling it? It must have been difficult for him to witness it; I do not know how we missed him there, but I suppose we were in a hurry."

"He is… struggling," Padme answers, choosing her words carefully, trying to convey the sheer horror that the child has been through. "He saw his father die, and Shmi was like a mother to him. He had a few nightmares, and Rabe is watching him now."

Siri winces. "I'm sorry," she says again. "We should have been more careful. I worry for how Anakin will react. Thankfully, he is contained, and even with his level of power, a Force resistant cell should keep him secure."

Padme nearly flinches. She has been doing her utmost to not think about how Anakin is feeling right now, and she doesn't need to ask to know that he was there. He saw his mother die, and she felt his pain in that moment. She can't help him in any way other than how she is: by taking Sidious down. And she will continue to devote herself to that. It's not as if she has any other options available right now.

"I hope so," she responds, because though she wants to see Anakin again, she knows what it would mean if the Jedi cannot keep him contained. It would be a bloodbath, no doubt, because she is not ignorant as to how brutal he can be, how brutal he has been. "I will let you know as soon as I have something of substance, and I will get in touch with other Senators who I can trust. We must act quickly."

"I could not agree more. Thank you, Padme, for helping." Siri's voice is filled with a quiet gratitude that catches Padme off guard, but she waves it away.

"It's what anyone would do."

They leave it at that, and Padme goes back to her work of sorting through recordings that Artoo has labeled as useful and trying to figure out where in the world they should even begin. None of this will be easy, not when the Chancellor himself is the one that Padme needs to remove from office. And to think that she once trusted the man…

It's just another betrayal, and she pushes aside the sting of it. She does not have time for it. She needs to focus before he makes a move against them or destroys them entirely.

***

Grief is hard. It never seems to get easier, no matter how much time passes. Losing his father was hard, so incredibly hard, but this is almost worse somehow, Boba thinks. He – he saw his father die, saw the Jedi kill him. It was horrible, something that constantly haunts his nightmares even now. But – but seeing Shmi die, seeing his mother die… it was worse. Her death wasn't fast, and every time he closes his eyes, Boba can see it again, the explosion that claimed her life.

He is young, but he is not ignorant of the horrors in the galaxy, even if he has not been exposed to them in the same way that his mother was, that Vader has been. He was never a slave, but he has seen the effects of it, and in the time that he spent on Naboo, he began to see and understand far more about Vader's condition.

When Boba went to see him after – after Geonosis, he hadn't understood why Vader was imprisoned; it hadn't made sense to him at the time, and he's turned that moment over his mind repeatedly, trying to understand what he was missing.

" Why're you here? You shouldn't be in here."

" Master's orders. He's upset with me."

It wasn't until Boba started staying on Naboo that he began to understand. Vader has spoken, briefly, in terse sentences, about his past as a slave; it was something that he and Boba's father had in common. They understood each other because of it, and perhaps that was one of the reasons why they got along so well, why Vader spent enough time with them that he became Boba's brother, for all intents and purposes.

And Boba doesn't know how to feel about the realization that Vader – and their mother – were as much slaves to Sidious as they were in the past on Tatooine. That – she died because of a slave chip. Vader talked about it enough, about how he saw people being blown up when he was only a child, for Boba to understand what they do.

Now, he fiercely wishes that his father was still alive, not only because he misses him, but because he could fix this. He could do something to make it better, to help Vader, especially since Shmi is… gone. Boba might not really understand why things are the way they are for Vader, but he at least understands the what.

It's nighttime, and he ought to be sleeping, but he just… can't. He can't sleep. He tried, but it feels as if every time he begins to doze off, his mind is alight with images of his father's death, of his mother's death, and it jolts him back to awareness again, leaving him shaking, being torn apart by conflicting feelings and desperately wishing that someone could be here to help him, to comfort him, to reassure him.

The door to the room he's in opens, and he turns, looking towards the doorway. It's Padme, and she slips inside when she sees that he's awake. "Can't sleep?" she murmurs kindly, sitting on the edge of his bed. She seems hesitant about whether or not she should touch him. He doesn't really know her, but she seems… nice, and he knows who she is; Vader spoke of her sometimes with both reverence and affection.

Boba mutely shakes his head.

"Nightmares?" she prods, sympathetically.

He has no idea, exactly, how long it's been since she rescued him. It could have been days or weeks, and he doesn't think he'd know the difference. Everything just feels like it's blurring together in his mind. "Yes," he mumbles, turning to stare blankly at the ceiling. He's so tired, but it feels like he can't sleep.

"I can stay with you, if you would like," she offers. Rabe has done the same for him. He likes it, but he doesn't know them, either. It's strange to have them around. He would much rather have one of his parents – yes, he knows that they're dead – or at least Vader. But the Republic took him. Of course, they took him.

"Okay," he finally concedes, shifting around and trying to find a more comfortable position.

Padme reaches out, lightly stroking his hair, the gesture soothing and relaxing him. "Sleep now, Boba, and in the morning, perhaps we can talk about a few things. I would like to see what all you know about Sidious if you're up for it?"

He thinks about that and finally shrugs. "Sure," he murmurs, rolling onto his side and curling up, closing his eyes and hoping that a dreamless sleep will come.

Chapter Text

It must have been several hours before Rex's thoughts turn back towards his brothers and what they were talking about together. He and Asajj are still curled in her bunk, her hand lazily tracing aimless patterns on his chest. The skin-to-skin contact is unusual, but not unwelcome in the least, and Rex thinks that this was really a long time in coming.

"You're thinking too hard," she hums, tilting her head to kiss his neck.

Rex rolls his eyes. "Maybe I'm not thinking hard enough," he snips back.

"So, what's on your mind, darling?" Asajj drawls, taping her fingertips on his chest and lifting her head to peer down at him.

He can't quite stop the warm flush of… something, maybe love, if that's what this feeling is, at her use of the term, and he clears his throat, refocusing his mind on the future and trying not to be distracted by memories of… what they did. "I spoke with my brothers when we were on the Executor," he relates without hesitation. Not only did they spend a month in each other's company, but also, they were just together in the most intimate way; there is a strong trust between them, and Rex has no reason to doubt her.

"And?" she prompts.

"I told them what you told me about – about Anakin and everything, and we discussed the feasibility of doing something about the inhibitor chips," he explains. "None of us are happy about how all our brothers are, for all intents and purposes, enslaved to the Republic. We want to do something. Dooku doesn't know of a way to shut them down, or deactivate them, but there must be a way. We just need to find it."

She is quiet, processing, studying him with blue eyes. "Okay," she replies, nodding, "And how do you intend to find it?" Her tone is questioning, curious, not hostile or challenging.

"We need to go to Kamino," he answers quietly. "It will not be easy, but that is… it's the only place I know where we can get answers. If anyone can find a way to permanently turn off the inhibitor chips so they can't be used against us, Nala Se will know."

"She'll never help you," Asajj murmurs, one hand reaching up to stroke through his blonde hair.

Rex smiles a little, the smile hard and cold. "We aren't going to ask her. We will find out through more… illegal means. But first, we need to get in."

"Okay, I'll talk to Dooku once this is over, once we have Windu secured," she promises, "And if you're going, I want to come."

He's shaking his head almost before she's finished speaking. "No way. How would you? I would love for you to come, but you wouldn't be able to blend in like we can. The Kaminoans are orderly and strict, but they don't care to know one clone from another. I'm sure we can find allies there who will help us. We are brothers; we are a family. The Kaminoans don't really understand that, so they'll underestimate us."

She hesitates before pressing a hand to his chest, above his heart. "If you're going, I want to come," she repeats. "A Force user could help you. I have learned much from Maul. No one will detect me, not the Kaminoans, not the Jedi. No one."

"It will be dangerous for you," he warns, and she smiles thinly.

"I take risks every day, darling. This won't be any different. I'll do it for you, Rex, for all your brothers. I – I know that I have… hurt them, when it's necessary, but I don't like it. I want to – to atone for that."

There's a fervent earnestness in her eyes that Rex can't say no, too, so instead, he reaches up, wrapping his arms around her smaller frame and pulling her down next to him. "Okay," he agrees, "You can come, but only if Dooku clears it."

Asajj grins at him, flicking his shoulder. "Of course, Captain," she teases.

"I'm glad we are in agreement, Commander," he returns dryly, and she snickers, leaning in and kissing him, visibly delighting at being able to do so with such freedom. And really, whyever would Rex want to discourage her?

***

Asajj can't help but be wary as they touch down on the landing platform of Rattatak. She has not been here in a while, and she has no idea what kinds of changes Sidious has ordered to be made in her absence. Or Offee, since she's staying here, overseeing Windu's imprisonment. Either way, Asajj is confident in her ability to successfully retrieve Windu, especially with Rex at her back. He's wearing armor again, hands hovering near his blasters as they approach the entrance.

It opens before they arrive, and Offee steps out, followed by a couple MagnaGuards. "Ventress," she greets coolly, "I did not expect you to come. Why are you here?"

"This is my home," Asajj throws back contemptuously. "I don't need a reason to come here."

"And the clone?" Offee questions dubiously.

"Is with me," she answers sharply, tensing despite herself. She will not stand for Rex being insulted or otherwise threatened. "I am here to see the prisoner."

Offee's expression closes off entirely. "Lord Sidious has forbidden it," she replies crisply. "No one is to see him except me."

"Stand aside," Asajj warns, ready to reach for her lightsabers on a moment's notice. This will come down to a fight, she knows, and she needs to destroy the droids while also dealing with the Fallen Jedi and covering Rex. Not an easy feat, but she is confident that she can manage it. She has learned much, after all.

Offee narrows her eyes. "No." She gestures and the two MagnaGuards start forwards, but Asajj had expected it, and she was waiting.

Drawing her red lightsabers, she leaps at them, her blades crashing against their electrostaffs. It's a short, fierce duel, because she has trained against these droids before, and she has trained against Anakin, too, who is far stronger. A well-placed blow sends one careening backwards, and she Force throws it to the side. It hits the wall and collapses to the ground, sparking. The second she cuts into pieces, kicking it aside as she lunges towards Offee.

A red lightsaber meets hers, the Mirialan's yellow eyes filled with something akin to cold hate. "You are making a mistake," she warns.

"No," Asajj throws back, "You are. You are not even half as strong as me. You are nothing, merely a weak, expendable pawn. I am much more. I am an assassin, a commander."

They exchange rapid strikes as Asajj pushes Offee onto the defensive, forcing her to retreat into the building itself. She nods subtly to Rex as he slips past them both while Offee is distracted, heading down to the prison level where Windu is being held. Asajj can only hope that he's capable of being transported; she has no idea what Sidious has ordered to be done to him.

It's only a matter of minutes before Offee has been thrown to the floor, Asajj's lightsabers leveled at her neck. "It looks like you lose, child," she taunts. While she could kill her, it might be better to bring her to Dooku as a prisoner; Offee could be useful to them.

"I didn't!" Offee denies hotly, unexpectedly Force shoving her backwards.

She skids a few feet, and that's all the diversion that the Fallen Jedi needs to call her lightsaber back to her hand and take off running into the building. Asajj could chase her, of course, because she has no doubts that she knows this place better than Offee ever will, but she doesn't know what kind of surprises she might find, and at the end of the day, so long as they get Windu, it doesn't matter what Offee does.

Rex contacts her comm only moments later, reporting that he located Windu, who is, unsurprisingly, not in good shape, and she immediately heads down to help him transport the captured Jedi Master to their shuttle. From there, they need to make haste to Serenno.

***

Dooku is more than a little relieved when Ventress and her clone companion arrive on Serenno with Windu as a prisoner. He also can't help but notice the way that the duo seems much… closer, for lack of a better term; it's as if something has settled between them. He doesn't ask, but he doesn't need to, anyways, because what he can feel from them in the Force is answer enough. At least they have found happiness despite the gravity of their situation.

Windu is… not in good condition. At all. His hand had been amputated at the wrist when Dooku and Kenobi had fought him on Ryloth, and it doesn't appear to have received any treatment, because some infection has set in. Once the Jedi Master is properly sedated, Dooku has a medical droid give him a thorough examination and treatment. Aside from his wrist – which will be fitted with a working prosthetic – Windu has suffered from extensive torture. The physical injuries are… bad, but Dooku expects, more like hopes, that Windu will make a full recovery; he is a Jedi Master after all, and this is hardly the first time he's been tortured, no doubt.

It takes a full three days before Windu is well on the path to recovery before Dooku has the medical droid awaken him so Dooku can pay him a visit. When he arrives, Windu is propped upright in his bed, looking at the shiny durasteel of his new hand.

"What is this?" Windu demands as soon as Dooku has entered the room. "If you think this treatment will make me more inclined to cooperate with you, you are wrong."

"No," Dooku answers, shaking his hand, clasping his hands behind his back, "But I do hope you are… better. The situation in the galaxy has become… tenuous, and I feel that your aid will be invaluable." He continues before Windu can interrupt, "My master and I are… at odds, and I feel that it is imperative that he be eliminated sooner rather than later. Skywalker, Kenobi, and Tano have been captured by the Republic, and our window of time is… limited. I had you retrieved, against my master's orders, in the hopes that you would be amenable to providing your aid."

Windu's eyes narrow, the suspicion and skepticism in them never lessening. "Go on."

"Darth Sidious is Chancellor Palpatine," Dooku tells him frankly. "He has amassed much power, and we are running out of time to destroy him. I had hoped that Anakin, along with Kenobi and Tano, would be available, but things have changed, things are changing, and I can no longer say that the plans I had initially crafted will work."

The Jedi Master nods slowly, showing no surprise at the news, though there's no way he isn't – unless he already knew. "Tell me what happened," he requests, "And then I will decide whether I would be willing to consider helping you."

Unlike in the past, Dooku doesn't hesitate to explain the situation at length. By freeing Windu like this, he has essentially declared war against Sidious, and unless he moves quickly, his time will run out. Now, there is no reason to keep these things secret. He explains everything to Windu. He tells him how Sidious freed Shmi in name but kept her slave chip active so she couldn't escape. He tells him how Sidious trained Anakin, how he coerced him into accepting the Dark Side piece by piece, holding Shmi as leverage over Anakin's head. He tells him, admits to him, of his own complicity, how he stood by and enabled it all, instead of doing his utmost to help Anakin and Shmi, of how he even aided in Anakin's training, making him into the lethal weapon that he is today.

And he tells Windu about his plans, about the inhibitor chips in the clones, about how they inserted another order which would allow them to seize control of the clone army to stop Palpatine if they have to, about how they had intended to remove Shmi's slave chip so she, and everyone, could leave and escape from under Sidious. From there, he explains how it all went wrong, how Shmi's chip had detonated when the Republic, and Jedi, show up, and how Anakin, Kenobi, and Tano had been captured.

"It is… falling apart," Dooku admits bluntly. "None of this is going as I had anticipated. Sidious is getting one victory after another. If I do not act now and fast, he will win. He knows I mean to destroy him, and I fear that he may try to destroy me before I can do him damage." He doesn't add that Sidious undoubtedly already knows that Dooku is moving against him, since Offee would have reported it to him. Time is fast running out.

"He has set it all up to ensure his success, no matter what opposition comes in his way," Windu notes, his voice – and expression – still neutral. "I sense you are speaking the truth, but what assurance will I have that you will not simply turn around and destroy the Jedi yourself, that you will not form a Galactic Empire under you?"

It's a legitimate question, because in truth, Windu has no guarantee, and without a guarantee, he has no reason whatsoever to agree to help Dooku. Agreeing is treasonous, and he could face major consequences with the Jedi and Republic by helping. He won't agree unless he knows it will be worth it.

"Ventress is still with me," Dooku elaborates, "And she has… taken a fancy to one of the clones who has been staying with us." He had, of course, also told Windu about the clones who are staying with them, even if their stay is not fully optional. "He has developed a plan with one of his brothers to go to Kamino and find a way to permanently neutralize the inhibitor chips. I believe that there is a way, but I do not know it. Is that enough proof for you?"

"Perhaps," the Jedi Master answers, noncommittal. "I will need to meditate on it. How much time – and proof – do you intend to give me?"

It's a trick question, and while Dooku knows that he needs Windu's help, he also doesn't want to reveal his every card. That would defeat the whole purpose, especially since he can't trust that Windu won't turn on him once Sidious is gone. They can't trust each other, and for good reason, but they somehow need to trust each other enough to work together to overthrow Sidious.

"As much as you need," Dooku answers at last. "We are running low on time, and while your help would be… invaluable, I can make do without. I did not join Sidious because I wanted power. I joined him because I saw the corruption and complacency of the Jedi Order and of the Republic. I sought change."

"Very well. I do not believe that you are sincere, but I agree that Sidious must be taken down. If the situation truly is as you have described it, then time is of the essence." It's not an agreement, per se, but it's not a refusal, either, and Dooku will simply take what he can get.

***

Barriss is more than a little scared to report to Sidious that Ventress and a clone came here and managed to get past her and take Windu. The Sith Master had been very clear that he wanted Windu broken. He knew it would take time, and he told her as much. She doesn't truthfully know if he actually wanted anything, in particular, out of Windu, or if he simply wanted to break the Jedi Master for fun. It could have been either; she was never told.

And as she suspected, Sidious was… less than appreciative of the news, though he doesn't actually electrocute her or otherwise punish her. It's almost as though he suspected it, even if he doesn't share his thoughts with her. The transmission ends abruptly, Sidious telling her that he will contact her with further instructions.

It's the first time in weeks that she hasn't had anything to actually do, that she hasn't had a mission to accomplish, and it's… strange. Unnerving, even. Barriss doesn't really like it, and she doesn't really like the way the Force is tingling with a vague sensation of warning. Things are changing faster than she anticipated, and a part of her wonders why she ever thought that she could be anything more than a mere pawn for Sidious.

No.

No, she'll be more than that. She just needs to prove her loyalty to him and him alone. Windu's loss was a setback, but nothing else. She will undoubtedly get more such chances in the future once her master decides how to react to these latest developments.

She's so lost in thought that she almost doesn't notice the small alarm pinging a warning of an approaching ship. Barriss frowns when she sees it; as far as she knows, there shouldn't be anyone coming here, especially since Ventress was just here only hours ago. Who could it be now? She feels… something akin to fear at being so alone and unprotected. The two MagnaGuards were destroyed by Ventress, and all she has here is a small platoon of battle droids which stand guard.

The shuttle is a Separatist one, though, so she goes out, albeit warily, to see who it is. It's not a Separatist. It's a Jedi. It's Quinlan Vos, who looks inordinately pleased to see her. "You're a hard person to track down, Offee," he jibes. "It's time for you to come home."

She takes a step back in spite of herself. "What? No, you're mistaken, Jedi. I am home."

Vos' mouth quirks into a mirthless smile. "Is that so? A pity then." He draws his green lightsaber with a flourish, advancing on her, forcing her to draw her own blade to fight back and defend herself, even though she knows it's hopeless.

And maybe there's a tiny part of her that actually likes getting this escape route.

Barriss isn't stupid, and she knows when she's in over her head. She is. She always has been, but it's been a choice of playing the game or trying to do her own thing and suffer for it. Now? Now, she has an escape, and maybe it's one that she wanted more than she ever realized.

Many minutes later, she's in Force restraints on the shuttle as it returns to Coruscant.0

Chapter Text

Ahsoka has no idea if it's merely been hours or days since she was arrested. Droids have brought them meals thrice thus far, which doesn't say a whole lot, because she doesn't know what the feeding schedule is like. It's possible that they're getting meals regularly twice a day, but it's also possible that the meals are being scheduled differently to throw them off guard and keep them confused.

She doubts the Jedi would do that, but who really knows?

It's not as if she's a Jedi anymore. She's a traitor to them, a Dark Sider. She's Fallen. She's joined Anakin. She's his apprentice. Perhaps she doesn't always, or even frequently, use the Dark Side, but she does sometimes.

But, needless to say, Ahsoka is more than a little surprised when Master Plo suddenly shows up. He stops in front of the ray shield of her cell, hands clasped in front of him as he regards her.

"Master Plo," she says in lieu of greeting, feeling shame crawl its way into her stomach, hanging there, sharp and bitter. She still cares about him, but she is well aware of the fact that she is the kind of person that he would hate, the kind of person that he would normally seek to destroy. She is… Fallen. He is a Jedi. Nothing more needs to be said.

"It's good to see you again, little 'Soka," he replies as if she's merely been gone on a mission and just returned to the Temple.

Almost instinctively, she crosses her arms over her chest, giving herself the only form of comfort and solace that she can, but even that isn't enough to take away the biting emptiness of her blocked Force abilities. She can see Plo there, but she can't feel him, so he might as well be another person entirely. If he was, she would never know. She doesn't know what to say to him, so she says nothing, simply waiting for him to make the first move.

After a few moments of simply looking at her, he sighs. "I dislike seeing you here, but you know what you have done. It is for your own safety as well as that of the Jedi."

"I know." She hesitates, looking at him, wishing she could get a sense as to his feelings. "What will you do with me?"

He studies her for another moment of silence. "I think that will depend on you."

From across the hall, Anakin scoffs. Loudly. "Right. As if the Jedi would ever let us go. Don't. Just don't. I won't fall for it. Don't give Ahsoka false hope."

She looks at him and sees the bitterness on his face which he isn't even bothering to hide. Plo turns towards him, though not entirely; he doesn't turn his back on her. "We are not the villains you have been told," he tells Anakin, his voice not wavering, not showing any signs of antagonism. His tone is, instead, level, kind even. "We don't imprison Fallen Jedi indefinitely. The choice is theirs. They chose to Fall, and they can choose to turn back, to find the Light again. If they've… done horrible things, most of them are never willing to make that choice. If the Council can determine that neither of you are dangerous, to yourselves or to others, you will be set free."

Anakin merely stares him, disbelieving. "And if – if they didn't have a choice?" he asks quietly, and Ahsoka feels her heart shatter all over again for him, for the things he's endured. Technically, he did have a choice. He knows that. She knows that. He accepts that. But practically speaking? He didn't. It was either giving in or going through even more suffering. He was a child. His Fall was inevitable. No child would have been strong enough to resist.

"There is always a choice," Plo replies firmly. "Even if you were coerced into using the Dark Side, you still made that choice. You still chose to obey Sidious. You are not with him anymore. You can make a different choice now. No one will stop you." He looks towards Ahsoka as he says it, and she knows that he's including her in his words.

"And you will just warmly welcome me into your precious Order," Anakin spits back. It's his natural response. It's instinctive. Anger is easier to face than fear; Ahsoka knows that. She has come to realize that over the time that she has known him.

Plo doesn't rise to the bait, remaining quiet instead. "I wonder," he says as the silence grows thicker, more uncomfortable, "What it is about you that inspires such loyalty. I don't believe for a moment that Obi-Wan was really acting as a double-agent. His devotedness to you is… admirable, if troublesome."

"Of course," Anakin sneers, "You would think that affection is something to be shunned."

Ahsoka rubs her temple. She doesn't want to have to listen to this, any of this, even if he's not exactly wrong. The attachment that the three of them share isn't something that the Jedi would be very welcoming of, and for good reason. They, all of them, would touch the Dark Side for each other. They would kill for each other. It's dangerous, especially if it gets out of hand. They don't know how to let go. But she doesn't say any of that, because though she understands it, she still selfishly wants to experience the way that Anakin makes her feel. He loves her and he's protective over her.

It's not something that she's ever experienced with anyone else, even Obi-Wan, though he is beginning to change now that he's around Anakin. He is less… bitter, less closed off, less harsh. Now that he's bonded with Anakin, he's a lot more open, more affectionate.

"I think," Plo informs him, his tone measured, "That the attachment Obi-Wan has for you could be his undoing. I haven't spoken with him in person yet, but from what Master Tachi has reported, it is very clear to me that Obi-Wan is very deeply attached. He must learn to control that, or it could destroy him."

Anakin raises his chin a little, defiantly. "Obi-Wan is stronger than you think," he retorts. "He won't lose himself as a result of how he cares, because he knows that's not what I want. He knows I don't want that of him; he won't do it."

Plo seems… visibly uncertain, not that Ahsoka can really tell since she can't feel him. "I would think that, since you are a Sith, you would revel in the chance to turn him."

"Don't act like you know me!" Anakin hisses, leaning forwards. "You know nothing. Nothing!"

Ahsoka isn't surprised that Plo doesn't even blink at Anakin's outburst. Probably, he expected it, and she can sympathize with Anakin's mood swings, because he's grieving. Grief is not easy. But still… "Anakin, don't antagonize Master Plo. He's not trying to hurt you," she soothes. An ominous for now echoes in the back of her mind, but she doesn't voice it, or pay any mind to it.

Anakin's gaze flickers to her, but she can't read it. All she can see in his eyes is anger… and pain lurking behind it. She can feel nothing, not a glimpse of the star gone supernova, not even a bit of his boundless energy. She misses it, misses the way that his emotions would radiate into the Force no matter how much he tried to hide them. She has grown very accustomed to being able to read him, and it's jarring to not even be able to feel him.

"You should listen to your apprentice, Anakin," Plo says after a moment. "I came here to check on you. I wanted to be sure that you were alright. Both of you."

"You don't care," Anakin mutters, turning away from the ray shield; Ahsoka's montrals can pick up the distant sounds of his footsteps, and she knows that he's pacing the floor of his too-small cell. "You don't – why would it matter to you how I am? Ahsoka is – she was one of you. I can see why you might… be concerned. But not me. I am your enemy. I could kill you and not regret it." He stalks up to the ray shield again, glaring. "Is this because of your guilt? Because you think you can make up for what you did, what you caused? My mother would be alive if not for you. We would, all of us, be free."

"I am deeply sorry about your mother," Plo assures him, stepping closer to his cell. "I would never have spoken in favor of the mission if I had known."

"I don't care," he spits. "It doesn't change anything!"

Ahsoka winces, watching helplessly as the man she has come to adore comes apart in front of her eyes while there's nothing, nothing at all, that she can do to help him. If she was with him, she could wrap him in a hug and let him feel her presence, but now, she can't even do that, and she hates it.

"It doesn't," the Jedi Master agrees, and he sounds… sad, almost. "I do not seek to help you because of my guilt, though I do feel it. The Council should not have rejected you, and I know that this is probably not what you want to hear, and nor will it change anything, but it is a truth which I have come to realize. Everyone makes mistakes. It is how we choose to act upon recognizing them that shows who we are."

Anakin's eyes narrow, and Ahsoka wonders if they are really gold or if she's just imagining it. They can't really be gold, can they? When he's in a Force-null cell? She doesn't know. Everything about Anakin is different; it always has been, and not only because he's so strong with the Force.

"If you expect me to forgive you, you'll be waiting a long time."

Plo straightens. "I am not here to ask for forgiveness. It is not up to me to ask. It is up to do to decide if you wish to grant it. We are all on the same side here. We all want Sidious dead."

"And if I tell you that my deepest and most ardent desire is to burn this fancy Temple of yours to the ground I'm sure that won't change your mind at all," Anakin drawls, mockingly.

"Anakin, stop it!" Ahsoka hisses, giving him a severe look. "Don't you know that it's a monumentally bad idea to antagonize our captors?"

His eyes flicker to her for a moment before he looks at Plo. "Do you intend to execute me?" Ahsoka feels her breath catch in her lungs at the question. She can't breathe, because if the answer is in the affirmative… she doesn't know how she could ever bear it.

"The Jedi rarely summarily execute individuals," Plo replies to Anakin, and Ahsoka lets out a breath she was hardly even conscious of holding. "It depends on the individual situations as well as the danger of those who are being contained."

"And what of me?" Anakin half-asks, half-demands. "Nothing you have can indefinitely keep me contained if I do not wish it."

"Are you trying to get yourself executed?" Ahsoka cries, a little hysterically wishing that he would shut up and stop saying things like that. She doesn't even know if it's true, but if it is, it's more than a little disconcerting that even Force null cells aren't enough to stop him.

She also doesn't like the way that Anakin stands there, far too still after she blurts out the question. He – he doesn't, right? He doesn't want to be executed, does he?

"I would not ask the Jedi for mercy if I wanted it," he answers shortly. It's not a yes, but it's not a no, either.

"I would never support your execution, but I do not control the entire Council," Plo says to him. "The Jedi believe in showing compassion to everyone, and it is my hope that the same will hold true for you as well."

Anakin's expression is nothing short of dubious, but he doesn't say anything more, and Plo takes his leave shortly thereafter, leaving Anakin and Ahsoka alone. Again.

***

Anakin's emotions are… conflicted, to say the least, once the Jedi leaves. In truth, he hardly even knows how to feel, but lashing out at the Jedi – Plo – did little to reduce the anger and grief simmering within him. He's angry at everything, everyone, right now, even though he knows it's irrational, and he feels bitter about what's happened.

It's wrong.

His mother should not be dead, not like this.

That Plo tolerated Anakin's attitude without getting angry only makes him feel something akin to guilt. He doesn't feel bad per se, but he sort of does at the same time. He would be lying if he said that he's never thought about dying, never wanted to die, but it's not something that he's struggled with much after getting to know Obi-Wan and Ahsoka. They ground him in a way that no one else ever has or could.

He misses Obi-Wan fiercely and wishes, selfishly, that the elder man could be here with him. He wants to feel Obi-Wan's comforting embrace, wants to feel his gentle, soothing touch. It's something that has always calmed the part of him that craved to be protected. Anakin found that kind of security with his mother, that feeling that told him he was home, that he belonged. He never found it anywhere else… until Obi-Wan. Even Dooku couldn't provide that feeling, no matter how much Anakin loves him. Dooku lacks the gentle softness that his Mom and Obi-Wan both possess, and that, he thinks, is why it's so different.

