Chapter 17
Guardians of Democracy
SERENNO
PALACE OF COUNT DOOKU
"I am most… displeased Count." Meanwhile faraway in the dark citadel of the Sith Lord Count Dooku, the true Lord of the Sith Darth Sidious was glaring down at the kneeling apprentice. Count Dooku was kneeling with a cane in front of him still wounded from his battle with Leo aboard the Malevolence II, despite being alive the Count was an elderly man and healing took a greater time for one his age. "My Lord, I accept my failure but rest assured it will never happen again." Count Dooku said looking up at him.
The shadowy hologram of Sidious snarled at that "Rest assured, it was you who championed the boy as your apprentice, it was you who gave him the secrets he passed onto the Jedi it was you who failed to kill him and in the end you were humiliated by a child who is now a Jedi Knight!" Sidious barked at him.
Dooku winced at the anger, fearing the wrath of a much more dangerous predator "But…. Your usefulness is not yet at an end." The Dark Lord declared, Dooku squeezed his cane rising to his feet.
"I have served you faithfully for years my Master as will I always." Count Dooku reminded him "Then serve me again and more failures such as this will result in your perminate end."
HYPERSPACE
Leo felt the water from the freshest shower head wash over him, he was looking at the fogged up walls of the fresher not even feeling that the water had turned cold. It still didn't feel real, he reached for the shower controls turning it off and stepping out of the fresher aboard the Jedi transport. He rubbed his hand over the fogged up mirror looking at who he was.
Leo Rock, Jedi Knight he could barely believe it.
His white hair was still damp so he grabbed a towel to dry it off, some fresh sprouts of hair had appeared around his head and on his lip and chin with some extending down to his cheeks. The fresher room he was in had a tall shower with tiled floor that had a drain in the shower and in front of the counter with the sink and mirror, opening it up he found a grooming kit. It was a small device called a groomer. Taking it out of its box he held it up and felt the laser slice the hairs on his face and then he held it close around the sides and back of his head giving him a proper fade for his hair. Taking a towel hanging on the wall he dried his hair before he took a comb to style it over in the way he preferred the way he used to wear it when he was a padawan.
After he was groomed, Leo emerged into his chamber. It was regular size with a bed and desk, laying on the bed was a pair of dark beige trousers, his boots on the edge with his lightsaber resting on top of it were dark green robes of a jedi.
Up on the bridge, Anakin was at the helm with Ahsoka beside him flying copilot, "Coming out of hyperspace now." Anakin said.
The Jedi ship dropped out above the Republic Capital of Coruscant, Obi-Wan entered in the landing codes "Well that's it then, this is the longest time we've ever gone without you saying a word what's the occasion?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Where are you planning on telling me anytime before?" Anakin asked him.
"Beg your pardon?" Obi-Wan asked "Don't you beg your pardon at me Obi-Wan you know what I mean."
Obi-Wan gave him a cocked brow "If this is about Leo being knighted then-" "Yes it's about Leo being knighted." Anakin snapped his head toward his old Master "I told you and the other Masters what the Chancellor wanted and instead of remotely considering it, you spat in his face by knighting Leo, the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic." Anakin beratted looking back at Coruscant getting ever bigger at their approach.
"Yes the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic not the Jedi Order, I know you and his excellency are very close but this was a Jedi affair the Council has made its choice." Obi-Wan replied calmly "That's the Jedi way of saying shut up and fly Anakin?" Skywalker translated giving Obi-Wan a crossed glare.
Obi-Wan sighed crossing his arms "If you must know it wasn't Leo who I had in mind to elevate."
"What?" Anakin asked.
Ignoring his question Kenobi continued "I wasn't against his knighthood, but I fear Leo still has much to learn but the Council believed in order for the Jedi to appear united and that this whole spy fiasco appeared legitimate something public had to be made."
"By making Leo the youngest Jedi in history to ever be knighted, but pause that what did you mean Leo wasn't who you had in mind to be knighted?" Anakin asked him when the doors opened and Ahsoka walked in.
