Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Plo sat silently in the council chambers as the doors opened, and in walked master Qui-Gon with a little boy, and Obi-Wan.

The entire council watched with curiosity as Qui-Gon stood in the center of the chambers with the boy close in front, a hand on his shoulder.

He noted the excitement the boy held in his eyes, but also some fear.

Understandable, it seemed to be his first time meeting the Jedi.

"Master Jinn, I assume this is an important matter?" Mace inquired.

He and Qui-Gon were friends, though didn't agree on many things.

"Indeed. First and foremost, I encountered an entity on Tatooine." Qui-Gon replied with a nod to Mace.

"An entity?" Questioned Togruta master Aria Wurhui.

She and her sister Mira had been alive for thousands of years since long before the Old Republic, though no one knew how.

They were the oldest Jedi alive, and while Yoda was very wise, the two Togruta females are likely wiser.

Aria and Mira have held seats on the council for many, many years now, since around circa 17, 044 bby in fact.

Essentially they were ancient Jedi.

"I believe a sith. As he used a red lightsaber, and felt decently powerful with the dark side." Qui-Gon answered her.

The council was in disbelief, minus maybe Plo, Aria, Mira, and Yaddle.

"Impossible. The Sith have been extinct for a millennia." Ki-Adi replied with a slight frown.

Plo felt he was wrong to think that but didn't speak up on that thought.

"You're certain it wasn't a rogue Jedi?"

"More than." Qui-Gon replied quickly to Mace's question.

He shifted the topic, knowing a little over half the council would be against him there.

He spoke of the boy, Anakin Skywalker.

Revealing his midi-chlorian count.

At least over 30,000, higher than even master Yoda's.

Telling them that he has a mother yet no father, and that he was conceived by the midi-chlorians.

Plo felt if true, then the boy was a gift from the force itself, though he sensed that most of his fellow councilors didn't share the sentiment.

And he didn't know if that was a good sign, or bad sign.

"A ship...a cup. A ship...a speeder."

The councilors exchanged looks as the boy easily guessed each one, the screen of the pad Mace was holding was held towards Mace, so Anakin had to guess using the force, and he got each one right.

Yoda hummed as he looked at the boy.

"How feel you?"

"Oh, I'm okay sir, a little nervous, but okay." Anakin responded.

"Afraid, are you?"

"No sir."

Yoda shook his head.

"See through you, we can."

"Your thoughts dwell on your mother." Ki-Adi chimed in.

Anakin looked down with a sigh.

"Well I...do miss her."

Plo saw Aria giving him a sad but sympathetic smile, not out of pity, but pure sympathy.

"Afraid to lose her, I think." Yoda added.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Anakin questioned, while Plo noted he was just genuinely curious, some of the others misconstrued his tone as rude.

"Everything. Fear is a path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate...leads to suffering."

Yoda sighed in exasperation.

"I sense much fear in you."

Secretly Plo couldn't help but think the council were, ironically enough, giving into unfounded fear themselves.

Qui-Gon stood behind Anakin again in the chambers as Obi-Wan stood off to the side with a frown.

"Masters, have you decided on the matter of Anakin?"

Mace nodded to Qui-Gon.

"We have, though we aren't in total agreement on this matter."

Qui-Gon silently took note of that.

"Will he be trained?"

A somewhat tense silence followed.

...

"No." Mace replied.

"No?" Qui-Gon asked with some disbelief on his face.

Plo had been one of the few who had sided with Qui-Gon, along with Yaddle, Depa, Aria, and Yarael, though they were outvoted by the other seven council members.

"He is too old." Mace stated flatly.

Plo frowned but stayed silent.

"He is the chosen one, you must see it." Qui-Gon looked at all the councilors, quickly figuring out those who'd sided with him and against him.

"Be that as it may, there is no proof of a Sith return, and he is too old." Saesee spoke up, having been strongly against the idea after sensing the turmoil within Skywalker.

Qui-Gon was stubborn as always though.

"Then I will train him myself, with or without your approval."

"Qui-Gon." Mace tried to warn but was ignored.

"I'm surprised the council has become so ignorant that you've failed to see the reemergence of a Sith, and fail to acknowledge the potential Anakin can achieve."

"Dark potential." Saesee frowned, he was more of an acquaintance to Qui-Gon, they weren't enemies, but they weren't friends.

"In your point of view." Qui-Gon was quick to retort.

Yoda broke it up though.

"Enough arguing, this is. Turn our attention back to Naboo we must."

With that, topics changed, and soon the three left the chambers.

Soon, Plo walked the halls of the temple with Dooku, Qui-Gon, Aria, and Yaddle.

"I believe you're correct that the Sith have reemerged, and that Anakin should be trained, but to go off on the council like that will get you nowhere Qui-Gon." Plo spoke, softly but firmly.

He agreed with Qui-Gon on not all, but a lot of things, but didn't agree with his friend's approach.

"I know Plo, but how else will they see their flaws?" Qui-Gon nodded.

"Not by themselves, I admit. While I somewhat disagree with the approach, I agree wholeheartedly with your sentiments." Yaddle looked up to him with a nod.

"Thank you master Yaddle."

Though Qui-Gon had to leave.

"Hopefully the council will change their minds by the time we return."

Aria looked to Qui-Gon.

"Perhaps I could speak to Eeth, and maybe Adi, though I'm not confident it will work out as you think."

"So you agree with the majority of the council?" Dooku looked to her.

She frowned slightly and shook her head.

"No. Though I believe that master Yaddle is correct. The majority of the council have become far too complacent, including my sister, that they won't see anything clearly until it's too late." She replied.

Qui-Gon nodded in acknowledgement as he bowed to all of them respectfully.

"I leave you now friends, though I shouldn't be too long."

"Good luck Qui-Gon." Plo said.

And with that he left.

Yaddle looked up to Dooku with curiosity.

"Does something trouble you?"

Dooku shook his head and smiled a bit.

"They grow up quickly."

Yaddle smiled.

"That is the way of things."

Everything has changed.

And it will be very different now.

Plo stood silently beside Mira at Qui-Gon's funeral on Naboo.

He heard Obi-Wan and Anakin talking but tuned it out for now, and also overheard Mace and Yoda.

"Qui-Gon was right. The Sith have returned, and we were blind to it."

"Always two, there are. A master, and an apprentice."

"But which was destroyed? The master, or the apprentice?"

"If the master it was, not standing with us, would Obi-Wan be."

Plo just watched as Qui-Gon's body slowly burned to ashes.

He felt the council was at fault here, had they listened to Qui-Gon, he likely would still be alive.

They could have sent someone on the council with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan.

Saesee Tiin, Eeth Koth, or Ki-Adi-Mundi, but no, they didn't listen, gave into fear of the unknown, and well, look what happened.

Now he understood why Aria and Yaddle stepped down right after Qui-Gon and the others left back to Naboo.

The council had fallen far.

Only now it was just him, Yarael, and Depa.

Plo had sensed Eeth and Mace were conflicted, so maybe they could sway them, but then it would be five against five, and Yoda would likely vote against Skywalker.

So for now, he, Depa, and Yarael were the only remaining members who sided with the now late Jedi master and didn't follow blind fear.

Plo looked over to Skywalker, noting the light quickly fading from the boy's eyes.

But the force spoke to him.

'If led down the wrong path, he will destroy all balance. He must be trained as a vessel of the force, in order to bring balance to the force.'

And from that moment, unbeknownst to Skywalker, a Kel-Dor master made it his mission to restore the light to the boy's eyes.

And if it meant going against the council to accomplish, then so be it.

Chapter Text

The council reconvened in the council chambers, taking their usual seats.

Both Aria and Yaddle stepped down right after Qui-Gon and the others had gone back to Naboo, so now two seats were open.

The council agreed on one to possibly be filled by master Oppo Rancisis.

But on to more important matters.

"Master Yoda, you seem troubled." Master Depa Billaba spoke, looking to the grandmaster with slight concern but mostly curiosity as to what seemed to be on his mind.

Yoda sighed, now was the best time.

"Learned on Naboo, that promised Qui-Gon before he died that train Skywalker he would, Obi-Wan did."

...

Silence.

Depa and Plo didn't look as if they had any issue with it, neither did Yarael.

The rest of the council was not the case.

"Are you serious? So what, he just defies the council now?" Saesee scoffed, feeling disgusted towards Obi-Wan for defying the council on the matter.

"Whether it be master Jinn's dying wish or not, we already decided the boy will not be trained. You said it yourself master Windu."

Mace frowned towards Mundi, initially he'd disagreed, but he'd realized how hypocritical he'd been by giving into fear of the unknown, or fear in general.

"Initially yes, however, things have changed."

"Mace..." Saesee began.

"Things have changed. We all know this." Mace interjected sternly.

Plo nodded in silent agreement.

Yarael spoke up softly but clearly after a moment, uncharacteristically chiming in.

"Will the council honor his wish?"

Yoda mulled this over.

After a moment, he spoke.

But not what Plo hoped to hear.

"No. Too unstable, the boy is, make it as a Jedi, he will not." 

"Who are we to dictate that?" 

Surprisingly it was Eeth Koth who spoke up.

"You sensed it as well as us Eeth, the boy has too strong a pull to the dark side." Saesee frowned.

Plo chimed in, not believing his ears.

"So you would judge him rather than give him even one chance? For a life that he wants, dreams of, deserves?" 