Dooku always did his best to help Anakin, to guide him, to protect him even, but… Dooku also had to train him as a Sith. There was a very fine line there, and Anakin cannot deny that there are things that have troubled him deeply, things that have cut him to the core and shaped the person he's become.

Dooku being his Sith mentor automatically meant pain. That is the nature of the Sith. And while Anakin does not fear Dooku, does not fear that Dooku might unexpectedly hurt him, he… did. He was younger, then, and everything was still too new, too strange, and Dooku was… there. He was there and he was steady and calm, and he helped in all the right ways. Anakin is grateful, so grateful, that he had Dooku there instead of only Sidious.

But.

But… there were… things. Things that it feels almost traitorous to even give thought to.

And yet, try as he might, Anakin cannot fully dispel the memory playing out in the back of his mind as he stares blankly at the ray shield in front of him, feeling disconnected from himself, from the universe, as his ability to sense the Force is mostly cut off.

"What's down here?" Anakin asks warily as he follows Dooku into the dungeon-like level of Dooku's castle, a place to which he's never gone before. Even at twelve, even though he's only been training for a little over two years, Anakin can feel the way the Force twists with wrongness around him, whispering fervent warnings.

Dooku pauses, looking back at him, and there's regret in his brown eyes. "You were to kill the prisoners," he elaborates. "You did not. You said you would face whatever the consequences were for disobeying."

Anakin freezes, taking a step back from him. "What are you going to do to me?"

" Do not fear, young one," Dooku answers, as if that could somehow ease the fear that is turning Anakin's blood to ice. He opens the door, the clang of it echoing down the hall, and gestures inside. "There are two holding cells here for Force sensitives. They are not fully Force null, but they will keep you contained. These are Sidious' orders. You are to stay here… alone until you are willing to comply."

A strangled sound escapes from him, and he clenches his hands, shaking his head. "No," he says. "No, you can't – don't do this to me. I can't –" The idea of being alone, completely alone, terrifies him beyond words, and Anakin doesn't think that he'll manage. "It's – you can't tell me to – to kill someone like that. That's – that's murder, Dooku." He hates how choked he sounds, how panicked. He had known this was coming. He had known that he would be forced to do terrible things – the term Dark Side leaves little to the imagination, after all.

" You are a Sith, Anakin, or you soon will be. You are training to be," Dooku reminds, his tone gentle yet firm. "I know that it is not what you asked for and it is not what you want, but it is your reality. Your best option is to strive to be the best Sith you possibly can be."

" By killing unarmed, defenseless people?" Anakin demands, horrified. "No way!"

Dooku gives him an unimpressed look. "You were a slave. I'm sure you learned the importance of obeying orders. Sidious is not inclined to be lenient with you." He walks down the hallway, stopping in front of an opening and waiting expectantly. "Enter."

Anakin briefly considers trying to run, but he knows it would be futile, so he reluctantly does as he's told, stepping into the cell. Dooku activates the ray shield, and Anakin can't help but flinch at being suddenly and abruptly cut off from everything and everyone. He still has the Force, of course, and he can still break out if he has to, but he knows that it would be pointless, and he would only be punished more if he did.

" I am sorry," Dooku tells him, and Anakin can feel the Count's regret, but it's not what he needs right now. "I will return tomorrow, and I hope that you will… do as our master has instructed."

Anakin swallows past the lump in his throat, but he doesn't answer. He can't say anything, can't promise to go along with it. He doesn't know if he could face himself afterwards if he does. This is – he can't do it.

He can't.

It's wrong.

His resistance lasts no more three weeks, each day becoming more and more torturous than the next, but Dooku never relents, never lets him out. In the end, it's Sidious who gets involved, and when he does… well, Anakin cannot listen to his mother's screams for long.

And he thinks that there's a part of him which has never forgiven Dooku for his complicity.

Chapter Text

Padme rubs her eyes, feeling tiredness creep up on her. She hasn't slept in a while because she has far too many things demanding her attention. She's gone without sleep for longer, and besides, she was usually far more exhausted when she was still in the Senate. She misses being a Senator, missing being able to fight for her people, for all people, for what's right. She misses knowing that she's doing good and making a difference, no matter how difficult it used to be.

Sighing, she clicks on another collection of files, scanning through the notes that Artoo added to categorize it. Padme frowns, rereading it just to make sure that she didn't make a mistake. But no. It very clearly, in big letters, reads "Sith training."

Her heart skips a beat, her finger hovering over the i con on her datapad screen before pressing it. There are dozens and dozens of files in here, and a feeling of dread crawls into her as she selects one at random. A holorecording opens up, blue and translucent, and if she wants, she could change the setting to make it in color, though it will take longer to load, and it's not needed right now. She doesn't need to see those details.

Anakin is in the screen, in his mid-teens, an ignited lightsaber held loosely in his hands as he looks towards Palpatine, who is barely visible on the edges of the recording. "Show me what you can do," the Chancellor's voice says as he steps back and away. Several large droids advance on Anakin, and he lunges towards them.

Padme watches for a moment, before realizing that she's admiring the deadly grace and lethality he's using and closes the recording, scrolling and picking another. This one is… bad. Shmi is in it, and from what Padme can see of her face, it's pinched, filled with a quiet horror and disbelief. Palpatine is in the center of the video frame as is Anakin, who is lying on the floor, head angled towards the Chancellor.

"You are willful, stubborn," Palpatine seethes, his anger obvious, even now. "You must learn if you are to ever become a true Sith Lord." And then, lightning arcs from his fingertips, hitting the hapless boy on the floor.

Padme slams off the recording when Anakin's first screams begin, tears in her eyes.

Oh Force.

What is this? Palpatine – he –

She knew that, intellectually, if he was a Sith, then he couldn't be a good person, that he must be horrible and evil. Seeing it? That's so different. She doesn't even know how to wrap her mind around this, how to even begin to accept that this – this is what Anakin went through day after day in Palpatine's hands.

She should have done something. She should have tried to help him. Maybe she would have failed, but at least she would have tried. If nothing else, she wouldn't have done nothing; she wouldn't have failed the man that she has come to love so dearly.

Padme inhales slowly, shakily, before pushing aside all of her own feelings for a moment. This information is crucial, especially since it could majorly benefit the Jedi as well as herself. If this evidence was to be presented to the court, it would be undeniable if combined with other evidence, including personal testimonies. While she is well aware that the Republic is corrupt and falling, that doesn't mean she'll entirely abandon its democratic principles. She can try, if nothing else, and a good place to start is by sending this information to the Jedi somehow so they can work together on building a case against Palpatine.

Perhaps she could see if Sache would be willing to go to Coruscant under the guide of helping Jar Jar with his new burden of work in the Senate. While there, she could discreetly slip a datacard to Siri, and she'll know what to do with it.

***

Obi-Wan has been here for days already, and he feels trapped, even though it's not as if he's been solely confined to his quarters. Siri – and other Jedi – have accompanied him to other places in the Temple, to the Room of One Thousand Fountains and the Archives, even. But he still feels trapped here, restless, on edge. For all that he loves the Temple, it no longer feels like home to him in the way it once did.

And, truth be told, he misses Anakin. He misses him, and he misses Ahsoka. He worries for them, too. They've been confined in the Temple holding cells, imprisoned in Force null cells. He can't feel them in the Force, and it grates on him. It's disturbing for him to be unable to feel Anakin. He's always been able to feel Anakin, especially after their bond cemented during their initial captivity. Anakin has always been there, a burning star in the back of his mind, but Obi-Wan can't feel him now. He can't feel him at all.

And it's maddening.

It occurs to him that he might be suffering from something akin to… withdrawal. Anakin's presence is addictive, and though Obi-Wan will never confess to it, more times than he can count, he has reached out to Anakin, letting himself bask in the warm, bright glow of that Force signature. Being unable to feel it might be affecting him negatively. Certainly, it has left him feeling far more depressed and irritable than usual.

It's affecting his ability to sleep as well. He's been restless, unable to find rest, and he finds himself reaching out towards the dormant bond constantly. It is – this is wrong. It's not how it should be. He should not be so reliant on Anakin. He should not feel the need to constantly check on him and protect him. Neither of those are right; they go against the Jedi way.

Obi-Wan does not care that they go against the Jedi way.

He isn't a very good Jedi, clearly.

He rolls around on his bed until he gets too annoyed with himself to actually continue to lay there, and with a sigh, he sits up, brushing a hand through his hair in frustration. The buzz under his skin is only getting worse, and he's desperate to hear something from Anakin. He needs to know how the younger man is doing, and it doesn't help that Obi-Wan is well aware of the fact that Anakin and Ahsoka will be reliving some of their worst experiences all over again. Having to stand by helplessly, knowing that they are struggling, suffering… it's infuriating.

It's not – he – he just doesn't think he can sleep without being certain Anakin is safe. Anything could have happened to him. Anything could be happening to him. And Obi-Wan would never know. He wouldn't know and it would be his fault –

His thoughts screech to a halt at that.

He has never had a problem being apart from Anakin, even after their captivity, because, through the Force, he could sense Anakin, could sense that he was alright, that he was alive. Now? He can't sense that, and maybe it reminds him far too much of – of before, of how he didn't have such a bond with Anakin and the younger suffered because of Obi-Wan's lack of action.

He exhales slowly, shifting into a meditative position and reaching out to the Force. This is – this is about Anakin, but it's also about his own guilt, isn't it? Obi-Wan knows that he has always struggled to let go of things, to move on. He has to learn to release his guilt over what happened to Anakin. It's not as if he chose to let Anakin stay with Palpatine. He did not choose to make Anakin become a Sith.

That was all Palpatine, all Dooku.

He did not choose to leave the slave chip in Shmi. He did not choose to let it activate, to kill her in front of Anakin.

That – that was all Sidious.

Obi-Wan lets the Light flow through him, warm and inviting and gentle, though it's nothing even remotely close to what Anakin feels like. He needs to learn to trust. The Jedi might have failed once, but surely, they can learn from those mistakes to not repeat him. At the very least, Obi-Wan needs to trust the Council not to take any hasty action against Anakin, needs to trust that Anakin will not come to harm at the Jedi's hands.

Letting go of his guilt is so much easier when he stops denying that he feels it, when he accepts what it is that he feels and probes to find the root of it.

Like Anakin said, Obi-Wan, at least, needs to stay levelheaded to keep Anakin and Ahsoka stable. It might not help them now, but he has no idea when they'll need him next. And he has to be ready. Perhaps, instead of… brooding, he should focus on rebalancing himself, on letting go of Shmi's tragic death. And then, he can seek out a means of checking on Anakin himself.

***

After hearing from Padme and seeing some of the footage that the holodisk – which Sache discreetly slipped to her – contains, Siri finds that, unsurprisingly, she can't sleep. She isn't a Council member anymore, but she once was, and she knows that there are some who still practically consider her to still be one.

Given the whole situation with Sidious and the fact that Siri is friends with Padme, she has been spending even more time with the Council, in meetings, strategizing and planning. Barriss' capture was good, though the Fallen Padawan is refusing to say anything if importance, even if they didn't get to Windu. All they know, both from Barriss and security recordings on Rattatak, is that Ventress and a clone companion arrived and retrieved Windu, taking him to an undisclosed destination.

Siri has no idea what they plan to do with him, but from the nature of the encounter, she doesn't fully think that Windu's transfer was on Sidious' orders. Perhaps Obi-Wan spoke the truth when he said that Dooku has been moving to overthrow Sidious. If nothing else, it seems as though there might be some conflict between the two Sith. She can only hope, because it would make it so much easier for the Jedi to take action if Dooku is as well.

The last Council meeting ended very late; they stayed awake reviewing some of the footage and trying to determine how to use it. If nothing else, it shows exactly how much of a victim Anakin has been. Siri can't even begin to imagine the horrors that the boy must have endured over the years, though obviously, that doesn't change what he now is, what he's become. And perhaps, though she hardly wants to admit it, she has begun to see and understand far more why Obi-Wan cares about Anakin so much.

At the very least, she herself empathizes with him.

She goes for a walk in the Temple, stopping in the Room of One Thousand Fountains to meditate and try to relax. It works, somewhat, and then, she finds herself heading in the direction of Obi-Wan's quarters. Probing towards him with the Force, she can sense his wakefulness, so she decides to pay him a late-night visit.

He's mediating when she arrives, and for an awkward moment, they stare at each other.

"Can't sleep?" Obi-Wan asks finally, rising smoothly to his feet and gesturing for her to enter.

"No," she admits, stepping inside, past the Temple Guards outside the room, letting the door close behind her. "You?"

"Likewise," Obi-Wan replies. "Tea?"

"Sure," she agrees, sitting down at the table while Obi-Wan goes to the kitchen area to prepare both of them a cup of tea. "The Council meeting dragged on late tonight."

Obi-Wan twitches. "Oh?" His voice is deliberately casual, but he's clearly curious. "I heard you weren't on the Council anymore."

"Officially, no," Siri answers, shaking her head, "But I am friends with Padme, and she is working with the Jedi now as we plan our moves against Palpatine."

"I see." His tone reveals nothing, and he brings her a cup, sitting opposite her with a cup in his own hand. There's a placidness to his expression, a sharpness to his eyes, that lets Siri see exactly why Obi-Wan has been come to be called the Negotiator. "Does the Council require something of me?"

"No," she tells him, "Not now. I am here merely… as a friend."

"You are troubled," he notes.

"It is… about Anakin, I suppose," she confesses at last, noticing the way that his body tenses at the name. "Padme went to the Palpatine residence, and she rescued Boba and a protocol droid. She has retrieved the memory from the droid, and we have found… much about Anakin, about his training. Anything the droid witnessed – and it was a lot – has been stored. I don't believe its memory has ever been wiped."

"What – what did you find?" He sounds almost anxious, worried.

She inhales slowly, fingers tightening on the cup in her hands, letting the warmth seep into her and taking a few sips to forestall her answer. "It is not good," she tells him. "It is – his training began from the moment Sidious took him. It was… brutal." For there is no other word that can properly describe the horrors of it all. By the Force, who would torture an eleven-year-old?

"I want to see him." The steeliness in Obi-Wan's voice snaps her head back up towards him. "If you are so close to the Council then you can… allow me to. I need to see him."

"He's fine, Obi-Wan," she answers. "I cannot do that. You know that. You are not permitted to go to the prison levels."

"Take me to him," he orders, ignoring her, something both furious and desperate in his eyes. "I am not asking to see him alone. I just – I need to see him. He needs to see me. You don't understand how… difficult this is for him."

"I cannot," she says quietly, "Go against the Council's orders, merely because you miss him."

"This isn't about me," Obi-Wan hisses out, looking angry. "I can – he is struggling. I need to see him. I can help him."

"He is in a Force-null cell, Obi-Wan," Siri retorts. "There is no way for you to know if he is struggling or not. If you insist, I can put in a request to visit him in the morning."

His blue-gray eyes harden, even as a flicker of something akin to fear echoes into the Force for a moment. "I don't think we have that time," he murmurs pensively, gaze going distant for a moment. "There is something…" He trails off, and Siri reaches out with the Force as well, trying to make sense of the vague, uncertain feelings which she's getting. "We need to go. Now." There's an urgency in his voice now which wasn't there before, and when Siri catches a flare of the Dark Side from inside the Temple, she knows that Obi-Wan is right.

"Fine." She rises, gesturing for him to follow her as she exits Obi-Wan's quarters, heart pounding as she prepares to do something that could land her in serious trouble. But the Force doesn't lie, and in the Force, she senses something is very, very wrong.

***

Anakin would love nothing more than the room to pace around, but his cell is too small for the luxury. He can move, of course, but not well enough to relieve the terrible tension filling his body. The Force has always been his one constant, the one bright thing which no one – not even Sidious – can really take away from him. He doesn't think about the other cells which were like this one and just as suffocating. But he can't feel it now, and it's as if he's missing a limb.

If he strains, he can hear Ahsoka moving around restlessly in her own holding cell, shifting and sighing as she tries – and fails, presumably – to find any rest. He wants this to be over. He wants to be free. It's the middle of the night, he thinks, but he can't sleep, nightmares and memories and a thousand whispers of guilt keeping him from finding any calm.

Anakin might be able to feel the whispers of the Dark Side, trying to seduce him into letting go, if he wasn't imprisoned here. And maybe he would. Perhaps it's better that he doesn't have to find out. He's filled with so much anger and hatred and pain, it feels as if he's going to drown in it. He shouldn't feel like this perhaps, but he can't – he doesn't – How does he let go of it?

A quiet noise catches his attention, and he jerks at the sound, head snapping to the cell's entrance as he unconsciously reaches for Ahsoka again only to be met with nothing. "Snips?" he ventures cautiously, stepping closer to the ray shield and wishing that he could hold her, comfort her from whatever is plaguing her, but he can't. He doesn't want to keep living like this, filled with uncertainty and mistrust. Personally, Anakin is willing to bear any manner of torment or abuse, but he'll fight tooth and nail to protect those he loves.

He can't feel her in the Force, can't feel to know if she's alright, can't reach out to soothe her through their bond. And it'll continue to be like this for the indefinite future, maybe until he's executed or worse. He doesn't want to know what will be done to him… or Ahsoka. No, not her. He will not allow anything to happen to her, but locked away like this, he's powerless to help her. Her pain is like his pain, and he hates that he can't do anything to help her.

"Yes?" she answers, sounding strained, miserable.

Are you okay, he wants to ask but doesn't. It'll be alright, he wants to soothe but can't.

"How are you hanging in there?" he questions instead.

"Splendidly," she replies, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Perfect view and everything."

The sound of the door opening stops him from replying, and even though he's cut off from the Force, Anakin still feels a tingle of warning as a Besalisk Jedi Master steps in front of his cell, a sneer on his face. "So, you're Skywalker, the Sith apprentice. You don't look too powerful in there," he mocks, walking back the way he came. There's the sound of a ray shield being deactivated, and then, "I have a message from Lord Sidious, Fallen Jedi." His voice is further away, and Anakin wonders to who he's speaking. "He wants you to kill Ahsoka Tano, and that is the price for your freedom."

And the world around Anakin screeches to a halt.

Chapter Text

"What?" Offee's voice reaches Anakin, overlapping with his own enraged cry of, "You would dare?" Distantly, he wonders when she was brought here, how long she's been here. Perhaps that is why he heard someone entering a little over a day ago or so. She never spoke, so he didn't realize she was present.

The Besalisk laughs, madly. "You are a failure to your master, Skywalker. Kenobi is under close guard, so your pathetic little apprentice will have to suffice."

No. No.

Anakin will not sit by here and wait for Ahsoka to die.

"I – I – we'll never get out of here," Offee argues, sounding surprisingly hesitant. "Ahsoka is a useful asset. She is strong, powerful. Killing her would be purposeless."

"You are weak, Barriss Offee," the Besalisk mocks, "Just as Lord Vader is." Anakin can hear the ray shield reactivate, can hear the footsteps slowly coming down the hall, and he panics.

He might be here, locked inside a cell, but he is not without power. The Force is with him. Always. That's what the Jedi believe, at any rate, right? And he is a Sith. He is stronger than the Jedi. He has touched the Force, both sides of it. He is the son of the Force, for all that he hates the power and the burden it has placed on him. While he may have been unable to save his mother, he will not fail to save Ahsoka. He will not stand by helplessly, watching, as another member of his family perishes.

Anakin digs deep down into himself, into the place which no one can touch as he taps into the Force. He is the Force; he is its son, and as a result, he can never truly be cut off from it. It has been a… theory on his part, but he has never tested it here in the cell. He has never had a reason to until now. The Dark Side trickles in, dark currents of power, feeding off his vengeful anger and hatred. He lets it come. The Light Side is overrated anyways. There is no peace; there is only passion.

He reaches out with the Force, exploding a wave of energy outwards, and ripping down the entrance of his holding cell to escape the confinement and plant himself firmly in the Besalisk's path, stopping him from approaching Ahsoka. "You will not touch her," he snarls, shuddering as the Force crashes into him, welcoming him into its loving embrace like a parent might, filling him with a power strong enough to put a supernova to shame.

Ahsoka gasps from behind him, and he glances towards her, briefly; she's watching him, eyes widened with… fear? Awe? Anakin doesn't know. It no longer matters to him. "You can do that?" she blurts out, showing no fear of him at least. He knows that his eyes are glowing an unrelenting Sithly yellow. Good. A twist of his hand has the ray shield on her cell down.

"Stay behind me," he warns, looking back at the Besalisk who has drawn two double-bladed lightsabers. "Stand down or die, Jedi," Anakin – no, Vader warns, the familiar feeling of bloodlust running through him, but this time, it's completely uncontrolled.

Maybe he understands, finally, why Sidious tried so hard to push him over the edge. This is a victory for him – but not for long. He'll meet his fate in due time, once Vader has had a chance to free himself and Ahsoka and escape, for he knows that the Jedi will never let him stay here now that they've learned what he's truly capable of.

With a snarl, the Besalisk leaps at him, but Vader pivots, ducking under the first strikes, dodging out of the way with a swiftness that only seems to anger his opponent. He can feel that this Jedi has Fallen; the Dark Side is strong in him, and while the Besalisk has the advantage in that he's stronger, bigger, Vader is more powerful, more skilled.

On the next strike, he uses the Force to block the end of the lightsaber with his left hand, reaching out with his right one and digging his prosthetics into the Jedi's wrist, crushing. There's a snap, and he cries out as one of his wrists is broken. One of four, though. That momentary distraction is enough for Vader to rip the double-bladed blue lightsaber from the Besalisk's grip. The hilt is big and long, designed for someone far larger than Vader, but he'll make it work. He knows how to use weapons like this, even if they aren't his preference; Sidious had him trained with all of the most commonly used weapons, including blasters.

Vader reaches out to his bond with Ahsoka, entwining their Force signatures together, silently soothing her, and promising to protect her, to keep her safe. Gathering the Force to him, Vader Force shoves the Besalisk backwards, hurling him to the end of the hall and lunging for him, swinging his new weapon with a lethal grace, each strike meant to maim or kill. He is not holding back.

The duel is fast and furious, Vader forcing the Jedi onto the defensive, scoring a glancing blow on his side, though it doesn't do much to stop him.

And then, the door slides open.

"What in the name of the Force is going on here?!" It's Tachi's voice that makes Vader and his opponent pause, looking back at the Jedi Master who is standing in the doorway, glaring at them both. And behind her – behind her… is Obi-Wan.

Vader reaches for him desperately, frantically through the Force, touching the bond between them and clinging to it like a lifeline. Obi-Wan accepts it, reaching back, offering silent, wordless comfort. And in the Force, the three of them – Vader, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka – shine. They are, the three of them, bound together by Force and by choice. They are family, and Vader will take solace in the fact that they will always choose each other, that they will always find a way back to each other.

"He's clearly trying to escape, Master Tachi," the Besalisk snaps. "Stop him."

"And how did you get in here?" she asks levelly before Vader has a chance to get a word in. "Strange that the Dark Side should surround you so strongly, Pong Krell, when you claim that you are trying to stop the Sith from escaping. You know it is impossible for someone to get free from the cells in here. They cut off the Force."

"He is no ordinary Sith," the Besalisk, Krell, snaps. "You should know that."

"Stand down," Tachi orders as Obi-Wan asks, quietly, "Anakin, are you alright?"

"Sidious sent him here to kill Ahsoka," Vader seethes.

"Never!" yells Krell leaping at her. She ducks back as if she had been expecting it, drawing and igniting her purple lightsaber to block his next flurry of attacks. Obi-Wan holds out a hand and a double-bladed lightsaber slams into his palm from outside the room, probably from one of the Temple Guards who Krell killed to get inside. He ignites the golden blades, exchanging a nod with Vader as they move in sync towards the Fallen Jedi.

Vader doesn't care about stopping Krell so much as he does about getting out. He doesn't want to be here anymore. He wants to be free. He wants to be with his family.

The duel has hardly restarted before several more Temple Guards race inside followed by other Jedi Masters, including some on the Council. "They're Fallen!" shouts Krell as soon as the other Jedi arrive. "Skywalker is trying to escape!"

"It's true," one of the Temple Guards chimes in, confirming Krell's words. "The Sith broke himself out of his cell. You can see all the debris on the floor."

"Krell is the one who has Fallen here!" Tachi snaps, casting a disgusted look at the Jedi Master.

If Vader wasn't stuck in the middle of all this, with a defenseless Ahsoka, he might find it amusing to see the way that the Jedi are fighting each other. "Lies!" Krell fires back. "You brought Kenobi down here so he could free his companions and escape."

"I brought him because we sensed a disturbance in the Force, and I knew that if something happened with Skywalker, Obi-Wan could talk him down," she hisses.

The Temple Guards move in closer, preparing to attack, and something in Vader snaps entirely, shattering beyond all hope of reasoning. "You won't touch her!" he screams at the Jedi, hurling the Force at the incoming Guards, knowing that at least one of them is a traitor who is colluding with Krell and who is planning to harm – kill – Ahsoka.

He throws himself into the fray, lightsaber flashing and spinning as he tears into the Guards. That, of course, promptly ignites a battle as Tachi attacks Krell again and Obi-Wan yells at the other Jedi Masters not to continue the fight. They don't listen, and from their perspective, they have no reason to, because Krell's words, the Temple Guard's words all seem like the truth.

Vader doesn't care. He'll escape from this place even if it's the last thing he does, and he'll make certain that Obi-Wan and Ahsoka are free. He doesn't want them, Ahsoka especially, to stay here any longer. Not when she's suffering so much because of it.

Time loses all meaning to him as he slaughters or injures the Jedi in front of him like he was born to do, like he was taught to do. He was an assassin, true, but he is so much more than that. He is Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, and that title has meaning. He is the most powerful Force user ever, and he ensures that the Jedi won't forget that.

A part of his mind is screaming at him not to kill the Jedi, just to immobilize them so that they can get out, and he tries, he really does, to hold back from delivering lethal blows. It can't always be avoided, but for the most part, he can leave them unconscious, electrocuted, maimed even. But severed limbs and broken bones are better than being dead, and he is aware that he could do so much worse.

At some point, Ahsoka picked up a lightsaber, and she's fighting next him. So is Obi-Wan. And Tachi. Evidently, she has been labeled an accomplice and is being targeted. She's fighting because they are, though she's only rendering people unconscious. Obi-Wan is holding back, too. But not Ahsoka. She's fighting with every bit of the fierceness in her, going to the same lengths as Vader is, albeit not as extreme, since she isn't as powerful.

And suddenly, amidst the chaos and bloodshed and death, Vader feels his master reaching out to him through their bond.

"My wayward apprentice, I trust you are showing the Jedi who you are," Sidious purrs into his mind. "Let them feel your power. I can feel your anger. They had it coming for imprisoning you like a wild animal. You are so much better, so much more. I know that you have been misguided by Dooku, but I am willing to overlook and forgive your mistakes if you come join me. Come to me, Lord Vader. Come to me, my boy. Together we can rule the galaxy."

"You sent Krell to kill Ahsoka!" Vader yells back at him through the Force, Force choking a Jedi in front of him and hurling her into the wall, leaving her stunned. "You killed my mother!"

"I am deeply sorry for her loss, but do not give up hope. The Dark Side is a pathway to abilities some would consider to be unnatural," Sidious replies to him, "And you the most powerful Sith ever to walk the face of the galaxy. If anyone can find a way to cheat death, you can."

Vader can't help but hesitate at that, wishing more than anything that Sidious' words are true. He knows that Sidious only seeks to have him at his side to use his power, but… the Sith Master must be destroyed, and if Vader goes to him, he will be the only one at risk. The rest of his family can escape, can go into hiding and be safe. He will – he will deal with Sidious. He can pretend to be loyal to him, and when the time is right, he can turn on him.

And if it's true, that he can find a way to bring his mother back…

Can he really refuse such an opportunity?

He already knows that the Jedi will be hunting for him relentlessly after this, and for good reason, since they'll realize how dangerous he can be. Sidious can hide him and teach him more of the Dark Side. If he is to ever overthrow his master, he needs to be stronger. He needs to be a true master of the Dark Side, no matter how much he has to sacrifice to ensure that. He – he cannot allow anyone in the rest of his family to come to harm, and if he has to sacrifice himself to ensure that, then so be it.

"I – but you sent Krell to kill Ahsoka. You will do it again, too. It's what you've told me."

"The Fallen Jedi had orders to free you and bring you to me," Sidious answers. "He overstepped his bounds." There is… something there that makes Vader think he might be lying, but he can't actually feel a lie. "You must understand," he continues, "That I have only ever sought to make you stronger. Your attachments were holding you back, but now, they are not. You have learned. You are learning. I have never harmed you without cause, my boy. It is always you, how quickly you learn, that determines the pain you endure."

Vader really, really does not agree with that. At all.

But…

But…

It is true, is it not, that he has never embraced the Dark Side like this, without fear? He did it to protect Ahsoka, but even now, he doesn't want to let go of it. It's too thrilling, too intoxicating. Before, on Tatooine, he had recognized that he was beginning to go too far. Maybe he has now. Maybe it is too late for him.

