Chapter 50 - Back to the Start
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Author's Note: Aaaand... this is the last chapter! Next week, there'll be an epilogue and bonus chapter, and that's it! :D I want to thank everyone who has followed, favorited, or taken the time to comment. Your support has given me the inspiration and desire to continue posting and writing my/our fanfics. :)
~ Amina Gila
It is with nostalgia that Anakin looks at the Jedi Temple in the distance as they fly towards Padme's apartment. Part of him still can't believe that he was really expelled, never to set foot inside that building again. It was the only place he'd ever called home for half of his childhood. He won't deny that he misses it but being a hero and saving the galaxy doesn't come without costs. Maybe after everything is over, they can move to Naboo. He would be hard pressed to miss the Temple if he lived there.
He shakes himself out of his thoughts as they arrive on the landing platform. He can feel his wife's Force signature as she awaits them. Eagerness grips ahold of him as he walks down the ramp towards where Padme awaits them. For now, this apartment will be home.
"Angel," Anakin greets her as she throws her arms around him, completely ignoring their other guests. He pulls her close, holding her tightly. He'd missed her so much over the past many weeks. "I'm so glad to finally be home."
"You do look much better this time," she agrees, stepping back to peer up at him.
"I saved the galaxy," he reminds her with a crooked grin, leaning down to give her a quick kiss.
"Master!" squeaks Ahsoka, sounding appalled, "That was not necessary!"
Anakin rolls his eyes. "Just because you never got to be dramatic in the past, doesn't mean you can make up for it now," he reminds her.
She smirks, "I thought it was the job of a younger sister to annoy her older brother?"
Anakin resists the urge to groan. "You know what? Let's not get into this right now."
"Senator Amidala," Dooku murmurs, bowing to her respectfully, "It is a pleasure to meet you under better circumstances."
"We have much to discuss," Obi-Wan adds smoothly, "We should go inside."
**b**
"What are your plans for the future?" asks Padme after they're all seated in the living room. "The Senate is in an uproar over Sidious' death. I assume you have evidence?"
"We should have the complete video footage of everything which happened," Anakin replies, "Artoo should have it. I can have him download it onto a datacard for you later."
"We will finish bringing peace to the galaxy," Dooku tells her, "And then, we will work to help the people – those who need us most. I assume Skywalker will be going through his trials to officially obtain the title of Sith Lord."
"Yes," Anakin confirms, ignoring the unease at returning to Korriban. He doesn't want to see that planet ever again. "I will. That is a tradition which we should keep."
"I want to go through it too," Ahsoka announces.
Anakin and Dooku exchange a look at Ahsoka's words. "That is fine," the Count decides, "When we deem you ready, you can go."
"I know I haven't used the Dark Side like you have, but I am willing to go through it too," Obi-Wan informs them, "We need enough trained Sith Lords to expand our Order."
"You are planning to train more Sith?" Padme asks, surprised.
"Yes. The Jedi have lost their way," Anakin explains, "Shunning the Dark Side only breeds fear, and it prevents them from reaching their full potential. They will never have balance unless they embrace the Force in all of its forms."
"And what of the Council?" she pushes.
"We will have to tell them," Obi-Wan answers simply, "I expect we will be asked to meet with them tomorrow."
"What will we do after that?" Ahsoka wonders.
Anakin leans forward. "I actually have an idea," he replies, "If the war is over, the clones will no longer be fighting, but suppose we asked them to join us in crushing out slavery throughout the Republic? I would be more than happy to lead them."
Obi-Wan snorts, "Of course you would be. You never could sit still."
Anakin glares at him, unwilling to admit that very problem is what prompted him to find a solution. He's still to restless to settle down. The Clone Wars made him that way. "I'm not that bad, Master," he protests.
His brother mutters something which sounds suspiciously like, "Sure you're not."
Dooku looks torn between amusement and exasperation. "It is a good idea," he says instead, ignoring their bantering. "We can present ourselves as champions of freedom, something which will remove the negative connotation associated with Sith."
Padme looks between them thoughtfully. "I'll present the idea to the Senate. It will work. If you pick your own campaigns, at least you'll still be able to come home more often." The last sentence was directed specifically to Anakin. He feels a sense of guilt. He's always been gone, throughout most of their marriage. Maybe someday soon he can stay at home, but that day has yet to come.
"I'm going to contact the Council," Obi-Wan decides after a moment of silent, "Anakin, would you like to come with me?"
"No, but I will." Anakin rises, squeezing Padme's hand before following Obi-Wan to the next room. "After this is over, you should go visit Duchess Satine for a couple weeks," he comments casually, giving his brother a knowing smirk. "I'm sure she'll be happy to see you."
"Are you really setting me up with her?" Obi-Wan demands, aghast. His indignation is readily obvious through their bond.
