"We should go back, sir. The Council and the others are waiting for us at this hour"
Staring at the open window, Anakin did not take heed at Rex's suggestion. With Padme and Ahsoka by his side as he tried to recover from the trauma at the revelation of him being the Sith Lord he had grown to hate.
Within, Anakin knew that he was often at odds with the Jedi and of their teachings, but the fact that he became a Sith Lord to destroy then never seemed right to begin with.
Sure there are times that he resented the Council, especially on how they handled Ahsoka's trial and on how they even had Obi-Wan to fake his death, but could he actually destroy the very life that he had served for so long after all these years?
He couldn't...he just couldn't especially when had so many friends and acquaintances already within the Order. The likes of his fellow knights such as Ferus Olin, Jax Pavan, Serra Keto, and the Masters that he respected such as Shaak Ti, Kit Fisto and the list goes on.
He couldn't bare, or try to picture himself carrying a blue lightsaber over their dead bodies. He couldn't imagine what Obi-Wan had felt when his promise to Qui Gon became the very undoing of the Jedi Order. And now, their final meeting only ended with the Jedi Master's death at his hand...something that Anakin never thought that would happen. And Force, he could not imagine what he had done to Ahsoka back in the future.
It was very hard for her to tell the least from Anakin's perspective. Their last meeting as friends was at Mandalore, and they met again, but as enemies in a Sith Temple.
"I don't know if I could face them...", Anakin uttered, looking at his hands before they turned into fists. "It's..."
"Anakin, we know how you feel", Padmé assured him. "None of us wanted to believe it either. But for what is worth, we have to go back and try to figure out what went wrong"
Said Jedi Knight looked at her, unsure as to how he should respond to her words. Until Ahsoka added . "Anakin, Vader is you from another perspective. And only you can prevent Vader from coming into the present
"We'll be there, General", Rex assured him, offering a smile. "We will"
Feeling as as if a fire had reignited within him, he knew he is the only one capable of fighting his own demons. Only himself can prevent the future from happening and he wasn't going to let anyone suffer the same fate as they have in the future. Breathing out heavily, Anakin turned to the three. "Let's go"
...
Within the War Room, the Jedi consisting of Mace Windu, Anakin Skywalker, and the holographic forms of Aayla Secura and Ki Adi Mundi were in the middle of a discussion until Commander Cody's hologram chimed in between them. "Master Windu, may I interrupt? General Kenobi has eliminated with General Grievous, and we are consolidating our forces to retake the planet from the Separatists"
"With both Dooku and Grievous dead, that would only leave Nute Gunray in charge on what's left of the Confederate leadership", Luminara said in behalf of the Jedi.
"Unless we are going to count Sidious, Gunray won't last long. If he still has use for them, that is", Depa added. "And I doubt that would be happening soon"
Saesee held his chin. "With the war ending, the Chancellor should give up his emergency powers yes?"
Yoda shook his head. "With great control Palpatine has, unlikely he will. Use this to his next step, he will"
"Thank you, Commander", Windu replied before turning to the Jedi Knight next to him. "Anakin, deliver this report to the Chancellor. His reaction will give us a clue to his intentions"
The Jedi could see the hesitation within Anakin, especially if he had not yet known that he is a Sith Lord, but his friend. Yoda made a mental note to jot down what they need to do if they are going to stop him.
"Yes, Master", Anakin obliged and left the room, whereas Cody's hologram disappeared soon after.
"The dark side of the Force surrounds the Chancellor", the Korun master said with great suspicion. "I sense that he's a puppet being controlled from the shadows"
"Not a fact that I would support any longer. Now that we know who he is under that serene mask", Obi Wan said, his tone grim.
"If he does not give up his emergency powers after the destruction of Grievous, then he should be removed from office", Mundi suggested.
"That could be a dangerous move. The Jedi Council would have to take control of the Senate in order to secure a peaceful transition."
"...and replace the Congress with Senators who are not filled with greed and corruption"
Depa, Obi-Wan and Luminara looked at the two Masters aghast. "Master, what you are suggesting is an illegal takeover of the Republic!", Depa spoke out against her Master, whose expression remained firm at his future declaration.
"Regardless whether or nor our future knew that Palpatine is a Sith Lord, the need to remove him from power is one way to save the Republic from the Sith", the Korun Master reasoned out to his Padawan.
"Before we are to form any more argument, we have to take note that despite the obvious breach of what the Senate decided for Palpatine, he has become a dictator with full powers for himself", Plo Koon intervened.
