The plan was, like many of Anakin's plans, brash and reckless, but it was the best they could come up with on short notice. It was the type of plan that only Obi-Wan and Anakin could pull off.

At least, they hoped they could pull it off.

Even caught off guard - Obi-Wan would be investigating how that had happened later - the Republic responded swiftly to the Separatist invasion. Master Plo and Master Fisto led the Republic fleet, with Ahsoka and Rex masterfully drawing Separatist attention away from two small fighters hurtling towards General Grievous' flagship, Invisible Hand.

Landing two starfighters on the Invisible Hand really should have been more difficult, and it made Obi-Wan uneasy. They made quick work of the few dozen battle droids stationed in the hangar. Anakin nudged the last fallen droid with his foot. Anakin glanced at Obi-Wan. "Grievous won't be taken alive. Not like Dooku."

Obi-Wan exhaled a long breath. "We will do what needs to be done." Obi-Wan surveyed the carnage. "I sense a trap."

"So we spring the trap." Anakin glanced around the hangar. "If I were a big ugly droid," Anakin mused aloud. "Where would I be?"

"The most inconvenient place, I'm sure." Obi-Wan snorted. "To the command deck?"

Anakin bowed to Obi-Wan and gestured to the closest door. "Lead the way."

They shared a grin. Obi-Wan tossed R2 a comlink with strict instructions to wait for orders.

"Suspicious lack of droids," Obi-Wan murmured as they approached the elevator at the end of the hall. All too familiar metal clanking grew closer.

"You had to say something."

Four droidekas unfurled several yards away, shields activating. An annoyance more than dangerous, Obi-Wan and Anakin dispatched the droideka's and opened the elevator.

"They know we're here," Obi-Wan commented.

Anakin pushed a button and the elevator began its ascent. He shrugged. "Could work in our favor."

Obi-Wan made a brief hum of agreement.

The elevator doors parted. Four magna guards, flanked by super battle droids, greeted them, weapons poised.

"See?" Anakin grinned. "What did I tell you?"

Lightsabers quartered the super battle droids with ease, though the magna guards proved to be an annoyance. Grievous selected his bodyguards irritatingly well, but they too fell under Obi-Wan and Anakin's blades.

Grievous awaited them on the command deck, standing alone on the dais overlooking the space battle. "The Negotiator, General Kenobi. I've been waiting for you. And General Skywalker." Grievous coughed. "I was expecting someone of your reputation to be a little… older."

Anakin glanced at Obi-Wan. He gestured to Grievous with a raised eyebrow. "This overgrown droid is General Grievous?" Anakin made a show of looking Grievous up and down. "He's shorter than I expected. Doesn't look so tough to me."

Invisible Hand shuddered under a barrage.

"Jedi scum," Grievous hissed.

Anakin grinned. "Easily riled, isn't he?"

Grievous' only response was drawing his stolen lightsabers.

Obi-Wan kept his focus on Grievous and his four whirling blades. Anakin cleared his throat followed by a shoulder roll - a familiar signal. "Exactly my thought," Obi-Wan murmured.

Their own blades igniting, Obi-Wan and Anakin separated, slowly flanking Grievous.

They attacked. A formidable opponent, Grievous merely chuckled when Obi-Wan severed one of his appendages and continued fighting with tenacity.

But when Anakin severed Grievous' second arm, Grievous coiled and sailed high in the air towards the turbo lift door.

As one, Obi-Wan and Anakin reached out with the Force and yanked him back.

Another arm severed under Obi-Wan's blade. Then, with one swoop, Anakin drove his blade into Grievous' organ sack.

And the war was over.

0

With their leader dead, Obi-Wan and Anakin quickly took control of Invisible Hand. Anakin assumed control of the helm and alerted the fleet to their success.

"Can you pilot this thing?" Obi-Wan asked, sliding into the co-pilot's chair. He glanced at the readouts in front of him, noting with pleasure that the Separatist fleet was already scattering.

Anakin tossed a grin over his shoulder. "Is Tatooine a miserable place?"

Obi-Wan chuckled.

The space battle ended quickly. Hope bubbled up, deep and bright.

The war was over.