Yoda sighed as he turned to Plo.

"An easy choice, this was not."

"Not the right one either." Depa quickly said while shaking her head.

"But right master Tiin is, too reliant on the dark side he will be, easily swayed to join the Sith, he would be." 

Mace silently disagreed, sure Skywalker had natural affinity for the dark side, but that didn't make him evil or anything, kind of like Mace or Depa themselves, who used form seven to convert such emotions.

Plo just suddenly felt that Qui-Gon and Dooku's views of the council were correct in entirety.

They were truly hypocrites of their own code.

He noted that Depa, Yarael, Mace, and Eeth also disagreed with this decision, which should give them a majority, but of course, the grandmaster has a bit more power than them.

He sighed as he nodded.

"So be it."

All eyes were on him as he rose from his seat.

"Fellow masters, I hereby announce my resignation from this council."

That took Yoda by great surprise, especially since Plo's seat was for life.

Or supposed to be.

"You would do this for that boy?" Saesee asked with slight disgust and disappointment.

Plo frowned as he looked at him.

"That boy as you call him is a living being with feelings and emotions. He should be given fair treatment as any other Jedi in this order. Why fear him? He's only a child, and just because he feels such emotions doesn't make him a threat, so why are you treating him like a Sith?" 

Yoda almost flinched at the oddly stern tone.

Saesee rolled his eyes.

"The boy is nothing but a slave to his emotions, it's all he'll ever be." 

Plo stared at him.

So the council truly had fallen this far? 

"He was not blessed to be born into this order, frankly it would've been a curse anyway from how you're behaving. He was born as a slave, into a world full of emotions, emotions he should be allowed to feel, emotions any Jedi should be allowed to feel. Repressing such emotion is not only unhealthy, it is unbecoming of a Jedi. Not only that, but it only pushes one further towards the path of the Sith. The fact you cannot see that deeply saddens me, yet, I find I'm not surprised." 

Silence filled the chambers.

Mira, Yoda, Adi, and Saesee were against all this, Plo couldn't believe Mira herself had become so blind and complacent.

Though Mace, Eeth, Depa, and Yarael agreed with Plo, it was five to four essentially.

One side agreed with Plo, the other did not.

"I find I need to complete a session of deep meditation, thank you for listening." 

He promptly exited.

Dooku stood looking down at the ground sadly outside.

Qui-Gon was gone, it took a while for it to sink in.

"You seem to be faring worse than I at the moment."

He recognized master Plo's voice, but didn't turn around yet.

"Losing your former student does that to you." He replied a bit sadly and bitterly.

He knew Plo had Qui-Gon's back, but he didn't feel the same towards the rest of the council, not even Yoda.

That had truly hurt.

"I did not see you at the funeral." Plo added.

Dooku frowned.

"I was not going to stand in the presence of such hypocrites."

"You hold the council...accountable?" 

Plo almost sounded hopeful he noted, that was a bit odd.

"Had they heeded his warnings, he would still be standing with us." 

Dooku sighed, releasing his anger into the force.

"But I know he would not want me in my current state, so it is time to let him go."

He turned and walked past Plo.

"And you can accomplish this?" 

Dooku stopped.

Truthfully, no, but of course, the Jedi code would forbid such a thing.

"As a Jedi, I must."

And he left, leaving Plo in his own thoughts.

He journeyed to the temple archives, and there, he deleted information regarding the system of Kamino.

He wanted to tell Sifo goodbye, but he knew if he did, her end up staying, so left instead.

He went to the hangar, and entered a starfighter before taking off, towards the industrial sector of Coruscant.

He knew he was making a big mistake, yet, he found he couldn't even be angry with himself, but all anger was towards that ridiculous excuse of a council, and his former master.

But, he couldn't escape this gnawing feeling that this was a big mistake, that if he wasn't certain, he'd never be able to return from it.

Chapter Text

Dooku hadn't been glad to see Sidious, more cautiously optimistic.

He may have agreed to join him, sort of, but Dooku wasn't an idiot, he knew Sidious would off him at some point.

He was a Sith Lord after all.

After arriving at the hideout, they talked about future plans.

The clone army, the clone wars, the eventually downfall of the Jedi, and all that.

Though it led back to something he had been unprepared for.

"And master Diyas?" Dooku inquired, as he and Sidious were discussing him.

Sidious nodded.

"Worry not of him Lord Tyranus. I will request the Jedi council dispatch him to resolve an issue on Oba Diah. But his ship will be shot down on the moon orbiting the planet, I've paid the Pykes handsomely for the task to be completed." 

...

Sidious never mentioned that those Dooku did still care for would have to die.

Well Plo would in the far future when the clones betrayed the Jedi, but Dooku felt that he could save him before then at least.

But Sifo, that...was unexpected.

"So he must die then?"

Sidious nodded again.

"Yes, he must die. Master Diyas would be too large a problem for us in the future should he remain, we must get rid of him while we still have the best opportunity."

The Sith Lord looked at him.

"Are you second guessing yourself, Tyranus?"

Dooku immediately shook his head.

"Of course not master, merely curious."

"I'm aware of your friendship, but for the greater good and for future peace, sacrifices must be made on both sides." 

Dooku nodded along.

He'd come too far now anyway.

They continued, Jango Fett brought up, as Sidious had Dooku approach him months ago for his DNA for the cloners on Kamino.

Neither Sidious nor Dooku particularly cared for the Kaminoans, but were willing to do business with them.

"So our next move?" Dooku questioned as Sidious pondered on that.

He had multiple schemes, so, which would he hatch next?

That was the question.

"Perhaps to surrender." A new voice joined.

They both turned around, and Dooku was caught off guard.

Master Billaba? What was she doing here?

"This ends here, Sith Lord." She frowned at Sidious as she said this before her attention went to Dooku.

"Master Dooku, step to me. Whatever your crimes are, whatever you have done, you can rectify it all by bringing him to justice." 

Dooku stared at her.

Sidious initially thought Dooku set him up, but the surprise on Dooku's face and in his force signature made that thought vanish immediately.

"Then you heard all this, you know." 

His voice was almost mournful.

Depa shook her head.

"That doesn't matter. All that does matter is you coming forth and helping me here and now, there's still a chance to make it all right."

Her gaze became saddened.

Sidious then spoke.

"Lord Tyranus, you have been quite a useful ally. However, prove your loyalty to me, and strike her down." 

Dooku knew that tone, it left no room to go against.

"You know as well as I that their council will not act on anything until it is far too late for action, and they are blind fools. They care nought for your views or opinions, nor your suffering, they only sit in their glorious Ivory tower and speak of politics. How sad how far they have truly fallen."

The sad thing about that was, Depa didn't even speak up or object to Sidious' words, even if he were just manipulating Dooku, the words were true.

...

Almost entirely true.

Dooku looked to Depa.

"Do not do this Dooku, help me make this right."

"I'm afraid." 

"I know you are." 

For a moment their gazes never left the other.

Until Dooku shook his head and closed his eyes before opening them again.

"I'm afraid it is...too late."

He ignited his blue lightsaber, getting into his signature combat stance 

Depa slightly recoiled as she shook her head in disbelief.

"No."

...

The council had done this.

Yoda had done this.

Even she had done this, even if unintentional and indirectly.

Dooku sped forward as she went for her lightsaber, igniting it as green blocked blue and they clashed with each other.

Dooku knew that when she used form seven he'd have to be careful.

He slashed out at her, but she blocked and spun back as she looked at him again, a look of great pain and sorrow on her face.

Silently she blamed this on the council, even Yoda, they'd pushed him to this point.

She knew despite her own skill and power, she was no match for him, so she quickly ducked into the shadows, hiding.

Sidious just watched as Dooku searched for her.

He knew Billaba had to die now, if she escaped and warned the Jedi council then his plans would likely be ruined in entirety.

Depa walked up to Plo in the halls, he seemed...concerned.

"What is it master Plo?" 

"I worry for Dooku. I could sense the dark side, yet not all of it emanated from him." He replied.

"The Sith master you think?" She inquired, not wanting to believe that Dooku had fallen.

Truthfully though she wouldn't blame him if he did.

"Indeed."

He stopped and looked to her, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Follow him, watch him. Report back immediately if you find out anything. Please?" 

Depa nodded without hesitation. She would also talk to Dooku, mostly because she felt obligated to do so.

"I will." 

"You were right Dooku." 

He listened as he heard her speak from wherever she was hiding.

"About the order. Masters Aria and Yaddle stepped down from their positions on the high council, as did master Plo after we returned."

That caught his interest. Plo of all Jedi left the council? That definitely conveyed how flawed the council was, was that why Dooku noticed Plo sounded hopeful Dooku would put blame on the council?

"Even masters Koth and Windu see it now, you were right about so many things. The council should have listened, Qui-Gon did not have to die." She continued in a regretful tone of voice.

That made him halt.

Mace... actually believed him now? After all this time? It took all this for him to come around? And Koth as well?

Better late than never, considering Dooku knee some, like Saesee and Ki-Adi were too blind and complacent in their ways, caring about nothing but maintaining a rather poor status quo.

"But Qui-Gon died for an order he still believed in, even despite all odds, he died a hero. I beg you Dooku, please, do not allow his sacrifice to be in vain by joining the Sith." 

It was a moment.

One of brief clarity...

But it was more than enough.

