Anakin wasn't sure what to think of the two children standing before him looking nervous and worried, eyes fixed on him as they waited for his answer.

"Were you a Sith?"

Just…

What?!

How had they come to that (all too correct) conclusion?!

He shook his head as he tried to wrap his mind around how they'd figured that out.

Finally, he could only ask, "What?" in a sort of croaky voice that barely left his throat.

The two children looked at each other again, and Anakin could feel the nervousness pouring off of them.

This time, Darra spoke, shifting in place worriedly. Were they afraid of him?

(Could he blame them?)

"Well… um, we were talking about the different theories Thoran has and the ones you said weren't true – like the one about you having the knowledge of an ancient Jedi Master… but you seem to think you're a monster and kept insisting on it and then Coira said you were our monster, like you still are or are still affected by something negative, and Hale said you got sad some times, which I noticed too, and it isn't like normal sad, but deeper and older and so we thought that… um… maybe it's because you weren't a Jedi in your past life that you remember but a Sith."

She winced and snapped her mouth closed, as if she'd just realized she'd been rambling.

"Or maybe a Dark Jedi, or from one of the dark cults," Hale spoke, his voice deep and quiet for his age. Then he glanced over at Darra, his gray eyes meeting hers pointedly. "People who use the Force aren't just Jedi and Sith."

"R-right," she said, her voice small as she shrunk in on herself a little. Then she glanced at Anakin and perked up in panic. "Not that we meant anything rude or cruel by it! We just wanted to put it forth as an option is all! And even if you were, it doesn't mean we won't be your friends! I promise!"

Had this happened a couple of months ago, Anakin would have been floored. Now, he was just… kind of surprised (and his heart a little warmed).

"You would still be my friend if I was a Sith?"

Darra's face colored, almost hiding her freckles, and she shook her head as Hale frowned. "N-no! I mean, not if you were one now or became one in the future, but… um…"

"If you are here now, and that is your past, you're trying to get better," Hale said. "Thus, if that is your past – or something like it – then we don't care."

"Exactly," Darra said, relieved as she nodded eagerly.

Anakin just couldn't seem to compute the idea of all these children knowing about his past and still not caring. It was like they hadn't run across any Jedi dogma at all.

And they just sat there in silence while Anakin wondered how he had missed all of these people the first time around. Well, maybe not Darra, but he certainly hadn't had the kind of respect for her that he did now and—

"Well?" the girl in question asked, having gone from shuffling to outright twitchy. "Do you have memories of being a… darksider?"

Anakin wanted to sigh. He had promised that he'd tell them if they guessed correctly. And while they implied that it had been a different life, their words had not. He was pretty sure they hadn't meant it like that, but they'd stumbled across a way to corner him.

"Yes."

The two looked flabbergasted. They hadn't expected him to answer in the affirmative, he supposed.

"Although it is more complicated than that and I cannot tell you more."

The two nodded, looking a little dazed. Hale's pale eyes had lost their focus and Darra's face had gone terribly white in contrast to her flushing earlier, making her freckles stand out starkly on her face.

And Anakin had been through enough of these little revelations that he knew he had to head a couple of things off.

"Let me address a couple of things. First, yes, Master Yoda knows, as do my mind healers. Maelee and Coira as well. Second, you cannot discuss it without mine or one of the Masters' permission. I cannot stress this enough. Thirdly, yes, it is possible to come back from the dark side, but extremely difficult – to a point of nigh impossibility, but not actual impossibility. Fourthly, I'm reiterating to you that there is more to this that I cannot tell you."

The two initiates looked at each other and then back at him, nodding slowly. They may have said they'd accept him, and he believed they'd try, but they still looked very worried.

He sighed. "How about we speak with Master Yoda tomorrow morning? Would that help?"

The other two blinked for a couple of moments before Darra slowly nodded her head. Then Hale, who looked thoughtful, gave one firm nod.

"Wow… this is… I mean… I didn't think we were actually right," the red-head said softly. "I am so sorry, Anakin."

He raised one eyebrow in question. "Sorry for what?" For uncovering part of his secret?

"That you have those memories."

For several seconds, he could only stare at her.

Then he managed a weak smile. "Me too. Although having these memories will help me save a lot of people… I hope." He really, really hoped.

