"Anakin, please sit down," Obi Wan said, glancing over at his friend. "You are making us all dizzy. This office is hardly big enough for you to go pacing about."

"How… how can you be so calm about this?" Anakin said in frustration, waving his hands about. He knew he wasn't acting like a good master to his Padawan. He knew that he should be calm and collected and utterly dignified. He knew that standing there in Principal Nedzu's office that he should be acting like a diplomat… but frankly he didn't care! Everything they had been told…

"I am distressed, Anakin," Obi Wan assured him in a most definitely NOT distressed tone. Master Shaak Ti had sounded more distressed when they'd run out of regular Caf and she had to have the DeCaf instead. "But it does none of us any good to overreact."

"Over… overreact?" Anakin said with a laugh. "I think I'm UNDERreacting, honestly!" Padme, who had been seated next to Obi Wan, quickly rose and tried to comfort Anakin but he merely just shrugged off the hand she placed on her shoulder. "We have somehow been transported to another world where nothing makes sense, people do the impossible, and we have no way to get home because this backwater planet doesn't even know what Coaxium is, let alone have any! Tatooine had Coaxium, Obi Wan! Tatooine!"

"Anakin, its okay," Padme assured him, trying once more to get him to breathe. "We'll figure this out… but Obi Wan is right. We can't just freak out… that won't solve anything."

Taking several breaths the Jedi knight finally nodded. "Right… yeah, you're right."

"We at least have each other, Skyguy," Ahsoka said, managing a smile but it was clear she was shaken up by the thought that she might never see home ever again. For him and Obi Wan it was easier as they had spent the last ten years darting about the galaxy. For Ahsoka she was only a few months into her apprenticeship, still seeing the Temple as her home. And now… she would never see it again.

Anakin instantly grimaced, putting aside his own concerns, and went over to the couch his Padawan was sitting on, wrapping an arm around her in a way that he knew Windu and the rest of the council would have leapt upon as more signs that he wasn't fit to be a Jedi. It was a small blessing then that Nedzu, Aizawa, and Nemuri didn't even bat an eye at the action. In fact Anakin could sense through the Force that for them comforting his student like that was perfectly natural.

Maybe… maybe this world wasn't so terrible…

"Yeah… and the five of us will figure out a way to get home," he assured her, already thinking about what he would need in terms of supplies to begin work on a hyperdrive. The Coaxium was a problem but he was sure if he could just get the engine figured out…

It was naïve vain hopes. He knew. They all knew it. But he still couldn't stop himself from thinking of such useless plans.

The five of them were seated in Nedzu's office, alongside Aizawa, Nemuri, a man who dressed like a bounty hunter and only gave his name as 'Snipe', and a being that despite looking like an alien made of flat stone had informed them he was indeed human and went by Ishiyama. They were drinking tea and discussing both the galaxy they had come from and the planet they found themselves on now when Anakin had suffered his brief panic attack when the gathered teachers had admitted they'd never heard of Coaxium and that travel at lightspeed was seen as impossible.

Nedzu smiled as he looked back at Obi Wan and Padme, the latter taking her seat once more. "As startling as this is for all of you please remember that it is world shaking for us as well. Mankind was in the middle of exploring its Solar System when the Dawn of Quirks occurred and that caused us to pull back. To know that is another galaxy out there where spacefight isn't just known but commonly used, where there in an entire government made up of thousands of planets? It is simply amazing."

Obi Wan quietly nodded. He had looked at all the phones of space that Nedzu had been able to pull up and recognized not a single cluster of stars. He didn't know how… but they weren't even in their own galaxy anymore.

"I'm interested in this Force," Aizawa said. He was on one of the other couches that had been brought into the office so that everyone could have a seat, slouching so much he looked ready to slide right off the furniture to the floor. Nemuri was seated next to him and Ishiyama was sitting in a chair, with Snipe and Rex both choosing to lean against walls; neither was trying to hide the fact that they were studying the other and their weapons. "You say what we do is impossible but all the powers you Jedi have…"

"All can be explained by the Force," Anakin said. "And everyone has basically the same powers. You guys are… a grab bag." He waved his hand at the teachers. "Knock out gas, erasing Quirks, able to move blaster fire at any visible target, manipulating cement…" He shook his head before pointing at Nedzu. "At least your power makes sense!"

