Anakin and Ahsoka went out, strolling back to a grassy area set up with various natural obstacles. The Jedi and the Alliance soldiers had set it up as a training and therapy area for recovering injured on one side and a shooting range and exercise area on the other. It was empty now. Bringing out training lightsabers, he and Ahsoka did battle, leaping and whirling, shifting from form to form and occasionally complimenting each other on good moves. A few of the injured in therapy as well as medics watched from the side, appreciating the show of colorful sparks at the clashes. Had it not been for the joking and banter, anyone would've thought they were trying to kill each other. In fact, it was a wonderful aid in working out their frustrations with troublesome politicians. Thoughts of war, politics and potential future blood baths vanished into a deep union with the Force itself. Their bodies merged into a blur of harmonious dance, attack, retreat, defend, leap and spin as if to music only they could hear. Finally they faded to a stop, grinning.

The onlookers were clapping in appreciation. They lightly twirled the saber hilts back on to their belts in a matching gesture.

"Well, I feel a lot better. Whatever happens, the Force always finds a way to balance." Ahsoka smiled, eyes very bright.

Anakin nodded firmly at her. "In spite of our failures." He took a deep breath. "And that is very comforting." Because it was far too big a responsibility to think only the Chosen One, or even his family, could do it.

Anakin sat at the table with Bail, Luke, Leia, Ahsoka, Calrissian, Solo, Obi-Wan, and Padme. No Fey'lya, not even Mon Mothma present.
"I don't like leaving her out of this." Padme admitted.

Bail shook his head. "Plausible deniability." He glanced around the table. "We're trying to become a legitimate government. But those who are already taking steps to form it, don't want to believe we're so far away from total victory over the remnant. Force knows we had a hard time shifting from just undercover discreet talk to real action in the first place."

Obi-Wan nodded. "The balance for us all has always been difficult to maintain, between government, military and even the Jedi Order. Civilian government has a right to know, yet their refusal of the facts may prevent needed action."

Anakin felt Padme's hand grip his under the table. "Look, the primary reason we know the danger is because of Anakin. But even if we tell them how we know, they may not believe. In fact..." her voice shook, making him eye her in concern.

But it was Bail who completed the sentence. "Councilor Feylya is pushing to have you put in lock down, even go all the way to trial and renege on your parole.

Anakin's brows rose then dropped into a scowl. He gripped Padme's hand tighter. "Did I do something to offend them since we started this?"

"No." Padme said firmly. "It's the fact that the Empire has that wanted poster out on you, which means your intel is no longer going to be up to date."

"We've found out more about that." Bail stated. "And your image gets worse. Someone impersonating Vader has gone on a murderous rampage, taking out groups that have come over to us, or vacillating officers."

"Impersonating Vader?"

"The suit, the actions...he moves like a Jedi or he's good at faking it. He wears the suit. We know where you were at the time, so you have an alibi. But some of the advisory council either don't believe us or only care about the way it will look to the public if it comes out."

"Oh?" Anakin looked at him sharply.

"There are two prices out on you, higher alive but still pretty high dead. Some are saying it's an internal battle between Imperial factions. The higher ups...your Admiral Piett...admit the classified version says you killed the Emperor."

Anakin's brows rose at this. He was surprised they'd want him alive enough to pay more. Kill or capture on sight. Deliver directly to Byss."

Anakin cringed and paled. "Byss?"

Bail nodded.

Anakin's fists tightened. Padme gripped his hand tighter and Obi-Wan looked at him carefully. "We won't let that happen, Anakin."

Anakin sucked in a deep breath. "I can't go to Byss alive or dead. I know what goes on there. It's a dark side world. Science experiments, cloning experiments, monster creation with Sith alchemy..."

"Knowing this, you should rethink the trip to Coruscant." Obi-Wan's voice was soft.

Padme looked at him.

For a long moment he was silent, glancing around the table. "Does anyone else here think they can do it? I mean, get it, sabotage that ship, get the data...get out...before the attack?"

Silence. Finally Leia asked, "Do you really think you can?"

"I know I've got a better chance than anyone else, just because I know where I'm going and the multiple ways to get there. It'll slow things down a lot if I try and chart it on maps. Some of the passages aren't even on maps, they're secret! Besides, I can't just sit back and let them have their way. I need to know who is behind this. Blast it, I know I killed the Emperor!" He looked at Luke for confirmation. His son nodded.

"And he's not going alone." Ahsoka said firmly.

Obi-Wan had an odd, unhappy look on his face.

"Obi-Wan, I wouldn't ask you to go." Anakin said firmly. "There has to be at least one Jedi here to keep the others from tumbling to our plan and having a fit."

"Rei is here."

"Rei isn't caught up on the situation and he's busy with his students."

"If you do this, it isn't officially sanctioned. It's not something you'd get permission for." Bail's eyes caught Anakin's and proceeded around the table. "Anyone who goes could be accused of treason or collusion. The only hope for avoiding it is finding proof of the Lusankya that the bothans either didn't find or willfully ignored. If we can't convince them before, we have to be able to prove inaction would've meant a disaster. Some of them won't be satisfied that we could not take even the chance. To them the whole concept is outlandish."

