Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter. Sorry it took a while to get this up.

Let's get to it.

Rico: The Jedi has been changing since the Clone Wars. Slowly, but surely.

Chapter 5- A New Hunt

Anakin sighs a bit as he walks out of the council chambers. He had just gotten out of a meeting with the other members of the High Council discussing diplomatic missions in the Outer Rim and a few planet border disputes that had recently been brought to the attention of the Jedi. Overall, it was a pretty calm meeting.

"Anakin."

Anakin turns around to see Obi-Wan hurrying up behind him. "Hold on. I have something to talk to you about," he says.

"What is it, Master?" Anakin asks.

"I had a quick encounter with Ahsoka before I came to the meeting. She said that Bo-Katan Kryze contacted her yesterday. Apparently, she's got something she wanted to discuss with us. She's on her way to Coruscant, and wants to meet with us here at the Temple. She's on her way here now. Ahsoka said she'll probably be here within the hour," Obi-Wan says.

"Any idea what exactly she wants?" Anakin asks in confusion. After the Clone Wars, for her efforts and control of the Darksaber, which had been recovered from Maul's vault on Mandalore, Bo-Katan had become Mand'alor. Under her rule, Mandalore's warrior culture had finally gotten on good terms with the Republic. Although things were not perfect for sure, there was definitely cooperation between the Republic and the Mandalorians. Bo-Katan had maintained occasional communication with her friends in the Jedi. However, it had been a little while since they heard from her.

"She didn't say specifically, only that it was important," Obi-Wan says.

"Alright. I'll meet you in the hangar in half an hour. And I'll bring my Padawan with me," Anakin says.

"See you there," Obi-Wan says before walking off.

Anakin heads over to the lifts and descends into the depths of the Temple, heading for the residential quarters. It doesn't take him too long to find his Padawan's quarters, as he has by now memorized their location. Knocking on the door before opening it, Anakin walks in to see Galen doing simple drills with his lightsaber.

Galen turns to face Anakin as he enters the chamber. He quickly deactivates his saber and inclines his head respectfully. "Sorry, master, I was getting in some extra drills," he says.

"That's not a problem, Galen. I'm here to get you for a special meeting," Anakin says.

"A meeting?" Galen asks, his opinion of having to go to a meeting clear.

"Yes. I think it's high time you meet a friend of ours," Anakin says.

"Of course, Master," Galen says.

Anakin leads Galen out of his quarters and off towards the lifts. Together, the two head up to the Temple's main hangar. It takes about ten minutes for the two to reach the hangar, where they find Obi-Wan and Ahsoka waiting for them.

"Masters," Galen greets them respectfully. They smile and nod in return.

"Any word from our visitor?" Anakin asks.

"Just received a message from her. Their ship just came out of hyperspace. They should be here soon," Ahsoka responds.

The group of four waits in silence for a little while before a Gauntlet starfighter flies into the hangar and sets down just yards away from them. As the engines shut down, the boarding ramp lowers from the ship. A few moments later, three Mandalorians come walking down the ramp. From the marking on the helmet, they can easily identify the leader as Bo-Katan.

Bo-Katan and her warriors approach the Jedi. As they approach, Bo-Katan removes her helmet to reveal her face. The edges of her lips twitch upwards a bit as she greets her friends, "It's been a little while, friends."

"Indeed it has, Bo-Katan," Obi-Wan says.

Galen looks intrigued. "You're friends with the Mand'alor?" he asks Anakin.

"Yes. Ahsoka especially, since she helped her free Mandalore of Maul. And Bo-Katan and her warriors helped us in the mission to Dromund Kaas to defeat Darth Sidious," Anakin says.

"Oh, I'd forgotten about that," Galen says.

Bo-Katan smiles slightly as she looks at Galen. "Who's this youngster?" she asks.

Galen looks slightly offended at Bo-Katan calling him youngster. Anakin grins a bit before he answers Bo-Katan, "Bo-Katan, this my new apprentice, Galen Marek. Galen, meet Mand'alor Bo-Katan Kryze."

"An honor, Mand'alor," Galen says in greeting, wanting to be respectful to someone who is essentially a head of state.

Bo-Katan smiles a little bit before looking at Anakin. "Fresh into his training, I assume," she says.

"Yes. I've been his master for just a month," Anakin says. Galen looks more irritated at the teasing, which only makes Ahsoka chuckle at him.

"Well, he does seem to have a warrior spirit. I think he'll go far," Bo-Katan says. Galen smiles, feeling a little happier that at least he's getting some praise.

Obi-Wan chuckles, but recognizes they still have to discuss the problem that brought Bo-Katan to Coruscant. "So, Bo-Katan, what is this most urgent matter that brought you here to Coruscant?"

