A/N: Hello everyone! I am glad to bring you a quick update this time.

Jedi Knight Leia Skywalker: Well, we'll find out eventually… but I have given some clues ;) Upstart Psycho: Thank you so much! Also, this is the same guy who knew he had to fight Darth Vader, pretty much left planning until the night before, and then decided his plan was "Make him like me and turn him to the light side" Like, I know it worked, but that was an insane plan. I love that kid so much. DS2010: I'm glad you liked it. I hope you like this one as well :) Charlie Hayden: Someone definitely needs to. But then, part of his offer was keeping from them if at all possible, because he knows it would upset everyone. Oohh… I kinda like your idea… :) Courtesy Trefflin: Yoda did give some pretty dire warnings… Well, we'll see. Luke's pretty sure he's right; after all, he has been so far…

I do not own Star Wars or it's characters.

Chapter 34

It had taken another week and a half to get everything set up, even with them rushing and the doctor pulling on favors. However, finally everything was in place.

The plan was to turn off the cameras, break him out, get him to Ahsoka's ship, and then they would go to a neutral Outer Rim hospital to complete his treatment. Luke would remain behind to smooth things over. A request for transfer sat in an outgoing folder, for them to have conveniently "forgot" to send in. Actually sending it in would only get it denied. Better to just claim they thought they did.

Ahsoka had told Luke they would go to Mustafar first, but she had absolutely no intention of actually doing it. He was wrong. Anakin was too fragile, and should not set foot on that planet, or go anywhere remotely near it. Maybe she could pump him for information on exactly what security they needed to be so careful of, then she could send that to Luke, and he could go. Yes, Luke and Rex would be a good team, certainly good enough to get into an unguarded, empty castle, regardless of the automated security on site. If they needed more people, there was always Han, or maybe Hera's crew, if she was still willing to talk to them.

Anakin… just couldn't. There was no way.

Quietly she entered the unguarded brig and made her way to his cell.

Anakin was asleep inside, curled on the short, hard bunk under a thin blanket. He had a hard time sleeping most of the time, and Ahsoka hated to wake him, but it was necessary. A gentle mental nudge roused him, and Anakin sat up, regarding her through bleary, half-closed eyes.

"What's going on?"

"You're coming with me."

She saw him look up, saw the realization dawn on him of what was happening as he doubtless saw that the lights weren't glowing on the cameras. Then he looked back at her.

Yeah, see? She thought, Everything's okay. We have your back. You have people you can trust, and we're going to get you out of here.

"No." He said, lying back down.

Everything will be fine once we're on the ship, and- "What do you mean 'No?!"

"Exactly what I said. I'm not taking part in this."

"Get up, right now. We're leaving. Luke and Dr. Garul have arranged treatment for you in a neutral hospital. We need to leave right now." She continued when he didn't move, pleading. "You can't stay here; it's killing you."

"Where are we going?" He wasn't looking at her, just staring at the ceiling above him.

"I just told you."

"No. After that."

After that? She wasn't sure. Somewhere else, that's for sure. Some town or out of the way planet where they could wait out the war. "I don't understand."

"I imagine you mean to take me to some quiet place, somewhere you think we will be safe." He paused. "Ahsoka, do you know how to hunt a Jedi?"

She shook her head. Her focus wasn't on the conversation; it was on the clock, the ticking clock and their closing window of opportunity to get him out of here. "No."

"You wait. You just wait. Sooner or later they reveal themselves. They may help someone, or defend themselves… perhaps just display their abilities in some out of the way place where they think no one will see. But they will reveal themselves. It is their nature."

There were no more Inquisitors, no Jedi hunters. She didn't see what he was getting at. "What's your point?"

"How long do you think you can hide? How long could you keep from using your abilities?"

"I've survived."

He seemed to ponder that, then continued. "How long could I? This isn't the only violent place; the Galaxy is full of war, injustice and death. Why do you think it would be any better?"

Their window was closing. "Anakin, we need to go. You'll be fine, I'm sure. Do you really want to sit here until the end of the war?"

Anakin sighed, stood, walked to the wall on the inside from the door control, and removed a panel with a quick wrench of his arm. He unplugged a wire, and the shield blinked off.

She stared as Anakin's gaze returned to her. "What? How…"

He started to stalk closer, walking easily out of the cell. "This is an old ship. It has weaknesses, repairs. I don't stay anywhere that I can't leave."

"But…" He had been staying in there voluntarily? Why? Why wouldn't he leave now? WHY?

He continued. "You two aren't very good at politics."

Ahsoka exploded, hissing since she couldn't very well yell right now. "Politics? Who cares about politics? I'm trying to help you! Politics was half of what was wrong with the Order in the first place!"

