Hello readers, I must say I'm glad to have so much feedback from you guys on Leo and his adventures. We'll begin this one with Heroes on Both Sides, except as that episode is for Ahsoka we'll focus more on Leo's return to Team Skywalker.
Chapter 1
Heroes on Both Sides
CORUSCANT
A jedi shuttle dropped out of hyperspace heading straight for the Republic capital "There she is." Leo said at the controls as Obi-Wan flew sat in the copilot seat "How long has it been my young apprentice?" He asked.
"Almost two years, Master, she doesn't look like she's changed much." Leo said as. they flew past the Republic warships down to the planet surface.
"To the Temple Master?" Leo asked.
Obi-Wan stroked his beard "We have time before we need to report, Master Mundi and Plo are still in conflict in the outer rim, we'll need to wait till they've checked in."
"Then where too?" Leo asked.
Obi-Wan turned his head over at the young man, Obi-Wan was wearing light beige jedi robes with clone armor on his forearms sporting the Open Circle fleet crest, it was the only armor he wore not counting the leather boots around his feet. "Anakin informed me he and Ahsoka were at the Senate Tower to see if the deregulation bill will pass, we should probably drop by and say hello if we went straight to the council without seeing them. They may think its rude."
Leo smiled from his chair "As you wish master." Leo said flying toward the Senate Tower "I'd wager they'll hardly recognize you Leo."
"Master, I haven't changed that much?" Leo said as they came in sight of the Senate Tower, bastion and symbol of democracy and peace for over a thousand years. But inside it a much more different symbol was being portrayed, disunity.
Anakin and his padawan Ahsoka walked into the Senate Chamber and watched as senators argued. They two were different, Anakin was wearing dark brown robes with the same boots but no armor on his shoulders with his hair worn slightly longer, Ahsoka on the other hand had made an entire change to her outfit. Instead of wearing her tube top and skirt, Ahsoka had on a short crimson backless tunic without any sleeves that was held up around her neck with an opening in the chest showing off her orange skin, four matching crimson bands on each arm with matching fingerless gloves and boots with black pants with diamonds cut out on the side. She still wore her pink torgurtan sash on her buckle, which was now an x shaped belt, at her hips were two lightsabers instead of one her original and a short shoto like Master Yoda.
"Order! Order! Let Senator Saam finish." Mas Amedda called out from the middle podium he and Palpatine were in.
"This is a matter not of philosophy; more troops are needed, the Republic cannot afford to let the Separatists gain any more ground." Saam argued in the hall of a thousand voices. His hover box was floating around the masses as another came out a voice known for peace and reason.
"Our generals inform us that troops in the field continue to perform valiantly what we cannot afford, is to be irresponsible. The Republic is near bankruptcy due to the cost of this war." Bail called out pleading to the other senators.
Then Lott Dod, a Nemodian, came out on his repulsorpod up next to Saam's. "Bankruptcy is not necessary, my friends if we pass Senator Saam's bill to open new lines of credit, we will gain access to the needed funds." he suggested with a smirk.
"Won't this bill essentially deregulate the banks?" Mon Mothma, a woman in white with red hair trimmed short walked out questioned with a disapproving frown.
"A small price to pay to finance the war, is it not?" the Kaminoan senator, Halle Burtoni asked afew senators to speak up in agreement at Saam's bill and to keep the war going.
When another pod entered the floor "Members of the Senate." Padme called out as she hovered her pod next to Bail's showing where she stood.
"Do you hear yourselves? More money, more clones, more war say nothing of fiscal responsibility, what about moral responsibility? Hasn't this war gone on long enough?" she asked them before Saam turned his pod to face hers.
"Senator Amidala, are you suggesting we surrender to the Separatists?" he asked her accusingly.
Padme turned her head to face him. "Of course not. But negotiation might be a better course of action." she suggested. "You can't negotiate with those animals! Keep the war going! Vote now!" Senator Mot-Not Rab called out before some of the senators started chanting 'Vote now!' And as they did two more Jedi walked in next to Bail Organa's open box.
Leo clung to the shadows as Obi-Wan stroked his beard "Well the Senate is in a frenzy today."
"What else is new Master, none of them know whats going on out there really?" Leo said behind him "I see Anakin and Ahsoka are here."
"Where?" Leo asked looking around the hall "Over there, by the Naboo pods section." Obi-Wan said looking at the two "My see how Ahsoka has grown." Obi-Wan said, Leo sputtered green eyes going wide above his scared face, she was no longer the slender young girl who he remembered "... yeah" he whispered.
Senator Organa raised his hands "Members of the Senate MEMBERS OF THE SENATE, I suggest we table any emergency bill until it is determined whether or not deregulation is the right course of action." Bail suggested as the hall began to quite down.
"Very well. We shall let calmer heads prevail." Amedda said before the Senators took their leave.
Later the Jedi and Padme walked through one of the Senate hallways after meeting up with her. "You must ask the Jedi Council to speak with Chancellor Palpatine." she asked Anakin.
"Don't involve me in this." he said pleadingly as Ahsoka followed him.
"A peaceful solution is the only way out of this morass of war." she argued.
"That's not my role, Padme." the older Knight said back.
"Why not?" Ahsoka asked, stepping beside Padme "Why isn't it your role aren't we Jedi Knights? Isn't it our duty to speak our minds to advise the Chancellor?" she asked him.
Anakin cleared his throat. "Uh, I suggest you teach my young padawan a thing of two about politics." he suggested to Padme.
"After today's debate, I was hoping she learned a great deal." the senator replied.
"Truthfully, I don't understand any of it. I know the Separatists are evil but all anyone argued about was banking deregulation, interest rates, and well, almost nothing about why we were fighting in the first place." Ahsoka said before Anakin stood in front of them.
"War's complicated, Ahsoka. But let me simplify i the Separatists believe the Republic is corrupt. But they're wrong, and we have to restore order." he explained before Padme crossed her arms.
"Maybe talking to the Jedi Council isn't the role for you after all thanks for your help." she said walking past him. "Come on, Ahsoka." she called out to the padawan.
"Hey." Anakin called out as the two kept walking. Ahsoka turned to the side as she kept walking and gave him a one shoulder shrug with a smirk.
"You told me to teach her about politics so I'm going to." Padme said without looking behind her.
