Ranma ½ belongs To Rumiko Takahashi, Viz video and others. Any other works belong to their respective people as well. I don't own any of this so just sit back and enjoy the tale, oh and don't sue me please that would be bad.

Chapter 7: The grey area

Ranma Hibiki arrived on a dark planet rife with dark emotions and went in search of his brother Ryouga Hibiki…

Ranma had been searching for days for any sign of life, for anything at all, but nothing was there. He was cold and hungry and his direction powers seemed to be unable to tell him anything at all about where he was, although in this case he might not be appropriate. Because Ranma had been searching for his brother as a six foot tall red haired elven girl.

Ranma poured some more hot water on herself and cursed once again as the change failed to happen. "What the heck is goin on" she complained. Lacking an answer she sought refuge in the book of Amazon lore and her new technique. Then suddenly as she embraced and used her new found chi senses that she was bombarded with a wealth of information. Not only, did she know where every animal and living thing around her was, but she also knew where her brother was.

Following her senses led her to a large castle like structure. It would be a castle except Ranma had never seen a castle bristling with so many technological devices before. Still her brother was in there somewhere in the darkness and shadows of the castle and she intended to get him out.

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Dooku sat in his throne room pondering his idea. It was almost time for him to go with his separatist forces and pretend to capture his master. Almost time for him to bring along his new apprentice and foil the plans of his master and those of the Jedi Council.

As he toyed with those ideas he felt a disturbance in the force. A beacon of light had come to the darkness and was daring to enter his house. Well, he had a surprise waiting for the Jedi a surprise that he would have to use quickly, for the time was passing short and he would need to leave soon, but first to see if the Jedi was worthy of his time.

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Ranma was walking down the hallways using her umisenken when the floor fell away, she barely had enough time to leap into a wall and up to the ceiling. Looking down on the spike trap below her, she then dropped the umisenken and maneuvered herself carefully along the ceiling until she was above an area of floor again.

Not trusting the floor Ranma climbed down the wall and gingerly put her hand on the floor, slowly testing it with her weight. Suddenly, a hail of laser fire came towards her from down the hallway. Numerous battle droids were firing at her and she had to react quickly. Instead of trusting the floor Ranma lumped into the wall on the other side of the hall and then jumped back again in a zig zagg pattern that was so fast that the droids could not get a decent bead on her and then she was upon them. Ranma tore into the battle droids with intensity and vigor freely lashing out with lethal ferocity. When she was done the droids were hardly fit for scrap. Still, an Idea came to her and she continued on down the hallway with the upper torso of a droid in hand and used it to see if any further traps lay ahead.

Ranma walked along the hall tossing the droid torso in front of her as she walked. She used her newly enhanced senses to get an idea of where Ryouga was and climbed a set of stairs. When she reached the top of the steps she ran into four more battle droids with shimmering fields around them. Not realizing what the field was, she went on the offensive and burned her hands on the shields when she attacked. The four battle droids attacked her with their arsenal, but once again Ranma was too slippery for them to get a bead on.

Having about enough of the dodging shtick, Ranma went on the offensive once more. Throwing the Kinjin Rashu Dan into their midst was somewhat effective. The technique would disrupt the shield of the robots temporarily, but not with enough time for her to throw another before the shield came back up. For almost a minute she dodged more blaster fire and juked around corners trying to come up with a new plan of action.

Ranma ran into a room without an obvious exit and realized that she was trapped. The only way out was to defeat the droids with the shields. The droids were advancing on her position when she finally came up with an idea. Leaping into the air above the droids she then jumped off the wall and landed so that she could face all three of the droids in a line. Once she faced them that way she fired off a single blast that disrupted all of the shields and waded in with the chestnut fist, once again turning droids into scrap metal.

After the difficult battle Ranma caught her breath and thought to herself (Man that was tough. It makes me almost wish I had the powers of Sailor Sun again. If I'm stuck with her memories I ought to at least have something decent to show for it).

Ranma continued onwards tracing Ryouga towards the castles throne room. She entered the room and saw before her A Silver haired man sitting at a throne, behind him was her friend and brother Ryouga Hibiki.

Ranma yelled, "Ryouga, thank God! I've been looking everywhere for you!" she was about to run towards Ryouga when the Silver haired man spoke up and said, "Manners Jedi, mind your manners! There will be no welcome for you from your brother until I have introduced myself and we have had some conversation."

Ranma goggled and said, "Jedi? I ain't no Jedi. Uhm isn't that one of those things from the movies?"

The silver haired man said, "I am Count Dooku. I was once a Jedi, but have found power that I had never dreamed of within the Dark side of the force. Who might you be?"

"I'm Ranma Hibiki, brother to Ryouga."

Dooku looked a bit perplexed and said, "Don't you mean sister? Never mind it matters not young Jedi, your brother has turned to the dark side and obeys me now."

Then Dooku said, "Wait! Ranma, is that not the name that you have spoken of before young Hibiki? Was it not a "Ranma Saotome" who you had feelings of hate towards?"