He shook his head fondly, as if he was once more teaching his young padawan something obvious. "The Order needs the Republic, Ahsoka. What you two are doing right now will simply drive a wedge between you. Without allying with the Republic, without funding, and protection, the Jedi will die." He paused, hands going behind his back. "You must learn to play the game. Watch. Listen. Observe everything. Never waste an opportunity or a piece of information. That is how you survive." He walked back into the cell. With a wave of his hand the wire and panel were back in place, the ray shield resumed its harsh, constant hum, and there was no sign that the prisoner could just walk out at any time. "Get approval, then I'll come with you." He admonished her, then returned to his bunk and lay down.

Ahsoka was livid. She considered forcing him to come with her, but how? He was taller, stronger, stronger in the Force… She could threaten him with a weapon, but he would know the threat was empty. She wouldn't hurt him. So, with no choice left, she turned and walked out.

Once safely away, she contacted Luke through their bond. "Hey, you forgot a factor in that plan of yours."

"I can't think of anything… the route's clear, the cameras are off… everything's arranged for when you arrive."

"You forgot about your father."

"…What?"

"He refuses to leave his cell."

There was silence. It went on long enough that Ahsoka started to think he wasn't going to respond, then his voice reappeared.

"Blast."

Anakin was thrilled. It was the next morning, and while he was exhausted from having Ahsoka interrupt his sleep for a ridiculous childish plot, soldiers had come and escorted him, his hands cuffed behind his back this time, to Mothma's office. Then they left.

She wanted to meet with him.

Alone.

It was a nice enough office, with pictures on the walls, a patterned carpet laid on the floor, but the furniture was utilitarian, without trim, and showed wear from much use. There was doubtless normally a second chair across her desk for visitors, but it had been removed and he was obliged to stand, an obvious power play. Looking around, Anakin observed that the cameras' lights weren't on.

Mon sat at her desk. After her men walked out she drew his attention to a button on her desk, laying a finger on it. "My hand will remain here for our entire meeting. One wrong move, and this will bring them running back in here. You will be returned to your cell, and our business will be concluded. Permanently."

Outwardly, he remained impassive, his face set. Inwardly, he smiled. Apparently he had made an impression last time. She knew what he could do, that he didn't need to be free to use the Force.

And yet she had chosen to meet with him, alone, with no cameras, and no recordings of what transpired here.

The cuffs didn't matter, and neither did that button. He had won.

"Do you understand?"

Oh, he understood. Better than she did, he understood. "Yes."

There was a pause, during which it seemed like she might look at a pad, then thought better of it, choosing instead to keep her full attention on the wild rancor effectively loose in her office. "There will be nothing in writing, you understand, but we are willing to concede to your demands."

"All of them?"

She nodded. "The logistics may be difficult, and we cannot do much of it until the war is over, but if you will hold up your end of the bargain, we will hold ours." She paused, then continued in her clipped, cultured soft voice. "They are relatively reasonable after all, and you are not asking us to be lenient with you. That, we are not prepared to do."

"Of course not." He was a traitor. He would be dealt with as one.

"So," Now she moved, taking a pad from her desk and pushing it to the other side, "Since you have what you want, we can have what we want. I'll have those answers now."

She still didn't get it. But then, he hadn't meant for them to. He had meant to ease them into his plan gradually, and it had gone off perfectly. They had come around to pretending to accede to his demands, now he could ensure they would actually stick to them. "No."

"No?" She was shocked, and while she was a skilled politician who, like him, let nothing show on her face, her untrained mind couldn't help sending ripples of her true emotions into the Force.

Watch. Listen. He had survived in Palpatine's court, a cutthroat world but a good and effective school. Observe everything. Press every advantage. Play the game.

She had kept him standing, a display of his powerlessness and subservience. Instead, he was standing, above her, powerful, in control. He straightened, subtlety emphasizing that power in his stance and demeanor.

"You will say anything you want to me, but promises to traitors and prisoners mean nothing. You won't keep it. I don't want you to promise to me. I want you to promise to them." He paused. "I want unlimited, unconditional financial and political support for the Jedi. I want the Organa money to go to Leia, and I want rights, pension, and backpay for all surviving clones. The Republic needs the Jedi. You will not risk angering or alienating them."

"So what do you want us to do, Skywalker?" He could hear the frustration in her voice, but there was nothing she could do.

He had always enjoyed playing with his food, the rush of his target's helpless anger when he backed them into a corner, a feeling of power that he could never have in his master's company, but he kept a smile of enjoyment from his face. There was no mask now to hide it.

It was time to give her her orders, then return to his cell to wait for results. "You will promise these things to them, a sign of good faith and friendship. It will grow their loyalty to the Republic, and you care about them, so you will stick to it and carry out your promises. When I hear from them that these promises have been made, we will have a deal. You don't have to worry about me holding to my end. I will."

"Very well." Mothma pressed the button, and the soldiers instantly returned. They must have been waiting just outside the door. She continued, "Our business in concluded. He can go back to his cell now."

It was, but he had one last thing to say, one last demand, "You really should release me. You're not making the Jedi very happy. I've had to foil one rescue attempt already."

"We will take that under consideration."

It felt good to win.

