A/N: Forever! I know. No excuses. Just enjoy and tell me what you think if you want :) The plot is thickening. Remember at the endo te last chapter, Owen discovered that Shmi's grave is empty, and Padme shared her suspicions about Palpatine, while Anain struggles with deciding if he wants to get involved tatooine.

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~Riah

GM Chapter 6:

Obi-Wan Kenobi stared in awe of the council members that sat around him. Their ability to surprise him had not waned at all over the years. From their decision to allow him to train Anakin, to their decision just two days before to let Anakin take the trials of Knighthood and make Obi-Wan a master, Obi-Wan always found himself rather disbelieving of the choices they make.

Yes, both men, Anakin and Obi-Wan, had been fighting valiantly over the past two years and deserved the ascension of rank, but did they not deserve some sort of reprieve, slacking of responsibility, even if only for a day? Citizens of the Republic would understand that their heroes are human and need to rest as well, but the council seems to believe that they are invincible and tireless.

For example, less than twenty-four hours have passed since Anakin had been granted Knighthood and already the masters had deemed him ready to take on an apprentice, in hopes that the teaching would ground him.

The notion was ridiculous to Obi-Wan, that Anakin could ever be in any way grounded. The boy, while certainly having grown into a good man in the past two years, was headstrong and had a flair for getting into dangerous situations that would never fade.

Obi-Wan was astounded that the council would believe otherwise, and had a hard time believing what he was hearing. He, of course, trusted his barely former padawan implicitly, but just weeks before, the council had seriously doubted Anakin's intentions as a Jedi. Now they were entrusting the life of a fourteen year old girl with him.

It made absolutely no sense, Obi-Wan thought, turning his attention to the girl standing before them.

Ahsoka Tano stood in the center of the room, awaiting her fate. As one of the oldest padawans in the temple, she was fast approaching the point of no return. Ahsoka needed a master now, or else risk being sent off to the Agri-Corps, every padawan's worst nightmare.

The words "A Jedi shall not know fear" trickled into her thoughts as she brought her roughened, tan fingers to run through her long, blonde hair, a habit she assumed she had inherited from someone.

She had heard rumors among the other Jedi initiates that Anakin Skywalker had just been knighted, leaving Obi-Wan Kenobi free to take on another apprentice. Seeing him sitting on the council before her, Ahsoka hoped that this was the case and that she would soon be the one fulfilling that role.

However, Master Kenobi's cool façade was quite unnerving. His eyes penetrated Ahsoka with an appraising stare that made her believe her thought may be moving along the wrong track.

Her reverie was broken, though, upon hearing the throat of a diminutive, little green Master Jedi clearing.

"Great fear, I sense in you, Young Tano. Afraid for your future, are you? Hmm?" he suggested, making her blush at having been found out.

Ahsoka bowed her head in shame. "Yes, Master," she answered, worried even further now her at her fate. How could she have any hope of being chosen if she could not even control her emotions?

"Understandable, this is," came Yoda's reply, shocking her once again. "Great potential, you have within you, Young One, but hampered that power is, by your lack of training. Not your fault, this is."

Obi-Wan watched Ahsoka as she took in Master Yoda's words, surprised by the likeness in emotions to his former apprentice's he could sense coming from her were. She sought approval just as Anakin did, and she harbored a great power, just as Anakin did.

"Thank you, for understanding, Master," Ahsoka spoke. "I don't want to be sent to the Agri-Corps," she continued, her eyes belaying her nervousness.

Yoda chuckled in response, ignoring the raised eyebrows of the other council members. "Admire your honesty, I do. Talent such as yours, not wasted should it be."

Mace Windu had had enough tiptoeing around the point and so leaned forward to interrupt. "What Master Yoda is trying to say, is that you will not be sent to the Agri-Corps." Ahsoka's relief was tantamount and felt by everyone in the room as she listened to the Korun master speak. "Though, where you are going will not feel any better. This council has decided that you will be assigned to a Knight. We need as many powerful Jedi in the field as we can get. I agree with Yoda. Your talents should not be wasted. Obi-Wan?"

Obi-Wan's ears perked up at his name, for he had not really been listening to what was said. His thoughts still centered around Anakin. "Master?" he answered, feeling Ahsoka's excitement spike, for what reason he could not, however, determine.

Mace turned to look at Obi-Wan, "You will escort Padawan Tano to her new master," If he ever deems to grace the temple with his presence again, thought Mace, leaning back in his chair, and irritated by Anakin's apparent tardiness.