Dooku looked at Ryouga and said, "Kill her! Take out your anger and depression on this Ranma and your training will be complete."

Ryouga listened to his master and started towards Ranma. He went into strange new stance and ignited a red lightsabre. Looking into Ranma's eyes with hatred, vengeance and the Dark Side Ryouga said, "Ranma Saotome prepare to die."

Then Ryouga lunged at Ranma with his weapon. Ranma easily evaded the attack and countered with a punch, barely getting her hand out of the way as the lightsabre came arcing towards that hand. Ranma then cursed to herself and was about to resign to only dodging when she changed her mind and pulled out the alien Katana she had received from the predator (Let's see what this thing can do) she thought to herself. Ryouga swung his blood colored blade again and to both, his and Ranma's surprise the energy blade was blocked by the alien weapon. The battle continued some more with Ryouga attacking and Ranma parrying and dodging while avoiding the use of her most powerful moves for fear of hurting Ryouga.

The battle stretched on and Ranma needed a new hook. Seeing Dooku sitting there on his stone throne gave her and idea. She sheathed her sword and proceeded to get Ryouga to pursue her and then with Ryouga in pursuit Ranma ran towards the throne and dove towards its base. Dooku saw her, but didn't see her move as a threat thinking that her foolish actions would allow his apprentice would kill her in the next blow. With the lightsabre about to descend upon her she thought briefly (I hope I can do this in one shot) and yelled, "Baksai tenketsu". Dooku and his chair went flying, pieces of rock pelted him and knocked him unconscious. Ryouga having previously mastered the move was mostly unaffected and Ranma had ablated some of the force of the attack by using the amaguriken to catch much of the debris heading towards her.

With Dooku moaning in a corner, Ranma pleaded with Ryouga and said, "Come on man snap out of it. I'm your friend remember? Brothers? Anything at all?"

Ryouga paid no heed to Ranma and continued his attacks, still unable to get a clean strike on the wily girl in front of him. The battle continued on and on as Ryouga went after Ranma with his red sabre and the two destroyed the throne room in the process. Ryouga became angry enough to shatter the wall next to where his master lay and sent the debris hurtling towards Ranma heedless of Dooku's unconscious form as it feel out the newly formed hole and towards a the plasteel street below.

Luckily for the aged sith lord some battle droids were still operational out there and they took his unconscious form to the docks where his ship was preparing for departure. Dooku was placed in a Bacta tank and his droid pilots readied for the journey that would take him toward a rendezvous with his master.

Meanwhile Ranma was dodging shrapnel thrown by Ryouga as well as a new attack of electrical arcs that shot from his hands. She was running out of options and breath. Ranma's dodges and jukes were not as efficient and Ryouga was getting closer to hitting her every time he did his new trick. She had to figure out a way to get through to him maybe even heal him.

Then just as she was thinking about healing it came to her from her experience in the previous world. She had used her chi to heal Mousse of some of his injuries and perhaps she could do the same with Ryouga, now all she had to do was get close enough to the light sabre wielding, electrical blast throwing maniac to do it.

As Ranma jumped to avoid a boulder she saw an opening that would take immense speed in order to get close enough to her brother. Once again doing what she did best she improvised and said to herself (Amaguriken revised chestnuts dancing toward your enemy.) Then she pumped chi into her legs and poured on the speed reaching Ryouga almost before he realized that she had moved. However, Ryouga did realize that Ranma had moved and used one last bolt of dark force energy at her just as she touched him with her chi healing technique. The two energies met and there was an explosion of light and energy as dark met light and healing met with harm.

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Ryouga awoke on the ground and on the first floor of the castle the throne room lay in ruins all about him and he saw sunlight petering down into the room as the dark clouds that had been ever present since his arrival waned. He looked at the sunlight and felt as if he had awoken from a nightmare, but this nightmare was very real.

"Ranma!" he shouted in concern for the safety of his brother. He searched the room some more and then saw some movement under a pile of rubble. He quickly went over to it and started lifting the rocks. Under the rocks was a tall red haired elven girl wearing what was left of a red silk shirt with tangs and black pants. Ryouga nudged Ranma's unconscious, disheveled, and bleeding form and said, "Ranma, are you okay?"

Not receiving a response he tried again, "Ranma it's me, Ryouga I'm okay now Ranma."

Becoming nervous Ryouga tried to check, but as he put his hand towards Ranma's breast to check for a heart beat his hand stilled. He realized that nudging a young girl and touching were two drastically different things. He tried to settle for checking her pulse, but couldn't be sure. He listened for breathing, but his own heart was racing and all he could hear was a nervous lub dub coming from himself. His frustration, nervousness and fear mounted and he screamed, "Ranma! Come on you've got to be alive, I can't do this without you man, I just can't!"

Then Ryouga heard a small chuckle coming from the girl who said, "Is that so P-chan?"

