Obi Wan opened his eyes to see the blurry outline of someone sitting next to him. Ahsoka, he realized, sensing her through their bond before his vision fully cleared. They seemed to be some sort of ship. How long had he been out for? Judging by his pounding headache, it had been a good long while. They seemed to be on a small ship now. A fighter by the looks of it.

"Ahsoka," he said weakly. "What happened? Where's Maul?"

Ahsoka turned and looked at him. "Oh good, you're awake," she said, but there was no smile to accompany her words. "We got away. It's all okay," she said, sounding thoroughly unconvinced by her own words.

There was clearly more to that story. "What happened?" Obi Wan repeated.

Ahsoka grimaced. "Maul trapped and drugged us, but when I came to, he told me that he had been ordered by Sidious to let me escape. He tried to convince me to work together with him against Sidious, but he wouldn't let you go, so that was a nonstarter of course."

Obi Wan's heart swelled with pride and gratitude at the courage and love she had shown to set aside Maul's offer to leave unharmed in order to rescue him. Even so, part of him regretted the opportunity she had given up for his sake. It would certainly make finding Sidious more difficult. Obi Wan reached over and squeezed her shoulder. "Thank you for that, Padawan. We will find another way to get Sidious."

Ahsoka gulped, then was silent for a moment. "Actually, I did," she finally whispered. "I got what we came for."

Obi Wan stared at her wide eyed. "You found out who Sidious is?"

Ahsoka nodded, seeming miserable even though Obi Wan had no idea why she should be. Learning Sidious's identity and then getting out of there in one piece was frankly the best result they could possibly have hoped for. "Well, who is it then?" he prompted.

Ahsoka stared intently at the navicomputer and then spoke only a single word. "Palpatine."

Obi Wan thought his heart might have stopped as in an instant, all the pieces fit together in his mind. It went all the way back to the attack on Naboo, Obi Wan realized with a start. Palpatine had orchestrated it to get himself elected Chancellor of the Republic. And even though there were probably a million other things that should matter more with this revelation, Obi Wan's mind kept thinking about how he had lost Qui Gon so that Palpatine could be Chancellor.

"There's more," Ahsoka muttered, and Obi Wan stared at her wondering what more there could possibly be after that.

"Maul claims that Palpatine wants Anakin as his new apprentice," Ahsoka said, seeming to shrink away as the words left her mouth.

A cold sense of dread swept over Obi Wan. It all made way too much sense. The way Palpatine had instantly befriended Anakin, providing encouragement and reassurance when the Jedi council had offered nothing but criticism and unfounded accusations. They had practically driven Anakin right into the Sith Lord's waiting arms.

"We must trust that Anakin will make the right decision," Obi Wan said firmly. And oh, how he wished that he fully believed that. He was sure that Anakin was a good person, and weren't there certain lines that a good person simply would not cross? And yet an unpleasant voice whispered in his ear, reminding him of the Separatist General Anakin had tortured without a second thought on Akiva. Of the reports suggesting that Dooku had been unarmed and injured before Anakin killed him. Palpatine has manipulated the entire Senate and Jedi Order into doing his bidding for years, the voice reminded him. Surely, he would have no problem manipulating one unstable, angry young man.

Ahsoka opened her mouth but then closed it again, apparently deciding against whatever she had been about to say. "Yeah, I guess you're right," she said after a moment.

They sat in silence for a moment before Obi Wan finally spoke. "We have to tell the council about Palpatine," he said softly.

"Should we though?" Ahsoka muttered. "I mean, I was going to, but according to Maul, that is what Palpatine wants. Wouldn't we just be playing right into his hand then?"

That was a fair point, but Obi Wan couldn't really see any alternative. It was hardly like he and Ahsoka could act alone against the most powerful man in the galaxy. "The council will take that into consideration when they decide how to act," Obi Wan said, sounding more confident than he felt.

Ahsoka nodded. "Yeah, that makes sense, I guess."

Obi Wan reached for his wrist comm, and the projected form of Mace Windu appeared in front of him a moment later. "Master Windu," he said, before even allowing the other man to speak. "We've just discovered a terrible truth that we must act urgently on. Can you gather the council?"

Windu shook his head. "I'm afraid only four of us are even on Coruscant right now. Though with the ceasefire, they should be returning soon, as soon as the Separatist surrender is official."

That was bad. Really bad, and Obi Wan realized it was yet another layer of Palpatine's trap. But one thing didn't quite make sense. "Ceasefire?" Obi Wan enquired.

Windu nodded. "Yeah, I sent you the report. Did you not get it?"

Obi Wan shook his head. "No, I've been unconscious for the past… well, I don't know how long, but it's been a while."

Windu's eyes narrowed. "Well, yeah. Skywalker captured Grievous along with most of the Separatist council, and the battle droids have been shut down. The war is effectively over though the Chancellor is insisting on waiting to make the announcement until Grievous arrives on Coruscant and surrenders officially."

Obi Wan shivered slightly at the mention of Palpatine. Master Windu had no idea. "You've got to get all the masters back immediately!" Obi Wan exclaimed.

Windu looked confused. "What, why? There's no more threat to Coruscant anymore."

Oh, but there was. "There is though!" Obi Wan insisted. "That's what I have to tell you. Chancellor Palpatine… he's the Sith Lord we've been looking for!"

Master Windu's eyes widened in shock. "And you… you got this information from a reliable source?" he asked.

"Maul told Ahsoka. I don't think he would have any reason to lie," Obi Wan said grimly.

"Maul… he's… what were you… oh, never mind," Master Windu stammered. "The point is that we need to act quickly. I will call all Jedi back to Coruscant and in the meantime take what council members remain to arrest Palpatine while we still have the element of surprise on our side."

Ahsoka shook her head, looking guilty. "I told Anakin," she admitted, speaking up for the first time.

"It doesn't matter," Obi Wan said quickly, though the thought wasn't reassuring. "Palpatine will be expecting us anyway. He ordered Maul to reveal his identity and then let Ahsoka escape. If you go after him now, you will be playing right into his hands."

Windu sighed. "I hear you, but I don't really think we have any other option. I fear now, with the war ending, Palpatine will not give up his emergency powers and will angle to seize power for himself permanently. We can not allow that to happen. It will be another all out war before the dust has even settled from this one. Let us hope we can prevent that by acting now."

Obi Wan couldn't really argue with that though he still had the sinking feeling that they were walking right into Palpatine's trap. "Best of luck, Master Windu," he said, bowing his head. "May the force be with you."

Master Windu bowed his head in return. "May the force be with us all," he said before the holo disappeared.

"You didn't tell him about Anakin," Ahsoka said questioningly.

"I didn't," Obi Wan admitted. "You have already given Anakin a heads up, and I hardly think getting Master Windu involved would help that situation."

Ahsoka nodded. "We will rendezvous with the Negotiator in a little over an hour and then be back on Coruscant by the end of the day," she informed him. "I just feel so powerless," she added in a voice that was little more than a whisper.

Obi Wan felt powerless too, but at the very least, he could comfort his Padawan. "I know," he whispered, wrapping her in a hug. "But you've done so well, Ahsoka. You've accomplished so much more than anyone could possibly ask of you. Now we can only place our trust in our friends and in the force."