Author's Note: Alright, that last chapter was absolutely brutal to write. I'll probably have some revisions to it later. First off, from now on (hopefully) I'll have Anakin Skywalker as Ani or Skywalker, and Anakin Solo as Anakin. Kill me if I ever write with two characters with the same name again. Second, I'm sorry for the lack of updates, it's been crazy around here, and I do appreciate your patience. Third, the story will start speeding up from here, so hold on to your butts.

9

Before the pair could reach the bottom of the stairs, however, the sky flashed its brightest yet and the small house shook. Both Anakins were thrown to the floor, and Ani, hearing the rasp of breaking drywall, shielded his grandson with his body. Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity, the shaking stopped and Ani tried to get up.

"Are you alright?" Ani coughed down at his grandson, and, when the boy nodded, pushed himself up. "Padmé?"

"We're here." Padmé's voice was muffled, but she sounded unhurt. "Everyone's fine, thank the Force."

"Not to ruin this happy moment," Bail spoke up "but something tells me that staying in a house that looks like it's going to collapse isn't a smart thing."

"Alright, see you outside." Ani grabbed Anakin and teleported them out.

When the reappeared a short distance from the house, Anakin gaped at the landscape. The house was situated near a small lake, with rocky shores laced with pine trees. It was breathtaking.

"Anakin?" Ani called gently, bringing his grandson back to the present. Anakin spun around and trotted back to his grandfather.

As Ani opened his mouth to begin the introductions, a call went out in the Force. It was like a siren, calling and warning, unable to be ignored.

"Oh Sith…" Ani swore, he smiled weakly, "we'll make this quick. Anakin, this is Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Bail, Owen, Beru, and your grandmother Padmé." The smile got larger, "Got all that?"

"No." Anakin looked slightly confused.

"That's alright," Bail spoke up, "I've been hanging around your grandfather for twenty life-years and I still don't know why I'm doing it!"

Ani scowled, "Quiet you."

"Alright! Quiet down!" Mace Windu stood at the center of the Council room, gesturing for all present to be silent. The clamor of alarmed voices slowly obeyed, but the level of anxiety didn't recede. Ani laid a hand on his grandson's arm, soothing him.

"As you are aware of by now – unless you've hidden under a rock – the barrier keeping the Sith back has been breached. They have been slowly pushed out of their dimension by their own creatures, and coming closer to our realm."

"Translation?" Anakin whispered, glancing at his grandfather.

"We're about to be invaded"

"Ah, I see."

A voice spoke up from the other side of the amphitheater, "Are we helpless infants? We can defend ourselves! Perhaps, with the help of these freed creatures, we can defeat the Sith once and for all!"

Windu sighed, "Skywalker, you are-"

"Um, Master? I'm over here." Ani waved his hand around a bit, while the amphitheater shivered with laughter, relieving some of the tension.

The bald master glanced at him and chuckled, embarrassed. "So you are. My apologies; force of habit."

"Hey, no prob." Ani grinned.

Windu turned back to the one who had spoken, "Your name, Jedi?"

"Wurth Skidder."

Anakin cursed softly, "Sithspit."

Ani turned to him, "What's wrong? Do you know him?"

"Unfortunately. He was always toeing the light/dark boundary. If you want to see some pretty fancy stupidity, keep your eye on him."

"I see." Ani glanced at the young Jedi, standing proudly and attempting to stare down Mace Windu.

"Skidder," Mace sighed, "we could attack the Sith, we could possibly even wipe them out; but do not think, even for a moment, that the pets of the Sith would be content to stop there. We would only be aiding them."

"So your solution is to sit here and wait for the Sith and their pets to start harming the people here?" Skidder's voice couldn't have contained more scorn unless physically aided.

"No, young one. If you would let me finish..? Thank you." Windu raised his voice to address the entire assembly of Jedi, "Every battle ready Jedi is to report to a High Council member within the next two days. You will receive your assignments: where you will be posted, when you will patrol, etc, from them. The ultimate plan is to watch our boundaries and not be caught unaware when and if it comes down to war. Are there any questions? Good. Wait a second," Windu gave a placating gesture to those who were rising from their seats. "The High Council would like to meet with any Kenobi, Jinn, Skywalker, or any relation thereof before they leave. Now," the Master smiled, "you may go."

Ani leaned over his grandson to whisper to Obi-Wan, "What did we do now?"

"I have no idea, but whatever it is, it's all your fault."

When they had all assembled around the bald Jedi, he led them quietly into a side room. "Please," He gestured to an assortment of chairs, "sit."

"What's this about, Mace?" Qui-Gon inquired, leaning forward in his seat, frowning.

"The High Council wants me to remind you," he glanced hard at Ani, "that unprovoked agression is forbidden. Also-"

"Hey!" Ani interrupted, "Why me? It's Skidder who had better receive that message."

"I know, Skywalker, I know. Believe me, he will be closely observed. The Council is merely being cautious. Anyway, here are your formal assignments. Young Solo," Windu smiled at the youngest human present as he handed out datapads, "your arrival was unexpected, and there is no assignment for you. If you want one, a post with a family member can be arranged."

"Master Windu," Ani cocked an eyebrow at the Council member, "I have no assignment."

"I know," Windu hung his head for a moment. "You are to stay here."

Among the startled outcries, Qui-Gon asked, "Mace, are you joking?"

"Unfortunatly not."

"But he's the Chosen One!" Bail Organa cried.

Skywalker turned to him, "Not that I don't appreciate this, but why are you here?"

"He said relations could come." Bail looked innocent

"Last I checked, there was no blood connection between us. I was happy, you were happy-"

"I raised your daughter." Bail shrugged "That has to count for something."

"Ah, I see." Ani turned to Windu, "So why-"

"The High Council believes that if the – Vitru? – were to get a hold of you again, it could cause more than a simple tremor."

"The High Council is a bunch of idiots." Owen muttered. He glanced up and grinned, "Present company excluded, of course."

Windu nodded, a small smile pulling on his lips.

"Well, I guess that's it," Obi-Wan sighed, standing, "I have to get to my post."

"No." Mace smiled, holding up a hand, "Wait a moment."

"Alright…" Obi-Wan sat once more, frowning a little at the Council member's strange behavior.

"What is it, Mace?" Qui-Gon asked again.

"We have to wait for one more person to join us." The door swooshed open, "Ah, here he is."

"My apologies, held up by Skidder, I was." Yoda hobbled into the room, and Ani supressed a groan.

"Master," Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan inclined their heads respectfully.

"Always glad to see you, I am." Yoda nodded at the two, then glanced at Ani, smiling a little "Not so sure am I about this one."

"Thanks, I'm glad to see you too, greenie." Ani gave a cocky half-smile.

Yoda gave a little chuckle, then turned to face them all. "Received your formal assignments, you did?"

"Or lack thereof." Grumbled Ani, too low to be heard, with a slight scowl.

"Yes, Master." Obi-Wan absently twirled the datapad between nimble fingers.

"Very good. Have something to add, I do." Yoda straightened, "Completely ignore them, you shall."

Everyone gaped at the diminuative master, frozen in place by the order.

Ani broke the sudden silence, "Was that an order, or a prediction?"

Windu sighed, "The other Masters have no idea what they're up against. They've fought Sith before, but not like this. We cannot fight properly by their rules."

"So," continued Yoda, "create our own, we will."

"I'm sorry," Ani interrupted, looking around and fighting a smile, "but did someone step on him or something?-"

"Hmm, like to see them try, I would." Yoda snorted.

"Because," Ani continued, "he's starting to sound like me."