Ryouga ignored the insult and hugged Ranma for all he was worth. Meanwhile Ranma gasped and said, "Go easy man you're breakin my ribs." Ryouga let go sheepishly and Ranma said, "Alright Hibiki you done with the electric light show and levitating rock schtick or do we need to go another round or three?"

Ryouga said, "I'm done Ranma although I still feel the darkness inside, just like I always have. I thought I was okay, but then I came here and my master trains me and it all comes back like it was never gone. I guess I'm always going to have to fight against it, everyday now."

Ryouga looked at Ranma and said, "I guess it's Lucky for me I have a brother like you around…" Then Ryouga realized that Ranma was in female form while he was not a pig. Ryouga said, "Hot water we've got to get you some hot water."

Ranma responded, "Tried it already. Maybe you should try cold?"

Ryouga said, "Alright let's go find some."

The two quickly found some water and splashed Ryouga with it with no apparent affect. The consternation on Ryouga's face was visible whereas Ranma's anger was released upon a piece of damaged wall breaking it even further and threatening the rest of the already weakened castle's stability. Ryouga pointed and said, "Uhm Ranma maybe you ought not do that?"

The red haired elven girl said, "Yeah I guess not, but what the heck is happening here man? I thought we were blessed by Jusenkyo now and that we had this direction thing too, but I don't know where I am and water isn't changing us, plus we were sent to different places."

For just a moment the tall red haired elven girl looked sad and forlorn and then Ranma got fire in her eyes and said, "Well I'm not letting it keep me down. I may be stuck as a girl and I might have lost my ability to know exactly where I am, but I'm Ranma and I don't lose. Whatever we are needed to do we will find it and kick its ass."

Ryouga looked at his brother and laughed. The he said, "Leave it to you to be so arrogant about this."

Ranma said, "Well I've been through a lot Ryouga and I admit that I've changed quite a bit recently, but the one thing I do know is that if I lose my confidence then I lose myself. That confidence is part of my fighting style and a part of who I am. Anyway, enough introspection, let's see if we can't find the guy who owned this dump. Maybe he's got some answers?"

Ryouga looked surprised and said, "Master Dooku? I completely forgot about him during our fight. I know you blew up his chair with the breaking pint, but after that I can't recall."

Ranma said, "I don't know, let's take a look in this rubble or see if we can't find one of those stupid combat robots around here."

Ryouga said, "They're called droids Ranma, but that's an Idea. Maybe a droid could help us out."

The two left the crumbling castle and walked down the street looking for droids. Finding none in the vicinity they set out towards where Ryouga recalled the space docks to be. The two arrived at the docks just in time to see a large ship taking off and leaving the planet. A ship that they did not realize was even then bringing a healing Dooku towards his ultimate fate at Anakin Skywalker's hands.

Ranma watched the ship go and said, "That ain't the only ride off this dump is it?"

Ryouga said, "I don't know the last time I was here I wasn't exactly keeping track."

The two Hibikis looked around the docks for some signs of life and found a protocol droid which had been left behind and in poor repair. The droid was able to tell them that Dooku had indeed been on the departing ship and that he had been put there on the orders of his master a Darth Sidious. The droid was also able to lead them to the only other ship on the planet which was a smaller vehicle barely capable of a hyperspace jump.

The two boys took in the information and then looked at the droid together and said, "What is hyperspace?"

The droid explained it to them. After the explanation the two Hibikis realized that they would be unable to pilot this ship or to calculate the complexities of a hyperspace jump. In fact the only thing they might be able to do would be to use the communications system and call for help.

Hours later inside the cramped ship the two were still hard at work trying to get the system to do anything at all. Ranma looked at the droid and said, "C2PO I thought you were a protocol droid doesn't protocol require communications?"

C2PO said, "That is correct master Ranma and I am trying my hardest to effect repairs to this communications system, but the servos in my left arm have been damaged over the years and I can not use it for this work, plus many of my circuits and systems have badly degraded over the years."

Ranma said, "Right you mentioned that earlier, does it mean that you might not even be fixing this correctly?"

The rusted silver droid said, "Sadly that may be the truth master Ranma. With neither of you having any knowledge of repair and my systems so badly degraded it may not be possible to even fix such a simple system as this one."

"Well." Ranma sighed, "Keep trying anyway C2 Ryouga and I will see if there are any books on space ship repair in the castle."

C2PO said, "Do as you wish master Ranma, but written material has not been used in the Republic for almost five hundred years. I doubt anything you find on the subject would be useful in repairing this ship."

Ranma just sighed again and said, "Alright whatever keep trying and I guess Ryouga and I can just practice our art some more and rustle up some grub."

The two Hibikis practiced various martial arts for awhile and then Ranma studied his book of Amazon lore and techniques. Ryouga meanwhile mediated on the mystical force and his previous master's teachings trying to figure out if there was some way that he could access it without using depression and anger.

Another day passed as the boys practiced and meditated while the droid tried to repair the communications system. At the end of the day Ryouga noticed Ranma sitting still and meditating with her eyes closed. She sat there and seemed at peace and at one with her surroundings. Then, she left the round levitating a few inches above it as she meditated.

