A/N: Oops. Would you believe I've had this chapter beta'd for about three weeks, but didn't post it because I thought I had posted it?

Discalimer: I own nothing but the upcomming plot, and even some of that belongs to Lucas,

Special thanks as always to my two wonderful Beta's: Winterd and Fallenstar2, whose awesome story 'Where Have You Been' has finally been updated.

Episode 3 Chapter 7

Departures and Discoveries

The next morning, Anakin stood outside the Council chambers waiting for his sister to arrive. He had spent the rest of the night thinking on what Buffy had said as well as thinking about his own recent behavior. The resulting conclusions he'd reached didn't please him in the least.

"I hope you got some sleep last night," Buffy said as she moved up beside her brother. Anakin smiled sheepishly.

"A little," he admitted. "But mostly I stayed up thinking. I haven't been a very pleasant person recently, have I?"

"Well, that was the general point I was trying to get across," Buffy said with a small grin. "You were under a lot of stress."

"And now I got a handle on it, thanks to you."

Buffy chuckled. "That's what big sisters are for, little bro." She waved at the doors to the chambers. "Now let's get in there and mingle with the older guys."

Anakin nodded and started towards the doors. Suddenly he stopped and looked back to his sister with an incredulous look on his face.

"Who are you calling 'little', midget?" he asked playfully. Buffy just swatted him on his arm.

"Watch it, you…"

"Utapau?" Mace Windu asked, disbelief evident in his voice. "Grievous is on Utapau?"

"Palpatine seems to think General Grievous is on Utapau," Ki-Adi-Mundi replied. "But we have had no reports of this from our agents."

"How could the Chancellor have come by this information and we know nothing about it?" Mace continued. "We have had contact with Baron Papanoida and he said no one was there."

"A partial message was intercepted in a diplomatic packet from the Chairman of Utapau," Anakin replied. The hologram of Yoda nodded in thought.

"Act on this, we must. The capture of General Grievous will end this war. Quickly and decisively we should proceed."

"Does everyone agree?" Obi-wan asked. All of the Jedi nodded there agreement. Anakin took a deep, cleansing breath and then continued.

"The Chancellor has requested that I lead the campaign."

Mace shot a look at Anakin. "The Chancellor doesn't dictate-"

"But I disagree," Anakin continued, bringing Mace up short. The Master's eyes narrowed as he regarded the young Jedi.

"Explain, Skywalker."

Anakin leaned forward, his hands on his knees. "Grievous has killed many Jedi. Indeed, it would appear that General Grievous was trained to kill Jedi. Sending any more Jedi after him - be it me or you, Master Windu, would be foolish. Instead, we need to send someone that Grievous wouldn't know exactly how to fight. Someone who is more than a Jedi." He looked over to his sister with an almost apologetic smile. "We should send Master Skywalker."

"This is for me calling you 'little lrother', isn't it?" Buffy admonished with a smirk.

"Before Buffy was a Jedi, she was a Slayer. Her fighting methods have always been unorthodox for a Jedi -"

"So Grievous won't know exactly how to deal with it," Mace finished.

"Exactly, Master."

"Agree with Young Skywalker, I do," Yoda's hologram said. "But go alone, Master Skywalker will not. Master Kenobi," Yoda turned to face the other Master, "with Master Skywalker, you will go."

Obi-Wan nodded. "I'll alert Commander Cody and have the 212th Attack Battalion standing by."

"I need to get something from my quarters so I'll meet you on the landing pad," Buffy said as she rose. The rest of the Masters followed suit.

"Very well. May the Force be with you all," Mace concluded, bringing the meeting to a close. The holograms of the absent Masters flickered and faded away as the rest of the Masters made for the exit. "Skywalker, remain for a moment."

Anakin stood with his hands clasped behind his back as the rest of the Masters filed out, until only he and Mace Windu remained. Mace didn't waste any time.

"Anakin, you know I've never been a fan of yours. I've found you to be reckless, disobedient, overly emotional…"

"Don't hold back Master. Tell me how you really feel," Anakin said, somewhat irritably. Mace glared back at him.

