A/N: I guess I didn't make it clear in my stories so that's my fault. Since Order 66 wasn't carried out, in this AU, Maul was taken to Coruscant as planned and held in jail.

I also took the time to write out how exactly the Republic has been reacting to the Jedi. I waited until now because I wanted it to make the upcoming scene stronger.

Please enjoy!

Chapter 4

Republic Center for Military Operations.

The Republic Military Prison was a daunting building. Foreboding and ominous. Its heavily fortified structure was made to hold the most merciless and dangerous people in the galaxy. Built during the Clone Wars, it reminded the Republic of its military might. In the center, stood a monument erected in memoriam to the clone troopers that died at the first battle on Geonosis. A reminder of the deadly cost of war. A war that the Republic wanted to put behind them and the painful memories of lies and deceit that fueled a war that should have never have happened in the first place.

Obi Wan and Ahsoka pushed their way passed the nosy reporters trying to get a comment from the clone guards barricading the front. Some were shoving holorecorders at the clones for a comment while others had holocams, stretching on their toes, trying to get a video of the investigation behind the barrier. The two former Jedi reached Commander Fox who had his hands full with the rambunctious reporters.

Commander Fox saluted them out of habit, "General…." He caught himself. "Citizen Kenobi. Citizen Tano. What are you doing here?"

Obi Wan was first to respond as Ahsoka, not so gently, pushed away a reporter trying to sneak a recording behind Fox. "We heard there was a jailbreak." He surveyed the scene behind Fox. Several body bags were being taken out of the front. The front doors peeled open, like a tin can, from the inside out. Blaster burns covered the walls.

"I'm sorry, sir," Fox said regretfully. "Only authorized personal is allowed back here."

Obi Wan and Ahsoka passed a disgruntled look at each other. This was another painful reminder of the harsh reality the Jedi faced now. Ahsoka crossed her arms, visibly upset by their lack of security clearance. She was about to protest that they weren't Jedi anymore but that would give the clone even less reason to assist them. She was the one to apprehend Maul. Shouldn't that count for something?

The clones were loyal men. They didn't agree with the Republic separation from the Jedi and stripping them of their rank in the Grand Army of the Republic. The clones who fought alongside the Jedi, remembered their lives being saved by their Jedi superiors on more than one occasion. Unfortunately, as soldiers, the clones have to do as they are told, as all good soldiers follow orders.

Obi Wan questioned further hoping to make do with the situation, "Commander Fox. You don't have to let us in. Just tell us one thing. Is….Maul one of the escaped prisoners?"

Commander Fox shifted uncomfortably. Even though Obi Wan and Ahsoka were no longer a part of the Republic their help would be valuable. He had served with both of them on several occasions and knew of their integrity. It was against his orders and but he knew, that without the Jedi help, they would not be able to apprehend him. Maul had made a horror movie scene of the inside of the prison, with his rampage, as he escaped. The clones were no match for him. Fox looked around making sure the other clones weren't paying attention. He leaned forward.

"Maul is confirmed as one of the missing prisoners. His whereabouts are unknown. That's all I can tell you. I'm sorry."

Obi Wan fears had been realized. He had hoped against his better judgment. This guy was a relentless thorn in his side that would not go away or stay dead.

He bowed, "Thank you Commander Fox. That's all we needed to know."

As they walked away, Ahsoka spoke up, "If Maul is on the loose we have a serious problem on our hands. How are we going to find him?"

Obi Wan stroked his beard, "I don't know. We're lucky if he's still on Coruscant. He could be anywhere by now. We need to get help. We can't do this alone."

"Where do you propose we go to?" Ahsoka asked dreading where this was going.

Obi Wan paused. "We should split up. I want you to go to the Senate building and ask to see Chancellor Organa. Perhaps he can help us locate Maul's whereabouts."

She raised an eyebrow, "Where are you going?"

"To the Jedi Temple." He concluded.

Ahsoka groaned, "I was afraid you were going to say that." She added, "Just be careful when you're there. Things have changed…."

Obi Wan wasn't sure what she meant by that. "Contact me once you have reached Chancellor Organa. May the force be with you."

The two took off in their separate directions. Maul was an extremely dangerous man to be on the loose. Worse, he didn't like staying dead either. First they had to catch him THEN figure out what to do with him.