"Hey." Anakin said, a bit annoyed, he turned around and started to walk "Anakin did I just hear you talking politics?" Obi-Wan asked walking up to him "Master your back!" Anakin said, walking up to him.
Obi-Wan smiled "I was never really gone my old padawan."
"Speaking of padawans, where is yours?" Obi-Wan asked "Likewise?"
"Speaking with Senator Organa." Obi-Wan said "What a coincidence Ahsoka is with Senator Amidalla."
In Senator Amidall's office, the jedi padawan and senator entered her office as the sky was pink from the sun setting. Padme sighed. "If only I could talk to Senator Bonteri." she said as Ahsoka leaned on the desk.
"Who's he?" the padawan asked, rubbing her left index fingernail with her right index finger and without turning around Padme turned to face her back. "'He' is a she, a senator in the Confederacy of Independent Systems." she replied before Ahsoka rested an arm on the desk and looked at her as she looked back outside again.
"Your friend is a Separatist one of Dooku's pawns?" Ahsoka asked, checking if she heard right.
"The Separatists used to be part of the Republic." Padme reminded. "I was close with many of the senators who left. I may not agree with them, but they're more than pawns." she explained.
"If you think negotiating is the right thing to do, let's talk to her." the padawan suggested. "The Senate's made it illegal." Padme said, placing her hands on the top of her chair.
"Illegal?" Ahsoka asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion before Padme turned around and looked out the window again.
"They say official meetings would only legitimize the Separatists." she answered. Ahsoka walked over to the front of the desk on the other side as she spoke.
"Well, Master Skywalker and I hold what we call 'aggressive negotiations' all the time. It's a shame you can't hold more peaceful talks when you want." she said before Padme turned to face them.
The Senator walked around her desk smiling "You just gave me an idea you are a Jedi, which gives you special clearance." the senator said as a smirk appeared on her face.
"Right." Ahsoka confirmed "And Jedi are allowed to travel to neutral worlds like Mandalore, where we could then board a cargo ship to a Separatist system." Padme said.
"Are you suggesting we use our status as Jedi to smuggle you behind enemy lines?" the padawan asked with a small grin.
"It's just that you could get us through to meet her and I haven't seen her or her family in so long." Padme said.
"Relax, I'll help you." Ahsoka assured with a grin. "Besides, Master Skywalker said you should teach me about politics." Ahsoka added with the smile still on her face. "Right." the senator said before walking out from behind the chair and over to them.
"You know, you two have more in common than you think. It's no wonder you get along so well." Ahsoka said as Padme avoided the padawan. "Of course." Padme replied with slight nervous look and a smile. "So where are we heading?" the padawan asked. "Raxus."
Ahsoka stopped suddenly "I'll have to inform my master about my escorting you to Mandalore."
"And we'll need to pack, by the way give my best to Master Kenobi and his padawan I heard they returned today."
The padawans face went blank, "Did they now?"
JEDI TEMPLE
Council Chamber
Jedi Masters present and holographic were seated around the council chamber before Obi-Wan and Leo, "In summary Masters, the situation in the outer rim is deteriorating faster than expected, more worlds are joining the Separatists with local militias and security forces making it a challenge with so many different forces." Obi-Wan stated.
"If the senate passes this newest bill it would give us further troops, but also bankrupt the Republic." Master Mundi said.
The Jedi all nodded their heads "It would also increase the worth of the Banking Clan and the senators voting for the bill." Windu said.
"Thank you Master Kenobi, you and your padawans long term mission has been of great value to the Council, we'll be sure to pass this information along to the Chancellor." Windu said rising "Council is adjourned he said rising when Leo was about to speak but shut his mouth.
Obi-Wan walked to the elevator followed by Leo as the masters spoke among themselves "GIve it time Leo, the Council will hear your proposal soon I promise."
"Thank you master, but I don't think they'll listen to a Padawan." Leo said as they entered the elevator.
Meanwhile, Ahsoka and Anakin returned to the Jedi temple recently walking through the hallways "So how'd your time with Senator Amidalla go?" Anakin asked him.
"It was… fine, she wants me to escort her to Mandalore to get more experience." Ahsoka lied to Anakin who smiled "Sounds like a good idea, she'll be in good hands with you." Anakin said, giving his blessing.
The two of them kept walking "Have you seen Master Kenobi yet?" Ahsoka asked him.
"I did, Leo and him are finishing up their report to the Council right now, got to say your in for a surprise." Anakin told her, Ahsoka smiled "I missed Rusty I've got at least two years worth of noogies, tricks and jokes I need to let out." Before they walked around a corner and Ahsoka bumped into a tall jedi with a hard broad chest.
"Hey watch…. it." Ahsoka said looking up to see a tall young man standing next to Obi-Wan, they were wearing a green robes consisting of a green under shirt like most jedi wore with a higher collar that clipped over to the side, a green tunic was over his chest and tucked into a green belt with a bronze buckle. Brown pants were under the robe and shirt tucked into green boots with matching fingerless padded gloves on his forearm like Ahsoka, his right shoulder was sporting a white piece of armor with the jedi order colored on it. His face was light skinned like Obi-Wan with high rich red hair trimmed short on the sides to a fade and combed over neatly in a healthy flow on the top of his head, a Padawan braid dangling from it, his eyes also green with a scar running across his ace with a set of dimples on each cheek "... Leo?" Ahsoka gasped, recognizing him. His posture had changed, he stood up straight like Obi-Wan he seemed to have even assumed some of the calmness of his Master as well with an air of confidence.
The once scrawny boy had filled it in his green robes with a lean build and broad shoulders, his height had nearly doubled with him standing a full head taller than her and his voice "Ahsoka it's good to see you again." Deeper.
Ahsoka on the other hand just looked up head to toe frowning at how taller he was now "You got too big."
"I'll take that as its good to see you too." Leo said as Anakin smirked "Well you were to be back that's what matters, if Ahsoka didn't have a mission I'd say we all go out to celebrate." Anakin said bragging with his padawan "She's advanced much while you were away, this what your tenth solo mission?" He asked her.
Ahsoka still took pride in the praise "Twelfth actually."
"Impressive." Obi-Wan said "And she managed to capture Aurra Sing while saving Senator Amidalla, and mastered the shoto lightsaber." Anakin said gesturing down to her extra lightsabers on her hips.