When she saw the metal marble of Coruscant in front of them a smile spread across her face, lekku to lekku "Good to be home Masters." She said hands on her cocked hips.
"We'll discuss this later." Anakin whispered to Obi-Wan "How'd you sleep Ahsoka?" Anakin asked, greeting her.
"Like I was back in that carbon freeze I swear those Younglings are a handful, I sure am glad Jedi don't have to have children. I'd lose my mind." Ahsoka groaned sitting down in the navigator chair behind Anakin who snickered "Just wait soon you'll have a snip of your own and they'll give you headaches like you gave me." Anakin said sarcastically as they flew the ship down.
In a few minutes the transport flew into the hanger of the Jedi Temple with its ramp lowered and exhaust fuming out into open air. Awaiting their arrival was a trio of Jedi Sentinels in their beige white robes with the keys dangling around their hips and hinge lightsabers at their side. The Masters who did return with them from Serenity exited first with Master Yoda, Windu and Koon in front and the others following shortly after. "Temple Guards?" Ahsoka asked to see them as she came off the ramp with Anakin and Obi-Wan.
"Just a formality with so many of the Masters away on Serenity the High Sentinel and Cin Drallig look after the temple." Obi-Wan reminded her.
"Speaking of formalities where his royal highness?" Ahsoka asked looking around for Leo "I'm right here."
The Jedi turned around to see Leo coming out of the ships wearing a green robes consisting of an under shirt like most jedi wore with a higher collar that clipped over to the side, a matching green tunic was over his chest and tucked into a matching emerald leather belt with a bronze buckle. Brown pants were under the robe and shirt tucked into leather boots with matching fingerless padded gloves on his forearms with his lightsaber at his side, his white hair was combed neatly over with something in it to make it lay flat on his head.
Minus the braid and orange hair Leo looked as if he'd never left the day he came back from his long term mission with Obi-Wan. He came out slowly looking around the temple hanger at the clones, temple workers and a few jedi who weren't the Masters or his friends.
"Much better than those black robes Dooku made you wear." Obi-Wan complimented seeing him in Jedi attire.
Anakin and Leo's eyes crossed, nothing but contempt showed in Anakin's face looking at Leo "Ahsoka, we best be going the invasion of Neimoidia isn't going to plan itself."
"Neimoidia?" Leo asked Obi-Wan "Yes the Republic has been hoping to seize it for some time, it would be a crippling blow to the Separatists economy since their Viceroy is such an adamant supporter."
"And a coward." Leo added following him when one of the Temple Guards approached them.
Leo froze dead in his tracks as they cut him off from leaving the hanger. The Guards masks and robes gave him or her a striking visage, a towering presence over him. Suddenly they moved and Leo felt like grabbing his lightsaber as if they were about to arrest him but instead, they bowed before him. "Sir Rock, congratulations upon your knighthood and successful return after such a dangerous mission." The Sentinel in front said, he had a deep but refined voice showing he wasn ot only a man but a educated "Let me be the first to welcome you back to the Order, welcome home."
Looking at Obi-Wan who smiled at him "If you will kindly follow me I shall escort you to your new quarters in the Knights section of the Temple."
He hesitantly followed the Sentinels out of the hanger and into the temple, on their way to his new accommodations Leo could feel the eyes of Jedi watching him as he walked by "As a Jedi Knight you now have free range of the Temple at all hours with the exception of the knowledge in the library strictly for Masters eyes only." The Guard confirmed walking up some steps.
They passed by a class of younglings who halted at the sight of him "It's him." One of them whispered before Leo passed them, even if it was just a whisper he could feel the fear in their voices.
"In addition to your new rank you will also be given freedom to come and go from the Temple as you wish, unless the Council calls upon you which I'm most certain they will as this war continues." The Guard added before they reached the next floor.
"Now are you familiar with the three branches?" The Guard asked him, Leo was looking around the Temple interior having not seen it in so long "Sir Rock?" The Guard asked.
"What- oh yes the Guardian, Consular and the Sentinel?" Leo replied quickly following him past some open windows flooding the hallways with sunlight.
