“We’re here. Time to go to the Council,” Obi-wan said as he stood outside of Anakin’s cell with Ahsoka standing next to him.

  Anakin followed them into the shuttle and none of them spoke as the ship left the venator and flew down towards the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. An escort of five armed escort ships followed them down on all sides. Just in case.

  It felt odd walking through the halls of the Jedi temple again, a step behind Master Kenobi once more. The Jedi that walked by spectated and slowed their pace as they stared at Anakin as he went by.

  They kept silent as they reached the Council chamber. They went inside and went to the center. In a circle arrayed in a semicircle in throne-like chairs with red lining were plush chairs upon which all the members of the Council sat.

  Mace Windu sat directly across from Anakin, with Grandmaster Yoda a few seats to the right with his small form seated in a proportionally smaller chair. All of the other assembled members of the Council were there as well.

  Anakin had an odd moment of familiarity as all of the Council’s intent gazes stared at him as if to absorb every bit of information as all remained silent. It reminded him of when he first came to this temple with Master Qui-gon. The Council had those same intent looks as they scanned him last time too.

  “Padawan Skywalker,” Grandmaster Windu said eventually to break the silence, “Welcome back to the temple. You have been gone for a long time.”

  Anakin didn’t answer.

  “You are called before the Council to answer for your actions. While we know some of what you’ve done, we don’t know why or your motivations for them. So, speak. If you are honest and truthful with us, then I believe that your punishment for your actions could be significantly reduced.”

  Anakin blinked at the grandmaster for a few moments, not sure what to say to that.

  “Mitigating circumstances, sure that you must have, I am,” Grandmaster Yoda added in, “Tell us these, you must. Much trouble you are in right now. But still a path to redemption, I see. Return to the temple, it is still possible if you are open with us now.”

  The Council stared at Anakin expectantly, and he nervously glanced at Obi-wan and Ahsoka who stood next to him. Obi-wan nodded encouragingly at Anakin while Ahsoka bobbed her head eagerly, smiling slightly and looking relieved at the Council’s words.

  Anakin took a deep breath and turned back to the Council.

  “No.”

  “Excellent, Padawan Skywalker that’s-” Grandmaster Windu said before pausing as Anakin’s words registered.

  “What?”

  “No. I won’t explain.”

  “Skywalker,” Ahsoka hissed at him quietly with a nervous look on her face, “What are you doing? Apologize and explain to the Council!”

  “Padawan Tanu is right,” Windu added, “I am not sure what impulse has come over you. But it’s in your best interests to speak.”

  Ahsoka blushed and stepped back from Anakin as she realized that everyone had heard her despite her trying to lower her volume.

  “Still. I don’t want to,” Anakin said. Dooku had told him to not tell them anything, and that’s what he would do. The Council didn’t have his best interests in mind. Dooku had done more than anyone else had for Anakin already. He wished he could explain, defend himself from the accusing stares of the old Grandmasters and especially the accusing stares of Ahsoka and Obi-wan.

  But he had to keep quiet. If he spoke more, who knows what he’d let slip.

  “Padawan Skywalker,” Windu said with a severe frown on his face, “You’re on dangerous ground here. Do you understand your situation? The Council is the only thing that stands between you and a lifetime in Republic prison. You are accused of the murder of hundreds, including ten high ranking military officers and two master Jedi. Destruction of Republic military assets and terrorism. Even the death penalty is on the table if the courts are feeling particularly harsh in your case. Only we can defend you from all of that. It will be by no means easy to prevent the worst, but we will do our best for one of our own. But for that we need all of the information to assist you. You’re acting childishly now, think of the consequences of what you’re doing right now.”

  “I understand. I can’t say anything else,” Anakin said as calmly as he could despite the pressure of the situation starting to get at him as everyone in the room seemed flabbergasted by his words.

  They tried to get him to speak several more times, but Anakin answered the same every time and didn’t budge despite the bead of sweat running down his brow from the stress.

  Eventually the Council reluctantly gave up and turned to Obi-wan and Ahsoka. As Anakin stood there watching, both spoke of what had happened at Jabba’s palace and after Anakin was taken into custody. Anakin was surprised that Ahsoka skimmed over his private conversation with her on the journey. She still shot him the occasionally confused and almost pitying glance as she and Obi-wan spoke.

