This is my Christmas present to everyone today and if you celebrated Christmas yesterday then apologies, Merry Christmas.

The broadcast came to them through the grapevine rather than anything else, surprising Obi Wan at just how unprepared they seemed to be. After all, if it wasn't for his own padawan constantly sticking his business where it didn't belong then they wouldn't have known that there was a potential threat against them.

Well, Ezra Bridger but Obi Wan liked to believe the kid belonged to them. After all, he was much like his own padawan- young and rebellious and having grown up outside temple walls. Unlike Anakin, though, Ezra had been fortunate enough to not have grown up a slave.

He did grow up on the streets, which seemed almost as bad.

They didn't even take him in until he interrupted one of Obi Wan and Anakin's supply run, stealing what they had been sent to collect. Anakin had snarled in frustration, especially when the kid proved to be a lot quicker and slipperier than them and he could only hide a smirk behind his hand as he watched his former padawan rant and rave about being beaten by a kid.

A gifted kid, but kid nevertheless.

Sometimes Obi Wan wondered if some of his frustrations had anything to do with Ezra's age as his own two children were about the same age as him.

They probably would've lost Ezra too, somewhere amongst all the bustling streets of Lothal, if not for Ahsoka who had gladly stepped in with a smug look on her features. Anakin had grumbled something under his breath as he herded the kid back on their ship so he could, undoubtedly, get him in trouble with the council.

It just hadn't worked out that way, considering how strong Ezra was with the force. When pressed on why he hadn't come to them sooner, he simply told them his parents had passed not too long ago. Later Obi Wan would realize that there was more to it than that but found it wasn't his place to pry.

The council had given the youth to Kanan, figuring the two could relate over the fact that they had both just lost someone very special to them and that neither seemed all that fond with company. They seemed to have grown on each other, if the constant teasing was any indication.

They reminded Obi Wan of him most of the time he gets a rare glimpse, and he's proud at how strong their bond seemed to have developed- especially considering how much they butted heads in the beginning.

That was possibly the reason it was disturbing to see the boy's face floating around on the holonet.

"Does the master know?" someone- Windu, probably- asked and his voice was thin with stress as they all seemed to stare in shock.

It was obvious that they were never meant to lie eyes on such a large bounty placed on one of their own children, but they had. And Obi Wan made a mental note to ask Anakin how exactly he managed to cross this tidbit of information himself.

Then again, Anakin was the only one of them that had become a true father and the hard way his face was set tipped Obi Wan that this hadn't been done to his knowledge. If anything, it was a personal blow- Ezra the same age as his own younglings.

But who would want a child anyways? Especially one still so young and hadn't grown up inside the temple?

The whole situation left a bitter taste in the master's mouth as he continued to stroke his greying beard in thought.

"No," Anakin spoke up in answer of Windu's question as he stepped forward and press the side of the hologram; the image of Ezra's smiling face disappeared as Anakin added, "I thought it best to come directly to the council."

"And right you were," Yoda reassured, bright eyes clouded in concern and thought as he seemed to attempt piecing what it all meant together.

Obi Wan hoped the master was having better luck then him.

"Someone should," Ahsoka spoke up, an otherwise silent figure to these meetings as she locked gazes with everyone in the room bravely, "He deserves to know. They both do."

"No."

The voice stunned them all, causing them to blink in shock as they turned to face their Chancellor still sitting in his chair unmoving. The older masters- mostly Obi Wan, Yoda, and Windu- bowed their heads in acknowledgement, willing to bow down without much argument.

Anakin was not so silent, which Obi Wan supposed had something to do with how close the two seemed to be.

"How can you say that?" he demanded, face relaying only fury and Obi Wan imagined he was seeing some of his own son in Ezra; it wasn't some random padawan being targeted but rather something personal.

"You're allowing your personal judgement cloud your thoughts again," Chancellor Palpatine replied without flinching; it was almost unnerving by how still he was being. Almost like a statue.

"Which was something you always encouraged from me," Anakin reminded, hands curled tightly at his sides as he added almost furiously, "You used to tell me how they set me apart from everyone else."

