"The challenge of hope is to overcome corruption." — Corruption

For over a year now the devastating disease of war had raged across the galaxy and Ahsoka Tano, the Padawan learner of Anakin Skywalker, had been doing what she did best ever since; that is, fighting for what she believed in, fighting for the Galactic Republic. Over the course of her time as the student of the renowned 'Hero With No Fear,' as the Holonet reporters liked to call her master (she, as of yet, had no nickname other than Snips, which thankfully only her master called by, but she was determined to change that), Ahsoka had learned a great deal about the nature of war, how to strategise, how to master her fear in difficult situations and, of course, she had rapidly been developing her knowledge of the Force and the ways of the Jedi. As her master once said, she learned best on the battlefield.

But one area continued to elude the understanding of the young Padawan and that was the world of politics. Take, for instance, the debate that was unfolding before Ahsoka's eyes in the halls of the Galactic Senate. An emergency meeting had been called by the Chancellor in order to discuss the costs of the war. As the Clone Wars continued to escalate across the Galaxy, more and more clone troopers were falling and the Senate had felt the need to discuss the logistics of conflict continuing. Ahsoka watched the gathering of politicians descend into various parties arguing senselessly with one another about banking deregulation and finances until Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan stepped in to request that the meeting be suspended until a later time.

Ahsoka was confused. The only one who had spoken any real sense, in her humble opinion, was Senator Amidala who had called for the Senate to consider their moral responsibility in the ongoing conflict. No one else seemed to care about the fact that if nothing was done to ensure the Separatists were eliminated from the Galaxy, the peace that the Republic had maintained for generations would be lost amid the horror of being subject to the mercy of Dooku's corrupt alliance.

Senator Amidala's pod returned to its docking bay and as soon as she had alighted, Ahsoka and Anakin, who was standing behind his Padawan, left the Senate chambers and began to walk along the corridor back towards Padmé's office. Ahsoka watched as Padmé tried to convince Anakin to speak to the Council about the situation.

"You must ask the Jedi Council to speak with Chancellor Palpatine!" Padmé exclaimed with conviction. But Anakin had other ideas.

"Don't involve me in this," he replied with a hint of frustration in his voice. Ahsoka knew that Anakin was not exactly the Council's greatest fan and, while he obeyed their instructions, usually, he often criticised their close-mindedness about many issues. Padmé tried again.

"A peaceful solution is the only way out of this morass of war."

Anakin would not be convinced.

"That's not my role, Padmé."

Now Ahsoka was even more confused. The Jedi were supposed to keep the peace but Anakin's response seemed to be advocating for the violence to continue!

"Why not?" Ahsoka questioned, stepping forward. "Why isn't it your role? Aren't we Jedi Knights? Isn't it our duty to speak our minds to advise the Chancellor?" Anakin cleared his throat, addressing Padmé.

"Uh, I suggest you teach my young Padawan a thing or two about politics," Ahsoka's master said. Padmé sighed.

"After today's debate, I was hoping she learned a great deal." With this, Ahsoka felt a little annoyed. The debate had been ridiculous, nothing had been decided and no solution had been found to the growing threat of the Separatist Alliance.

"Truthfully, I don't understand any of it," the young Padawan replied. Maybe this was her chance to finally understand why the politicians were so caught up in protocol and disagreement that they seemed to never achieve anything. "I know the Separatists are evil. But all anyone argued about was banking deregulation, interest rates and, well, almost nothing about why we're fighting in the first place!"

Anakin stepped forwards in front of her, halting the movement of their small party.

"War's complicated, Ahsoka, but let me simplify it," he said, crossing his arms. "The Separatists believe the Republic is corrupt, but they're wrong, and we have to restore order." Ahsoka could not understand how anyone could think the Republic was corrupt. Sure, the Senate had their disagreements, but in the end the Republic existed for the good of the people, to allow them to live in relative prosperity and peace. Though, on second thoughts, it was not performing particularly well in terms of the latter goal at the present time. Padmé looked at him, mirroring his pose.

"Maybe talking to the Council isn't the role for you, after all," she admitted with a slight smile playing on her lips. "Thanks for your help! Come on, Ahsoka."

"Hey!" Anakin protested, indignant, as Ahsoka followed the women who she had considered to be almost like a mother to her since her experiences on her trip to Alderaan.

