Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Shadows of the Force. Enjoy the 9200-word chapter. I do not own RWBY and Star Wars. Monty Oum, Lucas Films, and Rooster Teeth do.

( Coruscant 12:30 PM November 14th.)

It was the longest day of Blake's life when she awakened and slowly started to get showered. She did not at all understand how the 'refresher' as Lerek called it worked and yet the Arkanian seemed to be increasingly amused rather than flustered as of now.

"Blake? We need to get going." Lerek stated before yawning as he slowly seemed to echo around the room.

It was then she remembered that Lerek was awaiting her to come and join him in the hanger bay. It was more interesting for now as Blake seemed to finish and get dressed in the same clothes that she had been given by her family.

Lerek yawned before he slowly started to think as of now. Today would be simply odd, no questions asked about it, and yet? the will of the force simply made things odder and odder and yet it all came to a head.

"Blake? The Gunship is waiting, and we need to be ready for the update on Coruscant, it is where Winter and they plan to contact us from." Lerek stated to which there was some amusement from Blake.

The door opened and she appeared which amused him to no damn end for the moment. Lerek said nothing about her look as he was used to it from before and it was not like it was his look at all, Lerek simply decided to focus on what he was capable of for now and let anything else slowly sink into the ink.

The Faunus and Arkanian simply decided to not care and walk towards the hanger as he pondered what to do when they reached Coruscant and the top of their government… They were to have handled or been handled in the best way possible.

"Are you sure you're going to be, ok?" Blake heard as she waved off Lerek and adjusted her belt. "Coruscant is still a bit of an acquired taste. I still hope you are well when we reach the planet… Going to be a LOT weirder than you think." Lerek stated before he sighed and looked upwards and into the roof of the place.

It was worth noting for them simply how odd it all seemed. They were never on a mission here and yet both Lerek and Blake knew they would be making history for now, beyond that. Blake looked at Lerek as they stepped into the turbo lift while Blake hit the button. This was honestly increasingly interesting every single day.

"So, you said something about how Coruscant is a city-wide planet?" Blake questioned the Arkanian who was silent for a few seconds.

"Yes, it is entirely like that," Lerek stated while tilting his head to the side. "Why is it you ask? We need to get down there or else the Republic is going to own my head." Lerek stated before yawning to himself.

It was clear there were plenty of rules to need to be addressed and Blake wished to try and find them for now.

Lerek looked over at Blake who was utterly silent, utterly curious as to what to do next. Lerek yawned, all too amused by Blake's antics for the time being and yet not at all.

Lerek waited for a pause within her words as he slowly started to think of what to do next.

"So, what is Coruscant like besides city and city and criminals and people?" Blake asked as Lerek hit the button for the turbo-lift and then slowly started to fall silent.

"Mostly city with a few landmarks like the temple, Blake. It is just like that when it comes down to it. I do not even remember the last time I was there, the last time I was on Republic territory. It was several military bases with Drifter meaning I had to try and contact them over holograms." Lerek stated before he yawned to himself and clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth.

Lerek was silent, curious as of each day what it would be like tomorrow. Lerek could only wish to see peace rain across the galaxy and yet? Lerek was silent, interested in the moment.

"Are you sure it's wise to go to Coruscant then?" Lerek heard before she looked upwards.

"Yes. I need the troops and fuel. My fleet was not prepared for an extended expedition, merely a small siege that seems to have ended." Lerek stated before he sighed.

"Then it should be pretty easy to deal with now when it's all said and done, isn't it?" Blake stated to which Lerek hummed to himself.

"Not exactly. Lots of damn paperwork, Blake. Be thankful you are not a general, it is a very annoying job when you need to deal with it at the end of the day." Blake heard as she rolled her eyes and simply seemed to smirk.

"You are a very odd woman, you know that?" Lerek asked as he raised an eyebrow. "I mean, I have never met a single Faunus in my life so I cannot exactly tell, but it is not really like you make sense to me either way. Comes with the life I guess." Lerek added, cracking his knuckles as he did so.

"You're a very chatty Arkanian, aren't you?" Blake asked, balancing on the tips of her heels.

"Yep, my species are all mostly like this to be fair, Blake. It comes with being damn smart and damn good at our jobs." Blake stated before yawning to himself and looking around the room, interested in what needed to be done and dusted as of this very second.

It was odd, so very odd, and yet not at all interesting in the same way. Such a thing was fascinating not simply to him but to every single person at the end of the day. The lift ended down below the hanger, causing them to look around as they reached the hanger bay where their shuttle awaited them.

Lerek was calm and collected as they walked to the Nu-class shuttle remained. Blake looked upon Coruscant through the shields of the Trailblazer. A massive orb of grey and yellow lines surged upon it, all according to Lerek containing cities and grand sprawling civilizations which made up the heart of the Republic's government.

Lerek ushered her onto the vessel where it was clear, more and more clear something grand and sprawling awaited them, a massive beast of a planet that eclipsed every single little thing, making it all seem pointless. Blake felt like they were descending into the maw of some massive creature they could only pretend to focus upon, pretend to deal with.

