And Another!

Last time: Obi-Wan and Sasha were grounded to the temple.

Now: Anakin gets a new assignment.

Chapter 11- Anakin's Assignment

The following morning Anakin received a rather earlier call from the Jedi Council, demanding his presence. After the events leaving the senate yesterday, Anakin remained at the Jedi Temple instead of going to Padme's for dinner that night as she had offered to cook in celebration of the bill failing. He had placed a call to her after the war meeting he and Obi-Wan had been summoned back to the temple for to tell her that they would have to take a rain check. He had explained what had happened to her. She was grateful that the three of them were okay, but she was worried about what Maul's lingering presence meant. Anakin assured his wife that all would be okay and told her to be careful, and then told her that he would come by the next day to see her. That had been his plan this morning before he was rudely awakened by the call requesting him to the council chambers.

Anakin reached the chambers in no time, still feeling tired from the night before. Composing himself, he stood in the lift chamber before the door to the council chambers. He rang the call button as he wasn't sure if they were in the middle of session at this current moment or if they were still gathering. After a moment, the door slid open to reveal a half of the Jedi Council present.

"Enter young Skywalker," Master Yoda said as the elderly Jedi was the first one to notice him.

Anakin entered into the chamber and stood in the center before the present Master's which included Obi-Wan. Anakin was taken back to see his former Master present at all for this meeting. But based off the way he was loosely wearing his Jedi robes made Anakin believe that he was still recovering and that Bant merely let him go just for this meeting.

"Masters," Anakin greeted with a slight bow. "You summoned me?"

"Yes, we have an important mission for you, Skywalker," Mace said.

"What is the mission?" Anakin asked, curious as to what this mission was.

"Due to recent events, it is clear that we need to deal with Maul," Plo Koon, who was present via hologram as he was still on a mission with Anakin's padawan Ahsoka. "We are sending you to hunt him down and bring him to justice."

Anakin's eyebrows shot up in surprise at that. He wasn't expecting this. "Have the clones found him?" he asked as he wanted to make sure he had all of the information.

"No," Mace said with a shake of his head. "The APB you sent out has not yet provide anything on Maul's current location, but we believe him to still be on the planet. Especially if he is injured, he won't be going anywhere anytime soon. We need you to lead a patrol through Coruscant and search for him. Then once you find him, arrest him."

"Masters, Maul will not be so easy to catch," Obi-Wan pointed out, worriedly. "He has alluded us before and he will likely do it again. This search would be nothing more than a wild bantha chase."

Anakin looked at Obi-Wan curiously. Did he not know that this plan to hunt for Maul was the reason Anakin was summoned this morning? Was he just summoned there so he wouldn't be left out of the plan? Anakin wondered this as he slowly looked back to the other Masters as Obi-Wan continued.

"Besides, Maul is dangerous," he continued. "I know Anakin can handle himself, but he is as much of a target here as Sasha and I am. I urge you to reconsider and send someone else."

The other members murmured to themselves. Anakin cleared his throat before speaking up.

"I agree with Master Kenobi. Maul is dangerous. And as much as I think I can handle him on my own, even I would agree that it would be foolish to do so," Anakin voiced. "Unless I have another Jedi as backup, I think it might be for the best that I opt out of this mission."

Obi-Wan stared at him, wide eyed. Apparently, no one there in the Council had expected him to decline a mission. Especially, not like this. It caught everyone off guard that the Council members had to quietly murmur amongst each other, discussing this. After a moment, they regarded Anakin.

"Understand, we do, your concern young Skywalker," Master Yoda said. "But if safe Master Kenobi and Padawan Monroe are to be, then stop him now we must. Alone you will not be. Other Jedi we cannot spare for this cause, but clones you will have. Besides, close to this you are. Understand the dangers the best you do. Only you is this mission for. Handle it, we believe you can."

Anakin was at a loss for words. He didn't know what to say. The council believed him so much that they believed him to be the right and only man for the job of capturing Maul. He felt a sense of honor and pride in that, but also the lingering concern still existed in the back of his mind. However, there was no point in arguing this further. Anakin slowly nodded after a moment of considering it.

"Alright Masters, I shall take the mission," Anakin answered.

"Anakin," Obi-Wan breathed sorrowfully under his breath as he frowned.

"Go and prepare," Mace urged. "The clones assigned to this will meet you at the docks in exactly two hours."

"Yes, Masters," Anakin said, bowing.

As he straightened, he shared a glance with Obi-Wan before heading out of the council chambers. Without much thought, Anakin headed for the hangar. He knew that the clones would wait for him and with only two hours of free time, Anakin decided to go see Padme. He moved through the temple and to the hangar where his speeder was before Obi-Wan could have a chance to catch up with him. It's not that he didn't want to talk to his former Master about this mission. It's more he would know what the older man would say and he was actually afraid to hear it as he agreed with the sentiment and concern his Master had for this mission. But he knew that Maul couldn't get away with all he has done and with Obi-Wan and Sasha grounded to the temple, someone needed to deal with the one who was keeping them in that situation. Plus how relieving would it be to finally have Maul captured and defeated?