For a brief, desperate moment, Vader remembers the Light, remembers how he touched it once, how he… craved it, wanted more. He wants, so badly, to show Obi-Wan and Ahsoka and even Sidious that he is capable, that he can be better, that he can be something of his own choosing. Except it seems as though he can't, because when he had the chance, he chose to fight, to attack the Jedi, not just Krell.

Obi-Wan will probably be unsurprised, but he'll be disappointed nevertheless, and Vader wants to face that less than he's ever wanted to face anything in his life. He had been trying so hard to do what Obi-Wan would have wanted from him, because he trusted that Obi-Wan would guide him truly and not lead him astray. That is a trust that he has never been able to grant anyone other than his mother. Not even Dooku. Especially not Dooku. Dooku encouraged him to obey Sidious, encouraged him to kill, doing things against his conscience.

It was – at the time, it was right, it was the only way, perhaps, but that Dooku is his Sith teacher has only meant that Vader cannot grant him trust when it comes to guiding him along a better path. No, here, he has chosen to follow Obi-Wan, the Jedi who has promised to stay with him. They are… well, they are. It doesn't really matter what.

Vader snaps his awareness back to the present, shaking free from his musings, and with a glance, he realizes that it will not be long before they are overwhelmed entirely. So, he makes a decision, one that is the only one he can realistically make in this situation.

He enters a frequency into a comm that he steals from one of the fallen Jedi, a frequency that he has learned by memory just in case it's ever needed.

"Captain Del," he says into it, "This is Lord Vader. I have need of your assistance. I require an evac from the Jedi Temple. Volunteers only. Do not shoot to kill. Track me."

"Copy that, my Lord," Del replies, and Vader can feel a complex mix of emotions from the clone, even over the comm. "The 501st is behind you. Always. We're on the way."

The connection drops, and Vader calculates that they have ten or fifteen minutes left before their rescue arrives. He feels some guilt for calling upon the loyalty of these men, knowing that it will mean they are branded traitors, but at the same time, Vader refuses to be recaptured, and he knows that the clones can do far more for their own if they are away from the Republic.

He fights, throwing every ounce of his strength into the battle, using the Force liberally as he hurls blasts of Force lightning at his opponents or pulls down some of the decorative columns in the hallway where they currently are to buy them more time.

Time is a blur to him, but he feels the clones' arrival before he hears them. An explosion shatters the exterior wall of the Temple, and before the Jedi – or anyone – have time to react, clones are already leaping through the breach, firing stun bolts on the Jedi.

"Come on, it's time to go!" Vader yells at his allies, at Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, and Tachi.

Tachi hesitates the longest, but she finally manages to make it past the defensive line of clones, escaping onto the gunship that came to the rescue. As they fly away, Vader can't help but look towards the Senate building. He knows, however, that he is not to go there to meet up with his master. His destination is the Works, but first, he must ensure that the others, including the 501st, make it to safety.

They risked themselves for him, today, and it's a life debt which he can never repay except by offering them the greatest thing of all: freedom.

And that freedom will not be easy to obtain, not when there are so many clones who are owned by the Republic.

But Sidious is waiting for him, and Vader is not terribly inclined to make the Sith Master wait for long. Nothing good has ever come of it.

Chapter Text

Vader is careful not to mention anything of his plans to the others. He doesn't do anything which might betray them either. Obi-Wan and Ahsoka would probably never fully understand, and they would try to stop him. He cannot allow that to transpire. If they asked… he might give in, and – and if it's true what Sidious told him about how he might be able to cheat death and bring his mother back, it's a chance that Vader thinks is worth taking.

He can feel the tension in the air as the gunship transports them from the Temple towards freedom. While he hasn't discussed plans with the clones, he senses that the entire 501st is planning to aid in their escape.

And he's right.

The gunship flies up to the flagship of the Legion in question, and once it's inside, once they've disembarked into the hangar, he can hear the debate amongst the clones as they try to figure out what to do next. Vader scans them, pinpointing Del and approaching him. "Captain, you and your brothers, whoever wishes to leave, should go to the following coordinates." He lifts the stolen comm, rapidly entering the numbers he memorized into it. "You should meet up with Death Squadron there which is now being controlled by Rex and others in the 501st who have been captured."

"What about you, sir?" Del asks, visibly hesitant.

Vader shakes his head. "There is something else to which I must attend first. May I have the Jedi starfighter here? It would be… easiest."

"Come back," the clone requests.

"Of course," Vader promises. "I would never leave you, never leave Obi-Wan and Ahsoka. Tell them – tell them that I'm sorry once you've made the jump to hyperspace. And I – I require a diversion so I may leave."

Del understands, of course, what it is that Vader is asking, and he sends one of the other clones to offer a tour to Obi-Wan and Ahsoka.

"Aren't you coming?" Obi-Wan asks, frowning, looking back at Vader when he doesn't move to follow them.

He forces himself not to twitch and to remain totally relaxed so that he betrays nothing in his posture. "I need to oversee the evacuation first," he replies, meeting their gazes. "I will see you soon." Tachi – Siri – watches him warily, scrutinizing him with narrowed eyes, but she turns away, following Obi-Wan and Ahsoka.

Vader only waits until they're out of sight before he races across the hangar, sliding into the Jedi starfighter and letting his hands run over the controls as he gets a feel for the ship before pulling out of the hangar. He waits there, watching as the Star Destroyers, all three of them, make the jump to hyperspace before hurtling downwards towards the surface, trying not to think about how he felt the jolt of horrified realization from Obi-Wan as they were taken to safety.

Somehow, he isn't surprised that Obi-Wan figured it out on his own, probably all of it, and he suspects that the only reason they were even able to escape was because the clones hesitated to fire on their brothers. He can't blame them for that; Rex and the others are much the same.

The Dark Side still burns through him as he flies towards the Works, towards the place that Sidious has hidden there. They will meet there, and then… he doesn't know what next. He doesn't think he's strong enough to go up against the Sith Master yet, and besides, Sidious will probably see it coming. No, Vader needs to first try and prove his loyalty, no matter what that will take, and then, when Sidious is distracted, Vader will stab him in the back.

Sidious has to be destroyed, and after losing his mother, Vader refuses to put anyone else in harm's way if he can do something to protect them.

He idles there for a time, and it's a couple hours, at least, before Sidious finally arrives, striding into the room, hood shrouding his features, the Dark Side whispering malevolently around him. Vader instantly feels the fear claw its way up his throat, and not for the first time since he came here, he questions if he should have left, should have run while he still had the chance.

Now, he merely walks forwards, dropping to one knee in front of his master. "Master," he murmurs, saying nothing more; he has nothing more than he even can say. This is – this is his place, much as he hates it. He has always wanted to leave, but on some inner level, perhaps he always knew this was inevitable, this final breaking point, this final trigger which pushes him over the edge and into the Dark.

"I am… pleased to see you here, Lord Vader," Sidious replies. "Come. Rise." He stands obediently, feeling both anxious and apprehensive. He can only hope that this wasn't a mistake.

"I am certain by now that the Jedi know the truth about me," the Sith Master continues, "But I do not believe they would ever so rash as to attack me or try to assassinate me when they undoubtedly also know about the inhibitor chips in the clones." Vader remains silent, uncertain what he should even say, or if he is even meant to say anything at all. "The Jedi will not come for me now, not yet, but there is much danger in other places. I have reason to believe that Dooku is attempting to undermine all of our plans. He has let his judgment be clouded, and he seeks to destroy me before we have our Empire secured. He has forgotten the rules of the Sith."

Vader knows well what Sidious means. One of the first lessons he learned was that the apprentice is to show loyalty to the master so long as the master shows no weaknesses.

"Wouldn't you agree?" Sidious queries slyly.

Vader swallows. "It is true, my master," he confirms, subdued. If coming here was a mistake, it's not one he can back out of anymore. He has to see it through to the end.

"Hm. I am aware that Lord Tyrannus has undoubtedly been filling your mind with doubts about me and with teachings from his Jedi past that he should have forgotten. He has never been a good Sith, but you? You are, you will be, everything that a true Sith Lord could and should be," Sidious continues.

Slowly, bit by bit, his words slither into Vader's mind, and he… questions. He questions what he really needs to do now, what the true path ahead really ought to be. When he was with Dooku, it was easier to go along with him and make plans for his vision, and it seems that the same is true for when he's with Sidious. But then again, that isn't really surprising. It's always been true. He… struggles with assertiveness, with trying to figure out anything on his own.

"What do you want me to do?"

"Oh, you needn't worry about being sent to eliminate him," the Sith is quick to assure. "I know that it will not be easy for you to cast off your bonds to those in the past, but it is of no consequence so long as you do not lose sight of the path ahead. There are sacrifices which must be made, and when this is over, once we have destroyed the Jedi together and established an Empire that will reign supreme and bring peace, justice, and order to the galaxy, you may seek out your… family."

Vader blinks. Once. Twice. And again. He… what?

"I… can?" he asks, dubiously. Isn't that against everything he has ever been taught?

"So long as you remain level-headed, yes, you may," Sidious answers, his amusement flaring into the Force. "Do not be so surprised. It is not… unheard of for Sith to have… families. It is not something that has been the case in recent times, but in the past, it was so."

He nods, slowly, almost feeling stupid for not having thought of it sooner. Of course, Sith used to have families. There was, once upon a time, an entire Sith Empire with hundreds of Sith. It only would be natural for them to have spouses, children, siblings, parents.

"I know this is… challenging for you, my boy, but your path will be clearer as time goes on," Sidious assures him. "You have only now begun to truly tap into your power. I will help you, guide you so that you will not be lost by what is now at your command."

Vader inclines his head. "I thank you, Master." He doesn't know what else to say, and there's a quiet voice in the back of his mind screaming that he's making a mistake, that he needs to leave and go back to everyone else. But no. He has to do this.

Sidious beckons to him, walking deeper into the building, and Vader falls into step at his side, following him and wondering. Wondering what he will be expected to do now. Wondering where the future will take him now that he's made this choice. Wondering if he's made a horrible mistake. They stop outside a well-shielded room which contains numerous Sith artifacts and holocrons; Vader has been inside before, once, and he remembers being intrigued by it all, no matter how dark and foreboding it seemed.

He isn't surprised when Sidious opens the door and steps inside, motioning for him to follow. He does, of course, feeling a mild surprise when Sidious stops in front of a Sith artifact that Vader knows, though he is uncertain of its purpose or function. It was something that he – and Sidious – obtained on a mission when he was younger. It's one of the few, or not so few, memories he has of his master when Sidious wasn't angry with him or hurting him. If anything, he had been… unusually mellow, then, and more encouraging than usual.

"You must remember this?" Sidious inquires, lifting the object with the Force.

"Yes," Vader agrees, eyes darting between his master and the artifact.

"It was during my quest for it," he informs him, turning to look it him after setting it down once more, "That I discovered of a gateway on Mustafar. The Force nexus there, if tapped into, can be used to create a doorway between the living and the dead."

Vader's breath catches in his lungs when he realizes what Sidious is saying. "Mom," he whispers before he can stop himself.

Sidious' expression seems almost… indulgent, something akin to fond, but not actually fond since Sidious isn't fond of people. "Indeed, but it is not easy. You must be certain of yourself, of what you want if you are to succeed. If you have even the slightest doubt, failure is inevitable."

"I – I understand. I – thank you, Master."

"It is what you desired," Sidious replies, laying a hand on Vader's shoulder. He can't help the flinch, but he doesn't pull back either. "You are power, my boy. Raw, unchecked power." His grip tightens, and Vader can feel the greed in it, the possessiveness. Mine, the Dark Side seems to whisper all around the Sith Master. You are mine.

It's unsettling, terrifying even. It's not something that Vader wants from Sidious.

Despite himself, he remembers something, a moment in the not-too-distant past, and he yearns. He wants it again, and he wants more.

" How? Please, Master, tell me what –" Embarrassment. Fear. Regret. "Sorry."

" No, it's – it's okay, Anakin." Obi-Wan squeezing his hand, his touch warm, gentle, grounding.

" I'm not upset," Obi-Wan had promised, touching his face with utmost care. "I would have been proud to raise and train you. It had been my dearest wish for years that I be able to train you as a Jedi, not because of my promise to Qui-Gon, but because you deserved the chance to fulfill your own dreams."

The hug they shared, Vader – Anakin, whoever he was – clinging to Obi-Wan desperately, seeking comfort against a world that had brought him so much pain. "That – knowing that you really think that… It means a lot to me, Obi-Wan. I love you too, you know. You're part of my family." And Obi-Wan held him then, protectively, offering a grounding calm that he only ever found with his mother.

He desperately doesn't want to call Sidious 'master', doesn't want to use that title, and be reminded of slavery, of the Sith. He wishes for a universe where he could have learned to use the title 'master' as an honorific and think of home instead of captivity. (He wishes he could have been a Jedi; he hates what he's become.)

If Sidious senses Vader's conflict, he says nothing, merely radiating pleased feelings into the Force. "I will begin your training in earnest tonight and every night. Until then, I want you to meditate. Think on what happened, on what you have done. Focus on your passions. You will gain strength and power, and through that, victory. The Force will free you."

"I don't feel free," he blurts out without thinking, regretting it a moment later, cringing inwardly at having said something like that to Sidious. He has become far too accustomed to being with Obi-Wan and Ahsoka. "I – I mean –" he stutters, internally panicking.

The hand on his shoulder tightens again in a parody of comfort. "I know you don't," Sidious replies, "And you have Dooku to thank for that."

Vader stares at him, wide-eyed and shocked that the Sith Master really said that. It's not true. It's not, of course, but he can't help but wonder what lies Sidious will craft now to explain his statement. He doesn't know if Sidious senses his confusion or disbelief or merely sees his surprise, because he continues speaking, "It sounds difficult to believe, and I'm sure it is, but I can assure you that it is the truth. You would have learned freedom if you had embraced the Dark Side as I had hoped you would, but Dooku held you back. He does not and never will understand the Dark as you and I can. A Jedi does not make a good Sith, and you have never been a Jedi."

"He didn't," Vader protests weakly. "He always – he said he wanted me to be strong. He tried to help me."

"Hm. Well, he did an abysmal job at it," Sidious tuts, turning, his black robe swirling as he does. "Come with me."

It's not as if Vader has a choice, so he follows silently, feeling even more conflicted than he has before. He is well aware that Sidious has never been… fond of Dooku training him. He accepted it because he was the Chancellor and was unable to do it all himself, but he often expressed his dislike of it, if only privately. And Vader – Vader has no idea what to do, what to think about all of this.

Sidious guides him to another room that has ornamental flooring in some pattern Vader can't quite make out due to the dim lighting. "Come," he says lightly, waving a hand. "Kneel. You can meditate here. This room is well-shielded; the Jedi will not sense you here."

Cautiously, Vader does as he is told, kneeling in the center of the room and reaching for the Force, for the Dark Side, pulling it even closer and letting it wash over him. A shiver snakes down his spine as Sidious' footsteps move around him, but he forces himself not to look, instead focusing on centering himself in the Force. He nearly jumps when Sidious crouches in front of him, but only nearly, because he sensed the movement before it happened, and the Force did not warn him of danger.

The Sith's yellow eyes are cold as always, but there's something different about them now, something… possessive, hungry.

Vader's breath stutters in his chest as his master – not his master – reaches out, cool fingers touching his face. It's strange and wrong, and he doesn't like it, but he knows better than to visibly react. Sidious got his name for a reason, and he excels at mind-games. Vader knows he's being played, and he does not, for one moment, trust this false affection and strange kindness, but he also knows that he's very much at the mercy of this Sith. And he knows that he probably won't even realize it as Sidious works him over for such is the nature of his games.

"Stay here." It's phrased more like a request than a command, which only makes it more off-putting. "Wait for me. I will return tonight, Lord Vader, and your lessons shall begin. It is high time for you to step into your role as my true and one apprentice." Sidious reaches up, lightly brushing a curl of hair from Vader's forehead, and it makes him want to throw up. He hates being touched by people he isn't close with, and he especially hates being touched like this by Sidious, hates that the Sith Master is acting as if Vader is so dear to him when it's not true.

If Sidious can sense Vader's feelings, he makes no mention of it, and nor does he show it. Instead, he stands, taking his time and looking down on Vader for a moment before turning to leave. "I would destroy that comm if I were you," he adds as if its an afterthought. "It would not be good for the Jedi to track you here."

And then, he leaves before Vader has a chance to even rasp out a strangled, "yes, Master," like he knows he should. And nor does he have a chance to point out that there's no conceivable way the Jedi could locate his stolen commlink; it's not as if it has a tracker. Vader already checked. He had kept it in case he needs to contact someone.

But now…

He lifts it into his prosthetic, staring at it for a moment before deliberately crushing it between his metal fingers, letting the pieces fall to the floor. If he truly becomes desperate enough that he wants to contact someone, he can always find another way. The lightsaber at his hip is heavy and not his, but he leaves it there, no matter how strange the light of it is. It calls for someone who will not respond, and perhaps later, he can rebuild it. His own saber is probably still at the Temple, if not destroyed, and he doubts he'll ever see it again, so he'll need to make a new one.

But until he is ordered to do so, he will stay here and wait as his master has instructed.

"The Force will free me," he whispers under his breath, letting the darkness between the stars themselves wash through him, lighting up his veins with power, raw and unchecked. If nothing else, Vader can trust the Force to free him. Dooku promised he would, a long time ago, but he also promised that he would free his Mom. He didn't. And she's dead now. Vader may not fully blame the Count, but he is still… angry. It is too easy to be disappointed by people.

But the Force? The Force created him. It will never let him down. It is a comfort in the dark, a shield against the light. It is… everything.

The Force shall free me.

Vader isn't certain of anything in his life anymore, but he trusts that. He has faith in that, and if he holds onto it, he will endure.

Chapter Text

Obi-Wan realized, seconds too late, the mistake he made by letting Anakin out of his sight. He should have known better, especially given how the younger man had embraced the Dark Side, the way his emotions are all over the place, the way he was lashing out at the Jedi in the Temple and fighting them. Anakin had been strangely quiet and closed off, but even though his body language had been so obviously feigned, Obi-Wan had not thought that Anakin would send them to freedom on their own.

And he knows what that means. It terrifies him. How could Anakin have possibly thought it would be a good idea to go after Sidious on his own? Or even to pretend to join him, whichever of the two it is.

He wishes that Anakin had consulted with him first, spoken with him about his rash idea before going through with it. He wants nothing more than to go back after Anakin and drag him, take him home. Anakin should not have to deal with Sidious on his own. Ever. That is – Obi-Wan ought to be there with him, to watch over him if nothing else; he does not know if he can rightfully say that protecting Anakin is his job, but oh, how he wishes it was. He would accept it gladly. Too bad Anakin is making that so very difficult.

Despite himself, he feels a flicker of fondness at that, which only momentarily stifles the fear that is griping him. He reaches out with the Force, towards his bond with Anakin, trying to sense him, trying to call for him, even as the Star Destroyer hurdles through hyperspace, putting lightyears between them.

Obi-Wan does not want to leave Anakin. He does not want to leave him, and he's angry that he was never even given the choice.

"What's wrong?" Siri demands, something almost knowing in her eyes.

For all that he doesn't want to tell her, he doesn't really have a choice. She deserves to know. "I believe that Anakin has gone and done something very rash," he admits.

Her expression hardens. "He left," she states. "He went back to Sidious."

It sounds wrong when she puts it like that, and he instantly bristles in Anakin's defense. "Anakin is loyal," he argues. "He would never willingly return to Sidious' side." Or so he can hope. He hasn't seen Anakin in days. He has no idea where his head is at, much less why he did what he did. But he has to trust, has to hope that Anakin knows what he's doing, that he'll actually come back to him, to all of them.

Ahsoka is quiet, not saying anything, even when he looks at her. "It has been… hard," she finally murmurs, when Siri, too, turns towards her, waiting to see if she has any input or explanations. "Cells like that brought up bad memories for both of us."

Her words abruptly remind Obi-Wan of how he first truly met Anakin without his masks, of how they began to bond. It has not been that long, but it feels as though it's been years.

"If I may," one of the clones, a captain, interjects, "Lord Vader asked me to pass along a message. He said to tell you that he's sorry."

Sorry? What does that mean? Does it mean, Force forbid, that Anakin ran off to try and take on Sidious alone? Would he really do that? When he's so terrified of the Sith Master?

Obi-Wan would love to say 'no,' but in truth, he has no idea. Anakin just lost his mother. He will not be terribly inclined to being rational. Anakin is… complicated. He has always been a very complicated individual which is not surprising given his background and past, and everything which he has endured over the years. But still, even so, Obi-Wan thinks that he has been learning how to gauge Anakin's reactions, how to predict his actions.

"It was foolish," Siri snips, "To leave him back there to his own devices. I should have known better, especially after what he just did at the Temple, to the Jedi."

"They were going to kill him," Obi-Wan replies weakly. "They were – you know they would have killed him. He – he literally ripped himself free from the cell. You and I both know that. No matter how impossible it should have been, he still did it."

She pauses, seeming to think, before her eyes narrow. "That doesn't change that he killed a lot of Jedi back there. He had the chance to stand down peacefully, and he chose violence."

I would have done the same for him, Obi-Wan wants to say but doesn't. "He was trying to protect Ahsoka," he says instead, gesturing to the young Togruta, who looks stricken. "Can you fault him for that? One of the Jedi, a Fallen Jedi taking orders from Sidious, went down there to kill her. Can you truly blame him for distrusting the motives of everyone else?"

"He killed," Siri answers shortly. "I cannot excuse that. He chose that. Needlessly."

"He was trained for it," Obi-Wan deadpans.

"That doesn't make it better," she snaps, her voice rising. "He killed Eeth Koth, Obi-Wan. He killed a Council member back there. Someone I knew. It was needless. Senseless. And he enjoyed it."

Obi-Wan feels his anger rise at the insinuation that he doesn't care about the Jedi who died. "Every death is a tragedy, Siri," he answers, levelly, voice shaking with suppressed annoyance, "And I am well aware that it was not right. I have been working with him on it. He's been getting better." He pointedly does not think about the Tuskens which Anakin told him about. "But what you are failing to see, or accept, is that, when cornered, he lashed out and fell back on his training like anyone would do. He was taught the art of violence and death from childhood. It is all that he knows."

"And here I thought that you chose to stay with him to help him."

Never before has Obi-Wan felt the urge to hit another Jedi. His hand twitches at his side, but he doesn't give into the desire to slap her. He is a Jedi. He is better than such things. This is – Anakin is more important. He doesn't have the time to indulge in his admittedly not small need for a fight. So instead, he inhales slowly, letting out a breath to take the edge off his anger before responding to his longtime friend.

"This isn't even about Anakin is it?" he realizes all at once. "This is about your own misdirected guilt. It's easier to blame him than it is to blame yourself for aiding him."

"I did not –" she begins, furiously.

Obi-Wan glares her into silence. "You did," he replies, voice pure ice. "You did, Siri. You fought by his side, just as I and Ahsoka did. We knew the cost it would be. We already accepted that we would be aiding in whatever actions he took, albeit indirectly. You have never faced a guilt of this nature before. Do me a favor and don't take it out on Anakin, not when he needs my help. I have neither the time nor patience to deal with you, not unless you actually want to talk."

Her face is pale, pinched, but she doesn't deny it. It's possible that she didn't even realize it herself until Obi-Wan pointed it out. For a moment, he feels a flicker of guilt at being so harsh with her, but he pushes it aside quickly. He can't indulge in those emotions right now. He – Anakin. Anakin needs him, and he needs to figure out what he can do to help him.

If Sidious really sent Krell to kill Ahsoka, Anakin undoubtedly saw it as a personal attack, and he will likely go after the Sith Master himself. And – and –

He's not strong enough. Not to face Sidious.

Rarely, has Obi-Wan felt as terrified, as desperate, as despairing as he does now. Anakin will not succeed, but he's far too valuable for Sidious to want to kill him. He'll capture him, won't he? And – Obi-Wan cannot allow himself to think about what will happen to him then. He has never faced the possibility of losing Anakin as starkly as he is now, and he doesn't know how to face it, how to cope with it.

It – he – he can't.

He can't go through that. He has hardly known Anakin any time at all and helping him is about so much more than a promise he made a decade ago to his master. It's about Anakin. Anakin, who is good and still caries light within him despite how he should be bitter and dark. Anakin, who has somehow come to mean so much to him over the past few months. It doesn't even seem possible, that his bond with Anakin could already be so strong. It's – it's unnatural.

It's not just because of Anakin's strength in the Force, because Ahsoka isn't being affected like this. Obi-Wan has a bond with her, and he can still feel a vague glimpse of her emotions. She's scared, anxious, conflicted, but she doesn't feel the bone-deep terror that Obi-Wan does.

Why? What does it mean?

He doesn't have answers, and he doesn't know if he'll ever get them.

"I… apologize," Siri says stiffly, interrupting his spiraling thoughts. "My attitude was uncalled for. If you don't mind, I will find someplace quiet to meditate."

"Go ahead," he replies, nodding. "You need it."

"Thanks," she huffs dryly, turning and walking away.

He watches her leave, feeling conflicted, and no more certain about anything in his life than he was before all of this began. If anything, he only feels worse.

***

Ahsoka genuinely doesn't know how to feel about the sudden turn of events. It was more than a little awkward for her to watch Obi-Wan and Siri arguing, but she's not really surprised. She's scared for Anakin, worried about where he is and what he's doing. What's happening to him? When she reaches out towards the pinprick of light on the other end of their bond, she senses very little. Perhaps she isn't trained enough, or perhaps their bond isn't strong enough. Or perhaps, he's shielding.

That's the most likely option, no doubt, since if he really left like that without telling them, he wouldn't want them to be able to contact him through the Force to dissuade him from his chosen path. She's scared, because she has no trust whatsoever for Sidious, and she can only imagine what he's capable of. She has seen some of what he can do, some of what he has done to Anakin in the past, and this will probably only be worse.

It didn't need to come to this, though. Anakin should have talked to them. They're a family! They're supposed to do everything together, and she doesn't much like that Anakin isn't letting them protect him. He protected her, and that thought still fills her with warmth. This whole… mess happened because Krell threatened her, and Anakin refused to let her be hurt. She has no reason to doubt his love for her, but she wishes that he wasn't always so… self-sacrificing sometimes. That is what it is, right?

"We'll be meeting up with Death Squadron," Obi-Wan tells her sometime after Siri has left. They're on the bridge now, and it's so weird to be on the bridge of a Republic Star Destroyer. It's quite different from those of the CIS in many ways, with the color scheme and design, but Ahsoka isn't familiar enough with all of the many controls and positions to know which would be more effective.

"What then?" Ahsoka wants to know. More than anything, she wants Obi-Wan to say that they'll take a shuttle back to Coruscant, sneak down to the surface and search until they find Anakin and bring him with them, but she also knows better. She knows how dangerous that would be, how easily they could be caught and captured again, and she doesn't want Anakin's actions to have been for nothing.

Perhaps she is not as troubled about fighting – even killing – the Jedi as she should be, but she doesn't like it, either. She doesn't like the death, and she doesn't want to have to do it again. And she knows that if they're captured again, and if Anakin learns that, he'll stop at nothing to get them out, no matter what it takes.

"I will contact Dooku and appraise him of the situation," Obi-Wan replies, expression distant as he stares at the blue and white swirls of hyperspace. "Likely, he will wish for us to meet up with him. It is… tricky because we have taken a legion of clones from the Republic."

"We should comm ahead to Death Squadron," Ahsoka says, thinking aloud. "They'll need time to prepare and to… deal with the inhibitor chips."

"Excellent idea," Obi-Wan agrees. He approaches the Captain, Del, requesting that he be allowed to use the communications room in private. It's obvious that they'll be contacting Separatists, or at least it must be, but Del still agrees readily.

"You trust us," Ahsoka observes after Obi-Wan has left to make the necessary transmissions. No use waiting, after all, when they can deal with the situations now. It's all very tricky, and she's glad that she doesn't have to handle it herself. "At least somewhat," she amends.

He regards her for a moment. "I trust Lord Vader," he corrects, pulling off his helmet and tucking it beneath his arm, "And he trusts you."

Ahsoka knows that Anakin helped train some of the clones, the 501st in particular, since he had hoped to lead it himself. They are the most elite, well-trained troops in the entire GAR from what she's heard. But she can't really understand their loyalty to a man who has been publicly fighting with the CIS since practically the outbreak of the war. It's been months.

"Why do you trust him?"

Something flickers through his eyes, some emotion that's gone too fast for her to name. "He… cared about us," Del answers slowly. "He was never just a trainer. He saw us as people, treated us in a way the Kaminoans never did. He didn't dispose of anyone who didn't meet his rigorous standards. He worked with us, pushed us to be better. It… it's not really something I expect you to understand, no offense intended."

"None taken, but I – I think I do understand," she ventures, trying to see it from his perspective, "Somewhat. I know some clones, and we're… friends, I guess. I'm not entirely unfamiliar with what your lives were like."

She senses Obi-Wan nudging her through their bond, so she excuses herself to go to the communications room so they can speak in private without risk of being overheard. "I spoke to Appo and told him our situation," Obi-Wan informs her. "Apparently, Rex and Fives have gone on an undercover mission to Kamino to find a way to permanently shut down all of the inhibitor chips. They don't want to rely on the failsafe, Order 501."

Ahsoka nods, understanding that. She can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to have the chip activated in their minds, forcing them to blindly obey whatever orders they are given. Perhaps their minds have already been conditioned to following orders, but having their free will entirely stripped like that would be awful. It's no wonder that the clones want to find a way to permanently shut down the chips so that they can't be coerced into obeying.