Jedi Temple on Coruscant

After the revelation that Chancellor Palpatine was Darth Sidious, the Republic was a spastic, chaotic mess. It wasn't felt more than at the heart of the Republic on Coruscant. The Heros of the Republic, Anakin Skywalker and Obi Wan Kenobi had confronted the Sith Lord in his office which ended violently in Palpatine's death. The recording from the situation, was played for the Senate eliminating any doubt to the validity of the event.

The aftermath of such a revelation sent shockwaves throughout the Republic aligned planets. They were betrayed by the very government they trusted. The promises to end the war quickly, to crush the evil Separatists, and prevail as the noble, long standing Republic were all lies.

The Republic Senate couldn't bear to be seen as the bad guys, it had stood for thousands of years as a symbol of democracy and civility. So the burden fell on the Jedi Knights. The Republic's heroes with their spiritual, mystical arts who defended the honor of the Republic. The shame was great as well as the accusations of these great, seemingly invincible warriors.

The Jedi were deceived, dealing directly with Chancellor Palpatine on many occasions and yet unable to decipher the truth. How useful were these mystical warriors if they couldn't come through when the Republic needed them the most? So many worlds were caught in the middle of the battle between the Republic and the Separatists. Many neutral worlds were forced to chose sides or chose death. Economies collapsed, cities annihilated from history, lives torn apart by this evil war.

What was a fatal blow to an already painful discovery was that Count Dooku, the hero for the Separatists, was the apprentice to Chancellor Palpatine. The war was a hoax. A mere construct to break down the defenses of worlds so that they could be easily assimilated into a grand empire. It wasn't even a real war. Embittered and broken, worlds turned their anger on the one thing they could. The Jedi. This wasn't a war for the people. It was an absurd ancient battle between the religious fanatics known as the Jedi and the Sith. Disgusted and enraged, the people turned on the Jedi. They no longer considered the Jedi peacekeepers. They were warmongers. Arrogant and self serving, the Jedi were to blame for the war. Them and their phony religion with lies about service to some good side of a mystical concept lost to most people.

Not everyone shared this view but they were in the minority. The Grand Army of the Republic knew their valor and bravery as they watched them sacrifice time after time on the battlefield. The clone armies understood the Jedi's good intentions. The Senators, at least some of them, who had worked with the Jedi directly or had the honor of the Jedi protection understood the truth. The new Chancellor Organa knew of the Jedi virtue but yet he served a democracy. As he tried to rebuild the basis of democracy he had to let the majority of the Senate rule over his own personal beliefs. He didn't agree with the harsh verdict, demanded by the senators and their home worlds, that the Jedi should be removed from the Republic. Moving the Jedi temple off of Coruscant was a deep cut he had a hard time accepting. But for the sake of Democracy, he couldn't override the strong views of the majority of the Senate.

As Obi Wan proceeded closer to the Jedi Temple the dread built up with the sight before him. Perhaps he was better off with the news thirsty reporters over these blood thirsty mob of protestors in front of the Temple. He closed his eyes, the force was so dark around the mob, there were so much anger and pain. He pulled his cloak closer to his face and tucked his lightsaber away.

There were men and women in the crowd screaming pounding their fists in the air.

"Give us back our children!"

Force sensitive children were routinely recruited from Republic centered worlds at a very young age. The Jedi would come and tell the family that a great honor was bestowed upon them. The child would grow up to be a great asset of the Republic one day in their service to the Force. The cost was that the child would no longer be theirs. Any contact after the child began training was forbidden because attachment was forbidden. So these families who never saw a Jedi before that day or ever experienced the mysterious Force thing these space wizards talked about, trusted their love and joy to them. The Jedi Knights of the Republic. The defenders of the peace as their reputation was told.

A Rodian threw a rotten fruit at the Temple guards who were barricading the mob from tainting the Temple grounds. It made a wet splat noise and slowly dripped down the statue like Temple guard's uniform.

"Murderers!"

Another shouted, "Go away! We don't want you here!"

The blind trust was gone. Families were outraged from the little they understood from the HoloNet newsfeeds and whispers around their town. The deadly blow came when the Republic announced its separation from the Jedi. If the Senate couldn't trust the Jedi then all the rumors must be true! Parents, families, distant relatives from different planets came back to reclaim their family members and save them from a terrible mistake.

Obi Wan pushed past the mob. Ducking as more trash was hurled at the Temple guards. He made it up to the front and pulled his hood back enough for the guard to recognize him. In the past, he was allowed in by Master's Yoda's request. He hoped they would still allow him in even though he wasn't a Jedi and wasn't invited in. He was in luck. The Temple guard recognized him and move to the side. As Obi Wan passed him, the guard whispered, "There are worse things here than you."