  “So you have returned willingly then, Skywalker?” Windu mused after both Obi-wan and Ahsoka had both been fully questioned by the full Council, “He returns, yet he doesn’t wish to speak a word. Why not try to escape if you-”

  There was a commotion outside of the door and Grandmaster Windu stopped talking and frowned as the door to the Council chambers opened.

  A man with military medals pinned across his chest with a squad of armed soldiers coming in behind him came into the chamber.

  Windu immediately shot to his feet as the rest of the Council seemed shocked.

  “What is the meaning of this, General?” Windu demanded as the Republic soldiers filed into the room with their weapons held at ease and pointed at the floor. The Jedi Master who had been guarding the door stood just outside, looking like she wanted to hide as she held the door open with just her hand and part of her head visible.

  “I believe there has been a mistake,” the General said, “That boy was ordered to be brought to the Senate for questioning upon his arrival. Not the Jedi Council. I am here to take him away according to the proper procedure.”

  “He is a Jedi Padawan, he is under our jurisdiction. We have every right to bring him before us for questioning, no matter what crimes he has been accused of,” Windu argued.

  “Are you saying that your authority is greater than that of the Senate’s then? Greater than the authority of the Republic?” the general said in a harsh tone as he glared at Windu.

  Windu opened his mouth and closed it after a moment.

  “A simple mistake, indeed it was General,” Grandmaster Yoda said, “Refused to speak, he has either way. You may take him, no need for such tension.”

  The General grimaced before pointing at Anakin.

  “Guards. Cuff him. No funny business, boy. You have no chance of escape now that you’re in our hands. Do you understand?”

  “I understand General,” Anakin said, almost relieved as he was locked up with stun cuffs and led away from the Jedi Council. Standing there silently and not defending himself despite the prodding from the Jedi Grandmasters had been difficult.

  It was much more relaxing to just follow the soldiers and do his best to look non-threatening. It helped knowing that even if they shot him then his dispersion ability would still save his life. With a lightsaber blade he might not be as lucky.

  He was led into a prison past hundreds of other prisoners who eyed Anakin curiously as the general and guards led him past.

  Anakin was placed in a cell at the end that resembled the one that he’d been in on the Venator, with a force field replacing a door and a toilet and bed.

  Anakin sat down and started meditating on the Force. May as well while he was waiting.

  — — —

  “Mealtime. Step back.”

  Anakin opened his eyes and took a deep breath as he stood to his feet. The Republic guard in their blue armor and helmet leaned down and when the door shield flicked off put the tray on the ground quickly before retracting his hands and letting the shield flicker on again.

  “Enjoy your meal,” the guard said as he took a step back, “Enjoy your vegetables. They’re from a mutual friend.”

  Huh. It had been days already and the guards had never spoken to him like that before…

  The guard turned and pushed the hovercart down the line to give another tray of food to the next prisoner.

  Anakin picked up the tray and inspected the pile of vegetables on it. He went to the corner of his cell and started eating it piece by piece. He paused as he saw something glittering at the bottom of the pile.

  He quickly took it out and saw that it was a small device with a little light on the top. He frowned and inspected it, before finally finding a button on the bottom that he pressed even as he huddled in the corner of his cell.

  A distorted and scrambled voice came over the device.

  “This is your friend from the Outer Rim. This is a prerecorded message. I have devised a strategy, but we can not have direct contact or it will all be far apart. As far as anyone is concerned, you have not seen me in over a year. When you are called to the Senate for testimony, you must do two things. First, explain what happened that caused you to leave the Jedi temple in full detail without leaving anything out. Tell the full truth up to your arrival to Tatooine. Past there you will mainly tell the truth but with a few minor alterations to make you more sympathetic in the eyes of the Senators and assist our cause…”

  More instructions followed and Anakin listened carefully. It was fairly simple, but remembering it all while under pressure… He’d just have to do his best.

  “...You are probably wondering why I speak of only the Senate and not the Courts that should truly be convicting you…”

  Anakin had not been thinking about that in the slightest.

  “The truth is rather simple. If you are innocent in the court of public opinion, then the Courts will follow the Senator’s leads. Corruption to your advantage. Your testimony to the senate is truly what matters. Best of luck, and remember. We have not seen each other since your first capture by the Republic. Flush the pieces of this device down this toilet. Self destruct in three seconds. Two.”