Bo-Katan looks towards Obi-Wan. "Of course, Kenobi." She pauses for a moment before she says, "I'm here to bring an update of an old mission of ours. Some of my warriors on a journey into the Outer Rim, reported that they sighted Maul on their journey."

All of the Jedi get grave looks on their faces. Maul had escaped recapture in the aftermath of the Clone Wars. The Republic and the Mandalorians had searched for him, but Maul had proven adept at evading notice. Reports had suggested he continued to run his underground crime ring. But despite the Republic and Jedi's best efforts, they could not find Maul.

"You are certain of this?" Obi-Wan asks.

"Yes, they were absolutely certain. They made the decision not to reveal themselves to avoid scaring Maul into another retreat. They are still on world, but keeping out of sight and awaiting reinforcements," Bo-Katan says.

"And you're here to ask for our help?" Obi-Wan asks to confirm his suspicions.

"Yes. I know the Jedi want Maul just as badly as we do. I know you three have a personal stake in the hunt for him. I'm preparing a contingent of warriors to go and hunt him down. I'm here to ask that some of you come with us. We will need a Jedi to bring Maul in," Bo-Katan says.

Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, and Anakin glance between each other before Obi-Wan says, "Anakin, you have family responsibilities here, and Galen has just begun his training. I'm sure that together, Ahsoka and I can handle this. If, that is, Ahsoka, you want to come."

"Yes. I have some unfinished business with Maul," Ahsoka says.

"Alright, master. I want to come, but you have a point," Anakin says. He pauses for a moment, then says, "I'll inform the Council of this. We'll await your reports on the search."

Obi-Wan nods, then turns back to Bo-Katan. "We will prepare our ship immediately. We will depart as soon as it can be prepared," he says.

"Of course," Bo-katan replies.

As Obi-Wan and Ahsoka head off to requisition a ship and prepare it for travel, Galen looks up at Anakin. "Master, I can handle this. We can go with them. The more of us, the better," he insists.

"No, Galen. I know you're very confident in your own power and skill, but you are not ready to deal with somebody like Maul. You have a lot more training to go through before you're ready for something like that," Anakin says sternly.

Galen looks momentarily frustrated, but sighs and nods. Anakin looks at Galen, intently, starting to realize just how much Galen is like his younger self. Master Yoda and Obi-Wan were right to make him my Padawan, he thinks to himself.

(That night)

Anakin walks tiredly into his and Padme's apartment. It's been a really long day and he's pretty tired. He just wants to relax for a little while before heading off to bed.

"Hello, my darling."

Anakin looks up tiredly and sees Padme waiting for him, dressed rather fancy for this hour. Usually by this point in the night, Padme's changed into a nightdress that she wears to bed.

"Well, you certainly look beautiful," Anakin says, walking up and giving her a quick kiss.

"You look so tired," Padme comments on his exhaustion.

"Yeah, it was a long day. Had a lot of training with Galen, and had to help Obi-Wan and Ahsoka get ready to leave," Anakin says.

"Leave?" Padme questions curiously.

"Yeah. Bo-Katan Kryze arrived at the Temple today and informed us that her people have found a possible location of Maul, and she requested Jedi help. Obi-Wan and Ahsoka left to go with her to try and bring him in," Anakin explains.

"Well, that will be good if they can bring him in. I know that is something that has bothered the three of you for the last decade," Padme says with a sympathetic tone. She then smiles and says, "But I'm glad you didn't go with them. Otherwise, by the time you got back, I might not be able to hide it any longer for a surprise."

Anakin looks at Padme in confusion. "What are you talking about?" he asks.

"Well, you know how we have talked occasionally about whether or not we would want Luke and Leia to have a younger sibling?" Padme asks.

Anakin, tired and confused, doesn't get what she's hinting at. "Yeah?" he asks in confusion.

"Well, what if I told you that in about 7½ months, they will be?" Padme says with a mischievous smile.

Anakin is tired enough that it takes him several long moments to realize what Padme is saying, standing there just looking at her in confusion, which just makes Padme giggle in amusement. Then, it finally hits him, and he stumbles back. "Wait? You're pregnant again?" Anakin gasps. Padme nods excitedly.

Anakin stands there for a moment before he leaps forward and sweeps Padme up in his arms and spins her around. "Are you serious? Oh my goodness, Padme! I can't believe it! You just made my day!"

Padme giggles some more before Anakin sets her down. She smiles at him as she says, "You're going to be a dad again, Anakin."

Anakin hugs her tightly, his exhaustion swept away by the joy flooding through him to know that he and Padme are going to have another child.

And, I'll end there.

I hope you liked this chapter, and the main focus of it. As some questioned, Maul will be featured in this story, as he is still at large. And as for the end, well, I've always thought it would be interesting to see in this kind of scenario Padme and Anakin having a third child, so I decided to go with it.

Alright. Next chapter will be up within the next few weeks, hopefully. Until it is, please leave a review, and stay tuned!