Chapter 7

The Old Masters

SERENO

Palace of Count Dooku

The doors to the Count's throne room opened with a silent gust of motion, Leo's boots echoed across the floor as he passed by duo after duo of magna guards that lines the center of the room guiding him to the five small steps that elevated Count Dooku above him. The silver haired sith sorcerer was looking out his green tinted window when the apprentice stopped hands behind his back "My Lord." Leo said bowing, both his eyes Sith yellow.

In the reflection off the window, Dooku noticed it was a bow and not a kneel like Leo had usually done "Did I not order you to return to Raxus after your failure on Onderon?" he asked his apprentice.

Leo watched the Count turn slowly hands behind his back, both of their weapons hidden from sight "You did My Lord, but I your apprentice have come to you in seek of guidance." He said being careful with his words.

"Guidance on what disobedience will bring you?" The Count said, lowering his arms to his side, Leo watching every inch of the man to see if any sign of an attack was coming.

"On why we gave up Onderon so easily?" Leo asked the Count before he dropped to a kneel, a representation of his subjugation to a far more deadly foe.

The Count stopped "It was you who lost the planet."

"Under your orders." Leo said with his head raised from the kneel "Oh, did I not give you the planet to rule as you saw fit and look what it has wrought?" The Count asked.

Leo squeezed the hand behind his back tightly "I out maneuvered, out played and out fought the rebels on every turn Master, but the moment the Republic invaded we tuck tailed and fled like cowards." Leo snaped.

"Careful boy, my patience like my mercy has limits." The Count hissed raising a hand force lighting dancing on his fingertips "Then why Master, why abandoned Onderon, we we're the legitimate government, we're the attacked, the Separatist cause would have all the sympathy in the galaxy to hold out for reinforcements?" Leo asked him.

The Count lowered his hand hearing him "Listen well apprentice, things are in motion which you could not possibly comprehend." The Count said dismissively returing to his desk

"Then teach me to comprehend Master... or..." Leo said hands out from behind his back, slowly rising to his feet "Is there another who teaches from afar?" Leo asked.

The Count stopped dead in his tracks "Choose your next words carefully my apprentice."

Leo took one step up onto the stairs "The Masters of the Jedi Council have heard rumors my lord, rumors from the mouth of my old teacher Obi-Wan Kenobi…" Leo said his voice trembling slightly but he swallowed his fear "Of a Sith Lord named Darth Sidious who controls the very heart of the Republic, hundreds of Senators under the influence of a Dark Lord?"

The Count listened while he continued "That a certain Viceroy was in league with this Dark Lord over a decade ago over Naboo before he was betrayed and came seeking help from another, from someone only the Dark Lord feared."

The Count glared at Leo from the side of his desk "If this were true what would you do?" Count Dooku asked him.

Leo stood up straight "I would end him in your name my Master."

The Count's brow lifted "There can be only two my lord, one Master, one apprentice and if this Darth Sidious is truly real, then he is our enemy."

CORUSCANT

Senate Tower, Office of the Supreme Chancellor

At the heart of the Republic in the halls of the Senate Tower, the Jedi Masters and padawans briefed the Supreme Chancellor of their latest 'victory' on Onderon "With Onderon secure the Separatists have lost a major foothold in the core worlds, we can now focus more resources to the outer rim and ending this war sooner." Master Windu said beside Masters Obi-Wan, Yoda, Anakin and Ahsoka who stood behind her Masters chair.

"It is regretful however the casualties at Iziz were high and a new resistance group loyal to the Separatists have already begun attacking patrols." Obi-Wan added while the Chancellor listened.

"What of this Steela, where are her whereabouts?" The Chancellor asked "Our reports show that the traitor Leo Rock arrived on Serenno and Raxus alone, we can only assume she's dead." Obi-Wan reported.