  Anakin quickly dropped the device into his toilet where it fizzled and fell into several pieces as a small bomb went off inside to destroy it into tiny metal fragments.

  He flushed the toilet and the pieces were gone.

  Muttering to himself to remember everything that he had to say, Anakin sat back down and started eating his food for real this time. With his hands unfortunately. They didn’t give him utensils because he might hurt someone with them.

  A little ridiculous when Anakin could use the Force at any time, but at least the food here in the prison was better than it had been on the star destroyer.

  — — —

  “Padawan Anakin Skywalker. You are called before the Senate today to testify regarding your actions over the last two years on the run from Republic authorities,” Senator Mon Mothma said from her lit up podium, “Let us start from the beginning. Please explain what it is that first led you to abandon your mission under your Jedi master.”

  Anakin took in a deep breath as his platform floated in the Senate chamber with heavily armed Republic guards standing behind him warily.

  “It all started when my old master, Obi-wan Kenobi called me to see him after he returned from a mission from the Jedi Council…”

  Anakin explained everything, not leaving anything out as he went. There was a soft muttering in the Senate chambers and Anakin felt the prickle of all of the eyes on him as he spoke and stumbled over his words a few times from the pressure.

  He kept going until he reached Mos Espa and the two Jedi masters appeared after Mom had been taken into the backroom to have her slave implant removed. And how the Jedi master Erten had attacked him to try to capture him while his padawan went to capture the two women in the back of the building.

  He made sure to be more vague on what Dooku had said on his arrival about the corruption of the Republic, and swiftly continued to narrate how he’d been injured in the battle with the Jedi Master and his mother and Slarena had helped him walk as they used a cart to get to the spaceport.

  “And then…” Anakin said, his voice wavering slightly as he got to the point where the mercenaries showed up, “One of them shot my mother in the head. She wasn’t killed, but she was hurt and in incredible pain… I blacked out, and I don’t remember anything else after that until I woke up again in Count Dooku’s care.”

  Mon Mothma nodded sympathetically, “We’re very sorry to hear about that. Do you have any idea who your attackers were? At the spaceport?”

  “I’m not sure,” Anakin said, “There were men who I knew were with the two Jedi. They tried to shoot stun blasts at me during our fight. They were there at the spaceport along with Jabba’s mercenaries. I don’t know which one shot my mom.”

  That wasn’t strictly true. Anakin knew that the man who had shot Shmi had been one of Jabba’s men. But Count Dooku had told him to say that he wasn’t sure.

  “Very well,” Mon Mothma said, “You do not remember anything? What of the claims of the Jedi masters that you were using the dark side of the Force? That you were consumed by it before your collapse?”

  “I don’t remember.”

  “Surely you must remember something? Witness accounts…”

  “Objection!”

  An unfamiliar Senator’s voice from one of the outer rim worlds suddenly rang out as his platform floated towards the center of the room and his platform lit up, “Senator Mon Mothma, it is established fact that the two Jedi attempted to kill young Skywalker while he was unconscious while he was there. I do not believe the boy should have to speculate on things that he doesn’t even remember. We’ve been over this enough while interrogating Count Dooku and those Jedi directly.”

  Mon Mothma glanced at the central spire where the leader of the senate Mas Amedda stood.

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  “Objection sustained,” the man said, “Senator, the witness has answered your question. Let us move on.”

  Mon Mothma looked annoyed, but nodded at Mas Amedda respectfully.

  “Of course. So Skywalker. Let’s discuss your time with Count Dooku…”

  Anakin told them about him healing in the tube of bacta and then remaining alone in one of the man’s safehouses. How he’d been doing nothing but meditating on the Force and being generally cooped up for the whole time under his care. Nothing about the CIS or even working on droids was ever mentioned. He kept going and spoke of what happened while meeting his mom and the Republic ambush and how Obi-wan had been there. And being brought aboard the ship and the two Jedi being rude and calling him a dark sider as they escorted him to his cell.

  “So. We come to the crux of the matter,” Mon Mothma said sharply as Anakin finished, “What exactly happened on that ship? Complete destruction of the ship as well as the deaths of the command crew and two Jedi masters. Your being presumed dead for nearly a year before appearing again while being ransomed off by Jabba the Hutt.”