"That's why you're researching with Master Yoda, isn't it?" Hale asked, gray eyes lighting up in recognition. "Because you have more memories about the dark side and the Sith than we really have any knowledge of today!"

Well… "You're not wrong." They were missing some pretty significant nuance, but he wasn't about to clarify.

"Um… can I… hug you?" Darra asked suddenly, looking a little sheepish.

Anakin blinked. He… well, honestly, he… wouldn't mind… he supposed.

"Um… sure?" he said, perhaps a little hesitantly.

She smiled and carefully stepped forward, then wrapped her arms around him, making sure to broadcast her movements the entire way. It was a surprisingly nice hug, with her arms around his neck and she didn't feel stiff but still seemed firm and…

He didn't think he'd ever had a hug like that from a peer before. Coira hugged him, but hers always seemed… well… desperate, perhaps. Or just enthusiastic? Maelee wasn't one to really hug people, although she had placed a hand on his shoulder in solidarity. But this… this was nice. She was trying to reassure him, obviously, but there was something more to it – something firmer. Like she was happy to be there for him to lean on.

Then he felt a large hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Hale smiling down at him. It was a soft, warm smile and…

Stang. He really did have great friends.

(That would never stop being strange.)

"Well, now that that's over and done with, let's go get food!" Darra said suddenly, stepping back and grinning up at both of them.

Anakin couldn't help but smile back. "Yeah."

xXx

The conversation between Hale, Darra and Master Yoda went rather well, in all actuality. Anakin had informed Coira and Maelee in private about what the other two had confronted him with, and then they'd gone to First meal. Once finished there, he'd taken Darra and Hale with him to speak with Master Yoda. The fact that Girth had been there as well was just icing on the cake. Both of the initiates had agreed to keep their knowledge quiet and left with thoughtful expressions and promises to see Anakin at Second or Third meal.

"I don't remember them being this amazing," the time-traveler said once the door had closed.

Yoda hummed in amusement. "Surprise you, younglings will. The more you look, see more you will."

Girth had nodded in agreement. "A lot of new revelations regarding them are you actively trying to figure them out and applying what you find to yourself, making you a better person too."

Anakin snorted and glanced wryly at both of them. "The fact that I'm far older and have more experience has nothing to do with it?"

"Always grant wisdom, age does not," Yoda pointed out. Anakin couldn't say he was wrong. But before he could say anything else, the old troll sat forward and began to type on his holoscreen. "Now come, sort through more information, we must. Needed, this is."

Anakin just shook his head in amusement and took his own seat.

They took lunch in that room as they usually did, making comments and jotting down points of interest they found. Once Third Meal time came, Anakin was dismissed to go and then given permission to train in the salles for the rest of the evening afterwards.

He took full advantage of that (despite the mild stomach ache he got for training right after eating). He even managed to drag his group of friends down there to give them more instruction. It amazed him how much just teaching the basics to others and helping them focus on getting better helped him get better…

For the next several days, he found few variations to that routine. He would get up, eat First Meal with his friends, then head off to sort more information, eat Third Meal with his friends and then train until bed. He, Yoda and Girth had come across some pretty obvious issues and incriminating evidence in the form of private missives and orders. It almost made Anakin weep with relief that they finally, finally had the proof he'd wanted for so long. And they still hadn't gone through more than a third of it.

Of course, that brought up the point of what they should do with it. Anakin wanted to turn the information over to a couple of Senators he knew were trustworthy, mainly Organa and Mothma (although getting it to the latter would be a little trickier as he'd only met the woman once and going to her world's offices on a whim could draw unwanted attention to both of them – but he had some ideas around that problem).

Yoda wanted to go before the Council. Anakin didn't. Unsurprisingly, it was Girth who came up with a compromise.

"Why not do both?"

Both he and the Grandmaster had just stared at him for several seconds as he shook his head.

"Getting the information out there is the important thing. Having several methods of doing so is the best idea." He paused, then nodded at what ever he'd thought before continuing. "I know a couple of people who are trustworthy. They wouldn't be good at getting the information to the public, but they would be good at keeping it safe. I can give you their information so you can vet them yourself, Master Yoda," he said to the old master.

