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"What is she doing here?" Master Windu demanded with an unwelcoming gaze. He checked Finn up and down more than once.

Finn felt like cowering under the Jedi master's stern gaze, but she checked herself. She was not a child hanging onto Qui Gon's robes anymore, she was a military officer deserving of respect. She glanced at Windu with equal intensity and replied, "with all due respect, Master, my father and the Republic are in danger. I wish to help." She gulped silently. If she knew the Council as well as she thought she did, they would be wary of her every move.

"We don't need civilians' help here, Lady Finn." Windu reminded her that her military tenured had ended. He had respected Finn, and not just as Qui Gon's niece and pupil. Nevertheless, in this grave situation, the Jedi cannot have unauthorized personnel penetrating their midst. "Come, Master Kenobi," he motioned toward Obi-Wan, "the Council wishes to hear your opinion and plan on a rescue mission." He opened the double-panel doors, where the Council and Anakin Skywalker were waiting impatiently.

Obi-Wan looked at Finn apologetically. "Go," she urged him gently and felt helpless as she stood there when the doors closed in front of her. Even though the doors shielded her from any viewing of the Council, Finn could sense the agitation and vulnerability of the Jedi Council in the circumstances.

"Lieutenant Palpatine!" Finn blinked in surprise as a figure in uniform closed in on her. "Senator Organa," she smiled politely as she was approached by her former classmate from the Academy, "I am no longer a military personnel of the Republic. I am a civilian once again, much like yourself."

"I can't say that I'm not sorry," Bail Organa praised her. He had great admiration for the young woman, who came from a similar background as himself: a member of the leading family of their own home planet, and a dutiful official of the Republic. "I am anxious about the situation with your father, Fina." His voice softened as he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Is General Grievous willing to strike a deal with us?" she asked determinately.

He shook his head, "he answers directly to our old friend, Count Dooku. I don't know what his plans are. It makes no sense. This doesn't gain him anything. A new chancellor can always be elected."

Perhaps, Dooku is not the one looking for something to be gained here, Finn thought silently to herself. "You are right. But perhaps he is aiming to weaken our morale."

"Perhaps," Senator Organa nodded his head and locked his hands behind his back. He began pacing back and forth as he searched for the right words. "Lady Fina, I need your personal opinion on something related to your father."

"Oh, what is it?"

"Does it strike you as odd about how we end up with this enormous clone army? A dead man's orders, cloners from beyond the Outer Rim, and clones of a bounty hunter we know nothing about?"

"What does that have to do with my father, Senator?" her eyes narrowed suspiciously. She did not like the insinuation. Politicians were always out to beat one another at their games. It was not unusual for an aspiring senator to smear dirt on the reputation of his or her competition.

"I am doing this as a loyal member of the Galactic Senate and your personal friend, Finn." Organa cleared his throat, "I have found records of your father's extensive travels to a small genetics research facility on Chandrila. The dates span from over thirty to as recent as five years ago. I was about to bring up this piece of information to your father personally before he was kidnapped. It may not be anything significant, but I believe you are the person to ask about this."

"You are investigating into my father?" Finn was incredulous. Her father may have been a politician striving for his own political ends, but he was the Supreme Chancellor. He had authorities far beyond that of a little senator. Even if what Organa was implying was true, the Republic should thank her father rather than accusing him for giving them a grand army at their dire time of need.

"I'm sorry, Finn. But in this day and age, no one is above suspicions."

Finn glanced down at the name of the place and the list of itineraries. She scoffed, "these mean nothing to me. It's best if you ask about this when the Chancellor is brought back safely," before he could argue, she added, "and he will be. Master Kenobi and Jedi Skywalker are assigned to the mission. Senator Organa, I have nothing more to say."

Finn had always been good at acting. Although she was never informed of the ins and outs of her father's activities, she had made it her business to check into everything he was doing. She knew of the corruptions that he allowed under the cloak of justice. She also knew of his burning ambitions. "You have always been too smart for me," Palpatine would say to her. She wasn't smarter than anyone, but she was the only one who distrusted her father's ambitions. She was surprised when Senator Organa brought her this piece of news. Whatever her father was doing, he had been doing it long before she was born. She felt strangely compelled to look into it, despite her apparent nonchalance in front of Organa. Chandrila, she murmured to herself, what secrets do you hold?