"Ranma?" He said with awe…

She turned he head towards him without opening her eyes and said, "What is it Ryouga?"

"You're levitating Ranma."

Ranma responded, "It's my Chi I've been practicing a technique called external proprioception. With it I can sense my surroundings without seeing them and I've been able to tap into and grow my chi reserves. Lately I've been using those chi reserves to see if I could duplicate Herb's flight techniques, but so far all I have been able to do is levitate."

Ryouga said, "You aren't using the force?"

Ranma stood up and opened her eyes and then replied, "Never heard of it Ryouga. Is that what you were using to throw those electrical chi balls?"

Ryouga said, "It wasn't chi, in fact it wasn't internal to myself at all. The force surrounds us all in this galaxy and maybe even our own. You can tap into it and use it to do what I was doing."

Ranma said, "But? I know there's a but in that statement Ryouga."

Ryouga said, "Yeah, but you need to use anger and depression to tap into the force or at least that's what master Dooku taught me. I've been meditating and practicing hoping that maybe he was wrong about that, but so far nothing and then I saw you and I thought that maybe you were doing it."

Ranma said, "If I am it isn't intentional, besides what if there is no 'Force' on the next world we go to Ryouga? Just like I don't do that magic thing anymore maybe you won't be able to use the force after we leave."

Ryouga said, "I guess so Ranma, but I'd really like to learn if there is a better way to access the force, if only to help me in my quest to stop being depressed and angry."

Ranma saw that Ryouga was really serious and intent and started to say something when they were interrupted by C2PO who ran to them, had an arm fall off and said, "Oh No I've lost my Arm!"

The Droid seemed to be in agony and despair as it complained about the limb lying on the ground. Complained until Ranma said, "Yo! Rust bucket as soon as we can we will fix your arm, but what was it that you came running to us in the first place for?"

The rusty silver droid said, "Oh that's right. Master Ranma, master Ryouga I've done it I fixed the communications system."

Ranma said, "Great job C2. Why don't we go back to the ship and you can try to tell me how to go about putting your arm on right after we contact someone who can help us get off this stupid planet."

At the ship they realized that they didn't know who to contact, but sent out a general distress call hoping that someone might receive it.

Meanwhile Jedi Knight Kit Fisto was in his ship circling a Kysroth the planet that intelligence had revealed as the hiding place of Cont Dooku. (This is a good hiding place for a sith lord) he thought ( it is steeped in the dark side of the force and away from regular shipping lanes). His thoughts were interrupted by the chirping of his R2 unit as it received a distress call. "Put it on the screen R2."

The green skinned and tentacle haired Jedi master waited a few moments for the message to finish and said, "What do you think R2? Yes, I know it could be a trap, but why don't we check it out?" Kit directed his star fighter out of its hyperspace ring and headed for a landing on the planet below.

Ryouga and Ranma were awed by the landing of the star fighter as it came in and blasted a few remaining battle droids which had come out as some alarm claxons blared. The klaxons were then silenced by a few more shots from the star fighter and it canopy opened up to reveal a green skinned alien with multiple tentacles for hair and unblinking black eyes. The alien exited his ship and looked towards the two Hibikis and said, "I am Kit Fisto, Jedi Knight. I am on a mission for the galactic republic to find a wanted criminal called Count Dooku. Have either of you two seen him?"

Ryouga stepped forward and said, "Jedi Knight from the Republic? Master Dooku said you were evil. Looking to destroy the galaxy and refusing to allow peaceful planets to leave willingly."

Kit looked at Ryouga and said, "I bear no malice for Dooku the Jedi ways are the ways of peace and tranquility. Not that you can tell so much these days, but the Jedi are guardians of peace and defenders of the democracy instilled by the galactic republic."

Ranma said, "You know Ryouga that Dooku guy is the same one who was getting you to tap into hate and anger. Maybe he wasn't being honest with you?"

Ryouga said, "You might be right Ranma. I tell you what you take the lead on this one and I'll defer to your judgment do we trust the Jedi or not?"

Ranma looked at the Natuolan Jedi master and said, "I say we trust this guy." Then she said, "Alright Kit, why don't you take us to these Jedi you spoke about and we'll swap stories along the way?"

Kit used the force and read honesty and integrity in the girl's voice and so he decided to take her and the boy with him to the Jedi council in his ship. Along the way he told them the story of the separatists, the republic, the slaughter at geonosis, and other recent events. Ranma and Ryouga in turn told him about their own adventures and Ryouga's tutelage under Count Dooku.

This last piece of information gave Kit pause. The dark haired boy did seem somewhat odd and had a tinge of the dark side, but nothing like what he should have if he was really a sith apprentice. Somehow Ranma had done the impossible in her fight, somehow she had managed to remove the taint of the dark side from her brother this would definitely need to be told to the Jedi council.