"This planet is… Amazing." Blake said as Lerek raises an eyebrow. "I've never been off Remnant…. This is the heart of the Republic?" Blake asked as Lerek shrugged and yet nodded all the same.

"Yes, it's a lot more impressive on the surface. I want you to realize what's going to happen." Lerek stated before he yawned to himself. "There's going to be a thousand different species down there. Lots of them from across the galaxy… Your ears your hiding? Won't even raise an eyebrow for the most part. Not when it comes to oddity." Lerek stated before he hummed to himself.

It was all too amusing for now and yet Lerek seemed to bore, all too used to Coruscant. The Arkanian was here before, several problems were always going to exist from it all, all of it… Every single drop of his problems came to Coruscant.

"Blake? I want you to follow me. Plenty of people will bother you over other issues. Coruscant is so big we can't police the entire planet at once." Lerek sighed to himself before rubbing at his temples. "Are you going to be, ok? We don't know what to do next." Blake stated with a sigh to which Lerek stated before it seemed to be said and done.

Lerek nodded and closed his eyes, questioning the next problem in their goals and tribulations… Yes, it seemed more or less that it would their issues would end today, always today. The Arkanian fell silent, purely, and utterly consumed by logic and other little facts and tidbits that need to be properly focused upon now.

Blake watched as Lerek seemed to fall silent, utterly confused and blindsided by it all. She pressed a hand to the glass and was rewarded by the vast open space in front of them. It seemed to be a massive planet and yet, so little was to end sometime soon.

Still? Problems mounted and would continue to mount, it needed to try and end today, it was to need to end today. Blake could not even pretend to try and get it all over, see it end properly. Blake was nothing if not entirely shocked for now and would continue to be focused upon, dropped into a soupy mud that could only seem and question moves beyond its understanding.

Lerek seemed transfixed upon something before sighing, interested in a small little issue such as this.

"You, ok?" Blake questioned, resting a hand on his shoulder as if expecting something else.

"Yes, just a bit dazed, sorry," Lerek said before looking over at Coruscant. "It might seem pretty, but it's a giant ball of people and problems, we still kinda run some of the galaxies but so many arguments over what's best and all such problems," Lerek said before rubbing his temples.

"So, more problems," Blake said before she sighed.

"Only for the politicians, Blake, Jedi focus on here and now, not what will be and what isn't," Lerek said with a frown as of now.

"Meaning?" Blake asked to which Lerek leaned in his seat and seemed to be able to relax, content to explain.

"The Republic runs the government. The Jedi do things like keep peace or solve diplomatic problems without extreme violence. Like Remnant." Lerek said as Blake nodded.

"So, generals and politicians seem a lot more complicated than it should be but…" Blake started to say as Lerek waved his hands back and forth.

"Life isn't easy in the Republic when everyone cares about their planet can get ahead or get more and more power, Blake, it's a lot about whom can do what for whom and not any fancy thing besides that," Lerek said before sighing. "Doesn't mean good people don't exist here, but it's hard to tell at times," Lerek said before rolling his eyes.

"Is that why you don't look happy to be here?" Blake asked to which another nod was her answer.

"It's not a good vacation spot, let me say that if you get done and sick of fighting giant monsters made out of magic. Not a lot of prime real estate." Lerek joked as their shuttle slowly started to fly downwards.

"Very funny, Mr. General." Blake teased, poking his side.

"Easy, Ms. Belladonna." Lerek joked before smirking.

"Anyway, the planet is very fancy and fancy people like it but it's not perfect for a summer planet or something if you want to stay here, good and bad and a lot of bad people like it because it's so good and they all love to be here." Lerek joked before yawning to himself.

"Meaning stay safe and you said it once or twice already, for now, I don't think you want to say it again, do you?" Blake stated as Lerek shrugged.

"Depends on if you're going to listen or not." Lerek joked before cracking his fingers. "It's a very dangerous place and I don't know what's going to come up in the future. I don't even entirely know, to be honest, scares me a lot to be done and dusted, easily broken and all that." Lerek said before rubbing at his head, entirely focused more and more on being amused more than anything else, and yet?

Lerek could not admit he did not enjoy this adventure with Blake, she was as much a passenger with the force as he, and it was clear both Arkanian and Faunus were in it together. Lerek was all too amused, focusing upon the force and its pull upon it.

"Are you going to be, ok?" Lerek stated before frowning as he sighed to himself before it came down to it. "Are you going to be ok, it seemed as if came down to it," Lerek added before questioning before it seemed to be more and more of an odd little issue.

Lerek would need to focus more and more on an issue that needed to be said and done. Lerek stated before frowning to himself, interested in what to do next as the shuttle seemed to slowly be landing as it slowly started to land upon the ground.

"We need to get going sooner or later. I don't know what to do next and all of it will be worse and worse sooner or later." Lerek stated before frowning as the shuttle slowly started to land.