He realized she was right, Qui-Gon wouldn't want any of it.

Not the fall of the Republic, the Clone Wars, him joining Sidious, the destruction of the Jedi...

No.

He'd be very disappointed.

And Dooku couldn't disappoint Qui-Gon.

Others perhaps, but never him.

Sidious meanwhile scowled silently as he turned to Dooku and shot lightning at him while his back remained turned, sending him flying off his feet and to the floor.

He was not about to tolerate what he knew were second thoughts.

Guess he had to do it himself this time.

Depa emerged from the shadows, rushing in front of a downed Dooku, shielding him.

She was protecting him, even after he'd just tried to kill her.

The Sith Lord laughed.

"What hope do you have to defeat me Jedi?" 

Depa steadied herself.

She'd neglected to tell any other Jedi of where she'd gone, even Plo.

Meaning...she was on her own unless Dooku helped her.

Otherwise, she knew she would die here.

"Because I have something worth fighting for."

"That is?" Sidious was disinterested, but let her go on with her little charade.

"Forgiveness." 

Dooku looked up to her from the ground behind her.

He truly did not deserve this.

...

Yet here they were, Depa shielding him from the most powerful Sith currently alive, and Dooku himself was currently still on the ground.

He'd second guessed, and now he knew Sidious would kill him, regardless of whether or not Dooku changed his mind and killed Depa.

He realized he was nothing to him, nothing but a means of gaining absolute power in such an unstable galaxy.

He slowly but surely got to his feet, summoning his lightsaber back.

Depa barely turned and looked at him.

She knew this would easily be her demise if Dooku turned on her, but, it was a risk she was willing to take.

Because she was a Jedi.

Dooku walked forward to stand by her side, getting back into his signature stance as he reignited his lightsaber.

Sidious looked between them both.

'so you have betrayed me, Lord Tyranus. It's treason...then.' he thought to himself.

His tone was cold.

"So be it, Jedi." 

He summoned two red lightsabers, igniting them and spinning them around.

He then jumped through the air, spinning around fast as he let out a Sith war cry and force scream before landing in front of them.

And the duel commenced.

Depa was able to counter despite his immense speed, and Dooku was one of the order's best duelist.

The Sith spun around at almost inhuman speed as he attacked them, swiftly and relentlessly.

Depa used her agility and skill in form seven to keep herself away from the heavier strikes, allowing Dooku to take the brunt of the attacks.

Dooku was the superior duelist, the only Jedi he challenged to a duel that he had never beaten was Yoda.

Though it proved a good match.

While Sidious was a master duelist, he was more powerful with the force than he was with lightsabers.

Whereas Dooku was the superior lightsaber duelist between the two, so Sidious could only win if he used his powers in the force.

However, he knew he had to take one of them down, because he couldn't beat the combination of the two Jedi masters.

Billaba was the weaker opponent of the two, so Sidious knew if he wanted any chance here, he'd have to take her out of the fight first.

So he singled her out after knocking Dooku back a bit.

He sent a strong force push her way, which sent her flying back as she had been charging towards him.

She hit the cockpit of the ship she came in, hard, before falling to the ground, lightsaber deactivating and falling from her grip.

Sidious cackled, now it was more of a match.

Dooku blocked an attack as he looked to Depa's unconscious form.

He worried, but he had to kill Sidious right now.

He force pushed Sidious back before summoning Depa's lightsaber to him, reigniting it as he dual wielded his saber and Depa's.

Sidious was growing annoyed.

But this meant Dooku knew he had the advantage here.

"How dare you betray me Tyranus. For that, you will die."

Dooku shook his head as he struck out at Sidious, engaging in a lightsaber lock.

"You wanted not peace, but an evil empire for yourself. I will not side with those who twist their words in such ways." 

He spun around, as the two fought.

Sidious lost his footing suddenly, and Dooku struck diagonally, cutting through one of Sidious' lightsabers as Sidious fell to the floor.

Dooku twirled his other lightsaber, knocking the other from Sidious' hand.

The Sith Lord was beyond enraged as he sent out a powerful wave of lightning at Dooku, who deflected it.

Depa's lightsaber flew from his hand, as he continued deflecting the lightning.

Though then he deflected it back at Sidious, who groaned in pain as he was electrocuted by his own lightning.

How ironic that he destroyed himself while trying to destroy others.

Yet, it was karmatic justice.

Sidious stopped, it became too much as his face started greying and he started becoming almost incenerated by his own attack.

Dooku saw his chance.

Without hesitation, he brought his saber down and into the chest of the Sith Lord, before retracting it and decapitating him, and then sliced his body vertically in two.

A brutal end to Sheev Palpatine, aka, Darth Sidious.

It was done.

Dooku deactivated and sheathed his lightsaber as he summoned Depa's lightsaber back to him, clipping it on his belt.

Then he rushed over to her, she was still out.

The force that she hit the ship with could have killed her, and if not that, paralyzed her.

He didn't want either of those things.

He swiftly got her in the cockpit of his ship before he lifted them off.

The Sith Lord was gone now, and his priority was Depa as he sped them back to the Jedi temple.

Chapter Text

Dooku didn't pay mind to anyone as he exited the ship with an injured and unconscious Billaba in his arms.

He ran through the halls and to the halls of healing.

Chief healer Osedh stood outside, already sensing he was coming.

"Master Dooku-"

"No time master Osedh."

He quickly ran in and placed Depa on a bed.

Valurha immediately went to work, checking Depa over to determine any injuries she sustained.

"What happened Dooku?"

Mace Windu stood in the doorway and entered, concerned for Depa.

"I encountered and fought a Sith Lord in the Industrial sector, master Billaba had been following me and she assisted. She was force pushed into her ship, and hit the back of her head and back hard." Dooku replied.

Mace could tell that wasn't really the whole truth and that Dooku was hiding things, but that could be set aside for now.

"Who was this Sith?"

"Chancellor Palpatine."

"The Chancellor? But...we would have sensed it..." Mace trailed off, yet the force rang out with truth, Palpatine was the Sith.

Confirmed when the force no longer felt strained or suffocated by the dark side, it felt like a fog that was quickly lifting.

"You should know the Sith have ways of hiding their force signatures. If your council failed to see him, then you truly are lost." Dooku stated bitterly.

In his eyes, only Plo, Aria, Yaddle, and Depa truly had his back, maybe Yarael as well, but he didn't care about the others.

Besides he and Windu were very distant now.

"Master Windu, to the industrial sector, you will go. With you, take masters Yarael and Koth." Yoda entered the room.

Mace nodded.

"Yes master."

He wanted to stay, but, Depa would be fine in master Osedh's care.

He exited, leaving Dooku to speak to Yoda.

"Is this what it's come to master? Shooing away the masters who see the truth? Master Billaba made me well aware that masters Aria, Yaddle, and Plo stepped down from the council." Dooku frowned, his expression steeled.

He felt the most bitterness towards Yoda.

"Not right are all of our decisions, flaws the council has, and flaws the order has. Blind to this, we are not. Mistakes made on all sides, there have been." Yoda nodded.

Dooku almost wanted to scoff, mistakes made on all sides? So he wasn't taking actual responsibility then.

"Mistakes that caused one master to perish, and almost led to the death of master Billaba, all because of the council's arrogance."

"The risks, Depa knew, as did Qui-Gon. Sacrifice themselves for greater causes, they were prepared to. Not die did Qui-Gon, but a sacrifice he made. Not in vain, will his sacrifice be, and not in vain, is your victory over the Sith Lord. Dissipating, the dark side's hold is, very fast its hold is vanishing. Clearer already, the light side is, as is the force. Because of that, better decisions moving forward, the council can make, because gone now the Sith are." 

Dooku frowned ever so slightly at that.

So again, they weren't taking responsibility, just brushing it all off as 'the will of the force' or 'sacrifice for greater causes'.

Then they were still assuming things that weren't true.

The Sith Lord was gone, yes, but not the Sith in entirety.

Yoda sighed.

"But great discussions with the Senate, the council must have, with the Chancellor as the Sith, revealed corruption in the Senate, this has." 

...

And still playing politics, disgusting.

Dooku was becoming all the more disillusioned by the minute.

But he put that aside in favor of more important matters at hand.

Valurha ran a scan, concluding Depa had a broken spinal cord, but thankfully it wasn't too damaged and she expected that Depa would be able to make a full recovery in the next two to three months.

So one worry left Dooku's brain.

Then entered Sifo Diyas, who ignored Yoda and came directly over to Dooku.

"Dooku, what happened? I hear you found a Sith?" 

Dooku didn't have the heart to confess the whole and true story though.

So he put his own spin on it.

"I traveled to the industrial sector as I'd been tracking the Chancellor's movements and they seemed rather strange for the new leader of the Republic. Upon arrival I encountered him, the Sith Lord, Sheev Palpatine, or Darth Sidious, and he immediately engaged me. I held him off for a while, until master Billaba arrived as she had been following me in case I required assistance. After that, we both duelled him, but he knocked Depa out of the fight. I was able to defeat him not long after, do to my duelling skills, as he seemed more superior in the ways of the force rather than with lightsabers."

Sifo nodded, given he trusted his friend fully he believed every word.

Which only meant the council truly was blind.

Honestly how could they not have sensed the Sith were so close?

"Did you learn of any potential plans of his?" 

Dooku shook his head.