"That was before you bore children," Chancellor Palpatine snarled, losing some of his own temper as he locked eyes with Anakin and his face seemed to twist in fury before he managed to regain control.

Obi Wan wished he could say he was surprised but knew he couldn't; he's been around Anakin long enough to know that the younger male was capable of pushing buttons one wasn't even aware that they had.

For Chancellor Palpatine, that meant having kids which was forbidden no matter how one looked at it. The only issue with that was that Anakin didn't care. He loved Padamẽ and he adored Luke and Leia; the council wasn't even a close second, save for himself and Ahsoka.

This wasn't about Anakin, though. Nor was it about either of his children but Obi Wan still felt uncomfortable with the whole thing and the unconcerned way Chancellor Palpatine seemed to be handling it wasn't helping much.

"People please," Ahsoka protested, seemingly thinking the same thing he was as she stepped forward so she was standing beside Anakin- a calm presence matched with his furious. Balanced together almost perfectly, just like Obi Wan had once been with Anakin.

All eyes turned to the aged female Jedi, tall and proud with two lightsabers strapped to her waist as she stared back unrelentingly as she replied in a deceptively calm tone, "This isn't about our own petty issues. This is about one of our own being threatened, especially considering a bounty that high being placed on his head."

"One would be a fool to try and break inside the temple and break the peace," Chancellor Palpatine replied in a calm tone though his eyes were burning; Obi Wan had always suspected that he hadn't like the female very much, now he was almost certain.

"With a bounty that high I'm not sure they'll care," Obi Wan spoke up and out from the corner of his eye he saw Ahsoka flash him a relieved grin, "and may I remind you that it wouldn't be the first time."

And last time they had actually managed to succeed, though they were able to eventually track Bane down.

Chancellor Palpatine still seemed unmoved, turning so he was no longer staring at them and Obi Wan knew that nothing they said would faze the man.

How stubborn.

Story of Obi Wan's life, apparently.

"I'll alert the Honor Guard," Ahsoka decided then, turning on her heel to take action and do something more productive then just stand around and argue while Ezra's bounty was still being podcasted across the galaxy.

"You shall do no such thing you inept girl," Palpatine finally snapped, losing all pretenses of calm as his attention snapped back on her face furious.

Ahsoka tensed in shock, never really insulted by anyone before but, to her credit, her face remained calm. Anakin, on the other hand, was not.

Obi Wan felt something like dread fill him as he came to the conclusion that they might have an all-out fight. And they were supposed to be the responsible ones, leaders of the Jedi Order but seemed to react more like children.

"I think we should listen to the Senator," Windu finally spoke up and though he had never seemed all that fond of the man he still respected him and his decisions, "As long as the boy remains close there's no reason to cause concern."

"The boy deserves to know," Ahsoka protested and for a split second Obi Wan saw that little girl from all those years ago.

They're fond memories, he must admit, but knew it was exactly that that frequently got her into trouble. She, much like her master, had a bad habit of allowing her emotions to be her guide.

"And worry him unnecessarily?" Windu challenged, dark eyes flickering up to Obi Wan for support as he continued, "He already hates the temple and in telling him we'd practically hand him an excuse to run and hide. It's in his nature, after all."

Ahsoka stiffened, blue eyes conflicted as she whispered in a hoarse tone, "That's a low blow and you know it."

"Low perhaps," Obi Wan interrupted hand stroking his beard as he added, "but true. He doesn't like it here and if we tell him now then he'll just feel threatened and try to escape."

"So what do you suggest then master?" Ahsoka asked though she was much calmer than before, and it didn't escape his notice that even Anakin seemed less tense.

No wonder the council usually vied for Obi Wan's support, Anakin and Ahsoka usually followed close behind. He supposed it had to do with his age and the fact that he had worked so closely with them, though he's also noticed they hardly ever argue with Yoda- he just chose to remain silent through most if not all of the bickering, waiting to give his opinion at the very end.

Maybe Obi Wan's life would be easier if he followed that example.

They'd probably never get anything accomplished then though.