"The medics will be waiting when we arrive," he continues, "And they will begin removing the chips from the 501st Legion. Appo seemed… happy to hear about the imminent arrival of their brothers. I think that they hope to make plans together to find a way to free all of them." He pauses for a moment. "I also talked to Dooku. Once we reach the coordinates, he wants us and Siri to take a shuttle and meet him on Raxus."

Ahsoka isn't surprised by that, either, even though a part of her still desperately wishes that they could go back after Anakin, no matter how unrealistic that is. "What about Anakin?" she can't help but ask.

Obi-Wan sobers, and there's a flash of some sort of emotion – pain, perhaps – in his eyes before it's gone. "He has heard nothing from Sidious, but I expected as much. We can only move as quickly as possible and hope for the best."

I don't want to. The words are on the tip of her tongue, but she swallows them. It doesn't even need to be said, because she knows that Obi-Wan feels the same.

Even so, she thinks that Obi-Wan must sense her conflict, because he lays a hand on her shoulder for a moment. "I don't like it either," he says, "But there is nothing more that we can do for Anakin right now except find a faster way of ending Sidious. We will have to trust that Anakin will be alright."

He's trying to reassure her, she knows, but it doesn't really do much, not when her mind is all too eager to supply possible tortures which Anakin could be enduring as they speak. "I know," she concedes reluctantly, crossing her arms. Maybe, once they arrive on Raxus, Dooku will have a better idea about what they can do. Maybe.

"I had best find Siri to tell her the plans." He sounds a bit disgruntled, irritated, and Ahsoka is glad it's not being directed at her. "I expect she will be less than thrilled to go with us to Raxus, so I will need to convince her."

"Good luck with that," Ahsoka offers half-heartedly. She is way too old to sulk, but that's really what she wants to do right now, because she hates having to leave Anakin with Sidious, even if it won't be for long.

"There is no such thing as luck," Obi-Wan grumbles.

Anakin disagrees, she almost blurts out, but she doesn't say it, because he isn't here, and she doesn't want to constantly remind herself that he's gone, that he's with Sidious. Obi-Wan is right. All they can do is find a way of taking down Sidious as fast as possible, and hopefully, when they get to Anakin, he… will be… alright. And if not, they can help him heal.

Chapter Text

A week passes in a blur for Vader. He meditates throughout much of the day, exploring the Force, the Dark Side, hidden by the shielding in the chamber. He only leaves to take breaks, to eat or drink or use the 'fresher or just walk around. Sidious had encouraged him to use the Force in lieu of sleep, and that is what he's done.

At night, the Sith Master comes here and guides him, teaching him more about the Sith, more about their more arcane powers and abilities. He teaches Vader so much, and it has long since ceased to bother him to look into the mirror and see yellow-red irises staring back at him. The Dark has settled into his bones, into his every cell. He can no longer remember what it was like to let go of it, to have it lapping at his heels distantly instead of curling around him and whispering in his ears.

It is ever-present to him now, and Vader knows that no one in his family would be happy with him. They would be disappointed or sad or angry, and he doesn't want to face that, not yet. He doesn't even want to think about it, so he focuses instead on the Dark Side, on amassing secrets and power and meditating on his passions.

He doesn't want himself to be distracted by the love he harbors for them, knowing how displeased his master would be. Instead, he focuses on his anger and hatred, stoking them, kindling them, dwelling on memories from his distant past when he was a still a slave on Tatooine, and even later under Sidious, though he careful with those thoughts. It would be too easy for his master to sense them, after all, and he needs to learn this power, he needs it so that when he goes to Mustafar, he will succeed.

All of this will be worth it if he can find a way to bring back his mother, to give her the life that she truly deserved, the life that was taken from her so abruptly. He does not know how she would feel if she was to see him now, bathed in the Dark Side, twisted and corrupted beyond the person she would have remembered. Or… perhaps, he does know, but he merely chooses not to think about it. Perhaps it is that his desire to right the wrong of her death is making him willfully blind himself to anything else.

" I'm not afraid of death, Ani, and nor should you be. I'm not afraid to die if it means that you'll be free. I was willing to let you go so you could become a Jedi, and even if that didn't work out, I would still be willing to let you go if it meant you'd be safe. I don't want this life for you. I never have."

He buries those words, that memory, deep down where it can't bother him. He's come this far already; it's too late to turn back.

Vader also rebuilt a lightsaber, taking the one he stole and bleeding one of the crystals, using the components as well as others which his master has to create a new saber not that different from the one that he lost. It is comforting for him to have a lightsaber hanging on his belt, a familiar weight on his hip that gives him the assurance of security. Not that he needs it, of course, because he is plenty dangerous even without a lightsaber. It is only a weapon, one which merely makes him more of a threat than he already is.

The door behind him opens, and Vader opens his eyes, pulling back from the meditative trance in which he has been for the past many hours. Is it night again, already? It doesn't seem as if it has been that long, but time is a blur for him now. It would hardly be the first that he's lost track of the passage of time while drifting in the passage of the Force.

"Master," he murmurs, rising gracefully to his feet and turning towards the Sith.

"You are doing well," hums Sidious, looking at him appraisingly. Vader can feel his master probing at him through the Force, assessing him. "You are growing so much stronger, just as I had foreseen."

He feels a flicker of anxiousness, a desire to ask if it's time yet, if he's strong enough yet to try and bring back his mother, but he quells it. He will be patient. He will wait until his master tells him he's ready. These things can't be rushed, and besides, Vader has very little desire to annoy Sidious by asking.

"Thank you, my Master," he replies instead, daring to meet Sidious' glowing yellow eyes for a moment before looking down at the floor again.

"I came earlier," the Sith Master tells him, "Because I wished to speak with you about Dooku before our training session tonight."

Vader feels the faintest prickle of unease; he dislikes it when Sidious changes their routine, making it harder for him to anticipate anything. Perhaps his place is here, at least for now, but he does not have to like the fear of what Sidious could do to him. He has to trust that his master does have a reason for what he does aside from mere sadism, or else, he won't be able to trust that Sidious really spoke the truth about bringing back his Mom.

And he did. He did speak the truth. Vader sensed it.

"I know he is continuing to plan treason," Sidious continues. "What do you know of his plans? What did he tell you?"

Vader's heart lurches uncomfortably in his chest at the question, and not only because his master is asking him to betray Dooku.

As if sensing his hesitation, the Sith reaches out, patting Vader's shoulder in a manner that is probably supposed to be considered soothing. "I know it will not be easy for you to divulge what Dooku has told you," he comforts, "But you must do it for the good of everyone. Should his plans come to fruition, not only would it mean the downfall of the Sith, but also, it would mean that the Jedi will win this war. How do you ever expect to live freely if the Jedi rule the galaxy? They will hunt you down. They will do whatever they must to destroy you, no matter what it takes, even if it means hurting those Jedi you care for."

Ahsoka isn't a Jedi, Vader wants to protest, but he knows that Sidious is right. No Jedi can ever be a true Sith, and he cannot ever imagine her falling to the depths that he himself has. She has learned a Jedi's restraint, and that is both a good and bad thing. And more than that, his master is right. If the Jedi win, if Dooku wins, then what will that mean for Vader? For his family?

"Do you understand now?" Sidious murmurs. "A life on the run, in hiding, is no life at all, and my boy, you are glorious. You were always made to be a leader, to rule at my side." He lays two fingers on Vader's chin, lifting it so that their eyes meet. "Do you want that? The power of the Empire, of all the Sith, at your beck and call, while you are free to live openly as the person you have chosen to be."

Vader blinks, feeling a little dazed at the prospect of it, of being the second most powerful person in the galaxy. He doesn't want power, per se, but he wants to be able to protect his family. What better way is there? … Right? If he follows Dooku, that would mean war. It would mean loss. And he cannot trust Sidious, cannot trust that his master will really grant him the chance for a family, but… if he does? If he will? It will be easier to follow him when he has already spent so much time building and planning. Helping him slot the remaining pieces into place would be so easy. It would be easy, and he wouldn't have to fear going up against one of the most powerful and dangerous Sith Lords to walk the face of the galaxy.

"I am yours, Master," he whispers shakily, trying not to think about Padme, trying not to think about the last time he uttered these words – it was when he and Padme were engaged. He had gone down to his knees in front of her and asked her, heart hammering in his throat, if she would want to marry him, would want to spend the rest of her life at his side. She said yes, and they had sworn that, from that day forwards, they would belong to each other.

Sidious smiles, satisfied, and maybe a little smug, and he doesn't stop Vader from sensing those feelings through their bond. "Then tell me what you know of Dooku's plans," he requests, stepping back and folding his hands together, waiting expectantly. "Only with your help can we endure his treacherous plot."

He nods, understanding, thinking back to the many conversations which he has had with Dooku about the future. And then, only then, does he realize that… he actually knows very little of the specifics which Dooku intends to employ to overthrow Sidious. He knows what Dooku wants for the future, but how he plans to get there? He knows very little. Dooku never shared it with him, or maybe it was that he didn't ask. Or maybe, a quiet, dark voice whispers in the back of his head, He didn't trust you with them.

"Dooku has been working on getting CIS Senators and political figures who are loyal to only him," Vader begins, relating what he knows. "He has been trying to get military officials on his side as well. I do not know what he plans to do to eliminate you, Master. He never told me, and I…" He hesitates, feeling embarrassed, "I did not pay as much attention as I should have. I was too focused on freeing my mother."

"Had I known that was what held you back," Sidious replies kindly, "I would have done it a long time ago. These miscommunications between us have led to so many unfortunate consequences. Perhaps this is what Dooku's plan was."

Vader frowns at that. "Master?"

"It is simple," Sidious explains patiently. "Dooku has been trying to turn you against me. He thought that I would be so distracted by you that I would not notice whatever it is that he has planned." He chuckles, darkly. "He would not have been wrong. Fortunately, we have rectified that. He will probably be getting desperate, and I – it pains me very much to say this, but Dooku may well think that, because you have joined me, you must be killed."

He flinches back at that, shock and horror flooding him. "No," Vader protests instantly, and not even the threat of punishment for contradicting his master is enough to stop the words from pouring out. "No, you're wrong. You have to be. Dooku wouldn't – he wouldn't. Master, he cares about me. He wouldn't do that." He knows that he's practically begging Sidious to contradict himself, to assure him, and he hates it. He hates it, but he doesn't know what else to do, because surely, if Dooku would really – if he could really –

Sidious' face is filled with naught but sympathy, and he grasps Vader's shoulder. "I am sorry."

The world feels like it's shattering around him as he frantically denies the meaning of the Sith Master's words. It's not – he can't – Dooku wouldn't –

"You cannot forget," Sidious continues, "That Dooku was a Jedi. They are taught the mindset of doing things for the greater good. My boy, if Dooku believes that killing me is for the greater good, he will stop at nothing to achieve that end goal."

Vader's trembling, and he can't stop it, no matter how much he dislikes showing such a weakness to Sidious, because – because he's right. He doesn't know how many times Dooku has told him that something is 'for the greater good.' And – and –

Sidious is right, isn't he? Right about everything.

"I can't," he chokes out, shaking his head, unsure what it is that he's even saying. "I can't." I can't believe that, perhaps. Or maybe, I can't accept that Dooku would kill me.

He hardly registers it as Sidious guides him from the room and towards the small living space in which Vader has been staying in, pushing him onto a bench along one of the walls and hovering next to him, hand on his shoulder. Vader leans forwards, scrubbing his hands over his face, reaching up and tugging on his curls, struggling to bring himself back under control. He desperately wants to find comfort from someone; he wishes he could find solace in someone's arms, preferably his mother's… or Obi-Wan's, no matter how much he knows that he ought to be stronger than that since he isn't a child anymore.

"I did not intend to distress you," Sidious says, his voice silky soft, dripping with a concern that Vader can't trust in the least. He can't trust any of this in the least, but – but… ever since he came here, ever since he chose Sidious, the Sith has been strangely… nice. He doesn't want to trust it, but more and more, he's finding that he's beginning to question his distrust towards the Sith Master and wonder if it's really unfounded, if it's really because of Dooku instead of something based on reality.

But… he remembers the way Sidious treated him, the brutality of it all, the torture. It's burned into his mind, and he doubts he could ever forget it. And yet. And yet –

He's confused. He doesn't understand. Anything. Any of this. He's tired of thinking about it, of trying to unravel the mind games that are undoubtedly being played. It's becoming harder and harder to remind himself that Sidious is only using him, that he doesn't care for him at all. Vader questions everything that he once thought to be true.

"It is clear to me that Dooku did not trust you," the Sith adds. "He knew, as I did, that you would come to see through his manipulations and return to my side where you belong."

Vader nods, obediently, blindly, because it makes sense. It makes sense even if it shouldn't, and he doesn't know anything anymore. It is – whatever his master says, it must have truth in it. It feels like the truth to him. The Force has never lied to him in the past, and it is not telling him that Sidious is lying.

And that means…

It's not something he cares to explore.

Because maybe Sidious may believe a lie or may be making erroneous assumptions, but if he's not… if he's not –

"What will – what will we do now, Master?" Vader asks, shakily, sitting upright. Sidious squeezes his shoulder before pulling back, perhaps sensing that Vader finds the touch very unwelcome and foreign.

"I will act on the information that you have shared with me," his master tells him, "And you will continue your training. Soon, very soon, you will be ready to take on missions again." He pauses, and it's a thoughtful silence. "If you should encounter Dooku, will you be able to face him with a clear mind?"

Vader's breath catches in his chest, and he swallows, hard. "No," he admits, staring down at the tile floor, tracing the patterns with his eyes. "No. I – I could not… I do not think I could face him, much less… kill him."

Sidious tuts, disapproving, but clearly unsurprised. "I expected as much. I will not ask you to do something that you're not ready for."

He bows his head. "Thank you, Master," he murmurs.

Somewhere inside of him, he's screaming silently, still trying to deny the truth of Sidious' words. The thought of seeing Dooku again, of seeing the Count's disapproval, or worse, his cold aloofness, makes him freeze. It makes him sick. Even facing Obi-Wan won't be as hard, though it will hurt, because from Obi-Wan, Vader expects disapproval, but he also expects understanding. He expects that the once-Jedi will still accept him, that he won't reject him. But Dooku… he doesn't know. He doesn't know. He doesn't want to know, doesn't want to think about his mentor trying to kill him.

Sidious snaps his fingers suddenly, and Vader jumps at the unexpected sound. "I need you focused for the training tonight," he scolds. From his tone, Vader can vividly picture the disapproving frown on his face. "Push past your conflict, Vader. Use it. If you continue progressing as you have been, in two weeks' time, you will be able to go to Nal Hutta to take out the Hutt Council there. I want you to collapse the alliance between the CIS and the Hutts. I'm confident in your ability to succeed. I know how you feel about the Hutts."

"I understand, my Master," he rasps out, swiping at his face and wiping away the few tears that he didn't notice shedding. He lets the Dark Side trickle through his heart, through the chaos in his mind, washing it all away and replacing the pain and confusion with anger and hatred. He cannot afford to have any doubts now, not when he's so close to succeeding, to making Sidious proud, to being able to go on a mission again.

No matter how intensive his training has been, he still misses being in the action, and he has long harbored a certain kind of anger with the Hutts, for obvious reasons. Destroying them will be a pleasure, something he will relish in. It is one thing that he will never be able to regret. They are loathsome creatures, corrupt and evil slavers through and through. Destroying them would be his greatest honor.

Once, Vader dreamed of Dooku being the one to free him, the one who would save him if Obi-Wan couldn't. But that was the dream of a naïve child, a boy who never truly learned that he could only rely on himself, that there would never be a savior who would come for him, that he was forever on his own, at the mercy of those around him. He was a boy who had never learned the meaning of the word freedom. He was Anakin Skywalker.

And Vader is… He is Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith. He is more now than he ever was as Anakin. He is wiser now, harder, darker maybe, but also less vulnerable. Stronger. He is Anakin who has been reforged by loss and death.

He cannot trust Dooku. He never could.

He cannot trust Sidious either.

Both are powerful men, men who want him first and foremost for his power.

But that is fine. He is not dependent on them, on their mercy. He is the son of the Force, and through the Force – the Dark Side – he has been freed, or he soon will be. Victory, and the breaking of his chains, will come with his mother's return. It will come when he becomes the Emperor's right hand. If he is destined to serve someone, it will be a servitude of his own choice. If he chooses his chains, he can also choose to break them.

He knows that.

And Sidious knows that, too.

In time, Vader will deal with the truths about Dooku he has long ignored. He will deal with the numbing, gutting certainty that the man he always looked up to as a child will be out for his blood. But for now, he will train. He will prepare. He will show his chosen master that he is ready. And then, he will go out and show the Hutts that they cannot forever live in luxury and escape the inevitable consequences of subjugating other beings.

He is Darth Vader, and he is Death.

Chapter Text

Dooku is not having a good day. At all. He had been expecting to see the first of Sidious' actions against him, but he has not anticipated that it would come in the way it did. The Hutt Council was just destroyed by an unknown person with a red lightsaber, and the survivors are blaming Dooku for it. The entire alliance with them has completely fallen apart, and it's a massive blow to the CIS.

He has no idea who was behind it; he doubts it was Sidious himself, but it could have been another, new pawn he doesn't know about. It also… could have been Anakin. He desperately hopes not, if only because that means Anakin has fallen under Sidious' sway, despite how certain Dooku has been that he wouldn't. Somehow, he doubts that Anakin would have done that on his own after going rogue and not even contacted them.

But he won't tell Kenobi or Tano his fears, not unless he has actual evidence to support the possibility of it truly being Anakin. However, that does not mean that he won't take precautions of his own. If Anakin has joined Sidious, his worst fears have been realized, and he will have to stop him no matter what it takes.

Perhaps, it is time for him to give Grievous… instructions.

Dooku had been, perhaps foolishly, counting on the Separatist's upper hand in the war effort. He had wanted to use it to his advantage, to use it against the Republic and Sidious when needed. But he's lost that now, or at least some of it. With the loss of the alliance with the Hutts, it will be that much harder to sustain operations in the Outer Rim. At least the Republic hasn't gained anything, but it's hardly a comfort. He needs to take time to make plans and fast before Sidious makes his next move.

It might be advisable for him to invest time and effort in securing supply lines as a top priority. It's something else he'll have to instruct Grievous on, and perhaps Asajj, if he can get ahold of her on Kamino. Her mission is important, but he needs her skills more, and the clones will be alright without her. And it's time for him to involve Kenobi and Tano in more operations as well. He has many assets, and he must use them all effectively if he is to overcome Sidious in this game and see him destroyed.

The Clone Wars have just become real.

***

Felucia is not a pleasant world by any means, and it's especially bad to be fighting there long-term. This is Vader's second mission, coming only two days after he successfully wiped out the Hutt Council, Gardulla among them. It was… thrilling to feel the Dark Side flowing through him as he took out his anger and hatred on the Hutts who were more than deserving of their fates. The Hutt control in the Outer Rim has been crippled now, and it will only take a good tactical leader to entirely free the planets from the Hutt's grip.

It's something that Vader hopes he can do himself, perhaps after he has shown his chosen master more successes. Because destroying the Hutts is a personal matter, and it's not one to which they need to attend now, not when Dooku is still a concern. Vader wishes that there was a way they could work this out without a battle, but he knows better. He knows that Dooku will never negotiate, that he'll never seek any end but Sidious' destruction. And Sidious has knowledge that Vader needs, so he will protect his master and fight for him.

And that means covertly helping the Republic win a battle it has slowly been losing. If the Republic gets control of Felucia, it will control the shipping lanes in this sector, thereby crippling the CIS even further, especially given that their alliance with the Hutts has collapsed, and they are no longer welcome in Hutt space.

When it comes to politics, Sidious is truly brilliant, and Vader can only admire his skill. He is an excellent manipulator. Even Vader is no longer certain how much of his willingness to help Sidious is a result of his own desires versus the Sith Master's cunning. He tries not to think about it, because he knows what he wants, and he will stop at nothing until he can get the power to bring his mother back.

It's evening now, the sun having slipped over the horizon, bringing on an increased dampness to the humid air. It's unpleasant, and Vader swats at some insects, annoyed. He already hates this planet, but that is good. Hate is… good. Still, he has been instructed to keep his shields as tight as possible so that none of the Jedi who are present will sense him. He's been sent to take out a particularly troublesome CIS base on his own. It will be hard, but he's done harder.

Vader creeps forwards through the native flora, pulling out his macrobinoculars and scanning the base, taking note of the positions of the droid guards. It's a setup he's rather familiar with, so infiltrating it is easy. He crushes the droids outside with the Force before cutting an entrance into the base. He has worked with droids so much that he knows how to get around them. Their strength comes from their numbers not from their intelligence, and he uses that to his advantage, using the Force to distract them while he approaches the command center.

If he can get into the system, he should be able to give out a shutdown order for all the droids on this base, and even further if he can get the signal up and running. While they can be reactivated, it will make it far easier for the Republic to push forward.

All in all, the deed is done easily with very minimal fighting, although he comes quite close at the end after barricading himself into the command center since the alarm had been sounded, and the droids were attempting to break inside. But he managed to shut them all down, and the long-range transmitter was still functional, so he broadcast the shutdown frequency to nearby droid squadrons as well.

And then, he withdraws from the base, setting off explosive charges to destroy it and wipe all evidence of his presence. Sidious wanted this mission to be as quiet as possible, though both of them suspect that it's likely Vader will be spotted, at least briefly, given how much fighting there is going on here.

His retreat is halted by an approaching speeder. He stops in between two towering plants, watching as General Grievous himself climbs off. He's alone, for now at least, and Vader considers his options quickly. He could throw him away and take the speeder to make a faster retreat and to slow down the other general. Or he could engage and fight him. He's important to Dooku, and Vader doubts that Grievous would ever choose to support the true Sith Master. But maybe it's worth a try.

Grievous sees him before he can fully make up his mind.

"Lord Vader." His tone is mocking. "So good to see you." His posture is braced for a fight, and he's midway reaching for his lightsabers.

"General Grievous," he returns neutrally, waiting for the other to speak.

"You did this," Grievous growls, gesturing to the burning structure and destroyed droids scattered around. "The Republic will overrun us now."

"All is as our master wishes it," Vader replies firmly, narrowing his eyes. "You would do good to remember that."

"Traitor," he snarls. "You have betrayed us." He withdraws his lightsabers, all four of them, spinning them threateningly. "Surrender, and perhaps Dooku will deal with you mercifully."

Vader feels a jolt, a flare of betrayal, one which he really ought not to feel, knowing what he does about what his master has said to him. Sidious had warned him, told him that Dooku would see him dead. He hadn't wanted to believe it; he still doesn't. "Dooku wanted you to kill me?" So what, if he sounds a little incredulous?

Grievous hacks out a laugh that sounds more like a cough. "He said to deal with you as I see fit. To capture you, if possible, but he authorized me to use lethal force. He is insightful enough to predict your betrayal."

A bubbling rage surges upwards, making him see red. "I," Vader snaps back, igniting his lightsaber with a snap-hiss, "Have betrayed no one. I am loyal to my master."

And then, he lunges forwards. Grievous meets him in the middle, and they trade furious blows, both seeking to hurt, to kill. Vader will not stop until Grievous is dead. Let it be a message for Dooku to stop this madness, to leave him be, a message that Darth Vader is too strong for his old mentor to take down. Vader had thought to play nice, to only follow Sidious so far, but if this is how Dooku wants to play it? He will stop. He will go beyond. He will do more than what he is told, strike blows at the CIS whenever he gets the chance.

He will make Dooku regret trying to kill him.

Vader is loyal, and he does not forget betrayal easily, if at all. He demands the same loyalty that he gives out, and he can only hope that, if it comes down to it, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka will choose him. He loves them too much to fight them, but if he had to… he would do it. He will do anything, anything at all, to bring back his mother.

The night is lit up by clashing lightsabers, and the burning remains of the CIS outpost cast an eerie glow on the trees behind them.

It will not be an easy battle.

***

Ahsoka senses something off in the Force shortly after Grievous left to check out a disturbance at the eastern outpost, fifty klicks away. She had not wanted to leave her post and the defensive line which her droids have created, facing off against Republic forces, but she couldn't just ignore it. The Force was insistent that she go, that she follow him, so she had, albeit reluctantly, after giving strict orders to the droids.

She takes a circuitous route, and even from afar, she can see the smoke billowing into the darkened sky. The outpost was destroyed. Somehow. There were so many droids there, so many who were positioned to hold the line and keep them from being overwhelmed. How could this have happened? More than anything, the Separatists need to capture and hold Felucia. It's crucial, especially with rumors of the Hutts declaring war against them.

Everything is so confusing and tenuous right now, and Ahsoka has no idea what will happen, but she's scared. She wishes that Anakin was here with her, so he could reassure her that everything will be alright. Even if he doesn't offer such a probably meaningless platitude, she would just like to feel his presence, warm and bright and familiar. It would be comforting.

As she gets closer, she stops her speeder, going closer on foot, creeping through the trees, and focusing her hearing on distant noises. She freezes when her montrals pick up the sounds of clashing lightsabers, and the Force tingles warningly, a distant warning more than a close one, but still, she creeps closer, hands slipping towards her own lightsaber hilts.

If Grievous needs her help, though she doubts it, she can jump his opponent to help him.

When Ahsoka finally gets close enough to see the duelists through the smoke, she freezes in place, heart somersaulting and plummeting down to her toes. No. No. Grievous is unmistakable with a green and blue lightsaber held in the two remaining hands he has left. But facing him is a too-familiar figure, body a silhouette, red lightsaber blazing. Despite herself, she reaches out with the Force to him, to their bond.

Anakin does not answer.

In the Force, he is shielded entirely, and she might have thought it to be someone else if not for the subtle way the Force curls around him, whispering of power, raw and unchecked. Oh Force no. This can't be happening. Why is Anakin doing this?

She wants to run forwards, to scream at him and demand answers, to stop the fight from unfolding before her eyes. But she's frozen, horrified. Anakin is fighting Grievous. They're supposed to be allies. All of them are supposed to be allies. They need Anakin now more than ever. What is – what is happening?

Ahsoka doesn't even know if Anakin senses her, realizes that she's there.

And then, it's over.

"I would send you back to your treacherous master with a message," Anakin snarls, sounding so furious that it sends a chill down Ahsoka's spine, "But I think your body will be a message enough." He shoves Grievous backwards with the Force before raising his left hand. Lightning arcs from his fingertips, red-white in its intensity, connecting with Grievous' body. The general falls on the ground, body spasming, but Anakin doesn't let up the lightning until it's over, until Grievous' life has disappeared, and his body is turning to ash.

"I should have told you to tell Dooku –" He says the name with so much venomous hatred that Ahsoka can't breathe, "– that if he wants me dead, he'll have to come for me himself."

What?!

She doesn't know if she made a noise or what, when Anakin suddenly turns around to face her, seeming as startled by her presence as she is by his. There's so much she wants to say, and she has no idea where to even begin. But her words die in her throat when she sees his face. His eyes are glinting an unrelenting yellow which is not inherently strange or unsettling, because she's seen it before, but there's somehow something darker about him this time than in the past.

What happened to him?

They stare at one another for what could be minutes or hours before Anakin suddenly turns, leaping onto the speeder that Grievous used, firing up the engine and flying away before Ahsoka's strangled, "wait!" can even be heard.

She stands there, staring after his retreating speeder, and it never occurs to her until afterwards that she could have tried to follow him. She – he –

None of this makes any sense. He – it was as though he fled once he saw her, as if he tried to leave before she could say anything. What happened to him? Why did he kill Grievous? And most importantly, what did he mean by his words about Dooku wanting to kill him? That's not true. Dooku wouldn't.

Despite the quiet – and misplaced, right? – resentment that Ahsoka feels towards Dooku for insisting that they can't go look for Anakin and have to focus on the war, she can't believe that he would ever want Anakin dead. He would never do that, would he? It must be Sidious. Sidious must have somehow convinced Anakin of that. Dooku is trying his best, and Ahsoka knows that she has no right to be angry at him, even if she sometimes is. It has not been easy these past few weeks, knowing that Anakin is in Sidious' hands, wondering what's happening to him, if he's suffering, if he needs them.

They should have gone after him. They should never have waited.

Ahsoka takes her speeder back to the base before sending an urgent report to Dooku when he's unavailable to answer a comm. They'll lose Felucia, and that will only be yet another major blow to the CIS. She doesn't know much about the political side of the war, but she knows enough to know that it's steadily getting worse.

May the Force be with them.

***

Vader's heart is racing far too fast, and he doesn't start to calm down until after he's made it back to the shuttle that he arrived in. Ahsoka was here. Ahsoka was here. She saw him. She – she knows that he killed Grievous. He hadn't expected to encounter her so soon, and he wasn't ready to face her, to face the questions that she undoubtedly has.

So, he ran, like a coward.

He regrets it, but he doesn't, because it's not until now that he realizes how not ready he is to face his family, to explain to them what he has done. He feels some guilt for joining Sidious, no matter how necessary he believes it to be. It's worth it. It will be worth it when he brings his mother back. And while Vader knows that it's possible – it must be; Sidious was not lying to him – he also knows that Obi-Wan and Ahsoka will probably be skeptical. They might not understand, and he is not prepared to see their disappointment. Not yet.