Obi Wan nodded solemnly at the guard's justification for letting him in. He quickly made his way into the Temple. Inside was more of a subdued chaotic tone. Although much quieter inside, the Force trembled with nervous energy. Many things were packed away. Statues, pictures, artifacts were missing from the walls. Boxes were strewn around and people busy packing what was left. He turned a corner and found Master Nu overseeing the packing of the library. She smiled when she caught sight of Obi Wan.

"Ah! Obi Wan Kenobi. What a pleasure to see you here! Are you here to observe the new chapter in the Jedi's history?" She stated half joking and half bitterly.

He greeted her politely ignoring the bait. "What will become of the Jedi library?"

She smiled sadly, "Far away, I'm afraid. Somewhere the knowledge can't fall into the wrong hands. My duty as the protector of the ancient Jedi knowledge is much more difficult. I could always use an extra hand?" She offered.

Obi Wan shook his head, "Master Nu, I'm no longer a Jedi. You would be better equipped with another Jedi accompanying you."

"Not a Jedi?" She raised an eyebrow. She took in his full form from head to toe as he shifted uncomfortably. "Yet, you still wear the robes of one and carry a lightsaber."

Obi Wan hand, unconsciously, went to protectively cover his lightsaber.

She smirked, "You know, thousands of years ago, the Jedi weren't one unified order. During the Old Republic, there were many different Jedi factions." She continued having Obi Wan's full attention. "I've tried to collect the holocrons from that era over the years but finding them have been difficult given how long ago it was. There's a plethora of knowledge from that era we don't know about."

She gazed at him intensely once again and illicit another uncomfortable shift from Obi Wan. "Back then, there could have been a place for a Jedi like you."

Obi Wan crossed his arms, subconsciously shielding himself in the process. "And what type of Jedi am I, Master Nu?"

She gave him another secret smile, "That's for you to figure out." With that, she turned back to her library and continued her business.

Obi Wan grunted in frustration and continue to the High Council Room. He pondered, he made this journey so often in the past, and yet it was odd walking down the halls again. There was a certain irony that he was here, at the end of the Jedi Temple's existence on Coruscant. He exited the lift and noted Master Windu and Master Yoda deep in a conversation. The tension from their argument thickened the air as both showing significant trouble holding back restraint. They stopped when they noticed Obi Wan at the doorway. Obi Wan tried to feign innocence and not to notice, but it was too late. They ended their conversation and Mace Windu bristled past Obi Wan.

Mace kept his cool, collected face, and barely acknowledged Obi Wan as he walked by, "Citizen." Obi Wan didn't miss the undercurrent condescending tone behind Mace's greeting. Obi Wan brushed it off given Mace a polite, respectful bow and greeting as he passed by.

He found Master Yoda standing in the middle of the High Council room looking very worn for wear. His almost 900 years of age was showing. Obi Wan surveyed the, now empty room, as he greeted Yoda. The council members were all conflicted by Obi Wan's departure. Some saw him as a traitor, like Mace Windu, and others had sympathized with his decision. Master Yoda was more sympathetic and still treated Obi Wan well as he privy him to Jedi affairs. Perhaps, Master Yoda always considered Obi Wan a Jedi.

After the Senate formally called for the removal of the Jedi Temple, there were many heated debates amongst the Masters. Prior to this, they would hold their opinions to themselves to keep the unity of the Council, but now they expressed their disagreements freely. Surprisingly, many had deep reservations with how the Jedi Order was being run. When a suitable planet wasn't found for the Jedi Temple, many decided to leave and see where the Force would lead them. Most picked up a padawan who would follow them on their individual paths, among those that did not were Mace Windu and Yoda.

Obi Wan bowed before Yoda, "Forgive me Master Yoda. I didn't mean to intrude on your conversation with Master Windu."

Yoda shook his head, "Over the conversation was. Agreement we will not be."

Mace Windu was ultimately against dissolving the High Council. In the past, his bravado usually earned him his way with the council. However, in these times, his voice fell on deaf ears as the High Council agreed that it would be best for the Jedi order to take a time of penitence. Obi Wan caught Yoda and Mace having a heated argument over this. Mace wanted to form a Jedi advisor committee on a sympathetic planet. A grassroots movement to regain the people's trust one planet at a time. Yoda thought it was time to meditate more and remove the Jedi from an active role in humanitarian struggles. That this was a time to spend with the Force and restore balance to the Jedi.