Lerek was quiet as it seemed to be worse and worse before Blake slowly started to climb from her seat, curious about Coruscant as Lerek made the planet sound. It was as both slowly started to walk down the ramp that Lerek pulled up the hood of his cloak.

"I've never heard so many voices at the same time," Blake stated, her ears twitching as she did so for now.

Lerek was silent but simply laughed as he led her deeper and deeper into the place, ignoring dozens of species that were all amused, confused but still amused for now and yet. Coruscant always seemed to bring out the best and worst in people. Coruscant was just a place to him rather than a melting pot for the galaxy. It wasn't exactly as if Lerek hated it… Yet? Coruscant was a home for the republic, a place of protection and safety, curious only about what was to come and go. It seemed to be worse and worse if Lerek could afford an issue of honesty on the place. Coruscant could afford to be so much of a place and yet? It seemed to be a constant in the galaxy.

Lerek wasn't going to be quiet for now until the war ended sooner or later before questioning and looking around as he tilted to himself before yawning and looking at Blake who seemed eager to be doing ANYTHING besides this.

"Are we going to be ok to walk around when it's said and done?" Blake asked before Lerek hummed. "After all of this is over. The business here on Coruscant." Blake asked to which Lerek hummed.

"Maybe a shop or two, I don't own a lot of credits now and it isn't exactly something I can deal with… Plus, we got an entire plan." Lerek stated before frowning to himself and crossing to himself before looking around the room and looking upwards now.

Still? Blake would be damned for now if it came down to it. Lerek could only become amused for it now, still? More and more problems more and more fascinating more and more to Blake, it'd need to exist anytime soon, and yet?

Blake found it more and more fascinating, Coruscant was filled with more and more amusement present on her face, only stopping to find more amusement within it all, Lerek seemed more unfazed for now, unsure of the problems that would arise for it all.

"Are you going to be ok enough to try and follow or should I get us an air speeder? Because it will take away from our shopping spree." Lerek teased before smirking to himself with some amusement hidden on his face.

Still? Lerek smirked and simply beckoned to himself before yawning and looking downwards. Lerek found all of it to be somewhat boring, to be honest, curious only as to how it would end if Lerek could only find a few moments rest.

Yet? it seemed like the galaxy would not allow it, Lerek would like to have a word with the leader of the said galaxy when all was said and done.

"Are you going to be ok, Blake? We still need to keep going or else we're not going to make it by half rotation." Lerek stated before smirking.

"You're a jackass…." Blake muttered before raising an eyebrow at her mock boyfriend before she looked upwards. "Are you going to be, ok? You act a lot as if Coruscant bothers you. This isn't your home planet, isn't it?" Blake asked before crossing her arms and sighing, only amused for now.

Lerek would end all amusement between them if Blake's antics didn't keep the Arkanian going. it would become far more of a problem, more of an issue. Blake did indeed bring out a few good traits within him.

Lerek seemed far more amused, questioning before now. The Arkanian only seemed to glance upwards, curiously expecting something as he looked at the Trailblazer, watching the warship slowly start to descend before dispatching a few scouts to try and even it out.

If something else came? Well, Lerek would openly end it sometime soon, it'd need only be given a form and purpose. Lerek allowed a few seconds of silence to set in before answering for now.

"Hmm, no. I'm not at all from Coruscant, Blake. I'm not exactly from Coruscant at all. I don't know what to do next. I'm going, to be honest. I don't even at all know what to do next, I'm not from Coruscant, and yet?" Lerek said before putting a hand to his temples and sighing.

Blake fell silent before Lerek slowly started to speak, only waiting a few moments to try and speak.

"I'm from Arkania, a very cold planet, Blake, I'm very used to planets that at cold like it seems to be said and done," Lerek stated before frowning to himself and crossing his arms before now.

Blake seemed to be more and more silent for a few seconds and then waited, only getting along with life because of a few movements in the air. Lerek crossed his arms before raising his eyebrow and frowning as of now. The Arkanian seemed to be amused more and more for now.

The Faunus looked to the side, only seemed to be more and more interested as of now.

"Hmm?" Blake said before brushing her hair to the side. "So would that be the Jedi Temple?" Blake asked before glancing in one direction.

Lerek turned and followed Blake's gaze to a certain building before looking upwards to the side. The Jedi temple was indeed down the street. Both Blake and Lerek shared a look, for now, glancing toward the building.

"Are you going to be ready? Lots of people are going to look at you… Jedi are the only people who are allowed in the archives." Lerek stated before tilting his head to the side.

Lerek watched Blake nod and slowly smirk, only making Lerek sigh before frowning at himself before now. Arkanian and Faunus only nodded, for now, curious as to how to play it.

(On Remnant)

Ironwood looked over a few holograms of CIS warships in the distance, before frowning to himself, more and more curious, all amused, for now, Ironwood only turned to Kenobi a few seconds before questioning as of now. If the Republic had so many problems with the CIS? How would Atlas adapt to their sort of problems? Their way of warfare needed to end today.