Anakin laughs quietly. "I doubt you would do it otherwise," he smirks, nudging Obi-Wan good naturedly, "Now call the Council. I want to get it over with."
**b**
In truth, Anakin never thought he would be standing inside the Council chambers again, and certainly not with Obi-Wan, Dooku, and Ahsoka. He can admit to feeling resentment for what they did to him, even if it turned out to be beneficial. Their rejection of him still hurt.
"We are here with the understanding that you will let us go, regardless of whether or not you approve of our actions," Dooku states imperiously.
"And you will not try to keep us here against our will," Anakin adds darkly, intentionally drawing on the Dark Side and letting it bleed his eyes yellow. He looks at them defiantly.
"Really, Anakin," mumbles Obi-Wan, "That is not necessary." Anakin ignores him.
"Yes, we have agreed to those terms," Windu replies, gaze lingering on Anakin.
"Made a mistake we have," Yoda declares, ears twitching slightly. "Want to ask you back to the Order we do."
"Wait. You want us to rejoin the Order and become Jedi?" Anakin queries, incredulously.
"We are not Jedi," Dooku interjects before Anakin can say anything further. "We are Sith, and we intend to remain as such."
"We understand," Windu tells him, and now, he clearly sounds unhappy about whatever he's about to say. "The majority has ruled that perhaps we were wrong about avoiding the Dark Side. If you would be willing, the Council will accept a representative. We don't have to be enemies. We can work together." Anakin chokes back a laugh, blue eyes meeting Ahsoka's. Windu looks like he would much rather have drunk poison than spoken those words to them.
Dooku looks at Anakin questioningly. This is their Sith Order now. They all need to agree before making any decisions. Anakin looks at Obi-Wan, probing him over their bond before offering the Count a wordless nod. "We will accept the proposal on the condition that you do not infringe on our right to train others in the Dark Side if they so choose." Dooku's words are tinged with a cautious reservation.
"Glad to have you back, we are." Yoda means it. Anakin can sense his sincerity through the Force.
"Obi-Wan can be our representative," Anakin speaks up.
"What? I never agreed to that!" hisses Obi-Wan, throwing Anakin a look.
"Well, no," Anakin agrees, "But you're the best choice because you were already on the Council. I'm nowhere near ready to be a Council member. I'm not even a full Sith Lord yet, and Ahsoka is still – an apprentice."
"Point made. Yes, I am willing to serve on the Council as a representative of the Sith," Obi-Wan informs them. Surely the galaxy has turned upside down. The Jedi and Sith – two Orders which have fought each other for millenniums – have just formed a truce. Could things possibly get even stranger?
An unnamed tension seems to break, and the atmosphere around them becomes more pleasant. "By destroying Sidious, you have saved the galaxy. We owe you all a great debt." The warmth and gratitude in Plo's words can't be missed.
"We were only doing our duty," Anakin replies lightly.
"You were wronged, so it is only natural that you be aggrieved," Plo reminds him. "I hope you can forgive the Jedi for what was done."
"There is nothing to forgive." Anakin brushes it off. It's not Plo he was upset with. Nor Fisto, Yoda, or the others who were against his expulsion.
"Show me could you after this meeting the fight against Sidious?" asks Yoda with genuine curiosity and interest.
Anakin glances at Ahsoka and shrugs, "If that's what you want."
"Grown much you have," the Grandmaster notes. "Helped you greatly Dooku has."
How does he see all these things? "Yes, he did," Anakin agrees.
"You can wait outside," Windu interrupts, though not unkindly. "The Council has a few other matters to discuss."
"I would like to go to the library to view the information you have about the Sith," Dooku says before anyone can make a move to leave the room. No one objects, so they leave the Council chambers together, heading for the library.
"What are we looking for?" This is the first time Ahsoka has spoken since they went before the Council.
"Nothing in particular," the Count replies, an amused look on his face. "I was simply curious to know if the Jedi would refuse. Sidious managed to delete certain information from the archives, and it would be interesting to see how accurate it is."
"Since we have personal knowledge," Anakin adds dryly.
"Yes, we do," murmurs Obi-Wan, lips quirking into a smile.
Recent Updates:
The Rogue Jedi Chapter 8 - ""I think they're being tortured," Anakin whispers, suppressed fury in his voice.
I wince. I don't even want to think about it. "Seems like it," I reply. The anger rippling through me gives me the strength to keep moving as we move closer. Anger surges through me as we continue. I don't take kindly to anyone hurting those I care about.
Anakin motions to us to stop, as he moves the last couple feet, peering over the edge of the cliff. From what I can see, it must be around a fifty-foot drop. Whatever he seems must not be good, because I hear him mutter something in Huttese – probably curses – before saying, "I'll go down there. When the time is right, follow me."
He leans further when he suddenly goes rigid and stands up. Without sparing a glance at us, he leaps over the edge, igniting his lightsaber on the way down."