Obi-Wan could see Anakin was gloating on his teachings showing off "Well she certainly has grown, while Leo and I were away we certainly had our fair share of adventures wouldn't you'd say?"
"There was the spice ring on Nar Shaddaa, the Cultists on Zygost oh and how many battles have we won?" Obi-Wan asked Leo "Forty five." Leo said one hand on his hip. Ahsoka looked clipped to his belt, a new lightsaber, it was different from his old one in fact it was a completely different model.
It was a hinge model, different than his older model, it had emitters on both sides with a studded cup emitter on each end, the adjustment knobs seems were in the center near the grip which was inlaid with black rivets for a better grip and power cell linked to the hinge mechanism "So you got a new lightsaber?" Ahsoka said as Leo looked down at it "I needed something… different." He said, struggling to find the right words.
As they spoke Master Plo came up behind them "Kenobi, Skywalker. Master Yoda wishes to speak with you." He said "Tell him we'll be right there, why don't you catch up before you leave Ahsoka." Anakin said down to her as their Masters walked off.
The two of them stood there in silence before walking down the hallways "It's good to see you again." Leo said.
"You said that already." Ahsoka said hands behind her back "That's because it's double good."
"Speaking of double, double bladed lightsabers I wouldn't have guessed?" Ahsoka said gesturing down to it as she climbed a flight of stairs "Says the girl with the extra lightsaber, why not a full blade why a shoto?"
Ahsoka only rolled his eyes at his question "Things have changed Leo, I've changed or can't you tell."
Leo stopped to look at her from leg to head, his lip curled into a grin "You certainly have."
"Ugh boys." She said as he resumed walking beside her "Boys, do I look like that little boy anymore?" He asked at the top of the steps leaning on the rail, it was her turn to examine him.
Ahsoka shrugged "Eh, same old Rusty."
The two of them walked out of the temple and to the upper courtyards next to the training ground "Remember this place?" Ahsoka asked him looking at the courtyard where they'd shared many of their memories.
"With you or the time Master Windu nearly killed me?" Leo asked.
"Hey you took the fight not me." She said walking down into it looking at the bench in front of the tree "You know I can still see us there sometimes?" Ahsoka added.
Leo smiled "I've thought about it a lot, the time we had." Leo said, reaching for her as Ahsoka walked away "So our Masters loved to brag on us, it's only fair we see if they were right."
The red head rolled his green eyes "Oh stars, Ahsoka please not again."
"I've got two years of kicking your butt stored up, so defend yourself." She said taking out her lightsabers, one her original green the other a short yellow shoto. Leo only sighed before he unclipped his lightsaber whipping the double hinged blade to connect activating both ends, two radiant white blades shot out from each end as he took a stance one hand in front the other holding his lightsaber behind his back the hilt rested up against his arm.
"And here I thought I'd return to a heroes welcome." Leo bantered as they began to circle one another, Ahsoka saw what he was doing "Knock off Leo I want to see what you got." She said before she charged him.
Leo spun his lightsaber in front and held it ready, starting to block her attacks, he blocked high and low at first before she tried to kick him backwards but Leo threw his shoulder into the kick making her bounce off him. Ahsoka backflipped away landing on the training round floor eight feet apart.
"My turn." He said jumping up and lunging at her, she backed away at first before she swatted his lightsaber staff away, the white blades were so fast they were like helicopter blades as he spun it from hand to hand.
She dodged and evaded the strikes before she recognized his rhythm and caught each blade down against her reverse grip "Not much it seems." She said as Leo held the lightsaber with one arm.
"Really." He said before he broke off the lock and swung at her feet, she jumped trying to kick him but he dodged her foot and tried to swing up. Ahsoka only evaded him again using the force to push herself away from his incoming lightsaber. When they landed the two of them spun around each other in a lightsaber fueled melee, Leo using his larger size and weapon to his advantage to stay in place all while Ahsoka tried to dizzy him by going around after an hour of neither side gaining ground Ahsoka and Leo both panting looked at one another with daggers in their eyes.
Panting hard Ahsoka tried to raise her arms "Is that… all… you… got?" She asked.
"My power… is… unlimited…" Leo gasped before he saw Ahsoka drop her arms and start chuckling, Leo smirked to giggling before they turned off their lightsabers laughing.
Ahsoka dropped hers and ran at him "It's wonderful to see you again Rusty." She said jumping up wrapping her arms around him, tackling him to the ground.
"But I still win." She said "Hahah- what- How?" Leo asked her.
She gestured to herself "I'm top, remember."
Leo rolled his eyes as he laid there in the courtyard "Am I still a good pillow?" He asked.
Ahsoka blushed bit then when she noticed what she felt between his robes wasn't a soft young boys body anymore "Eh little stiff." She said getting up.
She helped Leo up too where they picked up their lightsabers "So what's this mission you have?" Leo asked her.
"I'm going to Mandalore… with Senator Amidalla." Ahsoka said as Leo sat down on the bench and she joined him "Hmm another diplomatic mission?"
"Something like that." She said "I saw you with Master Skywalker today, in the Senate pit of vipers huh." She said.
Ahsoka shrugged "Yeah Master Skywalker was trying to teach me about politics and… hey why didn't you come say hi then?" She asked him.
Stiffing he sat up "I hadm, business with Senator Organa." He confessed
Ahsoka took his word for it then sighed "What is it?" He asked "Its just how complicated things have gotten, we know the Separatists are evil that Count Dooku is at least but I'm starting to think like you did why are we fighting this war?"
"I'm still asking that same question Ahsoka." Leo told her "It's getting worse out there, more planets are joining the Separatists, more militias, more fighting." He said.
Ahsoka looked at him "Leo, can I trust you?" She asked.
"Always Snips?" Leo said calling her by her pet name but she didn't smile on hearing it "I mean of course Ahsoka."
Ahsoka took a deep breath "Senator Amidalla wants me to smuggle her behind enemy lines to Raxus, the Separatist Capital."
Leo got up scratching his chin "What for?" He asked, turning "She wants to seek out an old teacher, Senator Bonteri."
"Bonteri?" He asked green eyes wide "You know the name?" She asked him "... no." Leo replied.
"But what's the aim of the mission?" He asked her inquisitively
Ahsoka got up walking up next to him "Senator Amidalla wants to enter into peace talks with the Separatists but she said that public talks would only legitimize them, so I think she wants to just try to open a dialogue I'm not really sure what I should-" "Do it." Leo said.