Funny how these two were about the same height and yet seemed so much larger than their diminutive size somehow.

"Appreciate that, I would," Yoda said with a nod.

"So we'll have to format data disks for the Senators and you'll be presenting it to the Council?" Anakin asked, wanting clarification.

"No," Master Yoda responded with a look in his eye that Anakin didn't like. "Want you to present it, I do."

Another long silence with only blinking and staring. Then, "What? Why?" Anakin asked, incredulous.

"Help them trust you, it will," the Grandmaster said.

Anakin just opened his mouth, then closed it, and opened it again, then looked over at Girth for help.

"If you're feeling up to it, I think it's a good idea," the drall said slowly. "It would help you to confront some of your own problems with trust and the Jedi."

Well… he wasn't wrong but still…

"Think about it," Girth said placatingly. "If you really don't want to do it, we'll discuss it. I don't want to make you do it, right, Master Yoda?"

The old Master held up his hands as if in surrender. "Listen to your judgment on this, I will."

The drall nodded firmly, looking pleased. "Good." Then he turned back to Anakin. "Will you think about it seriously?"

The time-traveler frowned, but nodded.

He would think on it although he knew even that would be difficult. The idea of going before the Council made him physically ill, but just because it was hard didn't mean he couldn't do it, or that he shouldn't. And Girth thought it would be a good idea…

But he couldn't bring himself to commit… which annoyed him more than it probably should. He'd never had a problem committing to his decisions before…

He was glad when Siri called on an intergalactic comm channel to update him on everything almost an hour later, once they'd all gone back to sorting data. He'd happily excused himself to the com station and taken the call.

She wanted to touch base with him and he asked for an update as well. Siri informed him that she and Jango had some leads and were following a couple of trails that looked promising, but he could tell she was too worried to really be truly hopeful about any of them. She didn't tell him where any of the leads were, and he didn't ask. If something happened, she'd get the information he needed to him.

She still grumbled about her current partner every couple of sentences. He found it amusing that she'd gone from outright insults to grudging respect for the bounty hunter and wondered what Jango thought of her now.

After that, he summarized his own week, informing her that some more children had figured out some of his 'secrets', and that he'd give more thorough details when she got back. He also said that his and Master Yoda's project was coming along, albeit slowly, and then told her, in the special sign-language that had been created for the clones just after the war started, that he was afraid he'd compromised himself to 'the enemy'. She was quiet for a while after that, but then asked if he needed her back. He could see the conflict in her eyes over whether to come back or not, and he couldn't bring himself to make her do it. Yes, her presence would be solid and grounding, but he couldn't ask her to give up Ferus like that.

So he shook his head, signed to her that the other party had no proof and he should be fine.

He was honestly just grateful she didn't tell him he was overreacting.

This was, after all, Palpatine.

She wished him well, then he did the same and they cut contact. She'd get in touch again when she had a chance next.

Right now, though, he couldn't worry about her, because had to get back to work. They would get this all sorted in time to do something about it.

He, Master Yoda and Girth sorted information until Third Meal as usual.

xXx

Anakin walked down the hallway leisurely, mind on his recent training session. He was getting better, and he knew it. Once his body had gotten in shape, his skill level had risen exponentially. As of right now, it was just a matter of drilling his body to be in sync with his mind and what he remembered. While he still wasn't as good as he wanted to be, he was getting to a point where he felt he could hold his own against more or less anyone, up to and including Yoda. The fact that he'd been focusing exclusively on training either his body or his Force abilities when he wasn't sorting data may have helped there. Also, the Grandmaster had come and sparred with him now that he didn't have Siri around, and that had helped immensely as well.

Things weren't perfect, but they were progressing positively and that gave him more hope than he'd thought he could have. It both relaxed and excited him that they had a plan that could work.

Unfortunately, he would have to go to see Palpatine again in two days. Tomorrow he would have another mind-healing session. The day after that, he'd go to the Senate. The day after that, another mind-healing session. Then at the end of next week, they would have the gala. He could really only hope they would have the information ready by that time. They had plans, after all.

Well… he had plans that included the time up to the gala. After that, though… All he could really do at that point would be to wait. He hated waiting. It left him feeling lazy and inadequate – like there was something else he should be doing. And when it came to this, he doubted that feeling was wrong.