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Meanwhile on a Separatist ship Anakin Skywalker stood in front of a headless Dooku committing yet another act that would inevitably lead him further down a path of darkness.

Events unfolded from there and Anakin was able to save the ship, Chancellor Palpatine, and his own master, he then had to speak with his wife and the public.

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Kit Fisto's ship arrived on Coruscant a few hours after the heroic rescue and deadly battle over the planet and the city looked the same as it ever did. He took his ship down and landed it at the Jedi academy. Then he escorted his two young charges to a meeting with the Jedi council.

The two were questioned by the council at length until it was found out that Dooku had been training Ryouga in the dark side of the force the council became more concerned. The council requested that Ranma leave the room and they would test Ryouga to see if the taint of the dark side was still upon him. Ranma balked at this, but the council assured her that her brother would be unharmed. Ranma left the council chambers and was escorted to a holding chamber.

Ryouga was questioned on his use of the force and his anger. Ryouga admitted to the council that he did indeed have trouble controlling his darker emotions and that Dooku had been able to manipulate him into becoming almost totally consumed by the dark side of the force. He then admitted to the council that the force still called to him and that without any other knowledge of channeling it he was worried about turning back towards the dark side.

Finally, the council questioned him further and learned of what his sister Ranma had done to cure him. They were unsure of how it had occurred, but they knew two things that both of the Hibikis were able to tap into the force and that if Ryouga were not taught some of the Jedi ways he would be a danger to himself and others.

The council sent Ryouga to wait with his sister and conferred among themselves. Yet again they were presented with a dilemma a person who was strong with the force, but needed training. This time the dilemma was even more acute because Ryouga was years older than young Anakin had been when he began the training. They conferred among themselves until Mace Windu spoke out and said, "I will train him."

Yoda looked at Mace and said, "You master Windu? Against training young Anakin were you not?"

Mace responded, "I was and I still have concerns about that boy, in fact I have concerns about Ryouga as well, but what better way to alleviate my own concerns than to train him myself?"

Yoda responded, "Wisdom there is in what you say Master Windu. Now what of his sister?"

A dark brown skinned alien woman called Ki Adi Mundi said, "I think it might be best for us to leave her alone."

Yoda responded, "Why is that?"

Ki replied, "She was able to do something we have never heard of before something that Jedi thought was impossible. She removed the taint of the dark side from her brother. What else might she be capable of doing if we do not teach her what we believe is and is not possible to do with the light side of the force?"

Yoda then said, "What then should we do with her while we train her brother?"

Kit Fisto spoke up and said, "Why not have her trained in the operation and repair of vehicles? Both she and her brother seem incapable of using much in the way of technology perhaps it would be good if one of them did?"

The council agreed to Kit's suggestion and broke off for the rest of the day.

Early in the morning of the next day Anakin Skywalker comes to Yoda's quarters. They speak about the premonitions that Anakin is having and Yoda gives him advice. Telling young Anakin that death is a natural part of life and that fear of loss and jealousy are pathways to the dark side. Yoda explains that he must let go of that fear.

Anakin leaves in something of a huff. Not understanding or willing to understand the wisdom that has been imparted to him. On his way out of the Temple and towards his meeting with Palpatine he sees Ryouga training with Mace Windu.

Anakin says, "Master Windu who is this Jedi? I thought I knew all the padawans around here?"

Mace says, "This is Ryouga he is my new padawan. He has had a brush with the dark side and I am trying to assist him in learning to avoid that temptation."

Anakin says, "New Padawan? When did you get a new padawan."

Mace replies with a laugh, "Just yesterday actually it was after the crash. Kit Fisto was reporting that he had been unable to capture Dooku before the count went on to capture the Chancellor, but that he had retrieved this boy and his sister from the planet that Dooku was on."

Anakin looks shocked and says, "He's a new trainee? I thought the council frowned on training older students."

The ebony skinned Jedi master sees the shock in Anakin's voice and says, "Well we have had some success with you and it was thought that the best way to help this boy would be to train him how to use the force correctly, right Ryouga."

Ryouga who had been meditating and levitating a few objects had his concentration disrupted and dropped them saying, "What was that master?"

Mace replied, "You need to keep your concentration Ryouga even while listening to the outside world. I was just telling young Anakin here about you and the light side of the force."

Ryouga looked sheepish and said, "Yes master Windu. The light side of the force is when you are calm and at peace not depressed or angry. I really want to stay calm and peaceful instead of depressed and angry. Thank you again for agreeing to train me"

Anakin saw the honesty in Ryouga's statement and was angered by it. How dare this guy come in from nowhere and be so willing to follow the Jedi ways. How dare he. Then Anakin clapped Ryouga hard on the back and said, "Well keep at it padawan you have a long way before you reach my skill level." Then he walked off to his meeting.

Ryouga looked at his master and said, "Did I miss something."

Mace glanced at Anakin's retreating form and said, "I'm not sure."

The two then continued with Ryouga's training.