"He wasn't exactly keen on talking to a Jedi master."

Sifo once again excepted the explanation.

Yoda hummed.

"A part of his plan to assume control of the senate, it likely was. Why control over the Senate Palpatine would want, know I do not."

He shook his head.

"But investigate this we will, uncover whatever plot may be already in motion, we must."

"I will help in that regard, though I'm unsure where to start." Sifo replied.

"To the industrial sector, I sent Windu, Yarael, and Koth. Hm, the Chancellor's office, a good place to search, it is. With you, take master Yaddle." Yoda suggested.

Sifo nodded and bowed.

"We shall leave at once."

He gave Dooku a quick look before exiting himself.

Yoda sighed, he was tired.

Skywalker's appearance, Qui-Gon's death, Dooku and Depa finding and ending the Sith Lord, the force no longer feeling almost suffocating, Palpatine having been the Sith Lord under the council's noses, it was all a bit much to take in.

He hadn't anticipated any of it, then again how could he? The dark side until now had completely clouded any potential answers and hid any threat to the Jedi from view.

He did notice something though.

The Sith Assassin Maul had been Sidious' apprentice, yet, Yoda felt a piece of the puzzle was missing.

Had there been a third?

He hated the thought ironically enough, but, for Sidious to have existed as a Sith, there had to be a Sith Lord before him.

You don't become grandmaster by being totally blind or entirely arrogant.

Yoda would admit he'd become a bit too complacent and somewhat arrogant, but he wasn't blind to the flaws of himself, the council, or the order as a whole.

...

Yet he failed to see two Sith, and possibly a third, who may or may not still be alive.

They'd have to find that out and quickly.

Another Sith is the last thing they needed.

Meanwhile Dooku just watched as Yoda exited while in a state of deep contemplation.

He dare say he didn't want to be part of the order anymore.

...

But what could he do?

He couldn't leave yet, he clearly has people who had been and still we're sticking up for him, like Depa, Plo, Aria, Yaddle, and possibly Yarael.

Also he still had Sifo as well, so he couldn't leave them.

So he'd bide his time and wait.

He got a feeling that something big was about to go down.

And he was both excited and afraid to see what it would be.

Chapter Text

Aria steadied herself as she began recording herself in the archives.

This would go out to every Jedi in the order.

And the council likely wouldn't be very pleased, but frankly at this point, she found she was completely numb to the opinions of the council.

...

While unsure of this, she trusted in Plo's plan.

"Greetings fellow Jedi, this is Jedi master Aria Wurhui, former Grandmaster of the Jedi order and former member of the high council. My friends, I regret to report that this order has become lost, lost in politics, arrogance, and complacency. The council has become too involved in the affairs of the Republic Senate as of late, as such my own faith has been greatly shaken. Yes we could be allies of the Republic, but with all the corruption in the Senate now isn't that time, and nor should we merely be sitting up in a fancy ivory tower and bowing to the Senate's will. As Jedi, we are keepers of the peace, and servants to the force itself."

She sighed and shook her head.

"Yet the Jedi are failing to do anything, and have become hypocrites to their own code. Slavery is still rampant and crime lords, including the hutts and the Black Sun, rule the lawless outer-rim. The fact slavery still exists only goes to prove the council's total inaction and neglect. We've failed to uphold the mandates that this order was founded on so long ago on Ahch-To. This order itself is nothing of what it should be, the council even fears a nine year old boy who clearly dreams of being a Jedi, yet they give into fear of a potential future, ironic given they preach that fear is a path to the dark side." 

She nodded.

"But I digress. My point is...I have lost all faith in this order and believe a new order must be established, one that actually upholds our principles as Jedi. One that allows someone of any age to become a true Jedi, a wielder of both the light and the dark, but letting neither side control them. One where certain council members are not muted out by the rest and whose words will always be taken into account. One where emotion would be allowed and encouraged, not forced down and repressed. These are not true Jedi values and only hinder one not just as a Jedi, but as an individual. I recall the days thousands of years ago, with the Jedi of old, whom I once served as grandmaster of."

She bowed her head.

" There is Ignorance, yet Knowledge."

"There is Passion, yet Serenity."

"There is Chaos, yet Harmony."

"There is Emotion, yet Peace."

"There is Death, yet the Force."

She looked back up, a sad smile crossing her face.

"Now I leave you all to your own thoughts. To any who disagree with me, I will not try to change your mind as I know better than to try and force my own views upon you. To those who agree, consider this...leave this order alongside me, and let us forge new, and brighter generations...of the children of the force. May the force be with us all." 

And so she ended her recording, and it began processing.

Aria exited the archives.

And soon, the message was being sent out to every single Jedi in the galaxy, be it at the temple, somewhere else on Coruscant, or any who were off-world.

Her voice...would have an impact that many would not expect.

And thus why Aria stood before the council now.

Yarael looked at her, sympathizing with everything said in that message. 

Eeth was unreadable, as was Adi.

Ki-Adi, Saesee, Yoda, and even Mira looked at her with great disappointment.

"Serious, this is." 

"What were you trying to accomplish, a revolt? A coup?" Saesee questioned, almost snarling in anger.

Aria looked blankly at him.

She recalled all those years ago when he was only 5 years old, being picked on by other children in the temple.

All because he was an Iktotchi.

She had been the only one to stick up for him, the only one who had his back.

Always.

...

Yet she found this was not the Saesee Tiin she'd known, the order's complacency had changed him entirely, and not for the better.

Her bond with him was broken at this point, because she truly didn't know him anymore.

"I'm disturbed you'd think that was my intention."

"Wasn't it?" Mundi inquired, his tone harsher.

"No, I merely conveyed my feelings towards the rest of the order, and pointed out all the flaws within which I should have done many, many years ago." She replied coolly.

To her, Mundi was trimming a thin line, she was more neutral towards him, but his seemingly emotionless attitude made him harder to remain as such with.

Even so, she'd only ever been kind to him.

Mira sighed.

"Enough with whatever this is Aria, delete the recording and all will be as it once was." 

"..."

Aria's gaze turned to her sister.

No, that wasn't her sister, not anymore, just a shell of who once was Mira Wurhui.

It truly hurt her how even her sister was against her.

She broke their bond as well, Mira was also unrecognizable at this point.

If Mira felt it through the force, she either didn't acknowledge it or didn't really care.

"No. What I said was how I truly felt about the Jedi order and this council. You even accuse your own members of trying to cause a revolt within the ranks if they don't go along with everything you say or do." She gave pointed looks at Tiin and Mundi.

Yoda blinked.

On one side, he agreed, the other, he disagreed.

"Risk expulsion from the order, you do, master Aria. Want that, we do not. Respect you greatly we do, but too far, this is. Encouraging use of the dark side, wrong that is, lead many to the ways of the Sith, it would."

At that, Aria let out a humorless chuckle.

"Impossible to expel someone who leaves beforehand. Also do not tell me what is wise and what is not, I was grandmaster long before your time Yoda, thousands upon thousands of years before your existence. The dark side is not evil as you try and make others view it as, rather it depends on the person who wields it." She stared directly into his eyes.

Yoda almost flinched at her almost evil sounding laugh, but kept himself.

"I fail to see who would join you in such a ridiculous endeavor." Tiin rolled his eyes in annoyance but she ignored him.

...

Suddenly, the master of the order rose from his seat.

"Mace?" Mira inquired.

Mace looked at Aria.

"I will."

...

Yoda and several others looked at him in complete disbelief.

"M-master Windu?" Mundi started.

Soon however, Eeth Koth also rose, along with Yarael Poof.

Yarael agreed with everything Aria said, both here and in her message to the whole order.

Eeth meanwhile had been becoming doubtful in the order following a rather...unholy, encounter with Agen Kolar.

Thoughts of a potential future with the younger male zabrak made him question his role in the order and on the council.

...

Both sides were a bit shocked when Adi Gallia rose as well.

"Master Gallia? You as well?" Saesee asked in disbelief.

She sighed.

"The fact that the council would rather send a child back into slavery than make any move to bring an end to such a horrid institution...well...clearly the inaction spoke louder than words."

Aria nodded, agreeing and appreciating that she'd managed to convince someone who was usually a very strong supporter of the council.

The Jedi grouped up, as Adi walked over to join them.

Mace looked directly at Yoda.

"Sit up here in your glorious tower and allow yourselves to slowly rot away to a corrupt Republic, since you will not act on anything, it's about time we took things into our own hands. I find those of you who remain opposed to it all are not worthy of us calling you masters or giving you bows of respect." 

His tone was...cold.

"Drown...in your own hypocrisy."

And the group left the council chambers, and it was clear none were ever coming back.

Aria sighed as the elevator continued to descend.

"Was this the right call?" 

Mace put a hand on her shoulder in support.

"I believe it was long overdue." 

She nodded in thanks.

Mace was always a true Jedi, believing the council needed to be as it was during the Old Republic, and the High Republic, spread far and wide, and actually committing to their roles as keepers of the peace.

So he had silently not been fond of most of the council's decisions as of late, and regretted his own initial judgement of Skywalker.

Soon the elevator stopped and the doors opened, and as they all exited, a large amount of Jedi had gathered to greet them.

Prominent being Plo Koon at the forefront.

Behind him were many others.