The guard nodded under his mask "Yes, as a Knight you may choose which of these three vocations you believe best suit yourself and your ability to serve the order ah here we are." He said coming to a large doorway in the upper levels of the temple. The hallway large and grand with a crimson rug and doors lining the walls with ample space between them "Follow me please." Leo did so until they came to one of the doors.
When it opened Leo saw the room was three times the size of a padawan dorm, which wasn't much bigger. It came with a larger bed, a desk and meditation mat for him to use "Perks of rank huh." Leo replied sarcastically but the Guards mask made it impossible for Leo to tell if the man was smiling or not.
"These quarters are yours for as long as you see fit, we shall keep them in your name when you are away unless you choose to seek residence outside the Temple within the city."
"The city?" Leo asked "Do many Knights do that?"
The Temple Guard scratched his mask's chin "Indeed, Sir Skywalker I believe has his own residency outside the temple but refuses to divulge where but that is understandable we all require some form of privacy."
Leo looked at the man privately hiding his face from the world "Is there anything else you need Sir Rock?"
The Knight walked into his new room and opened the window in the back looking out at the city "No, I'm fine." Leo said before the Guard nodded "Till next time and Sir."
"Yes?" Leo asked looking back "There are other ways to serve the Order then a Knight or a Spy, food for thought." The Guard said before shutting the door and leaving Leo alone for his thoughts.
Meanwhile, Anakin and Ahsoka were in one of the Temple's war rooms looking over Neimoidia on a map "It won't be easy punching through the blockade around Neimoidia Master, even if we do the fights going to stay in the skies since the only structures we can land on are either platues or the cities?" Ahsoka said looking at a zoomed in map of one of Neimoidia's bridge cities that hung over the canyon gaps.
"We'll manage, we always do now walk me through your scenario after we get past the blockade?" Anakin asked her.
Ahsoka pressed a button on the holotable showing the Republic fleet descending on the hostile world "Once we have control of the atmosphere, we'll need to take out the Capital first, it's where the droids are all controlled from." She said as the Republic ships approached a large city "Out best option is to take out the outer anti air defenses on the north east side that way our troop transports can land in the city, once Rex and Fives have secured a landing point its a straight shot to the command center." Ahsoka ended her scenario with Anakin smiling.
"What about the battle droids in the city?" He asked.
"Droid poppers, the Neimoidians are so extravagant they wouldn't dare having heavy droids ruining their nice clean floors, they'll be regular droids as far as our reports tell us." Ahsoka answered him when she saw Barriss walk by the door, the mirialan girl gave a wave and then Ahsoka saw Jinx and O-Mer were with her as they passed by.
Anakin noticed too before the padawans hurried on "I think thats enough for now, go say hello to your friends." Anakin insisted.
"I really shouldn't, we should get back to work." Ahsoka suggested "No, no, go take a break you've earned it." Anakin said over to her.
The Padawan looked at the map then at her Master "Okay Master, but I'll be back soon." She said walking to the door passing Obi-Wan who happened to enter just as she walked out.
"Ah there you are." Anakin said crossing his arms "Still upset I see?" Obi-Wan asked him.
"No, no, I'm sunshine and rainbows Master what with you ignoring the Chancellor." Anakin said turning around looking back at the holotable "This again, Anakin for the last time the Council-" "Hast spoken, I know Obi-Wan I'm not a padawan anymore neither is Leo congratulations on training another success story." Anakin interrupted him again.
Obi-Wan walked around to the holotable controls and turned it off "What are you doing?" Anakin asked him.
"Teaching, because you've clearly forgotten the five trials." Obi-Wan said holding up and open palm to illustrate the number "What Trials?" Anakin asked stepping back.
"Leo didn't go through them, I mean you didn't but that was a special case?" Anakin pointed out.
"Didn't go through them very well, let's list them." Obi-Wan said raising his hand closing his pinky "The Trial of Skill, Leo has held his own against Sith acolytes, bounty hunters such as Cad Bane, bested General Grievous and Count Dooku how many Jedi other than us have been able to hold our own against such opponents?" Obi-Wan asked.
