Through the Looking Glass

Chapter One

Returning through the Vortex

Anakin blinked and looked around as the bright light and the guidance of Qui-Gon receded and he was placed in the former Chancellor's vision. He looked around for Luke, his son, and found him missing. Hadn't he just destroyed the Emperor? He was back in the republic he realized slowly. He came to himself realizing that his arms felt heavy and he realized there there were lightsabers in his hand. One was blue and the other was as red as Vader's. It was Count Dooku's lightsaber, he realized, and on his knees with eyes that begged him to give him the mercy that the man had refused to show him, was Count Dooku. The lightsabers in his hands formed clamps around the man's head. He looked betrayed by him...or Palpatine.

"Do it, do it now, " Palpatine's voice barked an order.

Anakin deactivated the lightsabers and returned his own to the clip on his belt. "I'm sorry, Chancellor, but no. It's not the Jedi way." Anakin helped the Count to his feet.

"I can make that an Order," Palpatine replied.

"With all due respect, Chancellor, but no you can't. My orders come from the Jedi Council. This is a rescue mission. We do not condone revenge. No matter what the crime. He will be held accountable. As he should, and as his master will when we find him. And we will," Anakin said his lips drawing into a think line.

"That may change."

"I don't believe it will, Chancellor. I have a feeling this war will be over soon."

"I wish I could believe that," Palpatine said sadly.

"I need to get you to a medic room, where is it?" Anakin asked Count Dooku. When the Count remained silent, Anakin continued. "You will bleed to death. I know what it's like to have an amputated arm, and you've got two of them. You will lose alot of blood. I will not harm you," Anakin promised, bending down and checking on Obi-Wan through the Force. Anakin reached out with his feelings, he felt Padme. Padme was alive. He also felt...the twins. They were here, little small bundles of joy, he thought happily. He reached out and checked Obi-Wan's vitals before hefting him on his back.

"Leave him, or we will never make it," Palpatine said, trying to sound desperate.

Anakin glared at him, and said clearly so that there was no chance of misinterpretation. "His fate will be the same as ours."

"I underestimated you, Skywalker. I'm not sure i would have done the same to you," Count Dooku said and Anakin nodded as Count Dooku gave him directions to the medic room. He bandaged him up the best he could.

"This will have to do until we get to Coruscant. You are a prisoner of the Republic, " Anakin said stating his rights. "By Order of the Jedi Council I am placing you under arrest."

"I understand, Skywalker."

"How are you?"

"I'll survive, Skywalker."

"Leave him, Anakin," Palpatine tried convincing Anakin. "You can single-handedly end the war."

"I'm sure that will be accomplished today anyway. Count Dooku will now be open to any negotiations you and the Senate have, won't you?" Anakin said, his eyes flashing darkly.

"You have my word on it, Skywalker."

"And what good is his word, Anakin? He's a Sith Lord."

"Regardless, my mandate is to rescue you not to continue the war. If it can be ended peacefully that is what I must see to. Sounds like it's about time to hand over your emergency power, my friend," Anakin said with a smirk.

Palpatine was mortified. What had happened to Anakin. He had never questioned anything Palpatine did or thought as he now was. What had happened to him? He knew a shift had occurred and he didn't like it, not at all. More and more, the kid seemed to be echoing Kenobi's views. He had been so sure that Anakin would eliminate Dooku for him. "Regardless, I will do what I think is right. Anakin, revenge is the foundation of justice. Shouldn't the Sand people had been held accountable. You did that for the Hutts."

"The Hutts wouldn't have done anything."

"Exactly. You doled out justice."

"I killed them."

"Whose to say that wasn't what justice demanded."

"Remember, Chancellor you work for the Republic, not the other way around."

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Suddenly an alarm sounded and Anakin jumped toward the elevator hanging onto Obi-Wan with a hand, somehow the Chancellor was hanging onto his foot and Count Dooku's arm were around his waist. Anakin thought briefly of kicking the Chancellor ending all his problems, but he vetoed the idea how would he explain to the Council. How was he going to explain everything to them? First, he would have a talk with Padme and explain why all their secrets head to come to an end. Then, he would discuss everything with Obi-Wan before approaching the Council. Right now, though he had to focus on the task at hand which was getting everyone home safely and in one piece. Well, almost in one piece, he said thinking of how Count Dooku's hands had been left behind.

"Did I miss something?" :Obi-Wan asked coming into consciousness.

"Uh, we're in a little bit of a situation, Master."

"I see. Hello Chancellor. Count Dooku, how different this is than our last mission."

"Do you have any suggestions on how we get OUT of the situation," Palpatine asked testily.

"Uh, Anakin. Jump."

"Don't you mean let go?" Anakin asked with an amused smile.

"Quite right," Obi-Wan said raising an eyebrow. Anakin used the Force to land inside one of the rooms.

"Droids," Anakin mummered.

"There are worse things than droids," Anakin said, and frowned, realizing his lightsaber had fallen out during the drop and that one of the droids had it. There was no way he could defeat the droids without his master realizing he had lost YET ANOTHER lightsaber.

"Anakin, where is your lightsaber? " Obi-Wan asked as if reading his mind.