Including Obi-Wan, Yaddle, Oppo Rancisis, Shaak Ti, Dooku, Sifo Diyas, Kelleran Beq, Luminara Unduli, Ima-Gun Di, Rahm Kota, Bultar Swan, Koffi Arana, Kristine Deselo, Agen Kolar, Stass Allie, Kit Fisto, Tholme, Quinlan Vos, Aayla Secura, Tera Sinube, Zander Wren, Coleman KCAJ, Jaro Tapal, Cere Junda, and many others.

Including temple guards, padawans, and even younglings.

"What is this?" Aria asked, curious.

Oppo slithered forward, signs of a faint smile on his face.

Yet a knowing one, as if he'd seen this coming.

"Your message had a far larger impact that you may believe, master Aria."

She nodded.

"It was Plo's idea, however my opinions were all true, they are how I truly feel." 

Plo nodded but said nothing as he held close the boy named Anakin Skywalker, and a young Togruta child who couldn't have been but four years old.

"I agree fully that this order has lost its way." Said Koffi, who'd been her most recent student though he graduated to knighthood a year ago.

"We aren't even actual Jedi anymore, just lapdogs of the Republic Senate, nothing more." Vos added.

"This is not what a Jedi should be." Luminara agreed.

"The council is lost." Dooku added a bit bitterly.

He didn't seem at all surprised, though none of them were.

"Not lost, but they will be blind to their own errors until it is far too late to repair them." Shaak Ti said, tone soft, yet firm, and containing clear disappointment.

Aria looked to all of them, each and every one.

...

Okay, she'd done this before, she could do it again, especially with all these Jedi.

Soon to be former Jedi, but still.

"I thank you all for having seen what I have seen, what we...have seen." She gestured to the other now former council members.

"Have no fear, our path moving forward is not uncertain, rather it is unexplored."

She stepped forward.

"We will establish ourselves as our own."

"But...how? Not that I'm against that because I'm not, but, how?" Cere asked.

Aria nodded and smiled.

"We will travel to Tython and reestablish the Jedi for what they truly are and should be." 

Plo knew where she was going with this.

"You wish to travel there, restore the Jedi temple there to its former glory, and establish a new order."

His tone was as usual, yet, hinted at excitement at that idea.

"Indeed my friend. I feel returning to older roots will prove quite ideal for that task." 

"Does this mean...I'll never be a Jedi?"

Aria walked over to Anakin as she kneeled to his level and smiled softly at him.

"No young Skywalker, you will be a Jedi, a true Jedi, and all the more." 

Meanwhile Obi-Wan smiled.

'So Qui-Gon will get his final wish.' he thought to himself.

He'd been kind of surprised when master Plo approached him, asking if he could be the boy's master and he would assist Obi-Wan in learning how to be a Jedi Knight, and a master along the way.

This had thrown him for a loop but, he wasn't against it and actually was very grateful, and accepted.

So Plo would train Anakin, which honestly he felt the Kel-Dor would be beyond a better teacher for Anakin, and one that he would need.

One they would both need.

And truth be told, Obi-Wan was glad about this development, that many were leaving the Jedi order and he was amongst them.

He knew what remained of the council wouldn't like the fact they were taking Anakin with them, but ironically they didn't want the boy here anyway.

A win-win in his eyes.

Guess his master rubbed off on him more than he'd actually known.

...

Oh well.

But now they all prepared themselves to leave.

Anakin was...in a conundrum.

He knew the council didn't want him here, that they feared him.

Yet, some were apparently on his side, and opposed to the rest of the council in fact.

They...actually wanted him here?

Now they were all leaving? Including Anakin himself?

...

Truth be told, he was kind of glad.

He'd only been in the temple a few days, yet he already felt unwanted, like he didn't belong here.

That teacher, Kulan was his name? Had been giving him certain looks which he couldn't understand, but he knew they didn't mean anything good.

He was very fascinated about master Aria, it was like she was leading a rebellion of some kind, yet not with actions of violence or the like, but with words and then the action of leaving the order and taking hundreds, and possibly over a thousand others with her.

He was excited, he still had Obi-Wan, he kind of made a new friend in Barriss Offee, and he'd be taught by master Plo Koon.

Anakin thought he was very nice. He was pretty soft-spoken, yet his very presence was quite unmistakable and you always acknowledged it and took anything he said into consideration.

...

Safe to say Anakin already liked him.

Now he was interested in what happened next.

No one said a word as they made a point to march through the temple.

Acquiring several others along the way.

This included healer Rig Nema, and chief archivist Jocasta Nu and all her assistants.

Master Nu had already packed up any Holocron she felt the new order would need, and already had them on board a ship ready to leave.

Some departed from the temple hangar, the rest from the front of the temple.

The citizens who'd stopped to watch the display were highly intrigued, wondering why so many Jedi were exiting the Jedi temple and flying off in starfighters and transports.

Any Jedi on the ground made their ways to Jedi friendly senators, which included Zoe Snyder of Earth, Bail Organa of Alderaan, and Mon Mothma of Chandrilla, all of whom agreed to give them transport to Tython.

All the while the remainder of the Jedi council could do nothing.

Except sit back and watch as they lost almost two thousand Jedi from their order, including the apparent chosen one, in a mass exodus never before seen in the order's history.

While the force itself only gave a slight tremor, one that indicated that this exodus and the Jedi order's loss of its chosen one was, in reality, the true will of the force.

Chapter Text

After the nearly 2,000 Jedi left the order, a scout reported that, unfortunately, the Republic had a small presence on Tython, so Tython was now not an option.

So Aria instead directed them all to Maridun.

Turns out that planet, while decently known, wasn't a place one would look to find any force users, so it worked out.

It also turned out that there was an old Jedi temple there hidden underground, similar to the temple on Coruscant, but it only had three towers surrounding the tallest.

The temple no longer hid underground now and stood tall on the planet once again, having gone underground since around 2,000 BRR.

Master Aria had established relations with the planet's natives, the Lurmen. Who were wary at first, but quickly relaxed after being told that their group were no longer Jedi, simply force users who wanted to exist peacefully and try to go out and help the people of the galaxy.

Tee-Watt-Kaa was highly accepting of their presence given they started helping the Lurmen with things such as constructing homes or everyday tasks. Relations very quickly became friendly, and even more quickly became unbreakable. 

After some debate, things with leadership were settled.

They labelled themselves the 'Knights of Eternal Peace'.

They also implemented a three grandmaster rule, along with a two masters of the order rule, with three battlemasters.

Master Aria Wurhui was elected as a grandmaster, along with Oppo Rancisis and Yarael Poof.

Dooku was chosen as master of the order, and Mace retained his own position there.

While Kristine Deselo, Kit Fisto, and Eeth Koth were chosen as battlemasters.

Three councils were created, as they called their order the 'Knights of Eternal Peace'.

These being the councils of Absolution, Galactic Negotiation, and the high council.

Aria Wurhui, Oppo Rancisis, Yarael Poof, Mace Windu, Dooku, Plo Koon, Shaak Ti, Sifo Dyas, Adi Gallia, Eeth Koth, Zander Wren, and Depa Billaba made up the high council.

Yarael Poof, Yaddle, Luminara Unduli, Kit Fisto, Ima-Gun Di, Quinlan Vos, and Vokara Che made up the council of Absolution.

While Oppo Rancisis, Dooku, Jocasta Nu, Sifo Dyas, Jaro Tapal, Tera Sinube, and Rahm Kota made up the council of Galactic Negotiation.

The latter two dictated how exactly the order ran, as well as political relations, fallen force users, etc, and answered to the high council, though mostly as formality, but the high council could overrule them if necessary.

A grandmaster led each council, with Aria being the one with the most power, so being technically the true leader of their order, especially seeing as she had caused their movement.

The council of Galactic Negotiation quickly reached out to Duchess Satine Kryze and Mandalore only a couple months later to establish relations. Satine had been all too happy to form an alliance and coalition, known as the coalition of neutral systems. Mandalore and Maridun now being it's founders and primary powers, and with the tensions between the Republic and the successionists growing, new members were joining already.

This included Carlac, Stygeon, Dathomir, Raxus Prime, Bespin, Earth, Garel, Lothal, and multiple others who simply wanted no part in whatever conflict was the occur.

The Knights of Eternal Peace simply watched on with displeasure at all of it.

Meanwhile they made their own moves.

They allowed for attachments as long as one understood that their duties to the order came first, essentially no sacrificing everything and everyone for one person or anything like that, which was understood and a fair term.

There was also no rule against using the dark side, but the council warned against using it too often.

And one could join the Knights of Eternal Peace with their being no age restriction, and there was also no rule saying one couldn't keep in contact with their birth families, actually keeping in touch with their families was encouraged by all three council's.

A year later, their order grew quickly.

They went from a little under two thousand members, to having near forty five hundred.

Their members absolutely flourished in this environment. No tense political atmosphere, no senate to answer to, no rules against attachment, no council dictating your everyday life, everything was peaceful.

Anakin Skywalker especially flourished.

He grew quite attached to Plo as a father figure, and met Ahsoka Tano, and instantly adopted her as his younger sister. He was highly protective of her, albeit perhaps overprotective, but Plo thought it was cute.

Obi-Wan was able to actually healthily process his grief over losing Qui-Gon, and was far happier with not being a Jedi anymore.

