AN: Sorry it took so long for me to up this chapter. School was hell this semester. But with summer here, I should be able to get chapters up more quickly. Thank you to everyone who reads and reviews. Enjoy the chapter :)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was early, and the sun had just begun to creep above the horizon. The air was crisp and cool, and the breeze whipped around the sky rises. The rush hour crowd was just awakening, so the roads were nearly bare.

For Anakin and Jordana, it was a painful homecoming, a reminder of so many unpleasant memories long forgotten until now. Coruscant seemed much more cold and distant now than when they left. Once familiar streets now seemed alien. Their nerves tingled and bristled against the Force. Adrenaline coursed through their veins as they slipped through the ally ways. Jordana prayed that she might run into Tahira. Partly just to know that she was alive, but also to gain some closure as to why she hadn't contacted her in over a year. Yet as they made their way towards the senate, she never saw her former master.

They quietly made their way through the senate building, carefully trying not to be seen, but without looking too suspicious. All it took was a mind trick on a very impressionable secretary just to get into that they had been able to get into the office this early without security being informed. As they were being lead into Palpatine's office, Jordana began to question why she was there again. The last time she was there, she swore she would never set foot in that office again. Yet, there she was, about to enter it for the first time in years.

Palpatine's office was slightly more chilly than Jordana had last remembered. The hairs on the back of her neck stood straight, and goose bumps sprang fourth up and down her arms, despite the many layers she was wearing. She lightly gripped Anakin's hand as she noticed that Palpatine wasn't in the office.

There was a slight hiss as the door that connected the office they were in to Palpatine's personal office opened. She could feel the tension evaporate from Anakin as the Chancellor entered the room.

"Anakin," he greeted, walking towards them, "I'm glad you were able to make it here alright." He placed a sympathetic hand on Anakin's shoulder and looked at Jordana, "And, Jordana, I'm pleased to see you as well."

For a moment, his warm, almost genuine smile seemed to almost calm her nerves.

"It's good to see you again, your Excellency." Anakin replied.
"Come, come sit down now." he lead them over to the two seats before his desk. "It has been far too long, my friends."

They sat in the two chairs, and Anakin and Palpatine began discussing why they had been summoned.

"There really is no easy way for me to put this, so I'll be blunt. Our clone intelligence has located Count Dooku. And I'm asking you to kill him."

There was what seemed like an excruciatingly long silence as Anakin and Jordana attempted to grasp what he had just asked.

"What?" Anakin finally asked.

"I know what I'm asking you to do is dangerous, and believe me, seeking you two out was not the course of action I wanted to take, but this was my last resort."

"That can't be right." Jordana replied, " There has to be someone else, some other way. I mean, you are the Supreme Chancellor, you have the entire Jedi Council at your disposal. Why would you go through the trouble of seeking us out when you have them?"

Palpatine sighed, "That issue," he paused, choosing his words carefully, "is a complicated one. Suffice to say that things between the Council and myself have been…strained…since you two left."

He cast Anakin a quick glance that betrayed the slightest hint that Anakin might know what he was talking about, and immediately Jordana felt out of the loop. She got the impression that he wasn't going to share any more on the subject with her.

"Should we go after him, isn't there a chance that we'll get caught?" Anakin asked.

"I can assure you, you won't."

As Jordana watched this brief exchange between her husband and the Chancellor she had a feeling as to what Anakin's decision would be. While life on Corellia had been good to him, there was still a part of him that missed being the Hero with No Fear. She also had a feeling that he would want to get revenge for Dooku taking his arm. She looked over at Anakin, who had turned slightly to face her. His eyes told her that she had guessed his choice correctly. He was going to kill Count Dooku.

Jordana nodded her head slightly, a sign that she would not question or argue his decision. Anakin paused a moment before turning back to face the Chancellor.
"I will go after Count Dooku, and kill him."

Palpatine smiled, "Good. And don't worry, I'll make sure that Jordana is kept safe until he's taken care of."
"With all due respect Chancellor, that won't be necessary. I'm going with him."
"What?"

"I'm not about to let my husband go off on this alone. If he's going, then I'm going with him."

Palpatine sat back in his chair a little, almost as if he was studying her, "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely."

He paused again, not entirely sure what to think of her, "Very well then, I'll have you two briefed on the situation."

------------------------------------------

Anakin and Jordana briskly walked through the chilled corridors to the hangar where their star fighters were waiting.

"I still don't think that you should go." Anakin protested.

"Did you really think I'd let you risk your life alone?"

He stopped, and grabbed her arm lightly so that she turned to face him, "I don't like the idea of you risking yours. Please, don't do this. I can't lose you."

"And I don't want to lose you either. If something happened to you, I'd never forgive myself for not helping you. Besides, with my fighting style, it'll be more like three against one."

Anakin sighed. She had the same look of determination as when she insisted on coming here with him, which mean that there was no way of talking her out of it. And she did have a point about the three on one battle. "Are you absolutely sure you want to do this?"

"Yes."

"Alright."

They continued walking, but the cryptic explanation Palpatine had given them regarding the JedI Council still weighed on her mind. Jordana lightly gripped his hand, causing him to slow his pace.

"Anakin, can I ask you something?"

"Yeah?"

"What was Palpatine talking about we asked about the Council?"

Suddenly, Anakin stopped. He quickly checked the surroundings to make sure no one was around, then pulled her closer.

"Palpatine believes that Jedi Council plans on betraying him and taking control of the Republic.", he whispered.

"Are you serious?" she asked, almost in disbelief, "I mean, I don't exactly hold the Council in the highest regard right now, but…" her voice trailed off, "Do you really believe him?"

"I don't know." He thought back to something else Palpatine had once told him. 'All who gain power are afraid to lose it, even the Jedi.' The Council's decision to have them killed certainly made more sense when he put it in that perspective. "But if he is right, it could possibly mean trouble for us should they discover we're alive."

Jordana only nodded in agreement, but he could sense her skepticism.

"You don't trust him, do you?", he asked.

She paused before answering, "I don't know, Anakin. I've always been skeptical of any politician's motives."

He placed a hand on her cheek, "I know, love. But trust me, the Chancellor is not as corrupt as most politicians." He kissed her gently, "Now come on, let's take care of this Sith Lord."

-------------------------------------------------

For several minutes after they left, Palpatine just sat there, drumming his fingers on his desk and contemplating the next phase of his plan. Ever since he'd met her, Jordana had been a wild card in his plan. He could easily sense her distrust, her fear, and she was so close to Anakin, that if she felt strongly enough, she might be able to destroy the bond that he had created between Anakin and himself. And he couldn't risk that.

But while part of him wanted to find a way to eliminate her right away, there was also a part of him that felt it would be a waste. While he felt skepticism towards him, the love she had for Anakin was palpable, even from the first time he met her. And with that love there was also the pain of harboring a then unrequited love, the jealousy she held for Padme, and anger towards the Council. She had plenty of dark side potential, and she could be useful, either as a tool to bring Anakin to the dark side, or even possibly as a second apprentice.

Palpatine turned on the transmitter, and sent a signal out to Dooku's location. A small, blue image of his current apprentice appeared before him.

"Yes, Master."

"Skywalker is on his way. But there will be someone else joining him, his wife, Jordana."

"What would you have done, Lord Sidious?"

He thought for a moment. Jordana had to be tested. If she died, then she wasn't worth the effort, and Anakin could still be turned. If she lived, then she might still be useful.

"Kill her."