"That's a big accusation." Luke frowned.
"I'm not making it, just warning you that there are some who would. Everyone has to be absolutely sure." His brown eyes held Anakin's. "And that means trusting you are telling the truth. "

Anakin sat back, arms folded on his chest. "I am."

"And anyone who goes has to be sure of you. And those of us who remain...well, either we're sure of you or trust the judgement of those going with you." Bail's eyes slid away, meeting Obi-Wan's.

"I am getting old and tired of fighting. I firmly believe the Jedi need to focus on rebuilding the Order. But we need the remains of Palpatine's Sith Empire gone to do it." Obi-Wan's eyes met Anakin's. "I will come with the fleet, if you need me."

"What about..." Anakin hesitated, thinking. He glanced at Padme and Bail. "If the others get wind of this, won't it turn them against the Jedi? Knowing so many are going?"

Obi-Wan snorted, surprising everyone. "It's true we need the backing of the government. But it's also true we sacrificed too many of our morals to political expedience, turned away from stones we should've turned over because the Senate ordered us too. If we had stayed true to our course, we would've discovered our danger in time to prevent catastrophe. The Sith hid in the one place we didn't look: the Senate. Ignoring the danger now, means multitudes of citizens will be killed, wounded and certainly not inclined to trust the new government.

Anakin glanced at Padme, who was frowning. "I wish I could go too. But someone needs to stay and deal with the planetary leaders. I am coming with that fleet though."

Leia and Padme both looked at each other. Then Leia glanced at Han. He nodded. "We're coming with you. You may need help with the sabotage. It's a very big ship."

"Very." Anakin nodded. "And we've got a lot to do."

"And I," Calrissian smiled, "get to take the Falcon and go poke along those deep core routes once you hand them over. Confirm whether that fleet is ready to jump out at us. If we're prepared maybe we can help."

Luke's eyes were wide and he shared a glance with his father. His lips twitched in a half smile. "Are you getting soft on us Han? After you knocked the sensor dish off, I thought you and Chewie wouldn't let Lando near her."

Han snorted. "Chewie is going with him. Not without some serious debate."

"Ah."

"We can't all leave at once." Ahsoka observed. "It would look suspicious. But if we want any chance, we have to get there before Rogue Squadron."

Anakin nodded slowly. "How are we working this then?"
"Chewie and I'll drop Han and Leia off on the way to the Core. " Calrissian said.

"Luke? You riding with us or them?" Han motioned to Anakin and Ahsoka.

"Go with Han and Leia." Obi-Wan ordered suddenly. "With so few Jedi left, this is a dangerous time to congregate."

"We can meet up on the surface." Ahsoka acknowledged. "We'll go first."

"We can have you out of here in two days. Even though it's time sensitive, if you just hurry off, it'll look suspicious. Besides, we want to get a little more intel in on which leaders are on Coruscant." Bail's voice was calm.

"What if you don't get the intel in time?" Padme frowned.

"Every second we delay we get closer to too late. We can't wait more than two days."

"Let's try something different." Obi-Wan said. His eyes had a mischievous sparkle. They had one day to go before leaving and they were all fighting impatience.

"Uh oh." Ahsoka said. "What's he got in mind? Whenever he says that, he's up to something."

"A little sparring match. Show Luke and Leia how the Jedi used to spar. I've got a location in mind."

They were on the far side of the medical center. The Alliance had set up a small obstacle course here. The ground was hillier on this side and a creek ran past on the way to the ocean. It had rocks on one side and a pebbly beach on the other. It also had some heavy dips that were large enough to be waterfalls. A series of movable plasimetal walls and fallen trees, hauled from a distant forest completed the area.

"Best base we ever had." Luke observed.

Leia nodded agreement. But her eyes were already on Anakin and Ahsoka. The two were facing each other.

"Look." Luke nodded to the med center. A man peered out of an upper window.

Obi-Wan glanced up. "That's Admiral Piett. Apparently he has a room with a view."
"Is that a good idea?" Leia asked.
"I doubt he's going anywhere on that leg anytime soon."
"I guess he's in for some entertainment."

Ahsoka and Anakin nodded and half bowed to each other before activating the training sabers. They circled each other in anticipation. Ahsoka's eyes sparkled as she aimed for a leg sweep, reversing as he moved to block, rolling and following through with a swing at his right side. He blocked, riposted, took a step back and blocked her counterstrike. He aimed a kick that she dodged by spinning and aiming with a backhanded strike that vibrated along his blocking blade. He rolled into and over and did a flip, sweeping her leg. She went down, rolling with it. He followed, stumbling over a branch that she grabbed with the Force and swept across his path. She lunged and nearly had him but he rolled over. He shied aside as her training saber struck a shiim mark across is shoulder. He yelped and swung, brushing her outer thigh. She yelped this time, leaned away but leaped and spun aiming a kick at him. He flipped over her and as he came up she dodged around and gave a swift force shove that toppled him into the water with a splash.