Finn's cruiser landed in front of a dingy little office building of no special importance. She checked the address twice and was sure that it was the right place. It was not any more a research facility than a maternity clinic. It helped couples with difficulties to conceive to have babies. After hopping out of her vehicle, she straightened her outfit. It was a burgundy office uniform with a long skirt and thick-rimmed glasses to match. "Hello," she greeted the receptionist sweetly, "my name is Christine Agapo and I was dispatched by the Pentara Company to pick up copies of some of our files."

The receptionist glanced at her identifications with her mouth chewing on gum, then she guided her into a hallway full of cabinets. With the touch of a few fingers, she flicked open the index to the hologram files. "Would you get me a glass of water, please? My travel here has made my throat dry." The plump woman shrugged rudely but left the room to get Finn some water. Immediately, Finn began looking over the index of the list of customers. Drawing on her quick eye and reflexes, she found it. The customer number 04301987 had assessed his files on the exact days that Senator Organa had found her father to visit here.

"Hey! You aren't suppose to look at that!" the receptionist was back. She was red in the face, holding a glass of water.

"You have seen nothing wrong," Finn waved her hand and the woman's eyes blanked, "you will go back to your post."

"I will go back to my post," she echoed in an empty voice and turned around to leave. Finn disliked using her Force powers. It had always felt like cheating while she was at the military academy. Nonetheless, a useful gift was meant to be used.

Finn scanned down the file. Customer number 04301987 was unidentifiable except by his serial number. Clever, she thought about her father's discreetness. He had supplied about seven samples of genetic materials, from different genders and origins. "But they all have high midichlorian counts," Finn placed a hand under her chin. What could this mean? Was her father experimenting with midichlorians to enhance his own powers? She wouldn't put it pass him. Nevertheless, as she scrolled down, she saw that all the genetic materials were employed into making four viable fetuses. The destinations of the fetuses were unknown and unmarked. Then there were a few attachments to the files. Frustrated at the dead end she found, Finn clicked open the attachments. The first one made no sense to her and the second one was marked "Abandoned" in bold red letters. The third ran:

Physical characteristics: height-34546, weight-43364, appearance-24243 and 36534. Speed- 24243, connection-34546, personality-43364 and unknown. Experience capabilities at age 2. Full adult capabilities at 14. Lack of obedience due to 34546. Visions-rare, speed- high, strength- above average.

She was about to click to the next one before something at the bottom of the screen caught her eyes. It was a serial code of genetic markers, a map of the DNA material of this experiment. It somehow looked familiar to her so she examined it more closely. Finn's eyes widened as she realized what this file represented. She felt that the pit of her stomach was heavy with lead. She quickly downloaded the files she wanted onto a small computer chip and hurried back to her cruiser.

As she piloted the cruiser back to Coruscant, Finn's mind raced with questions. Then her inquiries gave way to anxiety as she spotted the trade federation cruiser hovering over Coruscant. As much as she trusted Obi-Wan and Anakin's abilities, Finn was afraid for their safety. She could sense their presence as their cruisers hovered around, avoiding the increasing Separatists' fires. They would not hold, she realized. Finn bit her lower lip. If you wish to eliminate the problem, you have to go to the root of it. It was a gamble, but this would show the worthless Jedi Council the worthlessness of a civilian. Finn pushed a few buttons and contacted the Trade Federation Cruiser Command Center, demanding to dock.

"It's been a while, little one." Count Dooku folded his hands on his lap as he turned his seat to greet the newcomer. "I didn't expect to see you here, especially with your Jedi friends," he glanced out the window at the fight scene outside, "already on my trail."

"I want to know what the hell you are thinking," she flared out at him menacingly.

"Don't worry, your father is quite safe with me."

Finn snickered, "it's not my father that I am worrying about, Count Dooku."

"I am doing what I believe is right, Young Finn. I am in the making of bring out a new age of the Republic. I suppose such grand schemes are out of your comprehensions." He stood up and smiled coldly at her, "pity. I have always thought that you were extraordinarily bright for your age. You know what you are, Finn, just as you know what your father is. You shouldn't let appearances and conventions blind you, my child. You have always been close with the Force. You are much more powerful than you let yourself to be. You are even more powerful than me. You have always had the potential for true greatness. Together, we would be formidable." He tried to reach for her hand, but she shunned away. "I see. Those Jedi have indeed gained a grasp on you, as your father says."