Anakin of course went off to his meeting with Palpatine there he was told that Palpatine feared the Jedi council and that they were pushing for more control of the republic. He was told that the Jedi were not to be trusted and given a position as Palpatine's personal representative to the council.Meanwhile Ranma was with some republic clone troopers who were teaching her about ships using a simulator. A man in white armor said to her, "Okay let's go over this one again in the simulator. Your ship has a burn out and your navigation is shorting out. Let's do it."

Ranma got in the simulator for the 23rd time that day and tried it again. The realities of the situations in the simulator and her own innate ability to learn were holding up well, this time she was able to fix the navigation and crash land the ship. She exited the ship with a hoot of joy and said, "Ha! What do you think of that CP?"

The clone trooper known as CP4832 said, "I think a youngling could do better than that. Try it again and this time, land the ship on the landing pad. Then we'll try some harder stuff."

Ranma looked at the clone trooper and said to her repaired droid C2P0, "You know C2 next he'll want me to do it tied to a rock and with one hand behind my back."

C2 replied, "I don't see how a rock tied to you would affect your piloting abilities master Ranma."

Ranma groaned and said, "I get stuck with the droid and the piloting lessons while Ryouga learns about this force thing. Man I got the short end of the stick didn't I."

C2 replied, "Master I do not recall you having a stick."

Ranma cursed and dragged herself back into the simulator and away from the annoying droid. Trying the exercise again and again as well as others…

Ryouga's training continued into the day until master Windu was required to attend another meeting with the Jedi council.

Mace said, "You keep practicing your meditation and that lightsabre form that I showed you and you'll do fine. In fact before that why don't you attend some of the youngling classes that we have going on right now. Then around dinner I'll look for you to be meditating in the gardens and we can go over what you learned in those classes?"

Ryouga smiled and said, "Very well master Windu I will."

Mace smiled at Ryouga as he left for the meeting. In his mind he contrasted the young teen with Anakin Skywalker one was a brash youth and the other somewhat self effacing. (Yes) he thought to himself (perhaps I did make a good decision here. My knowledge of the Vapaad lightabre style makes me the Jedi most experienced with the dark side and thus the most experienced with how to avoid it.)

Mace's good mood lasted right up until the council meeting. Then it evaporated and there was some steel in his voice when he said, "Anakin Skywalker, we have approved your appointment to the Council as the Chancellor's personal representative."

Anakin replied, "I will do my best to uphold the principles of the Jedi Order."

Yoda then said, "Allow this appointment lightly, the Council does not. Disturbing is this move by Chancellor Palpatine."

The youth said, "I understand."

Mace looked grim and said, "You are on this Council, but we do not grant you the rank of Master."

Anakin Skwalker seethed with anger and said, "What! How can you do this? This is outrageous, it's unfair . . . I'm more powerful than any of you. How can you be on the Council and not be a Master? It's the same as when I was a boy. You don't want me and now look at you you've allowed a child even older than I was to be trained! Will you be letting him sit on the council as well?"

Once again steel entered the ebony skinned Jedi's voice as he said, "Take a seat, young Skywalker."

Anakin replied without a hint of shame, "Forgive me, Master."

The conversation in the council continued with a report that General Grievous location was unknown and that the wookies were going to be attacked. It was decided against Anakin's wishes to send Obi Wan after the General and Yoda agreed to visit the Wookies and help them.

Before Obi Wan was about to leave on his mission Ryouga is meditating by himself when he hears Anakin yelling outside his door. He looks out and hears Anakin finishing a whiny rant saying, "They want me to spy on the Chancellor? That's treason!"

Obi Wan replies, "We are at war, Anakin. The Jedi Council is sworn to uphold the principles of the Republic, even if the Chancellor does not."

Anakin stares at him in disbelief and Ryouga can hardly believe what he has heard either and then Anakin says, "Why didn't the Council give me this assignment when we were in session?"

Obi Wan tells him that the assignment was not to be on record and Anakin tries to convince Obi Wan that the Chancellor is not a bad man explaining that Palpatine befriended him and has watched him ever since he arrived at the Jedi order.

Obi Wan tries to explain to Anakin that something is out of place, but Anakin will have none of it saying, "You're asking me to do something against the Jedi Code. Against the Republic. Against a mentor . . . and a friend. That's what's out of place here. Why are you asking this of me?"

Obi-Wan says, "Spying is not against the Jedi code Anakin and you are not doing something against the Republic. Besides, which the Council is asking you."

The two leave the hallway and go their separate ways leaving a confused Ryouga behind saying to himself, "There is more going on around here than I thought. Maybe master Windu can explain more to me or perhaps later tonight I'll talk with Ranma and see what he thinks."

Ranma dragged herself into the Jedi temple late that night with her rusty silver droid in tow. She could hear it saying something about how well she had done in the back of her mind, but she was ignoring it as she headed towards her sleeping quarters.

When she arrived she started to strip off her clothes until she heard a voice say, "Ack!"