His mission here on Felucia is complete, so he leaves the planet as quickly and quietly as he can, heading back towards Coruscant. It's not until he's safely in hyperspace that he contacts Sidious. "The mission had been completed, Master," Vader reports, kneeling in front of the hologram. "The outpost has been entirely destroyed. I encountered General Grievous and defeated him. He – he confirmed to me that Dooku ordered him to capture – or kill – me."

Though he is careful to keep his tone level, he suspects that Sidious can still feel his inner turmoil and rage.

"Ahsoka was there too," he adds. "She saw me, but I left before she could try to stop me."

"That is a good thing," Sidious decides after a long moment. "She will go back to Dooku with the report of your actions. It will make him afraid, and Tano may begin to ask… questions. She is intelligent, and I think that she will begin to see Dooku's true nature. Perhaps she may even seek to join you, join us."

Vader feels his breath catching in his lungs. Would she truly? It – since his master has said it, perhaps it is not as unreasonable as he had hoped. Maybe… she will come to him, seek him out, want to help. It would be easier. It would be good for them to take away more of Dooku's… assets. Vader very much dislikes the thought of Ahsoka and Obi-Wan helping Dooku, fighting for him. Perhaps that is just his anger talking, he doesn't know.

But he does know that he never forgives betrayal.

"You have done well," Sidious continues. "I will enact the next stage of my plans, and if all goes well, it may be time for us to go to… Mustafar."

"Thank you, Master," he murmurs, bowing his head, unsure how else to convey his gratitude. This is the moment he has been working for, the moment he has been training for.

Failure is not an option.

Chapter Text

“Well?” Asajj whispers, crouching inside the ventilation shaft. “Did you get it?”

Rex pulls himself up next to her, and they sit there, pressed against each other, side by side, in the quiet dark. He blows out a breath, nodding, and in the Force, he’s radiating a dizzy relief. “Yes,” he answers, holding up a datacard, “I did, and with any luck, Nala Se won’t realize we hacked into her secure network. Fives is getting us a way out. We need to leave as soon as possible.”

Asajj feels relief then, so strong that it’s staggering, and she instinctively nestles into her lover’s side, feeling secure there, next to him. “At last,” she sighs. She can nearly feel Rex’s smile.

“It’s been half a month. I’m not sure how much longer we could have lasted undercover without being outed.”

They both know that was a huge risk, with several close calls over the past few days, in particular. Getting into Nala Se’s laboratory and scanning her database to find the information they’ve been searching for was difficult, especially because they had no idea if the frequency even existed. But it did, thank the Force, and now, all of the clones can be freed.

At last.

“We need to get this data to Kix and Coric as soon as possible,” Rex murmurs, taking her hand in his and entwining their fingers together. “They can figure out how to utilize it.”

Their dream of all the clones being free men, free of their inhibitor chips at least, no longer seems quite so far off, and Asajj leans in towards him, kissing him lightly. He pulls her closer, deepening the kiss, until they finally break apart, panting, and rest their foreheads together.

“I love you,” Rex breathes. It’s the first time he’s actually said the words aloud, the words that Asajj has felt singing in his soul time and again when they got a few stolen moments together. He is… everything. He is everything, and she has no idea when or how she fell in love with him, but she did. It’s not just a mutual attraction between them, if indeed that’s truly all it ever was, for she doubts it. It’s more, deeper.

“I love you too, cyar’ika,” she responds, using the Mando’a word for sweetheart. In the Force, Rex glows, a flare of a deep, unwavering affection, and she kisses the smile off his lips.

“When this is over, I’m taking you on a vacation to a nice planet, Naboo perhaps,” she decides, winding herself around him as much as she can in the enclosed space in the ventilation shaft. “We can get away from everyone for a little bit, and it’ll just be… us.”

Rex hums, rubbing her back, and she can feel his flare of want. “And then?” He almost seems enthralled by her thoughts of the future.

It’s just the two of them here, and he’ll never laugh at her, so she lets herself continue. “I saw all your little brothers here, and I… want that. I would like us to have children.”

Rex stills. “You know I can’t, Asajj.”

She hugs him tighter, thinking about the modifications which all the clones have undergone, modifications which have made it impossible for the clones to reproduce; they’re infertile. It was deliberate, and it makes her so angry that they’ve had it stolen from them. They deserved the right to choose.

“I’m sure something can be done. Maybe we can do something scientific, I don’t know. We’d have to look into it.” Because Asajj is determined that, one day, she will carry and give birth to their child. Or children, preferably multiple of them. Children, she’s decided, are wonderful. They are so innocent, so pure, so light, and even if the prospect of motherhood terrifies her, she won’t have to do it alone.

“Maybe.” Rex wants it too, she can tell, but he’s afraid to get his hopes up. “We still have time.”

They do. It’s easy to forget that she’s only nineteen. She feels so much older. “We will figure it out, Rex’ika, I promise you.” It’s a promise she has no intention of forgetting.

“I would love it though,” he whispers in her ear, kissing along her neck, “To have children with you. Someday.”

“Someday,” she vows, smirking. “I will hold you to it.”

***

The door slides closed behind Obi-Wan as he and Ahsoka step into Dooku’s office. The Count looks up, giving them his full attention when he sees the seriousness in their expressions. “I heard about Grievous and Felucia,” Obi-Wan states, though that’s not why he’s here, not that Dooku knows that. “I heard that Anakin killed him.”

“That is true,” Dooku replies. “I received the report, and the droid scouts who retrieved Grievous’ body have given confirmation.”

After the mission, after Ahsoka and the remaining CIS forces evacuated from Felucia, she had come to him. Luckily, he had just completed a mission of his own, allowing them to talk in person. It’s a good thing they did.

“I heard him,” Ahsoka had said, voice trembling, fists clenched. “He was so angry. He thought that Dooku sent Grievous to kill him. He believed it, Obi-Wan, I know he did. I don’t understand what happened. He saw me, but he… he left. He left before I could ask him.”

And Obi-Wan would very much like the truth to all of this. He hopes that Anakin is wrong, that he’s being misled, but there’s an awful feeling inside him that tells him otherwise. His trust of Dooku has, recently, been falling. It’s not that he distrusts the Count, per se, but he has become… disillusioned with him, with his plans. Dooku is a Sith. He trained Anakin, made him and shaped him into the person he has become.

Perhaps it is not all bad. Certainly, it is not all bad, because Dooku gave Anakin structure and stability. But he is a Sith. He is a Sith, and he trained Anakin as a Sith. It wasn’t until after Shmi’s death that Obi-Wan began to realize what that probably means. Shmi was kept with an active bomb inside her body, and somehow, in the ten or so years that Dooku knew her, he never once took action to get it out.

All of this could have been averted if Dooku had been more focused on helping her, on helping Anakin, and less focused on playing politics with his Sith Master.

“Is it true,” Obi-Wan asks, unable to hide the ice in his voice, or maybe he just doesn’t care enough to try, “That you sent Grievous to kill Anakin?”

Dooku stills, and that, more than anything, is an answer. In the Force, he remains unaffected. There is no surprise or disbelief or guilt. Nothing. He’s mute. Closed off. “Why would you think that?” he wants to know.

Obi-Wan narrows his eyes. “I am the one asking questions. Answer me.” He feels anger beginning to stir, a raw blinding fury that Dooku would dare to do this. Failing Anakin and Shmi wasn’t enough for him. He has to kill Anakin, too, on top of that?

“I have done what is necessary for the good of the galaxy,” Dooku replies evenly. “I do not like it any more than you do. Grievous was under orders to try and capture Anakin should he encounter him. He was to secure him by any means necessary.”

“You would have had him killed.” Obi-Wan’s voice is trembling, shaking with rage, and he doesn’t know who he’s angrier at: Dooku or himself. Dooku for actually thinking that it’s okay to have Anakin killed ‘for the greater good,’ or himself for thinking that he could ever trust Dooku. He resists the sudden, overwhelming urge to attack him, to hit him for even daring to threaten Anakin like this.

The question of what happened to Anakin and why he killed Grievous pales in comparison to the fact that Dooku would do this, that he would have done this and said that it was necessary to protect the galaxy. How could he? He trained Anakin, practically raised him, and if even Obi-Wan has been caught up in Anakin’s orbit, after only knowing him for such a short period of time, how could Dooku not be?

Beside him, Ahsoka, too, is vibrating with a suppressed fury. “We trusted you,” she blurts out, her voice shaking. “How could you? How could you do that? To Anakin? How are we ever supposed to get him now if he doesn’t trust you? Us?”

That… hadn’t even occurred to him yet. Force. What must Anakin think of them? What must he think, having seen Ahsoka there? Does he think that they have turned against him, too?

“He has joined with Sidious,” Dooku retaliates, expression hard.

Obi-Wan wants to argue that they don’t know that, but he can’t, because Dooku is probably right. What other reason could there be for Anakin to have fought and killed Grievous, disappearing without even trying to talk to Ahsoka? “And if he has, then we must endeavor to get through to him. Not everything can be solved with murder.”

“If I had been able to talk to him, he might have listened to me,” Ahsoka adds, still angry. “At least we might know what’s going on.”

“Perhaps I was too hasty,” Dooku finally grudgingly agrees, “But you must understand the threat he poses to all of us now. If he is working with Sidious, he could destroy everything we are working towards far faster than we can stop him. It’s not a risk I am willing to take. Already, the CIS has lost much, and if we lose too much more, we may not be able to effectively counter Sidious when the time comes.”

Obi-Wan inhales slowly, trying to calm the anger that is seething within him. Much as he hates to admit it, Dooku has a point. Yes, he acted rashly, but he… is not wrong that Anakin will be dangerous if he opposes them. But more than anything, Obi-Wan wants answers. He wants to know why Anakin is doing this, what could have happened that led to him thinking actively helping Sidious is the best option.

Somehow, he doesn’t think he’ll like what he finds out.

“All this has done is push him further away from us,” he argues. “How do you expect him to trust you, knowing that you plan to kill him?”

Dooku doesn’t reply, doesn’t look like he even knows what to say to that, so Obi-Wan pushes forward. “If we can locate him, I can talk to him. I can get through to him. I know I can. If nothing else, I have to at least try.”

“Very well,” he concedes. “I hope we can arrange that, but I can make no guarantees. But you must keep in mind that Anakin may not be able to be reasoned with. If that is the case, we will have to deal with him accordingly. We cannot let Sidious win simply because we do not wish to hurt Anakin.”

“I’m not going to hurt him,” Ahsoka states stubbornly, glaring. “I’m not.”

And Obi-Wan knows that she would go further, too, if it meant protecting Anakin. She might even be willing to help him, join him, if it means keeping him alive and safe. Truthfully, he cannot say that he would not do likewise, and that is what scares him, because this is an attachment. It’s an attachment, and he knows why the Jedi warn against them. It could be… dangerous for him, for everyone, if he’s blinded by it. He can only hope that he has the strength to make an unbiased, rational decision should the time come.

(But who is he trying to fool? He knows that he’ll probably never be able to be unbiased and rational when it comes to Anakin. Anakin is everything to him now, and he doesn’t see that changing no matter what happens.)

Perhaps, if nothing else, he’ll at least be able to get answers as to what happened to Anakin.

“This is about more than just Anakin,” Dooku reminds. “This is about the fate of the galaxy itself. None of us can afford to lose sight of that.”

He’s right. He’s right, and Obi-Wan hates it. All he can do is hope that the situation doesn’t reach the point where he’s forced to choose. Because if it does… he cannot say what it is that he will end up choosing.

***

Even weeks later, the Temple still feels as melancholy as it did after the… breakout. So many Jedi died or were injured, and Ferus isn’t surprised that it’s taking time for the atmosphere to recover. Perhaps, it is merely because of the uncertainty of everything, or perhaps it is merely his own uncertainties which he’s feeling.

He has no idea how to feel about the fact that his former master seemingly betrayed them like that, fleeing with the escapees, and he has no idea how to feel about his entire clone legion taking off with Skywalker.

Of course, Ferus had known that they harbored an extreme loyalty to ‘Vader,’ and it had troubled him, but he had never thought that something like this could happen. It’s making him question everything, and he doesn’t like it. He wishes that he could talk to Siri, could confide in her and ask for her advice. He can’t do that though, and it’s leaving him feeling… adrift. Never before has Ferus had so many questions about the Jedi and their involvement in the war.

He has never questioned the Council as he is now, has never wondered if the Jedi are really doing the right thing, or if they should be doing something else instead, not that he knows what that something would be anyway.

There is no one he can talk to about this, no one he trusts, at any rate, and that includes the Chancellor. Palpatine has been… strangely encouraging about all of this, and he listened sympathetically. Expressing his problems to Palpatine, though, is strange, so Ferus only said as much as he felt the Chancellor cared to hear. He has been… careful because of his slip-up last time, but he sees no reason to decline to answer personal inquiries.

“Have you ever thought about leaving the Order?” Palpatine asks when Ferus finishes explaining his conflicting feelings regarding the Jedi’s involvement in the war.

Of all the things the Chancellor could have said, this was probably the last thing Ferus expected to hear, and his surprise must show on his face, because Palpatine hastens to explain. “There is no shame in needing time to yourself to figure out how you feel,” he assures him, “And I know how hard it has been for you with everything that has happened.”

“Leaving the Order is… a huge step,” he says lamely. He can’t imagine it, can’t imagine walking away from everything he has ever known.

“It is,” the Chancellor agrees. “Perhaps you merely need a break from the war.”

“Perhaps,” Ferus concedes reluctantly. He can’t quite conceive taking a meditative leave when so many of his fellow Jedi are dying on the frontlines every day. It feels like it would be abandoning them, but at the same time… he doesn’t really know. Perhaps it would help him. Losing his master has been hard, harder than it should be, given that they’re Jedi.

“Should you ever want to leave the Order, I am certain I could arrange a position for you among my security detail,” the Chancellor tells him with a smile. “Just think about it, at least. Leaving the Order does not mean you need to abandon your fellow Jedi or stop helping people. There are always things to be done, and I could certainly use a private agent to aid me.”

It should not sound so tempting.

Ferus is a Jedi. He has devoted his life to helping others. So why does he want to take the Chancellor up on his offer so badly? Wouldn’t that be selfish of him?

“Just think about it,” Palpatine smiles. “My offer will remain open.”

He should not even be considering this, so why is he?

***

News of the incident at the Temple, as well as the desertion of an entire legion in the clone army, has spread rapidly, though Padme has no idea how much of it is real, and how much of it is fake, merely rumors and hearsay. And she has no way of confirming anything, not when Siri, apparently, has become a traitor. At first, Padme hadn’t believed it, because why would she? Siri has always been loyal to the Republic, and Padme cannot imagine that the Jedi Master would ever turn against it.

But it seems as if she did.

Padme tried contacting Siri several times, but the Jedi has never answered her, and soon, she began to fear the worst. She talked to Sabe and the rest of her once-handmaids about it, and they all agree with her. They’re cautious, though willing to do whatever they must to take down Palpatine.

And getting answers and allies is an important part of that. Padme is being careful, because she doesn’t want to endanger her family or friends or even Boba, for that matter, but she can’t sit by idly while the Republic falls apart. Perhaps the Republic isn’t what she once thought or hoped. That doesn’t mean she’ll betray it.

“No,” she states flatly, “I’m not going to do that.”

Sabe and Rabe exchange looks. “At least consider it,” Sabe tells her. She’s recovering, albeit slowly, and she’s determined to regain as much control over her body as is possible given her injury. “If Siri has really become a traitor and joined Dooku, there might be something she knows that we don’t.”

Or maybe it’s just that she was stuck in a bad situation and did the only thing she could, Padme thinks. She tries hard not to think about how Anakin had escaped from the Temple, along with Obi-Wan and Ahsoka if the rumors are to be believed. If she does what Sabe and Rabe are suggesting, she will probably meet her fiancé again, and she’d be lying if she said that she doesn’t miss him fiercely.

“You’re not Senator anymore,” Rabe chimes in, giving her a serious look. “There is not much that you can do, and you have to consider that Palpatine will probably find out that you are meddling. You won’t be safe. He’ll come after you.”

“He’ll come after anyone close to me,” Padme counters. “I don’t want to run and hide, and I definitely don’t want to betray the Republic by teaming up with Dooku, of all people.”

The former handmaids exchange glances. Obviously, they’ve talked about it without her. “Padme, listen to me.” Sabe reaches out, taking her hand and squeezing it. “The Republic is not what we once thought it was. You can see the way everything is headed. The Senators will not listen to reason and end the war, especially not so long as Palpatine remains in control. These are… difficult times. We must sometimes do things that make us uncomfortable for the greater good. I – we will not pressure you into anything, but you must consider it. Please.”

Padme deflates at that, because really, how can she say no to Sabe after she asked like that? “I will consider it,” she agrees grudgingly, “But this is not a yes.”

Chapter Text

The only reason Ahsoka is staying, the only reason she hasn't taken off on her own to find Anakin, is that she recognizes the greater threat that Sidious poses. She cannot pretend to understand Anakin's reasoning – unless he was tortured into compliance, of course – but she does know that Dooku needs her here. As angry as she may be with him, he is still fighting against Sidious, and they need all the allies they can get.

After her and Obi-Wan's confrontation with Dooku a week ago, she hasn't seen the Count since – she has maybe been avoiding him, not that it's been hard. But she has no choice when he summons her directly. She arrives at his office along with Obi-Wan, Siri, and Asajj, the latter of whom just got back from her mission to Kamino a couple days ago.

Dooku's expression is strained, grave.

"There have been more developments," he informs them, activating a holoprojector. Five faces and names appear, and Ahsoka looks at them, frowning. "These were CIS Senators," he explains, "And they were among those who I consider supporters and allies. In the past two days, all five of them have been assassinated."

A shocked silence fills the room as the implications sink in. "Sidious," Obi-Wan states grimly.

"Indeed. I have complied a list of those who may be potential targets next, and I will assign each of you to protect one of them. I know this is probably not what you were expecting – or even wanting –" He pointedly looks at Siri here, "But this is, nevertheless, important. If I lose too many supporters in the Senate, Sidious will have a chance to oust me from my position. If that happens… we lose."

"Not all CIS Senators are corrupt or evil," Siri says bluntly. "I have no issues with the mission."

"Good," Dooku replies. "I feel that Sidious may be planning something, and I am moving pieces into place to set up a trap for Anakin." Here, he looks to Obi-Wan. "If – if it seems to be working out, I'll let you know."

Though Obi-Wan's expression betrays nothing, Ahsoka gets the feeling that he might not believe Dooku. She doesn't either, really.

"Who will I be protecting?" Ahsoka asks, hoping to get her assignment so she can leave. She needs more time to sort out her head, time that she may not get.

"Someone you know," the Count tells her. "Senator Lux Bonteri of Onderon."

To say she's surprised would be an understatement. The last time she saw him was after his mother was assassinated some months ago. But she knows him, so at least it won't be awkward.

Dooku gives the other three their assignments before dismissing them. They leave quietly, and Obi-Wan falls into step alongside her as they walk down the halls of the castle. "Do you believe him?" Ahsoka wants to know, "When he said that he would tell you about Anakin?"

Obi-Wan is silent, for a moment. "I want to," he admits, "But it's not easy, after what he just did. I fear that he might… Well, I will try to keep an eye on him. I know the clones will do anything they can to get Anakin back. Maybe they can watch what he's doing."

It's not ideal, but it's probably the best they have, and Ahsoka knows how much the 501st cares about Anakin. Even if they're currently, officially, disappeared, they can still help out, if only for this one thing. Keeping Anakin safe and alive is in all of their best interests.

***

Ahsoka feels more than a little eager at the prospect of meeting Lux again. They hit off well when they first met, and they're around the same age, too. Lux had been curious about the Jedi, having heard good things about them before the war started. It had been interesting to meet someone who was on the opposite side of everything she had thought she would fight for.

"Ahsoka, it's good to see you again," Lux smiles. "Count Dooku warned me to be careful, and my security has been on high alert, but I'll feel much better having you here."

She smiles back. "I wish it was under better circumstances," she agrees, "But I'm glad to see you're doing better." In retrospect, maybe that wasn't the smartest thing to say, because his smile fades slightly, into something melancholy.

"It has been hard," he admits, "Trying to fill my mother's place, but I have gotten a lot of support from the people, and from others as well. And we must be doing something right if we're being targeted as Dooku's supporters."

Ahsoka doesn't know what all Lux does or doesn't know about Dooku and his connections, so she won't risk giving anything away. "I agree. Let me check your security, and I'll meet up with you once I'm done."

"Sounds good," he replies. "I'll be in my office."

She checks through the entire mansion, combing it relentlessly, but she doesn't see anything which could constitute as problematic later. Maybe they'll be lucky, and everything will be alright. She's not too optimistic, but with the number of security measures in place, she doesn't think anything could get past, maybe not even a Force sensitive. Either way, she'll be staying in the antechamber of Lux's room at night, until it's safe for her to leave, or unless something otherwise changes.

It's not a good use of her skills, probably, since she could likely do so much more on the frontlines, but… Lux needs her here. So, she'll protect him.

They eat together that evening, and the conversation flows naturally, as if they've been together, been friends, for years. "I worry," Ahsoka finds herself saying, before she can think to censor it, "Of what's happening with Anakin." She told Lux a little of the situation, only telling him that Anakin thought he could deal with the Sith threat alone and has possibly fallen victim to his manipulations, unless he's been tortured into compliance, of course.

"I'm sure he'll be fine," Lux tries to reassure, though he doesn't seem to fully believe it. "The sooner we bring an end to this war, the better." She couldn't agree more.

"To peace?" Ahsoka suggests lifting her glass – it's some sort of fruit juice.

"To peace," he agrees.

***

Padme only manages not to fidget because of her years of practice at having her handmaids dress her and apply makeup. But it's… strange, she has to admit, changing her own features to match another's. Normally, it's always the reverse: watching as one of her handmaids dons her face. Switching places with them, working to be invisible, it was something that they perfected when Padme first became a Queen. Never could she have expected how important that knowledge and skillset would become.

"Hold still," Rabe murmurs as Padme twitches slightly. The former handmaid's eyes flicker between Padme and Eirtae as she studies her masterpiece. "Good. How's this?"

Sabe leans forward from where she's sitting on her bed. She's still recovering from her injuries, but the prosthetic implant has been surgically installed. It will take her time to relearn to walk again, but she's determined. She's strong. She'll be alright. As much as Padme doesn't want to leave her best friend's side, she also has to admit that this is important.

"It's… perfect," Sabe decides, nodding. "If we're being watched, no one will be able to tell who you really are."

Rabe smirks. "Okay, Eirtae, you're up."

She switches seats with Eirtae, while her friend begins to apply makeup on her. This charade won't last forever, but hopefully, it will endure long enough to fool the people who are undoubtedly observing them. While Eirtae works on Rabe, Padme studies herself in the mirror. She really does look like Eirtae now, and when Eirtae is done, Rabe will look like Padme.

Their plan is for Padme – and Eirtae, disguised as Yane, who is staying at the home she's build with her adopted sister, Sache – to take a transport to Mandalore, and from there, to go to Serenno. Padme hates the thought of working with Dooku but taking down Palpatine is of utmost importance. And if Siri has turned traitor, maybe they can meet up and plan.

She is certain that someone is watching as she and Eirtae leave the medcenter, climbing into the latter's speeder, but they aren't being followed, thankfully. They need to hurry, though, before anyone realizes what they've done. They decide to take Boba with them, because he's only a child, and there is a plausible reason to think that Padme would send him to stay with Yane and Sache. Taking him to Dooku, to Anakin, would be best.

By sheer chance, or maybe through a gift of the Force, they make it all the way to Serenno without being spotted or stopped. Padme is nervous and anxious the entire time, knowing how easily something could go wrong, but she's also determined. She might not be a Senator, but that doesn't mean she's helpless. She can still do much to defeat Palpatine; she will do whatever she must. Sabe was right. In the end, she will accept any discomfort if it means the Republic will be saved from Palpatine and the Sith.

They're stopped at the castle by security droids which recognize them and take them into custody – except Boba; he is admitted into the castle, taken to somewhere away from them despite Padme's protests. She and Eirtae are kept, under guard, inside a room, and Padme will admit to being surprised when Dooku comes in person to see them.

For a long moment, the Count merely regards her, expression frustratingly neutral, revealing nothing. "Amidala," he says at last. "This is indeed a surprise. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"

Padme lifts her chin, showing none of the fear that she feels. She is afraid, not wholly of him, but of the situation, of Palpatine and what he could do. She will not know it; she knows better than to give any opponent information which can be used against her. "I am not here for you, Dooku, or even because of you," she replies, steadily. Eirtae's presence at her side, gives her a strength that she would have lacked if she was alone. "I am here for Anakin. I am here because I have damaging information on Palpatine. I am here because I plan to take him down."

She knows that she does not imagine the flicker of something akin to respect – and doesn't that thought make her feel a bitter anger? – in his brown eyes as he regards her coolly. "I am pleased to hear it," he tells her, and he actually sounds sincere, "And there are developments which you will need to know."

Padme narrows her eyes. "What kind of developments?" she demands sharply.

"Anakin is not here," he answers plainly. "He had joined Sidious."

To say she feels shock at those words would be a vast understatement. "What? Are you certain? I don't know how he could do that, after how he was treated."

"I do not, either," Dooku admits, "But Palpatine is an expert at manipulation. Nevertheless, I am working on a scheme to take him down. If you are willing, your help could prove invaluable."

There are many things Padme does not know, least of which being if Dooku is even telling her the truth. "May I speak to Siri?" she questions, taking a stab in the dark.

This time, he smiles, a little smugly, and she knows that she can never underestimate this man. He is not Palpatine, but he is just as dangerous. "I will do you one better, Amidala. I will let you speak with Master Windu. We have reached an agreement, and I know you do not trust my word."

It takes her off guard, to have it laid out so plainly, but she rolls with it, giving him a bland smile. "Of course not. Why should I? But yes, lead the way. I should like to meet him."

Dooku turns to the doorway, gesturing for her – and Eirtae, her silent shadow – to follow. Left with no choice, Padme goes. Either this will be the wisest choice or the most foolish mistake of her life; she has yet to determine which.

***

Ferus meditates. And meditates. He has been troubled for a long time, ever since the war started, if he's being honest, but it's only become worse recently, because of everything which has happened. The Chancellor's question is weighing heavily on him, too, now.

" Have you ever thought about leaving the Order?"

No, he didn't, and why would he have? He has always been a Jedi; he has been a part of the Order for as long as he can remember. He has no other life. There is no other life for him, or at least there hadn't been until Palpatine offered to take him on as a personal agent – whatever precisely that will mean.

But it's about more than just security, Ferus imagines. What if, by leaving the Order, he will be able to do what the Jedi always should have? What if he will be able to pursue a diplomatic solution to the war? It's something he needs to think about, not to mention speak to the Chancellor about again.

For all that he hates to disturb the man – he must be so incredibly busy, running the Republic during these dangerous times – Palpatine's guidance has been invaluable at times. It has been a help when Ferus feels torn and uncertain. But even so, he is cautious; he has not forgotten how the Chancellor got information out of him that he had no right to share.

The Force is frustrating silence and murky, as it has been ever since the war began. But it's only growing worse now. More clouded. Less clear. Even when Ferus struggles to listen, he doesn't get answers. Or perhaps, he is not asking the right questions.

Be careful, the Force seems to be telling him. Danger lies ahead.

But Ferus senses no source of this danger, and it confuses him. These are dangerous times – no one is immune or safe – so what is it that the Force is warning him of? Everything? Leaving? Not leaving? He finds no answers in meditation.

"What would I do for you?" he asks the Chancellor hours later when he goes to visit him, "If I left the Order."

"You would help with security, of course," Palpatine answers with a genial smile, "Can never be too careful nowadays. And I should like to send you on private missions to see if we might find a faster way of ending this dreadful war. It has gone on for far too long."

"On that, your Excellency," he murmurs, "You and I agree."

Ferus has no idea how, exactly, Palpatine plans to end the war, but then again, he is not a politician. He's a Jedi, a peacekeeper. He was never meant to be a soldier, and he trusts that the Chancellor can give him adequate instructions so he can do his part. If it means ending the war, it would be worth it, wouldn't it?

And even if he leaves the Order, he can always return in the future, if he feels that his path is meant to be there. For now, at least, it seems he could do more good elsewhere, outside the Order. He just wants this war to end. He wants to see the galaxy at peace. "I think," Ferus decides at last, taking a deep breath, "That I should like to accept your offer. I think I will leave the Order, at least for now, and I would like to help bring an end to the war. Maybe I cannot do much, but if I can do something, that would be better than continuing to fight."

"I am glad to have you," Palpatine smiles.

Obviously, he needs to inform the Council of his decision, but somehow, he feels… freer now. He no longer feels as burdened as he had, and that is a welcome relief. The Force will be with him. Always.

***

Everything is coming together as Sidious had foreseen, and he is glad for it. He has his apprentice at his side again, and it is – it is glorious. Truly, the biggest mistake he ever made was letting Dooku be involved in Vader's training. It should have been him. It should only ever have been him. He is the one and only who should have been Vader's master.

He handled it all wrongly, and because of it, Vader doesn't trust him. He shouldn't either, because they are Sith, but Sidious cannot deny the part of him that seeks it out. Maybe it's a weakness. Maybe it's not. But he can still afford to indulge in it – he has nearly won this war and achieved his goal.