Anakin also grew quite fond of...well, almost everyone actually. He gained a best friend in Barriss Offee, Ferus Olin went from rival to best friend, and Luminara, Ima-Gun, Quinlan, Mace, Dooku, Sifo, Oppo, Aria, and Yarael all became close mentors.

Plo also made it a point to go to Tatooine and free Anakin's mother, and Shmi now lived in a little house just outside their temple.

Anakin was allowed to visit all the time, of course having his mother back around further encouraged him in all his studies in the order.

About two hundred of their Knights completed an operation on Tatooine, which saw the end of the Hutt's reign.

Since the Knights of Eternal Peace weren't anywhere near as against killing as the Jedi, Jabba and his fellow hutts were slain, minus Ziro and Mama the hutt, as they felt Jabba and his fellow hutts were too dangerous to innocent people to be left alive. After all Jabba wasn't picky, he'd pick up innocent people off the street and force them into his service with no remorse.

After this, four hundred of their members went to Zygerria, three hundred to deal with the Pyke Syndicate, and three hundred fifty to handle the Black Sun.

All were successful.

Queen Miraj was killed, with Atai Molec (who's views had not been warped beyond repair thankfully) was instated as the new king, and he was encouraged to outlaw slavery on Zygerria, which he did without hesitation.

The Pykes opted to make a deal with them before they could be taken down, the deal was they would no longer partake in slavery, and would instead offer to sell spices to the Jedi, along with any crops they could use for things such as healing, a deal the Knights of Eternal Peace accepted, so they gained crops, and could grow, use, and sell their own, Nysillim being their most prominent dye to it's medical value, which they could definitely use and keep in stock.

The Black Sun however attempted to fight back, but they swiftly lost without their allies. Very few Jedi lost their lives, and none being prominent, but they were mourned.

And word went around the galaxy about a new group of force users who effectively ended slavery in the outer rim, people were intrigued and also happy.

Aria did introduce their order to the galaxy, and of course, it received backlash from the republic.

Who inquired as to their whereabouts in the outer rim, but Aria didn't dignify them with an answer.

The council of Galactic Negotiation had been unanimous in opinion, that they wanted nothing to do with the Republic unless it changed its ways, and clearly it did not.

And the Jedi order, well, they just kept down spiraling.

Nine years later, while the Knights of Eternal Peace had grown to almost seventy five hundred members, the Jedi only got worse.

Yoda was still grandmaster and on the council, and Ki-Adi-Mundi, Mira Wurhui, and Saesee Tiin still sat on the council.

The rest of the council was replaced with Pong Krell (of all individuals, Aria was highly displeased about that), Shadday Potkin, Tray'la Sheek, Kazdan Paratus, Even Piell, Cin Drallig, Coleman Trebor, J'oopi 'SHE.

The Jedi became stricter, colder, more detached than ever before, more dogmatic, politically inclined, and just overall worse.

Yoda at this point had seen the error in his ways, but felt that he'd already dug his own grave and had no choice but to lie in it.

Senator Gume Same became the new Chancellor of the Republic, much to Padme and her allies' displeasure, given he was aligned with the Trade Federation.

Senator Zoe Snyder of Earth had gone to Earth's queen, Victoria Bonteri, who then later announced that the alliance between the United Earth Federation and the Republic was over, and Snyder was taken out of the Republic Senate and went home to Earth.

Tensions at this point are at an all time high.

Senators Ibris and Farr also withdrew their systems from the Republic, tired of the consistent corruption on display.

Back with Anakin however, things got interesting.

He was consistently transported to the world known as Mortis, where he met the Ones.

The Father, the Daughter, and the Son.

Who represented the light, the dark, and neutral aspects of the force.

Anakin was taught by the Son however that the dark side, while dark, was not bad or inherently evil as many portrayed it as, rather it depended on the individual wielding it.

Example, the Son was the very representation of the dark side, but he loved his father and sister and never wanted either harmed by himself, one can possess the dark side, but still be good at heart.

Though Anakin also became progressively charmed by the Son, who hadn't exactly known how to react at first, and things got kind of awkward, but upon endless insistence from his sister, he finally tried reciprocating.

Strange given he didn't even have a name.

And since he had no clue what to do about a name, Anakin just started calling him Trident for some reason, so he just went along with it, begrudgingly.

The Father had been very unhappy at first, thinking the Son was trying to seduce the Chosen One to the dark side, though that worry vanished when the Son proved to have no interest in that, seeing as it was only because of that cursed Sith known as Sidious that the Son had been acting erratically for quite a while, until ten years ago, when that Sith died. The Son acted differently after that, he was non-confrontational even if still quite opinionated. He was calm and rational, unlike when he'd act out without a single thought, stayed within his boundaries, and also displayed positive emotions, albeit in a very tsundere type of way.

The Daughter had noticed the changes as well, and the force felt light, not suffocating, not hazy. Her brother was now back to how he'd been before, before Sidious and Plagueis. Not exactly the same, but now he was acting more like his true self again, despite the dark side still being his nature.

Now all was balanced on Mortis, sure tensions in the galaxy were escalating towards inevitable war, but the force wasn't really affected, since the Knights of Eternal Peace were truly the ones keeping it in balance, they were highly favored by the force, the Jedi not so much anymore.

That showed.

The members of the Knights of Eternal Peace were all highly skilled and powerful force users, even the Padawans, who now very often were at Knight levels of power, where Knights were often at master level of power.

Some masters did locate former Jedi master Hawthorne, though he'd gone mostly insane and didn't listen to reason, so they'd been forced to duel and kill him.

He'd kidnapped a former slave and force sensitive Twi-lek, Talon, and they brought her back to the temple. Hawthorne killed her parents, then forced her to be his student, but she'd actually reacted well to the Knights of Eternal Peace, and was quickly allowed a chance in the order by the council of Absolution, and master Poof decided to train her, and set her on a better path.

Anakin actually befriended her pretty quickly, and she also grew pretty close to fellow Twi-lek Aayla Secura.

Also, slightly funny turn of events, there were some Lurmen who joined their order, and when they wielded lightsabers...well, they were absolute gremlins.

Though they were also hard to catch, which apparently had the high council questioning if they should mostly use Lurmen members for assignments, because they were tiny, fast, quiet, adorable, but deadly.

Perfect weapons.

But in any case...

After Obi-Wan completed a two year long diplomatic assignment to Concord Dawn, and securing relations there along with trade contracts, and stopping multiple attempts of assassination on the planet's leaders, he returned and was promoted to the rank of master.

Anakin earned the rank of Knight at 16, thanks to his teachings from Plo and all the other highly wise and open minded force users.

At 19, he had now taken on Ahsoka as his own Padawan, who was highly eager for it, especially since Anakin had adopted much of Plo's personality.

Had he still been a Jedi, he would embody everything that the Jedi should stand for, and along with many of their order's elder members, especially those like Aria, Yarael, Oppo, Plo, Yaddle, Tera, and Fay, he was considered a vessel of the force itself.

Anakin worried at first, but he was happy when he proved a good teacher, which he credited to Plo.

Already Ahsoka and Anakin were inseparable, which she had spent a lot of time with him over the years, so of course they were.

But overall everything for them was wonderful.

They had a new order, many friends, mentors, and most of all a family.

Everything was peaceful.

But of course, peace was bound to end.

And with an assassination attempt on Padme Amidala on Coruscant, which thankfully failed, peace was shattered.

And now the galaxy held its breath.

Chapter Text

Ahsoka stood close to her master, ready to grab him and bolt if need be.

She doesn't like this.

Anakin looks calm and collected like she's always known he is, but she can feel his own wariness of this.

The high council sent them here to keep an eye on Senator Amidala, a close friend of Anakin's and an ally of the KOEP.

Apparently they didn't trust the Jedi to do it, without Amidala ending up dead in the outcome, therefore here they were.

In the Senate.

In the Chancellor's office.

They stood off to the side, Chancellor Gume Saam sat behind his desk, Yoda and some of the other Jedi council members sat in front of him, and a master and Padawan were on the other side of the room, away from Ahsoka and her master, though she didn't miss the female Jedi master's brief looks, while the nautolan Padawan seemed tense and as if she didn't want to be here.

Ahsoka felt bad for her.

But anyway.

They came under the terms that any member of the KOEP had diplomatic immunity, unless proven beyond a reasonable doubt that they were guilty of a crime, which would be investigated by both the KOEP and the NSC.

Which Chancellor Saam reluctantly granted because clearly he had no other options.

"I'm not certain I can hold this off any longer." The Ishi-Tib Chancellor states. "A growing number of systems are joining the CIS." 

Not like he's troubled, Ahsoka knows from her master that Chancellor Saam is in league with the CIS behind the scenes, a double agent so to speak. So she paid him little mind.

"If they do break away..." Master Tiin begins.

"My negotiations will not fail, Jedi." Saam interjects, tense.

"If they do, then you must keep in mind that there aren't enough Jedi to protect the Republic. We're keepers of the peace, not warriors." 

Yet the way they held themselves contradicted that, Ahsoka rolled her eyes.

"Clouded, the force is." Yoda added.

Well, on Coruscant, where a Sith lord has been hiding for years until a decade ago, of course it would be.

Ahsoka questions why she ever looked up to the little green Jedi grandmaster.

"Difficult to see, the future is." 

They used to have seers, whom they disregarded and mistreated, the rest were simply blind and arrogant idiots, at least, that's what she thinks.

She just wants to get to senator Amidala now, from what she's heard, Amidala was very good.

