Chapter 3

Anakin walked through the temple halls alone. He had woken up that morning with no Ahsoka to joke around with, no padawan to spar with. Just a hole in his heart, and an empty room. He had gone to do the cafeteria in hopes of getting something even marginally good, but when he got there he had no appetite. He went to the practice rooms to spar, but it just hurt to see the masters and their padawans. He hadn't realized how much he really depended on Ahsoka, not just for saving him every now and then, but for her friendship, her innumerable questions, and force forbid it even her snippy remarks.

Obi-Wan offered to practice with him, and invited him to come with him for lunch at Dex's, but Anakin had refused. Remembering all the happy times the three of them had shared there, he just couldn't bare it. Now he realized he couldn't bare being at the temple. When he reached his destination, he hit the alarm bell beside the door. the door slid open, and Master Windu looked, his eyebrows arched in surprise, at Anakin.

"Skywalker, what are you doing here?" he asked.

"Master, Windu I need to talk to you, may I come in?"

Master Windu stepped aside and gestured for him enter. Anakin did so, and stood rather awkwardly inside as Windu closed the door after him, and turned to face him.

"What's wrong, Master Skywalker?"

"I can't stay here any longer," Anakin said, his hands clenched into fists and his face full of pain. "I need to get back out onto the front."

"Skywalker, you are granted three weeks leave, and in your condition I suggest you accept."

"My condition? My health is fine!"

"You've been emotionally strained over the course of the trial, and that has only increased since your padawan's departure. It is my opinion you remain here."

"That may be your opinion, but what about the council? What do they say?"

Windu didn't reply for a minute, knowing how Anakin would take the response.

"For the most part, they agree with me," Windu answered. "You will be doing no favors to anyone by leading a troop into battle without your emotions in check."

"My emotions are fine! I just need to get out of here!" The look on Anakin's face wasn't helping his case, and he knew it. he just couldn't believe this! Windu looked at him sternly.

"I'm sorry Master Skywalker, but until further noticed your name has been withdrawn from the list of active jedi."

Anakin left without another word. he stormed angrily down the halls, the few jedi who were in them avoiding his gaze. Obi-Wan was coming up the hall when he ran into Anakin.

"Anakin," he called, hurrying to his very furious friend. "Anakin, what's wrong."

"This whole stupid thing!" Anakin said. "This whole blasted war, the council! They won't let me back out to the front, or even out of the temple at all!"

Obi-Wan was silent in the face of Anakin's fury. Anakin noticed the look on his face and calmed down enough to read it, then his heart dropped. Sadness, pity, and guilt.

"Master, you didn't... did you?" Anakin asked, his voice weak.

"Anakin, I'm sorry my friend," Obi-wan said sadly. "Master Windu asked me whether I thought you'd be able to carry out the duties of a jedi and general at this time. I answered truthfully, and honestly. I said no."

"You thought I'd do better trapped in four walls!" Anakin shouted. Obi-Wan looked up and down the hall, but it was gratefully deserted.

"You're not trapped here, Anakin," Obi-Wan replied. "You can go where you like on Corescant, the temple is not meant to be a prison, and your taking leave is not a punishment. It is simply what the council deemed best for you and for the lives of those who would be under your command. When you can show that you've let go of your pain and can put Ahsoka out of your mind they will let you back out onto the front. You just need to be patient, and take this time to reflect and to heal."

"I don't need time, I need to be out there doing something!" Anakin insisted, and he stormed away. Obi-Wan watched him go, and sighed. he continued on his way.

In the Room of a Thousand fountains, Obi-Wan met with Master Yoda and Master Windu. "Anakin is not taking our decision easily," he said.

Master Windu snorted, if the jedi master could be said to do such a thing. "I'll say, he demanded to be put back on duty immediately, and nearly went wild when I told him no."

"Hmmm," Yoda meditated. "Need time to adjust, Skywalker does. Understand this he does not."

"I fear our keeping him off the front lines may result in him doing something... foolish," Obi-Wan said.

"Such as?" Windu asked. "You don't think he would sneak out do you?"

"I'm not sure he would, but I wouldn't put it past him," Obi-Wan responded thoughtfully.

"Very well," Windu said with a nod. "We agree, we need to keep a closer eye on Skywalker, just make sure he doesn't get himself into trouble."

That evening, Anakin made his way through the lower levels of Corescant, hood up and head down. The filth of the streets poisoned the air with a stench huts would find offensive, but Anakin did not seem the least bothered by it. The dark corners and allies held no dangers for this jedi, and he strode down the way easily. When he reached the cheap, seedy bar at the end of the street he checked the sign to be sure of where he was before entering. The place was crowded, and alive band was playing on one end of the bar. Anakin ignored them, ignored everyone, except the one person sitting alone in the corner. he made his way there and sat across from them.

"Glad you decided to show up," he greeted.

"Like I could turn you down," Ventress replied, setting down the drink she'd ordered. "Want something? You'll have to pay yourself, my finances aren't what they once were."

"No," Anakin said, his voice as thick and hard as stone. "I need you to do something for me."

"What? I'm not in the habit of going on missions for jedi, especially ones who've tried to kill me in the past."

"This isn't for the jedi, this is for me, a paying employer," Anakin answered, leaning forward. Ventress looked at him curiously, a glint in her eyes.

"You've bought my interest. So, what is it you need me to do?"

"I need you to find someone for me," Anakin replied. He handed her a holoplayer. Ventress took it, and activated it. an image of Ahsoka popped up.

"Your padawan? Wasn't she cleared?"

"Yes," Anakin sighed. "She decided to leave the order."

"And you want me to do what? Bring her back to Corescant in chains so you can convince her to come back? I'm sorry if I don't feel overly enthusiastic about that."

"No, no chains," Anakin said. "I just want you to monitor her for me. Keep me updated on her whereabouts, and keep her out of trouble. She has a way of getting into tight spots with no way out."

"You want me to babysit your former padawan? You better be paying good."

Anakin tossed a bag onto the table. Ventress pulled it towards and peeks inside. tightening it again, she slid it into her belt. "Deal," she said, and she handed Anakin a datapad. "I'll send you updates on that, don't lose it."

Anakin tucked it into his own belt and nodded at her. "Thank you."

"Pleasure doing business with you," Ventress said, and she picked up her glass again, toasting it to Anakin as he stood and left.

TBC