"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan nodded, sensing Ahsoka's immediate deflation. Ah, he thought to himself. She must have hoped to have been assigned to me.

Windu sighed in acceptance, fearing that handing over this girl to Skywalker would somehow lead to someone' downfall, but to who's, he did not know. "This meeting is adjourned then," he said, waving his hand in dismissal.

Obi-Wan was the first to rise from his chair, nodding for Ahsoka to follow him as he passed her.

Plo koon, a normally quiet, yet insightful and very powerful Master watched with unease as Kenobi and Tano made their way out of the council chamber. He had been the one to find Ahsoka almost twelve years before and bring her to the temple and so felt an odd protection over her. Glancing around the room, he couldn't help but voice his own opinion. "I've got a bad feeling about this," he said, the worry evident in his tone.

Master Windu was the only one who nodded in agreement.

"Master Kenobi?" Ahsoka asked, trying to match the man's brisk pace as he marched toward the lift. He ignored her until the doors had opened and they were standing shoulder to shoulder inside.

Obi-Wan turned his head slightly, and by peeking out of the corner of his eye, found Ahsoka's bright green orbs staring at him questioningly. Obi-Wan grinned a tiny grin and shook his head at the girl. It was eerie how much she reminded him of Anakin. "Yes, Ahsoka?" he asked, his tone light.

She swallowed back nervousness as she tried to form the right words. "Who is my new Master going to be, if not you?" She had been sorely disappointed when she realized, at Master Windu's words, that she wouldn't be assigned to Master Kenobi. Something felt off to her in that room though. Despite her lack of training, as Master Yoda had pointed out, Ahsoka was very attuned to the force, and the chill that had settled over the room did not overpass her senses.

Obi-Wan chuckled quietly at her anxiousness. "Perhaps it would be better if I just showed you," he said, sensing the girl's unease grow. "Not to worry, though, Ahsoka. I think you will be very happy," he finished, deciding he should maybe try to locate his wayward apprentice. Mace Windu's irritation at Anakin's tardiness had not flown over his head, but Obi-Wan was just used to Anakin's behavior and had not thought anything of it. However now, he realized, as he reached out with the force to find Anakin that the young man had just returned to the temple and had not been back during the night.

Obi-Wan had a sinking suspicion as to where his apprentice had been and knew that he could no longer ignore it. He would have to confront Anakin, and he was not looking forward to it.

Ahsoka very much doubted Master Kenobi's words. She could think of no one that she would rather have as a master than him and felt oddly betrayed that he was not who had been chosen for her. And why had a master been chosen for her and not the other way around? Normally the master chooses the padawan.

She supposed it had to do with the war and the fact that hardly any Knights were even present in the temple unless they were on a short leave. Deciding to push aside her questions for the time being, Ahsoka glanced at the keypad and noticed that they had already passed the first floor, yet the lift was still moving downwards. "Where are we going anyway, Master?" she asked.

Obi-Wan rocked back on his heels, thinking. "To the private clone facilities underground. Only the highest military ranking Jedi officers and clones have access to these floors."

"Will I have access now?"

"Are you a high ranking Jedi officer?" Obi-Wan replied, raising his eyebrows in question.

"No," Ahsoka answered, lowering her head.

"Then no, you will not have access. However you will come here with your Master whenever he deems it necessary and appropriate."

Ahsoka simply nodded in acquiescence.

Anakin had broken quite a few galactic traffic laws in order to make it in time for his meeting with the 501st, the legion of clones that which he had command of. One Dug, who had instantly reminded him of another from his past, had cursed loudly and crudely as Anakin vaulted his own speeder over the Dug's, barely missing the ruffian's head. Anakin had laughed loudly as the Dug tried to pull out of the traffic lanes to follow him, only to be sorely disappointed that the brash Jedi had already disappeared.

Thankful for the brief distraction, Anakin had done his best to keep thoughts of his home planet, and what possibly awaited him there, from bothering him as he sped towards the Jedi Temple, but to no avail. His last moments, or at least what he thought to be his last moments, with his mother were stuck on replay in his head, forcing him to listen to her struggling breaths over and over again.

It was pure torture, and he feared that the nightmares, real nightmares, not visions, would come hurtling back when he lay to sleep that night. It had taken many therapy sessions with his beloved to finally get a peaceful night's rest. Padme was his salvation, and whenever he was with her his dreams were of her, but when he was alone in the field, nightmares of his past plagued him more than ever before. Surely this incident would be a major setback.