"Mistral… More and more enemy warships are in Mistral…. Meaning a direct assault would be suicidal." Ironwood stated before sighing.

"Why would they continue to send so many troops to Vale if they control another region? Mistral is full of criminals and mercenaries; it should be simple for now." Ironwood said before Obi-Wan raised an arm.

"Because it's clear taking Vale will gain them a bigger advantage on Remnant," Obi-Wan stated before frowning. "We need to try and limit their options… Not easy when they can attack Remnant from orbit… So far both their fleet nor ours haven't engaged each other about Remnant… Yet? I believe it won't last for now." Obi-Wan tatted before now.

It was all Obi-Wan seemed to be able to say before frowning to himself and looking down at the ground before now.

Obi-Wan stayed silent, only curious about if more and more problems for now… Yet? it seemed to be something Atlas could also aid in… It was all too much and yet? Ironwood and he needed to think more about problems in the distance.

Lerek seemed to also be interested in trying to find Blake and help for now. Blake would need to be monitored as would Anakin…. And yet according to Ironwood? Qrow and Anakin would get along a lot better than Ms. Schnee.

Obi-Wan seemed to be more and more of a problem, for now, it was all over the place as of now. Problems seemed to be arising more and more. If it was so easy to deal with, though? They would not at all exist on the planet.

It was not at all fair for now, it would not at all be easy to try and win… Yet? it would not at all be over, for now, it needed to as of now.

It would not be over so easily… Yet it needed to end as of now, it seemed to be a problem, for now, all too interested and all too much for now.

It would be a lot more of an issue for now if not for the fact they were not without allies on Remnant.

"Are you going to be, ok?" Obi-Wan stated before frowning and looking to the side, pausing for a second. "We need to be able to talk for strategy, general, and very little talk is on our side it seems…. I'm sure you plan to go after their Mistral base. We're not going to be able to assault their position to try and end it for now." Obi-Wan stated before looking around.

It'd need to end sometime soon and end it would… Yet? Obi-Wan was not at all stupid, wars like this would not be won simply by trying to fit everyone… More and more could be done to try and save Remnant and yet…. Very few options forward existed.

"Are you going to be, ok? We need to get going before now, find it seemed to end sometime soon." Obi-Wan stated before sighing.

It was all too clear to them it needed to be finished for now… It was a lot more ten Obi-Wan was used to… Still?

All of it was something that needed to be said and done. It was a lot more to focus upon and would continue to be done and dusted before now… All of it will be ended sometime soon. All of it is needed.

(Coruscant)

Lerek was only quiet now, only able to become amused for now, smirking to himself and sighing before looking down at the ground before looking as of now.

"Are you going to be, ok? Because we need to get going, Blake. More and more world to try and understand." Lerek stated before yawning to himself before now.

Lerek was simply amused, looking to the side, frowning before looking around as now, only pausing to take a deep breath. It was going to be obvious to some people Blake wasn't from Coruscant, a Jed was capable of understanding it all, and Blake's identity was easy…. It'd always be easy as of now… Yet? Lerek was not at all stupid, ways around it existed as did all things… Lerek was not stupid, it'd end sometime soon, it seemed to need it all over with.

"Are you going to be able to relax now?" Blake questioned to which Lerek shrugged.

"Don't know… I'm a lot more volatile, life is just like that… You're not going to try and deal with it for now, are you? We're going to need to get used to it over and over again like we've been doing." Lerek stated before Lerek cracked his knuckles.

It'd end all too easy for now and that wouldn't change. If anything? All life did was make him relax more and more as he reconciled with the fact his enemies wouldn't be likely to give them any damn mercy anytime soon.

Blake looked at the hooded Arkanian, tired and amused by recent developments. There was mirth, an amusement in his features that was fading in and out as if it was light fleeing from the darkness. Still? She smirked back, eager to see the temple.

"So, every single book the Jedi own is a hologram? The Jedi don't like real books that much?" Blake questioned as Lerek hummed, tired for a second and eager to answer.

"Well, it's an archive of information from across thousands and thousands of planets spanning thousands of centuries all guarded by Jedi who could hack people in half with a mere swing of their saber. I don't believe we have room for books unless you think we have a library the size of a planet…?" Lerek joked as his friend elbowed him in the side.

It was far more worth smirking at as she rolled her eyes at it, leaning on the wall next to her.

"Do you always crack jokes or are you just going crazy from everything going on recently? Because both answers are just odd, you know… Very odd." Blake said as Lerek shrugged.

"I'm a Jedi, odd is a setting," Lerek said before he smiled more sincerely. "But no, I usually joke the most around people I'm close with like Drifter or my friend Ruzul. It's not often people like me get to tell jokes, thinks it distracts too much from the Jedi side."

(Remnant)

Dooku was quite eager to secure a victory over the Republic. The idea the Jedi were all involved in such a world was odd and yet it made sense… So many new innocent people to protect, so many people whom they could learn their parlor tricks from… It'd be funny if not for the fact they had to try and understand so much that it hurt.