"And your attachment to both your mother and your sister has always bothered me," Mace continued. "And these past few days, your behavior has been less than stellar. Until today when you put aside personal gratification and lust for power and made the proper call in regards to Grievous."

"I had a long talk with my sister last night," Anakin replied evenly. "She made me see a few hard truths about myself and how I've been behaving." He chuckled under his breath, remembering the fierce hook and his sudden oblivion. "She has a way of making you listen to her, even if you don't want to."

Mace chuckled in agreement. "I can't argue with that." His face suddenly sobered. "Listen, Anakin. I've always been so hard on you because I believed your attachments would lead you down a dark path. But now I see how wrong I was in this case. I can see how Buffy keeps you on the light path." Mace put his hand on Anakin's shoulder. "You are a powerful Jedi, Anakin. And someday soon you will sit on this Council as a Master. Just be patient, and continue to show the wisdom you displayed today."

Anakin bowed his head in respect. "Yes, Master Windu. Thank you for your confidence."

"Alright then, Anakin. Now let's go see your sister off," Windu said and the two made their way out of the Council chambers.

Buffy made her way quickly through her room, gathering what she believed she would need for her mission. She decided to forgo her normal Jedi garb, electing instead to wear her Corellian wear – loose-fitting pants, a form-fitting tank top and a Corellian officer's jacket that had belonged to Jacen. It was loose fitting, allowing freedom of movement; yet tight enough that it didn't get in the way. It also allowed her a place to store her lightsaber out of sight.

And speaking of lightsabers…

Buffy moved over to her desk and opened the bottom drawer. Carefully she removed a slender metal box, a box she had placed in that drawer over thirteen years ago when she first moved into these quarters. She slowly opened the box and reverently removed the slender metal and rubber cylinder from within.

About a foot long, rubber gripping covering almost the entire metal cylinder to facilitate a two-handed grip that was popular with the older Jedi. None of the adjustment knobs found on newer models; all adjustments were down within the focusing chamber. In fact, the only button on the device was its activation stud, located up near the emitter. With a small smile, she hit the activator and a green bar of energy flared to life.

"I thought that had been destroyed at the funeral," her former Master's voice said from the doorway. Buffy smiled and tuned to face Mace, who wore a rare smile of his own.

"I came to wish you luck. Anakin was with me, but he had to stop off at the archives. He asked me to tell you he'd see you before he left."

"You two have words?" Buffy asked, deactivating the lightsaber. Mace nodded.

"Yes, but they were mostly good."

"First time for everything," she replied. She held up the lightsaber for Mace to see. "It was Qui-Gon's. I took it before the cremation. At first, I felt that if I couldn't save him, maybe I could use this," she gestured with the weapon, "to do some good in the universe. Maybe I still can."

"Two lightsabers are better than one?" Mace asked.

"Three with Obi-Wan's," Buffy replied.

Mace nodded in understanding. "Then I wish you well. May the Force be with you, Buffy."

"You too," Buffy replied.

A short time later, Buffy met Obi-Wan and Anakin down at the departure docks. The two Jedi stood at the top of the boarding ramp that led to Obi-Wan's star destroyer.

"Hey guys," she said, giving her brother a quick hug. "Sorry I'm late. Had to get a few things."

"Nice outfit," Anakin commented. Buffy merely rolled her eyes.

"Thanks, bro," Buffy replied, patting his arm a bit harder than necessary. "You gonna study while we're gone?"

"Yes, Master. I'm headed back to the Archives as soon as you leave."

"I'm sorry I can't stick around to help…"

"This mission needed a Slayer," Anakin assured her. "It's alright. Besides, you've already helped me enough."

"Good," Buffy smiled and then looked to the massive ship in front of her. "Well, I'm off. Take care, Ani."

"Be careful, Buffy," Ani said, watching his sister walk down the ramp. He then turned his attention on his former Master. "Master, I believe I owe you an apology."

Obi-Wan looked confused. "An apology? For what?"

"My behavior over the past few days has been unacceptable," Anakin continued. "I've disappointed you. I have not been very appreciative of your training . . . I have been arrogant and I apologize. I was having…problems dealing with some personal issues."

