Well, I'm back at it again guys. I'm glad to see that so far everyone seems pretty positive about this story, and I hope I can continue to meet your expectations. I know that things are starting out a bit slow action wise. But I don't plan on rushing anything at all. I want to let things fall into place at their own pace.

I want to thank everyone for the feedback. Thank you all for the support.


Rex sighed some as he arrived at the Five Oh Firsts barracks, he was desperately trying to think of a way to break this to his boys. Five's death… the discovery of these 'inhibitor chips' in their heads. Bantha Fodder. No inhibitor chip would cause a clone to shoot a loyal commanding officer, much less one they'd served with for some time now. Never mind how Tup hadn't even remembered what he'd done.

He could understand the Chancellors statement if it had been multiple of his troopers… but Tup being the only one to get it on that rock while Fives got it a good bit later. No. That was pure Bantha Dung. Rex knew his troopers, and this wasn't like them at all… but now it was too late to do anything about. Tup and Fives were gone, and something way bigger was brewing in the bacta tank now.

The first thing that greeted Rex was the door to the Five Ohs' barracks. Painted on it was a classic naval blue Republic emblem, with '501' painted below it in the same blue. He quickly tapped in the units code for the barracks and slipped inside. He decided he wasn't gonna lie to his men… they had a right to know what happened to their brothers.

He headed straight for Torrent Company, which had been Fives unit, and was the command company for the Five Oh First. It hadn't changed since they'd personalized it. Posters covered the walls depicting various pin up girls, some music was playing over the intercom, and his troopers moved about Torrent Company's common room. Some were talking or reading, others were playing Sabacc or arm wrestling.

Rex sighed… this was gonna put a hell of a damper on their R&R. He didn't even have time to figure out how he was going to word it before he saw Kix and Jesse headed over. He hadn't expected to see Cody with them though. This was about to get a lot harder before it got easier.

"Captain, what's been going on? D..Did you find Fives? Why did he want to meet with you?" Kix asked. Kix had been the one who'd gotten the message from Fives with the coordinates on where he was hidden at.

"Let's go into my office. I'll explain there." Rex replied. They nodded, and followed him back through the Commons to where Rex's private quarters were. He knew this'd be the safest place to talk, since it wouldn't be monitored.

"What's going on Rex?" Cody asked him as they sat.

"Fives… Fives was killed earlier." He said calmly. "Shot down by the Coruscant Guard for attempting to assassinate the Chancellor."

The news left the three men in shock. "With all due respect Sir. What are you talking about? Fives would never do that!" Jesse said, his fists balling up.

"Easy Jesse… I know. I went with General Skywalker back to the Jedi Temple, to investigate what Fives had told us before he passed." He said as he peeled off the Bacta patch to reveal a scar. "Fives was right… we were bread with a bio chip implanted in our heads… and we don't know what it does. I asked the Jedi to take mine out, and they're examining and decoding it now. He… he thought it was that bio chip malfunctioning that made Tup shoot General Tiplar. He told us that Chancellor Palpatine had something to do with it."

At this, he could see his brothers shock deepen. The realization that they all had something inside them that would make them turn their backs on the Republic and on their Generals cross their face, followed by anger.

"Rex. You're sure about this? That's an awfully big assumption to make… especially involving the Chancellor. It can't be made lightly." Cody said, looking to him with concern.

"I… I can't say I'm sure. Not right now. But the Jedi are doing research into my old chip. Regardless if the Chancellor played a part in this or not… I do believe that it was that chip that put Tup in the state he was when he shot General Tiplar." He paused, running a hand over his scalp.

"I don't know about you… but anything that would or could make me turn on the only cause me and my brothers have, and on my own General. I don't want it anywhere near me." Rex said. "I'm hoping that I'm wrong about these inhibitor chips… that they don't do anything like that. But if General Skywalker and General Kenobi bring us evidence otherwise. Then I think we should all get them removed. Even if we have to do it in secret." He said.

The others looked down, deep in thought. Kix was the first to look to him.

"Sir. You and General Skywalker have led me through Hell time and time again and brought me back out on the other side. Tup and Fives were my friends. I know they wouldn't purposefully turn their backs on us. I'm with you Sir." The medic said with a determined nod.

Jesse shook his head, "It all sounds crazier than a malfunctioning astromech… but I'm with you too Captain."

Finally, there was Cody. His longtime friend and closest brother. The commander shook his head.

"I owe General Kenobi my life. And I've known you since our younger day's Rex. If you say that you believe this and that General Kenobi does as well. Then I'm in. And if it's true. Then the Five Oh will have to race the Two Twelve to get those things out."

Jesse suddenly growled out as his fist hit the table. "How could the Kaminoans hide this from us! Wh…why would they do this! Why would the Chancellor do this?" He said shaking his head.

Rex nodded, "That's what we're going to find out… I know it hurts… but for now. This stays here. Don't tell anyone else until I get more back from the Generals. Then we can figure out what to do." He said.