Dooku did not care, he had a plan and his enemies were all gathered. With a single stroke and so many Jedi would be dead, so many of his enemies could be killed and properly which would be the greatest victory over the pathetic Jedi and their allies that could be soon. His victory, the victory of the time being.

It was such an issue and yet it became odder and odder for the time being. it would be funny, enjoyable, and a nice little distraction at the end of the day. All he needed was to try and get the word from his master and he'd see it all blown to dust. The armies of the CIS would see them eradicated and he'd get to enjoy it at the end of the day.

There was so much more Dooku would see them do. So much more to this over and over that it could not… Would not be extinguished over and over at the time being. There were no such attempts that would crack the Republic in two and he'd be happy to see it fall apart so easily under his fingertips. It was a nice thing before it was all over with before it managed to get its fangs in.

Still? they did not die so easily and thus he'd continue hunting and would continue to vex them now until the end of it slowly died out and slowly began to cut itself to ribbons.

(Coruscant, Blake, and Lerek)

Lerek was entirely thrown off and entirely focused on issues that could get worse and worse. There was a noticeable type of calm between the Faunus and Arkanian. Something that didn't exist there for now and yet it could be slowly ripped down and he seemed to get more and more tired and tired.

This journey would be a long one at the end of the day. it would be a nice little part of exhaust upon at the end of the month and it did very little to try and get them anywhere. It was exhausting, utterly exhausting at the end of the day to seek much if anything, and yet? She did it… Continued to do it over and over.

There was a lot more amusement at the end of the day. There was such a nice little thing between the duo as she slowly started to think at the end of the day and such.

There was so much that needed to be over with and could be said. Lerek crossed his arms as Blake looked up into the sky that was filled with dozens and dozens of ships. There was so much more that needed to be addressed and dealt with.

More and more both Blake and Lerek hummed to each other, questioning what to try and do next and next at the end of the day. Lerek could only continue forwards, utterly baffled upon now, and smirked at the end.

Blake was all too amused, reaching up towards the ship as both of them looked upwards and into nothing.

Lerek only crossed his arms and allowed her such a gaze. Coruscant was always becoming more and more interesting at the end of the day.

Their imperfections would not go unnoticed by the Jedi who could hear every single little sound beating over and over again as if it should have gone unnoticed at the moment.

"This is the heart of the republic as I told you. Everyone who is part of it comes here for a good reason. Maybe they want something or someone or they have a business to argue about." Lerek stated before cracking his fingers.

She could tell he was telling the truth. The warrior would continue to grow and her ideas at the end of the day.

No, something more and more clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. She was utterly tired, amused at the end of the time being when it came down. Lerek was silent and utterly confused.

It was so nice and so odd at the same time. There were a few measures of peace. A few notes upon which he could climb and settle down … It was just far too much for her to crinkle her nose at like she wanted… This was a nice thing, a very nice thing, and something she could only get to such a place that it was far beyond himself.

"Are we going to get there or are we going to argue the entire time? there will be a lot of time to try and relax when we're inside the temple and I can tell you that all of this is still going to be there at the end… Trust me, it's nice, but it will also still be here when we get back… Even if I have a bone to pick with the people who keep it this way out of convincing for such measures at the time before long." Lerek stated before he rubbed at his arms.

"You don't like all of these things?" Blake said before Lerek shrugged and looked downwards at his hands.

"Isn't that I don't like it? I'm used to it. I've been here so long that all of this? I'm very used to all the hustle and bustle. Work like the war keeps me out of it and I'm good enough to try and study around it if I'm honest. This place is a lot more amazing than it seems and it's nice." Lerek said before sighing.

"However? That doesn't make it perfect. People? The environment? All of it, they change a lot more than you think, it's not easy to try and get to relax when so much is much more impressive over and over again until it becomes less impressive and nobody gets to relax." Lerek said as he sighed and turned away.

He knew the flaws with Coruscant and the Republic were not hard to ignore and it was just too much for him to take in at the end of the day. So much more and yet so less at the end of the day.

Blake crossed her arms and clicked her nails at this new information. All of it slowly started to trickle into his brain over and over again like a disease. Like a very big and painful disease that would consume it, all of it was slowly starting to grow over and over until it crashed down onto her and everything a disease.

It'd be a lot more to question at the end of the day. She didn't know what to do at the end of the day. There was a lot more to study between them in her mind.

Lerek still enjoyed his adventure with Blake, not simply because he was able to relax but because he was utterly tired, all too amused and worn down at this very moment. He slowly moved her towards the temple, grand stone steps greeting them as both of them became tired, unsure of what to do and unsure of what to do next.

Blake looked upwards in awe as she realized the massive temple was the one that they had mentioned. Lerek stayed silent but it was clear more and more that he was amused and smirked slightly below the cloak, tired only because such issues were wearing him down at the end of the day.

They had a lot more to discuss, something that Blake could only gasp in awe at during all of it. She knew more and more that he was quietly amusing himself upon her gestures and all such manner of which amused her more and more at the end of the day.