"You are strong and wise, Anakin, and I am very proud of you. I have trained you since you were a small boy and I have taught you everything I know. And you have become a far greater Jedi than I could ever hope to be and you have saved my life more times than I can remember." He paused and looked at his former apprentice in concern. "Is there anything I can do?" Obi-Wan asked, concerned for his former apprentice. Anakin shook his head.

"No. Buffy's already helped me out. But when I get back, you and I will have a long talk, I promise."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Alright then. I'll look forward to it."

Anakin smiled and then nodded at his mentor. "May the Force be with you, Master."

"And may the Force be with you as well, Anakin," Obi-Wan said before turning and heading down the ramp.

Meanwhile Padmé, Mon Mothma and Bail Organa sat in Padmé's living room with a few select Senators discussing how best to bring back the democracy that had been subverted by Palpatine over years of war. With the end of the war in sight, the three senators knew that the Chancellor must be reminded that the powers he now had were given to him for the duration of the war and, when it ended, must be given back. How to remind him of that, however, was a matter of debate.

"We cannot let this turn into another war," Padmé said, leaning forward on the couch. Bail nodded.

"Absolutely, that is the last thing we want."

"We are hoping to form an alliance in the Senate to stop the Chancellor from further subverting the constitution, that's all," Mon Mothma added. Padmé looked thoughtfully out the window for a moment, considering.

"I know a Jedi I feel it would be wise to consult," she said finally. Mon Mothma frowned.

"That would be dangerous," Bana Breemu said worriedly.

"We don't know where the Jedi stand in all this," Mon Mothma added.

"How many of you know of Master Buffy Skywlaker?" Padmé asked, looking at each Senator in turn. Giddean Danu spoke up.

"She was the Jedi that was stranded on Corellia, was she not? I seem to recall some controversy upon her return about what happened there."

Padmé nodded. "The controversy had more to do with personal issues than anything else. The reason I bring her up is because she has voiced her opinions of the Chancellor repeatedly. She is also a firm believer in democracy and her recent return has put her in favor with the rest of the Council."

"You know this how?" Bail inquired.

"I know this because I am friends with her," Padmé replied evenly. "We talk. The point is she could be a powerful ally and could tell us how the Jedi feel about all of this."

"Going against the Chancellor without the support of the Jedi is risky," Giddean Danu said thoughtfully. "If we knew for sure that we had their support…"

"We have so many Senators on our side," Fang Zar said. "Surely that will persuade the Chancellor."

"When you present the 'petition of the two thousand' to the Chancellor, things may change," Bana Breemu replied.

"Let us see what we can accomplish in the Senate," Bail decided after a moment, "before we include the Jedi."

Padmé sighed in disappointment. "Very well."

With Buffy and Obi-Wan off to capture Grievous, Anakin had decided to make use of Buffy's all-access pass to the Archives. As he wandered through the stacks, unsure exactly where to start, he thought back to the previous night and what Buffy had told him.

Look up the healing arts - with your power, I think you could do wonders if you took the time to learn them. And look into the Dark Side - I want you to see what really happens to people who dip into that power.

Anakin decided to start with the later, and headed to the Restricted Section. He wandered through the stacks of holo-novels, selecting several of the older and forbidden titles. He pulled several that dealt with the lore of the lost Jedi healing arts; techniques that hadn't been used in millennia. As he moved through the stacks, he found another holo-novel, stuck in the back recesses of the stacks - one that immediately piqued his interest.

A History of the Sith

"Know thy enemy," Anakin murmured to himself as he pulled the novel from the shelf and headed to a research table in the back. He slipped the Sith novel into the reader and brought it up on the display.

Although the modern era of the Sith is attributed to Darth Bane, and the Dark Jedi that preceded him, the cult can find its roots further back in the galaxy's ancient past. Long before the Republic rose, there lived a culture on the planet Korriban. These primitive people were called the Sith, and the Force flowed strongly through their bloodlines. Although they didn't practice the Force as the Jedi would, they were talented in their own brand of magic.

In the early days of the Jedi, a great schism tore the order apart. Jedi who had tapped the forbidden power of the Force's dark side rebelled against their light-sided brothers. After a terrible war, the Dark Jedi were exiled from the Republic. Past the Republic's growing borders, these castaways discovered Korriban and the Sith people.

