Chapter 3

In a surprised and fearful whisper, Bail asks Anakin if what he just heard was the truth knowing deep down it is. (it always surprised me that Bail even with being such a close friend of Padme did not know of her and Anakin being in love.)

"Anakin is this true, are you and Padme truly married?"

Shaking with rage, fear, and sorrow Anakin takes a deep breath to calm himself and answers. "Yes, We've been married since after the battle of Geonosis."

"How has no one found out about this?"

"Padme and I have been very careful around others not to give ourselves away."

"So I take it then that her child is yours?"

"Of course! How could you ask such a thing?"

Taken aback the Senator replies "I'm sorry Anakin, this whole situation is just so unsettling."

"I'm sorry as well Bail, I shouldn't have raised my voice at you. We need to leave now."

"Yes you're right, we can use my personal Ship the Tantive IV."

"Alright, Rex go with him and make sure everything's ready for us."

"Yes sir!"

"Take Mara and Zett with you, she looks tired and he needs to see a doctor."

As Bail and Rex depart to prep the ship for transport, Anakin turns and addresses the young initiates who he shamefully forgot about. The first of which was a male Wookiee with brown fur standing at 1.53 meters (5ft) tall wearing a red or crimson wrapped obi over a brown leather or suede bandoleer with gray edging and a decorative adornment midway between the shoulder and obi.

The second child is a female Rodian with green skin and black eyes standing at 1.19 meters (3ft 11in) tall wearing a simple white Jedi tunic. The final child is a female Tholothian with blue eyes standing at 1.3 meters (4ft 3in) tall wearing a brown Jedi tunic and a traditional Tholoth headdress, making it look like she has tentacles on the back of her head.

Speaking to the initiates, Anakin, asks their names and where his wayward Padawan is, fearing what the answer to his second question will be.

"What are your names little ones?"

"Roar rrr grroaar! (My name is Gungi)"

"Ganodi that's me."

"And I'm Katooni."

"Well young ones I don't know if you understand whats going on, and I'm sorry to have to tell you this but the Jedi have been deemed Traitors to the Republic, and as such the Chancellor has ordered the clones to... well to kill everyone of us."

Looking more horrified than ever before, Katooni, is the one to speak.

"Master, who could possibly think the Jedi are traitors, I mean we've been protecting the galaxy for thousands of years haven't we?"

"Yes Katooni we have, unfortunately for around one thousand years the Jedi have become complacent, with no fear of the Sith the Dark Side has been aloud to cloud our judgement, you see Chancellor Palpatine is the Sith Lord we have been searching for throughout this force forsaken war, he has used his manipulations to destroy our Order and as sad a thought it is, we may be the last of the Jedi who remain alive."

"That's horrible!"

"Yes it is little one, now do you know where Ahsoka is?"

In a subdued voice due to what she has just been told Katooni is just barely able to give an answer.

"She left to save the senator."

Flashback

45 Minuets earlier

Dex's Diner

"Why did you bring us here Ahsoka?"

"Well my master told me to, and as his apprentice I've learned to listen to what he says as long as the Force does not tell me otherwise."

"Grrr Roarrrr Ra Roarr Grr."

"Yes Gungi, Dex said we could eat as much as we want."

"Well at least we won't go hungry."

"Why the long face Ganodi?"

"Well we were trying to find Petro before you caught us, Ahsoka."

"I know you miss him but it was his own choice to leave, he wanted to find his family and you know it is against the code, the Council would have forbid it."

"I know, I'm just worried bout the jerk."

Before she can respond, Ahsoka, is interrupted by a familiar noise.

"Reet Roo Beeeep Bop Booo Bu Bree Broo!"

Rolling in to the room faster than she thought possible and sounding just as frantic, is our lovable little astromech R2-D2 followed close behind by the most annoying protocol droid in existence C3PO waddling in like a penguin and also sounding very distressed.

"R2 what are you doing here?"

"Brooooo Beep Bop Bruuu Bre Reee Reeet Booo!"

"What! what do you mean Padme has been kidnapped?"

"Oh! I'm afraid it's true miss Ahsoka, the kidnapper even left a message with R2-D2 here."

"Play the message R2!"

"Skywalker I have your precious wife in my possession, if you ever what to see her again come to these coordinates, you have ten hours before I kill her. And don't bring anyone else you Jedi scum or she will die as soon as you arrive."

Shock and sorrow is all Ahsoka can feel after seeing her one time friend, who should be locked in prison for blowing up a Jedi hanger and force choking Letta Turmond in her cell.

"What! how? why? Barriss, should be in prison."

Ahsoka would be panicking if not for her Jedi training, turning to the three Initiates she makes a decision that will unknowingly change her life forever.

"Guy's I need you to stay here and wait for my master, Dex will keep you safe until then."

"What about you Ahsoka?"

"I'm going to save Padme!"