Owen had sorely irritated Anakin with his lack of understanding. The small-minded farmer seemed to forget the Anakin had a life, a very busy life. He had a loyalty and duty to the Republic that must be upheld. Shirking away from his responsibilities would get him nowhere but in trouble, but no matter how hard he tried to ignore it, Anakin could already almost feel the blistering heat on his skin if he closed his eyes, almost as if he was already there.

For once in the past two years, Anakin actually wished to be deployed immediately, if only to keep him busy enough to stay away from a certain section of the outer rim. But then, as soon as he wished for such a deployment, an image of Padme, glowing while carrying their child would make its presence known, and he would mentally kick himself for ever thinking of being away from her.

Deep down, Anakin was conflicted, lost amidst himself. The 'Hero with No fear' found himself fearing more things than he ever thought possible. He feared Tatooine, he feared leaving his wife, he feared the fall of the Republic and losing the war, and he even feared the seed that Padme had planted in his head regarding the Chancellor.

In fact, that particular seed of doubt was bothering him the most. Suddenly, past conversations he had held with the Chancellor were coming unbidden out of his memory. He remembered moments when Palpatine would say something that bothered him, and he would push it away, telling himself he was being ridiculous. Now, Anakin was not so sure.

The Chancellor never had anything positive to say about the Jedi unless it involved Anakin. Anakin just had not noticed before. He was constantly saying things that were aimed to make Anakin distrusting of the council, as if he needed that. Anakin had enough problems with the council without the chancellor's nagging.

Anakin had every intention of following his wife's advice. The problem was that all military intelligence made its way to the Chancellor first. He went through every report before notifying the council that anything has been discovered.

Suspicions began to escalate within Anakin as he thought of all the things that could have been overlooked by the Chancellor, intentional or not. Palpatine had no military experience and lacked the precise eye for detail that the Jedi prided themselves on. The Jedi's purpose may not have originally been to act as soldiers, but the Chancellor had put them in a very difficult position when he appointed them to be the sole leaders of the military campaign against the separatists. The gesture had seemed to be a symbol of faith in the Jedi Order, but now Anakin had a hunch that it was more a means of control.

Every single one of his senses was on high alert around the Chancellor. Something dark loomed in the shadows of the Senate building, even more ominous than the swirling spires that loomed up ahead of him now. Though it was nearly mid-morning, the sun still had not risen to the noon-point, and its luminosity cast the temple in shadows.

For ten years Anakin had called those ancient walls home, but now he dreaded the idea of ever ascending those marble steps again. Feeling nothing but hollow, he bypassed the publically accessed halls of the temple after landing in the hangar bay and headed straight for the private, military lifts.

The clone CT-7567, or Captain Rex as he was more commonly referred to, stood waiting to greet his Jedi Commander as the lift doors opened. He immediately straightened to a salute as he caught sight of the turbulent Jedi Knight. "Commander Skywalker," Rex greeted as Anakin came to a halt in front of him.

Looking into the identical faces the clones never failed to unnerve Anakin in a peculiar way. Something about the look in their brown eyes tugged at his memory, yet like every other time he stood before them, Anakin pushed the feeling away, nodding his head toward his favorite clone. "At ease, Captain," he commanded, staring momentarily into the clone's eyes. Neither man blinked until Anakin could no longer resist the upward tug of his lips, both now breaking out into grins.

The tension in the room dissipated as they turned and headed to the conference room, Anakin slapping Rex on the shoulder in a friendly manner. "How's it going Rex?" he asked. "Anything exciting for me?"

"Actually, I think you'll be quite surprised, Commander. Our private sources are proving to be quite valuable. We think we might have pegged the location of General Grievous, though he won't be there for long. If we have any hope of catching him, we will have to move quickly." Rex was just as frustrated as Anakin at the lack of success they had acquired so far in the hunt for Grievous and Dooku. Both slime balls needed to be brought to justice before the galaxy started ripping from the seams.

"That is good news. Remember Rex, this has to stay off the record books. The council cannot find out about this until Grievous has been apprehended." Anakin hated the idea of using bounty hunters more than anyone, but his suspicions that their intelligence units were being warded off by the Chancellor were suspicions that he couldn't shake. He needed his own, reliable source of information.

"Of course, Sir. You know my only loyalties lie with you."

Just as Rex had, each soldier, dressed in grey-colored, galactic republic fatigues, stood to attention when their commanding officers entered the room. Unlike the millions of other clones that served the in the army of the republic, the soldiers of the 501st Legion had sworn their allegiances to a single commander, Commander Skywalker, rather than to the Republic itself. Their independence was all Anakin's doing.