The blue eyed beauty gazed at him "What?" She asked.
"You should do it." Leo said, hands on his hips "I should?"
"You and I have seen more of this war than every Senator in that chamber, if this work ends the war, who cares how it's done." Leo told her, Ahsoka smiled at him "Thanks Leo." She said before she started to walk off Leo was too when Ahsoka suddenly attacked him again but this wasn't a tackle to the ground instead it was a warmful embracing hug "I missed you Rusty."
"Me too." Leo said, "Me too."
Later, Leo was waving Ahsoka goodbye as she got on a speeder wearing a beige cloak that went down to her robe with an orange line on the fringe before she flew off waving goodbye.
Obi-Wan came up behind him "So is she different then you remember?" Obi-Wan asked him.
"In a way Master." Leo said turning to him following him back inside "Good, now come the Masters have need of you."
"Need of me?" Leo asked him.
Later the two Jedi walked into one of the Jedi War Rooms where Master Yoda, Windu, Plo and Mundi were waiting for "Masters?" Leo asked.
"Are you aware Padawan Tano is escorting Senator Amidalla to Mandalore, correct?" Master Mundi asked him.
Leo nodded at them "I am Masters."
"We would like you to follow them, discreetly." Master Windu ordered Leo looked at Obi-Wan then back at Master Windu "Why not just assign me to the Senator?" Leo asked them.
The Masters didn't answer right away "We'd like you to keep a distance, we believe the Senator Amidalla is wanting to hide something."
"... do we know what?" Leo asked, pretending to guess.
"That's what we want you to find out my young padawan, follow Senator Amidalla and Padawan Tano to Mandalore and beyond if necessary." Obi-Wan ordered him.
The other Masters joined in "You will be on radio silence when you leave, make sure you document everything you see." Master Plo explained.
"You have your mission Padawan, dismissed." Master Windu said Leo looked at Master Kenobi who nudged his head for him to follow and Leo did dutifully. Walking out of the room with his Master.
"I sense you aren't pleased with your new assignment?" Obi-Wan asked him hands behind his back, Leo stood up straight mirroring his Masters posture.
Leo gathered his thoughts before he spoke "Why not just ask the Senator and Ahsoka where they're going, I'm sure they have a good reason."
"Perhaps, but the Senate is in a delegate situation and so is the Republic as a whole." Obi-Wan told him "I thought you said we needed to stay out of politics." Leo asked him.
"But politics won't stay out of our lives and as Jedi we need to hold those in power accountable when the people can't." Obi-Wan told him. "So my proposal to the Council will you…" "Finish your assignment and I will speak to the Council about it, I promise nothing more than that." Kenobi promised.
Leo smiled, stopping in front of him "Thank you Master."
"This is an opportunity Leo, the council is showing great faith in you by giving you this task." Obi-Wan expressed in confidence "I won't fail you master.'
"I know you won't because you aren't going alone." Obi-Wan told him before he walked away, Leo stopped "I thought this was my assignment?"
Obi-Wan took a few steps up to him "It is."
"Then where is this partner?" Leo asked him "Right above you."
Leo looked up to see a prowler 1000 exploration droid with a blue sensor, a searchlight on its left side and grappling claws below it and a light blaster between it. The droid had white plating with light yellow paint "A probe droid?" Leo asked.
The droid gave a light afemine beep before it fell down hovering eye level with both Jedi "This is droids name is Oculus, she's been part over twenty eight successful spy missions."
The droid spoke to both Jedi and then said something to Leo "What did you say to me droid?" He asked moving toward it.
Oculus beeped at him a few more times before, Leo reached for his lightsaber "Bare in mind the Council has made it imperative that Oculus goes with you." Obi-Wan stopped his padawan from cutting the droid in half.
"Fine, but I make promises of bringing this droid back with me, whole." Leo said as Oculus followed I'm and landed on his shoulder perched like a bird before Leo swatted away "No, not happening." Leo said to the droids.
RAXUS
Raxulon
A few hours later and after a quick stop on Mandalore, the three were now on a Gozanti Cruiser flying over Raxus' capital, Raxulon and towards the Separatist Senate Building. Raxus was a lush world in the Outer Rim Territories' Tion Hegemony that served as the capital planet of the Confederacy of Independent Systems during the Clone Wars. Renowned for its beauty, Raxus had a temperate climate and was covered with oceans and landmasses. Since the Separatist Senate was headquartered within its capital city of Raxulon, Raxus became home to a number of Confederate senators, including Mina Bonteri of Onderon. Other major Raxian cities included Tamwith Bay, which was located a considerable distance from Raxulon. Raxus was a contested world throughout the Clone Wars, and its strategic importance led the Confederacy navy to blockade it to oversee security for incoming travelers.
Padme had switched into different clothes with a hood, it was mostly orange with short sleeves while Ahsoka was wearing her cloak. When the ship landed they grabbed their suitcases before exiting the ship with a few other passengers, none of them noticing the cargo hold being opened and unloading an unmarked crate. When the droids spotted it they scratched their heads "What's this doing here?"
"I don't know where to put it over there, we'll deal with it later." The battle droids said moving the crate to a corner on the landing pad. When they dropped it with a thud the two droids walked away before a side compartment was kicked open. Leo spilled out wearing a dark faded blue cloak with cross stitching and a pale white stripe running around the edge.
"Council couldn't get me a ticket huh, just a crate." Leo grumbled as Oculus came out beside him beeping.
Leo glared at the droid "Shut up."
As they got out they avoided the droids sticking to the shadow before he spotted her shape of Ahsoka's lekku under her hood.
"Move along, please. Move along." a droid commander told them as they started walking. "Identification, please." a battle droid asked another passenger as the three friends walked around them. Another droid was about to approach them when a woman stopped to task it something before another woman with short blonde hair walked up to them and led them away. "This way." she said quietly before they walked up to an aged woman with short brown hair as she turned around with a smile. "Hello, old friend." she greeted Padme warmly, she was wearing an elegant cloud dress with pale lilac sowing and tattoos up her arms and around her neck with elegant jewelry on her ears and neck, a silver ring was wrapped around her tattooed finger.