Obi-Wan lived. Anakin lived. Adrina lived. Ahsoka lived. So many times, Obi-Wan doubted whether they would endure to the end of the war, yet….they had. Oh, there would no doubt be more skirmishes to bring the Separatist remnants back to the Republic. Senators would be working overtime to sort out diplomatic issues.

But he was alive - and there was hope.

Admiral Yularen contacted Anakin with coordinates for landing. Obi-Wan recognized the location, just outside the Senate District.

"Thank you, Admiral. Taking us down now," Anakin said.

"Rex and Cody will be mad they missed the commandeering of the Hand," Obi-Wan chuckled as they entered Coruscant's atmosphere. "They'll never let it go."

Anakin snickered. "Just get Maelle to smile at Rex and he'll forget all about it."

"You noticed it, too?"

"Please," Anakin scoffed. "The man's twitterpated. Ahsoka's got a betting pool going about how long until they do something about it."

Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow. "I hardly think that's appropriate."

Anakin snorted. "It's Ahsoka."

Obi-Wan sighed. True. Curiosity got the better of him: "What are the bets?"

"Ahsoka says Rex will 'fess to it in less than a year. Cody says longer. But my money is on-" Anakin checked the chrono. "About a month from now."

"Oh?"

"He won't be able to stand not being near her. And the war just ended."

"She's still a Jedi."

Anakin raised an eyebrow. "Have you seen how she looks at him? Please. It's only a matter of time."

Obi-Wan stroked his beard. "He's too honorable. Maelle will be the one to approach."

Anakin paused thoughtfully.

"Wait a minute." Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes at Anakin. "Is there a bet going for me and-"

Anakin's sudden coughing fit interrupted Obi-Wan. His face reddened. He muttered unintelligibly, but Obi-Wan knew Anakin too well to be fooled.

Yes, there was.

Obi-Wan sighed. He really shouldn't be surprised.

Anakin brought the cruiser down onto the landing pad with ease. They both made haste to the ship's exit, eager to be off their enemy's craft. Troopers swarmed onto the ship to begin collecting intel.

Obi-Wan tipped his head back to relish the breeze rustling his hair. The warm sun kissed his skin.

After a moment of silence, Anakin said softly, "I'll head off to the Senate. Someone has to make a report. Where will you go from here?"

Obi-Wan exhaled and looked towards the spires rising in the distance. "It is time to make my final report to the Council."

Anakin clapped Obi-Wan on the shoulder. "Good luck, my friend." He tilted his head. "What will you do, once you leave?"

A slow smile spread across Obi-Wan's face. He'd thought long and hard about that very question. "Get down on my knees and beg your sister to marry me, if she'll have an old man like me." As soon as she was awake and coherent.

Anakin wrapped him in a crushing embrace.

Obi-Wan pulled away laughing. "Enjoy your glorious day with the politicians."

Anakin made a lazy salute. "It'll be torture, but someone has to do it," he said cheerfully.

Obi-Wan looked again at the Temple spires.

Yes, it was time.

0

One by one, the Council members silently filed into the room and took their seats. The handful that were occupied in the Outer Rim sieges appeared in their seats via hologram.

They began, as always, with a moment of silent meditation. But once they lifted their bowed heads, Obi-Wan stood. He took measured, confident steps to the middle of the room.

"Most unusual, Master Obi-Wan," Yoda said, tilting his head. "Something to say, have you?"

Obi-Wan loosely clasped his hands behind his back. Master Plo caught his eye and Obi-Wan's throat constricted. But Plo inclined his head - support, understanding, encouragement. Obi-Wan straightened.

"I have faithfully served in the Jedi Order for over thirty years. Everything I am, I owe to the Order. Everything I have done, I have striven to embody the Code to the best of my ability."

Cautious, confused eyes stared back at him.

Obi-Wan took a moment. One last moment of reflection, one last assurance. But there was no regret in his heart, only peace and confidence that he was stepping onto the right path for the first time in a long while.

Obi-Wan lifted his head. "But no longer. I find myself in the remarkable position of desiring - needing - to resign from the Council."

Surprise rippled through the room.

"Resign?" Master Mundi blinked.

A small smile - contented, certain - lifted the corner of his mouth. "A civilian has no place on the High Council."

The weight of his simple statement settled on the Council.

"You are needed here." Windu's warning rang clearly.

"The war is over. Anything more I desire to do does not require the title of Jedi." Warmth spread throughout Obi-Wan's body. "In fact, it necessitates not being a Jedi."