"We should alert the other chancellors," Obi Wan decided in careful thought, "that there's been a breach and someone seems to be targeting the order directly."

Which was a problem, they just weren't sure how big yet.

After all, plenty of people hated them and wished to see the republic overthrown though what happened afterwards couldn't be pretty. And, as much as it pained Obi Wan to admit it- even to himself- Ezra was only one padawan and they couldn't risk everything for just one.

"I agree," Windu nodded as his dark gaze narrowed, "and of the boy's master?"

"Inform we shall not," Yoda decided and though his voice was even his eyes seemed uncertain, "Obi Wan is right."

Obi Wan blinked, the words affecting him more than it probably should. After all, Yoda hadn't been his master but after his master's passing he would constantly look towards Yoda on how he should act. On how he should teach a padawan of his own.

From the corner of his eye, he saw Ahsoka bow in understanding. Anakin hadn't moved, was just staring at Obi Wan with a cryptic look.

"Then if we've all reached agreement this meeting is over," Chancellor Palpatine decided as he rose from his chair, robes carding onto the floor in a display of simple colors and design.

They bowed their heads as he passed before filing out after him.

A hand caught Obi Wan's elbow, jerking him to stop. Obi Wan blinked in surprise, turning to see Anakin staring back at him with an intense look. If he hadn't known any better than he'd claim it was a look of betrayal, which he supposed was fortunate that he knew better.

"How can you just not tell the boy of the bounty?" his former padawan demanded instantly, voice low with anger collected somewhere in the words.

The emotion didn't faze Obi Wan as he replied calm enough, "You heard the Chancellor-"

"Yeah. I heard the Chancellor," Anakin agreed cutting the older male off as he turned a furious look towards the side before locking gazes with him once more and added, "I also heard you. Obi Wan, you know this is the poorest course of action."

"No Anakin," Obi Wan protested with a small regretful sigh, "The poorest course of action would have been to cause a commotion over something like this. We're not even sure how serious the situation is yet, and if we alert the whole temple then we put more lives at risk-"

"You saw the bounty. I think we all know how serious this is," Anakin snapped, voice nearly furious now as he ground the backs of his teeth together in barely contained fury.

They needed to work on that, too much emotion a very negative thing for the Jedi. Killing some while pushing others to the dark side, and that would be bad all things considered. Lucky for them, Anakin was mostly preoccupied with his family to fall to the dark side of the force.

"Yes indeed. The number is concerning," Obi Wan agreed as the seed of dread re-sprouted in his stomach though he knew there was nothing they could do about it.

Like it or not, the Chancellor's word was usually final.

"So you agree with me. We need to alert the boy and his master immediately so we can-" Anakin babbled already turning to start down the hall.

Obi Wan caught his arm, jerking him to a stop as he interrupted the younger male's tirade, "What Anakin? Disobey the order and Chancellor? You of all people should know better than that."

Anakin gawked at him though a flicker of recognition flashed through his eyes. Hope in getting the seriousness of it all through the male's thick skull.

"We can't do nothing," he protested still and Obi Wan gave a soft sigh as he bowed his head.

"I know but there's not much we can do either. Except protect the temple from intruders and trust in the force," Obi Wan replied evenly as he kept his gaze locked onto Anakin. He'd force the message across if need be.

Anakin's usual recklessness would do more hindrance then assistance at the moment.

Not to mention how personal he seemed to have taken it.

"Does this have anything to do with your own connection to the situation?" Obi Wan asked leaning back to regard his former padawan with a raised eyebrow and crossed arms.

Anakin sputtered, face flushing but he didn't deny it. Which meant Obi Wan was correct on his earlier assumption and this had as much to do with his own children as it did with Ezra, despite the fact that Ezra seemed to be the only one targeted.

If there's one though, then there's bound to be others.

"I'm sorry master," Anakin apologized despite the fact that Obi Wan was technically no longer his master, not that he'd correct him.

"It's alright. I think it'd be best if you lay low for a while, spend some time with your family," Obi Wan decided as a soft look crossed his features as he thought of the small family, so happy and loving. Anakin, he supposed, was a lucky man to have been able to keep a hold of his happiness so tightly.

