MINDSPRING- Sorry again for the long wait. This chapter was a stubborn one; I could not get past a part for several weeks.

Enjoy and review, please!

~Ahsoka~

"… so nothing much has happened, in all honesty." The blue image of Caitlin hovered delicately on the hologram table. Master Kenobi, Master, and I all stood around it as the Earth girl reeled off the happenings on her planet.

Master Obi-Wan rubbed his chin and looked at her thoughtfully. "I must say I'm impressed with your work. Sneaking into the Separatist command center was a very good idea. However, it might become a little too risky for you three to continue working there. If it does, pull out."

She frowned a little and said, "I appreciate the worry, Master. But I must disagree. So far, the centers have made no real advancement, and if they do, Maureen and I could easily pull them back. She works in the records department, and I am an assistant to one of their lesser leaders. We have access to all of their information."

I froze. I hadn't really been paying attention, but that last sentence snapped me right up. I looked over at my Master, and I could tell by his hopeful expression that we had reached the same thought.

He stepped forward into her view. As Master Kenobi turned towards him, her eyes followed. She gave a little smile and waited for him to speak.

"When you say all of the information… do you mean to include battle strategies and plans as well?"

Master Obi-Wan shook his head at him, yet I could barely see the same slightly hopeful expression on his. He hid his emotions well, better than Master, for sure. I knew we were getting into dangerous territory- if we allowed our feelings to take control instead of logic and reason, than we would be setting ourselves up for failure. And we couldn't afford that at this time in the war. The Jedi were getting worn down, the troops were getting killed off in massive numbers, dying more quickly than the cloners could produce new ones. Plus, the Separatists never seemed to have a lack of anything- supplies or armies.

I crossed my arms and waited for Caitlin's response. She bit her lip and said quietly, "Probably… I don't know exactly where those would be stored. But I'll check."

Master Obi-Wan spoke up before Master could get in another word. "Thank you, Caitlin, but that won't be necessary. It's much too dangerous, and if they caught you…" He let his sentence hang in the air, the silence emphasizing his statement.

Caitlin nodded, and said, "Alright, but I really don't mind. If that is what it takes to win my home back- and, uh, win the war- then I'll do it without a second thought."

While Master glared at Obi-Wan, the latter bowed his head and thanked Caitlin, and then shut the holoprojector off. Anakin said angrily, "Why won't you let her check?"

"Anakin, it is much too dangerous, as I said before. She is not a soldier, she's barely even a legal citizen on her planet! We can't put someone that young on the front lines."

"It's not the front lines if they're fighting with words and holoprojectors."

"I disagree. Since the whole planet is under the spell of the Separatists right now, anything out of the ordinary- be it fought with blasters or words, is hazardous. We must let subtlety fight for them, not bold attacks."

I watched them as they bickered their way out of the Command Deck. I sighed, not really wanting to follow. I was exhausted, and I was in no mood for any of their arguments. Instead, I turned around and walked into the hallway, to go back to my room.

I had just laid down on the bed and closed my eyes when my communicator started beeping. I groaned loudly, and brought it up to my mouth. "What?" I said, as irritably as I could possibly manage.

It was Skyguy. "Meeting, Command Deck. Now."

I groaned again and heaved myself off of the bed. As I entered the deck, I saw it was a rather large meeting- between Chancellor Palpatine, Masters Yoda and Windu, and various Senators (including, I noticed with an uncomfortable twinge in my gut, Senator Amidala).

"… I still can't believe one billion life forms could have existed there without our knowledge!" Palpatine was saying. "In fact, I'm not even sure if I believe it now." I slid into the back, next to my Master. He glanced at me, sighed, and then went back to the conversation.

Master Windu said, "I agree with you. It is very unlikely that a system that populated could have gone unnoticed for so long."

Anakin said, somewhat irritably, "I know it sounds impossible, but it's true. I think something was, and still is, trying to make sure we don't know about it. But now that the Separatists are there, that armor is cracking."

Chancellor Palpatine said quietly, "That is probably true, but if I have a hard time believing it, then I know the Senate will dismiss it as a myth immediately. Nothing in my power can change that, and if the Separatists are truly there, that could bode ill for the people if we take no action."

Master Kenobi said, "Then what do you suggest we do, Chancellor?"

He rubbed his chin and said, "Bring them here, for interrogation. It seems like the systems you were assigned to have been quiet, and will be safe for a bit longer. I will need to ask them questions about their system and planet before we introduce the problem to the Senate. Now, begging your pardon, I must go now."

Everyone bowed as his image shut off.

Senator Amidala spoke up at once, "It would not be safe to get them."

"I agree." Master Windu nodded and crossed his arms. "The Separatists would notice at once if one of our ships landed, and even if they didn't, they would notice the sudden disappearance of three of their citizens."

"Alright, so what shall we do? Disobey the Chancellor, or risk the death of three young civilians?" Master Kenobi said thoughtfully, stroking his beard like he usually does.

It was silent on the deck as everyone thought about the dire situation. Both options were terrible to consider. It was just a matter of deciding which was less so. I, for one, thought the Chancellor could wait a few months until this whole 'new system and new planet' thing blew over. But, of course, no one would ask the Padawan. Especially not Anakin Skywalker's Padawan.

Master Yoda spoke, the first time for the meeting, "Too dire, the situation is. Talk later, decide later, we must."

Senator Ta of Ryloth agreed, not saying anything else. I saw him reach out to a platter of food and take a small nibble. I wrinkled my nose in disgust, and listened as Senator Amidala said, "Although I fear both options will have terrible consequences, no matter what happens."

With that, the meeting was adjourned. One by one, the blue images flickered and disappeared. I turned to the Masters and said, "What do you think will happen?"

Master Kenobi said, with a hint of regret, "We might have to risk their lives to bring their world into our view. Otherwise, I fear many more will die."

I glanced down, thoughtful. One option was to disobey the Chancellor, which would lead to great unrest in the Senate. There would be debates whether or not the Jedi were trustworthy, and the Senators would split, leaving the Jedi Order caught in the middle.

But to risk the lives of three citizens, who were already doing us a great favor? They were risking enough as it is. If they died, the work and secrets they had gathered would die with them, and the planet would be lost.

I sighed and went back to my rooms in silence.