"Thank you!" Nedzu said happily. "I do so appreciate when people see my value."

"And this Force isn't?" Aizawa asked. "Each of us has a single power. You Jedi have an entire catalog."

"I must admit it does seem rather odd," Ishiyama chimed in. "I can't imagine having so many powers, vastly different and unconnected."

Padme smiled. "Well, I personally find it rather amazing just how many people on this world have Quirks. It certainly isn't like that where we come from."

"The Force isn't commonly used?" Nemuri asked.

"Oh no!" Padme said with a light laugh. "Less than 1% of people in the Galaxy are strong enough to use the Force."

"Everyone is connected to the Force though," Obi Wan explained.

"Even us?" Aizawa asked.

"Yes," Obi Wan said with a quick nod. "I can sense you quite easily. For most of the Galaxy though the Force merely is a part of life, no different than gravity. They can't alter it or affect it… it is merely there. A rare few however are more highly attuned to the Force and thus can manipulate it. We call them Force Sensitive."

"And they are trained to be Jedi?" Snipe asked.

"Some are," Obi Wan admitted. "Others simply live their lives. And some…" he trailed off, thinking of Dooku and Ventress. "Some use the Force for dark ends. The Jedi use the light side of the Force: to defend and protect and aid. Others use the dark side: for destruction and violence."

"Same with Quirks," Nemuri murmured.

"Is there a way to determine if someone can use the Force?" Nedzu asked, his tail wiggling in excitement. "For example, is there a test to see if I could use the Force?"

"There are a few ways," Obi Wan said. "Anakin and myself would be able to sense of strong Force presence, especially if one was using the Force without realizing it. The other way, which we could not perform as I lack the equipment, would be a blood scan for Midi-chlorians."

"Mid… what now?" Snipe asked, confusion clear in his tone.

"Midi-chlorians," Obi Wan said with a sigh, one that spoke of a topic long discussed with little movement or growth. "A terribly misunderstood subject, I am afraid. Even among most Jedi they aren't understood. Many misunderstandings too. To keep it simple they are microscopic organisms found in the cells of all beings. Those that are more in tune with the Force provide a better… well…. breeding ground for them. Thus one that has more midi-chlorians in their blood would show a better aptitude towards the Force."

"Something to study later on, perhaps," Nemuri said before Nedzu could open his mouth to ask for more information; she knew her employer and if he wasn't cut off they'd be there for honors.

"Yes… yes I suppose so," the Principal said sadly before looking at Padme. "So in your galaxy nearly everyone is Quirkless?"

"Yes," Padme said. "There are species that have natural abilities different from others… faster, stronger, better senses. There is a species known as the Hutts that have developed flesh that can't be damaged by blaster fire."

"They also developed a lovely odor," Ahsoka said with a scoff, Anakin chuckling at that.

"But that is for the entire species," Padme finished. "Quirks are far more common here?"

"Very much so!" Nedzu informed her. "While at the Dawn of Quirks they were rather rare in this day and age 80% of everyone born possesses a Qurik! Even some animals have begun to gain quirks… it might shock you to learn that I have a quirk!"

Obi Wan gave a polite chuckle at that joke.

Anakin though grimaced. "Not sure that's a great thing. Not the animal thing… rather I can't imagine 80% of the population having Jedi powers."

"Ah, but you have only seen the rather powerful Quirks my staff and I possess. Most quirks are actually rather weak." He gestured at Padme. "For example, you could have been born with a quirk that allows you to change the color of your fingernails. Or allowed your hair to produce a mild static charge. Other people merely gain animal features. Some have quirks so passive that they might as well be quirkless… sadly that doesn't stop discrimination against quirks and the quirkless."

"Is there a limit to what they can do?" Obi Wan asked. "What about power levels? Is there a way to classify Quirks?"

Nedzu's eyes flashed. "Oh yes."

"I'm going to take a nap if he's going to ramble," Aizawa complained as Nedzu hopped up onto his desk.