"You're right," Anakin agreed with another smile before he flashed Obi Wan a smile and added, "as always."

Obi Wan just nodded, watching as Anakin started down the hall. He didn't even turn around to address the small figure now standing behind him.

"What do you figure from the whole thing?" he inquired feeling Yoda's presence as it seemed to encompass everything around him.

"I think," Yoda responded as his crane clicked against the ground as the older master came to stand beside him, "troubling times entering, we are."

Obi Wan couldn't have said it better himself.

[ STARWARS ]

Hera arrived at the temple knowing she hadn't been the first though from what she could make out there wasn't any signs of others. She knew, though, living most of her life picking off the smallest subconscious things and she didn't have to consciously aware.

Tipping her ship, she moved past the temple and parked it as close as she could without drawing unwanted attention.

"Stay here," she commanded Chopper as she moved past him, fingering the gun attached to her waist more as routine than anything else.

Always check to make sure you have your weapon, I don't care how skilled you think you. Your weapon is your best friend and before you start anything, ensure yourself that you have your friend accompanying you.

Words of her old training echoed in her head, rattling her ears and making her teeth grind.

Those years she spent training as a bounty hunter were some of the worst of life, which was largely why she left at the first opportunity. They have saved her and Chopper's life on more than one occasion, though, so she supposed she couldn't complain that much.

She still looked back on those years with nothing but disdain and nothing short of the end could ever convince her to go back.

Moving her hand away from her weapon, she draped a heavy woolen cloak over narrow shoulders and hiding her feminine features. It'd do her no good to have someone recognize her species and demand for her to put on a little show for them, which would probably end them in the medcenter if they're lucky.

Once she was appeased with her disguise, she pulled the heavy hood over her face and exited the ship and out into the bustling streets.

Almost instantly she was struck with the strong potent smells that seemed to almost counteract each other, making her skin crawl and nose burn.

Moving as swift as she could without drawing much attention, she blend casually into the street as she moved past all the vendors selling their merchandise. She ignored them for the most part, eyes set on the large temple in front of her.

No one bugged her, at least and she reached the temple in record time.

It wasn't really feasible for her to just stroll in the front doors like an old Jedi friend so when she reached the temple entrance she took a left and walked around the perimeter trying to appear like a commoner and not a bounty hunter. Rather or not she succeed she could never be certain but she wasn't suddenly called out or arrested.

Of course she wasn't.

She hadn't done anything illegal yet.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the ground shaking under her boots. Instantly, her eyes went up to the temple where a large explosion seemed to rock the whole building.

So much for incognito, she thought bitterly as she sprinted towards the sound.

Nothing had stirred and realization struck her suddenly causing her to backpedal and sprint back towards the entrance. Someone called after her, commanding for her to stop, but she ignored them as she reached the front doors.

Still nothing.

A hand caught her shoulder, spinning her around and forcing her attention to jerk to a much taller older male she's never seen before. Then again, she didn't really make it her business to know Jedi's name or faces.

And he was a Jedi, the lightsaber strapped to his side testimony to that.

"Who are you?" he demanded, dark skin pulled back in an angry expression.

His dark hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail and the plain clothes Jedi wore hung from his muscular frame almost casually. Like he wasn't aware that he was strong so he didn't put any effort to conceal or show it off.

It was interesting and if she had the time she probably would've stopped to hold a conversation with him.

Unfortunately for him, she wasn't really there to make chitchat. She wasn't even attempting to do anything slightly legal, which meant she needed to get as far from him as she could without drawing any more attention to herself.

"I'm sorry," she bawled as convincingly as she could, bending over and pressing gloved hands against her face, "I just saw the explosion. I was making sure no one was injured."

The Jedi blinked, hand still outstretched as his face twisted unsurely. He hadn't made any move to leave and she felt her fraction of an opening closing on her.

"I'm sorry," she continued shuffling backwards, careful of the bottom of her cloak and for the slightest of moments she thought she had gotten away.