Leo spotted them and took out a pair of pocket binoculars "Focus on those three." He told the droid.
"Ahsoka, this is Mina Bonteri. She was my mentor when I was growing up on Naboo." Padme told them.
"You're a Separatist?" Ahsoka asked Mina to chuckle a bit. "Well of course, my dear what were you expecting? Now, come. I have a transport waiting." she said, gesturing for them to follow. Leo watched the group of women get into a speeder before flying off "Damn." Leo spat.
Leo looked over the edge of the landing pad and saw a wave of speeders heading left and right before he saw a protocol droid on a mobquet speeder bike with something for a delivery. The droid was covered in red and white paint before Leo heard the droid Oculus beep at him "Hmm okay not a bad idea."
The spy ran at the edge of the landing pad and jumped, hitting the speeder bike landing behind the droid "You are not authorized to-" "Whatever." Leo said, throwing the droid off the bike and following Ahsoka and Padme.
A little while later they arrived at Mina's home that looked like a small castle, in her private H-2 executive shuttle before landing. They exited the shuttle and Ahsoka her age in fancy clothes, leaning against a lamp post at the top of the stairs leading into the house and watching them, he wore a grey jacket and pants with white boots with a frill collar, across the fields Leo and Oculus landed in a thicket of trees on a ridge. Oculus was attacked to the speeder bike front before detaching "Go get a closer look, I'll keep in contact." Leo said putting an earpiece in and looking through his binoculars when he spotted Lux he cocked a brow at his outfit.
"Lux, come down here and help our guests with their luggage please." Mina called up to him Lux pushed off the post and started waking down the steps. Ahsoka barely spared a glance at him.
"Padme, it's so good to see you." Mina said, giving the younger senator a one armed hug as the four walked towards the steps. "Yes, how things have changed since he last time we met." Padme replied.
"Let's go inside. There's much to discuss." Mina said, letting go of her as Lux walked up to the two senators. "Please, allow me." Lux said kindly, as Padme handed the suitcase to him before the two women continued walking. "May I?" he asked Ahsoka.
She pulled away before Lux could take Ahsoka's bag and said, "I can handle it." she said to Lux over her friend's shoulder. Leo smirked as Oculus replayed the feed to him through the binoculars.
"Stay on the Senators droid." The droid beeped at him again "Fine Oculus just as long as you stop calling me that other thing." Leo said
A few minutes later Ahsoka and Padme were in the living room while she looked out the window at Lux, Ahsoka stood near the door as Mina walked up to her friend with two glasses in her hand and gave one to Padme. "He's grown so much, Mina." the younger senator said. "Time won't stop, even if we are at war and i'm afraid these events are shaping his young life." Mina replied, looking out the window as Ahsoka took a few steps forward. Oculus landed on a nearby window keeping itself close sticking a listening device onto the window to transmit.
"With all due respect as a Separatist, didn't you create this war?" she asked. "Ahsoka." Padme scolded.
"It's alright." Mina assured her friend before turning to the padawan and walking towards her. "That's a very polarized point of view, my dear would it surprise you to know that many of the people you call Separatists feel the same way about the Republic and the Jedi? Lux's father was like that." she said taking a few steps away.
Ahsoka came up to Mina as she turned around, down below and far away Leo took his eyes away from the binoculars "Maybe I could speak with him." Ahsoka suggested as the older senator stopped.
"If only you could ayear ago next week, he was setting up a base on Aargonar when clones attacked my husband fought bravely in self-defense, but was killed." Mina replied, lowering her head a bit, outside Leo was sitting on the speeder bike and cupped his eyes as he heard her.
"Excuse me I think i'll get some air." Ahsoka said, Leo took his binoculars out.
Ahsoka left the room heading outside where Lux was passing by him in the steps "You're a Jedi, aren't you?" he asked, she stopped near the bottom and turned to face him.
"Yes. Why do you ask?" Ahsoka asked him. "Before the war, I was always told the Jedi were good." he replied. "And now?" she asked before he hopped off the railing and onto the steps.
"I don't know anymore." he admitted before joining the other two as they walked down the remaining steps. "There are a lot of terrible things happening, a lot of killing and now my friends are saying the Jedi are to blame." he said as they reached the bottom step.
"I'm the first Jedi you've ever met, aren't I?" she asked. "Well, um... yes." he admitted.
"Look at us we're not so bad are we?" Ahsoka asked, crossing her arms and smirking at him. Lux's eyes trailed from her feet and back to her eyes before he smiled.
"No, not bad at all." he said.
Leo's eyes shot up from where he was "Droid- Oculus follow Padawan Tano, now." Leo ordered as the droid beeped back "Yes I know the Senators are talking but we need to follow up on both leads, just do as I say."
Ahsoka rolled her eyes. "Ugh. Well it seems boys are the same whether they're Republic or Separatist." she said, continuing to walk, Oculus flew around the estate and hid in some trees next to a few birds, one of the birds noticed and started to get closer.
"Wait how many Separatists have you met?" he asked her. "What?" she asked.
Lux started to walk down beside her "Well, I mean, you think we're all the bad guys but how many of us have you actually met and droids don't count." he asked.
"Well, other than military officers like Grievous and Ventress none, I guess you and your mother are the first." she admitted as they stopped. Oculus zoomed in on them feeding the visual to Leo who watched it "Hmmm." Leo grunted as the bird that had noticed Oculus had started to peck the droid before it grabbed its neck and snapped it "What was that?" Leo asked the droid it beeped at him before he dropped the bird out onto the garden "Let's keep the nothings to a minimum."
The conversation between Lux and Ahsoka continued "Well, look at me am I so bad?" he asked with a smile Ahsoka didn't answer and just looked at the ground at first "No." she said smiling as they walked on.
Oculus beeped at Leo again "What about the senators?" Leo asked.
"Fine go see what there up to." Leo said as Oculus looked at Leo and Ahsoka through his binoculars seeing them talking.
He felt himself holding his lightsaber as he ignored the conversation between Mina and Padme discussing peace talks, Oculus started to beep at Leo "Go over to the jedi again we need to know more."
The droid made a slight objection "Who do you answer to again?" Leo asked the droid.
Oculus flew over to the garden and spotted Ahsoka and Lux were in the center of the garden sitting on a bench under a pavilion talking "Get closer." Leo ordered seeing the two of them.