  “I was in my cell on the ship…” Anakin said before taking a deep breath. This was the crucial part, “I heard a noise outside. It was one of the Jedi masters.”

  He had to get this part right or the whole plan would be ruined. Dooku had told Anakin that there were no video records left from the ship that could tell the Republic what had truly happened.

  “He came into my cell and tried to kill me with his lightsaber. I managed to slip by him, out of my cell, and ran towards the hangar bay to get away.”

  The Senate chamber erupted into an uproar and there was pandemonium for a few minutes as all the senators spoke with each other and even got in arguments and left Anakin himself largely ignored.

  “Silence! Order in the Senate! ORDER!” Mas Ameda shouted, his voice growing louder each time as he adjusted the settings on the console in front of him.

  Everyone went silent and turned back to Anakin expectantly.

  Mon Mothma seemed shocked. Anakin glanced up to the Jedi observation booth and saw that Master Windu and Yoda also looked shocked by Anakin’s words.

  “Skywalker, are you absolutely sure he was there to kill you?” Mon Mothma said, “That’s…”

  “I barely dodged his swing with his lightsaber,” Anakin interrupted her, “If I hadn’t moved it would have gone through my neck. I’m sure.”

  “Let me remind you that you are under oath here, Skywalker. Lying to this esteemed body is a serious crime. Let me ask again to confirm. The Jedi Master entered your cell and swung his lightsaber at you unprovoked?”

  “Yes, Senator. That’s what happened.”

  Mon Mothma stared at Anakin and didn’t say anything for a few moments.

  “So you claim,” she said doubtfully and looking like she wanted to ask him again before a sharp look from Mas Amedda silenced her.

  “So, how did this lead to the destruction of the ship? What led to the delay of over an hour before there was any more action?”

  “The Jedi and I were fighting each other. I’d stolen a blaster from a crew member and was using it to defend myself as best as I could from him. But then the air went out of the compartment. I managed to reach an emergency oxygen mask in time while the man I was fighting didn’t. It took me that whole hour to calm down and figure out how to leave the sealed section of the ship so I could get to the hangar and steal a fighter to flee.”

  “So you admit to trying to steal a Republic spacecraft?” Mon Mothma said harshly, looking at him disapprovingly. Anakin also heard more muttering that was disapproving from the other Senators.

  “The Jedi had just tried to kill me,” Anakin said, remembering how Dooku had told him to phrase it, “I just wanted to get out before they succeeded.”

  “What happened to the Jedi Master that you supposedly were holding off with nothing more than a blaster?”

  “There was only one mask nearby. He didn’t make it. The Captain kept the compartments in a vacuum even when they saw that I had the mask on and the Jedi Master didn’t…”

  “And how did you manage to escape this sealed compartment of the ship?”

  “I took the lightsaber and carved an opening in the bulkhead doors and forced it to repressurize. The other Jedi master found me as I reached the ship hangar while the rest of the crew evacuated. They all left when I arrived and the command crew entered just a few seconds too late to join them.”

  “Did you kill any of the crew during your fight or escape from the ship?” Mon Mothma asked.

  “No. I didn’t kill any of the crew myself,” Anakin said.

  “But someone killed them? Who?”

  “Well…” Anakin said before hesitating. He knew it was what Dooku had told him what to say. And that it might even be true. But it still felt wrong to say somehow.

  “Who?” Mon Mothma insisted, “If not you, then how were they killed?”

  “The Jedi master I was fighting,” Anakin said eventually, “I noticed that he had something in his pocket. A communicator held in his hand, his finger was holding the button. I stole it from him when I noticed that he was defending it. As soon as it left his hand, the ship self-destructed. I barely made it into the fighter craft in time before the Jedi Master and the rest of the command crew were killed in the explosion. The Jedi killed them and destroyed the ship himself.”

  There was another explosion of noise from the Senators and more arguing. The Senator from the outer rim who had interrupted before spoke up as the argument died down again as Mas Amedda shouted at them.

