Master Yoda had seen many things over the centuries. One thing that he never got used to seeing was his own Padawans returning to the Force. Even for a Padawan that had turned, it was still a hard thing to see.

Yoda didn't blame young Skywalker. Skywalker had simply battled a Sith and won. It didn't matter that the Sith had once been a Jedi Master, or Yoda's own Padawan, Dooku had still been a Sith Lord.

There was something about this mission, however, that just wasn't adding up. Master Kenobi and young Skywalker were being very cautious in what they were saying outside the Council room. Hopefully, they'd be more truthful once inside.

"What happened during your chase?" Mace asked once every member of the council had either arrived or was present via hologram.

"We followed the Count to a planet near the inner rim. There was no name, and based on the… building we chased him into, it was abandoned at least by the time of the last great war," Obi-Wan began. "Masters, Anakin and I were the only two to enter it at first, and we realized almost immediately that it was a Sith Temple."

Mace leaned forward. "What are the coordinates?" he asked.

Obi-Wan glanced at Anakin, who rattled off a string of numbers. Yoda felt his skin prickle as soon as he heard the first three numbers. "Survived that temple, no Jedi has," he said. "Declared forbidden, that temple is."

Obi-Wan and Anakin glanced at each other. "We weren't aware of that," Obi-Wan said. "And there were… circumstances we were not aware of when we entered."

"What circumstances?" Mace asked.

"I'll explain that as I tell the story," Obi-Wan said. "In any case, Anakin and decided that it was best to stay together. We didn't want anything to try to trick us. Unfortunately, we were separated. Anakin was sent down a tunnel that landed him a few corridors away from Dooku."

"I did my best to hide, but Dooku found me, and I was forced to fight," Anakin said, picking up the story. "I… it was a hard fight." He bit his lip in thought. "I eventually managed to disarm him, but he started using Force Lightning. I deflected or avoided most of it, and… I stabbed him through the heart."

"When I found them, Anakin was practically encased in a sphere keeping the Lightning from hitting him," Obi-Wan said. "It was an incredible feat of Force ability, especially as he was still moving."

Anakin glanced down. Yoda knew that young Skywalker was always embarrassed when Obi-Wan praised him like that.

Obi-Wan took a deep breath. "There was absolutely no other way their fight could have ended. Dooku was not going to be captured, and he would not have stopped trying to kill Anakin. Anakin did the right thing."

"Once the fight was over," Anakin started. He frowned, and paused. "I noticed something. I…"

"Anakin's sense in the Force changed," Obi-Wan said.

Practically as one, the masters present leaned forward and touched Anakin in the Force. Yoda was completely unable to resist doing the same.

"I feel no differences," Mace said, puzzled.

"No, you wouldn't," Obi-Wan said. He seemed… slightly wary. "It is…"

"Apparently, one of the ancient traditions in the old Sith Order was to have a Sith defeat another one to be named a Sith Lord," Anakin said with a wry twist to his mouth. "And…"

Mace's eyes widened. "Obi-Wan killed a Sith Lord on Naboo."

Obi-Wan and Anakin nodded. "The guardian of the Temple apparently could tell. He thought I was a Sith Lord, and Anakin…" he frowned and tilted his head. "I think he thought I wanted to make Anakin my Apprentice."

Yoda's eyes widened. He reached out and searched through Obi-Wan's sense in the Force, but though there was some turmoil, there was absolutely no Darkness that hadn't already been there. Young Skywalker was next, and he felt the same as well.

Everyone waited patiently for him to finish. They all trusted that he would be the best to look.

"Dark, you are not," Yoda finally said.

Both of them seemed to relax slightly. "Thank you, Master," Obi-Wan said. They glanced at each other, and Obi-Wan nodded.

"The guardian apparently didn't like Dooku," Anakin finally continued. "He told us Dooku was not a True Sith."

"Are you saying you talked to the guardian?" Kai-Adi Mundi asked.

"Yes," they chorused.

"He thought we were Sith, Masters," Obi-Wan continued. "Once Dooku was dead, he appeared to us and said…" he scowled. "He called us Lords, and told us that the Sith of the last thousand years had left most of the ancient traditions and rules fall to the side."

"He… well, quite frankly, Masters, he gave us a mission."

"What mission?"

"To find and either kill the current Sith Master, or convince him that the Rule of Two isn't needed," Obi-Wan said. "Personally, I'm sure we won't be able to do the latter."

Yoda couldn't resist an almost uncharacteristic snicker. Every eye turned to him. He didn't say anything.

"There's… one more thing," Obi-Wan said. He paused. "Anakin can't confirm this yet, because we haven't met him since Anakin killed Dooku, but… there is a politician who might have the same twist in the Force that Anakin now has. I can't be certain, I would need to see him again, and I need Anakin to tell me if I'm right."

Yoda's eyes widened. "Know who the Sith Master is, you do?"

"Suspect, Master," Obi-Wan said. "I am not sure. I can't be sure yet. I need some time to confirm it."

Mace narrowed his eyes. "Who?" he asked.

Obi-Wan shook his head. "I don't want to cast suspicion on anyone, in case I'm wrong. If I'm right, I'll tell you."

Mace looked at young Skywalker. "What do you think, Skywalker?"

"I really, really hope he's wrong, Master," Skywalker said. "But he's right. If he's wrong, he'll have accused an innocent man. If he's not… we'll tell you."

Mace sighed. "Only you two," he said. "We'll read the rest of your report later," he said. "You'll have your time, Obi-Wan. Please try to make it fast."

Yoda finally cleared his throat. "Tonight, join you both in meditation I will," he said. "I sense no Darkness in either of you, but sure, I would like to be."

Anakin bowed and left, as Obi-Wan finally made his way to his council seat.

"We did not plan on this," he finally said, when several of the Masters kept staring at him.

Finally, Yoda cleared his throat and brought everyone's attention to him. "Other issues, we must discuss. Worry about the Sith Lord in our midst, we need not," he added with a small smile at Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan snickered while everyone else gaped at Yoda. Yoda glanced at Obi-Wan. There was something almost… false about that snicker. Yoda sighed. He could easily believe that Obi-Wan was only acting calm about his new titles, not that he actually was calm.

Hey guys, something odd is going on with ff.n. I can't seem to reply to anyone's comments. I'm still getting them all, and thank you everyone. They're always welcome.