(A/N) Sorry for the long gap between updates, and more action next chapter. School has been wild, and finally it's over, so I should be able to update more frequently, although I have a job starting on Sunday. Please R and R, let me know what you think!

Anakin stood in front of the council, where he had stood so many times with Obi-Wan, with Ahsoka; but now was alone. His Master's chair had a black armband across it, as was custom for the month after a member of the council joined the force. He was surprised they had observed it so readily, with everything that had happened.

"Received word, we have, of a Separatist invasion of Naboo." Yoda began; the council was mostly absent, its thinning numbers spread wide across the galaxy. "Lead this invasions, you will."

Anakin nodded his head, Obi-Wan's plan had worked then. He had gotten them to trust him, or at least, in his abilities. "I will protect Naboo at all costs, Master. I understand the great importance it holds for the Republic, being the home of the Chancellor and the greatest opponent of this war." That had been his only hesitation in joining Obi-Wan. It had been easy enough to turn his back on an Order that had long deserted him, but he worried that he was betraying her.

But she was having doubts; he could see them. She would a powerful leader in the new Senate, she would come around once he explained everything that had happened. He would keep her safe, he had made sure she wouldn't be on Naboo. "With the gravity of this mission, we wanted to give you the option of taking along another Jedi Knight. You will have command of both the 501st and what remains of Obi-Wan's old battalion to defend against the invasion force, but the choice is yours."

"I will go alone, Master Windu."

"Then your ship is ready." The older Jedi held his stare for a moment, as if contemplating something. "May the force be with you."

"And with you." And with a short bow, he left.

He went over the plan again in his head. He had discussed it with Obi-Wan in full detail; he would go to Naboo, but only with what remained of Obi-Wan's battalion. The 501st would stay here, hidden in the lower levels of Coruscant. Ina few days time, when it was clear the defense of Naboo, that would never actually take place, had failed, Dooku and Obi-Wan would arrive on Coruscant with a fresh parcel of droids. They, along with the others, would overtake the temple.

He had been stricken, when Obi-Wan had told him that.

"I thought your views of life hadn't changed Master."

"They haven't. All life is sacred, and valuable, Anakin. That is why the Jedi, who are prolonging a war that is devastating so many star systems, refusing to supply humanitarian aid, starving citizens they have sworn to protect; must be stopped. It is the way of the Jedi themselves, if one is to die so thousands may survive, then that life may be worth it. They cannot be allowed to continue this injustice in the name of false peace, Anakin." And, how could he argue with that?

To defeat the remaining masters, it would take Obi-Wan, Dooku, and Sidious working in tandem while Anakin returned from Naboo, under the disguise of the Jedi distress signal they would inevitably send out. He would clear the rest of the temple, and then, alongside his Master and Dooku, destroy Sidious before his empire had a chance to rise.

To Anakin, the plan was foolproof. To work in such harmony would take people who had worked together before, and there was no pair who could move in synchronization like he and Obi-Wan could. Still he worried, but walking through the halls of the temple, unacknowledged by others, people he had given his arm, his master, his apprentice, his life; to protect them, and they did not care. They never had.

Not even Adi Gallia, who he gave a faint smile that was only returned by a hard stare. He cleared the hangar in moments, happy to be out of that place for what he knew would be one of the last times.

"Thank you for letting us use your ship, darling. It would be far too risky to go in one of Dooku's." His knuckles ran absentmindedly along her bare spine, and she let out long breaths, laced with sleep suggestion, into his shoulder. "And the last thing I want to do is get shot out of the atmosphere."

"No," She said sleepily, kissing his skin, "That's the last thing I want to happen." He laughed, draping that arm around her, picking up his datapad from the nightstand, moving through the military updates he had been receiving. He and Dooku were on Satine's ship, along with the Duchess herself, who would be returning to Mandalore. Dooku had ordered the invasion of Naboo, which was in motion. His apprentice was leading the Jedi forces, his old battalion actually.

He could feel his master calling for him, Dooku was wondering the ship now, and while he had given Obi-Wan his privacy for a time, he should have known it wouldn't last. Satine was asleep now, but he gently rolled her off of his body and stood to dress himself. He was loathe to leave, especially since the air was cold. Dooku did not understand this, having made no romantic attachments in his long life. He didn't understand desire as Obi-Wan now did, and he couldn't help but think that his new master was jealous that he was able to indulge in all aspects of this relationship.

With the force, he turned the lamp off, and moved to the hall. Dooku was easy enough to find, sitting at the large dining table, with a projection hovering of the temple. "I would think the two of us might manage getting around the temple, Master, having spent a fair bit of time there." But Dooku was in no mood for humor.

"We are not planning our entry; that is already set. We are seeing which areas we will need to attend to, where the Knights and masters are most densely concentrated." HE never moved his eyes form the table. "I will go to where Windu will be. You should go to the Council Chambers. They will not expect you there."

"First, master, we have to wait on Anakin's signal. It could be days."

"It will be days, but there is no reason not to plan. We must be hypervigilant if this is to work. The plan is everything. There are no second chances, and no mistakes."

"There won't be any." Obi-Wan said coolly. He was growing tired quickly of Dooku's negativity. "Sidious will eliminate Yoda, the rest we will be able to handle easily. Surprise is our great weapon. They expect nothing."

"They may expect more than you think. I doubt your apprentice's ability to keep this as secretive as is necessary." Dooku finally looked up at him, his gaze cold. "There are no second chances here, if we do not eliminate both the order and Lord Sidious, we will be killed and the galaxy will fall."

"I understand that, Master." He nodded solemnly, "Anakin will not fail me. He never has."

But Obi-Wan had to wonder, moving past Dooku to the small kitchen area, if his faith was as strong as he wanted to believe. But now was not the time for doubts. There were whole star systems at stake. Now was the time for action.