Obi-Wan and Mace finished their own dinner and then, bidding farewell to Senator Mothma, Dodonna and Rieekan, made their own way to get rid of their trays. Whilst in the queue Windu apparently made the decision to address something that he had found concerning.

"I must admit I have never seen your former Padawan react quite like that to any orders. I wonder if Lady Skywalker could have given the Order some tips on how to handle Skywalker!"

Obi-Wan laughed, "Good luck with that one Mace," he began before being cut off by a young female voice.

"Discussing Mum and Dad Master Jedi?" it said. "I think you'll find that there are reasons for Dad reacting quite like that!"

The Jedi turned to see Lieutenant Jade standing next to the dark-haired girl in Alliance uniform from before. The other girl was slightly smaller than Jade, dressed in the Alliance fatigues, her dark hair pinned neatly in braids around her head. A lightsaber was clipped to her waist and they could see a vibroblade tucked down her boot and another one hidden up her sleeve. She and Jade both carried trays, on the same errand as the Jedi. Obi-Wan studied her for a moment before deciding to take a guess.

"Hope Skywalker?" he hazarded.

"Nope Leia," she responded cheerfully. "But most people assume I'm Hope."

"Because she's short," her companion muttered.

Leia Skywalker shot her adoptive sister a glare but it was only half-hearted.

"So," she continued. "I assume you're talking about Mama's exit from the canteen and Daddy's delayed following?"

"We are," Mace appeared slightly bemused as to what light this young woman could shed on the matter.

"We can tell you if you want to."

"Please do," Obi-Wan replied, now intrigued.

"It means Mama wants to do something special that she doesn't want Daddy to see until she's ready. She's probably got some new nightwear."

Obi-Wan and Mace exchanged confused glances again.

Leia Skywalker sighed. "Okay, I guess I really am going to have to make this explicit," she said. "It means Mum got hold of some lingerie on her last mission off the base. Or Hope got it for her."

Obi-Wan choked on air briefly. No wonder Anakin had been quite so eager to get to bed. He had never remembered him being like that during his apprenticeship, but with a little motivation… A glance beside him revealed that Mace was having a similar reaction.

Both girls behind them were giggling at their reactions even as they deposited their trays behind the Masters who then made their way blindly towards the exit

"Master Kenobi? Master Windu?" Leia Skywalker's voice queried again. "Mara and I can escort you to your ship to collect your belongings and then to your cabin for the night cycle if you wish?"

"Thank you, young one," Obi-Wan responded shakily. "Your assistance would be most welcome."

The two teenagers made their way through the corridors of the ship to the hanger bay and then escorted Obi-Wan and Mace back to the cabin that they had been assigned earlier.

At 10 hours the next morning Obi-Wan and Mace boarded their ship with High Command waiting behind, in possession of a treaty and coordinates for a rendezvous and took off. As Obi-Wan wheeled their ship round they saw the Rebel fleet jump to hyperspace. Moments later the stars lengthened around them as they did the same.

Tython was a green orb floating in Deep Space. It had disappeared from public memory long before the rise of the Empire, and long before that from the conscious of the Sith. As such it was an appropriate home for the Jedi Order. The Council stood on the landing platform as Obi-Wan and Mace's settled softly to the ground and they disembarked. There was an exchange of greetings before they made their way to the new Council Chamber. It was, Obi-Wan reflected, good to be home.

The Council took their seats and Master Yoda called the meeting to order.

"Begin we shall," he said. "Give their report Master Obi-Wan and Master Windu shall."

"Thank you Master Yoda," Windu responded. "Before we present the proposal of the Alliance to Restore the Republic there is something to divulge regarding the Alliance leadership."

"Oh?" Master Ki-Adi Mundi questioned.

"Yes, although I believe Master Kenobi should explain." Obi-Wan inwardly cursed as Mace said this. Of all the things he did not want to discuss, or at the very least have to explain to the Council this particular subject was at the very top of the list.

"Very well Master Windu," he inclined his head. "I'm sure you have heard that High Command is led by the unknown Leader and Fleet Commander."

There were general murmurs of agreement from around the room. He took note of them before continuing.

"The rumours, however, did not mention the Fleet Commander's deputy. This person is known to many of us personally. Deputy Fleet Commander General Ahsoka Tano commands the Alliance spy network. Indeed shortly after we arrived General Tano departed for a meeting with an agent known as Fulcrum."

There was utter shock in the room. Then several voices exploded at once. The most prominent one was that of Master Plo Koon, who had originally brought Ahsoka to the Temple as an infant.

"Little 'Soka! A general in the Alliance!"

"But," interrupted Ki-Adi Mundi, "You said she was the Deputy Fleet Commander Master Kenobi. Ahsoka Tano was never someone to take orders well, much like her master. Indeed there were very few who she would take orders from, let alone be a willing subordinate to. Master Koon, Master Kenobi, a few Senators and Knight Skywalker. Given that the Senators could hardly command a fleet as they are deceased or serving in the Imperial Senate, the Masters are here and Skywalker is dead, who would she possibly be the second too?"