During each of his leaves in the past two years, Anakin had used his wide, mechanical knowledge of ships and transmitters to develop a microchip similar to a signal jamming device in a starship. After perfecting the function of the chip and shrinking it down to a miniscule size, Anakin personally embedded the chips into each of the 501st's brains. Once activated, the chip acts as a frequency disrupter, blocking the brainwaves of the clones that force them to act as a single unit and strips them of their independence.

No longer were they singularly bound to the orders of every commander. Rex was the first clone that Anakin had tested the chip on, and it had worked flawlessly. It was now Rex's decision to follow Anakin, rather than just following a biological impulse.

One soldier at a time, Anakin eventually earned the willing allegiance of each of his men, and although they could turn on him or the republic at any time, just as any other being can, he was confident in his ability to lead honestly and maintain their loyalty.

"Good morning, gentleman," Anakin greeted, standing at the head of the room. "At ease."

Each clone relaxed and sat in a synchronization that only comes from working and trusting the people around you. They moved as one, flawless unit because they chose to do so, not because they were forced.

Anakin stood back once they were seated. "Rex, your report," he nodded at his second in command.

"Recently, one of our spies was able to gain access aboard The Invisible Hand, disguised as bounty hunter aiming to make a deal with Grievous. Our man was successfully able to maintain his disguise for the duration of his stay, and while on board, he placed a series of bugs and tracking devices in every hidden spot he could find. So far, the bugs have not turned up anything useful, for they are not hidden in places that the general world normally occupy, but the trackers were activated and we were able to track the signal all the way to the Tarabba Sector. Unfortunately, there, something jammed the frequency of our transmitter and we lost the signal."

Stepping to the side, Rex watched as Anakin stepped forward and activated a holographic star map. Dimming the lights, Anakin moved between the rows of chairs and clones before stopping in front of a particular cluster of stars.

"There's not much in the Tarabba Sector, from what I've heard anyway," he spoke, trying to pull something about the sector from the dredges of his memory. "It's in the outer rim, further out even from Praesityln. The capital, Tarabba Prime, is mostly filled with indigenous people, odd species that hate confrontation." The destination was puzzling to Anakin. He was failing to see what grievous could find appealing about any of the systems there. He stood there, arms crossed in silence for a few moments, thinking on his next step, when something finally came to him.

Turning to Rex, he resumed speaking. "Although, now that I think about it, I remember hearing about the Utuapau System. It's a sinkhole planet, occupied only by an easily sub doable tribe of people. It would serve as the perfect hiding place, especially since the system is neither republic or separatist. I have a hunch that this is where Grievous is headed. And we if we capture Grievous, we can find Dooku," he stated, leaving no room for doubt.

"And then we can end this war," Rex added, willing to follow his commander anywhere.

"A bold statement, coming from you Captain," teased Obi-Wan Kenobi, his presence suddenly materializing next to Anakin. "Please, enlighten me to your plan. I hate all this fighting," he added, obviously having missed, much to Anakin's relief, the details of General Grievous' whereabouts.

Anakin turned to face his former master, only to find himself shocked to see a youngling standing slightly behind Obi-Wan. "Master, this is a private debriefing. Younglings are not allowed on these floors," he said with disdain, his eyes narrowing on the girl in question.

"Yes, well, if I may have a moment of your time, I will explain her presence." Obi-Wan's tone left no room for discussion. Though worded as a request, Anakin had no doubt that this statement was an order. He nodded his head in acquiescence.

"Rex, split the men into squads and run drills in the practice room. Just because we are on leave does not mean we can revert to laziness. We will continue this discussion at a later time. Legion dismissed," he commanded.

"Right away, Sir," Rex acknowledged as he and the rest of the 501st rose to salute.

Obi-Wan held out his arm in invitation to Anakin and headed towards the lifts.

Now walking side by side, Ahsoka following closely behind, Obi-Wan spoke to Anakin. "I will never understand the 501st's allegiance to you, Anakin. They follow your every command as if they are pleased to do so. You are an amazing leader."

Anakin smiled at hearing the rare praise from his mentor. Internally he laughed at the true reason for their loyalty. "I guess they just trust in the same cause, the same ideals as I do."

"You speak as if each of them are individuals, as if they control their own thoughts. Do you not believe that they follow simply because it was what they were mandated to do?" Obi-Wan asked curiously. He knew he could rely on his own legion, led by Commander Cody, and had even come to be friends with his second, but still, his clones never expressed an inkling of individual thought like Anakin's do.

"I think it is my belief that they are all individuals that allows them to feel comfortable enough to express their own thoughts and ideas. I think every clone has them, they are just afraid to voice them," Anakin replied.