"The Senate is all but powerless to stop whatever he pleased to the Republic and while I am inclined to agree with Master Bilaba that what we are planning is nothing short of a takeover that could harm the Jedi's reputation, the Chancellor has left us with no choice but to compel him to resign his powers and to return power to the people"
"If we did, wouldn't Palpatine possibly use his powers to accuse the Jedi on whatever crime he pleases and make sure they are out of their way as a Sith Lord to secure total power?", Luminara spoke out in concern.
Obi-Wan was about to speak then held his chin as he thought over for a moment. If the Jedi are accused of treason as the older Ahsoka had revealed, then it is likely that Palpatine used his powers in that scenario to get rid of them once and for all.
But that scenario is a bit unlikely, and he had to watch further for more answers.
"To a dark place this line of thought will carry us", Yoda professed. "Hmm. Great care we must take"
Meanwhile at Mandalore, Ahsoka and Rex entered the ship's briefing room where they found the after mentioned masters' discussion where the Korun Master turned to the former Jedi. "I understand your mission was a success."
"Yes, I have Maul in custody", Ahsoka said. "I will escort Commander Rex when he delivers him to Coruscant"
"A great service to the Republic, you have done.", Yoda warmly congratulated her.
"Wait...", Kit Fisto said, raising his hand slightly. "Remember what Maul said to Padawan Tano about Skywalker? Maybe she could tell the Council about it"
"That could be a problem, Master Fisto", Obi-Wan sighed, recalling her trial. "She already has trust issues with the Council fitsthand"
"I did my duty as a citizen", she replied.
"Not as a Jedi?"
"No. Not yet. Actually, I was hoping to speak with General Skywalker"
At this point, Skywalker, and Kenobi are the only Jedi she felt that she could trust, Plo Koon thought, though he mentally note that Ahsoka could still speak to him regarding the matter. And with Maul's information regarding Skywalker, she is hoping that she could help him about it.
"I sent him to inform the Chancellor that General Grievous has been eliminated at Utapau", Windu told her, to which Ahsoka appeared to be surprised at the matter.
Force, she could have told Anakin..., Obi-Wan mentally said, hiding his distress.
"Master Kenobi?"
"Defeated Grievous, he has. Finishing the battle, he is", Yoda answered her.
"Then the war could be over soon", Ahsoka said, her voice hopeful.
Everybody wanted to look pleased with this simple notion. But they had other matters to deal with...
"That depends on the Chancellor", Mace retorted,.
Suspicious, Ahsoka asked. "What do you mean?"
"I'm sorry, citizen", Mace said. "These matters are for the Council to discuss"
The other Council members looked at Mace, who was less than bothered in his expression. Even those who had worked with him had a look of disapproval to their part. Obi-Wan, Shaak Ti and Plo Koon all frowned at him for his retort to the Padawan that already had trust issues to begin with.
"She has all the more reasons not to trust us then?", Obi-Wan sarcastically said, crossing his arms.
"There is no reason as to why is there a need for her to know the Council's current mission at hand", Windu tried to justify his actions in screen. "It is also to safeguard Skywalker's current mission as well"
"You could have at least called her by her name!", the bearded master continued as he relaxed and went back to the screen.
Conceding, Ahsoka replied "I understand", and Aayla, Ki-Adi-Mundi, and Mace's holograms disappeared, with Yoda remaining.
"Ahsoka. More to say, have you? A message for Skywalker, perhaps?", Yoda offered her.
At least Master Yoda is willing to make it up to her, Obi-Wan thought, before glancing at the Grandmaster with a thankful nod.
For a moment, Ahsoka was silent, thinking her next move carefully. "No, master. Thank you. I'll tell him myself when I see him", she finally answered.
Yoda looked at her for a moment, if not disheartened before he replied. "May the Force be with you, Padawan"
If the Council had not yet known the details, then perhaps they would want to berate her for not telling them what Maul said about Anakin. Since this could have helped them on stopping Palpatine and his plans.
However, they remembered the trial that ultimately swayed her from coming back to the Order. One of the many blunders they had committed in accordance to their allegiance with the Senate. On how they wanted to preserve the pride of their order in front of the people.
"She does not trust the Council", Shaak Ti disheartenedly said, sympathizing with her fellow Togruta. "She could have told what she knew from Maul, but she couldn't at the same time"
"You didn't tell them what Maul said about General Skywalker", Rex said to Ahsoka, who sighed.
"No, I didn't"
...
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