Oculus obeyed and flew into some nearby trees starting to listen in "... they say the Jedi started the war when they tried to kill the Chairman on Geonosis." Lux finished.
"The Jedi Council wanted to arrest Count Dooku for his plot to try and assassinate Senator Amidalla." Ahsoka explained "Then why the clone army?" Lux
"Why the droid army of course." Ahsoka said "My friend and his sister would say it was good that we had the droid army so we could fight off the clones."
Ahsoka shrugged "Who are your friends exactly?" Ahsoka asked.
"There names are Iaclyn and Elli, Iaclyn and Elli Stark there live here on Raxus in an estate not far from here with their father." Leo lowered his binoculars.
His mind shot back to the day he left Coruscant with Obi-Wan when he went to see Boba Fett and learned the truth. "Your father's name is Iaco Stark, the man who started the Stark Hyperspace War, heard he cut some kind of deal and joined the commerce guild the same one that created the Separatists and I thought my family was weird… Thanks for the book Jedi."
Leo looked at the palace again before he unplugged his ear piece, "Oculus continue the observation on the Senators, I'm going to investigate another lead."
Oculus beeped back at him "I won't go far." Leo told the droid.
He got onto the speeder and as the sun began to go down with storm clouds rolling in from the east, Leo sped across the fields of Raxus coming into the lower fields with trees sprouting up around the stone carved roads. There were great arch marble pillars carved on the roads before Leo noticed a small township with only a few dozen buildings huddled together around a large fountain. When he pulled up into the town the buildings while small had an air of elegance like the Bonteri estate, trees were near almost every house for shade in the day but as the sun was down there were very few people in the streets, there was a single building with a neon sign signifying it as a bar.
Leo parked his speeder outside of it and walked toward it seeing an old man sitting on a bench smoking a pipe under a large hat when he walked in, when he did some heads turned at the hooded young man, it was different from the bars and cantinas of Coruscant, as it was mostly wood furniture with art on the walls and signs showing the drinks they had. A jukebox played mellow music and there were no twi'lek dancers on the tables, those sitting at them kept their eyes on the stranger but he ignored them walking to the bar and sat down on a stool.
The bartender walked over to him "Wine." He said as he reached into his pocket and put credits down on the table.
The bartender, an aged man with graying black hair saw them as he walked over wearing a white shirt and black vest "Republic credits?"
"I just got in." Leo said to him "May want to exchange it soon." The man said, taking the credits and starting to pour a glass in front of him.
He took a sip of the wine savoring the taste before he leaned forward rubbing his eyes "Bartender?" Leo asked him.
"What have you finished already?" The bartender asked him.
Leo shook his head "I was wondering if you could tell me where the Stark Estate was."
"Stark?" The man said before he spat down on the floor "What do you want with Iaco Stark?"
Leo heard the sound of chairs being scrapped back as a few of the patrons got up, the young man looked over his shoulder, his face still shadowed by his hood. "That's my business, not yours." Leo said waving his hand under the bar counter, the force seeped into the minds of the bartender and the patrons "That's your business… not ours?" The bartender said as the men went back to their drinks and Leo went on.
"Where does he live?" Leo asked, waving his hand again.
"... North of here." The bewitched bartender asked.
"Tell me everything you know about the place?" Leo asked him "High walls, guards, battle droids, lives there with his two children… and wife." Leo's eyes got wide "Wife…" Leo asked him.
The bartender nodded at him "... What is his wife's name?"
"I… don't… know." The bartender said before Leo sighed, he finished his drink and left a heavy tip "Thanks for the drink."
Leo left the bar heading back to his speeder as the storm began to cover the orange skies spitting rain across the plains as Leo headed north. He passed by a few homesteads here and there till he saw the only estate since the small township, it had high walls around a large house on a hill. It was shorter than the Bonteri residence, wide and spread out across the ground inside the wall with lights on near the main annex. Leo could see battle droids patrolling its perimeter around the wall and on top of it, the rain has begun to fall heavily now showering the earth in heavy drops of water adding a new layer of cover for him. He parked his speeder behind a thicket of trees and looked at the wall when he spotted a large gap in the droids patrols.
Leo ran down from the trees keeping low among the grasses before he arrived at the foot of the wall and jumped up onto it. Looking left and right he spotted two droids on the wall coming around before he jumped off into a mowed lawn and saw a row of trees leading up from the entrance that he used for cover.
But there were also droids inside the walls standing in open spots; he had to scramble behind bushes and ferns to avoid their scanners. Finally he made it to the inner part of the estate's main compound. There was trimmed grass between stone walkways, a large pool being rippled by the rain in the back with lawn chairs around it, the lights of the house were drawn by curtains as Leo drew nearer when he froze seeing a shadow move behind it.
Leo could hear laughter and music inside, looking around the windows as the rain rolled off his cloak when he saw a sliver of stronger light coming from a curtain not fully drawn.
His heart raised, came up to the sliver of light and listened closely to the window hearing muffled voices, when he looked through the hole in the curtains he saw the inside there was a roaring fire with people were sitting on sofas laughing, their backs to him and on the other end of the table Leo could see a man and a woman dancing but it was hard to tell the window was fogged up from the cold rain. Suddenly the man and woman stopped dancing, the man moved to the window and Leo pulled away when the curtains were drawn.
Without the extra layer, Leo could hear the voices more clearly "Father, what is it?"
His heart sank. "I thought I saw something?" Leo heard from the silhouette in the window casting a long shadow looking left and right when its shadow head turned toward him Leo looked at it knowing it was "... Must have been nothing?"
And Leo was gone.
The storm had raged on and Leo had returned to the bar inside the township after a few more drinks he left walking back to the speeder parked outside. The old man was still sitting outside when Leo left "Where were fighting? The old man asked.
Leo looked back at the elder, the embers of his pipe showing a pair of black eyes looking at him "Excuse me?" Leo asked him.
"You don't look like a refugee, don't act like man on the run so I take you aren't a deserter so where we you fighting soldier?" The old man asked huffing out some smoke.
Leo stood there and looked out into the rain "Everywhere." Leo said back to him.
The old man knodded "You got family here?" The old man asked him "... Yes."
"You should be with them then boy." The old man said to him "I don't they'd recongize me." Leo said dragging his fingers across his scar "Doesn't matter, family is family."