  “I think I’ve heard enough already!” the man shouted loudly, “I demand an immediate inquiry into the Jedi and their actions during this incident! I’ve heard nothing but sincereness from this boy! A boy hunted ruthlessly by the Jedi for simply wishing to live his own life! Is this the way the Jedi operate? Hunting down and killing anyone who dares dissent against their rigid religious doctrine? No, we must put them in check. The boy was brought to the Jedi Council before the Senate! Who truly controls this great Republic? Us? The duly appointed Senators? Or the Jedi in their grand palaces and towers looking down at us from above!”

  There was some muttering of agreement from a large bloc of Senators at the man’s words. Another female Senator stood as Mas Amedda recognized her and her platform lit up.

  “The Jedi Order are defenders and Paragons of Justice in the Republic!” She said, “Clearly the boy is distraught and traumatized from the experiences that he has been forced to go through. These Jedi could be rogue actors, or even impersonators of true Jedi. I do not believe that the Jedi or its Council would ever order such a cowardly attack on a mere boy. So with the spirit to clear the Jedi’s name and to provide transparency, I second the motion to form a council to lead an investigation into the Jedi. We must obtain any communications they may have made regarding this incident and learn why the boy was first brought to the Council instead of the Senate. Our paragons of Justice and Peace must prove their innocence once again to those who doubt their virtue!”

  She nodded to Mas Amedda and her platform fell back into the walls of the Senate chamber. Now more than two thirds of the room were muttering in agreement to the proposal. The first man and the woman seemed to have different factions based on how everyone reacted to them both supporting an investigation.

  Anakin’s platform floated over to the walls with his guards still standing behind him and his light went off as the debate turned entirely away from him and instead went to investigate the Jedi and the Council.

  Anakin looked up at the Jedi booth and saw that Windu was still standing there, his face tightened into a smooth mask as he observed the proceedings dispassionately.

  Noticing Anakin’s glance, Windu met his gaze for only a moment before turning away again, an irritated look in his eyes and the slightest tension around his eyes.

  After a few hours, the Senate eventually remembered that Anakin was still there in the chamber and brought him out again for more detailed questioning. It was easy for Anakin, since he mostly just told the truth except for the few small changes that Dooku had told him to make.

  There was only one more point that was brought up in the end that was important.

  “What of the time between your first escape and your capture by Jabba the Hutt?” Mon Mothma asked Anakin, seeming irritated that the discussion in the Senate wasn’t going her way. She was staunchly in the Pro-Jedi camp, and while her group was by no means small they were dwarfed in size by all the other groups calling for an in depth investigation and some were even blaming the Jedi already without even needing anything more than Anakin’s word for it.

  “I was on Eru Six in a small village,” Anakin said as he remembered the cover story that Dooku had established for him by paying off a few of the locals, “I sold off the Republic fighter to some scrappers and that gave me enough credits to survive until I got the message from Jabba that he had my Mom and her friend held hostage.”

  “Very well,” Mon Mothma said, “Let’s get a little more specific, shall we?”

  Anakin did, much more confident on this part than he had in telling his story before. This excuse had been set up long long ago, far before what happened at Jabba’s palace. Anakin had the facts that Dooku had given to him memorized by heart by now.

  “The Republic will verify all of that information,” Mon Mothma said reluctantly, looking dissatisfied with his thorough answers, “Now, I-”

  “Must we continue with this?” the outer rim senator complained from the side, “You’ve grilled the poor boy enough, Mon Mothma. Some might even think that you’re working with the Jedi with how you’ve been acting. I see no terrorist or danger to the Republic here. Let the Courts handle this. From what I’ve heard everything is a clear case of self defense. I’ve certainly seen no evidence presented so far that it could be anything else.”

  “According to the boy’s own testimony that is,” Mon Mothma countered, “Hardly reliable-”

  “So what?” the senator said and threw up his hands in exasperation, “Are there any more witnesses that can say differently?”

  Mon Mothma opened her mouth to answer.

  “Witnesses that aren’t Jedi? The ones who were trying to kill the boy in the first place?”

  Mon Mothma closed her mouth shut.

  “I think I’ve made my point,” the man said smugly, “But either way. This is for the Courts to decide, not us. I move that we release young Skywalker for the day. He’s been looking rather bored with all of our squabbling over the last few hours.”

  “Motion seconded!” One of the man’s allies added in.