"You told me to teach her about politics, so I'm going to," replied the senator, the hint of silent laughter still detectable in her voice. Ahsoka walked next to Padmé, only turning back to grin at Anakin in amusement. Honestly, the way he and Padmé argued sometimes made them seem more like a married couple than just friends. In fact, Ahsoka wasn't entirely sure that Anakin's feelings for the beautiful senator were entirely platonic but she was sure Anakin would never break the code in such a permanent, life-changing way so her suspicions most likely meant nothing. After all, Obi-Wan would have ensured any romantic feelings that Anakin had for any woman were carefully extinguished before the spark could turn into a raging inferno; Anakin was not exactly one who could let go of his attachments easily. He held on far too tightly to his friends, Ahsoka included, for the Council's liking.

Ahsoka and Padmé made their way to the senator's office where Padmé took care of a few minor matters while Ahsoka leaned against the desk, examining her nails. Yes, she was a Jedi but she was also a girl and she liked to look presentable, especially if she was going to learn about politics and probably have to meet with several senators. Suddenly Padmé paused and looked out of the window, staring into the distance as if deep in thought.

"If only I could talk to Senator Bonteri…" Padmé sighed.

Ahsoka was curious. Why would this senator in particular be able to help? And why couldn't Padmé talk to him?

"Who's he?" she enquired.

"'He' is a 'she,'" Padmé replied. "A senator in the Confederacy of Independent Systems." The young Jedi couldn't believe it.

"Your friend is a Separatist?" she asked as she turned to face Padmé, slightly shocked. "One of Dooku's pawns?"

"The Separatists used to be a part of the Republic," was the senator's response. "I was close with many of the senators who left. I may not agree with them but they're more than pawns."

This was a new idea for Ahsoka. She had never really given much thought to what had happened to the Separatist senators who had left. She knew that the Separatist Alliance was technically a democracy but with the Sith Lord Count Dooku as its leader, Ahsoka had never pictured it as a working senate where people discussed and voted on matters in a civil way. In fact, with the only Separatists that she came into contact with being soulless battle droids and the occasional Separatist leader, she struggled to picture Separatist citizens going about their day-to-day lives. To see Padmé respecting people who she had automatically grouped into the undeniable evil of the corrupt Separatist Alliance intrigued the young Padawan.

"If you think negotiating is the right thing to do, let's talk to her," Ahsoka proposed, thinking that perhaps her lessons about politics might not be as boring or frustrating as she had thought. But at this, Padmé's expression became conflicted.

"The Senate's made it illegal," she said, sighing.

"Illegal?"

"They say official meetings would only legitimise the Separatists," Padmé replied and Ahsoka could sense, without even needing to use the Force, that this was in issue which frustrated Padmé. She knew that Padmé had always been an advocate for finding a democratic solution to issues and the lack of peaceful communications between the Republic and the Separatists would severely limit the possibility of this ever happening.

"Well," Ahsoka reasoned. "Master Skywalker and I hold what we call aggressive negotiations all the time. It's a shame you can't hold more peaceful talks when you want."

"You just gave me an idea!" the senator said, her voice suddenly sounding more optimistic. She turned to face Ahsoka. "You're a Jedi. Which gives you special clearance."

"Right?" Ahsoka questioned, trying to see where Padmé was going with this.

"And Jedi are allowed to travel to neutral worlds like Mandalore…" she continued. "Where we could then board a cargo ship to a Separatist system!" Ahsoka was slightly amused at the senator's eagerness to break the rules. It reminded her of someone else she knew.

"Are you suggesting I use my status as a Jedi to smuggle you behind enemy lines?"

"It's just that, you could get us through to meet with her and… I haven't seen her or her family in so long." Ahsoka sensed Padmé was slightly nervous about following through with this; after all it wasn't everyday that a senator travelled to a world swarming with enemies with only a teenager, though a well-trained teenager at that, for protection. But she also sensed Padmé's determination. Ahsoka smiled.

"Relax, I'll help you! Besides," she said with a grin. "Master Skywalker said you should teach me about politics."

"Right," muttered Padmé as they prepared to leave.

"You know," Ahsoka said, still grinning. "You two have more in common than you think. It's no wonder you get along so well!"

"Uh, of course," replied the senator, a little hesitantly.

"So, where are we heading?" asked the young Jedi as Padmé prepared to leave.

"Raxus."

Ahsoka followed Padmé out and as they walked towards the transport's landing platform, she was unable to prevent herself from feeling a little apprehensive for her friend's safety. She would have to be on guard; the Separatist capital was no place for a Republic senator and a Jedi.

Here is the first proper chapter!

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