Anakin was about to speak "Well-" Obi-Wan closed his ring finger next "The Trial of Courage, when did you ever not see Leo charge head first into danger to help others on Geonosis he held the line, on Umbara he walked unarmed into the Militia camp asking for peace and more."
"Those two times are-" Anakin said before Obi-Wan cut him off again closing his middle finger "The Trial of Flesh, by the force Anakin I've seen Leo take more punishment than a training droid let alone a lightsaber scar across his face he has to carry for the rest of his life." The knight had stopped trying to get a word in letting Obi-Wan close his index finger for the fourth trial "The Trial of Spirit, his Great Trial despite years of the sith seeking to corrupt him they almost succeed but he didn't give up and has overcome his darkness at last, you of all people should be proud."
"He let Count Dooku go though Master, the war could have ended right then and there." Anakin said quickly before Obi-Wan could close his thumb "The Trial of Insight, you heard him speak to the Council he was wise enough and strong enough to resist the urge to kill someone like Dooku, to condemn himself to the Sith forever by passing their own trial, they were informal trials yes but trials nonetheless he has passed." Obi-Wan said taking his hand down hoping he'd made his point.
Anakin took a deep breath before exhaling "But what about Ahsoka, hasn't she faced those trials too?"
"So that's what this is about, you believe Ahsoka should have been knighted instead of Leo?" Obi-Wan asked him.
Anakin started to speak "Yes- no, she still has a lot to learn but she's gotten so much stronger in such a short time I'm worried with Leo's return she'll lose focus and all the progress she's made."
"What does my- I mean my former Padawans connection to Ahsoka have to do with her progress?" Obi-Wan asked him.
Anakin paced around the war room "She becomes unrattled around him, I can sense it her emotions cloud her judgment. They had a strong connection once but now it's like its twisted." Anakin said, taking a seat on one of the war room benches. Obi-Wan approached him and sat down beside him. I'm "Are you sure its Ahsoka's relationship with Leo that's twisted, or your own?"
Elsewhere, Ahsoka had caught up with her friends down the hallway "Another Malevolence, I'd hate to imagine what that ship could have done if you hadn't destroyed Ahsoka." O-Mer said next to four padawans had gathered outside in the training grounds under the large tree giving them shade from the hot sun. Ahsoka was sitting at the base with O-Mer next to her, Barriss was standing and Jinx had found himself up on a branch relaxing hands behind his head.
"Well let's hope the Separatists realize how stupid is to make a ship so easy to break." Jinx added smirking at them.
"Maybe, Leo told me that they actually have three so let's hope that last one is scrapped before they decide to use it." Ahsoka said to him "Can't really trust his word for it." Barriss pointed out.
Jinx and O-Mer gave her funny looks while Ahsoka knew what she meant "How can you say that, he risked his life for the Republic and Jedi as a spy." O-Mer said standing up.
"They Knighted him for Stars sake, that means the Council trusts him he was on our side the whole time?" Jinx said hand on his hip, the Twi'lek and Barriss locking eyes like crossing swords "If that's what you want to believe." Barriss said before walking away. Just like with Obi-Wan and Ahsoka, Leo just happened to walk into the training ground stopping right in front of Barriss who gave him a cold look when he cut her off "Oh sorry." Leo
"No apologies necessary Sir Rock, I am just padawan, good day." She said bowing slightly and walking past him.
The cold shoulder she gave him felt all too real, he walked past her and saw the other padawans sitting under the tree "Leo." O-Mer said getting up and running over to him "Congratulations on- on everything I can't believe it the youngest Jedi Knight in history." O-Mer said in astonishment.
"Yeah, yeah don't crowd him you big headed oaf." Jinx said, throwing his arm over the cerean's neck and giving him a noogie on his large head.
"Bug yeah, good job." Jinx said letting him go "Thank you, both of you." Leo said smiling at them "It's us who should be thanking you, putting yourself through all that dark side, pretending to be Dooku's apprentice you had us all fooled even Ahsoka." O-Mer said looking back at Ahsoka but she was already gone.