Windu pressed his lips together. "Then we can expect a similar speech from Healer Skywalker upon her recovery."

Obi-Wan's heart skipped a beat, but he shrugged. "I cannot speak for her." He dearly hoped Windu was right. He did not doubt that, before the bombing, Adrina would do as she declared and leave the Order, but there was no knowing what damage may have been done in the explosion. She may awaken with no memory, or partial memory. He would not hold her to an unspoken promise, no matter how much he longed to spend the rest of his days by her side.

Windu sighed. "I never expected her to stay, but you…" He shook his head.

Obi-Wan sensed the blame they placed at Adrina's feet. His eyes narrowed and his hand slashed the air. "It was the actions of this Council that drove me away. The corruption, the perversion from our purpose. Adrina is not your scapegoat."

"Yet you will abandon the Code and attach yourself to Adrina Skywalker."

Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow. "I have no desire to follow the ordinances of an order to which I no longer belong. I cannot deny that she is a strong motivation, but even were she to reject me, my decision would remain the same. I no longer have a place in the Jedi Order."

"I understand," Master Plo murmured. He bowed his head. "May the Force be with you always."

Obi-Wan bowed low and walked from the room with a contented, hopeful heart and no regret.

He did not look back.

0

Anakin watched Obi-Wan's speeder rise into the sky and navigate carefully into traffic. He smirked and shook his head, but his smile vanished when he turned to the Senate building.

Anakin's suspicions regarding Fives' supposed assassination attempt remained unassuaged; Palpatine's answers rang false. His sudden readiness to differ custody of Count Dooku to the Jedi Council, too, raised alarms, particularly in light of his often snide remarks regarding the Council. Something was afoot and Anakin would get to the bottom of it, if it was the last thing he did.

Anakin suffered through a few minutes of superfluous gratitude and small talk with obsequious, self-important senators before he made his escape. He jogged through the buzzing Senate halls, bypassed the Chancellor's irked security, and entered Palpatine's office without preamble.

"General Grievous is dead," Anakin announced, folding his arms.

Palpatine stood from his desk. "This is most excellent news, indeed! The war, then, is over." He exhaled a great sigh of relief and moved to overlook the city. "Peace, at last."

Peace. Prosperity. Wistfulness swept through him. What a lovely delusion.

Palpatine looked over his shoulder. "You seem troubled, Anakin. Come, this is a time for celebration."

Anakin joined Palpatine at the window. "Apologies, Chancellor. I was lost in thought."

"Oh?"

Anakin gathered his thoughts for a moment. If his growing suspicions were correct, he would need to tread very, very carefully. Subtlety ranked low on the list of Anakin's strengths, but he had not spent years observing Obi-Wan for nothing. "I can't believe Dooku was bold enough to attempt an assassination right here, in the heart of the Republic."

"I confess, I was surprised, as well," Palpatine sighed. "The Separatists have always displayed a measure of cowardice; perhaps they finally rose to the challenge."

"Still, I will personally investigate how Dooku managed to slip through security. If we cannot be safe here, where can we be safe?"

"I would entrust the job to no one else," Palpatine said.

Anakin paused. "Why did you send Dooku to the Jedi Temple?"

Palpatine stilled. "Master Kenobi was correct, as I said. Despite the known severity of his crimes, he is owed a trial."

Liar. "Yes, but why did you send him to the Temple? Why not a Republic holding facility? Ahsoka was to be held in a Republic prison - Tarkin was insistent upon it. Why not Dooku?"

"A prison is a prison," Palpatine chuckled.

Anakin crossed his arms. "That's not what you seemed to think when Ahsoka was - unjustly, I might add - accused of treason."

Palpatine waved his hand. "Dooku is too powerful to be held anywhere else. It is only logical."

Anakin snorted. He'd like to see Ahsoka against Dooku; she'd be more than a match for the old man. His instincts told him that his friend and mentor was not being entirely truthful; there was something Palpatine was holding back. But what?

"You're right, as always." Anakin inclined his head. "You must be relieved to be able to relinquish some of the emergency powers thrust upon you."

Palpatine sighed. "I'm afraid it will be some time before that is able to happen. Dooku is in custody and Grievous is dead, but the Separatists will not easily reintegrate into the Republic."