"There are three classifications for Quirks, though there is much debate about if these categories should be more defined… I won't get into that now as we have much to discuss still but it is rather fascinating." Anakin mentally decided that he was going to find any excuse NOT to listen to Nedzu's lecture (he'd sat through enough lectures from short little know-it-alls for a lifetime) while Obi Wan and to a lesser extent Padme looked rather interested; as such he began to look about the office, taking in everything. "The first is Mutation and it is probably the most common quirk type. Ishiyama was a bit incorrect when he said he didn't know how he would handle two types of Quirks as technically speaking he does have two, even if the academics don't want to admit as much. The first is his Mutation quirk, which altered his physical appearance. It is quite passive though so no one really thinks about it as a quirk." He looked over at Ahsoka. "You, young lady, will be seen as having a Mutation rather than being an alien species and thus have no need to worry about people screaming in terror at the sight of you. You'll get a few stares but that will quickly pass."

Ahsoka shrugged at that. "Hey, I've dealt with worse."

"The second are Transformation quirks. They allows someone to alter how they look or aspects of their form. For example someone might be able to turn their limbs into vines but then revert them back. Transformation has been considered a cousin of sorts to Mutations, and thus why I argue that merely lumping so many quirks into one of the other is a mistake. Why, there are people who have Mutation quirks and Transformation quirks! And finally there is Emitter, which I do believe is what we will claim the three of you have," he gestured at Anakin, Obi Wan, and Ahsoka. "They can manipulate things, create things… as you can see it isn't a great classification system. I for one have created one that has 12 different types though I am debating about adding two more…"

"Fascinating," Obi Wan said. "I assume that there are subdivisions to those 12?"

"Why yes!" Nedzu said, excitedly. He went to gather his notes on his classification system only for Anakin to cut him off.

"Wait… what do you mean say we have Emitter Quirks?"

"Why, to explain how you do the things you do, of course!" Nedzu stated happily. "I would think you would prefer to keep a low profile and not be examined due to being aliens." Something… dark… flickered in the principal's eyes. "Believe me, I know what it is like to be seen as different and have humanity decide they must take you apart to understand why that is."

Obi Wan nodded. "A thoughtful suggestion. It is becoming more clear we may be permanent guests on your planet. It would be best to blend in."

"Indeed!" Nedzu stated.

"So you will be providing housing and an allowance to us, I assume?" Padme said and Anakin reached up to rub his face, desperate to hide his smile because he could tell from that tone Padme was gearing up for a debate and no matter how smart the rat-mouse-bear-dog was he wasn't beating Anakin's wife.

"Well," Nedzu began, clearly surprised by her comment.

"Because I would think you'd rather us be cared for so we could properly learn about this world and find ways to fit into it rather than bumbling about. Far better we be given the time to have our cover stories created and be made convincing than to allow us to bumble about and reveal our existence… and that your school knew about us but didn't say a word. One wrong move would destroy us all, correct?"

"…quite," Nedzu said even as Nemuri let out a whistle of respect and appreciation for Padme's line of thought. "Now-"

"Furthermore," Padme said and what followed was the most bloodless savage battle any of those in the room had ever seen. Padme and Nedzu, once he got over his surprise at just how fierce the woman was, went back and forth for over an hour, finalizing everything from where they were going to live, access to the school, and what would and would not be allowed when it came to examining the new arrivals. Obi Wan occasionally chimed in, playing peacekeeper, but for the most part 'The Negotiator' allowed Padme to take the lead.

Finally a deal was fully struck. The group would get an allowance for food and supplies that could be attributed to their acclamation into the world. In exchange they would provide, via Anakin, some designs for technology that the school could then sell that would help improve Earth's technology as well as help the school itself teach the students. All of them agreed to see the school nurse, someone called Recovery Girl, who would examine them but any samples taken would never leave Obi Wan's sight and be destroyed once testing was done.

"Now, before we discuss your cover stories I suppose we should go over living arrangements," Nedzu stated, seeing that all the teachers and most of their guests were growing tired. "That of course can be covered after we see Lunch Rush for some food, as I am sure you are all quite hungry. But I would like to nail down how many apartments we will need for you all so I can begin the process of securing them. You'll want to be all close to each other?"

"Yes," Rex of all people said. "I don't feel comfortable leaving the Generals by themselves, nor the Senator."