Kix nodded some, as did Jesse after a moment. "It'll stay here Sir. Don't worry."

"We're with you Rex. Our duty is to the Republic and to our conscious, our trust lies with the Jedi General's who've bled with us when they did not have to. I… I think Umbara showed us what happens when we blindly follow orders." Cody said, although it was a hard pill for the clones to swallow, he was right. Umbara… General Krell. That'd been a rough one for all of them, and not just because of the battle itself.

"Thank you, all of you." Rex said as he grabbed his canteen, nodding to them. "If we do this, we do it as brothers. For the Republic. For ourselves. For Fives." He said as the others grabbed theirs. They wouldn't be blindly controlled like pawns… they were men. Flesh and blood, maybe born of different means, but flesh and blood none the less. They were determined that their love for the Republic and their trust in the Jedi who led them would certainly out shine any stupid chip.


It… It was over. It was finally done. Anakin wiped the tears away as they came out of their meditative state. Another few sobs escaped him as he let all of this go. It wasn't so much the revelation of his love for Padme, but the incident with his mother that had left him like this. All that anger and guilt at what he'd done had been just bubbling and eating away at him… for it to finally be known… to no longer be a secret. It was a relief, a weight from his shoulders.

He felt Obi-Wan go over to him again, and a firm hand was on his shoulder in reassurance. "I… I'm sorry Anakin. I had no idea you were going through this." He heard his master say calmly. "It will be okay. We will help you get through this. I will help you back to the right path. Like I should have long ago." He could hear the regret in Obi-Wan's voice.

"Thank you, Master." Anakin said as he took a few deep breaths to calm himself. He took a moment, and let the light side flow through him like a breath of fresh air. Obi-Wan's words had helped Anakin in a way more than the man could guess.

While he and Obi-Wan had some rocky times, especially after Obi-Wan's 'death', Anakin looked up to the man immensely. He was the closest thing to a father that Anakin had. Even closer than Palpatine to a degree. Palpatine had told Anakin what he'd wanted to hear when he confided in him about the Sand People. While Obi-Wan was now comforting Anakin over it, he knew that Obi-Wan disagreed with Anakins actions, but wanted to help Anakin get back where he needed to be.

Obi-Wan was his friend, his master, his brother, and nearly the only person Anakin could consider a father.

As he calmed down, he could finally hear the noise from outside, past the door.

"Grand Master Yoda!? Obi-Wan!? Skywalker! Open up!" It was the voice of a very determined and worried Master Windu, and he seemed about ready to do what was needed to get inside. They suddenly heard the all too familiar electronic hiss of a lightsaber igniting, and Yoda quickly used the force to activate the button to the door.

Windu stood before them, saber ignited and bathing the room in a purple light. He was just about to start cutting through the door. Behind them were many other members of the High Council, all with concerned looks on their faces.

"Grand Master… we've been knocking for the past thirty minutes. Is everything okay? It's been four hours now." Plo Koon told them.

Anakin's eyes widened… had they really been in meditation with Master Jinn for four hours now? No wonder they'd been ready to literally cut the door down. He heard Yoda chuckle.

"Worry not you should. Simply seeking the will of the force were we. And meet an old friend, we did." Yoda said smiling. "Something to tell us, you have?" He asked, growing serious.

"Yes… our researchers just discovered what was contained within the biochip implanted in Captain Rex's head. We think you should come and see this." Windu said as he extinguished his saber's blade. His look did not give them confidence.

"What did you find?" Obi Wan asked as they returned to the Council Room.

"Everything Fives said was true…" Shaak Ti said solemnly. "There are multiple orders in there that would instantly allow the Supreme Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic to take control of the clones with a simple command. Some are as simple as having them throw away their communicators and destroy them… others are contingencies for committing genocide just to find a single criminal on a planet and other such things." She continued as she pulled up a data pad.

"Then, we found this." Master Windu spoke up, pointing out the order on each of their data pads. "Order Sixty Six." He said, before allowing each to read it.

"In the event of Jedi officers acting against the interests of the Republic, and after receiving orders verified as coming directly from the Supreme Commander (Chancellor), GAR commanders will remove those officers by lethal force, and command of the GAR will revert to the Supreme Commander (Chancellor) until a new command structure is established." Obi-Wan read aloud, pausing at the end as his mouth hung open.

"Th… this would allow Chancellor Palpatine to fell the Jedi Order in one go. It's targeted directly at the Jedi, not all officers. Just us." Ki Adi Mundi said in shock as he shook his head. "No attempt to detain, or to sort out those who have fallen from those still true to the order. Just eliminate the Jedi with lethal force."

Anakins gut was in a knot at seeing this. These orders… this chip would override ever clones brain and practically make them mindless slaves to the Chancellor. He looked down. "I… I defended him. I told Fives there was no way that Chancellor Palpatine would turn on the Jedi. But with this alone… he has every legal right to do so." Anakin said as he buried his head in his hands. He'd believed everything Palpatine had said. He'd looked up to the man.