It has been – well, he does not know how to express the feelings invoked at having Vader all to himself, not having to share him, especially not with someone as treacherous as Dooku, who only seeks to undermine him. Had Sidious played it better, he could have won Vader's trust and loyalty. It would have eternally been his. His mistake had been training Vader the way he trained Maul, hurting him the way he hurt Maul.

He had not given regard for the fact that Vader and Maul were very, very different.

He should have.

And maybe he cannot undo the past, correct the oversights he made, but… he can still find a way to work with what he has. At the end of the day, no matter how much hatred Vader has for him, he is still attached. That has always been his weakness: his emotional nature. It has never changed, even when Sidious sought to crush it out of him.

But perhaps – perhaps the best thing about Vader, the one thing that Sidious relishes most, is seeing those emotions. Vader would not be who he is without them. So long as he has his feelings, he can be swayed. But he can also be made to care for Sidious too much to destroy him.

Maybe it's just a question of how much risk Sidious wants to have as he plays this game.

Or maybe, it's all really a question of what he wants most.

Chapter Text

The surface of Mustafar is fiery and red-orange, rampant with lava flows, not that Vader had expected any different after seeing the planet from space. It's gloomy, too, the gasses from the lava dimming the atmosphere, partially blocking out the sun. And, most of all, it's Dark. All in all, it seems very fitting that a planet of this nature be strong with the Dark Side.

Vader lands the shuttle at the coordinates that Sidious gives him, before they disembark. They're on the edge of a rocky outcropping, overlooking a lava river. Even at this distance, Vader can feel the heat of it on his face.

Sidious gestures to him, and together, they approach a crevice in the rock that leads into a cave. "This is it: the nexus," his master tells him, looking around. "Are you ready?"

From the moment Vader realized this was possible, he had wanted it, craved it with an unparalleled fierceness. And even now, he still wants it, but that desire is mingled with extreme nervousness, no matter how hard he tries to dispel it. "Yes, Master," he answers, because he is ready. He has to be ready. "What must I do?"

Instead of answering, Sidious steps forward, resting his palms on the rocky altar in the center of the cave. It's weathered with time, carved, as if it's been used many times in the past – and it probably has been, too, by other Sith in times long gone. Vader mirrors the gesture, reaching out to the Force, to the Dark, and he almost can't breathe at the sheer intensity of the power here. It's so much, so strong, far more intense than anything Vader has ever dreamed of.

"Reach out," Sidious tells him, "And the rest will become clear."

That… is not as descriptive as Vader hoped, but it will do.

He closes his eyes, sinking into the currents of the Force, delving outward, delving deeper, deeper than he would ever normally dare. Something is different here, and after a few moments, Vader can sense the gateway of which his master spoke. His heart pounds erratically at the realization that in a short time, he might actually have his mother back. He can still picture her clearly, can remember the affection in her brown eyes when she looked at him.

But he pushes aside those memories, lest his own fondness and love distract him from this path.

And then –

"Anakin."

He startles at the voice, at the familiarity of it, a voice he hasn't heard in years. When he opens his eyes, he's drifting in darkness, in the inner realms of the Force. Opposite him is a figure he hasn't seen since he was a child, and the first emotion that hits him is shame. Shame that the man who freed him from slavery should see him like that.

"Anakin," the spirit of Qui-Gon Jinn says, staring at him, through him, looking at him as if he can truly see him. "What you are attempting is far too risky. It will damage the fabric of reality."

Vader clenches his jaw. "You're wrong," he argues. "This gateway would not even exist if it was meant to be impossible. I am the Chosen One. If anyone can do it, I can."

"Perhaps," Qui-Gon allows after a moment, "But that does not mean you should. No one should play with the powers of life and death."

He glares, feeling a traitorous hurt, that this man, one he had once respected and looked up to, is trying to stop him. "I must," he replies. "This is my fault. Her death is on me. I only want to right it. That is all."

"You want to spare yourself the pain of her loss," Qui-Gon answers. "I understand. You have been through much. I have been watching. If I could have helped you, I would have."

Vader hesitates, uncertain how to feel in the face of that declaration. "This is your fault." The words, bitter and angry, slip out before he can stop them, and he doesn't know if he even wants to take them back. "If you had left me, I wouldn't be what I am now. You should have told me that the Jedi wouldn't accept me, that I would be rejected. You promised me I would be a Jedi."

"You were a child, and I wished to spare you that burden," the ghost explains, sadly. "I had been certain that you would be trained, irrespective of what the Council decided. I made a mistake, as have many, and you have suffered for it."

He flinches back, and if not for the end goal, Vader might have withdrawn entirely so he doesn't have to face this anymore, a ghost from his past which would be best left buried. But as it is, he doesn't know what to say, so he remains silent, conflicted.

"You don't need to walk this path, Anakin," Qui-Gon says softly. "You can always choose to turn back. You can choose Obi-Wan and Ahsoka, your family. You can choose the Light."

"My mother is my family," he hisses angrily, grief rising, the Dark coming with it. "This is who I am, even if you do not wish to accept me."

"I am not rejecting you," comes the answer. "I am simply telling you that you can be better. Healing comes in many forms, and death is natural. Your mother lives on inside you. She always will. She watches over you from the Force. Of course, it will hurt, and you should not reject that pain, because it stems from your love for her. But you must learn how to let go of the pain eventually, or it will destroy you. Your mother's death is not your fault. You did not enslave her, and you did not keep her a slave. You must let go of your guilt."

Vader is shaking his head before Qui-Gon even finishes speaking. "I will save her, Qui-Gon," he snarls, "And you will not stop me." He lashes out with the Dark, shoving furiously, and the spirit resists, for a moment, before disappearing, allowing Vader to push forward.

Touching the gateway is akin to connecting with a live wire, and Vader staggers under the sheer, overwhelming power. But though he can touch the gateway, he's unable to muster the strength needed to actually push past it. He can't say what happens, exactly, but suddenly, he feels something twist abruptly, and it's as though he's being pulled into the Force, drifting free from his body, on the verge of disappearing entirely. Permanently.

Vader has a moment of panic to realize that he could die here, that he probably will die, but then, he feels Sidious reaching out to him. Their bond strengthens, and he can feel his master gripping ahold of him through the Force, keeping him there, so he doesn't drift away into oblivion. His fear wanes, and he responds with a flicker of acknowledgement and gratitude; he'll think about this later, and the implications – he is under no delusions that Sidious could have just let him die, and probably even succeeded in possessing his body – but now, he has to find his mother.

When he reaches for the gateway again, it resists, before finally yielding, and he plunges forward into the realm of death. It's strangely dark, flickers of images from the past, present, and future echoing around him, too fast for him to keep track of. But he isn't looking for them, anyway. He's looking for his mother.

Whispers of voices resound as well, setting an overall eerie tone to the atmosphere, but still, Vader pushes on, refusing to be deterred, no matter how terrified he might feel. Despite his fear, he also feels a firm conviction, a determination to continue on his chosen path. He's not alone here, no matter that his only companion is Sidious.

And then, finally, after what feels like an eternity, Vader senses her, just ahead. He reaches, pulling, and suddenly, he sees her.

It's her essence, her spirit, but still, it's undeniably her, and that realization is enough to bring tears to his eyes. If he could cry, he might have. "Mom," he breathes, feeling far more like Anakin than he has since he broke out of the Temple.

"Oh, Ani," she replies, her voice sad, reaching out to caress his face. "This is what I always feared for you, from the beginning."

" And if you lose someone, you will learn to accept and move past that too. I have faith in you, that you can do it. I love you, Ani."

" Remember what I told you, Anakin. I love you."

Despite himself, her words echo in his mind, and he flinches. "I had to do it, Mom," he blurts out, desperate for her to understand. "I – I need you. It's not fair. I can bring you back."

She tilts her head, looking at him. "At what cost?" Shmi asks gently. "There is always a cost for these things. My time came, and I was at peace with that. I only wished you did not have to go through the pain of my death. I won't let you destroy yourself to save me."

Vader – Anakin – wavers, panicked and devastated, feeling every bit of the soul-crushing grief that he's endured since this nightmare began. "I need you," he whispers again, helplessly. "I don't – I can't go on and just… let you go."

"You want to spare yourself the pain of her loss."

" You don't need to walk this path, Anakin. You can always choose to turn back."

"And I'm not asking you to," his mother replies, oblivious to his internal struggles – hopefully. "I am asking you to honor my memory, to find happiness. You know who is behind all of this. Sidious, he has contributed to much of your pain, because of his own desire for power."

"He's manipulating me, I know," Anakin answers, bitterly, "But sometimes… I think sometimes that he might actually care about me, just a little."

Shmi's expression is thoughtful, considering. "He would be a fool not to," she murmurs fondly, squeezing his shoulder, "But even if he does, he has chosen his path, Anakin. You cannot ignore what he has done, what he intends to do. He wants to bring the ruin of the galaxy for his own sake. You know that."

"Of course, I do," he defends, feeling conflicted, torn, for reasons that he himself can't even explain. And yet – "I don't want to kill him," he whispers, closing his eyes, bowing his head, unable to look his mother in the eye. "He made me his assassin, his pet, and I – I hate him. I do. But I… I don't want to kill him."

The revelation is terrifying, and he looks back at his mother, desperately seeking out some sort of reassurance. What will this mean if he's unable to go through with his initial intentions? He had thought to kill Sidious, and now… now, he no longer knows. It's all so confusing, and overwhelming, and he just – he doesn't know, anymore, what he wants.

"You were never meant to be a killer," Shmi replies. Her voice is firm, unwavering. "You were always meant for more."

" You can choose the Light."

"I am loyal to him," Anakin – Vader – says hollowly. "I cannot betray him."

"Then you have chosen chains for yourself." Her words are not accusing, even though he flinches at them. "That is no life for a child of mine. You were born to be free, Ani."

"I… I want you to be alive." He doesn't know what else to say.

"And you know that can never be," she answers quietly. "Life and death are not something that anyone should attempt to control."

It feels like vibroblade being stabbed into his chest and twisted, but he breathes through the pain, swallowing his cries of protest; he cannot do anything to bring her back unless she is willing. Of that, he is certain. That doesn't mean it doesn't feel as though he's losing her all over again. All this time, he has worked with Sidious because of the promise of getting his mother back. He has reached that goal… but she is unwilling.

Vader wants to be angry at her, but he can't be. All he feels is numb.

"It is time for you to go back," Shmi murmurs, leaning forwards to press a kiss to his forehead. Somehow, it feels real. "And you must remember that, no matter how kind Palpatine may be, no matter how much he may care about you, he is still a master, and you cannot trust him."

The words ring hollow, but Vader knows that she is right. But he saved my life, he wants to argue, weakly. He could have let me die. He didn't. It doesn't matter. He knows that. He knows that. He has known that from the time he was a little child, so… how could he have forgotten? How could he have let himself forget?

The masters can never be trusted, no matter how much they may mean well, for they are the masters, the ones who hold the key to the chains.

That does not mean he will have to kill Sidious, of course, but it's not something he needs to worry about now. The Force will guide him, as it always has. The Force will set him free.

What about Dooku? He wants to ask her, but deep inside, he knows the answer to that, too. Dooku is a master as well. He did not chain Vader or Shmi, but he stood watching as they were chained. He may have meant well, but it, too, changes nothing.

The ones he can trust, the ones he must trust, are those who have tried to help, however they could, the ones who have always stood with him against the masters. Obi-Wan. Ahsoka. Asajj. Padme. Rex. The clones. They have been ensnared by the masters as well. For the first time, Vader feels as though he's not alone, so matter how much the grief of his mother's death tears at him. It no longer feels as impossible to find stability again.

Remember, comes the whisper, from his mother or the Force, he doesn't know. Remember where you came from.

And then, Vader is falling, plummeting, coming back to himself with a jolt.

He's breathing hard as he opens his eyes, taking stock of his surroundings as he sways, feeling dizzy. A hand is on his arm, steadying him, and he turns to see Sidious standing there, expression concerned. "I was beginning to worry," his master says. "You were so deep that I couldn't reach you. I felt you slipping away."

"I felt it," nods Vader – no, Anakin; Vader is the name his master gave him. Anakin is the name his mother gave him, and even if he hates what he's become, he is still her son, and she is still his mother. She is family. "You helped me. You saved me. Thank you."

Even as he says it, the words 'he is still a master, and you cannot trust him' are ringing through his head, the warning of one slave to another. He has tried, so hard, to forget where he came from, but he should have known better. He has always been on his knees, hasn't he? At the mercy of those who have more power. It had been frighteningly easy to start to embrace the chains that bound him, no matter how much he hated them.

But the twin suns and sand of Tatooine have been burned into him, and a slave never forgets.

When Va- Anakin looks at Sidious, sees him through the Force, a swirling maelstrom of Darkness, all he feels is pity. Because Sidious, too, is a slave. A slave to his own ambition. A slave to his desire for power. A slave to his fear. What he fears, Anakin doesn't know, but he can sense that fear, taste it. It has been stamped into Sidious the same way Anakin's has been. It shocks him, this similarity, and instinctively, he tries to look deeper, to understand the cause.

Whatever it is, though, it is not familiar to him. It feels of loneliness, of having no one and nothing, of –

The Force twists, and he staggers back a step from the unexpectedness of being mentally thrown backwards, focusing on Sidious' face. The Sith Master's eyes are slightly wider than normal, and for the briefest of moments, Anakin thinks he sees raw fear there, but he blinks, and he only can see anger. "What did you do?" demands Sidious sharply, and the anger in his voice instinctively makes Anakin want to recoil and hide, but he stands his ground, staring wide-eyed.

"I… don't know," he answers honestly, feeling their bond pulse in the back of his mind, stronger and brighter than he ever remembers it being before. It – it feels as though he, somehow… saw Palpatine's soul, the core of who he is, but it was so fast –

And with a jolt, Anakin realizes that he can feel the power of the Force humming in his veins, the power to unravel Palpatine's life with a snap of his fingers, and it terrifies him. He doesn't want that. Palpatine might be a Master. He might be a horrible human being. But he is also more. He is… a slave, the worst kind of slave, the kind of slave who has embraced their chains, become their chains, the kind of slave who has chosen to become a Master. And despite that, Anakin cannot kill him. He should. He knows he should. But…

He cannot say what it is that stops him. Perhaps the knowledge that he can be something other than what Palpatine has wanted him to be. Perhaps the realization that, if he goes through with this, he will be continuing the legacy of blood that the Sith has begun.

Anakin wants to be more than that. He wants to be more than the mindless killer, the righthand of the self-proclaimed Emperor. Perhaps an Empire is the right way, but burning the galaxy to the ground to bring it to heel is not the answer.

It's something he needs to reflect on, just not… now.

For now, he can continue to play this little game and look for exits. As a child, he was good at that, looking for exits when there were none; it was necessary. Some things cannot be forgotten.

Sidious only stares at him suspiciously, eyes narrowed.

"I think it is the power here," Anakin adds. "It is… overwhelming to me." This line of conversation needs to end, preferably before the Sith gets angry and lashes out. "I spoke to my mother," he continues, looking down at the rock. "She… did not wish to come. She said it would destroy the balance, and she wanted no part of it."

"Hm, then she abandoned you," Sidious replies. His tone is careful, and Anakin gets the feeling that his – no, not his master – that the Sith is attempting to gauge something.

"Perhaps," he allows, because arguing would be suspicious, "She wished for me to heal."

Sidious is still watching him, carefully, and Anakin does not understand it. Finally, he says, "We should leave."

Anakin follows as Sidious exits from the cave, and neither of them speaks as they return to the shuttle and leave Mustafar far behind. It's not until Anakin excuses himself to the 'fresher, wanting a few moments alone, that he understands the Sith Master's suspicion.

His eyes are blue.

Chapter Text

He watches the recordings late into the night, watches as a child is torn apart, piece by piece, and molded into a weapon. He watches as the child is shaped into something that he never wanted to me, something that he fought tooth and nail to resist.

And Mace Windu grieves the mistakes that the Jedi Order has made as he begins to finally understand exactly how much and how badly they have failed. But it is not too late. The Order is still standing. The Republic is still standing. He has allies, and he can find a way, with help from Dooku and former Senator Amidala, to stop Darth Sidious before he can diminish the Light in the galaxy and sow the seeds of Darkness even further.

***

Sidious does not say much of anything to Anakin during their return to Coruscant, disappearing back to his surface life without so much as a word. If Anakin didn't know better, he would think the Sith was hiding from him, from what happened. Or maybe, that's exactly what he's doing. No matter how hard he tries, he cannot forget the fear that he felt when he, somehow, did… whatever he did.

It is strange to think of Sidious as fearing anything.

But he does.

Anakin is glad to be alone, though, because he needs the time to himself to sort out his own head. He meditates for hours in the still quietness of the place he stays in the Works, trying to settle inside his own skin, trying to find a sense of calm that has always alluded him in the past. It works, partially, but he finds himself torn by questions about Sidious. At first, when Anakin was young, he had felt nothing but gratitude towards Palpatine, seeing him as the man who had been kind to him, accepting him after the Jedi rejected him. That gratitude changed to resentment when Palpatine showed him his other side.

It was shockingly easy to hate Sidious, hate what he stood for, the Master who kept Anakin and his mother enslaved. But he didn't always hate him. In recent years, it was more common to feel bitterness and resentment – and fear – than anything else, but before that… There had been a time when Anakin had genuinely believed that Palpatine meant well. He had looked up to him. He had respected him, even.

That… complicates things. It leaves him feeling incredibly uncertain of himself and of his path.

He doesn't have long to mull over everything though – only a couple days – before Sidious sends him a brief, terse message, telling him to go to Mygeeto to deal with a major CIS assault on the planet. Anakin does not particularly want to fight anymore, but he is good at following orders, and destroying droids is very different from killing people. So, he goes, leaving Coruscant and heading back to the frontlines.

A part of him wishes that he had the chance to talk to Sidious again in person before leaving, but… well, they are not friends. Anakin owes him nothing. That doesn't mean that he doesn't wish to… something. Help maybe? It sounds so insane, even in his own head, and yet, he cannot deny the feeling. Sidious has chosen his path, but he was a victim too, once, and perhaps feeling empathy for him is stupid, but it's not a feeling Anakin can shake.

The mission didn't sound so bad until Anakin does a little research into Mygeeto itself. Great. A cold, frozen, snowy planet. Exactly the kind of place he wants to go to, especially without any backup. … But he is the Chosen One, the Sith'ari. He does not need backup. He is his own army, and the Force is with him.

Something hums in the Force, whispers of things to come, whispers of change, and Anakin doesn't know what to make of it. He doesn't know what to make of any of the things that have changed since Mustafar. He doesn't know when he tapped into the Light, when its currents became familiar to him, as familiar and comforting as the Dark. He doesn't know how it happened that, accepting what his mother said to him, led him to letting go of the Dark, something he has only ever done once, months ago, when he was with Ahsoka.

So much has changed, and it feels as if things are changing faster than he can keep up, spinning entirely out of control. Something big is coming, but the Force is too clouded for him to determine if the change is good, bad, or… both.

The CIS outpost is at the coordinates Anakin was given, and he lies on a ridge overlooking it, scanning through macrobinoculars as he plans the best entry point. For some reason, the Force is telling him to be extra cautious here. He watches for at least an hour before he's certain that he's mapped out the patrols properly – they're different from what he remembers; Dooku must have had them changed so he couldn't get through their forces as easily – and waited until the sun has passed behind a ridge, casting a dim shadow over the outpost. The shadows will cloak his approach, and he'll have fifteen minutes or so to get in and out without being spotted.

He slides down the embankment, shivering at the chill of the snow on his back, seeping in through his coat, before creeping towards the outpost, crushing the four battle droids outside with the Force. And then, he draws his lightsaber, cutting a hole through the door in lieu of splicing – he doesn't have the time for that right now – as he slips into the building.

But there is something familiar here in the Force, though it's elusive. He doesn't realize what, or rather who, it is until he enters the control room, stopping dead when he sees the familiar figure sitting there, undoubtedly waiting for him. Emotions crash into him guilt, regret, affection, disbelief, as he stares at Obi-Wan.

It was a trap then, wasn't it? Probably one that Dooku set up for him, hoping to use Obi-Wan to capture him. Or perhaps this is a test from Sidious, who is trying to see where Anakin's true loyalties really lie.

"Obi-Wan," he says softly, extinguishing his lightsaber, though he keeps the hilt in his hand on the off-chance that something tries to attack him from behind.

The elder man rises. "Anakin," he replies, seeming to be as just as much of a loss for words as Anakin himself. "It is… good to see you again."

It's been too long, far too long, and Anakin has missed him fiercely. He has missed all of them, worried about all of them, unsure how they were doing in his absence. But he feels it most acutely now, as it fully sinks in how long it has been since they were last together. "I'm sorry," he blurts out. "I… left you. I didn't tell you what I was planning. I knew you would stop me, and it was something I needed to do."

Slowly, Obi-Wan reaches for him in the Force, lowering his shielding and brushing up against Anakin's mind. He shivers at the familiarity of it, of him, at the way their Force signatures fit together as if they're two halves of a whole, as if they were always meant to be together. And really, they probably were. It seems so unlikely, so improbable, that they would find each other in this massive galaxy, much less come together as they have. But they did. They always will.

"I would have stopped you," Obi-Wan agrees, the slightest hint of anger in his voice. "What were you thinking?"

Anakin grimaces, sheepish. "When we were in the Temple, Sidious spoke to me. He said that – that there might be a way to… bring back my mother. I had to take that chance, and I knew that if I could get close to him, I could kill him."

Obi-Wan regards him neutrally, showing no emotion, even through their bond. He's carefully shielding. "And you believed him?"

"He was not lying," Anakin replies, shaking his head, "And I did not want to put you in danger by dragging you with me to confront him. Maybe – maybe it was a mistake, I don't know, but the situation is… complicated."

Obi-Wan circles the console in the center of the command room, leaning against it as he looks at Anakin. "Complicated how?"

"Let me start at the beginning," Anakin decides, clipping his lightsaber hilt to his belt and pacing across the control room, gathering his thoughts. "I learned more of the Dark Side under Sidious, and he eventually decided that I was ready to make the attempt to bring back my mother. I… tried a couple days ago, and I spoke to her." He hesitates, feeling the familiar aching grief curl through his chest, but it's duller now, more resignation than anything else.

"She didn't want me to bring her back, but she reminded me where I came from, and who I am." He exhales, spinning to meet Obi-Wan's eyes. "I can't kill Sidious. When I was there, I… saw him. For who he is. And… he also saved my life. He could have killed me, taken my body, but he didn't. I know he's made his choices, and he's chosen wrong, but I can't be the one to kill him. I will, if I must, if it's to protect myself or someone else, but I don't want to. I want to be more than what he made me, and that means not killing, even when it comes to him."

For a few long seconds, Obi-Wan just stares at him, and then, finally, one corner of his mouth quirks upward. "You've changed," he says dryly.

Anakin offers him a small, uncertain smile. "Is that a bad thing?"

"No," he admits finally, closing the distance between them and resting a hand on Anakin's shoulder. "I never thought I would see you so… calm and balanced, not after how we parted ways. What do you intend to do now, if you don't want to kill Sidious?"

He feels the tension drain from him – he had been so afraid, though he hadn't realized it until now, that Obi-Wan would castigate him for his decision not to kill Sidious. "I don't know," he confesses. "If I leave Sidious, he'll see it as a betrayal. He'll come after me. We… need to be smart. We can't leave him so unbalanced, and besides, I might be able to do something to help you."

"Won't he see it coming?"

Anakin pauses, considering. "Possibly. Probably, even. His foresight is… immense, and I know that he is good at strategizing and planning for alternatives. I'm sure he's already prepared a contingency in the event that I betray him."

They have so much to talk about, but there isn't enough time right now, and Anakin hates that. He wants – he wants to be surrounded by his family. He wants to know that they're safe, but none of that will happen until all of this is over, however long that will be. He can't go back to them yet, no matter how much he wants to. The Force is telling him that his place is elsewhere, and he won't act solely on emotion when it could doom the galaxy entirely.

"How have you been?" he queries because he needs to know.

"Worried sick about you," Obi-Wan answers flatly. "Ahsoka, too. It's been… hard, knowing you're with Sidious."

He winces. "Sorry," he mutters again, looking away. "I never wanted you to worry, but I… I expected you would." He shifts a little closer, hesitating, before finally giving in and wrapping his arms around the man who would have been his master in another life, the man who would have been – and still is becoming, even now – his father.

Obi-Wan hugs him back, his grip tight, as if it'll be enough to keep Anakin from leaving again. "Dooku thought you betrayed us," he says quietly. "I swear to you, Anakin, I had no idea what he was planning with Grievous, or I would have stopped it. I don't agree with how he handled the situation at all. He thought he was doing what was necessary, but… he went about it all wrong."

Anakin hums in acknowledgement, relaxing into the comforting touch and just letting himself be, while Obi-Wan fills him in on everything he's missed.

"Asajj came back from Dathomir with Rex," Obi-Wan continues, "And they and Fives went to Kamino to locate a shutdown frequency for the inhibitor chips. They've found it, and now, they're planning a mission to broadcast it to the clone battalions throughout the galaxy, so they won't be stripped of their free will."

"I'm glad," Anakin murmurs, huffing out a strained laugh. "Doesn't seem like you needed me much… or that I missed much."

"Don't say that," Obi-Wan responds fiercely, pulling back to meet Anakin's gaze. He's a little taken aback by the raw emotion, the intense protectiveness in the blue-gray eyes. "We'll always need you."

The words wash over him, soothing something deep inside of him. He hasn't felt remotely like himself since his mother died, but now… now, it feels like he's slowly healing. It feels like his broken pieces are slowly stitching themselves back together, especially with Obi-Wan here in front of him.

For a moment, they're both quiet, and then, Obi-Wan clears his throat, his expression smoothing out as he tucks away his emotions. It's something he always does, Anakin has noticed, hiding his emotions, as though by doing so, they no longer exist. He's gotten much more open since they first met again, but he'll still hide if he thinks he needs to. Or if it's necessary, which is kind of is right now, to be fair.

"Dooku is planning something," Obi-Wan tells him. "He's been working with Windu, and just recently, former Senator Amidala came to him as well. I'm not privy to all the details, but I expect they'll be making a move soon."

Anakin nods, thoughtfully. "I imagine they'll get into contact with the Jedi Council if they haven't already. I'll stay with Sidious for now," he repeats. "I'll find a way to let you know if he's planning something."

"I don't like the idea of you going back to him," Obi-Wan confesses, squeezing his shoulder, "But I trust you. Seeing you like this… Light… I never thought I would see it again."

He feels himself flush, a strange, but not unpleasant, warmth spreading through him. "It is… different. I thought it would be harder, that… it would make me weak." The admission is unreasonably hard. "It doesn't," he adds, shyly meeting Obi-Wan's eyes again. "It… just makes me feel free."

***

Unfortunately, in Obi-Wan's opinion, he and Anakin can't spend nearly as much time talking as he wishes they could. So, they make do with the time they have, telling each other whatever is most important before they part ways. And Obi-Wan can't deny how incredibly hard it is for him to see Anakin walk away again, going back to his ship to return to Sidious. It's the last thing he wants, and yet… they each have a bigger game to play. Ideally, Anakin could come with him, and they could work together, but it feels as if they've gotten far closer to their end goal only after Anakin left.

Maybe the knowledge that they won't be together again until Sidious has been defeated will keep him moving, keep him sharp. He can't afford to rest or become complacent. It's time for action, time for them to take this fight all the way to the Sith Master himself, no matter what the consequences are.

When they're ready, he'll undoubtedly be waiting for them, and yet, they'll have Anakin.

Even if he says he doesn't want to kill Sidious. Obi-Wan knows him, and he'll protect them if he must. When he must. It doesn't make sense to him, Anakin's reluctant to kill Palpatine, but he… can somewhat understand it, too, he supposes.

" I want to be more than what he made me, and that means not killing, even when it comes to him."

If it was him in Anakin's place, he would not be able to rest until he had a direct hand in bringing down Sidious, preferably to the grave. It's ironic, really, how Anakin is so much… softer than him. Gentler. More compassionate. Even now. One would think it would be the opposite, but then, Obi-Wan is not the Jedi he should be. Anakin would have made a much better Jedi. The realization is bittersweet, ironic even.

I'll see you again, Obi-Wan promises silently, watching as Anakin's ship leaves the icy surface. I'll see you soon. I promise. For he doesn't think he can take another lengthy separation from the person who has come to mean so much to him. They're stronger together. And they'll have to be together if they are to succeed against Sidious. May the Force be with them all.

***

Sidious is… wary. Or perhaps that is merely a colorful way of saying scared. He doesn't know or understand what happened when he and Vader were on Mustafar, but he doesn't like it, doesn't like the way he could almost feel the boy stripping away his shields and masks, laying him open to the world. He has always relied on his masks, on his ability to manipulate others to do his will. It has been his greatest shield against the world.

That someone was able to see through it… shakes him. He didn't have to save the boy there, but he had, and he cannot fully say why. It would have been easier to let him perish, to take his body and power for himself, but he hadn't. He considered it, thought of just taking what he wanted so he would no longer need to fear being stabbed in the back, but… something stopped him. Perhaps it had been the realization that losing Vader would mean losing his favorite toy.