The other boys all looked wide eyed "She was just there?" O-Mer said rubbing his head.
"Probably went to check on Barriss, but I'd at least thought she'd be happy to have you back what happened on that cruiser you were on?" Jinx asked him.
Leo looked around the training grounds for her but she was gone "I'm still figuring that out." Leo replied before Jinx's communicator beeped and he answered it "Yes Master?" Jinx asked.
"Yo, Padawan time to go meet me in the hangar in ten minutes we're off to Scarif for sand, fun beaches and battle droids." A man's voice said, it was the voice of Quinlan Vos no less.
Both boys looked at Jinx who shrugged "Uh yes Master, right away." Jinx replied "Jinx, you finally got a Master?" Leo asked him when he cut the transmission.
"Yeah Master Vos is… eccentric but I like him." Jinx said scratching the back of his lekku "I'm happy, I know Kalifa would be too." Leo added with a smile. Jinx nodded "Till next time Leo, I mean Sir Rock." Jinx said backing up and giving an over the top bow with his arm out before he departed the training ground as well.
Leo watched him leave before turning to O-Mer "Jinx seems different?"
"I think Master Vos is slowly teaching him to stop being such a cynic all the time." O-Mer said as he started to head to the training grounds exit "Where are you going?" Leo asked.
"I was going to head to the library, I thought you wanted the training ground for yourself?" O-Mer asked, Leo looked over his shoulder at the empty stone floors without anyone around "Want to come with me instead?" O-Mer offered.
Leo turned his head back "I'd like that."
Later, Leo had followed Jinx to the entrance of the library "I insisted on Master Mundi letting me come with him but he thinks I should stay here at the Temple until I've finished learning huttese, I'm getting pretty good but the only problem I'm having is telling the difference between a compliment and an insult." O-Mer said after a long walk with a colorful conversation.
They were almost in the library when someone called out "Sir Rock."
Leo and O-Mer looked back to see Obi-Wan approaching them "Master." Leo said seeing him.
"Padawan O-Mer, I must speak with Leo in private." Obi-Wan said to the other boy.
"Of course Master, I guess I'll see you later." O-Mer said before he walked into the library.
Obi-Wan motioned Leo to follow him "What is it Master?"
"You'll get your first assignment soon." Obi-Wan said in a hushed tone "Is it my own command?" Leo asked him.
His Master gave a curious look to him "Not quite, not everyone in the Republic is technically happy that you've been knighted."
"Like Anakin?" The white haired knight asked "In part, has anyone told you what the Chancellor has thought on the matter?"
Leo shook his head at Obi-Wan's gaze "He asked Anakin to insist that you be exiled instead."
"Perhaps that would have been for the best, being Knighted feels so, so weird?" Leo said looking at the floor "The Chancellor has begun to meddle in Jedi affairs more often then the Council cares for, how we oversee our order is our concern not his." Obi-Wan reminded him.
"But we serve the Republic, and the Chancellor leads it there should be some give and take?" Leo asked him "Indeed there should, but this war is changing things and not for the better I'm afraid all the more reason we need you Leo."
Leo stopped "Need me, for what?"
"The Council believes it's important for the Senate to know you're loyal to the Republic, for that you will be assigned a security detail to a Senator who is going to the Outer Rim, there's a small mining colony that has begun to find rich amounts of fuel and they'll be negotiating for the Republic to acquire the rights when our fleet moves into the outer rim, you actually delivered the information in one of your transmissions while you were on Raxus." Obi-Wan told him.
So the Republic is going through with the outer rim sieges?" Leo asked.
"Yes, we plan to take the fight straight to the Separatists in their own systems." Obi-Wan answered by holding up a datapad for Leo to take.
When he took it he saw the information for the assignment already on screen "Bespin, they have a mining colony?" Leo asked walking and reading at the same time "Yes, you'll be escorting Senator Riyo Chuchi who has been assigned as the Republic's diplomat by the senate and we as her protector and representative of the Jedi Order in these proceedings."