"But you heard what Barriss said, only Master Skywalker should show up."

"I know Katooni, but I have a feeling Barriss won't wait that long, R2, 3PO stay with these three will ya."

Walking away Ahsoka pauses at the sound of three voices

"May the Force be with you Ahsoka!"

Turning to answer "May it be with us all."

END Flashback

"I was afraid that was what you were going to tell me."

"Do you think she's fine Master?"

"I don't know Katooni, but for now we need to pack up and head to the ship."

Dragging Gungi away from the free food was easier than Anakin thought it would be, of course he is a Jedi so it should have been less surprising. Walking over to Dex, Anakin asks about getting a speeder for the four of them.

"Of course all you had to do was ask, you can use my old model it's in the back."

"Thanks Dex."

"No problem, but next time the Wookiee pays for what he eats and Ani!"

"Ya?"

"Take care of yourself and If you find Obi Wan tell him I said be careful."

"I will Dex, I don't know if we will ever see you again so just in case, goodbye buddy."

"And may the Force be with you Anakin."

Flying at speeds of up to 85 miles per hour in a rusty old speeder proved harder than Anakin thought it would but it still got them to their destination in under five minuets

Tantive IV

Boarding the Senators Ship Anakin, although not showing it on his face is extremely worried, for both his wife and his Padawan. Finding Bail and asking him where the initiates can be placed for the journey, he receives news that is great in comparison to what has happened so far.

"Anakin I'm glad you made it, I have wonderful news."

"What is it Bail?"

"We have received both Master Yoda and Obi Wan's distress beacons, That means they must be alive."

"Obi Wan is alive?"

"According to his message he is a little banged up, but for the most part is fine."

"That's good news, we need to pick them up on the way to Mustafar, lets get going."

Pushing the button for his comlink Bail contacts captain Antilles and tells him to get going.

"Lets go captain!"

"Yes Sir!"

"Is everything alright Anakin?"

sighing he answers. "Yes I'm just worried, Ahsoka went to rescue Padme and I don't know how Barriss is going to react."

"She did what!"

"Yes I had the same reaction when Katooni told me, speaking of which, where can the initiates stay while we are here?"

"Well Rex is with Zett and Mara in the stateroom suite."

"How are they doing?"

"Mara is sleeping like a rock, but Zett is still struggling with what happened at the temple."

"Perhaps having friends around will help him cope."

"Yes that may work."

Hearing a crash Anakin and Bail look to their left and can only to sigh at what they see, all three Initiates have fallen to the ground in a pile with Gungi on the bottom.

'Sigh' "I don't know what this is all about but I think you three will be happy to see who is waiting for you."

Jumping to their feet Ganodi is the one to ask. "Who is it?"

"You'll see, now come along."

Following Bail to the Stateroom suite, Anakin is in deep though (Why would Ahsoka go after Barriss? I know she sees Padme like a big sister but there has to be more to it, she must know that she is risking Padme's life. I'll have to take a ship to Mustafar as soon as we pick up Obi Wan.)

"Here we are."

Oppening the door Bail steps aside to allow the Jedi to enter. Walking in first Anakin puts a smile on his face and takes his mind off the troubles with what he sees, Mara is asleep on a bed five times her size with Rex acting as her pillow.

"Don't say anything Anakin, this stays between us."

"Whatever you say Rex, it's cute."

Remembering the children in the room Rex responds only with a glare so as to not wake the sleeping Mara. When Katooni sees who is in the other bed she smiles larger than a laughing Hutt.

"Zett is that you?"

Startled from his inner musings Zett looks up and is surprised by what he sees.

"Katooni, Gungi, Ganodi! I can't believe it you're alive."

"Ya, we were out of the temple looking for Petro so we were safe."

"Safe, ya I wish I could say the same about my Master."

Hugging her arms as tight as she could around Zett, Katooni tries to comfort him.

"I'm sorry Zett, I know how much you enjoyed having Master Darllig teaching you."

Sobbing for the first time since his original Master (Mierme Unill) was killed, Zett falls into her arms.

"It'll be fine Zett, were all okay and as long as we have each other nothing worse can happen to us."

"Ya Katooni is right we stick together and we'll be fine!"

"Rooar Rrr Grrr Rooo Groar Roarrr!" (I agree with Katooni and Ganodi, besides Master Anakin is here too.)

Wiping away his tears and sitting upright Zett puts a smile on his face "Hehe you guys are right, besides the Force is with us."

"That's right!"

Suddenly the intercom comes online not loud enough to wake Mara Jade though.

"Senator, we've just picked up a ship with the distress signal, it's in the hanger now."

"Let's go Anakin."

"Right, Rex keep an eye on the children."

"Not much choice now Anakin, I am currently a pillow after all."

Rushing to the Hanger bay with Bail, Anakin is anxious to see who they picked up first.