Ahsoka and Luke were shocked when, a few days later, while they were still scrambling to find a new plan (knocking Anakin out was floated as an option, but they decided it would be too difficult to carry him to the ship) a memo came down with a final decision on Anakin's situation. "In light of information from the investigation," it said, "As well as the official report of the other parties present, it has been determined that there was no improper action taken."

They couldn't believe it, but couldn't find any information on how this remarkable conclusion had come about.

Anakin was free and released back to his own quarters, accompanied by R2 who kept right by him and periodically released adoring beeps, expressing how much it had missed him. He petted its dome, telling it he had missed it too.

The first thing he did once back in his quarters was take a shower, heavenly after weeks without washing. Then he got dressed in fresh clothes and considered his next move. It was nice, being clean again, free to go where he wished, though he knew his movements were still heavily monitored.

Well, let some hapless Rebel waste his time following him. Whoever it was would find it a boring assignment.

His beard, what there was of it, was getting itchy, and he saw no need to let the hair on his head grow in in small patches. He would simply shave everything until it had all returned.

He tried not to think about everything else that shaving would mean as he went to the commissary for the necessary supplies, mind tricking the rodian at the counter into forgetting him to avoid rumors spreading. Still he felt his heart thudding in his chest, the small package like lead in his pocket and growing heavier the closer he got to his quarters.

Once he had returned he stood in the main room for a moment, just breathing. It was time, but he didn't know if he was ready, even now.

He drew the mirror out from behind the dresser with his hands, careful to keep it facing away from him, then carried it to the bathroom. There, he stared at the space where it belonged, still hesitant, still remembering the sight of his reflection many years ago, what his mangled, mutilated face looked like since the Mustafar lava.

You're better now.

It's in the past.

It's just some glass and an image.

Finally, swallowing down his fear and dread, he returned to the other room and turned and hung the mirror with the Force. He had gotten it out by hand, but he didn't want to see his reflection until he was ready.

It was time.

He approached it with his eyes closed, finding his way by Sense rather than sight.

Then standing in front of it, ready to bolt, forcing himself to stand there, he opened them.

What greeted his gaze, was a face. Not the mutilated ruin it had been before, certainly not the handsome youth he had left on Mustafar. Just… a face.

There were still scars, but they were greatly reduced, with the effectiveness of the treatments revealed in broad swaths of unscarred skin on sections of his cheeks, neck, and scalp. The scar under his eye, the horrible, raised wheal in the shape of a crescent that had been the worst of his facial scars, had been reduced to a wide line, flush with the skin around it. His skin was pale pink and normal: no raised, dark veins, no shadowy, cavernous circles around his eyes. Those eyes were blue again, not gold. No physical signs remained of Dark Side corruption.

There were wrinkles now. Not many, as his skin had been well protected from the sun for a long time, but he had a few near his eyes, on his forehead, and around his mouth. His jaw was fleshier too, older.

The worst damage was still his ears, little more than holes in his head with raised masses of scar tissue revealing where the remainder had once been.

Still, it was hard to feel much connection to it. It was just a face, not one that felt like him. That did make it easier to look at, but he didn't really understand why. It was his face, he knew it was his face, so why did he feel like he was looking at another person?

Oh well. So little made sense these days. Struggling to remember how to use the razor and cream, he commenced to shaving that stranger's face, hoping he wouldn't cut himself.

Being fully and completely out of practice, he did.

A lot.

To the Jedi's great surprise, when they finally sent in the transfer request at Anakin's urging, that too was approved after a brief delay. Quite, and oddly suddenly, everything seemed to be falling into place perfectly with no trouble whatsoever. Still, Ahsoka and Luke were too desperate at this point to bother looking at gift horses' teeth. They just wanted to get Anakin out of the Alliance fleet as fast as possible before leadership changed their minds.

There was a requirement that they submit a report every day, and frequently check in via holo to ensure security, but the Jedi were only too eager to agree to those terms. Anakin too, demanded a promise that the twins would let him know of any developments with contacting the Amidalas, so that he could be certain of coming along when they eventually went for a visit, and too let him know when they scheduled Leia's wedding, so he could be there.

They could see it hurt him to leave his children, he spent as much time saying goodbye to Leia as she would tolerate, and he hugged Luke for close to a minute and boarded the ship only hesitantly. Luke could not come. He had work to do on the fleet, as well as Jedi business that he hoped would develop soon. With Ahsoka leaving, all of the work of finding and training any potential new Jedi, as well as continuing the search for Ezra fell squarely on his shoulders.

After they left, Ahsoka set the coordinates for the station they were going to, and they settled in for the long wait. Someone always needed to stay at the controls in case an emergency came up, but thankfully they were both excellent pilots so they could easily switch off throughout the flight.

He waited for a good opportunity, then quietly, while Ahsoka was in the other room, Anakin changed the flight path and target coordinates. She meant well, but they needed those records, and he had his own business.

It was time to go to Mustafar.

He was going home.