TW: Thank you.

THWA: Not just yet.

Moon

Silently, Anakin, Ahsoka and Rex stood in front of the crashed Star Destroyer, a shovel in Rex's hands. In front of the Star Destroyer were the graves of the remaining 501st Legion, marked by a stick with the helmet of the Clones on them. For a long moment, it was silent between the three of them.

"The Chancellor is Darth Sidious," Ahsoka said, still trying to process everything that Anakin had told her and Rex.

"Yeah Snips. He's been behind everything," Anakin said with a heavy sigh, still trying to come to terms with it herself.

"Why do this now? He's had three years to pull this, why wait?" Rex asked, not being able to make sense of it all.

"I don't know. He might have been waiting for something; The Doctor seems to think he has some kind of plan for me," Anakin explained, still trying to figure it all out.

At this, Ahsoka remembered Maul's warning about Anakin.

"What do you want with Anakin Skywalker?"

"He is the key to everything."

"To bring balance to The Force?"

"To destroy. He has long been groomed for his role as my master's new apprentice."

As she stared up at her master, Ahsoka saw Palpatine's plan clearly. He had been planning to turn Anakin into his new apprentice, just as Maul said. How many years had he invested in Anakin for the soul purpose of turning him when he felt the time was right? Ahsoka felt angry on behalf of her master. He had thought he'd had a friend, a mentor, a father figure even when all Palpatine had seen him as was a tool to use to enact his plans to destroy the Jedi.

"Ahsoka? What is it?" Anakin asked as he looked over at her, feeling her emotions.

"Anakin…there's something I need to tell you, something Maul said to me on Mandalore," Ahsoka said, trying to figure out how to put it into words. "He said that you were the key to Palpatine's plan. That he had spent years grooming you to be his apprentice."

"What?" Anakin asked, not sure he was hearing her right.

"Now that we know who Sidious is, it makes sense. Think about it Anakin, how many times did he say something that, in new context, seems like he was trying to pit you against the Jedi? To play on your worst instincts?" Ahsoka asked.

Anakin wanted to deny it, tell her that it was crazy, that he would never turn on the Jedi. But the more he thought about it, it made sense. Palpatine had often justified his frustrations with the Council, made comments here and there that implied the Council didn't trust him, would often sing Anakin's praises, tell him that he would become the greatest Jedi of all time. And the realization washed over Anakin like a sandstorm.

"It was all a lie. Every moment, every conversation, it was all to gain my trust so he could eventually try to turn me to the Dark Side," Anakin muttered.

He thought he had felt betrayal when Obi-Wan had faked his death, when he had learned Palpatine was Darth Sidious. But this felt like a lightsaber in his heart.

Ahsoka's heart broke as she saw the look on her master's face; he looked like a lost little boy in that moment. Unable to help herself, Ahsoka reached out and hugged Anakin fiercely. Although surprised, Anakin returned the hug.

"Thank you…for protecting her," Anakin said lowly, looking over Ahsoka's head at Rex.

"Honestly Sir, she probably protected me more than I protected her," Rex said and Anakin smiled tightly.

"Considering we're both traitors to the Republic, I think it's time you start calling me Anakin," Anakin pointed out.

Inside the TARDIS, in the med-bay, Rory winced as Obi-Wan, to the best of his ability, tried patching up Rory's shoulder.

"I'm sorry. I'm afraid I'm not much of a medic," Obi-Wan said.

"It's fine," Rory said although Obi-Wan noticed with worry that Rory appeared drowsy.

Amy, who had been watching worriedly from the doorway, noticed as well.

"We have to get him somewhere where he can get proper medical attention," Amy said.

"I agree. The problem is the Jedi have been declared traitors in the middle of a war. There are not many places we go for help. And none of us really know how to pilot this ship," Obi-Wan pointed out.

"This ship can pilot itself," Amy snapped, storming out of the med-bay.

"Go make sure she doesn't do something reckless. She doesn't think things through when she's worried," Rory said barely conscious.

"I know the type," Obi-Wan said dryly before following after Amy.

At the console, Windu stood awkwardly around as the Younglings looked around at the inside of the TARDIS with awe. He had never been good with children.

The door to the TARDIS opened and Anakin, Ahsoka and Rex walked inside, breaking Windu out of his thoughts.

"I assume the dead have been buried?" Windu asked and got three nods in return.

