First chap = disclaimer

My apologies for the late posting, job hunting takes up too much of my time. As a result, my fics do not get updated.

Okay, this is finally going to be coming to an end in a few chapters. I'd like to thank all of my reviewers past and present. Especially those like Cammy who have stuck through this whole thing.

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Ani growled in frustration as the Falcon took off. Xanatos and his merry party of "Jedi" had already recuperated and were starting their pursuit. If Ani's memory served, the Falcon would inevitably have some problem that would make escape difficult. With a determined clip to his stride, he went up to the cockpit. He made no sound as he slipped into the co-pilots chair where Chewie usually sat.

Han glanced up once but said nothing. Mara had noticed the movement and slipped quietly to one Gun turret while Bant went to the other.

Leia and Tenel Ka sat down Behind Ani and Han in the cockpit.

"I hope that Kenobi didn't exaggerate your piloting skills." Leia stated as the first enemy ship streaked by.

"Obi-Wan never exaggerates. He just says thing from a certain point of view, and his view on this subject is correct, if a little understated."

"Smugness is not an attractive quality in a warrior." Tenel Ka observed.

"No, but self-assurance is. And I've never met a ship that didn't like me."

A strained silence occurred as the first ship began firing at them. Wile Han flew his ship, Ani quietly assumed the tasks of the co-pilot. The Force pulsed around him as he struggled to reach the point of harmony that Chewie always had when flying with Han.

Ani dimly heard the sound of blaster firing as he and Han maneuvered the ship. What they needed to do was get the Falcon to a place where they could jump to hyperspace without running into any other ships or planets etc. Unfortunately, that was not an easy task.

As a ship exploded off of their bow, Ani's brain automatically wondered who they hot shot down. What former Jedi had just been killed?

He shook his head imperceptibly. It did not matter. Later was the time to grieve. Now was the time to focus on staying alive.

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Luke frowned as they went over the final battle plans. "I'm not sure that I like the idea of being in charge of the space battle. I have a lot more experience taking care of Callista than you do, Ben."

"That may be true, but I did not make it through the Clone Wars for my ability to prevaricate. Luke, there are going to be hundreds of well trained Jedi on that planet. You know how one fights. I will know the skills of many on sight. That will be an advantage. You, on the other hand, are the best pilot we have. You are familiar with the ships we own. You have squadron experience. The plan makes the most sense as it is."

Luke sighed, "I know it is just that…"

"You feel that you are at fault for Callista and should be the one to fight her?" Qui-Gon interjected his voice into the conversation.

Luke looked at Qui-Gon then at Obi-Wan, "I don't know how the Council handled to two of you."

"We took headache medication and sent them away as often as possible," Mace replied.

"Yes, well the headache medication was the result of your brain attempting to think logically instead of politically, Mace," Qui-Gon shot back.

"Enough of this prattle. Concentrate on the Force, you should. Dangerous this mission will be."

"A fact that we are all aware of, I assure you Master Yoda," Kyp commented from where he was sulking. He was even less fond of the fact that he would be in the space battle instead of the ground battle than Luke was.

Yoda merely nodded, "Division we cannot have. Fight amongst ourselves we cannot until finished this battle is."

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(an hour or so later)

Anakin sighed as he began the fifth Kata. It normally helped to clear his mind, but today it did little but aggravate him as he attempted the movements. A soft whisper issued into the small practice room as a visitor entered.

"Forgive me if I'm wrong, but isn't the purpose of those exercises to build gracefulness?" Jacen asked as he observed Anakin.

Anakin stopped, "Even the best trained are sometimes unbalanced. What is it you want, Jacen?"

"Your 'Master' sent me to check on you. Apparently, he doesn't think you can quite look at him right now."

A faint blush crept onto Anakin's face, "Um, yeah, I'm still kinda having problems with the whole Jaina thing."

Jacen sighed, "Tell me about it. But, I think that Obi-Wan wanted me to talk to you about something else."

"What?" Anakin's voice didn't sound all that questioning.

"Anakin, your connection to the Force is somewhat, shall I say, strained. Obi-Wan is concerned about sending you into battle when you're unbalanced."

Anakin frowned, "I know, I just don't know what is causing it. I'm not angry, and I've done all of the exercises to center myself."

Jacen looked at his brother's face, "Anakin, Obi-Wan has a theory about what it might be. Under the current circumstance with Jaina, he felt that he couldn't tell you. Apparently, he thinks that you've developed a working bond with Tahiri, and it isn't quite complete."

Anakin's eyebrows knit together, "For as little time as Tahiri and I have known each other, a working bond would be extremely rare. They usually only form between Knights or Masters that have worked together for long periods of time or have become lovers."

"I thought that Tahiri was your girlfriend."

"She is, but working bonds require a very deep level of intimate intellectual contact. The old Masters theorized that a part of your soul was shared or some such nonsense."

"So you have to be to that stage where you finish each other's sentences and dress alike without knowing?"

"I supposed that is a way to put it, although, dressing alike isn't that special when you're a Jedi."

Jacen nodded, "I get it. The question is, how do you stabilize this bond?"

Anakin smiled, "Actually, all we need to do is meditate together and smooth out the ripples in the Force between us. An unconscious bond causes your connection to the Force to malfunction. You haven't acknowledged its presence, so your mind automatically attempts to shield itself for the invading contact."

Jacen sighed, "I hate it when you morph into a solemn Jedi on me. When I came in here, you were my fumbling little brother. Now you're spouting about theories on intricacies in the Force."

"A burden you must bear. However, I do thank you for your assistance," Anakin said in mock pompous tone.

Jacen laughed, "Get going and go meditate and whatever with Tahiri."

"I think I shall, good Sir."

With that, Anakin left. Jacen shook his head. It was a perverse thing to be happy about, but it was nice to know the "old school" Jedi were not as all seeing as they thought.