Or maybe it was something else, something deeper, something that he himself is refusing to even look at. He is good at manipulating, at lying, so good perhaps, that he can even lie to himself now. He only saved Vader because he thought it would be better, in the long run, to have a disposable pet at his side. Surely, it would be easier to let him bear the power and the burden while Sidious holds the leash. Surely, it was worth whatever Vader saw when he looked at him, when he saw him.

But Vader is different now. Disgustingly light instead of dark. It feels as though he's chosen a new path for himself, a path that does not include Sidious, and he cannot even say how deeply that angers him, how wildly he rages against it. Vader is his. He doesn't get to choose another path. That's not his choice to make.

Except he did.

And Sidious has no idea what to do about it.

Chapter Text

"You were wrong about Anakin," Kenobi had said after telling Dooku, curtly, that he had spoken to him, "And I think all of us were wrong about the nature of the Force."

That had been a few weeks ago now, and Kenobi has declined to say any more on the subject since. All he has said is that Anakin will not be a threat to them, if indeed he ever was – which he was; Dooku knows Anakin – and that Dooku should never have sent Grievous after him. Now, in the privacy of his own mind, Dooku can admit that perhaps he was wrong on that count. He had been… afraid, and he had acted a little rashly, something he has come to regret. He suspects that Kenobi, and even Tano, have had minor contact with Anakin since Obi-Wan's meeting with him, but he himself has heard nothing.

He tries to pretend it doesn't sting as much as it does. He made mistakes. A lot of them. Mistakes which he regrets deeply, but then, regrets change nothing. There is only one path forwards, and he'll follow it, wherever it takes him.

Over the past weeks, Dooku has spent a great deal of time lying out the groundwork for Sidious' defeat. They have to be clever about it, cunning, which is hard when they are dealing with someone who makes a career out of manipulating people. It's a talent that he has learned and perfected over many years, one that does not even rely on his Force abilities, which is more of a hindrance than anything else right now.

Dooku has no doubt that Sidious will know they are coming; it's only a question of if they can defeat him before he can effectively counter. The future is uncertain, clouded. Everything is concealed by the veil of the Dark Side, and… he is not very optimistic. Even if he has the Jedi as his allies, Sidious is… well, he's insidious.

The height of the war is upon them now, and Dooku is not ready. But then, he probably never will be. All he can do is take things one step at a time and trust in the Force to lead them to victory, no matter the cost.

***

The silence in the shuttle is heavy, oppressive, and Padme fidgets under it, trying and failing to still her movements. She has no doubt that her anxiety – and yes, her fear – are easily noticeable to her companions. They have prepared and planned and schemed, and now, finally, they are ready. They are ready to go after Palpatine, to eliminate him. She's relieved, but she's also terrified, because if it goes wrong… they are all doomed.

But, if he can be removed without destroying the Republic, even at the cost of her life, she is… okay with that. Silently, she spares a thought for Anakin, hoping that he'll be alright, that he'll stand with them if it comes down to it. She hasn't seen him in so long, and she misses him horribly. She doesn't feel the same when he's away, and it's been this way since the war started. It's – it's unfair is what it is. But soon, hopefully, it will all be over and then, they can finally reunite and build the life they've dreamed of.

"Let's go over the plan one more time," Windu says, breaking the silence, and Padme instinctively straightens, feeling the way Eirtae snaps to attention at her side. On the other side of the shuttle, Siri leans forward, eyes fixed on the Jedi Master.

They've gone over the plan several times already, but once more can't hurt. They're all on edge, and maybe assuring themselves that they're as ready and prepared as they can be will help settle their nerves some.

"I will report to the Council along with Master Tachi," Windu says. "They know we're coming, though they don't know the details, and while we send in a team to try and arrest Palpatine, former Senator Amidala will prepare a public address which Senator Organa will deliver. Hopefully, the clone Rex has successfully taken control of the communications off-world, jamming everything so in the event that we fail, Sidious will be unable to issue Order 66."

Padme lets out a shaky breath, nodding. "I'm ready," she says with more courage than she feels. Eirtae reaches over, squeezing her hand.

"As am I," Siri adds, meeting Padme's eyes.

"Then may the Force be with us all," Windu murmurs as the shuttle jolts out of hyperspace, heading down to the planet below.

The time has come, the time to take Palpatine off his throne.

***

Anakin is drifting in the currents of the Force, as he often does, letting them soothe him, when he senses the disturbance, a faint curling on the edges of his senses, whispering to him. Go, the Force tells him, and he sees a flicker of an image, which he immediately recognizes. Opening his eyes, he blinks a few times to readjust to the physical realm, marveling inwardly at how easy this is for him now.

It makes him wonder how the Jedi use the Force, how they draw on it, for if they do it as he is now, how could any of them ever lose their way? Clearly, they must not embrace the Force as he has; they must not have found balance. Is this, then, what it means for him to be the Chosen One? It's something he'll have to ponder later, when he has time.

For now, the Force has a mission for him.

It's strange to venture from the Works, pulling his cloak around himself, the hood shrouding his features as he makes his way towards the main communication center on Coruscant. For some reason, the Force saw fit to send him there, and the one thing Anakin has learned to accept over the past weeks, since he left Mustafar is that he can always trust the Force.

He hesitates briefly, uncertain, before slipping in through a maintenance entrance, unnoticed, reaching out to the Force. Where do I go? He asks a wordless question, careful to shield himself in case there are any Jedi around who might sense him. Why am I here?

In answer, the Force nudges him towards a backroom, an office or empty storage room, perhaps. He steps inside, and the quiet noise is enough to startle the person inside. In a moment, the clone has a blaster aimed at Anakin. If it had been someone else, Anakin would have reacted to defend himself, but instead, he stills entirely.

"Rex?"

Of everyone he could have encountered, Rex was the last one he'd expected to find.

There's a pause, and then, "Anakin?" the clone queries, visibly surprised, lowering his blaster. "What are you doing here?"

Anakin huffs out a breath. "I could ask you the same question. The Force told me to come here, I don't know why."

"Fives, Echo, and I came here to get control of the center covertly," Rex tells him. "We're going to temporarily jam all off world communications."

He frowns. "Why? What's going on?"

Rex moves closer to him, lowering his voice. "Dooku and the Jedi have a plan to deal with Palpatine," he answers. "We're here to protect our brothers. We won't let Palpatine use them against anyone, not when they can't control it."

Anakin nods, understanding. "Can I help?"

The clone that he would have led in another lifetime offers him a smile. "I thought you'd never ask, and for what it's worth… I'm glad you're here."

Anakin smiles back. "Always."

***

For weeks now, Ferus has been the Chancellor's shadow, following him almost everywhere, watching over him and protecting him. It's been… somewhat dull, admittedly, but he and Palpatine have settled into a comfortable relationship, one which he's coming to appreciate immensely. Palpatine has spoken to him about matters which are troubling him, and he even sent Ferus away on a mission for a few days, having him personally speak to the leaders of a neutral world to convince them to lend the Republic support instead of joining the Separatists.

He's content with the life he's building for himself now, outside of the Order, and he cannot deny the feelings of contentment which he's experiencing, free from the burden and weight of the war, helping the Chancellor find a way to bring a quick, decisive end to the war. They've spoken about politics, about the Republic and its faults, about what the galaxy ought to be. It's been… nice.

And so, nothing could have prepared him for the sudden, unexpected declaration from the Chancellor. Ferus blinks at him, once and then again, trying to make sure he didn't mishear.

"Dooku did what?" he splutters, horrified.

Palpatine grimaces. "It isn't something I've told the Council admittedly," he confesses, "But I didn't think they would believe me anyway. He was once one of them, and I cannot fault them for not wanting to see the monster that he's become. You are breaking away from them, my boy, and I think that you can understand and appreciate the evil."

"A… planet killer?" he asks faintly.

"Indeed," the Chancellor replies gravely. He taps at some controls on his desk, pushing a button to bring up a hologram. Ferus moves closer instinctively, horror washing through him when he sees the size of the thing, the details of the plans.

"Dooku planned this?"

"He did," Palpatine answers. "The plans were, thankfully, retrieved on Geonosis, but I do not believe he has given up on his dream of terrorizing the galaxy through force and brutality. In fact, and it pains me to tell you this, there are some… whispers that your once master has become a part of his schemes."

Ferus stills, hardly breathing. "She wouldn't," he denies, though he knows that she… abandoned him and the Jedi. She has turned traitor for all intents and purposes, siding with the Sith over her own people. It hurts, and there is a part of him that can never forgive her for the betrayal.

"The Council once thought the same about Dooku," comes the quiet reply, and he flinches. Palpatine waits for a heartbeat, looking at him with something far too close to pity for Ferus' liking in his eyes, before continuing, "I fear that she and Dooku are planning something together, and I fear that those plans might include Master Windu as well."

Ferus frowns. "But he's a prisoner, is he not, your Excellency?"

The Chancellor hums. "That is what Dooku and the Jedi would have us believe."

A chill prickles down his spine, and he swallows. "You fear the Jedi will betray you, betray the Republic, even? I'm not sure –"

"I am." The finality in Palpatine's voice renders him speechless. "I have been watching them for a long time, and you have seen how more and more Jedi are leaving the Order, turning against the Republic. It makes me wonder what else they are planning. All I want is to bring an end to this war, to bring peace to the galaxy, but the Jedi resist me at every turn."

This isn't the first time he's said something of this nature, but it is the first time he's been so blunt about it. It inevitably makes Ferus feel guilty every time, as if he's betraying the Jedi by not defending them – no matter how much evidence Palpatine has shown him which support his growing fears. Ferus finds it difficult to believe – the Jedi have always been good, right? But now… he no longer knows. He doesn't know anything anymore. If even Dooku, who was once one of the best, could Fall, why not Obi-Wan? Ahsoka? Barriss? Why not his own master or – or even Master Windu?

They're all traitors – except Master Windu, that he knows of – and who's to say that there aren't even more Jedi that are working against the best interests of the Republic?

He wants to trust the Jedi, but he can't, because more and more, Ferus is fearing that Palpatine is right, that there is more going on with the Jedi which neither he nor the Chancellor know. His shoulders slump. "I'm afraid you're right," he admits, though it grates on him to do so.

His eyes skate towards the plans of the planet killer, a shudder working it's way through his body. It's monstrous is what it is. How could anyone want to be a part of creating something like this? There is no good that can come from this, none at all. It's – it's wrong. It's something the Jedi ought to be fighting.

And it's at that moment when the door to the Chancellor's office slides open. Ferus jerks to attention as Palpatine closes the plans for the monstrosity. It's the Jedi. But… something is wrong. His eyes scan those who are assembled here: Yoda and Gallia, and more surprisingly, Windu and Siri.

What – what is happening?

He steps forward, Palpatine's words, his warnings, reverberating in his head. "What is the meaning of this?" Ferus demands, voice level but hard.

"This is none of your concern, Olin," Windu replies, almost coldly.

"Ferus, you don't understand what's happening here," Siri says, almost pleading. He might listen to her if he didn't remember so acutely how she betrayed the Order. She walked away from everything the Order represented when she went with Vader and the others. That she's here now, along with members of the Council… it doesn't give Ferus a very good feeling at all.

"Why, may I ask, are you here?" the Chancellor interjects before Ferus can formulate a response to her, or maybe an accusation.

"We know who you are Chancellor, or should I say Darth Sidious?" Windu responds. "We know you are guilty of a very long list of crimes, including treason. Surrender now. The courts will decide your fate."

Palpatine looks at him coolly, while Ferus' heart skips a beat and begins pounding even harder. He can't stop remembering what the Chancellor said only minutes ago.

" I fear that she and Dooku are planning something together, and I fear that those plans might include Master Windu as well."

"I have been watching them for a long time, and you have seen how more and more Jedi are leaving the Order, turning against the Republic. It makes me wonder what else they are planning. All I want is to bring an end to this war, to bring peace to the galaxy, but the Jedi resist me at every turn."

And yet… Windu seems so certain that Palpatine is Sidious. It's such a laughable thought. Palpatine is the Chancellor of the Republic. He requested Ferus to protect him. How could he be a Sith? That doesn't even make sense. If he was, why would Vader have been working against the Republic so much? Why would – why would any of the things that have happened, happened as they did? That – it – why?

"I believe you are mistaken, Master Windu," Palpatine answers, calmly. "I understand you must have been through a great ordeal while in Separatist hands. You are undoubtedly confused by the lies that Count Dooku has undoubtedly been feeding you."

"Enough games." Gallia steps forward then, and seeing her, his grandmaster, Ferus feels even more uncertain of himself, of what he should do. Who does he support? Who can he support? Who can he trust? Everything is so… confusing, his desire to protect the Republic, and its leader, by default, warring with his desire to obey the Jedi Masters, who he has always revered.

"Surrender," she continues, hand falling to the hilt of her lightsaber.

"Or what?" the Chancellor challenges. "You will force me?" He shakes his head. "Forget this nonsense, go back to your Temple, and I will pretend that you did not come here, speaking such treasonous thoughts. Go to the courts, to the Senate, if you are so certain of yourself."

Siri smirks. She actually smirks, as if something about this is somehow funny, and it makes Ferus' gut clench uncomfortably. That isn't ever how his master has acted in the past, and he's beginning to fear that Palpatine is right about her, about Windu, about all the Jedi. "Who says we haven't?" she almost taunts.

Palpatine leans back in his chair. "Then I will await the decision of the Senate and courts."

"Stalling he is," Yoda says suddenly, and Ferus looks at him, uncertain.

Is it possible that even Yoda could be a part of this? What the Jedi are suggesting, it's treason. They can't mean to arrest Palpatine by force, maybe even killing him if he resists, could they? They're – they're soldiers of the Republic now. They have no jurisdiction to arrest their military commander without due cause, without an order from the Senate or courts, right? They're really serious about this, though, and Ferus realizes, grimly, that he will have to pick a side. And fast.

He doesn't get the chance. Palpatine decides for him.

"Ferus, please escort the Jedi from my office," he requests.

Despite his reservations, Ferus steps forward, rounding the desk, one hand falling to the lightsaber hilt that he had chosen to keep. "The Chancellor has spoken," he says, no matter how uncomfortable he feels, no matter how much he's inclined to retreat under the sharp gazes of the Jedi in front of him, Jedi he's respected all his life. Until now, that is.

With his other hand, he pushes the button on his comm to summon the Chancellor's guard, letting them know that their presence is urgently needed.

It all happens at once. The Jedi draw their lightsabers, starting forward, and he immediately follows their example, his blue blade hissing to life as he shifts to stand in defense of the Chancellor. And then, the Red Guards burst into the room, blasters raised at the Jedi.

"Ferus, he's a Sith!" Siri sounds wounded, as if she has any right to be after waltzing off with Vader and the others.

"He's the Chancellor," he rebuts, blocking her lightsaber with his own, "And we are sworn to protect him, even from the Order."

"It's not illegal to be a Sith," Palpatine interjects mildly, "Or even to be a Force user and not a Jedi. You'll find that no court would convict me for self-exploration." He stands, suddenly, before Ferus can make sense of his words, holding out his hands and sending a Force wave crashing at the four Jedi, sending them reeling backward.

And then, he turns, springing for an emergency exit, the Red Guards moving to block the Jedi from following. After a moment, Ferus follows, holding his lightsaber up to hold off the Jedi as they lunge forward to pursue the fleeing Chancellor.

Chapter Text

Sidious had calculated everything from the moment he sensed the shift in the Force, telling him that the Jedi had returned to Coruscant. And as always, his calculations have paid off. The Jedi who came expected him to fight; they expected, and planned, to kill him. They didn’t anticipate he might flee as he did, and because of that, he was able to make an escape through an emergency exit.

He knows better than to overestimate his abilities, and he knows that in a duel against Windu and Yoda both, he would lose. Better to leave and let them chase him, falling back to regroup and garner support. Better to wipe out the Jedi under charges of treason before they can destroy everything he has sought to build.

The Red Guards are with him, the ones he’d hand-picked personally, as is Olin, who has chosen to support him over the Jedi. Sidious cannot deny a surge of smug pleasure at that, at the knowledge that he was successful in getting the young, vulnerable Jedi on his side – along with several others. And that means that he’ll be relatively safe, for now, while they go to a secret, secure bunker in the Works. It’s not the place where he has Vader staying, but it’s nearby.

During the flight – his guards know where to take him – he sees flashes on the news of a live transmission by Senator Organa, and a bad feeling slowly rises as he remembers what Tachi had said, taunted really.

“Who says we haven’t?”

Hastily, Sidious pulls up a datapad, scanning the headlines, and white-hot rage washes through him. The Jedi got Organa in on it – probably through Amidala, who he is certain came to Coruscant with the Jedi. That… will complicate things, and though it’s nothing he can’t handle, it will still make this significantly more difficult.

He lifts his comm, pressing the emergency frequency for the clone commanders. It jams, and no matter how much he pushes the button, Sidious can’t hear anything but static. A transmission block then? No doubt. Oh, the Jedi were thorough, and he will take great pleasure in wiping out each and every last one of them.

Instead, he contacts Commander Fox. “Execute Order 66,” he orders, fury and satisfaction whirling through him in equal measure. “Gather all the clones you can. Spread the word. I want the Jedi Temple to burn.”

Probably, it’s a good thing that Olin is in the cockpit of the shuttle so he didn’t hear and start asking questions.

Then, he comms Vader. “The Jedi have committed treason,” he says as soon as Vader picks up. “I want you to lead the clones to the Temple. Do what must be done. This is what we have prepared for. Do not fail me, Lord Vader.”

Vader doesn’t acknowledge him, doesn’t respond. “The Jedi deserve to be destroyed,” Vader says, finally, “But they do not deserve to die. I will not kill them, Sidious, and I will not let the clones kill them either.”

Sidious is struck speechless at the words, at the sheer disrespect of them. “After everything I have done for you,” he snarls heatedly, “After everything I have given you, this is how you repay me? By betraying me?”

“I am not betraying you,” Vader answers, and the unflappable calm in his voice is maddening. “I did not help the Jedi come for you. I do not want to fight you, much less kill you.”

“You are weak,” hisses Sidious coldly.

“No,” Vader demurs, and the quiet strength and certainty in his voice would be impressive if Sidious didn’t hate him quite so much in this moment, “It takes strength to let go of the wrongs that have been done to you. It takes courage to move beyond them, to be better than them, than those who have brought you down.” He doesn’t need to say it for Sidious to know he’s talking about him.

“That is arrogance. I am your master, Lord Vader, or have you forgotten so quickly how you came to me when I called?” Despite himself, he feels a seething hurt, a stinging betrayal that Vader would do this to him, abandon him to the Jedi instead of coming to his aid as they had always planned. He had counted on Vader’s help, or at the very least, for him to not stand with the Jedi against him.

“I have no master. I am free.” The fierce passion in the words is all Anakin, and Sidious scoffs, mockingly, but then, Vader continues speaking. “I am free,” he repeats, “And I think it is too late for you, but… I hope –” for the first time, his voice wavers, “– that you can find freedom, too.”

“You are foolish,” Sidious proclaims, overwhelmed with a rage so potent that it threatens to burst past his shields. “You have forgotten what it means to be a Sith. It is the Dark Side that frees us.”

“No, Palpatine, it’s not, and unless you can see that for yourself, you will never be free. I know what I felt on Mustafar,” he presses. “The fear. I recognize it. I have… lived it.”

Sidious grits his teeth, feeling the overwhelming desire to strangle Vader to death with his bare hands. He knew Vader had – seen much more than he should have, but he wouldn’t have expected him to actually be so careless as to speak of it… unless he is asking for a harsh punishment. Silently, he vows to electrocute him the next time they’re face-to-face, to remind him of who the Sith Master is. Certainly not him.

“Are you quite done blathering?” Sidious asks coldly.

Vader makes a quiet noise, one of irritation. “I can’t make you believe me,” he states grudgingly, reluctantly, a little bitterly, “But I hope you will listen anyway.”

“This… conversation,” he hisses, “Is over.” And then, he disconnects the comm, not waiting for a reply, vibrating with barely hidden rage and fury. (And maybe, just maybe, he’s feeling a lot more emotions that he doesn’t want to admit to.)

***

It’s not until after the Chancellor’s escape shuttle has arrived at a hidden bunker, after more Jedi who he apparently trusts to support him arrive, after they depart Coruscant for a safer place, that Ferus starts to ask… questions. He can’t quite say why it is that he’s questioning his actions, except maybe that going against the Jedi, the people he’d looked up to and respected, was much harder than he thought it would be. And there’s a niggling sense of wrongness in the Force, whispers of the Dark that he doesn’t like feeling.

Perhaps it’s also because the Chancellor is apparently a Force user. Certainly, there is nothing wrong or illegal with it, but Ferus has the very strong feeling that he’s missing a big part of the story. In fact, he’s beginning to wonder if he should have stayed behind to hear out the Jedi. At least that way, he would be able to know for certain how wrong they are or aren’t, and if they’re in the wrong and committing treason, he would have enough information to help the Chancellor find a viable solution.

Now, he knows nothing. Nothing except what Palpatine is telling him.

And Ferus does not have a very high level of trust in the rogue Jedi who have joined them. He doesn’t know most of them, but he does know of Krell. After Vader escaped from the Temple, there were… whispers, rumors really, that Krell had something to do with it, that he perhaps helped, or at the very least, was playing his own game, one not in the best interests of the Order.

Seeing Krell here, Ferus can’t help but wonder.

And those questions only grow when he finally, absently, picks up a datapad to look at the news, curious as to how everything has been spun to the public. He doesn’t know what he expected, but whatever it was definitely is not what he finds. What he finds is a long speech by Senator Organa, giving a point-by-point list of all of the Chancellor’s various misdeeds and crimes, ending by calling for him to be arrested and brought to justice.

Organa – backed up by the Jedi – has publicly labeled Palpatine to be the mastermind behind the Clone Wars… and he has accused him of being Darth Sidious.

Ferus stares down at the report for a long few minutes, mind whirling from the information, the first stirrings of betrayal creeping into him. And then, he calmly puts down the datapad, sitting back as though he hasn’t seen something that’s shaken him to the core. It… fits. Too well, in fact. He takes a deep breath, letting it go and pushing down his emotions. He cannot afford to be distracted or make even the slightest misstep right now. He has to be careful, smart.

Palpatine is, thankfully, quite distracted, dealing with something in the cabin which gives Ferus time to compose himself and to plot.

He waits until they arrive at their destination. Mustafar. Even from space, he can feel the Dark Side here, and it makes his skin crawl. But still, he professes support for the Chancellor, promising to do whatever he must to help him stop the Jedi’s plot. And then, he waits.

He waits until they land, waits until they’ve settled into a secure base before slipping away from the others and finding a long-distance communication console. He doesn’t actually make a transmission, because that would give him away, but he does activate the distress beacon on his comm, connecting it to the transmitter so the Jedi will pick it up, even on Coruscant. It will undoubtedly take everyone here many hours to realize what he’s done – if they even realize it at all.

The Jedi will come here. They will finish what they started, and they will destroy Darth Sidious and his allies.

And Ferus will accept whatever fate the Council chooses to bestow upon him.

Stubbornly, he buries whatever regret he feels for his actions, because this is a Sith. The Palpatine mask was fake; none of it was ever real, and it is his duty, as a Jedi, even as a former Jedi, to help destroy the Sith. This is what he trained for from the time he was young.

Maybe he failed the Jedi once, by leaving, by trusting a Sith over them, but he will not fail them again.

***

Anakin lowers the comm slowly, hating the way his left hand trembles ever so slightly, betraying the emotions he’s trying to conceal. He looks up into Rex’s worried brown eyes, mustering a small, weak smile, for all the good it will do. Rex isn’t stupid; he can tell that Anakin isn’t alright, not by a long-shot.

But. His own conflict doesn’t matter right now. The clones come first.

“Come on,” he says, gesturing to Rex. “It will take time for the clones to assemble to march on the Temple. We have time to stop them.”

“Everything is all set,” Rex replies, gesturing to the control console in the center of the room. “Do what you have to do.”

Anakin takes a shaky breath before stepping forward and tapping on the screen, activating the feature to pre-record a message to be sent out to all the clones on Coruscant who received Order 66. Fives and Echo are standing guard, so they have all the time they need. If – when he does this, he’ll be turning his back on Sidious and all of his plans. For all that he knew he would have to, that doing it is the right thing, it’s still… hard. He’s so accustomed to trying to earn the Sith Master’s approval.

“This is Anakin Skywalker. Execute Order 501. Chancellor Palpatine is no longer the commander of the GAR. He is a traitor and should be treated as such. Stand down. Do not attack the Jedi. I repeat, do not attack the Jedi. Stand down and wait for further orders.”

Rex touches his shoulder when he finishes recording the message and sending it out. “Thank you,” he says simply. “I don’t know if the frequency will still work to permanently deactivate the inhibitor chip once it’s been activated, but we’ll try it. You saved us.”

What Rex means is that Anakin freed them. Despite his own anxiety, he feels… settled at that. He feels a deep contentment at the knowledge that he helped these men who have never been given a choice. They have a choice now. Or at least they will, because Anakin will not rest until the clones have been fully granted freedom. He doesn’t know what will happen now, but once Sidious has been found and dealt with, brought to face justice, the Republic and CIS can hopefully find… peace.

Peace.

It’s such a strange, foreign concept. Until very recently, Anakin doesn’t think he’s ever truly felt… at peace.

“Do you really think he’ll listen to you?” Rex asks at length.

That is the very question Anakin has been trying to avoid; he doesn’t want to think about any of it. It’s all far too complicated for him. But he still knows the answer to that question. “No,” he admits, “But I had to try. If nothing else, I gave him a choice.”

“You care about him,” the clone notes.

Anakin looks away and nods. “He was awful to me, more often than not. He… tortured me, tried to break me. But he also helped me. He trained me. He taught me. I probably should feel nothing for him, so I don’t know why…”

“Because you’re a good person,” Rex replies, obviously understanding the unspoken words. “You’ve always cared about people – deeply. We saw that when you were on Kamino. We knew you cared about us, not just what we could do for you. We – none of us ever had that before. It meant a lot. It still does. And maybe it’s natural, what you’re feeling. He’s a monster, and I don’t think I’ll ever feel fully safe until he’s dead, but you knew him, saw him as a person, too. Emotions are complicated.” He shrugs slightly.

“Yes,” he agrees, “Yes, they are.” And though he hesitates, he already knows what he has to do, next. “It’s time to go home.”

Home. To Obi-Wan, to Ahsoka, to Asajj, to Boba, to Dooku. His mother might be dead, but he still has a family out there, a family who misses him. Rex is right. Emotions are complicated, and family can be a messy thing. It’s time for him to go home, to the people who love him, no matter how terrible they might be at showing it.

***

Siri is in a state of shock after Ferus disappears with Sidious, and she can’t quite suppress the wave of guilt that washes over her. This is her fault. Ferus was her padawan, and somehow, she didn’t notice what Palpatine was doing to him. She doesn’t think he’s Fallen, but he’s clearly been deluded into believing that Palpatine means well. He didn’t even want to listen to her, when she tried to explain to him that the Chancellor is a Sith.

They spread out to search, reinforced by clone patrols, but they don’t find him. The trail goes cold not far from the Senate, and it’s as though he’s disappeared entirely. Unsurprising. Palpatine was enough of a mastermind to become Chancellor, to orchestrate the war, to play everyone the way he wants. There’s no question in Siri’s mind that he also was able to plan an escape route should he ever need it.

“What will we do now?” Siri questions, looking to the other Jedi as they gather together in Palpatine’s apartment in 500 Republica, searching through the place, trying to see if they can uncover any information which might benefit them.

“Our first priority –” Windu begins, but then, a shockwave ripples through the Force as something changes.

There’s the muffled sound of a communication to the clone troopers outside the apartment, and instinctively, Siri realizes what’s happened. Order 66. It’s the one thing they all have feared most, the clones being turned on them, but they had thought that they would deal with Sidious before he got the chance. And then, they needed the clones’ help to search for him, even if they’d tried to keep their distance.

The four clones step into the room, blasters raised. In the Force, they feel numb, minds stripped away, and it makes her sick to feel it. Yoda lifts a clawed hand, and the clones are hurled backward into the wall, hard enough to stun them.

“The Jedi at the Temple are prepared,” Gallia says, breaking the subdued silence, “But we must be on alert. We don’t know what the galaxy-wide effects will be.” Meaning, they don’t know how many Jedi on the fronts will die; they couldn’t warn everyone without causing mass panic.

It’s a few minutes later, as the clones slowly begin to regain consciousness, when another transmission comes though.

“This is Anakin Skywalker. Execute Order 501. Chancellor Palpatine is no longer the commander of the GAR. He is a traitor and should be treated as such. Stand down. Do not attack the Jedi. I repeat, do not attack the Jedi. Stand down and wait for further orders.”

The words are so unexpected that Siri can only look at the other Jedi, speechless from shock. “Well,” she manages at last, remembering Obi-Wan’s words to her after Vader left when they fled Coruscant, the way he’d adamantly defended the young man, “I guess we have an unexpected ally.”

And nothing could surprise her more than when Windu nods with a simple, “We do.”

They still need to find Sidious, wherever he’s chosen to go, but if they have help from the most powerful Force user ever, it doesn’t seem quite so possible.

And then, hours later, when they pick up a distress signal from Ferus’ comm which is located on Mustafar, Siri wonders if she should really have doubted him. Either way, he’s trying to make amends for his past wrong choices, and that will have to be enough.