She quickly put her shirt back on and said, "Ryouga? What the hell are you doing here?"

Ryouga explained to her the conversation that he had heard between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker then he said, "Master Windu tells me that the Jedi council does not trust the chancellor anymore and that the chancellor has been taking more and more power for himself and away from the Republic senators. It's like he's destroying the very foundation of the Republic even as the troopers fight for liberty."

Ranma listened and said, "So do you believe him? Is he trustworthy?"

Ryouga said, "Well the techniques he's teaching me are vastly different from those of count Dooku and the children or uh younglings are treated very well around here."

Ranma said, "Yeah well when I heard Galactic republic and guardians of peace from the green alien guy I figured that we had found the good guys, but I just wanted to check and see if you agree now."

Ryouga replied, "Yeah you're right and Count Dooku was wrong. He was evil not the Jedi. I realize that now, but Ranma what are we going to do about this Chancellor guy?"

Ranma replied, "I don't know Ryouga why don't you keep learning from master Windu and I'll get some more information when I'm in the city training with the clone troopers and mechanics tomorrow. Maybe we will stumble into something."

The next day the two went their separate ways and to their respective training regimens. Lucky for Ryouga the next evening his master took him with him to ship landing platform when Anakin came in and said, "Master Windu, I must talk to you."

Mace replied, "What is it, Skywalker? I was just about to send my Padawan to train with the younglings again and we are in a hurry. We have just received word that Obi-Wan has destroyed General Grievous. We are on our way to make sure the Chancellor returns emergency powers back to the Senate."

Anakin reveals to Windu that the Chancellor is a sith lord and that he will not be giving up his powers. Mace realizes that they must move quickly and orders Anakin to wait in the council chamber and Ryouga to continue training with the younglings. He also orders Ryouga to contact his sister and have her come back from her own training early.

Ryouga is sitting in the training session with the younglings and has been trying to contact Ranma every now and again on the communicator, but has been unable to reach her. He is worried about her, but is unable to contact her too often because he does not wish to interrupt much.

Meanwhile Ranma is training with a new clone trooper and has left her droid C2 behind with her communicator. She has been experiencing the exhilaration of flying around the city and she has disabled the communicator and is trying to repair it while she flies. As Ranma careens along in traffic barely missing other drivers and buildings while at her task the clone trooper in the seat next to her says, "Didn't you just learn to fly yesterday?"

Ranma looks at him and says, "Martial Arts offensive driving CX. If it's got martial arts init I can do it!"

CX267 looks less than thrilled by this response and holds on for dear life. Ranma continues to fly her ship and repair the comlink, when static blares out from it and then a clear voice come on the channel, "Trooper CX267?"

"Yes" says CX267.

The voice says, "Execute Order Sixty-Six."

The trooper then attempts to attack Ranma as she is flying the ship. Unfortunately for him the master of anything goes martial arts sees him move for his weapon and start to point it at her. She knocks it out of his hand and says, "Hey! Whadya do that for?"

The trooper looks at her blankly and attacks again. This time Ranma just tosses him out of the ship and onto a building as she flies by it saying, "Jeez cool off Jerk! If you didn't like my flying you shoulda just said so."

She flies her ship back to C2P0 who tells her that Ryouga called while she was out and asked for her to come to the temple. Ranma tells C2 to hop in and flies to the Jedi temple in time to see an onslaught. An army of clone troopers is crossing a bridge and into the temple firing all along the way.

She stares at the huge bridge and the army on it for one moment and then makes a decision. She looks at her rusty silver droid and says, "Hang on C2 this is gonna get bumpy." Then she pilots her craft towards the bridge, using all of her newly acquired skills to avoid the blaster fire and fly right under the Jedi temple end of the bridge as she flies by at high speed she screams out, "Baksei Tenkets" and blows away the temple end of the bridge speeding away before the shrapnel starts to hit. Seeing that the troopers are not swayed and still intent on attacking the temple as they begin to create a make shift repair she sighs to herself and pilots the vehicle towards the other end of the bridge and performs the maneuver again leaving the army of clones to fall into an almost endless abyss.

Knowing that she had destroyed the main entry way Ranma then took off towards a landing pad as the troopers already in the entrance way of the Temple continued to fire at her ship. Ranma reached the landing pad and looked at her droid saying, "C2 you stay here and look after the ship okay?" The droid did not argue with her.

Ranma proceeded to walk through the temple in search of her brother, but kept getting hung up fighting clone forces here and there. Finally she reached the area that she though Ryouga would be in ahead of a force of clone troopers entering the room she saw Ryouga, the students defeating a different group of clone troopers. The teacher lay on the floor unconscious and Ryouga was wielding a blue lightsabre.

Ranma grinned at him and said, "Nice color Ryouga. I see you've got a pest control problem around here need some help?"

Ryouga was about to respond when Anakin marched into the room. The children sigh with a bit of relief when they see Anakin and say, "Master Skywalker, there are too many of them. What are we going to do?"