"Of course. So an apartment for you, Captain. One for Kenobi as well. Young Tano I believe should either stay with Kenobi or Skywalker; we can easily make the paperwork state that she is an adopted cousin. And Amidala and Skywalker will of course share an apartment."

Anakin and Padme's eyes went wide at that.

"Uh… why would… why would you think we'd share?" Padme got out.

Nedzu smiled, rather gleeful he could get revenge for Padme earlier startling him. "Because I would never demand a married couple be separated. That would be cruel!"

Anakin went utterly pale and Padme was as rigid as durasteel.

"I'm sorry," Nedzu said with a smile that showed he really wasn't, "was that a secret? I can never tell what is and isn't supposed to be revealed when it comes to human mating habits… it is always rather confusing to me."

Obi Wan cleared his throat. "Would you mind terribly giving us a moment of privacy?"

"But of course," Nedzu said, hopping off his desk and motioning for the other teachers to follow him. "Let us go see what Lunch Rush can make for our guests… I am thinking it would be wise to have a wide selection, so they might sample what Earth has to offer. I am in the mood for a cheese burrito myself. Normally I don't indulge but-"

The door clicked shut, cutting off the rest of Nedzu's comments, leaving Anakin sitting out the couch unable to look at his former master.

"Is… is it true, sir?" Rex finally asked.

"…yeah Rex, it is." There was no reason to deny it.

"Oh Anakin," Obi Wan said, rising from his chair.

"Obi Wan, please," Padme pleaded. "Hear us out. We can explain."

The Jedi Master though shook his head in frustration. "What a fine mess… a fine mess. You couldn't have denied it, Anakin? At least until we were sure Ahsoka understood she couldn't say a word should we ever leave here this planet."

"I would never tattle on my master," the Padawan said fiercely.

"Thanks Snips," Anakin said softly before suddenly snapping his head up. "Wait… you're worried about Ahsoka telling?"

"Of course. Or at least I was. But she has given her word and I doubt she will break it. And that is assuming we ever find a way to leave and I have already begun to accept we never will-"

Anakin cut him off. "Obi Wan… what about you?"

"What about me?" he asked.

Padme spoke up. "Did… did you know about us?"

He looked at the two before a small smile formed on his lips.

"You knew?!" Anakin exclaimed, leaping to his feet. "How… how did you know? WHEN did you know?"

"Anakin, I have raised you since you were 10 years old. We have scarcely been parted for more than a few days, a week at most, until you were knighted and even then we were in contact constantly. Do you honestly believe I didn't notice how you seemed to walk on air after returning to Naboo? When we were tasked with protecting the Senator I could feel the Force HOWLING with your desperate need to see her again. Then you return after escorting her to Naboo and you were so calm. It was clear as day to me what had happened."

He paused.

"Also it wasn't wise to have C-3PO as your witness. You're lucky I deleted that memory from him before he blabbed it to the world."

"I warned you that would happen," Padme said with a slight smile as she glanced at Anakin. She stood up and walked over to her husband, taking his hand. "You… you truly don't mind?"

Obi Wan let out a sigh. "At first… I admit I was upset. You must understand that I was raised in the temple, left there as an infant. The concept of marriage was something I thought about, I admit… there was a time I even-" He swallowed before shaking his head. "That doesn't matter, it will never come to pass. Even before we found ourselves trapped her… that choice was never an option for me. What does matter is that I was upset but mostly with myself. I thought I had failed you, that I hadn't been a proper teacher."

"Master," Anakin said, taking a step forward. He had feared many things should Obi Wan learn the truth but him blaming himself? Anakin had never considered that and he couldn't let it stand. "No. This-"

"I know, Anakin, I know," Obi Wan said. "I meditated often during the start of the war, you must remember that. I was seeking answers. I didn't find them there but I did through seeing you. Suddenly so many of the problems I had seen in you, that had made me fearful of you straying from being the Jedi I knew you could be… disappeared. Padme… she anchors you to the light. The only time I saw you waver was when you were forced to hide the depths of your feelings for her." He smiled and walked up to the two of them, placing a hand on each's shoulder. "Jedi are allowed things to remind them of where they came from. Emblems and trinkets and such of their culture. We do not scorn them for that. You were always different Anakin… and I came to see that you needed a different way to be a Jedi."