Then everything literally blew up in their faces.

Voices called out, loud and demanding attention and they both turned to the sound. Hera felt her stomach plummet when she realized that she had been beaten, which was not okay.

A ship was hovering above the ground several feet away, silent and undoubtedly expensive. It was also painted in an obvious faux layer of what the Jedi's ships resembled concealing whatever bounty hunter mark it bore.

"What in the world?" the Jedi demanded, voice confused and Hera took advantage of his momentary lack of attention to strike him across the back of his skull with her gun.

He toppled over to his hands and knees, groaning softly in the back of his throat but he didn't appear to have fallen unconscious. Bummer but she didn't have any more time to spare with him as she started forward in a mad sprint.

The hood of her cloak tipped back, revealing her stark green features as she raised her gun to fire at the bounty hunter's getaway.

Someone fired back, causing her to sidestep awkwardly in a dodge. She cursed as she was forced to take cover, whoever was shooting at her not giving her a chance to retaliate.

The Jedi seemed to have recovered enough to realize something was amiss and that he had nearly been played as he rose shakily to his feet. Curiously enough, his hand hadn't gone to his weapon yet as he ducked behind cover of his own. Hera could make out his outline from where she was hiding, gun clutched to her chest as she patiently awaited her opportunity.

He seemed concerned about something, though she wasn't sure what.

"Kanan!" someone shouted from inside the temple and the man jerked, tensing but Hera ignored him as she tilted her weight to the side to catch a glimpse of the newcomer.

This time she recognized the youth, smaller than she imagined but his features she knew. She also knew that she was losing her chance.

At the boy's side was another small figure, feminine and thin and dressed head to toe in thick black armor. It was unlike anything she's ever seen in all her years of scouring the galaxy and she idly wondered just how far the boy's bounty extended.

Probably to every dark corner out there.

"Ezra," the Jedi- Kanan- gasped and she had all but forgotten him, which turned to be a mistake as the next moment he was leaping out from his cover and sprinting towards the boy and woman.

Hera realized she was about to lose her bounty and possibly get caught somewhere in the middle.

Spinning on her heel, she fired several skilled precise shots at the getaway ship. They didn't appear to do much and she cursed, turning her focus to the woman and decided that potentially harming Ezra would be better than losing him altogether.

She narrowed her weapon on the two of them, focusing her shot when someone grabbed her wrist and twisted it back to near painful. She cried out in shock, fingers going limp as the weapon clattered uselessly to the ground.

"Kanan!" the boy called as Hera careened back in the grip, catching sight of the Jedi as the boy added in an almost desperate tone, "Kanan, they have-"

The woman in black armor smacked the back of his neck, killing whatever he was about to say. Blue eyes rolled to the backs of his skull as he collapsed boneless; a thin arm caught the scruff of his collar, hauling the deadweight with her.

"A little assistance would be appreciated," she snarled, voice garbled slightly from inside her helmet and Kanan's hand disappeared from her wrist as he charged them, igniting his weapon.

That's when Hera realized that the Jedi was the boy's mentor, which meant trouble for the bounty hunter. After all, only very few have crossed the path of a lightsaber and come out alive much less unscathed. It was one of those reasons she avoided confrontations like these.

From the corners of her vision, she caught a glimpse of another dark figure leap from the ship about the same time the woman dropped Ezra's unconscious form to the ground. Her other hand went up in a protective gesture, something hissing as a blue struck against red.

Hera blinked in surprise.

These weren't bounty hunters; these were Jedi, or whatever was equivalent to evil Jedi that kidnapped young padawans from the temple and if she would harbor a guess it wasn't for the bounty.

Kanan seemed surprised, at least, and the woman used the chance to push out with her hand. The Jedi's body went flying backwards, connecting solidly against the crates Hera was using for cover. Behind the woman the broader figure dressed much like her had already swooped Ezra's limp form over his shoulder and started back towards the ship; the woman not far behind.

"No!" Kanan cried as Hera picked up her weapon and fired at them.