"So what's the plan now?" Ahsoka asked as Amy stormed followed by Obi-Wan.

"The plan is to get us somewhere that Rory can get the medical attention he needs," Amy said as she stormed over to the console, beginning to beat on it. "Hey! I know you like Rory, so why don't you take us somewhere that can help him!"

"Amy-" Obi-Wan tried to caution her.

"When the love of your life is in danger, then you get a bloody vote!" Amy snapped, not seeing the look on Obi-Wan's face.

But Anakin did, shooting his old master an understanding look as Obi-Wan carefully schooled his features.

"I do understand, but-"

Obi-Wan was cut off as the TARDIS gave a sudden jolt before the engine activated, the TARDIS beginning to make its signature sound.

Tantive III

Same time

"Appreciate your assistance, I do Senator Organa," Yoda told Bail as they began walking out of the hanger after Yoda had been let in.

"I've long stood by the Jedi. I merely wish the circumstances were better," Bail said with a sigh.

Further conversation was interrupted by a loud 'vwoorp' that pieced the air. Yoda, Bail and the crew in the hanger turned around as the TARDIS slowly materialized in the hanger.

"Appears you are not the only friend of the Jedi, it does," Yoda said with a smile as the TARDIS doors opened.

"Master Yoda," Obi-Wan said as he, Anakin, and Windu stepped out.

"Good to see you my friends, it is. Where is The Doctor?" Yoda inquired, realizing his old friend was not on the TARDIS.

"That's a long story Master," Anakin said as Amy rushed out.

"You can fill him in later. Is there a doctor or nurse on board? My husband's been shot," Amy said worriedly and Bail frowned.

"No. But I know a place where he can get the medical attention he needs," Bail said before turning to a member of the crew. "Captain Antilles, order the crew to take us to Polis Massa."

Jedi Temple

Same time

Once he was sure all the Clones had left the temple, The Doctor made his way down to the hanger, where he knew Anakin kept his starfighter. And as he suspected, what he was looking for was there, hiding among a pile of deactivated droids.

"R2," The Doctor called out and the droid's domed head turned towards him, beeping. "Yes, I know, it's mad out here. I need your help."

R2 beeped at him and the TARDIS translation matrix allowed The Doctor to understand him clearly.

"Anakin's fine, I sent him away with the TARDIS until it's time for him to come back. But in order for that to happen, I need your help," The Doctor explained.

After searching the temple, The Doctor had found a body of one of the Clones that was killed in the assault. R2 trailed behind him as he carefully dragged the body into the med-bay.

"Okay. I'm going to need you to get the Inhibitor Chip out of his head," The Doctor explained, placing the body on a platform connected to a tub that was similar to the one Ahsoka had used for Rex as R2 beeped at him. "It's part of my plan to help the Clones. But I need that chip, alright?"

R2 beeped at him before plugging himself into a panel. The tub came online, the dead Clone being pulled in. After a minute, the dead clone was pulled out of the tub and the Chip was deposited next to him. The Doctor grabbed it, examining it. It was in perfect condition.

"Perfect. You are a handy little droid you are," The Doctor said pleased and R2 beeped at him, pleased before The Doctor glanced at the dead Clone. "I'm sorry I couldn't save you. But I'll make sure I can save what's left of your brothers. You have my word on that."

They lingered a moment longer before The Doctor turned and walked out of the room.

"Okay, we need to leave, but there's still one more thing we need to do first," The Doctor told R2.

Polis Massa

Later

In what would classify as a morning on Coruscant, Amy was pacing back and forth nervously in the waiting area as the Jedi, Rex and Bail watched, all of them waiting for word on Rory's condition. Finally, a medical droid came out to meet them.

"What's happening? Is Rory alright?" Amy asked, whirling on the droid.

"Mr. Williams's wound will heal. I would recommend a few days of rest but there should be no permanent damage in his arm. We've given him a sedative so he has a chance to recover," the droid explained, to the relief of everyone.

"I'm his wife, may I see him?" Amy asked almost pleadingly.

"Of course. Right this way," the droid said, leading Amy out of the waiting area.

"I suppose we should be grateful for small miracles," Obi-Wan said once Amy and the droid were gone.

"Have we heard from anymore Jedi?" Ahsoka asked but Bail and Yoda shook their heads.

"Heard from no one, have we," Yoda said glumly and a moment of silence descended on the room.

"I feel like I should have known. I spent time with him, I trusted him," Anakin said shaken by the recent revelations.