"This place is amazing," Blake stated to which Lerek rolled his eyes. "Hush, it's amazing… And you dislike it why? There's nothing wrong with it… These problems can be easily solved and easily taken to a proper ruler." Blake said to which Lerek raised an eyebrow.

"I told you why… Because many people are willing to try to… You're screwing with me, aren't you? like really screwing with me at the end of the day, I'm convinced either you are or you fell." Lerek said as Blake elbowed him in the side.

"Just please stick close. You won't be hated inside but a lot of people are going to be annoyed if someone gets near the innermost parts of the temple and they might stick some guards with you to see if anything can be done to try and treat it all fancy like." Lerek stated before sighing.

He knew Blake was going to have temple guards all over her because the council wanted to try and make a fancy show of acting as if they controlled her. It wouldn't work but it was clear more problems would exist and all of it would have been either the fault of the council or his own. Still? They needed answers and even if Lerek did argue with them? The Jedi were still his family and he still cared enough to try to relax.

"Are the council usually like Yoda or are they all different?" Blake asked to which Lerek sighed and looked around the room, utterly tired and utterly thrown off by it all.

They'd not at all be able to relax if he told the truth and he knew more and more at the end of the day that their problems would not end with the council and all of the galaxies might not be able to fix it.

"An acquired taste, a very acquired taste at the end of the day. Their all-different people and they all act differently. I don't know if they're still acting the same way, but they might ask some questions you are expected to answer a certain type of what to do next." Lerek said before he yawned to himself and slowly began to look around the room.

There was at least some sort of amusement on his face at the end of the day. She didn't at all know what this would bring and she didn't at all know what was coming and she didn't want it to end this way. She didn't want anything from the galaxy but acceptance and she knew that Lerek was sensing it at the end of the day. Their game was all over with.

She was more tired than usual, more unwilling to see it all end and it became nice to see it go the way it did. Blake knew more and more just what was going to happen when they reached inside, more judgment, more people eager to assume things she did not want but could not deny that it was nice if not a bit tiresome.

She yawned and looked down at the ground before the doors were opened with a simple wave of Lerek's hand before she looked around.

The Arkanian looked through the dozens of Jedi who were all silent and he walked Blake through the crowd as they all paid attention to their work and hobbies. He spotted a few clones who were busy working on a Jedi Starfighter which only made him roll his eyes. they had their staff yet clones needed to attend to something the Jedi maintained. Sure, and the Jedi were still trying to claim they didn't want to be involved in anything.

He almost wondered if Ruz was silently pondering why he of all Jedi didn't want to try to be part of the council at the end of the day. Lerek was not a politician and he did a lot more not being able to sit on a seat but actively pursuing threats across the galaxy and it'd be something that needed to get cut down out of the way.

There were a few pauses as a few tossed a glance in his direction but were mostly eager to be left alone. It was just more work if they were involved at the end of the time with their work.

"Are you ok?" Blake asked as she rested a hand on his shoulder before he stopped, confused.

"Yes, just a bit wore down from being here… Why? You? I'm just tired from it all… There's a lot to try and process at the end of the day and all of this is… Just reminds me of the last time I was here when I was relaxing and unable to think. There's a lot of old memories here from when I used to be here." Lerek said before Blake nodded before she frowned at him.

"I understand. We can go if you want." Lerek heard before Blake stayed silent.

Lerek simply started to shake his head and fell into a daze as he slowly started to drag her downwards at the end of the day.

There was a lot more to this, a lot more than he cared to explain at the end of the day and it was a lot more to try and take in at the moment as both of him as he clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth before falling silent at the end of the day when it was all over.

He crossed his arms as they passed through the crowd. He looked at Blake, turning to look at the door, utterly curious as to what to tell her, utterly curious at the moment.

"I'm going into the Archives and I'll see if I can allow you in… Most of the information here is for Jedi… But there's no real rule against trying to use it with others." Lerek said before he sighed and shook his head.

"Well, we can't all be as fancy as you, sir." They heard, turning to see Drifter slowly approach.

"Drifter? You are just as good as any Jedi in my book…. I thought I told you that you are free to try and do whatever you want." Lerek stated before he looked at Blake. "I'm going to handle the work and come out here with the book or such… Just give me an hour or so… I'll see if there's any singular way to try to get in, civilians might not be allowed in yet." Lerek said before he hummed to himself.

"Well, it is called the Jedi Archives and not the regular archives." Drifter joked before he turned to look to the side, utterly amused at the end of the day.

"Maybe, but there are loopholes," Lerek said before he looked at Drifter. "If you want an order? Here's one. Go take Blake and have some fun on Coruscant before I get back. I've told you a thousand times you can relax, commander. It isn't like I don't care enough to let anyone relax…" Lerek said before

"Last thing I want is to deal with everything exhausted… Which I feel like I will be doing when we get back to Remnant and I get back to being a general who has to deal with leadership..." Lerek stated before yawning and looking down at the ground.

