"Alright, we're coming up on the coordinates that Master Yoda left us." Anakin said as he checked over his in-flight instruments and tried to stretch. As much as he loved flying, being in the cockpit for the better part of a week could ruin it for anyone. They'd only stopped when necessary, staying away from the core and only stopping long enough to get fuel for the ships and extra supplies. He had to hand it to Padme's parent's, the extra credits they'd brought had come in handy, as had they themselves. His and Padme's faces were far too recognizable, but two rich Naboo nobles out exploring the galaxy along with their son Darren? They'd barely been glanced at beyond the occasional scammer, and the reward had been Padme's ship now stuffed full of extra supplies.

"Great, it's getting cramped in here, I think we're all ready to land." Padme said, and Anakin smiled some at the sound of her voice.

"Me too Padme… alright, let's drop out of hyperspace… now." He said as his ship decelerated. Anakin's view was filled with a red gas giant glowing in the depths of space, a few small moons circling it. "Yavin… well… it's definitely out of the way." He admitted.

"Out of the way is true… no colonies or inhabitants connected to the wider galactic world. Inhabited planets nearby… but nothing with a major Republic presence."

"No… but Torque is controlled by the Hutt's, and they can be just as dangerous." Anakin stated, tightening his grip on the controls some at the thought of Hutts. He calmed some when he felt a familiar presence though, well, a few really. "Follow me Padme, I've found them." He said.

Anakin pushed his ship in the direction the force told him, to where he could feel the presence of his fellow Jedi and started to navigate around the gas giant while making sure that Padme remained close behind. It took him a moment to see what could no doubt be his target, a spot of blue green in an ocean of red, and he remembered it too. He'd been there before, at the start of the war. "Yavin IV… I chased Ventress here during our first encounter." He said.

"I remember… that was at the start, your first deployment." She replied. Anakin just nodded, forcing down the memories of the war as they pushed on towards the moon.


Anakin sighed as they touched down in a small clearing outside the largest temple on the planet. He could see the camouflaged form of the Sundered Heart nearby and watched as a squad of clone troopers appeared from the temple, weapons raised. Anakin popped open the cockpit glass of his fighter and stood up, groaning some as he took his first breath of fresh air. "Jesse, that you?" He asked the approaching soldier.

"General, it's good to see you back! General Kenobi and Commander Tano have been waiting for you sir." The clone confirmed and said quickly.

Anakin nodded, "Understood. How is Rex doing, how are the other troopers?" He climbed out of his own ship, jumping down as Artoo popped out of the fighters droid socket. The ramp for Padme's ship had dropped down as well, letting the entire family off into the semi-humid air of the jungle planet. Anakin opened his arms, embracing Padme as she went to him, it had been one of the more awkward conversations of the flight, but her parents had welcomed him quickly.

"They're doing well. Rex came out of the Bacta yesterday and he's already getting back to his old self. We've been dealing with a few other injuries from the fighting, but everyone's settled in General. Kix would know more about that."

"Good to hear, I'm glad everyone got here safely." He said, "We brought some extra supplies as well, mostly food and medical supplies."

"Understood Sir, we'll get some Droids and get them inside." Jessie replied, starting to move past before pausing. "Oh… Sir. We ah, we got confirmation on General Plo Koon. He didn't make it Sir."

Anakin froze at that and lowered his head. He'd had a feeling, but he hadn't wanted to believe it. He felt Padme squeeze his hand. "It's okay Anakin… he's one with the force now."

"I know… just… I'd hoped he would make it. I wonder if any others did that weren't at the temple." He said as they headed inside. The lower level of the temple was massive, largely shrouded in darkness except for a small base that had been established more towards its center, little more than camps for most of the survivors. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, Anakin could see two figures come running from the camp.

"Master!" Ahsoka called out as she and Obi Wan hurried over. Anakin embraced Ahsoka and nodded to Obi Wan.

"I'm glad you're both okay." He said. "I… I was afraid something would…"

"It's okay Anakin, we're fine. We made it out." Obi Wan said calmly. "Padme, I'm glad to see you were able to reach your family." He smiled, crossing his arms.

"It took us some time to cross the galaxy, but we're safe. I want to offer my condolences for Master Plo Koon… for everyone." She said.