Chancellor Saam gets a transmission, then dismisses them.

Most of the Jedi exit, minus Yoda, master Tiin, and master Mundi, while several senators and aids enter.

"Senator Amidala." Yoda greets, and Ahsoka almost exhales in relief. "Your tragedy on a landing platform, terrible. Seeing you alive, brings warm feelings to my heart." 

...

The old troll has one?

Well who'd have thought...

Senator Amidala smiles somewhat, but even Ahsoka can tell it doesn't reach her eyes, clearly she's unimpressed by the words which are mostly empty, even if Yoda is genuinely glad to see she is alright.

"Thank you master Yoda, but I need to know who's trying to kill me." Senator Amidala stated levelly. "I think Nute Gunray was behind it." 

"Really?" Tiin asks, not believing her.

"He holds a grudge against me for what happened on Naboo ten years ago, for all intents and purposes I'm his nemesis, I'm certain of it." 

"Gunray is a political idealist, a moneygrubber, and a coward..." Mundi started.

Oh, maybe there was-

"...not a murderer." He finished.

Nevermind then.

The senator frowns.

"And the coward that he is, although conniving, it's not in his character." Tiin adds with a shake of the head.

To Ahsoka it's obvious, Senator Amidala is right that it's Gunray, especially given Gunray hasn't been quiet about his hate for her over the years.

How the Jedi are blatantly missing everything in front of them, Ahsoka finds astounding.

Crazy.

But also hilarious in a way.

But mainly sad.

She's glad master Plo brought her with those who left the Jedi, otherwise she'd be this stupid.

...

Sorry, ignorant.

Though then her master speaks up, only really paying attention to the senator while ignoring the Jedi and the Chancellor, and most of everyone else.

"Senator. The Knights of Eternal Peace's high council has sent myself and my student, Ahsoka Tano, to be your protective detail. We will investigate who is behind these attempts, if we can." 

Senator Amidala maintains a poker face, but Ahsoka notices her holding back a smile, though she knows that her master and Amidala are close friends.

"Of course Knight Skywalker, I would be happy to-"

She is rudely cut off by master Yoda.

"In grave danger, you are, senator." 

Oh?? Whatever gave that away? The exploding ship maybe? The assassination of one of Amidala's handmaidens? Gunray's threats he's made towards Amidala over the years?

Really, it's not like it was obvious.

Ahsoka holds back a scoff, her master sends her a wave of calm through the force, which she happily takes, breathing out deeply and quietly to calm herself before she calls out these idiots.

"I would suggest adding Jedi to this detail." Tiin looks pointedly at Ahsoka and Anakin, not at all bothering to conceal his dislike or suspicion of them. "Master Potkin and her Padawan just returned from a border dispute on Ansion. I will send them to assist." 

Amidala looks like she wants to refuse, but in the end she concedes, not looking happy about it though.

"Yes. Thank you master Tiin." 

"You're joking." Master Dyas said through hologram form, when her master coms the council to tell them everything.

"No." Anakin replies simply.

Though holding back a sigh, the trademark he got from master Plo, the sigh that conveyed how utterly disappointed he was in someone.

Never directed at her, thankfully, she's not sure if she could mentally survive that. She hates the thought of disappointing her master, master Plo, or any of them. So she always obeys them, never once is she disobedient, even if she does help Barriss and Nahdar in pranking people sometimes.

It's normally master Dooku, or master Windu, or Ferus, but hey, harmless fun.

Unless it destroys master Dooku's robes, then it's an all out fight for survival.

"I knew they were blind fools, but this is somehow a new low." Dooku adds dryly. "Gunray has practically gift wrapped himself and delivered himself to the Republic, yet they still maintain he isn't behind these attempts." 

"I agree with the sentiments." Master Gallia chimes in, she had loosened up a lot over the years, after having participated in everything the KOEP had accomplished thus far. "But something is amiss." 

Grandmaster Rancisis seems to silently ponder for a few moments before he speaks up, voice of slightly higher pitch and maybe a little raspy, but somehow smooth and soothing.

"This goes deeper than simple assassination attempts, but the question becomes: how deep?" 

"Systems have continuously succeeded from the Republic over the years, I find it plausible a war is on the horizon." Master Windu says, steepling his fingers over his chest.

"One we, hopefully, won't need to be involved in." Master Dyas replies.

"I feel at current time, our best move is to continue as we are, and see how things play out. With the Jedi involved, it is likely we'll have an answer sooner, rather than later." Grandmaster Aria spoke, and normally when she spoke, everyone seemed to unanimously agree that her word was final. 

"I concur. I do have a suspicion, though it's been years and I do not recall all the specifics, but I will check the archives to verify." Master Dooku nodded.

Grandmaster Aria inclined her head in acknowledgement but spoke to her and her master now.

"Anakin, continue on this detail. The Jedi will not bother us if we do not bother them. Protecting Senator Amidala is our priority, catching this assassin is secondary." 

"Yes master Aria."

"May the force be with you." 

Now she's stood in the lift, with her master, heading up to the senator's apartment.

She was nervous.

"What's wrong?" Her master asked with some concern.

Ahsoka shrugged.

"I'm mostly worried about the Jedi."

...

"Master Potkin's Padawan seemed very...uh, tense and closed off, but felt like she'd be nice. Master Potkin, not so much." 

"I will withhold any judgement until after interacting with her." Anakin replies, closing his eyes momentarily, but looking perfectly serene, nothing out of the ordinary.

Yeah, Ahsoka isn't sure that she can do that.

Eventually the lift reached its destination and they exited, where they were greeted by a gungan, Representative Binks she thinks.

"Ani?"

...

"ANI! Meesa so smilin' to seein' yousa!" The gungan said excitedly, while shaking her masters hand.

Well, he was kind of annoying, but she could feel he was genuine in nature.

"Hello Jar Jar." He smiled.

"Oh-Senator Padme!" Jar Jar called to her.

The senator was looking off a balcony with a man Ahsoka thinks is her head of security, though turned when she was called, and the man followed.

"Ani. It's been a few years, but it's good to see you." 

"You as well Padme." 

"Hello senator, I'm Ahsoka." Ahsoka offered a smile, this woman was probably one of the only genuinely good politicians she'd ever met, and she felt Amidala was definitely trustworthy.

"Nice to meet you Ahsoka. Just call me Padme, Ani and I are good friends, the formalities are unnecessary. 

"Of course, Padme." 

"Oh, my apologies. Master Potkin and her Padawan are in the living room, they've been waiting." 

Anakin nodded.

"It would be rude to hold them any longer."

Ahsoka feels like her master would ignore their existence, if only to get on their nerves.

So they move into the living room, master Potkin and her Padawan are already seated on one side on one sofa, so she and her master sit on the opposite side, while Jar Jar sits to her master's left, and Padme sits to Potkin's right with her security chief standing beside the sofa.

"Master Potkin." 

"Knight Skywalker." 

...

Well, at least master Potkin is respectful, she guesses.

Unlike the others.

"Padawan Tano."

"Master Potkin." Ahsoka inclines her head briefly as a show of respect, Potkin hasn't given her any reason for her to show disrespect, yet, so she'll be polite.

"I thank you and the Jedi for coming." The man states. "Captain Typho, head of security. I'm afraid the situation is more dangerous than the senator will admit." He adds, pointedly looking at Padme, who shakes her head.

"I don't need more security, I need to know who's trying to kill me." 

That she still believes it's Gunray remains unspoken but implied.

"While I may sympathize, the council sent us to protect you, not to begin an investigation, it is not in our mandate." Potkin states, and Ahsoka can't tell if she actually sympathizes or not, but she's honestly leaning towards the latter.

"Isn't an investigation part of our mandate though?" The nautolan girl speaks finally, sounding nervous already, and Ahsoka now wonders if she's being mistreated.

"What?" Potkin turns to her, expression betraying nothing, but eyes conveying that she isn't pleased.

"Isn't investigating who is behind this part of our mandate of protecting the senator? I'm simply confused master."

Potkin seems less displeased, but it's still there.

"No. The council instructed us to protect, not to follow what is, at best, a conspiracy, and we will follow that to the letter." Potkin's expression tightens a bit. "And you will learn your place, young one."

"Master-"

"Dahlia, I was under the belief I taught you not to interrupt a conversation, perhaps I placed too much faith in you." 

...

What?

But she didn't interrupt, all she did was ask something. Which padawans tend to do.

And...

Learn her place? 

and what does Potkin believe that is exactly?

Ahsoka now decides she likes Dahlia.

She really doesn't like Potkin.

Dahlia goes silent with non-concealed shame and embarrassment, while shrinking in on herself.

"You are so insensitive." It takes Ahsoka a minute to realize she said this out loud.

Potkin promptly turns to her, frowning now.

"Pardon?"

"Do you always take pleasure in destroying your student's self esteem? All she did was ask something."

"What she did was interject into something she had no business speaking in, just like you are doing now. And mind your tone, padawan." 

"Or what, master?" 

"Knight Skywalker, control your student." 

"I do not control my student, I quell any behavior that seems unwarranted or unbecoming of her as an individual." Though Anakin makes a gesture for her to be quiet, so Ahsoka does.

"That is what control is." 

