Sam's ship wasn't much to look at, but it was fast, and reliable. He had done a lot of modifications himself, and he was clearly very proud of it, so Steve refrained from commenting on the appearance. Natasha took the copilot's seat with an easy familiarity, putting her feet up on the instrument console, so Steve sat in the jump seat behind them as they went into hyperspace.

"Steve; Natasha." Sam's voice carried a note of urgency. "You're going to want to see this."

Steve stood up and stepped forward, and Natasha took her feet down. Sam pressed a button and the HoloNet report he was watching on his datapad transferred to a monitor in the middle of the console.

"—are considered to be armed and dangerous," the Twi'lek announcer was saying. Behind her, images of Steve and Natasha glared out of the screen. "If you encounter them, do not approach; contact your local law enforcement. A reward is offered in the amount of fifty thousand credits for information leading to the capture of these rogue Jedi. In other news, Queen Virginia of Naboo was seen at the Galaxies Opera House on the arm of Anthony Stark, crown prince of Alderaan—"

Sam flipped a switch and the screen went dark and silent. Natasha leaned back in her seat and tapped her finger against her chin. "I guess we should have seen that coming."

"How?" Steve demanded. He was still trying to get used to the idea that any of his fellow Jedi could be an enemy, and now he was a fugitive. And he hadn't even begun to process Darth Frigus.

Natasha looked up at him, her green eyes dancing with mischief. "There have been rumours about Virginia and Tony for weeks now. It was only a matter of time."

"Natasha." Steve rolled his eyes at her. She grinned unrepentantly back at him.

"Guys." Sam shook his head at them, and Steve spread his hands helplessly.

"We're gonna need more help," Natasha continued as if the tangent hadn't occurred. She coiled a lock of fiery red hair around her finger. "I know someone on Coruscant we can trust."

Steve raised his eyebrows and nodded. "Okay." Her emotions sensed through the Force were tangled and complicated, but joining up with Sam had turned out well, so he had a good feeling about anyone Natasha trusted.


Avoiding the official channels while docking on Coruscant was surprisingly easy with Natasha and Sam taking the lead. Steve suspected that not all of the cargo Sam ferried on this ship was strictly legal, but said nothing. He wasn't exactly operating inside the law himself at the moment.

As Sam lowered the landing ramp, Natasha tugged her hood up to conceal her striking red hair and shadow her face. Steve followed her example. There may be no Republic presence here, but there were guaranteed to be bounty hunters.

Steve followed Natasha into a docking bay, where a sleek ship lay at wait. Where Sam's Falcon gave the impression of decrepitude, this ship fairly exuded power and speed. As they approached, a figure came down the ramp from inside—and was that a bow he held at the ready? Steve had only seen such a thing in holos before—holos of the distant past or of technologically backward planets. Natasha ignored the weapon, calling out, "Clint! We need your help!" as she strode toward the ship.

Clint lowered his bow and ran a hand through his sandy hair, leaving it sticking up in random spikes. "Nat? What are you doing? There's a bounty on you!"

She stopped and put her hands on her hips. "So? You planning to collect on that, Clint?"

"Of course not, but Nat—" He gestured with the bow. "Why would you come here, to Coruscant?"

"Well," she glanced over her shoulder at Steve and Sam, her lips quirking. "We're gonna overthrow the government."

Clint's eyebrows rose toward his spiky hair, and he pursed his lips thoughtfully. He shrugged. "I'm in."


The setting sun slanted through the windows into the Supreme Chancellor's office, setting his face in shadow where he stood beside his desk, gazing out over Coruscant, his hands draped behind his back. Master Sharon Carter folded her hands in her lap and raised her chin. "With all due respect, Chancellor, you should not have broadcast that report on the HoloNet without consulting us."

Chancellor Pierce turned around, his eyes sweeping over the Council members who sat in a semicircle before him. "Steve Rogers has information regarding the death of Grand Master Fari, and he refuses to share it." He raised his eyebrows in an approximation of a shrug. "I'm sure you would like to have that information."

"Of course we would," Grand Master Hill said, her voice firm. "But we will bring them in ourselves. The Jedi are not under the Senate's jurisdiction."

Pierce shook his head. "No. Of course not. I am only trying to assist you any way I can. I will of course turn them over to you when they are apprehended."

"We appreciate your assistance, Chancellor," Master Hill replied. "But, in light of recent events, we must take our autonomy seriously."

"Really?" Pierce walked around behind his desk and sat down, leaning back in his chair and folding his hands across his midsection. "I used to be a Jedi, Master Maria. I understand. But recent events have made me wonder if perhaps this Council needs outside oversight."

A ripple of unease went through the room. Sharon sat up straighter. "Chancellor Pierce, what are you suggesting?"

Pierce leaned forward and rested his forearms on the dark mirrored surface of his desk. The light from the huge windows behind him cast his face in shadow. "Nikk Fari and I were initiates together in the Temple. I've never met a Jedi so knowledgeable of the Force, and yet some random Sith assassin got the drop on him? No. There's something else going on here." He stood up, planting his palms on the desk. "Somebody murdered my friend and I'm going to find out why. Anyone who gets in my way, they're going to regret it." He cast a glance around the circle. "Anyone."


Author's Note: Queen Virginia of Naboo is Virginia "Pepper" Potts, and Prince Anthony Stark of Alderaan is, of course, Tony Stark.