Anakin swallowed. He'd always wanted Obi Wan to say that to him. To tell him that he understood and didn't hate him for loving Padme. But even as he heard those words doubt filled him and drove him to speak. "What about what you said when we were investigating Padme's near assassination? Or when you told me I'd be kicked out of the Jedi Order if I went after her on Geonosis?"

"Those were still true, Anakin," Obi Wan said. "The Council would have forced you out of the Order. But… you misunderstood. That is my fault too… I was trying to be subtle-"

"And that isn't my strong suit?" Anakin said with a slight smile.

"Well, I wasn't going to say it…" he chuckled before growing serious. "I was not saying you shouldn't love her… I was asking you to be careful how you did. In the elevator there were cameras all over. I worried you would say the wrong thing, it would be discovered, and I wouldn't be able to cover for you. As for Geonosis?" He sighed, shaking his head as he thought about that flight after Dooku, when they'd escaped the arena. "Had you abandoned the chase for Dooku the clone troopers would have been forced to explain why. Padme was fine… we both sensed it. It would have been seen as you abandoning your duty and the Council would have seen your attachment to her as the reason for that. Master Windu and several of the more ardent followers of the Jedi code have been waiting for us to fail; yes, both of us. They didn't like me disobeying Yoda and demanding I train you. Both of us have been watched, Anakin."

"…you were protecting me," Anakin whispered, his heart thundering as the secret wishes he'd made in the dark just before he fell asleep came true. How he had longed for Obi Wan to just UNDERSTAND.

"I have been protecting you quite a bit," Obi Wan said with a sly smile. "Why do you think I never commented when you were late for meetings with me? Or covered for you when you were drawn away? I deleted comm. logs and made sure any holofeeds were scrubbed. You ensured I didn't have much free time, Anakin, and there wasn't much of that to begin with when it came to the war!"

Padme laughed at that. "We thought we were being so careful…"

"You were. I just… wanted to help."

Ahsoka though frowned. "But why not just tell him?"

Anakin though was the one that spoke up. "Because if you didn't know 100% it was true… you could lie without the Council realizing it."

Obi Wan nodded, relieved Anakin had grasped onto his reasoning. "They would have sensed it if I knew I was lying. While I was sure you two were together I wasn't sure. So stating you were merely good friends… that was the truth." He paused. "From a certain point of view."

Anakin licked his lips. "And… you truly don't mind?"

"I truly don't, Anakin. Half a decade ago? Oh yes… I would have been quite angry. But what happened with Dooku? The war? It made me see things far differently. Made me realize that the Jedi way isn't always right. That there is more… gray in the world. But gray is not evil." He squeezed Anakin's shoulder. "I am only sorry that I caused you to fear my reaction."

The younger Jedi looked at Obi Wan before suddenly lunging forward and giving him a hug, Obi Wan quickly returning it.

Padme, in turn, looked at Ahsoka and Rex. "And you two won't say anything?"

"Who would we tell, Senator?" Rex asked and she blinked before realizing that… well, yes, trapped on this planet it really didn't matter who knew. She was already coming to accept they might be stuck there forever, with no hope of ever returning to their galaxy. So why fear a scandal that could never come? The Queen? The citizens of Naboo? They were in a galaxy far, far away.

Ahsoka shrugged, leaning back on the couch. "Hey, Skyguy is already an unconventional teacher. What's one more thing."

"Thanks Snips," Anakin said, finally releasing Obi Wan though he did keep his arm slung around his best friend's middle. Honestly it felt like someone had removed a Hutt that had been squatting on his stomach; Anakin hadn't felt so relaxed and relieved.

"No problem." Her eyes lit up with mischief. "And hey… this means I can-"

"Nope!" Anakin quickly exclaimed.

"Why not?"

"Because you are not dating any boys, period!" Anakin scolded her. "As your master I forbid it."

"Yes, because that worked for me," Obi Wan teased him.

Ahsoka shrugged. "That's okay… wasn't just boys I was interested in anyway."

Anakin's jaw dropped at that before he pulled away from Obi Wan, threading his fingers through his hair. "I am NOT old enough for this discussion."

He ignored the others as they laughed.