Girths' words from earlier that week came back to him. Why not do both? He bit his lip as he thought. If he made plans to go before the Council after the gala, that would definitely give him something to focus on… but he still didn't want to. Still… perhaps it was time to put that behind him.

Between that train of thought and the realization that the next couple of weeks would prove to be… difficult, he was contemplating going racing tonight to cope. He hated his mind running around in circles like that.

Someone calling his name broke through his thoughts, and he welcomed the distraction.

"Initiate Skywalker. Could I have a word?"

He glanced back to see one Adi-Gallia. She wore a serene smile on her face as she walked leisurely towards him, her robes swaying gently with her graceful movements. He still frowned in puzzlement as he couldn't think of a reason she would want to speak with him… unless she'd heard from Siri? But he'd just spoken to her the other day. Or was she there on behalf of the Council? He didn't think so… but then, why?

"Master Gallia," he said with a bow. Then he stood and couldn't help but eye her warily. "Have you heard from Siri? Is something wrong?"

"Oh, no," the taller woman shook her head. Even in the artificial light of the Temple, her skin had a healthy, bronze glow that made her look particularly serene and steady. Or was that just her Force presence?

The woman smiled. "I was actually wondering if perhaps you had heard from her recently."

Oh. That made sense. But he hadn't heard from Siri for a couple of days now. So he shook his head.

"Can you sense anything over your bond with her?" the older woman asked.

Anakin blinked but didn't see a reason to deny her that. He closed his eyes and focused. Almost immediately he got a sense of the blond. Siri seemed… focused. He could sense worry and concern along with an underlying rage that startled (and worried) him a little, but otherwise…

"She's fine," he said with a firm nod.

Adi seemed relieved. "Good. I'm glad to hear it."

"I as well," Anakin said, making a mental note to tell Siri to contact her master. "Is there anything else you would like to speak on?"

To his surprise she nodded, and smiled again – a carefree, almost excited smile. "First, I would like to thank you for your concern regarding my former padawan. She can be… worrying at times, especially with her recent illness added into the equation."

Didn't he know it. So he nodded as she continued.

"But your actions and obvious concern put my heart at ease regarding my most recent decision."

Anakin blinked. "Decision?" he asked, wariness back in his voice.

Adi took a breath, as if preparing herself. Oh… oh, no…

"Anakin Skywalker, I, Jedi Master Adi-Gallia, would like to formally ask if you would like to become my Padawan."

Was it bad that his first thought was, 'You have got to be kidding'? He really did feel like the universe's punchline right now.

His second thought wasn't really a thought, but more of a melt-down, or his brain shutting down because… "What?" he managed to croak out.

The woman held up her hands, as if expecting his reaction (was he getting predictable?!) and spoke calmly, her words clear and precise.

"I realize this may feel a little out of the blue, but let me present my reasoning. The first regards Siri and the bond you two share. I don't doubt she would be a good master for you, but she is young and – whether she agrees with it or not – still recovering to an extent. I will admit, I was expecting her to take you as a padawan once you turned twelve, but with this recent sabbatical she's taken, and she said she didn't know when or if she would be able to return, that no longer seems to be the case. Besides, stepping in as a Master who has more experience may be more beneficial to you and her both, in the long run, seeing as you are such good friends and you would be able to remain so without the potential complication of a Master/Padawan relationship.

"Second, I wanted to offer you this as a thank you to everything you've done for her. I can tell you are a loyal friend and a hard worker simply from that observation and I have been greatly impressed, especially as when I first heard of the situation I… was rather distressed. But you have helped her with her strange visions and relapses to a point where I don't think anyone else could have.

"That brings me to my third point. I would like to observe this bond you two seemingly have. I won't lie and say that it doesn't intrigue me. You may find this cold or calculating, but I want to put forth all of the information and motivations I have. I don't believe in coercing and would prefer to be candid."

Anakin appreciated that. He did. But his head was swimming. This would have honestly been his dream initially as a padawan – so many people asking him to train under them – but now… now he just kind of wanted it all to go away. Still, he could bring himself to say nothing as she went on.