Leo looked down at the datapad scrolling through the information reading it diligently "Does this please you?" Obi-Wan asked
"Please me?" Leo asked him "Now that you are a Jedi Knight Leo, you garner a new weight of responsibilities are you sure you're up to it?" Obi-Wan asked him.
"I think so." Leo said looking up at him "Don't think Leo, trust yourself trust your instincts I'm no longer your Master so you'll start figuring these out on your own I have full confidence in your abilities." Obi-Wan said taking his hand and resting it on his shoulder.
Leo avoided his gaze "How can you say that Master?"
"Because someone once told me, all I had to do was have faith." Obi-Wan said using Leo's own words against him, he took Leo's others and put something in it. When Leo saw what it was he gasped it was the white shoulder piece with the Jedi Orders symbol on it, he hadn't worn it since Umbara.
Later that evening, Anakin had snuck away to his home away from home inside Senator Padme Amidala's private residence in the high rise of Coruscant. Anakin was laying on the couch with Padme up against him sleeping soundly against his robes. Anakin was looking up at the ceiling wide awake thinking "Annie, your brooding again." Padme said reaching up and touching his cheek.
"Just thinking." Anakin said one han behind his head the other around his wife's waist.
"About?" Padme asked him.
He gazed down at her now awake her brown eyes looking into his blue "Jedi stuff."
"This Jedi Stuff, does it end with Padawan and start with Obi-Wan's?" She asked him playfully "You mean former Padawan, the Council knighted him for his 'efforts'" Anakin said sarcastically.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"I mean he wasn't a spy at least not the whole time, Leo betrayed the Republic and now the Council is welcoming him back with open arms." Anakin blurted out sitting up with her sitting across from him "But he helped save the younglings helped save you, I'd say that's worthy of forgiveness."
Anakin groaned rubbing his head into his palm "Not you too."
That made something in Padme cross her arms "What do you mean not me too?"
Sighing and calming down a bit "What I mean to say is if I had done something like that, I would have been kicked out of the Jedi for sure even without the Chancellor demanding it."
"Wait, wait, the Chancellor demanded Leo's exile from the Jedi?" Padme asked him, Anakin shook his head "Not exactly but he's worried about someone like Leo being part of the Republic military and the Jedi."
"You so sure he'd turn on you again?" Padme asked him.
Anakin stood up pacing "I don't know, maybe I just want to keep everyone close to me safe and he makes me worry."
"Then maybe you should stop worrying about him and start trusting him again." Padme said getting up "Huh?" Anakin asked.
"You were his master for a time, he looks up to you as much as Ahsoka does." Anakin scoffed hearing her "Use to, before he joined Dooku all we did was argue."
Padme shrugged "So, brothers always fight but remember on Naboo, he refused to kill General Grievous I think he knew that's what you would do."
"Don't count on it." Anakin grumbled "Annie." She said curtly getting up, she walked up to him and took his mechanical hand in her own soft delicate fingers "I know you're close with the Chancellor, he's very fond of you we all are maybe you could try spreading some of that fondness around, Leo may be a Knight but he's still in new territory who better than to give him some friendly advice then the greatest Jedi Knight I know?"
Anakin gaped at her "Advice, really?"
"Really, I'm sure he wants you in some capacity, just give it a chance for me?" She asked kissing him on the cheek
SENATE TOWER
The Following Day
One shuttle rode across the skies of Coruscant and the two Jedi Knights were walking through the Senate halls, the eyes of Senators and staff on Leo like a moth drawn to flame.
As they walked Obi-Wan whispered "Don't be nervous, a new Jedi Knight is always a matter of gossip here."
"I'll take battle droids over politicians any day." Leo replied when they heard something worse then both "Is that him, is that Hero of Ryloth?"
An invisible hand of ice and grabbed Leo's heart "Oh force no." Leo whispered knowing that voice, turning around both Jedi saw running toward them, or wobbling due to the sheer size of the incoming object, was Senator Orn Free Ta of Ryloth, the four lekku Twi'lek was wearing extravenget black and gold robes and when Leo saw him the robust Senator laid two meaty arms around him "Haha bravo my boy bravo, a Jedi Knight at last well overdue." Senator Ta cheered in the hug.
