Chapter Three

Jedi Temple, Coruscant

Anakin and Ahsoka entered the Council meeting less an hour after the attack on the Senator's life. They were the last to arrive as every Master Jedi was in attendance, either physically or via holocron, for the second emergency meeting in as many days.

Ahsoka still felt numb in some parts of her body, and was looking forward to disappearing in the back of the room while the Master Jedi discussed the afternoon's events, but this wasn't the case. Once she and Anakin walked in, the room turned its focus exclusively to them.

"Skywalker, what happened out there!?" Master Windu asked urgently.

"Pad-, Senator Amidala began her speech as scheduled; it didn't take long for things to go down hill from there – a sniper located on an nearby rooftop fired one shot towards the Senator… but she was apparently not the target, as the blaster fire caught the a man who we believe to be the true assassin on his perch on one of the upper stories of the town hall building."

"He was inside the town hall? How did he get passed your security?"

Anakin dropped his head in defeat, "I…don't know, Master."

"What of the person who actually fired the blaster; are we sure we have the right guy?"

"The assassin we currently have in custody is a known bounty hunter; he's completed contracts in the past from many of the Senator's enemies. As far as the person who took the shot…" He looked to Ahsoka, who hesitantly stepped into the middle of the circle.

"Padewan Tano, do you have information on the assailant?" Master Windu asked.

"I do, Master. I was on patrol near the building from which he shot from; I noticed the door was slightly ajar and decided to investigate. When inside, I found several soldiers incapacitated and the communications surrounding the building were being jammed. I cleared the inside of the building and made my way to he roof, which is where I found him."

"Him?"

"The vigilante we've been looking for." She explained.

"And you couldn't call for help because your commlink was being jammed, correct?"

She nodded.

"Ahsoka, how close did you get to him."

"Well, I attempted to arrest him, which obviously didn't work out. Instead, he ignited his lightsaber and we dueled for a while, until he used my eagerness against me, goading me into a foolish move and stunning me with his blaster. Then he made his shot and disappeared."

The room sat in silence for a long moment before Obi-Wan asked, "Ahsoka, did the vigilante say anything to you during your duel?"

"He did, but he was very succinct. He told me to focus on my training, to sense whether he was actually trying to kill the Senator… I thought that it was a trick, but was still unnerved that someone like him would know so much about the Jedi training."

The room exchanged inquisitive glances and it seemed that the only two who weren't in on it were Anakin and Ahsoka.

"Tell me, what did you sense from him?" Master Windu asked curiously.

"Emotion. Pain. Heartache… but I couldn't tell whether he was using the light side or the dark side of the force."

"Not so black and white, the force is, young padawan." Yoda interjected.

"That's what he said, almost verbatim."

Yoda nodded, "Mhmm, walks the fine line in-between the dark and light side of the force, our vigilante does."

"Ahsoka," Master Windu inquired, "You said you dueled…what color saber crystal did he use."

"Purple," She said, "Much like yours, Master."

Master Windu, who had been on the edge of his seat throughout the debriefing, fell back in his chair, taken aback by the news."

"A former apprentice of Master Windu, it seems you have met." Yoda explained.

"You mean…he was a Jedi?"

"Some time ago." Master Windu rejoined the conversation, "He was actually in the same class as your Master."

"Kal?" Anakin had finally pieced things together, "I thought he had died?"

"Lied to you, we did; at his request, it was."

"I found him just after the explosion and dragged him out of the factory before it collapsed. He had severe burns on one side of his body," Obi-Wan grimaced, as he recalled the painful day. "He was set to stand trial for disobeying the Council, but instead decided to leave the Order." He turned to Ahsoka, "You should be proud, he was an extremely skillful swordsman; one of our best."

"That he was." Master Windu said, staring at nothing in particular. "Let's move on." He said, eagerly, snapping the room back from its nostalgia.

"Travel to Onderon, Senator Amidala will; negotiate a peace treaty, she will try."

"With whom will she be negotiating with?" Obi-Wan asked, "Last time she spoke with the Separatists the Onderion Senator was killed."

"Mina Bonteri's son, Lux, has been appointed the new Senator of Onderon after you, Anakin, and Ahsoka helped them fight for their freedom from the Separatists. Lux is focused on achieving peace after so many years of fighting and the cold-blooded murder of his mother. He has agreed to host the summit and he's already put together a group of Separatist Senators, which he knew from years ago, that feels the same and will negotiate a treaty with Senator Amidala. If a treaty is drafted, both sides feel they will have enough support for it to pass. The Senator will be leaving at sunrise, accompanied by a Jedi escort."

Ahsoka perked up when hearing the name of her old friend, she had been looking forward to seeing him again since they last met, although things didn't end on a happy note what with the death of his…romantic interest.

"We'll get prepared." Anakin said, zealously, assuming he and Ahsoka would be the Jedi escort.

"Hold it, Skywalker. As of right now there is still a war that needs to be fought. We cannot let the prospect of peace relax us on the battlefield. You and Master Kenobi will be travelling to Geonosis, yet again, as there is another battle looming on the planet. Your padawan will be escorting the Senator." He turned to Ahsoka, "You should go get yourself prepared, and may the force be with you."

Ahsoka nodded and exited the room.

"With all due respect to you and my padawan, Master, if Kal does show up again we may need more than just Ahsoka. You said it yourself, he's extremely skilled and who knows how much more powerful he's become since he's gone rogue!"

"All true." Master Windu agreed, "But our hands are tied, we need you on Geonosis."

"But-!"

"Is there no one else we can send along with her?" Obi-Wan stepped in before his friend dug himself a deeper hole. "I have to agree with Anakin; we should assume that he's become much more powerful with age and experience. He could fall to the dark side at any moment – this entire idea seems a bit reckless."

"Your argument is noted, but it will not change the Council's decision. Dismissed."

Anakin and Obi-Wan exited the room, slightly dejected; Obi-Wan could tell that his former apprentice was particularly tense.

"I know you're good friends with the Senator, Anakin. But have faith in Ahsoka, she's becoming more powerful than I ever would have expected – you trained her well, old friend."

Anakin could tell what Obi-Wan was doing and it was much appreciated. They'd spent so much time together the past decade that he considered Obi-Wan a brother, his closest family – besides Padme, of course. It pained him to keep such a lie from his brother, but it was necessary.

"Thank you, Master; you're right – if he wanted to harm Padme, he would've shot that blaster at her rather than her would-be assassin."

"Precisely. Come now, we must rest for the night, I'll see you in the morning."

While Anakin wanted more than anything to be by his wife's side at a time like this, there are two people he would choose to step in should he not be able to: the first being Obi-Wan, and the second, Ahsoka.