"My fourth point? I am on the Council and already have a basis to work from when it comes to your current and past mind-healing sessions. While the details have not been made known to the Council, we do know – very generally – the progress you have made. I have some past experiences in mind-healing myself and thus think I would be in a position to support your growth there. Also, the Council is… growing restless. They know you have some information on the Sith and while we do need it as soon as possible, having a liaison on the Council as a go-between who can advocate for you and make sure you are treated fairly while still understanding the Council's needs will likely put everyone in a better situation and more at ease.

"And lastly…" she paused, her smile growing a bit sad. "Siri trusts you – with a fervor I've rarely seen. At first, she didn't seem like she wanted anything to do with you, but as she's gotten to know you, I have little doubt she would trust you with her life, now. That is no small thing to me. I would like the chance to get to know you as well, Initiate Skywalker. As I feel this would be beneficial for both of us, I decided to approach you and let you decide."

Finally she seemed to be done and took a deep breath. Then she handed over a data pad. "Here are all my points in a presentation. I tend to be a very organized person and that may also be something you need to take into account."

Blankly, Anakin took the powered-down pad and looked down at it for several seconds before looking back up at her.

"Do you have any questions?" she asked.

He blinked, his mind still rebooting.

Times like this, he really missed his older body, mutilated or not.

All he could really get out at that point was an, "Are… you sure?"

To his surprise, she burst into laughter. After a few moments, she calmed down but smiled at him fondly. It reminded him of Siri's smile.

"Oh, Anakin, you're a good kid. I know that Siri would be devastated if we just let you go and honestly, so would I. I know we're not the only ones, too."

"What if I choose to go to the corps instead?" he asked slowly.

Her smile dimmed, but she nodded softly. "Then that will be your choice and we will respect it, but I wanted to make sure you had all options available to choose from. I know you have a… dark past, but you have already overcome so much of it. You are a wonderful person, Anakin, and if you leave, this Order will be poorer for it."

He… really wasn't so sure on that. (That thought may very well be the largest understatement that had ever crossed his mind.)

Still… her words were sincere and heartfelt. That alone warmed him. He couldn't just outright dismiss her without giving her offer due thought.

On top of that, her open demeanor and candid support seemed to have given him the push he needed to decide that he would do as Yoda wished. He would go before the Council after the gala.

"I… thank you for the offer," he started, but she held up a hand before he could go further.

"You do not have to give me an answer now. It is just something to consider. And please don't feel pressured into making a choice. I will not be offended no matter which choice you make."

Anakin closed his mouth, looked at the data pad, and then back up at her again.

"No, I was going to sincerely thank you, Master Gallia," he said with another bow. "For your consideration, for your thoughts and for your encouraging words. You've given me more today than you realize."

She smiled at him, surprised. Then she bowed a little to him. "Thank you for your consideration, Initiate Skywalker."

Then she straightened, beaming at him brightly. "Would you mind if I walked you back to the crèche?"

He couldn't help but smile at her. "I would like that."

She fell into step beside him as he turned to continue on his way.

"I am a little surprised to see you alone at this time," she commented. "Especially as the last time I spoke with you, you had quite the group of friends around you ready to defend you from me."

So, she wanted some small talk? Normally he hated that, but this seemed easier and freer than the small talk he usually had to engage in. Like she really was interested in what he had to say. It was… refreshing. Especially as she was one of those Jedi who still seemed to think of him as an actual child.

"Well, I did just come from the training salles."

"Oh? What form are you working on?"

"Form Five, actually, both Shien and Djem So."

They continued in a similar vein until she dropped him off at his crèche floor. Once there, they bowed to each other and he thanked her for her time. He remembered having to interact with her in the past, before she'd died in the Clone Wars. She'd always seemed so… well, stiff, he supposed? But in a cool, regal way, not in a Mace Windu kind of way. He'd never seen this warm, encouraging side to her.

So… what else had he missed about the other Council members? About the Jedi in general? It was both a welcoming and unsettling thought.

She bid him a good sleep, warned him to go to bed as soon as possible and left him in the capable hands of his current crèche master.

Unbeknownst to her, he sneaked right back out again half an hour later.

xXx

Thanks to Quathis, Khalthar and Hidden50 for their help on this!

Discord: discord. gg/xDDz3gqWfy