"Thank you Senator Ta- can't breath." Leo gasped before Ta let him go "I had a feeling your mission to spy on Dooku was just that, a Master of Kenobi's character I would expect nothing but the most daring, selfless act from his padawan to throw oneself into the rancor's den for the Republic." Ta said loudly and boldly for others to hear.
The Senator patted Leo on the shoulder with his sausage fingers "I have also heard you have already received your first mission from the Council, I will not take to much of your time my boy I only wished to see you once more before you left please the next time you are available come to my estate here on Coruscant for… brunch?" The Senator asked him, Leo looked at Obi-Wan who said nothing, "I would be… honored." Leo said taking the large twi'leks meaty paws in a handshake.
"Excellent, excellent I shall keep a spot open for you." Ta chuckled "I shall take no more of your time Master Jedi safe travels." Ta said before leaving them alone.
The former padawan shuttered at the idea of having lunch with Ta "What, was that?" He asked Obi-Wan.
"That is what it is to be a Jedi in the Republic, Senator Ta had already made it clear that you are close and he is close to the Jedi adding to his credibility, get used to it the more heroic deeds you are seen doing the more Senators wish to be seen with you." Obi-Wan said continuing on.
Leo rolled his eyes "Despite his politics, I believe Senator Ta is a good man or at least he tries to be. His willingness to put his differences aside with General Syndulla for the good of Ryloth speaks to that."
"True, though they still but heads I wonder what will happen to Ryloth after the war?" Obi-Wan guessed thinking out loud.
Later, Leo and Obi-Wan walked up to an office where there were two Plutonian guards at the door and Leo knew whose office it was. When the doors opened Leo and Obi-Wan walked in to see Senator Riyo Chuchi sitting at her desk looking at a holopad "Master Jedi welcome." Chuchi said, getting up smiling at them. She was dressed in a dark burgundy jacket and skirt of the same color, there were gold buttons going up the center of the jacket and bands on her wrists in Plutonian fashion. Her pink hair was done up in golden clips with some hanging down behind her head.
"Senator Chuchi." Obi-Wan said bowing before her "Senator." Leo greeted her identically to his Master.
Chuchi walked around just as Leo raised his head accidentally looking at her exposed blue legs before he met her gaze "Master Kenobi, and the hero of the hour congratulations on your Knighthood Sir Rock."
"The whole Republic is talking about your bravery in infiltrating Count Dooku's court, well done." She said smiling at him, batting her eyes "Thank you Senator." Leo replied.
"So when are we departing for Bespin?" Senator Chuchi asked hands behind her back "We may depart whenever you wish, Senator I have a ship on stand by and I've requested a security detail from the Senate, we'll have a squad of Senate Commandos joining us." Said Leo to the young Senator.
Riyo's brow cocked hearing the extra security precautions. "My goodness, is all of it necessary even with my own Jedi protector?" She asked looking at Obi-Wan, then back at Leo. Obi-Wan glanced at Leo before back at Chuchi "The guards won't be necessary Senator Chuchi." All three heads spun around to look at the entrance to see Anakin and Ahsoka standing in the doorway.
"Master Skywalker, Padawan Tano well this is a surprise four Jedi at once?" Chuchi asked when she saw Padme walk in "Senator Amidalla what is going on?" Chuchi asked.
"Apologies Senator Chuchi, but I was just told this morning by the Supreme Chancellor that I am to accompany you to Bespin and he also insisted that Anakin come along to escort me." Padme said with a hint of remorse coming on the edge of her words.
Leo frowned at Ahsoka and Anakin, Anakin gave him a smug smirk while Ahsoka did her best to hide her emotions from Leo "The Councils assigned me this mission Anakin?" Leo asked him "And the Chancellor assigned me, we best be off Leo you best dismiss those Senate Guards, we won't need them."
"No." Leo replied abruptly, Obi-Wan took a step back scratching his beard seeing how this would play out.
"No?" Anakin asked him.