"Clear it is. Employed by the Sith, Palpatine is. No longer an ally, can we consider him." Yoda said as he settled into his seat, remaining calm.

"We need to go and arrest him immediately." Kit Fisto said, and many of the High Council nodded in agreement.

"I fear that we can't. If you look at most holo-net news stations… the public view the Jedi as war mongers to a degree while they see the Supreme Chancellor as a man wanting to end the war quickly. If we arrested him based on this alone. He would be able to twist it so that it turns the public against us. We need proof." Obi-Wan said.

"I think I may have an idea Masters." Anakin said. "But first I must admit something to all of you. Something which Master Kenobi and Yoda just learned." He said.

"Well, go ahead Skywalker. What is it?" Windu said.

"Since the first battle of Geonosis, I have had a wife. I have broken the Jedi Code by forming an attachment." Anakin said, remaining calm. "But… before you pass judgement on me. You must understand. My wife does not guide me towards the dark side… if anything she's kept me from it." He said simple as he stared straight ahead.

Once again, there was shock and some anger rippling among the High Council. "What do you mean you've taken a wife?" Master Windu growled out. "You've broken your vow to the Jedi Code Skywlaker. You know what this means."

"Calm yourself, Master Windu. Pass judgement upon Knight Skywalker we shall not, until informed the Council is of what we three experienced." Yoda said calmly, silencing the Legendary Korun Jedi.

"But Grand Master, he has clearly defied the Jedi Code. I don't feel there is much more to discuss. I'd worried he would hold attachment. He was too old when his training…"

Yoda held up a hand, "Master Windu, hold yourself you shall, until explained I have. Know your concerns over Skywalker for many years I have. Defied the Jedi Code he may have… but denied the will of the light side of the force, he has not." Yoda explained with a sense of finality. Windu begrudgingly returned to his seat.

"Earlier, spoke with Master Qui-Gon Jinn we did. Through the force, a speaker for the light side, he has become. Confirmed many things that Knight Skywalker said, he did." Yoda said calmly. "Unchanged for a millennia, the order has been. Grown complacent in our own power… value the Code over the will of the force, we came to do."

His words were accompanied by a wave of the force from him, and at once the Jedi Masters knew that Yoda had indeed spoken with Qui-Gon. The presence they all felt was undoubtedly that of the passed maverick Master.

"Stone, Jedi are not. Feel we do. No longer deny such things, can we. Instead, learn to balance emotions and attachment we must. His attachment to his wife, brought young Skywalker peace in times of turmoil it has. Succeeded, where we have failed, his love for his wife has." Master Yoda spoke.

Obi-Wan nodded, "Anakin has traveled down a dark path before… one that his wife brought him back from. She has done what did not even know I needed to. I intend to help him as well, but… had Anakin not had his wife… then I fear to say what would've happened." He said, looking apologetically to his former Padawan.

Master Fisto suddenly spoke up. "I must admit… I feel that I agree with what Master's Yoda and Kenobi have said. Everyone within this room has had a Padawan… we cannot deny the attachment and bond that forms between Master and Padawan." He said. "The bond between Master and Padawan goes well beyond that of teacher and student. It's a loving and nurturing one. For many Padawans it is the closest thing to having a parent that they know." He said, having spoken his mind.

There were some murmurs of agreement from the Jedi Council. Anakin was stunned… was this really happening? W…where the Jedi finally realizing the mistakes they had made.

"Vote to allow Knight Skywalker to stay within the order I do. Also a vote that we must reanalyze the code I propose." He said. There were multiple nods from each of the council members except for Master Windu, who seemed reserved.

"I can only do this in confidence if we can monitor Skywalker and his wife… I accept that change is what will save the Order… but we can't be drastic about it."

Anakin nodded, quickly. It would take time, but some change was better than none. "I will allow it, and I am sure that my wife shall as well." He said. "If you would like, then I can call her here."

"Yes, please, do so Knight Skywalker. But first we would like to hear the last parts of your plan." Master Ti said, smiling to him in a reassuring way.

"Well. The plan involves my wife. I am married to Senator Padme Amidala. If we are to unveil the truth of Chancellor Palpatine, I feel that we will need true allies within the Senate. She can help us, as she has always been a strong supporter of the Jedi." He said.

The council seemed to have a silent discussion for a moment at the final revelation as to who Anakins wife was, and finally Shaak Ti turned back to him. "Understood, please. Call her here, along with you Captain. He will want to know the findings of the chip. The council will debate on ways to further our investigation into this. You are dismissed, and thank you, Anakin." She said.

Anakin bowed, for once showing real respect instead of his usual, borderline mocking bow. Today had been humbling for him… and he felt that for the first time he could put more trust in the Jedi. He would have to if they were to get through such a troubling time. He turned away, going to contact his wife and friend.