"It isn't, but we did not come here to educate you about what is and what isn't." Her master responds to Potkin coolly, before looking back to Padme, who looks kind of amused, while Typho looks very awkward about everything. "We came here to protect senator Amidala. Our personal feelings are irrelevant, as are our opinions of each other. We both have a mission to complete together, therefore we will professionally complete it."

Potkin's eyes contain a mixture of both irritation and great surprise, but she seems to push down anything else she wants to say.

"My apologies, you are correct." 

Anakin nods before things drift back to topic.

Ahsoka doesn't think she's ever heard her master use such a tone with someone before, especially someone who's much older than him.

But she would admit, she found it funny how her master partially called Potkin out for being uneducated.

...

Not that she'd ever outright say that of course.

Otherwise she'd be the insensitive one.

Well, last night had been...something.

Potkin hadn't spoken to them since earlier that day, though Ahsoka did talk to Dahlia for a little while.

Dahlia Zille. She was fourteen, like Ahsoka herself, not that good with a lightsaber but excellent with the force even at her age. Originally she was going to be apprenticed to Jedi master Kirak Infil'a, but apparently the council meddled and got her stuck with Shadday Potkin, and Infil'a reached his last straw and promptly took a barash vow and left the order.

She had masters Drallig and Sheek as mentors, both were nice and apparently the only good or nice members on the Jedi council, Dahlia felt Yoda meddled too much so didn't include him in that category.

She did inquire how training under Potkin was, and Dahlia told her only a little, but judging from what Ahsoka was told, it was a nightmare.

Potkin always had an eye on her, she could never have any time to herself. Potkin always kept her from making any friends, and only tolerated Drallig and Sheek because they too were council members and she felt Dahlia could benefit from more of "the wisdom of the Jedi council". Potkin was extremely demanding, always wanted Dahlia to excel at literally everything, and always ridiculed her and put her down when she didn't meet those expectations.

Dahlia said master Potkin was...not cold or uncaring exactly, but extremely distant. Their relationship was strictly master and Padawan, nothing more nothing less, there was no real connection otherwise.

She never went into specifics, but it was enough to know how horrible a master Potkin is to the other girl. Ahsoka knows from Barriss that master Luminara was viewed similarly when she was still with the Jedi, except in her case she was completely misinterpreted and outright mistreated, Potkin is just like the other Jedi, indifferent and doesn't really care.

Dahlia doesn't dislike her master for whatever force forsaken reason, but she also doesn't like her, the two are just neutral towards each other for the most part.

Ahsoka just feels so bad for her. 

Ahsoka was blessed with Anakin, master Plo, Barriss, Nahdar, Master Unduli, and many others.

Dahlia however was stuck with someone like Potkin, and that spoke a lot of how far the Jedi had fallen.

At some point, during their conversation, they rushed into Padme's room, sensing her in danger, and cut apart a couple worms that were very poisonous. 

Ahsoka jumped out a window and latched onto a droid which had been floating there, eventually this somehow led to a speeder chase with a changeling, which led to confronting the changeling outside a bar, after the woman got her hand cut off while trying and failing to sneak up on her master.

They barely saved the changeling's life from assassination from a Mandalorian bounty hunter, wonderful.

And so they'd brought Zam Wesell and the poison dart to the Jedi temple for further examination.

Anakin did contact duchess Kryze about this, who recognized the description of the Mandalorian bounty hunter to be the infamous Jango Fett, but said beyond that she didn't know how or why he was involved.

And now they stood before the Jedi high council.

Ahsoka didn't like any of them, Cin Drallig and Tray'la Sheek were the only ones she gave the benefit of the doubt.

"Troubling, this development is." 

"I must question why Fett is involved. What stake could he possibly have in this?" Paratus inquired after Yoda finished.

"That is what we are looking into." Anakin replies neutrally.

"Track down this bounty hunter we must. Master Trebor, look deeper into this, you will." 

Trebor doesn't verbally reply, simply nods.

"We must find out who his employer is." Mundi added to no real benefit.

Yep, idiots.

"And senator Amidala?" Anakin asks mildly. "She still requires protection until further notice."

"Handle that, Padawan Zille shall." 

...

Really?

So they're just going to leave Dahlia on her own to do it? With no guidance or adult supervision? Potentially facing down Jango Fett, who has killed experienced Jedi masters, by herself? She's only a padawan like Ahsoka herself, no way, Dahlia would suffer more under that pressure.

But clearly they either fail to notice or don't really care.

"I trust you not to fail, Padawan." 

Oh, and Potkin being an overbearing...not going to finish that thought.

"Yes master." Dahlia simply accepts her task and bows. Well, she did way better than Ahsoka would've ever done in this situation, Ahsoka has to give her a lot of credit.

She's surprised that Krell, of all them, hasn't said a single word, at least so far, which is very unusual of him, from what little of him that she does know.

"Padawan Zille. Escort Senator Amidala back to Naboo, but travel as refugees, she will be safer there than here." Tiin adds.

To that Anakin objects.

"If an assassin could find her on such a heavily populated planet such as Coruscant, then they could easily do so on a planet like Naboo."

"And wouldn't the assassin expect that? For her to go back to her home planet to try and get to safety? It's not likely they'd try again here since it already failed, but they would take their chance on Naboo." Ahsoka adds, which receives a nudge through the force, approval of that point from her master.

"I agree, to try moving her back to Naboo would be too predictable, especially to someone like Jango Fett." Drallig agrees easily.

"Not to mention she likely wouldn't agree to be moved in the first place, she only reluctantly allowed our presence in her detail, I don't think she'd be so receptive to that." Master Sheek also dissents.

Which in Ahsoka's eyes, makes them trustworthy, for now.

"Until Fett is caught, she must respect this council's judgement." Master Paratus speaks, blind faith in the Jedi council showing.

"I was unaware that the Jedi encouraged autocracy." Anakin says to that, looking at Paratus, not at all impressed by that. "Senator Amidala is free to do as she herself chooses. If she wishes to remain on Coruscant, then that she will do." 

"Knight Skywalker you have no-" master Mundi starts, but surprisingly it is master Yoda who interjects, his gimmer stick hitting the floor.

"Jurisdiction, Knight Skywalker has. Jurisdiction, Padawan Tano has also. Hm, agree with them, I do. Force senator Amidala to do this, we will not. Her choice that is." 

Mundi looks like he wants to protest further, but since the words came from Yoda, he conceded.

"I...must concur with master Mundi. And I feel we should discuss-" master...'SHE is it? Starts.

But Anakin interrupts by bowing only a bit.

"If that is all for now masters, we will be departing." 

Yoda hums. "Speak with you, before you go, I will." 

And this is how they found themselves in the temple hangar, talking to Yoda outside of their ship.

"Why did you wish to speak with us master Yoda?" Anakin asks.

Yoda seems to stare at them both for several long moments, before he finally breaks the silence. Ears drooping slightly and expression falling.

"A great disservice, I have done to you both, to those who left, years ago. At first, saddened I was, that leave you all did. But quickly, see how wrong I was, I did. Like it, I did not. Cold I was, to you, young Skywalker, afraid of your future I was, but not set in stone, is the future. Preach myself I did, that always in motion the future is, yet give in to it, I did. A hypocrite I became, arrogant, blinded by it I was. Open now, my eyes are, too little too late perhaps, but see it I do. Right you all were, to leave." 

...

...

...

That did shock her.

The grandmaster of the Jedi order, saying all that, and being fully open and genuine about it? That said a lot.

Anakin maintained himself on the outside, but she could sense he was just as surprised by this as her.

"Master..." She starts. "If you knew that, why didn't you leave after?"

Yoda sighed.

"Thought about it I did, but fear that cause the implosion of the order it would, I did. Destroyed from within, the Jedi would be, want that I do not. So stay I did, for their sake. To reform the order, I want. Change it, use old foundations to create something new, better." His expression fell further. "But only fall further, the order did, after elected new master of the order, master Tiin was. Colder, detached, out of balance, the Jedi have become. Too tied to the Republic and the Senate, the order is. Side with me, masters Sheek and Drallig do, and convincing master Wurhui and master Krell I am to join us, time it is taking, but worth it, it may be." 

Wait...so Drallig and Sheek were actually both the only other good members, master Wurhui was in the process of being convinced, and so was master Krell of all people? Even Krell? Now she knows the Jedi really are in the wrong at current time if even Krell is slowly but surely joining that group.

"I...am surprised you're still grandmaster." 

"Know, the rest of the council does not. Keep it this way, I intend to, because irrational repercussions we would face, if knew they did."

Though Yoda then seemed to smile, his ears perking up slightly.

"Happy now, you all are. Happy for that I am. The best for the galaxy, your order is, and happy with that I am." 

Anakin stared for a moment before he gave a genuine smile back, and actually bows in respect.

Ahsoka follows his example, knowing that Yoda at least was trying to change things for the better, the problem was no longer him, but the system as a whole.

"Thank you, master Yoda."

"Thank me yet, do not." Yoda shook his head and started to leave, head turned to the side to finish what he was saying. "Only thank me, when peacekeepers the Jedi become again, do you." 

And with that he departed back inside.

And Ahsoka boarded the ship with her master.

The past couple days had been quite a lot.

And she learned so much in that time already.

But at least she now knew something good.

There were Jedi still among the Jedi order who were acting as they should, or trying to.

They had allies among the Jedi.

Not something she ever thought would happen.

But as master Plo would probably say, it was a bright light in a dark abyss.