Chapter Text

Strangely, Anakin doesn't feel the nervousness that he'd been expecting on his return to Raxus with Rex, Echo, and Fives. He thought he'd be nervous, excited, terrified even. But he's not. Instead, all he feels is a strange, eerie calm, the barest hints of excited happiness on the edges of his consciousness. Or maybe that is partially to do with the long meditation session he had in hyperspace. If he's going back home, he thought he needed to be mentally prepared for however taxing it is; hence, the meditating.

He's still accustoming himself to consciously tapping into the Light, but the amount of peace and serenity that he finds within it is… overwhelming almost. He isn't used to it, by any means, though he nevertheless finds it very welcoming. It feels like such a long time ago when he first consciously tapped into it in Ahsoka's presence. Though it's been months, it might as well have been years for how much he's changed since then.

The tension is starting to creep up when the shuttle lands on the floor of Dooku's private hangar on Serenno, and a feeling of nostalgia washes over him. It's been a while since he's been here, and Serenno, like Naboo, has been a home to him.

Predictably, everyone is waiting for them when they finally disembark from the shuttle. Anakin isn't sure yet how to feel about seeing Dooku in person again, after everything which has happened and changed, but he's extremely relieved to lay eyes on Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, Asajj, Boba, and the other clones who've been staying here. Well, not all of them are staying here, now that the entire 501st has defected. Most of them have been spread throughout the galaxy, working to free all of their enslaved brothers. From the looks of it, only Cutup, Droidbait, and Hevy are here. The rest must be busy or spending time with the remainder of the legion.

Ahsoka is the first to come forward, racing towards him with a cry of his name, and he barely has a chance to catch her without being knocked over backwards. She clings to him, her arms tight enough around his waist that it almost hurts, but he's far too relieved to see her again for it to bother him. He clings to her just as tightly, holding her smaller body against his.

"I've missed you, Skyguy," she murmurs into his shoulder, her left montral digging into his neck, but he's too happy to see her again to care.

"I've missed you too, Snips," he answers, shifting her in his arms so he can kiss the top of her head. "A lot has changed though."

She huffs. "I've noticed." She lifts her head enough to meet his eyes. "I like how you feel now. You're better. Lighter. You feel…" She trails off for a moment as she probes at him through their bond. "Happier," she finally settles on.

Anakin gives her a small smile. "I am happy now," he admits. "It… almost feels like I never truly knew what it meant until now. The Dark Side was…" It's not a sentence that he knows how to finish, but it doesn't matter anyway, because Obi-Wan is next to him, his familiar, warm, comforting Force presence brushing up against Anakin's, and he pulls himself away from Ahsoka to embrace Obi-Wan.

They don't speak though because they have nothing to say that they haven't already said, nothing that the way their presences wrap around each other isn't already conveying.

When he finally steps back from Obi-Wan, it's to see Boba. Anakin hasn't seen him since the explosion that destroyed the mansion, and he had thought that Boba had died then. Somehow, he hadn't, and Obi-Wan had mentioned it to him in passing, assuring him that he'd survived, and that Padme had been the one who rescued him.

"Vod'ika," he says softly, and that's all the invitation Boba needs to jump into his arms. Ahsoka snickers when he stumbles for a moment, but he's too busy hugging Boba to elbow her. The warm, very real weight of Boba against him is what truly lets it sink in that he's alive. He didn't lose him like he'd feared. Boba is alive, and definitely traumatized by his experiences, but it's nothing that they can't deal with. If he's alive, they can learn to heal together.

"I am glad to see you alive," Anakin tells him. "When… everything happened, I was so worried."

Boba buries his face against Anakin's shoulder in much the same way Ahsoka did earlier. "I miss Mom." His voice is quiet, muffled, and for a moment, Anakin isn't sure if he heard right. But his heart breaks all over again at the words, a quiet, distant ache opening up again. It still hurts, the knowledge that his – their mother is gone, but… He did everything he could. It wasn't enough, and she didn't want to come back anyway.

"I… tried to get her back," he responds, unsure how the words will be received. "It could have been possible, through the Force. I spoke to her… spirit."

Boba lifts his head, the curiosity in his dark brown eyes mingled with grief. "What did she say?"

"She was at peace with her death," Anakin answers, thinking back to their conversation. "She didn't want me to pay the cost of bringing her back, and she wanted me to honor her memory and find happiness."

"It's hard," Boba mumbles.

Anakin ruffles his curls. "It is," he agrees, "But we can do it together."

He turns to Asajj next, and he's more than a little surprised to see her and Rex speaking in quiet tones, with Rex touching her shoulder. There's an intimacy there, a familiarity that he hadn't expected to see. "Not interested in that sort of thing," he deadpans. "Really."

Asajj's hand snakes out in the blink of an eye, flicking his arm. "Shut it," she orders, glaring at him, but there's a restrained mirth in her gaze.

Anakin laughs, holding out an arm to her, and after rolling her eyes, muttering something inaudible under her breath, she takes up the offer, giving him a quick, tight hug. "I did miss you," he tells her, "But maybe not how annoying you are."

"You missed me being annoying the most," she assures him loftily, slinking back to Rex's side and sliding an arm around his waist, leaning into him. It's deliberate, Anakin knows, her way of asking him what he thinks.

"I'm happy for you, both of you." Anakin meets Rex's eyes, nodding to him, to them, letting them know that, no matter how he hadn't truly seen it coming – though he teased her relentlessly about her affection for Rex and the clones – he is still glad that they've found closeness and comfort amidst the horrors of war.

Rex's expression relaxes – Anakin hadn't even realized he was tense until now – and he glances at Asajj, a look of fondness in his eyes that Anakin knows all too well. "This is still new for us, mostly," he says, "But we're figuring it out. We're… happy."

"Good," he answers firmly. "Good. I'm glad. You deserve it."

"Well," she quips cheekily, "I wasn't really asking for your blessings. I wouldn't have listened to you anyway, even if you disapproved."

Rex smacks her arm, looking aghast, and Anakin just laughs, far too used to Asajj's sassy nature to be even remotely bothered by the remark. "Luckily, you have my blessings anyway. And we both know that if I had disapproved, you would have either found a way to change my mind, or…" He trails off deliberately and quirks an eyebrow at her.

She rolls her eyes. "Maybe you would have been worried about me taking advantage."

"Why are you two even having this conversation?!" Ahsoka butts in, sounding exasperated yet amused.

"Because we're… us?" Asajj suggests, grinning.

Hevy sighs. Loudly. Deliberately done to draw Anakin's attention to him. "On behalf of all my brothers, I want to welcome you back. We're glad you've returned, Anakin."

Anakin nods to him, acknowledging the words, feeling a wave of emotion crash over him at the clones' easy acceptance of him. Even now, he's still overwhelmed by it sometimes. "I'm glad to be back," he replies as he's said several times already.

And then, he turns to Dooku. The Count has been lingering in the back, an inscrutable look on his face. He's betraying nothing through the Force, either. Of everyone, Anakin had known that this reunion would be the hardest. Perhaps if he had gotten his mother back, or if he had not lost her in the first place, it would be easier to forgive Dooku for his role in everything.

Certainly, before his mother died, he never harbored the resentment toward Dooku that he now does, and while it is true that Sidious cultivated that resentment for his own purposes, the fact still stands that Dooku stood by instead of getting them out. Yes, Dooku helped them at times; he even took punishments for being too "lenient" on Anakin. He offered comfort when Anakin struggled after difficult training or punishments. He helped. But he also didn't. He left Anakin and Shmi in a dangerous situation without ever trying to extract them or help them escape. By not acting, he allowed Sidious to harm them repeatedly.

Anakin can forgive the wrongs against himself, but what Dooku did in leaving his mother there led to her death. Dooku is no Sidious, but he is… a master. That doesn't mean he's too far gone to be reasoned with. They'll just need to talk about it, and that is something Anakin isn't looking forward to. For so long, he has respected the Count and looked up to him. Being at odds with him will be… hard, to say the least.

He and Dooku stare at one another for a long few moments before the latter dips his head in a nod. "Anakin," he says neutrally, and Anakin moves closer to him, not as close as he once might have stood, but closer. "It is good to see you well."

It feels like they don't know how to talk to one another anymore, and that stings. But then, it makes sense, as well, because so much has changed, and Anakin doesn't harbor the same blind devotion to Dooku that he once did. But there's no reason not to be polite. "I can say the same."

Another awkward silence ensues before Dooku breaks it. "I misjudged you," he admits, and for the first time since he arrived, Anakin can feel a flicker of remorse from the elder man. "I thought… you were lost, and I acted accordingly. I made a mistake when I gave Grievous the instructions I did."

"What did you tell him?" Anakin finally queries, a little curious, but mostly dreading the answer. "He made it seem as though he had been ordered to kill me." Which… well, that's not what Grievous said, but he very much had given Anakin the feeling that Sidious was right. Or maybe it was that the Sith's words had been imprinted into his brain, and he merely interpreted it as such, because of how much he feared Sidious could be right.

Dooku flinches almost imperceptibly. "No." The response is fast, harsh, and Anakin can feel his sincerity and his horror. "No, I would never have told Grievous outright to kill you. It – I told him to capture you through whatever means were necessary, but he could use other measures if he couldn't subdue you successfully."

"I… understand why you did it," Anakin admits, because no matter how it hurts to know that Dooku used Grievous against him, he does understand it. Strategically, it makes sense.

"We need to speak sometime at length," Dooku tells him, "But I don't know if now is really the right time, much less place."

"On that, we agree." He glances towards everyone else, noting how they're trying, and failing, to make it appear as though they're not paying any attention whatsoever. He understands their curiosity, but when he and Dooku discuss everything, they need to do it in private. But he also is uncertain if they can afford to take the time for it right now, given that they need to find out what has happened with Sidious.

Obi-Wan steps closer suddenly, as if they've never been separated at all and he can somehow still tell what Anakin is thinking. "We should find out what's happening with Sidious."

Dooku nods, albeit a little reluctantly in Anakin's opinion. "I agree." He gestures towards everyone. "Whoever wishes to come is welcome."

Anakin falls in step next to him as they walk into the castle, the move so practiced and familiar to him that it aches. Even though everything feels as though it's changed, that's clearly not true, not entirely, and he's thankful for these little bits of normalcy. It gives him hope, and proof, that something can be salvaged between them, that everything between them hasn't been broken and isn't totally wrong.

Dooku leads them to the main communication room, deep in the well-fortified interior. As if by unspoken agreement, everyone else who was on the landing platform follows as well, the clones making quiet, whispered remarks to one another as they go, since, with the exception of Rex, none of them have been into this particular part of the castle.

Anakin is strangely calm while they wait, though he should, by all rights, be terrified. He's not. All he feels is… a little sad, actually. He had done what he could when he spoke to Sidious, tried to make him understand. The worst slaves are the ones who deny what they are; they delude themselves into believing that they are free, and in the legends on Tatooine, stories that his mother told him as a child, it is those slaves who have historically caused the biggest problems for other slaves and for those who fight for freedom. They have disconnected themselves from their roots, and they will sooner fight to keep others enslaved than turn a blind eye while they make their way to freedom. They will stop at nothing to crush out freedom under the masters, and normally, the only way to stop them is to destroy them.

That doesn't mean Anakin has to rejoice in Sidious' death.

It's a few minutes of tense waiting before the connection is established and holograms of Yoda and Windu appear. They appear momentarily startled to see so many people standing around, but they recover quickly, though their gazes linger on Anakin for a few moments before they look at Dooku. "It is good to see that Skywalker has made his way back to you," Windu says, surprising Anakin. "The Jedi Order is in his debt."

Despite himself, he flushes, ducking his head and staring fixedly at the floor. "It was the right thing to do," he answers quietly. "Despite all of your failings, I cannot condone your genocide."

Dooku glances at Anakin, obviously understanding what he did, and nodding approvingly. "What is the situation on Coruscant?" he queries. "I have seen Senator Organa's transmission, and I have heard that the Senate has demanded Palpatine be arrested and put on trial, but nothing has been released of his whereabouts."

"He escaped," Windu replies succinctly. "There were… unforeseen complications, but we are tracking him now. Ferus Olin temporarily fell under his sway, but he has transmitted his location to us. We believe that Sidious is hiding on Mustafar with some other rogue Jedi."

"An attack force we must lead to arrest him," Yoda interjects. "Demanded his return the Senate has. Dangerous it will be but allowed him to be imprisoned within the Temple they have. Secure he will be."

"I am willing to go with the strike team," Dooku tells them. "All of us have a great deal of experience with Palpatine; we know how to combat him effectively."

"That is acceptable," Windu answers. "We had hoped that you and Skywalker would be able and willing to come."

"We are," the Count replies, "So long as you can guarantee that neither of us, nor any of our allies, will come to harm. I am aware that the Republic has reason to try and arrest us, and I want your word that you will not let that come to pass. We will willingly cooperate with whatever trial the Republic will grant to Palpatine, but we will not submit ourselves to Republic justice."

"Understand we do," Yoda assures him. "Make arrangements we will with the Senate. Arrested or harmed by us you shall not be."

When Dooku hesitates, Anakin steps forward. In the Force, he feels no ill from either of the Jedi, and while he is still a little wary – it is hard to trust them after everything which has happened – he also trusts the Force when it assures him that this is the right path. "Thank you," he says simply. "We will be there, and we will be in contact to coordinate our attacks."

"I'm coming," Obi-Wan states, as Anakin knew he would, stepping up to Anakin's side.

"Me too," chimes in Ahsoka without missing a beat.

"Snips –" he begins, resigned. Of course, she wants to come, but that doesn't mean he has to let her. He doesn't want her to be anywhere in the vicinity of Sidious; the Sith is far too dangerous, especially for someone as young and untrained as she is.

"No," she interrupts, tone brooking no refusal, "I don't want you to be fighting him alone. Master, you've trained me well. I don't even have to fight him. I just – I need to be there with you. Please?"

How is he supposed to say no to that face?!

"Ahsoka…" He heaves a sigh. "Fine. But if something starts to go badly, I want you to get out of there. I can't be focused on what I need to do, if I'm worrying about you."

She makes a face, but still nods. "Okay."

"We're all in, too," Asajj chirps, because evidently, they discussed it while he and Ahsoka were having their conversation – or maybe earlier, he's not sure. "Well, except for Boba, even though he wants to come. Some of the boys are planning to stay back with him to communicate with us from a distance and rally reinforcements if we need them."

Something that feels distinctly like dread settles into Anakin's gut at her words, but the Force remains elusive. Clouded. He can feel the shift of something dark looming ahead of them, and yet, the Force still indicates that this is the best path.

He slowly takes a breath, blowing it out and trying to trust in the Force that he'll be able to bring his family back home when all is said and done. He can hope, but… hope might not be enough.

"Very well," he agrees, and it's as though something snaps into place, puzzle pieces coming together to cement their future.

"We'll be in touch," Windu says, ending the transmission.

"May the Force be with us," murmurs Obi-Wan, voicing Anakin's thoughts.

"Indeed," adds Dooku gravely as they all exchange looks. Whatever the future may be, Anakin knows it will be a hard fought – and hard won – battle. Nothing ahead of them will be easy.

Chapter Text

It's a mutual understanding that they don't have time to have any further discussions about anything, which means the talk that Anakin needs to have with Dooku will have to wait until all of this is said and done. For all of Sidious' skill at ferreting out weaknesses, he knows that it won't work. Dooku is too level-headed and strong to fall for it, and he himself is finally at peace. It's a peace that can't be shaken or broken, not by Sidious, not by anyone.

The mood in the shuttle is tense, expectant, and maybe a little worried as it travels through hyperspace to Mustafar to meet up with the Jedi reinforcements who will be joining them for their raid on the planet to arrest Sidious. Anakin meditates in the back, letting the Force wash over him, offering him support and courage for whatever is yet to come. He has the bone-deep feeling that they will succeed, but that doesn't mean that they won't lose, and that is what he fears most.

He fears having to go home to a family that is no longer as whole as it is now. He lost his mother already, and losing someone else would be agonizing. But this is what they need to do, and Anakin understands that, no matter how much he might dislike it.

The kyber crystal of his rebuilt lightsaber is still red though, and it's at odds with the serenity that he otherwise is feeling. Anakin doesn't know what it is that spurs him onward, but he unclips the hilt, clasping it in his hands, keeping his eyes closed as he falls into the Force. He reaches out to the crystal, touching it, soothing it. He lets it feel the peace that he has learned to embrace, lets it feel the thrum of Light that washes through him.

When he opens his eyes again, the crystal's cry has been silenced, and it's been replaced by a faint whisper of peace that resonates with his very soul. His finger hesitates on the ignition before he thumbs it on. A pure white blade hisses to life. It's strange – he's never seen a white lightsaber before – but it also feels so right.

"Impressive."

He looks up at Dooku's voice, surprised but not, and sees him in the doorway of the storage room, watching him with an emotion that he can't quite name. "I've never seen someone heal a kyber crystal before," he continues, stepping into the room. "It is said that crystals can only be healed by those who have a purity of mind and heart, who are fully aligned with the Light. It is, I suppose, a testament to the person you've become."

It takes a moment for Anakin to parse out the look in his eyes: it's admiration, a respect, something that he's never actually seen from Dooku before. Dooku has shown fondness, of course, regret, pity, and many other things, but never an admiration like this, as if he respects Anakin as an equal, not just the child he trained.

"Thank you," Anakin replies simply, clipping the hilt to his waist again. There's so much more that they need to say to one another, but right here, right now, this will be enough. A silent look passes between them, an unspoken understanding, and Anakin gets to his feet, giving Dooku a firm nod as they leave the storage room and return to the cockpit to wait for their arrival.

When the shuttle emerges from hyperspace, it's to the red-orange planet of Mustafar. It looks the same as it did before, and it's not until Anakin sees it, and feels the Dark of it, that the first stirrings of trepidation rise in his heart. But he doesn't let it cow him as he goes to the designated rendezvous point where they were supposed to meet with the Jedi strike team. They've located the probable spot where Sidious is located, and they've made their plans accordingly, remaining well aware that they may be walking into a trap. For all that they want to believe Ferus brought them here on his own, it's equally likely that he's luring them into a trap at Sidious' behest.

The Jedi who arrive, as a part of the team, include Yoda, Windu, and Siri. Gallia is there too. They've brought clones as well, who will undoubtedly be tasked with dealing with the rogue droid forces that Sidious appears to have amassed. Anakin can sense the subtle-but-still-there hostility and distrust between them and those who have come with Anakin. Well, except for the clones. Rex, Echo, and Fives approach the squads who came, speaking to them quietly, and he feels it as they settle from a thinly concealed mistrust to a sort of acceptance.

"We have a difficult mission ahead of us, and it will not be easy," Windu says, looking between the assembled Force users and clones. "We have fought in the past. We have been on opposite sides of this conflict. But today, we must unite and work together for a common cause or all of us will fail. The Sith's machinations have torn apart the galaxy for far too long. It is time for us to put an end to it once and for all."

His words do a little to ease the tension, thankfully, because Anakin wasn't entirely certain that the Jedi weren't about to turn on them – which would be completely pointless, but then, the Jedi are not always the most reasonable bunch.

"We're here to arrest Sidious," Anakin says firmly, because he feels like it needs to be said. He has a clear sight of their path ahead, but he's not certain about the rest of the Jedi. Some of them, he thinks, are leaning too closely to feelings of vengeance for him to be confident that they'll follow their directive.

"You don't want him dead?" Siri asks curiously.

What he wants is for Sidious to see reason and leave the path of destruction that he's following, but his wants will not be realized here. He needs to be realistic. "No," he answers after a momentary pause. "He has done much evil, and there is much room to argue that he deserves to die, but… the path of Light is to offer him help, is it not?"

"… Help?" she states blankly. "He's a Sith."

"I was a Sith." He can't help the amusement in his voice. "Being a Sith isn't a definite or irreversible choice." If indeed the beginning of it was even Sidious' choice at all. It may not have been – not that it changes that continuing on that path was his choice. All the deaths that have been caused are on his head.

"But the Dark Side corrupts," Siri argues, frowning. "It changes you. Once you start down that path, it dominates your destiny."

"Or so you've been taught," Anakin counters. "It is true that the Dark Side changes you." It changed him. It made him into the worst version of himself, and he hates what he did while under its influence. But now, he's free of it. He's free and balanced, and he won't make the same mistakes again. "But it is also true that it's always your choice. If you choose to Fall, you can also choose to walk away. You need to let go and embrace the Force and the Light. Embrace what you feel, but don't lose yourself to your passions. That is the answer."

"That's against what the Jedi teach." It's Gallia this time, her tone neutral, commenting rather than accusing.

"Perhaps," Anakin shrugs, "But it is what I have found, and I have walked both paths."

"We need to move," Dooku interjects before anyone else can add to the discussion. "We don't have time for this right now."

"He's right," Windu agrees, gesturing, and as one, they begin the climb up the rocky black surface, heading towards the weak point in the facility where Sidious is hiding. They'd decided to approach on foot, to make their arrival less obvious, since ships can be spotted and shot down more easily. At least if they're on foot, they'll have a better chance at getting through the defenses when they're inevitably spotted and attacked.

Obi-Wan falls in at Anakin's side, and he reaches out to him instinctively, entwining their Force signatures together and letting himself center on the gratitude he feels at Obi-Wan being here. They're meant to be together, and Anakin knows that whatever happens next, he'll always have Obi-Wan at his side. It can't be any other way, for all that they've come to mean to one another.

The approach is easy, almost too easy, and Anakin begins to feel increasingly on edge as they splice open the door and enter the facility, their weapons drawn and ready. He can feel the Dark Side so strongly here, and it calls to him, but he lets its call wash over him, an unmoving stone in the center of a stream. He has grown beyond what the Dark could offer him.

"This is a trap."

It's one of the Jedi, possibly Gallia, but her voice echoes strangely, and it's muffled by the sudden screeching slam as the entrance door closes behind them.

Motors whir, and Ahsoka shifts closer to Anakin's other side as the blast door in front of them slides open.

To reveal what looks like an entire army. A small army, but still an army. Super battle droids are in the front, rows and rows of them. Destroyer droids are behind them, and beyond that, stands a group of black-robed individuals. The Fallen Jedi who have chosen Sidious.

At the end of the room, atop a throne, is the Sith himself. He sits there, yellow eyes glinting with malice as he takes in the assembled forces who have come to destroy him. "So," he purrs, the first to break the heavy silence, "You have chosen death."

"We have chosen the Light," Anakin counters, raising his voice, letting it ring out, full of confidence and firm conviction, "We have chosen to stand with life and Light over the reign of death and Dark that you desire. Surrender now, Darth Sidious."

Sidious cackles, madly, and his fury lashes outward with an undertone of stinging betrayal. It takes Anakin by surprise for a moment, though it probably shouldn't – of course, Sidious feels betrayed. Anakin did betray him, after all, from his perspective. "You have chosen wrong, Darth Vader," he sneers. "You have chosen weakness over strength." And then, coldly, he orders, "kill them."

Anakin doesn't have a chance to reply, if only to say that his name is not Vader, before the droids open fire on them. Instantly, the assembled Force users ignite their lightsabers, and leap forward into the fray, slashing through their attackers. But the droids are only meant to tire them, Anakin realizes, and he delves into the Force, deflecting any blaster bolts away from him with a blade of pure white, as he draws the Force to him and pushes, hurling droids away from his path as he stalks forward, cutting straight to Sidious.

Obi-Wan falls in beside him, and they work in tandem, making short work of the remaining droids in front of them as they approach the Sith who masterminded this entire war. The Fallen Jedi approach, Krell among them, and Anakin meets them head on, toying with them more than anything else as he waits for the other Jedi to catch up. It doesn't take long, and Asajj is at his side in moments, blocking Krell's blows while he ducks away, whirling forward towards where Sidious is on his throne. From the other side of the room, Yoda and Windu circle in to join him, and together, they stare the Sith Master down.

"Surrender," Windu says, purple blade poised, "Or meet your fate."

Sidious snarls, a wordless cry of rage, as he flicks his hands, drawing his red lightsabers to them and launching himself at them, lightning arcing from his fingertips, crackling along the blades and whipping up a storm.

None of them are fazed, and though they have never fought together before, the Force guides them, letting them move as one as they launch their attack. If they remain on the defensive, Sidious will eventually tire, and when he does, they'll be waiting.

A startled cry draws Anakin's attention for a moment as he ducks under a blow that would otherwise have taken off his head, and he glances across the room to see that Olin has turned on the Fallen Jedi and stabbed one in the back, nodding to his former master as they turn to face down another.

Sidious is losing. Badly. He's vastly outnumbered, and the clones are doing their part, too, shooting down the droids that are entering the room before they can prove too much of a challenge to the Force users. Dooku is fighting a rogue Temple Guard – based on his style of dress – while Obi-Wan and Asajj duel Krell. Elsewhere, Ahsoka and Gallia are dueling yet another Fallen Jedi.

"You can't win," Anakin says, catching one of the red blades in a saberlock. Sidious jerks backwards when Yoda comes for him, a furious whirlwind of green. "Why do you persist in a fight that you will lose? The Dark may be strong, but the Light? It outshines everything. Your fear is your undoing, Palpatine."

Perhaps if Sidious wasn't so angry, his words might have had some sort of impact. Instead, the remark only seems to push the Sith to even greater heights of fury, and he Force shoves Anakin backwards, sending him skidding. He recovers quickly, though, launching himself at Sidious again and scoring a light burn across his upper back while he's turned away, blocking Yoda and Windu from cutting him in two.

"It didn't have to be this way," snarls Sidious. "You could have joined me. You would have had unlimited power. You would have been revered by the galaxy."

"The galaxy would only have hated you, if you subjugated it," Anakin counters. "All that power, and for what? What good would it do you when you will have no one? An eternity of loneliness? Is it really worth it?"

He feels, through the Force and his supernal connection to it, more than sees the way that Sidious seems to almost waver at those words, something that the Sith himself doesn't even seem consciously aware of. They're on Mustafar now, like they were before, and strange things seem capable of happening here. Anakin tries to tap into the Force, the way he did before, tries to see Sidious as he did once.

"You still do not understand," hisses Sidious, "That it is your attachments that make you weak. They hold you back from your potential."

"Like they are for you?" Anakin throws back, unimpressed. "All this talk about power, and still, you do not have it. You know you are beaten. This is a last resort, a desperate attempt to take something that was never yours for the taking. And how it is going for you now?"

In retrospect, he thinks he should have realized that antagonizing a Sith, especially one like Sidious, was a monumentally bad idea. With a howl of pure, unadulterated rage, he lashes out, a Force wave exploding outwards, knocking all of them back. Lightning follows crackling against all of them before they so much as have a chance to recover.

Anakin feels it in that moment, as the electricity courses through his body, the rage and hatred fueling the current. The feelings of betrayal and abandonment. The feelings of you're mine you're not allowed to leave that are fueling this outburst. He feels pity, then, even as the Force lets him know that he can do nothing, that Sidious is past reasoning with. Years ago, decades ago, it would have been possible, but the man in front of them today is barely even a fragment of the man, the child, he once was when this all began, when he was cruelly shoved down this dark path. And once he started, he didn't want to stop, didn't know how to.

And Anakin is capable of feeling both pity for him as well as anger of his own, because Sidious' pain and fear isn't worth the pain and fear that he inflicted on so many others. He needs to be stopped. Now.

He calls on the Force, despite the white-hot pain burning through him, despite the spasms in his muscles, summoning up a shield. Shakily, he pushes himself to his knees, catching the lightning in his hands and deflecting it, pushing it outward, giving Yoda and Windu a chance to recover as well, though the former has already produced a shield of his own to protect himself.

Sidious lets up on the assault, raising his lightsabers again, though he's obviously much more worn out than he was at the start of this duel. He's outmatched, and they all know it. It's only a matter of time before he falters… and fails. Anakin and Yoda lunge forwards at once, white and green lightsabers flashing as they strike at Sidious. He ducks back, barely in time, fending them off with his two red blades. And then, Windu joins the fight. They've mustered up a final reserve of energy so they can end this once and for all.

Anakin is careful to pull his strikes a little, so he doesn't accidentally kill Sidious. He knows the two Jedi aren't doing the same, but he can't blame them, either, given how much damage the Sith has caused. Killing him now, would be self-defense, but it's not really… the ending that Anakin is hoping for.

It all happens at once.

He pauses, shoving sweat-soaked hair back from his face, panting heavily, right as, on the other side of the room, Krell – one of the two Fallen Jedi still fighting – Force leaps backwards, leaping towards the clones. Towards Rex. He's lashing out because he's losing, and he's determined to take down and hurt as many people with him as he can.

Asajj screams and bodily tackles Rex out of the way…

… And the blue lightsaber stabs through her lower abdomen.

Something inside Anakin shatters when he sees it, the Nightsister he's come to call a sister injured so grievously, and a Force wave rushes out from him, catching Sidious, Krell, and the other Fallen Jedi and hurling them into the durasteel wall. He pins them in place, a calm, cold fury washing through him, holding them there as the clones stun them before he drops their bodies to the ground.

It's over. It's finally over.

Sidious has been captured, but it was not without a cost.

Anakin doesn't stop to think as he runs across the room, ignoring everyone and everything around him, dropping down next to Rex, who is cradling Asajj's body in his arms.

She's still alive, though they have no idea what the extent of the damage to her is. They… don't even know if she'll make it.

Please, Anakin whispers desperately to the Force, please let my sister live.