"Listen, we can relax just like we usually do… It will be fine." Blake said as Lerek rolled his eyes and slowly started to look down at the ground, utterly tired.

"You're not the one who has to do all the leadership, Blake," Lerek said before looking at Drifter. "Whatever you feel like. Just make sure she doesn't get her head blasted off by someone or something… Have fun, Commander." Lerek said before pushing the door open and vanishing into the temple.

"Is he… Usually that off-hand as a commander?" Blake asked to which Drifter was silent and looked down at the ground for a few seconds.

"Not really, he means well… He's just very tired at times when it comes down to leading… He and I usually get up to adventures, kid just likes to try and make us feel comfortable." Drifter stated as he hummed.

"So, he wants you to try and relax but he acts a lot like someone who can't?" Blake asked before Drifter shrugged.

"He's a very conflicted general for someone who is in charge of an army… Jedi aren't exactly allowed to have friends from what I've learned." Drifter said as the two walked towards the door. "You might be one of the first friends the general has had besides me, master Ruz or anyone else." Drifter stated before he looked upwards and into the sky.

He was not at all joking as the two walked to the door. There was a lot more to try and deal with and he was a lot more to try and fixate upon.

"You and Lerek are close, yeah? He and you talk like you've been friends for years, not like a general and a soldier." Blake said as Drifter hummed.

"He and I are friends, Ms. Belladonna. He's someone who eats with the men every single day when he can and he's fine with me telling him off… I don't know how he feels about me." Drifter stated before he sighed and looked upwards and into the sky.

"He's a people person from what I've seen… He's just very snarky and very tiresome." Blake said as Drifter laughed.

"The general is many things… Tired isn't usually one of them, he's not someone who can go a while without jokes. He's nice when you get used to how he does things." Drifter stated before he frowned under his helmet before he seemed to focus on certain issues.

"All right, where do we go first?" Blake asked before Drifter slowly started to fall silent.

She didn't at all know what to try before Drifter led her deeper into Coruscant, a few of his men waiting for them at the door.

(Ironwood and Obi-Wan)

Ironwood and Obi-Wan stood aboard Ironwood's flagship as the two looked over the data from their missions. He was utterly tired and looked at the Jedi Knight with interest.

"Are you ok?" Ironwood asked before rubbing his chin. "The Separatists are mustering their forces and I don't know how to break them down before they hit us… They are going to hit us a lot harder than we can hit them." Ironwood said as Obi-Wan hummed.

He was utterly thrown off at the end of the day. He was a lot more unsure when it came to it as he crossed his arms. Ironwood slowly began to think of certain options at the end of the day. A frontal attack would do nothing and doing nothing would only allow them to gather more power and plan an attack on Vale.

Well? It would continue to grow odder and odder as the general slowly started to become more and more worried at the end of the day. Obi-Wan was all too silent as he slowly started to grow unsure of what to tell him at the end of the day.

If they did rally their forces and strike at the Separatists? Either they'd push them off but be ill-prepared for such a counter-offensive or Dooku would have predicted it and had his forces ready to strike Vale.

Digging in their boots here was good but it also meant Dooku was going to solidify his position. They needed results and needed them yesterday or else their war was going to be short.

"We need to clip Dooku's forces before they get close enough, general. Lerek crippled one forward base but knowing Dooku? He'd have more than just one. Meaning his forces are probably preparing to assault Vale while we're busy talking." Obi-Wan stated as Ironwood hummed.

"Agreed, there are a few islands further off land that could serve as a base for droids. Some are too far away for Vale's radar systems to pick up which means they could very well be hiding in plain sight and we might not even know it." Ironwood added before he fell silent.

"Then we best get to work… Cody? Can you check out the largest of these islands? Perhaps we can cross it with what Lerek gave us from the last base and we can find some answers." Obi-Wan ordered to which he got a nod.

"There's a lot of ground to cover, General Kenobi. Everything they control means more ground to cover and more soldiers who might die retaking it." Ironwood said before he was utterly silent.

"Perhaps, but we can't go fighting over every little scrap of land the droid's control," Obi-Wan said before looking at the console. "I should go contact Anakin and Winter, the more we wait means the more time I have to fill them in. We all need to play our part." Obi-Wan said as Ironwood nodded.

"Take your time, General. I'll review what we know in the meantime. The more we wait? The more Dooku will get ready." Ironwood said before he hummed.

(Blake and Drifter.)

Drifter fell silent, utterly unsure of what to tell her and how well it could be done. He didn't know what to tell the young woman about Coruscant. This wasn't his world and Lerek barely lived in it after he didn't need to at the end of the day.

It was a lot worse than it could be and he sighed before crossing his arms and slowly starting to look downwards at the ground.

"Are you going to be, ok? We have some credits and it isn't like we have a limit on time. General will find us when he's ready and from what he's told me about the archives? He's going to have to copy it to datapads, they don't want people at the moment. It becomes harder and harder to relax at the end of the day with all of the war coming on." Drifter stated before he shook his head and slowly started to fall silent, utterly thrown off by it all and ready to collapse into the ground.