Anakin looks back at them with a stern expression on his face and ignites his lightsabre.

Ranma pulls out her Katana and blocks his strike saying, "I don't know who you are buddy, but killing kids is a no no in my book."

Anakin looks at her and says, "I don't know what you blade is made of, but you aren't a Jedi and you can't possibly defeat me."

Ryouga sees the exchange and says, "Ranma I'll take him you get these kids to safety."

Ranma replies, "But, I was going to use cockiness and arrogance to kick his ass."

Ryouga replies, "Cockiness and arrogance aren't the Jedi way Ranma."

Ranma responds, "I am so glad that you got trained by those guys then and not me then."

She proceeds to escort the children out of the room carrying the teacher and saying, "Come on guys let's find some of your friends and ditch this joint."

Anakin looks on in anger and says, "You've only bought them time young padawan."

Then he attacks Ryouga who blocks the strike and kicks him into a wall.

Anakin gets up from the powerful kick and says, "So you have some power. It will do you no good."

The battle continues with Anakin able to out sword fight Ryouga, but with Ryouga able to use his martial arts skills to lessen the gap.

Meanwhile Ranma and the younglings keep running into forces of clone troopers which Ranma has to take out.

The force reaches the vehicle platform which is guarded by some clone troopers. A middle aged man with a beard and mustache lands his own vehicle at the platform when he sees one of the younglings defeat a clone trooper and Ranma take out the others with ease. He looks towards her and says, "Quick get in. I can take you to safety."

Ranma says, "Who are you?"

The man says, "I'm senator Bail Organa. I just found out that the Jedi are being betrayed by the Chancellor and the republic, I came to see if I could help."

Ranma says, "Alright take these children and their teacher to safety. I'm going to go get my friend."

Bail looks at her and says, "That's suicide there's probably a legion of troops still in there."

Ranma says, "Well Bail you don't know me, but I'm Ranma and I don't lose. You give my droid C2 there the coordinates and I'll meet you at them with my friend." Then the tall red haired elven girl walked back into the Jedi temple and went in search of Ryouga.

The fight between Ryouga and Anakin was almost as intense as the fight between Ranma and Ryouga, but this time Ryouga saw a weakness in his enemies defense this time the outcome would be different. Anakin attacked left and right with his lightsabre almost taking off one of Ryouga's hands in the process and then Ryouga grabbed some bandannas from his head and threw them at Anakin. Anakin wasn't expecting the maneuver and only blocked two of them with his weapon. The third cut his knee and caused him to limp slightly. "You'll pay for that!" he screamed in anger.

Then Ryouga saw more and saw an insight into Ranma's fighting style as he said, "As if. You're the most pathetic excuse I've seen for a sith lord around. You ugly moron."

Anakin heard the insults and his anger became greater. The force of his attacks stronger and the dark side thrumming within his veins. Ryouga continued on this time he saw it saw what Ranma did and shut off his lightsabre saying, "You suck so bad you can't even hurt me even if I don't use this weapon."

Anakin continued to get angrier and angrier and Ryouga taunted him more and more. Using all the insults he had ever heard Ranma use Ryouga continued on and on meanwhile he led Anakin in a spiral formation hoping that he could remain calm as Master Windu had shown him to do, remain calm and at peace. Ryouga was able to do it using the Jedi teachings and more he was able to remain calm as Anakin slashed and slashed in a frenzy of angered activity and then Ryouga tightened the spiral and came very close to Anakin who thought he would finish the boy until he heard, "Hiryu Shoten Ha!"

Ranma finished defeating yet another group of clone troopers when he heard a well known phrase that she used instead yelled out by Ryouga and saw the aftermath. Anakin Skywalker was pulled into the vortex and thrown into the ceiling multiple times by the blast and when he landed Ryouga hit him with one of his regular punches and sent him sailing across the room and into a wall.

"Wow! Ryouga I know we went over this technique a few times back in the moon Imperium, but I never thought you'd master it." Said Ranma.

Ryouga replied, "Well it took a lot of anger on the side of the other guy Ranma, but if I hadn't trained here and learned something of the light side and how to access it I might never have accomplished the soul of ice."

Ranma said, "Well I'm happy for you. Now what do we do with jerkwad over there?"

Ryouga said, "Take his weapon away for one, then I guess we should tie him up or something."

Ranma walked over to the young sith lord and took the weapon breaking it in her hands and saying, "Your call Ryouga. Now let's get out of here, I've got a ride and the kids are safe with the senator. You didn't see any other Jedi around did you?"

Ryouga said, "No I've been fighting. Why don't you try that perception trick?"

Ranma said, "Alright" then she closed her eyes and looked all around her. She felt only herself and Ryouga, but walked along towards her ship and felt a contingent of people coming their way. Ranma opened her eyes and said, "I don't feel anything and we don't have time to search this joint. Com on, let's get out of here."

The two made it out of the temple and flew to the coordinates provided by Bail Organa. There they rendezvoused with the children and their now recovering teacher