  “Very well. Let us dismiss the witness,” Mas Amedda said, “His fate is in the Court’s hands now. Is this agreeable to the Chamber?”

  There was some mumbled agreements across the chamber and Mas Amedda nodded as it became clear to everyone that most of the Senators were also annoyed by Mon Mothma’s continued detailed questioning of Anakin and interrupting the discussions of the investigation into the Jedi.

  “Very well. Anakin Skywalker, you are dismissed,” Mas Amedda said, “Thank you for your time so far. The Senate may call upon you in the future if we have any further questions. Now, to discuss the participating members of this investigative committee…”

  Anakin was led away as the chamber returned to debating politics and the Jedi, seemingly to largely have forgotten Anakin the second Mas Amedda finished speaking.

  He returned to the prison, and three days later gave the same story that he’d given the Senate to the judge at his court hearing. An ‘interested attorney’ that Anakin assumed worked for Dooku came to defend Anakin and managed to get him cleared of all charges.

  He was surprised, but apparently clear self defense was the ruling and he was set free. The judge then pointedly announced to the room that given Anakin had expressed his desire to leave the Jedi Order that he could not be compelled to return back to the Jedi temple either.

  Maybe the judge was working with Dooku too? Or maybe he just didn’t like the Jedi for his own reasons.

  And then it was done. Anakin was released, and was free from the prison as well as given enough money to travel to buy a ticket to almost anywhere in the galaxy… Given that he was willing to wait a few months traveling on the cheapest freighters.

  Luckily he didn’t have to worry about that. As soon as he left the prison, Dooku himself was waiting there outside.

  “Young Skywalker,” Dooku said, “It’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other. You seem a bit lost. Perhaps I could offer a helping hand to you once more?”

  “That would be great,” Anakin said in relief as the Republic guards from behind looked on as they stood just outside the exterior door to the prison.

  “Excellent. I hope to catch up on everything that I’ve missed in the last year. It seems to have been an exciting time for you.”

  It felt strange talking like this. Introducing themselves to one another again like they’d almost just met when Anakin was used to seeing Dooku at least once a month for his inspection on their work on the droids. And even spending longer periods talking to Anakin and asking how he was personally doing.

  Dooku was a cold person by default, but Anakin had come to see him as someone he could trust. Who was a friend even, despite the power imbalance between the two of them with Dooku being Anakin’s sponsor and benefactor for everything.

  So it felt strange as Anakin had to treat him so differently from normal now that the Republic was watching them.

  “Of course, Count Dooku. I was just cleared by the courts luckily, so I don’t have to be on the run anymore like I have been for so long…” Anakin began, only to stop as he saw a woman in the distinctive brown robes of the Jedi approaching. Everyone tensed at the sight, even the prison guards behind them who fractionally raised their blasters instinctively before quickly lowering them as soon as they realized what they were doing.

  The rumors about the Jedi and the Council were building, with the public opinion viewing it as an undeniable fact that the Jedi were guilty of the destruction of the ship. And all sorts of other nefarious things that they had supposedly done.

  The actual investigative Committee hadn’t found anything so far, but kept releasing statements to the public that kept stoking the rumors even more despite the text of the statements themselves being rather bland and boring.

  “Padawan Sky-”

  “Just Skywalker,” Anakin interrupted the Jedi as she came to a stop in front of him and Anakin.

  “Ah. Of course,” she said before looking at Dooku in surprise, “Oh. And Master Dooku as we-”

  “Count Dooku. It’s Count Dooku,” the man interrupted as well and the woman looked annoyed at being interrupted again before her face smoothed into a calm mask again.

  “Your presence is requested by the Council to discuss your testimony to the Senate,” she said as she stared directly at Anakin, “They are concerned about the allegations you’ve brought up and would like to discuss them with you in more detail.”

  Anakin glanced at Dooku for guidance and the man subtly shook his head.

  “No thank you. You can tell them that I politely refuse.”

  “Are you sure?” the Jedi insisted, “I know you’ve had your troubles, but even with that the Council can still forgive you and you can come back. If there is corruption in the Jedi then the Council would want to root it out more than anyone.”

  “And what if it is the Council that is corrupt?” Dooku said loudly, “What then?”