Yoda told Obi Wan, "His own path his is on." He sighed. "Broken the Jedi order is."

They watched as some younglings were being escorted by a Jedi chaperone. Obi Wan inquired, "What of the younglings? The ones too young to be a padawan?"

Yoda frowned, "With the Jedi some will go. The very young…..to their homes."

He caught Obi wan's surprised look. "Kidnappers we are not. To home the younglings may go if they wish." His long ears bent downwards weighed down by grief.

"I'm so sorry," was all Obi Wan could muster.

"Will of the Force this is," Yoda resigned.

Obi Wan hesitated but knew he was running out of time. "I know that this is a bad time but I need to talk to you about something. Maul has escaped the Republic Military Prison. If he's free the Sith could rise again. We need to go find him."

"Find him?" Yoda laughed darkly. The tone concerned Obi Wan. "A path for you to take. Not mine."

"Master Yoda, I can't find him on my own. I have no resources."

"Here you think you will find? Hrm" Master Yoda stomped his staff into the ground. "Around you look. Unbalanced the Jedi is. Else where my path is. Provide for you the Force will."

"Where will you go Master Yoda?"

Yoda responded. "Trust in you I have always. Tell no one you must. Dagobah I will go. Meditate on the Force I will." He turns to walk away.

Obi Wan had one more question. "Master Yoda, what do you know about the Jedi Order during the Old Republic?"

A deep frown grew on his face. "Before my time it was. Chaotic back then the Old Republic. Disjointed they were." A sore tone in his voice. He turned and walked away. Leaving Obi Wan alone on his quest. He hoped that Ahsoka had a better time than he was.

Padmé's parents home on Theed, Naboo

The dinner was very pleasant. Padmé's mother, Jobal, was an excellent cook and everyone had eaten until they were satisfied. As a thank you, the couple offered to do the dishes afterwards. Anakin washed the dishes as Padmé helped dry and put them away. They watched out the window, over the sink, as Pooja and Ryoo faked a slow, wounded run as Leia and Luke stumbled over to catch up to them tackling them to the ground. The children's laughter filled the courtyard.

Padmé pleasantly proclaimed to her husband. "You know I'll be your boss. If I need security to handle aggressive negotiations I'll be talking to you."

"You are already my Master. Nothing is going to change then." He stated sincerely as he flashed her that gorgeous half smirk.

He watched as his wife blush ever so subtly.

"You are much better at negotiations than I am. Why, during the Clone Wars, you were the one trying to find a diplomatic solution to end the war. I'm sure my services will not be needed often. And, if it's needed, I'll bring my firepower."

Padmé was annoyed by how callous he was about using aggressive negotiations but he was right. She would do whatever she could to prevent a need for hostilities in any situation. "And you are ok with this? You wouldn't want a more active role?"

"You mean more responsibility?" He snorted. "The way I see it I get to swoop in and save the day. I get to be the hero. Where else YOU will have to deal with the fact that sometime you'll be the bad guy." He stated smugly.

She was offended. Mildly. She playfully threw the washcloth she had in her hands at his face. He just let it hit him. While it hung off his face he shrugged. "What?"

"So much for being the chosen one," she retorted.

He took the towel off his face and placed it on the counter. "Hey…I've done my part already. My role in whatever that prophesy…the Force…had for me is done." He stepped closer to his beloved and taking both her hands into his. "My commitment now is to you and to our children. Before anything else."

Her husband certainly had a way with words. She brought her hands up around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss.

A/N: I can't seem to end a scene with Anakin and Padmé without them kissing. I just can't do it! Is that wrong? They have a lot of lost time to make up you know! Anyways, do you think Anakin's role as the chosen one is done? I don't think he gets out of it that easily! Also, my take on his role to bring balance to the Force is based on which side he's on. Since he's neither a Sith or a Jedi, it causes the Jedi to undergo significant changes to bring themselves back into balance with the Force because they don't have the "blessing" from the Chosen one.

I'm doing a deep cut into the Jedi Lore. The Great Sith War started around 4000 BBY and the central Jedi Council was created around that time to fight the Sith. So, I imagine this AU heading into that direction with the Jedi Order similar the Old Republic Jedi. This would be way before Yoda's time so even his knowledge of this bygone area would be lacking. It'll make the Jedi order more spicy and far more interesting than the current order.

Next up! Ahsoka goes to the Senate Hall and meets up with an old friend.