"Troubling, but I'm sure once the people of Onderon see our peaceful intentions these troublemakers will cease their attacks if not, we shall deal with them." the Chancellor said before turning his attention to Anakin and more specifically Ahsoka.

The old man smiled up at her "Anakin, I heard your padawan was indispensable in the fight to liberate Onderon, was she not?"

"Indeed she was your excellency, without her guidance the Rebels wouldn't have gotten as far as they did." Anakin said proudly, looking over his shoulder at her.

"Then you are to be commended my dear." Palpatine said to her but Ahsoka hadn't heard an entire word said to her "Padawan?" Anakin sniped at her making her come back to reality "Uh- oh thank you your excellency I only wish I had done more."

The Chancellor smirked at her modesty "Sometimes the best we can do is all we can do young one." the Chancellor said before he turned his attention to the rest of the Jedi and rose up from his seat.

"I thank you for this personal report Master Jedi, Anakin a word in private if I may?" he asked looking directly to Skywalker when the other Jedi rose and soon departed, with Ahsoka waiting outside the door to see Padme approaching the Jedi from the opposite way.

She greeted Windu and Yoda with respect before stopping in front of Anakin's former mentor "Obi-Wan, I heard what happened on Onderon, how are you feeling?"

"Physically or emotionally?" Obi-Wan asked her "Both, Anakins told me what force lighting feels like I can only imagine what you went through having that done to you by… by Leo." she forced herself to say.

Obi-Wan glanced over his shoulder at Ahsoka who was still lost in her own thoughts "The pain of his attack is nothing compared to his betrayal Senator, but trials like these are expected in times of war, good day." the Jedi Master said before he followed the others.

Padme was aghast at such a short response to a man she'd known almost half her life, she decided not to dwindle on it instead checking in on another important jedi in her life.

"Ahsoka?" the Senator from Naboo asked apporaching her, Ahsoka raised her head slowly "Greetings Senator."

"No need to be so formal, I have a meeting with the Chancellor soon it be nice to see a familiar face." she said warmly as ever, the radiant young woman made Ahsoka's melancholy slip away for a brief moment.

She looked back at the closed door "Well my Master is speaking with the Chancellor privately, they seem to be doing that a lot lately?" Ahsoka said.

"Indeed, but I can speak to him some other time I wanted to talk to you, I heard what happened on Onderon I know you and Lux were close." Padme expressed reaching for Ahsoka but she stepped away

"He was a true friend and a patriot to the end." Ahsoka said looking away "But I failed him in the end, Onderon is under occupation again regardless of which side."

Padme looked hurt and her intention to help was so bluntly shunned "I've already come to petition the Chancellor to withdraw the peacekeeping troops as soon as possible." said the Senator.

"Will that actually work?" Ahsoka asked with some contempt.

"It'll take some time, but I think if Onderon truly desires peace it will." Padme replied but Ahsoka crossed her arms grimacing like Anakin would "You weren't there Senator, I saw it I saw the people of Onderon turn on each other like- like animals." Ahsoka squeezed her arms digging her nails into her arms. Padme took a seat then on a nearby bench and ushered the padawan to join her "Then tell me?" She asked.

Relucantly Ahsoka joined her on the bench and began to recount all that had happened on Onderon.

Meanwhile inside the Chancellor's office, Anakin confided to the the sagely words of Palpatine "Your padawan seems most troubled my boy, do you think the war is taking its toll on her?" He asked concernedly.

"Ahsoka is far stronger than she appears Chancellor, but she's faced quite an ordeal. I believe it will only make her stronger." Said Anakin.

The Chancellor patted him on the back "If you have faith in her, then the whole Order must, she is truly blessed to have you as her teacher and you such a faithful student, unlike Master Kenobi."

"Excellency?" Anakin asked confused at his meaning, while they walked up to a window "I speak of Kenobi's padawans treachery, the killing of two Jedi, joining Count Dooku as his new apprentice, one shudders to think what might happen if your roles had been reversed." The Chancellor explained while Anakin took some umbridge to that.