  “That’s… They’re the Council! Don’t be ridiculous. I know that Grandmaster Yoda at least would never stand for anything like what the rumors are saying. He’d set them straight no matter what else happened. You both should know how he is. Those people on your ship couldn’t have been real Jedi or something else happened that we don’t understand just yet.”

  “I still don’t want to go,” Anakin said, “Especially after I literally just got out of prison.”

  “Look, controlling the Force isn’t easy. We need the guidance of our elders to help us and assist us where we stumble or even fall... That’s what the Jedi and the Temple are here for. If it’s about…”

  “I think that young Skywalker has given you his answer twice now,” Count Dooku said loudly again, “I think it’s time for you to leave.”

  The Jedi opened her mouth again only to pause as she turned and noticed the gathered crowd around them that had been listening to and recording their conversation on their devices. People and guards who had been around the entrance of the prison and drifted over when they saw the Jedi speaking to the recently released Anakin. As well as bystanders from the nearby street only a little bit away who broke off to investigate the growing crowd around Anakin and the Jedi.

  “Very well,” the Jedi said, raising her hood slightly to cover more of her face, “The invitation remains open, Padawan Skywalker. Come visit the temple again when you’re ready. We still consider you one of us even if you don’t seem to anymore.”

  She turned and left at a fast walk, all the other observers following her until she blended into the crowd on the street and blended in after a few minutes.

  “I have a hovercar,” Dooku said as she disappeared, “Let’s get away from the crowds.”

  “Sounds good, Count.”

  The hovercar was fancy, and as soon as they got in the driver blasted away and left the crowds of bystanders idly following them as they walked.

  “Are they safe?” Anakin asked after he was sure the hovercar doors fully sealed.

  “Yes,” Dooku replied, “They’re safe.”

  Anakin let out a sigh of relief. Thank the Force.

  Things were silent as the hovercar maneuvered through the dense Coruscant air traffic and crossing lanes.

  “Where are we going?”

  “The Spaceport. Best to get you away from here before anything else can happen. And so you can get away from the Council pestering you all of the time.”

  Anakin hesitated.

  “Did you know that that was going to happen? Just now?”

  “I guessed something like that might happen. The Council is unused to their authority being challenged by those it still views as its members. As you can tell by how their messenger reacted when you refused their thinly veiled commands.”

  “Why are you doing so much to undermine the Jedi? Even what I said in the Senate… I feel like there must have been another way if hurting the Council wasn’t one of your goals.”

  “The Jedi… Are one of the greatest weapons of the Republic if used right. You were the one who said you wished that some of them would defect in the upcoming war. The only way to do this is to make them question their leadership so when we make them a better offer that they’re willing to accept it.”

  “But doesn’t it just feel… Dishonest? I don’t know, I guess that’s a childish thing to think considering how important this all is. But still. Plenty of innocent Jedi might be treated badly by the public because of what I said and you’ve probably done too.”

  “Honesty…” Dooku said as if rolling the word around his mouth, “Young Skywalker. There is one thing that you must learn for politics. There is no right or wrong in its games. There are only the effective and ineffective strategies. Honesty has its place, but where dishonesty is more effective then it must be used without hesitation. Our goals and policies affect too many lives, too many worlds, to do otherwise. It would be irresponsible to hold ourselves back when we could do something to improve the state of the galaxy as a whole.”

  “I’m not sure what I think about that. I’m just glad I don’t have to think about any of that politics anymore. I felt like I was twisting myself into a knot when Senator Mon Mothma was questioning me so intently.”

  “It comes with experience,” Dooku replied, “You did well for your first real attempt even considering my helpful guidance pushing you along. Now you’re free to move in public in the galaxy with some basic precautions now that the Republic is no longer hunting you down. No more hiding away in safehouses for your mother and Ms. Reborn. Congratulations.”

  “Thank you, Count Dooku. You’ve helped me out again. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you for everything at this point.”

  Dooku gave Anakin a thin smile, “Not to worry. You’ve been plenty useful already. No need to worry about debts between friends, correct?”

  “R-Right,” Anakin said and sat up slightly, “Absolutely. Friends.”

  Dooku nodded, satisfied as their car slowly crawled towards the spaceport offworld through slow traffic.

  So close to seeing Mom and Slarena again, free of everything that had held him back for so long. He just couldn’t wait.