"Ah, you have hit the exact point Master Mundi," Obi-Wan replied. "As you know I have spoken many times to this Council of my belief that Anakin Skywalker is alive."

"Yes," Stass Allie agreed. "And we have told you as many times that we would have sensed it if it were true. Skywalker died in Order 66 Obi-Wan."

"Well, Masters. I was right. Anakin serves as Fleet Commander General Anakin Skywalker of the Alliance to Restore the Republic. He is second only to the Leader."

Again uproar broke out at this, many Masters expressing disbelief at the idea that not only that Skywalker was alive but the prominent position he now held.

"But that should mean that if we join the Alliance that we should be subordinate to Skywalker!" Master Saesee Tinn exclaimed.

"Indeed," Mace agreed. "But from what little we saw of Skywalker he appears to have matured greatly in the last 19 years. He exudes light, calm and peace. All the negative emotions we hitherto saw in him have disappeared."

"Impossible!" was the simultaneous exclamation from several Masters at once.

"And yet it is true," Obi-Wan contradicted. "I have never seen him so at peace and sure of himself. Though that has largely to do with the Leader, who's identity must not be divulged beyond the Knights who go to join the Alliance, not even to the Alliance at large. The majority of the Alliance are unaware of her identity."

"Her?" questioned Yoda.

"Yes Master," Obi-Wan said softly. "Leader Padme Amidala Skywalker."

"Skywalker, you say, Obi-Wan?" Yoda said sharply.

"Yes Master. Anakin and Padme were married at some point during the Clone Wars we assume."

Not after?" the question came from Shaak Ti.

"No Master. I'm sure you remember that at the time of her forged death Senator Amidala was heavily pregnant? It made her loss even more shocking to the galaxy at large as her unborn child appeared to be lost as well. Anakin and Padme surmised that Sidious knew of the paternity of Padme's child and so he removed her from Coruscant and they faked her death with the help of Senator Organa before going into hiding."

"So Skywalker broke the code? What did Amidala do to seduce him away from his vows and duties?" another Master said angrily.

Obi-Wan sat up straight in his chair in rage. "I advise you not to speak of Lady Skywalker like that. I'm sure it was my former Padawan who initiated the relationship, it is the sort of thing he would do. At any rate they are legally married and still passionately, and rather disgustingly, in love from what we saw of them."

"You should have made Skywalker return with you to face the judgement of the Council for breaking the Code!" Master Allie said.

"Both General and Leader Skywalker, supported by High Command, made it clear that that was not an option," Mace said wearily. "Obviously Skywalker has duties with the Alliance that he considers more important than a commitment to an Order whose vows he flagrantly broke, who he considers cowards for hiding for so long and who he hasn't considered himself a member of in 20 years. We, Master Kenobi and I, understand that this mental separation began when he rescued a group of younglings that we had left behind during the Temple evacuation."

"We left younglings behind?" Plo Koon questioned. "How? Who were they? How old? What happened to them?"

"Five younglings all of whom were under the age of 5. A baby was among them, which makes Skywalker's act of bravery more impressive as carrying such a small youngling must have significantly hampered his ability to defend them," Master Windu replied. Obi-Wan sat in shock for a moment at Mace's defence of his former Padawan. "As to what happened to them, Viceroy Organa extracted the younglings and Anakin and Padme Skywalker on the Tantive IV and went on to assist them into hiding. The younglings were adopted by loving families who knew of their heritage, although their powers would not manifest as Anakin blocked them, and raised to know nothing of their abilities, shielded from the Emperor's view until they asked Anakin to remove their shields."

"Did you meet any of the younglings whilst you were with the Alliance?" Plo asked, intent on his line of questioning.

"Only one," Obi-Wan responded. "Elena Carthagininam was the baby whom Anakin retrieved, brought to the Temple only a few weeks before. She was 3 months old. While the other younglings had to be adopted by more private families, Youngling Carthagininam was adopted by Viceroy Organa and Queen Breha of Alderaan, to become Princess Elena Organa of Alderaan. As the Organas had been discussing adopting a baby girl for some time no one was surprised by the Viceroy's return home with an infant which he declared an unnamed war orphan."

"Elena Organa is a Force-Sensitive former Jedi youngling?" Plo said incredulously. "The Organas are certainly courageous. Young Elena serves as the Senator for Alderaan now does she not? Amazing how she is right in front of the Emperor's nose and he doesn't even recognize her!"

"Quite," Obi-Wan agreed with amusement. "Her Highness seems to have grown into a strong-willed individual, the only evidence of her latent Force-Sensitivity is her unusually strong mental shields. She expressed no wish to return to the Jedi but stated that she felt she was where the Force intended her to be. A strong conviction for one so young, and one that the Force tells me is correct."