Powerful with the dark side, the Jedi outcasts set themselves up as gods on Korriban. The primitive Sith worshipped them as their lords, and so the Jedi grew, and built temples and monuments to celebrate their power. Millennia of interbreeding blurred the distinction between Sith native and offworlder, and the term Sith came to encompass not only the indigenous people of Korriban, but also the powerful overlords that ruled them.

Five thousand years ago, during the Sith Empire's golden age, a Republic explorer vessel stumbled upon the secluded worlds of the Sith. One Sith Lord, Naga Sadow, saw this as an opportunity to invade the Republic, and exact vengeance on the Jedi who had banished them. History would record the invasion that followed as the Great Hyperspace War, and it would be the first of many terrible conflicts between Jedi and Sith.

Time and again the Sith and Jedi would clash, with devastated worlds lying in their wake. The last great conflict took place on the scarred plains of Ruusan. The Sith Lord Kaan and his Brotherhood of Darkness did battle with the Jedi Army of Light. From this onslaught, one Sith escaped: Darth Bane. It was he who would resurrect the order with duplicity and secrecy in mind, and it was he who instituted the rule of only one master, one apprentice, that has allowed the Sith to survive.

Anakin sat there for what seemed to be hours, taking in the forbidden lore of the Sith. And what he read terrified him. Death, destruction, isolation… the total absence of he things that made a person human. That made him human.

"Well, this is…unexpected," a voice said behind him. Anakin looked over his shoulder to see a very disapproving-looking Nejaa Halcyon standing there, his arms crossed. "Exactly what do you think you're doing, Anakin?"

"Know thy enemy," Anakin said simply, gesturing at the screen. "The Sith are behind everything that's been happening over the past few years. I'm trying to find out why."

"Interesting methods. Doesn't explain how you got access to restricted materials…" Halcyon trailed off as Anakin produced his pass from Buffy. "Called in a few favors with your sister, did you?"

"Don't hold back, Hal. What is it you're really trying to say?"

"I'm saying I've noticed your behavior over the past few days, Anakin. I've felt how angry, how frustrated you have been. And now I find you researching the Dark Side…"

"It's because of my anger and frustration that Buffy told me to research the Dark Side," Anakin countered. "She wanted me to know about it so I could see what I could lose if I ever gave in to it. And you know how much I have to lose."

Halcyon nodded after a moment. Of course he knew how much Anakin had to lose. It hadn't been that long ago when he and Anakin had been dispatched to Praesitlyn to recapture a crucial Republic communications center. On that mission, they had both divulged their greatest secrets to one another - Nejaa about his wife and son on Corellia; and Anakin about his marriage to Padmé. Halcyon often thought that during the darkest of times, his love for his family was the only thing that allowed him to resist the call of the Dark Side. He wasn't entirely sure about Anakin, but he suspected it was the same for him as well.

"From what I've read, the only thing a Sith is capable of loving is power. And that wouldn't quite work for me," Anakin continued. "Buffy knew that. That's why she had me look this stuff up."

"To scare you away," Nejaa finished. Anakin nodded.

"Exactly." Then he gestured at the rest of the holo-novels. "Besides, it's not the only thing I've been studying."

Nejaa looked at the titles of the holo-novels and whistled softly. "You set your sights high, haven't you?" the Jedi Master looked to the younger Jedi. "You know, the techniques behind these arts have been lost for centuries?"

"I know. But perhaps I can uncover something… At times like these, we need healing arts now more than ever."

Nejaa nodded and placed a hand on Anakin's shoulder. "Well, I won't keep you any longer. Though I should warn you - Buffy and Obi-Wan should reach Utapau within twelve hours. After that, you should prepare to meet with the Chancellor to tell him of the end of the war."

"Very well, Hal," Anakin said, deactivating the Sith holo-novel and removing if from the reader. "Would you do me a favor and return this? I won't have any further need of it."

Nejaa smiled and took the novel from Anakin. With a small bow, he turned and left as Anakin inserted the next holo-novel into the reader and began to read.

TBC

A/N: History of the Sith taken from the Star Wars Database on Star Wars . Com