"The Jedi have no grasp on me," she negated his statement flatly.

"Then what's preventing you, my child? Have you forgotten what I have taught you, my apprentice? Are you so blinded by the pomp and pretty words of the Jedi and the Galactic Senate, that you don't see what's right in front of you?"

"Enough," she demanded, "You are the one not seeing the ways that you have been used and abused. You are less than half the man you once were. You are beyond help. I shouldn't have come, I should leave you to your fate." Finn felt her voice turned into ice as she said these words. While Qui Gon was her first teacher, Dooku was her finest. He taught her not only the ways of the Force and the use of her powers. He was once a great man with amazing visions and foresight. Yet he had become so blinded by his own passions and arrogance, she knew that the gentle and kind master she once had was no more.

"Not yet, little one." He grinned cruelly as he flicked open a screen. Finn could see the General's Quarters of the ship and her father was strapped tightly in a chair. "Our little Jedi friends have entered the ship. Why don't I leave you to witness their fate?" Finn's mouth opened slightly in amazement as Obi-Wan and Anakin entered through the elevator. Obi-Wan's handsome face was serious and worried with furrowed brows.

"Chancellor."

"Are you alright?" she heard them speak over the security hologram.

"Why don't you keep our dear guest Lieutenant Finn comfortable while I deal with the Jedi? Mmm?" he raised his eyebrows mockingly at her. Finn found herself surrounded by the battle droids and forced to sit down. Count Dooku laughed as he left the room, readying himself to kill Kenobi and Skywalker.

Finn watched in pain as her love and his friend were foiled by her former master. Dooku had become a sinister man with no principles. She watched in horror as Obi-Wan was wounded and knocked unconscious. Her heart skipped a beat as she realized what had happened. Anakin was still sure of himself even in this ominous situation. He moved with cat-like deliberateness. Finn's heart trembled. She could sense his every emotion: love, fear, hate, and anger, all mixed into one person. "Anakin…" she whispered as her body trembled. Dooku coaxed him on, toying with the much younger Jedi. Suddenly, a new surge of emotions rushed through as Anakin defeated Dooku and locked him with two lightsabers. "Don't do it, Anakin," Finn found herself saying. She herself was also overwhelmed by the rushing emotions that pierced through Anakin. As much as she hated Dooku, she was even more terrified of the feelings Anakin had released. He was losing control of his emotions and letting them control him, Finn realized. It was terrible as she felt his burning hatred finally breaking the last safeguard of his Jedi training. "Don't do it, Anakin," she whispered in tears. With a snap, Dooku was no more.

The droids beeped in confusion as their commanding leader was dead. Finn recovered herself. The ship was going down and she wasn't going to go along with it. Her heart still pounded with ferocity as she tried to regain her composure. Finn knocked over a droid quickly and snatched its blaster. She rained a whole field of shots on the remaining droids as she backed herself out of the room. If she was quick enough, she might be able to get help. As she hopped onto her cruiser, Finn wiped her tears away. A good soldier never cowers, she reminded herself. She pulled out her cruiser out of the porting dock as the ship was losing its altitude. Hurry! She raced. Now, her thoughts were with the unconscious Obi-Wan. Hang on, Ben! She concentrated on the thought. I won't let you die.

"But, Master Mundi!" Finn pleaded. The Jedi had refused to send reinforcements.

"You are positive that Count Dooku is dead?" he asked her for the thousandth time. She nodded mutely. "Then the mission is accomplished and there is nothing more that we can do. We have to save what we have for now. The Jedi have to secure the perimeters of the Galactic Senate to protect the other government officials. We can spare no reinforcements. We have to abandon hope of rescuing the two Jedi and the Chancellor."

"But—" Finn was growing angry and frustrated. She could not believe what she was hearing. They could not possibly leave their finest knights and the Supreme Chancellor to die. As the ship was falling apart in the distance, her heart wrenched yet there was nothing to do.