"not for me." Leo said walking toward the speeder The rain was pouring now as he approached it his hood drawn overhead his head when he saw Oculus appear sitting on the handle bars "What are you doing here?" Leo asked.
Oculus beeped up at him "Hmm they went to sleep, figures." Leo said looking at the droid then at the rain.
"Well we might as well go find a place to sleep, too bad we don't get to sleep in an estate." Leo said getting on the speeder.
After a while of searching Leo flew the speeder into a set of large hills and found a deserted cave to park the speeder in and wait out the storm. Parking the speeder inside Leo sat down huddling in his cloak for warmth watching the rain fall as Oculus hovered next to him and beeped at him seeing something was up."
"Its nothing, besides I don't expect a droid to understand feelings." Leo told the droid who beeped at him, Leo snickered "Was that joke?" He asked the droid.
Oculus responded cheerfully, Leo actually giggled "Hmhmhmhm no its was fine, you should power down for the night Ocu… how do you like Ock?" Leo asked the droid.
It beeped at him "Ock it is then." Leo said resting his head up against one of the softer looking rocks slowly drifting off to sleep.
THE FOLLOWING MORNING
Separatist Senate
The next day, Ahsoka and Padme were in the Separatist Senate watching as Mina attempted to persuade the other senators for peace between them and the Republic as a hologram of Dooku watched on, on the far end of the separatist Parliment Oculus was up against a window listening and watching in as Leo sat in the lower levels of the city on a bench watching from his binoculars "How many lives on both sides have to end before we see the futility? Surely there's room in the galaxy for Confederate and Republic planets to coexist I immediately open peace negotiations with Chancellor Palpatine on Coruscant." Mina suggested as some of the senators cheered in agreement.
"The Corporate Alliance will never allow this to happen!" a green-skinned female senator with four horns on her head disagreed.
"This is a democracy and unlike the Republic, corporations do not rule us." a bald blue-skinned male senator said to her before the room erupted again.
Dooku raised his arms to quiet them. "Quiet! In accordance with the bylaws of Independent Systems, a vote is required all in favor of initiating peace negotiations with the Galactic Republic, say 'aye'." he said.
"Aye!" a Leyakian male agreed.
"Aye!" a male Siniteen agreed.
"Aye!" the bald senator agreed.
"Aye!" Mina agreed as a few more agreed as well.
Then Dooku spoke again"All those opposed." Dooku said
"Nay!" the green horned woman disagreed.
"Nay!" a female amphibian species disagreed as a few more did as well. "The 'ayes' have it." the old man called out before Mina looked to the three with a smile.
The next morning the three accompanied by Mina and Lux, headed back to the landing pad they arrived at the other day as a cruiser waited for them. "Well… this is goodbye." Padme said to Mina with a small smile.
I've been disappointed before, and yet I almost feel as if this time the tide has turned in the war you should hurry." she said to Padme, pulling her hood up for her.
"Goodbye, young ones." she said to the Jedi "You really believe the Republic will vote for peace?" Lux asked Ahsoka. "I hope so. I wouldn't want to meet you on the battlefield, for your sake." she replied with a small smirk.
Oculus kept his vigil on them as Leo watched them start to board the ship, "Alright droid, come on back." Leo said, putting his binoculars away "It's time we went home."
Leo got up and started to walk away till he reached a secluded area Oculus flew down soon after and he held up his arm perched showing him the recordings of Padme and Mina, as well as Lux and Ahsoka "Erase all files containing Ahsoka."
The droid beeped at him "Because this is the Senators plot, not hers she was only here as a bodyguard."
The droid beeped at him again, confused "We were ordered to follow the Senator, Ahsoka is a Jedi one of us… a jedi." Leo said before Cocking his head slighting the droid nodded and after a shimmer of the lights the files were deleted "Now we have to find a way off this planet." Leo said walking down the hallways.
CORUSCANT
Senate Tower, Office of the Chancellor
By the time they arrived back home it was night on Coruscant, Padme changed back into her Senate clothes and the three made their way to Palpatine's office. "Well, well, well this is quite a stunning development." the Chancellor commented.
Your Excellency, we would be remiss, if not irresponsible, to reject the Separatists proposal." Padme said to him, she was dressed in her senatorial robes with an elegant headdress holding up her brown hair and pale blue and yellow dress.
"Of course." he agreed. "An end to the fighting, would mean there's no need to borrow money for more clones." she replied before he led her a few feet away.
"I can see why you would want so badly to believe that the Separatists desire peace." he said. "I don't understand." she replied confused.
"In the past, whenever we've reached out our hands in peace, they've been slapped away Ccan we believe that they're ready to sue for peace so easily?" he asked.
"If I might speak with you confidentially, I know this is sincere. I've been in contact with my old friend, Mina Bonteri and the origin of the proposal is with her." Padme said quietly.
"Bonteri? how was the dialogue established?" he asked her.
"Does it matter, Chancellor, if the result is an end to the war?" she asked.
"I see your point, my child then we shall put the vote to the floor." The Chancellor
replied in agreement.
JEDI TEMPLE
Council Chamber
Leo stood before the jedi Council still wearing his cloak with Oculus finishing up playing the last recording of the Separatist Senate voting for peace "In summary Masters, you were correct the Senator from Naboo was indeed planning something… the end of the war." Leo explained to them all.
"Your report contains nothing of Padawan Tano, what was her role in all of this?" Plo Koon asked.
"Protection and to smuggle her across enemy lines." Leo told them nothing more.
The Masters waited for him to continue but he said nothing "Is that all?" Kenobi asked
"Yes Masters." Leo said.
His tight lip was being noticed all too easily "Padawan Rock what do you think of the Senator's actions and that of Padawan Tano's as she willingly participated?"
"Am I allowed to speak Masters freely?" Leo asked "Yes." Windu told him.
Leo looked at the Masters briefly "I believe Senator Amidalla and Padawan Tano did nothing wrong, as a Senator and as Peacekeepers we owe it to the people of the Republic and the Confederacy to end this war as soon as possible."
"You think the Separatists have a legitimate reason to secede, that the Republic is corrupt?" Kit Fitso asked him.
Leo heard him but didn't look "I never said the Republic was corrupt, but the Senate's inaction to consider negotiations of peace does raise concerns."