"Ahsoka would never turn to the Dark Side, I only wish Obi-Wan would see that the traitor is beyond our help." Anakin said hands behind his back "Admirable foolhardiness is a fickle thing my dear boy, in times like this who can we trust?" The Chancellor asked, holding up his hand.

Anakin gave the Chancellor a firm stare "I trust Ahsoka with my life."

"That is good to hear, perhaps she is owed some time away from the war but I can only imagine how tedious Temple life must be, is there some task she could be given that shows her worth?" he asked "Hmm, there is the Gathering, an event in which the best Jedi younglings go on to discover their lightsaber crystals coming up?"

The Chancellor's brow raised up "Oh and where does this take place, gracious I forgot I am no jedi you probably can't tell me."

"I trust you Chancellor, the ceremony is to take place on Ilum where our kyber crystals used for our lightsabers are harvested."

"Fascinating." The Chancellor said scratching his chin "Ilum is so remote, but the ways of the Jedi are mysterious to me you should propose this idea to the Council, under her guard the future Jedi could ask for no better protector."

Turning to Anakin the Chancellor looked him dead in the eye "I know that he was once your brother, even your student for a time but I implore you my by do not hesitate like Kenobi did the next time you face the traitor, should anything happen to you or your Padawan I… I dare not dream of it." The Chancellor said, turning away his voice cracking "Never your Excellency." Anakin promised.

Back outside Ahsoka was finishing her talk with Padme "There was so much anger, so much fear it was all so overwhelming I… I lost control like Leo used to." Ahsoka said "Then when we tried to rescue Steela, Lux and I went to destroy the shield generator and we got cut off it was like, like I was just there to watch him die." Ahsoka finished.

Ahsoka's words mired in pain and brought up their old friend "I heard Obi-Wan tried to reach out to him one last time."

"It didn't work." The doors opened to reveal Anakin emerging from the Chancellor's office "Do you really think he's beyond the Jedi's help, he's still just a boy?" Padme asked Anakin's padawan "Ahsoka what do you think?" She asked.

"Leo's a traitor and the next time I see him, I won't hesitate like I did on Onderon." Ahsoka said firmly beside her Master "Nor should you my padawan." Anakin said, walking out of the hallway for Padme to go into her meeting with the Chancellor.

Outside the Senate Tower the jedi were waiting when Obi-Wan walked away from the other Jedi and took out a small holodevice and turned it on, switching it to a private frequency Obi-Wan turned on the hologram to reveal his former Padawan Leo "Any word?" Obi-Wan asked him, far on the other side of the galaxy. Leo was in the private quarters of the Rogue Shadow where he was transmitting from all the way to Coruscant on a secure channel.

"I confronted the Count about the Shadow Sith Lord." Leo reported as he reached up to remove two sith contact lenses from his eyes "Blast these sting."

"All the better to add to the ruse, so what did Dooku say?" Obi-Wan asked him "Less than I thought, more than he knows." Leo said smiling.

"What have you found out?" Obi-Wan asked him.

Leo smiled "The Sith Lord does exist, I'm sure of it where I'm not sure but he's inside the Republic controlling everything, we just need evidence." Leo exclaimed.

"There's only so much I can do so close to the Count." Leo added "And if the Sith Lord is here in the Republic he's covered his tracks well if none of us have been able to find him, how sure are you of the Count's faith in you?" Obi-Wan asked.

He gave a firm nod "The Count trusts me, but he's wary like all Sith I need a target, something that will let me in beyond apprentice."

"Something remote but big, something that will get everyone's attention." Leo told him "I'll see what I can dig up, transfer any information on the Separatist movements that you can." Obi-Wan ordered "I've already got a courier set up, someone we both can trust." Leo replied with a wink.