Anakin came up with an indignant huff and glared at her. She was smirking. Anakin countered with a sudden gleam in his eyes, force yanking her to the water. She planted herself with the Force, resisting the slide of her boots on slick pebbles. She shifted her blade, readying for his counter attack. He lunged, then bounced back a stride and Ahsoka yelled in surprise as a spray of water from the nearby fall was redirected out her. It drenched her tunic and her blade sizzled water into steam. Now he was the one smirking and he shot forward, swinging the saber and she barely got up and blocked in time, suddenly flipping over backward to disengage and behind a tree trunk. He leaped onto the top of the metal wall, it's rounded top made it awkward and Ahsoka reached with the force just enough to make his wet boot slip on the metal. He caught himself with a forward flip, spinning his saber and countering her blow. They tangled again, neither staying on top of the battle until Obi-Wan called a halt.

They were both wet, muddy, bruised and bore numerous shiim contact marks. They were also both grinning. Luke's brows were raised, impressed.

Leia's mouth hung open, shaking her head in amazement. "That was so fast in parts I could hardly follow it. I've just been worried about the lightsaber moves. And you're using the lightsaber and everything else too."

"That was fun." Ahsoka grinned.

Anakin just smiled, shaking his head. He pondered a minor shiim burn on his wrist. "That was an excellent blow." He peered at the one on his shoulder. "And that was even better."
"Doesn't that hurt?" Leia was confused.

"Certainly. I think I better go deal with it. Wouldn't want to be hampered if we run into any action."

"Me too." Ahsoka glanced at her minor injuries.

Anakin found one of the medics on the second floor, letting the one on the first floor attend to Ahsoka. He intended to just find out how his rescued (or captured) Admiral was faring.

"My word." The medic was a mon calamari. "You Jedi play very rough."

"Better a minor burn from a friend than a mortal wound from an enemy." Anakin briefly considered that, for him, that had multiple meanings. Once upon a time, Obi-Wan nearly had dealt him a mortal wound and now he was rather grateful. He rarely dwelt on what would have happened, but he suspected if he'd had his full power and been free, he would have caused even more damage. The medical droid was just exiting one of the rooms. Anakin noticed the Admiral inside. He ambled over, ignoring the guard. "How's the leg?"

"Ah...better..." Piett stumbled over what to call him. He didn't know what to make of him. He was used to fearing Darth Vader. Having the man he intellectually knew had been Vader, make small talk and ask about his welfare was a new experience. "You were not exaggerating their skill."

"If they could heal me, they could heal nearly...ouch...anybody." Anakin looked at the medic, patching the shoulder wound. "Enjoy the show?" Anakin motioned to the window.

"It was certainly unusual." He blinked at Anakin's dripping damp clothes.

Anakin was wringing out his tunic, hopelessly. It was saturated.

A cleaning droid rolled in and squawked in dismay, scolding him in droid speak and rushing to clean up the water. It was equally displeased at the muddy bootprints I was leaving. Anakin blinked. "Oh. Sorry. I'd better clean up. Stay safe."

That left the Admiral gaping after him.

Anakin stayed with Padme that night. She was uneasy at his leaving. "I'm afraid for you, Anakin. I think it scares me worse that they want you alive."

"Yes." Anakin lay with his hands behind his head. "That can't be good." He kept blinking for a moment and then rolled onto elbow. "Keep an eye on Piett, will you?"

"You're going to try and win him over."

"If, and I know it's a big if, I can find evidence of Palpatine's role in the Clone Wars, it might convince him."

"Well, they might interrogate him, but I don't think they'll make any decision about him while he's still so badly injured. Even with bacta, that leg will need therapy."

"And he just got out of it from what I gathered. He'll be in better shape then when the Imperial fleet recalled him. The medics were already asking him if he wanted the scars healed when they took him into the med center. He was pretty confused by that."

"That's the difference between us and them. We do our best, even for prisoners. No-one is just cannon fodder."

Anakin smiled. "I hope he realizes that."

"Ani..." Her voice shook. "I'm worried about what happens afterward. Even if you prove you were right, the truth is leaking out." She laid her head on his side, feeling his heart beating. "And I don't trust some of the leaders not to renege on your parole once they don't need you any more."

"I know the risk. But next to the threat of the Empire and Byss, it's not so big."

"Don't underestimate the risk, Ani."

He kissed her hair. "Oh believe me. I don't underestimate politicians anymore!"

Early the next morning, Obi-Wan and Anakin took time out to do some meditation. Anakin paused for a long moment. "Now I'm the one going."

"Yes." Obi-Wan clapped hands on Anakin's shoulders. "And I am very proud of you." But he looked concerned. "It takes strength to come and stay in the light."

"That means a lot. But..." Anakin looked into his eyes. "I am afraid. Afraid of someone getting me back to Byss." He admitted.

Obi-Wan nodded. "I know. But as long as you acknowledge it, you can resist it."

Anakin pulled him into a sudden embrace. "Thanks. I'll see you soon."

"Force willing, you can count on it."

Anakin and Ahsoka boarded the ship and flew away. He'd already said a reluctant farewell to his wife. Normally, she'd have seen him to the ship. This time, she didn't dare draw attention to his departure.

to be continued