"Thank you. It's good you made it here Anakin. Master Yoda wants to wait to hold a ceremony for those we lost." He said. "And, to hold a meeting of the Jedi Council…" He added. "He wished to wait for you to arrive for the meeting to be held."

Anakin nodded, taking a deep breath. "Well… let's get this done." He said. "Padme, will you and your family be alright?"

"We'll be fine. We can start getting settled in." She smiled softly, placing a hand on his arm. "You don't have to baby me Anakin." She reminded him. Anakin couldn't help but give her a soft smile, she'd always been independent. Why would that change now?

"Don't worry Master, I'll go with her. We could catch up some." Ahsoka said, giving him her usual grin.

"Alright. Let's go Master." He said to Obi Wan.

It didn't take them long to reach the center of the small camp, where a fire had been set up for warmth inside the chilly temple and where Master Yoda's tent had been established among the others. There was no real order, clones and Jedi intermixed on some level, although the clones had chosen to keep together by squads or platoons, Anakin had noticed that both the Five Oh First and the Two Twelfth had been so fractured by the schism that the split hadn't been by unit, but by individual. He recognized most of the clones as veterans from both units, very few green troopers, but far too large a portion of the veteran officers were gone, either killed in the fighting or betraying him and Obi-Wan.

"Ah, Young Skywalker. Good to see you, it is." The Grand Masters voice snapped Anakin from his thoughts, and he bowed on reflex. Master Yoda had emerged from his tent, and seemed far more aged than Anakin had seen him. The loss of the Order had been harsh on him.

"Master, it's good to see you as well." Anakin said. 'Although I wish the circumstances were different.' He added mentally.

"Understand, I do." The old master said gently, "But, in despair, we cannot remain. Live on the Order does. Rebuild we shall."

Anakin nodded some, "And stop Palpatine and Dooku."

Yoda nodded, "Yes, in time. Patience, young Skywalker. Weak, we are. And strong, yes, strong, the dark side is through Palpatine. Against the Jedi, the Galaxy is, but allies, we still have." Master Yoda paused, as if in deep thought. "For now… Mourn we must, a time of healing this must be." He said. "No longer detached from emotion, can we remain."

"Master Yoda is right Anakin. To try and fight the Supreme Chancellor now would be a poor choice." Obi Wan added. "We need to take the time to reorganize ourselves and to find allies." He said.

Anakin nodded, "Alright… What do we need to do for the ceremony tonight?" he asked.

Yoda chuckled some, not fully happy, but in his own cheeky way. "Prepare for that soon, we shall. First, assemble a new council we must."

It was true, the council had been decimated. Out of the full council, only Master Yoda, Master Mundi, Master Ti, and Obi Wan were there. So many were dead or missing… no… dead, not even a Master could stand up against a large force of clones and have a good chance of survival, and they'd barely been able to warn the members of the Order that were in the temple, much less those who'd been on deployment with their armies in the field.

"Kneel." Yoda said suddenly, looking up to Anakin. He was confused by this, why was he being asked to kneel? He did so, one of his knees coming down, his fist pressing against the cool stone and moss of the temple floor. The assembled masters gathered around him, and Yoda stepped forward and raised his light saber. "Knight Skywalker found balance with the force, you have. Rule over you no longer does the dark side."

Anakins heart jumped into his throat as he let out a slow and steady breath, trying to remain calm. He knew what this was now, and he didn't feel ready for it. He could still feel him waiting, but not pressing on his mind constantly like he had been.

"Helped to protect the order, you have. Your actions, potentially saved it, have they." Yoda's saber hovered just over the top of each of his shoulders for a moment. "Promote you to the rank of Master, I do, and invite you to join the Jedi High Council, as well. Rise, Master Skywalker."

Anakin stood, eyes wide as his heart raced. He'd never expected this, so many times he'd been turned down for the rank of Master, so many times it had seemed like his capabilities were ignored. But, Master Yoda, Obi Wan, some of the Council… they'd noticed. "I accept, Master Yoda." He said, bowing deeply.

"Now, prepare for the ceremony, we must." He said, and with that, the meeting was dismissed. Anakin looked to Obi Wan, who gave him a smile.