Master Mundi put up a hand, "no more, Lady Finn. Our word is final. There are causalities in every war. We have to leave Master Kenobi, Anakin, and your father's fate into their own hands."

After Master Mundi left with his commanding air, Finn's legs gave way and she sank to the floor. "Fina? Are you alright?" she blink several times before she realized who it was shaking her shoulders.

"Padmé?" her voice sounded like she was far away.

"Fina, thank goodness." Her friend hugged her gently.

"They—" she paused, looking out the window, "they are gone." Tears that had been held back all these times began to stream down her fair face.

"We must be strong, Fina." Padmé looked tired and worried, too. But she was firm and strong. Finn noticed something else about her friend. "Padmé, are you—"

"Yes," she stroked her stomach thankfully, "I'm carrying Annie's child." But the child will probably never see its father, Finn thought sadly. "I'm so sorry, Padmé." Finn understood her anguish. Anakin was her world, just as Ben was hers.

A group of officials and their bodyguards rushed past the two young women. They were all speaking excitedly at the same time. "Did you hear that?" Finn asked Padmé, then grabbed a senator by one of his tentacles, "the Chancellor and his rescuers are safe?" Finn's heart was about to burst with gladness when he affirmed her statement. "Come, Padmé!" she grabbed her friend's hand eagerly and ran toward the Senate Office Building.

Finn did not hold too many tender feelings toward the man she called father. But once he was safe, it meant the fragmentation of the Republic could be reduced as much as possible. She investigated the situation with her soldier trainings. With Dooku dead, it would not be long before the rest of the dissidents were subdued and the Clone Wars to be brought to an end. Finn sighed. It was strange to think of the Republic in peace again. She had lived in the war for so long that she had forgotten how to be a civilian.

The huddle of senate officials crowded around Palpatine and Anakin, offering words of congratulations and encouraging pats on the back. Finn saw Obi-Wan exchanged a few words with Anakin and left on the Jedi shuttle with Master Windu. Palpatine spotted his daughter and moved with difficulty through the crowd toward her.

"I am glad to see you again, my child."

"I am glad you are safe, Father."

Under her breath, she whispered to him, "I know what you did."

He looked surprised but quickly calmed himself due to the multitude of eyes around them, "it was a necessary sacrifice, little one. Don't let your attachments get in the way."

She knew it was not her attachments and feelings speaking, "it was a lowdown move, but I've always thought you'd get rid of me before you ever get rid of Dooku."

But the crowd of politicians was rushing him inside, preventing Palpatine from saying too much. "You are far more precious to me than that useless old scum. I need to speak to you later, Finn," he managed to add that in before he had to attend to the official businesses of the Senate. With this recent victory, no doubt the Senate's faith and admiration for her father would increase tenfold. It was a brilliant move, Finn thought coldly before she left for the Jedi Temple.

His eyes sore, his neck sore, heck, his whole body was in pain. Moreover, his head throbbed rather painfully after that excruciatingly long report to the Jedi Council. He wondered if Finn was safe and decided to take a shower first before doing anything else. When he opened his door, he was surprised by two arms that immediately flung themselves around him.

"Ben, I was so worried," Finn murmured into his chest, breathing in the smell of his clothes and laser burns.

He smoothed out her hair and rocked her gently. "I'm quite alright. Where have you been?"

"You are hurt," she stood back and saw his wounds, then she drew him closer to her. "Sit down, let me put some bacta on you." She tried to be as gently as possible, but the application still stung and made Obi-Wan drew in a cold breath. "I'm sorry," she patted his wounds carefully and kissed him shyly.

Impatiently at her light kiss, Obi-Wan forced his mouth onto hers in a much more passionate kiss. "Fina," his voice was deep and throaty. She looked at him, bright-eyed and flushed. "I'm filthy."

She looked at him, amazed, and then she laughed heartily. "Then we should get you cleaned up, should we not?" she held his hand and led him into the shower. She kissed him deeply again and began to undress him. "I think in your tired condition, you need someone to help you, Ben."

"Well, you can't help me being outside now, can you?" he embraced her around the waist with his strong arms and pulled her into the sprinkling shower, while she squealed with laughter. Her laughter stopped as he kissed her even more urgently than before and began peeling off her wet clothes. I could get used to this, she thought wickedly.

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