Once he reached the hanger, Anakin hopped into his speeder and zipped away into the early morning skies of Coruscant. He flew straight to Padme's apartment like he has done a million times before and arrived in no time. He parked the speeder at the veranda and climbed out just as C-3P0 hobbled over to greet him.

"Good morning, Master Ani," Threepio said, sounding thrilled to see him. "Mistress Padme has not risen yet for the day."

"That's fine, Threepio," Anakin said as he walked past the droid, patting on the shoulder as he passed. "Why don't you go see that breakfast is started?" He suggested to the droid.

"Oh yes, I can most certainly do that," the protocol droid said with an eager nod as Anakin continued to the bedroom.

Anakin reached the entrance to the bedroom and quietly entered as he didn't want to wake his wife if she was still asleep. He peeked his head around the corner and looked to the bed. She was still lying in the bed, sound asleep. He smiled as he stared at her beautiful form as it rested peacefully before he quietly moved over to the bed. He sunk down onto the edge of the bed next to her and leaned over her. He then placed the gentlest of kisses onto her cheek before gently stroking her hair back. Padme stirred and opened her eyes. She looked up at him and smiled.

"Good morning," Padme whispered softly. "Not the wakeup call I was expecting, but a much kinder one than any alarm."

Anakin chuckled. "Well I thought I'd surprise you and join you for breakfast before my next mission."

Padme looked up at him curiously as she sat up to stretch. "Oh and where is the Jedi Council sending you this time?" she asked him.

"I'll tell you about it over breakfast," Anakin said as he stood from the bed and offered her a hand up.

"Alright," Padme said before giggling as she took his hand and allowed him to pull her to her feet.

Once she was standing, Anakin pulled her into his arms and placed a kiss upon her lips. They held the kiss for a while before the growling of Anakin's stomach caused them to break apart. They both shared a chuckle before heading to the kitchen, Padme grabbing and pulling on a robe along the way. When they reached the kitchen, there was freshly cut bowls of fruit with yogurt and strips of bacon and two mugs of caf. Threepio and the butler droids had gotten the meal put together fairly quickly. Anakin and Padme took their seats at the table and started to silently eat after thanking the droids for their meal.

"So tell me about this mission," Padme said as she plopped another piece of fruit into her mouth to eat.

Anakin lowered his spoon and looked away. "The Council wants me to hunt down Maul and arrest him."

"And what's wrong with that?" Padme asked, the confusion to his reaction obvious in her tone. "Don't we want him captured? Especially after what he has done to Satine and Obi-Wan?"

"Yes, he needs to be stopped," Anakin said as he looked at her. "It's just that… this mission is dangerous."

"You've been in plenty of dangerous situations before," Padme pointed out.

"I know, but Maul is a menace. He killed Master Qui-Gon all those years ago. He killed Master Gallia and Duchess Satine recently. And now he is targeting Sasha to get to Obi-Wan." He paused. "Padme, Maul knows who all of Obi-Wan's friends are. Now I'm not sure if that is just his Jedi friends or if you and his family are included in that too. Either way, I understand the gravity of what capturing Maul would do and I have been itching to get my hands on him." He said as he clenched his fist. "But if I don't succeed and something happens…" He trailed off unsure of how to finish that statement.

"You could be killed or worse, someone else could be," Padme finished for him. Anakin nodded. "Ani, it's okay to be afraid of what Maul may do. You have been worried about Obi-Wan. And after what happened yesterday, I can understand your fear in what he might do if you fail. But he is a monster, Anakin. He has killed so many. So many that were close to Obi-Wan. If what you have told me is true and he has been hurting, then stopping Maul will give him the closure he needs."

Anakin smirked. "How are you not freaked out by this?" He asked curiously.

"I'm always afraid for you when you go on missions," Padme admitted. "I always worry that you won't come back. But I'm also hopeful too. I always have hope that you will come back and that we will see each other again." She paused. "So yes, I am afraid of you going after someone that has been a menace for too long. Especially one that has a track record of killing those close to Obi-Wan. But I have hope that you will be okay and that you will stop him. Just promise me that you will be careful, okay?"

Anakin nodded. "Of course. Thanks, Padme. I really needed that."

"I'll always be here to support you," She said with a smile.

"I still have a hour and half until I need to meet with the Clones at the docks," Anakin said after briefly glanced at the chrono on the wall. "How about we finish up here and then spend some private time together?"

Padme smiled at that. "I like that idea," She said before taking another bite of fruit.

REVIEW!