"All former offers of peace have been refused." Master Windu told him, Leo looked right at the man coldly his body and face like stone "Peace by unconditional surrender isn't peace."
An incoming transmission beeped above head, cutting its way into the conversation, "It's from the Senate?" Obi-Wan said before they played it the room going dark to reveal Anakin Skywalker.
"Masters forgive my interruption, the Chancellor has called for an emergency meeting the Separatists apparently have asked for peace, and you'll never guess from wear." Anakin said before Windu cut him off.
"We are aware of Senator Amidalla and Padawan Tanos' ploy, rest assured Skywalker we are aware of the situation." Windu said as Leo stood behind Anakin's hologram the two of them sharing the same expression of discontent with Windu.
Anakin frowned then "The Chancellor just informed me himself, I'll let you know as the situation develops."
Across the planet surface, in the halls of the Senate Tower, the Chancellor called for a meeting in the chamber. Ahsoka sat on a small section above a door of Padme's chair standing as she watched. "Given that the Separatists have put a call for negotiations on the table, the need for additional troops seems ill-timed." Padme said to her fellow senators
"Which means there is no need to deregulate the banks." Bail Organa said coming up beside another voice then heard"I say we vote that down now." Rodian senator, Onaconda Farr suggested. "There is a move to vote on the proposed bill to lift regulations on the banking clan you may enter your vote." Amedda said.
Senators started to press a button on their pods one by one as the Jedi Council committed their own council.
Back in the High Council Chamber Leo continued to speak back and forth with the masters, "Now Padawan Rock is there anything else you can report from your time on Raxus?" Master Ti asked him.
"Only that the Separatist Senate acted almost immediately to vote for peace, they seem just as tired of this war as us." Leo told them.
"That remains to be seen." Master Windu said
Back in the Republic senate before they could finish the votes the lights suddenly went out and a second later the emergency power, in fact all of Coruscant went out even in the Jedi council chamber. Leo looked around as the Masters in hologram form were cut from the room.
"An attack?" Obi-Wan asked as other jedi reached for their coms "This is the Jedi Council come in, can anyone read me?" Plo Koon asked.
But only static met them while panic began to sweep from the lowest levels of Coruscant all the way to the Senate chamber.
Inside the Senate pandemonium erupted "We're under attack!" the Twi'lek senator, Orn Free Taa said in panic before the senators still hovering moved their pods back to the places they had entered with Padme moving hers back to the spot Ahsoka was standing.
Meanwhile back in the Council chamber Leo and the Masters were looking outside as the city began to erupt into chaos. Fires began to be lit as stacks of smoke rose up across the city "We need to know what's going on." Obi-Wan said.
Leo looked down at the small probe droid "Oculus, signaling the Republic fleet try to get a visual of the planet." Leo ordered the droid.
In a few short beeps the droid's holoprojector went on and Council all reeled at what they saw, Coruscant had gone completely dark except for one burning spot on the surface "An attack on the generator, the entire planets been crippled." Master Gali said in shock.
"Droid relay this information to the Senate immediately, this is must be a Separatist attack." Master Windu ordered.
"Wait!" Leo suddenly snapped to the masters "Masters please, don't you think is all perfect timing in the middle of a peace vote?" Leo asked them.
Windu ignored him "Regardless we must alert the Senate to the situation, droid do as I say."
Oculus bleeped up at Windu before sending the signal.
A while later the information had spread across the senate "The bombing of the generator has been confirmed as a Separatist attack they must pay for what they have done!" Saam demanded after the Senate received the report on what had happened.
"But it was the Separatist congress that issued the bill of peace!" Padme argued couragely.
"Obviously a tactic to lower our defenses and launch this attack." Senator Amedda argued back.
Padme refused to believe it "No! that's not true!" Padme argued again but the Senate had begun to get swept up in a frenzy
"I move to immediately deregulate the banks." Senator Halle suggested to the congress.
"We need a bank loan to get more troops now!" Senator Rab called out as others began to join in refusing to look weak "What are we waiting for?" senator Zinn Paulness questioned, the Chancellor gave Padme a very sympathetic look hearing the words of his senators. "I'm afraid we've been given little choice to insure the safety of the Republic, we must deregulate the banks." the Chancellor said as the senator cheered in agreement to thunderous applause, while Padme sat in her pods seat and shook her head sadly in defeat.
Later, Ahsoka and Padme exited the room and made their way through the hallway before walking up to Anakin as he finished speaking to Mon Calamari senator, Eekar Oki who took his leave. "I'm returning your padawan." Padme said to him as he folded his arms. "I'm sorry your talks with Bonteri failed." Anakin froze.
"How did you know?" Ahsoka asked, sounding surprised.
"We have eyes and ears everywhere, you two. That was dangerous and careless, going to Raxus." he scolded. "Not to mention illegal." Anakin added, looking at the Senator.
"You went too far this time." he chastised his padawan as the three started walking.
"You would do the same. You do the same all the time." Ahsoka argued. "This was too much." he replied. "Maybe so but I did realize something: the politics of this war, are not as black and white as I once thought they were." she admitted as they walked out into Coruscant's darkened city with fire in the distance.
JEDI TEMPLE
Balcony
Leo watched the darkened city burn leaning on the railing of the balcony as Obi-Wan stood behind him quietly for a time, Leo stroked the probe droid Oculus's cranium as it perched on the balcony.
"You seem to have taken a liking to the droid?" Obi-Wan asked as Leo stroked its head "She's proven rather useful."
"She?" Obi-Wan asked him "I think it's a feminine programming?" Leo said looking up at Leo.
"But that's not what's on your mind?" Obi-Wan asked when Coruscant came back to life, the lights of the skyline and lower city burned brightly once more making Leo sigh in relief.
Obi-Wan did too "Well that's one issue resolved, now as I was saying."
"... You asked me to spy on not just a Senator, but on one of our own, Ahsoka of all people Master?" Leo snapped at him accusingly.
Patiently Obi-Wan responded "It's not that the Council didn't trust her or the Senator, however they did go behind the backs of both the Order and the Republic, Anakin has already confronted them on the subject." Obi-Wan told him.
"But for peace, isn't that worth it Master?" Leo asked him.
Obi-Wan hesitated to answer him "We may never know, come the Council is preparing what resources we can spare in helping the City recover."
"Of course Master." Leo said, starting to follow him.