"Good work Leo, stay safe and-" "I know I know, may the force be with you too." Leo said winking before he cut off the transmission just as Anakin and Ahsoka emerged approaching the Jedi before they were about to leave on a Republic gunship.

RAXUS

Stark Estate

Leo was sitting inside his family's estate, the soft shower of rain over Raxus's planes, dark grey clouds would spark lighting in the distance but the sound never reached the inside of the mansion. He was resting in a firm leather bound chair with an open bottle of wine next to him Leo looked over at it and an empty glass that was yet to be filled he was holding the quark in his hand fumbling it between his fingers thinking about something.

"I wish you would have told us you were coming back?" Leo looked over his shoulder to see the smiling face of his mother, Arris Stark.

Leo rose from his seat and greeted her "Mother."

She approached him, hands clasped over her hands "Storm will pass soon, Elli is with your father attending to some business and Iaclyn is… wellbeing Iaclyn somewhere?" she said flustered.

"I was thinking of going into Raxulon after the storm, care to join me Napoleon?"

Leo winced hearing the name "Sorry, Leo." she corrected

"It's fine mother, I'd love to." Leo said smiling "Excellent, we'll finally have time to speak. I've been dying to know everything." she exclaimed before she turned around to go get dressed.

Later, after the rain was gone Leo was escorting his mother in the crowded streets of Raxulon. The yellow tinted buildings and blue marble foundations had been cleaned off by the morning shower giving it the city a fresh polish. Walking the streets was a menagerie of people and aliens, battle droids patrolled the streets while the two of them entered into a large courtyard with a magnificent fountain spewing water into a large pool "Your life sounds so exciting Leo, makes me think of your father before we settled here." Arris said, Leo looked over his shoulder seeing a cloaked figure out of the corner of his eye.

She had opted for a pale blue gown with a scarf around her neck and a large yellow hat, behind them walked Gerdy keeping a watchful eye "Except he was a pirate and I was a jedi." Leo said next to her.

"We all started as something else my dear." Arris said, patting his hand "You were a pirate?" He asked her.

"Something close to that." She said without giving too much away "You were away from us a long time on Onderon, I've heard the stories of how brave you fought to keep it from the Republic." She said as they walked around the fountain.

"Not hard enough." He said under his breath "Our family has a history of fighting lost causes." She sighed.

"The Stark Hyperspace War." Leo said looking at her.

"No doubt the Jedi told you it was just a skirmish of bloodthirsty pirates looking to make easy credits?" Arris asked him "Something like that, the truth is the Jedi don't like to talk about their wars?" Leo answered.

Arris knodded "So what did they talk about?"

"That Iaco Stark led an army of pirates, smugglers, mercenaries and assassins to steal from the Republic corporations, selling back their stolen goods at lower prices, sometimes for free." Leo told her, Arris listened to him intently "For free, where'd you hear that?" she asked him.

"Some farmers in Felucia, where I met another pirate Hondo Ohnaka?" Leo asked her.

Arris's face went wide "Honey Hondo?" she asked.

"What?" Leo asked, resisting the urge to smile "Hondo used to be your father's quartermaster and a swath the other characters I haven't seen in years." she snickered "Oh the adventures we'd have together." Arris waved her hand in the air.

They left the fountain soon after and walked into a tree lined street with buildings and stores on each side "I'll tell you them some time, oh will you excuse me I have some business in here." Arris told her son outside a large store before going inside. When she did Leo noticed a cloaked figure who had been following them since they arrived in the city. They were standing in an alleyway between two buildings before Leo approached them the second he got into the alleway he felt the cloaked person grab him by the collar and slam him against the wall before he saw a green lightsaber pressed up against his neck "Selene." Leo said seeing the raven haired Jedi Knight he'd fought on Yavin very much alive.

"Leo, so you decided to stop playing sith lord or is this just another game?" she asked him.

Leo felt the heat her lightsaber make him sweat. "A game we're winning, reach into my robe pocket and you'll find a disk with everything the Republic will need and more to route the Separatists from at least twenty systems."

