Obi-Wan woke before everyone else and meditated. He sensed Anakin getting up and joining him, but he waited for his Padawan to decide to speak. There was a lot of conflict surrounding the young man and he seemed much more withdrawn than usual, so he would talk when he was ready. After a while, he felt Anakin take a calming breath before opening his mouth.

"When Padmé and I went to Naboo, I kept having visions of my mother being in terrible pain and I tried to stop thinking about them. Padmé found out and insisted we go to Tatooine despite the danger to her life, so we traveled there. I found out from Wato he sold my mother to a moisture farmer named Clegg Lars who freed her and married her. We went out to his moisture farm and he told us my mother had been taken by the Sand People almost a month ago. They'd given up hope she was still alive, but I could feel they were wrong. I went out to their encampment and found her dying. She passed away in my arms and I lost control, wiping out their entire civilization. I know it's not the Jedi way, but I Iet my rage take over anyway. You think the Council will expell me?"

"I'm not sure, Padawan." Obi-Wan said honestly after taking the information in stride. "That is a possibility since you used the Dark Side of the Force, but you are being straight forward about it so you might just be suspended for a while so the Council can observe you. I am glad you were willing to be forthcoming."

"But you're disappointed in me."

"Actually, I feel as if I have failed you as a Master. I know you can do better, I have watched you all these years and have seen your potential." Obi-Wan sighed wearily. "I think Master Jinn might have been a better teacher for you than I."

Anakin looked surprised, like he hadn't expected that response. "But he taught you."

"True, though we were very different people and our bond could be complicated at times. He didn't want to train anyone else after his former pupil had turned to the Dark Side when we first met and I was almost too old to be chosen when he did finally take me as his Padawan. I didn't approve of a lot of the choices he made, especially when some of them nearly got him expelled from the Order, but his strong connection to the Force couldn't be denied. You remind me of him in so many ways."

"I don't see the resemblance, but you knew him longer than I did. When I met you both all those years ago and saw you fight together, I would have never guessed you two had problems. Then again no child would look us and think we're so different." Anakin glanced down at his lightsaber, then back up at Obi-Wan. "For what it's worth, I think you've been a great Master. I can be too stubborn for my own good and there have been plenty of times I've found myself wondering if the Council was right when they said I was too old to train."

"I appreciate the vote of confidence, Padawan." Obi- smiled faintly. "I don't know if you were too old or not. Before the Jedi settled here, there is nothing in the ancient texts about an age limit, but the times prior to the Republic forming were dark and many died fighting off the Sith."

Anakin nodded. "And now after ages of peace, they're coming back. What do you think that means for the Republic?"

Obi-Wan considered the question for a while, thinking over the conversations he'd had with Qui-Gon. His old master was never been convinced the Sith were ever completely destroyed and up until their first encounter with the Sith Dooku had called Darth Maul on Tatooine, Obi-Wan had disagreed. Now from personal experience and with Dooku's blunt statements, he knew that the blindness of the galaxy had allowed the Sith to flourish for quite some time unnoticed. "It could mean survival or destruction."

"What do you think Master Yoda will say about all of this?"

"No idea, but I highly doubt he'll be surprised. It was clear after Qui-Gon's death there was still a Sith out there, but it remained a mystery which one till now."

"Assuming Count Dooku was telling us the truth. He could have been making that whole thing up to send us on a wild goose chase through the Senate while he's actually the Sith Master."

He is looking at someone else to be his apprentice. Dooku's somber voice echoed in Obi-Wan's mind and it didn't take much to figure out who a powerful Sith would be interested in corrupting. He knew Anakin was good friends with the Chancellor and didn't want to think ill of a man who'd been supportive when most of the other politicians had offered only skepticism. "All things will reveal themselves in time, Padawan. Either way, I think it would be wise if you didn't visit the Chancellor until after the investigation is over."

Anakin nodded reluctantly. "Yes, Master."

Obi-Wan nodded to Padmé as she joined them. "Since I was unable to detain Jango Fett and my tracking device was deactivated, you could still be in danger Senator. Anakin will stay with you and your protection detail while I go talk with the Council. Don't speak of what we have heard, even if it's to each other. There's no way to know who might be listening, let alone who we can trust."

"We could trust Senator Bail Organa." Padmé sounded rather indignant.

"I know he is your friend Senator, but sharing this information right now would only endanger him." Obi-Wan pointed out kindly. "We need to set up a safe place for you to stay while we are here."

Padmé sighed in resignation. "I'll call Captain Typho and see what he can put together." She pressed her comm button on the console and dialed the number she knew by heart. When he appeared on the screen, she didn't give him a chance to speak first. "Master Kenobi and his Padawan are bringing me back to Coruscant due to something coming up. I need a secure location to stay while Master Kenobi confers with the Jedi Council."

"How much time do I have, Senator?"

"We'll be there in about two hours."

Typho nodded curtly. "I'll have it put together in an hour and send you an encrypted file with the details. Be safe, Senator."

She smiled bravely. "You too, Captain."

"I half expected him to argue with you." Anakin said after the connection was cut.

"Captain Typho has been head of my security detail since I became a Senator, he knows what battles he can win and which ones he can't."

Obi-Wan felt himself smile a little because she sounded rather fond of the man. "He seems like a good person, does he have a family?"

Padmé shook her head. "His fiancé broke off their engagement about two years ago and if he has been seeing anyone since, he's never let it interfere with his work. I don't ask about his personal life since he's had enough people making him feel like he's in a fishbowl after experiencing such heart break."

"My mother used to say that hearts have infinite room, but when hurt it does take time to heal." Anakin said quietly.

Obi-Wan put a hand on his shoulder. "Your mother was a wise woman, Padawan. She hasn't left, she is still in your heart and is one with the Force. Remember that."

Anakin swallowed heavily and nodded, unable to say anything for a while.