Anakin stared out the viewport as the endless streaks of light went by. A sight that Anakin had never seen up until three years yet was now entirely commonplace.

It was odd, Anakin thought. He had spent much of his life building and improving podracers. Trying to go as fast as it was possible to go. But the speeds he achieved back then didn't even begin to compare to how fast he was now traveling. And yet, it didn't feel fast. Once in hyperspace, everything was calm and peaceful, not at all like the adrenaline filled chaos of the podraces and dogfights that moved at only an insignificant fraction of the speed. Once you broke that lightspeed barrier, all the rules that Anakin was so familiar with just ceased to exist it would seem.

It was late, the clones' celebrations long since ended, but Anakin didn't think he could find sleep tonight, not when he would be home so soon.

Home. Wasn't that a funny thought. When had Coruscant become home? But really it was home just because Padme was there, just like Tatooine had been home because his mother had been there. It wasn't as if he'd ever really cared for either planet.

Anakin sensed someone approaching. "Hey Rex," he said, turning to face the Captain.

"General," Rex said with a smile and a nod.

"Not for much longer," Anakin said with a chuckle. "You can just call me Anakin, you know."

Rex shrugged. "I know, but I think I'll stick with General."

Anakin nodded and they stood in silence for a moment, both just looking out the viewport.

After a while, Rex spoke. "It's crazy, you know. For the first time ever, I really have no idea what comes next. And not just like what sector we'll be sent to next, but… well, you know."

Anakin nodded. He sensed trepidation in Rex's words and was reminded of the conflicted feeling in his gut as he had left Tatooine for the first time. The hope that something better was ahead battling against the fear and pain at leaving behind all he had ever known. Would I do it again?

Anakin's first reaction was to feel guilty for even asking that question. Of course he would. If he hadn't left Tatooine, Anakin never would have married Padme. Luke and Leia wouldn't exist. He wouldn't have had Ahsoka and Obi Wan as friends. And those days Anakin had been able to spend with his children were priceless, if not nearly enough.

And yet, was the cost too great? Anakin saw for a moment a different future. One where he had never left Tatooine and his mom was alive, and they lived together with Cliegg and Owen and Beru on the moisture farm outside Mos Eisley. It would have been a simple life, never having the weight of the galaxy on his shoulders, and Anakin thought he could have been happy like that. It was all he and his mother had ever really wanted after all. His life now was so much more yet, at the same time, so much less.

Rex had no choice though, Anakin realized. Things were going to change for him and for the millions of other clones whether they wanted them to or not. And there was little Anakin could do about it, though he knew that Padme and some of her colleagues in the senate were working to pull together legislation to ensure the clones would have somewhere to go at least. "Whatever happens, you'll always have a place by my side, Rex," Anakin said, since he could at least promise that.

When Rex spoke, his voice wavered, only slightly but more than Anakin had ever heard from the usually so confident and steady Captain. "Thank you, General," he said. "It means a lot."

Anakin had just opened his mouth to respond when another clone burst onto the bridge. The clone froze, looking momentarily dazed and confused, and Anakin recognized him in that moment. "Fives, what's wrong?" he asked.

Echo appeared a moment later, looking a bit out of breath. "I'm sorry, sir," Echo said. "He's been acting strangely. I found him wandering the ship, and he insisted that he had to see you right now."

"Fives, what's wrong?" Anakin repeated. The ARC trooper's distress and confusion was palpable in the force, and Anakin stared at Fives, looking for some sign of injury or other distress.

Fives rubbed his temple. "Good soldiers follow orders," he muttered, seemingly to himself. Then without warning, he raised his blaster and fired straight at Anakin.

Instinctually, Anakin dodged the blaster bolt and ignited his lightsaber. Fives fired twice more, shots which Anakin deflected into the wall behind him, before a stun bolt hit Fives square in the chest, and he fell to the ground.

Anakin looked at Rex who cautiously lowered his blaster. Echo was the first to speak though. "I… I don't understand what happened. It's Fives… He would never…"

"He did though," Rex almost whispered.

Anakin shook his head though. "No, there was something wrong with him. I don't know what, but he wasn't thinking straight. It seemed like… like he was being forced to do it somehow."

"Maybe it's some sort of illness. Should we contact Kamino?" Rex asked.

Anakin shook his head though. With a dawning horror, he realized that the vision of Padme being chased by clones suddenly made a lot more sense. If someone could make Fives attack him… Fives, who was one of Anakin's best friends and most trusted comrades… if they could make Fives do that, then the clones were slaves, as much as Anakin had ever been, and their master wanted him dead. Him and probably Padme too.

"I don't know if we can trust anyone," Anakin muttered. "Take Fives to the brig. Tell the guards to keep it quiet that he's there. Keep him comfortable, but make sure he's being watched."

"Yes sir," Rex said, though his voice seemed to lack his usual enthusiasm. Fear instead laced through his words.

Rex and Echo disappeared down the hall, carrying Fives between them, and Anakin called the one man he was sure would know what to do.

Chancellor Palpatine appeared smiling a moment later.