Ahsoka listened with interest as she stood behind the two Jedi Knights. Her own experience with the clones was close to none, and she was curious to learn more about them. She also wondered why exactly she was here. There was no possibility that Anakin Skywalker could be her new master, was there?

"You are wise beyond your years, Anakin," Obi-Wan told him, patting Anakin on the shoulder as they exited the lift and entered the common area. "Ahsoka? Will you give us a moment?" he asked turning to her.

Ahsoka nodded and backed out of the room, sensing automatically that she was not needed for the coming discussion. Anakin's eyes followed her out of the room, dreading the answer to why she was there.

"What's this about, Master?" he asked, taking a seat on one the sectionals. Obi-Wan followed and took a seat next to him.

"The council has decided to place Ahsoka Tano as your apprentice, effective immediately. She will be your charge from here on out."

Anakin was floored. The council had recently done nothing but disapprove of him, which was the reason he was so surprised to be given the chance to take the trials. Most, he could sense, were equally surprised to see him pass, but had acquiesced and come to the conclusion that perhaps they were wrong about the headstrong young man.

Sensing Anakin's surprise and noting his silence, Obi-Wan continued. "This is proof to you, Anakin, that the council has great faith in your abilities. Yes, they believe that the task of training and looking after a youngling will ground you a bit, but the faith they are placing in is tantamount, regardless. I also have complete faith in you, Anakin."

"But why now?" Anakin asked, finally shaking himself free of his thoughts. "I have only been knighted for a day."

"Because we have too many padawans and too few Knights. You are needed to help train the next generation of Knights. There is no time to waste. Our forces are being depleted rapidly and more commanders are needed."

Anakin could only nod in response, his thoughts slipping to the possible disaster that awaited him on Tatooine, and furthermore, the pursuit of General Grievous he was planning.

"You are being given one month's leave, the time which you must spending preparing your apprentice for life in the battlefield. You are to begin immediately…"

"No. No. I can't do that," Anakin said, standing abruptly and beginning to pace the room. "I have plans with my leave, Master. She can't come with me." His hands came up to run through his hair, a habit he can't seem to shake when he is anxious. It was only as the words escaped his lips that Anakin realized Padme was right. He really would be heading to Tatooine, whether he wanted to or not.

"Plans? What sort of plans, Anakin? And when exactly were you planning to inform the council?"

Anakin's only reply was something that sounded suspiciously like, 'I wasn't'.

"I know you are a knight now, Anakin, but you can't just go off planet without telling someone. It's completely irresponsible of you," Obi-Wan scolded, the volume of his voice escalating slightly. "And just where are you planning on going?"

Anakin sighed heavily, knowing that he was not going to be allowed to leave without confessing. "To Tatooine," he answered.

Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. "To Tatooine? You hate Tatooine. Why on Coruscant would you want to go back to the giant dustball?"

Anakin moved back to the sectional and slumped down. His fingers were suddenly very interesting. "Owen called yesterday."

"Your step-brother Owen?"

"Yes. He said that my mother is there," Anakin replied, shaking his head, still disbelieving of that story.

Obi-Wan was confused. "But you told me that your mother died, did you not?"

"No I did," Anakin said looking up at his master. "She died in my arms. Which is why I have to go. Someone is trying to mess with me."

"It could be a trap."

"And what have you always told me to do when I suspect one?" Anakin asked, smiling slightly.

The older man chuckled in response, rubbing his bearded chin. "Spring the trap."

Anakin nodded. "Which is exactly what I plan to do."

"Alone?"

Anakin glanced back down, hating the idea of lying to his friend once again.

"It's alright, Anakin. I already know," Obi-Wan sighed, shaking his head. "Don't you think I would have figured it out when you both disappeared at the same time? I may be old, but I am not senile yet, young one."

Anakin smiled.

"There is not stopping you is there?"

Anakin's grin just broadened.

"Just promise me you'll be mindful of your feelings. I would have thought you'd grown out of your crush by now, but if you haven't? Be careful. And try and teach Ahsoka something valuable in your spare time."

"Master! Can't you take her until I get back?" Anakin asked, frustrated for a reason that Obi-Wan would never guess.

"I am sorry, Anakin. She is your responsibility now." Obi-Wan patted Anakin's shoulder once again in comfort. "Now, shall I introduce you two?" he said, standing and heading for the door.

Anakin could only stand and follow in silence. Apparently he would not be getting any alone time with his wife any time soon.

A/N: Feedback is awesome!