Her shots were easily deflected and Hera cursed herself for getting stuck in the middle of such a brawl, mind drifting to who the boy must be to cause this much of a ruckus.

Kanan leapt to his feet, lightsaber ignited back at his side as he sprinted towards the two dark clad figures and his padawan. Hera ground the backs of her teeth in frustration as she ceased shooting.

"Idiot is going to get himself killed," she hissed under her breath as she watched the woman block another blow before rearing back and kicking his side, sending him sprawling several feet.

The blow seemed to have dazed him enough for her to retreat in the back of the ship, cargo hold folding close as it rocked and ascended up in the air. Kanan shook his head, teal eyes wide as he scrambled to his feet.

"Wait!" Hera called not sure what he was going to do but knew that it was probably dumb.

He didn't listen. The words not even fazing him.

In a single bound, he leapt higher than she's ever had hope of jumping, and landed on the wing of the ship. He rose his lightsaber above his head and Hera could only watch in stunned silence as he attempted killing everyone on board the ship.

It jerked to the side, knocking him off-balance, and he tumbled off from the wing and started spiraling towards the ground. He still didn't seem overly concerned, flipping almost effortlessly so he could land on his feet. When he touched surface, he rolled like he was an expert at falling from high places.

Who knew, maybe he was.

It still wasn't her place to ask and it definitely wasn't her place to linger any longer than she already had.

Turning quickly, while the Jedi was still distracted by his tumble, she went to make her silent escape. It just wasn't meant to be, apparently, as a hand caught her arm and jerked her back around before a foot pinned her against the crates she had used as cover.

Blinking up, she saw an angry Togruta Jedi glaring down at her. Sharp blue eyes were narrowed in the center of sharp features and Hera realized she had been caught, allowing her body to go limp as she glared silently back.

She might have been busted but that didn't mean she had to like it.

"Kanan!" someone, who Hera couldn't see from the spot she was currently being pinned to, called and Hera figured the Jedi must've clambered to his feet by now.

"I'm fine," he replied though he sounded the opposite of fine.

His voice was thin and worn, which was understandable considering he had just watched as his padawan was taken and she fought a smirk as she realized she had distracted him long enough that they were able to grab the kid without much interference.

That meant most of this was her fault.

"Ezra?" the woman Jedi pinning Hera asked, blue eyes leaving Hera's furious glare to rest hopefully somewhere behind her.

"They took him," Kanan responded and Hera imagined the man shake his head regretfully, blaming himself, when he asked as if suddenly remembering something, "There was another woman. She-"

"I've got her," the Togruta reassured as she bent over to wrench Hera to her feet, and this time Hera didn't bother struggling.

It wasn't like she could have gotten very far if she had and she certainly had more self-preservation than that.

She was forced around, arms twisted behind her so they could clasp her wrists together and giving her perfect view of the Jedi who had lost his Padawan. To her surprise, he wasn't glaring at her. He just seemed to be giving her an odd look, nearly hopeful.

It was almost like he thought she could help him retrieve what he had lost.

Hera kept her expression schooled, not willing to give anything away as she was spun around. A hand shoved at her back, in between her shoulder blades and she took the hint and started walking towards the hole now blown in the side of the temple.

"Don't worry, we'll get Ezra back," Hera heard the Togruta reassure from behind though Hera wasn't nearly as confident.

After all, it was clear that Ezra's captors had been more than capable of breaking in the temple and doing it stealthily. They were both Jedi, or were capable of passing as some. More so than Hera ever had a chance of doing, yet they chose to make a scene and accompany that to the fact that the bounty had all but been podcasted across the galaxy and the high bounty suddenly made much more sense.

It was never meant to be cashed in by someone like her. Rather attract the slowly growing desperate into making a move they normally wouldn't have done. None of which was a coincidence but rather the first move in a new war.

And she had managed to wedge herself firmly in the middle.

Next time:

"There's been an attack. Ezra's been taken." ...

... "The kid? What would anybody possibly want with him?" ...

... "I'm not sure." ...

...

"We shall not risk so much for a single boy."

...

"No. Sith do this they did not. Something else. Something dark."