A/N: Ok so I didn't update as soon as I promised but that's because I had a bit of a writers block I'm sorry!

Shoutouts: dadsgirl4ever: Don't worry there will be more of Cassidy/Ani later

Lola: Ok I wont answer that :)But we already know that she has a thing for him anyways.

Goth Jedi: thanx lots!

Mizra: Yea our stories do have a similarity (as i said before) don't they? Eh I don't think Ani's gonna be turning to the Dark Side though.

ONE YEAR LATER

Lexxa stepped out of the turbolift onto the floor of the council chambers. Anakin had just commed her after another of the countless council meetings that were being held these days. The reception was deserted except for Anakin who was pacing around the large space looking a lot like a rainy cloud with his eyebrows furrowed in displeasure and concentration.

"Anakin?" she asked, unsure of what was going on.

"Thanks for coming" he said looking up at her.

'You want to tell me what's going on?"

"We're about to send knights to Karrahn."

"Why? Don't we already have spies there?"

Anakin nodded affirmatively. "Two have been captured. The third disappeared. One of them was able to escape and make contact. The Sith are back."

Lexxa looked genuinely stunned. "I…I can't believe it. So what are we going to do?"

"We've decided to send a group of knights and a master. It's a suicidal mission I suppose. I have a bad feeling that the eleven master/apprentice teams that we know of plus any others will have half the Order engaged soon. Also as word has it they've got bounty hunters to work for them. We know the planet but they won't be staying in their monastery once we arrive. They want the war, the outright fighting, but they also want this war to last longer then one battle. So they will stay in shadows for as long as they can."

"Are you going?" Lexxa asked. Her voice was calm, not betraying the fear that had sprung up inside her.

"No. And neither are you. The knights that we are sending have already been informed."

"How many are you ending?"

"Fourteen knights. One master. This wasn't my choice. Obi-wan and I did our best to make sure the knights that we chose did not have padawans. And that they were willing. But of course our efforts only went so far."

"What will happen with the padawans?"

"We will keep them out of this as long as possible. Hopefully they won't need to get involved in this at all."

"Will the padawans know?"

"Yes all padawans will be told. The explanation will very slightly from age group to age group as their masters see it appropriate." They boarded the turbolift and fell silent. Lexxa took out her commlink. "What are you doing?" Anakin asked.

"Contacting Paolo."

"It's left, right, left!"

"No! Right, left right!"

"Left, right, left!"

"Right, left, right!"

"Left, right left!"

"We sound like a couple of younglings!" Cassidy huffed unhappily.

"You're the youngling!" the older padawan protested. "I'm the one who'll be knighted in a couple of years."

"It's very unwise of Master Lysk to push such arrogant ideas into your young and impressionable head."

"Don't you insult my master!" Paolo sneered giving his training lightsaber an ominous twirl.

'I still say it's right, left, right."

"Left, right, left."

"Right, le-"

"Actually it's Left, left, right center forward, and an overhead flip at the end for good measure."

The two padawan's jumped and swirled at the sound of calm voice.

"Master Skywalker!"

"Master!"

The two padawan's bowed hastily.

Anakin walked toward them with a light smile. "I believe the argument was about accessory 9 to form III?"

The two startled padawan's nodded in ascent.

"Paolo your master has been trying to reach you" Anakin said turning to Paolo.

The seventeen year old suddenly looked sheepish. He had forgotten to charge his commlink the other night when he noticed that the power was low. Though he wondered why his master wasn't able to contact him throughtheir bond. He lifted quizzical eyes to meet Anakin's gaze.

"She's in the Room Of A Thousand Fountains" Anakin told him warmly.

"Thank you for informing me, Master Skywalker" Paolo said, bowing respectfully before he exited.

Anakin turned to Cassidy who was watching him expectantly. In the presents of his padawan Anakin allowed himself to slightly lower his guard. Instantly Cassidy felt something like apprehension from her master through their bonded. She wondered what could possibly be wrong but decided to wait respectfully for Anakin to speak first.

"We will not be having our saber training session tonight" he told her. "Come, padawan, lets return to our quarters. There is something that you should know about."

Cassidy nodded and fell instep at her master' side as they walker to back to their quarters. When they entered Anakin proceeded to take a thoughtful position at the window of the living room. Cassidy took a seat on the couch waiting patiently. After several minutes of tense silence Cassidy finally spoke in a caution voice "There was something you wanted to tell me, Master. I can sense that something is wrong. Please tell me."

Anakin paused before moving to sit at her side. "Cassidy remember what I told you about the rumors of the Sith rebuilding their Order?"

Cassidy nodded. Anakin had called her by her name which usually meant that there was something special about the moment. She thought to herself that she was simply obsessing but this time she felt seriousness radiating from Anakin that she hadn't felt in a while.

"It appears that the rumors are true. The Sith have returned."

"What are we going to do, Master?"

Anakin sighed. 'We must eliminate the Sith before their number increases. I have a terrible feeling that the have been waiting for this. They want us to come in with lightsabers blazing. They want to exterminate us. I believe the Sith have gotten tired of lurking in the shadows. We discovered their "hidden" base too easily for my liking."

"But for all I know there is no way to negotiate with Sith."

"There isn't" Anakin concurred. "They want this war. Sadly we must face the evil that threatens the galaxy in such an open ways. It hasn't been so pretty before. I've read the report of ancient times when the Sith and Jedi were at war. Padawan, wearen't warriors. We are peace keepers. Ever since the that war ended thousands of years ago the Jedi have been fully dedicated to serve the republic. Not fighting personal enemies. But the Sith threaten the republic and the Order. That's why we must fight them in what could turn out to be a brutal war and a distraction from other missions in service of the galactic Pease. Nine of this is to my liking.

"So we are going to war?" Cassidy asked guardedly confirming what she thought her master had meant.

"Yes" Anakin replied solemnly. "The first knights and one master will be dispatched tonight."

Anakin looked around the conference room containing fourteen Jedi knights. 'Why am I supposed to be the one to handle this?' he thought annoyed. He had just finished explaining the mission to the knights that would de deployed to Karrahn that night. Six of the fourteen knights had padawan learners. Three were only knighted no longer then two years ago. "Questions?" Anakin asked.

One of the knights, a yellow skinned man of about forty, rose and bowed respectfully before speaking. "Master Skywalker, this is an honor. However, my padawan, Tish Hun, is only fourteen. If this mission is…unsuccessful…what will become of him?"

"Don't fear for your padawan's training. He, as all of your padawan's" Anakin swept the room with a reassuring gaze "will complete their training and become Jedi knights. I promise you that." Anakin meant what he said. Three of the padawan's whose masters were leaving that night were almost ready to take the trials. However, the other three would need to be taken care of. At the ages of fourteen, thirteen, and sixteen the youngsters would need to be put in to good hands to complete their training. Anakin didn't have a good feeling about this mission though he whole heartedly hoped that it wouldn't be too catastrophic. "I suppose you all have told your padawan's the news and explained the situation?"

Affirmative nods followed in the sober silence.

'The time has come then."

The nine men and five woman rose and grabbing their travel bags made their way to the hanger where seven fighters where waiting for them. Anakin stood in the entrance to the hanger watching as the fighters took off one by one. The cold night air swept through his hair and made ripples on his tunic. No, he definitely had a bad feeling about this.

A/N: Ok guys I skipped a year (Just incase you didn't notice) so that we could get a move on this. Review please! They are very appriciated!