"I see."

"I could use your help, Anakin," Palpatine admitted. "I could use your strength and wisdom. I couldn't bear to see your extraordinary talents languish during peacetime."

Anakin ducked his head with a self-deprecating chuckle that would have made Obi-Wan proud. "I wouldn't make a good politician."

"I don't need a politician; I need a sword. You're a warrior, not a peacekeeper."

Alarms sounded in Anakin's mind. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Breathe. He maintained a neutral expression and said, "I've had enough fighting for a lifetime."

Palpatine's smile fell - the picture of dejection. "I understand. You have served above and beyond the call of duty." Palpatine clapped his hands together, rallying. "Tell me, how is Senator Amidala? I am sure you are anxious to become a father."

Anakin fixed his eyes on a distant building. "She is doing well. She assures me she and the babies are healthy."

"Yet your nightmares persist?" Palpatine tilted his head.

Anakin frowned. "How did you know about that?" Obi-Wan and Adrina were the only ones in whom he confided his ugly fears. He balled his fists behind his back.

Palpatine smiled indulgently. "It's only natural. After all, terrible things befall those you love, and childbirth is such a vulnerable time. Infants, too - utterly defenseless."

Chills ran down his spine. He clenched his jaw and began pacing the floor. "It's….hard, knowing that I'm not powerful enough to help them." He choked on the awful truth, hating to admit such a thing to a man he no longer trusted, but knowing what role he must play. Anakin crossed his arms across his chest and, following the nudging of the Force, surreptitiously activated his comlink.

"Ah, but you could be." Palpatine smiled. He touched Anakin's shoulder - a cold imitation of comfort. Anakin's skin crawled. "Do you not remember what I told you about Darth Plagueis?"

"You told me he had the power to stop people from dying," Anakin said. He was close to discovering the truth - he felt it in his bones. "Do you think Dooku knows this power? He's a Sith Lord."

"No, no." Palpatine's lip curled disdainfully. "No, his master did not deem him worthy of such knowledge. But you… You are worthy indeed to become the mightiest of the Sith."

Anakin halted. "So it's true," he whispered. "You are the Sith Lord. You were behind it all." All of the death, destruction… Palpatine was behind it all. Millions of lives destroyed because of his old mentor, this man he once considered a dear friend. He was the one who ordered Padmé and Adrina's deaths. He was the one… Anakin's blade ignited, its hum begging to cleave Palpatine in two.

One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Breathe.

Palpatine closes his eyes and leaned his head back. "I feel your anger. That inferno, always seeking to devour, guides you. It gives you focus." Palpatine inhaled deeply and smiled. "You want to kill me."

"I would certainly like to," Anakin snarled. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Breathe. But not yet. Not alone. This time, he would be cunning.

"I know you would. Let me help you learn to know the subtleties of the Force," Palpatine entreated, hands spread wide in a gesture of peace. "If you wish to become a complete and wise leader, you must embrace a larger view of the Force. Only through me can you achieve a power greater than any Jedi. Learn to know the dark side of the Force and you will be able to save your wife and children from certain death. Use my knowledge. I beg you."

That dangerous knowledge called to him, tempted him. Perhaps this was the only way to save Padmé and his children. "You would teach me this power?" Anakin closes his eyes. To protect his family… Perhaps…

A slow smile stretched across Palpatine's face. "Together, we would usher in a new era of peace and prosperity to our empire. Isn't that what you've always wanted? To make the galaxy a safe place to raise your children?"

Yes.

Anakin dropped his head and, ignoring every instinct in his body, deactivated his lightsaber. But there, in his ear, he could almost hear Obi-Wan whisper, "Patience."

Anakin knew what he must do.

He opened his eyes.

Palpatine's veneer of gentility dropped. "You're fulfilling your destiny, Anakin. Become my apprentice; learn to use the darkside of the Force."

Anakin closed his eyes, and, flooded with loathing, dropped to his knees. "I will do whatever you ask, just help me save Padmé's life."

Palpatine tipped his head back. "The Force is strong with you. You will become a powerful Sith."

"What would you have me do?"

Palpatine studied Anakin intently - searching for an answer to an unknown question. He stepped behind his desk. A cruel smile twisted his once-kind face. "Eliminate my enemies - beginning with the Jedi."