"Back at the senate chamber, the old Anakin would have gone charging after Palpatine. You've learned to start controlling your anger." He said. "You've earned this, Anakin. Even if you're still somewhat impatient." Obi Wan quipped at the end, trying to lighten the mood.

Anakin shook his head some, "What can I say Master. You have all of the patience of the two of us, I'm just the one who knows when to take initiative." He said as they walked. Anakin looked among the faces of the survivors, some Jedi he recognized, others he barely knew, and then the faces of his men.

"Very funny Anakin. Ah, I do believe there's someone who'd been waiting for you." Obi Wan pointed ahead, where two clones walked towards them, one minus his chest plate, but wearing the black body suit, and the other a concerned medic badgering him.

"Captain, I must insist that you continue to rest. Your body is in the final stages of healing." Kix admonished Rex, making Anakin smile.

"Dully noted Kix." Anakin overheard Rex say as he walked with a purpose. He stopped in front of Anakin and saluted, Anakin saw the slight wince from when it tugged at his wound. Anakin returned it, smiling some.

"Good to see you back on your feet Rex." He said before nodding to them both. "Rex, Kix, how are you both feeling?"

"Doing just fine Sir, but the Captain here really should be resting." Kix said pointedly, Anakin nodded some as Rex shook his head.

"I told you Kix, I'm fine. And… doing well General, just… trying to figure out what went wrong." He said. Anakin could see how deeply troubled he was by the betrayal of their men and placed a hand on Rex's good shoulder.

"I know Rex… I… maybe we should have seen it coming. Appo changed after Umbara… and I suppose he swayed others. We can't change that now Rex… but… we can prepare to fight, we can rebuild, and we can stop Palpatine." He said. Rex nodded, and though his demeanor didn't change much, Anakin could see that flare of determination in his eyes.

"Thank you Sir. I'll admit… it's been hard on the men… accepting that their brothers turned on us… but we will follow you to the end Sir." Rex said.

Anakin nodded, "I'm glad Rex, we're going to need these men. The Republic is going to need these men."

Rex nodded, "We aren't in this for the Republic, Sir… not anymore. We're in it for our own freedom, and for our commanders who've fought and bled with us." He said.

Anakin nodded, but before he could speak again was interrupted, "That's all well and good Captain, but, before you can fight you have to rest. Just because you're out of the bacta doesn't mean you're healed, it just means we ran out of bacta." Kix asserted, pulling rank. Rex sighed and was led away by the medic.

Anakin just shook his head, then looked to Obi Wan. "Let's go help assemble the pyre." He said.


It had taken most of the evening to assemble the pyre as needed. First, stones had been gathered to form a large, flat, base off the forest floor, and then enough timber had to be gathered, most of it deadwood that had fallen from the trees. Now, a large group had assembled outside the temple. All of the present Jedi, although there were far too few for Anakin's liking, as well as a few of the clones. Padme and her family joined as well, with her leaning into Anakin. Master Yoda stood at the center, holding a burning torch. As Master Qui Gon's had been, the ceremony was simple, with few words.

"May you find peace in the force." Yoda said, before laying the torch to the pyre, watching as the wood, soaked with some fuel to help it catch, took to flame, and spread.

Anakin looked down, closing his eyes as he focused on the force. He could feel how it had changed. Around him there was mourning, no more was it trying to be locked away. There was pain… but, it was being released smoothly, not forcibly. The force seemed empty with the loss of so many powerful signatures. He let out a slow breath, and felt Padme squeeze his hand, which he reciprocated.

Anakin looked to Ahsoka and gently placed a hand on her back. He knew she'd take the loss of Master Plo hard, he'd been the Jedi who discovered her and interacted with her. Had she not been Anakin's padawan, it was likely she would've been his.

"It's okay to feel Ahsoka… we've all lost a lot today." He said. She looked back to him and nodded some, closing her eyes. Padme joined, guiding Ahsoka into an embrace from them both, and for the first time, Anakin saw a few tears from his Padawan.

"I just… I can't believe he's gone Master. So many are gone…" She said.

"I know Ahsoka… it hurts… and it's okay to feel that hurt. But… they're one with the force now, they're at peace." He said, to which Ahsoka nodded.