Leo walked up to Anakin then "No, we're going far into the Outer Rim, the extra security is necessary."
"If your worried about being safe, we'll take the Resolute II." Anakin mentioned his flagship cruiser.
"Sending a warship to Bespin would not only threaten to shut down the negotiators, it could draw the eye of the nearest Separatist fleet?" Leo pointed out to Anakin "Perhaps but what ship are you taking?"
Leo could feel the tension coming of Anakin like a sweating dog "A GX1, the Phoenix." Leo answered, Anakin let his smile show ear to ear "A GX1 you can't be serious?" Anakin asked him.
Gritting his teeth behind his lips Leo relented "And your suggestion?"
"A corvette at least, I believe Senator Organa has parked outside the Tantive IV, perhaps we should approach him about borrowing it?" Anakin suggested to Leo, his knuckles turning white at how Anakin was acting, Ahsoka rolled her eyes next to Padme.
"By all means let's invite Senator Organa to, three Senators for one mining facility will surely sweeten the deal." Leo said sarcastically but despite how he sounded the Senator in question appeared in the doorway "Did someone say my name?" Senator Organa asked, walking in in his long grey and silver robes.
Anakin turned around first before Leo could say anything "Yes Senator, where are planning to go to Bespin to have Senators Chuchi and Amidalla negotiate fuel rights for our fleet and despite his best intentions my fellow Jedi Knight Leo here failed to take into the consideration of these Senators."
Leo forced himself to stay quiet "Would it be possible for us to use the Tantive IV for this endeavor?" Anakin asked.
"It would be my esteemed honor to allow you to use my ship Master Jedi, as long as I can accompany you?" Senator Organa said with a smile "Of course." Anakin said, giving a sideways glare to Leo.
"Wonderful, I've been looking for another adventure. I will inform Captain Antilles of our departure immediately." Organa said with a grin, "Senators, Master Jedi." He said before bowing and leaving the office.
Anakin gave Leo one last smug look before turning his heels and walking out with Padme and Ahsoka following him "I guess we should... be off?" Senator Chuchi said as confused as anyone at what had just happened.
"Yes my lady." Leo replied before he and Obi-Wan were the only ones in the office after Chuchi left.
"Well done." Obi-Wan said sarcastically "What was that Master?" Leo asked him.
Obi-Wan scratched his chin "It seemed to me Anakin, Ahsoka, Senator Amidalla and Organa are joining you on this mission?"
"I mean why did Anakin do that, but into my mission like he was in charge?" Obi-Wan took his hands away from his chin and headed for the door "Because you let him Leo, I know I wish you regain Anakin's trust but we both know how stubborn he can be." Obi-Wan permitted.
"But I'm a Jedi Knight now?" Leo asked him to put a hand on his chest "Then act like it." Obi-Wan replied.
Elsewhere on Coruscant in the seedy underbelly of crime and villainy that laid beneath the silver and crystal like skyscrapers of Coruscant, a seedy cantina filled with all types of unsavory characters had plans of their own. A group of mercenaries and cutthroats unlike any in the cantina were gathered around a small holotable of a Black Sun member speaking to them. There was a man with a scar around his head wearing dark iron armor with red shoulder pads, a tall trandoshan with a yellow jumpsuit and white vest. A combat droid bounty hunter with a pink skinned female theelin with red hair, spikes around her face and a bladed purple scarf around her shoulders but the hologram was speaking to their leader.
"Bespin will belong to the Black Sun not the Republic, that is why we are hiring you Krayt's Claw." The black sun member summarized.
Krayt's Claw's leader leaned in "Well with what you're paying we can guarantee that." Their leader, was a young man in dark black suit and jacket with armored bracers, a shoulder pad with a red and black helmet with a slit visor and breathing apparatus. He sported two blaster pistols at his hip and dark black boots with a knife on the left side.
"Black Sun out." The transmission ended and the bounty hunters looked to their leader "You sure about this Boba, we don't have the best luck against Jedi." The trandoshan replied "Relax Bossk, you worry too much." Boba Fett replied