"Could we talk about this later?" Anakin asked, "I know where it is," Anakin said sensing it through the Force. He nodded at the droid on the left. "He's got it."

"Without your lightsaber there might not be a later," Obi-Wan said beginning what Anakin called his master voice.

"He's got yours too," Anakin said reasonable.

"That's different," Obi-Wan said and Anakin grinned.

"Without your lightsaber, there may not be a later," Anakin intoned in a very good imitation of Obi-Wan's voice. Count Dooku and Palpatine stifled a snicker. Whatever they thought of the Jedi, this was hilarious.

"Your right, Anakin, we should take about this later."

"But, Obi-Wan, without your lightsaber there may not be a later. Your lightsaber is your life you must take care of it."

"You win, Anakin," Obi-Wan gritted out.

"What was that, Master, I'm having a little trouble with my hearing."

"Is the Hero with No Fear admitting to getting old, age catching up with you. I said you are right."

"Don't even start, my very old master. I have so many old jokes I've been saving."

"Let's try and get out of this mess," Obi-Wan said as they ran into ray sheilds. "We should have sensed this, "Obi-Wan said frowning. "The dark side is clouding our vision. How did we walk into this?"

"You're the master, I'm just the Hero. I followed you." Count Dooku motioned to a droid who released them. But General Grevious was just a head, they all sensed his presence. Before they knew what was happening they found themselves trapped and even Dooku's presence didn't help as Anakin's and Obi-Wan's lightsabers were handed over to General Grevious.

"Thank you," General Grevious said as he coughed, his breathing was raspy, just like Darth Vader's, Anakin thought with a shiver his eyes clashing dangerously with Palpatine's, he knew his secret, now all he had to do was prove it.

"Your welcome," said a droid as Grevious coughed again.

"That wasn't much of a rescue. Ah, General Kenobi, the Negotiator and Anakin Skywalker, I was expecting someone with your experience to be a little older. These will make a fine edition to my collection," he said with a sneer.

"General Grevious," Anakin said looking at him in his yellow alien eyes, "You're shorter than I expected."

"We have a job to do. Try not to upset him," Obi-Wan said as Artoo beeped expecting action soon. Anakin gave a slight indication with his head, telling Artoo to wait.

"You are my prisoners," Grevious stated.

"Not this time," Obi-Wan said and Anakin grinned showing his perfect white teeth.

"Artoo, now," Anakin said and in moments Anakin and Obi-Wan both had their lightsabers activated in engaged in a fight with Grevious's personal battle droids. "They are built to Grevious's specifications," Anakin was explaining to Obi-Wan in between parrying, "Built to his specifications. They are built to destroy Jedi."

"Curious," Obi-Wan replied. In no time Anakin and Obi-Wan had dispatched them and Grevious had escaped once again. "All the escape pods have been launched. Do you think you can land this thing."

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Anakin deactivated the lightsaber and hooked it back on his utility belt. "Well, Master, considering that this thing is not designed to land at all. piece of cake," Anakin said taking a seat behind the alien controls. "Strap yourselves in," he said. "Master, will you comm in our identities or else when we reach Coruscant."

"Absolutely," Obi-Wan said and began before Anakin had finished his statement.

"We are coming in too hot. We lost something," Anakin said as they came closer to the atmosphere.

"Not to worry, we are still flying half a ship," Obi-Wan replied as fireships began coming around them cooling off the land. This was impossible, Count Dooku thought. They were all toast, no one could land this thing. It was not for landing, had never landed, that was the point of the escape pods. Yet, Skywalker was landing it. With a loud thud the vibrating through the Hand landed.

"Another happy landing," Obi-Wan replied as Obi-Wan hauled Dooku to his feet.

"Welcome home, Obi-Wan, Anakin," Mace Windu replied and smiled so the amputated Dooku in front of him.

"It's good to be home, Mace," Obi-Wan replied.

"Did you capture him?" Mace asked Obi-Wan.

"No, my friend, it was the Jedi Knight before you. I was..." Obi-Wan felt the lump on his head, "Taking a nap."

"Really, Anakin?"

"Yes, Master," Anakin replied.

"I will expect a full report on this, Anakin,"

Anakin frowned that was what he didn't want to get. "Of course, Master."

"Count Dooku, I'm afraid you won't have the same comforts that you had the last time you were here. Congratulations, Anakin," he said smiling at Anakin. "Chancellor, allow me to escort you back to the Republica. Everyone will be relieved at your safety. And Anakin that landing will make it in the history books."

"I didn't do it for fame," Anakin answered as Mace left them to themselves, ordering guards around Count Dooku and walking with the Chancellor, he left Obi-Wan and Anakin to themselves.

"Well, Anakin, I have to report to the Jedi Council. I'm very proud of you. You are the Hero today, and you deserve your glorious day with the politicians."

"Hold on, Master. This entire operation was your idea."

"Let's be fair, you were the hero."

"Not without your training."

"I'm afraid Anakin, with or without, my training, you are destined for greatness."

"Lunch at Dex's. Since I have to spend time with politicians, I say you are buying," Anakin said smugly.

"Now there is at least one politician you want to see, isn't there?"

"Master we need to talk."

"I don't know anything," Obi-Wan said before walking away.