"I… just… if we'd had more clones… if more Jedi had gone on the mission, or if we'd had more fighters." She said. "Maybe I could have done something…"

Anakin stiffened some and silenced her. "No. Ahsoka… we couldn't have done more than we did. More clone troopers would've made things worse… and too many Jedi would have alerted Palpatine. More fighters in the air would have just gotten more people hurt or killed. We did everything that we could Ahsoka, and we can't blame ourselves. Attachment and the pain of loss don't always lead to the dark side young one… but… I know for a fact that seeking revenge and trying to change what's already been will." He told her. The same thoughts had caused him to slaughter a tribe of Tuskens.

He felt more than saw as Ahsoka took a deep breath, "I'll miss him Master…"

"I know… we all will… we'll miss everyone we lost today, but, we should also remember the good times we shared with them. That's what these ceremonies are for. To mourn those we've lost… but to remember and honor them as well." He said. "Master Plo wouldn't want to see you so sad Ahsoka, I know."

Ahsoka looked up at him, and did manage to give him a bit of a smile. "Okay Master… thank you." She said.

It was then that a clone came running up to the group. "Generals! We just picked up a ship dropping out of hyperspace near the atmosphere! It's too big to be a Yavin Bypass trader!" He said quickly. "Scanners are detecting Republic readings, a single ship!"

Anakin looked to Obi Wan, who'd just been ready to start giving orders before a rumbling captured their attention. He looked up, and through the outer atmosphere came the shape of something he did not want to see, a Venator was descending into the atmosphere.

"N..no, they shouldn't have been able to find us." Cody said from nearby. "We made sure to disable all of the ships tracking systems before stopping here."

"Matters now, does it not, get to the ship and escape, we must!" Yoda said, remaining calm and starting to give orders.

"W..wait!" The clone pilot said again. "My co-pilot's reporting… th..they're sending a shortwave broadcast… open channel." He said.

There was a pause, but Yoda spoke again. "Well, let us see who wishes to speak."

The pilot nodded and patched the audio through on his wrist set.

"This is Master Rahm Kota, commander of the Liberation. Come in, anyone down there?"


Well, everyone, I'm back. I know I've been spotty, but school takes up a lot of time. Especially with a steady flow of history papers and readings to complete. I know I made a lot happen in this chapter, but I wanted to get things back on track. My original plan had been for them to stay on Yavin IV, but I realized that just wasn't going to be possible. The Great Temple on Yavin IV was a massive base built by a rebel group in full swing, not a fledgeling one, it likely took hundreds of workers and droids months to establish when you get down to considering it. So this was a better alternative.

For those who might not have played the Force Unleashed games, Rahm Kota was a Jedi who didn't think the clones were capable enough in combat, so he raised an all-volunteer army to lead, which he called his Militia, this saved his life when Order 66 happened. ANd while he didn't have a Venator in the Force Unleashed (At least I don't think) a mod for Galaxy At War told the story of how Rahm Kota and his militia took over the Liberation and put her to work for the right cause.

As for Anakin becoming a Master, he had the skills by the end of the Clone Wars, he was denied for three reasons in my book, or well... at least ones that seem plausible and not because canon deemed it so.

1: His inner turmoil with the Dark Side, which it was pretty obvious others could sense but no one really tried to help him with properly in canon.

2: His impatience. Anakin was never exactly humble. Everyone knew he was good, including himself, but his lack of patience I think made the Council slow to trust his judgement, and reluctant to admit him.

3: His age was another part to me that kept him off the Council. Obi-Wan was in his mid to late 30's when he was admitted, and that's because the council needed new members after Geonosis I and Obi-Wan was one of the top picks. If it hadn't been for the loss of council members on Geonosis, he likely would've had a few more years before becoming a member. Anakin was only in his 20's, and while he was the Chosen One and that should have been considered, he was still likely just too young to be considered a Master and a Council Member, even with his skills.

Well, I feel he's at least gotten beyond these three reasons here. He's learned to manage his dark side, he's calmed down some, although still impulsive, and he's grown up a bit even if he hasn't aged, just enough so that, just like with Obi Wan, when the council needs new members, he was a good choice to grow into the role.

Anyways, rant over. I hope you guys enjoy the new chapter, and feel free to leave a bit of feedback if you want. Merry Christmas, and May the Force be with You.