"Blame yourself, you should not. Fooled us all, Sidious did," Yoda said grimly.

"The rest of you didn't consider him a friend, a mentor," Anakin said with a heavy sigh.

"Do not blame yourself Anakin. Master Yoda is right, none of us saw the truth of who Palpatine was, even those of us who didn't trust him," Obi-Wan pointed out.

Anakin looked away, not really believing them but knowing that none of them would truly understand. They weren't the ones who Palpatine had been trying to make into a Sith Lord after all.

"If Palpatine truly is Darth Sidious, the senate will not allow him to remain in power," Bail interjected.

"I don't think it's that simple Senator Organa," Ahsoka disagreed.

"Citizen Tano is right. We have no evidence The Chancellor is Darth Sidious or that Darth Sidious even exists. How did The Doctor determine this?" Windu asked as he glanced over at Anakin.

"He really wasn't making much sense Master Windu. He kept saying he knows who Palpatine really is, but I don't think he meant Darth Sidious," Anakin explained, as perplexed by this as anyone.

"So what do we do now?" Rex inquired after a few moments of silence.

"The Doctor insisted he had a plan. I suppose the only thing we can do for the moment is wait for that plan to come to fruition," Obi-Wan mused.

Further conversation was interrupted by Bail's comms going off.

"This is Organa," Bail said as he answered.

"Senator, it's Captain Antilles. I would like you and the Jedi to return to the ship. There's something you all need to see."

Amy slowly entered the room after the medical droid had directed her to it. Rory laid in a bed, seeming to be asleep. His Centurion armor had been removed and he had been dressed in a white gown that matched the sheets on the bed.

Amy stared at the rise and fall of his chest for a moment before walking over to the bed. Completely ignoring the chair by the bed, Amy crawled into the bed with Rory, holding onto him and burying her head in the crook of his shoulder. She closed her eyes and allowing the sound of Rory's breathing to lull her to sleep after a long night.

"What is it Captain?" Bail asked as he led the Jedi and Rex over to Captain Antilles in the communications room in the ship.

"As you requested, we've been looking through all the channels for anything related to the Jedi. We've received a coded retreat message," Antilles explained. "It says the war is over and requests all remaining Jedi to return to the Jedi Temple."

"It's a trap. Any remaining Jedi will be slaughtered," Ahsoka immediately realized in horror.

"Which is why I called you all there. But then, just before you arrived. The message suddenly changed," Antilles said, confusing the group.

"Changed? What do you mean?" Rex asked confused.

"It's best that I just show you," Antilles said, nodding to one of the crew.

The crewmember typed something and a hologram appeared from the holo table. While Rex, Bail and Ahsoka didn't recognize the hologram, the others all did.

"Doctor," Anakin said in surprised.

"Hello. To any Jedi hearing this, I'm issuing a warning. Do not return to the Temple. The Jedi Order has fallen, the Sith are in complete control of the Republic," The Doctor warned, his face grim. "Stay safe, stay hidden until you receive word that it is safe to come home. Do not trust Chancellor Palpatine, everything you know about him is a lie. He is not from Naboo. He is a rogue Time Lord known as The Master. He is dangerous and will stop at nothing to establish complete control over the entire galaxy. There are going to be dark times ahead, but you must persevere. There is always hope, even now. May The Force be with you."

The Doctor's hologram faded and the group stared at the spot where The Doctor had spoken, most of them perplexed. Except for one.

"If The Master, Palpatine is, worse than we thought, things are," Yoda said grimly.

Coruscant

Same time

In his office, Palpatine was being briefed by Tarkin.

"I'm afraid there's been no sign of Skywalker or The Doctor," Tarkin informed him regretfully.

"The Doctor and Anakin will show themselves soon. The Doctor cannot help but put his nose where it does not belong. And we have the perfect bait for Anakin. How is Senator Amidala?" Palpatine inquired.

"Surprisingly quiet. I must admit Chancellor, are you sure of this course of action? Senator Amidala is quite beloved by the public, she has powerful friends," Tarkin pointed out.

"It matters not. Soon, there will not be anything anyone can do to stop me," Palpatine said confidently. "Not even The Doctor can stop what's coming."

Yes, Palpatine is The Master. I put in little hints here and there, so those of you who figured it out, pat yourselves on the back.

Not a very exciting chapter, but I hope to change that with next chapter. Until then.