"Drifter? Can I ask something about Lerek?" Blake asked as Drifter shrugged and looked to the side.

"Not sure how much help I'll be with that, Ms. Belladonna, I'm just his commander and friend." Drifter stated before Blake rolled her eyes.

"You can call me Blake if you want," Blake stated before she crossed her arms. "How often is it Lerek is open with someone like that? He seems very snarky for someone who's been a Jedi and closed himself off from it all." Blake stated before Drifter hummed.

"Lerek is a… Odd general to serve, Blake. He's very willing to do things his way and he encourages us to be able to operate without him. he likes to make sure he acts like he's very much one of us and he tries to make himself one of the soldiers in the trenches… The kid wants us to be seen as the same, he doesn't act like a lot of Jedi." Drifter stated before he hummed.

"And you like that?" Blake asked before Drifter hummed.

"He's a good kid, he's got his priorities straight, Blake. If you are asking if he's a good friend? Well, to me? He is, he cares a lot about the people whom he gets close to. Trust me, if you are one of his friends? He will help." Drifter stated before he snorted.

"Something tells me this isn't as black and white as I think it is when it comes down to it, is it?" Drifter asked before he looked upwards and into the sky.

"Maybe, I don't know," Blake stated before she slowly started to look up and into the sky before she slowly started to tap on her arms.

"You and the kid share a lot more in common than you think, you know." Drifter stated before he smiled and looked downwards at the ground.

"Is that a good thing or bad?" Drifter stated before he slowly started.

"Depends on if you care about the kid when it comes down to it, he's got a lot of friends but I doubt he'd mind having one more. The kid needs someone to keep him from doing something stupid one day for others… Guess that's my job." Drifter said before Blake hummed.

"I'll keep him from doing something stupid, just don't know if I'm going to be around to see it," Blake said as Drifter laughed.

"Me either… Anyway, c'mon. The kid isn't going to be back at least for 2 hours and with 6 datapads. Arkanians are more thorough at being smart than a battle droid is being stupid." Drifter stated as Blake raised an eyebrow.

"People in this part of the galaxy are weird," Blake stated as Drifter shrugged.

"You might get used to it, might not. The kid is going to be a while like I said, he's very eager to learn more about the galaxy. Trust me, you will probably know a LOT more than you want to when you get to see him." Drifter stated before he looked up and into the sky.

"Maybe, let's get going then," Blake stated before she slowly moved forwards.

"I can tell you one thing that's true for all time. The kid does think of you as a friend like me, I've seen that smile and how he feels about someone as special to him. Trust me, he's trying to be nice and make friends on your planet, not fight every single person." Drifter said before he tapped on his comlink.

"I'm sorry if I don't trust that yet," Blake stated before he looked down at the ground. "We have a lot more planets to explore. I want you to know that I'll keep it in mind but I have my things to try and focus on. We have a lot more to deal with, something else." Blake stated before he looked upwards and into the sky.

Drifter could see she was conflicted on a dozen levels, utterly unsure of what to try and say that his general hadn't already said. He was unsure of what to say, what to do, and how well things would be.

"You know, you left this on the cruiser." Blake heard before she turned to look at the comlink he held in his hand. "I also left a pair of datapads towards the landing area, call the kid, and tell him if you need something. Lerek will pick it up and bring it back… Trust me, he'll bring a few datapads for you to read, might not be something you're used to." Drifter stated before he looked down at the ground.

There was a lot more to do next. She didn't at all know what to the moment, not yet unsure what to do next and it was a long time before she'd see Remnant again. She doubted they'd kidnap her considering they could just leave her here and it became harder and harder.

"Are you coming, Blake?" Drifter asked before he sighed and tapped his hands on his arms. "C'mon. I want you to know that there will be more and more things to see I'm sure you have a lot of questions to bug me with." Drifter stated before he chuckled and slowly turned to leave.

"Kid won't be back for a while. I'm not going to lie about the fact Lerek likes his information as much as he likes fighting, the kid is a giant datapad hog. He'd spend his entire time in the archives if we didn't have a war to fight, he's a very smart kid." Drifter said before Blake tapped at her jaw, unsure of what to say, what to do, and how well he could afford it. The ideas she had in her mind reminded him of Lerek when the two first came to Coruscant.

He knew that part of Blake was unsure, not at all used to this place nor anything similar or even close to what was being done to try and fix it.

"There's just no dealing with Jedi, is there?" Drifter asked before he turned and looked to the side, unsure of everything.

He'd need to try and handle it properly at the end of the day.

Author Notes

Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out that the next chapter will be a bit delayed and will be 2-10 months and will be showing more of Blake and Lerek on Coruscant, Obi-Wan, and Ironwood's plan and more of the battle for Remnant. Until the 900–6500-word chapter, Lighting Wolf out!

P.S: I will be putting in some non-canon stuff.