Selene snarled at him, she pulled her hood back to reveal her black hair had been cropped short and she was sporting a scar on her right cheek that ran down her neck and under her robes "Like the scar?" she asked.

"You gave it to me." she hissed.

Leo gulped "I can't take it back, Stars wish I could." Leo said.

She turned off the lightsaber and reached into his pocket taking out the disk "So Obi-Wan was telling the truth, your back on our side?" she asked.

"Where I belong." he said reaching up to rub his neck "Yeah that'll take some time." she spat on the floor "What will?" he asked.

Selene hid her lightsaber back under her belt "As far as Obi-Wan and I know, you're still a traitor to the Republic and the Jedi."

"Best to keep it between us." Leo added looking back into the street avoiding the eyes of the droid patrols "Anakin doesn't know?" He asked.

"Neither does Ahsoka." Selene said with disgust "That's the way it has to be." He said arms crossed "Is that how it had to be on Onderon?" She asked him to get in his face.

Leo looked at her hard and long "I know you're taking a risk Leo, but we're playing with people's lives here."

"I know the risk, it's why we have win." Leo said back to her "You're betting it all on someone who may or may not exist, a Sith Lord nobody has heard of or any of the Jedi Masters have sensed?" She pointed out.

"The Sith Lord does exist, when I asked the Count I could see it in his face there is another Sith, but he doesn't trust me just yet what happened on Onderon has made him wary of me, I need something big." Leo said to her, the Knight crossed her muscular arms "Obi-Wan may have something but if you do this… there's no going back, the Jedi will never forgive it not publicly at least." She said hesitantly walking deeper into the alleway

Leo walked after her "Whatever the price for peace, I'm willing to pay"

"Are you familiar with The Gathering?" Selene asked.

CORUSCANT

Jedi Temple

"The Gathering?" Ahsoka asked Anakin as she followed him down the hallways, hands behind his back "Yes Ahsoka, you attended it yourself didn't you?" He asked.

"I did, but what does that have to do with me?" Ahsoka asked him.

Anakin and Ahsoka walked out onto the courtyard walls in the training grounds where she and Leo would use to train, she saw a group of younglings meditating. There was a human boy, a thotholiangirl , a wookie, a rodian, a bith, nautolon all meditating around the large tree in front of Master Yoda "It approaches soon, I've requested the Jedi Council assign you as the padawan escort to take them to Ilum aboard the Crucible." Anakin said back.

"Why me?" She asked.

"You've proven yourself time and time again Ahsoka, I can't think of anyone better to protect the Jedi of tomorrow." Anakin said gesturing down to them, but he saw she wasn't too pleased. "It's considered a great honor Ahsoka?" Anakin asked her.

"I know Master but… I accept." She said not to bring it up.

Anakin turned arms crossed "Is there something you want to talk about?"

"On Onderon, you noticed it didn't you? I was off balance?" She asked him.

Anakin shrugged "I could tell something was off, but you overcame it as I expected."

"I could have saved him Master, I could have saved so many more." She said, grabbing her arm "But if I hadn't hesitated, if I had stopped Leo when I-." She cut herself off.

"When are you what?" He asked her "I confronted him after you left Master." Ahsoka confessed.

Anakin took her by the arm away from the younglings and large ears of Master Yoda "You what?"

"I had to see him Master, I had to know there wasn't anything left of the boy we knew." Ahsoka said up to him "... and?" Anakin asked.

"Like you said outside the Senate Tower Master, I won't hesitate again." Ahsoka said firmly, signaling the next time she and Leo met it would be there last.

A/N: So how should the Gathering arc go? Should Leo attack the Padawans on Illum, fight Ahsoka and Master Yoda? Enroute instead of Hondo and his pirates or maybe at the same time, what if instead he just shows up at the end.

I am desperate for suggestions.